Hazaribagh’s Rakhi Sinha to attend R-Day event for excellence in Janaushadhi Kendra work

New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) The BJP and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) on Wednesday criticised the AAP after the Delhi government’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) summoned former ministers Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain in connection with the alleged Rs 2,000-crore classroom construction irregularities case. Both parties hailed the development as a long-awaited step toward justice for the people of Delhi, accusing the AAP of corruption and misuse of power for personal gain.

Satyendar Jain has been asked to appear before the ACB on June 6, while Manish Sisodia has been summoned for questioning on June 9. The summons relate to alleged irregularities in the awarding and execution of contracts for the construction of school classrooms and temporary shelters in the national Capital.

Speaking to IANS, Maharashtra BJP MLA Ram Kadam stated, “Whenever action is taken against AAP leaders, they claim it’s all done out of revenge. I want to say they should take it to the courts. If they have proper proof, they should present it in court.”

He accused the AAP leaders of constructing a ‘Sheesh Mahal’ while performing a “drama” with the poor, alleging that they only used their power to make money.

“Everything is on paper; how can you ignore it?” he added.

Delhi Minister for Environment, Forest, and Wildlife, Manjinder Singh Sirsa also condemned the AAP, calling it “the most corrupt party in the country.”

He accused Sisodia and Jain of being at the centre of the massive scam involving classrooms and temporary shelters.

“Just imagine such a huge scam worth Rs 2,000 crore, where temporary shelters were allotted at Rs 8,800 per square foot — a rate high enough to build a five-star hotel with furniture costing not less than Rs 1,500 per foot,” Sirsa stated.

He further alleged, “The money was given to 34 favourites of the accused, with rates fixed by the architects themselves. The whole process was rigged, resulting in crores being looted.”

Sirsa expressed satisfaction at the ongoing investigation, claiming, “Now the people of Delhi are finally getting justice. The way Jain and Sisodia looted Delhi with both hands, the time has come for them to give an account. The ACB will complete the investigation, and everything will be revealed.”

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader and former MP, Malook Nagar, also weighed in on the matter, emphasising the rule of law and constitutional process.

“This country is run by the Constitution and laws made by the Parliament,” Nagar said.

“If any person commits a scam, they must face legal scrutiny through the proper agencies.”

He stressed the importance of accountability in public office, adding, “This scam involving thousands of crores is serious, so summons and notices must be sent, and those involved have to answer for it. The responsibility lies with the investigating agencies.”

Nagar urged them to cooperate with the legal process, stating, “Those concerned must justify their actions by submitting documents and proving their innocence within the legal framework.”

He reaffirmed the principle of equality before the law, saying, “This is a democracy, and the law is the same for everyone. It is not just a common man who can be punished — even those holding constitutional posts now or in the past cannot escape accountability. The country will be run by the Constitution, and everyone will have to follow the same process.”

Meanwhile, both Jain and Sisodia have been asked to join the investigation in connection with alleged irregularities in the construction of semi-permanent school rooms and buildings, by the then executive of Delhi government, at inflated costs.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 4 (IANS) New Delhi-based rights group — Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) — on Monday claimed that 878 journalists were targeted over the past year under the interim government of Bangladesh, led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.

The RRAG in its report titled, ‘Bangladesh: Media Freedom Murdered By Dr Muhammad Yunus’ stated that attacks on journalists increased by 230 per cent over the past year, compared to 383 cases reported under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina between August 2023 and July 2024.

The RRAG report, released on Monday on the occasion of one year of the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, stated that Press freedom in Bangladesh has deteriorated further and 878 journalists were attacked under the interim government from August 2024 to July 2025, an increase by about 230 per cent.

Giving further details of the attacks on the journalists in Bangladesh, RRAG Director Suhas Chakma stated, “The number of criminal cases filed against journalists under the Yunus regime (195 cases) during 2024-2025 increased by 558 per cent in comparison to the number of cases (35 cases) filed against journalists under Hasina during 2023-2024.

“While Hasina’s regime was not known to have denied any accreditation to journalists, Yunus used accreditation as an instrument to punish the journalists allegedly associated with the previous regime and denied accreditation to 167 media persons.

“During 2023-2024, Hasina’s regime was not known to have used the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), anti-money laundering agency of the country, against the journalists but Yunus let loose the BFIU which issued notices to 107 journalists,” Chakma said.

He said that while 348 media persons faced acts of violence and criminal intimidation under Sheikh Hasina’s regime, mostly during the July 2024 uprising, about 431 journalists faced acts of violence and criminal intimidation under Yunus’ tenure.

The RRAG report said that the situation of the media continues to deteriorate under the interim government of Bangladesh led by Yunus.

