World wrestling body condemns detention of wrestlers, says ‘events of these last days even more worrying’

LAUSANNE (Switzerland), May 30: International wrestling body United World Wrestling (UWW) on Tuesday condemned the treatment meted out to the protesting wrestlers and their detention following a scuffle with the Delhi Police on May 28.

The wrestling body said in a statement that the events of these “last days are even more worrying that the wrestlers were arrested and temporarily detained by the police for initiating a march of protest.”

Expressing its disappointment over the "lack of results" of the probe into alleged sexual harassment by Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, UWW urged the authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations.

UWW said it will also hold a meeting with the wrestlers to inquire about their condition and safety and “reconfirm our support for a fair and just resolution of their concerns.”

“The 45-day deadline that was initially set to hold this elective assembly shall be respected. Failing to do so may lead UWW to suspend the federation, thereby forcing the athletes to compete under a neutral flag. It is reminded that UWW already took a measure in this situation by reallocating the Asian Championship planned in New Delhi earlier this year,” the international wrestling body added.

Last month, UWW president Nenad Lalovic shot a letter to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) demanding clarity on who is running the sport in the country, and marked a copy to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha and International Olympic Committee (IOC) official J Poivey. In its response, the WFI complained of "government interference" in their matters.

The aggrieved wrestlers had planned to throw away their medals into the country's sacred Ganga River on Tuesday as part of an ongoing protest against sexual harassment but postponed their action farm union leader Naresh Tikait intervened and persuaded them against doing so.

The protest is being led by two women wrestlers — Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik and world championships medalist Vinesh Phogat — as well as Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia, who is male.

The protesting wrestlers reached the city of Haridwar in the evening, sat on the banks of the river and tearfully clutched their medals as a crowd gathered around them. They changed their mind after Naresh Tikait reached the site and convinced the wrestlers to give the government five days to respond.

Wrestlers Halt Plan To Immerse Medals In Ganga, Give 5-Day Ultimatum

HARIDWAR, May 30: Protesting ace wrestlers have temporarily shelved their plans to consign their medals in Ganga at Haridwar after intervention from farmer leader Naresh Tikait. They have given a five-day deadline for action against the wrestling federation chief.

With the UP police saying they would not deter the wrestlers from their plan to consign the medals to the Ganga, visuals from the spot showed locals consoling the tearful athletes, asking them to hold on to the medals that came to India through years of hard work and dedication. Later, the farmer and khap leaders stepped in.

If the athletes stuck to their resolve, India could have lost two Olympic medals, and a handful of Commonwealth Games and World Championship medals. Sakshi Malik has won one Olympic bronze and three medals at the Commonwealth Games. Vinesh Phogat has won two World Championship medals, two medals at Asiad and three Commonwealth Games medals. Bajrang Punia has won an Olympic bronze, four World Championships medals, two Asian Games and three Commonwealth Games medals.

The wrestlers, who allege that their protest against wrestling federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been largely ignored, had announced their decision to consign the medals to Ganga in an emotive message earlier today.

"It seems that these medals decorated around our necks have no meaning any more," read the statement in Hindi, tweeted out by top athletes including Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat.

"The police and the system are treating us as criminals while the harasser openly attacks us in public meetings," the wrestlers added, refering to Sunday's crackdown that took place as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new parliament.

"These medals are our lives, our souls. There would be no reason to live after immersing them in the Ganga today. So, we will start a hunger strike until death at India Gate after that," added the statement.

The Delhi Police, who shut the Jantar Mantar protest site to the wrestlers after Sunday's crackdown, said they will not be allowed to hold a protest at India Gate. The Delhi Police had accused the protesting wrestlers of rioting on Sunday, saying they broke the law in a frenzy despite repeated requests.

On Sunday, the protesters were detained by the Delhi Police as they attempted a protest march to the new parliament. Visuals of champions Vinesh Phogat and her cousin Sangeeta Phogat being manhandled and pinned onto the ground by the police had evoked shock and outrage across the country.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP MP, accused of sexually harassing some of the top wrestlers, was present at the inauguration of the new parliament as the police carried out its crackdown barely 5 km away. He has denied any wrongdoing.The Delhi Police have registered two cases -- including one under the stringent law against child abuse -- against the MP.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann have slammed the BJP-led Central government. "The whole country is shocked... Now the Prime Minister should leave his arrogance," read a tweet from Kejriwal.

Calling the situation "shameful", Bhagwant Mann tweeted, "If the voice is not raised in time, then the next turn will be to shed the assets of the country's democracy".

22 MLAs, 9 MPs May Quit Eknath Shinde Faction, Claims Team Thackeray

MUMBAI, May 30: The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has claimed that 22 MLAs and nine MPs from the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, are feeling suffocated due to "step-motherly treatment" by the BJP and could quit.

An editorial in Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana' has dubbed the MPs and MLAs belonging to the Shinde group as "fowls" in BJP coop and there's no saying when they could be slaughtered.In 2019, the Sena had severed its ties with the BJP for the same "step-motherly treatment", the editorial also mentioned.

There are reports are that Shinde group's "22 MLAs and nine MPs are feeling suffocated because of step-motherly treatment by the BJP and they have developed the mindset to quit the group," the editorial said. The Sena MPs and MLAs who "betrayed" the Thackerays and joined hands with the BJP, has had their "love affair turned sour" and there are "talks of divorce," it added.

The matter was raised over the weekend by Sena MP Gajanan Kirtikar, who alleged that his party was getting step-motherly treatment from the BJP.

"We are part of the NDA....So our work should be carried out accordingly, and (NDA) constituents should get a (suitable) status. We think we are being given step-motherly treatment," Mr Kirtikar had said on Friday.

His comment came as a shot in the arm for the UBT, which responded the next day.

"Shiv Sena distanced itself from the BJP as the party was trying to finish it," said Sanjay Raut, one of the seniormost leaders of the UBT and the editor of Saamna.

"The BJP is like a crocodile or python. Whoever goes with them, they are swallowed. Now they (Shiv Sena MPs and MLAs who rebelled against leadership) will realise that Uddhav Thackeray's stand to distance himself from this crocodile was right," added Mr Raut, who is also a close aide of Uddhav Thackeray..

In 2019, the Shiv Sena had ended the alliance with the BJP and formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra with the Congress and Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party. The government collapsed last year after Eknath Shinde split the party and joined hands with the BJP to form a new government.

New Parliament is symbol of aspiration of the 140 crore Indians: Modi

NEW DELHI, May 28: In his first address from the new Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said in the development journey of every country, some moments come which become immortal and “May 28 is such a day”.

Amid chants of "Modi" "Modi" and a standing ovation, the prime minister walked into the new Parliament building, he had inaugurated in a ceremony earlier this morning. Modi arrived at the chamber of the new Parliament building for the second phase of the inauguration ceremony.

“The new Parliament isn't just a building, it is the symbol of the aspiration of the 140 crore people of India. It gives a message to the world about India's determination,” Modi said.

Modi said the new Parliament will become witness to the rise of a self-reliant India. “The new Parliament building will be a testament to the dawn of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). It will be a witness to our journey towards a Viksit Bharat (developed India),” Modi said at the event attended by former president Ram Nath Kovind, chief ministers YS Jagan Reddy, Yogi Adityanath, Eknath Shinde and Neiphu Rio, foreign envoys, Parliamentarians and people from different walks of life.

“Several years of foreign rule stole our pride from us. Today, India has left behind that colonial mindset,” Modi said.

Wrestlers Detained Trying To March To New Parliament

NEW DELHI, May 28: Less than two kilometres away from the grand inauguration of the country's new parliament, chaos unfolded in the heart of the capital on Sunday as top wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia, were detained by Delhi Police while attempting to march towards the new parliament building.

The Olympics and Commonwealth Games medal-winning champions were seen being shoved, pushed and dragged into buses in scenes that stoked widespread outrage.

The athletes had planned a 'Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat' (women's assembly) as part of their ongoing protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Singh, a member of the ruling BJP, has been accused by the wrestlers of sexually harassing several female athletes. These allegations have stirred a nationwide controversy, leading to widespread protests demanding his arrest.

Delhi Police had ramped up security measures at Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site, ahead of the planned 'Mahapanchayat'. Despite the increased security, the wrestlers remained adamant about going forward with their protest.

The tension escalated when the wrestlers, led by Vinesh Phogat and her cousin sister Sangeeta Phogat, attempted to breach the security barricades.

"All protesters were detained and forcefully boarded in buses by Police," said Dependra Pathak, Special Commissioner of Police, Law and Order. He added that the athletes were "detained for violating law and order," and assured that legal action would be taken "after an inquiry in due course of time".

Following the detentions, police officers proceeded to clear the protest site, which had been active since the wrestlers resumed their protest against Singh on April 23.

Opposition leaders, who boycotted the parliament opening, strongly condemned the crackdown.

The protesting athletes, which include Olympic medallists and Asian Games gold winners, have been unwavering in their demand for Mr Singh's arrest. The use of force by the police, they insisted, would not deter them from carrying on with their peaceful protest and assembly.

Key Opposition meet likely on June 12 in Patna: Nitish Kumar

PATNA, May 28: The Grand Alliance (GA) leaders familiar with the development said that more than 18 like-minded parties will attend the meeting.

The opposition parties meeting would likely be held in Bihar’s capital Patna on June 12, chief minister Nitish Kumar said on Sunday.

The meeting is being planned in a bid to unite Opposition forces against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre before the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

Kumar was addressing a meeting of the Janata Dal (United) [JD (U)] office-bearers at the party office in Patna on Sunday. The meeting, in all likelihood, would take place at Gyan Bhawan, he said.

“The CM said that opposition unity meeting of all like-minded parties will be held in June tentatively around June 12 and we have to gear up to present a united front,” said a JD (U) office-bearer. Kumar, however, did not interact with the media.

The decision on the date of the meeting comes close on the heels of 20 opposition parties’ decision to boycott the opening of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

The parties have accused the central government of ignoring President Droupadi Murmu, saying as the First citizen of the country, she should have rightfully led the inauguration ceremony.

The Grand Alliance (GA) leaders familiar with the development said that more than 18 like-minded parties opposed to the ruling (BJP) will attend the conclave to be chaired by the Bihar chief minister.

“It is going to be a preparatory meeting and the main meeting would be held later,” said the GA leader.

The idea to hold the meeting in Patna was mooted by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee during her meeting with Kumar in April as it was from here that late Jai Prakash Narayan had started his ‘Total Revolution movement’ against the Congress government.

Recently, after the swearing-in ceremony of the Karnataka Congress government, Kumar held a fresh round of talks with Congress president Malikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. Earlier in May, Kumar also met NCP leader Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai to take them in confidence in his mission to unite the opposition.

