Connect with us
Monday,25-August-2025
Breaking News

National News

TDP supports ONOE Bill, AIMIM calls it threat to regional parties

Published

on

New Delhi, Dec 17: The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Tuesday expressed its “unwavering support” for the NDA’s ‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOE Bill) in the Lok Sabha, while the AIMIM opposed the proposed legislation by calling it as a threat to regional parties.

Minister of State for Communications, Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, on behalf of the TDP, hailed the Bill and cited reduced expenditure and logistical efficiency as its biggest advantage.

“News reports estimate that the Election Commission of India has spent more than Rs 6,000 crore on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and Rs 10,000 crore in the 2024 polls,” he said.

A draft report of the Law Commission of 2018 and Niti Aayog report of 2017 suggest that if elections are held simultaneously, the cost would reduce by up to 40 per cent, he said, adding that if Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are held in one go, the voter turnout would also increase by up to 7 per cent.

Pemmasani also claimed that ‘ONOE’ would also result in savings for political parties which spend over Rs 1 lakh crore.

He said continuity in governance would also get a boost if simultaneous polls are held.

“In the last six months, three elections were held for the state. How can the machinery continue to operate if elections are held continuously,” he said.

The MoS also highlighted the ill-effects of continuous political messaging through modern media tools, even if elections are held in a different part of the country.

Taking part in the discussion, Asaduddin Owaisi of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) opposed the Bill and said the ONOE violates the right to democratic self-governance.

“If a legislative Assembly is dissolved and mid-term elections are held, then the tenure of that Assembly will not be for five years. This, in itself, is a violation of parliamentary democracy that envisages a tenure of five years for a legislature,” he said, calling the truncated tenure of an elected House a violation of the basic structure of the Constitution.

Hitting out at the proposal and calling it a provision to facilitate executive convenience, instead of Constitutional purpose, he said, “Parliament is not competent to make any law that violates any fundamental rights or the basic structure of the Constitution.”

Opposing the Bill, he said it will “finish off regional parties” and it has been brought in to only “massage the ego of the supreme leader”. Owaisi warned that the Bill is based on a principle of “maximising political gain and convenience” and it will indirectly introduce a “presidential form of democracy”.

National News

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Calls Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi A ‘Serial Liar’ While Rejecting Vote Theft Allegations

Published

on

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday dubbed Congress MP Rahul Gandhi as a “serial liar” while rejecting the latter’s allegations of “vote theft” against the BJP.

These “lies” of the opposition leaders are only meant to convince themselves, Fadnavis told reporters here

“I have said it earlier also that Rahul Gandhi is a serial liar. He has been spreading lies relentlessly. It pains me to see that even some leaders from Maharashtra have suddenly realised that Rahul Gandhi is speaking the truth,” he said.

Responding to Gandhi’s charge that votes were “stolen” by the BJP, CM Fadnavis said false information never has any foundation.

“A fort built on lies crashes. Unless they realise that to win the votes of people, one has to go to the people and earn their trust, their lies are only meant to convince themselves,” the senior BJP leader said.

Gandhi has alleged that votes were stolen in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Haryana, and that attempts were being made to “steal” votes of the people in Bihar, ahead of the upcoming assembly polls there, by the ruling BJP at the Centre in collusion with the Election Commission.

Some of the other opposition parties, including the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), have also raised the issue of “vote theft” and asked their party workers to check the electoral rolls to assess bogus voters.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has also said he had been talking about “vote theft” since 2016, and the Election Commission should have conducted a probe when both Rahul Gandhi and BJP leader Anurag Thakur alleged voter list fraud.

CM Fadnavis on Sunday said leaders alleging vote theft were doing so to provide solace to their workers for their defeat in polls instead of introspecting about their loss.

Continue Reading

Crime

CBI dismantles transnational cybercrime network targeting US nationals, three arrested

Published

on

New Delhi, Aug 25: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), under its ongoing Operation Chakra-IV, has dismantled a sophisticated cybercrime network that defrauded US nationals of nearly $40 million and arrested three key accused, an agency statement said.

The action was carried out in close coordination with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The arrested have been identified as Jigar Ahmed, Yash Khurana, and Inder Jeet Singh Bali.

According to the CBI, between 2023 and 2025, the accused gained unauthorised remote access to victims’ systems and bank accounts by posing as tech support providers.

They convinced US-based victims that their accounts were compromised and manipulated them into transferring money to cryptocurrency wallets controlled by the gang, the statement said.

The CBI registered the case on August 18 and launched extensive searches across Amritsar and Delhi. A major breakthrough came when investigators raided an illegal call centre — Digikaps The Future of Digital — being run at Global Tower, opposite Khalsa College for Women, Amritsar. At the site, 34 people were caught red-handed while engaged in cyber fraud activities.

The searches led to the seizure of 85 hard disks, 16 laptops, 44 mobile phones, incriminating digital evidence, and Rs 54 lakh in cash. Documents and additional electronic devices linked to the fraud were also recovered.

CBI investigations revealed that the accused had been funnelling proceeds of crime through cryptocurrency transactions.

Further operations are underway to trace the money trail and identify other members of the transnational cyber-enabled financial crime network, the agency said.

The probe is also pursuing international leads in coordination with Interpol and other foreign law enforcement agencies, the statement added.

The CBI noted that Operation Chakra-IV has significantly disrupted and dismantled this organised cybercrime syndicate.

Investigation into the broader network and on international leads is ongoing.

Continue Reading

National News

Ameet Satam Appointed As Mumbai BJP President Ahead Of BMC Polls; CM Devendra Fadnavis, Ashish Shelar Extend Wishes

Published

on

Mumbai: In a key organisational reshuffle ahead of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday announced the appointment of senior party legislator Ameet Satam as the new president of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Mumbai unit. The decision comes just days after the civic body submitted its ward formation proposal to the Urban Development Department, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle for control of Asia’s richest municipal corporation.

Who Is Ameet Satam?

Ameet Satam, 49, represents the Andheri West constituency and has been elected as MLA for three consecutive terms. Known for his aggressive stand on civic issues and his sharp criticism of the BMC’s functioning, Satam has emerged as one of the party’s prominent Mumbai voices. Before being elected to the Assembly, he had also served as a municipal corporator and has long been active in city politics. His persistent efforts led to the successful completion of Gokhale bridge reconstruction in Andheri.

BJP leader Ashish Shelar, who previously helmed the Mumbai unit, extended his congratulations on social media. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Shelar described Satam as a dedicated karyakarta connected to both Konkan roots and Mumbai’s pulse, adding that his appointment reflected the party’s recognition of his long-standing service.

Shelar also expressed gratitude to party leaders, colleagues, and Mumbaikars for supporting him during his nine-year tenure in various organisational responsibilities, noting that the period gave him energy to fight, a new identity, and direction in life.

CM Fadnavis Lauds Ashish Shelar, Extends Best Wishes To Ameet Satam

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis praised Shelar’s leadership, crediting him for strengthening the party in Mumbai during the 2017 BMC elections and subsequent political battles. “Ashish Shelar handled the Mumbai division responsibly, achieving significant success for the party. Under his leadership, BJP proved itself as the number one party in the city,” Fadnavis said.

Speaking about the new appointment, Fadnavis described Satam as a studious, aggressive and imaginative leader with deep knowledge of Mumbai’s politics. “He has been elected three times as MLA, has served as corporator, and has held organisational responsibilities with dedication. We are confident that under his leadership, BJP will continue to maintain momentum in Mumbai. With the support of senior leaders, he will lead the party to ensure the return of Mahayuti’s power in the city,” the Chief Minister added, extending his best wishes.

Continue Reading

Trending