Tag: politics

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is set to travel to Delhi on Tuesday evening to rally national support for the newly passed state legislation that grants 42 per cent reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) in education, employment, and local bodies. Accompanied by key ministers, Congress legislators from BC communities, and an all-party group of MPs, the Chief Minister will focus on building consensus and urging the Union government to provide constitutional protection to the policy. The primary aim of the visit is to persuade the Centre to include the 42 per cent BC quota in the Ninth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Doing so would safeguard the policy from judicial challenges and enable its implementation despite the overall reservation level in Telangana rising to 67 per cent—well above the Supreme Court’s 50 per cent cap. Drawing parallels with Tamil Nadu’s 69 per cent reservation policy, the state government seeks similar constitutional backing to ensure long-term protection. During his two-day stay in the national capital on April 2 and 3, Revanth Reddy will participate in a large-scale protest (‘maha dharna’) organized by BC associations. The demonstration will emphasize the demand for the Central government to pass a Bill endorsing the reservation policy during the ongoing Budget session of Parliament. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, is also expected to join the protest, reinforcing the push for the BC reservation bill. The delegation plans to present the findings of a caste survey conducted in Telangana, highlighting the need for increased representation and empowerment of BC communities. The leaders aim to make a compelling case by demonstrating broad-based political and social support for the new reservation policy. Accompanying the Chief Minister are prominent leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Konda Surekha, and TPCC chief B. Mahesh Kumar Goud. Additionally, notable BC legislators such as Adi Srinivas, Birla Ailayya, Makkan Singh Raj Thakur, Vakiti Srihari, and Eerlapalli Shankarayya will be part of the delegation. With the issue gaining momentum, all eyes are now on Delhi as the Telangana government seeks to secure constitutional backing for its landmark reservation policy.

UP STF and Jharkhand Police Gun Down Sharpshooter Anuj Kanojia In a significant operation against the mafia network of the late Mukhtar Ansari, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) and Jharkhand Police killed Anuj Kanojia, a notorious sharpshooter, in an encounter in Jamshedpur. Kanojia, who carried a bounty of Rs 2.5 lakh, was gunned down after a fierce exchange of fire involving nearly 20 rounds. Encounter Marks Ansari’s Death Anniversary The encounter took place exactly a year after Mukhtar Ansari’s death, symbolizing a crucial victory for law enforcement agencies. Officials have hailed it as a strong warning to other operatives linked to Ansari’s criminal syndicate. Who Was Anuj Kanojia? Anuj Kanojia was one of Mukhtar Ansari’s most trusted sharpshooters, originally from Mau, Uttar Pradesh. He was wanted in over two dozen cases, including murder and extortion, spread across Mau and Ghazipur. Joint Operation Ends Long Manhunt The encounter was the result of a joint operation by the UP STF and Jharkhand Police, ending a prolonged manhunt that lasted several years. Officials have stressed that no member of Mukhtar Ansari’s criminal network will be spared, with continued crackdowns expected in the coming days. This decisive action sends a clear message to criminal syndicates operating in the region: the law will not hesitate to take strong measures against organized crime.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faced chaotic disruptions during her speech at Kellogg College, Oxford, on Thursday night. The event, intended to be the highlight of her UK visit, descended into disorder as two groups of protesters interrupted her address. Heckling and Accusations The chaos erupted when Banerjee was discussing investment proposals received by West Bengal from various industries. Dr. Rajat Banerjee, who had traveled from Liverpool, questioned her credibility, asking her to name the industries involved. The Chief Minister responded, “There are so many. It may be IBM, it may be Tata,” which led to a major uproar. Protesters pointed out that Tata Motors had withdrawn its Nano project from West Bengal in 2008, citing it as a failure of leadership. One protester, Sushil Dokwal, a British accountant who entered the event from a waiting list, and his friend, Jignesh Patel, shouted, “Tata ran away under leadership.” They were accompanied by several others, echoing similar sentiments. SFI Student Protest Amidst the commotion, seven Indian Bengali students associated with the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), which is aligned with the CPI(M), stood up holding banners. One of the banners read:“TMC engineered violence in 2023 local elections.”Another protester accused Banerjee of allowing Abhaya to be killed, to which she responded, “The case is sub judice and the central government has taken over.” In response to the relentless heckling and accusations of “killing Hindus” and “selling human body parts,” Banerjee emotionally held up an old 1990 photograph of herself in bandages, saying, “This is not a drama platform. Don’t behave like this.” Security Intervention The situation spiraled out of control, with the audience facing the protesters and some shouting at them to leave. Eventually, security officials from the proctor’s office arrived to escort the protesters out. Protesters Justify Their Actions Jignesh Patel, who managed to bring in three placards without being checked, stated, “If we hadn’t gone, the headlines in India would be all creamy that she went to Oxford and spoke all her lies, so our intention was to show that is not the reality.” CM’s Response In a defiant tone, Banerjee asserted, “I am for all — Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs. I am for unity and you people are not. Don’t mention one caste only.” Despite the chaos, she maintained that the platform was not a place for political mudslinging.

