Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Bill On Delhi Services Does Not Violate SC Judgement: Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that the bill on Delhi services to replace ordinance does not violate the judgement of Supreme Court and rejected allegations that the bill is unconstiutional.

Replying to the debate in the Rajya Sabha on the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Amit Shah took a dig at the Congress over Emergency imposed in 1975 and said it has no right to speak on democracy.

“The bill doesn’t violate the Supreme Court order…The aim is to make sure corruption-free administration in Delhi,” Amit Shah said.

Attacking Aam Aadmi Party, Amit Shah said that there were BJP and Congress governments in Delhi earlier and there was no dispute over sharing of power.

“Earlier, there were no fights over transfer postings in Delhi, no CMs had any problems….In 2015, a govt came up after an ‘andolan’….Some people said that the Centre wants to take power into its hands. The Centre doesn’t need to do so as the people of India have given us the power and the right….,” he said.

Referring to I.N.D.I.A alliance, the Home Minister targeted Congress over joining hands with AAP and said the Congress was opposing the bill which was in consonance with the law it had enacted.    

“If you have conscience,. You will support the bill but you want to save the alliance,”  Amit Shah said.

“…We are making amendments to Constitution not to bring Emergency…Congress has no right to speak on democracy,” he added.

The Home Minister said AAP was born to oppose the Congress and it will continue to do so. He also targeted parties in I.N.D.I.A alliance over their competing electoral interests and said Narendra Modi will return as Prime Minister in 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The Bill seeks to replace the ordinance brought by the Centre in May this year, days after the Supreme Court judgement on the control of services in Delhi. (ANI)

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Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

Manmohan Attends RS During Discussion On Delhi Services Bill

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh came to the Parliament in a wheelchair to participate in the crucial Rajya Sabha session where The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 is being discussed.

The bill empowers the Central Government to make rules in connection with the affairs of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, including the functions, terms, and other conditions of service of officers and employees.

The Congress party has issued a three-line whip for its MPs, urging them to be present in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. “Very important issues will be taken up for discussion in the Rajya Sabha tomorrow, i.e. Monday, August 7, 2023,” Congress stated in a notification of August 4 which was made public on Sunday.

It further said that, “All members of Congress party in the Rajya Sabha are requested to kindly remain present in the House from 11:00 A.M. onwards till the adjournment of the House on Monday, August 7, 2023 without fail and support the party stand.” This may be treated as most important, it added.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, for passage in the House after opposition members moved a resolution disapproving the ordinance brought by the government in May this year. The bill was passed by Lok Sabha last week.

Opposition parties, who are in I.N.D.I.A bloc, are opposed to the bill. The House is seeing an orderly debate on the bill. Rajya Sabha has seen daily disruptions during the monsoon session of Parliament over opposition’s demand for detailed discussion on Manipur situation and statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI)

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Malabar exercise Australia

Australia To Host Latest Edition Of 10-Day Malabar Exercise For First Time

The latest edition of the Malabar exercise is all set to commence in the Australian waters from August 11-21 that will see the participation of the United States, Japan, India and Australia. 

Australia is also the host for this mega event which is being hosted there ‘for the first time’. 

The ten-day exercise aims to deepen the interoperability between the key partners, Australia, India, Japan and the United States who are also members of the Quad or the Quadrilateral security dialogue. 

The exercise is also designed to deepen the partnership for the Indo-Pacific, for shared aspiration, for a free, open and resilient Indo-Pacific and it will be followed immediately afterwards by AUSINDEX, the bi-annual naval exercise between India and Australia. 

The Malabar series of exercises began as an annual bilateral naval exercise between India and the US in 1992. Japan joined the Naval Exercises in 2015. Malabar 2020 saw the participation of the Australian Navy also. 

Malabar exercise is a navy-led exercise that will witness the participation of the navies from all four countries. Two major Australian ships HMAS Brisbane and HMAS Choules will perform an entry into the Sydney Harbour. The vessels and the aircraft will then proceed out to an exercise area off the coast of New South Wales. 

The Indian Navy will be represented by its multi-role stealth frigate, INS Sahyadri and indigenous destroyer INS Kolkata. 

A destroyer from the United States will be seen along with a major surface vessel from Japan. There’s a large designated and gazetted exercise area which is referred to as the East Australian exercise area which will witness this high-voltage exercise. Though Malabar has four countries as participants, there are no plans or discussions on its expansion at the moment. 

