India

It is wrong to say that nothing happened in India before 2014: Economist Jean Dreze

Saturday, April 20, 2024

Famous economist and social activist Jean Dreze believes that the current form of India's economy is going to put India in a worse condition in the coming five years.

Jean Dreze said that this will increase social inequality on a large scale. This will trouble the common citizen of India. Because, there has been no increase in the real wages of the people in the last 10 years during the tenure of the current Narendra Modi government of India.

Jean Dreze said that the government's figures are exposing the shortcomings of the economy. We need to worry about this.

Jean Dreze and Ritika Kheda, Professor of Economics at IIT Delhi, gave facts related to the economy along with figures in a press conference held at Ranchi Press Club.

This conference was organized by Save Democracy Morcha. During this, the growth in India's economy and social condition since 1951 after India's independence and the development during the tenure of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government till 2014 were also compared.

Where did India stand before Modi government?

Jean Dreze said, "It is wrong to say that nothing happened in India before the year 2014. The per capita income (constant price) of the people of India was only 100 in 1951, which increased to 511 in the year 2011. Life Expectancy It was only 32 years in 1951, which had increased to 66 years by 2011."

"In the same period, the literacy rate of women increased from 9 percent to 65 percent and that of men increased from 27 percent to 82 percent. The infant mortality rate was controlled drastically. In 1951, there were 180 deaths out of every 1000 newborns. That number came down to 44 in the year 2011. This is the achievement before the Modi government."

Economy went down under Modi government: Jean Dreze

Jean Dreze said, "Gross national income (constant price) was 6.8 percent in the UPA government, which came down to 5.5 percent in the current Modi government of BJP. Real consumption came down from 5 percent to 3 percent. The annual growth rate of agricultural laborers was 6.8 percent between 2004-05 and 2014-15. It decreased to minus 1.3 percent during the year 2014-15 to 2021-22."

Census not conducted, benefits not received

Jean Dreze and Ritika Kheda said that the Government of India did not conduct the census in the year 2021. This was the first time after independence, when the census was not conducted. Due to this, 44 lakh eligible people in the Indian state of Jharkhand alone are deprived of the facilities of the public distribution system. The number of such deprived people across India is more than 100 million.

Names of schemes changed, it caused many problems: Ritika Kheda

Economist Ritika Kheda said, "The names of many old schemes were changed in the Modi government. He not only changed the names of the schemes running from the time of the UPA government, but also re-branded the schemes of his government. For example, the name of the wellness center running under the Ayushman scheme has now been changed to Ayushman Arogya Mandir. When the Kerala government appealed to keep its old name for Malayali speaking people, the government did not agree to it. Due to this, the people of Kerala are not getting its benefits."

Where is the economy?

Ritika Khera said, "Leaders in the Indian government proudly say that India has come third in the world in terms of GDP, but in terms of per capita income, India's rank is at number 120 among 170 countries of the world. What kind of growth is this? Questions should be raised on this."

PM Modi's statement on Kachchathivu Island: Congress raised many questions on the stance of External Affairs Minister Jaishankar

Monday, April 1, 2024

A round of allegations and counter-allegations has started after the response to an RTI application filed on the Indian Government's decision to hand over Kachchathivu island to Sri Lanka in 1974.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday, March 31, 2024, raised the issue of this island going to Sri Lanka and held the then Congress government responsible.

After this, on Monday, April 1, 2024, two senior Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and P Chidambaram raised questions on the intentions of the Modi government.

These leaders referred to the response to another RTI application filed in this regard in 2015, during the first term of the Modi government.

Jairam Ramesh surrounded Jaishankar

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh cornered S Jaishankar, who was the Foreign Secretary of India and now the External Affairs Minister of India, in 2015.

Jairam Ramesh wrote on social media site X, "Is the current External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, denying the response of the Ministry of External Affairs on January 27, 2015, when he was the Foreign Secretary?"

Jairam Ramesh said, "In 2015, in response to an RTI query on Kachchhativu, the Ministry of External Affairs had said that this (agreement) did not involve the acquisition or relinquishment of territory belonging to India, because the territory in question was "It was never demarcated. Under the agreement, Kachchathivu Island lies on the Sri Lankan side of the International Maritime Boundary Line between India and Sri Lanka. It is easiest to find a scapegoat in a political campaign. Who would that be?"

