In a relief to Gujarat Education and Law Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, the Supreme Court on Friday stayed a Gujarat High Court order cancelling Chudasama’s 2017 election as an MLA on grounds of malpractice and vote manipulation.
According to the reports, a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice MM Shantanagouder setting aside the Gujarat HC order issued a notice to the Election Commission and Congress candidate Ashwin Rathod.
The apex court was hearing the appeal filed by BJP leader Chudasama against the Gujarat High Court order of May 12.
Senior advocates Harish Salve and NK Kaul represented Chudasama while the rival Congress candidate was represented by senior advocate Kapil Sibal.
On May 12, the Gujarat High Court had invalidated the victory of minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasma from the Dholka Constituency in 2017 assembly elections after a petition was filed by Ashwin Rathod, the Congress candidate in that election. The High Court had declared the election victory as void and illegal on the grounds of manipulation and malpractice.
Allegations of corrupt electoral practices
Bhupendrasinh Chudasma is handling Minister of Education, Law and Justice portfolio of Vijayrupani led Gujarat government. He won the Dholka assembly constituency with a thin margin of 327 that was challenged by his rival Congress candidate Ashwin Rathod.
In his petition, Ashwin Rathod had alleged that the returning officer and the Deputy Collector of Dholka had indulged in manipulation during the counting process and had cancelled 429 postal ballots.
On Friday, the Supreme Court of India reportedly dismissed a petition filed by advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava, seeking direction to District Magistrates to identify migrant workers walking to their native villages and facilitating their travel free of cost. The petition was filed in the wake of the Aurangabad train accident that killed 16 migrant workers on May 8.
Supreme Court will tomorrow hear my plea filed in the wake of death of 16 Migrant Labourers in Aurangabad
I am seeking direction to all District Magistrates to identify walking labourers in their areas & to ensure that all such labourers reach their native villages,free of cost! pic.twitter.com/jEfEmNv93Y
— Alakh Alok Srivastava (@advocate_alakh) May 14, 2020
Observations made by the Supreme Court
A Bench of the Supreme Court comprising of Justice L Nageswara Rao, Justice BR Gavai and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul noted that it was impossible for the apex court to track who was walking and who was not.
The centre had informed the court that adequate arrangements have been made for shelter and transport of migrant workers. But some of them do not want to wait and start walking.
Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said, “Let the state decide. Why should this court decide or hear your application?” He asked the lawyer whether he would ensure the implementation of Government directives if given a special pass. The Court observed, “How can anybody stop this when they sleep on railway tracks? How do you stop people who want to keep walking? Can anyone go and stop them? Impossible for anyone to stop them.”
Supreme Court asks Solicitor General to take instructions from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh governments to file an affidavit on the steps being taken to appoint officers to help migrant labourers travel to their home states. pic.twitter.com/wVCB3ZzOIi
The Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court that nothing can be done if migrant workers voluntarily choose to walk home, at a time when the States have been providing inter-state transport.
He added, “We can only request that people should not walk. Using force to stop them would be counterproductive. Migrants must have the patience to wait for their turn.” The apex court had also directed Mehta to file an affidavit on steps that are being taken to appoint officers who can facilitate the travel of migrant labourers to their hometowns.
Aurangabad Train Accident
Last Friday, 16 migrant workers, sleeping on the railway tracks, were mowed down by a goods train at Gadhe Jalgaon village in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad district. The migrant workers were walking from Jalna to Aurangabad, a distance of nearly 65km, to catch a train to return home. They had walked along the rail tracks for 45 mins and had then slept on the tracks. Five of them escaped with injuries and they have been rushed to a hospital. The migrants had decided to take the railways track to reach Aurangabad to avoid getting zeroed by the police on the highways.
The coronavirus outbreak in the financial capital of the country, Mumbai, appears to be spiralling out of control. The city, one of the most densely populated, has been a potent coronavirus hotspot, contributing massively to the state and the country’s total tally of COVID-19 caseloads.
However, as the contagion rampages through Mumbai, BJP leader Nitesh Rane has made a shocking claim about the number of coronavirus cases being underreported in the city. Accusing the administration of lowballing COVID-19 cases, Rane asserted that the authorities in Mumbai have ceased categorising patients suspected of coronavirus to reduce the total number of cases reported from the city.
