Aston Booker

 The claim by Jagdeep Dhankhar on the floor of the Rajya Sabha led to vociferous protests by Congress MPs. Abhishek Manu Singhvi has denied the charges. Cash found in Rajya Sabha Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar Rajya Sabha chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday said Rs 50,000 cash was recovered by Parliament security officials from the seat allotted to Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The claim by Dhankhar on the floor of the House led to protests by Congress MPs, with Mallikarjun Kharge stressing that names should not be taken before an investigation. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, however, denied the charges. "I just carry a Rs 500 note when I go to the Rajya Sabha. I heard about this for the first time. I reached the House at 12.57 pm and the House rose at 1 pm. Then, I sat in the canteen till 1.30 pm with Ayodhya MP Awadhesh Prasad and left Parliament," the senior advocate said. However, Singhvi welcomed the probe into the incident. "It means that each of us must hav...

 Controversy erupted in the Rajya Sabha today after its Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said he has received a report that a wad of currency notes was found near the seat allotted to Senior Advocate and Member of Parliament Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi. A probe into the the same is underway, Dhankhar disclosed. In a statement to the House, Dhankhar said that the cash was discovered during a routine anti-sabotage check of the chamber following the House's adjournment on Thursday (December 5). The Chairman emphasized that the matter is being investigated in accordance with the law, according to parliamentary procedure. "I hereby inform that, during the routine anti-sabotage check of the chamber after the adjournment of the House yesterday, a wad of currency notes was apparently recovered by the security officials from seat number 222, presently allotted to Sri Abhishek Manu Singhvi, elected from the State of Telangana for the term 2024–2026. The matter was brought to my notice, and I fel...

A high-level investigation has been ordered after a cash bundle was found on the Rajya Sabha seat of Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi. The high-level committee that will oversee the probe will include officials from security agencies, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, and senior MPs. Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar told the MPs this morning that the cash bundle - of ₹ 500 notes amounting to a total of ₹ 50,000 - was found after the House was adjourned last evening. Mr Singhvi has clarified that he had never heard of such a thing, suggesting that bundle wasn't his. To find out how the cash bundle arrived there, CCTV footage from cameras installed in the House are being reviewed. The discovery came during an anti-sabotage check Thursday, after which the Rajya Sabha Secretariat was informed and was placed at the 'lost and found' counter. Mr Dhankhar was then informed. Read: Chaos In Rajya Sabha After Cash Bundle Found On Congress MP's Seat. He Reacts "...

 A group of 101 farmers under the leadership of farmer leaders Surjit Singh Phool, Satnam Singh Pannu, Savinder Singh Chautala, Baljinder Singh Chadiala and Manjit Singh will begin the march from Shambhu border towards Delhi at 1 pm. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher will remain at the Shambhu border and is not among the 101 farmers who will march towards the national capital. In view of the protest, Internet services have been suspended in Haryana's Ambala district till December 9. Security has been tightened with police saying they have enough forces to deal with the farmers. Heavy barricading has been done and the Ambala administration has banned gatherings of five or more people. Pandher said farmers would march on foot instead of taking tractors. "We have been sitting here for the past eight months. In response to accusations that our tractors are modified, we have decided to march to Delhi on foot," Pandher said. He added that the farmers' movement has received...

 The return of Devendra Fadnavis as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra marks the culmination of one phase and the beginning of another in the State’s politics. In 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly, overtaking the Shiv Sena, its long-term ally. After a decade of political realignments in the State, the BJP has now established itself as the primary pole. This primacy has been achieved through several controversial and unethical manoeuvres but its definitive electoral mandate can usher in a phase of stability in politics and governance. Mr. Fadnavis, who played a central role in the ascent of the party in recent years, has grown in strength and stature. As the Chief Minister of a State with many resources, he is well placed to climb new heights, but has his task cut out. He will have to balance the many conflicting community and class interests in the State and within the BJP while simultaneously delivering good governance to sus...

 Political leaders, business honchos and leading Bollywood actors were among thousands who reached Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on Thursday as BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn-in as the 21st Chief Minister of Maharashtra, in what turned out to be one of the biggest swearing-in ceremonies in the state in the recent years. In the middle of three huge stages at the Azad Maidan was a large banner announcing: “Maharashtra Aata Thambnar Nahi” (Maharashtra will not stop now) — a positive and development oriented theme of the new government led by Devendra Fadnavis. As the cultural programmes were held on one of the stages, the third one was occupied by specially invited religious leaders. In a glittering ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with the ruling alliance’s top national and state leadership, former chief minister Eknath Shinde of Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar were also sworn-in as deputy Chief Ministers. As Shinde rose up for sw...