Akshaya Tritiya 2022: People celebrate with fervour, take holy dip in Ganga

 Several leaders from the political spheres also extended their greetings on the occasion.

The celebration of Akshaya Tritiya is in its full fervour across the country on Tuesday. Starting the day with a holy dip on this occasion, people took a holy dip at the sacred rivers. In Varanasi, people worshipped Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi and paid obeisance to the deities after taking a holy dip.

One of the devotees present at the venue said, “It is considered very auspicious to take a holy dip in River Ganga today. I am glad to be here with my family. I hope God wipes away the harmful effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Similar visuals were seen in Prayagraj wherein people were seen taking a holy dip in River Ganga to mark the occasion. Several leaders from the political spheres also extended their greetings on the occasion.

Taking to twitter Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted today morning, “Wishing everyone a very Happy Akshaya Tritiya. May Goddess Lakshmi fill everyone’s life with good health, progress and prosperity.” Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also Tweeted and wrote, “Greetings on the blessed occasion of #AkshayaTritiya. May your lives be filled with the gift of good health, happiness and prosperity. My best wishes to all.”…Read More

Signal from PM Modi to CMs: Covid-19 lockdown may continue beyond May 3

Green zones may see more relaxations; states divided on how to end curbs

The nationwide lockdown is all set to be extended beyond May 3, at least until the middle of the month in the red zones of the country, as many states told Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a video-conference meeting on Monday that it’s not the time yet to lift the curbs.This means more activities may be allowed to resume in green zones of the country. Most Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states support extending the lockdown, but will wait and abide by the Centre’s fresh guidelines. Telangana has already extended the lockdown until May 7, and will take a decision on further extension on May 5.

ALSO READ: CRISIL pegs India’s FY21 economic growth rate at 1.8% from 3.5%

Odisha, Meghalaya and some others support extending it by a month. Congress-led governments want the lockdown to be lifted in areas other than hotpots or containment zones.Delhi will take a call by April 30.Maharashtra will also decide by the end of the month, but will not lift the lockdown in urban centres like Mumbai and Pune, which are in red zones, while allowing economic activity in green zones. Mindful of the economic challenges, the government is preparing a detailed exit strategy that would give states more space in deciding their respective plans, sources said after the three-hour meeting.

ALSO READ: Govt likely to pledge Rs 3-trn in loans to MSMEs amid Covid-19 outbreak

All CMs, except Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan, who sent his chief secretary, participated in the meeting. Nine CMs spoke while the rest sent in their suggestions. The PM indicated that Covid-19 is here for a long haul and that people need to learn to live with it. He said masks and face covers would become part of our lives in the days ahead and reiterated the mantra of ‘do gaz doori’ or social distancing…

Delhi violence pre-planned, won't spare those involved in riots: Amit Shah

Opposition demands home minister’s resignation

In a stormy discussion in Lok Sabha on Wednesday on the ongoing collective mobs in Delhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said none discovered included, independent of their religion, rank, or gathering alliance, would be saved. He said the brutality was a pre-arranged connivance. In the discussion, a portion of the Opposition individuals scrutinized the job of the Delhi Police and of Shah himself, and requested that he leave owning moral duty.

Congress’ Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Trinamool Congress’ Saugata Roy, Biju Janata Dal’s Pinaki Misra, and others, requested a free request and addressed why the savagery couldn’t be controlled for three days. Misra said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah had “lost the most” in light of the uproars and their “sheen” had worn off. He said Amit Shah‘s notoriety for being a solid manager had “gotten destroyed”. In his answer, Shah praised the Delhi Police for not permitting the mobs to spread to the remainder of the national Capital. He communicated melancholy over the passing of individuals in the savagery, and said the Delhi Police prevailing with regards to controlling uproars inside 36 hours.

