FirstUp: PM Modi in UP, naval exercise MILAN-2024 to begin… The big news today

It’s Monday and it’s the start of a brand new week.

There’s a whole lot expected to happen today (19 February). Want to know what? Here’s our guide to the big news-making events today.

PM Modi to launch UP projects worth 10 lakh crore

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Uttar Pradesh today and he has a busy schedule there. He will begin his visit by laying the foundation stone of Shri Kalki Dham Temple in Sambhal district.

Later in the day, the PM will launch 14,000 projects across Uttar Pradesh worth more than Rs 10 lakh crore at the Ground Breaking Ceremony in Lucknow. About 3,500 investors and guests from India and abroad will also be in attendance at the event.

Rahul Gandhi’s march in Amethi

Speaking of Uttar Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will enter Amethi on Monday around 3 pm. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will also accompany Rahul in Amethi, the party said.

“Rahul’s Nyay Yatra will enter Amethi border from Rampur Khas assembly constituency of Pratapgarh district,” said Anil Singh, media coordinator of Congress’ Amethi district unit.

Notably, Rahul Gandhi is a three-time Lok Sabha MP from Amethi. Union minister Smriti Irani is the sitting MP from Amethi constituency.

Naval exercise MILAN-2024 to begin from today

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Warships are set to converge in Visakhapatnam from various nations for the largest multilateral naval exercise called ‘MILAN-2024’. The exercise, which began in 1995, will commence from today until 27 February and have participating from over 50 countries.

From the Indian Navy, nearly 20 ships, including aircraft carriers Vikrant and Vikramaditya, and nearly 50 aircraft, including MiG 29K and P8I, will participate in the event.

SC to hear Sharad Pawar’s plea on EC’s NCP order

The Supreme Court will hear a plea of Sharad Pawar challenging an Election Commission order recognising the Ajit Pawar-led faction as the real Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and KV Viswanathan is likely to hear Sharad Pawar’s plea.

Pawar had sought urgent hearing in view of the 15 February order of Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar. Narwekar held that the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar was the real NCP and that the anti-defection provisions in the Constitution cannot be used to stifle internal dissent.

Prior to this, the poll panel announced on 6 February that the Ajit Pawar faction is the real NCP and also allotted the party’s ‘clock’ symbol to the group.

ED calls Arvind Kejriwal in excise case

Will he or won’t he, that’s the question. The Enforcement Directorate has issued a summon to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, asking him to appear before it today in connection with its investigation into a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy 2021-22.

This is the sixth time that Kejriwal has been issued summons in connection with the case. He has skipped five previous summons — on 2 November and 22 December last year, and on 3 January, 18 January, and 2 February — calling them “illegal and politically motivated”.

Mahua Moitra summoned by ED in FEMA case

Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra has also been summoned by the ED to appear before them today for questioning in the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) contravention case.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had accused Moitra of targeting the Adani Group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha questions, allegedly at the behest of businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for gifts. He further accused her of compromising national security for monetary gains.

In December, on this issue, the TMC leader was expelled from the Lok Sabha over the issue. Moitra has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that she is being targeted for questioning the deals of the Adani Group.

ICJ to hold hearing on Israel’s policies in Palestinian Territories

The International Court of Justice, the United Nations top court, will from today hold hearings on the legal consequences of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories since 1967, with an unprecedented 52 countries expected to give evidence.

Nations including the United States, Russia, and China will address judges in a weeklong session at the Peace Palace in The Hague, seat of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

While any ICJ opinion would be non-binding, it comes amid mounting international legal pressure on Israel over the war in Gaza sparked by the brutal 7 October Hamas attacks.

The hearings are separate from a high-profile case brought by South Africa alleging that Israel is committing genocidal acts during the current Gaza offensive.