India

“This is dictatorship, Emergency”: Sunita Kejriwal on husband’s arrest by CBI

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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal took a dig at the Centre saying that the entire “system” is trying to ensure that her husband stays in jail, something which is not lawful but resembles “dictatorship” and “Emergency”.

Updated On – 26 June 2024, 08:32 PM


“This is dictatorship, Emergency”: Sunita Kejriwal on husband’s arrest by CBI

File photo: Sunita Kejriwal

New Delhi: On the day when Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla condemned the Emergency, imposed in 1975, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal took a dig at the Centre saying that the entire “system” is trying to ensure that her husband stays in jail, something which is not lawful but resembles “dictatorship” and “Emergency”.

“Arvind Kejriwal got bail on 20th June. Immediately ED got a stay. The very next day CBI made him an accused. And today he was arrested. The whole system is trying to ensure that the man does not come out of jail. This is not law. This is dictatorship, this is emergency,” Sunita Kejriwal said in a post on ‘X’. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from the courtroom, in connection with the Excise policy case.

CBI arrested the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Kejriwal after the Vacation Judge of Delhi Court allowed CBI to examine/interrogate him in the courtroom so that the agency could proceed with his formal arrest.
The court also asked CBI to place on record the material that they have for his arrest. Kejriwal was today produced before the court of vacation judge Amitabh Rawat in compliance with the production warrant issued by the court yesterday.

Meanwhile, the NDA leaders held a protest in the Parliament premises on Wednesday to mark the 50th anniversary of the emergency, demanding an apology from the Congress.

Earlier, before adjourning the lower house till Thursday, Speaker Om Birla condemned the Emergency and the house also observed a two-minute silence for the people who lost their lives during the period.

“This House strongly condemns the decision to impose Emergency in 1975. Along with this, we appreciate the determination of all those people who opposed the Emergency, fought and fulfilled the responsibility of protecting the democracy of India. 25th June 1975 will always be known as a black chapter in the history of India,” Birla said.

“On this day, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed an Emergency in the country and attacked the Constitution made by Baba Saheb Ambedkar. India is known all over the world as the mother of democracy. Democratic values and debate have always been supported in India. Democratic values have always been protected, they have always been encouraged. Dictatorship was imposed on such an India by Indira Gandhi. The democratic values of India were crushed and freedom of expression was strangled,” he added.

India

IMD issues orange alert over 5 districts for rain in Himachal Pradesh

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The Indian Meteorological Department forecasts and issues orange alert over affected districts Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Mandi, and Bilaspur. while a yellow alert has been issued for remaining districts for rainfall in the State on June 29th and 30th.

Published Date – 26 June 2024, 09:05 PM


IMD issues orange alert over 5 districts for rain in Himachal Pradesh


Shimla: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for rainfall in five districts of Himachal Pradesh on June 29th and 30th.

The affected districts include Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Mandi, and Bilaspur, while a yellow alert has been issued for the remaining districts of the state during the same period.

The IMD forecasts that the monsoon will advance across the state in the next three days, with rainfall between June 26th and July 1st.

Sandeep Kumar Sharma, the senior scientist at IMD HP, said, “Between the dates of June 28 to July 1, the plain areas of Una, Bilaspur and Hamirpur and Midhills area of the districts of Chamba, Kangra, Solan Shimla, Sirmaur, Kullu and Mandi and higher reaches of Kinnaur mist of the places will get rainfall and there is the possibility of rainfall and in these areas, one two places will get yellow alert and for 29th and 30th, we have issued orange alert of rainfall in Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Mandi, Bilaspur districts of the state.” “The monsoon may arrive in Himachal Pradesh in three to four days, the monsoon will be normal and more than normal this year in the state,” Sharma added.

Sharma also said, “Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Kangra Chamba, and Mandi will get rainfall on the 26th and 27th; we have issued a yellow alert of a thunderstorm for today and tomorrow.” Sharma also provided updates on rainfall and temperatures across Himachal Pradesh in the last 24 hours as reported at 2.50 pm.

“During the past 24 Hours, the areas in districts of Sirmaur, Hamirpur, Bilaspur and Mandi have received light to moderate rainfall. Kotkhai in Shimla received 17 mm rainfall, Narkanda received 14 mm of rainfall, Sarahan in Shimla 6 mm, Nadaun in Hamirpur received 7mm and Sundernagr received light rainfall. Three to four districts have received light to moderate rainfall. The temperatures are normal Una recorded the highest at 41.4 degrees Celsius and Shimla recorded 26 degree Celsius. Solan has recorded 30 degrees Celsius and the areas in Hamirpur and Bilaspur have recorded nearly 39 degree Celsius,” Sharma said.

India

Watch: Girl narrowly escapes lightning strike while making reel on rooftop

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In the video, a lightning strike hits the house’s top roof as the girl below films a reel.