Chidambaram also raised questions

India's former Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has also raised questions on India's Foreign Minister Jaishankar by taking the help of the same RTI reply of 2015.

P Chidambaram wrote in his tweet, "In that reply, while mentioning the situation, India accepted that a small island belongs to Sri Lanka. Why are the External Affairs Minister (Jaishankar) and his ministry doing acrobatics now? How quickly people change their colors. From a mild-mannered IFS officer to a shrewd Foreign Secretary and then to becoming an RSS-BJP mouthpiece, Jaishankar's life will be recorded in the history of acrobatics."

What did External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar say in the Kachchathivu case?

Monday, April 1, 2024

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday, April 1, 2024 targeted Congress and DMK over the Kachchathivu issue.

S Jaishankar said that both the parties are talking on this issue as if they have no responsibility. He said that people have the right to know how Kachchathivu island was given to another country.

In a press conference on this issue, Jaishankar said, "This is not an issue which has suddenly arisen today. This is an issue which has been continuously raised in Parliament and Tamil Nadu, it was debated. My records show that I have responded to this issue 21 times."

S Jaishankar said the public has the right to know that Kachchatheevu island was given to Sri Lanka and how the fishing rights of Indian fishermen were also given to it in 1976, despite a guarantee in Parliament that the 1974 agreement the rights of Indian fishermen have been protected.

S Jaishankar said that India should work with Sri Lankan authorities to find a solution to this.

S Jaishankar said, "In the last 20 years, 6184 Indian fishermen were caught by Sri Lanka." 1175 Indian fishing boats were seized. This is the background we want to tell.”

Supreme Court's strict comment on ED - No person can be kept in jail by filing supplementary charge sheet without hearing

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

The Supreme Court in India has come down hard on the Enforcement Directorate for filing a supplementary chargesheet and dragging on the investigation while hearing a case on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.

The bench of Justices Sanjeev Khanna and Dipankar Dutta was hearing the bail plea of Prem Prakash. Prem Prakash was allegedly a close associate of former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren in a money laundering case.

Prem Prakash is in custody since August 2022. At that time weapons were recovered from his residence in Ranchi. A case was registered against him under the Arms Act and Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Four supplementary charge sheets have been filed so far in this case.

Justice Khanna said, “We want to remind you (ED) that under the law you cannot arrest a person before the completion of the investigation. A person cannot be kept in custody before the trial begins.''

Justice Khanna said that the provision of default bail was made to ensure that if the police do not file the charge sheet within the stipulated time, the accused can be released from jail. However, the investigation is still ongoing after a supplementary charge sheet has been filed in this case.

Justice Khanna said, "You cannot keep a person in jail without filing the supplementary charge sheet without trial."

Justice Khanna said that despite the stringent provisions under PMLA, the court can grant bail to the accused if there is inordinate or inordinate delay in the trial.

The next hearing in this case will be on 29 April 2024.

Central Government of India issued notification for formation of Fact Checking Unit

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

The Central Government of India has issued a notification for the formation of a Fact Check Unit to monitor content on social media.

This fact checking unit has been formed under the recently amended IT rules.

According to the notification, "In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (b) of sub-rule (1) of rule 3 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, any Also notifies the Fact Check Unit under the Press Information Bureau of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as the Fact Check Unit of the Central Government in relation to the business."

On March 13, 2024, the Bombay High Court had rejected the petition seeking a stay on the formation of this fact checking unit.

This fact checking unit was included in the law in 2023. The government says its aim is to curb misinformation, but efforts to include a fact-checking unit in the law have been surrounded by controversies.

Many journalists and experts have feared that this is an attempt to suppress freedom of expression and independent media reporting critical of the government.

However, the petition related to the constitutionality of the fact checking unit is still pending in the Bombay High Court.

Effigies of Prime Minister, Home Minister burnt in anti-CAA protest in Assam, hundreds of protesters detained in police custody

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Protests have begun across the Indian state of Assam on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, against the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in India.

