Governor has no power to dismiss his ministers: MK Stalin To Governor

CHENNAI, June 30: In a scathing reply to Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi's letters on Minister V Senthil Balaji's dismissal, Chief Minister MK Stalin has said that the letters require "outright disregard" and show that the governor acted in haste with "scant regard to the Constitution".

Stalin said the governor has no power to dismiss his ministers and that doing so is the sole prerogative of an elected chief minister.

Starting his letter to the governor today with a polite "vanakkam", Stalin goes on to accuse him of issuing veiled unsubstantiated threats and points out that the chief minister and his cabinet enjoy the confidence of the people, who are "the ultimate sovereign".

"I have received your letters dated 29.06.2023 one at 7.00 pm 'said to be dismissing' Thiru V Senthil Balaji from my Cabinet and the other on the same day at 11.45 pm 'keeping in abeyance' the said letter. Though your letters require only an outright disregard, I am writing to you to clarify both the facts and law on the issue on hand," Stalin's letter states.

Stalin points out that the aid and advice of the chief minister and the cabinet was neither sought nor given for both letters.

"The fact that within a few hours after you issued such a strongly worded first letter, even alluding to 'breakdown of constitutional machinery', a not so veiled threat, you withdrew it 'to seek the opinion of the Attorney General'. This shows that you had not even taken a legal opinion before such an important decision," the letter states.

Quoting the Supreme Court judgment in the case of Lily Thomas v. Union of India (2013), Stalin said the Constitutional bench of the court had left it to the wisdom of the Prime Minister and the chief minister to decide whether a person should continue in their cabinet as a minister.

"Therefore, merely because an agency has commenced investigation against a person, he or she does not become legally incapacitated to continue as a minister,"Stalin said, adding, "The above paragraph unambiguously states that disqualification is attracted only after conviction. Thiru V Senthil Balaji, as even your letter notes, has only been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate for investigation and not even a charge sheet has been filed against him till now."

The letter states that the governor's apprehension that Balaji may interfere with the investigation is "unfounded and baseless".

Stalin also said that while the governor has acted against Senthil Balaji, he has continued to maintain silence for months on his government's request for sanctions to investigate/prosecute former ministers and public servants for offences committed during the previous AIADMK government.

The chief minister signed off saying, "Your unconstitutional communication dismissing my minister without my advice is void ab initio and non-est in law and hence has been disregarded."

Amid a bitter standoff with the state's DMK government, Governor Ravi had announced the dismissal of minister Balaji yesterday, only to pause the contentious order hours later, stating that the Home Ministry had asked him to seek legal opinion from the Attorney General.

Balaji was arrested two weeks ago in connection with an alleged cash-for-jobs scandal.

Jaishankar Makes Huge Announcement On Passport Seva 2.0, e-Passports

NEW DELHI, June 25: India will soon embark on the second phase of the Passport Seva Programme (PSP-Version 2.0), which includes new and upgraded e-passports, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced on the occasion of Passport Seva Divas.

Jaishankar called on passport-issuing authorities in India and abroad to join him in renewing the pledge to provide passport and related services to people in a "timely, reliable, accessible, transparent and efficient manner."

"We will soon be embarking on Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Version 2.0, including new and upgraded e-passports," Mr Jaishankar said in his message on Passport Seva Kendra.

He further stated, "In line with the Prime Minister's vision of enhancing the 'Ease of Living' for citizens, these initiatives will usher in a new paradigm of 'EASE": E: Enhanced passport services to citizens, using a digital eco-system A: Artificial Intelligence-powered service delivery S: Smoother overseas travel using chip-enabled e-passports E: Enhanced data security."

Jaishankar in his message stated, "I would like to call on all our passport issuing authorities in India and abroad to join me in renewing our pledge to provide passport and related services to citizens in a timely, reliable, accessible, transparent and efficient manner."

While sharing Jaishankar's message on Twitter, the Ministry of External Affairs stated, "Here is a message from EAM @DrSJaishankar, as we observe the Passport Seva Divas today. #TeamMEA reaffirms its commitment to provide passport and related services to citizens in a timely, reliable, accessible, transparent and efficient manner."

Jaishankar said it was a matter of pleasure to felicitate all passport-issuing authorities in India and abroad and their colleagues from the Central Passport Organization on the occasion of the Passport Seva Divas 2023. He noted that this day is an occasion to take stock of what has been achieved and to reaffirm India's resolve to strive to attain the highest standards in the delivery of passport services.

EAM Jaishankar said that Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) after the COVID-19 pandemic rose to address the surge in demand for passport-related services by increasing the number of daily appointments and organising special Drives over the weekends. He noted that the ministry processed a record 13.32 million passports and miscellaneous services in 2022, marking a rise of 63 per cent from 2021.

In his message, Jaishankar stated that Passport Seva Programme (PSP) has contributed significantly towards the Indian government's goal of a 'Digital India.' He spoke about his visits to Passport Seva Kendras in several states.

Jaishankar noted that similar visits have been made by other ministers and senior officials of MEA. He further said, "These visits have enabled us to build a congruence between the levels of policy and operational governance. There will be no slowing down of such efforts in future as well."

"PSP has significantly contributed towards the Government's goal of a Digital India', with milestones such as mPassport Seva Mobile App, mPassport Police App, integration of PSP with DigiLocker, and the 'apply from anywhere' scheme," Jaishankar said in his message.

He further added, "While in 2014, there were 77 Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) in the country, this number has increased 7-fold and stands at 523 today. In the context of POPSKS, I would like to acknowledge the role of the Department of Posts and state police authorities as esteemed partners."

Sonia appeals to Manipur people to bring peace and harmony

NEW DELHI, June 21: Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday issued an appeal for peace in violence-hit Manipur and said the unprecedented violence that has devastated the lives of people of the state has left a deep wound on the nation's conscience.

In a video message shared by the Congress on social media, she expressed sadness that people were forced to flee the only place they called home and leave behind all that they had built over their lifetime.

"It is heartbreaking to witness our brothers and sisters who have coexisted peacefully turn against each other," she said in her message.

Mrs Gandhi said the history of Manipur stands testament to its ability to embrace people of all ethnicities, religions and backgrounds, and the myriad possibilities of a diverse society.

"It takes tremendous trust and goodwill to nurture the spirit of brotherhood, and a single misstep to fan the flames of hate and divisiveness," she noted.

"Today, we are at vital crossroads. Our choice to embark on the path of healing will shape the kind of future that our children will inherit. I appeal to the people of Manipur, especially my brave sisters, to lead the way in bringing peace and harmony to this beautiful land," Mrs Gandhi said.

The former Congress chief said that as a mother, she understands their pain and appealed to their good conscience to lead the way.

"It is my sincere hope that over the coming weeks and months, we will set out on the long journey of rebuilding trust and emerge stronger from this trial. I have immense hope and faith in the people of Manipur and I know that together we will overcome this ordeal," Mrs Gandhi said in her 2.5-minute video message.

The Congress has been accusing the BJP of playing "divisive politics" in Manipur and alleged that the governments in the state and at the Centre have failed in their duty to maintain law and order in the northeastern state.

3 Injured In Bomb Blast In SUV In Manipur

IMPHAL, June 21: Three civilians were injured in a bomb blast this evening in Manipur where ethnic violence has been raging for nearly two months, said sources.

The bomb that exploded around 7:30 pm was planted in an SUV parked near a culvert in Bishnupur's Kwakta, one of the worst violence-hit regions in the state.

One among the injured is said to be in a serious condition.

Bystanders reported seeing the driver leaving the Scorpio car and that there was no one in the vehicle, the sources said.

It was likely to be an improvised explosive device, they added.

The three civilians injured in the blast were evacuated to Bishnupur District Hospital.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah has convened an all-party meeting in New Delhi this Saturday to discuss the situation in Manipur.

Internet ban was extended till Sunday in Manipur, where violence erupted on May 3 after a Tribal Solidarity March was organized in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for the Scheduled Tribe status.

Sporadic incidents of violence have been reported from parts of Manipur since then. In one such latest incident, Union Minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh's house was set on fire in Imphal.

The violence was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kukis from reserve forest land, which led to a series of smaller agitations.

Meitis are a majority community Manipur, followed by tribal communities like the Nagas and Kukis.

