New Delhi, Dec 14: Nine states, including Telangana and Meghalaya, have withdrawn general consent given to the Central Bureau of Investigation for probing certain offences, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said today.
As per section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946, the CBI needs consent from the respective state governments to conduct investigations in their jurisdiction, he said in reply to a written question in Lok Sabha.
In terms of the provision of section 6 of the DSPE Act, 1946, the state governments have granted general consent to the CBI for the investigation of a specified class of offences against specified categories of persons, enabling the agency to register and investigate those specified matters, Singh, the Minister of State for Personnel, said.
Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana and West Bengal have withdrawn general consent to the CBI to investigate cases, he added. (Agencies)
9 states have withdrawn general consent to CBI: Union Minister Jitendra Singh
Cong’s Digvijaya Singh arrives in Jammu to oversee preparations for ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’
JAMMU, Dec 14: Senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh arrived here on Wednesday for a two-day visit to oversee preparations for the party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ march in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the Congress, the Rahul Gandhi-led yatra from Kanyakumari is likely to enter the Union territory in the third week of January.
Singh, a member of Rajya Sabha who is looking after the preparations for the yatra, was received at the Jammu airport by senior Congress leaders led by former minister Yogesh Sawhney, chief spokesperson of the Pradesh Congress Committee Ravinder Sharma said.
He said Pradesh Youth Congress president Bhanu Chib and Seva Dal chief Sahil Singh Langeh were also present at the airport.
Gandhi will spend eight days in Jammu and Kashmir during the final phase of the yatra, which started from Kanyakumari on September 7 to mobilise public support against the politics of ”fear, bigotry and prejudice” and the economics of livelihood destruction, increasing unemployment and growing inequalities, the party said. (Agencies)
Army recues 30 passengers in sub-zero temperature on Mughal Road
Jammu: Army last night rescued at least thirty passengers stranded along Mughal road after a truck slipped and blocked the thoroughfare, leading to a traffic jam.
“On 13 Dec 2022, at 2030 hrs, Indian Army received a distress call from Civil administration seeking assistance for rescue of stranded passengers at KM 40 on Mughal Road as a truck had slipped & blocked the road leading to traffic jam”, reads a statement adding approximately 15 vehicles and 30 passengers were stranded in sub zero temperature conditions.
“On receipt of information, a team of the Indian Army immediately sprung into action. On reaching the site, the team quickly cleared the blockade and rescued the passengers who were brought to KM 28 and provided hot meals”, the statement reads.
“Prompt action by the Indian Army to rescue the stranded passengers with safety, which was highly appreciated by all”, the statement further read.
Security forces launch massive search operation in Rajouri
Jammu: Security forces Wednesday launched a cordon and search operation in a village in border district of Rajouri following information about suspicious movement, officials said.
The villagers of Muradpur, six kms from Rajouri town, reported movement of two suspected persons, believed to be militants, in the village around 4 am, the officials said.
After getting information, Police along with Army immediately launched a joint search operation in the village and adjoining areas but there was no trace of the suspected persons so far, they said.
The officials said the operation is in progress when last reports were received. (Agencies)
“We fully support India’s ongoing efforts to de-escalate situation,” US on India-China Arunachal border clash
WASHINGTON [US], Dec 14: The United States’ Department of Defence said that it continues to closely watch developments along the Line of Actual Control at the India-China border and noted that China “continues to amass forces and build military infrastructure along the so-called LAC.”
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder in an on-Camera Press Briefing on December 13 (local time) said that China is growingly asserting itself and being proactive in areas directed toward US allies and partners in Indo-Pacific.
Asked about the December 9 face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh, the spokesperson said, “The DoD continues to closely watch developments along the line of actual control at the India-China border.
“We have seen the PRC continue to amass forces and build military infrastructure along the so-called LAC. But I would defer you to India in terms of their views. It does reflect though, and it’s important to point out, the growing trend by the PRC to assert itself and to be provocative in areas directed towards US allies and our partners in the Indo-Pacific,” the Pentagon spokesperson said.
