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Hard days ahead for chit fund companies in Maharashtra

July 12, 2019

As per Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) data, four years ago, 162 bogus chit fund companies had duped the investors in Maharashtra to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore. In such a situation, Modi 2.0 government’s decision of banning of “Unregulated Deposit Schemes” will be a boon for the common man of the state. Innocent people can be saved from fraud by these chit fund companies.

It is worth mentioning that the Union cabinet on Wednesday approved the banning of unregulated deposit Schemes Bill, 2019. It seeks to prevent unregulated entities from collecting deposits and duping the poor and innocent people of their hard earned savings. The bill aims at plugging gaps in existing laws and giving powers to the government to prohibit companies from taking such funds from the public. People running such illicit deposit-taking schemes can face jail terms as well as a stiff penalty if the bill becomes a law. In the 2017-18 budget, former finance minister Arun Jaitley had announced a draft bill to curtail the menace of illicit deposit schemes to protect poor and gullible investors from dubious schemes.

According to the central government, the bill will help tackle the menace of illicit deposit-taking activities in the country, which at the present is exploiting regulatory gaps and the lack of strict administrative measures to dupe poor and innocent people of their hard-earned savings. It will replace the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Ordinance, 2019. The bill will be introduced in the ongoing Parliament session. The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Ordinance, 2019 was promulgated on February 21, 2019.

There are three different types of offences — running of unregulated deposit schemes, fraudulent default in regulated deposit schemes, and wrongful inducement — in case of unregulated deposit schemes, according to the bill. The proposed law provides for appointment senior government officials or a ‘competent authority’ that can attach assets or properties and subsequently realise the assets towards repaying depositors, the government said earlier this year. There will also be a provision for creating an online central database to collect and share information on deposit-taking activities in the country.

The proposed law has provisions of punishment as well as repayment of deposits if such schemes raise deposits illegally, the release said. For instance, accepting unregulated deposits will be punishable and can also lead to imprisonment, along with fines ranging between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5 lakh. Repeat offenders could face imprisonment between 5 and 10 years, along with a fine amounting to Rs 5-10 crore.

Four years ago, in June 2015, BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya had sought stringent action by the Maharashtra government against 162 ‘bogus’ chit fund companies. He claimed that these chit fund companies had duped investors in the state to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore. After submitting a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, he said, “I have a list compiled by Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) which states that 162 ‘bogus’ chit fund companies duped investors in the state to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore. In all, these companies collected Rs 1 lakh crore in India, out of which Rs 40,000 crore was collected from investors in Maharashtra.

According to Kirit Somaiya, major companies in the list include Samrudh Jivan, Sai Prasad, Twinkle Group, Citrus Resort Group, Scenic Land Group, and Mirah Pvt Ltd Group, Somaiya said. The SEBI has already banned Samrudh Jivan and Sai Prasad.

It is remarkable that in June 2017, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had attached assets worth Rs 207 crore, including a helicopter, in connection with a multi-crore Ponzi scheme involving accused Mahesh Motewar and his family. Chairman and managing director of Samruddha Jeewan Group, Motewar has been under arrest for duping investors since 2015. His assets had been attached in four states, indicating the magnitude of the scam. It included a Bel 206 B3 helicopter worth Rs3.43 crore, Hotel Orchard at Apte road in Shivaji Nagar, Pune Hotel Le Royale residency in Hinjewadi, Pune, Orchard resorts at Kalewade on Pune-Satara highway. The ED said that the money from the scheme was passed on to various group companies for expansion of other businesses like construction, media, hospitality, software and for personal comforts.

According to the CID, Pune, Motewar and his two wives had duped more than 20 lakh small investors across India through business schemes like rearing, sale, and purchase of live stocks. They lured people to invest money by falsely promising unreasonably high returns and generated funds more than Rs 3,500 crore. A lot of farmers had invested in the schemes and were cheated.

Motewar floated M/s. Samruddha Jeevan Foods India Ltd. (SJFIL), which purchased these properties. A huge amount was collected as deposits from investors and was never refunded. This was a smokescreen to collect huge funds from lakhs of investors, mainly in cash.

Investigations revealed that the illegal collection and laundering through a web of 34 companies. These properties were purchased in the name of the main company M/s. SJFIL Pune, and many of its associated companies like M/s. Prosperity Agro India Ltd (PAIL), M/s. Samruddha Jeevan Multistate Multipurpose Co-op. Society Ltd (SJMMCSL), M/s. Samruddha Jeevan Constructions Pvt. Ltd., M/s. Jeevan Jyoti Construction Pvt. Ltd., M/s. Samruddha Jeevan Orchard Resort Pvt. Ltd., SJ Hotels and Hospitality Pvt Ltd. Various properties were purchased in the name of Mahesh Motewar and his family members.

In December last year, Maharashtra police have filed cases against six employees of a private firm for allegedly duping investors of Rs 10 crore through a Ponzi scheme. The racket was unearthed after investors approached the economics offences wing (EOW) of Thane police, claiming they were cheated by ‘Aatharv4U Infra And Agro Limited. After these investors filed a complaint at the Naupada police station in Thane, an offence was registered against the six persons, including company chairman Shivaji Niphade, managing director Ganesh Hazare and directors Lukman Shaikh, Sachin Gosavi, Mukesh Sudesh and Sulindra Chavan.