India's New RAW Chief Ravi Sinha Is A Tech-Savvy Operations Expert

NEW DELHI, June 19: IPS officer Ravi Sinha has been appointed as the new Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief to replace incumbent Samant Goel. Sinha, a 1988 batch IPS officer from Chhattisgarh cadre, is currently second in command of the agency, and was heading the operational division for the last seven years.

He is taking charge of the position at a crucial time, when Sikh extremism and ethnic violence in Manipur are likely to be some of his immediate challenges.

Samant Goel's tenure will end on June 30, following which Sinha will take on the mantle for two years.

Ravi Sinha is currently the special secretary at the Cabinet Secretariat, and is known for his nuanced understanding of sensitive issues such as Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeast and LWE (Left Wing Extremism).

With the elevation of Sinha to the coveted post, the government has again underscored the importance of operational capability of intelligence agencies.

Incidentally, R&AW's counterpart, Intelligence Bureau, which is tasked with domestic intelligence, is also headed by an officer with 'operations' background. Sinha's batchmate Tapan Deka, who heads the Intelligence Bureau, was head of operations in IB for many years.

In R&AW, Ravi Sinha has been attributed with infusing modern technology in the field of intelligence collection.

Government sources said that this would enable him to integrate technological and human intelligence dimensions to work together to address the challenges of our times.

"Ravi Sinha who prefers to maintain a low profile, in line with his job, is a widely respected figure across all the intelligence community for his professional competence. He has worked on a wide range of fields and brings to his new role a significant bank of experience and knowledge. He is known to have a sound grip on neighbourhood developments, besides J&K, North East, and Left Wing Extremists domains where he has served at different points in time," an officer said.

Incumbent Chief, Samant Kumar Goel, 1984 batch IPS officer from Punjab cadre, will demit office on June 30 after a successful tenure. Goel, who joined the agency in 2001, rose through the ranks to head the agency in 2019. With two extensions in tenure, he headed R&AW for four years.

Samant Goel is credited with the planning of India's successful airstrike in Balakot, Pakistan in 2019 to avenge the Pulwama attack.

54 Dead, 400 Hospitalised In 72 Hours At UP District Hospital

BALLIA, June 18: 54 people have died and around 400 hospitalised in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia District Hospital in the last three days amid soaring temperatures. Doctors have said that though there are different reasons for the deaths, severe heat could be a factor. Hospitalisations are rising because of severe heat, they said. A severe heatwave has swept UP, with most places seeing temperatures north of 40 degrees.

The sudden increase in deaths and patients being admitted to hospitals with fever, breathing trouble, and other issues have overwhelmed the hospital, which has put its staff on alert.

23 patients died on June 15, 20 the next day, and 11 yesterday, SK Yadav, in-charge Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Ballia, said.

Dr BP Tiwari, Additional Health Director, Azamgarh Circle, has said a team is coming from Lucknow to investigate if there's some disease which is not being detected. When it is too hot or cold, respiratory patients, diabetes patients, and blood pressure patients are at increased risk. The mercury rising a little may have led to their deaths, Dr Tiwari speculated.

There's such a rush at the district hospital that patients are unable to get stretchers, and many attendants are carrying their patients to the emergency ward on their shoulders. The Additional Health Director has, however, claimed that it gets difficult if ten patients turn up at the same time, but they do have stretchers.

Two Women Shot Dead In Delhi

NEW DELHI, June 18: Two women died after being shot by unidentified shooters in Delhi's RK Puram police station area during the early morning hours of Sunday, said police.

Both the women were rushed to hospital but succumbed to their injuries, said police further.

According to Manoj C, Deputy Commissioner of Police South West Delhi, police had received a call at 4:40 am in RK Puram police station stating that some people had shot the caller's sisters at Ambedkar Basti.

Responding to the call, a police team reached the spot wherein it was found that two ladies Pinky (30) and Jyoti (29) were shot and were shifted to SJ hospital but they succumbed to injuries.

Prima facie it seems that shooters were looking for the victim's brother and the reason behind the shooting seems to be some money settlement issue, however, the exact cause will be ascertained only after a prolonged investigation, said the police official.

A case has been registered under the relevant section and police are looking for the arrest of the accused.

Wrestlers Protest Not Political: Sakshee

NEW DELHI, June 17: Olympic medallist Sakshee Malikkh and her wrestler husband Satyawart Kadian on Saturday insisted that their protest was not politically motivated and they kept mum for years despite facing harassment because the wrestling fraternity was not united earlier.

In a video posted on Twitter, Kadian said a false narrative was being created around their protest and they wanted to clear the air.

Country's top wrestlers including Sakshee Malikkh, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, accused outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment and intimidation.

Leaders from different political parties, including Congress' Priyanka Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik visited the protest site, extending their support to the wrestlers before they were removed from Jantar Mantar on May 28.

Satyawart Kadian, sitting beside Sakshee Malikkh, said rumours were being spread about their protest. "Let me make it clear that our protest is not politically-motivated. We came (to Jantar Mantar) in January, and permission was taken by two BJP leaders seeking police permission," Satyawart Kadian said and asked Sakshee Malikkh to show the letter, seeking permission for protest.

It was written by former wrestler Babita Phogat and Teerath Rana, who are both associated with the BJP.

"This (protest) is not Congress supported. More than 90 per cent people (in wrestling fraternity) knew that for last 10-12 years, it (harassment and intimidation) has been going on. A few people wanted to raise their voices but wrestling fraternity was not united," he said.

Kadian, who competes in heavy-weight category, reiterated that their fight is against the WFI chief and not against the government.

Sakshee Malikkh said they were silent for years because wresters were not united. "You have seen that the minor has retracted her statement. Her family was intimidated. These wrestlers come from poor families. It's not easy to muster courage to take on a powerful man," the Rio Games bronze medallist said. Kadian said the police brutality they faced on May 28 broke them. The police had detained them and pushed them into buses, an action that faced criticism from all quarters.

The wrestlers were booked for violating law and order as they marched towards the new parliament building without permission. "Let me make it clear that the call for 'Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat' was made by the Khap leaders and we followed their order and faced police brutality. That broke us.

"We won so many medals for country and our dignity was being trampled. I can't explain in words what we went through.

"We then decided to immerse medals in (Haridwar) but one man from the tantra (system) grabbed Bajrang's arm and took him to a corner and made him speak with many (influential) people. "If we had done that (immersed medals), there could have been violence. So, better sense prevailed. We gave the medals to coaches and parents. "We were not in a mental state to understand if there's a conspiracy. We had gone their under stress. We have just wrestled our whole life, did not know how to handle (the situation).

"After that incident, we did not know who was on our side, who was part of the system. We met a lot of people but did not know whom to trust. We were advised to meet the Home Minister, we were told that we will get solution from there, so we put across our view point." He also appealed to the Khaps, who they believe got angry with them, to not believe in rumours.

"If we have done something wrong, we apologise," he said and thanked everyone, who came out to support them.

Towards the end of the 11-minute long video, Satyawart Kadian said,"The system takes advantage when 'we are not united'. If you are facing any sort of injustice, do raise your voice and stay united." The police has filed a charge-sheet against Singh, charging him under stalking and sexual harassment offences.

Fresh Violence In Manipur As Mobs Vandalise Police Armoury, Fire On Forces

GUWAHATI, June 17: Automatic weapons were fired from Kwakta in Bishnupur district and Kangvai in Churachandpur district of conflict-torn Manipur last night, and intermittent bursts of firing were being reported till early this morning, police and army sources have said. An empty house was also set on fire in Langol by miscreants today.

Multiple incidents of mob build-up and attempted vandalism and arson have also been reported.

Joint forces of the Army, Assam Rifles, Rapid Action Force and state police undertook a Flag March in Imphal East district till midnight.

An arson attempt was reported at the Palace Compound near Advance Hospital. A mob of about 1,000 congregated last evening and attempted arson and vandalism. The RAF fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the mob, in which two civilians were injured.

Mob build up near Manipur University was also reported. 200 to 300 people gathered near Thongju at 10.40 pm and attempted to vandalise the residence of the local MLA. A column of the RAF dispersed the crowd.

Another mob last night also attempted to vandalise the armoury of Iringbam Police Station in the Imphal West district. 300 to 400 people tried to ransack the police station at 11.40pm. The crowd was dispersed by the RAF.

According to Army sources, a mob of 200 to 300 people surrounded the BJP office a little after midnight at Sinjemai, and an Army column dispersed the crowd.

