Le Meridien’s License Cancelled After A Fraud Of Rs 520 Cr, and 4 Other Updates

1. Le Meridien’s License Cancelled.

On Thursday, the New Delhi Municipal Council cancelled hotel Le Meridien’s license. The reason behind the cancellation was that the company owning the hotel – CJ International Hotels Ltd. – had failed to pay license fees for decades now. As per the council, the company owed Rs 518.80 crore to them in 2016, after which the show-cause notice was issued to the company. As of today, the amount is about Rs 520 crore.

2. Karnataka’s controversial steel flyover project dropped.

The Karnataka Government has finally decided to drop the controversial steel flyover project on Thursday. Minister for Bengaluru Development and Town Planning K.J. George made the formal announcement and said that the decision was taken after thorough consultation with the Chief Minister and the city’s MLA.

3. After ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’, CBFC refuses to certify ‘KaBodyscapes’.

After Central Board of Film Certification refused to certify Alankrita Shrivastava’s “Lipstick Under My Burkha”, the clock has now ticked on Jayan Cherian’s indie-film “ KaBodyscapes”. In a letter sent to the filmmaker and producer Cherian, the board stated that “the film is glorifying the subject of gay and homosexual relationship, nudity accentuating vital parts of the male body (in paintings) in closed shots in the whole movie.”

4. Thousands of people marched at Jantar Mantar on Jat Quota Stir

Thousands of Jat community members from different parts of the country came together today to march for the Jat Reservation Quota. The community wants reservation in jobs and educational institutions for the Jat society. One of the Jat leaders of the protest said that the life in Delhi would come to standstill if reservation demands of the community are not met. Another march is said to take place on 20th March.

5. Delhi government announces free diagnostic tests in the city.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain today, at an event, announced that all residents in the city can now get free diagnostic tests in 21 private institutions. This can only be done if they are referred to by the Delhi government hospitals. The announcement was made in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Another scheme would be rolled out next week according to which surgeries could also be done in private hospitals for free.

2nd March 2017
Jyotsna Amla