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Chhattisgarh: Congress leader Jagdish Kaushik, who went on hunger strike protesting denial of ticket from Bilaspur, ends his fast unto death

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Chhattisgarh: Congress leader Jagdish Kaushik, who went on hunger strike protesting denial of ticket from Bilaspur, ends his fast unto death

Congressman and former president of Bodri Nagar Panchayat, Jagdish Kaushik, who had been fasting to death for the previous three days, ended his hunger strike on 29th March. He was protesting Bhilai Nagar MLA Devendra Yadav’s selection as the Lok Sabha candidate for the Bilaspur seat. Vijay Kesharwani, the president of the Congress district in Bilaspur, offered him water and juice to break his fast and promised to take his concerns into consideration on behalf of the senior Congress leadership.

Devendra Yadav’s candidacy was contested by the 40-year-old leader who referred to him as an “outsider.” On 27h March, Jagdish Kaushik started his hunger strike by refusing food and liquids in front of the Congress Bhawan. He did not agree when Congress leader and Kota lawmaker Atal Shrivastava and other Congress officials tried to pacify and convince him.

“Why I have not been given a ticket from the Bilaspur Lok Sabha seat? What was lacking in my penance? The party high command (State/Central) should address (it). Give justice. Till justice is meted out (the protest will be continued),” read pamphlets pasted by him on a wall of the party’s Bilaspur district office where he was protesting. He had declared that he would not stop his agitation until the party’s high command granted him justice.

Congress district president rushed to the Congress building after learning of the occurrence. Senior Congressmen, however, are reported to have guaranteed Jagdish Kaushik that his reservations would be taken into account and that he would be assigned a significant role inside the party.

President of the Bilaspur District Congress Committee (Rural), Vijay Kesharwani, mentioned that Jagdish Kaushik was the president of the Bodri Nagar Panchayat from 2009 to 2014 and is currently employed with the Congress party. He claimed that when Congress MLA Atal Srivastava and other party officials met with him, they persuaded him to break his fast, but he refused. He noted that attempts are being made to convince him to stop protesting.

The wife of Jagdish Kaushik and their two sons came to the Congress building on the morning of 28th March. She even threatened to fast with her kids as a sign of support for her spouse. They then all took a seat in front of the building. She highlighted that her husband deserved to be granted a ticket because of his persistent efforts on behalf of the Congress party. She vowed that she and her children would fast together until her husband’s demand was fulfilled and she would hold the Congress party accountable for any adverse outcomes.

Following news that Jagdish Kaushik had called off his hunger strike, Bhilai MLA and Lok Sabha candidate Devendra Yadav and his supporters also made their way to the Congress building. He gave Jagdish Kaushik some juice and had a conversation with him, asking for assistance in the 2024 Lok Sabha poll.

One day after I.N.D.I. Alliance agreed seat sharing in Bihar, Congress leader Pappu Yadav announces he will file nomination from RJD allocated Purnia

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One day after I.N.D.I. Alliance agreed seat sharing in Bihar, Congress leader Pappu Yadav announces he will file nomination from RJD allocated Purnia

A day after the I.N.D.I. Alliance agreed on seat sharing in Bihar, Congress leader Pappu Yadav announced that he would file a Lok Sabha nomination from Purnia, which is allocated to the Rashtriya Janata Dal in the seat sharing. Notably, Pappu Yadav formally merged his political outfit Jan Adhikar Party (Loktantrik) in Congress on 20th March. He said that he was assured a ticket from Purnia by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Pappu Yadav said, “I will contest the Purnea seat on Congress symbol and people will ensure Congress’s win. I will file the nomination. Let the party leadership’s response come. People of Purnia have said ‘Pappu is their son, he won’t go anywhere’. I will have to follow the order (of the people).”

On 29th March, Congress and RJD partnered INDI alliance sealed a seat-sharing agreement in Bihar, with the Congress party stated to contest on nine seats while the lion’s share of the seats, 26 to be precise, going to Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD. Five of the 40 Lok Sabha seats have been allotted between three left parties, namely CPI-ML, CPI, and CPM. RJD, Congress, and Left leaders held a joint press conference on Friday, 29th March, and announced seat allocation.