On June 25 (2025), journalist Khandaker Shah Alam, a correspondent of Daily Matrijagat, was murdered at Nabinagar Upazila, in Dhaka’s northeast, in a targeted retaliation by Babul Mia, known locally as ‘Tiger Babul Dakat’ after he was released from prison, the report said.

According to the report, on July 27 (2025), the Cyber Tribunal of Dhaka issued arrest warrants against three journalists, Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Naem Nizam, its publisher Moynal Hossain Chowdhury and news portal Bangla Insider’s Chief Editor Syed Borhan Kabir under the Digital Security Act (DSA) despite a declaration by Law Adviser Asif Nazrul on June 27 (2025) that all cases under the DSA had been withdrawn.

On April 21 (2025), Kongkon Karmaker was dismissed by The Daily Star as Dinajpur correspondent only because his report about the death of religious minority Bhabesh Chandra Roy was picked up by multiple Indian media outlets and India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the report added.

RRAG Director Chakma said that in order to silence the media, Yunus established ‘CA Press Wing Facts’ as the de facto censorship authority by other means, the manufacturer of the government version of the truth, and to intimidate media houses and NGOs including the Rights & Risks Analysis Group, through disinformation.

The RRAG stated that it would approach the international community including the Human Rights (Joint Committee) of the United Kingdom seeking review support to the interim government of Bangladesh on governance issues and consider withdrawing bilateral support in the light of the absolute silencing of the media in the country.

–IANS

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Guwahati, June 23 (IANS) The proposed Greenfield Doloo Airport project in Assam’s Cachar district took a significant leap forward on Monday as the mandatory public hearing concluded without incident.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hailed the development in a post on X, calling it “A Major Step Forward” in the state’s efforts to transform Barak Valley into a thriving hub of connectivity and economic progress.

“The public hearing for the Greenfield Doloo Airport project in Cachar district concluded peacefully today — a significant milestone in our journey to transform Barak Valley into a hub of connectivity and development,” Sarma wrote.

“We are now one step closer to realising our grand vision for the region. Gratitude to all stakeholders for their cooperation and support.”

The public hearing, a key part of the environmental clearance process, saw the participation of government officials, local residents, and environmental experts.

The peaceful conclusion is being seen as a positive indicator of public support and a green signal for the next phase of approvals and groundwork.

The Doloo Airport project, once completed, is expected to boost tourism, improve regional access, and open new avenues for trade and employment in southern Assam.

Last year, the Supreme Court overturned an order from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that had rejected a plea against land clearance at the Doloo Tea Estate in Silchar, Assam, for a proposed greenfield airport.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification of 2006 was broken by the clearing activities that were underway, according to a bench made up of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

Consequently, it reversed the Eastern Zonal Bench of NGT’s ruling and ordered that no action be taken that would violate the 2006 notification. The court further stated that by declining to consider the plea, the NGT had disregarded its obligation.

Notably, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta declared in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court that no work would be done until an environmental clearance was obtained. The NGT ruling from March 25 that rejected the argument against the removal of around 41 lakh bushes was the subject of an appeal being heard by the court.

According to the petition before the NGT, the airport’s environmental clearance (EC) had not been approved, and the EIA report was still pending. The CJI recommended maintaining the status quo until the environmental clearance report was obtained during Monday’s hearing.

In response to the petitioners, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta asserted that a few of the 1300 kilometres away petitioners were submitting self-serving petitions. He contended that on-site labourers also chopped down trees for residential use and underlined the necessity of taking the greenfield project’s wind direction into account.

The CJI then noted a report from the secretary of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in the Cachar district that the court-appointed officer was unable to travel far due to the dense forest and dangerous fauna, and that tea bushes had been uprooted by heavy machinery. The SG claimed that the petitioners were misleading the court by bringing up certain images with it.

The court recommended against taking any more action until an EIA report was available, despite the arguments.

SG Mehta argued that erroneous claims that houses were being demolished and trees were being chopped down were misleading the court.

“This is an example of the abuse of this court’s jurisdiction. The so-called expert says some other land is better land and hasn’t even been to the site,” he said.

However, petitioners’ advocate Prashant Bhushan emphasised that trees were also chopped down in addition to shrubs. He added that it was acknowledged that 41 lakh tea bushes had been uprooted, and as a result, he argued that the joint secretary’s affidavit contained misleading information.

According to the court, 41 lakh bushes had been removed; hence, the act could not be considered a routine cleaning. It mentioned, “What needs to be noted is that in the present case, the clearance of the site was by no means traceable to the cultivation of the tea estate. The clearance was not a part of the regular maintenance of a tea estate.”

The court noted that the uprooting was in breach of the EIA notification and that the NGT “abdicated” its duty by dismissing the plea. The apex court set aside the NGT order and directed that the Assam government can again request to commence work at the site once the clearance report is received.

–IANS

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