LOK SABHA CLEARS WOMEN’S RESERVATION BILL

Clearing the decks for a landmark legislation on 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, the Lower House Wednesday passed the women’s reservation Bill with near unanimity: 454 votes in favour and two from the AIMIM against it.

Responding to apprehensions of delay in the Bill’s implementation, Union Home Minister Shah urged the House to make a start – “Shri Ganesh toh kijiye” – and said the next govt will conduct the census and the delimitation exercise soon after the next Lok Sabha elections and set in motion the process to make reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies a reality.

Describing the Bill, which will be taken to Rajya Sabha today for its clearance, as a “good start”, Shah said “anything incomplete” could be addressed in the future. “Agar kuchh adhoora hai to kal sudhaar lenge (if something is incomplete, we can improve it later). Please support it today.”

He said the “delimitation process” to decide which constituency is to be reserved for women will be “transparent” and it will be done by a Delimitation Commission. “Who will decide which seats will be reserved? If Wayanad (Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha constituency) or (AIMIM MP Asaduddin) Owaisi Ji’s Hyderabad get reserved, you all will complain,” he said, explaining the need for the delimitation process before implementation of the women’s quota.

“The Delimitation Commission is an important part of our system. It is quasi-judicial. It is headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, there is a representative of the Election Commission and a member of each political party… Going to constituencies and talking to people, the Delimitation Commission will decide in a transparent manner which seats are to be reserved.”

In a veiled reference to Rahul Gandhi’s remark that there are only three OBC Secretaries in the Govt of India, Shah said, “Some people think Secretaries run the country, I think the govt does. This govt run by the BJP has 85 OBC MPs… 29% of the total number of party MPs. Of the party’s 1318 legislators across India, 365, who constitute 27 %, are OBC MLAs. Around 40% of the 163 BJP MLCs are OBCs… Your party never made an OBC the Prime Minister. The BJP has made an OBC the Prime Minister.”

Targeting the Congress which tried to bring the Bill during UPA rule, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said it developed cold feet and had “excuses” like consensus and quota-within-quota.

Both Dubey and Union Minister Smriti Irani targeted the Opposition over the demand for immediate implementation of the Bill, saying the govt was just following the Constitutional process. Article 82 of the Constitution talks about delimitation after the census in 2026. Is it the position of the Opposition leaders that we should not abide by the Constitution?” Irani said.

Taking on the Congress which maintained that the Bill was its agenda, Irani said: “Success has many fathers and failure has none. So when the Bill was introduced yesterday, some people started saying that it was their Bill… But I am glad that someone here has clarified that even the 73rd and the 75th Constitutional amendments (related to Panchayati Raj and Rent Tribunals), which were said to have been brought by a certain political family, were also by P V Narasimha Rao.”

She also hit out at Opposition parties demanding reservation for minorities, saying they do not know that reservation based on religion is “prohibited” by the Constitution.

SONIA GANDHI LEADS OPPN CHORUS: IMPLEMENT IMMEDIATELY, EXTEND BENEFIT TO OBCs

Backing the Constitution Amendment Bill, = seeking to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, Opposition parties demanded Wednesday that the govt implement the proposed legislation “immediately”, and conduct a caste census to extend the benefits of this law to women belonging to OBCs.

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi said, “Congress party supports this Bill. We are happy with the passing of this Bill, but there is also a concern. I want to ask a question: Indian women have been waiting for their political responsibility for the last 13 years and now they are being asked to wait for a few more years. How many years? 2 years, 4 years, 6 years, 8 years? Is this treatment of Indian women appropriate?”

Demanding that the women’s reservation Bill be implemented, she said, “Indian National Congress demands that this Bill should be implemented immediately, but along with it, arrangements should be made for reservation of women belonging to Schedule Caste, Schedule Tribe and OBC by conducting caste census. The govt must take whatever steps are necessary to make this a reality.”

“Any further delay in implementing this bill is a grave injustice to Indian women,” she said.

Stating that this is a “very emotional moment” of her life, Sonia Gandhi said, “For the first time, the Constitutional amendment that was aimed to fix representation of women in local bodies was brought by my life partner, Rajiv Gandhi Ji, which was defeated in Rajya Sabha by 7 votes. Later, the Congress govt, under the leadership of Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, got it passed. Today, the result is that we have 15 lakh elected women leaders through local bodies across the country. Rajiv Gandhi Ji’s dream has so far been only half-fulfilled. With the passing of this Bill, it will be accomplished fully,” she said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who spoke later in the day, said, “There is one thing lacking in this Bill in my opinion. And that is OBC reservation. I think a large chunk of India’s women should have access to this reservation.” He said it was “strange that you require a new census and delimitation to implement this Bill”.

“I think this Bill can be implemented today by giving 33% reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha to India’s women. And so, I wonder if this is not designed to push the ball further to 7, 8, 9 years and then let the things play out. I know my friends like to take the attention away… one is the Adani issue. The other thing the govt wants to deflect from is caste census,” he said.

