SC STRIKES DOWN ELECTORAL BONDS AS 'UNCONSTITUTIONAL', ORDERS DISCLOSURE OF DONORS

In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court yesterday scrapped the Centre's electoral bonds scheme of anonymous political funding, calling it 'unconstitutional' and ordering disclosure of the bond's donors, amount and recipients by March 13.

Holding that the 2018 scheme was 'violative' of the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression and right to information, a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud also rejected the Centre's contention that it was meant to bring about transparency and curb black money in political funding.

Ordering closure of the controversial scheme forthwith, the top court also directed the SBI, the authorised financial institution under the scheme, to submit by March 6 the details of electoral bonds purchased since April 12, 2019 till date to the Election Commission of India(ECI), which will publish the information on its official website by March 13.

It ordered that uncashed electoral bonds, which are within the validity period of 15 days, shall be returned by the political party or the purchaser to the issuing bank which in turn shall refund the amount to the purchaser's account.

"At a primary level, political contributions give a 'seat at the table' to the contributor. That is, it enhances access to legislators. This access also translates into influence over policy-making," said the bench also comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

The top court delivered its two separate but unanimous verdicts cumulatively spanning 232 pages.

"Transparency and not secrecy is the cure and antidote," said Justice Sanjiv Khanna in his separate and concurring verdict.

The top court also accorded primacy to the right to know of voters over the privacy claims of donors, saying it is 'paramount' for free and fair election and democracy.

The judgment referred to the annual audit reports of political parties from 2017-18 to 2022-23 which showed party-wise donations received through electoral bonds. Of the Rs 12,000 crore, the BJP received Rs 6,566 crore during this period, while the Congress got Rs 1,123 crore, according to the reports. The Trinamool Congress received in its kitty Rs 1,093 crore in the same period.

The judgment was pronounced on a batch of petitions including those filed by Congress leader Jaya Thakur, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) challenging the bond scheme.

Leaders of several opposition parties hailed the verdict, terming it as an important step in ensuring transparency in electoral funding. The Congress said it will reinforce the power of votes over notes, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge hoping the Modi govt will stop resorting to such 'mischievous ideas' in future.

The BJP, however, sought to downplay the verdict, saying every decision of the apex court should be respected.

THIRD MEETING BETWEEN FARMERS POINTS TO POSSIBLE RESOLUTION

The third round of talks between the protesting farmers in Punjab and three central ministers concluded on a positive note well past midnight. Union Agriculture minister Arjun Munda said the dialogue was “very positive” and they had decided to meet again on Sunday evening.

Central leaders assured the farmer leaders that they would restore internet in the state and reinstate their social media pages that had been suspended.

Sarvan Singh Pandher, coordinator of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, summed up the mood of the dialogue: “If the commitments made during the meeting are translated into action, it would be highly beneficial for the farmer.”

Addressing the media, Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said all the demands made by the farmers were discussed in a positive environment. “Since the Punjab farmer is affected the most, I came forward as chief of the state. Detailed discussions took place on all the issues.“

“I took up the issue of internet suspension in three districts and its impact on students who are taking their exams. What is their fault? The farmers showed shells fired at them. We said the farmers should not be treated like this.” Assurances were obtained from the Centre to tell the Haryana govt to exercise restraint, he said.

PM MODI THANKS EMIR OF QATAR FOR RELEASE OF 8 EX-INDIAN NAVY PERSONNEL

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed his “deep appreciation” to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, for the release of eight former Indian Navy personnel who were given lengthy prison terms after being detained in 2022.

Modi’s visit to Qatar was formally announced soon after Qatar freed the eight men last weekend. At their meeting in Doha, the two leaders discussed ways to deepen the bilateral partnership, especially in areas such as energy and technology.

“Prime minister thanked the emir for his support for the welfare of the Indian community and, in this regard, expressed his deep appreciation to the emir for the release of eight Indian nationals of the al-Dahra company. We are extremely gratified to see them back in India,” foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra told a media briefing in Doha.

The external affairs ministry announced their release on the orders of the Qatari emir early on Monday, marking a significant diplomatic breakthrough for the Indian side. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval spearheaded the behind-the-scenes efforts that led to their release.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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PAKISTAN: ON WHY NAWAZ IS NOT GETTING TOP JOB

Shehbaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) looks set to take over as the Prime Minister of Pakistan, as his party secured an alliance with other players to achieve the necessary numbers.

The choice of Shehbaz as PM face comes as a surprise, as his older brother Nawaz Sharif was widely expected to take the top post. Shehbaz’s elevation has caused some disquiet within the PML-N, and even set off speculations that Nawaz’s political career might be over.

Maryam Nawaz, Nawaz Sharif’s daughter and political heir, has said that her father did not want to head a coalition govt. “Nawaz Sharif wanted to become PM for a fourth time but after the split mandate, he withdrew from the top slot…Those who know Nawaz are also aware that he is not interested in leading a coalition govt,” Maryam said on Wednesday.

“There is no truth in the inference that Nawaz has decided to quit politics. He will supervise the federal and Punjab govts and play his due role…Shehbaz and I are his soldiers, bound to follow his command,” she added.

