AAP’s Lokayukta bill in cabinet today: Another face off looms?

January 31, 2014

Lokayukta_billNew Delhi, Jan 31: The dust is still to settle on the faceoff between the UPA and the Aam Aadmi Party's government in Delhi over who should control the Delhi police, but the Union government is already wary of another impending confrontation with Arvind Kejriwal and his supporters, this time over the Jan Lokpal Bill.

The Aam Aadmi Party has stated its intention of passing the bill at a public session of the Assembly to be held at Ramlila Maidan, the venue of Anna Hazare's historic agitation.

Kejriwal said they were all set to introduce the Jan Lokpal bill in Delhi assembly in a press conference on Thursday. "It will be introduced in the cabinet on Friday and in 10-15 days there might be an assembly session where it will be passed," he said.

While the Delhi Cabinet is still debating some provisions and the final draft is expected today, reports say the bill seeks life imprisonment as maximum punishment for corruption and a minimum punishment of six months.

It also proposes that the Lokayukta will have the powers to confiscate property and assets of the accused official. Given the nature of the promises made by party leaders, Central government leaders believe the Delhi Lokayukta could very well be draconian.

On Wednesday, The media reported that officials are concerned about whether the Delhi bill will be in consonance with the Union government's Act, which was notified on 1 January.

"If it is at variance, the Delhi government could be asked to modify or amend certain provisions," a senior MHA official is quoted as having said.

Given that the Delhi bill will require the assent of the President, and given that Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia have both committed to passing the Delhi bill at a special session of Assembly in February, a delay by the Centre in comparing the Delhi bill with the Central Act could snowball into another confrontation.

Additionally, with the UPA itself hoping to make a strong political move by passing six anti-corruption bills in Parliament subsequently, there is no doubt that the Centre will be reading the fine print of the Delhi bill carefully. Presidential assent for the Delhi bill could be expected in a week's time, if it is in complete consonance with the Lokpal Act passed by Parliament, an official said.

The Delhi Bill is believed to be mostly on the lines of the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Act, with some additional provisions.

Reports said Kejriwal was keen that the office of the CM come under the ambit of the Lokayukta, as well as all MLAs and other government officials.

Kejriwal's Cabinet could clear the final draft on Friday.

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News Network
January 21,2020

Amaravati, Jan 21: Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu and at least 17 MLAs of his party were taken in police custody late on Monday as they tried to conduct a foot march from the state assembly to nearby Mandadam village in violation of prohibitory orders.

TDP leaders started off on the march after staging a sit-in near the assembly main entrance following the suspension of 17 MLAs from the House for the day.

They were protesting the AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill, 2020, that was passed by the assembly, enabling the establishment of three capitals for the state.

The TDP leaders were taken to the Mangalagiri police station.

Meanwhile, tensions prevailed at the Jana Sena Party headquarters at Mangalagiri as police prevented its president Pawan Kalyan from proceeding to the Amaravati region to speak to protesters fighting for the retention of only one capital for the state.

DIG Kanti Rana Tata and other senior police officials reached the Sena office and blocked the exit of Kalyan and political affairs committee chairman Nadendla Manohar, resulting in an argument.

Kalyan asked how could police impose restrictions within his own office.

Scores of Sena workers gathered outside the office even as a large posse of police was posted to thwart Kalyan and other leaders' plans.

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News Network
April 28,2020

New Delhi, Apr 28: Nafisa Ali took to Instagram to share the inspiring story of her niece, Diya Naidu, who donated her plasma to help patients suffering from Covid-19 after recovering from the disease. The veteran actress shared a photo of her niece from the hospital bed and asked fans to read Diya's post to get a detailed account of her experience.

Nafisa wrote, "Diya Naidu my niece - a COVID19 hero - is back home after donating her plasma - looks like liquid gold - it’s value is priceless as it will save lives. So please read her COVID19 story and share the information that is first hand. It is the need of the hour. Help save lives. #diyanise. #diyanaidu #covid_19 #india (sic)."

Diya Naidu, who is a dancer and choreographer based in Bengaluru, revealed in her Instagram post that she has donated her plasma for other Covid-19 patients. She said that the method has been super effective wherever it's been tried.

Earlier, Nafisa Ali gave a shout-out to her niece on Instagram and penned a heartfelt note for her. She wrote, "I am so grateful to you brave child - a COVID19 warrior (living in Bangalore) has agreed to donate her plasma to help cure other COVID19 serious patients (sic)."

Explaining the process of plasma therapy to treat Covid-19 patients, she wrote, "The process of donating plasma to treat COVID-19 is not very complex and can be done in just two hours. One of the most discussed methods of treatment of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus is plasma therapy, which involves the transfusion of plasma from a convalescent coronavirus patient to a critical patient. The blood of a recovering patient is rich in antibodies produced by the body to fight the virus, which are expected to help the critical patient recover (sic)."

Plasma therapy has been suggested to treat people suffering from Covid-19. People, who have recovered from the disease, are donating plasma as it contains antibodies to fight the disease. Earlier, Kanika Kapoor, who was the first Bollywood celebrity to be diagnosed with the disease, also offered to donate her plasma. She has recovered from Covid-19 and is currently living with her family in Lucknow.

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Agencies
February 7,2020

Jammu & Kashmir, Feb 7: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, besides two political stalwarts from NC and its arch-rival PDP were booked under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) by the administration on Thursday, officials said.

A magistrate accompanied by police served the order to Mufti at the bungalow where she has been detained, the officials said.

Abdullah was also booked under the PSA, they said.

National Conference general secretary and former minister Ali Mohammed Sagar, who wields a support base in downtown city, was served with a PSA notice public order by the authorities.

Similarly, senior PDP leader Sartaj Madani was booked under the PSA. Madani is the maternal uncle of former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.

Both Sagar and Madani were detained in the aftermath of August 5 crackdown by the Centre on politicians following abrogation of special status of the erstwhile state, besides its bifurcation into two union territories.

Their six-month preventive custody was ending on Thursday.

Earlier, the officials had said that former NC legislator Bashir Ahmed Veeri was also booked under the PSA but later it turned out that he had been released.

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