Tag: politics

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has expelled senior leader and former Union Minister Basanagouda Patil Yatnal from the party for six years, citing repeated instances of indiscipline. The decision was announced on Wednesday by the party’s Central Disciplinary Committee, following a review of his response to a show cause notice issued on February 10. In response, Yatnal took to social media, claiming that he was being punished for speaking out against dynasty politics and corruption within the party. He alleged that his expulsion was orchestrated by vested interests to silence his demands for reforms and the development of North Karnataka. Yatnal has been a vocal critic of former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and his son, B.Y. Vijayendra, who currently heads the BJP’s Karnataka unit. He previously accused the Yediyurappa government of financial irregularities amounting to ₹40,000 crore during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite his removal, Yatnal vowed to continue his political journey, asserting that he would not be deterred from his fight against corruption and authoritarianism. His expulsion marks a significant development in Karnataka’s political landscape, potentially influencing BJP’s internal dynamics in the state.

As India and the United States commenced their first in-person trade agreement negotiations in New Delhi on Wednesday, US trade officials clarified that India would not be treated like China, Mexico, or Canada regarding tariffs. The discussions aim to lay the foundation for a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), with a roadmap expected to be finalized by autumn 2025. The meeting comes ahead of former US President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs taking effect on April 2, reigniting trade tensions with China, Canada, and Mexico. However, officials emphasized that India’s trade concerns are primarily tariff-related and are being resolved amicably. The three-day negotiations are led by India’s Commerce Ministry Additional Secretary Rajesh Agarwal and US Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch. The framework for structured negotiations is expected to be finalized by Friday. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to visit Washington in April to further trade discussions, reinforcing India’s commitment to strengthening economic ties with the US. In February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump set an ambitious target to boost bilateral trade from $200 billion to $500 billion by 2030.

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Thursday (March 27, 2025) unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Union government to withdraw the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, arguing that it was against the interests of Muslims in the country. The resolution was supported by all political parties, including the AIADMK, while the BJP, which opposed it, staged a walkout before the voting. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who moved the resolution, stated that the Constitution granted religious groups the right to practice their faith, and that it was the duty of a democratically elected government to safeguard these rights. He criticized the proposed amendments, asserting that they would severely impact the Muslim minority and called for the complete withdrawal of the Bill. BJP member Vanathi Srinivasan defended the Centre’s move, claiming that the amendments were aimed at addressing irregularities in the management of Waqf properties and ensuring better representation for women and the backward sections of the Muslim community. However, Law Minister S. Regupathy countered, alleging that the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) had ignored the views of certain members, labeling the Bill as an “economic assault on the Muslim community.” DMK members A. Raja and M.M. Abdullah, who were part of the JPC, were reportedly not given an opportunity to fully express their views on the proposed changes. AIADMK leader S.P. Velumany backed the resolution, while PMK leader G.K. Mani suggested that the Bill should only proceed if the Centre could build a consensus among stakeholders. Despite the BJP’s opposition, the resolution was passed with unanimous support from the rest of the Assembly.

Judicial Work Withdrawn The Delhi High Court has withdrawn judicial work from Justice Yashwant Varma following a controversy surrounding the recovery of a large amount of cash from his residence. The decision was formalized through a notice issued by the Registrar of the High Court on Monday. The move came after Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, on March 22, directed the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court to refrain from assigning any judicial work to Justice Varma. “In view of the recent events, judicial work from Hon’ble Mr. Justice Yashwant Varma is withdrawn with immediate effect till further orders,” the High Court notice stated. Cash Discovery After House Fire The controversy erupted after a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s residence on March 14. During firefighting operations, authorities reportedly discovered unaccounted cash. A video of burnt cash being recovered was also allegedly shared by the Delhi Police Commissioner with the Chief Justice of the High Court. At the time of the incident, Justice Varma and his wife were traveling in Madhya Pradesh. His daughter and aged mother were present at home when the fire occurred. Repatriation to Allahabad High Court Following the revelations, the Supreme Court Collegium decided to repatriate Justice Varma to his parent High Court, the Allahabad High Court. Additionally, the Chief Justice of India initiated an in-house probe on March 21, forming a three-member committee to investigate the allegations. Supreme Court’s Response Meanwhile, the Supreme Court also published a report from the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court on the incident, along with Justice Varma’s response. The ongoing inquiry is expected to determine the implications of the recovered cash and its impact on Justice Varma’s judicial role.