Mamata Banerjee has already accepted the “One-On-One” strategy pitched by Kumar and JD (U) has already recognised nearly 475 seats where united opposition can enter into a direct fight with the BJP.

40 Insurgents Shot Dead In Manipur, Says Chief Minister

IMPHAL, May 28: Commandos of the Manipur Police have been engaging insurgents for over eight hours today in several areas of the state hit by ethnic violence.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh told reporters today they have got reports that "40 terrorists" have been shot dead.

"The terrorists have been using M-16 and AK-47 assault rifles and sniper guns against civilians. They came to many villages to burn down homes. We have started taking very strong action against them with the help of the army and other security forces. We have got reports some 40 terrorists have been shot dead," Singh told reporters today.

"The terrorists have been shooting at unarmed civilians," Singh said, adding the fight is between armed terrorists trying to disintegrate Manipur and the state government assisted by the centre.

The insurgents simultaneously attacked five areas in and around Imphal valley at 2 am today, sources said.

The areas are Sekmai, Sugnu, Kumbi, Phayeng and Serou. There are reports of gunfights going on in more areas and unclaimed bodies lying on the streets.

The gunfight at Sekmai is over, sources said, without giving more details.

Doctors at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in state capital Imphal said today they have received 10 people injured in the gunfight at Phayeng.

Khumanthem Kennedy, 27, a farmer, was killed after he was hit by multiple bullets in Bishenpur's Chandonpokpi; his body is being taken to RIMS, sources said, adding more casualties are feared. Kennedy is survived by his wife and infant son.

The Chief Minister said the spurt in violent attacks on civilians on the outskirts of Imphal valley in the past two days seemed well-planned and is strongly condemnable, especially when Minister of State Nityanand Rai is in Manipur on a peace mission.

Over 25 Kuki insurgent groups have signed the tripartite "suspension of operations" (SoO) agreement with the centre and the state government. Under the SoO rules, the insurgents are to be confined in designated camps identified by the government and the weapons kept under locks, regularly monitored.

Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Manipur tomorrow. He has appealed to both the Meiteis and the Kukis to maintain calm and peace, and work for bringing normalcy.

Army chief General Manoj Pande also went to the state yesterday on a two-day visit to review the security situation.

The continuing ethnic violence between the Meiteis, who live in and around Imphal valley, and the Kuki tribe, who are settled in the hills, over the Meiteis' demand to be included under the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category has claimed over 70 lives since clashed started on May 3.

Manipur has been without internet for over 25 days.

Anti-Terror Agency NIA Seeks Dealth Penalty For Terrorist Yasin Malik

NEW DELHI, May 26: The NIA Friday approached the Delhi High Court seeking death penalty for terrorist Yasin Malik, who was sentenced a life term by a trial court here in a terror funding case a year ago, asserting not giving capital punishment to such a "dreaded terrorist" will result in a miscarriage of justice.

The plea by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been listed for hearing on May 29 before a bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Talwant Singh.

On May 24, 2022, a trial court in the national capital awarded life imprisonment to Malik, the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief, after holding him guilty of various offences under the stringent anti-terror law-Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)- and the IPC.

Yasin Malik had pleaded guilty to the charges, including those under the UAPA.

In its petition before the high court for enhancement of Malik's penalty, the NIA said if such "dreaded terrorists" are not given capital punishment on account of having pleaded guilty, there will be complete erosion of the sentencing policy, and terrorists would have a way out to avoid capital punishment.

A life sentence, the NIA asserted, is not commensurate with the crime committed by terrorists when the nation and families of soldiers have suffered loss of lives. The trial court's conclusion that Malik's crimes did not fall within the category of the "rarest of the rare cases" for grant of death penalty is "ex-facie legally flawed and completely unsustainable", the anti-terror probe agency said.

It emphasised that it has been proved beyond reasonable doubt that Malik spearheaded terrorist activities in the Valley, and with the help of dreaded foreign terrorist organisations, had been "masterminding, planning, engineering and executing armed rebellion in the Valley in an attempt to usurp the sovereignty and integrity of a part of India".

"Not giving capital punishment to such dreaded terrorist will result in miscarriage of justice, as, an act of terrorism is not a crime against society but it's a crime against the entire nation; in other words it's an act of 'external aggression', 'an act of war' and an 'affront to the sovereignty of nation'," the plea said.

"Offences committed by the respondent accused are ex-facie acts of 'external aggression', brazenly planned and executed by 'acts of waging war against the nation whereby 'internal disturbance' was created through raising and using trained armed militia within the state and by helping trained terrorist, raised in enemy states, to infiltrate the borders of India to participate and catalyse such internal disturbances," it stated.

The NIA claimed there are no mitigating circumstances in favour of Malik and the present case falls within the category of "rarest of the rare" for imposition of death penalty.

The trial court, which had rejected the NIA's plea for capital punishment, had said the crimes committed by Malik struck at the "heart of the idea of India".

"These crimes were intended to strike at the heart of the idea of India and intended to forcefully secede J&K from UOI. The crime becomes more serious as it was committed with the assistance of foreign powers and designated terrorists. The seriousness of crime is further increased by the fact that it was committed behind the smokescreen of an alleged peaceful political movement," the trial court had said.

It had, however, noted the case was not the "rarest of rare", warranting the death penalty. The maximum punishment for such an offence is death penalty.

The life term was awarded for two offences - section 121 (waging war against the government of India) of IPC and section 17 (raising funds for terrorist act) of the UAPA.

According to the Supreme Court, life imprisonment means incarceration till the last breath, unless the sentence is commuted by the authorities.

The court had awarded Malik a 10-year jail term each under sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 121-A (conspiracy to wage war against the government of India) of IPC and sections 15 (terrorism), 18 (conspiracy for terrorism) and 20 (being member of terror organisation) of UAPA.

It had also awarded five-year jail term each under sections 13 (unlawful act), 38 (offence related to membership of terrorism) and 39 (support given to terrorism) of UAPA.

The court had framed the charges against Kashmiri separatist leaders including Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate, Shabbir Shah, Masarat Alam, Md Yusuf Shah, Aftab Ahmad Shah, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Khan, Md Akbar Khanday, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Abdul Rashid Sheikh and Naval Kishore Kapoor.

A charge sheet was also filed against Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, both of whom have been declared proclaimed offenders in the case and are living in Pakistan.

20 Opposition parties to boycott new Parliament inauguration

NEW DELHI, May 24: The inauguration of India's new parliament in New Delhi on Sunday will see nearly zero representation from the opposition, with 20 parties announcing they will be boycotting the ceremony.

The Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Trinamool Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Left, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Janata Dal-United (JDU), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Samajwadi Party, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena faction and others said on Wednesday that they will not be part of the event. Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) also joined the boycott.

The opposition parties have denounced plans by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the new parliament, instead of President Droupadi Murmu, to make a political statement ahead of next year's national election.

Some of them have also criticised scheduling the event on the birth anniversary of VD Savarkar, the Hindutva ideologue who shared views radically divergent from Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, and had pledged lifelong fealty to the British after prolonged incarceration.

"Prime Minister Modi's decision to inaugurate the new parliament building by himself, completely sidelining President Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy... This undignified act insults the high office of the President and violates the letter and spirit of the constitution. It undermines the spirit of inclusion which saw the nation celebrate its first woman Adivasi President," the opposition parties said in a statement.

"Undemocratic acts are not new to the Prime Minister, who has relentlessly hollowed out the Parliament. Opposition Members of Parliament have been disqualified, suspended and muted when they raised the issues of the people of India... When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from the parliament, we find no value in a new building," they added.

Addressing a news briefing, Union Home Minister Amit Shah declined to comment on the backlash but said, "We have invited everyone. They can decide according to their wisdom."

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi urged opposition parties to reconsider their decision to boycott the ceremony.

Earlier, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday accused the Congress of lacking "national spirit and sense of pride" in India's progress. He said former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had inaugurated the Parliament Annexe building on October 24, 1975, and successor Rajiv Gandhi had laid the foundation of the parliament library on August 15, 1987.

"If your head of government can inaugurate the Parliament annexe and library, then why can't the head of the government of this time do? It's as simple as that," he said.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh countered: "SUV-Self-Usurped Vishwaguru-has already annexe-d the Parliament for self-aggrandisement. But surely, there is a fundamental difference between inaugurating an Annexe where officials work and a library which is hardly used on the one hand, and inaugurating not just the Temple of Democracy but its sanctum sanctorum itself."

From its cost to the uncharacteristic fierceness of the lions in the national emblem atop the building, the construction of the new parliament - announced in 2020 at the height of the coronavirus pandemic - has found itself tangled in controversy.

The government has said India's current parliament building was built under British rule in 1927 and has grown too small. Laying the foundation stone of the new building in December 2020, Modi has said it would be an intrinsic part of a "self-reliant India".

It will accommodate 888 members in the lower house and 300 members in the upper house, as compared to the current 543 and 250, respectively, and is part of the Modi government's plan to redevelop the historical heart of New Delhi called the Central Vista.

Kejriwal gets backing of Thackeray on anti-Delhi ordinance

MUMBAI, May 24: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has promised to help the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) block the government's special order taking control of Delhi's bureaucrats, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday.

The two leaders met at Matoshree, the storied residence of the Thackerays in Mumbai, where Kejriwal was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, AAP Rajya Sabha members Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha, as well as Delhi minister Atishi.

"Uddhav Thackeray has promised us that they will support us in the parliament and if this bill (ordinance) does not pass in the Parliament then in 2024, the Modi government will not be coming back to power," Kejriwal said.

Thackeray said, "We all have come together to save the country and democracy. I think we should not be called 'opposition' parties, in fact, they (centre) should be called 'opposition' since they are against democracy and the constitution."

On Tuesday, Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata as part of their nationwide tour to collect support for the AAP's fight against the centre's ordinance.

The centre on Friday introduced an ordinance to create an authority for transfers and postings of Group-A officers in Delhi, with the AAP government calling the move a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.

The ordinance, which comes a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre.

Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor before the May 11 verdict of the Supreme Court.

Centre committing 'atrocities' on Opposition-ruled states: Mamata

KOLKATA, May 23: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann met Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today with a single message - what happened in Delhi today, can happen to any other opposition-ruled state tomorrow.

If the Centre's bill to convert the Ordinance on Delhi bureaucrats' services is defeated in Rajya Sabha, "it will be the Semi-final before 2024," said the Delhi Chief Minister, who is on a mission to unite the opposition on the issue and defeat the Centre's bill on the matter in Rajya Sabha.

"This (the fight for control) is not just about Delhi. Even the West Bengal Governor does the same thing. Even (Bhagwant) Mann is alleging same. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister told me that the Governor sitting on lot of bills," Kejriwal told the media during a briefing after the meet.

