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‘In Regular Touch With Dhaka, Monitoring Situation Of Minorities,’ Says External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar While Briefing Parliament On Situation In Bangladesh

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'In Regular Touch With Dhaka, Monitoring Situation Of Minorities,' Says External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar While Briefing Parliament On Situation In Bangladesh

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that Sheikh Hasina had at very short notice requested approval to come to India.

“We are monitoring the situation with regards to the minorities living in Bangladesh,” Jaishankar said speaking in Rajya Sabha today on the situation in the neighbouring country.

Jaishankar informed the Upper House of Parliament that Shiekh Hasina had arrived last evening in New Delhi and that India had received a request from Bangladesh for flight clearance.

Speaking in Rajya Sabha on the situation in Bangladesh, Jaishankar said “We are in close and continuous touch with the Indian community in Bangladesh through our diplomatic missions. There are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals there of which about 9000 are students. The bulk of the students returned in July…

Dr S Jaishankar On Ties Between India & Bangladesh

Jaishankar noted that ties between India and Bangladesh are exceptionally close.

“Since the election in January 2024, there has been considerable tensions, deep divides and growing polarization in Bangladesh politics and “this underlying foundation aggravated a student agitation that started in June this year.”

“There was growing violence including attacks on public buildings and violence continued in July. We counselled restraint and urged the situation be resolved by dialogue, Jaishankar said in his statement in Rajya Sabha.

Dr S Jaishankar On The Impact Of Violence

Jaishankar said that the growing violence included attacks on public buildings and infrastructure, as well as traffic and rail obstructions.

“Throughout this period, we repeatedly counselled restraint and urged that the situation be defused through dialogue. Similar urgings were made to various political forces with whom we were in touch,” Jaishankar said.

Despite the Supreme Court judgement on July 21, there was no let up in protests, the Union minister said.

“Various decisions and actions taken thereafter only exacerbated the situation. The agitation at this stage coalesced around a one-point agenda, that is that the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should step down,” Jaishankar said.

Dr S Jaishankar On The Political Crisis In Bangladesh

On August 4 the situation in the neighbouring country turned serious, Jaishankar informed the Rajya Sabha.

“Attacks on police, including police stations and government installations, intensified even as overall levels of violence greatly escalated. Properties of individuals associated with the regime were torched across the country. What was particularly worrying was that minorities, their businesses and temples also came under attack at multiple locations. The full extent of this is still not clear,” Jaishankar said.

“On August 5, demonstrators converged in Dhaka despite the curfew. Our understanding is that after a meeting with leaders of the security establishment, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina apparently made the decision to resign. At very short notice, she requested approval to come for the moment to India. We simultaneously received a request for flight clearance from Bangladesh authorities. She arrived yesterday evening in Delhi,” he said.

“We are also monitoring the situation with regard to the status of minorities. There are reports of initiatives by various groups and organisations to ensure their protection and well-being. Naturally, we will remain deeply concerned till law and order is restored,” the EAM said

“Our border guarding forces have been instructed to be exceptionally alert in video of this complex situation. In the last 24 hours, we have been in touch with authorities in Dhaka,” the foreign minister said.

Jaishankar said, “In the last 24 hours, we have also been in regular touch with the authorities in Dhaka. This is the situation as of now.”

The Union Minister said that he “seeks the understanding and support of the House in regard to sensitive issues regarding an important neighbour on which there has always been strong national consensus.”

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Karnataka BJP MLA Munirathna Booked For Alleged Harassment, Bribery & Casteist Abuse

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Bengaluru, September 14: Two FIRs have been registered against BJP MLA Munirathna for alleged harassment, threats and casteist abuse, police said on Saturday. The cases against the Rajarajeshwarinagar MLA were filed at Vyalikaval police station here on Friday, they said.

In the first FIR filed by BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) contractor, Cheluvaraju, he accused the MLA of demanding Rs 30 lakh as a bribe and threatening to terminate his contract if he did not pay the amount.

In his complaint, he alleged that initially, Munirathna had demanded Rs 20 lakh in 2021 from him over a solid waste disposal contract. However, despite making that payment for getting 10 auto trippers for a waste management contract, he was not sanctioned those vehicles by the civic body.

