NEW DELHI, Nov 12: The Modi Government is adopting a zero tolerance policy towards the terrorism and will convey to the international community India’s determination in its fight against the menace.
The Union Home Ministry said the Government of India is organising the 3rd Ministerial ‘No Money for Terror’ (NMFT) conference on November 18 and 19 in New Delhi where representatives of 75 countries and international bodies will participate in the deliberations over two days.
Hosting of the NMFT conference shows the importance being given by the Modi Government to the issue of international terrorism as well as its zero tolerance policy against the menace and having discussions on this issue in the international community, a home ministry statement said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be participating in the conference and will convey India’s determination in its fight against terrorism as well as its support systems for achieving success against it.
The conference aims to progress the discussions on combating terrorist financing held by the international community in the previous two Conferences in Paris (2018) and Melbourne (2019), the statement said.
It also intends to include discussions on technical, legal, regulatory and cooperation aspects of all facets of terrorism financing.
It attempts to also set the pace for other high level official and political deliberations, focused on countering terrorist financing.
Globally, countries have been affected by terrorism and militancy for several years. The pattern of violence differs in most theatres, but is largely engendered by a tumultuous geo-political environment, coupled with prolonged armed sectarian conflicts, the statement said.
Such conflicts often lead to poor governance, political instability, economic deprivation and large ungoverned spaces. The involvement of a compliant state often exacerbates terrorism, especially its financing.
India has suffered several forms of terrorism and its financing over more than three decades, hence it understands the pain and trauma of similarly impacted nations, the statement said.
In order to display solidarity with peace-loving nations and to help create a bridge for sustained cooperation on countering terrorist financing, India was host to two global events in October – the annual General Assembly of the Interpol in Delhi and a special session of the UN Counter Terrorism Committee in Mumbai and Delhi. The forthcoming NMFT conference will further India’s efforts to build understanding and cooperation amongst nations, it said.
Discussions at the 3rd ‘No Money For Terror’ conference will be focussed on global trends in terrorism and terrorist financing, use of formal and informal channels of funds for terrorism, emerging technologies and terrorist financing and requisite international co-operation to address related challenges, the statement said. (Agencies)

As polling for the Assembly elections begins in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday to elect a new government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the voters in Himachal Pradesh to participate in the election process in the state. In a tweet, the Prime Minister also greeted the young voters who will be voting for the first time today.

“Today is the polling day for all the assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh. I request all the voters of Devbhoomi to participate with full enthusiasm in this festival of democracy and create a new record of voting,” tweeted PM Modi in Hindi.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also urged the voters of Himachal Pradesh to elect a “strong government” by voting in large numbers.

“Only a strong and corruption-free government can fulfill the aspirations of the people of Devbhoomi by keeping Himachal Pradesh at the forefront of development. I appeal to all the voters of Himachal, especially mothers, sisters and youth, to vote in maximum numbers and elect a strong government for the golden tomorrow of the state,” Shah said in a tweet in Hindi.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced Ten Guarantees (as the Aam Aadmi Party refers to manifesto) for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls to be held on December 4.

Since the ten-point manifesto focuses on civic and local issues, the announcement of the elections may usher in truly civic polls that address local concerns.

Announcing the manifesto on behalf of his party, the first issue the chief minister raised was that of landfills. The mountains of garbage are not only a health hazard for the common man but also an eyesore for the National Capital.

Kejriwal announced that no new landfill sites will be formed in the city. “We will clear off all three garbage mountains and ensure that no more gets formed,” he asserted. He said if voted to power, the AAP will rope in global experts for a solution to the menace.

The second issue he raised was that of corruption in the civic body which has become proverbial for the residents of Delhi. Kejriwal, who is also the convener of AAP, pledged to make the MCD corruption free.

As a first step against corruption, he said an online easy process will be developed to pass the map of new buildings as the building department is said to be the most corrupt.

The third guarantee, he said, was a practical and permanent solution to parking. He, however, didn’t specify the steps he was going to take to ensure hassle-free parking in a city where congestion has become a major impediment for not only car owners but also commuters and pedestrians.

The fourth guarantee cannot be as relevant for any other city which is grappling with the issue of stray animals. While the sight of stray animals roaming on the streets is not uncommon in Indian cities, it has become a menace in Delhi. The AAP has pledged to make Delhi free from stray animals like dogs, cows, and monkeys, giving a ray of hope to the Delhiites.

In the fifth guarantee, the party has announced that the MCD roads will be repaired.

The smooth functioning of MCD schools and hospitals is the sixth promise. Kejriwal promised to develop Delhi as the city of parks as the seventh guarantee.