Updated On – 27 June 2024, 03:05 PM


Watch: Girl narrowly escapes lightning strike while making reel on rooftop


Patna: A 15-year-old girl had a narrow escape from a lightning strike while making a reel on the rooftop of her neighbour in Bihar’s Sitamarhi district.

A video of the incident has gone viral on social media.

The video shows a lightning strike hitting the topmost roof of the house with the girl standing just below it filming a reel.

She ran away as soon as the lightning struck the rooftop. The entire episode was recorded as she had set the mobile camera at a particular spot to record a reel.

The incident took place in Sirsia village under the Bela police station in Sitamarhi district. As per sources, as soon as it started raining, 15-year-old Sania Kumari went to the roof of her neighbour Devnarayan Bhagat house to make reels.

Lightning is common during the rainy season in Bihar which also claims many lives every year.

 

India

LK Advani admitted to AIIMS Delhi; Condition stable

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The 96-year-old leader is in a private ward under the care of the Urology Department, sources said.

Updated On – 27 June 2024, 03:07 PM


LK Advani admitted to AIIMS Delhi; Condition stable


New Delhi: Veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani was admitted to the AIIMS here late on Wednesday night, sources said, adding that the condition of the former Deputy Prime Minister is stable.

The 96-year-old leader has been kept in a private ward under the supervision of doctors of the Urology Department, the sources said.

He served as the Deputy Prime Minister from 2002 to 2004 and was recently conferred the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour, by President Droupadi Murmu. He also served as BJP President three times.

India

This too shall pass and truth will triumph, says actor Darshan’s wife

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Call actor’s fans ‘celebrities’, urges them to stay calm and focus on doing good deeds

Published Date – 27 June 2024, 09:27 AM


This too shall pass and truth will triumph, says actor Darshan’s wife

Actor Darshan being taken to a Bengaluru court in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case, in Bengaluru. — Photo:ANI

Bengaluru: The wife of Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who has been arrested in a murder case, has urged his fans to stay calm and focus on doing good deeds.

Vijayalakshmi shared a fan art on her Instagram account along with a message in which she called her husband’s fans “celebrities” and said that the actor was “touched” by the support he was getting.

“Call for all our celebrities. You all know how much Darshan loves you. It is sad that we are in this situation today and that we have to stay at a distance from him. I have spoken to him in detail about the situation outside and it has touched his heart,” Vijayalakshmi said.

Darshan has urged all his celebrities to stay calm and focus on doing good deeds. He is sure that he will be a part of your prayers, she said.

“We have immense faith in the judicial system of our nation and am sure there will be brighter days ahead. I firmly believe that those attempting to harm Darshan through words/action during his absence will be taken care of by Mother Chamundeshwari,” she said.

Vijayalakshmi urged the actor’s fans to keep supporting him in these hard times, saying, “Your being calm will be our biggest strength. This too shall pass. Truth will Triumph.” A total of 17 people, including Darshan and his friend Pavithra Gowda, are accused in the alleged killing of Renukaswamy.

According to police sources, 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Gowda, which enraged Darshan, allegedly leading to his murder. His body was found near a stormwater drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli here on June 9. Darshan and the other accused are currently in judicial custody.

India

US again raises ‘concerns’ over alleged discrimination of minorities in India 

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The findings come a few weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his third term in office

Published Date – 27 June 2024, 09:41 AM


US again raises ‘concerns’ over alleged discrimination of minorities in India 

Representational Image

Washington: The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an organisation India has strongly criticised in the past, has again raised ‘concerns’ over religious freedoms, citing the alleged rise in ‘hate speech‘, demolitions and anti-conversion laws.

The report annually surveys religious freedoms around the world and aims to provide a “fact-based, comprehensive view of the state of religious freedom” in nearly 200 countries and territories.

The findings come a few weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his third term in office and India and the United States agreed to strengthen cooperation in high technology areas during a visit by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan to New Delhi.

“In India, we see a concerning increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities,” US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said at an event in Washington on Monday.

The US ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, Rashad Hussain also expressed concerns about the situation in India. “In India, Christian communities reported that local police aided mobs that disrupted worship services over accusations of conversion activities, or stood by while mobs attacked them and then arrested the victims on conversion charges,” he said.

Earlier in May, India rejected a similar report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom that accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of “reinforcing discriminatory nationalist policies” and termed the organisation “biased” with “political agenda.”

“The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is known as a biased organization with a political agenda. They continue to publish their propaganda on India masquerading as part of an annual report,” MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a press briefing.

“We really have no expectation that USCIRF will even seek to understand India’s diverse, pluralistic and democratic ethos. Their efforts to interfere in the largest electoral exercise of the world will never succeed,” he added.

The USCIRF had then alleged that the Indian government “failed to address” communal violence disproportionately affecting Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, Jews, and Adivasis (indigenous peoples) in 2023.

