NATIONAL NEWS
Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Weapon seized from Union Minister Ajay Mishra’s son was fired, confirms FSL report
A forensic report has confirmed that weapons recovered from Union Minister Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra and others after the Lakhimpur violence had been fired. Protesting farmers had alleged that Ashish Mishra had opened fire. Though the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report confirmed that the weapons had been discharged, it does not specify whether they were fired on the day of the violence or some other day. Four weapons, including a rifle belonging to Ashish Mishra alias Monu Mishra, had been seized following the Lakhimpur violence. A pistol owned by Ankit Das, nephew of former Union Minister Akhilesh Das, and a repeater gun, which was with Das’ bodyguard Lateef Kale, were also among them. The special investigation team (SIT) probing the case is yet to issue an official statement on the FSL report. After the arrest of Ashish Mishra, Das and Kale, the SIT had recovered their licensed weapons – a rifle, pistol, revolver and a repeater gun – and sent them for forensic examination on October 15. According to the First Information Report (FIR) registered by the police on a complaint of Jagjit Singh, a native of Bahraich district, the entire episode was premeditated for which the conspiracy was hatched by the Minister and his son. Ashish Mishra and 15-20 unnamed men were mentioned as accused and charged with murder, criminal conspiracy, rash driving and rioting among others. Of them, police have so far arrested 13. Minister Ajay Mishra had refuted the allegations that his son was involved in the episode that took place near his native Banbirpur village in the Tikonia area of the district. The FIR has been lodged under Indian Penal Code Sections 147, 148, 149 (all three related to rioting), 279 (rash driving), 338 (causes grievous hurt to any person by doing any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life), 304A (causing death by negligence), 302 (murder) and 120B (party to a criminal conspiracy).
Centre to restore MPLAD scheme
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved restoration and continuation of the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), which was suspended in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the Cabinet presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said the scheme has been restored for the remaining part of financial year 2021-22. The scheme will continue till 2025-26. Funds will be released at the rate of ₹2 crore per MP for the remaining period of 2021-22 in one instalment, he said. From 2022-23 to 2025-26, funds will be released under the scheme at the rate of ₹5 crore per annum to each of the MPs in two instalments of ₹2.5 crore each, he added. In April last year, the government had suspended MPLADS during 2020-21 and 2021-22, and said that the funds would be used for managing health services and the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Under the scheme, MPs can recommend development programmes involving expenditure of ₹5 crore every year in their constituencies.
In blow to AAP, MLA joins Congress in Punjab
In a setback to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, its Bathinda rural MLA Rupinder Kaur Ruby on Wednesday joined the Congress. Ruby said the stupendous performance of the Congress Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi during the past 50 days has been far better than that of AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal’s Government in Delhi, prompting her to join hands with the Congress. Ruby announced her resignation through her twitter handle on Tuesday night saying: Mr. @ArvindKejriwalji Convener, AAP & @BhagwantMannji. This is to hereby inform u that I am resigning with immediate effect from the membership of Aam Aadmi Party. Please accept my resignation. Thx Rupinder Kaur Ruby. (MLA Bathinda, rural). Channi said it is a matter of great pride and honour for them as Ruby has joined the party highly moved by the pro-people policies of his government. Leader of the Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema (AAP) said Ruby has changed her loyalties as she does not stand a chance to get re-nomination in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Odisha government launches road safety initiative ‘Rakshak’ to train first responders
Odisha government on November 10, 2021, launched a first-of-its-kind road safety initiative called Rakshak. Under the state-level program, 300 master trainers will train and empower the local people across all the 30 districts to provide help to the road accidents victims. Under Rakshak, 30,000 volunteers near accident-prone spots will be trained as First Responders to road accidents. The 30,000 first responders will be equipped to administer first aid and pre-hospital trauma care to accident victims. As per sources, India reports around 1.5 lakh people every year dying in road accidents. Odisha reports more than 5,000 road accidents victims.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India seeks greater consultation on Afghanistan
India had been keenly observing the unfolding situation in Afghanistan and the time had come for close cooperation and consultation among the regional countries for the all-round security of Afghanistan, said National Security Adviser Ajit Doval addressing the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Wednesday. Russian representative Nikolai P. Patrushev said dialogue mechanisms should not complicate the unfolding situation in the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. This is the third meeting of the process that was initiated by Iran in 2018. We had the second meeting there as well. We are grateful to Iran for that. We are meeting today to discuss matters related to Afghanistan. These have important implications not only for the people of Afghanistan but also for its neighbours and the region. This is a time for close consultation amongst us and greater cooperation, interaction and coordination among the regional countries, Doval said initiating the discussion. The meeting has drawn representation by the heads of the national security establishment of all the Central Asian countries, Russia and Iran. Pakistan and China too were invited to participate in the consultation but both have stayed away. This is the first meeting of the security heads of these countries that India is hosting since the Taliban took power in August after dislodging the Government of President Ashraf Ghani. Doval is accompanied in the meeting by Samant Goel, head of the Research and Analysis Wing, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and other Indian diplomats who have been part of Afghanistan-related initiatives in recent months. Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai P. Patrushev praised the role of various regional dialogue mechanisms that had been framed to deal with the political situation in Afghanistan. However, he appeared to favour the Moscow consultation which he praised for broad participation by all sides. Such dialogue mechanisms should not complicate the work of each other but rather complement each other. The Moscow format of consultation on Afghanistan retains its important potential because of the broad participation of the stakeholders, Patrushev said, asking for stability in the region around Afghanistan.
South Africa’s last apartheid president FW de Klerk died at the age of 85
South Africa’s last apartheid president FW de Klerk passed away at the age of 85 on November 11, 2021 after suffering from mesothelioma cancer, confirmed the FW de Klerk Foundation. FW de Klerk was South Africa’s last apartheid president who oversaw the end of the country’s white minority rule. FW de Klerk and Nelson Mandela were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for their efforts in moving South Africa towards democracy away from institutionalized racism. Frederik Willem de Klerk was a South African politician who was President of South Africa from 1989 to 1994 and Deputy President from 1994 to 1996. FW de Klerk was the last President from the era of white-minority rule. Klerk’s government dismantled the apartheid system and introduced democracy in South Africa. The apartheid system in South Africa was referred to as the brutal system of racial discrimination in the country. Klerk led the National Party from 1989 to 1997. Prior to being elected to the Parliament as a member of the National Party that institutionalized the apartheid system, FW de Klerk was studying law. In 1978, Klerk was appointed for a series of ministerial posts including Internal Affairs. He was born in Johannesburg in 1936.
