Tag: opposition

  • Eateries told to display names of owners in UP, Opposition fumes

    Eateries told to display names of owners in UP, Opposition fumes

    Taking to X, Khera wrote, “Not just political parties, all right-thinking people and the media must rise against this state-sponsored bigotry. We cannot allow the BJP to push the country back into dark ages.”…reports Asian Lite News

    A major controversy has erupted over the Muzaffarnagar administration’s directive to all the eateries and shops along the Yatra route, to properly display the names of owners to avoid “confusion” among the Kanwar Yatris.

    The government’s directive to the food stalls and dhabas has riled up the Opposition parties, as some of them equated it to “apartheid” while others demanded “judicial intervention” to set aside the “lopsided” order.

    Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav said that such orders would vitiate the peaceful atmosphere and asked, “What will be known from the name of the one whose name is Guddu, Munna, Chhotu or Fatte?”

    SP chief, who rode his party to its best-ever performance in the recent Lok Sabha polls 2024, smelled a “conspiracy” against a particular community and demanded the courts take suo motu cognisance of this order.

    “Honourable court should take suo motu cognisance and investigate the intentions of the government behind such administrative order and take appropriate punitive action. Such orders are social crimes, which want to spoil the peaceful atmosphere of harmony,” he said on social media platform X.

    Earlier, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi voiced his anger at the “discriminatory” order and said that this was like “apartheid” (institutionalised racial segregation) in South Africa and ‘Judenboycott’ (the boycott of Jewish businesses) in Hitler’s Germany.

    In an X post, the AIMIM leader wrote, “As per the order of Uttar Pradesh Police, every food shop or cart owner will have to put his name outside the building so that no Kanwariya buys anything from a Muslim shop by mistake. This was like Apartheid in South Africa. In Hitler’s Germany, it was called ‘Judenboycott’.”

    Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera slammed the Muzaffarnagar police for such diktat and termed it “state-sponsored bigotry”.

    Taking to X, Khera wrote, “Not just political parties, all right-thinking people and the media must rise against this state-sponsored bigotry. We cannot allow the BJP to push the country back into dark ages.”

    Notably, the Muzaffarnagar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) passed the order and said that these arrangements were made for the month of Shravan and such measures will only add to the comfort and convenience of Kanwar Yatris. He added that the shop owners are following it voluntarily.

    About 240 km of the Kanwar Yatra route falls in the Muzaffarnagar district. As per the order, all the eateries including hotels, dhabas and carts, on the Yatra route will have to display the names of proprietors or those working in these shops.

    “This has been done to ensure that there should be no confusion among kanwariyas and no law and order situation arises. All are following this voluntarily,” he had told reporters on Monday.

    Also, the liquor and meat shops will remain closed during the month-long Kanwar Yatra. Officials have also been instructed to prevent stray animals from obstructing the path of Kanwar Yatris.

    For the unversed, the Kanwar Yatra this year, will begin from July 22, the day when Shravan month begins. The month-long festival will see people from Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan visiting Haridwar and Rishikesh to collect water from the Ganga river and then offer the same in Lord Shiva temples, on returning home.

    Meanwhile, Bollywood screenwriter Javed Akhtar reacted to the ongoing controversy over eateries on the Kanwar Yatra route in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar being asked to display their owners’ names

    “Muzaffarnagar UP police has given instructions that on the route of a particular religious procession in near future all the shops restaurants n even vehicles should show the name of the owner prominently and clearly. Why? In Nazi Germany they used to make only a mark on particular shops and houses,” Javed Akhtar posted on X.

    After a row erupted over eateries on the Kanwar Yatra route in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar being asked to display their owners’ names, Muzaffarnagar Police on Thursday said that the police have urged all the eateries to “voluntarily display” the names of their owners and employees, adding that the intention of this order is not to create any kind of “religious discrimination” but only to facilitate the devotees.

    “During the Shravan Kanwar Yatra, a large number of Kanwariyas from neighbouring states, via Western Uttar Pradesh, collect water from Haridwar and pass through Muzaffarnagar district. During the holy month of Shravan, many people, especially Kanwariyas, abstain from certain food items in their diet,” the Muzaffarnagar police stated.

    “In the past, such instances have come to light where some shopkeepers selling all types of food items on Kanwar Marg named their shops in such a way that it created confusion among the Kanwariyas and created a law and order situation. To prevent such a recurrence and in view of the faith of the devotees, hotels, dhabas and shopkeepers selling food items on Kanwar Marg have been requested to voluntarily display the names of their owners and employees. The intention of this order is not to create any kind of religious discrimination but only to facilitate the devotees passing through Muzaffarnagar district, counter allegations and save the law and order situation. This system has been prevalent in the past, too,” it added.