Ms Banerjee, one of the severest critics of the Centre, alleged that "atrocities" are being committed on Opposition-ruled states. "Only the Supreme Court can save the country," she added.

But even the Supreme Court's rulings are being subverted, Ms Banerjee said. "The Supreme Court gave a strong verdict after so many years. But ultimately, the Central government will rule all states through ordinances and governors, letters... They don't want to respect the verdict," she added.

"What do they (the BJP) think? Are we their bonded labour? Are we their servants? We are worried that they may change the constitution and change the country's name to party's name. They want to bulldoze the constitution... It is a government of the bulldozer, by the bulldozer, for the bulldozer," Ms Banerjee said.

Agreeing that the BJP "is a threat to the Constitution, Bhagwant Mann said, "If 30 Governors and a Prime Minister want to run the country, why spend so much on elections? If a Lieutenant Governor means a government, why are crores of people voting in elections?"

The Ordinance passed late on Friday evening, overrides a recent order of the Supreme Court, which said the elected government is the boss of Delhi in terms of control of bureaucrats.

It creates a National Capital Civil Services Authority which is tasked with the postings and transfers of bureaucrats serving in Delhi. The Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary and the Principal Home Secretary will be members who can vote on issues. The final arbiter is the Lieutenant Governor.

The judgment came after an eight-year tussle between the Centre and the Arvind Kejriwal government, following the Centre's decision to place the Services department under the control of the Lieutenant Governor in 2015.

Kejriwal pointed out again that the Centre brought in the Ordinance after the Supreme Court went on vacation, "else it would have been stayed immediately".

The Aam Aadmi Party chief has already met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He expects to meet Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP Chief Sharad Pawar on May 24 and 25 in Mumbai to discuss the plan to block the Ordinance in the Rajya Sabha.

The Trinamool Congress has 12 MPs in the upper house of parliament. Sharad Pawar's NCP has four MPs, and Shiv Sena (UBT) has three members in the Upper House.

The bill on the matter is expected to be brought in parliament in the monsoon session, which begins in July, and the BJP is confident that it will be passed in both houses.

The current strength of Rajya Sabha is 238 and the majority mark is 119. Both NDA and the opposition currently have 110 seats, but a chunk of those belong to the Congress, which is yet to decide their stance on the bill.

Nitish Kumar Meets Kharge, Rahul Gandhi To Plan Opposition Huddle

NEW DELHI, May 22: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar -- who volunteered to act as the interlocutor for opposition unity ahead of the 2024 general elections - met Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi today.

The meeting, coming on the heels of one with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, was meant to fix a date for a big opposition meeting, which was being planned since before the Karnataka assembly election.

Sources said the leaders also discussed opposition unity and whether they will attend the inauguration of the new parliament.

"Opposition parties' meet will be held. The date and place of the meeting will be announced within one or two days... A vast number of parties will be taking part in the meeting," senior Congress leader KC Venugopal told reporters.

After the meeting, Kharge, in a Hindi tweet, said: "Now the country will be united, 'The strength of democracy' is our message! Mr. @RahulGandhi and we discussed the current political situation with the Chief Minister of Bihar, Mr. @NitishKumar today and took forward the process of giving a new direction to the country".

Kumar met the Congress leaders at Kharge's 10, Rajaji Marg residence in Delhi. Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal and JD(U) chief Lalan Singh were also present for the meeting, sources said. Kumar's Deputy, Tejashwi Yadav, who was also meant to attend, had to drop out at the last minute as he was unwell.

Kumar has so far been successful, bringing on board leaders like Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who have been hawkish about the Congress, to agree on the need for opposition unity. His only failure has been Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Odisha known to offer issue-based support to the BJP.

Yesterday, Kumar had met Arvind Kejriwal and extended his "complete support" in the ongoing face-off with the Centre over the control of the bureaucrats working in the national capital.

Last week Kumar had met his Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee, where he had pitched the "One-On-One" strategy which she accepted.

Strong regional parties should take on the BJP in 2024 on their home turfs and in turn, they would back the Congress in the 200-odd seats where the two national parties are in direct contest, she later said. "You want some good thing, then you have to sacrifice yourself also in some areas," Banerjee had said.

It was the Bengal Chief Minister who had suggested the idea of a mega meeting in Patna.

"Bihar was a symbol of change in the Centre when JP's (Jayaprakash Narayan) movement started. If we have an all-party meeting in Bihar, we can then decide where we have to go next," Ms Banerjee had said after her meet with Kumar in Kolkata.

Last week's oath ceremony of Siddaramaiah in Karnataka following a mega victory of the Congress in the assembly elections had provided an opportunity for a show of opposition unity.

Besides Mr Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah had attended the programme.

Ex MLA, 2 Arrested With Guns After Fresh Manipur Flare-Up: Chief Minister

IMPHAL, May 22: A former Manipur MLA and two others were arrested with guns today after violence flared up in state capital Imphal's Chekon neighbourhood.

Security forces were rushed to the area again this afternoon after days of fragile peace.

The three armed men including the MLA threatened shopkeepers to shut down in New Chekon, Chief Minister N Biren Singh told reporters this evening.

The Assam Rifles rushed in and caught the three men and handed them over to the state police. The situation has been brought under control, Singh said, adding three shotguns have been recovered.

Curfew, which had earlier been relaxed till 4 pm in Imphal, was reimposed after 1 pm after the latest flare-up.

Manipur has been witness to ethnic clashes connected to multiple issues for almost a month.

Early this month, clashes had broken out in the hill state after Kuki tribals organised a solidarity march on May 3 to protest against the Meiteis' demand for Scheduled Tribe status. More than 70 people died in the violence that had simmered for over a week. Property worth crores was torched and thousands were forced to leave their homes to seek safety in government-organised camps.

The clashes were preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which led to a series of smaller agitations.

Though Meities comprise 64 per cent of the state's population, they occupy 10 per cent of the state's territory as non-tribals are not allowed to buy land in notified hill areas. Their inclusion in the ST category will enable them to purchase land in the hills – a possibility that has hugely upset the tribals.

The Kukis allege that the state's BJP government led by Chief Minister N Biren Singh has been targeting them systematically, aiming to remove them from the forests and their homes in the hills. The war on drugs too, was a ruse for eviction, they have alleged.

The army and paramilitary forces have been camping in the state, organising regular patrols and helping civilians.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured of action against those involved in the violence, and met with representatives of both communities.

Siddaramaiah named Karnataka Chief Minister

BENGALURU, May 18: Karnataka governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Thursday invited chief minister-designate Siddaramaiah and his to-be deputy DK Shivakumar to take oath along with team members at Kanteerava Stadium Bengaluru at 12.30pm on May 20.

Ending days of suspense, the Congress central leadership earlier on Thursday announced that Siddaramaiah will be the chief minister, while state party chief Shivakumar would be his only deputy.

A meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) formally elected Siddaramaiah as its leader and chief minister of Karnataka, following which he staked his claim with the governor, who invited him to form the government.

The meeting of newly elected Congress MLAs, MLCs and MPs, which took place at Indira Gandhi Bhavan in Bengaluru, was also attended by AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala and two other central observers -- former Maharashtra CM Sushil Kumar Shinde and AICC general secretary Jitendra Singh.

According to Surjewala, Shivakumar moved a resolution to elect Siddaramaiah as the new leader of the CLP. All the members of the CLP endorsed it unanimously.

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were given a rousing welcome when arrived in Bengaluru this evening.

Several top Congress leaders from party chief Mallikarjun Kharge to former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were involved in hectic parleys with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar which finally helped to break the logjam over the top post in Karnataka.

Some reports claimed that Sonia Gandhi, who was away in Shimla on a vacation, acted as a peacemaker in the chief minister's face crisis. The deal was clinched after Sonia Gandhi spoke to Shivakumar, who is considered a loyalist to the Gandhi family, on Wednesday night to end the impasse. Sonia Gandhi also asked Shivakumar to speak to Kharge and Rahul to sort out the matter.

The final decision was made on Wednesday night at Kharge's residence and was followed up with a meeting at AICC general secretary, organisation, KC Venugopal's residence over breakfast the next day.

On Monday, the hectic parleys continued and went on till the wee hours of Thursday to break the deadlock as both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar presented their cases before the brass. The leadership issue in Karnataka lingered as Shivakumar had dug his heels in and asserted that he be made the chief minister as the party staged a stunning victory in the southern state under his presidency.

Reports Rahul Gandhi told Shivakumar that the one with the support of a majority of MLAs would become the chief minister and others would have to abide, indicating that Siddaramaiah would be the chief minister and Shivakumar would have to relent.

To maintain his number 2 position in the Karnataka government, Shivakumar was made the only deputy chief minister.

'Don't Create Atmosphere Of Fear': Supreme Court Raps Probe Agency

NEW DELHI, May 16: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) not to create an atmosphere of fear when it was apprised by the Chhattisgarh Government that several state excise department officials have been complaining of being threatened and to implicate the Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in liquor irregularities case.

A bench of Justices S K Kaul and A Amanullah remarks came while hearing an application filed by Chhattisgarh Government seeking to be impleaded as a party in the ongoing petitions.

Chhattisgarh Government, through VMZ Chambers, has filed an application for impleadment to permit the state to be impleaded as party respondent.

Chhattisgarh Government has alleged that several state excise department officials have accused Enforcement Directorate of threatening them and their family members with arrest and are "trying to implicate the CM."

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chhattisgarh Government, told the top court, "Enforcement Directorate is running amok and threatening excise officers."

He further called it a shocking state of affairs.

However, representing Enforcement Directorate, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, rebutted the allegations and said, "The probe agency is conducting a probe into the liquor irregularities."

The court asked Enforcement Directorate not to create a fear atmosphere in the excise official and remarked that due to such behaviour, a bonafide cause becomes suspect.

"Chhattisgarh Government has filed an application for impleadment in the petitions filed by some persons challenging the Enforcement Directorate probe against them. Enforcement Directorate is conducting an investigation into the liquor scam which ran between 2019 to 2022 in which corruption was done in multiple ways. The bribe was collected from the distillers per each case of liquor procured from them by the CSMCL," they said.

Mamata Banerjee's Support For Congress In 2024, Right After Karnataka Win

KOLKATA, May 15: The Karnataka assembly election results have led to a rethink by the Opposition camp leaders, some of whom were against the Congress playing a central role in a proposed front against the BJP, on the electoral strategy for the big 2024 elections.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who recently announced the Trinamool Congress would go it alone in Bengal, has proposed a working solution for the Opposition parties to resolve differences, and the plan includes Congress.

