Kerala: Private bus operators to go on indefinite strike

All the nominees of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) from Punjab have been elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha. The nominees include IIT Delhi Professor Sandeep Kumar Pathak, Raghav Chadha, the founder of Lovely Professional Unversity Ashok Mittal, Industrialist Sanjeev Arora and cricketer Harbhajan Singh. AAP has nominated them for the 31st  March elections and Thursday was the last day for the withdrawal of candidature. The five Rajyasabha members from Punjab  Sukhdev Singh, Partap Singh Bajwa, Shwait Malik, Naresh Gujral and Shamsher Singh Dullo are retiring on  9th April this year. Returning Officer Cum Sereatary Vidhansabha  Surinder Pal said, the biennial election process from the Rajya Sabha Punjab 2022 was being carried ou under the supervision of Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Dr S. Karunaraju, who had been appointed Observor by the Election Commission of India.

-The Maharashtra Assembly has unanimously passed a Bill that aims to establish special courts to ensure speedy trial of offences against women and children under the Shakti Act. State Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil tabled the Bill, titled 'The Maharashtra Exclusive Special Courts (for certain offences against women and children under Shakti Law), 2020', in the House. Walsepatil said, the Bill has been introduced with an aim to conduct trials without delay in cases of certain offences against women and children. He added that as per the Bill, exclusive special courts can be set up or existing courts can be given that rank depending upon the situation. The Bill, among other provisions, provides for appointing special public prosecutors for conducting trials and forming special police teams to probe the offences.

-Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday sought a special financial package worth  1 lakh crore rupees from the Centre for the revival of the state’s economy besides ensuring holistic development and welfare of its people. In a Press release, the state government said, Bhagwant Mann, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his office at Parliament House in New Delhi. Apprising the Prime Minister about the fiscal position of the state, Bhagwant Mann said that the previous governments have left a whopping burden of 3 lakh crore rupees on the state and demanded an immediate financial package of Rs.50,000 crore each for two years to the stable derailed economy of the state. Terming the outcome of his maiden meeting with the Prime Minister after assuming the charge as Chief Minister as positive, Bhagwant Mann said the former promised all possible support and complete cooperation to make Punjab a vibrant state (rangla Punjab). 

-BJP has termed the gruesome killings of 8 persons in Birbhum district of West Bengal as revenge killings. Briefing reporters in New Delhi Party spokesperson Sambit Patra said that the whole country is concerned about this incident as it has shaken up humanity. He said.  the West Bengal government should have taken steps to prevent the incident. Patra also termed the remarks of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the issue as insensitive and sought an apology from her. Patra alleged that democracy is under greatest threat in West Bengal.

-In Bihar, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) Chief Mukesh Sahni who holds animal husbandry and fishery portfolio in Nitish Kumar led government said he will not resign from the post of minister despite joining all three MLAs of his party to BJP.  Sahani said continuance as a minister in Nitish government depends on the discretion of Chief Minister. Talking to reporters in Patna Sahni said he will accept the decision of Chief Minister in this regard and will continue his fight for upliftment of Nishad community.  Earlier all three MLAs of Mukesh Sahni-led Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) joined the BJP. With the defection of three VIP MLAs, BJPs tally in the 243-member Bihar assembly has increased to 77, making it the single largest party in the House, overtaking RJD, which has 75 members.

-In Kerala, private bus operators began an indefinite strike demanding hike in fares. Owners of close to seven thousand buses said, they have resorted to an agitational path in protest against delay in implementation of fare hike assured by the Government. Transport Minister Antony Raju appealed to the bus operators to call off strike as school examinations are round the corner.  The State Road Transport Corporation has decided to ply more buses to face the situation.