During his India visit in March this year, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced his country will host Exercise Malabar. Albanese was received onboard INS Vikrant by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar with a Guard of Honour. The Australian PM said his visit reflected his government’s commitment to place India at the heart of Australia’s approach to the Indo-Pacific and beyond. 

Malabar exercise which represents one of the most complex naval activities that the four nations do together is also the capstone exercise that builds on a number of the bilateral excercises that the countries do with each other around the world. 

China has been suspicious about the purpose of the Malabar exercise as it feels that the aim is to contain its influence in the Indo-Pacific region, but this exercise is not directed at any country and hence isn’t a China exercise per se since it is not a military or the defence arm of the Quad. 

Notably, the Indo Pacific region has been subject to significantly enhanced strategic competition. And all partners of this exercise are determined to see greater strategic equilibrium and their purpose is to make sure that there is some concrete action beyond the words and talks. 

Even as Beijing alleges that the Quad is aimed at it, the grouping has maintained that it is not intended ‘against China’. 

Earlier in March this year, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Quad is not a military grouping adding it is now engaged in working together to help countries to deal with humanitarian situations in natural disasters. 

“We are working on things that are really critical,” Blinken said at a panel discussion of the Quad Foreign Ministers themed ‘The Quad Squad: Power and Purpose of the Polygon’ in the national capital in March this year. 

Australia and India have seen an exponential increase in defence cooperation. Exercising has been both more frequent, and complex and that is an aspiration that both countries are determined to see continue. Since, the United States and Japan will send only one warship each, its important to understand in which context Malabar has been scheduled this year, and the size of exercises and ships numbers shouldn’t equate with complexity the important thing here to understand is, what those ships and what those men and women inside those ships and aircraft are doing together. 

Australian PM during his March visit earlier also noted that Last year, India and Australia conducted more exercises, operations and dialogues than ever before. 

The strategic importance of the India-Australia partnership is increasing and there has never been a point in both countries’ histories where they have had such a strong strategic alignment, Albanese said. There has never been a busier or more productive time in the bilateral defence and security partnership and 2023 will be “busier than ever” in this area, he added. 

During PM Modi’s visit to Australia in November 2014, both sides decided to extend defence cooperation to cover research, development and industry engagement and agreed to hold regular meetings at the level of the Defence Minister, conduct regular maritime exercises and convene regular service-to-service talks. 

The fourth edition of AUSINDEX was held during between September 7 and 10, 2021 in Australia at Off Darwin. Navies of India, Australia, Japan and the USA also participated in Phase I of Exercise Malabar 2021, from August 26 to 29, 2021 off Guam and in Phase II in the Bay of Bengal from October 12 to 15, 2021. 

India also participated as an Observer in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021 in July 2021. India-Australia Joint Military Exercise AUSTRAHIND 2022 was held in Rajasthan from November 28-December 11, 2022 between Indian Army and the Australian Army, the first exercise in the series of AUSTRA HIND with the participation of all arms and services contingent from both armies. 

Australia and India have also built links between their defence forces through regular personnel and training exchanges, such as short specialist courses and longer-term higher education positions. Every year, Australia sends officers to attend India’s premiere military educational institutions. 

India also sends four officers to study in Australia annually. Inaugurated in 2023, General Rawat India – Australia Young Defence Officer Exchange Program offers the opportunity each year for fifteen young officers from across Army, Navy, and Air Force, to learn more about each other’s training, operational environments and culture. 

In 2023, 15 young Australian Defence Officers travelled to India and in 2024 it is expected that 15 young Indian Armed Forces officers will travel to Australia, to study Australian Defence capability and culture. (ANI)

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Chandigarh Mayor elections

Manipur: 42 SITs To Look At Cases Not Transferred To CBI, Says SC

The Supreme Court on Monday said that it proposes to pass order that there will be 42 Special Investigation Teams (SIT) to look into cases in connection with Manipur violence which have not been transferred to Central Bureau of Investgation (CBI).

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said cases have been transferred to the CBI, but to ensure faith in the rule of law, it is proposing to direct that there shall be five officers of rank at least Deputy SP who will be brought into CBI from various states.

“These officers will also be functioning within the four corners of the infrastructure and administrative structure of CBI. There will be 42 SITs looking at cases that have not been transferred to CBI”, the top court said.