The Trinamool chief has often called for Opposition unity but also blamed the Congress for rallying against her party and helping the BJP in West Bengal.

Ms Banerjee, during a press conference at the state secretariat Nabanna, reiterated that regional parties should get a more significant role in the 2024 fight against the BJP, but this time, she also roped in the Congress.

"Wherever regional parties are strong, the BJP cannot fight. The Karnataka verdict is a verdict against the BJP. People are antagonised. Atrocities are happening. The economy is ruined. Democratic rights are being bulldozed and even the wrestlers are not being spared," Mamata Banerjee said.

The Congress on Saturday registered a massive victory in the 224-member Karnataka Assembly polls , by winning 135 seats. The BJP bagged 65 and JD(S) got 19 seats.

Pitching her new strategy, Mamata Banerjee said, "In this situation, Whoever is strong in some place, in their region, they should fight together. Let's take Bengal. In Bengal, we (Trinamool) should fight. In Delhi, AAP should fight. In Bihar, they are together. Nitishji (Nitish Kumar), Tejashwi (Yadav) and Congress are together. They will decide. I cannot decide on their formula. In Chennai, they (MK Stalin's DMK and the Congress) have a friendship and they can fight together. In Jharkhand also, they (JMM-Congress) are together and in other states also. So it is their choice."

However, Mamata Banerjee made it clear that while regional parties should take on the BJP in their strongholds, the Congress should focus on winning its own seats. "But I think wherever the regional parties are strong, whether it's UP, Bihar or Odisha, or Bengal, or Jharkhand or Andhra Pradesh or Telangana, there are so many states, the strong party must be given priority. And wherever Congress is strong in their 200 seats or something, what we have calculated, let them fight and we will support them."

Ms Banerjee also asserted that the Congress needs to support the regional parties. "But they have to see that they have to support other political parties also. I support you for Karnataka but you are fighting against me every day. That should not be the policy. This is for everybody. If you want some good thing, then you have to sacrifice yourself also in some areas," Mamata Banerjee said while pitching a strategy to defeat the BJP in 2024.

"Suppose it is in UP, then Akhilesh (Yadav) has to get priority. Ajit Singh is also there and there is a combination. I am not saying Congress should not fight there. Let us decide. It is not at the final stage. When this matter is discussed, we can discuss this matter in detail. Now everybody is thinking something," Ms Banerjee said, hinting that the Congress is very much a part of discussions when it comes to an Opposition front.

"There should be a level playing ground to save the country, save democracy and save the people of this country," Mamata Banerjee added when asked if the Congress should drop its big-brotherly attitude towards regional parties.

Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP) recently said the two parties would stay away from both the Congress, and indicated possible talks with other regional players ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Congress newly elected MLAs authorise Kharge to pick new Karnataka CM

BENGALURU, May 14: The Congress party has asked its national chief Mallikarjun Kharge to decide who will be the new Chief Minister of Karnataka. Every MLA met the Congress's team of observers and told them their choice by vote, before leaving a five-star hotel in Bengaluru where the Congress held a meeting of all MLAs.

The new Karnataka Chief Minister and the cabinet will take oath on Thursday, sources have said.

The Congress asked Kharge to take a decision on the Chief Minister's appointment after the meeting of its Karnataka MLAs at the Bengaluru hotel ended this evening.

Congress leaders DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah have expressed interest in the top post, raising concerns over a stand-off if the matter is not resolved.

The supporters of both the Congress leaders slogans outside the Bengaluru hotel where the meeting took place.

Congress General Secretaries Sushil Kumar Shinde, Deepak Babaria and Jitendra Singh Alwar were the observers at the Karnataka Congress Legislature Party meeting.

The Gandhis and Kharge will attend the oath-taking event on Thursday. The Congress has sent invitations to all "like-minded" parties to attend it. The final contours of the Karnataka cabinet will take shape in a day or two, people with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Siddaramaiah's supporters have put up a poster outside his home in Bengaluru, referring to him as "the next Chief Minister of Karnataka".

Posters also came up outside Shivakumar's house, wishing "birthday greetings" to "the new Chief Minister of Karnataka". His birthday is tomorrow.

The BJP has been voted out of power in Karnataka, its only bastion in the south until yesterday, when the Congress took 135 seats in the 224-member house.

The BJP won only 66 seats, down from 104 in the 2018 state election. It did not win a single seat reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) category. Karnataka has 51 reserved constituencies, out of which 36 are for Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates and 15 for ST candidates.

The scale of the Congress win is a record in terms of both seats and vote share in over 30 years. The party won 135 seats - 55 more than in 2018 - with a vote share of 42.88 per cent. The closest the Congress came to this score was in 1999 when it won 132 seats and had a vote share of 40.84 per cent. In 1989, it won 178 seats with a vote share of 43.76 per cent.

Congress Wins Karnataka

BENGALURU, May 13: The BJP lost its only bastion in the south today, with the Congress winning 137 of the state's 244 seats -- a record in terms of both seats and vote share in 30-plus years. The BJP won 65 and HD Kumaraswamy's JD(S) 19 seats.

For the Congress, the big challenge will be striking a balance between Siddaramaiah and state party chief DK Shivakumar when one is named for the Chief Minister's post. Both are powerful leaders with strong following, who have projected a united front for the campaign despite being at loggerheads for years.

Even ahead of the declaration of results, differences over the top post cropped up, with state party chief DK Shivakumar reacting strongly to a comment by Siddaramaiah's son that he should occupy the post again. "The High Command will decide," said Shivakumar.

The Congress has called a meeting of its legislature party tomorrow evening and asked all its MLAs to reach Bengaluru. "We will brief the candidates about how to react. The high command will take the decisions," said Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

Congratulating the people of Karnataka and the workers of the party, Congress's Rahul Gandhi said, "The market of hate has been shut, and shops of love have opened".

"We have won almost 99% of the seats in the route in which Rahul Gandhi walked (for Bharat Jodo Yatra)," said Kharge, crediting him with the victory.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has resigned. Conceding defeat shortly after noon, he said, "In spite of a lot of efforts put in by the Prime Minister and the BJP workers, we have not been able to make the mark".

The party will "take this result in our stride to come back in Lok Sabha elections," added Bommai, whose government had faced massive corruption allegations for the better part of two years.

Janata Dal Secular leader HD Kumaraswamy said, "I am a small party, there is no demand for me...I am hoping for a good development". The JDS was expected to be a kingmaker in case of hung assembly – a possibility a majority of exit polls had predicted.

Karnataka stayed true to its nearly 40-year custom of voting out the incumbent despite a high-pitch campaign led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, its battery of Union ministers and Chief Ministers. Modi has held 19 public meetings and six roadshows in the state.

The Karnataka results are expected to boost the Congress ahead of next year's general elections and the assembly polls in three states due later this year. The party is hoping to make a comeback in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. It is also hoping to win back Madhya Pradesh, where its government crashed in 2020 with the defection of Jyotiraditya Scindia and his loyalists.

The results will be crucial for the BJP in terms of next year's national elections. The state accounts for 28 Lok Sabha seats. While the BJP vote share in the assembly polls has not dropped in comparison to 2018, the elections indicate that the party has not been able to make its much-needed breakthrough into the Vokkaliga and the Scheduled Castes and Tribes votes and lost much of Lingayat support.

The Congress gains have hugely cheered the opposition. "The message from Karnataka is that the 'end' of BJP's negative, communal, corrupt, rich-oriented, anti-women-youth, social-divisive, false propaganda, individualistic politics has begun," tweeted Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.

For Congress In Karnataka, A Record Victory In 30 Years

New Delhi: The scale of Congress victory in the Karnataka assembly elections is a record in terms of both seats and vote share in over 30 years. The party has won 137 seats -- 57 more than 2018 -- with a vote share of 42.9 per cent. The closest the Congress came to this score was in 1999, when it won 132 seats and had a vote share of 40.84 per cent.

In 1989, it won 178 seats with a vote share of 43.76 per cent.

The BJP has won 65 seats with a 36 per cent vote share, HD Kumaraswamy's Janata Dal Secular won 19 seats with a vote share of 13.3 per cent.

Congress's former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had said the party was expecting 120-plus seats.

"This victory belongs to the people of the state. They decided and chose. That is why we got 136 seats - huge after 36 years... It is a big victory... We will respect the mandate and uphold people's belief in us. We will implement all the welfare schemes we have announced in our manifesto," said party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also one of the tallest leaders of Karnataka.

"Karnataka has given a new mantra to save democracy. It is a pathway to save democracy and Constitution across India. Prime Minister said 'Congress Mukt Bharat' but the people of Karnataka ensured that 'BJP Mukt South India'," said senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, who has been in charge of the party in the state for nearly two years.

What worked well for the Congress was its hyper-local campaign when the BJP was using a national template for the state election, pitching it as a "Narendra Modi versus Rahul Gandhi" contest.

The Congress has attributed the victory to Gandhi's "Bharat Jodo Yatra".

₹ 30,000 Salary, 7 Crore Found In Raids: Madhya Pradesh Officer In Trouble

BHOPAL, May 12: Twenty vehicles including 5-7 luxury cars, 20,000 square feet of land, two dozen cattle of the prized Gir breed, and a high-end 98-inch TV with a price tag of ₹ 30 lakh were just some of the assets found in an eye-popping anti-corruption raid on a 36-year-old Madhya Pradesh government officer who makes ₹ 30,000 a month.

Hema Meena, a contractual in-charge assistant engineer with the Madhya Pradesh Police Housing Corporation, has been found to own assets worth crores of rupees in her and her family's name after just over a decade of employment.

A search conducted by the anti-corruption watchdog at her residential premises revealed the vast array of wealth, which also included 100 dogs, a complete wireless communication system, and mobile jammers, among other valuables.

On Thursday, a team from the Lokayukta Special Police Establishment (SPE), entered Ms Meena's upscale bungalow under the guise of repairing solar panels.

In just one day, the team unearthed assets worth around ₹ 7 crore, a staggering 232 per cent more than her known sources of income.

The initial investigation revealed that Ms Meena first purchased 20,000 square ft of agricultural land in her father's name, then constructed a large house worth around ₹ 1 crore.

In addition to the luxurious residence, the engineer has been found to own land in Raisen and Vidisha districts as well.

Preliminary findings also suggest that materials meant for use in projects of the Madhya Pradesh Police Housing Corporation were used by the engineer to build her house. Heavy agricultural machinery, including harvesters, have also been seized.

Manu Vyas, Superintendent of Police, Lokayukta, Bhopal, said that the search operation was conducted at three locations, including Ms Meena's residence in Bilkhiriya.

Initial estimates indicate that Ms Meena's assets are worth around ₹ 5 to 7 crore, with more likely to be uncovered as the search continues.