Congress will be fielding candidates on seats such as Kishanganj, Muzaffarpur, Patna Sahib, and Maharajganj, the RJD will be fighting on Purnea, Hazipur, Gaya, Aurangabad, Darbhanga, Siwan, and Patliputra besides others. CPI-ML will contest from Aarh, Karakat, and Nalanda, CPI from Begusarai, and CPM from Khagaria. RJD leader Bima Bharti, who is contesting from Purnia, dismissed this as a rumour and stated that Pappu Yadav would endorse her candidacy.

She said, “Some people are spreading rumours that he won’t support me and that he would oppose this, but that is not true. He is my guardian and will continue to be so. We share a family relationship and together we will win the Purnia seat with a majority.”

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the RJD failed to secure any seats, whereas the Congress only managed to win one. The seat sharing sealed in Bihar underscored the predicament of the Congress party, which had to meet the demands of a relatively younger political party, RJD, and reduce itself to a single-digit party in a state, epitomising its decline from the national political landscape. Now, this announcement by Pappu Yadav comes as another rift in the I.N.D.I. alliance which has already broken into a bunch of pieces as its constituent parties are opposing each other in multiple states.

Israel: Captured Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist confesses he raped a terrified Israeli woman during 7 October terror attack

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Israel: Captured Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist confesses he raped a terrified Israeli woman during 7 October terror attack

A Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist confessed that he raped a ‘terrified’ Israeli woman and murdered civilians during the October 7th Hamas-led terror attack. The confession video of the captured PIJ terrorist was shared by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the early hours of Friday (29th March). 

The PIJ terrorist identified as Manar Qassem was captured by the IDF earlier this month in Khan Younis. He told the investigator that he was a member of Islamic Jihad’s naval forces. 

The Military Intelligence Directorate’s Unit 504 which specialises in HUMINT (Human Intelligence) carried out the interrogation. When asked what he did during the October 7th terror attack, Qassem (28) gave a detailed response including how he breached Israeli territory, raped and killed Israeli civilians. 

Qassem revealed that he along with his accomplice, Mahmoud Al Khush, entered Israel through a border breach in the Gaza fence between the Khan Younis area towns of al-Fukhkhari and Khuza’a. He added that he was armed with a handgun and two grenades while another terrorist, Mahmoud Khush had an AK 47. 

He further stated that when he got to the unnamed kibbutz in Southern Israel, he went into the nearest house where he found a woman who was startled and asking for help.

He recalled the details regarding what the victim looked like and what she was wearing, Qassem told the interrogators, “I took her and threw her on the couch.”

The PIJ terrorist added, “The devil took over me, I laid her down, started undressing her, and did what I did.” 

When the interrogator further asked what he had done to her, Qassem responded by saying, “I slept with her.”

Pressed again by the interrogator, Qassem confessed, “I raped her.” He added, “She pushed me, it didn’t last long… Two minutes. Maybe a minute and a half.” 

According to Qassem, by that time, two members of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades terror group entered the home as well. They kept the victim together with her mother for a short while, before they took both of them out of the house. 

Qassem claimed that he was left alone after which he decided to head back to the Gaza Strip. He also confessed to killing innocent Israeli civilians. He told the investigator that he heard gunshots and then shot one Israeli man near him before throwing one of his grenades and fleeing the kibbutz.

While the officials did not say anything about the fate of the woman, the latter comment suggested she did not survive, Times of Israel reported.

The IDF asserted that the footage is “further proof of the onslaught of murder and sexual violence by the terrorist organisations on October 7th, in an attempt to make the voices of those who can no longer be heard.”

Notably, the IDF released the video three weeks after the United Nations envoy on sex crimes during conflict submitted a report at the UN. The report pointed out that rape and gang rape likely occurred during the 7th October Hamas-led terrorist attack in Southern Israel.  