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  • Leader of Opposition strongest democratic tool, says Rahul  

    Leader of Opposition strongest democratic tool, says Rahul  

    In the message, Rahul Gandhi was seen talking to youths who said reconducting the NEET examination is their demand. It then shows another clip of the Leader of Opposition raising the issue in the Lok Sabha on June 28…reports Asian Lite News

    The Leader of Opposition is the strongest democratic tool for every Indian, Rahul Gandhi said on Sunday and asserted that he will raise the voice of the people of India in Parliament.

    In a post on Instagram, Gandhi who recently became the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, a post filled after a gap of 10 years, also shared a video message.

    “LoP is the strongest democratic tool every Indian has. I assure you, I will raise your voice by raising your problems and issues with full force in the Parliament,” he said.

    In the message, Rahul Gandhi was seen talking to youths who said reconducting the NEET examination is their demand. It then shows another clip of the Leader of Opposition raising the issue in the Lok Sabha on June 28.

    It also shows clips of Rahul Gandhi’s meetings with the family of Agniveer Ajay Singh (23), who was killed in a landmine explosion in the Rajouri sector in Jammu and Kashmir in January, and the victims of violence in Manipur, among others.

    Earlier, Rahul Gandhi, urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to engage in a “constructive debate” on the NEET exam issue and give the students the respect they deserve.

    “The INDIA Opposition bloc wants to have a constructive debate with the Government on the NEET exam and the prevailing paper leak issue. It is unfortunate that we weren’t allowed to do so in Parliament today. This is a serious concern that is causing anxiety to lakhs of families across India. We urge the Prime Minister to debate on this issue and give the students the respect they deserve,” Rahul Gandhi said in a post on ‘X’.

    The opposition continued its strident pitch on the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination with the Congress and other parties demanding a discussion on the floor of the house.

    With the government insisting on first completing the motion of thanks to the presidential address both houses were adjourned with the Lok Sabha adjourned till Monday, July 1, 11 AM.

    Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge created a new stir on Friday as he walked into the well of the House in order to attract the “attention” of Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, demanding a discussion on the NEET exam issue.

    “Under Rule 267 we are demanding a special discussion on it in the House, and after that, we will state our demands,” Kharge said, speaking to reporters.

    On entering the Well of Rajya Sabha, Kharge said, “It is his (Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar’s) mistake…I went inside to draw his attention. But even then he was not looking… I was drawing attention. He was only looking at the ruling party. When I draw his attention as per the rules, he should look at me, but instead, he deliberately ignored me to insult me. So what was left for me? So to draw attention I would have to either go inside or shout very loudly. So I will say that it is Chairman Sahab’s mistake. I say that he should not do this and should maintain the dignity of this Rajya Sabha…There have been such big scams, the NEET exam, the paper has been leaked, and lakhs of children are worried. So to draw attention to the problem of people, we asked for a specific discussion. We did not want to disturb anyone, we only wanted to raise the issues of the students…But he did not give it a chance, did not even pay attention to it and that is why we had to do this.”

    INDIA bloc will drive out BJP, says Soren

    Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren who was released on bail earlier said that the opposition INDIA bloc will “drive out” the Bharatiya Janata Party from the country.

    The JMM leader who was addressing a rally here on the occasion of ‘Hul Diwas’, also claimed that the BJP had turned “jittery” after his release from jail and its leaders are “conspiring” against him again.

    Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Jharkhand CM Champai Soren attended the program on Hul Diwas on Sunday.

    After being released on bail, Hemant Soren on Saturday said that the state is a land of courageous people and there is no need to be scared of anyone.

    Speaking with the reporters, Soren said, “After coming out of jail after five months, I have bowed down to Bhagwan Birsa Munda. The hurdles he had to face, more or less, Adivasi, farmers, and minorities are facing a similar fate, even today.”

    The former Chief Minister also said, “Jharkhand is a land of courageous people. Many will try to scare us, but that is momentary, and we don’t need to be scared”.

    Hemant Soren was released from the Birsa Munda Jail following a bail order from the Jharkhand High Court.

    Ranchi, Jun 29 (ANI): Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren meets Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) supporters after being released on bail, in Ranchi on Saturday. (ANI Photo)

    Soren was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in January on charges related to an alleged land scam and money laundering. The investigation concerns the purported generation of substantial proceeds through the forgery of official records, involving fake sellers and buyers to acquire large parcels of land worth crores.

