NATIONAL NEWS
Rajasthan Cabinet expanded; 15 Ministers sworn in
As part of the much-awaited Cabinet expansion and reshuffle in Rajasthan, 15 Ministers were sworn in on Sunday, taking the strength of the Council of Ministers to the maximum permissible limit of 30. Eleven of the legislators who took oath were inducted as Cabinet Ministers and four as Ministers of State. Governor Kalraj Mishra administered the oath of office to the new ministers on the Raj Bhawan lawns here. The 11 Cabinet Ministers included Mamta Bhupesh, Bhajan Lal Jatav and Tikaram Jully, who were elevated from Minister of State. Two former ministers, Vishvendra Singh and Ramesh Meena, who were sacked along with then Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot after his rebellion in July 2020, made a triumphant comeback to the State Cabinet. Others inducted as Cabinet Ministers were Hemaram Choudhary, Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya, Ramlal Jat, Mahesh Joshi, Govind Ram Meghwal and Shakuntla Rawat. The new Ministers of State sworn in at the ceremony were two-time Kaman MLA Zahida Khan, Jhunjhunu MLA Brijendra Singh Ola, Dausa MLA Murari Lal Meena and Udaipurwati MLA Rajendra Singh Gudha, who was elected on the Bahujan Samaj Party ticket and had later joined the Congress. The expanded Cabinet has three women and four Dalit members. None of the independent MLAs, who had extended support to the Congress government during the political crisis last year, was inducted as a Minister. This was the first Cabinet reshuffle of the Congress government since it came to power in 2018. Following the expansion, the Council of Ministers now has 19 Cabinet Ministers and 10 Ministers of State, besides Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Though Gehlot had collected resignation letters from all the Ministers on Saturday ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, he handed over the papers of only three of them to the Governor for acceptance. The three Ministers — Govind Singh Dotasra, Harish Chaudhary and Raghu Sharma — were dropped in accordance with the one man, one post formula in the Congress; the three hold official positions in the party. Gehlot told reporters after the swearing-in ceremony that while an attempt had been made to give representation to all sections in the Cabinet, the portfolios would be allocated keeping in mind the preparations for the 2023 State Assembly election. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra pose with new Cabinet Ministers after the swearing-in ceremony at Raj Bhawan in Jaipur, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. Tonk MLA Sachin Pilot, whose rebellion had threatened the Congress government’s stability, said at a press conference that the Cabinet reshuffle had sent across a positive message and denied that there was any factionalism in the party. He said the issues raised by him, such as an adequate representation to Dalits, had been addressed with a comprehensive approach in the Cabinet expansion.
SKM to raise pending demands of farmers in open letter to PM Modi
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) said on Sunday it would write an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioning the pending demands of farmers and wait for the withdrawal of the farm laws in Parliament. The farmers will continue with their pre-decided programme till November 29, the first day of the winter session of Parliament. It was decided that they would showcase their strength at the Lucknow mahapanchayat on Monday. It will be the first public meeting of the umbrella body of the farmer unions after the Prime Minister’s announcement. Addressing the media after the meeting of the core committee at the Singhu border, farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said, We will write an open letter to the PM where we will seek clarification on the committee that is to be formed on granting statutory status to MSP. He said the Prime Minister in his Friday address was not clear about the rights, duties and time-frame of the committee. Besides, we will also seek withdrawal of cases lodged against farmers during the agitation, compensation to farmers who had lost their lives, discussion on the Electricity Bill 2020, and sacking of Ajay Mishra, Minister Of State in the Home Ministry, said Rajewal. Farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal addresses the media at Singhu border in New Delhi on November 21, 2021. The next meeting of the farmers’ body is scheduled for November 27 where a decision will be taken on the future course, Rajewal said.
Union Cabinet to approve farm laws repeal on November 24
The Union Cabinet, in its next meeting on November 24, will take up for approval the repeal of the three farm laws announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 20. The proposal to repeal will then be taken up by Parliament at the start of the Winter Session of Parliament on November 29. Government confirmed to The Hindu that the Union Cabinet’s agenda reflected the same. The repeal of the three farm laws — The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 — will be taken up for approval in the Union Cabinet meeting to be held on Wednesday, said the source. This comes after a Friday morning announcement by Prime Minister Modi that his government would be repealing the three laws even as the protests by farmers groups against them was heading to the first anniversary mark. The move by the government is expected to deflate some of the aggression of the Opposition’s campaign against the BJP as states like Uttar Pradesh and Punjab go into Assembly polls in 2022.
Hyderpora operation: Mehbooba protests near Raj Bhavan, seeks apology from L-G Manoj Sinha
Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday led a rally from her residence in Gupkar Road to the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar in protest against the alleged killings of civilians during an operation by the security forces in the capital’s Hyderpora area on November 15. Her supporters were seen raising slogans and demanding an end to the bloodshed of innocents. The bloodshed should be brought to an end in J&K, especially the valley. Justice should be delivered to the victims’ families. Amir’s body should also be handed over back to the family, Mufti said. Amir Magray was working as an office boy in the building where the operation was carried out. His family hails from Jammu’s Ramban area. Where is the body of the militant? Where is the picture of the dead militant? Mufti asked, saying it seemed as if no militant had been killed. Mufi also demanded an apology from Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha over the incident. PDP leaders accompanying Mufti also demanded justice for the three civilians allegedly found dead at the encounter site. So far, the police have handed over the bodies of two civilians to their families for burial in Srinagar. Earlier this week, Mufti claimed that she had been placed under house arrest when she decided to join the protesting families. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the Hyderpora incident by the Government.