Karnataka Crisis

C K Subramaniam

July 12, 2019

No self respecting head of family cries when the wife and grown-up children run away and accept it as some serious flaw in self. It is only logical to find the flaw and put the rest of the family in happy and not make self a laughing stock. Here we cannot apply anti-defection law as the MLAs first resigned then joined BJP. Resignation letters were submitted prior to joining BJP. Therefore, the Speaker has to accept it. If the Speaker now receives letters from Congress or JD(S) parties for disqualifying MLAs for defection, the speaker cannot disqualify the MLAs as the MLAs have resigned already.

The JD(S) government in Karnataka has lost its credibility which they themselves know. Dissolve the house and go for a fresh mandate. Why are they hesitant? Since there is scant respect for Constitutional morality or even the semblance of compliance with existing statutes, rogue legislators should be subjected to people’s boycott – no matter where they contest under whichever political banner they should be defeated by the voters. These legislators were elected by the voters with specified political affiliations and explicit poll promises made by them for a specific period to serve their respective Constituencies. Any attempt at betraying that sacred electoral mandate should be met by the stern displeasure of the electorate. Citizens and voters boycott such politicians.

How shameless these politicians are. They are elected to serve the citizens of the country instead they are selling their soul for sake of money and power! Criminal level of conduct at people’s cost indeed! They all should be banned from assembly for five years. The coalition has been rocked by the resignations of 14 MLAs — 11 of Congress and three of JD(S). The Constitution of India weeps in anguish on hearing the war cry and Karnataka people, who failed to give a clear mandate, now the feel the heat.

The BJP has the best claim to the form the Karnataka government. The opportunistic JD(S) and Congress have no legitimate claim over this state. The governance has been an absolute sham in Karnataka. With breakdown of the most basic services, government departments are being run as personal fiefdoms. Contracts are being awarded not with public good in mind, but the opportunity for rent seeking. You may have a grouse against what the BJP stands for, but good riddance to this illegitimate government. It is time to send them home.

Kumaraswamy’s coalition government never functioned constructively; it remained engaged in holding on to the chair and saving from drowning. The present Congress-JD(S) combine is neither a love marriage nor an arranged one. It is a live together arrangement of day to day convenience as long as mutual pampering serves the purpose of greed. Such a greed-based relationship that does not deliver what ought to be delivered to the people, i.e. stable governance is bound to collapse. The earlier it does, the better for the people.

In India, no political party can be expected to remain as Sanyasi. BJP is not to be misconstrued as a party of Sanyasis. With just a few numbers falling short of what is required to form a comparatively stable government with no need to bring in President’s rule and give what the people need without wasting public money on another election will try to form a ministry by taking the support of dissidents by throwing crumbs.

The events in Karnataka are only symptomatic of the malady in India. The public is emotional when it goes to the hustings, corruption is accepted as a way of life, administrators have become obedient servants of those in power, the judiciary keeps talking about ‘guilty beyond doubt’ and fails to administer juster by inordinate delay. The Congress-JD(S) coalition is against the mandate of both assembly and Lok Sabha polls. The BJP is morally correct to topple this scam government.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Letters to the Editor: 12 July, 2019

Web Team

July 12, 2019

Indian captain’s display of sportsmanship

The Indian team’s captain was very humble to accept ‘devastating’ defeat as announced during the press conference post completion of semi final loss game. The maturity demonstrated during the press conference of having accepted the defeat is overwhelming especially when a team with successive win records and being notable favourites to claim the title lost the semi final match only by a whisker.

Unlike the previous World Cups, the team has achieved a notable and magnificent performance with exception of only 2 major losses including the semi finals and injuries to key players. Team’s opening batsmen were at the right occasion building a formidable partnership without giving much room by losing wickets at tense moments, with the exception of semi final game. Bowling department too performed well with a hat trick by Mohammed Shami and spinners/pacers snatching away the crucial game from opponents through important wickets- a key highlight of the team.

Finally the support staff mentored by Coach Ravi Shastri needs to be lauded for their efforts made to reach the semi-finals and also by staying focused on players performance and fitness during the tournament. BCCI should now take a stand on the exceptional performance demonstrated in the world cup only to retain the support staff and coach or perhaps may start afresh with the selection process.

Varun Dambal

Reduction in bus fare won’t help BEST

BEST is not the best bus in the world or in India, as the name suggests as their services are not good. Their drivers and conductors are sometimes rowdy and use filthy language not only to men but even against women. The drivers also does not halt the buses at the actual bus stop; they take it further on. Most of the drivers also never leave their buses in time from the depot. Sometimes, one has to wait for over an hour for a bus. And when it does arrive, it is crowded. This is the reason why most people prefer to travel by the Mumbai Metro or share autos or share taxis. Some bus conductors also never return the change to passengers in spite of having it with them. The reduction in bus fares will not help them gain profit.