The 24-page report was submitted after conducting meetings on the ground for more than two weeks. It stated there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that Hamas committed rape and sexual abuse during its murderous rampage on October 7 and that there is an even higher standard of evidence to indicate that hostages kidnapped by Hamas that day were subject to rape in captivity. 

Additionally, in an interview published earlier this week in the New York Times, Freed hostage Amit Soussana said that she was sexually assaulted by a Hamas guard during her captivity in Gaza.

Israel Hamas war

On 7th October 2023, thousands of Hamas terrorists, through land, air, and sea invaded Southern Israel and killed over 1,200 people including babies, kidnapped over 253 Israeli and foreign nationals, and raped and paraded women. In retaliation, the IDF has claimed that it has killed over 13,000 terrorists in Gaza, in addition to some 1,000 who were killed inside Israel on and immediately following the 7th October terror attack.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that the US has authorised the transfer of 2,000 bombs and 25 F-35 jets worth billions of dollars to Israel amid speculations of a possible Israeli military offensive near Gaza’s Rafah border. 

Delhi Jal Board money laundering: Enforcement Directorate files charge sheet against 4

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Delhi Jal Board money laundering: Enforcement Directorate files charge sheet against 4

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a charge sheet on Saturday against a former DJB Chief Engineer, a contractor, a CA and a former NBCC officer in Delhi Jal Board money laundering case. It is a case of alleged corruption in tendering of flow metre procurement.

The agency has filed a charge sheet of 140 pages along with documents numbering in 8000 pages. Special Judge Bhupinder Singh has listed the matter for consideration on the charge sheet for April 1.

The ED has charged three persons, namely Jagdish Arora, Anil Kumar Agarwal, Arora’s close aide Tejendra Pal Singh and former NBCC officer Devender Mittal. A firm, NKG, has also been accused.

Arora is a former Chief Engineer of the Delhi Jal Board and Anil Kumar Agarwal is a contractor. Both have been arrested by the ED.
ED has also made a firm NKG an accused in this case. Its director has died, that’s why he is not been accused.

Special public prosecutor (SPP) alongwith Snehal Sharda and Ishan Baisla appeared for ED and submitted that it was a case of money laundering and a charge sheet has been filed against four persons.

He said that former NBCC officer Devender Mittal issued a certificate to NBCC and on that basis, NKG was awarded tender. NKG had booked a flight ticket for Mittal. He provided a fake document to NKG.

ED also submitted that investigation is going on. It was also submitted that one note sheet without signature was prepared and its copy was available with DJB and others.

The agency said that there is a proceeds of crime of Rs 6.36 crore. Out of this, Rs 56 lakh was transferred by Tejendra Pal Singh to Arora.

It is alleged that the accused awarded the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) contract for supply, installation, Testing and commissioning (SITC) of electromagnetic flow metres and corresponding O&M operations for five years to M/S NKG Infrastructure Ltd on September 20, 2018 for a total negotiated cost of Rs 38,02,33,080, despite the fact that the company did not meet the technical criteria.

It is alleged by the ED that accused received an illegal gratification to the tune of Rs. 3 crore from M/S NKG infrastructure limited and M/S Integral screws Industries and awarded the contract of DJB worth Rs 38 crores for Supply, Installation, Testing and commissioning (SITC) to M/s NKG infrastructure Ltd. Thereafter, NKG infrastructure limited subcontracted the work to M/S Integral screws Industries, the proprietorship firm of Anil Kumar Agarwal.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

J&K govt to restore Martand Sun temple, destroyed by Muslim-ruler Sikandar Butshikan to Islamise Kashmir, a statue of King Lalitaditya to be installed

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J&K govt to restore Martand Sun temple, destroyed by Muslim-ruler Sikandar Butshikan to Islamise Kashmir, a statue of King Lalitaditya to be installed

In a historic development, the government of Jammu and Kashmir has decided to restore the iconic Martand Sun temple in Anantnag which is a significant Hindu religious site as well as erect a statue of its King Lalitaditya who oversaw its construction. The administration issued an official order regarding the same on 27th March. The notification is signed by Neeraj Pandita, Under Secretary to the Government.