I m hearing that in Mumbai they have stopped writing Suspected COVID in order to reduce the numbers everyday..so the figures that u see on the screen everyday r not the official numbers! They r much more than that.. Why hide the facts.. Image saving n fooling Mumbaikers?@mybmc
Rane claimed that the numbers being reported daily by the officials doesn’t reflect the true extent of coronavirus outbreak in Mumbai and the count of actual coronavirus caseloads may likely be well above the suggested official numbers. Rane has also alleged the BMC of employing face-saving tactics to mask their incompetence in handling the coronavirus outbreak.
Many Twitter users concurred with Rane’s allegations against the BMC, accusing them of underreporting the coronavirus cases in the city. Some even claimed that the administration is now mentioning “Pneumonia” as the cause of death to reduce the number of fatalities due to coronavirus.
Another Twitter user said that he also suspected that the administration was betraying the public by releasing incomplete information about the number of deaths due to coronavirus. He claimed that he had asked the BJP top brass in the city to check with the crematorium workers in Mumbai about the number of dead bodies bought for last rites amidst speculations of administration downplaying the degree of outbreak.
— Richard Rodrigues (@mydayneverends) May 15, 2020
Coronavirus cases in Mumbai skyrocketing
Of late, the coronavirus cases in Maharashtra, particularly Mumbai, have been surging at an alarming rate. In a highest-ever single-day rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in Mumbai, at least 998 cases were reported on Thursday, taking the city tally to 16,579. About 25 patients succumbed to the infection, taking the fatalities count to 600+.
The state-appointed coronavirus task force has asked the government to reserve 80 per cent of beds both in private and government hospitals for the next two days, indicating that the city has entered the most crucial phase of its battle against the coronavirus. Dr Sanjay Oak, who leads the task force, raised alarms saying almost 20,000 people might need hospitalisation in the upcoming days.
The Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic has unleashed the biggest crisis across the world since the end of the Second World War. The economy is in ruins, people are still dying in huge numbers and countries are forced to make peace with the very real possibility that the virus is not going anywhere anytime soon and it could very well become endemic. While fools and drunks expected the world to unite as a whole to fight the threat, the basic truths of life soon made their presence felt. At the heart of it all lies China, the epicentre of the Coronavirus outbreak that has plunged the world into devastation.
After refusing to warn the world about the seriousness of the threat and using its influence in the World Health Organisation to keep countries lax in their attitudes, China has now decided to use its economic clout to threaten the world into submission. Being the manufacturing hub of the world, it has significant leverage over other countries and the regime is fully aware that it can cripple countries if it so desires. It is with this confidence that it threatened to cut off medical supplies to the USA due to Donald Trump calling the virus the ‘Wuhan Coronavirus’. If China were to do so, USA would have been gravely hit as the overwhelming majority of essential US Drug supplies comes from China. More than 95% of all antibiotics in the US is manufactured in China. Consequently, the US President stopped calling COVID-19 the Wuhan Coronavirus.
Emboldened by its success, China has resorted to threatening others and cower them into submission. Last month, China threatened to stop medical aid to the Netherlands after the Dutch renamed their embassy in Taiwan to ‘Netherlands office Taipei’. The Dutch did it to express their gratitude towards the Taiwanese for donating face masks to the country during the Coronavirus crisis. It did not sit well with China as it contradicted their ‘One China’ policy.
Earlier this week, Tokyo registered its protest to China over an incident the previous week after Chinese government ships chased Japanese fishing boats near the Senkaku islands in Japanese waters. Furthermore, Australia could also suffer the Dragon’s wrath as China threatens to impose an 80 per cent import tax on Australian barley after Australia refused to retract its demand for an investigation into the origins of the Coronavirus pandemic. In addition to all of this, two Chinese media claimed that Kyrgystan and Kazakhstan have been part of China and with Kazakhstan even “eager to return back to China”. Both these countries have received huge financial investments from China which has made them particularly vulnerable to the Communist regime’s hostile tendencies.