During this, workers of Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad in Dibrugarh burnt the effigies of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad burnt copies of the CAA law and raised slogans against the government.

About 30 tribal organizations including All Assam Students Union (AASU), Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti have announced continuous protests against CAA in different parts of Assam.

Amidst the movement against CAA in Assam, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, "An agitation is done before the law is made and if now the law is to be opposed then one should go to the court. When people If we apply for citizenship on the portal, we will know within 45 days how many people have applied. If there are lakhs of people who have applied, then I myself will oppose it."

Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "If a person who has not applied for National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state (Assam) gets citizenship under CAA, he will be the first person to resign."

The lawyers' fraternity in Jorhat district protested against the Central Government's decision to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.

A group of lawyers from Jorhat district of Assam marched on the streets to express their protest. The placards held by these lawyers had slogans like “We do not want CAA” and “We oppose CAA” written on them.

Meanwhile, the leaders of All Assam Students Union have applied to the Supreme Court against CAA on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. The police administration had set up barricades at many places to stop the agitators who took to the streets against the CAA since the morning of Tuesday, March 12, 2024.

In Sivasagar district of Assam, members of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti burnt a copy of CAA and raised slogans against the government. After this the local police took all the workers into custody.

In many districts of Upper Assam, the police have detained many protesters who took to the streets to protest. A police official said that to maintain law and order, soldiers have been deployed in the city and surrounding areas and temporary jails have been set up in local police stations.

Assam's main opposition party Congress also staged a protest in front of Rajiv Bhawan in Guwahati on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. During this, Congress leaders burnt copies of CAA and raised slogans against the BJP government. District units of the Congress party also protested in parts of Assam.

CAA law has nothing to do with Muslims: All India Muslim Jamaat President

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

All India Muslim Jamaat President Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi has welcomed the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act in India.

Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi told news agency ANI, "I welcome the implementation of this law. It should have been implemented long ago, better late than never."

Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi said that there are many misunderstandings among Muslims regarding this law, which should be removed.

Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi said, "This law has nothing to do with Muslims. The CAA law only affects non-Muslims who have come to India from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan and have been living here for years, who have not got citizenship. There was no law to give them citizenship. Therefore, the Government of India made such a law, under which till 2014, non-Muslims who came from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan are living here (India). Those with whom atrocities were committed in that country, The Government of India will give them citizenship here."

Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi said that crores of Muslims of India have nothing to do with this law, nor will any Muslim lose his citizenship through this law.

Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi says that some political people had created misunderstanding among Muslims. The dharnas and demonstrations held at various places were based on this misunderstanding. But now these misconceptions have been removed to a great extent. He said that he wants every Muslim of India to welcome this law.

The Central Government issued a notification regarding the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) late in the evening of Monday, March 11, 2024, after which it came into force in India.

Under this law, religious minorities who came to India from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh before December 31, 2014, can acquire Indian citizenship by showing documents of the nationality of their parents, grandparents or the generation beyond them.

Confusion is being spread on CAA, rights of Muslim and Hindu citizens are equal: Central Government

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

India's Union Home Ministry has said that some confusion is being spread regarding CAA. The Union Home Ministry says that CAA has nothing to do with the citizenship of Indian Muslims.

The Union Home Ministry has said, "An Indian Muslim citizen has the same rights as an Indian Hindu citizen."

The Union Home Ministry has said that Indian Muslims do not need to be worried about the CAA as there is no such provision in the CAA which will make any difference to their citizenship.

The Union Home Ministry has said, "There is no provision to send back even illegal immigrants under the CAA. It is being said that its provisions are against Indian Muslims. Any Indian citizen will not be required to produce any document to prove his citizenship. not have to.''

On Monday, March 11, 2024, the Central Government had issued a notification of the rules related to the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Giving this information, the spokesperson of the Union Home Ministry has said that to get citizenship, one will have to apply online. A web portal will be launched soon for this.

Giving information about this, India's Union Home Minister Amit Shah wrote on Twitter, "Modi government has issued the notification of Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, which will help the minorities who came to India due to religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. You will get citizenship here."

"Through this notification, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fulfilled another commitment. He has fulfilled the promise made by the makers of the Constitution to the Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians living in these countries."