TMC leader Sayani Ghosh detained for questioning in Tripura
Tripura police on Sunday detained West Bengal Trinamool Congress leader Sayani Ghosh for questioning following a complaint by the ruling BJP worker that she had disturbed a street corner meeting of Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Saturday night, according to an official. Ghosh, the youth unit secretary of TMC West Bengal, was detained a day before a planned visit by the party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee after being called in for questioning in a police station. A police official, who did not want to be named, said a BJP worker lodged a complaint that when a street corner gathering was being addressed by Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Saturday night, Ghosh reached there and shouted Khela hobey (game will happen) and claimed that there were not even 50 people in the gathering. Khela hobey is a slogan used by the TMC during the assembly election in West Bengal held in March-April this year. TMC leaders alleged that their workers were also roughed up by BJP supporters outside the East Agartala Women’s police station, a charge denied by the saffron party. Abhishek Banerjee in a tweet accused the BJP government in the North-eastern State of disregarding Supreme Court orders on the rights of political parties to hold peaceful programmes. @BjpBiplab has become so UNABASHEDLY BRAZEN that now even SUPREME COURT ORDERS DOESN’T SEEM TO BOTHER HIM. He has repeatedly sent goons to attack our supporters & our female candidates instead of ensuring their safety! DEMOCRACY BEING MOCKED under @BJP4Tripura, Banerjee said in the Twitter post, attaching a video of the alleged attack of Sunday morning. The Supreme Court recently directed Tripura police to ensure that no political party is prevented from exercising their rights in accordance with the law for campaigning in a peaceful manner. Police said some unidentified miscreants attacked a group of people who gathered near the police station during the questioning of Ghosh, but no one was injured. The TMC is contesting the Tripura civic polls to be held on November 25. The ruling BJP has already won 112 out of 334 seats uncontested across 20 urban local bodies including Agartala Municipal Corporation. This will be the first civic election that the BJP will face after coming to power in 2018. The Mamata Banerjee-led party is trying to gain a foothold in the State ahead of the 2023 assembly elections. TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev claimed that BJP-sheltered goons attacked the leaders and workers of the party on the premises of the police station after Ghosh reached there. Our candidates were beaten up; their houses vandalised and though complaints were filed, no action was taken. Police here are acting in a one-sided manner, she told reporters. TMC West Bengal secretary Kunal Ghosh said if this is what is democracy in Tripura, We would recommend to our leaders to do the same thing (to the BJP) in West Bengal. Tripura BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya denied the allegation, saying the saffron party workers did not ever attack anyone of the TMC as the party does not consider it as a political opponent to reckon with.
Five MPs to move dissent notes in Personal Data Bill panel
At least five of the 30 members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill are moving dissent notes. Sources said that at least three of these are directed at the controversial clause that allows the Union Government to exempt any agency under its purview from the law. According to informed sources, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Manish Tewari and Gaurav Gogoi; Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’ Brien; and Biju Janata Dal MP Amar Patnaik will be moving the dissent notes. Sources said that more members could join this list. The panel is meeting on Monday to adopt the long-pending report on the law. The panel has been studying the Bill since 2019. Clause 35, in the name of sovereignty, friendly relations with foreign states’ and security of the state allows any agency under the Union Government exemption from all or any provisions of the law. This clause assumes importance in the backdrop of recent revelations in the Pegasus spyware case, where both private and public citizens were allegedly snooped upon by the government. The panel reached a middle path on the clause by agreeing that the Government has to record in writing the reasons to give exemption to any agency. Demands that this clause be suitably amended to also include the provision to seek approval from Parliament for seeking such exemptions was not accepted. Ramesh was one of the members who argued that the government should table the recorded reasons in Parliament for providing exemption to any government agency to bring in greater transparency and accountability. In his dissent note against Clause 35, Ramesh said the design of the PDP 2019 Bill assumes that the Constitutional right to privacy arises only where operations and activities of private companies are concerned. Governments and government agencies are treated as a separate privileged class whose operations and activities are always in the public interest and individual privacy considerations are secondary, he wrote. He added that the idea that the August 2017 Puttaswamy (privacy) judgment of the Supreme Court is relevant only for a very, very, very tiny section of the Indian population and is in my view deeply flawed and troubling.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Jason Mott won 2021 National Book Award for fiction
The 72nd edition of the National Book Award was organized as a virtual event by the National Book Foundation. Jason Mott won the 2021 National Book Award for fiction for his novel “Hell of a Book”, a narrative about a black author’s adventure while travelling around in a book tour.
Geoff Allardice appointed as Permanent CEO of ICC
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed Geoff Allardice as the permanent CEO of the International Cricket governing body. He was serving as interim CEO for more than eight months. He replaces Manu Sawhney who officially resigned from his position in July 2021. Allardice, a former Australian first-class cricketer and administrator, was the ICC General Manager, Cricket for eight years. He had previously held a similar role at Cricket Australia.
Lewis Hamilton wins 2021 F1 Qatar Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain), has won the 2021 F1 Qatar Grand Prix. Max Verstappen (Red Bull – Netherlands) came second while Fernando Alonso (Alpine- Spain) came third. With this win, Lewis Hamilton has become the first driver to have won at 30 different circuits in Formula 1.
World Fisheries Day: 21 November
World Fisheries Day is celebrated on 21 November every year by fishing communities across the world. It highlights the importance of healthy oceans ecosystems and ensuring sustainable stocks of fisheries in the world. 2021 is the fifth World Fisheries Day. The first World Fisheries Day was celebrated on November 21, 2015. On the same day, it was the grand opening of the International Fisherman’s organization was held in New Delhi.