China’s strategy is, of course, no different than the one pursued by the United States of America. While the latter uses an elaborate network of ‘civil society organisations’ and ‘human rights NGOs’ to undermine the sovereignty of other nations and secure its hegemony around the world, backed by its great economic and military might, China seeks to achieve the same objectives using its economic prowess and its pole position in the global manufacturing chain to achieve the said objectives.
Going forward, the only way that the world could hope to undermine the Chinese communist regime is by undermining the country’s dominance in the global supply chain. Such a feat is, of course, possible but would also mean the world going through a period of immense turmoil and great conflict. The recent development also demonstrates that China could very well emerge stronger from the pandemic than any other country and the post-Coronavirus world will not be one based on American hegemony.
The supreme court has refused to entertain a petition which had sought closure of liquor shops stating that it is flouting social-distancing norms. The Supreme court also fined the petitioner for Rs 1 lakh for filing a frivolous plea. The bench dismissing the petition noted that these petitions stem from the ‘lack of work’.
#Breaking | Supreme Court fines petitioner Rs 1 lakh for a petition seeking closure of liquor shops. Imposing the penalty, SC said, ‘These petitions stem from lack of work.’
The supreme court stated that this matter does not have any link with the Coronavirus situation. Supreme court dismissed the plea saying that they cannot deal with the petition. Justice Kishan Kaul said that it is on the system to deal with and not under Article 32 of the constitution, which pertains to the right to move the supreme court by appropriate proceedings.
Frivolous petition, an intention to gain publicity
The Bench comprising of Justices L Nageshwara Rao, SK Kaul and BR Gavai, noted that multiple petitions seeking the closure of liquor shops filed with an intent to gain publicity.
Apparently miffed with the frivolous nature of the petition, Justice Rao remarked, “We cannot have multiple petitions like this. These are all publicity oriented. We will impose costs.”
Advocate Prashant Kumar had approached the apex court with the petition seeking closure of liquor shops which are allegedly flouting social distancing norms.
He stated while appearing through video conference, “there are many asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 in India which one should keep in mind.”
Justice Rao replied, “But what does that have to do with the sale of liquor?” showing displeasure regarding the plea.
Liquor shops opening
The petition came after the liquor shops were opened in Delhi after a month of lockdown that witnessed a huge customer response eventually ending up flouting the social distancing norms.
The Delhi High court later suggested the Central and State government deliver liquor at the doorstep. The high court stated to consider an online shop and home delivery to prevent the gathering and huge crowd outside liquor shops.
As per reports, the Delhi government introduced an e-token system to order liquor to be delivered at the doorstep.
With the incidents of illegal cow slaughter rising during the ongoing coronavirus-induced lockdown in Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath Government has decided to tighten its grip on the perpetrators. The UP police have now decided to demarcate the areas which have been notorious for illegal cow slaughtering and smuggling and declare them as hotspots as done for coronavirus cases.
DGP issues advisory to all police chiefs, range and zone in-charges
Issuing an advisory to all district police chiefs, range and zone in-charges on Thursday, DGP HC Awasthi directed them to identify places frequently reporting cow slaughter and declare them as hotspots.
The police officers have been directed to identify the hotspots, prepare a list of perpetrators engaging in illegal cow slaughtering and smuggling and take prompt action in this regard. Officials have been asked to draw out a detailed plan of action as to how the task would be carried out.
In the advisory, the DGP furthered that after preparing the list, the perpetrators would be jailed and action against then would be taken under UP Gangster’s Act or even NSA could be invoked against such elements.
Expressing his displeasure for non-compliance of his previous orders in this regard the DGP reminded the officials that the incidents of cow slaughter have been to the rise in many districts, which needed to be tackled promptly.
Drawing the officials attention towards the seriousness of the issue, the DGP said: “These incidents also disturb communal harmony and pose serious law and order problem before the agencies”.
DGP HC Awasthi also asked the officers to identify the cops who were not strictly enforcing government directions and sack them from their post. If necessary, a departmental action against them could also be initiated, ordered the DGP.
