Param Bir Singh claims ‘not absconding’, SC grants interim protection from arrest

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November 22, 2021

As the former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh told the Supreme Court on Monday that he is very much in the country and he is not absconding, the top court granted him interim protection from arrest and directed him to join the investigation. A Bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul asked Singh to join the investigation and issued notices to the Maharashtra government and CBI on Singh’s plea. The apex court now posted the case for hearing on December 6.

Singh’s counsel told the Bench that the former police chief is ready to appear before CBI within 48 hours and need some protection. At the outset, senior advocate Puneet Bali appearing for Singh told the Bench, “Instructions received. He is very much in the country. The discussion is the moment he touched Maharashtra there is a threat to his life.”

To this, the Bench said, “You (Singh) say I have a threat to life with Bombay Police. What hope for other people.” The apex court also expressed concern over the ongoing fight between former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and Param Bir Singh saying the matter has become “curiouser and curiouser”.

“We find it very disturbing… Wonder what would happen to a common man. The matter has become curiouser and curiouser in the battle between the then Home Minister and the (former) Police Commissioner,” the Bench said. The apex court was hearing a petition of Singh filed against the September 16 judgment of the Bombay High Court which dismissed as not maintainable his pleas challenging the two enquiries orders issued by the State Home Ministry for allegedly violative service rules and the second over allegations of corruption.

During the hearing, advocate Bali argued that FIRs against Singh was filed by bookies, extortionists, against whom he had taken action. “They had allegations of corruptions, extortionist money taken from builders, these are the complainants against me,” he told the Bench. Six cases of corruption and extortion were filed against Singh after he wrote a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray levelling corruption and misconduct against the then Home Minister and senior NCP leader Anil Deshmukh, the lawyer said.

He added, “In March the DGP (Maharashtra police chief) asked me to withdraw my letter. He asked me to make peace with the Home Minister. I sent that communication to CBI and CBI registered a case against Deshmukh.” Singh, a 1988-batch IPS officer, was removed from the post of Mumbai Police Commissioner on March 17 and was made the General Commander of Maharashtra State Home Guard after he levelled allegations against Deshmukh.

On November 18, the Bench had asked Singh to disclose his whereabouts while making it clear that no protection can be granted to him against arrest until his location is known. “Where are you? Are you in the country? Outside the country,” Justice Kaul had asked from Singh’s counsel while inquiring about former police chief’s whereabouts.

Singh was recently declared as an absconder by a Mumbai Magistrate after his non-appearance in an extortion case. “No protection, no hearing till we have the answer to the question – where are you?,” the Bench told Singh’s counsel and had posted the case for hearing for today.

Wrist spinners are match-winners in shorter formats, says Adil Rashid

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Afternoon Voice

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November 22, 2021

England bowler Adil Rashid feels wrist spinners can become match winners or can shift the momentum of the game in the shortest format. Adil Rashid said the most important thing for a leg spinner in the shortest format (T10) is to maintain the confidence with which he is bowling despite going for runs.

“It can be difficult you know because in this day and age you are playing on smaller grounds, flatter pitches and bigger bats, people are hitting the ball further so they can be a bit difficult,” said Adil on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi T10 League where he is playing for Delhi Bulls. “Especially you know if you get hit for a couple of games in a row for sixes and fours, it can play with your mind but the most important thing is like you said as a spinner, as a wrist spinner it has been maintaining that confidence knowing that you can change the game.

“You can become a match-winner, you are a match-winner, you can change the game in what 3 or 4 or 5 balls by getting a key wicket then another wicket, that’s the ability of a wrist spinner in general,” he added. The England spinner also admitted that bowling is a little tough in T10 format since the batter has the license to go after you right from the word go.

“Well, the challenges are people are trying to hit every ball for sixes and four in T10 cricket whereas in T20 batsmen takes a couple of balls to see and know the game,” said Adil. “But in T10 they are going to keep coming at you and can be a challenge if it’s a flat pitch and keep hitting it for fours and sixes and it can be quite tricky,” he added.

Delhi Bulls have won all their three games in the ongoing T10 League and Adil is 100 per cent sure that the team can go on to win the title this year. “100 per cent (on Delhi Bulls’ possibility of winning tournament). The coach Andy flower has good experience and captain Dwayne Bravo one of the best T20 players ever and we have got Eoin Morgan the best captain going around,” said Adil

“So, there is a bit of experience around and hopefully we go out there and enjoy ourselves and we can come on top,” he added.

