Big Stories Today: Gayatri Prajapati gets life imprisonment in minor gangrape case, Army agrees to grant permanent commission to eligible women after SC warning
The Central government on Friday agreed to grant permanent commission (PC) to 11 women Army officers Maoist, Amit Shah, Congress Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook, Anil Deshmukh, Bahrain, Bharat Biotech, Covaxin, Covid-19, IGP Kashmir, Kangana Ranaut, Lancet, Nawab Malik, Ashok Gehlot, Sonia Gandhi
Former UP minister Gayatri Prajapati, 2 accomplices sentenced to life imprisonment in Chitrakoot minor gangrape case
Former Uttar Pradesh Minister in the previous Samajwadi Party government, Gayatri Prajapati on Friday was sentenced to life imprisonment in a Chitrakoot gangrape case. Along with Gayatri Prajapati, accomplices Ashish Shukla and Ashok Tiwari were also sentenced to life terms. He and his two accomplices have also been fined Rs 2 lakh. The former UP Minister, who was a key figure in the previous Akhilesh Yadav government, was convicted by a special court of lawmakers on Wednesday for raping a woman. The special court in Lucknow had two days back pronounced Prajapati guilty in the gang rape case, and had also convicted his two associates.
Indian Army agrees to grant permanent commission to eligible women after Supreme Court warning
The Central government on Friday agreed to grant permanent commission (PC) to 11 women Army officers who meet the eligibility criteria after the Supreme Court threatened to initiate contempt proceedings.
The Centre, which was initially reluctant, conveyed its acquiescence to a Bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud to grant PC to the officers within 10 days.
NIA files chargesheet against 7 Naxals in Dummugudem Maoist case of Telangana
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed the chargesheet against seven Naxals and conspirators in the Dummugudem Maoist case of Telangana. Top members of banned CPI (Maoist) hatched a criminal conspiracy along with overground workers to wage war against the government by carrying out attack on security personnel, said NIA
Maoist leader Prashant Bose alias Kishan Da, carrying Rs 1 crore reward, arrested by Jharkhand Police
Top Maoist leader Prashant Bose alias Kishan Da, who was carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head, has been arrested in Jharkhand along with his wife Sheela Marandi, a senior police officer said on Friday.
80% single dose and 39% double doses of Covid-19 covered, informs Health Ministry
Health workers will knock at every door, check, inspire and motivate under Har Ghar Dastak, says Manohar Agnani, Additional Secretary, Union Health Ministry during an online interactive session on the ongoing Har Ghar Dastak campaign. He said: “80 percent of the single-dose and 39 percent of the double doses of Covid-19 covered. He said: “Every individual has a role, we’ve requested NGOs too. By November 30 we should reach our goal. We have 3 vaccines Covaxin, Covishield and SputnikV.”
Amit Shah reaches Varanasi to check BJP poll preparedness
Ahead of the state assembly elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached Varanasi on Friday. During the two-day visit, Shah will attend Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan in Varanasi. He will also hold meetings with BJP office-bearers including state chief minister Yogi Adityanath and his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya.
Congress writes to Mark Zuckerberg alleging Facebook of spreading hate, demands internal inquiry
The Congress on Friday has written to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg claiming Facebook is spreading hate and demanded an internal inquiry.
It is not the first time that Congress has written to the social media giant. In earlier letters to Zuckerberg, the Congress raised issues of bias with many Facebook executives asked to set up a high-level inquiry into the Facebook India leadership team and submit a report to Facebook Inc. within a reasonable period of time. A Wall Street Journal report in August 2020 had said Facebook India’s leadership had supported the ruling BJP and violated the company’s own hate-speech rules. Following the story, the executive responsible had resigned in October 2020.
Rupee gains 7 paise to close at 74.45 against U.S. dollar
The rupee strengthened by 7 paise to close at 74.45 (provisional) against the US dollar on Friday, as a firm trend in domestic equities boosted investor sentiments. Besides, lower crude prices in the international market also supported the local unit, forex dealers said.
