Latest india news News: Today’s Live Updates 02-Dec-2023

CP Joshi, the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Rajasthan, has stated that he is not in the running for the position of Chief Minister in the state. However, he expressed confidence that the BJP would form the government in Rajasthan. Exit polls from the state have predicted a close contest between the BJP and the Congress, with some polls showing the BJP as the clear winner and others showing the Congress ahead. The results will be announced on 3 December and smaller parties and independents could play a crucial role in the formation of the government.

The arrest of an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer in Tamil Nadu for allegedly accepting a bribe of INR20 lakh ($27,000) has caused a political controversy in the state. DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran accused the BJP-led central government of misusing the ED to target political opponents. However, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai defended the agency, saying it should not be blamed for the actions of an individual. The arrested officer, Ankit Tiwari, is accused of demanding INR31 lakh from a government doctor to avert legal action in a case that had already been disposed of.

Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Digvijaya Singh, has stated that the Congress party will win more than 130 seats in the state. Singh made the remark ahead of the counting of votes, scheduled for 3 December. He also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of doing "business, not politics." Meanwhile, Congress leader Jaivardhan Singh has also expressed confidence that the party will secure a clear majority in the state. Most exit polls have predicted a BJP victory, although some have given an advantage to the Congress. Madhya Pradesh went to the polls on 28 November, with a voter turnout of 77.82%.

The winter session of the Indian Parliament, set to begin on December 4, is expected to consider several key draft legislations, including three bills to replace colonial-era criminal laws. The session will have 15 sittings until December 22 and will discuss bills such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill 2023. Other bills to be discussed include those related to the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) and various amendments. Additionally, the session will cover the presentation, discussion, and voting on demands for grants and excess grants for previous years.

The Indian government has called for a conducive atmosphere for structured debates during the upcoming winter session of Parliament. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi stated that the government is ready to discuss all issues. An all-party meeting was held to plan the legislative agenda and ensure smooth parliamentary proceedings. Opposition leaders raised concerns about the proposed bills to replace criminal laws, as well as issues of price rise, the "misuse" of probe agencies, and Manipur. The session is expected to be stormy, with potential controversy over the expulsion of TMC lawmaker Mahua Moitra. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has written to the Speaker requesting a review of parliamentary committee rules and procedures.

The Indian state of Mizoram has been providing aid and shelter to refugees fleeing the military regime in neighbouring Myanmar. This support can be traced back to 2015, when Mizoram assisted residents of Myanmar's Chin state following devastating floods and landslides. The Mizoram government has refused to collect biometric data on the refugees, arguing that it would amount to discrimination against the ethnic kin of the Mizo people. However, this humanitarianism is not unconditional, as the government has issued restrictions on refugees, including prohibiting them from purchasing land or running businesses without official permission. There is also a historical unease within Mizo society towards outsiders, including the Chins.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressing concern over the expulsion of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra from Parliament. Chowdhury highlighted that there is no clear definition of "unethical conduct" and no code of conduct in place for MPs. He also noted that the Lok Sabha ethics committee has previously recommended actions such as admonition, reprimand, and suspension, but expulsion is an extremely serious punishment. Chowdhury urged the Speaker to examine the processes followed and take remedial measures to streamline the functioning of Parliament. Several opposition leaders have also stated their opposition to Moitra's expulsion.

The consecration ceremony for Ayodhya's Ram Temple in India has been scheduled for January 22, 2024, more than three years after the foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Over 6,000 guests, including priests, donors, and politicians, have been invited to the ceremony. Prior to the opening ceremony, the Uttar Pradesh government will organize recitations of the Akhand Ramayan and Hanuman Chalisa in major temples across the state. The construction of the temple began in August 2020 after the Supreme Court's verdict on the Ayodhya dispute. Thailand is also sending soil to the Ramjanmabhoomi as a cultural gesture.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is set to file a charge sheet against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh in connection with alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy. Singh, who is currently in Tihar jail, was arrested by the ED on October 4. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that the Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX) payload on board India's first solar satellite, Aditya-L1, has started operations. The ISRO also said that the Solar Wind Ion Spectrometer (SWIS), the second instrument in the ASPEX payload, is now operational.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting a ban on all platforms, including APKs, Telegram channels, Instagram accounts, and URLs, associated with illegal online betting. Baghel stated that illegal gambling and betting have expanded nationwide through online platforms, with operators and owners running the illegal business from abroad. The Chhattisgarh police have registered over 90 criminal cases related to online betting since March 2022, arresting 450 individuals and freezing INR 16 crore ($2.2 million) in bank accounts. The letter comes after allegations that Baghel received INR 508 crore ($70 million) from the promoters of the Mahadev betting app.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) plans to file a charge sheet against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh on Saturday as part of its money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy. Singh is currently in Tihar jail after being arrested by the ED on October 4, and he is accused of receiving a bribe of INR 2 crore ($263,000) through his aides. The charge sheet will be filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to ensure that Singh does not receive default bail. Singh is also under scrutiny for his involvement in the 2020-21 excise policy.

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has written to the Lok Sabha Speaker, urging a review of parliamentary committee processes after the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee recommended the expulsion of Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in connection with a "cash-for-query" case. Chowdhury raised concerns about the scrutiny and transparency of the Ethics Committee's proceedings and questioned the procedure followed in Moitra's case. He also highlighted the gravity and far-reaching implications of expulsion from Parliament. The Ethics Committee adopted the report during a meeting on November 9, and it is scheduled to be tabled in the lower house of Parliament during the Winter Session.

The Solar Wind Ion Spectrometer (SWIS) instrument of the Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX) payload on India's Aditya-L1 solar satellite has started operating normally, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The SWIS instrument, which utilises two sensor units with a 360-degree field of view each, has successfully measured solar wind ions such as protons and alpha particles. The directional capabilities of the SWIS instrument allow for accurate measurements of solar wind alphas and protons, providing valuable information about the characteristics of the solar wind, its underlying processes, and its effects on Earth.

Passengers on a SpiceJet flight from Delhi to Patna created a ruckus at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport after the flight was delayed for over seven hours. The passengers protested, shouted, and argued with airline staff over the delay. The airline stated that the passengers had been duly informed about the revised departure time the previous night. This incident follows another incident where a SpiceJet flight from Delhi to Mumbai was cancelled, leading to protests by passengers. The flight was first delayed and later cancelled due to a technical issue with the aircraft.

The assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram have concluded, and pollsters are divided on the projected outcomes. In Madhya Pradesh, most exit polls predict a close contest with a slight edge to the Congress, but Axis My India and Today's Chanakya project a big win for the BJP. In Rajasthan, the exit polls suggest a BJP victory, but India Today-Axis My India and News 24-Today's Chanakya give the advantage to the Congress. The Congress is predicted to hold on to Chhattisgarh and win Telangana from K Chandrashekhar Rao's party. Mizoram is expected to have a hung assembly. The results will be announced on December 3 and 4.