"We will have to take help from other departments as well in determining the actual value of whatever has been seized so far," Mr Vyas said, adding that a case has been registered against the accused.

Supreme Court Rules Delhi Govt Has Legislative, Executive Powers Over Administration Of Services

NEW DELHI, May 11: The Supreme Court said the Delhi government has legislative and executive powers over administration of services and only "Public Order, Police and Land" are excluded from its jurisdiction.

In a democratic form of governance, the power of administration must rest on the elected arm, said the bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. If a democratically elected government is not given the power to control the officers, the principle of the triple chain of accountability will be redundant.

If the officers stop reporting to the ministers or do not abide by their directions, the principle of collective responsibility is affected, the judges added.

The Services department was placed under the control of the Lieutenant Governor -- the Centre's representative in Delhi -- by a Central order in 2015, a year after the Aam Aadmi Party government came to power in Delhi by a landslide vote.

The Lieutenant Governor is bound by the elected government's decision on services and should function with the aid and advice of the council of ministers, the court said today.

The Central government's power in matters in which both the Centre and states can legislate "is limited to ensure that the governance is not taken over by the Central government," the judges added.

Delhi Removes Senior Bureaucrat, Arvind Kejriwal Warns Of More Action

NEW DELHI, May 11: A landmark judgment of the Supreme Court on the control and posting of bureaucrats on its side, the Arvind Kejriwal government removed the Secretary of the Delhi government's Services department Ashish More this evening. The transfer appeared to be the first of many, with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal warning of a major administrative reshuffle.

Speaking at a press conference shortly after the judgment, Kejriwal indicated that there will be action against officials who "obstruct" public works. "The vigilance will now be with us. Disciplinary proceedings can be initiated against officers who do not work properly," the Chief Minister had said.

Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party, tweeted, "The elected government will have the power of transfer-posting of officers. Officers will work only through the elected government".

Over the years, Kejriwal has frequently complained that he could not appoint even a "peon" or transfer an officer. Bureaucrats did not obey his government's orders as their controlling authority was the Home Ministry, he had said.

Eknath Shinde Keeps His Job, 'Moral Victory' For Uddhav Thackeray

NEW DELHI, May 11: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will get to keep his job despite gaining from an illegal decision by the then governor, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday, in a setback for Uddhav Thackeray over last year's Shiv Sena mutiny.

The Supreme Court said it cannot disqualify Shinde and 15 other MLAs for revolting against then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in June last year. That power will rest with the speaker until a larger panel of judges rules on it.
It also rejected a request to restore Thackeray's government because the leader had chosen to resign instead of facing a test of strength in the assembly.

The court, however, strongly censured then Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, for taking decisions that helped Shinde's faction, saying he had "erred" in concluding that Thackeray had lost the support of the majority of MLAs.

"The governor did not have any objective material and the exercise of discretion of the governor in this case was not in accordance with the law," the court said.

Dodging questions on the sharp comments by the court, Koshyari told reporters on Thursday, “I am not a law student. I did what I thought was right at that time. What can I do when I have someone's resignation?"

Commenting on the verdict, Thackeray said, "Eknath Shinde won after murdering democracy. He should resign as Chief Minister, as I did." Sanjay Raut, his top aide, called it a "moral victory".

Eknath Shinde said, "In democracy, importance is given to the majority. Today's decision proves that the government that we formed, we did it legally and constitutionally."

His deputy, Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP, said, "You [Uddhav Thackeray] got elected in an alliance with the BJP, and then formed a government with the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) and Congress. Where did your morals go then? You left ideology for power. Shinde left power and joined us in the opposition for ideology."

Thackeray had asked the top court to settle the tussle after Shinde, backed by the opposition BJP, split the Shiv Sena and led most of the MLAs to form a new government. If Shinde were disqualified, he would have had to resign as Maharashtra Chief Minister and his government will be disbanded.

The decision was delivered by a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud who clustered eight petitions on the face-off.

Senior lawyers Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued for Uddhav Thackeray's team in the court while Harish Salve, Neeraj Kaul, and Mahesh Jethmalani represented Eknath Shinde's camp.

Ruling on the tussle in February, the Election Commission had awarded the Shiv Sena party name and its bow-and-arrow symbol to Shinde. Thackeray's smaller faction was given the name Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and the symbol of a flaming torch.

Strong Businesses Reduce National Vulnerability: S Jaishankar

NEW DELHI, May 10: Underscoring that Atmanirbhar Bharat or a self-reliant India was a critical aspect of India's foreign policy, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said that domestic businesses create jobs, strengthen capabilities, and reduce the vulnerability of a nation.

He was speaking at the launch of former Niti Aayog CEO and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant's book, Made In India, in Delhi.

Jaishankar said the improved ease of business has raised the global stature of India, and that the country has democratised the use of technology in the last few years. "We are moving towards the politics of delivery. It is delivery at the grassroots that is reshaping the thinking of the public," he said.

The Minister said Make In India, Prime Minister Modi's government's flagship programme to improve manufacturing, was not just an economic statement, but important to the country's strategic interests.

"We hear the term wealth creators often, but that is gross injustice to reduce them to that. They are employment creators, they reduce the vulnerability of the nation. A strong business is not a business alone, but important to a nation's security," he said.

Jaishankar said increased formalisation of formerly informal sectors, digitisation, and improved grass-roots delivery models are the most important aspects of India's growth story.

"..It has to be an Atmanirbhar Bharat that the world is nirbhar (dependant) on," he said.

The Minister added that India has to grow in not just a much more volatile world, but in one that is decarbonised. Building a resilient supply chain is the great manufacturing opportunity for us, he stressed.

"We need to get our focus back on manufacturing. Services was an elegant excuse for not being good at manufacturing. We have to be a great at manufacturing to be a great country," the Minister said.

Calling for a strategic and careful regulation of government policy and not get carried away by advice given by others, Jaishankar insisted on identifying the right partners globally. "We have to be careful not to de-industrialise India, in the name of globalisation," he said.

He added that the country is working on scaling up its manufacturing and the government was paying a lot of attention to that.

Global polarisation has made diplomacy difficult but is also a window of opportunity, he added, specifically pointing out that questions not answered in the past with regard to data and privacy are surfacing now. While the focus is on de-risking after the pandemic, Jaishankar added India was focussing on devising its own solutions, because the story of its growth is also different from others.

"Make in India is also about thinking...thinking through our growth strategy and devising solutions. Every time we have been confronted with a challenge, we have reflected upon it," he said, specifically giving the example of Covid-19.

Kant said that if India has to grow at a higher rate, the private sector will have to play a very important role. He said India will need to fire on all cylinders, not just services but also manufacturing. The book, he added, has his experiences as the secretary of DPIT to bring in ease of business, get States to compete with each other and also build their investment potential.

Karnataka Exit Polls: Advantage Congress, But Hung Verdict Not Ruled Out

NEW DELHI, May 10: Karnataka is heading for a hung assembly, five of 10 exit polls have predicted. Two have predicted an outright victory for the Congress and one for the BJP. Those expecting a hung house also indicated that HD Kumaraswamy's Janata Dal Secular is likely to play the kingmaker.

The majority mark in the 224-seat assembly stands at 113 seats.

Two exit polls -- India Today-Axis My India and Times-Now ETG -- have predicted the possibility of an outright Congress victory. India TV-CNX and Zee News-Matrize have given an upper limit exceeding 113 to the Congress. News Nation-CGS have predicted a BJP victory, and Suvarna News-Jan Ki Baat has predicted an upper limit of 117 for the BJP.

Exit polls do not always get it right.

News Nation-CGS has predicted that the state's ruling BJP will cross the majority mark with 114 seats, the Congress will win 86 seats and the JD(S) 21.

The Suvarna News-Jan Ki Baat has also given an edge to the BJP, predicting it will emerge as the single largest party with anything between 94 and 117 seats. The Congress, it said, will get 91-106 seats and the JD(S) 14-24 seats.

Five other exit polls are counting on a Congress win or a pole position as the single largest party.

India Today-Axis My India is expecting the Congress to win 122 to 140 seats and the BJP to get 62-80 seats.

Times Now-ETG is predicting the Congress will touch the majority mark -- barely. It predicts the party will win 113 seats and the BJP will get 85. Twenty-three seats will go to the Janata Dal Secular, it has predicted.

News 24-Today's Chanakya has predicted 120 seats (Plus/Minus 11 seats) for the Congress and 92 (Plus/Minus 11 seats) for the BJP. The JD(S), it said, will get 12 (Plus/Minus 7) seats.

The Republic TV-P MARQ has predicted that the BJP will win 85-100 of the 224 assembly seats, the Congress will win 94-108 and the JD(S) 24-32 seats.

The TV 9-Bharatvansh-Polstrat predicted 88-98 seats for the BJP, 99-109 seats for the Congress and 21-26 seats for the JD(S).

The Zee News Matrize has predicted 79-94 seats for the BJP and 103-118 seats for the Congress and 25-33 seas for the JD(S).

ABP News-C Voter are expecting the BJP to win 83-95 seats and the Congress 100 to 112 seats. The JD(S) it expects will win between 21 and 29 seats.

India TV-CNX is also giving the Congress an edge with 110 to 120 seats and 80 to 90 seas to the BJP. The JD(S), it predicted, will get 21 to 29 seats.

The triangular contest for Karnataka ended this evening. The counting of votes will be held on Saturday..

The Congress and HD Kumaraswamy had partnered in 2018 to keep the BJP out of power. The alliance government had lasted a little over a year before collapsing as MLAs from both parties joined the BJP in an alleged Operation Lotus. Their earlier alliance in 2004 had collapsed as well.

This time, both parties have brushed off the possibility of entering an alliance.

In 2006, Kumaraswamy has tied up with the BJP but the government lasted for less than a year before President's rule was declared in the state.

The government had collapsed after Mr Kumaraswamy, who was the Chief Minister, refused to hand over the top post to BS Yeddiyurappa, who was his deputy. To retaliate, the BJP had withdrawn support, reducing the Kumaraswamy government to a minority.

'Ineffective Minus One Person?' Supreme Court On Probe Agency Chief's Term

NEW DELHI, May 8: The Centre on Monday defended in the Supreme Court the third extension of service granted to Enforcement Directorate chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra, asserting it was due to a peer review being conducted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) this year and said he will retire this November.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath and Sanjay Karol reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas challenging the third extension given to Mishra and the amendment carried out in law extending the maximum tenure of ED director to five years.

"Arguments heard. Order reserved," the bench said, as it directed the parties to file their written submissions by Friday.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre said, "This officer is not some DGP of any state but an officer representing the country in a United Nation like body and is in the midst of something. This court must not interfere with his tenure and from November onwards, he will not be there."

