Category: SPECIAL

New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) The BJP has issued a strict three-line whip to all its Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, directing them to remain present in the House continuously from April 16 to April 18, amid the upcoming special sitting of Parliament.

In an official notice signed by Office Secretary Shiv Shakti Nath Bakshi, the party stated: “A Three-Line Whip is being issued to all BJP Members in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha from Thursday to Saturday, 16th to 18th April 2026.”

It further instructed: “All Hon’ble Union Ministers and Members are requested to remain present in the House throughout all the three above-mentioned dates.”

The notice added, “Presence in the House is mandatory. No leave will be granted. Members are requested to strictly comply with the Whip and ensure their uninterrupted attendance in the House.”

The directive underscores the importance of the upcoming legislative agenda, with the government expected to push key business during the special session of Parliament beginning April 16, which will run for three days.

Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will reconvene on April 16 after a brief break in the Budget Session. The session is expected to focus on significant legislative proposals, including major reform bills linked to electoral and structural changes in governance.

Lawmakers are also expected to engage in high-stakes discussions that may require full attendance and possible voting, prompting the ruling party to enforce strict discipline through the whip.

The Women’s Reservation Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam), which provides 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, is expected to be taken up during the upcoming special session of Parliament beginning April 16.

A three-line whip is considered the strongest directive in parliamentary procedure, and violation can lead to serious disciplinary action, including possible disqualification from the party in extreme cases.

The issuance of the whip comes amid heightened political activity in Parliament, where the government is preparing for crucial debates and potential passage of key bills. The opposition is also expected to strongly contest the agenda during the session, making full attendance of ruling party MPs strategically important.

–IANS

rs/dpb

New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Sunday backed party chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s concerns regarding the Special Session of the Parliament on Women’s Reservation (Amendment) Bill on April 16, calling it a “clear breach of the Model of Conduct” as the Assembly election campaign will still be underway.

Congress has sought an all-party meeting regarding the delimitation before conducting a special session. The party has demanded that all this be done after April 29, when the active campaigning for Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal is over.

In a post on X, Ramesh shared Kharge’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and wrote, “The Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge ji writes to the PM on the special session of Parliament being convened next week in the middle of the election campaign in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal — which is a clear breach of the Model Code of Conduct. He has reiterated the opposition’s request to have an All-Party meeting convened anytime after April 29, 2026.”

A Special Session has been convened next week to deliberate on and pass the Women’s Reservation (Amendment) Bill.

PM Modi has written to floor leaders of all parties in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, seeking their support for the unanimous passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam to ensure the implementation of women’s reservation ahead of the 2029 elections.

Kharge, in his reply to the Prime Minister’s letter, has criticised the Centre for “hurrying” the implementation of the Women’s Reservation (Amendment) Bill to “gain political mileage” rather than women’s empowerment.

In his reply to the Prime Minister’s letter to all parties in both Houses of the Parliament, Kharge said, “I have just received your letter on the special session of Parliament for a discussion on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam from April 16. As you are aware, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 was passed by Parliament unanimously in September 2023.”

“At that time, on behalf of the Indian National Congress, I had demanded that this important law should become effective immediately. Though in your letter you have mentioned that there was a broad consensus for its immediate implementation, you did not implement the same,” he said.

The Congress chief urged the PM for an all-party meeting regarding delimitation, which he said was associated with the changes to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023. He also alleged that the special session of Parliament was convened without consulting the opposition.

“You will appreciate that without details of the delimitation and other aspects, it would be impossible to have any useful discussion on this historic law,” he said.

“You mention in your letter that your government has engaged in dialogue with political parties regarding this. However, I am pained to point out that this goes against the truth since all the Opposition parties have been urging the government to call an All-Party meeting after the current round of elections is over on April 29, 2026, to discuss the Constitution amendments being contemplated,” Kharge added.

He further accused the government of rushing the implementation of the Bill for political gains.

“The calling of a special sitting during the ongoing state elections only reinforces our belief that your government is hurrying the implementation of the Bill to gain political mileage rather than truly empower women,” he said.

Recalling the passage of past bills, Kharge said, “I am also pained to write that the past record of the government in matters of public importance, whether it is demonetisation, GST, census or even those pertaining to the federal structure like implementing Finance Commission recommendations and tax devolutions, does not inspire any confidence.”

“The constitutional amendments being planned will affect both the Centre and the states, and it is important that all parties and states, however small they may be, are heard in a democracy,” he said.