Harsimrat Kaur Badal of the SAD supported the Bill and attacked the govt for its timing and general lack of concern for women. “In 75 years, the increase in representation of women in Parliament is just 9%. Even the speed of a bullock cart is higher. Almost 50% of Assemblies in India have never seen a woman legislator. Nobody knows when the census will take place, when delimitation will take place. Nobody knows when this reservation will come into effect. When it was part of the 2014 manifesto, why did you take nine-and-a-half years to bring it? They say the census could not happen because of the pandemic. So how have China and the UK done it? You are Vishwaguru. You can order a lockdown with the click of your finger, order demonetisation with the click of your finger, so why can’t you do it for women’s reservation,” Badal asked.

AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi opposed the Bill on the ground that it had no quota for Muslims and OBCs.

TMC’s Mahua Moitra said, “What this govt has brought here is not a women’s reservation Bill, it is a women’s reservation rescheduling Bill. Its agenda is delay, its agenda is not reservation. The constant dithering on when there will be the next census and when there will be delimitation will mean that the reservation is indefinitely delayed. This is not a historic Bill as is being touted. It is a sham. The question of women’s reservation requires action, not the legislatively mandated procrastination.”

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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G7 STATEMENT DOESN'T MENTION CANADA'S NIJJAR CASE ALLEGATION

Despite expressions of concern from some “Five Eye” countries such as the US, the UK and Australia over Canadian PM Justin Trudeau charge of “credible links” of assassins of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar with the Indian Govt, the G7 bloc did not insert the allegation in a joint statement issued on the margins of the UN General Assembly.

Reports from the US media had earlier said most G7 countries had rejected the weeks-long lobbying by Trudeau asking them to raise Nijjar’s killing with India at the highest levels of govt and issue a joint statement condemning it as infringement of international norms.

Of the handful of countries that issued statements, only Australia said it had raised concerns with high levels of the Indian Govt and its Foreign Office touched upon the issue of sovereignty. The highest level from which a statement was issued was by the spokesperson of the National Security Council attached with the White House.

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti described Trudeau’s allegations as “troubling” and underlined the importance of following principles of international law, sovereignty and non-interference.

The UK Foreign Office’s expression of concern was tempered by its PM Rishi Sunak ruling out any rethink on trade talks with India. The Australian PM also asked the media to “chill a bit” shortly after its Foreign Office had expressed concern.

There was no mention of the Nijjar killing or India in the text of the statement released by the new Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko in her capacity as Chair of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. At the meeting in New York on Tuesday, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US and the European Union slammed Russia, China, the Indo-Pacific, North Korea, Niger but no mention of India.

DAYS AFTER PROTEST ANNIV, IRAN HOUSE APPROVES STRICTER HEADSCARF LAW

Iran’s parliament on Wednesday approved a bill to impose heavier penalties on women who refuse to wear the mandatory Islamic headscarf in public and those who support them. The move came just days after the anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22year-old woman who had been detained by the morality police for violating the country’s dress code. Her death in custody ignited months of protests in which many called for the overthrow of Iran’s theocracy.

The 70-item bill extends punishments to business owners who serve women not wearing the mandatory headscarf, known as hijab, and activists who organise against it. Violators could face up to 10 years in prison if the offense occurs in an organised way. The bill, which was approved by 152 lawmakers in Iran’s 290-seat parliament, requires ratification by the Guardian Council, a clerical body that serves as constitutional watchdog. It would take effect for a preliminary period of three years.

THE REST

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INDIA'S CANADA TRAVEL ADVISORY WARNS OF 'POLITICALLY-CONDONED' HATE CRIMES

India on Wednesday advised all its nationals living in Canada and those contemplating travelling there to exercise "utmost caution" in view of growing anti-India activities and "politically-condoned" hate crimes as well as "criminal violence" in that country.

This was stated in an advisory issued by the ministry of external affairs (MEA) that came amid the deteriorating diplomatic ties between the two nations following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.

In the advisory, the MEA asked the Indian students in Canada to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant. "In view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada, all Indian nationals there and those contemplating travel are urged to exercise utmost caution," the MEA said in the advisory.

Officials in New Delhi say that at least nine separatist organisations supporting terror groups have their bases in Canada and despite multiple deportation requests Ottawa has taken no action against those involved in heinous crimes.

Eight individuals involved in terror activities and as many gangsters, who have been conspiring with Pakistan's ISI, have found a safe haven in Canada, the officials said.

CANADIAN ARMY TO ATTEND INDO-PACIFIC MEET

The Canadian Army will take part in the upcoming Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference to be held in Delhi and the ongoing diplomatic row will not impact its participation in the multilateral conference, said a senior Army officer.

Major General Abhinaya Rai rejected apprehensions that the diplomatic row with Canada would impact its participation in the conference. The Canadian army is scheduled to participate in a 3-day event from September 25 to 27.