    In related events, on March 22, a Special PMLA court extended Soren’s judicial custody until April 4. Soren was presented via video conferencing. The Ranchi police had also issued a notice to ED officials to join the investigation following an FIR filed by Soren under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

    The Jharkhand High Court had previously ordered no coercive action against ED officials after the agency filed a petition challenging Soren’s FIR. Soren had alleged that the ED’s searches at his residences were aimed at tarnishing his image and harassing him for being a tribal.

    The ED had claimed to have recovered Rs 36 lakh in cash and documents related to the investigation, alleging that Soren had acquired 8.5 acres of land through fraudulent means.

    The investigation revealed that a syndicate, including Revenue Sub-Inspector Bhanu Pratap Prasad, was involved in corrupt property acquisitions. (ANI)

    ALSO READ-Congress declares Rahul Gandhi as Leader of Opposition 

  • At victory speech, Modi taunts Opposition

    At victory speech, Modi taunts Opposition

    Hailing the party’s performance in Odisha and NDA’s huge win in Andhra Pradesh, PM Modi said the Congress could not even save its deposits in these seats…reports Asian Lite News

    Thanking the people for supporting BJP-led NDA, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a jibe at the opposition INDIA bloc and said that despite coming together, they could not get as many seats as the BJP on its own.

    “Receiving the affection and blessings of people for the third time gives us a new energy. All our opponents, despite coming together couldn’t win as many seats as won by the BJP on its own,” Modi said in his address.

    He pointed out that it is the first time in history after 1962 that a party has “returned to power” for the third time.

    “People who voted this time, are higher in number than the total population of many countries. The voters of Jammu and Kashmir have showed great enthusiasm with their record turnout. They have shown a mirror to those who tried to defame India globally,” the Prime Minister said.

    “There are many aspects of this mandate. After 1962, it is the first time that a government has returned to power for the third consecutive time after completing its two tenures,” he added.

    Hailing the party’s performance in Odisha and NDA’s huge win in Andhra Pradesh, PM Modi said the Congress could not even save its deposits in these seats.

    “NDA has registered huge victory in the states where assembly elections took place: Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim. Congress has been wiped out in these states…they would have even found it difficult to save their deposits. BJP is going to form the government in Odisha and also registered great performance in the Lok Sabha polls in the state,” PM Modi said.

    He emphasised that the BJP’s win on the Thrissur seat of Kerala is a moment for which BJP workers had been waiting for generations.

    The Prime Minister added that NDA government has performed very well in Andhra Pradesh and Bihar under the leadership of Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar respectively.

    “BJP also won a seat in Kerala. Our workers have kept fighting in the state for generations. The moment they were waiting for generations has finally come. Our numbers doubled in Telangana. Our party has done almost clean sweep in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and some other states. In Andhra Pradesh, under the leadership of Chandrababu Naidu, NDA has performed brilliantly. In Bihar, under Nitish Kumar’s leadership, NDA has performed very well,” he said.

    He further attacked the Opposition parties on the issue of corruption and said the NDA government will keep on taking strong action against corruption during the third term.

    “If the India of 21st century has to move forward, it will have to take strict action against corruption. Digital India and technology have restrained many ways of corruption. But the fight against corruption is also becoming more difficult. When corruption is appreciated for political benefits, defying all limits of shamelessness, it gives huge power to corruption. That’s why NDA government’s huge priority will be to eradicate all forms of corruption,” he said.

    Prime Minister Modi said the country would write a new chapter of taking big decisions during its third term.

    “In the last 10 years, India took many big decisions. The idea of ‘Nation First’ gives us faith in achieving unbelievable targets…We carried out the world’s biggest beneficiary schemes. 70 years after independence, 12 crore people received tap water, 4 crore people received pucca houses, and 80 crore people received free ration,” PM Modi said in his address.

    He highlighted steps like abrogation of Article 370, Covid management and reforms in GST and banking sectors and said it is ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ that the government will continue to take big steps.

    “Because of the idea of ‘Nation First’, Article 370 was abrogated from Kashmir. Reforms like GST, IBC (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code) and banking reforms took place…even during the COVID-19 pandemic, we took the decision that was to the country’s benefit. We took steps defying all pressure. Because of this, today India is the world’s fastest-growing economy. This idea will make us Atmanirbhar (self-reliant),” PM Modi said.

    “If you work 10 hours, Modi will work 18 hours. If you take 2 steps, Modi will walk 4 steps. We Indians will walk together, and take the country forward. The country will write a new chapter of making big decisions in the third term. And this is the ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’,” he added.

    The Prime Minister also remembered his late mother and said women of this country never allowed him to feel her absence.

