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"Victory Of Dishonesty, Mobocracy": Team Uddhav As BJP Wins Chandigarh Poll

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'Victory Of Dishonesty, Mobocracy': Team Uddhav As BJP Wins Chandigarh Mayor Poll

Team Uddhav said the world’s largest democracy bowed its head in shame in Chandigarh

Mumbai:

Amid the controversy over the result of the Chandigarh Mayor elections, Shiv Sena’s (UBT) mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ took a dig at the Centre and said that it is the victory of dishonesty and mobocracy, adding, “The world’s largest democracy bowed its head in shame in Chandigarh.”

“BJP’s victory in Chandigarh Mayor elections is the victory of dishonesty and mobocracy. The world’s largest democracy bowed its head in shame in Chandigarh and this murder of democracy took place on the day of Gandhi Jayanti. In the Chandigarh Mayor election, the AAP and Congress had 20 votes each, while the BJP had 16 votes. Yet the presiding officer announced that the BJP had won the mayor’s seat, rejected your eight votes for it and ran away from the auditorium. This ‘horror show’ of democracy was portrayed and the world saw this cowardly side of BJP,” Saamana said in its editorial.

The BJP’s Manoj Sonkar was declared the Mayor of Chandigarh on Tuesday after he won the mayoral polls with 16 votes against the 12 votes bagged by Congress-AAP candidate Kuldeep Tita. Eight votes were declared invalid.

“Without fraud and dishonesty, BJP cannot win an election of Mayor, the BJP has been in power at the Centre for the last ten years and is talking about coming to power again in 2024. The terrible thing that happened in the Chandigarh Mayor elections is an example of what the 2024 elections will be like and what villainous drama can unfold in Parliament after the results. What happened in Chandigarh was straight bullying by the BJP. Those who committed such a heinous crime out of jealousy of winning an election in Chandigarh will stoop to a lower level to win the general elections of the country,” it added.

Saamana further added that it was the so-called Ram devotees who kidnapped Sita in the form of democracy.

“In the Chandigarh Mayor elections, BJP has committed hooliganism in an ‘underworld’ manner. There was no success in breaking the parties like Congress and AAP to establish power there, hence the presiding officer declared 8 votes invalid and took away those ballot papers. This is the kidnapping of Sita in the form of democracy, which happened openly in Chandigarh,” it said.

“There is no longer any need for Ravana to abduct Sita. It was the so-called Ram devotees who kidnapped her. If Shri Ram returns to Ayodhya, he will again get upset and go into exile, such is the situation in the country,” it added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

World

Musk’s Tesla sued for hazardous waste handling in US

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The hazardous materials in question include used batteries, antifreeze, paint materials, brake fluids, and more.

Published Date – 1 February 2024, 10:50 AM


Musk’s Tesla sued for hazardous waste handling in US


San Francisco: Elon Musk-run Tesla has been sued in the US for its hazardous waste handling.

Over two dozen California counties accused the electric car maker of improperly labelling and disposing of hazardous waste in landfills that don’t process that type of material, according to reports.

The hazardous materials in question include used batteries, antifreeze, paint materials, brake fluids, and more.

A violation of California’s hazardous waste management policies could result in penalties of up to $70,000 per day, reports TechCrunch.

The complaint, filed in San Joaquin County Superior Court, alleged that Tesla improperly labeled and disposed of materials like “lead acid batteries and other batteries,” paints, brake fluid, aerosols, antifreeze, acetone, diesel fuel and more at its production and service facilities throughout the state.

Tesla also allegedly improperly disposed of the waste, both on-site and at landfills that can’t accept hazardous waste, read the complaint. Tesla or Musk were yet to comment on the complaint.

In February 2022, Tesla agreed to pay a $275,000 penalty for violating the Clean Air Act at its electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant in Fremont, California.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Tesla Motors after it found Clean Air Act violations at their automobile manufacturing plant. Under the settlement, Tesla agreed to pay a $275,000 penalty.

The list of hazardous air pollutants, or “air toxics”, includes over 180 chemicals that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects. In 2019, Tesla agreed to pay a $31,000 penalty for failing to comply with air emissions standards for equipment leaks, failing to comply with management requirements for generators of hazardous wastes and failing to make an adequate hazardous waste determination for certain solid waste generated at the facility.