BJP leaders should desist from making provocative statements on farm laws: Mayawati

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Afternoon Voice

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November 22, 2021

BSP president Mayawati on Monday charged that some BJP leaders were vitiating the atmosphere by their provocative statements on the issue of repeal of farm laws, and asked that they be reined in to instil confidence among farmers.

She also demanded that besides the repeal of farm laws, the other demands of the protesting farmers should be met by the government so that they can return to their homes.

Besides the demand of farmers agitating for about one year for repeal of three agriculture laws, some other legitimate demands also need a timely solution so that they can return to their respective homes satisfied and engage in their works, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said in a tweet in Hindi.

“At the same time, in order to instil confidence among farmers about the announcement to withdraw agricultural laws, it is necessary to rein in rhetorics of BJP leaders who, despite the announcement by the PM, create suspicion among the people and are spoiling the atmosphere with their provocative statements,” she added.

Though Mayawati did not name any BJP leader, she was apparently referring to the remarks by BJP MP from Unnao Sakshi Maharaj that the laws could be brought again, if needed “Bills are made and repealed. They will come again and will be made again. It hardly takes any time (bills to bante rehte hai, bigarhte rehte hai… vaapas aajaayenge, dobaaraa ban jaayenge…koi der nahi lagtee hai),” he had said.

“But, I would thank Modiji that he displayed a big heart, and he chose the nation over the laws. And those whose intentions were wrong, those who had raised slogans of Pakistan zindabad and Khalistan zindabad, they have got a befitting reply,” he had said on Saturday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Friday announced that the Centre would repeal the farm laws after the nearly year-long agitation by a section of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

SKM to continue protests; Union lists out demands announcing march to Parliament

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Afternoon Voice

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November 21, 2021

Though the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) welcomed the repealing of three farm laws by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it said on Sunday that the farmers’ protest is not just against the three farm laws.

The SKM an umbrella body of over 40 protesting Kisan unions, on Sunday announced that the protests against the Central government over a number of agri-related issues will continue.

While speaking to the media, farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said, “We discussed the repeal of farm laws. After this, some decisions were taken. SKM’s predecided programs will continue as it is – Kisan panchayat in Lucknow on November 22, gatherings at all borders on November 26 and march to Parliament on November 29.”

Listing out the farmers’ demands, Rajewal said the Kisan unions will write an open letter to PM Modi and mention pending demands – MSP Committee, its rights, its time frame, its duties; Electricity Bill 2020, withdrawal of cases on farmers.

“We will also write to him to sack the Minister of State Home Ajay Mishra Teni over the Lakhimpur Kheri,” he added.

Rajewal further said that another meeting of SKM will be held on November 27 to discuss way future course of action. “For a decision on further developments, another meeting of SKM will be held on November 27. The decision will be taken on the basis of the situation until then,” he added.

Rakesh Tikait of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), one of the key organisations leading the agitation, did not attend the meeting as he is currently in Lucknow. Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) meeting, which was going on at the Singhu border, concluded on Sunday.

The meeting was called to discuss the future course of action on farmers’ protests after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced repealing the three farm laws. As the government has agreed to withdraw the three farm laws, the farmer unions have shifted their focus on minimum support price (MSP), demanding a law on it.

The farmers are also demanding compensation for the farmers who lost their lives during farmers’ protests and the withdrawal of cases registered against them. The farmers have been protesting against the three farm laws for the past year across Delhi’s borders.

SBI yet to refund Rs 164 crore undue fee charged from Jan Dhan a/c holders

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Afternoon Voice

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November 21, 2021

State Bank of India (SBI) is yet to return Rs 164 crore of the undue fee charged from the account holders of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) towards digital payments during April 2017 and December 2019, a report said.

“On directions from the government, SBI has returned just about Rs 90 crore, thereby withholding the bigger chunk of at least Rs 164 crore with itself,” said the report prepared by IIT-Mumbai.

It said that from April 2017 to September 2020, SBI had collected over Rs 254 crore towards at least 14 crores UPI/ RuPay transactions by charging Rs 17.70 per transaction on BSBDA (Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account) customers under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY).

Queries sent to the country’s largest lender on return of charges levied on debit transactions done by such account holders during the said period of 33 months did not elicit any response.

Since June 1, 2017, unlike any other bank in India, the report said, SBI charged Rs 17.70 for every debit transaction beyond four a month.

