Who is Prajwal's brother Suraj Revanna, who has been detained for suspected 'unnatural offences'?

Suraj Revanna (L), Prajwal Revanna's brother, was detained on a charge of "unnatural offences".(X/@iSurajRevanna)

Suraj Revanna, the brother of suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, was detained on sexual assault allegations on Sunday following a complaint from a party worker. Suraj Revanna was arrested a day after being charged under several sections of the IPC, including "unnatural offences," for allegedly sexually assaulting a 27-year-old man a few days prior.

The complainant claimed that Suraj Revanna sexually molested him at his farmhouse in Ghannikada on June 16, allegations that the JD(S) leader strongly denied. Instead, he accused the complainant of attempting to extort money from him by threatening to file a bogus sexual assault claim against him.

Suraj's assistant, HL Shivakumar, submitted a complaint alleging that the JD(S) worker requested ₹5 crore, which was eventually lowered to ₹2 lakh. Suraj's assistant said that the JD(S) worker met with Suraj six months ago and again in June, looking for work. Suraj stated that he cannot now assist the man in finding work, but may consider it in the future. The man then requested ₹5 crore.

"I completely reject these charges. They are involved in a political plot. An FIR has also been filed against the complainant. Let the truth out. "I believe in the law of the land," Suraj Revanna stated.

Who is Suraj Revanna?

Suraj Revanna, a member of Karnataka's legislative council (MLC), is the oldest son of Holenarasipur MLA HD Revanna and grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda. The whole Revanna family has been mired in scandal after pen drives with recordings of Prajwal Revanna with several women were discovered in Hassan.

Prajwal Revanna was arrested by the SIT at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on May 31 after returning from Germany, where he had been holed up after rape and intimidation charges were filed against him.

H D Revanna and his wife Bhavani are free on bail. They have been accused of kidnapping and harbouring an alleged victim of their son Prajwal's sexual crimes.

In an I-T notice, Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar claims the BJP is targeting him politically.

DK Shivakumar

NEW DELHI: DK Shivakumar, the head of the state Congress and deputy chief minister of Karnataka, has claimed to have received an income tax notice on Friday night.

The notification, Shivakumar said, related to a matter that had already been resolved.

 
In an interview with the media on the IT alerts to Congress, he revealed this.

"This is a democratic nation.

A law is in place. This type of action and direction to officials is coming from the BJP administration "Sivakumar remarked.

He declared that the NDA will be defeated by the INDIA bloc, which is why they are inciting panic among the opposition. "They are targeting the opposition, which means they are afraid of the Congress and the INDIA Alliance.

"The NDA will be vanquished by the INDIA Alliance. The BJP is aware of this vulnerability. They are aware that they won't win the election. That's why they're attempting to instill terror. I also received a notification from IT last night regarding an issue that has already been resolved," he continued.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: AAP Pioneers Repeat Delhi CM's Charge on ED, Say 'His Capture is Based on As it were 4 Statements'

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: Keep up with real-time upgrades on the lawful procedures including Delhi Chief Serve Arvind Kejriwal and his guardianship expansions in the midst of charges related to the extract approach case and alcohol trick

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: Inconvenience proceeds for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal as a new Open Intrigued Case (PIL) has been recorded in the Delhi Tall Court looking for his expulsion from the post of Chief Serve. The appeal, recorded by Hindu Sena President, Vishnu Gupta, says that the circumstance after Kejriwal’s later capture by the Authorization Directorate (ED) in association with the cash washing case related to the affirmed extract approach trick constitutes a breach of sacred believe ordered by the Constitution.

Kejriwal’s ED guardianship was amplified till April 1 by a Delhi court on Thursday, as it held that there were “sufficient reasons”. The tall court on Thursday too rejected a comparable PIL looking for Kejriwal’s evacuation as the Chief Serve, saying there is no scope for legal obstructions, and that it is for the other wing of the government to look at the same in understanding with the law.

Gupta’s appeal, in any case, contends that beneath Article 164 of the Structure, a Chief Minister’s rejection is justified if they act in a way that undermines the run the show of law or breaches sacred believe. It charges that since Kejriwal’s capture, the government of the National Capital Domain of Delhi has fizzled to gather cabinet gatherings, subsequently disturbing the sacred system and ruining the working of administration. The core of the PIL spins around whether the Representative has the watchfulness to reject a Chief Serve in an exceptional circumstance such as capture, given the Constitution’s quiet on the matter.

Live updates from Parliament's Winter Session 2023: An all-party meeting regarding the LS security breach will soon begin

Man jumping from the victor's gallery.

A man in a blue jacket leapt from the visitor's gallery and began running around the House, posing a serious security risk. MPs and security officers apprehended him. According to some MPs, "gas" was sprayed.

"Unexpectedly, two energetic men, maybe in their twenties, jumped from the visitor's display into the House whereas holding canisters. There was yellow smoke coming from these canisters. One of them was attempting to sprint in the heading of the Speaker's chair. They were shouting a few catchphrases. There was a chance the smoke was poisonous. Congressman Karti Chidambaram expressed, "This is a genuine breach of security, particularly on December 13th, the day of the 2001 assault on Parliament."

The Lok Sabha chamber, the entire gallery, and the surrounding areas have been cordoned off by Parliament security. They adjourned the Lok Sabha until 2:00 PM. Following their visit, former MPs and PAs to MPs in the Lok Sabha are no longer allowed to enter.

"A thorough investigation is being done into the incident that occurred during zero hour," Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla declared. Delhi Police have also received important instructions. It was discovered during the initial investigation that the smoke was nothing more than smoke, so there is no need to be concerned."

