BJP MP Rita Bahuguna Joshi sentenced to six months for model code of conduct violation
Lucknow, Feb 2: A Lucknow court on Friday sentenced Bharatiya Janata Party MP Rita Bahuguna Joshi to six months' imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1,100 for violating the code of conduct during the 2012 UP assembly elections.
Joshi, the current BJP MP from Prayagraj, was convicted of holding a meeting in violation of the code of conduct on behalf of Congress party by Special Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate of MP-MLA Court (MP-MLA Court) Ambrish Kumar Srivastava.
The prosecution told the court that on February 17, 2012, at around 6.50 pm, Joshi, in her capacity as a Congress candidate for Lucknow Legislative Assembly Cantt constituency, was campaigning in the Bajrang Nagar area of Krishna Nagar in violation of the code of conduct.
The prosecution alleged Joshi addressed a public meeting even after the time for the campaign was over.
When authorities got to know about the violation, Static Surveillance Magistrate Mukesh Chaturvedi went to the spot and found Rita Bahuguna Joshi holding a meeting with a crowd of about 50 people in Bajrang Nagar and recorded it on camera.
A report was lodged in the matter by Chaturvedi at Krishna Nagar Police Station.
After a police investigation, a charge sheet was filed in the court against Joshi on September 12 of the same year.
On February 20, 2021, the court framed charges against her under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.
After the sentencing, the court took Joshi into custody.
She was later released on interim bail upon furnishing a bond of Rs 20,000 and surety.
Rita Bahuguna Joshi left Congress and joined BJP before the 2017 assembly elections.
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EAM Jaishankar meets Jamaican PM, gifts over 10 BHISHM Cubes
Kingston (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and discussed ways to further deepen "political, economic and people-to-people cooperation."
Jaishankar also conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Holness.
"Pleased to call on Prime Minister @AndrewHolnessJM in Kingston. Conveyed the greetings of PM @narendramodi," Jaishankar posted on X.
"Discussed deepening our political, economic and people-to-people cooperation. Value his commitment towards further strengthening India-Jamaica relations," the post further read.
Also, the external affairs minister handed over 10 BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) Cubes as a gift to Jamaica.
"Formally handed over 10 BHISHM Cubes as a gift from India to Jamaica, in the presence of PM @AndrewHolnessJM, Health Minister @christufton and FM @kaminajsmith," Jaishankar posted on X.
"The BHISHM Cube mobile hospital system, designed for rapid deployment, will help Jamaica during disasters and emergencies. The gift of these cubes is a statement of friendship, a commitment to disaster preparedness, and an outcome of innovation," the post said.
Jaishankar arrived in Kingston on Saturday evening, marking the first leg of his nine-day tour of Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at further strengthening India's strategic and cultural ties with the Caribbean nations.
Earlier in the day, he interacted with the Indian diaspora and discussed India's ongoing transformation in infrastructure, human development and technology-driven governance and entrepreneurship with them.
He also highlighted the cricket bond between both countries as India gifted a scoreboard to Jamaica.
A scoreboard was dedicated at Sabina Park in Kingston. It is the home of the Jamaica cricket team and is the only Test cricket ground in the Caribbean island nation.
The minister expressed hope that the new scoreboard would witness many memorable innings, including those symbolising the enduring friendship between the two countries.
Cricket has long been a strong cultural bridge between India and Jamaica, which is part of the West Indies cricket team.
Jamaican players, including Chris Gayle, Courtney Walsh and Michael Holding, have played a major role in shaping the legacy of West Indies cricket in the international arena, contributing to its dominance in earlier decades and its continued global appeal.