    “This moment is very emotional for me. This was my first election after the death of my mother. But mothers, sisters and daughters never allowed me to feel her absence. Wherever I went, I received enormous blessings of people. Women broke all the records of voting in this election,” he further stated. (ANI)

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  • Small Opposition parties will merge with Cong, claims Modi

    Small Opposition parties will merge with Cong, claims Modi

    Shinde managed to keep the name of the party started by Uddhav Thackeray’s father, and formed government in a partnership with the BJP…reports Asian Lite News

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi today warned voters about what he said was the dangers of going the Congress’s way, citing the example of the Shiv Sena faction led by former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

    Campaigning in Mumbai amid the hot and humid weather, with temperature reaching 38 degree Celsius, PM Modi said Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray believed that the day the Maharashtra party starts to follow the path of the Congress, it would be the end of the Shiv Sena.

    “Maharashtra has made up its mind to punish the duplicate Shiv Sena, which has kneeled before the Congress,” Modi said.

    The Shiv Sena shattered into two factions after Sena leader and the current Chief Minister Eknath Shinde revolted against the then alliance government with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

    Shinde managed to keep the name of the party started by Uddhav Thackeray’s father, and formed government in a partnership with the BJP.

    “Smaller parties will merge with the Congress after the elections,” PM Modi said. “Modi is the chowkidar of rights of oppressed people. He won’t let them be snatched away… Splitting Budget on religious lines is dangerous, but for the Congress, minority means its dear vote bank,” the Prime Minister said.

    Modi had defended himself against Opposition criticism that he is stoking divisions between Hindus and Muslims to win the national elections as he filed his nomination on Tuesday for re-election from Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi.

    Ahead of the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed two public rallies at Kalyan in Thane district and Dindori, and also held a roadshow in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar.

    Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis were also present at the roadshow.

    PM Modi in Kalyan claimed that he exposed the Congress party’s “intentions” on several occasions, while the latter blamed him for “communalising politics.”

    Addressing an election rally, PM Modi said, “Congress is trying to create communal disharmony in India. When I talk about what they do, they blame me and accuse me of communalising politics. While in reality, all I do is expose Congress.”

    “Congress can never talk about development. Congress only knows how to do Hindu-Muslim. For them, development means the development only of those who vote for them. During its government, Congress used to say openly that Muslims had the first right to the resources of the country. This was said by Dr Manmohan Singh,” he said.

    He further said that Congress wants to “divide the budget” and provide 15 per cent of the budget to Muslims.

    “The situation was such that the Congress and its allies had thought of dividing the development budget also. Congress also wanted to divide the budget into the Hindu budget and the Muslim budget. Congress wanted 15 per cent of the budget to be allocated separately to Muslims. The Congress party was committing this sin. I was the Chief Minister of Gujarat then, and I was the first one to oppose it. If Congress and INDI Alliance come to power, this is what they are going to do,” he said.

    The Prime Minister alleged that the Congress used to “beg” Pakistan to spare India from terrorist attacks.

    ‘I never mentioned Hindu or Muslim’

    Clarifying his “infiltrators” and “those with more children” remarks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that he did not only talk about Muslims but spoke about every poor family, adding that the day he starts doing Hindu-Muslim, he will be “unworthy of public life.”

    In an interview with News 18, PM Modi said that he does not market love towards Muslims, “I do not work for a vote bank. I believe in Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.”

    “I am shocked. Who told you that whenever one talks of people with more children, the inference is they are Muslims? Why are you so unjust towards Muslims? This is the situation in poor families too. Where there is poverty, there are more children, irrespective of their social circle. I didn’t mention either Hindu or Muslim. I have said that one should have as many children as you can take care of. Don’t let a situation arise where the government has to take care of your children,” the Prime Minister said on Tuesday.

    Referring to the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat when he was the Chief Minister of the state, Modi said that his opponents “tarnished” his image among the Muslims after 2002 (the Godhra riots).

    “This issue is not about Muslims. Irrespective of how supportive individual Muslims are of Modi, there is a wave of thought that dictates to them, ‘do this, do that’. In my house, there are all Muslim families around me. Eid was also celebrated in our house, and there were other festivals in our house. Food was not cooked in our house on the day of Eid. Food used to come to my place from all the Muslim families. When Muharram started, we needed to come out from under the Tajiya, we were taught. I grew up in that world. Even today, many of my friends are Muslims. After 2002 (Godhra), my image was tarnished,” he added.

    Asked whether Muslims would vote for him in this Lok Sabha election, he said that the “people of the country will vote for me.”

    “The day I start doing Hindu-Muslims, I won’t be entitled to live in the public domain. I won’t do Hindu-Muslim. This is my pledge,” Modi said.