According to the FIR, Cheluvaraju was being repatedly harassed by the MLA who allegedly verbally abused him and also physically assaulted him. In the complaint, he further alleged that the MLA did not allow him to execute his work and had even slapped him in September 2023.

Along with the MLA, three others, including government officials, were also named in the FIR for allegedly threatening, abusing and harassing the contractor. He also alleged that because of the repeated harassment, he even thought of ending his life, it said. Cheluvaraju has also released an audio recording of a phone conversation between him and the accused MLA.

According to police, the second FIR has been filed against the MLA on the complaint of a BBMP corporator who alleged that the MLA hurled casteist abuse, insulted his caste and family. The MLA allegedly asked Chaluvaraju not to associate himself with the corporator because of his caste.

The FIR was registered under SC and the ST (prevention of atrocities) Act and other sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, police added.

A senior police officer said, “Based on the complaints received, we registered two separate cases against the MLA who has been accused of threats, harassment, bribery and casteist abuse. The matter is being investigated.”

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‘This Year’s Elections To J&K Assembly Are Going To Be Held Between 3 Dynasties & The Youth Of Jammu & Kashmir,’ Says PM Modi In Doda

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'This Year's Elections To J&K Assembly Are Going To Be Held Between 3 Dynasties & The Youth Of Jammu & Kashmir,' Says PM Modi In Doda

Doda: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be a fight between “three dynasties” and the youth of the union territory.

He named Congress, National Conference (NC), and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the three dynasties whose corrupt practices “hollowed out” and “destroyed” Jammu and Kashmir.

Statement Of PM Modi

“This year, the elections to Jammu Kashmir assembly are going to be held between the dynasties and the youth of Jammu and Kashmir,” PM Modi said in his first rally in the election-bound erstwhile State.

“These three families are responsible for the dire state that J-K was in for decades. They indulged in corruption and made you struggle for your basic needs. These families laid the foundation for terrorism and extremism in the valley. They provided a safe haven for the propagation of terrorism for personal gains,” the Prime Minister said.

“On one side, there are these three dynasties, and on the other, my sons and daughters of Jammu and Kashmir. These three dynasties are – the Congress, the National Conference, and the PDP. What these three dynasties have together done with you all is nothing less than a sin. These three families prepared the necessary ground for separatism and terrorism here. Who benefitted from it? The enemies of the nation. They were harbouring terrorism so that their shops of millions continue to prosper. They are responsible for ruining Jammu and Kashmir for decades,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi’s Pledge

The Prime Minister pledged that his government would make a prosperous Jammu and Kashmir, stating that it was “Modi Ki Guarantee.”

“I can see that our sisters and daughters have come here in big numbers to bless us. I am thankful to you all. I will repay this love and blessings of yours by working twice and thrice as hard for you and the country. Together we will build a safe and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir and this is Modi’s guarantee,” PM Modi said.

‘Assembly Elections Will Decide The Fate Of The Union Territory,’ Say PM Modi

The Prime Minister further stated that the assembly elections of Jammu and Kashmir would decide the fate of the Union Territory.

“This time the elections of Jammu and Kashmir is going to decide the fate of J-K. Since independence, our beloved J-K has been targeted by foreign powers. After this, ‘pariwarwad’ started hollowing this beautiful state. The political parties you trusted here did not care about your children. Those political parties only promoted their own children. The youth of J&K have been suffering with terrorism and the parties promoting ‘pariwarwad’ were having fun by misleading you. These people have never allowed new leaders to emerge anywhere in J-K. You also know that panchayat elections were not held here after 2000,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi On “Pariwarwad”

He further said that “‘Pariwarwad’ did not allow the youth to come forward and that is why, after coming to power in 2014, I have tried to bring forward the new leadership of the youth in Jammu and Kashmir.”

“In 2018, panchayat elections were held here. In 2019, BDC elections were held and in 2020, DDC elections were held for the first time. Why were these elections held? So that democracy reaches the grassroots level in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

PM Modi On Remarks Made By The Then Congress Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde

The Prime Minister referred to the remark by then Congress’ Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in which he said that he was scared to visit Lal Chowk

“There was a time when there used to be an undeclared curfew after evening. The situation was such that the Union Home Minister used to be scared to visit Lal Chowk,” he said.