Tesla has also had multiple fires in the paint shop of its Fremont factory.

Middle East

Iraqi Islamic Resistance targets Haifa with drone

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“We targeted the port of Haifa in the occupied Palestinian territories with a drone,” the Iraqi Islamic Resistance group said in a statement early on Thursday morning. 

The Iraqi Islamic Resistance group has regularly targeted the Occupied Palestinian lands under the control of the Zionist Israel regime since the start of Israeli region’s genocidal campaign against Palestinians in the Gaza war, which has left more than 26,000 people deal and more than 60,000 injured, most of whole are women and children. 

MNA

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Budget 2024 Live Updates: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's 6th Budget Today

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Budget 2024 Live Updates: Income Tax, Job Creation - All Eyes On Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget

Budget 2024 Live: This is FM Nirmala Sitharaman’s sixth Union Budget.

New Delhi:

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2024 in Parliament today. This will be a interim budget as it comes just ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections. Ms Sitharaman has arrived in at Finance Ministry office. She will present the budget at 11 am. 

This is Nirmala Sitharaman’s sixth Union Budget. The full-fledged budget will be presented by the new government that comes to power after the elections. 

The interim budget – a short-term financial plan – seeks Parliament nod for a grant in advance to meet the government’s essential expenditure for the first four months of the new financial year. 

The Budget Session of Parliament began yesterday with President Droupadi Murmu addressing the joint meeting of both Rajyya Sabha and Lok Sabha. The session will conclude on February 9.

Stock markets opened in green today, ahead of the interim budget to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman shortly.
 

Here Are The LIVE Updates On Union Budget 2024:

 

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Budget 2024 Live: Cabinet Approves Interim Budget
The Union Cabinet has approved the interim budget prepared by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s team

Budget 2024 Live: Finance Miniwster Meets President

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met President Draupadi Murmu ahead of the presentation of Union Budget. 

Budget 2024 Live: What Senior Citizens Want From Budget 2024
Senior citizens are looking forward to the union budget hoping for relief in income tax and health insurance. NDTV’s Sam Daniel spoke to Mrs Radha Venuprasad in Chennai.

Budget 2024 Live: Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana Insurance Cover Likely To be Increased
The Finance Minister could consider hiking the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) insurance cover by up to 50%, sources say.

Union Budget 2024 Live: What Experts Say
Experts are expecting crucial announcements in the Union Budget 2024, especially for taxpayers, real estate, Electric Vehicles and renewable energy sectors. 

Budget 2024 Live: Key Numbers To Know

Budget 2024 Live: Budget Copies Arrives In Parliament
The copies of budget – to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman shortly – have arrived in Parliament

Budget 2024 Live: What Can Taxpayers Expect
From changes in tax slabs to deductions, taxpayers are expecting announcements that would impact their financial and investment strategies. 

Budget 2024 Live: No Economic Survey This Year

Economic Survey, an annual document presented by the Finance Ministry, will not be presented this year since Finance Minister  Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Interim Budget instead of a full-fledged budget because Lok Sabha elections are due later this year. 

Budget 2024 Live: Nirmala Sitharaman to Present Budget At 11 Am

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the interim budget at 11 am. Ms Sitharaman has arrived at the Finance Ministry with her team.

Union Budget 2024 Live: Markets Open In Green Ahead Of Interim Budget

Stock markets opened in green today, ahead of the interim Union budget to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Union Budget 2024 Live: Critical Sectors May Benefit
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to make key announcements in critical sectors – like agriculture and manufacturing  -today, with emphasis on job creation. 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman With Her Team
Union Budget Live: Where To Watch Nirmala Sitharaman’s Speech Live

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget speech will be broadcast live on the official channel of Parliament Sansad TV and Doordarshan. 

Budget Live: Nirmala Sitharaman At Finance Ministry Office

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has arrived at Finance Ministry office. She will present the Union Budget 2024 at 11 am.  

Budget 2024 Live: What Homebuyers Want

Homebuyers expect the current Rs 2 lakh rebate on housing loan interest Under Section 24 to be increased to about Rs 5 lakh, experts say.

Union Budget 2024 To Be Watched Closely By Experts

The interim budget that come in the backdrop of a strong domestic economy – will be watched closely by the experts to ascertain if it will be able to maintain the current high rate of growth. 