He said that a sum of 2,647 individuals have been kept or captured. The home pastor said “no honest” will be “bothered”. National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval visited revolt influenced zones on my solicitation to raise confidence of the Delhi police, Shah said. “We needed conversation on Delhi savagery (in Parliament) after Holi to evade shared erupt during celebration time,” he said. Shah said he observed the circumstance sitting with the Delhi Police metal, and didn’t go to the lunch, supper, and gathering that the legislature had facilitated for visiting Donald Trump. He said he would not like to disturb police work by visiting riot-hit zones.

‘Shoot the traitors’ slogan raised by group going to Shah’s rally in Bengal

The men shouted the slogan while they were passing the Maidan Market in Esplanade en route to the rally venue Shahid Minar ground

The West Bengal BJP unit on Sunday came under fire after a group of people holding the party flag allegedly raised the incendiary “desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maro…” (shoot the traitors) slogan on their way to a rally of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The men shouted the slogan while they were passing the Maidan Market in Esplanade en route to the rally venue Shahid Minar ground.

There has been a controversy over raising of such slogans in BJP rallies during Delhi polls and demonstrations in favour of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) due to allegations that they provoke violence. The state BJP leadership, however, denied involvement of any party worker in the incident and termed it as the “handiwork of the TMC (Trinamool Congress)”. The slogan shouting BJP supporters came close to Congress and Left Front members who chanted “Go Back Amit Shah” on the other flank of the Jawaharlal Nehru Road, but a showdown was averted as a large number of police personnel posted nearby intervened and took control of the situation.

When contacted, a senior Kolkata Police officer declined to comment on the incident but said strict action will be taken against anybody trying to disrupt law and order in the city. “No arrest has been made in this connection till evening,” he said. When asked for a reaction on the incident, state BJP vice-president Subhas Sarkar said no party workers were involved in this sloganeering. “It was a mega rally in Kolkata. We feel that it was the handiwork of the TMC to malign our party,” Sarkar said.

Delhi: AAP kept its nerve even as BJP breathed fire in the campaign

AAP seems to be cruising to victory in Delhi, the result of not getting diverted by BJP’s campaign

Early trends suggest that the Aam Admi Party is set to get a second term in Delhi and Arvind Kejriwal a third shot as the chief minister. It began as a comfortable cruise for the AAP, turned into a closer contest with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a bounce back for the AAP. At the time of writing AAP was projected to win 55 of the 70 seats while the BJP was placed at a distant second with leads in just 15 seats. The Congress seemed unlikely to open its account for the second consecutive time since 2015. However, the spike in the BJP’s vote share to a little over 40 percent as of now suggested that a chunk of the Congress votes might have shifted to AAP.

However, the surprise element was that Manish Sisodia, Arvind Kejriwal‘s man for all seasons and reasons, was trailing in his constituency, Patparganj in East Delhi. Sisodia was perceived as the Delhi government’s mover and shaker and the author of its far-reaching education and health reforms. The shock reversal of Sisodia’s fortunes has been attributed to a statement he made in the penultimate phase of electioneering that was construed as his support to the Shaheen Bagh protests, contrary to the official line that directed that the AAP’s stand must be neutral.

However, Sisodia’s reversal is a side story to an election in which the AAP fought back every inch of the way against the BJP’s formidable organisational machinery and a feverish campaign, that bordered on the vicious, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Home minister Amit Shah, with “stars” like Adityanath, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister, deployed to accentuate the “faith” divide in the aftermath of the agitation against the Centre’s citizenship package…

AAP wants 48-hour ban on Amit Shah in Delhi campaign for ‘fake video’

AAP also seeks action against three BJP MPs for ‘fabricated’ videos about Delhi govt schools.

The Election Commission must put a 48-hour on ban home minister Amit Shah from campaigning in Delhi for tweeting a “fake” video on government schools, said Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh on Wednesday.

Singh and APP leader Pankaj Gupta complained to the commission against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs Gautam Gambhir, Parvesh Verma and Hans Raj Hans were circulating “false and fabricated” videos about Delhi government schools “Today we met Election Commission and demanded that Amit Shah be banned for 48 hours from campaigning. FIR should also be lodged against all their leaders who made and circulated such fake videos and all such tweets be deleted,” Singh told reporters.

