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India Today
31-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Top court cancels FIR against actor Mohan Babu over student fee protest rally
The Supreme Court on Thursday invalidated the FIR filed against Telugu actor Mohan Babu and his son Vishnu Vardhan Babu in a 2019 case related to organising a rally and allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct. The case pertains to a university rally regarding the release of funds by the government.A bench led by Justice BV Nagarathna set aside the judgment of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which had refused to quash the proceedings, stating that there were no tenable grounds to continue the to the prosecution, in 2019, Mohan Babu—Chairman of Sri Vidyaniketan Educational Institutions in A. Rangampet Village, Chandragiri Mandal—along with others, gathered staff and students to conduct a rally from the university premises towards Tirupati–Madanapalli Road. The group allegedly raised slogans against the then-ruling government of Andhra Pradesh for not granting students' fee reimbursements to their institutions. The protest, which reportedly took place between 8:30 am and 12:30 pm, allegedly obstructed the free flow of traffic and caused inconvenience and risk to the public, despite the Election Commission of India's Model Code of Conduct and Prohibitory Orders being in petitioners argued that multiple representations were made to the government for the release of reimbursement funds, but no action was taken, leading to the peaceful protest. They contended that the Model Code of Conduct could not be applied to them as they were not contesting in the 2019 Assembly Election nor aiding any political the prosecution claimed that the entire incident was videographed and that there were specific overt acts attributed to the petitioners. It was further alleged that the public and vehicles were restrained for four hours, and that the actions of the petitioners amounted to cognisable offences.- Ends
The Hindu
30-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Role of Civil Societies with regard to 2026 TN assembly elections discussed
With the Tamil Nadu Assembly Election less than a year away, the role of civil societies was discussed at the Dr. Dhyanchand Carr first memorial. The event was organised by Save the Nation, a federation of civil societies in Madurai on Wednesday. VCK MLA Aloor Shanavas said he was confident that the people of Tamil Nadu would reject communal and fascist forces in the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections in 2026. The MLA said he represented Nagapattinam constituency where one can see the people visiting Nagore dargah, Velankanni church and Sikkal Singaravelan temple. It was the same in other places of Tamil Nadu. People lived in harmony and respected each other. They have to be clear in their view and ensure that communal and fascist forces are not strengthened, he said, adding that at a time where everything was being political, there should be priority and social justice should be the priority. CPI (M) leader K. Balabharathi said the people were keeping a close watch on things. Ahead of the 2024 Parliamentary elections, BJP said it will win over 400 seats. However, it did not secure a majority and formed the government with the help of allies. She said Tamil Nadu was secular and communal and fascist forces would be defeated in the upcoming elections. All India Congress Committee Secretary Christopher Tilak said civil societies should assess the functioning of the government. Data showed that atrocities were on the rise in Tamil Nadu. How to tackle and prevent such atrocities and find remedy was the need of the hour in order to achieve social justice, he said. Floral tributes were paid to the portrait of Dr. Dhyanchand Carr, former Principal of Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary. The first Rev. Dr. Dhyanchand Carr Democracy Defender Award was presented to senior journalist B. Thirumalai. Convener of Save the Nation C.J. Rajan and others were present at the memorial event.
India Gazette
29-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"BJP's tactics of spreading fear not going to work" Tejashwi Yadav
Patna (Bihar) [India], June 29 (ANI): Rashtriya Janata Dal leader (RJD) Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday slammed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), while countering the ruling alliance's 'Jungle Raj' jibe, saying that their 'tactics of spreading fear are not going to work'. The State faces assembly elections later in the year. Addressing at the Vaishya Representative Conference in Patna, Tejashwi Yadav questioned Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led NDA alliance in Bihar over trade and asserted that never talk about those issues but only about jungle raj. 'We have been in opposition for the last 20 years, and they are still crying over us. Why are they not taking accountability for their work? What have they done? What's their blueprint to increase trade in Bihar? How will they make small enterprises more beneficial? They'll never talk about that. They will say that Jungle Raaj will come. I have also been the Deputy CM for 18 months. Did the people not come out of their homes? BJP's tactics of spreading fear are not going to work in this age,' Tejashwi Yadav said. Tejashwi Yadav also highlighted Bihar's increasing poverty, unemployment and crime rates. 'If you will look at the NITI Aayog's report, Bihar is no.1 in poverty, migration, and unemployment. There are no industries. If they (the NDA government) had even opened one sugar mill, then you tell me. Bihar is at the bottom in terms of education and health. NCRB's data says that after 2005, crime has continuously increased. What steps have been taken to create a safer environment? Has the chief minister visited any victim's house to share their grief?' Tejashwi Yadav said. Tejashwi Yadav reaffirmed that the RJD want to give Bihar a government that prioritises education, healthcare, income, and many other issues, while firing shots at Nitish Kumar, saying that there is neither justice nor development in Bihar. 'We want to give Bihar a government where there is education, healthcare, income, irrigation, listening, and action. Today, there is neither listening nor action. Today, you can go anywhere and see that there is immense corruption. Nitish Kumar talks about Jungle Raj, but gives parole to such criminals who keep AK-47 at their house. Today, there is neither justice nor development in Bihar... We have always stood with the public of the state,' Yadav said. Ahead of the Assembly Election in Bihar, Leaders of the BJP, Janata Dal-United JD (U) and other constituents of the NDA have been reminding people of Bihar of 'jungle raj' under Lalu Prasad, saying there was a significant neglect of infrastructure, including roads, electricity, healthcare, and education. RJD leaders, on their part, have said that people will vote for change in Bihar polls and that the state continues to face problems of poverty and unemployment. (ANI)
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
ECI invites Rahul Gandhi to discuss his allegations on Maha Assembly polls: Sources
