top of page

By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 8:56:24 pm

Sack, jail Kumar: Uddhav

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray today demanded the immediate removal and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and fresh elections in Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu in the wake of differences emerging in the Election Commission of India’s top brass. Referring to reports in a media report that two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had reportedly raised objections on multiple occasions over certain decisions concerning...

Sack, jail Kumar: Uddhav

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray today demanded the immediate removal and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and fresh elections in Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu in the wake of differences emerging in the Election Commission of India’s top brass. Referring to reports in a media report that two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had reportedly raised objections on multiple occasions over certain decisions concerning electoral rolls and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Thackeray accused the ECI of becoming ‘a part of a wider political operation’ intended to weaken democratic institutions. “There’s a ‘gang’ of people within the election system that is conniving to split political parties, grab their names and poll symbols, and are ‘murdering democracy’. The horrific, ugly and grotesque face of Gyanesh Kumar has been exposed. The Supreme Court must take suo motu cognizance of the entire controversy,” demanded Thackeray. Pointing to the ECI claims that it follows the directives of the Ministry of Home Affairs, he said “this raises questions whether the Home Minister is the ‘mastermind’, which needs to be clarified”. “If so, then he too must face the appropriate punishment,” said Thackeray, hinting at Amit Shah. Dwelling on the expose on ECI, he slammed the poll panel for “operating in an arbitrary fashion with Gyanesh Kumar, who is driven by a lust for power”, and reiterated that the CEC must be removed and jailed forthwith. To a query on following the rules, Thackeray shot back: “Did he follow the rules? Then why talk of rules for him sack and jail him. We salute the two ECs (Sandhu and Joshi) for bringing this out and opening the eyes of the country.” Attempting to douse the flames engulfing its credibility, the ECI said that there may be differences but these were thoroughly discussed and all the final decisions were taken unanimously by all the three top functionaries with their signatures. Thackery said around 45 lakh voters were added to the electoral rolls between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections (both 2024), and objections were subsequently raised on more than 40 lakh of those voter names. NCP (SP) seeks all-party meet The Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) on Wednesday called for an immediate all-party meeting to discuss reports of differences emerging within the Election Commission, saying the issue concerns the constitutional rights of every citizen and should not be treated as a political matter. She said the allegations should be discussed openly to establish whether there was any substance in them. Asked if Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should “step aside”, Sule said there should be an open discussion on whether the allegations are true. “If the system is going to collapse, then who we should trust in this country,” the Lok Sabha member from Baramati constituency in western Maharashtra said.

India working on logistics of Tahawwur Rana's extradition

PTI
Feb 14, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Feb 18, 2025

Tahawwur Rana

Washington: India is working on the logistics of Tahawwur Rana's surrender and extradition from the US, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has said, as President Donald Trump announced that his administration has given the go-ahead to extradite the 26/11 terror attack accused “to face justice".

“This is an issue on which the US authorities have taken very clear decisions. I think you've seen the President announce it himself from the White House podium" the decision of the US to extradite Rana, Misri said at a press conference here on Thursday.


During a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the White House, US President Donald Trump announced that his administration has approved the extradition of "very evil" Tahawwur Rana, wanted by Indian law enforcement agencies for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, "to face justice in India”.


In response to a question by PTI on the timeframe by when Rana will be extradited to India, Misri said: "We are working on the logistics of his surrender and extradition to India. There are a few final steps to be completed. The two sides are in touch on this particular issue.”


The India-US joint statement issued during the Prime Minister's visit to the US notes that Modi and Trump reaffirmed that the global scourge of terrorism must be fought and terrorist safe havens eliminated from every corner of the world.

“They committed to strengthen cooperation against terrorist threats from groups, including Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Jaish-e Mohammad, and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba in order to prevent heinous acts like the attacks in Mumbai on 26/11 and the Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021," the joint statement said.


“Recognising a shared desire to bring to justice those who would harm our citizens, the US announced that the extradition to India of Tahawwur Rana has been approved," it said.


The leaders further called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai, and Pathankot attacks and ensure that its territory is not used to carry out cross-border terrorist attacks.

"The leaders also pledged to work together to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems and to deny access to such weapons by terrorists and non-state actors,” the joint statement added.

Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, is currently lodged at a metropolitan detention centre in Los Angeles. He is known to be associated with Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators of the 26/11 attacks.

Speaking at the joint press meet, Trump said "Today I am pleased to announce that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the plotters and very evil people of the world, and having to do with the horrific Mumbai terrorist attack, to face justice in India. So, he is going back to India to face justice."


The extradition of Rana was cleared by the US Supreme Court in January as it rejected his review petition in the case.


India last month said it was working with American authorities for the early extradition of Rana.


"The US Supreme Court on January 21 declined to hear a petition from the accused. We are now working with the US side on procedural issues for early extradition to India of the accused in the Mumbai terror attack," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said.


In November 2012, Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving gunman among the Pakistani group, was hanged to death in Yerawada Jail in Pune.

-PTI

Comments

bottom of page