    Earlier, Prime Minister Modi, in a public rally in Rajasthan, alleged Congress wants to take away the gold and property of people and distribute it among “those having more children.”

    Referring to reports about Congress’s intention to redistribute wealth if elected to power, the Prime Minister said the party would conduct a survey and they would not even let Mangalsutra remain with women and “will go to this extent.”

    Modi filed on Tuesday his nomination papers from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh. The Prime Minister is seeking a third consecutive term from the constituency and hoping to win with a record margin.

    Modi, the sitting MP and BJP’s candidate, filed his nomination papers at the district magistrate’s office. Varanasi will go in for polling in the seventh and last phase of the Lok Sabha polls on June 1. The counting of the votes will be held on June 4.

    ALSO READ-Congress asks PM: Why Ganga remains dirty After massive spending?

  • Opposition tears into BJP’s ‘corrupt’ electoral bonds

    Opposition tears into BJP’s ‘corrupt’ electoral bonds

    SC’s decision to strike down the scheme as unconstitutional has given the beleaguered opposition the much-needed political talking point in the run-up to polls…reports Asian Lite News

    The Supreme Court decision striking down the contentious electoral bond scheme of the government as unconstitutional has given the beleaguered opposition INDIA bloc an unexpected and much-needed political talking point, and an opportunity to aggressively add corruption to its armoury in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.

    The Supreme Court order has asked the State Bank of India (SBI), the only one authorised to issue electoral bonds, to submit the details of bonds purchased since April 12, 2019, to the Election Commission within three weeks. The poll watchdog has to make public the information by March 13, which is when the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections would be gathering pace.

    The timing, therefore, is crucial for the Opposition parties, which hope to frame the issue as one of corruption – on which they find themselves at the receiving end, even while struggling to pin their Adani-Ambani charge on the BJP.

    Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has been leading the party charge against the BJP on corruption, said after the Supreme Court verdict that the electoral bond scheme was another proof of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “corrupt policies”. The BJP “had made electoral bonds a medium for taking bribes and commission”, he said.

    “The bond is the biggest scandal since Independence. Rs 5,000 crore se adhik ke bond… Kinse kya saude kiye gaye, unke badle main kya bond liye gaye hai (What deals were made with whom, what were the benefits sought in return), what concessions were given to Indian and foreign companies… nobody knows… Such a big scam has happened, and 95% of the bonds have gone to the BJP, helping them across the country. They are fighting elections, spending, indulging in horse-trading, they are doing everything… setting up offices in every district. They blocked funding to other parties… how will democracy survive?” former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said.

    The Congress held a press conference on the issue, with spokesperson Pawan Khera asking: “Now that the massive corrupt mechanism by the Modi government has been exposed by the Supreme Court itself, will the government send the ED to probe the electoral bond scam?”

    Arguing that the electoral bonds scheme violated “every principle of equality, fairness, reasonableness and democracy”, former finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said: “The fact that the BJP cornered nearly 90% of the donations by corporates and high net worth individuals will be exposed now. Let the world know who gave money, when the money was given, and to which party it was given. The people will ask why the money was given to a political party.”

    Other Opposition parties were as upbeat about the order, but focused more on transparency and restoration of a level-playing field. “The Supreme Court has rightly held that electoral bonds are unconstitutional. This will ensure a transparent electoral process and the integrity of the system. This judgment has restored democracy and the level playing field for all political parties. It has also ensured the common man’s faith in the system,” DMK chief and Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin said.

    The Aam Aadmi Party said the decision was an important step in ensuring transparency in election funding.

    Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav posted on X that the verdict “is a welcome decision for the revival of democracy”. “This is an expose of the illegitimate policies of BJP. This decision is also a revelation of the BJP-corruption bond.”

    The TDP, which is in talks with the BJP for an alliance in Andhra Pradesh, also welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision as “historic”, using it to ask the ruling YSRCP in the state to reveal details of the funds received by it through the scheme. TDP spokesperson Deepak Reddy said party chief N Chandrababu Naidu has been a vocal advocate of transparency and accountability in politics.

    The CPI(M), which was one of the petitioners in the case, said it had always argued that the scheme legalizes corruption. “By this verdict, this unscrupulous scheme designed to finance the ruling party via anonymous corporate donors has been completely scrapped… It is essential now that reforms for political and electoral funding are introduced, to ensure transparency, clean funding and a level playing field,” the party said.