Bahrain approves emergency use of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin
Bahrain’s National Health Regulatory Authority has approved the emergency use of India’s indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin, said the Indian Embassy in Bahrain on Friday.
Covaxin recently received emergency use approval from the World Health Organization (WHO) for people aged 18 and above. Earlier on November 10, Hong Kong and Vietnam also joined the list of countries that approved the jab.
AAP announces first list of candidates for 2022 Punjab Assembly polls
The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday released the first list of 10 candidates for the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls. This is the second such announcement by a political party in the state. Earlier on Sunday last, the BJP announced that it will contest all 117 seats in the Punjab Assembly elections 2022.
Anil Deshmukh sent to Enforcement Directorate custody till November 15 in money laundering case
Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has been sent to Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody till November 15 in the money laundering case. Deshmukh’s judicial custody ended on Friday. In its arguments seeking custody, the ED said that they needed to question the former Maharashtra Home Minister for at least two more days.READ STORY
After meeting Sonia Gandhi, Sachin Pilot says those who worked for party should be given the respect they deserve
Congress leader and former Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot met Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her residence on Friday. After the meeting, Pilot said those who have worked for the party should be given the respect they deserve.
Pilot said he spoke about the political situation in the state, and said that if there was any change required, it should be done. Pilot met Sonia Gandhi a day after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Delhi government slaps Rs 5 lakh fine on NBCC for flouting anti-dust norms
The Delhi government on Friday imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on the National Building Construction Corporation Ltd (NBCC) for flouting anti-dust norms at its construction site in Karkardooma, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai told the media. Earlier in October, the Delhi government issued a show-cause notice to the NBCC for not following the 14-point anti-dust guidelines at its World Health Organization (WHO) building redevelopment site in the capital.
133 terrorists including many top commanders neutralised in Jammu and Kashmir so far in 2021, says IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar
Kashmir Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar on Friday said 133 terrorists including many top commanders have been neutralised this year. He said: “Two terrorists including Shiraz Molvi and Yawar Bhat have been neutralised.” Shiraz was active since 2016 and was involved in several civilian killings. One other terrorist killed in the Srinagar encounter has been identified as Aamir Riyaz, he added.
Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik asks Centre to take back Kangana Ranaut’s Padma Shri, arrest her
Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik has launched a scathing attack on Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut for her controversial remarks on the country’s Independence and demanded that the Padma Shri award conferred on her should be revoked. The Nationalist Congress Party leader said the actor seemed to be speaking untruths.
Covaxin’s efficacy pegged at 77.8%, says Lancet study
In a study published in The Lancet, Covaxin, the coronavirus vaccine developed by ICMR and Bharat Biotech, was found to have a 77.8 percent efficacy rate against symptomatic Covid-19. The study also found it to be 65.2 percent effective against the more dangerous Delta variant of the coronavirus in its preliminary analysis, but said further investigations are necessary to confirm it.
Cockroach Janta Party gives CEC Gyanesh Kumar 48 hours to resign, warns of nationwide protests
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar within 48 hours, warning of a nationwide agitation if the demand is not met.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign within 48 hours, warning that the organisation will launch a nationwide agitation if he does not step down.
The demand was made during a press conference on Thursday amid a wider controversy surrounding the Election Commission’s handling of electoral-roll-related matters and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Dipke alleged that the functioning of the Election Commission under Kumar had raised concerns over the electoral process. These claims are allegations made by Dipke and should not be treated as established facts.
What did Abhijeet Dipke demand?
Dipke called for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation within 48 hours. He warned that the CJP would begin a nationwide protest if the Chief Election Commissioner did not step down within the deadline.
The organisation said the proposed agitation would follow the lines of its earlier protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
The CJP also raised other demands related to the electoral process, including a halt to ongoing electoral exercises and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Why is CJP demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation?
The demand comes amid a controversy over the Election Commission’s electoral-roll processes.
The demand came amid a controversy over the Election Commission’s handling of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, following a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised questions about the exercise.
However, the Election Commission has rejected the suggestion that these differences represented a division within the three-member poll panel. The Commission said that differing views, written notes and internal checks are part of its deliberative process and maintained that decisions, including those concerning SIR, were taken unanimously.