Eight BJP MPs visited the schools and on Tuesday shared videos of their findings. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on Tuesday said the videos of alleged deficiencies in Delhi government schools shared by Home Minister Amit Shah were false. Singh said the BJP has been completely baffled by the Delhi’s education model, and Shah is running a campaign to insult the 16 lakh children of Delhi, the 32 lakh parents of Delhi and thousands of teachers…

Amit Shah is lying, BJP’s 7 MPs have done nothing for Delhi: Manish Sisodia

Sisodia added that Shah, when referring to Delhi, also had to speak about the real issues and the works done.

Slamming former BJP President Amit Shah for telling “blatant lies” about the city, Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia said on Friday that the Union Home Minister was lying as none of the seven BJP MPs in Delhi have done anything for the national capital.

Speaking to the media, Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia said that in 2014, the people of Delhi voted for 7 BJP MPs and it was repeated in 2019. “Had these 7 MPs or the Central government had done any work for the people on the ground, they wouldn’t have to resort to ‘jumlas’, or be confused about issues to attack the Arvind Kejriwal government,” Sisodia said, asking BJP leaders to raise real issues.

Sisodia said on Thursday, Amit Shah made some statements during his rally in Delhi. He appreciated that Shah was talking about the work being done in Delhi. “We had said that we entered politics to transform it and Shah himself provides ample proof of the manner in which we have changed the narrative,” said Sisodia.

He added that Shah, when referring to Delhi, also had to speak about the real issues and the works done. Sisodia said that Shah had to finally admit on Thursday that ‘some’ cameras have been installed. “Even though he only acknowledged that ‘some’ cameras have been installed, at least he accepted that work has happened. Since he is the Union Home Minister, he has all the sources at his disposal to gather information. He is also in constant touch with officers of the Delhi government….

Never seen such brutal politics before: Sena hits out at Modi, Shah on JNU

An editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ further alleged that the BJP wanted to see “Hindu-Muslim riots” over the Citizenship Amendment Act, but that did not happen

Against the backdrop of attack on JNU students, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that what they wanted was happening, and said such “brutal politics” was never seen before in the country. An editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ further alleged that the BJP wanted to see “Hindu-Muslim riots” over the Citizenship Amendment Act, but that did not happen. Since the BJP has been cornered over the issue of CAA, several things are happening out of “revenge”, it said.

Comparing the attack on Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students to the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes, the Shiv Sena said “divisive politics” was dangerous for the country. It said the Union Home Ministry’s decision to file cases against “unknown” attackers at JNU was laughable. “Those who entered JNU with masks are not unknown,” it claimed. On Sunday, a mob of masked young people stormed the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus in south Delhi and targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones and iron rods, hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings.

Nearly 34 people were injured in the violence. “The fallout of JNU attack is being seen elsewhere in the country…what Modi and Shah want is happening. The country is in danger. Divisive politics is dangerous for the country,” the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said. Terrorists who attacked Mumbai on November 26, 2008 were also masked and the same was seen at JNU. Such elements need to be exposed, it said

Tamil orator arrested for ‘provocative’ remarks against Modi, Amit Shah

Kannan made the alleged remarks at an event organised by the Social Democratic Party of India on December 28

A Tamil orator, who allegedly made provocative remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah last week, was taken into custody late Wednesday night, police said. Nellai Kannan was whisked away by a police team in Perambalur district in connection with complaints against him by the BJP and the ruling AIADMK.

The move comes hours after top Tamil Nadu BJP leaders staged a demonstration near Gandhi statue point on the Marina beach front in Chennai, demanding his arrest over the remarks. The BJP had also petitioned Governor Banwarilal Purohit seeking action against Kannan. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K S Alagiri in a statement claimed Kannan has been arrested. Alagiri also condemned the move.

Kannan made the alleged remarks at an event organised by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) on December 28. The BJP on Monday lodged a police complaint seeking his arrest and prosecution. “Such remarks are open threat to the lives of the prime minister and the home minister and are an attempt to incite violence, criminal intimidation, and abetment to murder,” State BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathi had said.