The eighth guarantee was that of regularising the MCD staff with salaries on time. For traders, the process of obtaining licenses would be simplified to end the Inspector Raj, he said as the ninth guarantee.

As the tenth guarantee, Kejriwal said, “We will develop vending zones and give licences to those working on Revdi Patdi (freebies)”.

Campaigning for the Himachal Pradesh assembly polls had a good amount of emotional quotient. BJP’s star campaigner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reaped rich dividends with his sustained emotive appeals. He tried to strike an emotional chord with the people of the state while referring to his visit to Himachal Pradesh as the homecoming.

From his claim to have relished local dishes to giving way to an ambulance by stopping his convoy at Chambi in Kangra district during his visit for campaigning have been taken again as an opportunity to depict his larger-than-life image. “Woh Kehte Hai Naa Ki Insaniyat Se Badkar Kuchh Nahi Hain (They say that nothing is bigger than humanity),” tweeted the BJP while sharing a video.

Congress’ star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi, in her speeches, too took up the majoritarian impulse to evoke emotions to connect with the people. In her speeches, she reminded the people of her grandmother former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s love for the people and the state.

Her role in Himachal Pradesh getting statehood and an identity that the people should be proud of, said Priyanka, adding that it was in Himachal Pradesh that Indira Gandhi wanted to live after retirement, which, however, could not happen as she was martyred.

Union Minister Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur broke down during an election meeting last month at Sujanpur while talking to his party workers as he recalled the love and support he and his father former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal have got from them.

The Congress, despite being in the Opposition, had won Mandi Lok Sabha and three assembly by-polls held in 2021 seeking votes in the name of six-time former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh as a tribute. This time too, in his absence, the Congress urged the people to vote for the party on the development works done by him, which helped in taking the state forward.

Emotive slogans, publicity material and social media were widely used to arouse public sentiments by the political parties in the fray.

Traditional rivals were banking on slogans. The BJP mainly harped on ‘Raj Nahi Rivaz Badlega’ (Tradition will change, and not the rule), while the Congress amongst many of those talked about fulfilling promises – ‘Wada Kiya Hai Wada Nibhayenge/Congress Ko Satta Mein Layenge’ (Promise has been made. It will be fulfilled. The Congress will be brought to power).

Even the state leaders too were not behind in joining the bandwagon.

Sitting BJP MLA from Churah and Deputy Speaker Hans Raj said that he had left no stone unturned to work for the upliftment of the people of his constituency and it is being said that he will not win the elections this time.

BJP seven-time MLA and Minister Mahender Singh Thakur and his son Rajat Thakur, who replaced him this time to contest from Dharampur assembly segment, were in tears while addressing a public rally.

Getting emotional, Shashi Bala, BJP woman candidate from Rohru in Shimla district, wept on the stage targeting the opposition Congress for tarnishing her image and accusing her of corruption.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday released the second list of six candidates for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections.

In the second list of six candidates, BJP has given tickets to two women. It has fielded Mahendrabhai Padaliya from Dhoraji, Mulubhai Bera from Khambhalia, Dheliben Maldebhai Odedara from Kutiyana, Sejal Rajiv Kumar Pandya from Bhavnagar East, Hitesh Devji Vasava from Dediapada (ST) and Sandeep Desai from Choryasi.

Earlier on Thursday, the BJP had announced the first list of candidates for 160 candidates out of the 182 constituencies for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections.

The first list of of 160 candidates includes 14 females, 13 from scheduled caste, 24 from the scheduled tribe and there are 69 candidates who have been repeated.

The Assembly elections are scheduled for December 1 and 5 in the State.
In the first round, 89 of the total 182 Assembly seats will go to polls and prominent political parties have declared their candidates for almost all these constituencies.

The BJP has drawn up a list of star campaigners for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections. Topping the list is Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The other prominent names on the list include BJP national president JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and fellow central cabinet colleagues Smriti Irani, Dharmendra Pradhan, Mansukh Mandaviya and Purushottam Rupala.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who is seeking a fresh mandate from the Ghatlodia Assembly segment, also features in the star campainers’ list along with BJP state president CR Patil and state Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi.
Actors-turned-politicians Manoj Tiwary, Nirahua and Ravi Kishan will also be canvassing for BJP candidates ahead of the polls, which will be conducted over two phases on December 1 and 5.

Fromer Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala also features on the BJP’s list of campaigners.

The ruling party is seeking its seventh, straight term in power in the ensuing state polls. The state has been a BJP stronghold for long and the party has set its sights on returning to power with a handsome majority this time as well.
However, it faces a stiff electoral challenge from the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has named Isudan Gadhvi as its chief ministerial candidate.

