India News
CBI imbroglio: Supreme Court reinstates Alok Verma as CBI chief, with conditions
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Supreme Court today (Tuesday, Jan 8) set aside Narendra Modi government’s post-midnight order of Oct 23 divesting Alok Verma of his charge to act as head of the CBI.
The apex court observed that the government should have referred to the Select Committee consisting of the Chief Justice of India (CJI), Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition to initiate Alok Verma’s removal and directed the High Power Committee under DSPE Act to act within a week to consider Verma case.
Alok Verma can go back to his office now but cannot take any major policy decisions till the High Powered Committee decides on his status.
The judgment on Tuesday was penned by CJI Ranjan Gogoi. However, the CJI didn’t attend the court and the judgment was pronounced by Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph.
The Supreme Court said it was quashing the order sending him on leave since the government had no authority to take action against the CBI Director. The only institution that can take any action against a CBI director is the special committee that appoints the director, the Supreme Court ruled today. “The legislative intent of insulating the CBI director is manifest,” said the three judges who set aside the government’s move unanimously.
The decision comes just 23 days before Verma’s tenure as CBI Director comes to an end: his term ends on January 31.
Verma had filed a plea against the Centre’s decision to divest him of powers and sending him on leave.
The Centre had also sent CBI’s Special Director Rakesh Asthana on leave and appointed CBI‘s Joint Director M Nageswara Rao, a 1986 batch Odisha-cadre IPS officer as interim director. Nageswar Rao took charge and signed off on the transfer of half-a-dozen officers on Verma’s team.
In its verdict, the Supreme Court has observed that the procedure to remove an incumbent CBI director has been set out in law. “If there was intent to specify interim measures for Director CBI then the legislation would have contained the provision,” the Supreme Court observed, referring to the government appointing M Nageshwar Rao as interim CBI chief.
Asthana remains on forced leave. There is also no decision on the transfers ordered by Nageswar Rao.
The public spat between the two top officers of India’s premier investigative agency witnessed a lot of mudslinging with both levelling allegations of corruption against each other.
Verma had sought quashing of three orders of October 23, 2018 — one by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and two by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), as being without jurisdiction and in violation of Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution.
The Centre had justified its decision to divest Verma of his duties and sending him on leave before the apex court saying he and Asthana were fighting like “Kilkenny cats”, exposing the country’s premier investigating agency to “public ridicule”.
On December 6, after hearing arguments on behalf of Verma, the Centre, the CVC and others, a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had reserved the judgement.
Political reactions
In the charged political atmosphere in view of 2019 Lok Sabha elections due after a couple of months, the verdict was seen as a setback to the Narendra Modi government which has been accused of manipulating CBI and the country’s other investigative agencies to promote its political interests and harass its rivals.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley defended the government’s action of sending the two senior officers of the CBI on leave and took the plea that it was done on the recommendation of the CVC (Central Vigilance Commission). “This action was taken perfectly bonafide as there were cross-allegations made by both the officers, and in accordance with recommendations of the CVC. The government felt that in the larger interest of fair and impartial investigation and credibility of CBI, the two officers must recuse themselves,” Jaitley told reporters outside Parliament.
Opposition projected the judgement as vindication of their criticism that the government was behaving arbitrarily.
The Congress, which alleges that Verma was removed because he intended to launch a probe into the Rafale jet deal, said, “We welcome the Supreme Court’s verdict lambasting the government against their illegal removal of Alok Verma as CBI Director.”
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the verdict is a lesson for the government. “We’re not against one individual, welcome SC’s judgement, it’s a lesson for govt. Today you’ll use these agencies to pressurise people, tomorrow somebody else will, What will happen to democracy then?” he told reporters, reported news agency ANI
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said Narendra Modi is the first prime minister to have “his illegal orders set aside by the Supreme Court.”
“Modiji adds another 1st to his list. After being the first PM to be exposed destroying the #CBI before the SC, After having ruined CVC’s credibility (requiring supervision by former SC judge),Mr. Modi has now become 1st PM to have his illegal orders set aside by the SC,” he tweeted.
“Let this be a lesson to you about the strength of our democracy and the Constitution. Let this be a lesson that howsoever despotic u may be, law catches up in the end,” he added.
Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that the court ruling was a “direct indictment” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He also accused Modi government of “ruining all institutions and democracy” in the country. “Wasn’t CBI director illegally removed at midnight to stall the probe in Rafale scam which directly leads to PM himself?” he tweeted
PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti said it was time for Centre to stop arm-twisting agencies.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
India News
Gandhi Jayanti: President Droupadi Murmu, PM Modi pay tribute at Rajghat
Mahatma Gandhi’s influence is global and inspiring the entire humankind to further the spirit of unity and compassion, said PM Modi.
On the occasion of the 154th Gandhi Jayanti, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid flowers to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in the nation’s capital on Monday.
According to the PM Modi, Mahatma Gandhi’s influence is global and inspiring the entire humankind to further the spirit of unity and compassion. He also led the tributes to Gandhi on social media.