SITs already probing matters which are not transferred to CBI will supervsed by six DIG level officers brought from outside Manipur.

The top court said it contemplates to appoint a committee of three former High Court judges which will look into the investigation, relief, remedial measures, compensation, rehabilitation, etc.

“The Committee of three former judges will be headed by Justice Gita Mittal, and also comprise Justice Shalini Joshi, Justice Asha Menon”, apex court said.

The top court further said that IPS officer will supervise CBI investigations.

Former Mumbai police commissioner Dattatray Padsalgikar will be in overall supervision of the probe.

Meanwhile, Director General of Police (DGP) of Manipur Rajiv Singh appeared before the Supreme Court pursuant to court’s order.

Manipur had been on the boil for the last three months after ethnic clashes broke out between two tribal communities Meities and Kukis, when the Manipur High Court asked the state government to consider adding one of the communities to the list of Scheduled Tribes. (ANI)

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Iran Mine Explosion Kills 50

Israel Strikes Targets In Damascus, Four Syrian Soldiers Feared Dead

Israel allegedly struck targets in the city of Damascus on Monday morning, killing four Syrian soldiers and wounded an additional four, the Jerusalem Post reported citing Syrian media.

Air defence systems in the Syrian capital were activated against the attacks.

Explosions were also heard in the city, according to Syrian media.

The last attack in Syria took place two and a half weeks ago, according to N12 when the IDF attacked seven targets in Damascus using missiles from the Golan Heights.

Among the targets were military depots, a truck parking lot, and an anti-aircraft battery.

The Israeli strike was reportedly aimed at military sites, near the town of Al-Dimass. At these sites are reportedly warehouses belonging to Hezbollah, N12 reported.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)

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India and China

India-China Border Talks Not Halted: Jaishankar

Border talks between India and China have not been “halted” and both the countries “have made progress on key tension points in the last three years”, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday.

In an interaction with mediapersons here today, the foreign minister said that there has been progress on key tension points between the two countries in the last three years.

He further informed that another meeting on the border talks will be held soon.

“India-China border talks not halted, meeting will be held soon,” Jaishankar said.

India and China have time and again faced border disputes and they date back to 1962. The most recent clash was in June 2020, when Indian and Chinese troops engaged in a brawl in the Galwan Valley.

Both countries have been holding several rounds of military-level talks to solve issues in the border regions.

On April 23 this year, the 18th round of India- China Corps Commander Level Meeting was held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Chinese side.

Jaishankar today said that over the last nine years the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has been “significantly enhancing border infrastructure, including in the areas along Northern frontier”.

“Post 2014, when there is big push on border infrastructure, contestation and patroling has increased from the Chinese side,” said Jaishankar.

The foreign minister said that India is in talks with Bhutan for railway connectivity with Assam.

“We are in talks on the Rail link between Bhutan and Assam, Bhutan is very keen to open more points for tourists and it is very good for Assam,” Jaishankar said.

Meanwhile, on talks between Bhutan and China, Jaishankar said, “…they are having negotiations, and 24 rounds have been completed. They will be holding more rounds. We track carefully what affects us. It is for them to determine the pace.”

Speaking on Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, Jaishankar said, “Kailash Mansarovar – Infrastructure is building up, there is a need for a tunnel there, Border Road Organisation (BRO) is working and planning it. But, there is no signal from China on coming back to the old process”.

Terming the Myanmar Trilateral highway a “big challenge” due to the prevailing law and order situation there Jaishankar said India has to engage with authorities in Myanmar to complete the project and to get access of the Sittwe port.

“The border situation with Myanmar is challenging. Sittwe Port is operational, and we are hopeful to conclude the coastal shipping agreement this year. Myanmar Trilateral highway is a big challenge due to the law and order situation. We are engaging with Myanmar authorities to meet challenges,” Jaishankar said. (ANI)

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Army Foils Infiltration

Army Foils Infiltration Bid In J&K’s Poonch

An infiltration bid was foiled along the Line of Control (LoC) in the general area of Degwar Terwan in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch during wee hours of Monday, the Army said. 

A search operation is underway in the area, they said. 

Lt Col Suneel Bartwal, PRO (Defence) Jammu, said that contact established by ambush in Garhi Battalion, Poonch around 02:00 am. Two individuals observed moving across LoC in General area Degwar Terva. 