The matter of a security breach incident was brought up in the Lok Sabha by LoP Mallikarjun Kharge. "This is a very serious problem. This concerns how two individuals were able to enter the building in spite of the extremely sophisticated security measures in place and create a security breach, not only the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the speaker stated.

A man and a woman, 42-year-old Neelam and 25-year-old Amol Shinde, were being held by local police outside New Delhi's Transport Bhavan while they were demonstrating with yellow smoke outside the Parliament building.

The initial findings of the Delhi Police's investigation showed that Neelam and Amol, who were apprehended outside the Parliament building, did not have cell phones on them. They assert that they came to Parliament on their own and declined to join any groups. A dedicated team of police is being assembled for questioning, the police stated.

#WATCH | An unidentified man jumps from the visitor's gallery of Lok Sabha after which there was a slight commotion and the House was adjourned. pic.twitter.com/Fas1LQyaO4

— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2023

Proceeding begins in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

• Lok Sabha holds Question Hour

• The chairman of the Rajya Sabha offered tribute to security personnel who lost their lives in 2001 during an attack on Parliament grounds, 22 years ago while defending the temple of democracy.

• The Rajya Sabha adopted Zero Hour with the Chair's approval.

• Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw responds to inquiries about the Dynamic Fare Ticketing System posed by Lok Sabha member Adhir Chowdhury during Question Hour.

• On December 13, 2001, the Lok Sabha honoured those who gave their lives defending Parliament against terrorist attacks.

• North-east MPs want to build land borders in order to facilitate bilateral trade with Myanmar.

• During Rajya Sabha Question Hour, Smriti Irani responds to inquiries from Members of Parliament.

• The Delhi Police's special cell for the anti-terror unit enters the Parliament to question those responsible for the security breach at the Lok Sabha.

• According to MoS Education Subhas Sarkar, the government passed the Constitution (One Hundred and Third Amendment) Act, 2019, to guarantee adequate representation of individuals from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS).

• Sanjay Arora, the commissioner of police in Delhi, visits Parliament after the security breach incident.

• Om Birla, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, meets with floor leaders from various political parties regarding the security breach incident.

• As per MoS Home Nityanand Rai's written reply in the Rajya Sabha, 1,253 homestay beneficiaries received non-fiscal incentives worth Rs. 10 crores to establish homestays under the 'Ladakh Homestay Policy 2020'.

• The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which seeks to establish a Central Tribal University in Telangana with the primary goal of serving the country's tribal population, was approved by the Rajya Sabha via voice vote.

• The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2023 was moved by Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal to the Rajya Sabha for consideration and passage. The purpose of the bill is to amend one enactment and repeal 76 enactments. The Lok Sabha had already approved the bill.

• We're all concerned about the incident that occurred today, and it's a serious one. A high-level investigation is underway, and appropriate action will be implemented. A thorough assessment of the House's security will be conducted."The Lok Sabha has adjourned until 11:00 am tomorrow," stated Om Birla, the speaker.

The Congress Party has named Revanth Reddy as Telangana's Chief Minister.

After two days of speculation, the Congress central leadership has named Telangana party chief A. Revanth Reddy as its choice for State Chief Minister. On December 7, he will take the oath of office.

Mr. Reddy was elected as the Congress Legislature Party's (CLP) leader, and he will be the first Congress Chief Minister of Telangana, a state that was formed in 2014. On the basis of a report submitted by the party's poll observers, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge gave his approval.

The president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee was elected with a landslide majority from the Kodangal Assembly constituency, but he and outgoing Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao lost the Kamareddy seat to BJP candidate Katipally Venkataramana Reddy.

'Dynamic Leader'

"Going by the input given by the Congress spectators, counting Karnataka Agent Chief Serve D.K. Shivakumar, party in-charge for Telangana Manikrao Thakare, and other pioneers, the Congress president chosen to assign Mr. Reddy as the CLP pioneer," said All India Congress Committee common secretary K.C. Venugopal at a press conference in Unused Delhi.

The observers were present at the Telangana CLP meeting on December 4, which authorised the party president to nominate the CLP leader.

Mr. Venugopal described Mr. Reddy as a dynamic leader and stated that he, along with all senior leaders, had campaigned extensively in the run-up to the election.

He reaffirmed the party's commitment to the people of Telangana, saying that the new government's top priority would be to fulfil their aspirations and the promises made by the party. He made it clear that the State would be a collaborative effort, with everyone involved in the process.

The observers attended the press conference, as did former CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Nalgonda MP N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, both of whom were running for the top job. Both had previously met separately with the central observers and Mr. Shivakumar.

The party's focus will now shift to forming the new Council of Ministers. Apart from the Chief Minister, the Cabinet can have a maximum of 17 Ministers. The leadership will have to walk a tightrope to accommodate the ambitious aspirants among its 64 MLAs, a mix of newcomers and seasoned politicians.

Shehla Rashid: 'PM Modi and Amit Shah ensured a bloodless political solution; Kashmir is not Gaza.'

Shehla Rashid has lauded PM Modi and Amit Shah for the display circumstance in Kashmir (Instagram/@shehla_shora)

Shehla Rashid, a former JNU student, has credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah with ensuring a "bloodless" political solution to Kashmir. When asked if she sympathised with stone pelters, Shehla Rashid replied, "In 2010, yes."

Shehla Rashid elaborated, telling ANI that she is grateful for the current situation in Kashmir. "…but nowadays when I see, I am much more thankful for today's circumstance since nowadays it has gotten to be clear that Kashmir is not Gaza."

"Kashmir was involved in this back and forth of protests and sporadic insurgency, infiltrations...Someone needed to break the ice, and I'd like to thank the current government, particularly the prime minister [Narendra Modi] and the home minister [Amit Shah], for ensuring a bloodless political solution."