Among its key findings, the report calls out several countries including India, China, Russia, and Iran for violations of explicitly targeting members from certain faith communities. A detailed section of the report also mentioned the alleged “targeted attacks against religious minorities in India.”

The report expresses several concerns over India’s religious freedom. It claims religious conversion is “legally prohibited” in multiple States, religious minorities are “attacked on a regular basis”, and alleges that Muslims face systemic discrimination.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also noted that in the United States, hate crimes against both Muslims and Jews “have gone up dramatically.” The US also raised concerns about Pakistan, where Blinken condemned blasphemy laws that “help foster a climate of intolerance and hatred that can lead to vigilantism and mob violence.”

Secretary Blinken also mentioned the imprisonment and exile of Muslim Uyghurs in China, as well as the repression of Tibetan Buddhists, Christians and Falun Gong practitioners.

India

Kallakurichi hooch tragedy: AIADMK legislators, functionaries begin hunger strike

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Clad in black shirts, the MLAs, who have been suspended from ongoing Assembly session for disrupting proceedings, begin fast at Rajarathinam stadium

Published Date – 27 June 2024, 10:02 AM


Kallakurichi hooch tragedy: AIADMK legislators, functionaries begin hunger strike

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, along with party MLAs, wearing black shirts protest against the Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy, at the State Assembly in Chennai. Photo: ANI

Chennai: Led by party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, AIADMK MLAs and party workers commenced their hunger strike here on Thursday to seek a CBI investigation into the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.

Clad in black shirts, the AIADMK legislators, who have been suspended from the ongoing Assembly session for disrupting proceedings, began their fast here by 9 am at the Rajarathinam stadium.

The fast is also to condemn the ‘denial of permission’ to raise the issue in the State Assembly, according to the main opposition party.

Palaniswami had said on Wednesday that ‘denying a honest debate’ over the hooch tragedy, that has reportedly left over 60 dead, and evicting and suspending AIADMK MLAs was against democracy.

The former Chief Minister condemned what he described as ‘diversionary politics’ of the DMK government rather than taking action over hooch deaths. The hunger strike is likely to end by 5 pm on Thursday.

India

Lok Sabha poll results proved India not ‘Hindu Rashtra’, says Amartya Sen 

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Expresses displeasure that keeping people behind bars “without trial” has continued in the country since the British rule

Published Date – 27 June 2024, 10:09 AM


Lok Sabha poll results proved India not ‘Hindu Rashtra’, says Amartya Sen 

Nobel laureate Amartya Sen

Kolkata: Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has asserted the recent Lok Sabha poll results point to the fact that India is not a ‘Hindu Rashtra’.

He also expressed displeasure that keeping people behind bars “without trial” has continued in the country since the British rule and it is more in practice under the BJP government in comparison to the Congress regime.

“That India is not a Hindu Rashtra only has been reflected in the election results,” Sen told a Bengali news channel at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport here.

The 90-year-old economist arrived in Kolkata from the US on Wednesday evening. “We always hope to see a change after every election. Some of what happened earlier (during the BJP-led central government) like putting people behind bars without trial, and widening the gap between the rich and poor, are still continuing. That must stop,” he said.

The eminent economist said there is a need to be politically open-minded, especially when India is a secular country with a secular Constitution. “I do not think the idea of turning India into a Hindu Rashtra is appropriate,” Sen said. He was also of the opinion that the new Union Cabinet is “a copy of the earlier one”.

“The Ministers continue to hold similar portfolios. Despite a slight reshuffle, the politically powerful are still powerful,” he said. Sen recalled that during his childhood when India was under the British rule, people were jailed without any trial.

“When I was young, many of my uncles and cousins were put in jail without trial. We had hoped that India would be free from this. Congress is also to blame for the fact that this did not stop. They didn’t change it… But, this is more in practice under the present government,” the Nobel laureate said.

On the BJP losing the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat despite building the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Sen said attempts were made to overshadow the country’s true identity.

“… Building the Ram Temple spending so much money… to portray India as a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ should not have happened in the country of Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. It shows an attempt to neglect India’s true identity, and it must change,” he said.

Sen also said that unemployment was on the rise in India, and sectors like primary education and primary healthcare were being neglected.

India

Aam Admi Party MPs to boycott of President Murmu’s address to Parliament

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Party leader Sandeep Pathak says President and Constitution are supreme, important to raise voices when dictatorship is done in the name of justice

Published Date – 27 June 2024, 10:19 AM


Aam Admi Party MPs to boycott of President Murmu’s address to Parliament

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal being produced before the Rouse Avenue Court in connection with a money laundering case related to the Delhi liquor policy, in New Delhi. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: After Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was sent to three days’ CBI remand by the Rouse Avenue Court in the Delhi excise policy case, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced that its MPs would boycott President Droupadi Murmu‘s address to the joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday.