He said Mishra was given extension as FATF peer review is taking place in the country and there are some guidelines which need to be followed. FATF is a global anti-money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog. It sets international standards that aim to prevent these illegal activities and the harm they cause to society.

"He has been overseeing some important investigations related to money laundering and his continuity was required in the interest of the nation. He is not indispensable. This man will not continue after November, 2023. Peer review was earlier scheduled to be held in 2019 but was postponed due to COVID pandemic and is happening in 2023.

"Complete evaluations of activities of the country in taking steps to curb money laundering, terror financing etc takes place for a period of 18 months. Every member country has to go through this process and India is being assessed in the fourth round of mutual evaluation," Mehta said.

He said the current mutual evaluation process has already begun, the technical compliance submission has been done on May 5, 2023, the effective annex submissions is scheduled on the July 14, 2023, tentative onsite period will be November, 2023 and the plenary discussion will be scheduled in June 2024.

The bench, in the nearly three-hour hearing, asked if is it a case that minus one person, the Enforcement Directorate will be ineffective.

Mehta replied in the negative but said leadership does matter.

"It is not a case that he is not dispensable or if extension is given then some other person's chances of getting to the top position is compromised. There is no second or third person here. Appointment of ED director is a very rigorous process and a person is selected from a common pool of officers from IAS, IPS, IRS or others and he is to be in the rank of additional chief secretary", he said.

The bench asked Mehta, when did the government come to know about this FATF thing and why was this fact not brought before the top court when it pronounced its verdict in 2021 on the ED director's tenure.

"It appears from the record that the only thing which was put before the court at that time was that this officer was overseeing some important investigations and therefore his continuity was required or else investigations will suffer. Is FATF point not an afterthought?" he said.

Mehta said the government was aware of the FATF review in 2019 and the court was apprised about it during submissions, and the committee which recommended an extension for the officer was also aware of it.

The bench then asked Mehta to show the minutes of the meeting of the high-powered committee. The solicitor general showed the records of the meetings held in 2021 and 2022 which had the records related to FATF review.

Mehta said with the amendments carried out in the The Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2021, the very basis of 2021 judgement was taken out and the present regime of giving the maximum tenure of five years was put in place.

Senior advocate KV Viswanathan, who is assisting the court as amicus curiae in the matter, said in his considered view the amendments carried out in the law were illegal and the extensions given to the officer were also illegal.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for one of the petitioners, said the ED is one of the institutions which is investigating all kind of cases in every state of the country and therefore it needs to be sacrosanct and independent of the government in power.

"If the extension is used as a carrot and stick policy for extending the tenure of ED director, it will threaten the institution as it is one of those institutions which works directly under the Directorate of Revenue of the central government", he said.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for NGO Common Cause said extensions can only be given in exceptional cases and not on a regular basis.

"Over the years, ED has become more powerful than CBI and 95 per cent of cases it is investigating are against people from opposition parties. Extensions of tenure to the ED director will compromise its independence," he said.

On May 3, the top court had observed "Can one person be so indispensable?" as it had questioned the third extension of service given to Mishra despite the court's express direction that no further extension shall be granted to him.

The top court had said it had categorically held in its 2021 judgement that any extension of tenure granted to officers holding the post of Director of Enforcement after attaining the age of superannuation should be for a short period and clearly mentioned that no further extension will be given to Mishra.

60 Killed, Over 200 Injured In Manipur Violence, Says Chief Minister

IMPHAL, May 8: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday urged people to maintain peace while informing that a high-level inquiry will be conducted to hold those responsible for the violence to account and also act those who failed to discharge their responsibilities in containing the unrest.

In his first public reaction to the ethnic clashes that have put the Northeast state on the boil, the Manipur chief minister also thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for monitoring the situation and sending central forces to restore normality at the earliest.

He assured media persons that those stranded in the ongoing violence were being provided with the best possible care.

The Manipur chief minister added, "Around 60 people have lost their lives so far while 231 have suffered injuries in the violence. Also, about 1,700 houses were burned down in the unfortunate incidents (rioting) on May 3. I appeal to the people to restore peace and calm to the state."

He also appealed to the people not to block or obstruct the movement of public transport.

"Those stranded at different locations in Manipur are being provided the best possible care and support. They are being moved to safe locations and shelters. Till now, 20,000 such persons have been evacuated and about 10,000 remain stranded," Singh said, adding that a high-level inquiry will be conducted to fix the responsibility on those behind the violence.

"A high-level inquiry will be conducted to fix responsibility on persons/groups behind the violence and government servants who failed to discharge their responsibilities. I appeal to all not to spread or believe unfounded and baseless rumours. Till now, 35,655 persons, including 1593 students, have been moved to safer locations," the chief minister said.

The chief minister also assured that the government machinery was working round the clock to resolve the situation and restore order and MLAs and ministers were also making sincere efforts to bring back peace.

"I appeal to the public to extend their maximum cooperation to paramilitary and state forces. I also appeal to them to create a safe and conducive environment to enable affected families to return to their homes. I sincerely thank the honourable Home Minister Amit Shah on behalf of the government. He has been monitoring the situation from the first day of violence and has sent several companies of central forces to the state to restore order," Singh said.

Several state governments, including those in the Northeast, are working on plans to evacuate their citizens out of the violence-hit Manipur.

Meanwhile, Internet services remained suspended in the state and curfew continued to be enforced in violence-hit regions.

Some relaxations to the curfew, which were introduced on Sunday to enable people to purchase items of daily need, continued as well on Monday.

Clashes erupted in the Northeast state after the high court directed the state government to consider including the majority community of Manipur in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs).

Amid the demand of the Meitei people for ST status, a rally was organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) Manipur on Wednesday, which later turned violent.

18 Dead After Houseboat Capsizes In Kerala

MALAPPURAM, May 8: At least 18 people, most of them children, died when a houseboat with around 30 passengers aboard it overturned and sank near Tuvalthiram beach in the Tanur area of Malappuram district in Kerala on Sunday evening.

Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman, who is coordinating the rescue operations along with Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas, said at least 18 people have died and had come for a ride amid ongoing school vacations.

"More victims are believed to be trapped under the boat and have to be brought out. The boat had overturned. The reason for it is not yet known. Police will be investigating it," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the accident and announced a compensation of ₹ 2 lakh each to the family of victims.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the loss of lives and directed the Malappuram District Collector to carry out a coordinated emergency rescue operation.

Fire and police units, officials from revenue and health departments and locals from Tanur and Tirur areas of the district were involved in the rescue operation, the statement said. It also said ministers Abdurahiman and Riyas would be coordinating the rescue operations.

According to the police, the incident occurred around 7 PM.

Those taken out of the water were admitted to nearby private and government hospitals, it said. The exact cause of the accident was not known at present, police said.

'Vasundhara Raje, 2 BJP leaders helped save my govt in 2020', says Ashok Gehlot

JAIPUR, May 7: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday made a startling admission and said that former CM Vasundhara Raje and two other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders had helped save his government during the 2020 revolt by Congress MLAs.

He also took a swipe at the rebel Congress MLAs saying they should return the money they had taken from the BJP so that they can carry out their duty without any pressure.

In July 2020, Gehlot's then-deputy Sachin Pilot and 18 other Congress MLAs revolted against his leadership. The month-long crisis ended after the intervention of the party's high command. Pilot was then removed as the deputy chief minister and state Congress president.

Addressing an event in Dholpur, Gehlot said, “My government could be saved because of the support of three BJP leaders -- former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, former assembly speaker Kailash Meghwal and MLA Shobharani Kushwah.”

"(Union ministers) Amit Shah, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Dharmendra Pradhan conspired together to topple my government. They distributed money in Rajasthan and they are not taking the money back now. I am surprised why they are not demanding the money back from them (the MLAs)," he claimed.

"I have even told the MLAs that whatever money they have taken, Rs 10 crore or Rs 20 crore, if you have spent anything, I will give that part or I will get it from AICC (All India Congress Committee)," he said.

Ashok Gehlot further said that he was made the chief minister by the Congress for a third time and it was his duty to take all along and forget past happenings and ensure the return of the party to power in the Assembly election.

The Assembly election in Rajasthan is slated for later this year.

Gehlot said he, as the state party chief, did not support the toppling of the BJP government led by Bhairon Singh Shekhawat as it was unfair, in the same manner, Raje and Meghwal did not support the toppling of the Congress government in 2020.

Gehlot also praised Congress MLAs Rohit Bohra, Chetan Dudi and Danish Abrar for alerting him about the revolt against his government in 2020.

He said that these three MLAs, BSP-turned-Congress MLAs and independent MLAs who had supported him and saved his government during the political crisis in 2020 deserved to be made ministers in his government but he could not do so due to political reasons and was sad about it.

Senior BJP leader Vasundhara Raje has reacted sharply to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's claim that she and two other BJP leaders had helped save his government in 2020 during the revolt of Sachin Pilot.

Calling his claims "an insult" and "a conspiracy", she challenged Gehlot to file a First Information Report if he had evidence that his MLAs had accepted bribe.

In a statement released late this evening, Ms Raje called out his allegations against Union home minister Amit Shah. Gehlot, she added, has insulted her "like no one else in Rajasthan".

Mr Gehlot's comments today are seen as a double-edged sword that takes on Ms Raje ahead of the elections due later in the state. At the same time, it is also directed at Sachin Pilot and his supporters, who can pose a challenge to his claim on the top job in Rajasthan case of a Congress victory.

Manipur violence death toll hits 55

IMPHAL, May 6: The death toll after ethnic clashes in Manipur rose to at least 55 on Saturday but there was little clarity on the true scale of the damage and fatalities after the state convulsed through two days of violence, even as some parts began returning to normalcy while thousands of troops kept guard.

Newly appointed security advisor Kuldiep Singh said on Saturday that the number of fatalities confirmed to have been due to the violence is at 28, and more deaths are being verified. Officials in Manipur on Saturday said at least 51 bodies were at three hospitals across Imphal and Churachandpur and at least four deaths also took place on Friday night.

State government officials in Imphal, who asked not to be named, said 12 bodies have been at the morgue at the Churachandpur district hospital, 26 are at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, and 13 more are at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences.

“People are reporting higher figures. We are verifying this. We are checking the circumstances of the other deaths and verifying if these are related to the violence or not. It is possible some deaths at hospital may not be related to violence,” Singh said.

Since Wednesday, clashes took place between Meiteis, the dominant community in Imphal Valley with over 53% of the total state population, and the tribal communities, especially Kukis, residing in the hill districts. The immediate trigger for the violence was a proposal to include Meiteis in the scheduled tribe category.

