Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:54pm on 16 Dec 2023,Saturday India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram to promote government schemes. The initiative, delayed due to election constraints, prioritizes reaching every corner of the country. PM Modi underscores city development's role, highlighting the yatra's progress, covering thousands of villages and 1,500 cities in a month. Union Home Minister Amit Shah praises economic empowerment initiatives, and BJP leaders nationwide express commitment to India becoming a global power by its 100th independence anniversary. The yatra includes health camps, impacting over 7,82,000 people.
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:53pm on 16 Dec 2023,Saturday India
Gujarat police conducted joint raids on 17 immigration consultancy firms in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara, seizing 27 passports, 53 computers, and various documents. Acting on complaints of visa fraud, the raids exposed fake mark sheets and tampered test scores used to obtain visas for the USA, Canada, and Australia. Complaints alleged that individuals, despite paying hefty fees, faced deportation from foreign airports. Authorities, including over 50 police personnel and computer experts, executed the raids, also uncovering ₹5.5 lakh cash and liquor bottles, violating Gujarat's strict prohibition policy. Forensic examination will determine the authenticity of seized items.
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 09:58am on 16 Dec 2023,Saturday India
Delhi Police apprehended Mahesh Kumawat in connection with the Parliament security breach, becoming the sixth arrest in the case. Kumawat is accused of assisting 'mastermind' Lalit Jha in escaping from Delhi. Jha, previously sent to seven-day police custody, allegedly confessed to conspiring to breach Parliament security. Authorities may seek Parliament's permission to recreate the December 13 incident. The investigation delves into potential associations with enemy countries or terrorist organizations. The breach, occurring on the anniversary of the 2001 attack, remains under intense scrutiny.
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 08:05am on 16 Dec 2023,Saturday India
Mumbai Police successfully traced an MBA holder who made a threatening call to veteran industrialist Ratan Tata, expressing concerns over Tata's security and alluding to a fate reminiscent of Cyrus Mistry, who tragically died in a car crash on September 4, 2022. Investigation efforts located the caller's residence in Pune, revealing he had been missing for five days. With a history of schizophrenia, legal action was dismissed. The caller, with an MBA in finance and an engineering background, took a phone without informing his family. Mumbai Police heightened security for Ratan Tata, emphasizing the mental health aspect of the incident.
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:45am on 16 Dec 2023,Saturday India
On Vijay Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid heartfelt tributes to the bravehearts of India's 1971 victory over Pakistan. PM Modi praised the heroes' valour and dedication, emphasizing their enduring pride for the nation. Shah acknowledged the soldiers' glorious triumph, securing the dignity of life and forming Bangladesh. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge hailed the event as a historic moment, highlighting the dynamic leadership of Indira Gandhi. Vijay Diwas commemorates India's decisive victory, celebrating the sacrifices and indomitable spirit of the armed forces.
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:49pm on 15 Dec 2023,Friday India
A female judge in Uttar Pradesh has written to the Chief Justice of India alleging egregious sexual harassment by a senior district judge and asked "to end her life in a dignified way." In the letter, which has gained attention on social media, the judge states "I have been sexually harassed to the very limit. I have been treated like utter garbage." Though she filed a complaint in July, she believes the ongoing inquiry process to be a "farce" with witness testimonies from the accused's "immediate subordinates." After her letter, Chief Justice Chandrachud swiftly called for a report into all complaints made by the woman. She painted a dire picture for women, stating "I advise all women to learn to be a toy." The case highlights issues in addressing sexual harassment for women across all levels of India's judiciary.
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 12:37pm on 15 Dec 2023,Friday India
Tipu Sultan is again at the centre of a Congress vs. BJP squabble in Karnataka after MLA Prasad Abbayya from the ruling party suggested renaming Mysuru Airport to Tipu Sultan Airport. The proposal triggered opposition protests, with the BJP framing it as a Hindu vs. Muslim narrative against their icon, VD Savarkar. Historically contentious, Tipu Sultan's legacy has been exploited for political polarization, which intensified ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections. BJP state chief Nalin Kateel even urged locals to "kill... followers" of Tipu. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also criticized the Congress. The row over Tipu Sultan - who historians believe was a fierce opponent of British rule in India, and died in battle against them dates back to 2016, when the then Congress government led by Siddaramaiah began celebrating his birthday on November 10.
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 10:39am on 15 Dec 2023,Friday India
K Kavitha said she was "disheartened" by Irani's response dismissing mandatory paid menstrual leave, calling it "appalling to see such ignorance... for our struggles... we deserve a level playing field and that is a non-negotiable." The BRS leader said "It is high time (we) bridge the gap between policy-making and reality with empathy and reason," arguing that "menstruation isn't a choice... it is a biological reality (and) denying paid leave ignores the genuine pain countless women endure." Irani had told Parliament "menstruation is a physiological phenomenon" most women can "manage by medication," triggering a row by refusing to mandate leave.
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:59am on 15 Dec 2023,Friday India
In a major tax evasion probe, the Income Tax Department's raids on the Odisha-based distillery linked to Congress MP Dhiraj Kumar Sahu's family result in an unprecedented ₹353.5 crore cash seizure, marking India's largest ever. Using cutting-edge technology, officials now deploy geo-surveillance systems to detect potential hidden gold at Sahu's residences. The raids, initiated on December 6, target alleged tax evasion and "off-the-book" transactions. The BJP seizes the opportunity to counter opposition claims, while Prime Minister Modi promises the return of "looted money" amid growing public scrutiny.
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:40am on 15 Dec 2023,Friday India
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud sought a report after an Uttar Pradesh woman judge's shocking open letter alleging sexual harassment by a district judge went viral. Seeking permission for a "dignified" suicide, she claimed abuse by the senior official and his associates during a Barabanki stint. Detailing her ordeal as an "unwanted insect" reduced to a "walking corpse", she slammed the high court's internal panel probing her filed complaint as a sham relying on the accused's subordinates. Lamenting the Supreme Court's dismissal of her minimum request to transfer the judge pending inquiry, the judge declared having no will to live anymore after 18 months of trauma. With the Allahabad HC Acting Chief Justice also taking note, the SC Secretary General urgently contacted the registrar general for full details on the status of all complaints by the petitioner.