Shehla Rashid moreover denied that "anti-India" mottos were raised at Jawaharlal Nehru College in Delhi in February 2016, in which previous understudy union pioneers Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid were moreover included. Shehla Rashid expressed that at the college, no "anti-India" mottos such as "Bharat tere tukde honge" were raised.

When inquired how the JNU occurrence influenced her life, Shehla Rashid expressed, "It was not fair a life changer for the three of us, the whole college sort of endured the results of that occurrence since there was so much backfire against anything having to do with JNU."

"So overnight, from being an first class college the ruler of magnanimous expressions, social sciences etc…JNU got to be a slur..it was nearly like a cussword….no such trademarks were raised."

Shehla Rashid has been a vocal critic of the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre over the decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir's (J&K) special status, but the former JNU student has recently praised the Centre. Shehla Rashid as of late lauded PM Modi and Amit Shah for guaranteeing long-term peace and security in Kashmir. Her remarks came in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

Amit Shah made the following statements in the Lok Sabha: "From Nehru's two mistakes to calling Article 370 terrorism's root cause."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the Lok Sabha during the Winter session of Parliament in New Delhi on December 6, 2023.

On Wednesday, the Lok Sabha passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, as well as the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023. Union Home Minister Amit Shah called Article 370 the root cause of terrorism during a debate on the bill.

In his Lok Sabha speech, Amit Shah highlighted two errors made by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru that harmed Kashmir the most.

He claimed that Jawaharlal Nehru's decision to declare a ceasefire and take the internal issue to the United Nations were the two biggest mistakes he made, and that Kashmiris suffered the most as a result. The following are the key quotes from the home minister's speech in the Lok Sabha today.

Today's top quotes from Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha

"Two mistakes that happened due to the decision of (former PM) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, which caused Kashmir to suffer for many years," Amit Shah said during a debate on one of the bills. The first step is to declare a cease-fire; this was done when our army was winning. PoK would be a part of India today if there had been a three-day ceasefire. The second option is to take our internal conflict to the United Nations."

#WATCH | Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "Two mistakes that happened due to the decision of (former PM) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru due to which Kashmir had to suffer for many years. The first is to declare a ceasefire - when our army was winning, the ceasefire was imposed. If… pic.twitter.com/3TMm8fk5O1

— ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2023

Amit Shah, speaking about one of the bills, stated that the JK bill would give those who had to flee Kashmir due to terrorism representation in the assembly.

Also Read: Shehla Rashid: 'PM Modi and Amit Shah ensured a bloodless political solution; Kashmir is not Gaza.'

One of the two bills on Jammu and Kashmir seeks to appoint two members of the Kashmiri Migrant community, including a woman, to the assembly, he added.

Apart from criticising previous Congress administrations for failing to maintain peace in Jammu and Kashmir, he also criticised the party on other fronts. "Congress has done the greatest harm to Other Backward Classes," Shah said, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for recent welfare work for the backward classes.

When discussing the economic boost in Kashmir as a result of the repeal of Article 370, Amit Shah emphasised the region's booming entertainment industry.

#WATCH | Union HM Amit Shah speaks on The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 & The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2023

He says, "...The first theatre was made in multiplex in 2021 after the abrogation of Article 370. Over 100 films are being shot in… pic.twitter.com/rbWMYbU13b

— ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2023

"After the repeal of Article 370, the first multiplex theatre was built in 2021." "Over 100 films are currently being shot in the valley, and bank loan proposals for over 100 movie theatres are in the works," he said.

Amit Shah emphasised the massive reduction in incidents of stone pelting between 2004-2014 and 2014-2023 when comparing the situation of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir during the Congress government. He also stated that "Article 370 is the root cause of terrorism."

#WATCH | Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks on The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 & The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2023

He says, "...During the 1994-2004 period, a total of 40,164 incidents of terrorism were registered. During the 2004-2014… pic.twitter.com/8xSKzHCWPW

— ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2023

"A total of 40,164 terrorist incidents were recorded between 1994 and 2004." Terrorism occurred in a total of 7,217 incidents between 2004 and 2014. "During the 2014-2023 period, the total incidents of terrorism registered were around 2,000, representing a 70% reduction in incidents of terrorism from what it was previously," he said.

"Not Aware": Mamata Banerjee Will Not Attend The Upcoming India Bloc Meeting

In north Bengal, Mamata Banerjee has a prearranged programme. (FILE)

Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, will not be present at this Wednesday's INDIA alliance coordination meeting. On that day, Ms. Banerjee has a prearranged programme in north Bengal. She claimed that the Congress lost the most recent state elections because there were no seat-sharing agreements with other INDIA members.

"I am not informed of this meeting. I've already planned a programme in north Bengal because of this. There, I have a seven-day schedule. Would I have continued with this programme if I had known? Without a doubt, I would have taken it. However, I'm going on the north Bengal tour because we don't have any information," she declared.

According to sources, her party, the Trinamool Congress, might also skip the meeting.

Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh described the meeting as "informal" following Mamata Banerjee's announcement.

The opposition bloc's next meeting was called by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge yesterday, despite the party suffering significant losses at the hands of the BJP in three states. Three months have passed since the last meeting, which took place in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1.

Plans for the Lok Sabha election of the following year are anticipated to be outlined at the meeting.

The Congress suffered a crushing defeat as the BJP swept Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, strengthening its grip on the Hindi heartland.

The Congress found solace in Telangana, where it defeated the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in the state assembly elections, which were widely considered a prelude to the general elections of the following year.

The allies of the INDIA bloc criticised the Congress for putting the Opposition alliance in a state of confusion while it concentrated on the state elections, blaming the party for not fighting the elections together.

Earlier in the day, the chief minister of Bengal claimed that a "division of votes" resulted from the Congress's decision to contest the polls.

