NATIONAL NEWS
Supreme Court protects Param Bir Singh from arrest
The Supreme Court on November 22 granted former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh protection from arrest and directed him to join the investigation against him after he said he was very much in the country and not fled abroad. Singh said he was fighting the might of a draconian State and its police, which has hounded him for having the courage to expose the alleged doings of former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, who is facing money laundering charges. Singh, who is accused of corruption and extortion, portrayed himself as a whistle-blower who does not want to give the impression that I am afraid of anything. Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh leaving National Investigation Agency office after recording his statement in connection with explosive laden SUV found near Mukesh Ambani’s house, in Mumbai, in April Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, leading a Bench with Justice M.M. Sundaresh, remarked, the matter has become curiouser and curiouser in the battle between the former Home Minister and the Police Commissioner. Senior advocate Puneet Bali, for Singh, observed that his client does not want to leave the country. He was willing to cooperate, except for the imminent threat against him. What faith will I have in the police now? he argued. Justice Kaul remarked, we find this picture very disturbing… If the former Police Commissioner says he faces threats and has lack of faith in the police, what would be the fate of the common man? Bali submitted that his client had recorded and handed over transcripts of WhatsApp communications with a senior police officer, who advised him to back off or face serious cases that would be mounted against him as a retaliation for complaining against Deshmukh. He said I cannot fight the State… That officer does not deny anything. With this, what expectations can I have from the State? All hell broke loose after I made the complaint, he said. Six cases were registered against Singh by bookies, extortionists and people against whom I had taken action against, he stated. If every person I had taken action against, that too, way back in 2015, files cases against me, how will I function as a police officer? How will my colleague’s function? he contended. Both the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court had found the charges levelled by Singh against Deshmukh very serious. The apex court said in April the charges should be probed into by an independent investigative agency, he pointed out. The court, in its order, directed Singh to cooperate with the probe against him but said he shall not be arrested.
Bombay High Court refuses to refrain Nawab Malik from making comments against Wankhede
The Bombay High Court on Monday refused to restrain Maharashtra Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik from making comments on social media against Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede and his family. A single Bench of Justice Madhav Jamdar was hearing a defamation suit filed by Wankhede’s father, Dhyandev, who sought ₹1.25 crore in damages for making defamatory statements. The petition mentioned that Malik had leaked a purported birth certificate of his son on Twitter that allegedly stated that he was a Muslim. The court said, although plaintiff [Mr. Wankhede] has right to privacy, the defendant [Mr. Malik] has right to freedom of speech and expression, there has to be balancing of fundamental rights. Whether the tweets made contain allegations pertaining to discharge of official functions? Whether the publications prove to be false? Whether there was reasonable verification of facts? These aspects show that defendants have not taken due care, and serious allegations are made against Wankhede, the court noted. The court added, right to privacy is implicit in the right to life and liberty. Public have right to comment on the life of public officer, but that has to be done with reasonable verification. These are only prima facie observations. The defendants have raised pertinent issues against the plaintiff. At prima facie stage, it cannot be said that allegations are totally false. It appeared that Malik’s statements were actuated by malice and animosity. However, relief cannot be granted at this stage, but then the defendant should conduct sufficient verification of documents before publishing documents henceforth, the court concluded.
Trinamool holds Tripura CM responsible for attacks on party leaders
Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Monday held Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb responsible for a series of attacks on party leaders and workers. He condemned the violence at the East Agartala women police station on Sunday after West Bengal Trinamool Youth Congress chief Saayoni Ghosh was detained on the attempt to murder charge. BJP goons attacked our leaders and workers inside the police station. They did not even spare journalists, police officers and personnel, Banerjee said. The Trinamool general secretary spoke to newsmen after authorities denied permission to his road show to campaign for the polls to the Agartala Municipal Corporation and 12 municipal bodies due for November 25. Banerjee said violence in Tripura had been continuing and the police remained silent spectators despite a Supreme Court order which directed the Government to ensure peace and security to ranks of all political parties during the municipal polls. The Trinamool on Monday moved a contempt petition in the apex court and warned that the party would drag all erring officials to the court. Banerjee alleged that total anarchy and lawlessness prevailed in Tripura, and the reason for the violence was to stop the Trinamool, which was ‘fast gaining a support base in the State’. If Saayoni Ghosh can be arrested for uttering two words ‘Khela Hobe’ [Will Play] from her car then top central BJP leaders should also be arrested for raising the same slogan during the West Bengal Assembly elections, Banerjee stated. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Deb slammed the Trinamool for allegedly attempting to malign the State’s image by making false allegations. Scam-tainted and corrupt leaders from a State [Bengal] are spreading canard about Tripura. They are creating a law-and-order situation, but we will not allow them to disturb peace in the State, Deb told an election rally at Ambassa in Dhalai district. The West Tripura Chief Judicial Magistrate on Monday granted bail to Ghosh. We argued and sought bail for her under sub-section 1 of IPC Section 437. Police have demanded her remand for two days which has been rejected, Ghosh’s lawyer Shankar Lodh told newsmen. TMC’s Rajya Sabha Member Sushmita Dev hailed the release of Ghosh. She alleged that the case against the actress-turned-politician was politically motivated. Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress MPs staged a protest at the Ministry of Home Affairs in North Block, Delhi, on Monday after they were allegedly denied an appointment with Home Minister Amit Shah, whom they wanted to meet to flag the reported violence against its party workers in Tripura. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is also likely to reach Delhi by evening.
