QBullet: Uddhav to Review Bullet Train Project; Bajaj Attacks BJP

Catch all the top headlines of the day here.

(Photo: PTI)

1. Maha Govt to Review Bullet Train Project

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray ordered a review of the Rs1.2 lakh crore Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project on Sunday, 1 December, as part of a wider audit of infrastructure projects in the state to determine the priorities of the new administration.

The 59-year-old also said his government will withdraw all cases against people protesting in September against the felling of trees to make way for a metro car shed in Mumbai’s Aarey Milk Colony, and reiterated his commitment to an unconditional farm loan waiver.

“The power dynamics in the state have changed,” said Thackeray, whose party, the Shiv Sena, has opposed the Japan-backed project and supported farmers protesting against the acquisition of their land for the project.

(Source: Hindustan Times)

2. BCCI Moves to Dilute Lodha Panel Reforms

Sourav Ganguly-led BCCI, in its annual general meeting (AGM) on Sunday, unanimously proposed amendments to the existing constitution of the cricket board, which will now require the Supreme Court’s approval, reports K Shriniwas Rao.

The proposed amendments refer to changes in the cooling-off period, seeking two consecutive terms for president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah. The SC is likely to hear the matter on 3 December.

BCCI also scaled back selectors’ tenure from five to four years, changing another rule in its constitution, and bringing an end to the MSK Prasadled committee.

(Source:The Times of India)

3. Congress Leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury calls PM Modi, Amit Shah 'Ghuspethiye'

Leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, made yet another controversial remark on Sunday, 1 December, when he called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah ‘íntruders', adding that they have 'migrated' from Gujarat to Delhi.

"Amit Shah ji, Narendra Modi ji aap khud ghuspetiye hain. Ghar aapka Gujarat, agaye Dilli, aap khud migrant hain," Chowdhury said in an interview to news agency ANI. The Congress leader's statement roughly translates as, "Mr Amit Shah and Mr Narendra Modi are intruders themselves. Their homes are in Gujarat, but they've come to Delhi - they're migrants themselves.

(Source: DNA)

4. Amit Shah Listening, Rahul Bajaj Speaks: No One Will Tell You… Not Sure You Like Criticism

With Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Railways and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal listening, Bajaj Group chairman Rahul Bajaj expressed concern on Saturday evening over the lack of confidence among corporates to criticise the central government, the absence of effective action against lynchings, and the remark of Bhopal MP Pragya Singh Thakur praising Nathuram Godse in Parliament this week.

“Nobody from our industrialist friends will speak, I will say openly… An environment will have to be created… When UPA II was in power, we could criticise anyone… You (the government) are doing good work, but despite that we don’t have the confidence that you will appreciate if we criticise you openly (Aap achchha kaam kar rahe hain, uske baad bhi, hum aapko criticise openly karein, confidence nahin hai ki you will appreciate),” Bajaj said at an awards event organised by The Economic Times in Mumbai.

(Source: The Indian Express)

5. ‘Chief Guest’ Amit Shah Misses BSF Day Parade

Union Home Minister Amit Shah skipped the BSF Raising Day parade where he was to be the chief guest on Sunday morning, pulling out at the last minute over “unknown reasons”.

“We were looking forward to his presence on a big day for the force. We were a bit disappointed to learn he wouldn’t be coming,” a senior BSF officer said.

Shah had in October skipped the Indo-Tibetan Border Police’s Raising Day parade too, at a time an avowedly “nationalistic” government’s treatment of the paramilitary forces was provoking comment. The previous month, the government had frozen CRPF troops’ monthly ration allowance.

(Source: The Telegraph)

6. BJP Leader Pankaja Munde’s FB Post Raises Eyebrows

BJP leader Pankaja Munde’s social media post on her “future journey” in view of changed political scenario in Maharashtra caused a flutter on Sunday.

Pankaja, who had served as a minister in the erstwhile BJP-led Maharashtra government, has also invited her followers to Gopinathgad on 12 December on the occasion of the birth anniversary of her late father Gopinath Munde, a BJP stalwart.

Gopinathgad is a memorial to Gopinath Munde in Beed district.

“Looking at the changed political scenario in state, there is a need to think and decide the way ahead. I need time for some 8-10 days to communicate with myself. Our future journey needs to be decided against the backdrop of current political changes.

“What to do next? Which path to be taken? What can we give to people? What is our strength? What are expectations of people? I will think about all these aspects and come before you on 12 December,” Pankaja wrote in her post, which is in Marathi.

(Source: The Tribune)

7. Congress-JD(S) Government Again, Why Not?

Even before the first vote is cast in the 5 December bypolls to 15 Assembly seats in Karnataka, leaders of the Congress and JD(S), estranged partners in the previous coalition government, have started giving subtle hints of a realignment post the bypolls if the ruling BJP fails to win the required eight seats for a simple majority in the state Assembly.

Former PM and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda and son HD Kumaraswamy have on and off been speaking of a political churning after the bypolls, making it no secret that they would prefer to back the BJP instead of facing mid-term polls at this juncture.

On Sunday, it was the turn of senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Dr G Parameshwar to make it amply clear that the option of an alliance with the JD(S) is still open. "In order to protect the Constitution, democracy and to provide social justice with secular principles, when the situation arises, we will take necessary steps after discussing with our allies and UPA partners on such a matter," said Kharge when asked about the possibility.

(Source: Deccan Chronicle)

8. Jamiat to File Ayodhya Review Plea on 6 December

Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JuH) will file a review petition in the Supreme Court seeking review of the Ayodhya verdict on 6 December, the anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition. The petition will be filed through Jamiat’s UP general secretary Maulana Ashhad Rasheedi, who is also one of the 10 litigants from the Muslim side in the Ayodhya case.

“The documentation is in final stages. Our legal cell is drafting the review plea and needs a few days to finalise details,” Rasheedi told TOI. Rasheedi had replaced Jamiat’s former UP general secretary SM Siddiq as a litigant after the latter died a few years ago.

(Source: The Times of India)

9. 'Don't Mistake Gratitude for Weakness': Punjab CM on Pak Minister's Kartarpur Jibe

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday, 1 December, said that Pakistan Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid's disclosure that Kartarpur Corridor was the brainchild of their Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had exposed Islamabad's nefarious intent behind the initiative.

'”Pakistan minister's disclosure on Kartarpur corridor has exposed their nefarious designs” said Amarinder Singh.

Even as he expressed serious concern over this admission by the Pak minister, the chief minister said that Rashid had completely bared open the wicked design of Pakistan behind the Corridor, which India had hoped would emerge as a bridge of peace between the two countries.

(Source: The Asian Age)