Debit transaction means any withdrawal transaction that includes cash withdrawal, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT), Real-time Gross Settlement (RTGS) pre-authorized standing instruction, cheque, etc.

This has adversely impacted the BSBDA customers of SBI who, on the call of the government and RBI, embraced digital means of financial transactions.

“Due to this attitude of SBI and after RBI remaining noncommittal, in mid-August 2020”, the Finance Ministry was approached for addressing the concern.

“The Ministry was prompt in their actions and the CBDT by end-August 2020, advised SBI to refund the charges collected since January 1, 2020, on transactions carried out using the prescribed digital payment modes,” it said.

On August 30, 2020, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) advised banks to refund the charges collected since January 1, 2020, on transactions carried out using the prescribed digital payment modes that include the UPI and the RuPay debit card, and not to impose charges on future transactions carried out through such modes.

In adherence to the CBDT directive, as late as February 17, 2021, SBI initiated a refund of Rs 17.70 for the UPI and RuPay debit card digital transactions to the BSBDA customers, the report prepared by Ashish Das, Professor of Statistics said.

Levying of charges on BSBDA is guided by September 2013 RBI guidelines. As per the direction, these account holders are ‘allowed more than four withdrawals in a month, at the bank’s discretion provided the bank does not charge for the same.

Some irresponsible nations with hegemonic tendencies twisting definition of UNCLOS: Rajnath Singh

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Afternoon Voice

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November 21, 2021

Taking a dig at China, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said: “some irresponsible nations” with their narrow partisan interests and hegemonic tendencies are coming up with wrong definitions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

It is a matter of concern that UNCLOS is being repeatedly weakened by arbitrary interpretation of its definition by some nations, Singh said, after the commissioning of the Indian Navy’s destroyer Visakhapatnam.

As a responsible maritime stakeholder, India supports consensus-based principles and a peaceful, open, rules-based stable maritime order, Singh said. India envisages Indo-Pacific having freedom of navigation, free trade, and universal values where all stakeholders’ interests are protected, he said.

“Some irresponsible nations, with their narrow partisan interests, hegemonic tendencies are coming with wrong definitions of international laws,” Singh said without naming China.

China has been militarizing islands in South China, a move that has attracted global criticism. The area has overlapping claims of several East and Southeast Asian nations.

In 2016, an international tribunal rejected China’s argument that it enjoys historic rights over most of the South China Sea — a region known to be rich in hydrocarbons and also hosting an important Sea Lane of Communication.

Following the order, China said the award is “null and void and has no binding force” and it neither accepts nor recognizes it.

Singh said as an important country in the region, the Indian Navy’s role assumes a more crucial role for the region’s security.

He said countries the world over are working towards making their military power strong and modern due to global security reasons, border disputes, and the importance to maintain maritime dominance.

There is a rising demand for military equipment. Reports suggest that the world over the cost for security is expected to reach USD 2.1 trillion. In 5-10 years, this is expected to rise manifold, Singh noted.

“We have an opportunity to use all our capacity, take advantage of the policies, and make the country a hub in indigenous shipbuilding,” Singh said.

Indigenously-built stealth-guided missile destroyer Visakhapatnam, packed with an array of missiles and anti-submarine rockets, was commissioned in presence of top naval commanders.

Visakhapatnam is equipped with lethal weapons and sensors, including supersonic surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, medium and short-range guns, anti-submarine rockets, and advanced electronic warfare and communication suits, officials said.

Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of the Naval Staff, said the ship is a shining example of self-reliance.

T20 World Cup became ‘win the toss, win the match’ event: Ian Chappell

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Afternoon Voice

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November 21, 2021

Former Australia skipper Ian Chappell has said that the recently-concluded T20 World Cup saw teams chasing more matches and the toss played a big factor in handing an advantage to the side chasing. Australia won the T20 World Cup 2021 after the Aaron Finch-led side defeated New Zealand in the summit clash in Dubai.

“Australia finally won the major trophy that has eluded their grasp for more than a decade – the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. They clinched the trophy by clouting deliveries to and over the boundary while producing a mixture of bowling that combined just enough wicket-taking with the right amount of containment,” Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo.

“They also had the good fortune to win the toss when it really mattered, in a tournament where the major matches too often became a “win the coin flip, win the game” event. That was one of the major flaws in a tournament that achieved quite a lot of success,” he added.