If the special sitting is meant to “strengthen our democracy” and “moving forward together”, “taking everyone along” as the Prime Minister writes in the letter, the Congress chief said that then he suggests that the Centre convene an All-Party meeting any time after April 29, when the ongoing Assembly elections are over, to discuss the delimitation issue which is being linked to the amendment to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party will require support from opposition parties to secure the two-thirds majority needed for the passage of the constitutional amendment in Parliament.

The proposed legislation seeks to delink the implementation of women’s reservation from the 2027 Census and instead base it on the 2011 Census, in a move aimed at ensuring that the quota comes into effect before the 2029 general elections.

–IANS

sd/dpb

New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Sunday inaugurated a conference titled ‘Transformation of Tribal Lives through Science and Technological Interventions – Preserving Language, Faith and Culture’ at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital.

The conference was organised by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, in collaboration with the North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) and ITITI Doon Sanskriti School, Dehradun.

Addressing the gathering, the Vice President underscored the significance of blending modern innovation with traditional wisdom, stating that the conference has “beautifully demonstrated the power of scientific temper and technological advancement when combined with traditional knowledge”.

“When modern science works in harmony with language, faith and culture, it becomes a powerful force for protection and empowerment,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of tribal communities in India’s social and cultural landscape, Vice President Radhakrishnan said, “India has around 1.4 lakh tribal villages, comprising nearly 9 per cent of the country’s population.”

He emphasised that tribal communities hold rich traditional knowledge systems that play a vital role in conserving biodiversity and ensuring the sustainable use of forest resources.

He further noted that these communities have, over centuries, safeguarded India’s ancient cultural values, faith traditions and civilisational heritage.

The Vice President pointed out that tribal regions hold “immense potential” for green economic growth. He also praised the “exceptional skills” found among tribal communities, particularly in areas such as design, textiles and colour combinations, which have been preserved and passed down through generations.

Referring to the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, he said the guiding philosophy remains ‘Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi’, stressing that “modern development and preservation of traditions are not contradictory but complementary”.

Recalling his tenure as a Member of the 12th and 13th Lok Sabha, Vice President Radhakrishnan mentioned his support for the formation of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand, noting that these developments contributed significantly to tribal welfare and empowerment.

He also paid tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for establishing the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, describing the move as a “moral commitment to justice, dignity and opportunity for tribal communities”.

The Vice President spoke about his visits to the birthplace of Bhagwan Birsa Munda at Ulihatu in Jharkhand and appreciated the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in “bringing the contributions of tribal freedom fighters to the forefront of national consciousness”.

Highlighting key government initiatives, he referred to the PM-JANMAN programme, under which more than 2,400 roads covering nearly 7,300 km and over 160 bridges have been sanctioned.

He also mentioned the ‘Dharti Abha – Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan’, which aims to benefit over 63,000 tribal villages by focusing on clean drinking water, housing, education, healthcare and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Vice President Radhakrishnan also noted the rapid development of infrastructure and connectivity in the North-Eastern region and reiterated the Centre’s commitment to ensuring inclusive and balanced growth across all regions.

Congratulating ITITI Doon Sanskriti School on completing its Silver Jubilee year, he recalled that the institution was inaugurated 25 years ago by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He praised the school for emerging as a source of hope for tribal children from Uttarakhand, the North-East and Ladakh, adding that more than 2,000 tribal students have benefited from free, quality education provided by the institution.

–IANS

sd/

New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) The ongoing conflict in the Middle East could create strategic openings for China to expand its influence across Asia, particularly at a time when the United States is heavily “engaged in another theatre,’ according to a report.

“The war in the Middle East… is also reshaping the strategic environment in ways that extend far beyond the region,” the report by Japan Forward said, adding that by tying down American attention and resources, the conflict is leaving other regions “more vulnerable than they appear”, creating conditions that China has historically been adept at exploiting.

The analysis underscores that Beijing does not necessarily need to trigger crises to gain an advantage. “China’s strategic approach does not rely on precipitating crises in Asia… it often benefits more from their absence, particularly when the United States is preoccupied in another theatre.”

Drawing on historical patterns, the report points out that periods of intense US engagement in the Middle East have coincided with significant Chinese activity in Asia. “The years of the Iraq War offer an early example… Beijing expanded its footprint in the South China Sea with relatively limited external resistance,” the report states.