SC TO REVISIT VERDICT ON IMMUNITY TO LAWMAKERS IN CASH FOR VOTE CASES

Saying that it is necessary to reconsider “the correctness” of a 1998 5-judge Constitution Bench judgment in the P V Narasimha Rao case — where the majority had held that legislators have immunity against criminal prosecution on bribery charges for any speech or vote in Parliament — the Supreme Court on Wednesday referred the decision to a 7-judge Bench.

The P V Narasimha Rao case refers to the 1993 JMM bribery case, in which Shibu Soren and some of his party MPs were accused of taking bribes to vote against the no-confidence motion against the then P V Narasimha Rao govt. The Supreme Court had quashed the case against the JMM MPs, citing immunity under Article 105(2).

On Wednesday, the matter came up in another case related to bribery charges against JMM MLA Sita Soren, who was accused of having accepted a bribe to vote for an independent candidate in the 2012 Rajya Sabha elections. A fresh election was held later.

‘SOCIALIST’, ‘SECULAR’ MISSING IN COPIES OF CONSTITUTION GIVEN TO MPs: CONG

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury today alleged an attack on the Constitution by the BJP and pointed out that copies of the Constitution given to MPs on the opening day of the new Parliament building did not contain the words “socialist” and “secular”.

The Preamble to the Constitution, which was adopted on January 26, 1950, had originally described India as a “sovereign democratic republic”. During the Emergency, the Indira Gandhi govt had, through the 42nd constitutional amendment, inserted the words “socialist” and “secular” into the Preamble, making India a “sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic”.

“We know that the words were added after an amendment in 1976, but if someone gives us the Constitution today and it doesn’t have those words, it is a matter of concern…. Their intention is suspicious,” Chowdhury said.

Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal said the MPs were given a copy of the original Constitution, and the words “secular” and “socialist” did not feature in the text drafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar.

UDHAYANIDHI CITES PRESIDENT MURMU’S ABSENCE IN NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING TO SHARPEN ATTACK ON SANATAN DHARMA

DMK Youth wing leader and Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Wednesday alleged President Droupadi Murmu was not invited to the new Parliament building, during its inauguration earlier or now, as she was a widow and hailed from the tribal community.

He had earlier stoked a row with his anti-Sanatan Dharma remarks that led to a heated debate across the country.

Speaking at a party event, he said: “Yesterday a female Hindi actor was taken to the new Parliament building but there was no permission for the president. Why? Because Draupadi Murmu is from a tribal community, because she has lost her husband. This is what we call sanatana dharma,” he added.

INDIAN MEDICAL GRADUATES CAN NOW PRACTICE IN US, AUSTRALIA, CANADA

The National Medical Commission (NMC), India, has been being awarded the coveted World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) Recognition Status for a tenure of 10 years, according to a press release from the Union Health Ministry. 

WFME recognition will enable Indian medical graduates to pursue postgraduate training and practice in other countries that require WFME recognition, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, the release added.

Under this accreditation all the 706 existing medical colleges become WFME accredited and the new medical colleges that will be set up in the coming 10 years will automatically become WFME accredited.

This will also make India an attractive destination for international students due to our globally recognized standards.

CHANDRAYAAN-3 MISSION: DAWN BREAKS ON MOON, ALL EYES ON LANDER, ROVER TO WAKE UP

With a new dawn breaking on Moon on Wednesday, ISRO is gearing up to try and nudge the lander and rover modules of Chandrayaan-3 mission to awaken from their sleep in an extremely frigid atmosphere.

The solar-powered Chandrayaan-3 modules had a mission life of just one lunar day, equivalent to about 14 days on Earth. The electronics were not designed to withstand the extremely cold night-time temperatures on the Moon, which drops well below -200 degrees Celsius near the south pole, where Chandrayaan-3 has landed.

Chandrayaan-3 was not meant to live beyond one lunar day.

However, once the main science objectives of Chandrayaan-3 were over, ISRO had decided to take its chances and try to extend the lifespan of the lander and rover. Accordingly, it shut down the operations of all instruments a little earlier than sunset, and put them in sleep mode, hoping that the batteries that had been fully charged by then would keep the instruments warm enough to survive the night.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A look of vitality and happiness, an interest in the world and an eagerness to participate in life, is what is called charm in the social milieu; but in the working world is called competence. - Judith Martin

OFF TRACK

A drunk was proudly showing off his new apartment to a couple of his friends late one night. When they made it to the bedroom, they saw a big brass gong next to the bed.

"What's a big brass gong doing in your bedroom?" one of the guests asked.

"It's not a gong. It's a talking clock," the drunk replied.

"A talking clock? Seriously?" asked his astonished friend

"Yup," replied the drunk.

"How's it work?" the friend asked, squinting at it....

"Watch," the drunk replied. Picking up the mallet, he gave the gong an ear-shattering pound, and stepped back.

The three stood looking at one another for a moment.....

Suddenly, someone on the other side of the wall screamed, "You idiot! It's three o'clock in the morning!"