NRC an internal affair of Indian govt, says Bangladesh Border Guards chief

The BGB will keep on attempting to counteract illicit intersections into India, its Director General Maj Gen Shafeenul Islam said at a question and answer session here.

The procedure of production of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is totally an “inside issue” of the Indian government and the collaboration between the outskirt guarding powers of the two nations is awesome, the head of Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) said on Sunday.

The BGB will keep on attempting to forestall unlawful intersections into India, its Director General Maj Gen Shafeenul Islam said at a question and answer session here. A BGB appointment, drove by Islam, is on a reciprocal visit to India to hold DG-level fringe chats with their partners, the BSF said.

“This is totally an interior undertaking of the Indian government,” he said when requested to remark on the NRC issue. When gotten some information about the arrangements of the CAA that tries to allow Indian citizenship to mistreated non-Muslims from three nations, the DG said he might not want to offer any remarks….

At the stroke of 12 PM, Lok Sabha passes Citizenship Amendment Bill

The opposition says the Bill violates the Constitution

The Lok Sabha on Monday passed the questionable Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) with 311 in support and 80 against. The Bill is probably going to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

In his answer to more than six-hour-long discussion on the Bill, Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanded that the proposed law doesn’t victimize Indian Muslims yet planned for ensuring proceeded with abuse of minorities in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. He said the Bill was a consequence of the disappointment of the 1950 Nehru-Liaquat agreement. The home pastor said there is a qualification between illicit foreigners and displaced people.

Individuals from the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Left gatherings and others contested this, naming it troublesome and that it was a ‘trap’ and inseparably connected to the National Register of Citizens (NRC) work out, which has ‘fizzled’ in Assam. Shah said there was no linkage, and just those enjoying “vote bank governmental issues” were considering it a snare. He denounced “a few gatherings” of making an “air of dread”. “We are evident that we will do the NRC. This isn’t a ‘foundation’ for it, our statement is the foundation,” Shah said.

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi said the Bill was a “trick to make Muslims stateless”, and tore a duplicate of the Bill to feature his dissent. Individuals from the treasury seats said Owaisi had offended Parliament. Restriction individuals said the Bill damaged the Constitution, particularly correspondence under the steady gaze of law cherished in Article 14 of the Constitution. The Congress made plans to move the Supreme Court once Parliament passes the Bill. Trinamool’s Abhishek Banerjee said the West Bengal government would not permit NRC in the state…. Read More

Citizenship Bill on Cabinet agenda, Amit Shah meets Northeast CMs

A large section of people and organisations in the northeast have opposed the Citizenship Bill

On the eve of a meeting of the Union Cabinet, which is likely to approve the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), Home Minister Amit Shah met politicians and organisations from the northeastern states on Tuesday to understand their concerns over the proposed law.

Apart from the contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill, the Cabinet is likely to clear the Personal Data Protection Bill and further amendments to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and the Companies Act. The Narendra Modi government hopes to ensure the passage of these Bills during the ongoing winter session of Parliament which concludes on December 13.

Shah held discussions with the representatives of students’ bodies and civil society groups of Assam on the CAB. Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal, too, attended the meetings. It was the third such session held by Shah since Friday. Mizoram CM Zoramthanga also called on Shah.

The groups, including the All Assam Students Union, told Shah that they are apprehensive that the proposed law, if enacted, could affect the indigenous people of the northeast. There have been widespread protests in the northeastern states against the Bill. Government sources said the northeastern states could be kept out of the purview of the Bill…

MMTC signs second onion import order, to buy 11,000 tonnes from Turkey

The company had placed an order for the first consignment of 6,090 tonnes of onion from Egypt

State-owned trading firm MMTC, which is importing onion on the behalf of the Centre, has placed an order of 11,000 tonnes of edible bulb from Turkey as part of its efforts to boost domestic supply and ease soaring prices, sources said. This is the second import order placed by the MMTC. The public sector firm is already importing 6,090 tonnes from Egypt.