Jubel D’Cruz

Kudos to Nirmala Sitharaman

The first-ever full-term woman Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman deserves all compliments for presenting Union Budget for the year 2019-20 in Lok Sabha on July 5 truly in Indian style wrapped in traditional red cloth. It was indeed heart-winning when while quoting some special benefits though not of much significance, she was over-joyed pointing out to highest number of women members (78) ever in Lok Sabha cutting across party-lines quoting the budget to be – Nari to Narayani.

Political ideologies and differences apart, women Parliamentarians from TMC having sent maximum number of women in Lok Sabha have exhibited their talent in their respective maiden speeches. Women politicians in other parties especially in ruling BJP are also equally talented to deliver their best if given chance to become Parliamentarians.

The ruling BJP should give women constituting 50-percent of total population their due by legislating longest-pending Women-Reservation-Bill to provide them 33-percent reservation in legislature. Or else, Election Commission formula to make it compulsory for every political party to give at least 33-percent party-tickets to women may be immediately enforced.

Madhu Agrawal

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Is BJP aiming One Nation One Party?

Rajesh Choudhary

July 11, 2019

While the Congress struggles to save the coalition government with JD(S) in Karnataka, it suffered a major jolt in Goa with 10 of its 15 MLAs joined the BJP. The Congress is left with only five MLAs in the state where the party had emerged the single largest outfit in the 2017 Assembly elections. Reacting to the defection of the party MLAs, Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar said the BJP’s goal was to create “one nation one party” situation in India.

BJP MLA from Mandrem Dayanand Sopte told Afternoon Voice, “Those who cannot control their MLAs and party, will speak like that. It is a failure of the leadership. Congress MLAs and party workers are in opposition for a long time. They have to take care of their constituency and ensure the development of the area and employment of the youths. That is why they quit the Congress and joined the BJP.”

Five leaders left in the Congress are Ravi Naik, Luizinho Faleiro, Pratapsingh Rane, Digambar Kamat, and Alex Reginaldo. As per internal sources of the Congress, the MLAs took this decision on account of the poor leadership within the party.

It is worth mentioning that a group of 10 Congress MLAs led by the Leader of Opposition in the Goa Assembly Chandrakant Kavlekar merged with the ruling BJP on Thursday evening. After this, the BJP’s strength has increased to 27 in the 40-member Goa Assembly. The MLAs who joined are Chandrakant Kavlekar, Atanasio Monserrate, Jennifer Monserrate, Filipe Neri Rodrigues, Nilkanth Halarnkar, Francisco Silveira, Clafasio Dias, Isidore Fernandes, Wilfred D’Sa, and Tony Fernandes. The anti-defection law makes it mandatory that two-thirds of the strength of a party should agree for a ‘merger’. The amendment, which came into force in January 2004, does not recognise a ‘split’ in a legislature party and instead recognises a ‘merger’.

Commenting on Óne Nation One Party’, Goa Forward Party’s MLA from Saligao Jayesh Salgaonkar said, “Congress has lost and the BJP has gained. We are a coalition partner in the NDA. We are committed to the Gathbandhan Dharma (Coalition commitment). We have supported the BJP government and we abide by it. I cannot comment on the move of 10 Congress MLAs to join the BJP.”

After joining the BJP, Kavlekar said, “Everyone wanted a Congress government to come to power. But we are frustrated being in the opposition and development of the constituency was also suffering. We have been in the opposition for long and to continue with no development of the constituency was not acceptable. We have joined the BJP to ensure development in the constituency and provide jobs for our youth.”

On the other hand, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who was present in the Assembly house to welcome the MLAs, said, “They have come for the development of the state and their constituency. They have joined the BJP unconditionally.”

Girish Chodankar alleged that Congress MLAs joined the BJP after falling prey to blackmailing or allurements. He said, “BJP really wants ‘One Nation One Party’. The BJP has exposed its intense insecurity by poaching Congress legislators.”

“Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s unethical act of luring Congress MLAs displayed his fear of facing a united opposition in the upcoming assembly session. The entire episode reflects the utter misuse of power adopted by BJP which is full of arrogance and was finding itself on a sticky wicket after certain MLAs within its camp were unhappy with the government,” Girish Chodankar said.

All MLAs of the Congress in Goa are tight-lipped, no one is speaking anything. They have either switched off their phones or not responding. When contacted, Congress MLA Digambar Kamat from Margoa denied commenting anything about the current political scenario of Goa. Digambar Kamat instead asked to contact Chellakumar who replaced Digvijaya Singh in April 2017 as the person in charge of the party’s affairs in Goa. He is considered to be close to former Congress President Rahul Gandhi.

According to the sources in BJP, a Cabinet reshuffle may follow soon and most allies may be dropped. At present, five of the 12 ministerial berths are held by the allies. Now new entrants will be included in the cabinet. Speaker Rajesh Patnekar said, “They came with the resignations and I accepted. The monsoon session of the Assembly will commence as per schedule on July 15. Only their seating arrangement will change.”

Atanasio Monserrate, the MLA who just two months ago had snatched the Panjim seat from BJP winning on the Congress ticket said, “We just decided this on Wednesday. We are all colleagues and old friends. After two years I came to Assembly and I told them (Congress) these are the promises I made to the people which need to be fulfilled. I am not any negotiator. We are just friends. We had a good cup of tea. We got together and said this is the best way out as far as development is concerned. I am not looking out for any ministry and no demands were placed at all.” On being asked if the timing of Karnataka and Goa was planned, he said, “It’s a coincidence. Nothing is pre-planned.”

