 "Daily Dispatch (India): Kejriwal's health deteriorates in ED custody, BJP's Dilip Ghosh apologises for 'father' jab at Mamata, FEMA case: ED summons TMC MP Mahua Moitra on 28 March")
Kejriwal’s health deteriorates in ED custody
The blood sugar level of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is diabetic, is fluctuating and his health has deteriorated in Enforcement Directorate custody, AAP sources claimed on Wednesday.Kejriwal’s blood sugar level dropped to 46 Mg at one point of time and according to doctors, such a drop is “very dangerous”, they claimed. Earlier in the day, the chief minister’s wife Sunita Kejriwal said in a digital briefing that she had met him in ED custody and his sugar level was fluctuating. She appealed people to pray for his health. Kejriwal was arrested by the ED last week in connection with the money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. He is in ED custody till March 28.
BJP’s Dilip Ghosh apologises for ‘father’ jab at Mamata
Hours after BJP president JP Nadda issued a notice seeking clarification from party leader Dilip Ghosh regarding his remarks on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerje, Ghosh on Wednesday apologised for his remarks. Ghosh was heard mocking the family background of Banerjee in a purported video clip. Maintaining that his party and other people have reservations about his choice of words, Ghosh said, “If it is so, I am sorry for that.” The TMC filed a complaint with the Election Commission against him over his comments, alleging that it violated the model code of conduct (MCC). Ghosh, the former state BJP president, said he has no personal enmity with the chief minister. “This is not the first time that a controversy has erupted over my comments since I say it on the face of anyone who does any wrong,” he said. Ghosh claimed that he had only protested Banerjee’s political statements.
FEMA case: ED summons TMC MP Mahua Moitra, businessman Darshan Hiranandani
The Enforcement Directorate has issued fresh summons to TMC leader Mahua Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani for questioning in a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) contravention case on March 28, official sources said Wednesday.
The 49-year-old Trinamool Congress leader was called for questioning earlier also by the central agency. Moitra, who was expelled from the Lok Sabha in December for “unethical conduct”, has been renominated by her party from West Bengal’s Krishnanagar seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had raided her premises in connection with the cash-for-query case on Saturday, days after anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal directed the federal agency to investigate the allegations levelled against her by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.
Excise ‘scam’: ED seeks time to respond to Kejriwal’s plea against arrest
The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday urged the Delhi High Court to grant it time to file reply to a plea by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest in a money-laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam. Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the agency, said the “bulky” petition was served upon them only on Tuesday, and three weeks’ time should be given to bring their stand on record. For interim relief as well, appropriate time should be given to respond, he said. Senior advocate AM Singhvi, appearing for the AAP leader, alleged that the request to file response was a delay tactic.
Challenge is to the foundation of arrest and there are several “glaring issues” that need immediate decision by the high court either way, the senior lawyer added. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said she would take up the matter again after some time.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsCentre to consider revoking AFSPA in J&K: Amit Shah
The Centre will consider revoking the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Jammu and Kashmir, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah, adding that the government plans to pull back troops in the Union Territory (UT) and leave law and order to the Jammu and Kashmir Police. “We will also think of revoking AFSPA,” the minister said in an interview with the JK Media Group. Areas in J&K were brought under the AFSPA in September 1990 through a notification issued by the then state government, declaring the Kashmir valley a “disturbed area” under Section 3 of the law. It was only in August 2001 that the then state government extended the scope of AFSPA to Jammu province.The AFSPA gives the armed force’s personnel, operating in disturbed areas, sweeping powers to search, arrest and to open fire if they deem it necessary for “the maintenance of public order”. For long, various organisations and individuals in J&K have been demanding to revoke the AFSPA.
BJP sends notice to Dilip Ghosh, seeks clarification on ‘father’ jab at Mamata
BJP president JP Nadda on Tuesday issued a notice seeking clarification from the party leader Dilip Ghosh regarding his remarks on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The BJP has written a letter stating that Ghosh’s comment was “indecent and unparliamentary” and against the party’s ethos and values. The party said it strongly condemned such comments and sought an explanation from Ghosh on this issue. While addressing reporters in Durgapur, BJP MP Ghosh said that wherever Mamata Banerjee goes, she calls herself the daughter of that state, and “she must identify her own father”. “When Didi (CM Mamata Banerjee) goes to Goa, she calls herself the daughter of Goa. When she goes to Tripura, she says that she is the daughter of Tripura. She should first identify her own father…” Ghosh said.
Delhi Assembly session today, first since Kejriwal’s arrest
The Delhi Assembly will convene for the first time today since Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested in a money laundering case linked to the liquor policy case. Kejriwal has been sent to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate till March 28. In focus will be Kejriwal’s second order issued from lock-up seeking the availability of free medicines and pathological tests at government-run Mohalla clinics. Hours after Kejriwal issued directions to him to address the shortage of medicines, Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said a session of the Delhi Assembly will be held on Wednesday. “Tomorrow is the session of the Delhi Assembly. The Chief Secretary has been ordered to inform the status of free medicines and free tests in hospitals and mohalla clinics and if there is any deficiency, then come up with a complete plan to correct it. So that I can inform the assembly,” he said in a post on X.
With inputs from agencies
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