CAA IN SC: The Supreme Court on Monday said it will hear on December 18 pleas of the Congress and former Maharaja of Tripura Pradyot Kishor Deb Barman challenging the constitutional validity of the Citizenship Amendment Act.Several petitions, including those by Congress MP Jairam Ramesh and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra have been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019.
PRANAB MUKHERJEE: Former President Pranab Mukherjee Monday said while delivering the second Atal Bihari Vajpayee Memorial lecture at Ambedkar International Centre in Delhi, Mukherjee said, “A numerical majority in elections gives you the right to make a stable government. The lack of popular majority forbids you from a majoritarian government. That is the message and essence of our Parliamentary democracy.”
PM ON CAA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday termed violent protests across the country against the Citizenship Amendment Act as “unfortunate and deeply distressing”, and appealed to people to stay away from rumour-mongering and not let “vested interests” divide the society. On the other hand union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday cautioned against “jihadist, Maoist and separatist” elements getting into student activism, and asserted protests fanned across the country will not derail the economic agenda.
AJAM KHAN: In a setback to Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, the Allahabad High Court Monday annulled the election of his son, Mohammad Abdullah Azam Khan, as an MLA from Uttar Pradesh’s Suar constituency on the grounds of being underage at the time of the election. The assembly elections was held in 2017 and culminated with BJP’s Yogi Adityanath becoming the Chief Minister.
MAMATA: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday led a massive rally in Kolkata against the citizenship act, as she dared the BJP-led Centre to implement the new legislation in her state. Hundreds of workers and supporters of Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress marched along with her during the march, which started from a statue of BR Ambedkar on Red Road and ended at Jorasanko Thakurbari. “As long as I am alive, we will not implement the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens. They can dismiss our government if they want. We will not surrender,” Banerjee said while addressing the rally.
RAM MANDIR: Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah on Monday said a grand Ram temple would come up in Ayodhya within four months as per the wishes of Indians all over the world.
RAPE CONVICTION: A Delhi court convicted MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar on Monday for raping a woman in Unnao in 2017 saying the victim’s testimony was “truthful and unblemished” against a “powerful person”. Convicting Sengar, 53, under POCSO Act, the court said the CBI proved that the victim was a minor and he was rightly prosecuted under the special law.
NEPAL: In a major boost to India’s efforts in tackling terror activities from across the border, the Nepalese national paramilitary force has assured cooperation in checking doubtful “third country” operatives on its soil. The “landmark” decision was inked during the fourth India-Nepal coordination meeting held between Indian border guarding force SSB and its Nepalese counterpart APF at Pokhara, Nepal.
PAKISTAN: The Pakistan Supreme Court on Monday released its detailed judgement in the case pertaining to the extension of Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, emphasising that it is now up to the parliament to carry out legislation that will provide “certainty and predictability” to the post of chief of army staff (COAS) for all times to come. In the court’s 43-page judgement , it said: “It is now for the people of Pakistan and their chosen representatives in the Parliament to come up with a law that will provide certainty and predictability to the post of COAS, remembering that in strengthening institutions, nations prosper.”
PAKISTAN: Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa on Monday said while addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, the outgoing chief justice noted that December 16 reminds the nation of two tragedies — the 1971 secession of then East Pakistan and the 2014 Army Public School attack. “There are some lessons for us in both the tragedies.”
MARKET TODAY
- SENSEX-40938.72 (-70.99)
- NIFTY-12053.95 (-32.75)
- GOLD (MCX 10 GM)-37831.00 (58.00)
- SILVER (MCX 1 KG)-44307.00 (181.00)
- USD ($) / INR(Rupees Icon)-70.55 (-0.14)
AMBANI: UK High Court has dismissed a USD 680 million claim application filed by Chinese banks against Reliance Communications Chairman Anil Ambani, a spokesperson of Ambani said on Moday.
GST: The Central government on Monday released Rs 35,298 crore to compensate states for revenue losses for two months ahead of the meeting of the powerful Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council two days later, two government officials said requesting anonymity.
INFLATION: Wholesale prices based inflation rose to 0.58 per cent in November, as against 0.16 per cent in October due to increase in prices of food articles. The annual inflation, based on monthly wholesale price index (WPI), was at 4.47 per cent during the same month a year ago (November 2018).
FDI: Vedanta Resources Chairman Anil Agarwal on Monday said the company is planning to invest around Rs 60,000 crore in the next 2-3 years. The company is also eyeing a top line of USD 30-40 billion and a bottom line of USD 10 million in 4-5 years, Agarwal said at the India Economic Conclave 2019.