Telangana is now a Congress state. Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan would have been their victories. The INDIA parties withheld some votes. That is the reality. We had proposed a system of seat sharing. In a speech to the West Bengal Assembly, Ms. Banerjee stated, "They lost because of a division of votes."

"The attempt to bring everyone together should gain momentum," stated Abhishek Banerjee, national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress. It ought to be demonstrated by their deeds rather than words."

"In the end, everyone is fighting the BJP's autocracy together. We should make the most of the time we have left because there isn't much left. We must work in the best interests of the people, putting aside our own interests. Set aside political egos, the opportunity to fight should be extended to those who are capable and strong in their areas. The people will gain from this," he continued.

Omar Abdullah, the leader of the National Conference, made fun of the Congress yesterday for remembering the INDIA alliance so late: "The Congress chief has invited some INDIA alliance leaders for lunch on December 6. Three months later, they called for the INDIA alliance again. See you later."

A day after the crushing defeat, the Congress declared that it would examine the events in the two states it controlled, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The sources claim that Mr. Kharge stated, "Mistakes have occurred and we will make course corrections." "Over confidence in some states and refusal to adhere to proper candidates and campaign cost us in the last few days of the elections," he stated.

However, a number of opposition leaders emphasised that the INDIA bloc needs to put in more effort ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and that the results will not affect the bloc.

"There are wins and losses. Both those who have triumphed and those who have lost have lessons for us to learn. Leading member of the National Conference (NC), Farooq Abdullah, stated that "India has to be one, it is for everyone, and we need to strengthen the country."

Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party, stated that "INDIA has to get back where we started." "We began by emphasising the need to back the parties in the areas where they are most powerful. The polling in 2024 will be historic. Change is on the horizon."

Source: NDTV

Congress Postpones India Alliance Meeting Following Top Leaders' Refusal to Attend

 

New Delhi: Sources told NDTV this afternoon that the opposition bloc in India has rescheduled its meeting, which was scheduled to take place in Delhi tomorrow. The meeting will now take place "at a date convenient to all," as announced by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday, amid his party's crushing defeat in three state elections.

The Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar both intended to skip the meeting, sources told NDTV, prompting the postponement. Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of Bengal, announced on Monday that she would not be there as well. All three are prominent members of a group meant to bring the opposition together in order to fight the BJP in the state elections in November and the Lok Sabha election the following year, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to run for an unprecedented third consecutive term.

A coordination meeting of Parliamentary Party leaders of India Alliance will be at 6 pm on December 6th, 2023 at the residence of Congress President Sh. Mallikarjun Kharge.

Thereafter meeting of Party Presidents/ Heads of the India Alliance will be scheduled in third week of…

— Gurdeep Singh Sappal (@gurdeepsappal) December 5, 2023

According to sources, senior INDIA leaders Mr. Kumar, Mr. Yadav, and Ms. Banerjee were not the only ones who backed out of the meeting on Wednesday. According to reports, MK Stalin, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, had also declared he would not attend the meeting; in his case, the state is experiencing flooding as a result of Cyclone Michaung.

A wide range of leaders have responded negatively to the Congress's invitation, highlighting the widening divide within the INDIA bloc as local parties continue to complain louder and louder about the national party and maintain that it will fight elections as the majority partner or on its own in every case.

This week, Akhilesh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee both emphasised how the Congress could have won or at least narrowed the margin of its defeats in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan if it had consented to share seats. This was a reference to the ongoing dispute over the distribution of six Madhya Pradesh seats between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party.

"... we suggested seat-sharing (but) they (the Congress) lost because of division of votes," said Ms Banerjee. Reminding the Congress that "we started on the point that we have to support parties in regions (in which) they are strong," Mr. Yadav appeared to be a little kinder to his detractors.

Sources: Nitish and Akhilesh will withdraw from the India meet.

Akhilesh Yadav, the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, was expected to send his uncle, Ramgopal Yadav, while Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar was expected to send party President Rajiv Ranjan, according to sources who spoke with NDTV earlier today.

According to sources, Mr. Yadav may have felt that it was better for him to distance himself from the meeting and that he preferred the Congress's top brass to get in touch with him.

Sources added, however, that the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the other half of the Bihar government, would have been represented by a number of its leading figures, including Lalu Prasad Yadav, the party's patriarch.

Ms. Banerjee stated on Monday that she had prior obligations. "I am not conscious of this meeting. I've planned a seven-day programme in north Bengal; if I had known beforehand, I would have taken it."

According to sources, there may not have been a single Trinamool representative in her case.

The Congress appeared to take a step back after the Bengal leader's "not aware" remark; Jairam Ramesh, the party leader, referred to the gathering on December 6 as a "informal meet". This afternoon, sources told NDTV that a "formal meeting" has been scheduled for December 18 or 19. That phrase was used once more.

In the run-up to last month's Assembly polls, allies of the Congress have been criticising it for more than just seat-sharing disputes; they have also been criticising it for insisting that the planning for the general election of the following year, which is the main reason the INDIA bloc was formed, be delayed until it is free to take the lead.

This month, most likely, is when the Congress will call the next INDIA meeting, which was held in Mumbai at the end of August. Nitish Kumar, who claimed he had been "... pushing them forward in (the) INDIA alliance but, of late, there has not been much progress," poked fun at him for failing to comply.

Akhilesh Yadav and Nitish Kumar Might Send Representatives, Will Skip India Meeting: References

Former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and leader of the Samajwadi Party is Akhilesh Yadav (R) (File).

New Delhi: According to sources that spoke to NDTV this morning, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will not attend Wednesday's INDIA bloc negotiation. The leader of the Janata Dal (United) and Mr. Yadav, a former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, are the second and third prominent figures to decline to attend the gathering that the Congress arranged, highlighting the widening divide within an alliance intended to bring the opposition together and crush Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP in the Lok Sabha election of the following year.