By Dipti Joshi

Ram Mandir for BJP is the “Hen that lays golden eggs”

Vaidehi Taman

July 11, 2019

A Constitutional Bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on July 11 decided to commence hearing the Ayodhya title dispute appeals from July 25 if the mediation committee gives the word that talks with Hindu and Muslim parties to heal minds and hearts are not working. The Bench asked Justice (retired) F.M.I. Kalifulla, who heads the Supreme Court-appointed mediation committee, to submit a report on the progress made in the Ayodhya dispute mediation by July 18. The court added that if Justice Kalifulla, on behalf of the committee, concludes that there was no reason to continue with the mediation, the Constitution Bench would commence hearing the cross-appeals from July 25.

The court’s order to seek a progress report from the committee in a way jump-starts the case as the panel was earlier given time till August 15 to engage in talks with the parties for an amicable settlement to heal hearts and minds. The immediate trigger for the July 11 hearing is an urgent plea made by a claimant to the disputed Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land that the mediation proceedings were making no headway whatsoever.

Since then the Ram temple always remained an unfulfilled agenda of the BJP because once the mission is accomplished, it will be tough to mobilise people on emotive issues. The Congress’s 2019 campaign has almost entirely been about Modi’s Hindutva and divisiveness. This is partly because the Congress doesn’t have much of a story to tell about it, but also and perhaps more importantly because it is desperate to unite the Muslim vote and keep the BJP’s tally in the Hindi belt. That was the crux of the Congress strategy—to keep the BJP out of power in 2019 by any means, while the election outcome is known to all. The BJP and Modi were aware of this. So, the positive part of the Modi’s LS poll campaign had been built on the need for economic prosperity and that Hindus and Muslims should make this common cause.

The negative part, of course, was constant attacks on the UPA government and the Gandhi dynasty. Even worst was that they miscommunicate the historical facts and figures. BJP and PM went aimless on shooting allegations on all side opposition but if you look at the Party, 80 per cent of the leaders that BJP has now are joined leaving all those parties to whom BJP is allergic. As such BJP is not only short of issues but short of leaders too. This is the reason why Modi has kept scrupulously away from the Ram Mandir and the other big divisive issues in his speeches.

Modi campaigned in the name of development, black money, and employment but in his first tenure as the Prime Minister, he could not deliver his promises.

When the party was in its most dire state of affairs, issue of Ram Mandir was a trump card of the party to consolidate the Hindu votes and generate such a feeling. The issue of Ram Mandir for BJP is the “hen that lays golden eggs”, they will not build the temple and move on because this is an issue, and they can whip up emotions even in moderately rational people. This time it was development gimmick, it worked well. Temple issue could be exploited, but building it would be like killing the hen. These two communal passion, whipping issues would not be solved because when they are solved they have to come up with new ones. So, Ram Mandir will not be built, Kashmiri Pundits would not be rehabilitated.

In case BJP is serious about constructing the temple, this is the perfect time they can expedite the matter. They will keep Babri Masjid issue for the rainy days when Indian people would be disgruntled by false promises. If BJP has willed, it can easily draft a constitutional amendment or a bill to override the Supreme Court and do the needful. The question of Rajya Sabha is also simple; they will always find people to support it. Once the procedure starts, any party opposing the bill will leave itself highly vulnerable in the hands of the majority.

If the bill gets stalled in RS, the Congress will be thrashed to the core good being anti-Hindu and if it passes, BJP will make itself extremely strong as the savior of the Hindu Majority.

There are many arguments of building a hospital, dividing the land between Hindu and Muslims, constructing a mosque and so on and so forth. The matter is already in the court and there is polarisation for vote on the same topic. BJP pledged to build a Ram temple at Ayodhya, besides promising to gather views on the issue of triple talaq, ban mechanised and illegal slaughterhouses, form ‘Romeo Squads’ to check eve-teasing and prevent forced migration of Hindus from Muslim-dominated rural areas, if voted to power in Uttar Pradesh. BJP president Amit Shah opted for caution. He said if voted to power, the BJP would make all efforts to build a ‘grand’ Ram temple but would conform to the constitutional and legal framework.

With the overwhelming mandate in central government, the moot question is whether the BJP will deliver on the long-unfulfilled promise. Indeed, the question will acquire greater importance as we come closer to December 6 this year, as it marks a quarter century since the mosque – ‘disputed shrine’ for some – was demolished by rampaging Kar Sevaks mobilised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

There is a need to understand that the Ram Mandir will not be built in the near future because there is a legal injunction since 2011, when the Supreme Court stayed the Allahabad High Court verdict on title suits related to the Ayodhya dispute. The High Court, in September 2010, had ordered division of the disputed land in Ayodhya into three parts – 1/3 for the temple, 1/3 for the Sunni Wakf Board and the remaining to the Nirmohi Akhara, one of Ayodhya’s militant sects.