    ALSO READ-BJP renominates only 4 of 28 outgoing RS MPs

  • Canadian Opposition backs Indian students facing deportation

    Canadian Opposition backs Indian students facing deportation

    A section of Indian students in Canada have been threatened with deportation for allegedly submitting fraudulent admission letters…reports Asian Lite News

    Canadian Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre has come out in support of Indian students facing deportation from Canada and put the blame on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for it.

    Urging the government to stop the deportations, he urged the government to “prosecute fraudsters” and “let honest students stay and work and contribute to Canada.”

    “The Trudeau government failed to protect international students from crooked scam artists. Now, Trudeau is punishing the victims by deporting the students–even those that acted in good faith & have been working & paying taxes here for years. Prosecute fraudsters. Stop the deportations. Let honest students stay, work & contribute to Canada,” Poilievre, the leader of the official Opposition in Canada wrote on Twitter.

    Poilievre also posted pictures from his meeting with families of students facing deportation.

    A section of Indian students in Canada have been threatened with deportation for allegedly submitting fraudulent admission letters and the actual number is much less than the 700 being reported in the media.

    India has been raising the issue concerning Indian students facing deportation in Canada with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also taking up the matter with his Canadian counterpart, sources said and noted that Canadian authorities have been repeatedly urged to be fair since the students were not fault.

    Jaishankar on June 8 while addressing a press conference in New Delhi had said that India will continue to press the case of Indian students stating that is unfair to punish a student who undertook their education in good faith and action should be taken against the culpable parties who misled them.

    “For some time now, there is this case of students, who the Canadians say, did not study in the college in which they should have and when they applied for a work permit, they got into difficulties. From the very start, we have taken up this case and our point is, the students studied in good faith. If there were people who misled them, the culpable parties should be acted against. It is unfair to punish a student who undertook their education in good faith,” Jaishankar told reporters.

    According to sources, some Indian students in Canada have been threatened with deportation for allegedly submitting fraudulent admission letters and while according to some media reports some 700 students are protesting their deportation, the actual number is much less than that being reported.

    Most of these students had gone to Canada during 2017-2019. After completing their studies, some of them obtained work permits, while others continue to study in Canada.

    Sources said it was also pointed out that there were gaps in the Canadian system and a lack of diligence, owing to which the students were granted visas and also allowed to enter Canada.

    Since then, Canadian parliamentarians across political parties have spoken in support of the students, sources added.

    Immigration Minister Sean Frasier has indicated that Canada is actively pursuing a solution for international students who are facing uncertainty. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the need for fair treatment of students.

    Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal also on Friday wrote letters to the Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma and Canada High Commissioner to India Cameron Mackay to solve the issue of 700 students who are facing deportation from Canada.

    Canadian parliamentarians from different political parties also spoke in support of the students, and immigration minister Sean Frasier indicated Canada is pursuing a solution for international students who are facing uncertainty. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau too acknowledged the need for fair treatment of the students.

    Addressing a media briefing last week, Jaishankar said the matter involved students who the “Canadians say did not study in the college which they should have studied” and then faced difficulties when they applied for work permits.

    “Our point is that, look, the students studied in good faith. If there were people who misled them, the people who misled them, the culpable parties should be acted against. It is unfair to punish a student who undertook their education in good faith,” he said.

    “If a student has done no wrong, they accept the idea that they have to find some solution for it. So, we will continue to press [this issue], and I would very much hope that the Canadian system is fair in that regard.” (ANI)

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  • 27 opposition leaders attend ceremony

    27 opposition leaders attend ceremony

    The Congress said that 27 leaders from 17 opposition parties attended the swearing-in ceremony on Saturday. The event was also attended by Janata Dal-United leader Lalan Singh…reports Asian Lite News

    At least 27 leaders from 17 opposition parties on Saturday attended new Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s swearing-in ceremony in Bengaluru, which included some top names like Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar among others.

    On Saturday, besides Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Congress chief D.K. Shivakumar took oath as the only Deputy Chief Minister of the southern state along with eight cabinet ministers.

    Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi along with his sister and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also attended the programme. Kharge had invited 19 like-minded opposition parties for the swearing-in ceremony in Bengaluru.

    The Congress said that 27 leaders from 17 opposition parties attended the swearing-in ceremony on Saturday. The event was also attended by Janata Dal-United leader Lalan Singh.

    Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav was also in attendance at the oath ceremony. Besides Pawar, three leaders from the Nationalist Congress Party were also present.

    The programme was also attended by Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) faction leaders Priyanka Chaturvedi and Anil Desai, while Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary also present.

    From Jammu and Lashmir, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti along with National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah with two of his party leaders attended the programme in Bengaluru. Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM leader Hemant Soren, who is also an alliance partner with the Congress in the mineral-rich state, was in attendance.

