Jan 24, 2015

Ukraine Crisis : 10 people reportedly killed in Mariupol due to shelling

Recent reports indicate that the port city of Mariupol has been shelled in the ongoing Ukraine turmoil killing ten people. 
  
 Rebel shelling kills upto 10 in Mariupol - Reuter

Bild.de - Mariupol 

Wikipedia - Mariupol 

 

Ex Delhi CM Mr Kejriwal not invited to Republic day celebrations in Delhi

Arvind Kejriwal, the Convenor of Aam Aadmi party, and ex-CM Delhi, has not been invited to Republic Day parade at Rajpath. 

He said he has not received any invite for the event according to media reports, which is to be attended by high profile guests US President Barack Obama and his wife Ms Michelle Obama and other dignitaries.

Speaking to media reporters Mr Kejriwal has said, if there is a protocol, he should get an invite, but doesn't want to play politics on the issue. 

Valleyz.Blog

Jan 23, 2015

Recent Judgement by the Apex Court on Cricketing affairs augurs well for the sport in the country

Recent Judgement by the Supreme Court of India augurs well for the Cricket in India, as the Judgement appears to have addressed the litigation involving conflict of Interest in the sport.

Though another special committee has been formed to look into the specific allegations against players and wrongdoings, it is still a long way to go.

Also the hearing by the Supreme Court laid down clear directions for elections of the Board President of the Cricketing body.

Board has clearly directed the current Board President Mr N Srinivasan to select between the country or the club of which he is a co-owner. 

With several of the issues been addressed by the Apex Court, it should lead to transparency and efficiency in the functioning of the cricketing body. 

  
Valleyz.Blog

Jan 20, 2015

Delhi Elections 2015

Nominations to be filed by all the major political parties today Jan 21. Leaders from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) and Congress (I) are going to file nominations today.

AAP is headed by Arvind Kejriwal, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer,  bureaucrat turned activist-Politician who spearheaded the India Against Corruption Movement along with Social activist Anna Hazare of India in 2011.

INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION - WIKIPEDIA 

Aam Aadmi Party was founded to give birth to political aspirations of a movement, which largely appeared to have struck a chord among the general population, on major political issues like corruption and administration.

http://www.aamaadmiparty.org/ 

 Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party with 28 MLA's formed a coalition government  in Delhi in 2013 with the support of 8 seats of Congress(I) in the 70 member house and later resigned due to lack of majority in passing major anti-corruption laws seeking fresh elections.

Election Commission of India after a year on the directions of Judiciary decided to conduct the elections in Delhi for which the dates have been announced.

In 2013 Delhi had 11.9 eligible voters.
Source: Elections.in 
Election Commission of India 

Last Date of Nomination: 21
Election date February 7.
Results Date  February 10, 11, 12.

The elections in Delhi took an interesting turn when Ms Kiran Bedi an  IPS officer (Indian Police Service), also a familiar face with India Against Corruption Movement decided to join the BJP, which is the main opposition to Aam Aadmi Party which had the bulk of activists on its side. 

She  was quickly pitted against Arvind Kejriwal as the CM candidate for BJP which secured 32 seats in the last elections. Ms Bedi after following the track record of political developments, came out in opposition to strategies of AAP and nodded in favor of the policies adopted by the ruling BJP party at the centre of which she was critical on some issues in the past.

Ms Bedi accuses AAP with politics of negativity, accusations and insinuation.

Mr Ajay Maken former Union minister in the UPA government is heading the Congress campaign for Delhi elections. Earlier UPA Chief Minister Ms Shiela Dixit's government is accused of corruption in the conduct of Common Wealth games and not doing much on issues of corruption.   

Another noted IAC activist and a media presenter Shazia Ilmi, after contesting elections with AAP had distanced itself from the party complaining about lack of inner party democracy.

She is the latest entrant in the BJP along with Ms Kiran Bedi, has been of late complaining about lack of inner-party democracy in the party on a TV channel.

The main planks of AAP is about malfunctioning administrations under both BJP and Congress which have failed to end corruption in it's day-to-day functioning. Lack of electricity and water problem in the Delhi metropolitan area. Also it targets the sources of funding of major electoral politics being carried out with black money and manipulation of voters by doling out cash. 

http://www.aamaadmiparty.org/donation-list 
  
Black Money List Submitted to Supreme Court by Govt. - Times of India Report 

Black Money list in Court - BBC 

Congress has largely been passive in the face of large scale protests held by India Against Corruption activists. Even the opposition parties like BJP and it's supporters have cornered the then UPA government on issues like black money and money laundering through large scale protests in Delhi.

Though the current NDA government had formed a list and submitted it to the Supreme Court of India, but there is no further development in the case. 

Switzerland complained to India firstly to bring substantial evidence against the violators, and accepted to provided full evidence thereafter. Now onus is on the Government to prove that the individuals holding money in foreign accounts indeed is ill gotten wealth. 

