Randeep Singh Surjewala | Business Upturn

SC asks Surjewala to move to Delhi HC with Election Law Amendment Act challenging plea

Yakita Somani — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 09:51:07 +0000

Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna’s panel did not take up Randeep Singh Surjewala ‘s public interest litigation (PIL), challenging the Election Law Amendment Act. Supreme Court did permit him to pull out his argument and file a high court application if required.

The Congress leader raised a petition and said linking of the cards “infringes upon the fundamental right of privacy of citizens and is unconstitutional and ultra vires the Constitution”.

SC denies Surjewala

“Linking of Aadhaar data with Electronic Electoral Photo Identity Card data will allow the personal and private data of voters to be available to statutory authority. And shall impose a limitation on the voters, i.e., the voters will now have to establish their identity. Before the Electoral Registration Officer by furnishing their respective Aadhaar details.

The plea further added that “the situation will further be aggravated by the fact that at present there are no laws for protecting the data of citizens.”

On Monday, the Supreme Court instructed Congressman Randeep Singh Surjewala to transfer his appeal against the Election Law Amendment Act. Which permits tying electoral roll data to the Aadhaar ecosystem, to the Delhi High Court.

Election Law Amendment Act

It permits electoral registration officers to inquire applicants for Aadhaar numbers. “For the purpose of establishing identity” before registering them as voters.

After the Supreme Court noted that “the Aadhaar card system was wholly voluntary”. And was only intended to be used as proof of residence and not citizenship. Moreover, a similar attempt to link Aadhaar to Voter ID cards was shelved in 2015.

The Centre has also argued that linking Aadhaar to Voter IDs was crucial in eliminating bogus and unnecessary voter cards. Hence making elections more fair and transparent, refuting the Opposition’s contention that the bill infringes citizens’ Right to Privacy.

National Herald case: ED calls Rahul Gandhi for second day of questioning

Dipankar Ray — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 07:35:18 +0000

Rahul Gandhi has been called in for questioning for the second day by the Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. On Monday, the Congress leader was questioned for a total time of 11 hours. The meeting is alleged to have been full of “drama”. As Congress party leaders from around the country gathered to protest the ED’s interrogation of Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald corruption case.

Congress’s show of protest yesterday resulted in the detention of many senior party leaders including Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot. As well as Party Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala. Most of the detainees were released soon after the questioning concluded later that night. However, why was Congress so adamant about ending only an official procedure of the investigating agency.

ED calls Rahul Gandhi for second day of questioning

Questions were also raised by many BJP leaders. Moreover, such as Smriti Irani regarding the need to stage such a mass protest around the country. In this regard, Harish Rawat, the Congress’s leader, stated that the party’s protest will continue on Tuesday. “We’ll continue this fight tomorrow as well. The struggle of the Congress party will continue until they (Central government) try to suppress the voice of Rahul Gandhi & our party”. He was quoted by ANI agency.

Congress has tried to give a very stiff reply to all the questions raised. As he had accused and slammed the ruling BJP government of the fact that they are using the ED. His allegations were of an “election management mechanism”. As remarked by Randeep Singh Surjewala in a press meeting. He had also commented on the reasons why BJP has been attacking Rahul Gandhi. Mr. Surjewala said that it is because the BJP government is scared of Rahul Gandhi’s truthfulness towards the public. And his stance against the government on various matters recently on the inflation rates in the country. Harish Rawat, the Congress’s leader, stated that the party’s protest will continue on Tuesday.

Mr. Surjewala had also taken a jibe against Home Minister Amit Shah by commenting “chronology samjhiye”. As he had listed out the reasons for BJP’s stance. He had also accredited Rahul Gandhi for raising the voices of people in the parliament. As the main reason for BJP accusing Mr. Gandhi. He had also accused PM Narendra Modi of being a “agent of friendly industrialists”. Thus, referring to the Rafael deal and the deal with the Adanis.

Further updates on the investigation are still awaited.

Rahul Gandhi reaches ED for questioning in the National Herald money laundering case

Dipankar Ray — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 08:36:05 +0000

The recent row had been aroused in regards to the National Herald money laundering case concerning Rahul and Sonia Gandhi. In this regard, Rahul Gandhi walked over to the Enforcement Directorate office in New Delhi on Monday, 13 June 2022.

He was accompanied by his group of followers who had staged a protest in the streets of Delhi. The protest was organised by the Congress party to show their support for their leader Rahul Gandhi. The protests had escalated while the rally was moving towards the ED’s office accompanied by Rahul Gandhi and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Reports suggest that the rally was attended by a lot of VIPs and slogans against the Central Government were being shouted out.

The protest had gone through two police barricades but was eventually stopped by a larger police force stationed at the third barricade, where the Delhi police had deployed heavy force to put a stop to the unsanctioned protest.

Rahul Gandhi reaches ED for questioning

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, his Chhattisgarh counterpart Bhupesh Baghel, Digvijaya Singh, P Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh, Sachin Pilot, Mukul Wasnik, Gaurav Gogoi, and Rajeev Shukla were among the senior Congress officials who arrived at the party headquarters in Delhi today to join the protest.

The Enforcement Directorate had initially issued notice to both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi to appear for questioning but Mrs Sonia Gandhi had taken ill and was admitted to the hospital on Sunday. She is currently reported to be in a stable condition. The ED has set a new date for her appearance on 23rd June.

After denying authorization for the protest march yesterday night. Moreover, police issued prohibitory orders outside the agency’s building, citing. “Community and law and order situations”. As well as VVIP movements. Congress Spokesperson, Randeep Singh Surjewala also added in this regard. Lest, that the decline of permission to the stage the protest is a sign that “ the government fears us”. He then went on to compare the ruling party BJP to being oppressors. Also, that the people can’t be stopped from protesting against their oppression. Reports suggest that one of the placards used in the march reads the headline “Keep misusing agency but the struggle is Congress’s legacy”.

BJP MP and Union Minister Smriti Irani had commented on the issue by saying that. Congress is trying to pressurize the existing government and the Enforcement Directorate. From not performing their jobs just because the case brings forward the corruption of the Congress party.

Further updates are awaited.