What did Sharad Pawar say when the notification of Citizenship Amendment Act was issued?

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) President Sharad Pawar has described the issuance of the notification of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as an attack on parliamentary democracy in India.

In the year 2019, the Central Government's amended Citizenship Act i.e. CAA was passed in the Parliament. After four years, the Central Government has issued its notification.

Under this law, persecuted refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will be given citizenship. But there is a provision in this law not to give citizenship to Muslim refugees.

Talking to reporters, Sharad Pawar said, "The Election Commission of India is about to announce the Lok Sabha elections and such a decision a few days before it is an attack on parliamentary democracy. We condemn it."

When CAA was brought in 2019, protests were held in many parts of the country (India). Social workers, leaders and a section of the society said that this law 'blatantly discriminates against Muslims which is against the spirit of the Constitution'.

NCP has said in its statement that the decision to issue CAA notification is an attempt to divert people's attention from electoral bonds.

This decision has been taken on the same day when the Supreme Court has upheld its decision by rejecting the petition of State Bank of India on electoral bonds.

After the Supreme Court of India rejected SBI's petition on Monday, March 11, 2024, State Bank of India has given all the information related to the electoral bonds to the Central Election Commission of India at 5 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. The Election Commission has to release this information on its website by March 15, 2024.

Electoral bond is a way by which individuals and business houses donate money to political parties. Till now the rule was that the information of bond buyers would be kept confidential. On 15 February 2024, the Supreme Court declared electoral bonds unconstitutional.

Now SBI will have to make public the information about electoral bonds purchased from April 2019.

Protests by many organizations begin in Assam against the Citizenship Amendment Act

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

On Monday, March 11, 2024, the Central Government issued the notification of the Citizenship Amendment Act. This law, passed in the year 2019, has been notified just before the announcement of the Lok Sabha election dates.

After the release of the notification, protests against the CAA law have started in Assam.

Under the CAA law, persecuted refugees (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians) from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will be given citizenship. But there is a provision in this law not to give citizenship to Muslim refugees.

Social workers, leaders and a section of the society said that this law 'blatantly discriminates against Muslims which is against the spirit of the Constitution'.

The All Assam Students Union, or AASU, which launched a six-year agitation in 1979 demanding identification and deportation of illegal immigrants, said it would 'fight against this law inside and outside the court'.

AASU and 30 non-political tribal parties burnt copies of this law on Monday, March 11, 2024 and protests were held at many places in Assam.

United Opposition Forum, Assam (UofA), an organization of 16 parties, has also announced a statewide strike on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.

A senior police officer told news agency PTI that security has been beefed up in Assam after the notification was issued.

All police stations in Assam have been put on alert. Barricades have been installed on every main road of the cities.

Notification of Citizenship Amendment Act issued in India

Monday, March 11, 2024

The Central Government of India has issued a notification to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Giving this information, the spokesperson of the Home Ministry of India has said that to get citizenship, one will have to apply online. A web portal will be launched soon for this.

Giving information about this, India's Union Home Minister Amit Shah wrote on Twitter, "Modi government has issued the notification of Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, which will help the minorities who came to India due to religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. You will get citizenship here."

"Through this notification, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has fulfilled another commitment made by the makers of the Constitution to the Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians living in these countries."

Earlier, the spokesperson of the Home Ministry of India had written on Twitter, "Today the Home Ministry will issue a notification regarding the provisions of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019. With this, any person eligible under CAA-2019 can apply for Indian citizenship.''

After the notification was issued, India's Law Minister (Independent Charge) Arjun Ram Meghwal wrote on Twitter, "What was said was done... Modi government fulfilled its guarantee by issuing the notification of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)."
 
What is the Citizenship Amendment Act?

The Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 was passed in the Parliament of India on 11 December 2019.

Its objective is to give Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christian minorities who came to India due to religious persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Muslims have not been included in this.

Not including Muslims in this is a cause of controversy. The opposition says that this is a violation of Article 14 of the Constitution of India which gives the right to equality to all citizens. On one hand it is being said that this is an attempt to give citizenship to minorities who are victims of religious persecution. On the other hand, Muslims allege that through this, steps are being taken to render them homeless.

