The Supreme Court has granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case, but has raised concerns over his position in light of the allegations against him. The court has asked Kejriwal to make his own decision on whether he should step down from office. The decision comes after a New Delhi court extended Kejriwal's judicial custody in a corruption case linked to the alleged excise policy scam. Meanwhile, the government has declared June 25 as 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas' to commemorate the 1975 Emergency, but the move has been met with criticism from the Congress. In other news, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has stated that the state will appeal against the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's directive to release water to Tamil Nadu, while the Supreme Court has dismissed a petition seeking an inquiry into the Hathras stampede.
Background: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been embroiled in a legal battle related to two cases: money laundering and corruption. In the money laundering case, he was arrested on June 6 and remanded to judicial custody. On June 16, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail.
Interim Bail Granted: The Supreme Court raised concerns over Kejriwal's position as Chief Minister in light of the allegations against him. However, it noted that he has been in custody for a week and that the trial may take time. As such, the court granted him interim bail for four weeks.
Step-Down Decision: The Supreme Court has asked Kejriwal to decide on his own whether he should resign as Chief Minister. The court observed that this is a "moral and ethical" issue that he must consider.
Corruption Case: Separately, Kejriwal's judicial custody in the corruption case has been extended by a New Delhi court. The case is linked to the alleged excise policy scam.
Government's 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas' Declaration: The Indian government has declared June 25 as 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas' (Constitution Murder Day) to mark the 1975 Emergency. The Emergency was a period of authoritarian rule imposed by the government of Indira Gandhi, suspending fundamental rights and press freedoms. The move has drawn criticism from the Congress party, which was in power at the time.
Karnataka's Water Appeal: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced that the state will appeal against the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's directive to release water to Tamil Nadu. The decision comes amid ongoing water disputes between the two states.
Hathras Stampede Petition Dismissed: The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition seeking an inquiry into the 2021 Hathras stampede at a Hindu festival. The stampede resulted in 33 deaths.
1. Why was Arvind Kejriwal granted interim bail? Answer: He was granted bail due to being in custody for a week and the likelihood of a lengthy trial.
2. What are the allegations against Kejriwal? Answer: He is accused of money laundering and corruption.
3. What is the government's significance of 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas'? Answer: To commemorate the 1975 Emergency, seen as a violation of constitutional rights.
4. Why is Karnataka appealing against the water directive? Answer: To protect its water resources amid disputes with Tamil Nadu.
5. Why was the Hathras stampede inquiry petition dismissed? Answer: The court deemed no grounds for an inquiry, citing previous investigation and judicial review.
Tensions have risen in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district as a team arrived to survey a disputed site, where a Harihar temple was claimed to stand on the grounds of the historic Shahi Jama Masjid. Videos of cars being set on fire and stone-pelting have emerged on social media, showing the chaos that ensued. Police have used tear gas to control the situation, and a local court had ordered a second survey to be conducted after a previous one was conducted last week. Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq has spoken out in defense of the mosque, citing a Supreme Court order from 1991.
The largest gathering of nationalist thinkers and practitioners, Lokmanthan 2024, is set to begin in Hyderabad on November 21. President of India Droupadi Murmu, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and several Union ministers will engage in talks, exhibitions, cultural performances, and a food festival over the course of four days. Organized for the first time in South India, the platform aims to promote the oneness of ancient civilization through discussions with prominent academicians, thinkers, artists, and activists.
With 7 candidates vying for the Karhal MLA seat, the bypoll elections were necessitated by the resignation of Akhilesh Yadav. Watch live updates on the election process, including who is leading, trailing, and ultimately wins the seat. Karhal is part of the 21st Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh and had previously been won by Yadav's wife, Dimple Yadav. As per the gazette notification, the bypoll will take place on November 20, 2024, and the results will be announced on November 23, 2024.
On Sunday morning, Sambhal district in Uttar Pradesh saw an outburst of violence when a team of surveyors arrived at the Shahi Jama Masjid to conduct a second survey of the mosque. The police had to resort to lathi charge and tear gas shells to control the crowd, who were throwing stones and attacking media personnel. Amidst all this chaos, the police announced that they would take strict action against those who were involved in the violence, stating that their actions were illegal under section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita.
During his monthly radio program, PM Modi emphasized the significant role youth play in shaping India's future and announced the upcoming Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue to coincide with Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary and National Youth Day. The event will bring together 2,000 young minds from across India to brainstorm and develop a roadmap for the country's progress. PM Modi also urged youth from non-political backgrounds to join politics and will personally attend as much of the dialogue as possible.
The bypoll for the Meerapur Vidhan Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh has attracted attention with a total of 11 candidates vying to be elected as the MLA. The constituency, which is part of the Bijnor Lok Sabha seat, has been necessitated due to the resignation of Chandan Chauhan. Stay updated with live result updates to find out who will be the new Member of Legislative Assembly for Meerapur.
A heated debate has arisen between the Samajwadi Party and the BJP over the issue of voter identity verification for Muslim women wearing burqas, hijabs, niqabs, and ghunghats in the upcoming UP by-election. The Samajwadi Party has approached the Election Commission demanding that Muslim women should not have to remove their burqas for checks, while the BJP argues that every voter must be identified. The Election Commission has confirmed that only the polling officer is authorised to verify voter ID cards, and police or security personnel are not permitted to check ID cards or request a woman to remove her burqa. As polling continues, the outcome of this controversy remains to be seen.
Amidst growing controversy and criticism, the ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh seems to have a dilemma over its slogan, "Batoge to Katoge" coined by CM Yogi Adityanath. Within the party, Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya has expressed ignorance about the slogan's context, causing opposition parties to question the party's unity. The BJP's attempts to present a consistent narrative seem to have failed as even party leaders like Ajit Pawar have spoken against the slogan. With differing slogans from top leaders, the opposition accuses the BJP of contradictions.
The results for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly polls are in, with the Shiv Sena-NCP alliance and the JMM facing a stiff challenge from the BJP. Despite facing internal divisions, the Maha Yuti alliance in Maharashtra looks set to secure a victory. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM, bolstered by its I.N.D.I.A. allies, is expected to retain power. Stay updated with live updates and coverage on Deccan Herald and make sure to follow their Whatsapp, X, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram channels for more news.
In the recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Congress faced a major defeat in direct contests with the BJP, winning only 10 out of 75 seats. This is a significant decline from their performance in the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year. The BJP's average vote share per seat contested rose by 6 percentage points, while the Congress saw a decline of 14 percentage points. In some key constituencies, the Congress finished in fourth place, highlighting the immediate need for the party to reassess its strategies and connect with the voting public.