The mob also attempted vandalism at the residence of state BJP president Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi in Imphal West at midnight, but it was prevented by the Army and RAF. The crowd was dispersed, according to Army sources.

The attacks in Manipur come a day after the home of the Union Minister RK Ranjan Singh was burnt down by a mob of 1200 which lobbed petrol bombs.

The violence between two communities in Manipur has taken a turn for the worse over the last few days, with the property of political leaders being targeted. The centre is trying hard to implement a peace plan, though the law and order situation presently remains extremely volatile.

Manipur needs urgent attention: Ex Army Chief

NEW DELHI, June 16: Former Indian Army chief General VP Malik (retired) has called for "urgent attention" to the situation in Manipur where ethnic clashes between the Meiteis and the Kuki tribe have been going on since May 3.

General Malik, referring to a tweet by a retired senior army officer from Manipur on the bleak situation in the state, tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah, asking for "urgent attention at the highest level."

Earlier, Lieutenant General L Nishikanta Singh (retired), a resident of state capital Imphal, tweeted the state is now "stateless", a day after the house of Union Minister RK Ranjan Singh was set on fire by miscreants.

"I'm just an ordinary Indian from Manipur living a retired life. The state is now 'stateless'. Life and property can be destroyed anytime by anyone just like in Libya, Lebanon, Nigeria, Syria, etc. It appears Manipur has been left to stew in its own juice. Is anyone listening?" Lt General Singh tweeted.

To this, General Malik replied, "An extraordinary sad call from a retired Lt General from Manipur. Law and order situation in Manipur needs urgent attention at highest level."

On May 30, Lt General Singh had said some "300 terrorists" including "lungi-clad ones" from Myanmar have entered Manipur amid the ethnic violence between the Meiteis and the Chin-Kuki people.

Lt General Singh's "lungi-clad" reference was seen as indicating to the involvement of Myanmar border-based insurgents who, like civilians, wear the "longyi", as it is known in the country run by a military junta.

Lt General Singh retired in 2018 after serving in the Indian Army for 40 years. He was also with the Intelligence Corps.

Manipur has been on the boil since May 3, when violence broke out during a rally by Kukis in protest against the Meiteis' demand for Scheduled Tribes (ST) category. The Meiteis are the majority in the valley in and around Imphal, while the Kukis are a majority in the hills.

Tamil Nadu withdraws general consent for CBI to probe cases in state: Report

CHENNAI, June 14: Tamil Nadu today joined the ranks of opposition-ruled states that have withdrawn a general consent for investigation that the Central Bureau of Investigation enjoys. The Central agency will now have to take the state government's permission to undertake investigation in the state and against its residents.

The DMK government's move came hours after its minister V Senthil Balaji, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case.

The government had taken strong offence to the Enforcement Directorate's move to searched the home and office of the power minister. Chief Minister MK Stalin had called it "an assault on federalism".

Earlier today, in a statement, Chief Minister MK Stalin had said, "In a needless way they (ED) has breached into the secretariat that has the state's security related confidential files and have staged a drama entering the Minister's office".

"They wanted to show that they would raid even entering the secretariat".

Already nine states -- Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana and West Bengal -- which they call a precaution against the misuse of Central agencies.

Though the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act 1946 makes prior permission of the state mandatory, in 1989 and 1992 some exceptions were made for few categories of cases. This has been revoked.

However the state government's move will not impact investigations by the Enforcement Directorate or the National Investigation Agency.

The last state to pull the plug on the CBI was Punjab. In November 2020, the Congress government led by Amarinder Singh withdrew the general consent extended to the CBI for conducting investigations in the state. It came on the heels of a similar move by Jharkhand, where the Congress is part of the ruling alliance.

Manipur Minister's Home Set On Fire

GUWAHATI, June 14: The official residence of Manipur's only woman minster was set on fire today in a fresh instance of continuing violence in the state. The bungalow of Industry Minister Nemcha Kipgen in Imphal West district's Lamphel area was targeted late this evening.

Officials said Ms Kipgen was not at home at the time.

Security forces led by senior officials have rushed to the spot and launched a search operation.

Ms Kipgen, who was elected to the state assembly in the last year's assembly elections from the tribal dominated Kangpokpi assembly seat, is the only woman minister in the 12-member ministry headed by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.

She is among the 10 Kuki MLAs who have demanded a separate administration and among the seven Kuki MLAs of the BJP.

Over the last 24 hours, nine people, one of them a woman, have been killed. Most died in an incident of firing late night in Khamenlok area, sources in the army said.

The bodies bore cut marks and multiple bullet injuries, sources said. Those injured were taken to Imphal for treatment.

The attacks are a big setback in the state that has been tense for over a month now due to ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities.

The government's peace initiative has taken a hit with both Kukis and Meities deciding to boycott it.

SInitially Kuki groups had expressed unhappiness about the inclusion of Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

Shortly after, one of the major Meitei civil society groups vehemently rejected the appointment of its convenor, Jeetendra Ningomba, as a member. The Meitei group has denied being part of the peace committee.

Priyanka Gandhi's 5 Guarantees For Election-Bound Madhya Pradesh

JABALPUR, June 12: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday launched the election campaign for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh assembly polls slated later this year and announced five guarantees for people of the state.

She launched the campaign in Jabalpur district and also addressed a public gathering on the occasion.

Talking about the five guarantees, Ms Gandhi said, "A monthly aid of ₹ 1,500 will be given to every woman in the state, an LPG gas cylinder to each household at ₹ 500, 100 units of electricity free and 200 units at half price, loans of farmers will be waived and will implement old pension scheme in the state."

"We have come to the banks of Maa Narmada, we will not lie," she added.

Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress leader said, "They (BJP) come here and make announcements, but do not fulfil them. They talk about double engine and triple engine. They used to say the same in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka but public has shown them that they should stop talking about the double engine and start working."

"Whatever promises our party made, we have fulfilled them in Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh. Look at the condition of the Congress-ruled states and you (the public) will realise. When the Congress government came to power in Madhya Pradesh, a lot of work and development were done," she said.

In the last assembly polls, the Congress government came in power, but the BJP broke the government by horse trading and formed their government. The mandate is being crushed on the basis of money power, Priyanka Gandhi said.

"There are so many scams going on in Madhya Pradesh. The list of scams here is longer than that of the list which was shown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi about abuses. There has been a scam even in the construction of the Mahakal Lok corridor in Ujjain. The BJP has done 225 scams in 220 months of rule in the state," the Congress leader added.

Besides, she took a jibe at Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and said, "A few days ago Chief Minister Chouhan came here and made some announcement for women (referring to the announcement about increasing the monthly aid of Ladli Bahna Yojana) because elections are round the corner. He has been the Chief Minister for so many years, why not then?"

"There is a huge inflation in the state. LPG cylinders, diesel and petrol have become expensive. It is a matter of shame that only 21 government jobs have been given in the last three years. Madhya Pradesh Chief minister is a ghoshnaveer (announcer), he has made 22,000 announcements in the 18 years of rule," she alleged.

She further said that there were five guarantees given during the Karnataka election and after the formation of government, all the five guarantees passed in the cabinet.

Opposition's Sharp Attack On Maharashtra Government As Pilgrims Lathicharged

MUMBAI, June 11: Warkari devotees on way to a temple in Pandharpur were allegedly lathicharged by the Maharashtra police in Pune district on Sunday. This is the first time Warkaris -- devotees of the Lord Vithoba, a form of Lord Krishna -- have been subjected to police action in the state.

Sources indicated that the devotees had got into an argument with the police during the procession. The altercation took place during entry into the Shree Kshetra temple of Alandi town -- 22 km from Pune city -- for a ceremony.

Police sources said they had resorted to mild lathicharge to control the overwhelming number of devotees. The rules to allow only 75 members to enter the premises but instead, around 400 people were trying to forcibly enter the temple.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis denied allegations of lathicharge and called it a "minor scuffle". "There was no lathicharge on the Warkari community," Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur.

"We learned from the last year's stampede-like situation at the same place (Alandi) and tried giving fewer entry passes to various groups. It was decided to issue 75 passes to each group that participate in the pilgrimage," said Fadnavis, who handles the Home portfolio.

He said around 500 people insisted that they would participate in the pilgrimage and won't follow the decision on the restricted allotment of the entry pass.

"They broke the barricades and the police tried to stop them, during which some police personnel were injured," Fadnavis said.