The second reason why the Ram temple is unlikely to become a reality for long is that the Sangh Parivar was not keen on undertaking the construction of a temple. This is because the temporary structure that stands in place of the demolished mosque is a convenient symbol that can be used as a political tool for mobilising support. There is also a need to understand that temple construction was never the main objective of the VHP agitation. But now Bhagwat took U-turn stating that the Sangh has been associated with sentiments of crores of countrymen in the efforts for construction of a magnificent Ram temple at the birthplace of Lord Rama, who is the personification of life energy of the nation and icon of upholding the dharma.

Only time will tell what happens, but in the end, till the time BJP is enjoying a majority in the Lok Sabha, you should get a Ram Mandir.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Is it the end of Gandhi family in Indian politics?

Web Team

July 11, 2019

Finally, after a lot of speculations and rumors, Rahul Gandhi stepped down as the President of the main opposition Indian National Congress party, taking responsibility for its second-straight landslide defeat in India’s national elections. The right-wing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, returned into power after winning more than 302 of the 543 parliamentary seats in May.

The elections of 2019, surely termed a severe jolt for Rahul Gandhi as his party suffered a crushing defeat and shrunk to 52 seats. Moreover, he lost his seat in the famous family’s long-held home constituency to BJP’s Smriti Irani by a margin of 55,000 votes. Though it was clear from the beginning that Congress cannot come with an absolute majority in comparison to the arch-rival of BJP, but it was expected to be one of the closest contest in India’s parliamentary history particularly after it grabbed the victory in three Hindi heartlands rousing from four years of glooms, just before the general elections but the results on May 23 were totally shocking.

This poor performance of Congress had put a question mark on the quality of leadership of Congress President Rahul Gandhi as a result at last Gandhi has resigned from his post. It is high time for Congress to evaluate why people are not ready to believe in Congress. How did PM Modi succeed to persuade the people despite Mr. Gandhi leveled multiple corruption charges against Narendra Modi ranging from the Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi fraud cases to demonetisation and the Rafale deal?

The Congress party tried to counter the BJP on the current issues which had affected the common man such as unemployment, poverty, rape, mob-violence and rapidly declining economy but all went in vain. And BJP very easily achieved its target above 300.

Was it the failure of leadership of Gandhi or there are some other causes? Some people are terming it as Rahul Gandhi’s collapse but many other political pundits are saying that there are some other reasons led Congress to such miserable defeat. They believe that it was the result of mismanagement and carelessness of Congress workers who made their efforts in the elections for their vested interests instead of the party’s progress. One of the big factors was an internal dispute amongst the top leaders to seek tickets for their kids whether they deserve or not.

Now the big question arouses that, is it the end of politics in the Gandhi family who was battling rather ruling in this field for decades? Does Rahul Gandhi’s resignation mean a permanent halt on his political career of Rahul Gandhi or he can emerge again? Is the resignation of Rahul Gandhi a solution for the party as it is in desperate in need to do serious soul-searching about why it has fared so poorly in recent elections? Yes, of course, a president flourishing of policy experiments followed by a ruthless winnowing out of failed experiment will break the grip of the dictatorship of no alternatives.

By Faheem Usmani Qureshi

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Letters to the Editor: 11 July, 2019

Web Team

July 11, 2019

Celebrating World Population Day through newspaper-advertisements

Some government-departments from central and state governments have given newspaper-advertisements on 11^th July desiring people to stabilize population. But this formality is of no use till strict enforcement may be done to curb population-explosion through legislation like is demanded through a PIL presently pending in Supreme Court, and demanded by 125 Parliamentarians of earlier Lok Sabha cutting across party-lines. Central government should support PIL in the Apex Court.

All government-facilities including all types of subsidies like on LPG and ration, reservation-benefits, promotion and appointment in government-jobs, right to contest elections etc should be abolished on having a third child in the family. It should be mandatory for every hospital, private or government, to compulsorily sterilize the woman on birth of third child, where husband or wife have more than three children. It is also time to follow other Islamic countries where only one wife may be permissible for a man.

Madhu Agrawal

Team India crumbles under pressure

It was difficult for Team India to chase 239 from 5-3 but hats off to Ravindra Jadeja and Mahendra Singh Dhoni who put up a commendable fight though we fell short of the target by 18 runs. Everybody has criticised Team India for their overconfidence and poor cricket in the Semi-final but let us be humble and congratulate the winner who played brilliant cricket when nobody gave New Zealand a chance to win against the favourites. Low scoring games can be tricky more so when interrupted by rains and Team India were crushed under nerves and pressure but full marks for the Kiwis for their biggest win World Cup history.

MS Dhoni would have wished to end his international career with a World Cup win which was not to be but Colonel Dhoni did win the cup for India in 2011 and every Indian is proud of him. Winning and losing is part and parcel of every sport and let us applaud the winner than find faults with our team.

S.N. Kabra.

BJP should expel Akash Vijayvargiya

It was on expected lines that BJP MLA Akash Vijayvargiya who is son of top BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya would get easy bail for his crime of beating a dutiful officer of Indore Municipal Body, and thus obstructing performing his official duty. But soon after being released on bail, he looked defiant when he commented that he was not ashamed of his act and wished that no such opportunity may be created in future that he may have to repeat his batting-skill. This is beyond doubt a threatening tone for officers performing their duty. What more supporters of Akash Vijayvargiya added fuel to fire of crime when they unlawfully celebrated bail to culprit leader by firing bullets in air.