The official statement read, “Principal Secretary to the Government, Department of Culture shall take a meeting to discuss the matter regarding protection/conservation/restoration of the ancient temples in Kasmir with installation of statue of Emperor Lalitaditya Muktapida in the premises of Martand Sun Terrple situated at Anantnag, in his office chamber (Room No. 2/40) Civil Secretariat Jammu on 01.04 2024 at 2:30 PM.” It also urged the officials to be present at the aforementioned meeting at the given time and date.

Jammu and Kashmir govt initiates efforts to restore Martand Sun Temple


Not long ago, a ‘Kalash’ originally from Ayodhya found its place at the Ram Temple situated on the grounds of the renowned Sun Temple in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Residents, along with devotees from Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, came together to install this ‘kalash’, which was among those sent to various Ram temples for this purpose.

Last month, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, paid a visit to the Martand Sun Temple where he offered his prayers. During his visit, he took part in the Mahayagya organized by the Shri Martand Tirath Trust, expressing his prayers for the peace, progress, and prosperity of everyone.

The ancient Martand Surya Temple in Kashmir

The temple is believed to have been built in the 8th century AD, but attempts were made to destroy it several times between 1389 and 1413. It is believed that Hindu ruler Lalitaditya built the Martand Surya Temple in honour of the Sun God or Bhaskar in the 8th century AD. Lalitaditya was a Surya (Sun) Dynasty Kshatriya. The temple’s style of construction and the expertise displayed in it were unprecedented in world history. The Vastu science of architecture has been employed, and the building is designed so that the Sun’s rays fall on the Surya idol throughout the day.

According to historical documents, the Martand Surya Temple in Kashmir was destroyed on the orders of Muslim ruler Sikandar Shah Miri or Sikandar Butshikan (Idol-breaker), a sobriquet he earned from Islamists of the medieval times for his propensity to attack and destroy temples belonging to kafirs (infidels).

Though the cities, towns, and ruins of Lalitaditya’s era are not easily located, the remnants of the large Martand temple, which the emperor had built at the pilgrimage site of the same name, are an example of the expertise of the Kashmiri Hindu builders of ancient times.

World leaders in multiple forums including G20 in India kept telling me, you can’t let Trump win: Claims Joe Biden

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World leaders in multiple forums including G20 in India kept telling me, you can’t let Trump win: Claims Joe Biden

US President Joe Biden has claimed that at multiple meetings, wherever he goes to attend them, including the G20 meeting in India, the world leaders express support for him and implore that you can’t let the former US President Donald Trump win in the upcoming presidential elections.

His remarks came as President Biden addressed a public event during his election campaign in New York and said that world leaders always say that their democracies are at stake.

“And — but whether it’s the G20 meeting in — in India or whatever the meeting where there are other heads of state, I am not exaggerating when I say — and I say it in front of the press without giving the names — almost every one of the world leaders finds an excuse to get me alone for a moment, put their hand on my arm, and say, “You can’t let him win.” “My” — meaning his country or her country — “my democracy is at stake. My democracy is at stake.” Biden said.

“And, again, it’s not an exaggeration. Think about it. This is a guy who walked away from NATO. Th– told Putin he could do whatever he wants if they’re not paying their dues. As I said, he’s working — talks about — anyway,” he added.

President Biden also highlighted Donald Trump’s statement that he would encourage Russia to do whatever it wants with the countries that don’t spend 2 per cent of their GDPs on defence.

“Just — just look at what he’s done. The rest of the world is wondering what in the hell is happening to us. And they’re relieved, not because I’m so special but that I’m not Trump. I’m serious. I wish it was because they thought Biden was such a wonderful guy,” Biden said.

“I think they respect me. I think they listen to me. But the point is, it’s because they’re scared to death for their countries if he were to win again,” he added.

