Key Political Developments and Environmental Concerns

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Niharika Nanda.
Today is the 06th of November and here are the headlines.

Starting with global news, Donald Trump scripted history today, becoming the first President in 120 years to return to power after being ousted after his first term. Addressing his supporters after winning three swing states of North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania, Trump laid the blueprint of his second term. With at least 51 Senate seats secured, Republicans will retake control of the chamber for the first time in four years. As soon as the results were officially declared, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated American President Donald Trump on his election and stated, quote “As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership,” unquote.

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today passed a resolution for the restoration of its special status, calling upon the “Government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives” of the Union Territory to work out “constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions”, even as the BJP protested the move. The resolution said that the Assembly “reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal”. It further added that “any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir”.

Pulling up Uttar Pradesh authorities for their “high-handed” approach in demolishing a house for widening a road without giving notice, the Supreme Court today directed them to pay the owner Rs 25 lakh as compensation. The three-judge bench, which was presided over by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, was hearing a suo motu writ petition registered in 2020 based on a letter complaint by Maharajganj resident Manoj Tibrewal Aakash, whose house was demolished in 2019.  CJI Chandrachud said, quote “This is completely high-handed. Where is the due process followed? We have the affidavit that says no notice was issued. You only went to the site and informed the people through a loudspeaker,” unquote.

The BJP expelled 37 office-bearers across the state today who are set to contest as Independents in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, citing “indiscipline”. Highly placed sources in the BJP confirmed the development and said that despite repeatedly urging the rebels to withdraw their candidature, these 37 candidates who hold different posts in their respective district units did not pay heed to the party’s request. A senior party functionary stated, quote “In the BJP, there is no scope for anti-party activities. Party leaders tried to reason with each leader but those who fail to conform to party norms have to pay the price,”, unquote.

With both sides of the border grappling with a common crisis, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Senior Minister in the Government of Punjab in Pakistan, has told The Indian Express that it is “high time for India and Pakistan, and especially Punjabs on both sides of the border, to initiate a joint smog mitigation plan”. Two days ago, the air quality index in Lahore hit a high of 1900, briefly giving it the unenviable tag of the world’s most polluted city. In an SOS from across the border, Aurangzeb, who also holds the environment protection and climate change portfolio in Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif-led Punjab provincial government, claimed the “Eastern corridor winds blowing from India towards Lahore” were taking the smog to dangerous levels.

This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.