1. Mulayam Does a U-Turn, Will Campaign for Son Akhilesh as UP Election Hots up
Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav on Monday said he will campaign for the SP-Congress alliance in Uttar Pradesh, in what is being seen as an acknowledgement of the poll strategy by his Chief Minister-son Akhilesh Yadav.
Mulayam’s climb down came days after he publicly voiced his opposition to the SP-Congress alliance, which Akhilesh had pushed through after gaining the Election Commission’s nod as the real face of the party.
The EC backing of Akhilesh is seen as his biggest victory in the bruising power struggle in the Yadav family that pitted him against Mulayam and his brother Shivpal.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
2. Sasikala Swearing-in Depends on Travel Plans of Governor
A day after AIADMK Chief VK Sasikala was elected as the Legislature Party Leader, Governor C Vidyasagar Rao on Monday accepted the resignation of Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. Meantime in Chennai, state administration stayed busy making final preparations for Sasikala’s swearing-in ceremony at the centenary hall of the University of Madras, the most favourite venue of late CM J Jayalalithaa.
Before noon on Monday, the party had directed all AIADMK MPs, except Sasikala Pushpa – a leader expelled from the party by late Jayalalithaa – to reach Chennai by Monday night ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, which is expected to be held either on Tuesday or Thursday.
While the administration awaited for official confirmation on Governor’s arrival, AIADMK leadership too was clueless. “Even if he is going to delay his trip to Chennai, we have no option other than waiting for him,” said a leader.
(Source: The Indian Express)
Also Read: Why Exactly Do You Hate Sasikala?
3. Earthquake in Uttarakhand, Tremors Felt in Delhi
An earthquake, measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale, shook residents of Delhi and north India on Monday night, creating panic and causing office workers to evacuate buildings, the IMD said. There were no reports of any casualties or any damage yet.
According to the preliminary IMD report, the quake – classified as moderate – occurred at 10:33 pm at a point 30.5 degree North latitude 79.1 degrees East longitude in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district. Its depth was 33 km.
Tremors were felt in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand as well.
Read the full story on The Quint.
4. Happy Fallout of Demonetisation: Pay Hike
A modest section of the over 50,000 workers of Adityapur industrial area, struggling for months due to demonetisation, have something to smile about at last: A good number of them are now earning more than before.
How? This section, primarily the contract labourers of the auto component manufacturing hub of Seraikela-Kharsawan near Jamshedpur, would be paid daily in cash, a practice that has been continuing for years. Worse, some of them would get as little as Rs 170 per day, as opposed to the Rs 270, which is the minimum wage.
Post-demonetisation, the workers got themselves bank accounts, which meant that some unscrupulous employers, who took advantage of the disorganised nature of the workforce and violated minimum wage norms, could no longer do so.
(Source: The Telegraph)
5. Visa Furore Bares Govt Dilemma
The Opposition on Monday repeatedly voiced concern over a US review of visas technology companies use, but the Centre appeared reluctant to heed the demand for a formal statement.
The cautious response is being seen as an indication that the Centre is yet to receive an assurance from Washington on H-1B visas.
Several parties raised the issue in Parliament. The Trinamul Congress not only flagged it in the House, it staged a demonstration near the Gandhi statue to express solidarity with IT professionals.
(Source: The Telegraph)
6. Andhra Journalist Beaten Up in Public View by TDP MLA’s Brother
A journalist was bashed up in full public view by a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) legislator's family members after the former reportedly brought to light his alleged corrupt activities.
M Nagarjuna Reddy was injured when Amanchi Krishna Mohan's brother Amanchi Swamulu and his supporters beat him up near a police station in Chirala town of Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh.
Police registered a case against Swamulu and others, but no arrests have been made.
But on a complaint by the MLA's brother, police booked the journalist under SC ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The complainant alleged that Nagarjuna Reddy abused him because of his caste.
7. Delhi Moves to Ban App-Based Shared Cab Services Such as Uberpool, Ola Share
Shared rides through app-based cab aggregators could soon stop as the Delhi government is planning to prohibit such services.
This is in line with the Karnataka government’s move, which banned shared services provided by Ola and Uber. The car-pooling facilities have gained popularity in just a span of 15 months as the rides cost up to 50% less than the usual fares, which are already cheaper than radio taxis.
“These services are in violation of permit conditions. Cab aggregators are introducing and running these facilities in a very clandestine way. They have been bringing out more variants of shared rides, which is technically illegal. The government was never consulted,” an official said, referring to variants such as Ola Share Express, which operate on fixed routes at a minimum fare of Rs 30.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
8. In-Camera Hearing Sought on IRF ban
The Centre on Monday asked a tribunal to hear in camera the matter concerning the immediate ban on the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) of the controversial preacher Zakir Naik.
Additional Solicitor-General Sanjay Jain requested the tribunal’s presiding officer, Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal, to lay down the procedure, venue and schedule of the hearings.
Justice Dhingra said the “proceedings are generally held in camera and there should be no objection”. An order will be passed on 20 February.
(Source: The Hindu)
9. CoBRA Commandos Not Missing: CRPF Says Jawans Went Home Without Permission
At least 59 commandos of the CRPF’s elite CoBRA unit are likely to face action for “unauthorised absence” from duty after they allegedly decided to visit their families midway through a train journey to their place of posting, officials said on Monday.
Though individual absence without official approval is common in the forces, such mass bunking is rare.
The errant commandos were part of a group of 300 who were returning after a six-month-long training at the CRPF’s recruitment training centre in Srinagar, the officials added.
They were on their way to Gaya in Bihar, their first place of posting.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
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