Last month, the Union Cabinet approved importing 120,000 tonnes of onion to improve the domestic supply and control prices that have skyrocketed to Rs 75-120 per kg across major cities now. The Centre has already banned exports and imposed stockholding limit on wholesalers and retailers for indefinite period.

According to sources, MMTC has contracted 11,000 tonnes of onion imports from Turkey and the consignments are expected in January next year. The company had placed an order for the first consignment of 6,090 tonnes of onion from Egypt which will be arriving at Nhava Sheva (JNPT), Mumbai in the second week of this month. The imported onion is being offered to state governments for distribution at the rate of Rs 52-55 per kg ex-Mumbai and Rs 60 per kg ex-Delhi.

To monitor onion prices, a Group of Ministers, chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah, has already been constituted. Finance minister, consumer affairs minister, agriculture minister and road transport minister are also members of this panel. A Committee of Secretaries (CoS) and Consumer Affairs Secretary Avinash K Srivastava is also constantly reviewing the situation…

Maharashtra: SC reserves order for Tuesday, govt defends governor

The Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party, and the Congress–the combine that had expected to govern Maharashtra–are expected to challenge the BJP in Parliament which resumes after the weekend.

The Supreme Court will on Tuesday, 10.30am, rule on petitions challenging the Bharatiya Janata Party forming a government in Maharashtra, reserving its judgment after hearing arguments by lawyers of the central government and the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress combine.

The three parties argued that BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis doesn’t have the numbers to be chief minister, taking their fight separately to Parliament. BJP and the central government lawyers said Fadnavis will prove his majority, but the court didn’t have the power to direct Maharashtra’s governor to fix a deadline for a floor test in the Assembly.

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Supreme Court reserves order on Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress petition for Tuesday 10.30 am.

Leaders of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress submitted letter to Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, saying they have the required numbers to form government, reports PTI. The ‘Maha Vikas Aghadi’, the post-poll alliance formed by the three parties, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis “does not have the required numbers”. The letter was signed by Eknath Shinde, Jayant Patil and Balasaheb Thorat, the legislature party leaders of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress.

SC asks Abhishek Manu Singhvi to withdraw plea

Supreme Court asks Abhishek Manu Singhvi, lawyer for Congress and NCP, to withdraw fresh petition with affidavits of 154 Maharashtra MLAs supporting Opposition combine as it has not been supplied to the BJP, reports PTI. Whatever you file in court, you need to give to other side: court tells Singhvi, who withdraws the plea.

SC can’t review Governor’s discretionary power: BJP, govt lawyers

Governor’s discretionary power cannot be judicially reviewed: BJP lawyer Mukul Rohatgi tells Supreme Court. Governor in absolute discretion invited largest party—the BJP—on November 23: Solicitor General Tushar Mehta tells court…..Click Here

BJP’s ‘second act of use & throw’: Shiv Sena won’t blink on power sharing

At the meeting of the Sena’s MLAs, party chief Uddhav expressed ‘disappointment’ over CM Fadnavis’ statement

With ally Shiv Sena unwilling to blink, Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday held a meeting with eight of the 13 newly elected Independents and legislators of three of the smaller parties. The majority mark still eludes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by 26 legislators in a House of 288, despite these 13 MLAs vowing support to a Fadnavis-led BJP government.

The next Maharashtra Assembly needs to be convened by November 10. The term of the previous Assembly expires on November 9. The Shiv Sena rejected media reports that it has softened its stand on its two key demands of ‘50:50’ power-sharing formula and rotational CM tenure. It accused the BJP of enacting a ‘second act’ of the ‘use and throw’ policy in dealing with its ally.

“The (reports that) Sena has softened (its stand), has compromised and relinquished equitable distribution of posts, are all rumours,” Sena MP Sanjay Raut tweeted. “Whatever was decided (between BJP and Sena), will happen,” said Raut. Raut later in the day also meet Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar at the latter’s residence in Mumbai. Raut said he had gone to meet Pawar to wish him on the occasion of Diwali, but also discussed the current political scenario of Maharashtra.

