BJP and Congress received foreign funds in violation of law:HC

March 29, 2014

New Delhi, Mar 29: In a significant judgment which would have political ramification, the Delhi High Court on Friday found two leading political parties-Congress and BJP guilty of accepting foreign funds from subsidiaries of Vedanta in violation of the existing law.

BJP_and_CongressFixing a time frame of six months, the court asked the central government and the Election Commission to take appropriate actions against the for flouting the norms laid down under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act. "Prima-facie the acts of the respondents (Congress and BJP) inter-se, clearly fall foul of the ban imposed under the FCR Act as the donations accepted by the political parties from Sterlite and Sesa accrue from "foreign sources" within the meaning of law," a bench of justices Pradeep Nandrajog and Jayant Nath said.

It came to the conclusion that "Vedanta is a "foreign company" within the meaning of the Companies Act and therefore, Vedanta and its subsidiaries - Sterlite and Sesa are a "foreign source" as contemplated under the FCRA. The bench directed the home ministry and election commission to "relook and reappraise the receipts of the political parties" to identify foreign donations and take action.

The court order followed to a PIL filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms through advocate Prashant Bhushan claiming the Britain-based Vedanta Resources and its subsidiary companies in India – including Sterlite Industries, Sesa Goa and Malco of donating several crores of rupees to major political parties like the Congress and the BJP.

According to the PIL, Indian laws had been violated by the Congress and BJP by allegedly receiving funding from Vedanta Resources.

Further , it alleged that the two parties breached the Representation of the People Act, (RPA) and the FCRA. "Both the acts prohibit political parties from taking donations from government companies and from foreign sources, the plea said.

According to Vedanta's 2012 annual report, it made political donations to the tune of $2.01 million in 2011-12, the PIL said. "Sterlite's annual report of 2011-12 also states that during the year the group made political donations in India of Rs.5 crore either through a trust or directly."

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News Network
May 22,2020

New Delhi, May 22: Air India on Friday started booking for domestic flights amid the COVID-19 lockdown.

"We have started bookings for domestic flights," said Air India in a statement.

The airlines will operate a total of 8,428 flights each week for the next three months from May 25 to August 25 as the Central government has announced the resumption of domestic flights.

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday said that a minimum and maximum fare for three months has been set for the domestic flight services, which resume from May 25.

In the case of Delhi, Mumbai the minimum fare would be Rs 3,500 for a journey between 90-120 minutes. The maximum fare would be Rs 10,000.

"This is operative for three months -- till one minute to midnight on August 24," said Puri at a press conference here.

Puri said that guidelines have been issued for the passengers and airports, which are to be followed during flight operations.

He also said that self-declaration or Aarogya Setu App status on a compatible device would be obtained to ensure that a person does not have COVID-19 symptoms.

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News Network
February 4,2020

Feb 4: Amid the agitations against Citizenship Amendment Act, National register of Citizens and National Population Registration across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that there is a "political design" behind all these protests including in Delhi's Jamia and Shaheen Bagh to ruin the harmony of the nation.

"Be it Seelampur, Jamia or Shaheen Bagh, protests held over the past several days regarding the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Is this just a coincidence? No. This is an experiment," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first election rally for Delhi polls at Karkardooma.

"There is a political design behind all these protests including Jamia and Shaheen Bagh. These protests are a conspiracy to divide India. These protests are going to ruin the harmony of the nation," he asserted.

Lambasting the opposition parties including Congress and Aam Aadmi Party for supporting the ongoing protests, he said: "But AAP and Congress are provoking people. Constitution and tricolor are being kept in front and attention is being diverted from the real conspiracy."

"These people were doubting the ability of our forces during surgical strikes. Do citizens of Delhi want such people in power? These people are saving those who want to break India into pieces," he added.

People have been protesting at Jamia and Shaheen Bagh against CAA, NRC and NPR. Members of the Opposition have deemed CAA "discriminatory and anti-Constitution" while the Centre has maintained that the new law has no effect on Indian citizens.

Recently, two firing incidents took place near Jamia Millia Islamia University.On Sunday night, the firing incident was reported near gate number five at the university following which people including some students of the varsity gathered outside the Jamia Nagar police station. They returned from the Jamia Nagar police station after their complaint was registered.

Earlier, a student sustained injuries after a young man fired at the protestors near Jamia.

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abdullah
 - 
Tuesday, 4 Feb 2020

Once again incorrect statement and only to divert people attention.  Every one knows who is ruining image of our nation.   this govt has completely failed in all aspects and trying to survive by misguiding the citizens.  Economy is reaching zero and GDP is coming down day by day, Banks and industries on getting closed. youths are unemployed due to no chance.   However, Govt is giving false statement that nothing to worry and our economy if growing.   this govt has brought black bills of CAA and MPR only to divide the society and keep them engaged and forget the falling economy.   If this situation continues, our nation will be one of the poorest countries in the world.   This govt is trying to sell all Govt hold units like Railway, Insurance, etc to private companies only to help the industrialists and to get commission from them.    LIC was running in profit till 4 to 5 years back, but now its running in loss.   Huge amount of money from LIC is taken by Govt to hide the downfall of economy.   Only God can save our country from the hands of present looters + decoits.  

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News Network
May 28,2020

New Delhi, May 28: The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police will file 12 chargesheets against 536 Tablighi Jamaat members from three countries, officials said on Thursday.

Till now, the police has already filed chargesheets against 374 foreigners from 32 countries.

The officials said the charges against the Tablighi Jamaat members pertain to violation of visa rules, government guidelines regarding the Epidemic Disease Act and acting negligently in a way that was likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life.

The Tablighi Jamaat, a religious organisation in Nizamuddin in South Delhi, had allegedly organised a congregation in March in violation of mass gatherings.

The Tablighi Jamaat’s Nizamuddin Markaz (centre) had become a coroavirus hotspot in the national capital.

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