A Special CBI Court in Chandigarh has acquitted former judge Justice Nirmal Yadav in the high-profile cash bribery case dating back to 2008. The verdict was pronounced today by Special CBI Judge Alka Malik, bringing an end to the prolonged legal battle. The case traces back to August 2008 when a peon at the Punjab & Haryana High Court, working under Justice Nirmaljit Kaur, reported that a bag containing Rs. 15 lakh in cash had mistakenly been delivered to her courtroom. The judge immediately alerted the authorities and instructed them to apprehend the peon. Following this, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the probe and alleged that the cash was originally intended for Justice Nirmal Yadav’s residence. In January 2009, the CBI sought permission to prosecute Justice Yadav. Although the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted the sanction in November 2010, Justice Yadav contested the CBI’s request. Her plea to quash the proceedings was dismissed by both the High Court and the Supreme Court, with the latter criticizing her for allegedly delaying the trial through multiple petitions. The President of India’s office finally approved the prosecution sanction in March 2011, following which the CBI filed a chargesheet. During this period, Justice Yadav had been transferred to the Uttarakhand High Court in February 2010 and retired a month later in March 2011. In 2014, the Supreme Court dismissed Yadav’s plea for a stay on trial proceedings, pointing out that her repeated attempts to challenge the process were merely tactics to delay the case. Subsequently, Special CBI Court Judge Vimal Kumar framed charges against Justice Yadav under Section 11 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, while four other accused were charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy). During the trial, the prosecution listed 84 witnesses, of which 69 were examined. In February this year, the High Court allowed the CBI to re-examine 10 witnesses, instructing the trial court to avoid unnecessary adjournments. The court reserved its verdict on March 27. Justice Nirmal Yadav was represented by advocates S.K. Garg Narwana and Shri V.G. Narwana. The court, while delivering the judgment today, concluded that the prosecution failed to substantiate the charges with concrete evidence, leading to her acquittal.

Ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr and the last Friday prayers of Ramzan, the Meerut Police has issued a stern warning against offering namaz on public roads. Violators could face severe legal consequences, including the cancellation of passports and driving licences. Official Statement and Warnings Meerut Superintendent Police (City), Ayush Vikram Singh, emphasized that Eid prayers should be performed only at local mosques or designated Eidgahs. He stated that any violation of this directive would result in legal action, including the possible revocation of passports and licences. Union Minister and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Jayant Singh Chaudhary elaborated on the legal consequences, stating that individuals facing criminal charges may have their passports and licences confiscated. Furthermore, obtaining a new passport would be challenging without a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the court. Enhanced Security Measures To ensure law and order, Meerut Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vipin Tada confirmed that the police have conducted meetings at both district and station levels, with clear directives issued after consultations with community leaders. The police are also monitoring social media to curb the spread of rumors or attempts to incite unrest. Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel have been deployed across sensitive areas identified from past experiences. Flag marches are being conducted to display a strong security presence. Aerial and Ground Surveillance Drones will be deployed for aerial surveillance, and local intelligence teams are actively monitoring the situation. Both uniformed and plainclothes officers will be stationed at sensitive locations to maintain peace. Coordination with Community Leaders SSP Tada stated that the administration is working closely with prominent citizens and religious leaders to ensure peaceful observance of Eid and Friday prayers. Consequences of Violations Violators of the road namaz ban could face not only criminal charges but also the cancellation of passports and driving licences. Without clearance from the court, new documents cannot be issued, making it a serious deterrent for potential violators. The police’s stringent stance aims to maintain communal harmony and ensure a peaceful celebration of the festival.