Update | Congress Postpones India Alliance Meeting Following Top Leaders' Refusal to Attend

According to sources, NDTV When Mallikarjun Kharge called Nitish Kumar to extend an invitation, he informed him of his decision. Senior leader Sanjay Jha and JDU President Rajiv Ranjan would represent Nitish Kumar in Delhi. On the other hand, sources suggested that the primary representatives of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the other half of the Bihar government, would probably be its leaders, Tejashwi Yadav, the deputy chief minister of Bihar, and his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Meanwhile, sources said that Akhilesh Yadav might send his uncle, Ramgopal Yadav. Mr. Yadav reportedly wants a personal invitation as well. He and the Congress have reportedly clashed numerous times in recent months, with Mr. Yadav criticising his ally over the breakdown of seat-sharing negotiations for the Madhya Pradesh election.

Mamata Banerjee, the fiery leader of the Trinamool Party and a tense ally with the Congress, announced on Monday that she would not be attending as well. She claimed to be "not aware" of the meeting and to have prior commitments in northern Bengal on that day. "I am not conscious of this meeting. I have a seven-day programme planned in north Bengal; if I had known, I would have taken it. However, I'm going on the north Bengal tour because we don't have any information," she declared.

Read | "Not Aware": Mamata Banerjee Will Not Attend The Upcoming India Bloc Meeting

According to sources, Ms. Banerjee's party may also skip the meeting. If this is the case, it will be interpreted as a sign of intense dissatisfaction within INDIA, which has been further heightened by the Congress's crushing losses in Sunday's assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

Following three consecutive losses, the Bengali leader, who caused a stir by rejecting India's caste census resolution at its most recent meeting in Mumbai, appeared to criticise the Congress, saying, "We proposed a seat-sharing arrangement." "Divided votes caused them (the Congress) to lose," she informed the Assembly.

She did, however, refrain from making any further pointed remarks and instead stated that the bloc "will learn from the mistakes"

Mamata Banerjee's remarks appeared to support the views of other INDIA members, such as Akhilesh Yadav, who stated that in order to maximise their influence over voters, regional parties needed to take the lead in the opposition to the BJP wherever feasible. In the run-up to the Madhya Pradesh election, the Samajwadi Party and the Congress had a falling out over seat-sharing. Data collected following the election indicates that the Congress would have benefited more from a ground-level coalition than from going it alone.

After the Congress had taken early leads in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and was running neck and neck with the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Kharge called for the meeting on Sunday afternoon.

Tragically, the party soon found itself significantly behind in all three. Eventually, the Hindi heartland states were taken over by the BJP. In 2018, the Congress took up all three states.

The agenda item for tomorrow's INDIA bloc meeting is likely to be the formulation of the party's 2024 Lok Sabha election strategy, which is now progressively moving in the BJP's direction for a third consecutive term.

Source: NDTV

Modi, Modi, 'Abki Baar Modi Sarkar': The Indian diaspora in Dubai extends a cordial welcome to PM Modi ahead of COP28 | Watch

Prime Minister Modi in Dubai To attend the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Dubai. The Prime Minister was greeted warmly by Indian diaspora residents outside a hotel in Dubai upon his arrival, and he was then treated to a traditional dance performance. 

Videos revealed people living abroad yelling "Modi, Modi," "Abki Baar Modi Sarkar," and "Vande Mataram." Outside the hotel, PM Modi was also observed shakin' hands with members of the diaspora. The group gave him a second round of greetings with a traditional dance.

#WATCH | Members of the Indian Diaspora raise 'Modi, Modi' and 'Abki Baar Modi Sarkar' slogans as Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Dubai pic.twitter.com/LY2SsyqvBS

— ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

#WATCH | Members of the Indian diaspora raise slogans of 'Abki Baar Modi Sarkar' and 'Vande Mataram' as Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the hotel in Dubai pic.twitter.com/fQvnFv6Sxs

— ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

A member of the Indian diaspora expressed happiness upon meeting PM Modi in Dubai, saying, "Jitti prashansa karu utni kam hai." "I've been living in the UAE for 20 years, but today, it felt as if one of my own has come to this country," with emphasis.

"We felt good that PM Modi has come here," another person remarked. He gave us a handshake. He is a leader in the world.

"We are overjoyed to have PM Modi visit us. This is a day in our lives that we will never forget. Another participant said, "PM Modi is the kind of leader the world needs."

"We are so happy to see PM Modi here," an Indian diaspora member exclaimed, adding that we will "never forget this day in our lives."

After their meeting, he declared, "The world needs a leader like PM Modi."

Telangana Assembly Elections 2023: According to a survey, Congress will win and BRS will be the main opposition party

 

The Congress is expected to emerge as the single largest party with its least predicted number of seats, very close to the magic figure, according to a pre-poll survey by Aaraa Poll Strategies Private Limited. Though he might win Gajwel, it predicted that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao would lose to his Bharatiya Janata Party opponent, Venkata Ramana Reddy, in Kamareddy.

The poll projects that Congress will prevail in 58 out of 67 seats, dropping the ruling BRS party to second place with 41–49 seats. With a sharp decline in votes cast compared to its previous high, the BJP will win five to seven seats.

With 41.13% of the total valid votes cast, Congress might win, and BRS might come in second with 39.58%. The BJP is expected to garner 10.47% of the total votes cast.

The agency's founder and chairman, Shaik Mastan, blamed the election results primarily on the public's discontent with the family running BRS.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Mr Mastan stated that the survey had credibility because it was operational until the day before the polling, and he further stated that it was not feasible for any organisation to gather enough participants for exit polls.