This will be the first presidential address after the formation of the third National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

Following the President’s address, a Motion of Thanks will be moved in both Houses of Parliament, which will be discussed by the members.

AAP leader Sandeep Pathak said the President and the Constitution are supreme and when dictatorship is done in the name of justice, it is important to raise voices.

“Today (Thursday), we will protest in the Rajya Sabha against the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and we will boycott the President’s address. The President and the Constitution are supreme and when dictatorship is done in the name of justice, it is important to raise our voices,” he said.

When asked whether other parties of the I.N.D.I.A bloc will also protest in Rajya Sabha, Pathak said, “We did not have a discussion with the remaining parties of the I.N.D.I.A alliance regarding this but our party will boycott the President’s address”.

Meanwhile, the Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi on Wednesday sent Kejriwal to three days CBI remand in connection with the excise policy case.

Vacation Judge Amitabh Rawat, after taking note of all the submissions of both sides, allowed Kejriwal to be on CBI remand till June 29.

During the remand period, the court allowed Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita Kejriwal, to meet him for 30 minutes and his lawyer to meet him every day for 30 minutes. The court has also allowed him to carry his prescribed medicines during the remand period.

During the hearing, Kejriwal himself addressed the court and said, “CBI is claiming that I have made a statement against Manish Sisodia, which is completely false. Manish Sisodia Nirdosh hai, Aam Aadmi Party Nirdosh hai. Main bhi nirdosh hun. Iss Tarah ke statements hamme media me badnam Karne ke liye diye ja rahe hai (Manish Sisodia is innocent, Aam Aadmi Party is innocent. I am also innocent. statements are being given in the media to defame us.)”

He also added “CBI sources ke hawale se media me hamme badnam kar rahe rahe hai. Inka plan hai ki media front page ye chala de ki Kejriwal ne sara thikra Manish Sisodia pe daal diya. (They are tarnishing our image in the media by using unnamed sources. They plan to make it headline news that Kejriwal has shifted all the blame to Manish Sisodia.)”

However, the Court said,” I have read your statement… you have not said this.”

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday stayed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s bail order passed by the trial court, saying that the trial court should have at least recorded its satisfaction with the fulfilment of twin conditions of Section 45 of the Prevention of the Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before passing the impugned order.

India

‘Stop misusing ED and CBI’: AAP MPs protest Kejriwal’s arrest on Parliament premises

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AAP MP says President and Constitution are supreme and when dictatorship is done in the name of justice, it is important to raise voices

Published Date – 27 June 2024, 11:21 AM


‘Stop misusing ED and CBI’: AAP MPs protest Kejriwal’s arrest on Parliament premises

AAP leader Sanjay Singh along with other party leaders protests against the Central Government over the alleged misuse of CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) at the Parliament House complex, in New Delhi. — Photo:PTI

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party MPs held a protest against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, on Parliament premises ahead of President Droupadi Murmu‘s address on Thursday.

The party MPs were seen holding placards that read, “Stop misusing ED and CBI“, and “Dictatorship will not work”. AAP leader Sandeep Pathak also said that the party MPs would boycott the President’s address to the joint sitting of Parliament.

This will be the first Presidential address after the formation of the third National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. Following the President’s address, a motion of thanks will be moved in both Houses of Parliament, which will be discussed by the members.

Pathak said that the President and the Constitution are supreme and when dictatorship is done in the name of justice, it is important to raise voices. “Today we will protest in the Rajya Sabha against the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and we will boycott the President’s address. The President and the Constitution are supreme and when dictatorship is done in the name of justice, it is important to raise our voices,” he said.

When asked whether other parties of the I.N.D.I.A bloc will also protest in the Rajya Sabha, Pathak said, “We did not have a discussion with the remaining parties of the I.N.D.I.A alliance regarding this but our party will boycott the President’s address”.

Meanwhile, the Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi on Wednesday sent Kejriwal to three days CBI remand in connection with the Excise policy case. Vacation Judge Amitabh Rawat after taking note of all the submissions of both sides, allowed Arvind Kejriwal to be on CBI remand till June 29, 2024.

During the remand period, the court allowed Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita Kejriwal, to meet him for 30 minutes and his lawyer to meet him every day for 30 minutes. The court has also allowed him to carry his prescribed medicines during the remand period.

During the hearing, Arvind Kejriwal himself addressed the court and said, “CBI is claiming that I have made a statement against Manish Sisodia, which is completely false. Manish Sisodia Nirdosh hai, Aam Aadmi Party Nirdosh hai. Main bhi nirdosh hun. Iss Tarah ke statements hamme media me badnam Karne ke liye diye ja rahe hai (Manish Sisodia is innocent, Aam Aadmi Party is innocent. I am also innocent. statements are being given in the media to defame us.)”