Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Delhi CM slams CAA implementation, accuses BJP govt of neglecting Indian citizens

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Tehelka WebDesk
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New Delhi : Just two days after the notification of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday criticised implementation of the legislation, accusing the BJP-led Central government of prioritising the interests of foreigners over those of Indian citizens.

In a Press conference, Kejriwal questioned the rationale behind the CAA, which promises Indian citizenship to minorities from neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

He expressed concerns over the potential influx of minorities into India as a result of this policy.

“What is this CAA?” questioned Kejriwal, highlighting the BJP government’s stance on granting citizenship to minorities from specified countries.

He warned of the implications of this move, suggesting that it could lead to a significant increase in the population of minorities within India.

“It means that a large number of minorities will be brought to our country, ” said Kejriwal, indicating potential challenges in terms of employment and housing for both the newcomers and existing Indian citizens.

Kejriwal went on to criticise the BJP’s failure to address unemployment and homelessness among Indian citizens while allegedly prioritising the interests of foreigners, particularly from Pakistan.

“BJP struggles to create employment opportunities for Indian youth, it seems eager to offer jobs to young individuals from Pakistan, ” remarked Kejriwal, expressing concern over the apparent disparity in the government’s approach towards its citizens and foreign nationals.

He also accused the BJP of attempting to settle individuals from Pakistan in India at the expense of native citizens’ rights and opportunities.

Kejriwal concluded by expressing apprehension over the allocation of government funds, suggesting that resources intended for the development of Indian families and the nation would instead be utilised for accommodating Pakistani nationals.

Mamata Banerjee cancels anti-CAA rally in Siliguri

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Tehelka WebDesk
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Kolkata : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to return to Kolkata and cancel the proposed anti-CAA rally in Siliguri.

Besides attending an administrative review meeting, the Chief Minister was also supposed to lead a mega rally at Siliguri on Wednesday to protest against the Central government’s decision to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

However, on Wednesday it was announced that the Chief Minister will only attend the administrative programs and then return to Kolkata without participating in the anti-CAA rally. The rally was called off.

The anti-CAA rally at Siliguri was crucial considering the pathetic results of the Trinamool Congress in north Bengal in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Out of the eight Lok Sabha polls in North Bengal, the BJP candidates won in seven constituencies while Congress won in one constituency. Trinamool Congress ended with a zero.

Hearing in 2018 defamation case against Rahul Gandhi postponed due to lawyers’ strike

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Tehelka WebDesk
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New Delhi : The hearing in a 2018 defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in which he was accused of making objectionable remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah who was then the BJP president, was postponed on Wednesday, due to a strike by the lawyers in an MP-MLA court here.

The case was scheduled to be heard on Wednesday but due to the lawyers’ strike, the court deferred it to March 22, the counsel for the complainant, Santosh Pandey, said.

A complaint was filed in the MP-MLA court by BJP leader Vijay Mishra in August 2018 against Rahul Gandhi, alleging he made defamatory remarks against HM Shah.

The Congress MP had appeared in the Special MP-MLA court on February 20, and was granted bail.

In the next hearing on March 2, his lawyer Kashi Prasad Shukla sought more time, saying that Rahul Gandhi was busy in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

According to the complainant, Rahul Gandhi had made the alleged remarks at a press conference in Bengaluru in May 2018.

Home Minister Amit Shah was then BJP President when Rahul Gandhi made the remarks.

Vijay Mishra, the complainant, hails from Hanumanganj of Kotwali Dehat Police Station in Sultanpur.

Advocate Santosh Pandey had filed a complaint on behalf of Mishra and the court issued a warrant on December 16, 2023.

CEC Rajiv Kumar visits Jammu & Kashmir to assess preparations for Lok Sabha polls

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Tehelka WebDesk
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Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar arrived is in Jammu and Kashmir for a three-day visit to assess the preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, expected to be held in April-May. 

The Election Commission team, comprising Kumar and nine other officials, arrived in Srinagar on Monday. While no formal engagements were scheduled for the day, detailed meetings with civil administration and police officials are set to take place on Tuesday as part of the review process.

During their visit, the Election Commission officials are also slated to meet with representatives of political parties. Similar interactions are scheduled for Jammu on Wednesday, with a potential engagement with the media.

There has been a rising demand from political circles in Jammu and Kashmir for the Election Commission to conduct Assembly polls simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections or immediately thereafter. Former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and Ghulam Nabi Azad have vociferously advocated for this in the past two weeks.

In preparation for the polls, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo convened a meeting with civil and police administration on Saturday to apprise them of the necessary measures for the smooth conduct of the Lok Sabha elections in the Union Territory. 

Dulloo emphasized the administration’s commitment to ensuring free and fair elections with substantial public participation. He urged the divisional and district administration to undertake all essential measures to prevent any impediments for the citizens in exercising their democratic rights.