Earlier, Republican front-runner Donald Trump said that, as president, he warned NATO allies that he “would encourage” Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to countries that are “delinquent” as he ramped up his attacks on foreign aid and longstanding international alliances.

Speaking at a rally in Conway, South Carolina, Trump recounted a story he has told before about an unidentified NATO member who confronted him over his threat not to defend members who fail to meet the trans-Atlantic alliance’s defense spending targets.

But this time, Trump went further, saying had told the member that he would, in fact, “encourage” Russia to do as it wishes in that case.

“‘You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?’” Trump recounted saying. “‘No I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills.’”

NATO allies agreed in 2014, after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula, to halt the spending cuts they had made after the Cold War and move towards spending 2 per cent of their GDPs on defence by 2024.

This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Uttar Pradesh: Thousands gather and chant slogans in support of gangster Mukhtar Ansari during his funeral in Ghazipur, break barricades

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Uttar Pradesh: Thousands gather and chant slogans in support of gangster Mukhtar Ansari during his funeral in Ghazipur, break barricades

On Saturday (30th March), dead gangster Mukhtar Ansari was buried at his ancestral Kali Bagh graveyard in Mohammadabad, located in the Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh. Mukhtar Ansari died on Thursday, 28th March, after his health deteriorated in jail. Thousands of supporters of the gangster Ansari attended his funeral. The gathered crowd even chanted slogans of ‘Mukhtar Ansari Zindabad’ during the funeral procession. A chaos erupted during this time as the supporters of the dead mafia don broke barricades in an attempt to enter the graveyard.

Earlier, a large crowd gathered outside the house of Mukhtar Ansari in Mohammadabad in Ghazipur before the funeral procession started. During this, some people also shouted slogans of ‘Mukhtar Ansari Zindabad’. Tight security arrangements were made in Ghazipur and Mau areas ahead of the burial of the gangster. A large number of police forces were deployed near Mukhtar Ansari’s house and outside the graveyard.

Afzal Ansari, Omar Ansari, and the entire family of the dead gangster were present at the funeral. The funeral procession started at around 9.25 am with the police force and security agencies constantly monitoring the situation. A security cordon was set up at the graveyard, about half a kilometre from Ansari’s residence. Mukhtar Ansari was buried at the graveyard around 10.35 am next to the graves of his parents.

At the time when the procession reached near the graveyard, people in the procession created a ruckus, and rushed to enter the graveyard. The people in the procession with the dead body also had a brief scuffle with the police as seen in the video. As per the Police, only the family was supposed to enter the graveyard. But the gathered crowd broke through the gates of the graveyard and the police had to resort to a brief lathi charge to disperse the crowd.

Mukhtar Ansari, a convicted criminal in murder and extortion case, and an under trial accused in several other criminal matters, died after a heart attack in the Banda jail. This is not the first time that a criminal’s funeral procession saw such massive crowds. Even during the funeral processions of terrorists Yakub Memon and Burhan Wani, thousands had gathered and raised slogans in their memory.

President Murmu confers Bharat Ratna on LK Advani, Narasimha Rao, Charan Singh, and two others

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President Murmu confers Bharat Ratna on LK Advani, Narasimha Rao, Charan Singh, and two others

President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday conferred Bharat Ratna on four eminent personalities, including two former Prime Ministers, Chaudhary Charan Singh and PV Narasimha Rao. Former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur and agronomist MS Swaminathan were also conferred with the country’s highest civilian award.

The central government announced five names for the Bharat Ratna this year, which also included BJP leader LK Advani.

Sources said that President Murmu will pay a visit to senior BJP leader LK Advani’s residence and confer him with the prestigious award. This was decided given the ailing health of the veteran BJP leader Advani, they added.

Former PM Charan Singh’s award was received by his grandson, Jayant Singh, and PV Narasimha Rao’s award was received by his son, PV Prabhakar Rao.