Union Budget 2024 Live: Last Budget Of Narendra Modi 2.0 Government

This will be the last budget in Narendra Modi government’s second term as the Lok Sabha elections will be held later this year. 

Union Budget 2024 Live: What Is Interim Budget?

The interim budget is a temporary financial plan that covers the government’s expenses until a new government takes charge after elections. The interim budget seeks Parliament nod for a grant in advance to meet the government’s essential expenditure for the first four months of the new financial year. 

Union Budget 2024 Live: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s 6th Budget Today

Union Budget 2024 will be Nirmala Sitharaman’s sixth budget as the Finance Minister today. After Morarji Desai, she will only be the second finance minister in the nation to give the Union Budget for six consecutive years. 

India

Uttar Pradesh ATS may take Khalistani suspects to Ayodhya to verify links

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The suspects were arrested while doing recee in Ayodhya, four days before the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Shri Ram Janambhoomi temple.

Published Date – 1 February 2024, 10:40 AM


Uttar Pradesh ATS may take Khalistani suspects to Ayodhya to verify links


Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) is likely to take the three suspects, having Khalistani links, to Ayodhya to confirm about the places they had visited during their stay in the temple town.

The suspects were arrested while doing recee in Ayodhya, four days before the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Shri Ram Janambhoomi temple.

The three suspects identified as Rajasthan residents Shankar Dussad a.k.a. Shankar Jajod, Ajit Kumar Sharma and Pradeep Puniya are on seven days’ police custody remand (PCR).

They are being questioned about intentions behind doing recce in Ayodhya and their links with Khalistani terrorists.

Earlier after their arrest, a recorded voice message claimed to be of Canada-based Khalistan terrorist Gurupatwant Singh Pannu was circulated on mobile numbers in Lucknow addressing Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, that Sikh for Justice (SFJ) (a US-based group that supports the secession of Punjab from India as Khalistan) was going to hold him (Yogi) accountable on January 22 and Ram temple Pran Pratishtha was not going to save him.

The three suspects had been under radar since the night of January 17 and were arrested on January 18 after their Khalistani links were confirmed.

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Video: Nirmala Sitharaman Poses With Tablet Ahead Of Interim Budget

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Video: Nirmala Sitharaman With Interim Budget Ahead Of Record 6th Speech

Nirmala Sitharaman will present her sixth straight budget on Thursday

New Delhi:

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday morning posed with her digital tablet as she headed to Parliament to present the interim budget.

She also posed for a picture outside the Ministry of Finance in the national capital with her team before presenting her sixth straight budget, equalling the record of former Prime Minister Morarji Desai.

Ms Sitharaman will present an interim budget at 11 am on Thursday. The full budget will be presented by the newly-elected government, most likely in July.

Being an interim budget, major policy changes or big announcements may not be made, but expectations are still high. 

Salaried taxpayers are hoping for a change in income tax slabs, a higher standard deduction limit and a hike in exemptions under Sections 80C and 80D.

For Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the expectation is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government will bring in policies to ease regulatory procedures, reduce compliance burdens and provide greater access to loans.

World

Canada: Three Indian-origin men to be extradited to US for drug trafficking

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Ayush Sharma, 25, and Guramrit Sandhu, 60, both from Brampton, and Subham Kumar, 29, from Calgary, were arrested under an international arrest warrant, the RCMP said in a release on Tuesday.

Published Date – 1 February 2024, 10:18 AM


Canada: Three Indian-origin men to be extradited to US for drug trafficking


Toronto: Three Indian-origin men have been arrested in Canada and will be extradited for trial in the US for their alleged links with a network trafficking drugs between Mexico and the North American nations. A joint operation between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), dubbed “Operation Dead Hand”, saw 19 people charged in two US federal indictments for their alleged roles in the organized crime ring.

Ayush Sharma, 25, and Guramrit Sandhu, 60, both from Brampton, and Subham Kumar, 29, from Calgary, were arrested under an international arrest warrant, the RCMP said in a release on Tuesday.

“Drug trafficking is a global problem being driven by sophisticated, organised crime groups who put profits over people’s lives. Motivated by greed, these criminals destroy lives, devastate families, and wreak havoc in our community,” said US Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California.