    Veteran CPI leader. D Raja, CPI (ML) leader Dipankar Bhattacharya, and CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury also attended the programme. Southern superstar Kamal Hasan, who had earlier joined Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Delhi last year, attended the swearing-in ceremony here.

    West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee sent her party leader Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar for the path ceremony. IUML’s Abdul Samad Samdani, RSP’s NK Premchandran, VCK’s Thol Thirumalavan also attended the programme.

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  • India set to turn the tables on Oppn over price rise, inflation

    India set to turn the tables on Oppn over price rise, inflation

    Despite all the difficulties and global problems, the rate of inflation in India is around 7 per cent which is very low as compared to the global situation…reports Asian Lite News

    The opposition parties keep targeting the BJP government at the Centre for rising inflation in the country. Since July 18, when the Monsoon session of Parliament opened, the opposition has been incessantly creating a ruckus in both the houses of the Parliament demanding a discussion on the issue of GST on food items and inflation.

    Leaving aside the proceedings of July 28 and 29 (when there was an uproar in both houses over the statement of Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury), for eight consecutive days, there was a commotion in the Parliament over inflation and GST.

    The opposition parties may feel that they can expose the government by discussing inflation and GST imposed on food items, but instead of being defensive about the matter, the government is batting it aggressively. While the leaders of opposition parties are preparing to grill the government with their list of questions, BJP and and its ministers have geared up for the duel.

    A senior minister said that the opposition is extracting political mileage from the issues of inflation and GST. The opposition ministers of their respective state governments supported the proposal for GST in the GST Council meeting but outside, these political parties pretend to oppose. He said that if the issue is raised in the House, then the opposition will be exposed.

    The BJP has a long list of questions ready for discussion in the Parliament. The government will put forth the questions to the parties that are creating an uproar – primarily Congress, TMC, TRS, DMK, AAP and Left – about what their state governments have done so far to bring relief to people in the face of inflation. Why did their state governments not reduce VAT on petrol and diesel as on the lines of NDA governments? Regarding the political ruckus over GST imposed on food items, the government is ready to question the opposition about how the ministers of the state governments of Congress, TMC, TRS, DMK, AAP and Left allowed the GST Council to pass this resolution unanimously.

    “After all, what kind of politics is this that the same resolution which the ministers unanimously passed in the GST Council meeting are now opposing it vehemently and not allowing the proceedings of the house to continue,” the source said.

    It is learnt that citing the rate of inflation during UPA regiem, the government will also stand by the fact that despite the global crisis, due to the efforts of the Modi government, the inflation rate in India has remained between 4-6 per cent on an average. In contrast, the rate of inflation has increased from one-and-a-half per cent to 11 per cent in America and European countries. Despite all the difficulties and global problems, the rate of inflation in India is around 7 per cent which is very low as compared to the global situation.

    After two weeks of uproar in the Parliament, on Monday, the issue of inflation would be discussed in Lok Sabha under Rule-193. Notice has been given by Congress MP Manish Tewari and Shiv Sena MP Vinayak Raut to discuss the issue of inflation under Rule 193, which has been accepted.

    The opposition parties may want to corner the government on the pretext of this discussion, but the source is confident that BJP, which specialises in surprising the opposition parties, is now working on a strategy to expose the opposition by raising counter-questions on the same issue.

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  • Presidential poll unites most of opposition

    Presidential poll unites most of opposition

    Sinha, who has been critical of the Modi government, says that he will not be a mere rubber stamp President but will work to protect the Constitution…reports Asian Lite News

    The candidature of Yashwant Sinha for the Presidential poll has more or less united the opposition but the balance is tilting towards NDA candidate Draupadi Murmu after the recent political developments in Maharashtra.

    The strategy of the Sinha camp is to focus on personality rather than electoral arithmetic so he is invoking his long experience as an asset against the NDA nominee. Both have launched their campaign and are touring the states.

    Sinha said, “This will be my last electoral battle. I fought many electoral battles in my life and this is my last battle and I am very happy that I am signing off my electoral career by competing for the topmost constitutional post in the country.”

    Sinha was in Telangana on Saturday where the TRS has offered its support to him. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has invoked the personality factor and said, “We are lucky to have selected a good leader for the Presidential election. I appeal to all Parliamentarians to compare both the candidates and select Sinhaji as we need to bring in a change in Indian politics.”

    Sinha, who has been critical of the Modi government, says that he will not be a mere rubber stamp President but will work to protect the Constitution.

    But as of now the ruling party is comfortably placed with the Shiv Sena breakaway faction and support of the BJD and the YSRCP.