The situation has drawn opposition attack on the government.

"Oh oh.. The pretensions of the Hindutva government exposed.. The mask fell off. How was Aurangzeb behaving differently? Mughals have reincarnated in Maharashtra," read a rough translation of a tweet by senior Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut.

"The manner in which the police batoned the Warkari brothers in Sri Kshetra Alandi is very outrageous. This insult to the Warkaris in the presence of the great saint Dnyaneshwar Maharaj, who laid the foundation of the Warkari sect, is highly condemnable. Does the government have any responsibility towards Warkari sect or not?" tweeted NCP's Chaggan Bhujbal.

The Warkaris are pilgrims who go from Alandi to the Vithal temple in Pandharpur. The walk had started from June 11.

The departure of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi from Alandi and Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi from Dehu on June 10 signifies the beginning of this grand pilgrimage.

The Warkaris are expected to converge in the sacred town of Pandharpur on the auspicious day of Ashadhi Ekadashi on June 29.

Wrestlers' To Boycott Asian Games If Demands Not Met

NEW DELHI, June 10: India's top wrestlers protesting against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment charges have threatened to boycott the Asian Games this year if their demands are not met.

"We will participate in the Asian Games only when all these issues will be resolved. You can't understand what we're going through mentally each day," said 2016 Olympics medal-winning wrestler Sakshee Malikkh.

The "minor" who was among the seven women wrestlers accusing the Wrestling Federation of India President and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh of sexual harassment, changed her statement under pressure, said Olympian Sakshee Malikkh.

"There's huge pressure on us to compromise," she said, accusing Brij Bhushan of getting his men to call and threaten the complainants.

Elite grapplers Bajrang Punia and Sakshee Malikkh, among the country's top wrestlers leading the protests against Brij Bhushan Singh, claimed the minor's father is under depression because of the pressure put on him to withdraw the complaint.

Malikkh also said they have been demanding the arrest and custodial interrogation of the accused since day one as he has enough power and influence to derail the investigation and intimidate the complainants and witnesses.

"An impartial probe can't be conducted without Brij Bhushan Singh's arrest," she said.

The protesting wrestlers, including Ms Malikkh and Bajrang Punia, held a Mahapanchayat with Khap leaders in Haryana's Sonipat today. Punia said that the wrestlers will share the details of their discussions with the government with the Khap leaders at the Mahapanchayat.

On reports of disunity among the wrestlers, Malikkh said, "I want to make one thing clear, I, Bajrang, and Vinesh (Phogat) are one and will remain one."

After a five-hour meeting on Wednesday, Union minister Anurag Thakur presented a written proposal to the protesting wrestlers. The proposal assured the wrestlers of an investigation into the wrestling federation chief by June 15, but did not mention his arrest.

"After June 15, we will decide where to start the protest again," added Ms Malikkh.

The wrestlers have been protesting in the national capital for over two months. They are demanding the removal and arrest of wrestling federation chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment.

The Delhi Police on Friday took a woman wrestler to the office of the wrestling body chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, as part of its investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against him. The wrestler was accompanied by a team of women police officers.

Singh's official residence houses the office of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

The wrestler was accompanied by women police personnel. They arrived at the WFI office at 1:30 PM and spent half an hour there. During this time, the wrestler was asked to recreate the scene of the alleged harassment and recall the places where she felt harassed.

Hours after the police left, wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was among those leading the protest, took to Twitter to express her disappointment at media reports that claimed that the wrestlers had reached the WFI office for a compromise.

"This is the power of Brij Bhushan. He is harassing women wrestlers by using his muscle power, political power and running false narratives, and his arrest is necessary. If the police arrests him instead of breaking us, there is hope for justice, otherwise not. Women wrestlers had gone to the crime scene for police investigation, but it was flashed in the media that they had gone for a compromise," she tweeted in Hindi.

As part of the ongoing probe into the allegations, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has questioned more than 180 people, the police said.

Referee Claims He Saw Wrestling Body Chief's 'Horrifying Side'

NEW DELHI, June 10: Wrestling Federation of India President and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh in March last year grabbed a woman wrestler "in a place one shouldn't touch a woman", Jagbir Singh, an international wrestling referee who was present at the event in Lucknow, told a TV channel.

The Delhi Police, which recorded the statements of more than 200 people following allegations of sexual harassment against Singh, recorded the statement of Jagbir Singh on May 20, 2023, in Patiala.

One of the seven women wrestlers on whose complaint First Information Reports, or FIRs, were filed at Delhi's Connaught Place police station last month, has accused Braj Bhushan Singh of molesting her during the photo session after the conclusion of the trial of the Asia Championship (Senior) in Lucknow on March 25, 2022.

The athletes had gathered on the stage for a customary photograph with the federation chief and the head coach when the woman wrestler "suddenly felt a hand on her buttock" which she alleged in the FIR was "highly indecent and objectionable and without her consent".

The international referee confirmed he saw Brij Bhushan Singh doing it, after which he said she flinched and walked away angrily, saying she doesn't want the photo to be taken there.

The wrestler, in her complaint, has said she was forcibly held by her shoulder when she tried moving away after being molested.

"All of us were huddling for the picture, so everyone noticed this (the woman recoiling and walking away)," Jagbir Singh said.

The Delhi Police questioned Jagbir Singh only about the Lucknow incident, but in a conversation he made serious allegations against Brij Bhushan Singh regarding another alleged incident of 2013 when he said the federation chief's "horrifying side" was revealed.

During the dinner program of a competition held in Thailand's Phuket, Singh had molested women players in a drunken state, he said. "His barbarity was unbearable," he added.

"Brij Bhushan Singh and his associates got very drunk and started touching women wrestlers inappropriately, forcefully hugging them, and offering them training gear," Jagbir Singh said.

Some women even left the dinner and went away, he further alleged.

"We then thought we had handed over the federation's president post to a monster," he said.

On why he remained silent for so long, he said, "when the protector himself becomes the assaulter, there's nowhere to go". He said the women, and all others, feared for their careers as Singh was the top boss and had a massive influence.

Brij Bhushan Singh allegedly groped women athletes, asked inappropriate personal questions, demanded sexual favours to back their careers, brushed his hands across a minor's breast and stalked her, two FIRs against him say.

Singh is also accused of creating problems for, and denying professional opportunities to, those who rejected his alleged sexual advances.

Sharad Pawar Names Praful Patel, Supriya Sule NCP Working Presidents

NEW DELHI, June 10: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday announced Supriya Sule and Praful Patel as working presidents of the Nationalist Congress Party. Mr Pawar made the announcement at the 25th anniversary of the party, founded by him and PA Sangma in 1999.

The announcement was made in presence of Ajit Pawar, a key player in NCP.

Sharad Pawar had last month offered to resign from the presidency of the party, which was followed by fervent remonstrations from the party members as well as other political leaders.

An NCP panel formed to deliberate on Pawar's offer had on May 5 rejected his resignation and urged him to continue as the party president.

Govt promises action in Brij Bhushan case by June 15, say wrestlers after meeting with Minister

NEW DELHI, June 7: The Centre has sought time till June 15 for the investigations to conclude, but the wrestlers' protest is not over yet, grappler Sakshi Malik on Wednesday said. Malik's statement comes after she and her fellow wrestlers met Union sports minister Anurag Thakur.

“We have been asked to suspend our protest till police completes its investigation by June 15”, she added.

Wrestler Bajrang Punia said, "We had a discussion on some issues. Police investigation should be completed by 15th June and the minister has requested us not to hold protests until then. He also said the security of female wrestlers will be taken care of. We have requested that all FIRs against wrestlers should be taken back and he has agreed to it".

“Government has assured us that police investigation will be completed before 15th June. We have requested that all FIRs against wrestlers should be taken back and he has agreed to it. If no action is taken by 15th June, we will continue our protest”, Punia added.

The meeting with Thakur comes days after wrestlers met home minister Amit Shah on Saturday night. During the meeting which went on till midnight, the grapplers pressed their demand for the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Punia said he was told by home minister Shah that the investigation was underway. Punia also said the government told the wrestlers not to reveal about their meeting with Shah, but they later leaked it to the media.

Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat have resumed their duties in the Railways, but reiterated that the protest has not died down and the movement will continue. The wrestlers also declared they will not hesitate to resign from their government jobs if needed.