The Election Commission of India ( ECI ) invited the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi , for an interaction to discuss the issues related to his allegation on the Maharashtra Assembly Election held last year, sources said on Tuesday. According to the sources, the letter was sent via email on June 12 and was also received at his residence. The former Congress President has recently raised allegations against the poll body of "election rigging' in the Maharashtra assembly polls . However, ECI has rejected the allegations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Gandhi has further raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, citing the destruction of evidence as a potential indicator of election rigging against the backdrop of the Election Commission's (EC) revised guidelines on preserving video footage and photographs of elections, reducing the retention period to 45 days. Earlier, amid a demand for making available video or CCTV footage of the webcasting of the polling stations during the poll day, EC sources said that it is "entirely contrary to the privacy and security concerns of the voters" and sharing of the footage would leave both the elector, who has voted, as well as the elector, who has not voted, vulnerable to "pressure, discrimination and intimidation by anti-social elements". Live Events ECI sources also justified the decision in which the Election Commission has asked its state poll officers to destroy CCTV cameras, webcasting and video footage of the election process if the election result is not challenged in a court in 45 days. EC sources said some people are raising the demand for making available the video or CCTV footage of the webcasting of the polling stations on poll day. "While this suits their narrative in making the demand sound quite genuine and in the interest of voters and safeguarding the democratic process in the country, it is aimed at achieving exactly the opposite objective. What is veiled as a very logical demand is entirely contrary to the privacy and security concerns of the voters, the legal position laid down in the Representation of the People Act, 1950/1951 and the directions of the Supreme Court of India," a source said. "Sharing of the footage, which would enable easy identification of the electors by any group or an individual, would leave both the elector who has voted and the elector who has not voted vulnerable to pressure, discrimination and intimidation by anti-social elements. For instance, if a particular political party gets a lesser number of votes in a particular booth, it would easily be able to identify, through the CCTV footage, which elector has voted and which elector has not, and thereafter, may harass or intimidate the electors. Thus, what exactly lies beneath this layered demand of such persons or interest groups needs to be deciphered and exposed, the source added. EC sources said that the Election Commission retains the CCTV footage, which is purely an internal management tool and not a mandatory requirement, for a period of 45 days, which aligns with the period laid down for filing an Election Petition (EP). Earlier in the day, Gandhi claimed that the voter list grew by eight per cent in just five months in Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis 's constituency, labelling it as "vote theft". In a post on X, Gandhi shared a news article, demanding the immediate release of machine-readable digital voter rolls and CCTV footage. The former Congress President claimed that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) reported unknown individuals casting votes in Nagpur South West, where Fadnavis won last year by over 38,000 votes. He also pointed out that the media have also uncovered thousands of voters with no verified address. "In Maharashtra CM's constituency, the voter list grew by 8% in just 5 months. Some booths saw a 20-50% surge. BLOs reported unknown individuals casting votes. Media uncovered thousands of voters with no verified address," Gandhi said on X. "And the EC? Silent - or complicit. These aren't isolated glitches. This is vote theft. The cover-up is the confession," he alleged. "That's why we demand the immediate release of machine-readable digital voter rolls and CCTV footage," Gandhi said.
Mint
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Is Arvind Kejriwal going to Rajya Sabha? Here's what AAP chief really thinks
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won two of the three Assembly bypolls it contested on July 19. In the results announced on Monday, AAP won Ludhuiana West seat of Punjab and Visavadar seat of Gujarat. In Ludhiana West, AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora defeated his nearest rival and Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu by 10,676 votes after the 14th. Arora's win in the assembly election leaves a Rajya Sabha seat vacant. And thus the question doing the rounds in AAP political circles would be who will the party sent to the Upper House of Parliament to replace Arora. Will it be party chief Arvind Kejriwal, his foremr deputy CM Manish Sisodia, or a leader from Punjab? Kejriwal was asked this question during a press conference that he addressed after bypoll results on Monday. And here is what the former Delhi CM said:"Kejriwal nahin ja raha (Kejriwal is not going to the Rajya Sabha) though you (the media) have sent me there several times already." Last time specualtion about three time former CM Kejriwal's Rajya Sabha bid were sparked in February when AAP fielded Arora from Ludhiana West seat. This seat fell vacant last month after the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi in an accidental firing while cleaning his pistol. The AAP had then denied the reports. 'Arvind Kejriwal is not going to Rajya far as Arvind Kejriwal is concerned, media sources were earlier saying that he will become the Chief Minister of Punjab. Now, media sources are saying that he will contest from Rajya Sabha. Both these sources are absolutely wrong. Arvind Kejriwal is the national convenor of AAP. I agree that his demand is very high, but he is not limited to any one seat,' AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar told news agency ANI. Arora, a businessman, was elected to theRajya Sabhain 2022 from Punjab. His tenure is set to end in 2028. Now that he will be an MLA, Arora will have to resign from the Parliament leaving the seat vacant. Kejriwal nahin ja raha (Kejriwal is not going to the Rajya Sabha) though you (the media) have sent me there several times already. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the February 5 assembly election in Delhi bagging 48 seats. The AAP, which won the last two elections, won just 22 seats. The defeat meant AAP is only in power in Punjab. Kejriwal is not member of any house as of now after his recent defeat in Delhi Assembly Election. Remember Kejriwal had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha election against Narendra Modi from Varanasi in 2014. The AAP has 11 Rajya Sabha members, including Arora, presently. It has one Lok Sabha member too. Key Takeaways Kejriwal is currently not seeking a Rajya Sabha seat despite media speculation. Sanjeev Arora's recent win leaves a Rajya Sabha seat vacant, prompting questions about AAP's next move. AAP's recent electoral performance raises questions about its future strategy and leadership roles.
