Author: PTI

Exciting News: Tripura State Election Commission Prepares for Three-tier Panchayat Elections! The Tripura State Election Commission (TSEC) is gearing up to conduct three-tier panchayat elections in July end. The TSEC has completed the delimitation of wards and panchayats, as per the rules, and is now focused on identifying polling booths and drafting electoral rolls for the elections. With 591 gram panchayats, 116 panchayat samitis, and eight zilla parishads in the state, the TSEC aims to publish the final electoral roll by mid-June. Commissioner Saradhindu Chowdhury expressed hope for the elections to be held in July end, following the government’s decision.…

Two NGOs have approached the Supreme Court with a PIL, urging a court-monitored probe by a special investigation team into alleged instances of “apparent quid pro quo” in the electoral bonds scheme involving political parties, corporate entities, and officials of investigative agencies. Lawyer Prashant Bhushan, representing NGOs “Common Cause” and the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), emphasized the need for an urgent hearing of the plea before a bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta. Justice Khanna assured Bhushan that the matter is being looked into by the CJI’s office and will be listed for hearing soon. The…

Protests in Muzaffarabad Turn Violent: 3 Dead, 6 Injured In a tragic turn of events, clashes between protesters and paramilitary Rangers in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, have left three dead and six injured. The protests, sparked by high prices of wheat flour and inflated electricity bills, escalated when security forces opened fire on the demonstrators. Despite the government’s approval of a Rs 23 billion subsidy for the region, tensions remain high. The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee is leading the demonstrations, demanding fair electricity prices, subsidised flour, and an end to elite privileges. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and “prime minister”…

Washington: Celebrating the annual Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, the White House Marine Band performed the patriotic song “Sare Jahan Se Achha Hindustan Hamara” for a gathering of Asian Americans, with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in attendance. The Indian American community had requested the song, written by Mohammad Iqbal, be played at the event, marking the second time it was heard at the White House. Community leader Ajay Jain Bhutoria expressed his delight, stating, “It was a moment of pride at the White House to hear ‘Sare Jahan se Accha Hindustan…

Delhi Court to Consider Fresh Charge Sheet in Money Laundering Case In a significant development, a Delhi court is set to review a new charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case. The charge sheet names BRS leader K Kavitha and four others as the accused. The trial was adjourned to May 14, with the prosecution presenting a 200-page complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Kavitha, an MLC of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi party, along with other individuals, have been implicated in the case. The investigation centers around alleged corruption…

A Closer Look at Retail Inflation in April 2024 New Delhi: The latest government data reveals that retail inflation has eased to 4.83 per cent in April, with a decrease in prices of some kitchen items. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) shows a marginal decline from 4.85 per cent in March to 4.83 per cent in April. In comparison to April 2023, the inflation rate was 4.7 per cent. Despite this overall decrease, inflation in the food basket saw a slight increase to 8.70 per cent in April, up from 8.52 per cent in March, as per the National Statistical…

The True Story of Money: How Governments Invented Money and Shaped Markets By Steven Hail for The Conversation For generations, economists have been taught a story of money originating from barter systems, evolving into coins, paper money, and banking systems. However, there’s no historical evidence to support this narrative. Instead, two century-old articles by economist Alfred Mitchell-Innes shed light on a different truth: money was actually invented by early governments. Early currencies, like clay tablets and shells, were used for taxation and governance. Even today, taxes drive the demand for a government’s currency. Banks also create money through loans, highlighting…

The Mumbai Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court has upheld the case against former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and TDP leader Nakka Ananda Babu for allegedly assaulting police in Maharashtra in 2010. Despite efforts to quash the FIR, the court found sufficient evidence implicating both individuals in the crime. In July 2010, Naidu, Babu, and 66 associates were arrested for protest-related activities and remanded to judicial custody. They allegedly refused to be transferred to another prison, leading to a confrontation with jail authorities. The duo was accused of instigating others and using force against police officials,…

Misinformation and False Narratives About Indian Democracy: A View from an Indian-American Oncologist Amidst the ongoing election cycle in India, Dr. Bharat Barai, a prominent Indian-American oncologist based in Chicago, has raised concerns about the misinformation and false narratives being spread about Indian democracy in the West. In a recent interview, Dr. Barai criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for not taking action against Sikh separatists who are openly supporting violence in India. Dr. Barai emphasized that the Khalistan issue is primarily limited to Canada and a small fraction of foreign-born Sikhs, not Indian Sikhs. He highlighted the need to…

Kerala Government Protests Against Closure of Palakkad Railway Division The Kerala government recently expressed strong opposition to the Centre’s plan to shut down the Palakkad Railway Division, citing it as a continuation of the union government’s neglect towards the state. State Railway Minister V Abdurahiman sent a letter to his counterpart at the Centre urging a reversal of the decision. Abdurahiman highlighted the division’s success in terms of passenger numbers and revenue and criticized the move to close it without justification as an attack on Kerala. He accused the Centre of neglecting the state’s railway development and attempting to weaken…