Politics

17

Aug

By The Press Editor

Nation, Politics

Anurag Thakur, Smriti Irani may return in Nitin Nabin’s BJP team

Former Union ministers Anurag Thakur and Smriti Irani are expected to return to prominent roles within the Bharatiya Janata Party’s national structure, with party president Nitin Nabin set to unveil his new team. The long-anticipated organisational overhaul aims to strike a clear balance between veteran experience and fresh talent, bringing the average age of the executive down to around 50. Key priorities for the revamped lineup include increased representation for women and younger leaders, alongside a balanced regional distribution across the country.   The potential inclusion of Thakur and Irani marks one of the most significant moves in Nabin’s initial…

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16

Aug

By The Press Editor

Politics

Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar Syed Aga Ruhullah has strongly criticized Centre’s policy at handling statehood issue for J&K and pointed fingers at BJP-RSS for pursuing ‘agenda based political project’ for the same.

Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has accused the RSS and BJP of pursuing a political project that, he alleged, seeks to keep Muslims “disenfranchised” and Kashmiris politically marginalised.   Speaking in an interview, Ruhullah said the issue was not limited to electoral politics but concerned the broader question of political representation and the rights of people in Jammu and Kashmir. Pertinently, Mehdi believes that fighting for mere statehood is insufficient and risks normalising the post-2019 constitutional changes. He maintains that the primary political struggle in Jammu and Kashmir must uncompromisingly focus on the restoration of Article 370 rather than…

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16

Aug

By The Press Editor

Politics, States

Law will decide: Shivakumar over NICE project controversy

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday said the State government would "do whatever is required as per the law" on Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy's letter seeking a takeover of the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) project and an immediate halt to toll collection.   "We will do whatever is required as per the law. I have just come to know that he has written a letter. I will look into the letter," Shivakumar told reporters while responding to a question on Kumaraswamy's demand. Kumaraswamy, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Janata Dal (Secular) president, wrote to Shivakumar on August…

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15

Aug

By The Press Editor

Politics, States

WB CM’s approval mandatory for senior bureaucrat promotions

The West Bengal government has reiterated that the Chief Minister’s approval is mandatory for the promotion of senior state government officials to posts at Level-22 or above in the pay matrix.   Nabanna, the state secretariat, has issued a directive to all state government departments, instructing them to strictly follow the existing rules governing such promotions. The Personnel and Administrative Reforms (P&AR) Department has made it clear that the prescribed procedure cannot be relaxed.   According to the notification, under the West Bengal Services (Revision of Pay and Allowance) Rules, 2019 (ROPA 2019), all files relating to promotions to posts…

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15

Aug

By The Press Editor

Nation, Politics

Trial court acquits Brij Bhushan Singh, WFI official in sexual harassment case

The Rouse Avenue Court has acquitted former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Assistant Secretary Vinod Tomar, stating that the sexual harassment accusations were fake and baseless.   While announcing the verdict, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Ashwini Panwar observed: “We cannot ask women to dream big when we don’t give them the confidence that when they seek justice, the system will stand with them.”   “…The court also observed that the entire allegations against the accused are false and fabricated, made collectively at the instance of prosecution witnesses 5 and 10 and coaches of…

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14

Aug

By The Press Editor

Nation, Politics

Amit Shah will speak on students’ protest, indicates government

There seems to be an indication from the government about the possible resolution of the parliamentary logjam with the announcement that the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, will respond to the House in relation to the actions of the police against protesting students in Delhi. This follows several days of continued disruption as a result of the demand for answers from the ministers by the Opposition following the commencement of the Monsoon Session.   The stalemate stems from a June 20 demonstration organised by the CJP, during which law enforcement reportedly deployed heavy-handed measures, including pellet guns, against student agitators.…

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14

Aug

By The Press Editor

Politics, States

Security forces on high alert in J-K ahead of I-Day celebrations

Security has been heightened in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the Independence Day celebrations on August 15 in the twin capitals of the Union Territory.   The security around the main venues has been intensified further, with security agencies carrying out extensive anti-sabotage checks, area domination exercises, and surveillance and frisking operations to prevent any attempt to disrupt the celebrations.   In Srinagar, where Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is set to unfurl the national flag at Bakhshi Stadium, security forces have intensified the security grid around the stadium and areas close to the venue.   Officials said the security grid…

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14

Aug

By The Press Editor

Entertainment, Politics

Kamal Haasan hails Tamil Thai Vazhthu resolution

Actor and Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, Kamal Haasan, has expressed his appreciation for the resolution unanimously passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly for the singing of the state song, Tamil Thaai Vazhthu, to come first at all official and public meetings.   Kamal Haasan, who heads the Makkal Needhi Maiam, termed it as a heartening and commendable step and stressed that it is essential for Tamil Nadu to hold its ground on the issue of safeguarding its constitutional rights and identity. Posting on social media, he has stated that the trend of not conceding to state…

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14

Aug

By The Press Editor

Politics

Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed two more Bills, including one about renaming Kerala as Keralam, without debate as the members raised slogans and carried placards to the Well demanding the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the House.

Amid continuous protests by the opposition, Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed two more Bills, including one about renaming Kerala as Keralam, without debate as the members raised slogans and carried placards to the Well demanding the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the House.   When the House reassembled at 2 pm amid uproar, Opposition members started raising slogans over the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.Presiding officer Krishna Prasad Tenneti allowed laying of papers on the table amid the din.   Subsequently, the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 that seeks to change…

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13

Aug

By The Press Editor

Politics, States

Jharkhand BJP MPs protest in Parliament over lathi-charge on students

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Members of Parliament from Jharkhand on Wednesday staged a protest in the Parliament against the recent lathi-charge on student protesters in Ranchi, while simultaneously launching a sharp attack on the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.     BJP MPs accused Gandhi of maintaining "double standards" for supporting student protests in Delhi while remaining silent on the "barbaric" treatment of students by the JMM-Congress coalition government in Jharkhand. In a counter-protest, opposition leaders continued their demonstration against the centre, raising slogans of "Amit Shah Jawab Do" (Amit Shah, provide an answer).   The…

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