Chappell also said that lawmakers need to find a way that the teams winning the toss do not end up having a big advantage in the shortest format of the game. “There needs to be a wide-reaching survey into the changes required to improve the T20 format. To make it even more popular than it is, tournaments have to include a way to ensure the game doesn’t become a matter of winning the toss. There seem to be two widely diverging views on T20 cricket,” said Chappell.

“There is the long-term cricket fan’s fear that the game will become an all-power event that favours muscle-bound six-hitting batters in matches of the sort that are too often won by the chasing team. Then there is the opinion of the not-so-discerning fan, who is unworried by the seeming lack of contest between bat and ball and can’t get enough of the mammoth six-hitting,” he added. Former Australia also suggested that the shortest format is quickly becoming just “entertainment” and there is a need for balance to be restored.

“Then there is the balance between sport and entertainment. In my opinion, the balance in T20 cricket needs to be somewhere in the vicinity of 60:40 sport to entertainment. At the moment it’s unbalanced and too much in favour of pure entertainment. The administrators need to find both the ideal balance between bat and ball and educate fans on cricket’s values,” said Chappell.

“It is fine when middle deliveries finish up in the stands but a bowler should be extremely angry if a blatant mis-hit still clears the ropes. This problem is not so pronounced on larger Australian grounds, but I’m not sure what genius produced the ludicrous mixture of better bats and smaller boundaries. This combination is reducing bowlers to virtual bowling machines. It is a serious slight on good bowlers and needs to be rectified immediately,” he added.

Cabinet reshuffle sends positive message across Rajasthan, says Sachin Pilot

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Afternoon Voice

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November 21, 2021

sachin pilot, pilot, cabinet reshuffle, rajasthan government, rajasthan cabinet Congress leader and former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Sunday said the Cabinet reshuffle initiated by the Ashok Gehlot government has sent a positive message across the state and denied any factionalism in the party.

Pilot, who was sacked as the deputy chief minister due to rebellion last year, said he is happy that the issues he had raised, including increasing the representation of Dalits in the Cabinet, have been addressed.

“Four Dalits have been included in the Cabinet. This is a big message. At the same time, the representation of tribals and women has been increased. This was a necessary step and the party and the government worked hard to take it forward,” Pilot told reporters.

He said the committee which was formed last year to look into the issues raised by him has “delivered the first result”.

When asked about members from his group who have been given a place in the Cabinet, Pilot said there was no factionalism in the party and all will work unitedly to win the 2023 Assembly elections.

“There is only one faction — the faction of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and we all are the members. It will be our endeavour to move forward collectively and win the next assembly elections,” he said.

On a question about his role in the new setup, Pilot said that he will follow what the party decides for him.

Fifteen new Rajasthan ministers will take oath at 4 pm at the Raj Bhavan in Jaipur.

The new cabinet will see 12 new faces, including five from the Pilot camp.

This is the first cabinet reshuffle of the Gehlot government which came to power in December 2018.

By-elections forced PM Modi to withdraw three objectionable farm bills

By

Vaidehi Taman

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November 19, 2021

The Centre has repealed three controversial farm laws after more than a year of protests by agitated farmers, but the move is more political in nature. BJP has realised, they don’t have any future in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab if they keep irritating farmers. BJP tried everything to discourage them but that did not go well with recent elections. The farmers had opposed the laws saying the legislation left them at the mercy of corporates, while the Centre claimed the intent was to unshackle farm markets and boost agrarian incomes.

That the stand-off continued even after a year itself is proof enough that the Union government wanted to pursue the laws with zeal, regardless of the fierce and unprecedented opposition it faced even in BJP-ruled states. But the tide began to turn after the government realised that the protests were not withering away after even a year. Then realisation daybreak in the saffron circles about a possible backlash in the cow belt states, which constitute the core vote base of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

In a very dramatic dialogue and that typical cry for farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that his government would repeal the three farm laws passed by Parliament a year ago, which has led to massive protests by farmers unions in several states. The procedure to roll back the laws would take place during the winter session of Parliament, which begins next week, the Prime Minister informed. Farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been protesting against these laws at the borders of Delhi since November 26 last year.

While no official reason has been cited, the decision comes just ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament that is scheduled to commence on November 29. In the last session of Parliament, the opposition attacked the government strongly over the laws, and it led to acrimony and impacted the functioning of the Houses. Also, the Prime Minister has made his announcement before the announcement of crucial Assembly elections in five states — Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Goa. The BJP’s performance in the civic polls in Punjab earlier this year, and in Assembly by-elections in Haryana were dismal.