BJP leadership should ask Akash Vijayvargiya for unconditional public-apology and commitment of not repeating any such unlawful act in future. He should also be directed to file case against his supporters who celebrated his release on bail by unlawfully firing in air. Otherwise he should be expelled from the party.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Karnataka crisis: SC orders rebel MLAs to appear before Speaker at 6pm

Web Team

July 11, 2019

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the 10 rebel Congress-JD(S) MLAs to appear before the Speaker of Karnataka Assembly at 6 pm and submit their resignation in person. The Supreme Court also directed the Speaker to take a final decision on the issue today. On Friday, the court will hear the decision of the Speaker. In their plea, the rebel MLAs had alleged that the Karnataka Assembly Speaker was not accepting their resignations deliberately as the political crisis in the state showed no signs of abating. The plea, which has sought direction for the Speaker to accept the resignation of these MLAs, would be heard by a bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose.

When the issue of the political crisis in Karnataka was mentioned on Wednesday morning before a bench headed by the CJI, the rebel MLAs were assured that the court will see whether their plea can be listed for an urgent hearing on Thursday.

The MLAs are now likely to fly from Mumbai to Bengaluru to meet the speaker. In their plea, they had alleged that the speaker had refused to meet them all together. The SC bench, headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi, has requested the speaker to inform the court of the developments by Friday, when the court will resume hearing on rebel MLAs’ plea.

The bench, consists of CJI Ranjan Gogoi, justice Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose, heard the plea filed by the rebel MLAs. “Speaker has acted as a partisan and mala fide manner in the present case in order to protect the Govt. in power which is in a minority” alleges the petition.

Appearing before the bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi on Wednesday senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, on behalf of the MLAs said that the MLAs were apprehensive that they may be forced to vote in the favour of the ruling alliance if the resignations are not accepted.

The plea has been filed by MLAs Pratap Gouda Patil, Ramesh Jarkhiholi, Byrati Basavaraj, BC Patil, ST Somashekar, Arbail Sivaram Hebbar, Mahesh Kumathalli, K Gopalaiah, HD Vishwanath and Narayan Gowda.

The matter has also kept both house of the Parliament, which is currently in session, in upheaval. The Congress has accused the BJP of horse trading to destabalise the coalition government in Karnataka.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and party’s chief troubleshooter DK Shivakumar was deported to Bengaluru late on Wednesday night after being detained by Mumbai Police for allegedly violating the Section 144 imposed in the Powai area of the city. DK Shivakumar had flown from Bengaluru to Mumbai early on Wednesday morning to try and placate the rebel MLAs staying at Renaissance Hotel in Powai. However, the MLAs wrote to Mumbai Police, alleging threat to life, and had Shivakumar barred from entering the hotel. The senior leader continued to stay put for several hours and was eventually escorted to a rest house for detention and later to Mumbai airport. AICC has filed an FIR against ‘illegal confinement of rebel Karnataka Congress MLAs at a Powai hotel’.

It is remarkable that eleven MLAs, eight of the Congress and three of the JD(S), submitted their resignation to the Speaker’s office on July 6 triggering a fresh political crisis in the JD(S)-Congress coalition government in the state. Two MLAs had resigned on July 1.The ruling coalition’s total strength is 116 (Congress-78), JD(S)-37 and BSP-1, besides the Speaker.

With the support of the two independents, who on July 8 resigned from the ministry, the BJP has 107 MLAs in the 224-member House, where the half-way mark is 113. If the resignations of the 13 MLAs are accepted, the coalition’s tally will be reduced to 102. The Speaker also has a vote.

Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy claims having majority. On the other hand, Chief Minister Kumaraswamy has ruled out his resignation saying he has the numbers. Kumaraswamy claimed a majority and said, “I have the majority. MLAs are with me. There is no need for my resign.”

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has asked Kumaraswamy to step down, claiming that his government has lost the majority. The BJP has also urged the governor to step in following the crisis. “We have petitioned the governor seeking his intervention. We may even move a no-confidence motion against the government. We will urge the governor to direct the government to prove its majority,” BJP MLC and party spokesperson N Ravikumar told agencies.

Total 13 MLAs, including Housing Minister M T B Nagaraj, have resigned and two Independent legislators, R Shankar and H Nagesh, have withdrawn support to the Congress-JD(S) coalition government. Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar is yet to take a decision the resignations of the MLAs.

Dr Vaman Acharya, BJP spokesperson, Bengaluru said, “Six months ago, we have done some efforts to form the government. The same story media and Siddaramaiah are repeating. We have nothing to do with the current crisis of the Congress-JDS government. This government is not going to last long, and it will fall. Only then, we will see what to do. So, in that context, we are doing nothing on their part. But if the government collapses and they continue fight among themselves, we will not keep quiet.”

“We will definitely claim to form government. We are already single largest party with 105 MLAs. After fall, defection and resignation, we will attain majority. So, as a majority party we will claim power, not before that. All those who have resigned were never in our contact. But after resigning they sought some help. Our party workers arranged hotel and other facilities in Mumbai. Five more Congress MLAs will resign tomorrow. Hence, this government has to collapse,” he added.