Manohar Lal Khattar resigns as Haryana Chief Minister

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Tehelka WebDesk
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Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar resigned on Tuesday along with his Cabinet after differences with ally Dushyant Chautala’s Jannayak Janta Party (JJP). Question arises why are JJP and BJP splitted ? The alliance between the BJP and the JJP has been at a breaking point after differences over seat-sharing in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024. The BJP had won all 10 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 elections and the JJP had won none. Manohar Lal Khattar has resigned along with his Cabinet after differences with the alliance party led by Dushyant Chautala’s JJP.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and his Cabinet ministers resigned after meeting Governor Bandaru Dattareya hours after the speculation of a split in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s alliance with JJP. The cabinet comprised 14 ministers, including Manohar Lal Khattar and three members of the Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala-led JJP. All have resigned. The resignations of former Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar and his cabinet ministers in Haryana have come at this crucial stage headed for a split ahead of the approaching Lok Sabha elections 2024 and question again arises does it affect the BJP’s prospects in the coming polls?  

To understand this, let us go back to the 2019 Vidhan Sabha elections. To have a majority after the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJP had an alliance with Dushyant Chautala,s JJP after 2019 elections when it fell short of five seats. The BJP had won 41 seats, five short of reaching the majority mark in the 90-member Assembly, while Dushyant Chautala’s JJP bagged 10 seats. Post the elections, the BJP also enjoyed support from seven independent MLAs, who pledged their support to the BJP and Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) MLA of Gopal Kanda. Despite the JJP’s exit from the Haryana alliance government following Manohar Lal Khattar’s resignation as the chief minister, it still maintains its position above the majority mark with the backing of independent as well as HLP MLAs.

It was highly likely that Manohar Lal Khattar will again take oath as the Haryana chief minister again, bus scenario changed to form the government in the evening when the name  of recently appointed BJP chief in the state Nayab Singh Saini was proposed and BJP high command declared his name as the chief minister of the state with the backing of the Independent MLAs, heerhaps assured to be accommodated in the Cabinet. There is also speculation that five JJP MLAs may crossover to the BJP, strengthening the  party. The five names doing rounds include: Jogi Ram Sihag, Ram Kumar Gautam, Ishwar Singh, Ramniwas and Devinder Babli. No body, ever had thought such a sudden change in government in the state all of sudden, but everything is possible in politics, rightly said

Pakistani Hindu refugees in Delhi celebrate notification of CAA rules

By
Tehelka WebDesk
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New Delhi : Holi came early for Pakistani Hindu refugees living in a cramped settlement near Majnu Ka Tila in Delhi, as the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) rules were notified on Monday. Since Tuesday morning, the people living in the refugee camp were seen distributing sweets and playing with colours.

Dharamveer Solanki, regarded as a leader by the Pakistani Hindu community in Delhi, shared his elation with IANS, and said that the refugees would now obtain Indian citizenship after waiting for over a decade.

Expressing immense happiness, Solanki told to media, “I am glad I decided to return to my homeland in 2013. We have been waiting for this for over a decade now. We are extremely happy that we will be finally called Indian citizens.”

Among the jubilant refugees numbering over 500, is Kamal, who has been living in a slum without legal recognition for decades.

“This moment is like a second birth, not only for me and my family but for my entire community and for those who were living here without any authority for decades, ” said Kamal.

Another refugee, Brij Lal, likened the occasion to Holi and Diwali, two of the most celebrated festivals in Hindu culture.

Lal attributed this milestone to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, describing him as no less than an “avatar (incarnation)” for their community.

The implementation of the CAA has been a subject of heated debate since its inception. However, for refugees like Solanki, Kamal, and Lal, it represents a long-awaited opportunity for a better life in their adopted homeland.

The Union Home Ministry on Monday notified the rules for the CAA, paving the way for granting of citizenship to non-Muslims — mainly Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and Parsis — facing persecution in neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, who had migrated to India before December 31, 2014.

“Immigrants qualifying for citizenship under CAA will have to submit applications in an online mode, for which a web portal has been created, ” an MHA spokesperson said.

The CAA was an integral part of the BJP’s 2019 Lok Sabha poll manifesto and was enacted by the Parliament in December 2019 amid large-scale demonstrations from the Muslim community, backed by Opposition parties.

Monday’s announcement came on the back of Union Home Minister, Amit Shah’s assertions that the CAA would be implemented before the Lok Sabha elections, slated for April/May.

Plea in Supreme Court seeks to restrain Centre from appointing Election Commissioner

By
Tehelka WebDesk
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New Delhi : A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court to retrain the Union government to not fill the recently arisen vacancy in the Election Commission in accordance with the legislation which excludes the Chief Justice of India from the process of appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other Election Commissioners (ECs).

