BJD approaches Orissa HC over Speaker’s rejection of disqualification plea

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Bhubaneswar, Sep 11 (IANS) The row over cross voting during the Rajya Sabha polls on March 16 this year has further intensified with the Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) moving the Orissa High Court against Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy’s decision to reject a petition seeking the disqualification of eight party MLAs.

Senior BJD leader and party’s chief Whip in the Odisha Assembly Pramila Mallik on Friday told reporters that she filed the petition before the court on Thursday challenging the Speaker’s decision.

Mallik alleged that the Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy has taken a unilateral decision with hearing the side of the opposition parties.

Speaking to media persons, she said, “The Speaker took a unilateral decision without giving us an opportunity to present our side. We, the BJD, have filed a petition before the High Court against the Speaker’s decision. We have full faith in the Court and are confident of getting justice.”

She also added that the BJD had earlier approached the Speaker seeking the disqualification of eight MLAs, alleging that they had violated the party whip during the Rajya Sabha elections.

The party has now urged the High Court to disqualify the legislators, citing their alleged anti-party conduct and failure to abide by the collective decision taken by the party.

The Opposition BJD and Congress had earlier filed separate petitions before Speaker Surama Padhy seeking the disqualification of 11 MLAs over alleged cross-voting during the March 16 Rajya Sabha elections and violation of their respective party whips.

Out of the 11 MLAs, eight belonged to the BJD and three to the Congress.

In June, Speaker Padhy turned down the pleas, citing deficiencies in the documents and the absence of adequate verification and supporting evidence.

Calling the petitions as ‘cryptic’, ‘vague’ and ‘unsubstantiated’, Padhy said that the applications were rejected as they had not produced sufficient facts as mandated under Sub-rules 6 and 7 of Rule 6 of the Members of Odisha Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules.

–IANS

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CM Gupta stated that the projects were approved in a meeting with Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari for streamlining traffic and reducing pollution in the city.

She said the proposed tunnel between Mahipalpur and Vasant Kunj will reduce congestion on multiple routes and create a signal-free corridor to airport.

It will be constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at an estimated cost of Rs 3,500 crore, she said.

The Chief Minister said that all technical and formal requirements for the project are in their final stages, and work is expected to commence early next year.

According to CM Rekha Gupta, the tunnel will comprise two underground tubes — one each for traffic in both directions.

Each tube will have three lanes, making a total of six lanes available for smooth traffic movement. The tunnel will also be equipped with modern facilities such as electro-mechanical systems, ventilation, fire safety, CCTV surveillance, control rooms, emergency exits, and cross-passages, she said.

She said the tunnel will reduce traffic in Dhaula Kuan, Rao Tula Ram Marg, and National Highway 48 (NH-48) area in Mahipalpur.

The tunnel will offer a direct, signal-free alternative route between South Delhi and Dwarka/Gurugram, which is expected to help eliminate traffic jams on NH-48, especially during peak hours, she said.

CM Rekha Gupta also noted that in the future, this tunnel will serve as a key connector between Central/East Delhi and multiple expressways and highways, including the Delhi Expressway (NE-5), NH-44, NH-10, Delhi-Jaipur Highway (NH-48), and Delhi-Dehradun Expressway (NH-709B) via the Urban Extension Road (UER) and Dwarka Expressway.

Calling this project, the “foundation for the Delhi of the future”, CM Rekha Gupta said that the tunnel will give a new direction to Delhi’s infrastructure and bring relief to millions of citizens.

She added: “We are committed to making Delhi congestion-free and clean. The construction of this tunnel will reduce the burden on roads, eliminate traffic signals, and save fuel.”

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LS Speaker Om Birla to discuss women empowerment at Tirupati conference on Sep 14

New Delhi, Sep 12 (IANS) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will lead discussions on empowerment and women-led development for Viksit Bharat while inaugurating a national conference in Tirupati on Sunday, an official said.

Apart from inaugurating the National Conference of the Committee on Empowerment of Women of Parliament and State/UT Legislatures, Birla will also open an exhibition and release a souvenir on the occasion.

The two-day Conference on September 14-15 will be attended by over 100 delegates from across the country. The theme of the Conference is ‘Empowering Women to Face Challenges of Emerging Technologies’.

The deliberations at the conference will focus on India’s digital transformation, opportunities and risks of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Blockchain, Robotics, Quantum Computing, Biotechnology, and Cybersecurity, and their implications for women, said the official in a statement.

The first such Conference of Committees on Empowerment of Women, the Conference in Tirupati, marks a renewed national dialogue on women’s empowerment, with a focus on equipping women to lead in the age of technological change.

Special emphasis will be laid during the conference on bridging the gender digital divide, increasing women’s representation in STEM fields, ensuring digital safety, and strengthening women’s role in entrepreneurship and innovation, he said.

The Conference will also examine strategies for women’s inclusion in emerging technology-driven economies in order to achieve the vision of a Developed Bharat by 2047.

Themes like ‘Women Led Development for Viksit Bharat’, ‘Gender Responsive Budgeting’ and ‘Empowering Women to Face Challenges of Emerging Technologies’ have also been included in the agenda.

Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer; Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu; Rajya Deputy Chairman Harivansh and Chairperson, Parliamentary Committee on Empowerment of Women, D. Purandeswari will also attend the conference.

Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker C. Ayyannapatrudu and Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council Chairman Koyye Moshenu Raju will address the inaugural session.

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Odisha govt seeks MEA’s intervention to rescue Jagatsinghpur youth trapped in Sudan

Bhubaneswar, Nov 4 (IANS) Following Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s direction, the Odisha government has written to the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), seeking immediate intervention to rescue Adarsha Kumar Behera, a youth from Jagatsinghpur district who has reportedly gone missing in Sudan.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), upon learning about the incident through media reports, CM Majhi instructed senior officials of the state government to take prompt action.

Following the CM’s directive, the Director General of Intelligence wrote to the MEA, urging it to take necessary steps to ensure Adarsha’s safe return.

Additionally, the Resident Commissioner in New Delhi has also communicated with the MEA, requesting coordination with the Indian Embassy in Sudan to trace Adarsha and facilitate his safe repatriation.

The Chief Minister has assured Adarsh’s family of all possible support from the state government and urged them to remain patient while efforts continue to bring him back safely.

According to reports, Adarsh, a resident of Kotakana village under Tirtol police limits, has been working in Sudan as a plastic operator since 2022.

Speaking to media persons on Tuesday, Adarsh’s wife said that a few days ago, she had received a call from her husband, during which he said he was trapped in Sudan.

She added that while Adarsh was trying to leave the African country with the help of his employer, he and two others were captured by rebels.

Adarsh’s wife further stated that in the video messages they have been receiving intermittently, her husband informed her that he was being beaten and mistreated by the rebels in Sudan.

Sources claimed that Adarsh is the only son of his parents, who work as daily wage earners to make ends meet. Adarsh, who had gone to Gujarat in search of work, later travelled to Sudan.

“I appeal to the government to ensure that my husband returns to Odisha at the earliest,” Adarsh’s wife urged.

–IANS

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