Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Gujarat on October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, which is celebrated as national ‘Ekta Divas’ (Unity Day). He is also expected to visit the Statue of Unity (SOU) at Kevadiya. He is likely to inaugurate a series of tourist facilities at the SOU site and launch the seaplane service between Ahmedabad and Kevadiya. “The government will ensure that the PM’s visit does not face any issue regarding code of conduct for the assembly by-elections. As the PM is going to inaugurate projects of national importance, there should not be any issue regarding code of conduct,” sources said.
Ransom sought to free seven Indians kidnapped in Libya
Seven Indian workers, including one from Maharajganj and another from Deoria district of UP, are being held hostage by “local criminals” in Libya for the last two weeks, according to an FIR filed by a relative of one hostage. The kidnappers have demanded a $20,000 ransom for the release of the Indians, who were working with a company in Libya, the Delhi-based firm told the relative who filed the FIR. All seven workers - from UP, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh - were scheduled to return to Delhi on September 17 after the expiry of their visas. The family of Munna Chauhan, resident of Kushinagar and currently in the custody of Libyan captors, has appealed to the ministry of external affairs to rescue the Indians. Chauhan went to Libya in September last year. He got a job as an argon welder but his visa expired on September 13 this year.
Gujarat Vidyapith looking for new VC
The Gujarat Vidyapith, the university set up by Mahatma Gandhi, is now in search for a new vice-chancellor with the term of the current vice-chancellor, Anamik Shah, coming to an end in December. A three member search committee, which includes members like Arvind Desai and professor Indira Hirve has been appointed. The Vidyapith officials were tight-lipped about the chancellor Ela Bhatt’s recommendation for the third member of selection committee. Shah may not get the third extension as per the UGC norms. Bapu was the first chancellor (kulpati) of the Vidyapith and he had held the office between 1920 and 1948. This time because of the university has adopted UGC qualifying conditions, the race for the post will be narrower. The vice-chancellor should have both academic and administrative experience, should have been on the faculty or board of studies and should have been a member of an academic council or part of professional bodies. “The candidate, according to the UGC criteria, should also be involved in academic action and research programmes, should have international academic exposure, should have publications in academic journals of international repute and authored books, and even published articles in popular magazines over the past five years, and should also have consulting experience apart from having read books on Gandhi,” says a senior official at the Gujarat Vidyapith.
India rebuts UNHCR criticism of changes to green norms
India has pushed back strongly at the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights over criticism of its proposed green norms, saying the draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification does not violate its international green commitments but rather seeks to remove “redundancies” and bring “defaulters to the environmental regime” to book. In its point-wise response to a communication of special rapporteur of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, India said the proposed changes will promote the environmental cause and sustainable development as envisaged by international treaties. The special rapporteur had in its communication to India's external affairs ministry on August 31 expressed concerns of the Human Rights Council over alleged dilution of the existing EIA law in India and sought clarification on several points which are currently being opposed by environmentalists.
Cheating case against Cox & Kings
The economic offences wing of the Mumbai police registered a cheating case against the director and promoters of the travel firm Cox & Kings following a complaint by the Kotak Mahindra Bank of having been defrauded of £17.4 million. The EOW had in August begun a preliminary inquiry into an application submitted by the Kotak Mahindra Bank against the promoters and directors of Cox & Kings. The police said the applicant had stated that the Kotak Bank had granted various financial facilities to Cox & Kings since 2012. The complaint application said that during the review of the financial facilities, it was found that the outstanding amounts were to the tune of £17.43 million. After completing the preliminary inquiry, the economic offences wing registered the case against the office bearers of the Cox & Kings at the Cuffe Parade police station and took over the investigation in the case.
Gujarat HC gets three new judges
The President of India has appointed three practising advocates as judges in the Gujarat high court with effect from the day they assume charges of their offices. The members of the Bar - Vaibhavi Nanavati, Nirzar Desai and Nikhil Kariel - have been elevated to the bench upon recommendations made by the Supreme Court collegium on August 14. Their appointment will take the HC strength to 30. The three lawyers have legal practice of more than two decades. Advocate Desai has been a standing counsel for the central government. Advocate Nanavati has been on panels of various institutions and her area of practice includes constitutional law, civil law, company law, educational and land related laws. Similarly, advocate Kariel too has got wide practice in various fields of law.
Gujarat assembly by-polls on Nov 3
The much awaited by-elections for eight assembly seats in Gujarat will take place on November 3. Votes will be counted on November 10, said statements issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the chief electoral officer (CEO), Gujarat. The by-polls are expected to be a keenly contested affair after eight Congress MLAs resigned before the Rajya Sabha election earlier this year, reducing the Congress’ strength in the assembly and paving the way for three BJP candidates to be elected to the upper house of Parliament. Five of the eight Congress MLAs who quit the party before the RS election, have joined the BJP and are expected to be fielded by the BJP from the same seats that they won on Congress tickets in 2017. Political observers say the BJP and Congress are likely to share the honours in the by-polls, winning between three and five seats each.
