FirstUp: Indonesia goes to polls, PM to inaugurate Abu Dhabi mandir... Today's news

It’s Wednesday. And you know what that means. A day of big news lies ahead. Indonesia, the world’s third largest democracy, is set to go to the polls today to find a successor for its popular president President Joko Widodo. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to make history by inaugurating the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi. Modi is also set to travel to Qatar’s Doha after his UAE trip where he will meet the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad and other dignitaries Ex-Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan, who quit the Congress on Monday, will file his Rajya Sabha nomination today. The Delhi High Court will hear the NIA’s plea seeking the death penalty for Yasin Malik in the terror funding case Let’s take a closer look at toda****y’s big-ticket items: Indonesia picks Widodo’s successor Who will succeed President Joko Widodo in Indonesia?

And does it even matter?

While the front-runner is defence minister Prabowo Subianto – who has picked Widodo’s son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka as his running mate – ex-governors Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo are also in with a chance. Polls show that the 72-year-old Prabowo is running well ahead of his two rivals though perhaps not with the majority needed to avoid a runoff. [caption id=“attachment_13285802” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto gestures while attending a meeting of his Gerindra Party, in Bogor, Indonesia August 12, 2022. Reuters[/caption]

The Indikator Politik Indonesia agency said in its latest survey that it was possible that Prabowo and Gibran could could win outright in the first round, but it was also possible that the election would go to a runoff. While the cost of living and unemployment are major issues particularly for the youth, others are concerned about the state of human rights and have voiced concerns about Gibran being picked as a way for Widodo to retain influence despite leaving office.

Modi inaugurates BAPS temple Modi today will inaugurate the BAPS temple in Abu Dhabi. The temple, made out of pink sandstone temple, has been built on a 27-acre plot in Abu Dhabi’s Abu Mureikhah district. The land was granted on lease by President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for as long as “the sun shines.”

According to Moneycontrol, the foundation for the temple was laid on 20 April, 2019.

Construction on the temple began in December 2019. “The significance of this mandir is to breathe in a fresh air of harmony where cultures, religions, communities, and countries can coexist,” Brahmaviharidas Swami, Head of BAPS Hindu Mandir told ANI. This is the prime minister’s seventh visit to the UAE since 2015 and third visit in the past eight months. The Gulf country’s ambassador to India Abdulnasser Alshaali on Monday hoped that it will further take the strategic relationship to new heights. “This visit is very important. It is very significant in this (India-UAE) relationship. We are honoured and privileged to have the Prime Minister (Modi) come to the UAE to be our guest at the World Government Summit and to inaugurate the BAPS Mandir. I am sure this will further take the relationship to new heights," Alshaali said Modi heads to Qatar Modi will also visit Doha – just days after Qatar has released eight jailed former Indian Navy personnel in what was seen as a major diplomatic victory for New Delhi. The development came nearly three-and-half months after a Qatari court handed the personnel death sentence which was  subsequently commuted to jail terms. Foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said Modi himself constantly supervised all the developments in the case and has never shied away from any initiatives to ensure the return of the Indians. Modi on Tuesday said India and Qatar enjoy historically close and friendly relations and the multi-faceted ties between the two countries have continued to deepen in recent years. Modi said he was looking forward to meeting Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, “under whose leadership Qatar continues to witness tremendous growth and transformation.”

Modi’s visit to Qatar will be his second trip as the prime minister.

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“In recent years, our multi-faceted ties have continued to deepen in all spheres, including high level political exchanges, growing trade and investment between two countries, strengthening of our energy partnership, and cooperation in culture and education,” Modi said. Ashok Chavan files RS nomination Ashok Chavan, who was part of the Congress for nearly four decades, will file file his Rajya Sabha nomination today – with the backing of the BJP. Chavan on Tuesday joined the BJP in the presence of deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. “I am thankful to Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party president Jagat Prakash Nadda and Devendra Fadnavis for giving me the opportunity to become part of the BJP. With a positive attitude, I want to work for Maharashtra’s development,” said Chavan. [caption id=“attachment_13720922” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Ashok Chavan on Tuesday joined the BJP. Image courtesy: CNN-News18[/caption]

The former chief minister and party veteran’s resignation sent Maharashtra Congress leaders  into a huddle in Mumbai in an attempt to prevent further damage.

Moneycontrol quoted sources as saying that Chavan was peeved at the grand old party refusing to name him Maharashtra party chief.

Adding insult to the injury, Chavan was then also not granted a Rajya Sabha nomination by the party.

Chavan, the MLA from the Bhokar seat, was also a member of the Congress Working Committee. He had represented the Nanded Lok Sabha constituency in 2014. Delhi High Court hears NIA plea on Yasin Malik The Delhi High Court is set to hear a plea by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seeking death penalty for Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik in a terror funding case. Malik, the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief currently serving a life term in the case. A trial court  had awarded life sentence to Malik in the case on 24 May 2022, after pronouncing him guilty of various offences under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the IPC.

Malik had pleaded guilty to the charges, including those under anti-terror law UAPA.

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The NIA has argued that a terrorist cannot be awarded life sentence only because he has pleaded guilty and chosen not to go through trial. Seeking enhancement of the sentence to death penalty, the NIA has said if such dreaded terrorists are not handed capital punishment only because they pleaded guilty, there will be complete erosion of the sentencing policy and terrorists would have a way out to avoid capital punishment. The court in December had ordered that Malik join the court proceedings virtually. That came after jail authorities filed an application seeking permission for his virtual appearance on the grounds that he was a “very high risk prisoner” and it was imperative to not physically produce him in court to maintain public order and safety. On this day… BJP leader and former foreign minister Sushma Swaraj was born on this day in 1952 at Ambala Cantt in Haryana. Swaraj, who did her graduation in law from Panjab University, worked as a lawyer in the Supreme Court. [caption id=“attachment_13723222” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Former EAM Sushma Swaraj. File photo[/caption] She joined the BJP after the Emergency and played a pivotal role in the party’s political journey. She first became a state minister at age 25 in 1977 in Haryana CM Devi Lal’s Janata Party government. Swaraj was also the state president of the Janata Party (Haryana) in 1979. Swaraj, who would become a three-term MLA and seven-time MP, would also go on to serve as the chief minister of Delhi in 1998. Swaraj also made history by serving as the external affairs minister in the first Modi government from May 2014 to May 2019. Swaraj was just the second woman to do so after former prime minister Indira Gandhi. Swaraj was a part of the Vajpayee cabinet, where she held the portfolios of health and family welfare, and information and broadcasting. Swaraj passed away in August 2019 at the age of 67. With inputs from agencies