Manipur boy, 8, mother killed after ambulance set on fire

IMPHAL, June 7: The month-long violence in Manipur has left indelible scars, and among them is the tragic death of an eight-year-old boy caught in the crossfire. The boy, his mother and a relative were burnt alive when a mob set fire to an ambulance ferrying them to a hospital in Manipur's West Imphal district on Sunday night.

The boy was being rushed for medical treatment after being hit by a bullet amid deadly ethnic clashes between tribal groups and the majority Meitei community in the northeastern state, news agencies reported.

Three have been identified as Tonsing Hangsing, 8, his 45-year-old mother Meena Hangsing, and Lydia Lourembam, aged 37, said officials.

The incident took place in the remote Iroisemba area in Imphal West district, when the ambulance ferrying the family was waylaid by a crowd of about 2,000 people, most of them from the Kuki tribe.

The boy's father also belongs to the same tribe, but was not with him at the time. His mother and the male relative accompanying him belonged to the Meiti community, it was reported.

“The woman and man in the ambulance pleaded for mercy saying the little boy had bullet injuries but the mob refused to spare them and set it on fire,” said a police official on the condition of anonymity.

The child's father, Joshua Hangsing, told local television Northeast Live that he is yet to receive the bodies of the victims. "I have not yet received the dead bodies but I have heard that the three were charred beyond recognition with just a few bones left in the ambulance," he said.

Sources said the boy and his mother were staying at an Assam Rifles relief camp at Kangchup.

On June 4 evening, a gunfight started in the area, and despite being in the camp, he was hit by a bullet.

“A senior Assam Rifles officer immediately spoke to police in Imphal and arranged for an ambulance. Since the mother was from the majority community, a decision was taken to take the kid to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal by road,” said sources.

The ambulance was under Assam Rifles escort for a few kilometres, after which the local police took over.

“Around 6:30 pm, the ambulance was waylaid by civilians at Isoisemba and set ablaze. All three in the vehicle were killed. We still do not know where the bodies are,” one of the sources added.

Violent clashes broke out in the northeastern state after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

The Kangchup area has several Kuki villages and is on Kangpokpi district’s border with Imphal West, close to the Meitei village of Phayeng. The area has been seeing heavy exchange of fire in the second wave of violence across the state since May 27.

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

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals — Nagas and Kukis — constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.

Wrestling Body Chief Questioned Twice By Delhi Police: Sources

NEW DELHI, June 6: Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the country's Wrestling Federation chief and BJP MP accused of sexually harassing some of the country's top wrestlers, have been questioned twice by the Delhi police, sources have said.

The police -- who have formed a Special Investigation Team to probe the matter -- have questioned around 200 people in the case as well, sources have said.

The police, sources said, will file a status report in the court, listing the details of all the inquiries they have held so far.

Sources said the police have looked into every allegation and questioned the people allegedly present at the time.

On April 29, two separate police cases were filed against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, after allegations of sexual harassment by seven wrestlers, one of them a minor. The cases were filed after the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Delhi Police. One of them is under POCSO, the stringent law against sexual assault of children.

The MP, who is yet to be arrested, has denied any wrongdoing and accused the wrestlers of framing him. He has also challenged the wrestlers to undergo narco-analysis along with him to settle the issue.

The row, on since January, exploded in April, with the wrestlers holding a public protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, demanding his arrest. Farmers and khaps from Haryana joined in to show support.

On May 28, a Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new parliament, the Delhi Police cracked down a protest the wrestlers planned near the building. Visuals of champions Vinesh Phogat and her cousin Sangeeta Phogat being manhandled and pinned onto the ground by the police were widely circulated, evoking shock and outrage across the country.

Last week, the wrestlers went to Haridwar to consign their medals in Ganga, days after the Delhi Police crackdown. They postponed their plan after intervention from farmer leader Naresh Tikait.

On Saturday, some of the protesting wrestlers had an hour-long meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In an interview, ace wrestler Bajrang Punia denied rumours that they have reached a settlement.

"The athletes aren't satisfied with the government's response, neither is the government agreeing with our demands," he said.

Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik's ‘job threat’ tweets as they resume work

NEW DELHI, June 5: Ace wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik. who have returned to their government duties with Indian Railways but clarified that they did not withdraw from the ongoing protest, in a veiled attack on Monday accused Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of giving "job threats".

Olympic medallists Punia and medallists Sakshi Malik earlier on Monday said they will continue their fight for justice, asserting that none of the wrestlers have backed down and rubbished reports of their withdrawal from the protest as attempts to "sabotage" the movement.

The news of our withdrawing from the movement is just a "rumour", Punia said, adding that the report of women wrestlers taking back the FIR is also "false".

Later in another tweet, Punia, along with Vinesh and Malik, indirectly slammed the WFI chief, who has allegedly sexually harassed female wrestlers, including a minor. Brij Bhushan has denied the charges.

"Those who told our medals to be worth ₹15 each are now after our jobs. Our life is at stake, a job is a very small thing in front of that. If the job is seen to be an obstacle in the way of justice, then we will not take even ten seconds to leave it. Do not blackmail us by threatening us with our jobs," Punia, Vinesh and Malik tweeted in Hindi.

It is to be noted that during a recent interview with a local channel, Brij Bhushan was asked whether the wrestlers should return the money. The WFI chief is heard saying, “They should return the money. The medals will be sold for ₹15.”

Bajrang, Sakshi along with fellow Olympian and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat have been protesting against Brij Bhushan, demanding his arrest.

Borrowing a verse from Urdu poet Abid Adeeb, Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh launched a broadside against those "spreading fake news" about the wrestlers' protest, accusing them of "trembling" in front of a "goon".

"Do those who spread fake news even realise the trauma that women wrestlers are going through? Weak media has legs that start trembling in front of a goon's hunter, not a female wrestler," Vinesh tweeted.

To conclude her tweet, the World Championships bronze medallist remembered these lines by Abid Adeeb, "Jahah pohonch ke kadam dagmagaye hain sab ke usi mukam se ab apna raasta hoga (Where everyone's steps have wavered to reach, from the same place will now have its way)."

'Nudity Shouldn't Be Tied To Sex': High Court Cancels Case Against Woman

KOCHI, June 5: The right of autonomy over one's body is often denied to the fairer sex and they are bullied, discriminated against, isolated and persecuted for making choices about their bodies and lives, the Kerala High Court said on Monday while discharging a women's rights activist in a POCSO case.

Rehana Fathima, a woman's right activist, was facing charges under various provisions of the POCSO, Juvenile Justice and the Information Technology (IT) Acts for circulating a video in which she was seen posing semi-nude for her minor children, allowing them to paint on her body.

Discharging her from the case, Justice Kauser Edappagath said that from the allegations against the 33-year-old activist, it was not possible to anyone to infer that her children were used for any real or simulated sexual acts and that too for sexual gratification.

The court said that she only allowed her body to be used as a canvas for her children to paint on.

"The right of a woman to make autonomous decisions about her body is at the very core of her fundamental right to equality and privacy. It also falls within the realm of personal liberty guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution," it said.

The order came on Fathima's appeal against a trial court decision dismissing her plea to be discharged from the case.

In her appeal in the high court, she had asserted that the body painting was meant as a political statement against the default view of society that the naked upper body of the female is sexualised in all contexts, whereas the naked male upper body is not treated to this default sexualisation.

Agreeing with her contentions, Justice Edappagath said that painting on the upper body of a mother by her own children as an art project "cannot be characterised as a real or simulated sexual act nor can it be said that the same was done for the purpose of sexual gratification or with sexual intent".

The judge said it was "harsh" to term such an "innocent artistic expression" as a usage of a child in a real or simulated sexual act.

"There is nothing to show that the children were used for pornography. There is no hint of sexuality in the video. Painting on the naked upper body of a person, whether a man or a woman, cannot be stated to be a sexually explicit act," the court said.

The prosecution had claimed that Fathima had exposed her upper body in the video and hence, it was obscene and indecent.

Rejecting the contention, the court said that "nudity and obscenity are not always synonymous".

"It is wrong to classify nudity as essentially obscene or even indecent or immoral," it further said.

The court pointed out that women of lower castes in Kerala had once fought for the right to cover their breasts and that there were murals, statues and art of deities in the semi-nude in ancient temples and various public spaces all over the country and these are considered as "holy".

It further said that nude display of the upper body of men is never considered obscene or indecent and is not sexualised, but "a female body is not treated in the same way".

