No discrepancy by ECI or grounds of objection: Muslim leaders welcome SC verdict on SIR

New Delhi, Oct 28 (IANS) Almost two months after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi promised an explosive disclosure at the level of dropping a ‘hydrogen bomb’, he will launch the grand old party’s campaign for a poll process that he has been criticising for allegedly benefitting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Meanwhile, his party workers are yet to collect ingredients required for the revelation, while others have been squabbling for a nomination in Bihar Assembly elections where the mandate will come from electors listed in the voters’ roll prepared by the Election Commission after its Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

Since the Congress leadership published the final list of its candidates, they have been on the receiving end of outbursts from disgruntled members whose names did not feature among the list of nominees.

Earlier, the poll body completed the process of SIR of Bihar’s voters’ list, and released the final list of electors on September 30, where it claimed there were “Zero Appeals” as of Monday, October 27.

The Election Commission has further declared rolling out SIR in another dozen states and Union Territories. The decision has, in an expected manner, triggered sharp political reactions from Opposition parties, including the Congress, which has again accused the poll body of “vote theft”.

Among the 12 states and Union territories where the next phase of SIR will be held are West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, where elections are expected to be held by May-June next year.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi’s absence from Bihar’s political landscape has become a focal point of discussion as the state gears up for the November Assembly elections.

Despite earlier reports suggesting that he would negotiate seat-sharing equations directly with Mahagathbandhan ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, the matter was left to the Congress High Command’s emissaries.

Internal rebellion in the state unit by ticket hopefuls were also left to central leaders to address, as was the issue of candidates contesting against allies in some constituencies.

The ticket distribution process had escalated into accusations of corruption and favoritism, leading to protests, and a disconnect between the central leadership and local cadres.

Till the day of withdrawal of nomination papers for the second phase of the polls on October 23, uncertainty loomed over the Opposition bloc’s unity. Media queries on Rahul Gandhi’s absence reportedly did not elicit any response.

However, the Opposition’s ambitious “Voter Adhikar Yatra” in August, spanning some 1,300 km across 25 districts, initially did raise enthusiasm among Congress workers.

The gap since his last on-ground appearance has now affected the momentum and confidence.

Meanwhile, top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and others, including Tejashwi Yadav himself, have stepped up their respective campaign engagements.

Significantly, Tejashwi Yadav had launched a solo journey in some critical districts soon after the joint “Voter Adhikar Yatra” ended on September 1 that was much acclaimed by his party.

Since then, Rahul Gandhi’s absence has not only impacted Congress’s visibility on the ground but also exposed internal fractures within the party and among Opposition ranks.

Meanwhile, the Congress MP continued to attend to his commitment elsewhere, raising more questions. Some party leaders have justified his absence owing to the festivities where Rahul is scheduled to hold joint rallies with Tejashwi on October 29 and 30.

With phase one polling just days away (November 6), questions linger about the effectiveness of this late entry. While Congress circulates old clips of Rahul Gandhi’s yatra to rekindle support, the ground reality suggests that presence and timing are critical — that the delayed involvement may be more symbolic than strategic.

–IANS

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Agartala, July 20 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Sunday that the state government has taken all-out efforts to implement three victim-friendly, modern, technology-driven, and time-bound criminal laws.

Addressing a workshop on Investigation and Prosecution under New Criminal Laws and NDPS Act, the Chief Minister said that to ensure justice for all citizens in the changing times, the 150-year-old colonial Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) with effect from July 1, 2024. Alongside the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023, and the amended Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act have been implemented.

“The state Home Department is taking a proactive role in implementing these victim-friendly, modern, technology-driven, and time-bound laws. The workshop was organised by the Home Department to ensure the effective implementation of these citizen-friendly laws,” said Saha, who also holds the Home portfolio. He said that these new laws aim to modernise the Indian criminal justice system, prioritise victims’ rights, and incorporate technology into legal processes.

The Chief Minister said, “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the three new criminal laws were enacted. The people would benefit from these laws as they mandate a time-bound inquiry for the disposal of cases.”

Urging the police, lawyers and others concerned for a coordinated approach, Saha said that he is hopeful that with the implementation of the three criminal laws, the conviction rate in Tripura would be increased to a large extent. He said that in March, an important meeting was held about the three laws in Guwahati, and the Union Home Minister addressed the vital meeting, where Chief Ministers of all eight northeastern states were present.

“Under the new laws, FIRs can be filed in any police station from anywhere in the country. Elderly, ailing, or otherwise abled persons need not go to the police stations to lodge complaints. The complainant would get a free FIR copy,” Saha said.

Tripura Chief Secretary Jitendra Kumar Sinha, Director General of Police Anurag, and other senior police and civil officials were present at the day-long workshop.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has issued the guidelines for providing comprehensive information on the National Pension System Vatsalya (NPS Vatsalya), a contributory savings and long-term financial security scheme designed exclusively for minors.

In line with the amendments notified to the PFRDA (Exits and Withdrawals under NPS) Regulations, 2015, the NPS Vatsalya Guidelines lay down flexible provisions for long-term financial security of minors, while ensuring continuity of savings on attaining 18 years of age, according to a Finance Ministry statement issued on Tuesday.

The scheme is open to all Indian citizens, including NRI/OCI, below 18 years of age. The account is opened in the name of the minor, who is the sole beneficiary, and operated by the parent or legal guardian.

The minimum initial and annual contribution for the scheme is Rs 250, while there is no maximum limit on contributions. Contributions can also be gifted by relatives and friends.

The guardian can choose any one Pension Fund registered with PFRDA. Partial withdrawal is allowed after the completion of three years from opening the account. The withdrawal can be up to 25 per cent of own contributions (excluding returns) and is permitted for education, medical treatment, and specified disabilities.

Withdrawals from the account are allowed twice before the age of 18 years and twice between 18 and 21 years, subject to conditions. Once the minor turns 18 years of age, a fresh KYC is mandatory under the provisions.

The investment options are available till 21 years of age. The account holder can continue under NPS Vatsalya, or shift to NPS Tier I (All Citizen Model or any other applicable model), or exit with up to 80 per cent as a lump sum, while a minimum of 20 per cent has to be annuitised.

The full withdrawal of the amount is permitted if the corpus is Rs 8 lakh or less.

NPS Vatsalya was announced in the Union Budget for FY 2024-25 and subsequently launched on September 18, 2024, by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The scheme enables parents and legal guardians to systematically build long-term savings for their children from an early age, with a provision to shift to the National Pension System upon attaining majority.

The guidelines introduce a targeted incentivisation framework for community-level workers such as Anganwadi workers, ASHAs, and Bank Sakhis, recognising their role in creating awareness and facilitating onboarding, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.

NPS Vatsalya aims to nurture a culture of savings, promote financial literacy from an early age and strengthen long-term financial planning, aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. The guidelines seek to bring clarity, transparency, and uniformity for all stakeholders, while supporting the broader objective of creating a pensioned and financially secure society, the statement added.

–IANS

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