PM Modi wrote on X, formerly Twitter, he bows to Mahatma Gandhi on the special occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. PM also appreciated Gandhi’s teachings as he wrote, his timeless teachings continue to illuminate our path. He further said, may we always work towards fulfilling his dreams. May his thoughts enable every youngster be the agent of change he dreamt of, fostering unity and harmony all over, the Prime Minister added.
At Rajghat, vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar and Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, presented floral tributes at Rajghat and said Mahatma Gandhi is not just an individual, but an idea, an ideology, and the moral compass of our great nation.
The congress president shared a post on X, in which he saluted Bapu’s values and ideologies as he wrote, his ideals of truth, non-violence, freedom, equality and coexistence have eternal value. We bow in reverence to Bapu’s ideals on his Jayanti.
Meanwhile, the Congress party’s official X account posted, on Gandhi Jayanti, we pay a billion tributes to the Mahatma, whose lifelong commitment to the cause of freedom won India her Independence. Let us promise to continue following his principles, which are the cornerstone of our country and are peace, unity, and nonviolence.
Gandhi Jayanti, observed annually on October 2, commemorates the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. To remember the values of nonviolence and tolerance that Mahatma Gandhi stood for, the day is also observed as the International Day of Nonviolence.
Festivals
Gandhi Jayanti: Interesting facts, quotes and wishes to share with friends and family
The birthday of Mahatma Gandhi is also celebrated as International Day of Non-violence across the globe to commemorate the non-violence policy of Gandhiji.
Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated every year on October 2 to honor the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, fondly known as the Father of the Nation. Indians across the world pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi through several activities including prayer meetings, cultural events, and cleanliness drives. The day is celebrated to promote Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings and their relevance in today’s world.
Interesting facts about the Father of the Nation:
The birthday of Mahatma Gandhi is also celebrated as International Day of Non-violence across the globe to commemorate the non-violence policy of Gandhiji.
Mahatma Gandhi was nominated for Nobel Prize five time but never won the award
He was listed as the Person of the year’ in Times Magazine in 1930
Before taking vows of celibacy, Mahatma Gandhi already had four sons
Mahatma Gandhi was married during his teenage to Kasturba Gandhi, who was 14 years old
Quotes by Mahatma Gandhi:
The future depends on what we do in the present
It is easy to stand in the crowd but it takes courage to stand alone
Our greatest ability as humans is not to change the world, but to change ourselves
Service without humility is selfishness and egotism
It does not require money to live neat, clean and dignified
Satisfaction lies is effort, not in the attainment
Hate the sin, love the sinner
Be the change you are trying to create
There us a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed
Those who know how to think needs no teachers
What barrier is there that love cannot break?
Wishes to share on Gandhi Jayanti:
Lets uphold the values of truth and nonviolence set out by the man who guided us to freedom. Greetings on Gandhi Day!
I hope you have a day full of Gandhi’s wisdom and the willpower to follow his example. Greetings on Gandhi Day!
May Gandhiji’s principle continue to motivate us to strive for a more equitable and peaceful world
India News
PM Modi joins fitness influencer Ankit Baiyanpuriya in Swachhata Hi Seva campaign | Watch here
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, PM modi shared a video of him doing the cleanliness work with the influnecer.
A day before Gandhi Jayanti, PM Modi participated with fitness influencer Ankit Baiyanpuriya in participated in the Shramdaan for cleanliness campaign as part of the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, PM modi shared a video of him doing the cleanliness work with the influnecer. Sharing the video he wrote, today, when the country focused on Swachhata, Ankit Baiyanpuriya and he did the same! Beyond only hygiene, they included wellness and fitness in the mix as well. It is all about that Swachh and Swasth Bharat vibe.
PM Modi can be heard asking Ankit in the video that how the Swachhata mission will benefit his physical health. Ankit responds, it’s up to us to maintain our environment clean. They’ll stay in shape if it stays clean.
Ankit added that Sonipat’s residents have been emphasising hygiene.
Fitness influencer Ankit Baiyanpuria, a former desi wrestler from Bayanpur, Sonipat, has earned notoriety for his advocacy of conventional and regional training techniques.
Ankit gained fresh notoriety earlier this year when he introduced the strenuous 75-day Hard Challenge to improve his mental toughness and self-control.
Ankit, who was raised by labourer parents, is well known on social media for his flawless training methods and distinctive routines that not only prioritise physical fitness but also encompass mental well-being with books like the Bhagavad Gita.
Ankit had to change his strategy in 2022 after dislocating his shoulder while participating in mud wrestling. He started documenting his fitness progress on Instagram.
He first learned about Andy Frisella’s 75-day Hard Challenge while learning fitness. In just 28 days, Ankit has accumulated more than 2.5 million followers! Ankit now has 4.9 million Instagram followers.
Leaders from all over the nation participated in the Shramdaan for Cleanliness session as part of the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign on Sunday after Modi urged citizens to participate in a cleanliness drive on October 1.
A number of Union ministers and MPs were spotted taking part in the nationwide cleanup effort for the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign, including BJP leader JP Nadda and Union home minister Amit Shah.
