India News
Delhi excise policy case: KCR’s daughter K Kavitha skips ED summon, cites pending Supreme Court plea
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s (KCR) daughter and BRS leader K Kavitha, Thursday, skipped a summon from the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the probe agency ongoing probe into the purported Delhi excise policy scam case.,
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s (KCR) daughter and BRS leader K Kavitha, Thursday, skipped a summon from the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the probe agency ongoing probe into the purported Delhi excise policy scam case.
The BRS MLC, in her letter to the ED, said she’s sending her “authorized representative” (an office bearer of her party), as the summons do not explicitly require her being there in person. Kavitha also cited a pending plea before the Supreme Court in which has sought protection from arrest and quashing of summons against her in the case.
Kavitha wrote in her letter to ED: “I humbly beseech your good self that the proceedings before the Supreme Court being sacred and sacrosanct, the outcome thereof must be awaited before any further proceedings take place with respect to the subject summons.”
K Kavitha’s “authorized representative” handed a six-page representation against her deposition along with her bank statement, personal and business details to the ED investigation officer, according to reports.
Kavitha was questioned by the central agency for nine hours on March 11 and was asked to depose again on March 16. During the interrogation session, she was reportedly made to confront statements made by Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Ramchandran Pillai, an arrested accused in the case who allegedly who allegedly shares close ties with her, apart from those of few others involved in the case.
The BRS leader recently led a hunger strike in Delhi on March 10 seeking the passage of the long-pending Women’s Reservation Bill in the ongoing Budget session of Parliament.
However, both Congress and the BJP have alleged that Kavitha’s hunger strike was a mere ploy to divert attention from her appearance before the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the purported Delhi liquor policy scam case.
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The ED case alleges that K Kavitha is part of the South Cartel that benefited from kickbacks after Delhi’s now-scrapped liquor policy came into force. The South Group comprises Kavitha, Sarath Reddy (promoter of Aurobindo Group), Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy (MP, Ongole), his son Raghav Magunta, and others.
The South Group was being represented by Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai, Abhishek Boinpalli and Butchi Babu, the federal agency investigation has revealed.
The probe agency has claimed its investigations have revealed that Pillai—who was arrested earlier this month— along with his associates was coordinating with various persons to execute a political understanding between the South Group and a leader of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Pillai has been accessory and was involved in the kickbacks from the South Group and the recoupment of the same from the businesses in Delhi, ED claimed.
The Enforcement Directorate—a central agency which probes financial crimes—has so far arrested 12 people in the case, including former Delhi deputy chief minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia.
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India News
Madhya Pradesh elections: Congress to release first list of candidates after October 5
According to the source, the party has received more than 3,500 inquiries from potential candidates who wish to run for office on the Congress ticket in the Assembly elections.
As the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections draw nearer, sources stated on Friday that the Congress is expected to reveal its first list of candidates after October 5 as part of its strategy. A Congress source told IANS that the party will announce the names of the candidates at the ideal moment and that the campaigning for the Assembly elections is already underway.
The source stated that the party would issue its initial list of candidates after October 5, when it is anticipated that the Election Commission will have released its polling schedule.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the party’s general secretary, will be in the state on October 5 to speak at a large public gathering, the source added, and her input will be sought before the release of the final list.
To narrow down the field of candidates for the elections, the party organised two sessions of the Screening Committee in the national capital.
According to the source, the party has received more than 3,500 inquiries from potential candidates who wish to run for office on the Congress ticket in the Assembly elections.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, will speak at a public meeting on Saturday in the Kala Pipla Assembly seat.
Two lists of candidates from the BJP have already been made public for the upcoming elections. Along with four other current MPs, the ruling party has included three Union Ministers in its second list. On Monday, a few hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at a public gathering in Bhopal, the second list of 39 candidates was made public.
The list also included Kailash Vijayvargiya, the national general secretary of the BJP.
The list includes the names of three Union Ministers: Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti from Narsinghpur; Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of Agriculture and Chairman of the Party’s State Election Management Committee from Dimni-Morena; and Fagan Singh Kulaste, Minister of State for Rural Development and Steel from Niwas.
India News
President Droupadi Murmu gives assent to Women’s Reservation Bill
The new law provides 33% reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
The Women’s Reservation Bill became law in India after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent, days after the historic vote in the Parliament. The new law provides 33% reservation of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women. However, the law will be imposed after the new census and delimitation.
The Women’s Reservation Bill which is officially known as Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was passed in both the houses during the special session of the Parliament. The historic bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on September 20, with 454 MPs voting in its favour and 2 voting against it. In the Rajya Sabha, the bill was passed unanimously on September 21 with 214 MPs voting in favour of the bill.
Issuing a gazette notification, the Government of India stated that the Bill has become an Act after the approval granted by the President. The notification read that the act will come into force on such date as the central government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
While supporting the historic bill in the Parliament, the Opposition condemned the government for not bringing the quota for women into immediate effect. Union Home Minister Amit Shah told the Parliament during the bill’s discussion that it could only come into effect after 2029 due to the pending census and delimitation.
A day after the bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked that with the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in Parliament, the nation usher in an era of stronger representation and empowerment for the women of India. He added that this is not merely legislation but a tribute to the countless women who have made the nation. He exclaimed that India has been enriched by their resilience and contributions.
India News
CM Arvind Kejriwal announces Delhi winter action plan to curb pollution
Arvind Kejriwal led Delhi government will also deploy 530 water sprinklers in an attempt to prevent dust pollution
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday affirmed that pollution levels dropped in the national capital owing to various government initiatives as he announced the winter action plan to curb pollution.
Addressing a press conference, CM Arvind Kejriwal stated that the number of days witnessing severe pollution levels declined in the past eight years due to several initiatives of the government, like the introduction of electric buses and the EV Policy, among others.
Announcing the winter action plan in Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal stated that the Pusa bio decomposer that prevents stubble burning will be sprayed on 5,000 hectares of farmland this year against 4,400 hectares the previous year. As far as reports are concerned, the Pusa bio decomposer, developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) is a microbial solution that can turn paddy straw into manure in 15-20 days.
In addition, Arvind Kejriwal led Delhi government will also deploy 530 water sprinklers in an attempt to prevent dust pollution and 385 teams, who will be entrusted to check vehicles pollution certificates and prevent the plying of overage cars.
According to reports, in 2018, the Supreme Court banned diesel and petrol vehicles older than 10 and 15 years, respectively, in Delhi. The top court had added that the vehicles plying in violation of the order would be impounded. Further, a 2014 order of the National Green Tribunal bars vehicles older than 15 years to be parked in public places.
Arvind Kejriwal also reiterated that burning garbage in the open is banned in Delhi. He mentioned that 611 teams will supervise the implementation of the same. He also urged people to download the Green Delhi mobile application on their devices and report any pollution-causing activity to the government.
Speaking about stubble burning, the Delhi Chief Minister noted that in Punjab, they formed a government last year and the data from the last year showed that the steps taken in 6-7 months led to a 30% reduction in stubble burning.