Predictions indicate that Congress will gain ground in Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar, Warangal, and Khammam, while BRS is expected to win the majority of seats in Ranga Reddy and Karimnagar constituencies. The BJP may win both of the Adilabad seats, which would also benefit Nizamabad.

According to the survey, Jupally Krishna Rao of the Congress is expected to win the Kollapur constituency, even though Karne Shireesha, also known as Barrelakka, is expected to cause significant damage.

He said, "BJP has affected BRS in terms of seats and Congress party in terms of vote share."

He claimed that choosing candidates more than three months in advance was detrimental to BRS since funding ran out just before election day.

Days before the assembly election, Ashok Gehlot announces the Rajasthan Congress manifesto and promises a caste census.

 

On Tuesday, the Congress released its manifesto for the Rajasthan assembly elections. The manifesto titled 'Jan Ghoshna Patra' was released at the state party office by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party in-charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, chief minister Ashok Gehlot, state party president Govind Singh Dotasra, manifesto committee chairman CP Joshi, and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot.

In its Rajasthan election manifesto, Congress promised a new scheme for panchayat recruitment and a caste census if it returns to power in the state.

"...The people of Rajasthan will be proud of the way we have managed the state's financial situation... Rajasthan's per capita income has increased by 46.48 per cent. Our ambition is to be the highest-income country in the world by 2030. "The state GDP reached 19.50 in 2020-21, the highest in the decade," Gehlot said at the press conference.

If the Congress is re-elected, Gehlot has already made seven "guarantees" or promises to the people of Rajasthan.

Among the seven "guarantees" are

• A yearly honorarium of ₹10,000 is guaranteed by the Griha Lakshmi Yojana for the female head of the family.
• LPG cylinders for households ranging from ₹500k to 1.05k.
• purchase of manure for ₹2 per kg from cattle rearers with the Gowdhan guarantee.
• legislation for the previous government employee pension plan.
• Tablets or laptops are given to students applying to government colleges.
• Insurance that covers up to ₹15 lakh per family for education in the English language and natural disaster losses.
• The ₹25 lakh to ₹50 lakh Chiranjeevi health insurance scheme will be implemented.

The manifesto of the Bharatiya Janata Party is already available.

"We fulfil the promises we make," stated Kharge upon the manifesto's release. This is a significant victory for Rajasthan and the Congress party if any party implements 90% of the manifesto."

The assembly election in Rajasthan is scheduled for November 25. The results will be tallied on December 3. In the 2013 legislative assembly elections, the BJP secured 163 seats and took power in Rajasthan.

In the 200-member House, the Congress secured 99 seats and the BJP 73 seats in the 2018 assembly elections. Gehlot eventually sworn in as chief minister with the backing of Independents and BSP MLAs.

Israel-Hamas conflict: Biden says he thinks an agreement to free the hostages in Gaza is close.

According to Reuters, US President Joe Biden stated on Monday that he thinks an agreement to exchange a truce for the release of some of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza is near. During a Thanksgiving ceremony at the White House, the US President responded, "I believe so," when asked if a deal was imminent.

Last week, Reuters revealed that Qatari mediators were trying to broker an agreement between Israel and Hamas to swap 50 hostages for a three-day cease-fire. The agreement, according to the mediators, would facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza's civilian population.

About 240 people—including women and children—were captured on October 7 as Hamas launched a cross-border attack on Israel. There are perhaps 33 kids among the hostages. Israeli data indicates that this surprise attack by Hamas, the bloodiest in Israel's 75-year history, claimed the lives of roughly 1,200 Israelis, the majority of whom were civilians. Israel, which views Hamas as an Islamist militant organisation, invaded Palestinian territory in response to this unexpected attack in order to destroy the organisation.

Since then, the Israeli army's relentless bombardment of Palestinians has resulted in the deaths of at least 13,000 people, including 5,500 children, according to the Hamas-run government in Gaza.

In the meantime, the Hamas-run health ministry said that Israel had carried out a fatal attack on the Indonesian hospital in Gaza, forcing 28 preterm babies to be evacuated from the war-torn region to Egypt.

The WHO revised by one the number provided by Egyptian media, saying that 28 preterm newborns rescued from Gaza's largest hospital, Al-Shifa, had been transferred to safety in Egypt through the Rafah crossing.

Although the Israeli army claimed to have "helped facilitate" the transfer, the WHO stated that "all babies are fighting serious infections and continue needing health care."

Israel claims that Hamas has employed extensive military tunnel networks beneath Al-Shifa. Additionally, it has displayed weapons that have been retrieved, and on Sunday, Israel declared that it had found a tunnel but had not yet found any indications of a significant military headquarters underground.

Interim Bail Is Converted To Regular Bail For Chandrababu Naidu

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has granted regular bail to Telugu Desam Party leader Chandrababu Naidu in connection with the alleged 371 crore Skill Development Corporation scandal.

The former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, who was arrested over two months ago, is already out of jail; he was granted interim medical release for four weeks last month to have cataract surgery on his right eye.

Mr Naidu will no longer be required to return to prison on November 28, as originally directed.

Significantly, Mr Naidu was also allowed permission to engage in political activity. The approval comes too late for the poll this weekend in nearby Telangana, which votes on November 30.

Mr Naidu, on the other hand, is expected to issue a statement on his detention, which was widely condemned by his party's cadre, followers, and family, as well as on his opponents, the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi.

When he was released, he said, "I was in trouble." This is something I will never forget... not only in Andhra Pradesh but also in Telangana and around the world."

The TDP opted out of the Telangana election last month since Mr Naidu was still imprisoned at the time.

According to a senior party source, the decision was made following a meeting between the TDP's state chairman, Kasani Gnaneswar, and Mr Naidu, who was then being held in the Rajahmundry Central Jail.