The developments during the course of the day made it evident that a Fadnavis-led BJP government is set to face stiff opposition not just from the Congress and NCP, but also from the Sena..

Amit Shah panel sets the ball rolling on sale of debt-laden Air India

Officials aware of the deliberations in a meeting of AISAM on Thursday said the agenda was to seek a formal political approval for the re-initiation of the privatisation process

A group of ministers, led by Home Minister Amit Shah, on Thursday set the ball rolling on disinvestment of state-owned Air India. This is the second attempt of the Modi government to sell Air India after a previous attempt failed to generate any interest.

Officials aware of the deliberations in a meeting of AISAM on Thursday said the agenda was to seek a formal political approval for the re-initiation of the privatisation process. “It was a very productive meeting. We are going to take all the decisions in a defined period of time. The Air India divestment process is underway,” Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said.

“The issue of debt and the expression of interest (EoI) will be taken up in the next meeting of AISAM,” the official quoted earlier said. The Committee of Secretaries has proposed that the government fully quit the carrier as a 24 per cent holding of the government was one of the major reasons cited by transaction advisor EY on why bidders stayed away. The government has agreed to exit the airline completely by selling off 95 per cent stake in the carrier, retaining five per cent for ESOP of permanent employees.

The government has thoroughly analysed the failed sale process of last year and is making changes in the privatisation process accordingly, the official quoted above said. “EY highlighted that the government holding a 24 per cent stake had scared away many potential suitors. Hence, the decision to sell 95 per cent has been taken,” the official said…

BJP plans nationwide campaign on Article 370 move, ropes in prominent faces

The party has started working on organising a ‘Jan Jagran Abhiyan’ (public awareness campaign) on the matter and will hold indoor meetings at state and district levels across the country

The BJP will carry out a nationwide campaign on the Union government’s decision to abrogate Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 of the Constitution, and will reach out to 2,000 prominent personalities from the fields of film, sport and academia among others.
The party has started working on organising a ‘Jan Jagran Abhiyan’ (public awareness campaign) on the matter and will hold indoor meetings at state and district levels across the country, a party leader told PTI.
With assembly elections in four states around the corner, the party is keen to keep the emotive issue alive among the masses as it seeks to draw maximum political mileage following the decision which, it believes, has popular endorsement. At the same time, the party also wants to check the opposition’s propaganda on the issue.
Small indoor meetings at Article 370 different locations across the country with 500-1000 opinion makers at the district level, and 35 big indoor meetings having gathering of 2,000 people will be held at capitals of all states and Union territories in the country, the party leader said

Article 370 provisions scrapped: J&K, Ladakh may get share of central funds

The official added that it isn’t immediately clear if the 15th Finance Commission will be given additional terms of reference or more time to adjust

As a direct result of the Narendra Modi government’s decision to turn Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh into two separate union territories, the Fifteenth Finance Commission (FFC) is likely to allocate sums from the divisible tax pool to 28 states, instead of 29. The allocations for the two union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are expected to come out of the Centre’s liabilities, Business Standard has learnt.

“It now becomes 28 states instead of 29, and according to the standard practice and the Terms of Reference, the requirements of union territories have to be counted as part of liabilities of the Centre. The devolution of the tax pool will have to be recalculated from 29 states to 28,” said an official aware of the working of the FFC.

The official added that it isn’t immediately clear if the FFC will be given additional terms of reference or more time to adjust for the conversion of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to two separate union territories. All this is of course subject to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Bill being passed in Rajya Sabha (will change once passed) and it withstanding any challenge in the Supreme Court.

