India News
Supreme Court dismisses petition challenging Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship
The Supreme Court today (Thursday, May 9) dismissed a petition seeking directions to the Union Government and Election Commission (EC) to bar Congress president Rahul Gandhi from contesting the Lok Sabha elections till allegations over his citizenship were resolved.
“Some company in some form mentioned Rahul Gandhi is a British citizen, so does he become a British citizen?” Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi asked.
The plea, which was filed by Delhi residents Jai Bhagwan Goyal and CP Tyagi, was mentioned before the SC Bench headed by CJI Gogoi and also comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna.
The petitioners claiming to be “social and public spirited persons” said that while, as per section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1981, only Indian citizens are entitled to register a political party, the Congress chief was contesting polls “despite prima facie evidence of his loss of Indian citizenship” and added that he “has acquired British citizenship voluntarily”.
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The petitioners said that they were dissatisfied with the inaction of the Centre and the poll panel in deciding the question of voluntary acquisition of British citizenship by Gandhi in spite of a November 2015 communication by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in this regard.
The petitioners alleged that since prima facie evidence in this regard has been produced before the Home Ministry and the EC, Gandhi should not have been allowed to contest the ongoing Lok Sabha elections from Amethi in Utter Pradesh and Wayanad in Kerala and become a Member of Parliament after he had “voluntarily acquired British nationality.”
The plea said it was evident that Gandhi had acquired British nationality, and that this was clear from the incorporation certificate of British company Backops Limited and the returns filed by the company.
The petition wanted a declaration that Gandhi “is not an Indian citizen and he is incompetent to contest as per the provisions of the Constitution read with the Representation of the People Act, 1951.”
The plea, filed by advocate Barun Kumar Sinha, also sought a direction to the EC to remove Gandhi’s name from “electoral roll till the decision of the question of acquisition of his British citizenship”.
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The plea came after follows a notice issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs to Gandhi on the question of his “dual citizenship” on a complaint filed by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy raising questions over his citizenship.
In a recent letter to Gandhi, the Home Ministry had said it has received a representation from Swamy in which it has been brought out that a company named Backops Limited was registered in the United Kingdom in 2003 with Rahul Gandhi as one of its directors.
The Home Ministry had said Swamy’s letter mentioned that in the British company’s annual returns filed on October 10, 2005 and October 31, 2006, Rahul’s date of birth has been given as June 19, 1970 and had declared his nationality as British.
The Congress had dismissed the issue saying the notice was a political move by the BJP to divert the attention of the public from key issues. “The entire world knows Rahul Gandhi is Indian citizen by birth. Modi ji has no answer for unemployment, he has no answer for agrarian distress and black money, that’s why he’s resorting to fake narrative,” said Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.
Also Read: Hopeful Opposition plans post poll meet, to ask President not to invite single largest party
The BJP had raised allegations of discrepancies in Rahul Gandhi’s nomination form for Amethi Lok Sabha seat. His nomination papers were found valid by the returning officer.
In 2015, SC had termed ‘frivolous’ a plea on Rahul’s citizenship. On November 30, 2015, the Supreme Court dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by a lawyer seeking a CBI investigation against Gandhi for allegedly declaring himself a British national before company law authorities in the UK. The court found it too “frivolous” and called it an attempt by the lawyer to start a “roving inquiry”.
A Bench of then Chief Justice HL Dattu and Justice (now retired) Amitava Roy berated the lawyer, ML Sharma, saying PIL pleas were not meant to target an individual or an organisation but was a medium to resolve human suffering through good governance.
India News
Udaipur-Jaipur Vande Bharat operators prevents major accident, notices stones, rods on tracks, hit emergency brakes
Giving the details about the train and the incident, the CRPO said, KM 158/18, 158/19 on the Gangarar-Soniyana section were the stopping points for Train No. 20979 Vande Bharat Udaipur-Jaipur.
On Monday at Rajasthan’s Bhilwara, train operators of the Udaipur-Jaipur Vande Bharat Express noticed stones and iron rods on the railroad track and quickly stopped the train using emergency brakes.
The Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of North Western Railway confirmed the incident and said that the RPF has opened a complaint under the Railways Act after personnel inspected the scene in the Gangarar-Soniyana section.
Giving the details about the train and the incident, the CRPO said, KM 158/18, 158/19 on the Gangarar-Soniyana section were the stopping points for Train No. 20979 Vande Bharat Udaipur-Jaipur. Two rods, each measuring one foot, were inserted into the joggle plate on the previously mentioned km, together with some ballast, which caused the standstill, he added.