More than 16,000 people have been taken to shelters in military compounds in and around the state, where army and paramilitary forces were deployed on Thursday and all internet services, including broadband, shut down. Till Friday, 100 columns of army and Assam Rifles personnel had been deployed — a column has roughly 70 personnel.

Scores more people are also believed to have fled their homes and taken shelter in neighbouring states. The displacement of the 16,000 people, a figure unnamed officials quoted to ANI, has raised fears of a humanitarian crisis.

“We are helping residents with food and their security. Not only the CRPF but other paramilitary forces too are housing the residents at their camps,” said a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer, asking not to be named.

Singh said that during the day, police and paramilitary forces recovered nearly 87 weapons surrendered by those who had stolen it from police stations during rioting.

“Different police units of Manipur are taking stock of the weapons stolen by the protesters. We urge people to surrender the weapons. Police have been directed to take strict action against the protesters, including those who do not surrender the weapons. Until evening, we arrested 10 people,” he added.

The officer also said that on Friday, there was one incident of violence in an area at the border of Kampoki district and Imphal East involving a mob but there were no casualties.

Officials in Manipur police, who asked not to be named, said the protesters have stolen “hundreds of weapons” from police.

Residents in Churachandpur said four people, all Kukis, were killed on Friday night during an attempt by army personnel to evacuate a group of Meiteis to a safer location. “A group of residents comprising mostly women reached the scene and started questioning why Meiteis are being taken to safer locations while many Kukis are trapped in Imphal. Things escalated after that,” said a Kuki-politician based in Churachandpur, who asked not to be named.

Singh said there were skirmishes in the same area and said three people were confirmed to have died. “We received information about a skirmish with an Army column and Assam Rifles when they were controlling the situation there yesterday (Friday). The Army column had to open fire. We found three bodies this morning.”

“The paramilitary forces are still present in 23 police station areas but the number of sensitive locations is decreasing. Flag marches are being conducted at those sensitive spots and police are involved in confidence building measures,” he added.

An order issued by the state government late on Saturday evening said that the curfew in Churachandpur will be partially relaxed between 7am and 10am on Sunday.

Army officials refused to comment on the incident and maintained a report will be issued by the Union home ministry on the developments in Manipur.

Separately, it has been reported that “five hill-based militants were killed and two India Reserve Battalion jawans were injured in two separate encounters in Churachandpur district on Friday night”.

On Saturday, there were no reports of any major violence from across the state, but the situation continued to remain tense. Residents in Churachandpur and Imphal said some essentials were available during early hours of the day, but it was difficult to get fuel and cash. Some residents also complained of a shortage of drinking water.

In Imphal, chief minister N Biren Singh held a series of meetings, including an all-party meeting and groups like All Manipur Christian Association and Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity. “During the all party meeting, it was resolved to appeal for peace in the state, and encourage all citizens to avoid any actions that could lead to further violence or instability. It was further resolved to form a peace committee in each constituency to ensure that peace initiatives are implemented at the grassroots level,” Singh tweeted.

People in the defence establishment said activities by cadres of Imphal Valley-based insurgent groups staying in camps in Myanmar “may be detrimental to ongoing efforts to restore normalcy in Manipur” and aerial surveillance as well as vigil along the Indo-Myanmar border was enhanced to prevent it.

“The issue is being addressed proactively by security forces who are leaving no stone unturned to thwart the nefarious designs, should it manifest,” people in the defence ministry said, asking not to be named.

“Multiple rounds of aerial surveillance using Cheetah helicopters have already been conducted by army since Saturday morning in Manipur. Army and Assam Rifles are working in synergy to quell the present unrest in the state at the earliest,” an army official said, asking not to be named.

Meanwhile, the number of people that have escaped Manipur and fled to the border areas of Assam including Cachar grew to at least 1,500 on Saturday. Eight camps have been set up by the Assam government, and a peace committee has been set up.

MLA from Jiribam Md Achab Uddin on Saturday visited the areas of Assam where Manipur residents have moved. “People were afraid that violence from Churachandpur and surrounding areas may spread there. Our chief minister is in constant touch with us and we are trying to control the situation together. Rumours are creating problems but I can assure my people that they will be able to return home in next two days,” he said.

5 Army Personnel Killed In Blast During Jammu Anti-Terror Op

SRINAGAR, May 5: Five soldiers have died and another is injured in an encounter with terrorists in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Friday.

A defence spokesperson said that the army had launched an operation to flush out terrorists who were responsible for a recent attack on the army in which five soldiers were killed.

The spokesperson said that during the operation, "terrorists triggered explosives in retaliation". While two soldiers died on the spot, four others were injured and evacuated to Command Hospital, Udhampur, the army said. Of them, three have died due to their injuries.

The operation was launched at Kesri Hill in the Kandi area of the Rajouri district. The army said that they had received specific information about the presence of a group of terrorists entrenched in a cave.

According to the army, the group of terrorists is involved in an ambush on an army truck on April 20 at Bhata Dhurian in Poonch district. Five soldiers were killed in the attack, and the terrorists also fled with the weapons of the fallen soldiers.

"Indian Army columns have been conducting relentless intelligence-based operations to flush out a group of terrorists involved in an ambush on an army truck in the Tota Gali area of Bhata Dhurian in the Jammu region," said the army spokesperson.

He said that additional troops from the vicinity have been directed to the site of the encounter.

According to the army, initial reports suggest a group of terrorists is trapped in the area and there is a "likelihood of casualties in the terrorist group".

The incident appeared to be a repeat of an October 2021 operation in the Rajouri-Poonch region, when five soldiers were killed in an encounter with terrorists.

During the operation that followed, four more army soldiers were killed in an ambush by terrorists.

After a month-long operation, no terrorist could be tracked down.

After last month's Bhata Durian attack, a massive cordon and search operation has been underway without significant success in tracking down the attackers.

The army has said the operation is in progress and more details are awaited.

Manipur BJP MLA brutally attacked, I-T officer killed, sporadic violence witnessed

IMPHAL, May 5: In Manipur, violence broke out between tribals and the majority Meitei community which has displaced over 9,000 people from their villages. The 'shoot at sight' order was issued on Thursday by the Governor of the northeastern state who said all magistrates could issue the order when persuasion, warning, and reasonable force "have been exhausted and the situation could not be controlled".

The army and Assam Rifles staged flag marches in the Khuga, Tampa, and Khomaujanbba areas of Churachandpur. Flag marches were also carried out in Mantripukhri, Lamphel, Koeirangi area of Imphal Valley, and Sugnu in Kakching district on Thursday.

The Indian Revenue Service (IRS) Association on Friday informed thataAn Income Tax department official who was posted in Imphal was "dragged out" of his official residence and killed during the current spate of violence in Manipur.

In a tweet, the association strongly condemned "the dastardly act of violence resulting in the death of Sh. Letminthang Haokip, Tax Assistant in Imphal".

"No cause or ideology can justify the killing of an innocent public servant on duty. Our thoughts are with his family in this difficult hour," it said.

The association attached a photo of Haokip, saying he was "dragged out from his official quarter in Imphal by Meitei miscreants and beaten to death".

The association is an all-India body of the Income-tax department.

The DGP of Manipur, P Doungel, informed that the situation in the violence torn Manipur has improved from what it was ‘2-3 days back’. He further stated that many forces have landed int he hilly state including CRPF, and BSF for better coordination of police.

The DGP, Manipur on Friday confirmed that BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte was attacked by protesters, and taken to hospital. The cop further noted that the MLA was airlifted out of the state in a critical condition.

Despite the uneasy calm in the violence torn Imphal Valley in Manipur, sporadic violent incidents were reported in the state.

According to rpeorts, a total of 13,000 people were rescued and shifted to safe shelters, some in army camps as the army brought Churachandpur, Moreh, Kakching and Kangpokpi districts under its “firm control".

He also added that the MLA is in a stable condition now.

Sharad Pawar Takes Back His Resignation As NCP Chief

MUMBAI, May 5: Three days after his bombshell resignation, Sharad Pawar today announced that he had changed his mind and that he would stay on as chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) as he "couldn't disrespect the feelings of the masses".

"After reconsideration of everything, I announce that I will continue as the president of the party. I take back my previous decision," Sharad Pawar, 82, said this evening, causing overjoyed partymen in Mumbai to break into dance and celebrate with firecrackers.

This morning, top NCP leaders had rejected Sharad Pawar's resignation and had urged him to consider the feelings of lakhs of workers, setting the stage for a turnabout by one of India's tallest and most astute politicians.

The dramatic resignation and equally dramatic takeback capped three days of turmoil in the NCP, which reaffirmed the veteran politician's absolute hold over the party he founded in 1999, amid talk of his nephew Ajit Pawar's dalliance with the ruling BJP.

Ajit Pawar, 63, was absent when Pawar announced his U-turn and spoke of "organisational changes to the party, assigning new responsibilities and creating new leadership".

Though his latest decision stalls any succession plan for now, Pawar said he believed "there is a need for a successor".

His resignation had fueled reports that his daughter Supriya Sule would take over his role, though the question of Ajit Pawar's role was left wide open.

"Even though I am continuing in the post of president, I am of the clear opinion that there has to be a succession plan for any post or responsibility in the organisation. In future, I will focus on making organizational changes in the party, assigning new responsibilities, creating new leadership," Pawar said.

He asserted that his daughter didn't agree to become the working president of NCP, an option that was in circulation as NCP leaders tried to reassure workers refusing to accept Mr Pawar quitting.

On Tuesday, Ajit Pawar was the only NCP leader who appeared to accept Pawar's decision as he spoke about the next chief working under his uncle's guidance.

On his nephew's conspicuous absence from his press conference, Pawar said: "It's not compulsory that all the leaders should be present. There are many who aren't here. All of them were present in the committee meeting that happened in the morning and then even met me to inform that they have unanimously decided that we are together and we want you to continue."

Ajit Pawar, he said, "had an idea that I am going to resign, that's why he supported my decision".

When Pawar announced his resignation at the launch of his memoir, many believed he wanted to thwart Ajit Pawar in his reported moves to organise a split in the party and defections to the BJP. That was believed to be the BJP's Plan B in case its government in Maharashtra was threatened by a Supreme Court order on the disqualification of 16 Shiv Sena MLAs including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Pawar's talk about organisational changes has heightened the uncertainty over Ajit Pawar, who, in 2019, stunned his party by joining the BJP's Devendra Fadnavis in a dawn oath ceremony in Maharashtra in the middle of Pawar's efforts to stitch an alliance with Uddhav Thackeray and the Congress.

Pawar said: "If anyone wants to go, no one can stop anyone. However, there's no truth that people in our party want to leave."

With his party bolstering his leadership, Pawar appeared ready to resume his other job, that of bringing together an opposition pulling in all directions ahead of the 2024 national election.