The TDP chief allegedly stated that with him behind bars, the leadership may not be able to campaign in Telangana, and hence Mr Gnaneswar must explain these facts to the cadre.

The TDP enjoys some support in Telangana, where it won 15 seats in the 2014 Assembly election and two in 2018. However, the elected MLAs later switched their allegiance to the ruling party.

Mr Naidu's supporters in Telangana are furious with the BRS because it did not condemn his detention and because they were not permitted to conduct a protest in his favour in the Hitech City region.

Following Mr. Naidu's detention last month, there were violent altercations and political unrest. Party chiefs denounced the government of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy for engaging in a "witch hunt".

Supreme Court requests ED's answer about Sanjay Singh's appeal against his detention and arrest in the Delhi Excise Policy scandal

Sanjay Singh and Supreme Court

In response to a plea filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh contesting his arrest and remand by the ED in the money-laundering case about the Delhi Excise Policy scam [Sanjay Singh vs Union of India and anr], the Supreme Court on Monday requested the Central government's and the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) response.

Singh has not submitted a bail request in this case, according to a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti.

"Why do you avoid doing that? Notice will be given, but you must file (standard bail plea). "I don't believe that requesting bail will prevent you from coming here for additional relief," Justice Khanna said.

The Court further stated that the Central government and the ED must file their responses to the petition by the week that starts on December 11.

Singh was also allowed by the judge to apply for bail before the relevant jurisdictional court.

Singh's plea contesting his arrest was denied by the Delhi High Court in October.

As per the High Court's statement, attributing political motivations to the ED might potentially affect the nation's reputation.

The ED searched Singh's home on October 4 and then took him into custody.

The accusations made against Singh centre on his alleged involvement in the formulation and execution of the now-cancelled Delhi Excise Policy, which was purportedly designed to favour specific spirits producers, distributors, and retailers.

He was first placed under ED custody on October 5 and kept there until October 10, which was then extended until October 13.

He was placed in judicial prison for a period of 14 days on October 13. Singh subsequently filed a motion with the High Court, claiming that the arrest was an improper use of the judicial system.

Due to the plea's rejection, the Supreme Court is currently considering this appeal.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi defended Singh before the Supreme Court today.

With Singh's arrest, the AAP leader in the excise policy matter has been arrested three times in a high-profile manner.

In-charge of AAP communications While Manish Sisodia, the former deputy chief minister of Delhi, was arrested in February 2023, Vijay Nair was taken into custody in September 2022.

The Delhi High Court has dismissed Sanjay Singh's petition against his arrest by the ED in the Excise Policy case.

On Friday, the Delhi High Court dismissed Sanjay Singh's appeal contesting his detention by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy scam case and his subsequent arrest for money laundering. Sanjay Singh is a member of parliament for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The ED is a top-tier investigative agency, and Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma dismissed Singh's appeal today evening while noting that doing so could damage the nation's reputation.

The Court added that there is now insufficient evidence to draw the conclusion that Dinesh Arora, an approver whose remarks helped lead to Singh's arrest, gave false information or acted illegally.

Sanjay Singh's attorney's claims that evidence was fabricated against the AAP leader cannot currently be taken into account, it was said.

The High Court is hearing a case involving Singh's arrest on October 4 following an ED search of his home. He was remanded to ED custody on October 5 for a period that was initially set for October 10 but was later extended to October 13. He was sent in judicial custody on October 13 for a period of 14 days.

Singh filed a petition with the High Court, claiming that the legal system had been abused by his arrest.

Singh was represented by Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhari, who contended that Singh is a well-known leader who has never been summoned or asked to appear in court.

He added that the grounds for the arrest must be provided in writing by the ED prior to making the arrest, citing the Supreme Court's October 3 ruling in the M3M Reality case (Pankaj Bansal v. Union of India).

"The Supreme Court made a pretty unusual statement. The ED is a prime agency, and as such, it must be fair, according to one paragraph. According to the Supreme Court, they cannot be retaliatory. Nevertheless, they are still the juror, judge, and executioner," Chaudhari continued.

The accusations made against Singh centre on his alleged involvement in the formulation and execution of the now-cancelled Delhi Excise Policy, which was purportedly designed to favour specific spirits producers, distributors, and retailers.

With Singh's arrest, the AAP leader in the excise policy matter has been arrested three times in a high-profile manner.

In-charge of AAP communications September 2022 saw the arrest of Vijay Nair. Manish Sisodia, the former Delhi deputy chief minister, was taken into custody in February 2023. They are both still incarcerated.

According to VFS Global, its visa application centers would continue to be open in 10 Indian locations.

Following Canada's announcement that it will be removing 41 of its diplomats from India, the supplier of visa services VFS Global stated that their centers for applying for Canadian visas will still be operating in 10 Indian locations.

In a statement released on October 20, VFS Global said: "Please note that our Canada visa application centers across 10 Indian cities continue to operate properly, as instructed by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)".

In the cities of New Delhi, Jalandhar, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Pune, VFS Global runs visa application centers for Canada.

Significantly, IRCC is Canada's main immigration authority and is in charge of reviewing the numerous applications submitted by Indian citizens seeking visas for study, travel, or permanent residence.

After IRCC's statement that the reduction in Canada's diplomatic representation in India will influence the processing time for visas, VFS Global provided the explanation.

"The IRCC is downsizing from 27 to 5 personnel in India. Reduced personnel levels are anticipated to affect processing timelines, but IRCC will still accept and handle applications from India, it said.

Nevertheless, the Canadian immigration board explained that "89% of India's applications are processed through the worldwide network," meaning that the vast majority of applications from India have already been processed outside of India.

