FirstUp: Ethics panel’s report on Mahua Moitra and more… The big stories today

It was on this day in 2019 that the Supreme Court announced its final verdict in the Ayodhya dispute, paving the way for the construction of a Ram Temple. Four years to the judgment, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet is set to hold its meeting in the holy city today as the date of inauguration of the shrine in January comes closer.

In a historic move four years back on this day, Kartarpur Corridor, one of the holiest shrines of Sikhs, was opened allowing Indian pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan.

Returning to the present day, there are several stories that will unravel that we believe will grab headlines. Let’s take a closer look at them.

Report on Mahua Moitra controversy

The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee will convene a meeting to likely adopt a draft report on the cash-for-query charges against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra. The meeting means the panel has completed its inquiry and is likely to make recommendations on what action should be taken.

Moitra has been accused by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey of taking “bribes” to ask questions in Parliament targeting the Adani Group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Dubey has now claimed that the Lokpal has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into his allegations against Moitra.

लोकपाल ने आज मेरे कम्प्लेन पर आरोपी सांसद महुआ जी के राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा को गिरवी रखकर भ्रष्टाचार करने पर CBI inquiry का आदेश दिया

— Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) November 8, 2023

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Meanwhile, the TMC leader has alleged the ethics panel chairman, BJP MP Vinod Kumar Sonkar, asked her “filthy” personal questions during the Committee’s meeting on 2 November. The day had resulted in high drama with Opposition members on the Committee storming out of the proceedings, along with Moitra.

Delhi schools shut

Delhi’s pollution is the talk of the town again. The National Capital is breathing hazardous air as the city government imposes curbs to rein in deteriorating air quality.

In one such move, the government has preponed winter break for schools, which will begin today and last till 18 November. The order noted that no respite is expected from these adverse weather conditions in the near future.

Delhi government announces early winter break in schools from 9th to 18th November amid severe air pollution in the national capital pic.twitter.com/g9TDdHouot

— ANI (@ANI) November 8, 2023

Toxic smog has engulfed Delhi as the Air Quality Index (AQI) remains beyond the ‘poor’ category in several areas.

Supreme Court to hear Chandrababu Naidu’s plea

The apex court will hear the petition of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu in the alleged FiberNet scam case. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president has approached the court against the Andhra Pradesh High Court order denying him anticipatory bail.

The former CM has been accused of tender manipulation by allotting work in the first phase of the AP FiberNet Project of Rs 330 crore to a favoured company, causing a huge loss to the state exchequer.

Naidu, who was arrested in the alleged skills development scam in September, is currently out on interim bail on health grounds.

Jet Airways’ hearing

The insolvency appellate tribunal National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) will hear the appeal of the lenders of the grounded airline Jet Airways against the transfer of ownership of the airline to the Jalan Kalrock Consortium (JKC) today.

The air carrier had halted all operations on 17 April 2019 citing increasing financial liabilities. Soon after, its lenders took the airline to bankruptcy court.

Two days back, the Bombay High Court rejected a petition filed by Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal challenging his “illegal” arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case in connection with a bank loan default.

Expect rains

Some parts of Himachal Pradesh are likely to receive rain and snow from today. According to the Meteorological Office in Shimla, such weather conditions will continue till 11 November due to the influence of a western disturbance that is expected to bring a dip in minimum and maximum temperatures.

Rainfall is also predicted in Uttarakhand. Kerala and Tamil Nadu are expected to witness isolated heavy showers.

It’s New Zealand vs Sri Lanka

New Zealand will face off against Sri Lanka in the Cricket World Cup 2023. The match will be held in Karnataka’s Bengaluru amid fears that rain may play a spoilsport.

Three teams — India, South Africa and Australia — are already in the semi-finals, while New Zealand, Pakistan and Afghanistan are vying to secure the fourth spot.