“…We will continue to remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring the security of our partners. And we fully support India’s ongoing efforts to de-escalate this situation, Ryder said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told Parliament on Tuesday that Chinese troops had attempted to transgress the LAC at Yangtse in Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh in a bid to “unilaterally change the status quo” but were given a firm and resolute response forcing the Chinese side to retreat. In his statement in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Singh said the face-off led to a physical scuffle that led to injuries to a few personnel on both sides but “there was no fatalities or serious casualties” to Indian soldiers.
“The Chinese side was asked to refrain from such actions and maintain peace and tranquility along the border. The issue has also been taken up with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels,” Singh told Parliament.
On Tuesday (local time), the White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that US is closely monitoring the situation and that Washington is ” glad to hear that both sides appear to have quickly disengaged from the clashes.”
” We are closely monitoring the situation. We encourage India and China to utilize existing bilateral channels to discuss disputed boundaries. Again, we are — we’re glad to see that there has been some disengagement on the clashes at this time,” the White House Press Secretary said.
The US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price also in his press briefing on December 13 (local time) stated that the Price stated that the US is glad to hear both sides have quickly disengaged after the clashes in Tawang.
“…we’re continuing to monitor very closely and to engage with our Indian partners,” Price said.
Responding to a question on the strategy of the US in case the situation escalates, the spokesperson said, “India is indeed an important strategic partner of the United States bilaterally, in the Quad, and other multilateral fora as well. So we’re always, with that in mind, in close contact with our Indian partners, both from our mission in India as well as from the State Department here in Washington.”
“… we do strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to advance territorial claims by incursions, military or civilian, across the border at the established Line of Actual Control,” he said adding that, “We encourage India and China to utilize existing bilateral channels to discuss disputed boundaries.” (AGENCIES)
Oppn leaders meet in Congress President Kharge’s chambers, ahead of day’s Parliament Session
New Delhi, Dec 14: Ahead of the beginning of the day’s proceedings in Parliament, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday convened a meeting with floor leaders of opposition parties to discuss the December 9 faceoff between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal’s Tawang sector.
On Tuesday, both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were rocked by the issue with the Opposition staging a walkout after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a statement in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the Tawang clash.
“A total of 17 parties attended today’s meeting and decided to raise the issue for discussion if not allowed it has been decided that parties will walk out from the house,” a leader who participated in the meeting said.
The Opposition, the participant said, has also decided that if a discussion is not allowed, they will boycott the House.
The meeting was held in Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s chambers to plan the Opposition strategy on India -China tussle and other issues in the House.
Kharge on Tuesday said that the opposition staged the walkout as Singh did not give a clarification on his statement in Parliament on the reports of clashes between the Indian Army and Chinese troops.
Speaking in both Houses separately, the Defence Minister informed that the “Indian Army bravely stopped the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) PLA troops from encroaching on Indian territory, and forced them to withdraw to their posts”.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentary meeting also took place in Parliament Library building today in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Singh and National BJP president JP Nadda were also present at the meeting.
The BJP MPs gave a rousing reception to PM Modi and also congratulated the BJP state president of Gujarat CR Paatil for the historic win in the western state.
The Winter Session of the Parliament began on December 7 and will have 17 working days. (Agencies)
Article 370 : CJI DY Chandrachud Agrees To List Petitions Challenging Abrogation Of J&K Special Status
NEW DELHI, Dec 14: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would consider a plea for early listing of submissions challenging the Centre’s decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370 which had given special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
“We will examine and give a date,” a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha said when intervenor Radha Kumar, an academic and author, sought early listing of the petitions on the issue.
Earlier on April 25 and September 23, a bench headed by the then CJI N V Ramana, since retired, had agreed to list for hearing the pleas challenging the Centre’s decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370.
The apex court will have to re-constitute a five-judge bench to hear the pleas as ex-CJI Ramana and Justice R Subhash Reddy, who were part of the five-judge bench which had heard the pleas, have retired.
Besides the two former judges, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, B R Gavai and Surya Kant were part of the bench which, on March 2, 2020, had declined to refer to a larger seven-judge bench the batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Centre’s decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.
Several petitions challenging the Centre’s decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which split J-K into two Union Territories “Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh” were referred to a Constitution Bench headed by Justice Ramana in 2019 by the then CJI Ranjan Gogoi.
