FirstUp: PM addresses voters' conference, Khalid bail plea in SC... Big news today

It’s Wednesday. And it’s poised to be a big day for news. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the New Voters’ conference today. The Supreme Court is set to hear the bail plea of ex-JNU scholar Umar Khalid in the Delhi riots case. A Varanasi court will decide whether to make public the sealed Archeological Survey of India (ASI) report on the Gyanvapi mosque complex survey. The Indian women’s hockey team is set to open up its campaign in the first edition of the FIH Hockey5s Women’s World Cup in Oman today. Let’s take a closer look at today’s big-ticket items: PM addresses New Voters’ conference As the Lok Sabha polls fast approach, the BJP will hold its New Voters’ conference today. The ruling party is set to welcome approximately 50 lakh first-time voters into the fold.

Modi will address the gathering virtually, sources have said.

The programme has been organised by the BJPs Yuva Morcha headed up by Tejashawi Surya. In addition to discussing the value of voting with newly registered voters, BJP Yuva Morcha will also explain to them the changes that have occurred in the nation since 2014, how India is constantly developing, and how the government is promoting this growth. As per sources, the BJP Yuva Morcha also aims to disseminate information about the beneficial schemes of the government and will make the new voters aware of all the work that the government is doing for the youth. SC hears Umar Khalid bail plea Will Umar Khalid finally get bail? The youth activist has been in jail for the past three years in a case lodged under the stringent anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Khaled was arrested over his alleged involvement in the conspiracy behind the northeast Delhi riots of February 2020. The violence had erupted during the protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The apex court has not heard Khaled’s bail plea despite nearly a dozen scheduled dates over the past eight months alone, as per BBC.

Khaled’s lawyer Kapil Sibal has claimed he needs ‘just 20 minutes’ to prove the police have no case.

The Supreme Court on 10 January had adjourned the case after Sibal sought an adjournment. [caption id=“attachment_13578152” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] The Supreme Court had earlier adjourned the case after Kapil Sibal asked for a week’s time. Reuters[/caption] Sibal, saying he was busy in a constitution bench matter, pointed out that even Additional Solicitor General SV Raju was not available. Khalid, arrested by the Delhi Police in September 2020, had sought bail on grounds that he neither had any criminal role in the violence nor any “conspiratorial connect” with any other accused in the case. The Delhi Police had opposed Khalid’s bail plea in the high court, saying the speech delivered by him was “very calculated” and he brought up contentious issues like Babri Masjid, triple talaq, Kashmir, the alleged suppression of Muslims and the CAA and NRC. Varanasi court decision on Gyanvapi A Varanasi court is set to announce its decision on making the the sealed Archeological Survey of India (ASI) report on the Gyanvapi mosque complex survey public. The decision is set to be announced by district judge K Vishvesh. The ASI carried out the scientific survey of the Gyanvapi premises, located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple to determine whether the mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple following a 21 July order from the district court. The ASI had earlier in January urged the court not to make its Gyanvapi complex survey report public for at least four more weeks. It cited the 19 December judgment of the Allahabad High Court as the reason. [caption id=“attachment_13009192” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] A view of Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi. ANI[/caption] The Allahabad High Court had on 19 December dismissed several pleas from the Muslim side challenging the maintainability of a suit seeking restoration of a temple where the Gyanvapi mosque now stands in Varanasi. “The trial in this case of vital national importance should be concluded as soon as possible, preferably within six months. If required, the lower court may direct ASI for a further survey,” the high court had observed. The survey was ordered by the court after the petitioners claimed the 17th Century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing temple. The ASI had submitted its survey report to the district court in a sealed cover on 18 December. Indian women’s hockey team kicks off campaign How far can the Indian women’s hockey team go? The team, led by experienced goalkeeper Rajni Etimarpu, will play Poland in their first game of the FIH Hockey5s Women’s World Cup. The tournament is being be held from 24 to 27 January 2024 in Muscat.

India is in Group C along with Poland, the United States and Namibia.

“We’re all really excited to be here at the FIH Hockey5s Women’s World Cup. Everyone’s confident and looking forward to playing this tournament. We will look to execute our plans and take the fight to our opponents,” Rajni Etimarpu told HockeyIndia.org. Vice-Captain Mahima Chaudhary added, “Our preparatory camp was really useful as each of us understood exactly what we need to do. We’re in a good space and know we have it in us to win the title if we play to the best of our ability in tandem with our game plans.” On this day… On this day in 1848, the California gold rush began. The fad, which kicked off after gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill by New Jersey carpenter James Wilson Marshall, hit its peak in 1852.

“It made my heart thump, for I was certain it was gold,” Marshall later said.

Over 300,000 people who dreamed of striking it rich made their way to California during the Gold Rush, as per Britannica. As much as $2 billion worth of precious metal was removed from the area during the craze, as per History.com. With inputs from agencies