It may be recalled that Election Commissioner Arun Goel resigned from his post on March 9.

The application seeks directions to immediately appoint the member of the poll body as per the March 2023 Constitution Bench judgment of the apex court requiring the appointment of top officials of Election Commission to be done by President on the advice of a panel comprising Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Chief Justice of India.

An application seeking above directions has been filed by Congress leader Jaya Thakur in her PIL challenging the validity of the Chief Election Commissioner and the other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Condition of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.

Several PILs were filed before the Supreme Court against the gazette notification issued by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice providing that the CEC and the ECs will be appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.

A bench presided over by Justice Sanjiv Khanna in January this year had issued notice to the Union government and others in the matter but did not pass any interim order staying the implementation of the recent legislation by Parliament.

“There will not be a stay. We cannot stay a statute like this, ” had said the Bench, also comprising Justice Dipankar Datta.

PM Modi inaugurates 15 airport projects worth Rs 9,800 cr

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Tehelka WebDesk
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*Emphasises on infrastructural growth

New Delhi- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for a series of ambitious airport projects across India, with a combined value exceeding Rs 9, 800 crore.

In a landmark event, the Prime Minister marked the inauguration of 12 new Terminal Buildings in key locations including Pune, Kolhapur, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Delhi, Lucknow, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Moradabad, Shravasti, and Adampur Airports.

Additionally, he laid the foundation stone for three new Terminal Buildings at Kadapa, Hubballi, and Belagavi Airports.

Highlighting the remarkable pace of development, PM Modi underscored that the Gwalior terminal was completed in just 16 months, showcasing the government’s commitment to efficient project execution.

“This initiative will make air travel easier and accessible for the common citizens of the country, ” he asserted, countering allegations of electioneering tactics.

Addressing concerns about project completion, the Prime Minister said: “The record of the government in completing announced projects on time repudiates the allegation of these projects being election gimmicks.”

He reiterated his dedication to creating a developed India, saying: “People are seeing that Modi is made of different material. I am working relentlessly to create a Viksit Bharat.”

PM Modi underscored the holistic approach to infrastructure development, noting that alongside airport projects, investments were also being made in highways, railways, education, water, and the environment.

The inauguration of these projects is expected to significantly boost the civil aviation sector. The 12 new Terminal Buildings will collectively have the capacity to serve 620 lakh passengers annually, while the three terminals under construction will add capacity for an additional 95 lakh passengers per annum upon completion.

These modern Terminal Buildings boast state-of-the-art passenger amenities and incorporate sustainability features such as double-insulated roofing systems, energy-saving canopies, and LED lighting.

Moreover, the designs draw inspiration from local heritage structures, reflecting the unique culture and heritage of each region.

ECI visiting J&K on Tuesday.  the likely announcement of LS poll date by March 15

By
Tehelka WebDesk
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The Election Commission of India is likely to announce the dates for the parliamentary elections around March 14-15, soon after visiting Jammu and Kashmir.

During the visit, ECI officials are scheduled to meet various stakeholders, including political party representatives, and engage with civil and police administration officials in both divisions of Jammu and Kashmir. Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo recently held a meeting to discuss measures for the smooth conduct of the Lok Sabha polls, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to ensuring free and fair elections with broad public participation.

The meeting addressed department-wise issues and compliance with ECI directions, with a focus on implementing necessary measures. Chief Electoral Officer PK Pole outlined upcoming electoral literacy campaigns in educational institutions and the designation of campus ambassadors, emphasizing facilities at polling stations in line with ECI guidelines.

Connectivity issues, approach roads, and logistics for transporting electoral machinery and staff were also discussed. 

Supreme Court has already directed the central government to hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30, 2024, and restore statehood promptly.

Congress to contest on 9 Lok Sabha seat-sharing alliance with the DMK in Tamil Nadu

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Tehelka WebDesk
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Chennai-The Congress on Saturday finalised its seat-sharing alliance with the DMK in Tamil Nadu, with the former contesting on nine seats from the state and one lone seat from the Union Terrritory of Puducherry.

However, the seats which the Congress would contest are still not finalised. The possibility of the party being allocated three new seats is high.

Other than the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President Selvaperunthagai, AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal and senior Congress leader Mukul Wasnik were present during the discusions held at DMK headquarters, Anna Arivalayam. DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin was also present in the meeting.

Venugopal while speaking to mediapersons said, “The INDIA bloc alliance will win all the seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.”

“Tamil Nadu will set the agenda and model for the country and divisive forces will fail here, ” he added.

The DMK has already formed its coalition allocating two seats each to the CPI-M, CPI and VCK as well as one seat each to Indian Union Muslim League and the Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi (KMDK).

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