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AAP Govt sit-in at LG House continues with minister Satyendra Jain on hunger strike

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AAP Govt sit-in at LG House continues with minister Satyendra Jain on hunger strike

The sit-in protest by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and three of his ministers inside the Lt Governor’s Secretariat entered the second day today (Tuesday, June 12).

Kejriwal and three of his cabinet colleagues spent Monday night at Raj Niwas in protest against what they called the inaction by Lt Governor Anil Baijal in ordering the bureaucrats to end their four-month “strike”.

One of the ministers, Satyendra Jain, has launched an indefinite fast.

They are demanding L-G Anil Baijal to act against agitating IAS officials and approve the doorstep delivery of ration, a pet project of the AAP government.

Following a brief meeting with Baijal at 5.30 pm on Monday, Kejriwal, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, PWD Minister Satyendra Jain and Labour Minister Gopal Rai refused to leave the waiting room of the L-G office.

Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai, who slept on the sofas in the waiting room at Raj Niwas, had asked Baijal to direct that all IAS officers who did not return to work would have proceedings initiated against them and, if necessary, ESMA would be invoked against them.

Kejriwal alleged that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the L-G were instigating an officers’ “rebellion” against the elected government by “coordinating” the ongoing agitation that started after the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash on February 19.

Baijal, for his part, maintained that while there was no strike, the atmosphere of mistrust between the state government and bureaucracy continued and “no sincere attempts to resolve the differences have been made so far by AAP government”. Baijal also alleged that in a meeting with the Delhi ministers on Monday evening, he was “threatened” by Kejriwal. Baijal said the demand that IAS officer be summoned to Raj Niwas and ordered to end the so-called strike was not desirable because he had already spoken to the bureaucrats in this regard.

The Raj Niwas issued a statement alleging that the CM “threatened” the L-G, demanding that he summon the officers at Raj Niwas and end the “so-called strike”, reported The Indian Express (IE).

“In response, it was reiterated by L-G that there is no strike and in his continued interactions with officers, it has been informed that the atmosphere of mistrust and fear continues and no sincere attempts to resolve the differences have been made so far,” the statement said, adding that it was in the sequence of “dharna without any reason”.

This morning, the four protesters sent a letter to Baijal, saying if the IAS officers did not end their “strike”, the Delhi government would be forced to turn to a law that punishes those who disrupt essential services.

Sisodia posted the letter in tweets.

AAP alleges that work has been affected because the officers have been on a protest against the Kejriwal government and have been boycotting meetings since Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash alleged in February that he was assaulted by AAP lawmakers during a meeting at the Chief Minister’s home.

The officers, however, deny any strike. The officers have restricted themselves to written communication with the political executive since the alleged attack on the Chief Secretary by AAP MLAs at the Chief Minister’s residence in February. The L-G had denied that the officers are on strike, in a statement on Monday. Raj Niwas had also stated the file pertaining to the delivery of rations is pending with the Food and Civil Supplies Minister, not the L-G.

Kejriwal has pledged to stay put at the Lieutenant Governor’s until he acts against the officers.

“In the history of independent India, this is the first time that IAS officers on strike for four months. Why?” the Chief Minister questioned yesterday, accusing Baijal of refusing to help.

Sisodia said that he met and wrote to Lt Governor Anil Baijal five times about the strike but he did “nothing” to end it.

The AAP government in Delhi has been clashing with the Lt Governor for months, accusing him of acting like the centre’s agent. They have also launched a campaign for full statehood for the capital, with the slogan: “L-G, Delhi Chhodo (Lieutenant Governor, Quit Delhi)”.

The AAP government accuses the centre of trying to rule Delhi using the Lieutenant Governor, who has to sign off on all decisions taken by Kejriwal and his ministers.

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ED issues fresh summons to Lalu Prasad Yadav in land-for-jobs case

The ED has summoned RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav for questioning on March 19 in the land-for-jobs case. His family members have also been called for interrogation.

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Lalu Yadav

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued fresh summons to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in connection with the land-for-jobs money laundering case. According to official sources, the 76-year-old leader has been asked to appear before the agency in Patna on March 19.

The investigation agency has also summoned some of his family members for questioning in the same case. Their statements are to be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), sources said.

Family members named in chargesheet

Despite the summons, sources indicate that Lalu Prasad and his family members are unlikely to appear before the ED.