"It is very important to unite all the political parties. From Rahul Gandhi to CPIM's Sitaram Yechury, everyone called and asked me to continue," Pawar said.

Manipur Issues 'Shoot-At-Sight' Orders Amid Violence

IMPHAL, May 4: The Manipur government has issued "shoot at sight" orders as violence in the state spread to its capital Imphal. Security has been strengthened with the deployment of 55 army columns. The Rapid Action Force has also been flown in.

The order signed by the Manipur Governor this evening empowered the state's magistrates to issue "shoot-at-sight orders in extreme cases whereby all forms of persuasion, warning, reasonable force, etc. had been exhausted".

Around 500 personnel of the Rapid Action Force, a riot control police, have been flown into Imphal. They join the army, Assam Rifles, the Central Reserve Police Force and the state police, who have been struggling to contain the violence that started on Wednesday.

Over the last days, there have been multiple appeals for peace as visuals of houses and shops on fire flooded social media. Curfew has been imposed in Meitei-dominated Imphal West, Kakching, Thoubal, Jiribam, and Bishnupur districts, and tribal-dominated Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and Tengnoupal districts. Mobile internet services have been suspended across the state.

More than 9,000 people have been evacuated from violence-hit areas by the security forces. A defence spokesperson said around 5,000 people have been shifted to safe homes in Churachandpur, another 2,000 people were shifted in Imphal Valley, and 2,000 people in the border town of Moreh in Tenugopal district.

The violence started on Wednesday during a protest march by tribals against a Manipur High Court order backing the inclusion of non-tribal Meities in the list of Scheduled Tribes. It had incensed the Naga and Kuki tribals, who comprise less than 40 per cent of the population.

Though Meities comprise 64 per cent of the state's population, they occupy 10 per cent of the state's territory as non-tribals are not allowed to buy land in notified hill areas. Their inclusion in the ST category will enable them to purchase land and the possibility has unleashed tribal emotions about land.

To set the process of inclusion of Meities in the ST list, the state government has to write to the Centre. The move, though, can be challenged legally.

Earlier today, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said the situation in the state was moving towards normal. "The government is taking all measures to maintain the law and order… We are committed to protecting the lives and property of all our people," he had said. He also briefed Union home minister Amit Shah about the situation.

The opposition has criticised the state's BJP-led ruling alliance. "In less than 15 months of BJP forming govt, the entire state of Manipur is in flames. But HM Shah and PM Modi are busy campaigning in Karnataka," tweeted Congress's Jairam Ramesh.

"I am deeply concerned about the situation in Manipur," tweeted Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. "It is not the time for politics. Politics & elections can wait but our beautiful state Manipur has to be protected first. Thus I urge the Prime Minister & Home Minister to first take care of Manipur, restore peace there," she added.

Wrestlers Allege Violence At Jantar Mantar Protest Site, Blame Delhi Cops

NEW DELHI, May 4: Wrestlers holding a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar have alleged that a group of drunk Delhi Police personnel had targeted them late this evening. They had beat them up and abused the women wrestlers. Several grapplers were hit on the head and two of then sustained injuries. One person has been admitted in the hospital, they alleged.

This is the first time people at Jantar Mantar, the protest site of the national capital, have witnessed violence.

Visuals from the site showed the wrestlers arguing with uniformed members of the Delhi Police. Many identified one of the policemen who allegedly targeted them on camera.

Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party nd athe wrestlers wanted to bring in folding cots today to sleep at night after the daylong rains. Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Somnath Bharti said was bringing in some mattresses but was stopped by the police.

"We are getting news from the sources that the wrestlers and their associates have been attacked by the police at Jantar Mantar. This is a direct mess with our honor! Brothers and sisters of our country have to come forward for the rights of sister and daughter! Will go to Jantar Mantar in the morning!" tweeted Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Singh.

The wrestlers have been staging a protesting at the site for 11 days, demanding the removal of BJP MP and chief of the country's wrestling federation Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexually harassing some of the top wrestlers.

The MP has denied any wrongdoing, but added that he is ready to step down if Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the BJP asks him to.

The wrestlers had arguments with the police earlier over bringing in generator and fans and even food and medicine. The two gates at the protest site of Jantar Mantar are guarded round-the-clock by the Delhi Police.

Mobile Internet Snapped In Manipur After Protest Rallies By Tribal Groups

GUWAHATI, May 4: The Manipur government has suspended mobile internet for the next five days in the state to tackle the worsening law and order situation after tribal groups took out rallies in several districts of the state.

Along with ban on large gatherings, night curfew too has been imposed in several districts of the state.

Close on the heels of trouble in Churachandpur district, today thousands of people turned up at the 'Tribal Solidarity March' called by a student body in all the ten hill districts of the state to oppose the demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the ST category.

The All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM), which called for the march, said it was organised to express dissent to the "persistent demands of the Meitei community for its inclusion in the ST category" gaining momentum.

The Meiteis, who make up 53% of the state's population, inhabit the Manipur valley and claim that they are facing difficulty in view of "large scale illegal immigration by Myanmarese and Bangladeshis".

Meiteies are not allowed to settle in the hill areas as per the existing law.

In Naga-dominated Senapati town, the district headquarters with the same name and located about 58 km from the capital town of Imphal, the local bodies forced a total shutdown of markets and suspension of public transport from 10 am to 1 pm to ensure that the maximum number of demonstrators participate in the rally.

Thousands joined the processions, waved placards and raised slogans opposing ST status for the Meitei community, police said.

At trouble torn Churachandpur, the second largest town in the state, people defied prohibitory orders and gathered at the public ground and took a rally till Tuibong peace ground to show their support to ATSUM, the police said.

Prohibitory orders were clamped for an indefinite period in the town last week following the violence to protest against the drive to evict villagers from reserve forest areas.

Additional security forces were rushed to the town from other parts of Manipur to control the situation after the vandalisation of a venue where Chief Minister N Biren Singh was scheduled to address a programme.

Similar rallies were also held at Tengnoupal, Chandel, Kangpokpi, Noney, Ukhrul and were participated even by school students, the police said.

Meanwhile, counter blockades were put up in the valley districts, including at Sugnu in Kakching district, in support of granting ST status to Meiteis.

Protesters shouted slogans demanding ST status for the community and protection of reserved and protected forests.

No untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the state till the filing of the report.

Sharad Pawar Drops Resignation Bombshell, Then Says 'Will Rethink'

MUMBAI, May 2: Veteran political leader Sharad Pawar has agreed to "rethink" his shock decision of stepping down from the top post of his Nationalist Congress Party, his nephew Ajit Pawar told reporters this evening.

Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule, met him this evening along with other party leaders and later told reporters that he has sought a few days' time.

"I took my decision but because of all of you, I will rethink on my decision. But I need two to three days and I will give it a thought only if the workers go home. Some people have been resigning from party posts too. These resignations should stop," Ajit Pawar quoted his uncle as saying.

The leaders, he added, have suggested that Sharad Pawar remain the president and appoint a working president under him.

"We told Sharad Pawar that the workers are unhappy. You be the president and appoint a working president. Sharad Pawar listened to us and then asked us to come back here and speak to the workers sitting here," he added.

Pawar had announced his resignation this morning, citing his advanced age. He is 83 years old.

"It is time for a new generation to guide the party and the direction it intends to take. I am recommending that a committee of NCP members should be formed to decide on the election of the vacancy in the President's post," he had said.

The party's Rajya Sabha member Praful Patel said Sharad Pawar did not take anyone into confidence before announcing his resignation.

As Pawar made his announcement, doubling doubts that Ajit Pawar is drifting towards the BJP, shell shocked party workers refused to leave the party office if he did not withdraw his decision. Several leaders, including MLA Jayant Patil, broke down. Other MLAs declared that they will quit the assembly.

"After Sharad Pawar's decision today, we all got emotional and stopped him for hours and demanded him to rethink. Since it was getting late, we asked Sharad Pawar to go home. However, the protest of the workers continued," Ajit Pawar told reporters.

"Later, several leaders went to Silver Oak to meet him and informed him about what's happening across the state," he added.

Supreme Court's Huge Order On 6-Month Waiting Period For Divorce

NEW DELHI, May 1: The Supreme Court today held that it can dissolve marriages on the ground of "irretrievable breakdown of marriage" invoking special powers under Article 142. It further held that the mandatory waiting period of six months for divorce through mutual consent can be done away with, subject to conditions.

"We have also laid down factors which can determine when there will be an irretrievable breakdown of marriage," a Constitution Bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, AS Oka, Vikram Nath, and JK Maheshwari, said.

The bench has also laid out how to balance out equities, specifically with regard to maintenance, alimony, and the rights of the children.

A court grants a "cooling off" period of six months to a couple seeking a divorce, with the intent to save the marriage. After the end of six months, the couple may decide to reunite or proceed with a divorce.

However, the top court has said that the period of six months can be dispensed with if certain requirements and conditions are met.

"The time gap is meant to enable the parties to cogitate, analyse and take a deliberated decision. The object of the cooling-off period is not to stretch the already disintegrated marriage, or to prolong the agony and misery of the parties when there are no chances of the marriage working out. Therefore, once every effort has been made to salvage the marriage and there remains no possibility of reunion and cohabitation, the court is not powerless in enabling the parties to avail a better option, which is to grant the divorce. The waiver is not to be given on mere asking, but on the court being satisfied beyond doubt that the marriage has shattered beyond repair," it said.

However, the court clarified that a party cannot directly approach the Supreme Court (a right given to citizens under Article 32 of the Constitution of India if they feel that their right has been 'unduly deprived') and seek relief of dissolution of marriage on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage directly from it.

"The reason is that the remedy of a person aggrieved by the decision of the competent judicial forum is to approach the superior tribunal/forum for redressal of his/her grievance," it said.

The original issue referred to the Constitution Bench was whether the mandatory waiting period for divorce by mutual consent, as prescribed under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act, could be waived by the Supreme Court, exercising its vast powers under Article 142, in order to dissolve broken-down marriages between consenting couples without referring them to family courts for protracted judicial proceedings to get the decree of separation. However, during the hearing, the Constitution Bench decided to consider the issue of whether marriages could be dissolved on the ground of irretrievable breakdown.

"Article 142 must be considered in light of the fundamental rights. It should contravene a non-derogable function of the Constitution. Court under the power is empowered to complete justice," the bench said.

Article 142 of the Constitution deals with the enforcement of decrees and orders of the top court to do "complete justice" in any matter pending before it.

The case was referred to a five-judge bench seven years ago by a Division Bench of Justices Shiva Kirti Singh and R Banumathi (both retired) in a transfer petition. After hearing arguments, the Constitution Bench reserved its judgment on September 29, 2022.