A day after the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) announced its decision to abstain from voting in the vice-presidential ballot, opposition candidate Margaret Alva called the party’s decision “disappointing “. “Now is not the time for ‘whataboutery’, ego or anger. This is a time for courage, leadership and unity,” Alva tweeted. On Thursday, the TMC said it would not vote for NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar but also could not support Alva as the party had “not been consulted” on his candidacy. The TMC’s decision, however, created a wavering within the party. With CPI(M) and Congress alleging that the TMC and BJP have a tacit understanding regarding presidential and vice-presidential elections, some TMC leaders are concerned about the impact of this decision on the party’s minority vote bank .
In Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Chief Minister and Supremo Arvind Kejriwal attacked the BJP after Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena called for a CBI investigation into the AAP government’s excise policy in Delhi. Delhi. Saxena also Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia for procedural shortcomings. Accusing LG of making ‘false allegations’, Kejriwal said, ‘you arrested Satyendra Jain, who worked in the health sector, and now you want to put Sisodia, who has a career and lives for thousands of children in Delhi , in prison.” “I have known Sisodia for 22 years and I have never seen anyone as honest or as dishonorable as him,” Kejriwal added.
The Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) today announced the results for Classes 10 and 12. Although the nationwide pass rate for Class 10 exams is lower this year than last year previous year, more students scored above 90% and 95%. Even for Class 12, the epass percentage was lower than last year. With 100 marks in his five papers, Yuvakshi Vig from Noida scored a perfect 500/500 in his class 12 exams.
The Lok Sabha today passed the Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022, which seeks to extend the application of national laws to research stations set up by India in the Antarctic region. The bill seeks to extend the application of national laws to research stations set up by India in the Antarctic region. India has two active research stations in Antarctica – Maitri and Bharti – where scientists are involved in research. It also seeks to establish a fund for the welfare of research work in Antarctica and the protection of the continent’s environment.
The winners of the 68th National Film Awards were announced today in New Delhi. Established in 1954, the prestigious awards are administered by the Film Festivals Authority of the Government of India. Due to Covid-19-related delays, this year’s ceremony honored films of 2020, across multiple categories. Tamil film Soorarai Pottru and Hindi period big-screen epic Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior won big. Here is the full list of winners.
And now it’s time for Friday reviews. This week we reviewed Shamshera by Ranbir Kapoor, Ryan Gosling, The Gray Man by Chris Evans and Dhanush, RK/RKAY by Rajat Kapoor, Dr Arora by SonyLIV – Gupt Rog Visheshagya.
Political pulse
In the cinema, the opponents trembled and fled when Sunny Deol launched his “dhai kilo ka haath”. But the actor-turned-BJP MP has been disappearing from his Gurdaspur constituents in Punjab for almost two years now and it has not been welcomed by either his party or his political opponents. Deol has not visited Gurdaspur since September 2020 and the last time he tweeted about political activity was March 31. Party leaders “hope that Deol’s political career will end like that of his father Dharmendra and that he will not return to claim a ticket in 2024”. Read Kamaldeep Singh Brar’s report.
A severe transport crisis in Lakshadweep has turned into protests and mass arrests by the administration, fueling existing resentment against the Union Territory administration led by Praful Khodabhai Patel. On Thursday, following controversy over the arrests, the administration released a statement saying the arrests were made primarily because of the violation of restraining orders and to secure the peace. The protests stem from a gradual slowdown in the number of ships traveling between the islands and the mainland over the past two years, leading to a drop in their number from seven to two. reports Arun Janardhanan.
Express explained
Akasa Air, backed by Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, will launch its first commercial flight on August 7. more capacity. What does Akasa Air offer? What are his future projects? Read here.
Three quarters of a century ago, on this day, July 22, 1947, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the national flag. It was a landmark day in our history, and on Friday Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in the “reminder[ing] the courage and monumental efforts of all who dreamed of a flag for free India when we were fighting colonial rule”. What happened in the Constituent Assembly on July 22, 1947? What did Nehru say in his speech proposing the resolution? And what did he say about the flag that India was about to adopt? We explain.