By abrogating Article 370, the Central government had revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
NGO, People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, and an intervenor had sought referring of the matter to a larger bench on grounds that two judgements of the apex court — Prem Nath Kaul versus Jammu and Kashmir in 1959 and Sampat Prakash versus Jammu and Kashmir in 1970 — which dealt with the issue of Article 370 conflicted each other and therefore, the current bench of five judges could not hear the issue.
Disagreeing with the petitioners, the bench had said it was of the opinion that “there is no conflict between the judgements”. (Agencies)
Mercury Plummets In J&K As Srinagar Records Season’s Coldest Night At Minus 3.4°C
SRINAGAR, Dec 14: Freezing weather conditions continued unabated as minimum temperature in Srinagar plunged to minus 3.4°C on Wednesday.
A meteorological department official said Srinagar saw a fall by 1.2°C against previous night’s temperature. While the mercury was around 2.4°C below normal during this time of the year, the official said, it equaled the temperature endured by people on December 5 and the lowest recorded so far this season in the city.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 3.0°C against minus 2.2°C on the previous night. The temperature 1.9°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.
He said that Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 5.3°C against minus 3.0°C on previous night and it was 1.5°C above normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 0.3°C against minus 0.4°C on the previous night and it was 0.8°C above normal for the place, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 4.0°C against minus 5.5°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 0.2°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the official said
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 2.8°C against 1.7°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.1°C below normal for the north Kashmir place, he said.
Jammu recorded a low of 6.4°C against 8.0°C on the previous night. It was 2.8°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. Banihal recorded a low of 3.6°C (above normal by 1.9°C), Batote 3.5°C (0.2°C below normal), Katra 8.1°C (0.3°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 1.0°C (0.6°C above normal).
Ladakh, Leh recorded minus 11.5°C and Kargil minus 11.3°C, the official said. The MeT department has forecast mainly dry weather till December 21. (AGENCIES)
Sitharaman’s comments on Hindi speaking skills of Telangana people criticised
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s remarks on poor Hindi speaking skills of the people of Telangana has created a furore in the state with both Congress and BRS denouncing it.
The finance minister had made the comments while replying to a question by Congress MP A Revanth Reddy from Telangana on depreciation of rupee. She said: “Those who hail from Telangana their Hindi speaking skills are weak. My Hindi speaking skills are weak too but even them I am replying to poor Hindi with my weak Hindi speaking skills.”
Revanth Reddy retorted saying “I am a shudra, so I may not be able to speak pure Hindi. She is a Brahmin, so her language might be better. But that should not be a problem.” But this had earned Reddy a chiding from the Speaker of Lok Sabha.
But Sitharaman’s comments on the Hindi language skills of Telangana did not go down well among the people. Today Congress supporters protested in Hyderabad against the comments made by Sitharaman.
BRS MLC and ex MP of Nizamabad Kalvakuntla Kavitha took a jibe at her and said: “ It would be better if Nirmala Sitharaman responded on the issue of weak rupee instead of weak Hindi.”
“It is this supremacist attitude that will bring this ruling dispensation down,” said Konatham Dileep, who is also associated with the BRS. Scores of people took to social media to criticise her comments. BRS cadres who trolled her even posted clips of Bandi Sanjay, BJP from Karimnagar speaking in the Parliament and switching to Telugu after beginning his speech in Hindi taking a dig at his inability to speak in Hindi at length. It may be pointed out in South India Telangana is the only state where people speak Hindi. Hyderabadis speak Deccani, a dialect which is a mixture of Dehlavi, Marathi, Kannada and Telugu. Sitharaman who is married to a Telugu is not unaware of this uniqueness of theTelangana state.
India reports 152 fresh Covid-19 cases; active tally rises to 3,846
New Delhi, Dec 14: India saw a single day rise of 152 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases have increased to 3,846, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.
The total tally of COVID-19 cases stands at 4.46 crore (4,46,75,247).
With no fatalities being reported for the third consecutive day, the death toll stands at 5,30,658, the data updated at 8 am stated. The active cases comprises 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.80 per cent, according to the health ministry website.
An increase of one case has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4.41 crore (4,41,40,743), while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry’s website, 219.98 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive. India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.
India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4, three crore on June 23 last year and four crore on January 25 this year. (Agencies)