MS Swaminathan’s daughter, Nitya Rao, received the award for her father and Karpoori Thakur’s award was received by his son, Ram Nath Thakur.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President JP Nadda, Congress leader and LoP Mallikarjun Kharge were present among other leaders on the occasion.

Born on June 28, 1921, in Karimnagar, Telangana, being an agriculturist and an advocate, Narasimha Rao joined politics and held some important portfolios. He was the Minister of Law and Information, 1962-64; Law and Endowments, 1964-67; Health and Medicine, 1967 and Education, 1968-71, Government of Andhra Pradesh. He was the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 1971-73 and General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee from 1975-76.

Trained as a plant geneticist, Swaminathan’s significant contributions to India’s agricultural sector have earned him a reputation as the scientific leader of India’s green revolution movement. His work has been instrumental in the agricultural renaissance of India.

Born in Karachi, in present-day Pakistan, on November 8, 1927, Advani has served as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party for the longest period since its inception in 1980. Capping a parliamentary career of nearly three decades, he was, first, the Home Minister and, later, the Deputy Prime Minister in the cabinet of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1999-2004).

Karpoori Thakur was born in 1924 in one of the most backward sections of society, the Nai Samaj. He was a remarkable leader whose political journey was marked by his unwavering commitment to the marginalised sections of society. He served as the Chief Minister of Bihar and was a key figure in the struggle against social discrimination and inequality. His commitment to affirmative action gave representation and opportunities to the poor, oppressed, exploited and deprived sections of the country.

Chaudhary Charan Singh was born in 1902 at Noorpur in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh, in a middle class peasant family. He shifted to Meerut in 1929 and later joined the Congress. He was first elected to the UP Legislative Assembly in 1937 from Chhaprauli and represented the constituency in 1946, 1952, 1962 and 1967. He became Parliamentary Secretary in Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant’s Government in 1946 and worked in various departments such as Revenue, Medical and Public Health, Justice, Information etc.

In June 1951, he was appointed Cabinet Minister in the State and given charge of the Departments of Justice and Information. Later, he took over as the Minister for Revenue and Agriculture in the Cabinet of Sampurnanand in 1952. When he resigned in April 1959, he was holding charge of the Department of Revenue and Transport.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Guyanese President shuts up BBC ‘journalist’, schools him for lecturing on climate change

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Guyanese President shuts up BBC ‘journalist’, schools him for lecturing on climate change

In a video that went viral on social media on Friday (29th March), Guyanese President Irfaan Ali was seen lambasting BBC ‘journalist’ Stephen Shakur for virtue-signalling the South American nation about ‘climate change.’

Shakur tried to guilt-trip the Guyanese President over the recently discovered oil reserves in the country and questioned his commitment to attaining carbon neutrality.

At that point, Irfaan Ali interjected, “Let me stop you right there…Do you know that Guyana has a forest forever that is the size of England and Scotland combined? A forest that stores 19.5 gigatonnes of carbon? A forest that we have kept alive.”

The BBC ‘journalist’ then remarked, “Does that give you the right to release all of this carbon?” On hearing that, the Guyanese President snapped, “Does it give you the right to lecture us on climate change?”

“I am going to lecture you on climate change because we have kept this forest alive that stores 19.5 gigatonnes of carbon that you enjoy, that the world enjoys, that you don’t pay us for, that you don’t value, that you don’t see a value in, that people of Guyana has kept alive,” Ali added.

He is a member of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and was elected the President of Guyana in 2020.

It must be mentioned that the Modi Government felicitated him with the ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (Overseas Indian Award)’ in 2023.

He breached the constitution: Hindu Sena President files new petition in Delhi HC seeking removal of Arvind Kejriwal from the post of chief minister

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He breached the constitution: Hindu Sena President files new petition in Delhi HC seeking removal of Arvind Kejriwal from the post of chief minister

The Hindu Sena on 29th March filed a fresh petition in the Delhi High Court against Aam Aadmi Party’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, seeking his removal from the Chief Minister’s post. Hindu Sena’s National President and social worker Vishnu Gupta filed the appeal, requesting that the court direct Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor to remove Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from his position and administer Delhi via the LG on behalf of the union government.

