Riots break out in Kenya over tax hike, Indian embassy advises citizens to "avoid non-essential travel..."

 

Riots break out in Kenya over tax hike, Indian embassy advises citizens to "avoid non-essential travel..."

The Indian embassy in Kenya on Wednesday warned Indian nationals living in the country to limit non-essential travel and visits to affected areas. Tax protests should be avoided until the situation calms down.

In a statement, the Indian embassy said, "In view of the current tense situation, we advise all Indians residing in Kenya to exercise extreme caution, limit non-essential travel and avoid protests and violence-affected areas until the situation calms down." X (formerly Twitter) warning.

According to official sources, about 20,000 Indians currently live in Kenya. Violent clashes and demonstrations broke out in Kenya's capital Nairobi and other cities across the country after the Kenyan parliament passed a controversial tax hike bill.

Thousands of demonstrators stormed Kenya's parliament on Tuesday to protest against proposed taxes. They burned parts of the building, forcing lawmakers to flee and coming under police fire. Riots erupted but the president threatened to stop them. Five people were shot and 31 injured during Tuesday's protests. Journalists saw at least three bodies outside the compound where police opened fire, and medical staff reported five deaths. The Kenya Medical Association said in a statement that at least five people died while treating the wounded at the scene. More than 30 people were injured, at least 13 with live ammunition.

Police fired live ammunition and hurled tear gas canisters at protesters seeking treatment at a medical tent at a nearby church. Clashes spread to other cities. Initially, no arrests were known. It was the most direct attack on the government in decades. Protesters were calling on lawmakers to vote against a finance bill that would impose new taxes on the East African economic hub, where resentment over the high cost of living is simmering. While promises of economic relief were applauded, young people who voted Ruto to power took to the streets to protest the pain of the reforms.

Speaker's two-minute silence during Emergency triggers protests and adjournment

 

Speaker's two-minute silence during Emergency triggers protests and adjournment

The election also saw a rare moment of cordiality when Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi approached Om Birla and PM Modi to congratulate them.

Smiles and handshakes ensued between the rivals today following Om Birla's re-election as Rajya Sabha Speaker. But this rare moment of harmonious conviction did not last long and chaos returned after the newly elected Speaker referred to the "dark days of Emergency" and called for two minutes of silence.

Shortly after three-time MP Birla was re-elected by voice vote, Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi walked up to him and congratulated him. Mr Gandhi also shook hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two politicians then accompanied Birla to the Speaker's bench along with Parliamentary Secretary Kiren Rijiju.

The Prime Minister congratulated Birla and said his "kind smile brings happiness to the entire House". "It is an honour that you have been elected to this Speaker for the second time", he said. Opposition leaders also congratulated the Speaker but added a strong message that the Opposition must also be allowed to speak as they represent the voice of the people.

"The issue is not how efficiently the House is run. "The question is how much of India's voice will be heard. The idea that Parliament can be run efficiently by silencing the voices of the opposition is undemocratic. And this election shows that the people of India expect the opposition to uphold the Constitution," said Gandhi, who is now Leader of the Opposition. In their congratulatory speeches, several opposition leaders also referred to the mass suspension of MPs in the last term. In his address to Parliament, Birla said all MPs must work together for the good of the country. He appealed to MPs to maintain decorum in Parliament and said there must remain a distinction between protests at the sangsad (house) and sadak (street). He then asked MPs to observe two minutes of silence to mark 50 years of the "dark days of Emergency". This prompted protests from the Opposition benches, leading to the adjournment of the session.

A BJP official said this year marks the 50th anniversary of Emergency. "It is our collective duty to create awareness about every historical event. "Constitutional awareness will increase only if the younger generation learns about democracy," the source said.

Commenting on the Speaker's emergency speech, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said it was "unfortunate" that the Speaker had undermined the spirit of consensus with his "divisive" remarks. "There was no need for that. That was 49 years ago. It is unfortunate if we have to go that far on a day when the message should be cooperation and consensus," he said.

Arvind Kejriwal Arrested By CBI,l

 

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy case. The probe agency, who presented the AAP leader in the Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court said that the agency could’ve done the exercise before the Lok Sabha elections but it didn't.

The probe agency on Tuesday examined the AAP supremo in Tihar Jail and recorded his statement related to the Excise Policy case.  On the other hand, the Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear Kejriwal's petition against the Delhi high court order putting an interim stay on his bail in the money laundering case linked to liquor excise policy.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday stayed Kejriwal's bail order passed by the trial court, saying that the trial court should have at least recorded its satisfaction with the fulfilment of twin conditions of section 45 of Prevention of the Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before passing the impugned order. The court stated that the vacation judge did not properly consider the material documents presented by the ED.

Kejriwal has been in custody since March 21, except for a brief period of interim bail granted by the Supreme Court for election campaigning. The case stems from alleged irregularities in Delhi’s now-scrapped 2021-22 excise policy.

What is the case?

The case against Kejriwal stems from allegations of irregularities in Delhi’s now-scrapped excise policy of 2021-22, which the CBI began probing following a recommendation by Delhi’s lieutenant governor in July 2022.