India must show proof of fraud -Swiss Ambassador . - The Hindu 

Delhi elections will also showcase the mood of Indian electorate which in the 2014 elections voted to elect Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with 282 seats, a 2/3rd majority is required to form a popular government in 543 member house.  

National Democratic Alliance - Wikipedia 

UPDATE JANUARY 23 2015 

Shanti Bhushan, eminent senior lawyer, one of the founding member of the Aam Aadmi Party and a lawyer-activist in the India Against Corruption IAC movement, came out in support of Ms Kiran Bedi, BJP CM nominee for the Delhi elections.

Mr Bhushan was of the view that Mr Kejriwal has lost direction and acting in unilateral way in day to day party functioning. He was critical of the way the party tickets has been distributed, with some allegations of tickets being sold to anti-social elements and for money.

In other developments, some AAP members disclosed that many members in the India Against Corruption movement were pro-BJP and there was no secret about it. Even the CM nominee of BJP Ms Kiran Bedi is said to have dissuaded Mr Kejriwal to go soft on BJP policies and target Congress for corruption and other issues.

The acceptance of this fact, seem to have backfired against the AAP itself as it is trying to portray Ms Bedi as pro-BJP since Anna Hazare movement and it is disclosing the same now.

Congress CM nominee Mr Ajay Maken has now demanded a full disclosure by the AAP as well as BJP CM nominee Ms Bedi, to disclose whether the IAC movement was carried out to marginalize Congress and was opposition driven conspiracy against it.

UPDATE 24th January 2015

So, everyone now knows that pro-BJP leaders were part of the Anna movement. One way or the other they may have their influence exerted on some of the functionings of the movement.

AAP in it's 49 day Government tried to solve the people's problems through novel ideas like, people meetings, which went haywire and the meetings had to be abandoned, remedies were sought. This shows that AAP is high on promises but very low on experience and delivery of services to the people.

But off late their are reports the party conducted Mohalla Sabha's, but these are only minor steps in a city which needs to be developed into a truly world class city, where the residents are the first one's to enjoy those facilities.

AAP'S Mohalla Sabha - Public meetings at the level of a simple locality. 

Some links of the 49 day rule of the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi

Hindustan Times Report. AAP 49 day rule in Delhi - Achievements and Controversies. 

India exponent - The Good, Bad and Ugly of 49 day Govt, of AAP.

Another moment in the short AAP Govt. at Delhi was the organising of Janata Darbar.

Kejriwal holds Janata Darbar - Business Line. 

Here is another link in which the BJP CM nominee Ms Kiran Bedi flays AAP's failed Janata Darbar meetings in 2014.

Kiran Bedi flays Kejriwal over Janta Darbar - The Hindu. 

 Valleyz.Blog

Jan 7, 2015

French Satirical Magazine Charlie Hebdo offices reportedly attacked in Paris killing 12 people

Charlie Hebdo, the french Satirical Magazine office has been attacked by the gunmen in the heart of Paris, where gunmen were seen wielding automatic machine guns and shooting at security forces on the ground by videos that went viral through Instagram and Twitter

French President addressing media shortly after the attack described the attack as a terrorist attack and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. He described the attack not only on journalists but liberty.

Following the attack Paris has been put on high alert. Many countries have joined condemning the attack. 

Magazine office has been reported to be firebombed earlier in 2011 for publishing religion caricatures. Latest fatalities reported to be 12 people and several others critically injured.

Magazine's Editor-in-chief is reportedly killed in the attack.

 Les Echos
 Charlie Hebdo reporting by Le Monde
Attack on Charlie Hebdo - Le Point 

UPDATE : Friday Jan 09 2015

Paris Terror Suspects want 'martyr' death 

Paris terror suspects are reported to be holed up near Paris at Dammartin-en-Goele. Security forces are reported to be in talks with the suspects. There are possible hostages taken.

There are reports of another hostage situation in eastern Paris where a gunman has taken hostages in a Kosher market. Police have reportedly ordered closer of shops in an area little away from where the attacks are taking place.

French Security forces surround Charlie Hebdo suspects: 2nd Hostage Taking near east of Paris - In Depth report- NYTimes   

Earlier there were reports of attacks on Mosques and prayer halls as well as an explosion near a kebab shop. 

Police release images of assassins involved in east of Paris.

Two people are reportedly killed in this incident.

The two hostage incidents taking place today in and outside Paris are reportedly linked with each other. 

Two runways are reportedly has been shut down at Charlles-de-Gualle airport. aeroportsdeparis 

Some 80,000 police forces are reportedly deployed through out France in response to the attacks taking place in and around Paris. 

The media outlets in US have reportedly decided not to publish cartoons keeping in mind the sentiments ten's of millions of Muslims with exception of a few. 

Update : 

Explosions are heard at the site of Dammartin-en-Goele and reports of suspects being killed there.

Also several hostages being freed at the Kosher Market in east of Paris and the Hostage taker has been killed.

AFP: Killed Charlie Hebdo suspects came out firing on security forces.