This law has been accused of violating secularism. According to the Indian Constitution, no one in the country can be discriminated against on the basis of religion. But there is no provision in this law to give citizenship to Muslims. For this reason, allegations of violation of secularism are being made.

There have been calls to launch massive agitation in Assam and several states of the North-East after the CAA rules were notified.

Dilip Kumar Sharma, BBC's associate correspondent in Guwahati, Assam, Indian state, has told that as soon as the CAA notification was issued on the evening of Monday, March 11, 2024. Activists of All Assam Students Union (AASU) expressed their protest by burning copies of the CAA law in each district.

Student organization All Assam Students Union (AASU) has given a call to start a movement across the state from Tuesday, March 12, 2024. Meanwhile, regional party Assam Jatiya Parishad has called on people to go on strike against this law on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.

Chief Minister of the Indian state of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee has said that if CAA is implemented in the country, she will oppose it.

Mamta Banerjee said that she will not remain silent if there is discrimination between groups in the country. Mamta said that CAA and NRC are sensitive issues for West Bengal and North East and she does not want unrest to spread in the country before the Lok Sabha elections.

In a surprise press conference called at the State Secretariat in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee said, ''There is speculation that a notification will be issued to implement CAA. But let me make it clear that any decision that discriminates between people will be opposed."

According to BBC associate correspondent Prabhakar Mani Tiwari, during the press conference, Mamata Banerjee said, "If you had the courage, you would have implemented CAA earlier, why on the occasion of elections? I will not let anyone lose their citizenship."

What did Owaisi say on the notification of implementation of CAA rules?

Monday, March 11, 2024

AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi has given his reaction after the notification of rules related to CAA law was issued in India.

Asaduddin Owaisi has written on X, "You understand the chronology." First the election season will come, then CAA rules will come. Our protest against CAA continues. This is a divisive law and is based on the ideas of Godse. Those ideas which want to make the Muslims of India second class citizens."

Asaduddin Owaisi has written, "Give political asylum to anyone who is being persecuted in the name of religion, but the basis of citizenship should not be religion or nationality."

"The government should explain why it postponed this rule for five years and why it is implementing it now. The purpose of CAA along with NPR-NRC is to target Muslims. It has no other purpose."

Owaisi has written that those who took to the streets against CAA, NPR and NRC now have no other option but to come out against it once again.

SBI will not get relief from Supreme Court on electoral bonds, will have to give information by tomorrow

Monday, March 11, 2024

The Supreme Court of India has rejected SBI's demand to extend the deadline for sharing information related to electoral bonds till June 30, 2024.

The Supreme Court has asked SBI to provide information related to electoral bonds by Tuesday, March 12, 2024.

Also, the Supreme Court has ordered the Central Election Commission to collect all the information and make it public on the official website of the Election Commission by 5 pm on March 15, 2024.

SBI had applied to the Supreme Court on March 5, 2024, that it should be given time till June 30, 2024, to make public the information related to electoral bonds.

On this, a five-member bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has given this decision on Monday, March 11, 2024.

The bench is headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. Along with him, the bench includes Justice Sanjeev Khanna, Justice BR Gavai, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra.

During the hearing held on February 15, 2024, the Supreme Court had declared electoral bonds unconstitutional and asked SBI to provide all the information related to it to the Election Commission by March 6, 2024.

Supreme Court rejected SBI's application on electoral bonds, what did Prashant Bhushan say?

Monday, March 11, 2024

After the rejection of SBI's demand to extend the deadline for sharing information related to electoral bonds till June 30, 2024, renowned lawyer Prashant Bhushan has welcomed this decision.

Prashant Bhushan said that like the earlier decision of the court on this matter, this is a good and solid decision.

Prashant Bhushan had filed a contempt of court case against SBI on behalf of Association for Democratic Reforms i.e. ADR.

Speaking to news agency PTI, Prashant Bhushan said, "The Supreme Court has taken a tough stance on the petition to extend the deadline for making public the information related to those who donate by purchasing electoral bonds and those who encash these bonds till June 30, 2024."

Prashant Bhushan said, "The court rejected SBI's petition and mentioned that the data the court had sought from them was already available with SBI."