Mamata to meet Modi on Wednesday to discuss BSF jurisdiction, funds due to State
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday left for a four-day visit to the national capital. This is the second visit of Trinamool chairperson to Delhi after the West Bengal Assembly polls in which her party had registered a thumping victory over the Bharatiya Janata Party. She is also likely to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. I am going to Delhi today [Monday] because day after tomorrow, I have an appointment with the Prime Minister on the BSF issue and other development issues related to West Bengal, she told journalists before leaving for Delhi. She accused the Union Government of using Central forces for the benefit of the BJP. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. File The BSF is not my enemy. But the BJP thinks that the BSF is BJP. Law and order are a state subject and apart from the State police, there are so many agencies and all have their respective jurisdiction. The recent notification by the Union Home Ministry extending the BSF’s jurisdiction from 15 km to 50 km along the border has become a flashpoint between the Centre and the State Government. The Trinamool Government passed a resolution in the Assembly urging the Centre to withdraw the notification. The other issue which Banerjee is likely to discuss is the State’s pending funds with the Centre. The Chief Minister has blamed the Centre for not making enough funds available to the State, particularly after West Bengal bore the burnt of the natural calamities like cyclones and floods. The Chief Minister said she will meet her party MPs who have been protesting outside the office of Union Home Ministry since Monday morning. I will not join the dharna but I am going to meet the MPs to express solidarity to their protest. I don’t know why the horror is going on in Tripura. Since yesterday [Sunday], the MPs have been seeking an appointment with the home minister and so far, they have been denied that, Banerjee said. She said even mediapersons are not allowed to work freely in Tripura. Banerjee’s visit comes ahead of the winter session of Parliament and she is likely to meet the leaders of the Opposition parties. After her earlier visit in the last week of July, the TMC has made inroads into Tripura and Goa. One of the highlights of the visit in July was the meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi. In the past few months, a number of leaders of the Congress, including former Mahila Morcha president Sushmita Dev and former Goa Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro, have joined the TMC. It will be interesting to watch whether the Congress leadership will reach out to Banerjee or she will reach out to senior Congress leaders. The visit also comes days after the Prime Minister announced the repeal of the three farm laws. Banerjee had extended support to the protesting farmers and sent several delegations of party MPs to meet the farmers. The TMC chairperson, who rose to power in West Bengal championing the cause of farmers protesting against forcible land acquisition, may also meet a few leaders of the farmers’ movement. Moreover, two visits to the national capital in less than six months also indicate the growing ambitions of the TMC as it is keen on presenting itself as a pan-Indian party.
‘Three capitals’ for A.P.: Will bring a ‘comprehensive, complete and better’ bill, says Jagan
The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on November 22 passed a Bill to repeal the controversial A.P. Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Act, 2020, that was intended to establish three capitals for the State. Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, however, told the Assembly his government would bring a comprehensive, complete and better Decentralisation Bill. The 2020 Act was being repealed to protect the larger interests of people. Our intention of a decentralised development of the State has been twisted, distorted and a misinformation launched. Also, legal hurdles were created and court cases filed, the Chief Minister alleged. Without referring to the farmers of Amaravati region, who had been fighting the three capitals decision for more than 700 days now, Jagan said the government would explain our genuine intention and the need for decentralisation to all concerned and incorporate necessary changes in the new Bill. The government had earlier hinted A.P. could have three capitals — Executive capital in Visakhapatnam and the Legislative capital in Amaravati and Judiciary capital in Kurnool.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
China launches Gaofen 11-03 high resolution satellite
China launched its 3rd Gaofen 11 reconnaissance satellite on November 19, 2021, on a Long March 4B rocket (also known as Chang Zheng 4B) from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern China. The Gaofen 11 (03) satellite with an optical resolution comparable to top US spy satellites is an addition to China’s set of classified satellites. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC) announced the success of the launch after the successful insertion of the Gaofen-11 (03) satellite into a 247 by 694-km altitude orbit inclined by 97.5 degrees. The launch marked the 44th launch by China in 2021 and the 387th mission of the Long March series carrier rockets. The Gaofen 11 (03) is the third in a series of high-resolution optical imaging Gaofen 11 satellites. The first in the series of Gaofen 11 namely Gaofen 11 (01) was launched in July 2016 followed by Gaofen 11 (02) in September 2020. The Gaofen 11 (03) satellite will operate in sun-synchronous orbits. It will be primarily used for land surveys, land rights confirmation, road network design, city planning, crop yield estimation, and disaster prevention and mitigation. Gaofen is operated by the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). The CASC has developed the Gaofen-11 (03) reconnaissance satellite and its data transmission and relay subsystems.
Pakistan to allow India’s humanitarian assistance package for Afghanistan to pass through
Pakistan has decided to allow the 50,000 MT of wheat offered by India to Afghanistan as humanitarian assistance to go through Pakistan. This will be allowed as soon as modalities are finalized with the Indian side, informed Pakistan Prime Minister’s office. Pakistani PM Imran Khan also announced that the nation will facilitate return of Afghan patients who had gone to India for treatment and are stuck there.
US- India Trade policy Forum relaunched
The US-India Trade Policy Forum was relaunched after four years on November 23, 2021 in the presence of US Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai and Union Minister of Commerce Piyush Goyal. Tai is in New Delhi for two days, November 22- 23 to hold a discussion over trade ties between the two countries. Both Ambassador Tai & Goyal welcomed the re-launch of the trade policy forum after 4 yrs and agreed that revitalized TPF will contribute to deepening bilateral trade relations by establishing regular contact aimed at resolving trade obstacles.