Investigators developed information indicating the organised crime group used Canadian “handlers’ and “dispatchers” who travelled from Canada to Los Angeles for short amounts of time, a Department of Justice release noted.

The handlers coordinated the pick-up and delivery of large shipments of cocaine and methamphetamine, which were loaded onto long-haul semi-trucks destined for Canada. Wholesale quantities of fentanyl were seized as a result of the investigation.

The transportation was coordinated by a network of drivers working with dozens of trucking companies who made numerous border crossings from the US to Canada via the Detroit Windsor Tunnel, the Buffalo Peace Bridge, and the Blue Water Bridge.

Sidhu, also known as King, is alleged to have orchestrated the trafficking and exportation of large-scale quantities of controlled substances to Canada working with several co-defendants described as suppliers.

According to the indictment, Sidhu occupied the position of an organiser, supervisor, and manager, and in this role obtained substantial income and resources. He has been charged with one count of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, and if convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Sharma and Kumar were identified in the indictment as semi-truck drivers involved in exporting drugs to Canada. Both the indictments allege illicit drug trafficking activity cumulatively involving approximately 845 kgs of methamphetamine, 951 kgs of cocaine, 20 kgs of fentanyl, and 4 kgs of heroin.

Over $900,000 in cash was seized during the investigation. The estimated wholesale value of the narcotics seized was between $16-28 million. Arrest and search warrants were executed on Tuesday morning by a coalition of international law enforcement partners in various cities, including Los Angeles; Sacramento, California; Miami; Odessa, Texas; Montreal; Toronto; and Calgary, Canada.

Middle East

Completely ready for war with Israel: Hezbollah official

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Sayyed Hashem Safieddine, head of Hezbollah’s Executive Council, made the remarks on Wednesday, addressing a ceremony in Beirut, according to Press TV.

“Hezbollah’s [potential] response to any Israeli miscalculation concerning Lebanon will be very powerful and swift,” Lebanon’s al-Manar television network reported, citing the official.

Hezbollah fought off two Israeli wars against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006, forcing a humiliating retreat upon the Tel Aviv regime’s military on both occasions.

The regime began waging sporadic attacks against the country following the onset of its ongoing war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, prompting a firefight with Hezbollah.

Hezbollah’s confrontation with Israel grew remarkably in intensity following a spate of assassinations carried out by the regime, including against Saleh Al-Arouri, a senior official of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, who was martyred in a targeted assassination on January 2.

Recently, the movement began using its surgical-strike missiles, including Falaq (Dawn)-1 and Burkan, in its retaliatory operations against Israeli targets.

Safieddine affirmed that Hezbollah had deliberately introduced the new weapons in the border battle.

“This is a mere part of what we have,” he said, asserting that all Israeli threats against the country were fruitless, and that the enemy would fail to frustrate the movement in the cross-border confrontation.

MNA

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Barcelona newcomer Vitor Roque scores in narrow victory against Osasuna

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Four days after Xavi Hernandez revealed his decision to step down as Barca coach at the season’s end, the team secured a win.

Madrid: Newcomer Vitor Roque scored the only goal of the game in which FC Barcelona beat Osasuna 1-0 at home on Wednesday night.

The win came four days after Xavi Hernandez announced he would step down as Barca coach at the end of the season. If Xavi was hoping to provoke a reaction from his players, he would have been disappointed by another flat display, with only one decisive moment.

Only five minutes into the game, Ferran Torres suffered an apparent hamstring injury and the club’s second top scorer had to be replaced by Fermin Lopez, reports Xinhua.

Robert Lewandowski headed an Ilkay Gundogan free kick wide after 10 minutes, and the Polish striker was close to getting on the end of a Joao Cancelo cross shortly afterwards, but Osasuna defended well.

Barca controlled more of the ball in the closing minutes of the first half, but neither keeper had to make a save in the first 45 minutes.

The second half was little different, with Barca having sterile control of the game but being unable to create chances.

In the 62nd minute, Xavi replaced Fermin with new signing Roque.

Roque had only been on the pitch for just over a minute when he was able to get ahead of Osasuna keeper Aitor Fernandez to flick home Cancelo’s cross and put Barca ahead.

Four minutes later, Osasuna were down to 10 men when Unai Garcia saw a second yellow card for hauling down Roque.