The incident took place under the control of RPF/post/Bhilwara at about 09:55. The area is governed by SHO/Gangarar in the Chittaurgarh district, according to the CPRO.
DSC/Ajmer, IPF/Bhilwara, PWI/Gangarar, local Police, and GRP authorities all paid the location a visit. SP/Chittaurgarh has been informed by DSC/Ajmer. RPF has filed a lawsuit in accordance with the Railways Act. The PWI/Gangarar is also providing SHO/Gangarar with a FIR, the official continued.
Meanwhile, stones, rail fasteners and iron rods are seen being laid on the railway tracks in a video that is going popular on X, formerly Twitter.
Fortunately, the alert loco pilots on duty quickly identified the impediment and took prompt action by deploying emergency brakes, averting any potential disaster. Their quick action likely saved lives and made sure that everyone on board was safe.
The District Police and the Railway Protection Force are both aggressively looking into this worrying situation. Their efforts are concentrated on finding individuals accountable for putting lives at danger and interfering with railway operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Udaipur-Jaipur Vande Bharat Express last month, which runs six days a week, except Tuesday. It departs from Udaipur city at 7:50 in the morning and gets to Jaipur at 14:05.
India News
Karnataka Eid clash: 43 persons arrested in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government is not going to tolerate people throwing stones on religious processions of other religions.
Tension gripped Karnataka’s Shivamogga district as two groups clashed during Eid e Milad un Nabi processions near Ragigudda. 43 persons have been arrested in the clashes on Monday. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government is not going to tolerate people throwing stones on religious processions of other religions.
Section 144 has been imposed Ragigudda by the Shivmogga district administration. CM Siddaramaiah said the situation is currently under control. The police has arrested 43 persons. He added it is wrong to pelt stones to disturb the religious procession of others. He said the government is not going to tolerate such actions.
Milad un Nabi processions is usually marked by large gathering and celebrations. The procession was halted due to the chaos. The police said the protestors tried to breach the barricades set by the security forces. The police forces had to resort to a lathi charge in order to disperse the crowd. About five people were injured during the clashes.
Senior police officials said the situation was under control and the issue had been resolved. They appealed to the people to maintain peace and not spread rumours. Siddaramaiah said cases were being booked against those found guilty as pelting stones at another religious procession is against the law.
Siddaramaiah added Shivamogga city has been brought to normalcy again. All possible actions are being taken by the police force. The situation continues to be tense all over the city of shivamogga. The security arrangements have been tightened. The shops and the market has been asked to close down.
2500 policemen, two platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP), two platoons of rapid action force and 12 platoons of District Armed Reserve have been stationed across the city to thwart any untoward incident. The murder of Harsha, the Bajrang Dal activist which made national news had taken place in shivamogga city in February 2022.
India News
Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti 2023: History, Date and Significance
Shastri was a freedom fighter and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. He played an important role in India’s independence movement.
On 2nd October 2023, India also celebrates the birth anniversary of another great leader, Lal Bahadur Shastri. The day holds special significance as India remembers the legacy and life of the man who served as India’s second Prime Minister. Lal bahadur Shastri was born on October 2, 1904 in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh. He is a symbol of dedication and selfless service to the nation.
Shastri was a freedom fighter and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. He played an important role in India’s independence movement. He was sent to the prison several times by the British government. After India got its independence in the year 1947 he served in many important ministerial positions in the government of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
Lal Bahadur Shastri was born into a lower middle class family. His father’s name was Sharda Prasad Srivastava who was also a teacher. Ram Dulari Devi was a house wife. He was born with the name Lal Bahadur Srivastava. He earned the title Shastri due to his academic excellence. He was commited to education during his entire life. He went on to become not only a leader but also an academic and an activist.
Lal Bahadur Shastri showed unwavering dedication to the Indian National Congress political party. He served as the second Prime Minister of India from 1964 until his death in 1966. His tenure as Prime Minister marked a significant progress and change in India.
He held many important positions which included Minister of External Affairs and Railways. His tenure had many notable achievements which included signing of the Tashkent Agreement. The Tashkent aimed to ease tensions between India and Pakistan.
This diplomatic respect earned him respect on the global arena. Lal Bahadur Shastri gave the slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kisan which means hail the soldier and hail the Farmer. The slogan means emphasizes on the vital contributions of farmers and soldiers to the country’s prosperity.