The Congress is also hoping to put its best electoral foot forward to unseat the BJP government.

BJP is in power in the state from the last 27 years and is considered as BJP bastion.

The elections will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5. The counting of votes will take place on December 8, which coincides with Himachal Pradesh’s result date.

In a shocking incident, a minor girl was allegedly forcibly married by her mother to the latter’s 28-year-old lover and she also forced the teen victim to have sexual relations with him in Pune in Maharashtra, a police official said on Friday.

The 36-year-old woman and her 28-year-old lover have been arrested under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, he said.

“The incident came to light when the 15-year-old victim narrated her ordeal to a classmate and a woman social worker was alerted. The man is a distant relative and stayed with the accused woman,” the Chandannagar police station official said

“The woman told the girl she would commit suicide if the latter did not agree to the marriage. On November 6, the teen girl was married off to the man in a temple in Ahmednagar. The man forcibly established sexual relations with her. Further probe into the case is underway,” he added.

United Nations, Nov 12: As the world’s population is approaching 8 billion, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres gave a review of the mixed implications, urging the world community to seize opportunities and take actions to bridge divides between the global haves and have-nots.

On November 15, the world’s population is projected to reach 8 billion people, having grown by 1 billion since 2010, according to a recent policy brief by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

In an op-ed article published on Friday by the USA Today newspaper, Guterres called the milestone “a testament to scientific breakthroughs and improvements in nutrition, public health and sanitation”.

The 8-billion-strong world could yield enormous opportunities for some of the poorest countries, where population growth is highest, he said, adding that within a few decades, today’s poorest countries could become engines of sustainable, green growth and prosperity across entire regions.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday demanded Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who also holds the Home portfolio, to accept responsibility for the collapse of the law and order situation in Punjab and resign from his post immediately.

Addressing a Press conference, senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia said, “Never in the history of the State has law and order descended to this level as under this Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. It seems the law of jungle is prevailing in Punjab with targeted killings and extortions becoming the norm and gangsters being allowed a free reign. Since the CM is directly responsible for this state of affairs he should own responsibility and step down”.

He said there were extremely dangerous implications to the ongoing breakdown in the law and order situation. “A sharp increase in smuggling of weapons into the state has compromised national security. Daily killings and the new culture of extortions whereby no businessman is safe, is resulting in fleeing of capital from Punjab to other states. No investment is coming in and with home investors also choosing to move out we are staring at an economic collapse as well as a burgeoning unemployment crisis,” the SAD leader said.

Majithia said the CM should introspect to understand why things have taken such a turn and stop indulging in dance shows in Gujarat and instead concentrate on setting things right in Punjab.

“Only peace and communal harmony can bring development and progress and since both are missing in Punjab today there is a real threat of the State slipping back to the erstwhile era of darkness,” he said. The SAD leader said the CM was oblivious to the situation. “It was shocking that Mann praised Chandigarh Police at a function today and asserted that it was corruption free which itself was an indictment of the Punjab Police and its functioning,” he added.

Meanwhile Mr Majithia while welcoming the Supreme Court order freeing former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s killers said “there cannot be double standards and all Sikh detainees who were languishing in jail even after completion of their jail sentences, should be released”.

The Delhi Congress is going to release the first list of its candidates for the forthcoming municipal corporation elections on Saturday.

A meeting of the Congress Screening Committee for the corporation elections got on till late on Friday, in which Delhi State President Anil Chaudhary, Dr Ajoy Kumar and Avinash Pandey were present. A Senior Congress leader present at the meeting disclosed that the first list of Congress regarding corporation elections may be released today.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party declared its first list of 134 candidates for the corporation elections on Friday. The list has more than 60 women candidates.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday also released the party’s manifesto for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections and asserted that his government will work on fulfilling 10 ‘guarantees’.

The Election Commission has announced the date for Delhi civic body elections, and 250 seats of MCD to polls on December 4 and its counting is to be done on December 8. The last date of nomination is November 14.

As per Rule 14 of the DMC (Election of Councilors) Rules, 2012, a ‘public holiday’ comprises of a day which is a public holiday for the purpose of section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 Accordingly, the 2nd Saturday which will be following on Saturday will be a public holiday for the purpose of receiving nominations.

In view of this rule, it was announced that no nomination papers from candidates would be received on the 2nd Saturday. November 13 is also a public holiday. So rush of nominations is likely to be on 14.11.2022 (Monday) which is the last day for filing nominations.