The five IRCC employees with Canadian bases who are still in India will concentrate on tasks that call for in-country presence, like expedited processing, printing visas, risk assessment, and managing important partners, it added.

Melanie Joly, the foreign minister of Canada, announced the removal of 41 diplomats from India on October 19 during a press conference in Ottawa. She claimed that the decision by New Delhi to grant diplomatic immunity to only 21 out of the 62 Canadian diplomats now stationed there made the move necessary.

I can confirm that, as of right now, India has formally communicated its intention to dishonestly revoke diplomatic immunity for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents based in Delhi by October 20. This would put the personal safety of 41 Canadian ambassadors and their 42 dependents in peril of having their immunity revoked on an arbitrary date, she told the news agency ANI.

Joly continued by saying that the action will have an impact on diplomatic operations in several Indian cities. What this signifies for our business in India may be a question on the minds of Canadian viewers. Without a doubt, India's choice will affect the level of services provided to Consulates in both nations. Sadly, all in-person services at our consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bangalore must be suspended "She spoke.

Last month, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that there was a "possible link" between the two countries "in relation to the assassination of pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar to Indian officials in Canada. The accusation has been refuted by the Indian government.

Rahul Gandhi announces the decision of the Congress Working Committee to undertake caste censuses in four of the controlling states.

On October 9, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi declared that the party's Working Committee had made a solid commitment to conduct a caste census in states. He further underlined that the project is not motivated by caste or religion, but rather by a desire to help the economically underprivileged.

"We have decided to conduct a caste census, and we do not break promises." The step has nothing to do with caste or religion. It is being done for the poor," Rahul Gandhi stated at a press conference.

Rahul Gandhi noted that the Congress presently has four Chief Ministers, three of them are members of the OBC minority. In striking contrast, he continued, the BJP has 10 Chief Ministers, but only one of them represents the OBC community.

He also emphasised the need of Prime Minister Narendra Modi openly outlining steps to help the OBC group.

Rahul Gandhi stated that the Congress party is determined to put pressure on the BJP to conduct a caste-based census. If the BJP does not comply, Rahul Gandhi recommended that the BJP delegate authority to the Congress party on this subject.

"We have four CMs, three of whom are from the OBC community; the BJP has ten CMs, only one of whom is from the OBC community." Narendra Modi will have to explain to the people of his country what he has done for the community. "We will compel the BJP to conduct the caste census, and if they refuse, they should leave it to us,"

Rahul Gandhi stated, flanked by the Chief Ministers of Karnataka, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Chattisgarh.

Rahul Gandhi claimed that the majority of the India coalition coalition partners will accept the notion of a caste census. He highlighted that the decision to conduct a caste census is not a political decision, but rather a one taken to promote social equality.

Rahul Gandhi has criticized the caste census, following an order from Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan for a caste survey similar to Bihar's. The Congress has also announced plans to conduct a caste survey in Chhattisgarh if re-elected.

The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar revealed that OBCs and EBCs constitute 63% of the state's total population, with the Extremely Backward Classes (36%) being the largest social segment. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh emphasized the urgent need for a caste census during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, stating that people from all backward classes in the country have expressed a common request for one.

The results of the caste census are expected to be released later this year.

INDIA bloc cites Bihar data to reiterate demand for nationwide caste census

The Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) leaders renewed their demand for a nationwide caste census on October 2 in order to assure "social justice" to the underprivileged classes, citing the results of the Bihar caste survey.

Parties associated with the INDIA bloc have made the call for a caste census and OBC outreach their most prominent electoral strategy in the lead-up to the Lok Sabha election next year.

Rahul Gandhi, a former leader of the Congress, claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim to be a champion of the Other Backward Classes was one of the false ideas that the bloc should dispel at the Upcoming summit in Mumbai.

On October 2, Mr. Gandhi reaffirmed that a community's rights should be proportionate to the size of its population in a society in response to the publication of the Bihar caste survey.

According to Mr. Gandhi's post on Facebook, the Bihar data showed that the combined percentage of OBCs, Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in the State was 84%.

Only three of the Central Government's 90 secretaries, who manage 5% of India's budget, come from the OBC. Thus, it is crucial to understand India's caste statistics. This is our promise: the more people there are, the stronger their rights.

His job was in line with the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest-ranking decision-making body in the party, which advocated raising the reservation cap from the current 50%.

The CWC said in a resolution that the Narendra Modi administration's obstinate reluctance to carry out a caste census "revealed the BJP's lack of commitment to social and economic justice and its bias against the backward classes, Dalits, and tribal people."

"In this context, the CWC also asks for enhancing the top limit of reservations now in existence for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and OBCs," the resolution states.

Jairam Ramesh, the head of the Congress' media department, welcomed the Bihar government's initiative and said that while the party had previously conducted a similar survey in Karnataka, a caste census of the entire nation was now necessary.

According to Mr. Ramesh on X, "Such a Census has become vital for laying a firmer foundation for social empowerment programmes and for increasing social justice."

The Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav responded to the BJP's claim that the caste census might cause conflict by saying, "The caste census is not a struggle of 85-15; instead, it will open new roads of cooperation."

Those who favour an equal society would be in favour of it. He continued that the goal of revealing each community's numerical strength is to boost their self-esteem and foster a sense of civic responsibility.

Sitaram Yechury, general secretary of the CPI (M), praised Bihar for leading the way and said on Twitter, "Day in and day out Modi castigates Opposition parties as anti-OBC while portraying himself as champion! He does not, however, agree to a case census. 2021 Census is postponed out of fear of addressing caste reality.

"This data would help the government in making policies accurately with a tangible understanding of deprivations," said D. Raja, general secretary of the Communist Party of India. Other States also require such activities to develop policies that are based on science and evidence.