The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 — began on June 5, 2020, when the President of India promulgated three ordinances¬ that were the precursors to these Acts.

Parliament has the authority to enact, amend, and repeal any law. The government will have to move motions to repeal the three farm laws in the coming session of Parliament. These motions will be moved by the same ministries that piloted the Bills to enact these laws. While no official reason has been cited, the decision comes just ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament that is scheduled to commence on November 29. In the last session of Parliament, the opposition attacked the government strongly over the laws, and it led to acrimony and impacted the functioning of the Houses.

After being forced to take back these laws that it loudly, vehemently, and repeatedly proclaimed as “historic”, the government will doubtless have to walk the path of reform very cautiously. The Modi government’s image among its supporters is that of resolute strength and invincibility. There is one earlier example of the Narendra Modi government withdrawing similarly. During its previous term, the Modi government had withdrawn a contentious ordinance, which was brought to amend the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013.

These three ordinances — The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020; The Farming Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020; and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020 — were replaced the aforementioned Acts that were passed by Parliament in September 2020.

Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and other states have been camping at Delhi’s borders since November 2020 in protest against the three legislations, the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020. The protests have continued for over a year as deliberations between the government and farmers unions failed.

Ahead of Elections, PM apologizes to the Nation and Farm Laws cancelled

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Afternoon Voice

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November 19, 2021

Three controversial farm laws at the heart of massive farmer protests across the country for over a year will be withdrawn, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a striking announcement just months before elections in states like Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. The move comes on the festival of Guru Purab, when Sikhism founder Guru Nanak’s birthday is celebrated, mainly in Punjab.

“While apologising to the nation, I want to say with a sincere and pure heart that maybe something was lacking in our Tapasya (dedication) that we could not explain the truth, as clear as the light of the Diya, to some of our farmer brothers. But today is Prakash Parv, not the time to blame anyone. Today, I want to tell the country that we have decided to repeal the three farm laws,” PM Modi said in an address to the nation. “In the Parliament session starting at the end of this month, we will complete the process of repealing the three laws,” he said.

“I would request all my protesting farmer friends, today is the auspicious day of Guru Purab, return home to your fields and your families and make a new beginning, let us move forward afresh.”

Before the big climb-down, the Prime Minister defended the laws saying they were meant as reforms, mainly for small and marginal farmers in the country. “Whatever I did was for farmers. What I am doing is for the country.”

Manjit Sodhi a businessman from Mumbai says, “Apologies to the 700 plus farmers who lost their lives and their families. The death of 600 farmers couldn’t make the tapasvi move, but UP elections certainly did. Kisan has won against a dictator. The next agitation would be by PSU employees and unemployed youth. Seek the rollback of privatization and also nationalization of Ambani and Adani group.”

Jaspreet Singh Bindra said, “What cannot be achieved by democratic protests can be achieved by the fear of impending elections. PM’s announcement on the withdrawal of the three farm laws is not inspired by a change of policy or a change of heart. Is it impelled by fear of elections?”

Sukhvinder Brar a farmer said, “In seven years for the first time he has undone something bad. Now he has to apologize for demonetisation, CAA, NCR, GST deaths, and many more blunders. Then he needs to respectfully resign. We had enough of him.”

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have been camping outside Delhi since November 2020, demanding that the “black laws” be withdrawn. The BJP has faced massive anger in northern states, something it cannot afford as it preps for big elections ahead, including the 2024 national polls.

Rakesh Tikait, a top farmer leader, said the protesters would wait till the laws were repealed in the session starting on November 29. The farmer protests did not stop through several rounds of talks between the government and farmers, disruptions in parliament and Supreme Court hearings on petitions challenging the laws. “We regret we could not convince all farmers. Only a section of them was opposing the laws, but we kept trying to educate and inform them,” PM Modi said.

The PM’s move may tip the balance in Punjab, where the BJP has been reduced to a minor player after long-time ally Akali Dal broke ties over the farm laws. The state’s ruling Congress faces a challenge from its own former leader, Amarinder Singh. Amarinder Singh, forced to quit as Chief Minister in September, held talks with the BJP soon after. Cancelling the farm laws was reportedly a condition that Mr Singh had for a tie-up with the BJP.