Another reason being cited for Shehbaz’s elevation is that the powerful military shares a better equation with him than his older brother. While Nawaz has clashed several times with the military, which plays an oversized role in Pakistan’s civilian administration, Shehbaz is known to get along better with the generals.

NOW, IMRAN ANNOUNCES HIS OWN PM NOMINEE, A MAN WHO IS IN HIDING

Jailed former PM Imran Khan picked Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf secretary-general Omar Ayub to contest for PM against Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif, and tasked his party with engaging with all political forces protesting the Feb 8 results.

Ayub, who has been in hiding since May last year to avoid arrest, is the grandson of Pakistan’s first military dictator, Gen Muhammad Ayub Khan, who ruled the country from 1958 to 1969 after toppling President Iskandar Ali Mirza.

Khan’s party also called for countrywide protests against widespread rigging in polls and directed all PTI tiers to bring out the public on Saturday.

“Omar Ayub has been appointed as prime minister candidate by Khan,” PTI stalwart and former NA speaker Asad Qaiser told media after his meeting with Khan in Adiala jail. “We hope the PM will be ours, and Omar Ayub will be our representative.”

Qaiser quoted Khan as saying, “This election is neither being accepted in Pakistan by anyone, neither does it have any credibility, nor is anyone internationally taking it seriously or considering it (sic).”

NY MAYOR SUES SOCIAL MEDIA COS FOR MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS

Mayor Eric Adams said on Wednesday that his administration has filed a lawsuit against social media companies, including Meta’s Facebook and Instagram for fuelling mental health crisis among the youth.

The lawsuit, filed in the California Superior Court, also includes Alphabet’s YouTube, Snap Inc’s Snapchat and ByteDance’s TikTok and alleges that the firms intentionally designed their platforms to “purposefully manipulate and addict children and teens to social media applications”.

Meta, TikTok and YouTube already face hundreds of lawsuits filed on behalf of children and school districts over the addictiveness of social media.

“Over the past decade, we have seen just how addictive and overwhelming the online world can be, exposing our children to a non-stop stream of harmful content and fuelling our national youth mental health crisis,” Adams said in a statement.

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CASTE CENSUS AN A FISCAL SURVEY: RAHUL GANDHI’S PROMISES

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said if INDIA bloc is elected to power in 2024, it would conduct a caste census, along with a financial survey to know the situation and status on the ground.

Saying that “caste survey is social X-ray”, Rahul said an estimated 73 per cent OBCs, SCs and STs of the country have marginal or no representation in big corporates, media houses or even in high courts.

Addressing a public meeting at Aurangabad (in Bihar) during the second leg of his ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Rahul said PM Narendra Modi, who used to claim that he was an OBC, now says that there were only two castes — rich and poor.

The yatra will enter UP today.

Beginning his speech by asking the public “how was their mood”, Rahul reiterated his stand on caste census, which he termed as “revolutionary” a step as was the country’s Freedom Movement, Green Revolution, and bank nationalisation. Alleging that the Modi govt was working “only for a few rich people”, Rahul said: “You recently saw the inauguration of Ram temple in Ayodhya. Did you see any farmer, labourer or unemployed person there?”

Taking a swipe at PM Modi, Rahul said: “I have heard that the PM is embracing some king in Dubai. I am meeting people.”

‘THROWING BABY OUT WITH BATHWATER’ — BJP REACTS TO SC VERDICT

In its first reaction to Supreme Court’s verdict terming the electoral bonds scheme as unconstitutional, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it respected the order but also argued that “the baby has been thrown out with the bathwater”.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), senior BJP leader and national vice-president of the party Baijayant Jay Panda said: “Electoral Bonds were infinitely better than what they had replaced: suitcases of illicit cash. Those suitcases were tainted, always by tax-evasion & often with links to drugs & arms smuggling.” He added that one must ponder whether citizens’ right to information was better before bonds existed.

“The data on bonds demonstrates comprehensively that no party has faced discrimination, including & especially those who have seen a drastic reduction in public support. But today… ‘the baby has been thrown out along with the bathwater’,” he wrote.

AJIT PAWAR GROUP REAL NCP, CAN'T USE ANTI-DEFECTION LAW: SPEAKER

Maharashtra assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Thursday held that the Nationalist Congress Party faction led by deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was the real NCP, and the anti-defection provisions in the Constitution can not be used to stifle internal dissent.

While dismissing disqualification petitions filed by the factions led by Ajit Pawar and his uncle Sharad Pawar against each other's legislators, the Speaker noted that the Ajit group had 'overwhelming legislative majority' of 41 out of 53 party MLAs when it decided to join the Shiv Sena-BJP govt in Maharashtra in July 2023.

The Ajit Pawar group was, thus, the 'real political party' when the factions emerged, Narwekar said.

The ruling, which followed the Election Commission's decision last week holding the Ajit-led faction as the real NCP, was criticised by the Sharad Pawar group as 'copy-paste' of Narwekar's earlier decision on disqualification petitions filed by rival Shiv Sena factions.