"Every individual is entitled to the autonomy of his/her body - this is not selective on gender. But we often find this right is diluted or denied to the fairer sex.

"The women are bullied, discriminated against, isolated, and prosecuted for making choices about their bodies and lives," the court said.

The court further said that there were some who consider female nudity as taboo and only meant for erotic purposes and the intention behind the video circulated by Fathima was to "expose this double standard prevailing in society".

"Nudity should not be tied to sex. The mere sight of the naked upper body of the woman should not be deemed to be sexual by default. So also, the depiction of the naked body of a woman cannot per se be termed to be obscene, indecent, or sexually explicit," Justice Edappagath said.

The prosecution had also contended that the video was against the public notions of morality and would have a morally corruptive effect on the minds of people who watch it.

The court rejected this argument also by saying that notions of social morality are inherently subjective.

"Morality and criminality are not coextensive. What is considered as morally wrong is not necessarily legally wrong," it said.

The court pointed out that adultery, consensual same-sex relations and live-in relationships are considered immoral by many, but they are legal acts.

"Society's morality and some people's sentiments cannot be the reason for instituting a crime and prosecuting a person. An action is permissible if it does not violate any of the laws of the land," it said.

The court also noted that even from the statements given by Fathima's children, they are loved and cared for by their mother.

"A mother-child relationship is one of the earth's most solemn and pious relationships. There is no bond stronger and more sincere than the one between a mother and her child.

"No doubt, the prosecution of the petitioner (Fathima) will have torture and adverse effect on the children. Hence, in the best interest of the victims also, the prosecution cannot be allowed to be continued," it said.

Justice Edappagath said that the lower court completely overlooked the context in which the video was published and the message it had given to the public at large.

"There is no sufficient ground for proceeding against the petitioner. The impugned order is, accordingly, set aside and the petitioner is discharged," the high court said.

The case was registered by Kochi city police under various sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and IT Act based on a report filed by Cyberdom, the cyber wing of Kerala police, against her for posting the video titled "Body and Politics" on social media.

Earlier, the woman was also booked by police in Pathanamthitta district under the Information Technology Act and the Juvenile Justice Act on a complaint lodged by BJP OBC Morcha leader A V Arun Prakash.

The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights had also sought a report on the matter from Pathanamthitta district police chief and had also directed the police to register a case against the woman under various sections of the POCSO Act.

Fathima had attempted to enter the Lord Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala after the Supreme Court allowed women of menstruating age to do so, and was targeted by certain groups for it.

Audit Report From Last Year Flagged Serious Concerns On Rail Safety

NEW DELHI, June 4: While Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today said the "root cause" of the horrific triple train collision in Odisha's Balasore, which claimed 288 lives and injured over 1,000 people, has been identified and will be revealed soon in a report, critics have pointed to an audit report of the railways tabled in the Parliament in September last year, which flagged several serious lapses in rail safety.

The accident happened due to a change in "electronic interlocking", Vaishnaw has said. The Railway Board has also detailed the sequence of events leading to the crash.

India's top auditing body, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, in a 2022 report on derailments in Indian Railways sought to find out whether measures to prevent derailments and collisions were clearly laid down and implemented by the rail ministry.

It flagged severe shortfalls in inspections, failure to submit or accept inquiry reports after accidents, not utilising a dedicated railway fund on priority tasks, declining trend in funding track renewal, and inadequate staffing in safety operations as serious concerns.

"There were shortfalls ranging from 30-100 per cent in inspections by Track Recording Cars required to assess geometrical and structural conditions of railway tracks," it said.

The report also pointed to failures in the Track Management System, which is being widely discussed after the Odisha train crash.

"Track Management System (TMS) is a web-based application for online monitoring of track maintenance activities. The in-built monitoring mechanism of the TMS portal was, however, not found to be operational," it said.

From April 2017 to March 2021, 422 derailments were attributable to the 'Engineering Department'. The major factor responsible for derailment was related to the 'maintenance of track' (171 cases), followed by 'deviation of track parameters beyond permissible limits' (156 cases), the report said, adding that 'bad driving/over speeding' was the major factor responsible for derailments.

The number of accidents attributable to the 'Operating Department' was 275. 'Incorrect setting of points and other mistakes in shunting operations' accounted for 84 per cent, the CAG found.

"Most of the derailments occurred due to simultaneous failures of each of the five barriers namely (i) Rules and Joint Procedure Orders (JPOs), (ii) Training/Counselling of staff, (iii) Supervision of operations, (iv) Coordination and communication between staff of different departments and (v) Scheduled Inspections," the report said.

The 'inquiry reports' were not submitted to the accepting authority within the prescribed time schedule in 63 per cent of cases and in 49 per cent of cases, there was a delay in the acceptance of the reports by accepting authorities, it said.

The report said overall expenditure on priority tasks from the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh -- a reserve fund that received a corpus of ₹ 1 lakh crore over five years starting from 2017-18 -- showed a declining trend. The allotment of funds for track renewal works declined, and the already allocated funds were also not fully utilised, the CAG report said.

"There was increasing trend on IR (Indian Railways) towards expenditure on non-priority works against the guiding principles of Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) deployment framework. The sole purpose of creating a separate dedicated fund for financing safety-related works was defeated, as safety-related works were held up due to fund constraints," it said.

"Out of 1,127 derailments during 2017-21, 289 derailments (26 per cent) were linked to track renewals," the CAG report said.

Out of 2,908 manned level crossings (nine per cent) targeted for elimination during 2018-21, only 2,059 (70 per cent) level crossings were eliminated, it said.

"Required steps were not taken for adequate staffing in the safety category, which can impact the quality of maintenance," the CAG concluded.

The CAG recommended Railways ensure strict adherence to the scheduled timelines for conducting and finalisation of accident inquiries and develop a strong monitoring mechanism to ensure timely implementation of maintenance activities by adopting fully mechanised methods of track maintenance and improved technologies.

"The deficiencies in setting up a foolproof system of learning from past mistakes are a serious impediment to the fulfilment of one of the main objectives of the accident inquiry reports of preventing recurrences of incidents of derailments," it said.

Railway Ministry Seeks CBI Probe Into Odisha 3-Train Crash That Killed 288

NEW DELHI, June 4: The Railways ministry has sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the three-train pile-up in Odisha's Balasore. More than 270 people have died in Friday's accident, which is being described as one of the worst in the country.

"Keeping in mind all that happened, the information that the administration has, the Railways board has made a recommendation that the investigation be handed over to the CBI," Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters.

The minister had earlier attributed the horrific collision to a change in "electronic interlocking" and said all will be revealed soon in a report. "The setting of the point machine was changed. How and why it was done will be revealed in the probe report... I will just say that the root cause and the people responsible for the criminal act have been identified," he said.

The Railways said due to a "signalling interference", the Coromandel Express met with an accident and its engine and coach crashed into a goods train laden with iron ore stationed on one of the loop lines.

Due to the impact, the coaches of the Coromandel Express also got thrown into the third track and rammed the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express that was approaching at a high speed, the railways said.

"Kavach", the indigenously developed automatic train protection system, was not available on the route where the accident took place. A railways official, however, said had it been in place, the system would not have been helpful in averting such an accident.

Critics, though, have flagged an audit report of railways which cited several serious lapses in rail safety. The report was tabled in the Parliament in September last year.

The crash set off a political row with opposition parties questioning the government about the lack of safety measures. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a former railway minister, said the crash could have been averted if trains were equipped with an anti-collision system.

"The CBI is a criminal investigation agency. It's job is to investigate crimes. Not railway accidents & lapses," tweeted Trinamool spokesperson Saket Gokhale. Calling it a "brazen attempt" to protect the Railway Minister, he added that Vaishnaw should "resign or be divested of the Rail portfolio" to ensure an unbiased probe.

On Sunday, the Odisha government revised the number of fatalities in the triple train accident, bringing it down to 275 from 288, and put the number of injured at 1,175. The figures indicate that it is the third worst rail disaster in the country.

Having one of the world's largest rail networks, India has seen a number of disasters over the years. The worst of them was in 1981, when a train derailed while crossing a bridge in Bihar and plunged into the river below, killing between 800 and 1,000 people.

Massive 4-Lane Bridge Falls Like A House Of Cards In Bihar

PATNA, June 4: An under-construction four-lane bridge over the Ganga in Bihar's Bhagalpur came crashing down like a house of cards this evening, for the second time in a year, showed a video. No loss of life has been reported so far.