According to the recently filed Public Interest Litigation, Arvind Kejriwal abused the constitutional trust placed in him by the Indian Constitution since the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested him for a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) offence. The plea highlighted, “The parliamentary democracy is the basis feature of the Indian Constitution and Chief Minister being the head of the State Government he is a repository of constitutional responsibilities and trust. If the Chief Minister acts in a manner which offence rule of law and commits a breach of the constitutional trust reposed in him.”

It conveyed, “In that eventuality, his dismissal from the Office of Chief Minister is inhibited in Article -164 of the Constitution of India. Therefore, Respondent No.4 (Arvind Kejriwal) is guilty of breach of constitutional trust for allegation of corruption and consequently his arrest.”

The plea read, “Since, Arvind Kejriwal as a Chief Minister of NCT of Delhi is in the custody of the Enforcement of Directorate till date. Since he is implicated in a serious offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, as well as the Prevention of Corruption Act and as a result of it he has been arrested by the investigating agency under the PMLA. Therefore, he is no longer eligible under any law to continue as the Chief Minister after his arrest i.e. 21.03.2024.”

It mentioned, “The Constitution of India did not visualize a situation where in the event of arrest the Chief Minister can run his government either from judicial custody or from Police custody. However, it is not settled law that constitutional courts can interfere with the provisions of the Constitution to ensure purity in administration and governance.”

Manoj Narula v. Union of India was cited in the application which further stated, “The Hon’ble Supreme Court has been pleased to observe that, in a democracy, the people never intend to be governed by persons who have criminal antecedents. This is not merely a hope and aspiration of the citizenry but the idea is also engrained in the apposite executive governance. It would be apt to say that when a country is governed by a Constitution, apart from constitutional provisions, and principles of constitutional morality and trust, certain conventions are adopted and grown.”

The plea pointed out that Arvind Kejriwal violated the constitutional trust placed in him by the Indian Constitution as soon as he was taken into custody concerning the case which was filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. Therefore, he should have resigned prior to being placed under arrest by the investigating agency following constitutional morals. However, Arvind Kejriwal decided to remain the Chief Minister and lead the administration from either judicial or police custody.

It noted, “Be it as it may the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal as Chief Minister is in violation of constitutional trust which is inhibited in Article 164 of the Constitution of India as explained in the case of B.R. Kapur v. State of Tamil Nadu 2001(7) SCC 231. Therefore, the Governor is under constitutional obligation to dismiss Arvind Kejriwal from the office of Chief Minister.”

In addition, the plea asserted that aside from being under the custody of the central investigative agency, the Delhi government has not been enforcing Articles 154, 162, and 163 since 21st March (the day of the arrest), because there have been no cabinet meetings to support and counsel the governor in the performance of his executive duties.

It affirmed, “The Governor in accordance with Constitution is the basis structure of the Constitution of India and parliamentary democracy and if this situation has arisen where Constitution is not working, in that eventuality Writ of Mandamus may be issued to the Respondents for taking actions to implement the Constitutional Scheme for working of the Constitution of India,”

The petition demanded that Arvind Kejriwal be removed from his position and provided examples of multiple verdicts to support its arguments. Notably on 28th March, a division bench led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan dismissed a PIL of a similar nature, observing that the petitioner, Surjit Singh Yadav, had not demonstrated that there was a legal obstacle preventing the imprisoned chief minister from maintaining office. The bench, also comprising Justice Manmeet PS Arora announced, “It is for the other wings of the government to examine in accordance with the law.”

“There may be difficulties. It will be practically very very difficult. We accept all that. (But) Is there any scope for judicial interference in this, on this issue,” the court asked and added, “This court is of the view that there is no scope for judicial interference vis-a-vis the relief sought for removal of respondent no. 4. It is for the other wings of the government to examine in accordance with the law.”

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