New Delhi [India], March 9 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the PIL filed by an advocate, Manohar Lal Sharma, challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision regarding the West Bengal Assembly polls.
A three-judge bench of the Apex Court, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde and also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian dismissed the petition filed by petitioner-cum-lawyer, Sharma.
The Supreme Court also dismissed the petition of Sharma, who sought a CBI probe into the alleged use of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ as a rallying slogan in the poll run-up.
Sharma stated that the EC had said that the election in West Bengal will be held in eight phases. The petitioner demanded a stay on the order of the EC.
Sharma in his plea has said that the order of the EC violated article 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
Sharma also has said that the CBI should lodge an FIR against those who had allegedly chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram’. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 9 (ANI): The Delhi government has allocated Rs 50 crores in this year’s budget to provide free COVID-19 vaccines to the people of the national capital.
“COVID-19 vaccines will be available free of cost for people of Delhi in government hospitals in the union territory. We have allotted Rs 50 crores in the budget for the same,” said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia while presenting Delhi’s first paperless budget on Monday in the Delhi Assembly.
He also said that the number of COVID-19 vaccinations will soon be increased from 45,000 to 60,000 per day.
Sisodia also announced that Delhi will have its first Sainik School alongside Delhi Armed Forces Preparatory Academy where students will be acquainted with the NDA coaching besides regular studies.
“Today I present this ‘Deshbhakti Budget’ in view of the Centre’s celebrations of India’s 75 years of independence. This budget will focus on India’s 75 as well as 100 years of independence,” said Sisodia while presenting the budget.
The budget session of the Delhi assembly is scheduled to continue till March 16.
The nationwide vaccination drive was rolled out in the country on January 16 and vaccination of the frontline workers started on February 2. The second phase of COVID-19 vaccination started on March 1 for those who are over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 9 (ANI): Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned till 2 pm on Tuesday following continued ruckus by the Opposition over the rise of fuel prices.
Earlier today, both Houses of Parliament were adjourned till 12 noon following constant disturbance by the Opposition over the rising fuel prices in the country.
While commencing the Rajya Sabha session, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh said: “During the remaining part of the Budget session, members will be seated in Rajya Sabha chambers and its gallery only, with some physical distancing. 142 seats have been made available in Rajya Sabha chamber and remaining members to sit in the gallery.”
The decision to revise the timing of both Houses was announced on Monday. Both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha were operating under curtailed hours of timing and social distancing norms amid COVID-19 induced norms.
Earlier, the Rajya Sabha was scheduled to function from 9 am to 2 pm while Lok Sabha was scheduled to function between 4 pm to 10 pm.
The second part of the Budget session of Parliament commenced from Monday with all COVID-19 precautionary measures in place. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 9 (ANI): Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Tuesday said that he doesn’t know if Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s memory failed when he made a remark on the country having no separate fisheries ministry.
“I am hurt. Rahul Gandhi had asked a question on February 2. But in Puducherry and Kochi, he said that there is no fisheries department, I don’t know if his memory failed him. ‘I will form a separate ministry when we come to power’, Gandhi had said. Whose question was this?” said Giriraj — Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying of India — while speaking in the Lok Sabha.
After Gandhi’s gaffe in Puducherry on February 17 calling for the setting up of a separate ministry for fisheries, Giriraj had taken to Twitter to take a swipe at the Congress leader’s “ignorance” and attempt to “spread misinformation”.
“Caro Raul (@RahulGandhi), Non esiste un Ministero della pesca separato in Italia. Viene sotto Ministero delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali. politicheagricole.it” (There is no separate Ministry of Fisheries in Italy. It comes under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry),” Giriraj had tweeted.
Gandhi, who was in Puducherry that day to kickstart the Congress’ election campaign, had addressed the fishing community and spoke about the ongoing farmers’ protest.
“The government passed three bills against farmers, the backbone of a nation. You must be wondering why am I talking about farmers at the meeting of fishermen. I consider you to be farmers of the sea. If farmers of the land can have a ministry in Delhi, then why is that farmers of the sea don’t have the same?” Gandhi had asked.
“The current government is attacking small and medium businesses because they want all businesses to be controlled by big corporations. Our view is different. We want to strengthen small and medium businesses because we believe that’s the strength of this country,” the Congress leader had said.
After this remark from Gandhi, Giriraj — in a tweet in Hindi — had also said, “Rahul ji! You should know that on May 31, 2019, Modi ji created a new ministry. And started the Rs 20050 cr Master Plan (PMMSY) which is several times more than the central government’s expenditure from independence to 2014 (3682 cr).”
“Rahul Ji! I request you to come to the new fisheries ministry or call me where I come. Let me tell you about the schemes being run by the new Fisheries Ministry all over the country and Puducherry,” he had said in another tweet. (ANI)

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], March 9 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat left Delhi for Dehradun on Tuesday but sources in the Bharatiya Janata Party indicated that the crisis in the state unit is still not over.
However, the party officially maintained that there was no crisis in the state unit.
“There is no crisis in the BJP and Chief Minister Rawat is working well in the state. There are no corruption charges against him, so what is the need to change the Chief Minister?” BJP General Secretary, incharge of the state, Dushyant Gautam told ANI.
Sources in the party’s Central leadership, however, are yet to confirm that Rawat will continue to lead the government.
Currently, the BJP is trying to calm the rebellion within the state unit. The Cabinet is also likely to be reshuffled soon.
While speaking to ANI, Gautam did accept that there is some discomfort within the party, but he called this normal as it “happens during an election year”. He added that meetings had been held and a conclusion would be reached soon.
“Process as far as the change of guard is concerned, is being hyped by media. We have completed four years in government and due to the welfare policies of this government, we continue to enjoy the trust of the people,” he added.
Though Gautam says there is no problem in the government, sources strongly indicated that the crisis is not yet over. If rebels don’t calm down after the Cabinet reshuffle, the BJP is not likely to project Rawat as the Chief Ministerial face for the upcoming state Assembly polls scheduled for 2022.
When asked about this, Gautam said, “We fight the election on collective leadership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the only face of the party.”
Earlier, amid speculations about a leadership change, Rawat met BJP President JP Nadda at the latter’s residence in the national capital on Monday night. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 9 (ANI): Urdu newspapers published from New Delhi on Tuesday prominently reported the ruckus in Parliament over rising fuel prices and the Batla House encounter case update.
Rashtriya Sahara: “Echo in Parliament over rising fuel prices, Opposition creates ruckus” was the top headline of the newspaper.
The newspaper reported extensively about the first day of the second phase of the budget session. Members of the Opposition Party repeated raised slogans against rising fuel prices in the country, due to which the session was delayed by two hours.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said the Congress would continue its protest demanding discussion on a hike in fuel prices in Parliament.
The newspaper also reported about the verdict in the Batla House Encounter Case, where hours after the conviction of accused Ariz Khan by a Delhi court, his lawyer MS Khan said he will challenge the judgment in a superior court. Khan is allegedly associated with the terror outfit Indian Mujahideen. He was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police after a decade of allegedly being on the run.
Hindustan Express: The second phase of the Budget session made top headlines in this publication as well. “Uproar against increase in prices of petroleum products”, the headline read.
This newspaper also reported the news of the conviction of Ariz Khan in the Batla House encounter case. (ANI)