The bridge, inaugurated in 2014 by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, connects Sultanganj and Khagaria districts.

The Chief Minister has ordered an inquiry into the incident and said strict action should be taken against the erring officials.

"Yes, I have received the information that 4-5 pillars of the Aguwani-Sultanganj under-construction bridge collapsed. The administration is in touch with officials of the department concerned," Bhagalpur District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen was quoted saying by news agency PTI.

Spotlighting the incident, state BJP president Samrat Choudhary alleged that "corruption is rampant" in the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government.

In December last, a bridge snapped into two and fell into the Burhi Gandak river in Begusarai district. No one was injured in the incident as the bridge was yet to be formally opened to the public due to the lack of an access road. "It was to be inaugurated soon but it collapsed before that," an official said at the time of accident last year.

Opposition Meet, Due On June 12, Deferred After Congress, DMK Request

NEW DELHI, June 4: The big opposition meeting scheduled to be held in Patna on June 12, will now be held on June 23. The change in date came following a request by the Congress and its Tamil Nadu ally, sources said.

The change is likely to have been made in view of the absence of Congress's Rahul Gandhi.

Gandhi is currently on a six-day visit to the US and is expected to return on June 15. His mother Sonia Gandhi, too, is abroad for medical reasons and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is accompanying her.

The DMK too, wants the meeting deferred as it is clashing with a government function that Chief Minister MK Stalin has to attend.

The meeting in Patna is happening at the initiative of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has volunteered to bring the opposition under one umbrella to take on the BJP in 2024.

The date was decided after his meeting with Rahul Gandhi and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge last month.

Kumar has so far brought on board leaders like Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav – who earlier made their aversion to the Congress clear.

The Centre's recent ordinance to bring Delhi bureaucrats under its control and Arvind Kejriwal's subsequent meetings with opposition leaders seeking help to block the bill in parliament, have acted as a further inducement for a united opposition.

Most opposition parties have backed Kejrwial. Accusing the Centre of violating federal principles, they have also made it clear that the Congress should throw its weight behind them.

290 Dead, 900 Injured After Horrific Three-Train Crash In Odisha

NEW DELHI, June 3: At least 261 people were killed and around 900 were injured in a horrific three-train collision in Odisha's Balasore, officials said Saturday, the country's deadliest rail accident in more than 20 years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the train accident site and met with injured people at hospitals in Cuttack.

The crash involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a goods train.

The accident saw one train ram so hard into another that carriages were lifted high into the air, twisting and then smashing off the tracks. Another carriage had been tossed entirely onto its roof, crushing the passenger section.

"Everything was shaking and we could feel the coach toppling," Sanjay Mukhia, a daily wage worker travelling to Chennai on the Coromandel-Shalimar Express, told NDTV, showing his injuries.

According to another survivor, severed limbs were scattered over the ripped metal wreckage.

"I was sleeping when the train derailed. Some 10-15 people fell over me. When I came out of the coach, I saw limbs scattered all around, a leg here, a hand there...someone's face was disfigured," the survivor said.

"The rescue operation has been completed and now the focus is on restoration work," Railways Spokesperson Amitabh Sharma said.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said a high-level committee will be set up to investigate the train crash.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has declared one-day state mourning in view of the horrific train crash.

48 trains have been cancelled, 39 diverted and 10 trains have been short terminated due to the accident, which happened on the Howrah-Chennai main line in the Kharagpur division of the South Eastern Railway.

‘Anti-collusion device not there': West Bengal CM confronts railway minister on Odisha train accident

NEW DELHI, June 3: During her visit to Odisha's Balasore, CM Banerjee talked about the effectiveness of anti-collusion device in trains while Vaishnaw was standing beside her.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday termed the horrific train accident in Odisha the ‘biggest of the century’ and demanded proper investigation to get to the truth of the incident. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo met Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and probed why the trains were not equipped with the anti-collusion system, which would have averted the tragedy.

“This is the biggest train accident of this century and a proper investigation must be conducted…Something must be behind this. The truth must come out. Why didn't the anti-collision system work?" Banerjee questioned while briefing the media with Vaishnaw standing beside her.

Banerjee served as Railway Minister in the BJP-led NDA government in 1999. She took charges of the railways for the second time in 2009 under the UPA-II government. Pointing out that railway budget is not presented separately during the Union budget session, she said, "The Railways is like my baby. I am a member of the railway family and ready to give my suggestions."

Banerjee announced that her government would pay ₹5 lakh compensation to the families of passengers from West Bengal killed in the accident.

"I am standing here with the Railway Minister and BJP MPs. The Bengal government will provide ₹5 lakh each to the people of our state and cooperate and work with the Railways and Odisha Government until the work is complete. We have also sent 40 doctors and two buses from Bengal to Odisha for further medical assistance," she said.

About more than 16 hours after the accident, which involved two Express trains and a goods train, the rescue operation was announced to be complete on Saturday. The official toll was announced to be 290. Around 900 passengers were taken to hospitals with small to severe injuries.

The railways announced an ex gratia of ₹10 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased, ₹2 lakh for those grievously injured and ₹50,000 for those who got minor injuries.

The Prime Minister too expressed his distress over the accident, and announced a compensation of ₹ 2 lakh for the family of the dead and ₹ 50,000 for the injured from the PM's National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

50 Killed, 350 Injured As 2 Trains Derail In Odisha

NEW DELHI, June 2: Fifty people were killed and 350 were injured when a passenger train hit the derailed coaches of another train in Odisha's Balasore this evening. Many are feared trapped and the casualties may rise, officials said. A third freight train was also involved in the accident, said Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena.

Some coaches of Coromandel Express, which was going from Howrah to Chennai, had derailed and fallen on to the adjacent tracks. Yashwantpur-Howrah Superfast train, coming from the other side, rammed the derailed coaches, said Railway Ministry spokesperson Amitabh Sharma.

The details of the two trains are 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express and 12864 Yashwantpur-Howrah Superfast Express.

Fifteen coaches of Coromandel Express came off the tracks, while two of the other train got derailed.

Odisha Fire Services chief Sudhanshu Sarangi is supervising rescue operations. Medical colleges and hospitals in and around Balasore have been alerted and 60 ambulances have been mobilised.

Over a hundred personnel of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and its state counterpart are looking for trapped passengers and cutting through the debris to reach them.

"Distressed by the train accident in Odisha. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Spoke to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and took stock of the situation. Rescue ops are underway at the site of the mishap and all possible assistance is being given to those affected," said PM Modi said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted she is monitoring the situation continually personally with the Chief Secretary and other senior officers.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has told Revenue Minister Pramila Malik to go to the accident site.

Howrah helpline - 033 26382217, Kharagpur helpline - 8972073925, 9332392339, Balasore helpline - 8249591559, 7978418322, Shalimar helpline - 9903370746, MAS helpline - 044 25330952, 044 25330953, 044 25354771

Farmer Leaders Warn Centre To Arrest Wrestling Body Chief By June 9

NEW DELHI, June 2: Farmer leaders who are supporting India's top athletes in their fight against wrestling body chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh have given a fresh ultimatum to the centre - arrest him or face a larger protest.

"We have taken a decision that the government must address the grievances of wrestlers and he (Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh) should be arrested. Otherwise, we will go with the wrestlers to Jantar Mantar in Delhi on June 9 and hold panchayats across the nation," farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said.

"The cases against the wrestlers should be withdrawn and the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh must happen," Tikait said.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP MP, faces allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation. The wrestlers have alleged he misused his position as the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to sexually harass athletes.

Farmer groups held a "khap mahapanchayat" in Uttar Pradesh and a series of protests in Punjab and Haryana yesterday in solidarity with the wrestlers.

The wrestlers were allegedly manhandled by Delhi Police personnel when they tried to march towards the new parliament building after its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

Olympic and World Champion wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sangeeta Phogat are among those protesting against the outgoing WFI chief.

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has assured of justice to the wrestlers, who, however, have not agreed on nothing less than the arrest of the BJP MP.

"The government favours an unbiased investigation... All of us want justice to be delivered, but it will happen after following the due process," Thakur said at Times Network's India Economic Conclave yesterday.

The wrestlers went to Haridwar on Tuesday after announcing they will immerse their medals in the Ganga. They were persuaded by khap and farmer leaders not to carry out the threat. The leaders sought five days' time from the wrestlers to address their concerns.

