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The Catch Up: 15 February
This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
It’s the 15th of February and here are the headlines.
The Supreme Court today held the changes made in the law to introduce the electoral bonds scheme as unconstitutional, in a unanimous verdict on a batch of pleas challenging the legal validity of the Centre’s scheme which allowed for anonymous funding to political parties. A five-judge Constitution Bench presided by CJI D Y Chandrachud also directed that “the issuing bank shall herewith stop the issuance of electoral bonds” and asked the State Bank of India to “submit details of the electoral bonds purchased since the interim order of the court dated 12th of April 2019, till date to the Election Commission of India”.
Farmers of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) and BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner) began ‘rail roko’ at several locations across Punjab at 12 noon today, including railway stations at Mansa, Barnala and Rajpura. Farmer leaders are set to hold talks today with Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityananad Rai, for the third time in a row, in Chandigarh. Speaking to The Indian Express, Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary, Sarvan Singh Pandher hoped for a resolution after talks are held between the Centre and farmer leaders.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad Al Thani today. PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome during his Qatar visit. PM Modi arrived in the Qatari capital last night and met his counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. The duo discussed ways to bolster ties between India and Qatar and PM Modi said he had a “wonderful” meeting. The external affairs ministry said that PM Modi is scheduled to hold talks on bilateral as well as regional and global issues.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said 17 people have been arrested in restive Sandeshkhali, while asserting that “none involved in any wrongdoing will be spared.” Referring to the area which has been witnessing protests over alleged atrocities on locals by ruling TMC leaders, Banerjee said in the state Assembly that she has never allowed and will never allow any injustice to anyone.
In yet another setback to the INDIA alliance, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah today said that his party will go solo in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections. He further said the J&K Assembly polls could potentially take place at the same time as the Lok Sabha election. During a press conference, Abdullah said, quote, “As far as seat sharing is concerned, NC will contest alone and there’s no doubt about it."
This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express.
Published on 1 year, 1 month ago