Lal Singh likely replacement if Sidhu does not relent

by Argus News

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

As Congress is looking for a new state president in Punjab in case Navjot Singh Sidhu does not relent, the likely replacement for the post could be six-time MLA Lal Singh.

New Delhi, Sep 29: As Congress is looking for a new state president in Punjab in case Navjot Singh Sidhu does not relent, the likely replacement for the post could be six-time MLA Lal Singh, the former Finance Minister of Punjab who held several government and organisational posts earlier, sources said.

He is considered close to former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, while the party is also mulling on other names as well.

The Congress is mulling on some names for immediate replacement and one of them is Manish Tewari, the MP from Anandpur Sahib. Names of Ravneet Singh Bittu, Ludhiana MP and from Amarinder Singh's camp and Pratap Singh Bajwa, who is opposed to Amarinder Singh, are also doing the rounds. Former PCC President Sunil Jakhar who missed the Chief Minister's post during the recent process of change of guard is also likely to be considered.

The sources said, General Secretary and Congress in-charge of Punjab, Harish Rawat and emissary Harish Chaudhary, the revenue minister of Rajasthan, are talking to all the senior leaders and has placed himself in an undisclosed location in Delhi. A meeting with former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is also not ruled out as he has vacated Kapurthala House in Delhi on Tuesday night.

The Congress also wants to placate former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, so Bittu can be considered as he has political lineage (grandson of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh) and has good rapport with the party's central leadership. Though Rawat office says that he will speak when it is necessary.

Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday said he will fight for the truth till his last breath as the fight is for principles that he won't compromise with.

"I will fight for truth until my last breath," Sidhu said in a video message posted on his Twitter handle.

"It is not a personal battle but a fight for principles. I won't compromise on principles," Sidhu said categorically.

Without mincing words, he said he would not accept tainted ministers being brought back into the newly constituted state cabinet led by Charanjit Singh Channi, a first-timer Scheduled Caste Chief Minister in the state.

In the video message in Punjabi, the cricketer-turned-politician, who said his only religion is to make people's lives better, said he had fought for justice and for Punjab's agenda.

"What I witness is a compromise with issues, agenda in Punjab. I can't disguise high command nor can I let them be disguised," he said.
(IANS)

First Odia Woman Scientist Swati Nayak Wins Norman Borlaug Award

by Manisha Das

Bhubaneswar, Sept 22: Odia scientist Dr Swati Nayak has been named the 2023 recipient of the Norman E. Borlaug Award for field research and application for her work in the field of food and nutrition.

The award, instituted by the World Food Prize Foundation, is named in honour of Nobel Laureate and Green Revolution’s chief architect Dr. Norman E Borlaug.

A scientist and South Asia Lead for Seed System and Product Management at International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Dr Nayak was selected for the award for her innovative approach to engaging farmers in demand-driven rice seed systems.

She will be the third Indian and first from Odisha to receive this prestigious award. It is for the second consecutive year that a scientist from the country has been picked for the award. Dr. Mahalingam Govindaraj, Senior Scientist for Crop Development with HarvestPlus at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, was the 2022 recipient.

Meanwhile, in India, after the award was announced to Nayak, she was congratulated by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Odisha Governor Professor Ganeshi Lala, and Union Cabinet Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who hails from Odisha.

President Droupadi Murmu has also congratulated Odia scientist Dr. Swati Nayak for being selected to get the prestigious Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Award for her outstanding Field Research and Application.

Also Read: Odisha News

World Rhino Day To Save The 5 Rhino Species

by Swati Sucharita

Bhubaneswar, Sept 22: World Rhino Day is observed by environmentalists, conservationists, wildlife enthusiasts and organisations to celebrate the rhinoceros. The day is observed to spread awareness and conserve rhinos.

There are five species of rhino that are on the verge of extinction and their lifeline needs to be conserved.These are white rhino, black rhino, greater one horned rhino, Sumatran rhino and the Javan rhino.The rhinos are humongous weighing 600 to 3500 kilograms.

The One-horned rhinoceros found in India, has a Vulnerable status of the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (it is threatened with extinction unless the circumstances that are threatening its survival and reproduction improve).

According to the State of Rhino Report 2022, released by the International Rhino Foundation, the greater one-horned rhino population in India stood at 3,262, with Assam’s Kaziranga National Park reporting the highest number of rhinos at 2,613.

They are rarely aggresive but can be seen to be highly protective of their calves.

Allegations Of 2nd Marriage & Bigamy Not Relevant In Deciding Validity Of Will: SC

by Manisha Das

New Delhi, Sep 22: The Supreme Court has observed that allegations of second marriage and bigamy are not relevant in deciding the validity of the Will.

A bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Sanjay Karol made these observations as it heard a special leave petition filed against judgment of the Madhya Pradesh High Court where the HC had confirmed the order of the civil court upholding the validity of the Will.

“As far as the allegations of second marriage and bigamy are concerned, we refrain from entertaining such submissions as the same is not a relevant factor in deciding the main list, which is confined to the validity of the Will,” held the bench and dismissed the appeal saying that it is “bereft of any merit.”

The top court noted that the Will was duly executed by the testator in the presence of witnesses out of his free Will in a sound disposing state of mind and the same stands proven through the testimony of one of the attesting witnesses, who was examined by the civil court.

Further, this witness categorically stated that the testator executed the Will in question and both he and the testator signed the Will in the presence of each other.

“Since the validity of the Will stands proven according to settled principles of law, consequential benefits be disbursed accordingly,” ordered the Supreme Court.

(IANS)

Also Read: National News

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Lal Singh likely replacement if Sidhu does not relent

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