    The NDA Presidential poll nominee Draupadi Murmu is on the campaign trail too and is reaching out to parties headed by OBC leaders or tribals other than the NDA.

    All allies of the NDA, including JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar are unitedly supporting the BJP choice.

    Besides, leaders of two other political parties, the Biju Janata Dal and the YSRCP, (the ruling parties in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh respectively) signed on the nomination papers of Draupadi Murmu, further cementing her chance to win.

    BSP chief Mayawati has extended her support to Murmu, saying tribals form an integral part of the party’s movement.

    The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, which is in power in Jharkhand in alliance with the Congress, is also under pressure to support the NDA presidential candidate as Murmu had been the governor of the state.

    West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is said to be having second thoughts as she said that she could have considered supporting NDA’s Presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu had the BJP informed her about its choice in advance.

    “Draupadi Murmu has a better chance of winning. Had the BJP informed me in advance that it will field a tribal woman as its Presidential candidate, I could have thought otherwise and made attempts accordingly. For the larger national interest, the opposition parties could have discussed the issue then.”

    Murmu is likely to get more support from the opposition ranks keeping in view the changing political scenario and the upcoming assembly elections in the country. Some parties may be forced to support her due to political compulsions.

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  • PM tears into Opposition

    PM tears into Opposition

    The Prime Minister also drew attention towards “those people who bring religion, region and caste just when any action is taken against the corrupt, when the judiciary gives out a decision.”…reports Asian Lite News

    Hours after the results for the Assembly elections announced on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged concerns over dynastic politics and also slammed those who raise questions on India’s abilities and those who bring in religion and caste in every issue.

    The Prime Minister, while addressing the party cadre at the BJP headquarters here, came down heavily on people, who try to stop action against the corrupt.

    “There has been a conspiracy to stop action against corruption. Some people have the uncanny tendency of filing up their own treasure/chests. People of India are expecting from us (BJP) that our honest government will punish the corrupt. Should we not rise up to this expectation of the common people,” Prime Minister Modi asked to a loud cheering party workers, who were assembled to celebrate the party’s victory in four out of five Assembly elections.

    “If we take any actions against the corrupt, these people, their ecosystem raise doubts about the institutions that are investigating cases of corruption and find out ways and means to demean the institutions for investigations. They even raise questions on the judicial institutions,” he added.

    The Prime Minister also drew attention towards “those people who bring religion, region and caste just when any action is taken against the corrupt, when the judiciary gives out a decision.”

    “I want to appeal the honest people to think if such corrupt people, such mafia can be and should be outcasted from their society, their caste and thus, strengthen the society as a whole,” he said.

    Prime Minister Modi asserted that “one of the reasons of BJP’s massive win in Uttar Pradesh was a result of the development politics that has ensured corruption free reign.”

    Earlier, the Prime Minister said, at a time when the common man is engaged in constructive work, “there are some who are busy downgrading that positive work.”

    Without naming anyone, he said, “These people raised questions on our vaccination programme, largest in the world. Similarly, when there were hundreds of citizens stuck in Ukraine with their families anxiously waiting for their return, these very people tried to pin down the ‘Operation Ganga’ by colouring it with regionalism.”

    In an opaque reference to Congress’ leadership of Gandhi family, Prime Minister Modi reminded the party workers that he has often cautioned people about dynastic politics (parivarvaad). “I told the people how I am not against a particular family but it is the dynastic politics that have hindered the progress of our nation and people have reciprocated positively on the issue.”

    “People of India will ensure the end of dynastic politics one day. And the results today are an indication towards the same,” he asserted.

    Modi has altered culture of elections’

    Addressing the boisterous party worker after landslide victory in four of the five Assembly elections, BJP National President J.P. Nadda on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has altered the culture of elections in India.

    “PM Modi has changed the culture of politics. For decades, the politics was dominated by dynasts, by regionalism, sanskritikvaad (cultural dominance) etc., but today, it is the politics of development, of empowerment, empowerment of youth, women and farmers,” Nadda said while addressing the party workers.

    Referring to the coalition of parties against the BJP, Nadda said, “I have always maintained that the voter knows how to safeguard his interest even if different leaders or parties join hands. Elections are not mathematics or arithmetic but it is chemistry.”

    “And when I say chemistry, we should all remember that the poor people of India, those who have been exploited over the years, our mothers, our sisters, our youth, and our farmers. They all have a bond with Narendra Modi, just as a chemical bond. It is Modi’s chemistry that prompted him to empower the poor masses and benefit the masses with his chemistry of development.”

    He went on to list the multiple schemes that the Centre is running for “empowering the common masses” that then have resulted in votes at the time of elections.

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