The advisory also directed the police chiefs to develop an intelligence network which would help to identify which local police is helping the criminals and action against them could be initiated accordingly. The DGP has ordered that the police stations under which these areas of crime fall should be identified and punitive action against those should also be taken.
BJP legislator writes to CM Yogi Adityanath alleging incidents of cow slaughter and theft rising amidst lockdown
Recently, BJP legislator from Mahasi assembly constituency in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich, Sureshwar Singh, had written to state’s additional chief secretary (home), drawing attention towards the rising incidents of cow-slaughter and theft in the region amidst lockdown. He had alleged: “After lockdown, the incidents of cow slaughter are on the rise in Bahraich district. Except for calves and bulls, cows are seen in very fewer numbers.”
“Criminals are arrested and on the second or third day, released on parole,” the MLA said in his letter as he sought Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s intervention in the matter.
Cow slaughter in Ghaziabad, police arrested main accused Momin and others
Illegal cow slaughtering and theft has become an ever-rising problem in the country. Recently, we reported how Ghaziabad police had arrested four members of a gang from the Loni area for allegedly slaughtering cows. A loader, tempo, knives and rope have also been seized from the accused. The main accused who was identified as Momin and has several cases of cow slaughter registered against him in Ghaziabad and Baghpat was arrested along with three of his accomplices, namely, Gyasuddin, Mohin and Shakeel.
In December 2018, the Ghaziabad police chief has asked the SHOs to track all the cases of cow slaughter registered in the last five years and book the charges under the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986 also called Gangster Act. The Act aims to prevent and cope with gangsters and anti-social elements.
According to reports, the cases under the Gangster Act would be filed against habitual offenders. In case charges are framed under this Act, getting bail becomes difficult and the police can apply for longer custody.
It is notable here that after Yogi Adityanath assumed office as CM of UP, he has attempted to address the menace of cattle smuggling and illegal cow slaughter in the state. The UP police had been ordered to apply the National Security Act and Gangster Act against organised incidents of smuggling and slaughter. UP also saw a crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses operating in the state.
BJP MP from Barrackpore, Arjun Singh, had written a letter to the West Bengal Governor alleging an assassination attempt by Joint Commissioner Ajay Thakur. The Bengal Police had visited Singh’s residence to issue a notice to him and his nephew in connection to a pending case. Arjun Singh has alleged that two of the associates of Ajay Thakur had pointed guns towards him.
In the letter, Arjun Singh has written that Joint Commissioner of Police Ajay Thakur attempted to assassinate him and his family on 14th May on the pretext of cross-firing under the instructions of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
BJP MP Arjun Singh’s letter to West Bengal Governor
He wrote- “At around 7:30 p.m, He arrived with 35 of his associates and began roaming in and around my office in a suspicious manner, when intercepted by my security officer-in-charge, he stated that he had come to serve notice to Sanjeet and Nitu Singh, residents of BL no. 17 Ho no. 3/3 P.O & P.S Jagatdal, under section 160, of the Criminal Procedure, 1973, as witnesses in a criminal case.
When I demanded the said notices, he was speechless and directed Rajesh Ghosh, Sub-inspector, Detective Department, Barrackpur Police Commissionerate to issue the said notice. I was surprised and shocked that after the instruction, the aforementioned Rajesh Ghosh wrote the notices.”
BJP MP Arjun Singh’s letter to West Bengal Governor
He also noted that while the police came to serve notices to two persons, one of whom is a woman, there was no lady police officer with them even in civil dress and they visited after sunset. The woman Nitu Singh was directed to come at the office of the Detective Department, Barrackpur Police Commissionerate near Tapabon Marriage Hall on May 18, 2020 at 11.30 hrs, Singh wrote.
Arjun Singh said that the police officer came with 35 persons, and 2 of them are are renowned miscreants. He alleged that those two persons had pointed their guns aiming towards him from a distance, but they didn’t fire.
Detailing about the probable assassination attempt by the police officer, Arjun Singh wrote, “As per my reliable sources, Ajay Thakur had planned to start an argument with my security personnel in any pretext and then, assassinate me and family in the cross-fire. To execute their plan, Ajay Thakur along with his 35 associates, 2 persons out of such associates are renowned miscreants, had come in civil dress. It is uncanny for a squad of 35 people to serve an unwritten notice under section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The such two miscreants,by pointing their firm arms, were aiming me from distance, however did not have courage to fire. Some of their associates were trying to criminal trespass by entering into my house from backside in order to kill me and my family. As such miscreants were renowned criminal, local people recognized them.”