Ayodhya dispute: Hearing on daily basis from July 25 if Mediation Panel rules out role: SC

Web Team

July 11, 2019

The Supreme Court on Thursday sought the latest status report with regard to the ongoing mediation proceedings in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid Ayodhya land dispute case within a week.

A five-judge constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, asked former apex court judge Justice (Retd) F M I Kalifulla, chairperson of the three-member mediation panel, to submit the report of panel by July 18. The bench said that the court would pass further orders on the same date. The bench said that after perusing the latest status report, if it felt that the mediation process ought not to be concluded, the main Ayodhya dispute case would be heard by the apex court on a day-to-day basis from July 25.

Timeline of the case

1528: Babri Masjid built by Mir Baqi, commander of Mughal emperor Babur.

1885: Mahant Raghubir Das files plea in Faizabad district court seeking permission to build a canopy outside the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid structure. Court rejects plea.

1949: Idols of Ram Lalla placed under a central dome outside the disputed structure.

1950: Gopal Simla Visharad files suit in Faizabad district court for rights to worship the idols of Ram Lalla.

1950: Paramahansa Ramachandra Das files suit for continuation of worship and keeping the idols.

1959: Nirmohi Akhara files suit seeking possession of the site.

1981: Uttar Pradesh (UP) Sunni Central Waqf Board files suit for possession of the site.

February 1, 1986: Local court orders the government to open the site for Hindu worshippers.

August 14, 1989: Allahabad High Court ordered maintenance of status quo in respect of the disputed structure.

December 6, 1992: Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid structure demolished.

April 3, 1993: ‘Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act’ passed for acquisition of land by Centre in the disputed area. Various writ petitions, including one by Ismail Faruqui, filed in Allahabad HC challenging various aspects of the Act. Supreme Court exercising its jurisdiction under Article 139A transferred the writ petitions, which were pending in the High Court.

October 24, 1994: Supreme Court says in the historic Ismail Faruqui case that mosque was not integral to Islam.

April 2002: Allahabad High Court begins hearing on determining who owns the disputed site.

March 13, 2003: Supreme Court says, in the Aslam alias Bhure case, no religious activity of any nature be allowed at the acquired land.

March 14: Supreme Court says interim order passed should be operative till disposal of the civil suits in Allahabad HC to maintain communal harmony.

September 30, 2010: Allahabad High Court , in a 2:1 majority, rules three-way division of disputed area between Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.

May 9, 2011: Supreme Court stays Allahabad High Court verdict on Ayodhya land dispute.

Feb 26, 2016: Subramanian Swamy files plea in SC seeking construction of Ram Temple at the disputed site.

March 21, 2017: Chief Justice of India (CHI) JS Khehar suggests out-of-court settlement among rival parties.

August 7, 2017: Supreme Court constitutes three-judge bench to hear pleas challenging the 1994 verdict of the Allahabad High Court .

August 8, 2017: UP Shia Central Waqf Board tells SC mosque could be built in a Muslim-dominated area at a reasonable distance from the disputed site.

September 11, 2017: Supreme Court directs Chief Justice of the Allahabad HC to nominate two additional district judges within ten days as observers to deal with the upkeep of the disputed site.

November 20, 2017: UP Shia Central Waqf Board tells SC temple can be built in Ayodhya and mosque in Lucknow.

December 1, 2017: Thirty-two civil rights activists file plea challenging the 2010 verdict of the Allahabad HC.

February 8, 2018: Supreme Court starts hearing the civil appeals.

March 14, 2018: Supreme Court rejects all interim pleas, including Swamy’s, seeking to intervene as parties in the case.

April 6, 2018: Rajeev Dhavan files plea in Supreme Court to refer the issue of reconsideration of the observations in its 1994 judgement to a larger bench.

July 6, 2018: UP government tells Supreme Court some Muslim groups were trying to delay the hearing by seeking reconsideration of an observation in the 1994 verdict.

July 20, 2018: Supreme Court reserves verdict.

September 27, 2018: Supreme Court declines to refer the case to a five-judge Constitution bench. Case to be heard by a newly constituted three-judge bench on October 29.

October 29, 2018: Supreme Court fixes the case for the first week of January before an appropriate bench, which will decide the schedule of hearing.

November 12, 2018: Supreme Court declines early hearing of petitions in the case requested by Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha.

November 22, 2018: Supreme Court dismisses public interest litigation (PIL) seeking direction to organisations and public at large to “behave” and not air their views that can spoil the atmosphere till it decides the title dispute case.

December 24, 2018: Supreme Court decides to take up petitions on case for hearing on January 4.

January 4, 2019: Supreme Court says an appropriate bench constituted by it will pass an order on January 10 for fixing the date of hearing in the title case.

January 8, 2019: Supreme Court sets up a five-judge Constitution Bench to hear the case headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and comprising Justices S A Bobde, N V Ramana, U U Lalit and D Y Chandrachud.

January 10, 2019: Justice U U Lalit recuses himself prompting Supreme Court to reschedule the hearing for January 29 before a new bench.