What did Congress President Kharge say on SBI not getting more time from Supreme Court on electoral bonds?

Monday, March 11, 2024

The Congress Party has welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court not to give more time to SBI regarding electoral bonds.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has said that the Supreme Court's decision is a victory for transparency, accountability and level playing field in democracy.

SBI had filed an application asking the Supreme Court to extend the deadline for providing information related to electoral bonds to June 30, 2024.

On Monday, March 11, 2024, the Supreme Court rejected this application and ordered SBI to provide information by tomorrow i.e. Tuesday, March 12, 2024.

Also, the Supreme Court has said that this information should be uploaded on the Election Commission's website by 5 pm on March 15, 2024.

Mallikarjun Kharge said on this decision, "After SBI asked for four and a half months to publish electoral bonds, it became clear that the Modi government is making every possible effort to cover up its dark deeds. Today's decision of the Honorable Supreme Court. The country will soon know the list of those who donated to BJP through electoral bonds."

Mallikarjun Kharge said, "This is the first step in exposing the corruption, scams and transactions of the Modi government. Even now the country will not know for which contracts the selected capitalist fund-holders of BJP give donations to the Modi government. Honorable Supreme Court should give proper instructions for that. Media reports have revealed how BJP used to extort donations by conducting ED-CBI-IT raids. Supreme Court's decision is against transparency, accountability and equality in democracy. It is a victory of opportunity.”

What did Rahul Gandhi say when the Supreme Court rejected SBI's application regarding electoral bonds?

Monday, March 11, 2024

After the setback to SBI from the Supreme Court on the issue of electoral bonds, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that 'Narendra Modi's donation business is about to be exposed.'

Rahul wrote on Twitter, "The government that came to power with the promise of bringing back black money from Swiss banks in 100 days, stood before the Supreme Court to hide the data of its own bank."

Rahul Gandhi said, "Electoral bonds are going to prove to be the biggest scam in Indian history, which will expose the nexus of corrupt industrialists and the government and bring the real face of Narendra Modi in front of the country."

"The chronology is clear - donate money - take business, donate money - take protection. Shower of blessings on those who donate and hit the general public with taxes, this is BJP's Modi government."

On Monday, March 11, 2024, the Supreme Court rejected the petition filed by SBI seeking time till June 30, 2024 to provide information about electoral bonds.

The Supreme Court has asked SBI to provide this information by March 12, 2024.

Criticizing the abrogation of Article 370 is not a crime: Supreme Court

Friday, March 8, 2024

The Supreme Court of India, in an important decision on Thursday, March 7, 2024, said that criticizing the abrogation of Article 370 is not a crime.

The Supreme Court said this while quashing the case filed against Javed Ahmed Hazam, a professor from the Indian state of Maharashtra.

The Supreme Court also said that the police should be sensitive to India's democratic values and the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution.

What is the matter?

Professor Javed Ahmed Hazam, in his WhatsApp status, had criticized the abrogation of Article 370 and described August 5, 2019 as a 'black day' for Jammu and Kashmir.

Professor Javed Ahmed Hazam had written '5th August - Black Day Jammu and Kashmir' and '14th August - Independence Day Pakistan' on his WhatsApp status.

On this comment of Professor Javed Ahmed Hazam, the police had registered a case against Professor Javed Ahmed Hazam. Maharashtra Police had imposed Section 153-A of the Indian Penal Code on Professor Javed Ahmed Hazam.

The Supreme Court also said that if every criticism or protest against the government is considered a crime under Section 153-A, then democracy will not survive in the country (India).

A bench of Supreme Court Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said that declaring August 5, 2019 as 'Black Day' is an expression of protest and pain.

Earlier, the Bombay High Court had refused to quash the FIR against Professor Javed Ahmed Hazam and had said that the comments of Professor Javed Ahmed Hazam could promote animosity and ill will between different groups of the society.

India's Union Home Minister Amit Shah had announced the abrogation of Article 370 in the Parliament on August 5, 2019.

This decision of the Government of India was also challenged in the Supreme Court.

About three months ago, on December 11, 2023, the Constitution Bench of five judges of the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of the government that the removal of Article 370 was right.