BJP MP Arjun Singh’s letter to West Bengal Governor
The BJP MP has written that as he has decided to become vocal against the wrongdoing of the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who due to her obdurate and insecure nature, she has decided to assassinate him for her political gain. “Under her instruction, the Police had lodged more than 75 false and fabricated cases in order to implicate and defame my public image,” he alleged.
Ajrun Singh has requested the West Bengal governor to instruct the state government to initiate department inquiry against the said Ajay Thakur, Rajesh Ghosh and other police officers, “who were part of a state sponsored conspiracy”.
Arjun Singh has opined that the people in his neighbourhood might have been agitated by the presence of the police. And as such, his Central security forces would then have to resort to unconventional measures in his defence. This could have resulted in an armed altercation between the Bengal Police personnel and his security forces.
West Bengal @BJP4India neta @ArjunSinghWB alleges murder attempt on him. He even accuses Barackpore Jt Commissioner Ajay Thakur for alleged assassination attempt.
Arjun Singh is also under scanner over alleged role in the violent clashes in Telinipara.
On Thursday, Arjun Singh had posted a video on Twitter wherein he alleged that his vehement opposition to the policies of the Mamata Banerjee government had irked her. He alleged that Banerjee had sent Ajay Thakur and other non-uniformed police officers at his house to assassinate him.
“He (Ajay Thakur) wanted to kill me and my family. He has committed two murders in Kankinara. Why would he and his officers chose to come to my house in the civilian dress?”, Arjun Singh asked. He further inquired as to why the Joint Commissioner wrote the notice at his house and not at the office. Singh said that Ajay Thakur wanted to provoke him and create a suitable environment for a staged encounter.
“I have never been afraid to die. In the upcoming days, such officers of Mamata Banerjee will be punished under the law”, he warned. Singh also reiterated that the people of West Bengal are tired of the failures of the West Bengal Government.
A mob gathered outside a municipal school in Prem Nagar, West Delhi pelted stones at the authorities and tried to break open the gates after finding out that ration was not being distributed. According to reports, a crowd of more than 500 people became agitated after finding the gate of the school closed. The school was locked following a Delhi government order that said all schools turned into ration centres will remain shut on Thursday to take stock of the ration received from godown and the amount already distributed.
Bharat Lal Meena, the principal of the primary school where the stone-pelting incident took place, said that after a circular was received from the Delhi government regarding submission of details of ration distributed so far, a notice was posted outside the school on May 13 clarifying that no distribution would happen on Thursday.
Mob fought with the staff, abused them
However, the mob started gathering outside the school from early morning itself, said Meena. The principal added that the staff, civil defence volunteers and paramilitary staff explained to them the reason behind no ration distribution, but the crowd fought with the staff, abused and accused them of stealing the ration meant for them.
“They even gheraoed teachers. When things went out of control and the mob started pelting stones, we had to dial police for help,” the Principal Meena added.
The staff somehow managed to shut the entrance and later police were called after the mob refused to disperse and continued banging on the gate and pelting stones.
Similar incidents in other schools
Prior to this, similar incidents have occurred at different schools, where teachers have been gheraod by a mob waiting for ration outside schools. The teachers from south and east corporation primary schools had earlier complained about similar incidents during ration distribution.
Taking note of the incident, North MCD commissioner Varsha Joshi said, “We have been writing to Delhi government about the issues being faced by the teachers on ration distribution duty. These issues are mostly arising due to non-availability of the list of beneficiaries or ration. Our officials have also been requesting the district magistrates for more civil defence volunteers and police personnel at these centres.”
Meanwhile, teachers have demanded protection while carrying out relief task during the pandemic. “We want immediate action for the safety of school teachers who are risking their lives by doing duties in odd circumstances. We are not against doing work during the corona pandemic, but we are teachers and not trained to deal with a mob,” said RamNiwas Solanki.