PM Modi On Changing Situation In Jammu & Kashmir

PM Modi referred to the changing situation in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years and said that terrorism is at its last breath in Jammu and Kashmir and pointed to the changing scenario of stone pelting incidents and said that the time has arrived for the development of the region.

“Terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is now breathing its last. The changes seen here in the last 10 years are nothing short of a dream. The stones that were once picked up to be thrown at the police and army are now being used to build a new Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

PM Modi Desires For Every Child In Jammu & Kashmir To Have Access To A Good Education

The Prime Minister further said that he wants every child in Jammu and Kashmir to have access to a good education.

“Over the past few years, the BJP government has inaugurated various schools and colleges in J&K for the betterment of the youth. The long-standing demand for a medical college in Doda was also fulfilled recently by the BJP government,” he said.

He further said that the BJP’s resolution and support can bring peace, prosperity and security to Jammu and Kashmir.

“Make our candidates win with a huge mandate and ensure a brighter future for everyone in the valley. Any citizen of Jammu and Kashmir, regardless of his religion, region and cultural affiliation, is a priority for the BJP government. I guarantee to safeguard your rights. It’s only the BJP that can reinforce statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier, people cheered for PM Modi and gave him a rousing welcome upon his arrival in Doda amidst heightened security.

About Assembly Elections In Jammu & Kashmir

The elections in Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled for September 18, September 25, and October 1, with counting set for October 8. The Assembly elections are going to be held on 8 Assembly seats in three districts, Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban, in the first phase, voting for which will be held on 18 September.

Jammu and Kashmir will witness elections after a gap of ten years, as the last assembly election was held in 2014. Jammu and Kashmir has 90 Assembly constituencies, including 7 reserved for SCs and 9 reserved for STs.

According to the Election Commission of India, Jammu and Kashmir has 88.06 lakh eligible voters.

In the previous Assembly elections, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won 28 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 25, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) won 15, and the Congress won 12.

The PDP-BJP coalition government fell in June 2018 when the latter withdrew support to the then-Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti.

These upcoming elections will be the first in Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370.

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Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal To Visit Hanuman Temple At Connaught Place At 12 PM Today

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New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said that he will visit the Hanuman Temple in Connaught Place at noon today to offer thanks and seek blessings.

In a post on X, Kejriwal said, “Today at noon, I will go to Hanuman Temple at Connaught Place to thank God and seek his blessings.”

Supreme Court Of India Grants Bail To Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

Kejriwal’s visit to the temple comes after the Supreme Court granted him bail on Friday in the Delhi excise policy case. The Supreme Court granted bail but set certain limitations like barring him from entering the CM office and signing files.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s Lawyer Rishikesh Kumar Speaks On Bail Conditions

Kejriwal’s lawyer Rishikesh Kumar, while speaking to ANI, listed out the bail condition set by SC.

“Conditions given are the furnishing of a surety bond of Rs 10 lakh each has to be submitted. This is being done. The second condition imposed is that he will join the trial on each date unless an exemption is moved by him.”

He further added that some other conditions imposed by the court are similar to those when he was granted bail in ED arrest.

“Other conditions are similar to the conditions that have been imposed in the ED matter. That signing of the document and working as the CM is not allowed.”

Arvind Kejriwal will have to move an application if he wants to modify the conditions imposed by CM, “considering that SC may modify those conditions which have been imposed in ED matter,” Advocate Kumar said.

To summarise the conditions applied by SC, Delhi CM has to submit surety bond of Rs 10 Lakh. He cannot make any comments about the Delhi excise policy case. Kejriwal cannot enter the CM office and sign official documents unless absolutely necessary to obtain the Lieutenant Governor’s sanctions. He can’t enter the CM office or Delhi secretariat. CM will have to be present for trial unless exempted by the court.

Why Was Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Arrested?

Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21, 2024, in connection with a money laundering probe relating to alleged irregularities in the now-cancelled Delhi excise policy 2021-22. On June 26, 2024, Kejriwal was arrested by CBI while he was in custody of the Enforcement Directorate in the excise case.

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