Last year, the ED had filed a chargesheet in a Delhi court, naming several members of Lalu Prasad’s family, including his wife, former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, and their daughters, Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav, as accused in the case. Others were also named in the chargesheet.

The land-for-jobs scam pertains to allegations that land parcels were taken as bribes in exchange for employment in the Indian Railways when Lalu Prasad Yadav served as Railway Minister. The ED has been investigating the money laundering aspect of the case.

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Devendra Fadnavis says he will protect Aurangzeb’s grave, but won’t allow its glorification

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says Aurangzeb’s grave will be protected under ASI rules but warns against glorification.

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Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has asserted that while the state government will protect Aurangzeb’s grave in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, it will not permit any glorification of the Mughal ruler. His remarks came in response to demands from fringe outfits calling for the removal of the protected site.

Fadnavis takes a firm stance

Speaking in the state legislative assembly, Mr. Fadnavis stated, “We will protect Aurangzeb’s grave but not allow his or the site’s glorification. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s temple will be glorified, not Aurangzeb’s grave.”

Aurangzeb is remembered in Maharashtra for his prolonged conflicts with the Marathas. His forces captured and executed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s son, Sambhaji. The CM acknowledged the historical sensitivities surrounding the issue, adding that although the site is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the state would not allow any attempts to celebrate Aurangzeb.

“It is unfortunate that we have to protect Aurangzeb’s tomb, but since it was declared a protected site by ASI 50 years ago, it is our responsibility. However, glorification of Aurangzeb will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” Mr. Fadnavis reiterated.

Protests and calls for removal

The debate over the grave’s existence has escalated, with organizations like Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad pressing for its removal. They have warned of large-scale protests and karseva if the government does not act. BJP’s Satara MP, Udayanraje Bhosale, a descendant of Shivaji Maharaj, has also voiced support for the demand.

Previously, Mr. Fadnavis had acknowledged the demand but stated that any legal action must be taken within constitutional limits, as the site was granted protected status during a previous Congress-led government.

Controversy over Abu Azmi’s remarks

The controversy was further fueled last month when Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Abu Azmi praised Aurangzeb, calling him a “good administrator” and stating that India was known as “Sone ki Chidiya” during his reign. His remarks led to his suspension from the legislative assembly until the end of the budget session. Facing backlash, Mr. Azmi later claimed his comments were misinterpreted but maintained that his statements were based on historical records.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde demanded a sedition case against Mr. Azmi, calling his comments “a great sin”. He further accused Mr. Azmi of deliberately disrespecting Shivaji Maharaj and Sambhaji Maharaj.

Opposition and political reactions

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Uddhav Thackeray criticized Abu Azmi’s remarks and slammed Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav for supporting him. In response, Mr. Yadav questioned the rationale behind Mr. Azmi’s suspension, arguing that ideological biases were influencing democratic decisions.

State Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal accused the BJP-led government of diverting attention from pressing issues such as unemployment and farmers’ distress. He argued that removing Aurangzeb’s tomb would not address these concerns.

On Sunday, Mr. Sapkal compared CM Fadnavis to Aurangzeb, stating that both used religion to further their rule. The BJP dismissed his remarks as “childish”.

As the debate continues, the Maharashtra government remains firm on protecting the tomb while preventing any form of glorification.

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Chandrababu Naidu on language debate: Hindi useful for communication in Delhi

Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu stresses the importance of Hindi for communication and English for global interactions, advocating for multilingual learning.

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Chandrababu Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has weighed in on the ongoing language debate, emphasizing that languages should not be a source of hatred but a tool for communication. Addressing the matter, he underscored the importance of Hindi and English, highlighting their roles in national and international discourse.

“Hindi is the national language. English is the international language,” said Naidu, acknowledging that Indians are increasingly migrating to different countries for work and education.

Reiterating the importance of multilingual proficiency, Naidu stated, “For livelihood, we will learn any number of languages. We won’t forget our mother tongue. Language is only for communication. It is best to learn maximum languages, let us remember.”

His comments come amid a heated debate on language politics, particularly in states where the imposition of Hindi has faced opposition. While some regional parties have strongly resisted Hindi’s dominance, Naidu’s stance reflects a more balanced approach, advocating for linguistic harmony and practical communication.

His remarks particularly resonate in Delhi, where a diverse population speaks multiple languages, but Hindi serves as a common medium of communication.

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