More than 1,000 Delhi government and corporation schools have been providing food at the ‘Hunger Relief Centres’ and ‘Ration Centres’ since April amidst the nationwide lockdown. More than 40,000 Delhi government teachers have been engaged on ration distribution duty. The hunger centres open at 8 am and close by 6 pm, daily. Rice and wheat flour are being provided as a standard ration kit.
In the latest escalation of tensions between the United States and China, the Donald Trump administration has decided to pull out billion dollars worth of American pension fund investments in China.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump confirmed that his administration has asked for the withdrawal of billions of dollars of pension fund investments in China.
“Billions of dollars, billions… Yeah, I pulled it back,” Trump confirmed to Fox News after he was asked about reports that the US has decided to withdraw American pension funds in Chinese investment.
Responding to the issue of Chinese companies being listed in American stock markets, US President Donald Trump said the administration was looking at the issue very seriously. President Trump added, “It’s pretty amazing but here’s the problem with that. Let’s say we do that, right? So what are they going to do? They are going to move their listing to London or someplace else. You see?” Trump said.
“Let’s say you want to get tough. You know everyone wants to be a tough guy. Look I am the toughest guy but what happens is they say ‘okay, we will move to London or we will go to Hong Kong’,” he said.
There has been some controversy in the US regarding Chinese companies like Alibaba being listed at the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ. Reportedly, the Chinese companies listed at the New York Stock Exchange do not report earnings just like American companies do.
China seeking action against US lawmakers
China, which has been receiving wrath across the world for unleashing the Wuhan Voronavirus is now threatening US lawmakers for introducing legislation in the Senate proposing sanctions against China for its handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
“The Chinese government is lashing out at those who are appropriately trying to hold them accountable for intentionally misleading us about the nature of the novel coronavirus, where it was spreading and how quickly things were getting out of control. I consider their threats a badge of honour, Congressman Jim Banks said.
United States’ diplmotic war with China
China has been facing severe criticism from various other countries, more intensely from Washington over the way it handled the pandemic.
Earlier, Trump had triggered a diplomatic war with China by repeatedly referring the Novel Coronavirus as Chinese Virus. Several leaders in the United States have been highly critical of both China and WHO of their handling of the situation, accusing them of hiding vital information and underplaying the crisis at the beginning. US President Trump had also expressed doubt over the accuracy of Chinese statistics for cases and deaths. He had also said that he has ‘high degree of confidence’ that Coronavirus originated in Wuhan Institute of Virology, China.
In a shocking incident, a 19-year-old youth reportedly ended his life after he was brutally beaten and forced to drink urine by three persons from a Dalit community, including two women, in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh.
According to the reports, the incident occurred in Sajor village of Shivpuri district on Wednesday when the deceased person, identified as Vikas Sharma was attacked by three persons from the Dalit community, leading him to committed suicide at his residence. The police recovered a suicide note and a video clip containing the youth’s dying declaration from the spot.
Reportedly, Vikas had also shot a video making a dying declaration on his cell phone. According to his suicide note, Vikas had gone to a hand pump to get water to offer it to a nearby temple. As he was filling the water, a few drops fell on the utensils of the three Dalit persons – Manoj Koli, Tarawati Koli, and Priyanka Koli.
The three accused forced Vikas Sharma to drink urine
Enraged over the trivial incident, the three Dalit persons, which included two women, allegedly pulled Vikas by the hair and thrashed him. The three accused then picked up the utensil carried by Vikas, filled it with human urine and forced him to drink it.
Following the brutal attacks on him, Vikas Sharma suffered from acute depression and hung himself to death in his room after writing the suicide note and shooting the dying declaration video.
Meanwhile, the police have arrested all the accused and booked them for abetment to suicide and voluntarily causing hurt under IPC section 306 – abetment to suicide and IPC section 323, said Shivpuri SP Rajesh Singh Chandel.
After the shocking death of the Brahmin youth Vikas Sharma, a delegation from the Brahmin community has submitted a memorandum to Shivpuri district administration addressed to the Madhya Pradesh CM, demanding Rs 1 crore as compensation to the bereaved family.