What has Abhijeet Dipke alleged?
Dipke has alleged that more than 13 crore votes were deleted from electoral rolls and questioned the reasons behind the deletions.
He also alleged that voter deletions had affected Opposition leaders and referred to several political figures while making his claims.
These figures and allegations were presented by Dipke during the press conference. They should therefore be attributed to him rather than stated as independently verified facts.
Dipke also questioned whether the alleged deletions could affect the political balance in elections.
What happens if Gyanesh Kumar does not resign?
According to Dipke, the CJP will launch a nationwide agitation if the Chief Election Commissioner does not resign within 48 hours.
He said the organisation would continue its campaign until its demand for Kumar’s resignation was met.
The CJP has also announced a broader campaign against the Election Commission, while warning of further protests.
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a fresh attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Narendra Modi government, alleging irregularities in India’s electoral process.
Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Mr Gandhi linked his earlier allegations of “vote chori” with what he described as “kanoon chori”, arguing that alleged manipulation of votes would have consequences for the country’s law-making and institutional systems.
“From vote chori comes kanoon chori,” Mr Gandhi said, arguing that if votes had been stolen, laws and institutional changes made by lawmakers elected through those votes would also be affected.
Rahul Gandhi attacks Gyanesh Kumar
Mr Gandhi specifically targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and questioned the Election Commission’s handling of the electoral process.
His remarks came amid reports of differences within the poll body over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Mr Gandhi referred to reported concerns involving the Election Commission and alleged that questions raised about the functioning of the poll panel had not been adequately addressed.
He also alleged that the Election Commission had failed in its responsibility to protect the vote, which he described as the foundation of India’s democratic and constitutional system.
‘Vote chori’ claim
Mr Gandhi reiterated his allegations of irregularities in elections and said the issue went beyond individual voters.
He argued that the vote gives power to the Constitution, while the Constitution provides the basis for laws and institutions. On that basis, he said alleged destruction of the voting process would have wider consequences for the country’s constitutional system.
Mr Gandhi also questioned what he described as the disappearance of anti-incumbency in elections involving the BJP, comparing recent electoral outcomes with earlier political trends.
He alleged that the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections had been manipulated. These remain allegations made by Mr Gandhi and should not be presented as established facts.
Attack on Modi and Amit Shah
During the press conference, Mr Gandhi also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah while making his allegations about the electoral process.
He questioned the role of the Election Commission and its leadership, and called for accountability over what he described as irregularities affecting India’s voting system.
Mr Gandhi said he was presenting evidence for his allegations and maintained that the issue concerned not only elections but also the functioning of democratic institutions.
The Election Commission’s reported internal differences over the SIR exercise formed part of the backdrop to his remarks. The claims made by Mr Gandhi concern his interpretation of those developments and are distinct from established findings about election manipulation.
A chargesheet has been filed in the case involving alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The chargesheet, however, does not name the trustees of the temple trust as accused.
The development comes after an investigation into several instances of alleged theft of donations at the temple complex. The probe had examined CCTV footage and other evidence related to the incidents.
Chargesheet filed in donation theft case
The chargesheet has been submitted against those accused in connection with the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple.
Importantly, the trustees of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust have not been named as accused in the chargesheet.
The investigation had focused on incidents in which donations were allegedly stolen from the temple premises. CCTV footage was examined as part of the probe into the reported thefts.
Investigation into 105 theft incidents
An earlier investigation had identified 105 instances of alleged donation theft through CCTV footage. The probe examined the incidents and the people allegedly involved in them.
The case had also led to arrests of accused persons named in the FIR. The investigation subsequently examined the role of individuals connected with the incidents.
The filing of the chargesheet marks a further step in the criminal proceedings related to the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple.
Trustees not named as accused
The chargesheet does not name the temple trust’s trustees as accused. This distinction is significant because the filing concerns the individuals against whom the investigating agency has proceeded in the case.
The chargesheet will now form part of the legal proceedings, while the matter will be dealt with through the appropriate judicial process.
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