On Wednesday, the Sri Lankan government announced the pre-qualification of Jio Platforms, a subsidiary of India s Reliance Industries Ltd, and Gortune International Investment Holding to participate in the bidding process for shares in Sri Lanka Telecom. This move aligns with Sri Lanka s initiative to decrease government ownership in state-owned enterprises, as part of the $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
"We want social justice. After we come to power at the Centre, we will conduct a countrywide caste census to find out the number of Dalits and people from other backward communities," he said.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal had refused to depose before the ED for the fourth time, saying the "non-disclosure and non-response approach" of the agency cannot sustain the test of law, equity or justice and this "obstinacy" of the ED tantamounts to assuming the role of judge, jury and executioner.
Pensioners covered by the Employees Pension Scheme 1995 (EPS-95) are planning a hunger strike to demand an increase in their minimum monthly pension to Rs 7,500, up from the current Rs 1,000 set in September 2014. Despite assurances from the Union Labour Minister, discontent remains, prompting the National Agitation Committee to announce a second indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Over 50,000 pensioners may join the protest if their demands are not met by January 31, with dissatisfaction arising from the perceived inadequacy of the current pension structure. The EPFO manages the concerns of 78 lakh pensioners in the country, facing a significant challenge as the agitation gains momentum.
Tejashwi Yadav, a leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), is being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with their money laundering probe into the alleged land-for-jobs scam. RJD supremo Lalu Prasad was also questioned by the probe agency regarding the same case. The ED had issued fresh summons for questioning Prasad and Yadav. The land-for-jobs scam involves appointments in the Railways allegedly in return for land parcels between 2004 and 2009.