World

Iran marks Islamic Revolution anniv. as Ten-Day Fajr begins

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Ten-Day Fajr (Ten-Day Dawn), starts on February 1, ten days before the victory of the Islamic Revolution, marking the return of the late founder of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to Iran.

On February 1, 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Revolution returned to Iran after 15 years in exile.

Ayatollah Sayyed Ruhullah Mousavi Khomeini was a Muslim cleric and Marja, and the political leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution of Iran which overthrew Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah (king) of Iran.

Imam Khomeini was considered a Marja-e taqlid to many Muslims, and in Iran was officially addressed as Imam rather than Grand Ayatollah; his supporters adhered to this convention. Imam Khomeini was also a highly influential and innovative Islamic political theorist, most noted for his development of the theory of velayat-e faqih, the “guardianship of the jurisconsult.”

Iran marks Islamic Revolution anniv. as Ten-Day Fajr begins

Imam Khomeini spent over 14 years in exile, mostly in the holy city of Najaf in Iraq. Initially, he was sent to Turkey on 4 November 1964, where he stayed in the city of Bursa for less than a year. He was hosted by a Turkish Colonel named Ali Cetiner in his own residence.

Later in October 1965, he was allowed to move to Najaf, Iraq, where he stayed until being forced to leave in 1978 after then-Vice President Saddam Hussein forced him out. Then he went to Neauphle le Château in France.

In early 1970 Imam Khomeini gave a lecture series in Najaf on Islamic Government which later was published as a book titled variously Islamic Government or Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists (velayat-e faqih). This was his most famous and influential work and laid out his ideas on governance at that time.

In the meantime, however, Imam Khomeini was careful not to publicize his ideas for clerical rule outside of his Islamic network of opposition to the Shah which he worked to build and strengthen over the next decade. Cassette’s copies of his lectures fiercely denouncing the Shah as, for example, “the Jewish agent, the American snake whose head must be smashed with a stone,” became common items on the markets of Iran, and helped to demythologize the power and dignity of the Shah and his reign.

As protest grew, so did Imam Khomeini’s profile and importance. During the last few months of his exile, Imam Khomeini received a constant stream of reporters, supporters, and notables, eager to hear the spiritual leader of the revolution. 

Iran marks Islamic Revolution anniv. as Ten-Day Fajr begins

Only two weeks after the Shah fled Iran on January 16, 1979, Imam Khomeini returned to Iran triumphantly, on Thursday, February 1, 1979, invited by the anti-Shah revolution which was already in progress. Conservative estimates put the welcoming crowd of Iranians at least three million. 

It was originally planned that Ayatollah Khomeini would enter Iran on 26 January, but Prime Minister Shapour Bakhtiar announced that the airports would be closed. From Paris Khomeini declared that he would return as soon as the airports were reopened. The closure of the airports led to widespread protests and strikes. In Tehran alone, 28 people were killed. On 29 January, the airport was reopened.

Upon his arrival to the country, Imam Khomeini was welcomed by millions of Iranians.

Imam Khomeini’s arrival intensified months of popular protests against the Pahlavi regime. On February 8, 1979, a group of commanders, pilots, and staff of the Air Forces (Homafaran) went to Imam Khomeini’s home and expressed their loyalty to the revolution.

On February 11, 1979, the commanders of the armed forces attended Imam Khomeini’s home and submitted their resignation, declaring support to the founder of the Islamic Revolution. After the armed forces declared neutrality, the regime’s main institutions and all other remnants collapsed.

Following the developments, Shapour Bakhtiar quickly fled Iran for France. These influential events marked the end of 2500 years of monarchy in the country. Imam Khomeini called on the people to restore peace and order.

Iran marks Islamic Revolution anniv. as Ten-Day Fajr begins

Now, 45 years after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, millions of Iranians from all walks of life take to the streets across the country to celebrate the anniversary of the great event.

Each year on the 22nd day of the month of Bahman on the Persian calendar (11th of February), Iranians turn out in ceremonies attended by high-ranking officials to renew their allegiance to the Islamic establishment and Imam Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic.

Iran marks Islamic Revolution anniv. as Ten-Day Fajr begins

45 years after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, yet the impressive notions and ideologies of Imam Khomeini are a role model for all freedom-seeking nations and independent Muslim countries in the world.

MNA