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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 8:56:24 pm

MNS’ signature drive to oust CEC

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) launched a statewide signature campaign on Monday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over allegations concerning the Election Commission’s functioning and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, starting with Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The main campaign was taken up at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park, to mobilise direct public support for the ouster of the CEC and changes to the...

MNS’ signature drive to oust CEC

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) launched a statewide signature campaign on Monday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over allegations concerning the Election Commission’s functioning and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, starting with Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The main campaign was taken up at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park, to mobilise direct public support for the ouster of the CEC and changes to the electoral processes, besides scrapping the Election Commission of India (ECI)’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray, brother Tejas and their cousin, MNS functionary Amit Thackeray, along with top leaders from both parties staged a protest march in Dadar this evening followed by a dharna. The other demands include return to Ballot Paper voting, accurate and transparent electoral rolls, and conducting the electoral processes in consultation with all political parties. MNS President Raj Thackeray was scheduled to join the signature campaign later this evening even as the process continued in full swing in different parts of Mumbai and the state. However, party officials claimed that there was a huge and spontaneous response to the drive, but could not provide the details of the signatures collected today. In Navi Mumbai, too A similar campaign was organized near Vashi railway station led by MNS Navi Mumbai President Gajanan Kale, Sachin Kadam and others in which large crowds of men, women and youth were seen signing the demand petitions. As political activists clamoured against Gyanesh Kumar, some wearing T-shirts with slogans demanding his resignation, Kale said the campaign would be extended to other towns in Navi Mumbai. SS (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve led a protest in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, besides reports of agitations coming in different parts of the state. Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) Founder Abhijeet Dipke – who returned to his hometown and left to pay homage to his deceased grandmother in Hingoli - today fired a fresh salve, accusing the Centre of “waging a war against citizens to protect CEC Gyanesh Kumar.” Today’s signature drive followed a weekend of angry protests against Gyanesh Kumar and the detention of demonstrators in Mumbai, including social activists Tushar Gandhi, his daughter Kasturi, Guddi S.L. Feroze Mithiborwala, actor Imran Khan and over 600 other youth. In tune with Delhi agitation It also coincided with INDIA block agitation in New Delhi led by Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other top Opposition leaders seeking a meeting with the Chief Justice of India. After the request was rejected the Opposition marched to the apex court to file a petition on the same issue this evening. Terming it as “the second battle for Independence”, Congress state President Harshwardhan Sapkal along with all party MPs and MLAs from the state, plus office-bearers, totalling to over 1,000, went to New Delhi to join the INDIA bloc’s ‘Save Democracy’ agitation. “The dictatorial BJP has resolved to crush this democratic struggle. New Delhi has turned into a military cantonment. Over 30,000 police and security personnel have been deployed, 250 trains have been halted or cancelled, and metro services have also been suspended. All this is to suppress the mass movement and conceal the ‘vote-theft’. But until all those responsible for the electoral malpractices are booked, Gyanesh Kumar is removed and arrested, we will not rest,” thundered Sapkal. State leaders joining the INDIA bloc march included AICC Maharashtra In-Charge Dr. Sirivella Prasad, Goa In-Charge Manikrao Thakre, CWC Member M. Arif Naseem Khan, Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar, Balasaheb Thorat, Nitin Raut, Amit Deshmukh, Vishwajeet Kadam, ex-MP Hussain Dalwai, B. M. Sandeep, Rehana Chishti, Bhai Jagtap, Mohan Joshi, Atul Londhe and others.

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

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