The Delhi Police have filed two FIRs (first information reports) based on the wrestlers' complaints. One of them is over allegations by a minor wrestler and has been filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Groping, Intimidation, Stalking: Charges Against Wrestling Chief In FIRs

NEW DELHI, June 2: BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh allegedly touched women athletes inappropriately on the pretext of checking their breath, groped them, asked inappropriate personal questions, demanded sexual favours in exchange for the federation bearing the cost of treatment of injuries sustained during tournaments, offered "unknown edible not approved by the dietician or coach", brushed his hands across a minor's breast and stalked her, the First Information Reports, or FIRs, based on the complaints of seven women wrestlers at Delhi's Connaught Place police station last month, allege.

The two FIRs -- one combining complaints of six wrestlers, and a separate one based on the complaint of a minor's father -- were filed on April 28, while the written complaints were submitted on April 21.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct. On Wednesday, he issued a defiant statement, once again refuting all charges.

"If a single allegation against me is proven, I will hang myself. If you (wrestlers) have any evidence, present it to the Court, and I am ready to accept any punishment," he said.

The wrestlers, who have been demanding the federation chief's removal and an overhaul of the wrestling body, accused him of intimidation and sexual harassment in the "most inappropriate and atrocious manner". Some of the complainants have also claimed that the device that was used to video record their depositions was being switched on and off again. The entire statement may not have been recorded, or tampered with, to favour the accused, one of them has said.

All the women athletes travelled in groups whenever they left their rooms to avoid running into the accused (Brij Bhushan Singh) alone, one of the complainants has claimed, adding that he singled out athletes from their groups and asked inappropriate personal questions they were uncomfortable answering.

"I was called by the accused (Singh) who pulled up my T-shirt, slid his hand down my stomach, and put his hand on my navel on the pretext of checking my breath," one of the complainants said. She also claimed that the BJP MP offered her an "unknown edible" not approved by her dietician or coach, saying it would be good for her health and performance.

Another complainant said when she suffered an injury during a competition abroad, Singh allegedly said the federation would bear the cost of her treatment if she gave in to his sexual advances.

"While I was lying down on the mat, the accused (Singh) came near me and to my shock and surprise leaned in and, in the absence of my coach, without seeking my permission pulled up my T-shirt, placed his hand on my breast and slid it down my stomach on the pretext of examining/checking my breathing," another award-winning wrestler said in her complaint.

Vinod Tomar, Secretary of the wrestling federation, has also been accused by one of the wrestlers of forcing himself on her inside his Delhi office.

"On my visit to the federation office... I was called into the room of the accused (Tomar)... my brother, who was accompanying me, was categorically asked to stay back...The accused (Tomar), upon the departure of other persons, closed the door... pulled me towards himself and tried making forceful physical contact with me," the complainant has said.

Both the FIRs cite IPC Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 34 (common intention), which carry a jail term of one to three years.

The FIR based on the complaint of a minor's father also invokes Section 10 of the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), which entails five to seven years of imprisonment.

'We Will Fight Till Wrestlers Get Justice,' Say Farmers After Mahapanchayat

NEW DELHI, June 1: Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait today said the final decision on the issue of wrestlers' protest will be taken at a meeting in Haryana tomorrow. The farmers and the khaps of Haryana have been extending support to the wrestlers and what remains to be decided is the strategy to pursue.

Tikait, who had persuaded the wrestlers not to consign their medals to the Ganga on Monday, made it clear that they will leave no stone unturned. "We will go to the President of India if need be… We are with you, you don't have to worry," he told his audience at a mega meeting in Muzaffarnagar today.

"I told them don't immerse the medals in the Ganga, put them up for auction. The entire world will come forward and ask you to stop the auction," he said.

On why the farmers and khaps are extending support to wrestlers, Tikait said, "It is good if the family is big".

"You should understand what the Central government is doing. They broke Lalu Yadav's family in Bihar. See what they did with Mulayam Singh Yadav's family. The same thing is happening in Rajasthan," he told the farmers attending the meet.

On Monday, a day after a massive Delhi Police crackdown on their protest, the wrestlers had headed for Haridwar, determined to immerse their medals in Ganga. But they held back finally after the intervention of Mr Tikait, who heads the Bhartiya Kisan Union, and khap leaders from Haryana.

The wrestlers have been on the warpath since January, demanding action against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, whom they accused of sexually harassing seven athletes, including a minor.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is also BJP MP, has asserted that would accept any punishment if the allegations against him were proven. "If a single allegation against me is proven, I will hang myself. If you (wrestlers) have any evidence, present it to the Court, and I am ready to accept any punishment," he said.

The government, in its first comment on the matter yesterday, warned the wrestlers against any precipitate action and advised them to wait for the conclusion of the police investigation.

"I'll ask the athletes to wait for the conclusion of Delhi Police's investigation. The Delhi Police has informed the Supreme Court and filed an FIR (First Information Report). Until the investigation is complete, do not take any such step which will harm the sport and the players," sports minister Anurag Thakur had said.

Arvind Kejriwal Gets MK Stalin's Support In Battle Against Centre's Order

CHENNAI, June 1: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met his Tamil Nadu counterpart MK Stalin on Thursday, seeking support in his campaign against the Indian central government's controversial ordinance, which aims to assert control over administrative services in the nation's capital.

"If the elected government does not have control over the bureaucrats, then there is no point in having an elected government. For the first time in history, they nullified a Supreme Court order. This is unconstitutional and undemocratic," Kejriwal said after the meeting that was also attended by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, also from AAP.

"This ordinance will come in the monsoon session. In the Rajya Sabha they have 93 seats, if all non-BJP parties come, then we will be able to defeat them. I am grateful for MK Stalin's support. Every passing day, I'm feeling more and more confident and this is the semi-final to 2024," he added.

The meeting was part of Kejriwal's nationwide tour initiated last month, aimed at rallying opposition parties against the ordinance and bock it in the upper house of parliament, where they have more seats than the BJP and its allies.

Kejriwal, who leads the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), is scheduled to meet Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday as part of this ongoing effort.

When asked if these discussions were part of coordinating the opposition, Stalin had stated earlier in the day, "That effort is already on." He emphasised that this was not a new development and assured that the DMK would be involved wholeheartedly.

The Delhi Chief Minister had announced the meeting a day earlier on Twitter, stating, "Will be meeting Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin in Chennai tomorrow (1st June) to seek DMK's support against Centre's unconstitutional-undemocratic 'Anti-Delhi' Ordinance".

Kejriwal has already met several influential political figures, including Mamata Banerjee, Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Nitish Kumar, and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav.

Kejriwal's campaign comes in the wake of a major legal victory on May 11 when a five-judge constitution bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, ruled in favour of the Delhi government giving it control over the appointment and transfer of bureaucrats, excluding public order, police, and land affairs.

This decision ended a longstanding dispute dating back to 2015 between the centre and the Delhi government.

However, within days, the central government issued a special order or ordinance, bypassing the court's ruling. The ordinance established an authority responsible for the transfer and posting of senior officers in Delhi, circumventing the recent court verdict.

SIT examined all wrestlers, witnesses in case against Brij Bhushan Singh, say Delhi Police

NEW DELHI, June 1: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by senior officers from the Delhi Police, which is investigating the sexual harassment charges against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, has examined all the wrestlers and witnesses in the case, said officials. The SIT was formed after seven wrestlers, including a minor, lodged complaints of sexual harassment and stalking against Singh.

Sources said that the SIT has examined all the complainants and witnesses, including senior functionaries from WFI, in the case. Based on the investigation, the Delhi Police have also said it is not “mandatory” to arrest Singh at present as sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and Indian Penal Code (IPC) only attract a punishment of less than seven years.

An officer, who refused to be named, also said that “a fraction of the witnesses also refuted all the allegations made by the wrestlers and supported Singh”.

On Wednesday, as news broke out about the “no sufficient evidence found” claim in the case, the police posted a statement on social media denying the allegations but later removed and deleted all the messages.

“We cannot comment on the time frame for investigation in this case or what the evidence is. The investigation is still going on… SIT has been probing the matter and will submit a report to the court,” Suman Nalwa, Delhi Police spokesperson, later told reporters.

Top wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and others have been protesting against Singh for over a month. On Sunday, they were removed from Jantar Mantar and booked under sections of rioting for marching towards the new Parliament building.