NDA's Om Birla wins Rare Contest For Lok Sabha Speaker

 

The election also saw a moment of rare bonhomie as Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi walked up to Mr Birla to congratulated him and PM Modi.

Three-time BJP MP Om Birla was elected Lok Sabha Speaker for the second time in a row today after the NDA candidate won the election by a voice vote. The election also saw a moment of rare bonhomie between the treasury and Opposition benches as Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi walked up to Mr Birla to congratulated him and also shook hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As the House applauded Mr Birla on his election, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju escorted him to the Speaker's chair.

This was only the third election for the Lok Sabha Speaker after Independence. The voting took place after the Congress forced a contest and fielded its eight-time MP K Suresh as a challenger. The numbers, however, were clearly on Mr Birla's side. While the NDA candidate had the support of 297 MPs, the Opposition pick had 232.

The Lok Sabha Speaker is generally chosen with consensus. This time, the government had reached out to Opposition parties for their support. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had then responded that it will support the NDA candidate if the Deputy Speaker is appointed from the Opposition benches.

The government, however, made it clear that they are not considering a Deputy Speaker post, or the Opposition's claim to it, for now. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, "We appealed to them for support for the Speaker, but they said that they would support it but that they wanted the post of Deputy Speaker. We told them that the process of election for both posts is different. The process for choosing the Speaker is conducted before the Deputy Speaker. So it is not right to combine both."

Arvind Kejriwal to remain in Tihar jail as Delhi HC stays trial court's bail decision

Arvind Kejriwal to remain in Tihar jail as Delhi HC stays trial court's bail decision
Arvind Kejriwal to remain in Tihar jail as Delhi HC stays trial court's bail decision
Arvind Kejriwal to remain in Tihar jail as Delhi HC stays trial court's bail decision

 

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday stayed a trial court's decision to grant bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering probe. The ED filed submissions on Monday with the Delhi HC, opposing any relief for Kejriwal in the Excise Policy money laundering case.

AAP will be appealing the stay in the Supreme Court, Kejriwal's representatives said.

"This Court is of the view that the Trial Court has not applied its mind and has not considered the material," the Delhi HC bench of Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain observed. The HC also noted that the trial court failed to appreciate the material placed before it by the investigative agency.

Special Judge Niyay Bindu, who sat as the vacation judge, granted bail to Kejriwal on June 20 in the money laundering case, saying the ED failed to furnish direct evidence linking him to the proceeds of crime in the money laundering case.

ED criticised the trial court's bail decision as illegal and unjust, urging the High Court to nullify it, alleging the trial judge made biased findings without fully reviewing the prosecution's evidence.
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Arvind Kejriwal to remain in Tihar jail as Delhi HC stays trial court's bail decision

Arvind Kejriwal to remain in Tihar jail as Delhi HC stays trial court's bail decision
Arvind Kejriwal to remain in Tihar jail as Delhi HC stays trial court's bail decision

 

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday stayed a trial court's decision to grant bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering probe. The ED filed submissions on Monday with the Delhi HC, opposing any relief for Kejriwal in the Excise Policy money laundering case.

AAP will be appealing the stay in the Supreme Court, Kejriwal's representatives said.

"This Court is of the view that the Trial Court has not applied its mind and has not considered the material," the Delhi HC bench of Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain observed. The HC also noted that the trial court failed to appreciate the material placed before it by the investigative agency.

Special Judge Niyay Bindu, who sat as the vacation judge, granted bail to Kejriwal on June 20 in the money laundering case, saying the ED failed to furnish direct evidence linking him to the proceeds of crime in the money laundering case.

ED criticised the trial court's bail decision as illegal and unjust, urging the High Court to nullify it, alleging the trial judge made biased findings without fully reviewing the prosecution's evidence.
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June 25, 2024 at 03:39PM
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June 25, 2024 at 04:13PM

Arvind Kejriwal to remain in Tihar jail as Delhi HC stays trial court's bail decision

Arvind Kejriwal to remain in Tihar jail as Delhi HC stays trial court's bail decision

 

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday stayed a trial court's decision to grant bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering probe. The ED filed submissions on Monday with the Delhi HC, opposing any relief for Kejriwal in the Excise Policy money laundering case.

AAP will be appealing the stay in the Supreme Court, Kejriwal's representatives said.

"This Court is of the view that the Trial Court has not applied its mind and has not considered the material," the Delhi HC bench of Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain observed. The HC also noted that the trial court failed to appreciate the material placed before it by the investigative agency.

Special Judge Niyay Bindu, who sat as the vacation judge, granted bail to Kejriwal on June 20 in the money laundering case, saying the ED failed to furnish direct evidence linking him to the proceeds of crime in the money laundering case.

ED criticised the trial court's bail decision as illegal and unjust, urging the High Court to nullify it, alleging the trial judge made biased findings without fully reviewing the prosecution's evidence.
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June 25, 2024 at 03:39PM