January 25, 2019: Supreme Court reconstitutes 5-member Constitution Bench to hear the case. The new bench comprises Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer.

January 27, 2019: Supreme Court cancels the January 29 hearing due to non-availability of Justice S A Bobde.

January 29, 2019: Centre moves Supreme Court seeking permission to return the 67-acre acquired land around the disputed site to original owners.

February 20, 2019: Supreme Court decides to hear the case on February 26.

February 26, 2019: Supreme Court favours mediation, fixes March 5 for order on whether to refer matter to court-appointed mediator.

March 6, 2019: Supreme Court reserves order on whether the land dispute can be settled through mediation.

March 8, 2019 : Supreme Court refers the dispute for mediation by a panel headed by former apex court judge F M I Kallifulla.

Crisis in Karnataka, Section 144 in Mumbai

Rajesh Choudhary

July 10, 2019

The Karnataka crisis has taken a new turn with Congress Minister D.K. Shivakumar denied entry into the hotel where the rebel MLAs of Congress-JD(S) alliance are staying. Shivakumar had booked a room in the Renaissance hotel in Powai but his reservation has been cancelled by the hotel. After being denied entry into the hotel, Shivakumar stated that he is not a terrorist. The hotel staff informed Shivakumar that his accommodation has been cancelled due to some emergency situation. Shivakumar stated, “I am a citizen and not a minister. I am not a terrorist and this is pure politics.” If the coalition regime does finally fall, Karnataka may have an alternative government by the BJP perhaps, after the party moves a successful no-confidence motion in the Assembly.

Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi said, “The central government is responsible for the Karnataka crisis. They are trying to weaken the opposition andare indulging in corruption. To hold elections and to govern the country, they are indulging in horse-trading activities. They have come to power by misleading the voters. Police, Income tax department, Enforcement department, and Intelligence department are working at the behest of the BJP government.”

The half-way, simple-majority mark in the 224-member Karnataka Assembly for a party or parties to form a government is 113. When the resignations of the 13 MLAs are accepted, the coalition’s strength will come down from 118 to 105 (Congress – 69, JD(S) – 34, BSP – 1, Independent – 1). The BJP’s current strength in the Assembly too is 105. However, this equation will worsen for the coalition, if more legislators resign, which they might.

Congress spokesperson Hemlata Patil said, “Why was Shivakumar denied accommodation in the hotel? He is not a terrorist. Attempts are being made by the BJP government to topple the Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka. They want to come to power in Karnataka by hook or crook.”

The dissidents and the BJP, working in close coordination, are adopting the time-tested ‘resign and reduce’ technique to topple the government without falling foul of the anti-defection law. As part of this, BJP-patented system, ruling members neither violate a whip of their party nor join another party. They simply resign as MLAs, which reduces the effective strength of the Assembly and the half-way, majority mark.

BJP MP Dilip Patel said, “The government has imposed section 144 in Powai and there is no need to create a hue and cry over it. There is a tendency to blame BJP for all incidents. The BJP has won with a good mandate. The Congress always holds Modi, Amit Shah and BJP for everything. Congress and JD(S) government lack majority in Karnataka.”

To maintain law and order in the area section 144 has been imposed in Powai from July 9 to July 12. Police security has been tightened outside the hotel.

Rebel MLA’s chanted slogans asking Kumaraswamy to go back. On the other hand, Shivakumar stated, “I have already booked for my accommodation in the hotel. Nobody can prevent me from entering the hotel.” Rebel MLAs also informed the police that Shivakumar is a threat to them and demanded police protection. Therefore, police had prevented him from entering the hotel.

Shivakumar said, “I have booked a room in the hotel. My friends are staying in the hotel. There is no question of me threatening anyone. The Mumbai police must be allowed to do their duty. I have come here to meet my friends.”

Shivakumar is trying to convince the rebel MLAs to return to the party fold. The MLAs have submitted their resignations to the Speaker and are staying in Mumbai, apparently at the behest of the BJP, threatening the stability of the coalition government.

Stating that he would stay put at the gate till he was allowed in, Shivakumar said, “I am not going in with a weapon, I only have a heart. I am going to talk to them.”

“I have reservation here [in the hotel] and should be allowed in. When BJP leaders R. Ashok and Bopaiah are being let in, why but not us,” he asked.

“I don’t want to harm anyone. I have a lot of respect for the Maharashtra government. This is the first time such a thing is happening. Let the police accompany me inside. I have not come with any weapon. I want to go into the room that I have booked and freshen up, have coffee,” Shivakumar said

Eleven rebel MLA’s of Congress and JD(S) are staying in Renaissance hotel. Som Shekar has said that he will continue to be a Congress leader despite quitting from the post of MLA. He said, “I won’t reconsider my resignation. We are preparing out next strategy after quitting from MLA’s post.” Even BJP MLAs were spotted at this hotel.

Meanwhile, former Mumbai Congress president Milind Deora took to Twitter and posted, “I have spoken to @D.K Shivakumarji and assured him that local Congress leaders and workers are available to lend any support.”

“I urge the Karnataka MLAs to return to Bengaluru and resolve the matter constitutionally. BJP is sponsoring this sabotage by misusing its power in Maharashtra,” he added.

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