Politics / The Times of India
The Congress party welcomes the Supreme Court's review of the Election Commission's changes to Bihar's voter lists. The party hopes the Election Commission will consider Aadhaar and other documents for voter verification. The Supreme Court suggested including Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards in the verification. The court will further consider the matter later.
A Patiala court has ordered the attachment of the municipal corporation's office building and assets, including the commissioner's car, due to unpaid dues of Rs 3.2 lakh to the family of a deceased employee. Despite previous court orders and a Supreme Court dismissal of their appeal, the corporation failed to fully compensate Varinderjit Singh's family, leading to this action.
Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district have seized a significant cache of arms, ammunition, and explosives during a search operation in the Khanetar Top area. The joint operation by the Army and J&K Police led to the discovery of a terrorist hideout and the recovery of pistols, grenades, IEDs, and other materials.
Indian-origin astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, part of Axiom Mission 4, is set to return on July 14 after a historic trip to the ISS. He contributed to over 60 science experiments, including India-led space farming projects. Prime Minister Modi lauded Shukla's achievements and his inspiration to Indian students.
Indian farm scientists are urging government intervention to protect the nation's genetic resources at a global meet in Peru. Concerns arise over a proposal to expand access to all plant genetic resources, potentially compromising India's sovereign rights and biodiversity laws.
Shashi Tharoor's recent criticism of the Emergency, particularly targeting Indira and Sanjay Gandhi, has widened the rift between him and the Congress party. His remarks, echoing BJP's long-held views, have provided ammunition for the saffron party to attack the grand old party.
Amidst turmoil in Manipur, John Khammuanlal Gwite achieved a historic feat in Poland's 'Race Around Poland', finishing in under 10 days. This accomplishment places him among ultra-cycling elites and marks him as the first Indian to achieve this milestone.
Maharashtra's legislative council witnessed a fiery clash between Minister Shambhuraj Desai and MLC Anil Parab after a raitor remark, leading to a temporary House adjournment. The dispute arose during discussions on reserving 50% of new housing for Marathi residents. Desai defended his response, emphasizing the government's dedication to prioritizing housing for Marathi people amidst heated debates and accusations.
The Delhi High Court has put a hold on the release of 'Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder,' which was scheduled for July 11. This decision comes as Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind seeks a review of the film's certification, arguing it could stir communal discord. The stay remains in effect until the Central Government addresses the revision application.
India plans to tighten control on hospital billing. The National Health Claims Exchange may be jointly supervised by the finance ministry and IRDAI. This aims to reduce inflated treatment costs. The move seeks to make health insurance more affordable. Rising healthcare costs and insurance premiums are major concerns. The government hopes to enhance insurers' bargaining power.
Bhagwant Mann, Punjab's Chief Minister, criticized Narendra Modi's recent five-nation tour. Mann mocked the Prime Minister's visits to smaller countries. He suggested Modi prioritizes foreign trips over domestic issues. Mann mentioned fictional countries to highlight obscure destinations. Modi's tour included Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia. The tour aimed to strengthen diplomatic ties and promote economic cooperation.
Kapil Sharma's new restaurant, KAP'S CAFE, in Surrey, Canada, was targeted in a gunfire incident late Wednesday. Preliminary reports confirm multiple shots were fired, but no injuries occurred. Authorities have launched an investigation, sealing off the area. Harjit Singh Laddi, allegedly linked to Babbar Khalsa International, claimed responsibility, citing anger over Sharma's alleged remarks as the motive.
In Poonch, a joint operation by the Indian Army and J&K Police uncovered a large cache of arms and explosives in Khanater Top's dense forests. Separately, authorities in Kupwara seized properties linked to Pakistan-based militant handler Ghulam Rasool Shah, affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen. The crackdown, under UAPA, targets his logistical and financial networks.
Jyotiraditya M Scindia praised India Post's vast network. He urged employees to transform it into the world's largest logistics organization. Scindia emphasized innovation and productivity. He highlighted the introduction of new services like KYC for mutual funds. He also mentioned substantial investment for infrastructure upgrades. Fifteen Gramin Dak Sevaks from Karnataka were honored for their service.
Thursday witnessed a flurry of activity, from the Supreme Court addressing Bihar's voter revision process and the Election Commission clarifying its role, to Congress leaders criticizing Shashi Tharoor's Emergency remarks. Arunachal Pradesh's CM asserted that the next Dalai Lama would be born in a free world, while India threatened retaliatory tariffs against the US at the WTO.
The central government has approved Rs 1,066.80 crore in relief for states affected by floods and landslides, allocating funds from the State Disaster Response Fund to Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Kerala, and Uttarakhand.
Iran's Ambassador to India, Iraj Elahi, on Wednesday urged India to play a more significant role in promoting regional peace.
A political clash has erupted between the BJP and TMC over allegations of Bengali residents in Delhi being unfairly labeled as Bangladeshis. TMC accuses BJP of a witch hunt against Bengalis in Vasant Kunj, alleging denial of basic amenities. BJP defends the action as enforcement of the law against illegal settlements, citing the recent apprehension of 26 illegal Bangladeshis in the area.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has appealed to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to intervene in the case of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse facing execution in Yemen on July 16th. Convicted in 2020 for the murder of her business partner, Priya's final appeal was rejected last year.
A fresh divide has emerged within the Congress party as MP Manickam Tagore criticizes Shashi Tharoor's remarks on the Emergency era, specifically regarding Sanjay Gandhi's role. Tagore's veiled jab, questioning Tharoor's alignment with BJP narratives, follows Tharoor's article describing the Emergency as a dark chapter.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is gearing up for a significant Rs 1 lakh crore grounding ceremony in Rudrapur, heralding a new era of industrial development. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will grace the event as the chief guest. Dhami emphasized the event's potential to generate employment, encourage entrepreneurship, and boost the state's economy.
The BJP has strongly criticized Arvind Kejriwal's recent assertion that he deserves a Nobel Prize for governance, citing his claims of delivering despite administrative obstacles. BJP leaders like Virendra Sachdeva and Tarun Chugh have ridiculed Kejriwal's statement, pointing to allegations of corruption and inefficiency in Delhi's governance.