Similarly, during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, China increased military pressure around Taiwan. The report noted: “Taiwan recorded more than 900 sorties by the People’s Liberation Army into its Air Defense Identification Zone”, reflecting a strategy of sustained pressure below the threshold of open conflict.

The report also highlights the impact of US military deployment patterns, stating that when key assets such as carrier strike groups are stationed in regions like the Eastern Mediterranean or Red Sea, “they are necessarily absent from the Western Pacific”. This shift, it argues, can alter the strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific.

According to Japan Forward, China has increasingly relied on incremental and calibrated actions, including military exercises and infrastructure development, to reshape the regional landscape without triggering direct confrontation. “Each calibrated action… has remained below the threshold of an all-out crisis. Yet, together, they have reshaped the strategic environment in ways difficult to reverse,” the report notes.

The report also draws parallels with developments along India’s northern borders, referencing the 2020 Galwan Valley clash and subsequent infrastructure build-up as part of a broader pattern of strategic positioning.

In conclusion, Japan Forward emphasises that China’s approach is driven by timing and opportunity, stating that “the objective has not been to trigger confrontation but to reshape realities gradually in ways that avoid immediate escalation”.

–IANS

rs/vd

New Delhi, March 28 (IANS) With the Jaish-e-Mohammad largely remaining in reset mode, its operatives within India have been told to find new ways of raising funds for operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Jaish-e-Mohammad was one of the hardest hit terror groups during Operation Indoor. Not only was its headquarters in Bahawalpur razed to rubble, but its chief Masood Azhar ended up losing several of his closest family members.

Although there are scores of Jaish-e-Mohammad operatives waiting in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to infiltrate into India, they have not been able to do so owing to very high security.

Now, the Jaish-e-Mohammad cadres in Jammu and Kashmir have been told to raise funds and recruit locals to carry out attacks.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that there are several overground workers (OWGs) in Jammu and Kashmir, and they have been told to run an extortion racket.

The official said that these OWGs have been preparing a hit list, not just in Jammu and Kashmir, but in Punjab, Haryana and New Delhi. The idea is to target rich individuals and extort money from them. Further, these operatives are also planning kidnappings in exchange for ransom, the official added.

In addition to this, the Jaish-e-Mohammad is also building a spy network at the behest of the ISI. The OWGs have been told to identify vulnerable people in the bordering states and trap them into joining the spy network, officials say.

The Jaish-e-Mohammad continues to nurture 100s of OWGs in Jammu and Kashmir. They have been instructed not to indulge in acts of terror in the Valley at the moment. Instead, they have been told to raise funds through kidnappings and extortions.

Another official said that there is a clear sign that the outfit is taking things slow, because it is very hard to operate now. Post the Pahalgam attack, security is high both at the borders and within Jammu and Kashmir. Not only have infiltrations become hard, but operating within the Valley is tough owing to heavy scrutiny.

Another major issue that the Jaish-e-Mohammad is facing relates to funding. The cash flow has almost stopped, and hence its operatives in the Valley have been told to fend for themselves.

Officials say that the Jaish-e-Mohammad realises that infiltrations have become extremely hard. This has led the outfit to change its strategy and think about completely localised operations.

However, for these operations to take off, there is a dire need of funds. Funds from across the border have stopped due to heavy security, and this has led the OWGs to raise money on their own. The Jaish-e-Mohammad-backed OWGs are spreading into Haryana and Delhi apart from Jammu and Kashmir.

Many OWGs have branched out in different directions and are looking to extort money from rich people.

Officials say that these persons would also look to kidnap the children of rich people and demand a ransom. All this money, which they intend to make, would be routed into setting up modules and funding operations of the Jaish-e-Mohammad in Jammu and Kashmir, the official also added.

The changing tactics of the Jaish-e-Mohammad were visible when the police busted one of its modules in Mohali, Punjab. Sahil Bashir (19) of Handwara Language in Jammu and Kashmir was arrested along with two others in a murder case. The police alleged that these persons had shot a driver, Anil Kumar.

The police say that this points to a case of carjacking and the accused had intended to raise funds. Bashir, who led the operation, was a wanted criminal under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The accused, after killing the driver, drove away with the belongings. It was a clear case of carjacking aimed at raising funds for terror activities.

The Intelligence agencies warn that this trend could spread into Haryana and Delhi as the Jaish-e-Mohammad has already planned major operations relating to kidnapping and extortion. The incident in Punjab is just a precursor to what the outfit has been planning in other states as well, officials say.

–IANS

vn/uk