As reported earlier, FFC Chairman N K Singh has ruled out including UTs with legislative bodies, like Delhi and Puducherry, in the divisible tax-pool in-line with other states, even after getting representations to do so. “We are not formally considering the memorandum of Puducherry and Delhi because under the Constitution, we are not enjoined to do so, and we have to strictly act in accordance with the Constitution,” Singh had told Business Standard in an interaction earlier this month…

It’s game over for the Gandhis but Congress has a chance to begin anew

 The prime minister, a former tea seller from Gujarat, makes a far more credible champion of the poor than a globe-trotting champagne socialist from Delhi with a famous last name

Can India’s Congress Party get by without the Nehru-Gandhi tradition with which it has turned out to be synonymous? For line supporters, habituated to regarding India’s most seasoned ideological group as a family fiefdom, the idea is blasphemous. Be that as it may, they have to recognize a cruel truth: 49-year-old Rahul Gandhi hosts become a risk for the get-together his family has helmed for a significant part of the previous 70 years.

Restored banter about the Congress Party’s future pursues a second back to back drubbing by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu patriot Bharatiya Janata Party in the national races in May. Congress won just 52 of 543 seats in the legitimately chosen lower place of Parliament, around one-6th the same number of as the BJP. In 14 of 30 states, Congress couldn’t catch a solitary seat.

A week ago Mr. Gandhi surrendered as the gathering’s leader. In a letter, he acknowledged duty regarding the national annihilation while likewise blaming the BJP for conveying “the whole hardware of the Indian state” against Congress.

In a propelled vote based system, the possibility of a gathering head venturing down after a constituent shellacking would scarcely raise an eyebrow. In the Congress Party, it’s sufficient to trigger a quake. Standard way of thinking in Congress holds that solitary an individual from the family can order the stature to join quarreling party chieftains and inspire laborers. Without a Nehru-Gandhi in control, the contention goes, Congress will rapidly turn into a rudderless chaos…

Modi cabinet ministers full list: Amit Shah Home Minister, Sitharaman FM

Rajnath Singh has been appointed as the new Defence Minister and S Jaishankar new External Affairs Minister

The Narendra Modi government on Friday reported the distribution of the Cabinet portfolios. In an unexpected move, Amit Shah, who was guessed to be selected as the new fund serve, turned into the Home Minister with Nirmala Sitharaman turning into the new Finance Minister. Rajnath Singh has been selected as the new Defense Minister and S Jaishankar new External Affairs Minister. Smriti Irani, who was relied upon to be granted abundantly for overcoming Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, has been made the Minister of Women and Child Development and Minister of Textiles.

Likewise READ: LIVE: Amit Shah made Home Minister; Modi govt bureau portfolios reported

Under the portfolios formally discharged today, Piyush Goyal gets the opportunity to hold the Railways portfolio and has likewise been given Commerce and Industry which was held by Suresh Prabhu, who has been dropped. Prakash Javadekar, who was the Human Resource Development serve, gets the opportunity to hold the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and will be the new Minister of Information and Broadcasting. Gajendra Singh Shekhwat will be the Minister of Jal Shakti. Dr Harsh Vardhan has been designated as Minister of Health and Family Welfare; Minister of Science and Technology; and Minister of Earth Sciences.

Here is the allocation of portfolios among the following members of the Union Council of Ministers

1. Rajnath Singh – Minister of Defence

2. Amit Shah – Minister of Home Affairs

3. Nitin Gadkari – Minister of road transport and highways; and minister of micro, small and medium enterprises

4. D V Sadananda Gowda: Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers

5. Nirmala Sitharaman – Minister of Finance

6. Ram Vilas Paswan – Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

7. Narendra Singh Tomar – Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; Minister of Rural Development; and Minister of Panchayati Raj

8. Ravi Shankar Prasad – Minister of Law and Justice; Minister of Communications; and Minister of Electronics and Information Technology

9. Harsimrat Kaur Badal – Minister of Food Processing Industries

10. Thaawar Chand Gehlot: Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment

11. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar: Minister of External Affairs

12. Ramesh Pokhriyal: Minister of Human Resource Development

13. Arjun Munda: Minister of Tribal Affairs

14. Smriti Zubin Irani – Minister of Women and Child Development; and Minister of Textiles

15. Dr Harsh Vardhan: Minister of Health and Family Welfare; Minister of Science and Technology; and Minister of Earth Sciences..

Read Full Article: Modi cabinet 2.0