'An invisible power' was trying to finish off two key Maharashtra-based parties, NCP MP and Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule alleged.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE TO GO IT ALONE IN THE VALLEY

The National Conference, biggest regional party of Jammu and Kashmir, on Thursday announced it would contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections and possible assembly polls in the Union Territory “on its own”.

This was announced by the party chief and Lok Sabha MP Farooq Abdullah. It comes as yet another setback to the INDIA bloc as well as the regional PAGD alliance.

“As far as seat sharing is concerned, I want to make it clear that the National Conference will contest elections on its own. There are no two views about it,” Abdullah told reporters.

But party leader Omar Abdullah later clarified that the National Conference is part of the INDIA grouping and will continue to be, and said it is in talks with the Congress for an arrangement in three of the six Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

“We were a part of the INDIA alliance and we still are. Things have been taken out of context. The main idea of the grouping is to defeat the BJP for there is no point in sailing in two boats,” Omar Abdullah said with his father, Farooq Abdullah, by his side.

NEPAL POLICE BUST TRAFFICKING RACKET IN KATHMANDU; FREE 11 INDIAN HOSTAGES

Eleven Indian nationals, mostly students, held hostage for over two weeks with a promise to facilitate travel to the USA, were rescued as Nepal police busted a human trafficking racket and arrested eight Indian mafia members along with their Nepali accomplice in Kathmandu.

Nepal police named it ‘Operation Dunki’ as the case turned out to be similar to the situation shown in popular Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan’s 2023 movie Dunki. The rescued persons and mafia members came mostly from the Indian states of Punjab and Haryana.

The 11 persons were kept as hostages in a rented house for more than two weeks on the outskirts of Kathmandu, police said on Thursday.

US WORKING HARD TO STOP ATTACKS AGAINST INDIAN STUDENTS: US

US President Joe Biden and his administration are working very hard to thwart and disrupt attacks on Indian and Indian American students, the White House has said.

The announcement by John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House comes amid a slew of attacks on Indian and Indian American students in various parts of the country. "There is no excuse for violence, certainly based on race or gender or religion or any other factor. That's just unacceptable here in the United States," Kirby told reporters here when asked about the series of attacks on students from India and also those from the Indian American community.

Deaths of at least four Indian American students have been reported in the last several weeks.

Indian American community leader Ajay Jain Bhutoria said he was deeply troubled by the tragic deaths of these students in separate incidents and underscored the urgent need for enhanced safety measures for those pursuing education in the US. College authorities, and local police, must address these challenges promptly, he asserted.

DELHI AIRPORT WANTS LOW-COST CARRIERS TO SHIFT TO NOIDA, HINDON AIRPORTS

Delhi Airport, India’s largest, is advocating for low-cost carriers to relocate their flights to the upcoming Noida International Airport in Jewar and the smaller Hindon Airport in Ghaziabad. This move aims to allow Delhi Airport to concentrate on the high-margin business associated with handling flights from full-service airlines.

At present, Delhi Airport manages 8,554 scheduled flights per week, with IndiGo, a low-cost carrier, representing approximately 38.5 per cent of these flights.

The Noida Airport, situated about 70 kilometres away from Delhi Airport, is scheduled to commence operations by year-end.

Delhi Airport is operated by Delhi International Airport (DIAL), a GMR Group-led entity. Noida Airport is under construction by Yamuna International Airport Private (YIAPL), a Zurich airport subsidiary.

Hindon Airport, managed by the govt-run Airports Authority of India, currently handles a few flights from regional carriers like Star Air.

Full-service carriers typically operate larger aircraft such as the B777 and A350, generating more revenue for airports through higher landing fees and other charges.

Additionally, airports earn a higher margin per full-service passenger due to premium services like high-end retail, lounges, and amenities.

RAJKOT TEST, DAY 1: ROHIT, JADEJA HELP INDIA OVERCOME EARLY WOBBLE

Captain Rohit Sharma and middle-order batter Ravindra Jadeja smashed defiant hundreds to drag India out of the doldrums and into a comfortable 326 for five on the opening day of the third Test against England on Thursday.

India were reeling at 33-3 inside the opening hour after Mark Wood proved the value of extra pace on a docile track at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

Rohit (131) and Jadeja rebuilt the innings with a 204-run stand to drag the hosts back into the contest. Jadeja was batting on 110 at stumps, his fourth Test hundred, with nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav on one at the other end.

Debutant Sarfaraz Khan, coming in at fall of Rohit SHarma's wicket, shrugged off early jitters and raced to a 48-ball fifty before his entertaining knock of 62 was cut short. Jadeja was on 99 when his hesitation led to Sarfaraz being run out. A furious Rohit was seen hurling his cap on the floor in the pavilion after the dismissal.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Many are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in pursuit of the goal. - Friedrich Nietzsche

OFF TRACK

When the wise company president learned that his employees were tanking up on no-trace vodka martinis during their lunch hours, he issued the following memo:

To all employees; If you must drink during your lunch hour, please drink whiskey.  It is better for our customers to know you're drunk than to think you're stupid.