In the firefight one terrorist seen dropping, second seen moving towards Pintu Nala. Search operation is underway in the area, he added. 

More details are awaited. 

Similarly on Sunday, a terrorist was killed in a joint operation conducted by Indian Army and Kupwara police in Tangdhar Sector on Sunday, Kashmir Zone Police said.

Police said that a terrorist was killed in an encounter while trying to infiltrate across the Line of Control in the Amrohi area of Tangdhar Sector.

“Army and Kupwara police in a joint operation foiled an infilitration bid by neutralising a terrorist on LoC in Amrohi area of Tangdhar Sector. Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition recovered,” Kashmir Zone Police said in a tweet. (ANI) 

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Congress MP Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Arrives In Parliament After His LS M’ship Reinstated

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi arrived in Parliament on Monday after the Lok Sabha secretariat revoked his suspension from the House today.

Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) alliance leaders raised ‘Rahul Gandhi Zindabad’ slogans as they welcomed him to Parliament.

Upon reaching Parliament House, the Congress leader paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.

He also updated his account bio on X (formerly known as Twitter) from ‘Dis’Qualified MP’ to ‘Member of Parliament’.

Congress leaders were also seen distributing sweets outside the Parliament.

Earlier today Lok Sabha Secretariat Gandhi’s membership after Supreme Court had on August 4 stayed his conviction in the ‘Modi’ surname remark case.

The apex court issued notices to the Gujarat government and the complainant in July on an appeal of the Congress leader challenging the Gujarat High Court order.

The Gujarat High Court, had, in its order earlier, declined to stay his conviction in the criminal defamation case in which Rahul was sentenced to two years in jail by the Surat court over the ‘Modi surname’ remark.

After his conviction in the case, Gandhi was disqualified as MP from Kerala’s Wayanad on March 24. (ANI)

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Pakistan ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

Pakistan Cricket Team Granted Permission To Participate In ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 In India

Pakistan government announced on Sunday that it will send the national men’s senior team to play the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, which will be held for the first time in its entirety in India from October 5 to November 19. 

The status of Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup held in India was under doubt due to strained relations between the governments of both countries over the years. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the government issued a statement announcing the same. 

“Pakistan has consistently maintained that sports should not be mixed with politics. It has, therefore, decided to send its Cricket Team to India to participate in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023,” said a statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry. 

“Pakistan believes that the state of bilateral relations with India should not stand in the way of fulfilling its international sports-related obligations.”

“Pakistan’s decision shows its constructive and responsible approach vis-à-vis India’s intransigent attitude, as the latter had refused to send its Cricket Team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup.”

Notably, BCCI secretary Jay Shah said on July 27 that the schedule of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 will see some changes. 

“There is a small gap in some matches. There is a two-day gap between the two matches. After the match is over, players will travel the next day and they will get no time for practice. Minor changes happen in the World Cup schedule, especially in India, when you look back at history,” Jay Shah said while addressing a press conference. 

“We are trying that there are fewer changes in matches and venues, especially the venues. Also, two to three nations have requested changes in schedule. ICC and BCCI logistics teams are working on this and everything will be clear in two to four days. We could see some changes,” he said. 

As per the original schedule release in June, the opening match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, featuring defending champions England and runner-up New Zealand, is set to commence on October 5 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. 

Ten teams will feature in this biggest Cricket World Cup ever, to be played across 10 venues from October 5 to November 19, with the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad hosting the tournament opener and the final. The event will feature 48 matches to be played across 46 days. 

India’s World Cup campaign will begin with a match against Australia on October 8 in Chennai. 

The venues other than Ahmedabad and Chennai are Bengaluru, Delhi, Dharamsala, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and Pune. While Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram will join Hyderabad in hosting the practice games. 

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will square off at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 on October 15 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. 

Eight teams have qualified for the 46-day event through the Cricket World Cup Super League while the final two spots were decided by the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier taking place in Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka and the Netherlands grabbed the two final spots in the tournament. 

The tournament retains the round-robin format of last time with all teams playing against each other for a total of 45 league matches. There are six day matches that will start at 10:30 Indian Standard Time (IST) while all other matches, including the knockouts, will be day-night fixtures starting at 14.00 IST. 

The top four teams will qualify for the semifinals, to be played in Mumbai on November 15 and in Kolkata on November 16. The final will be on November 19 in Ahmedabad. The semi-finals and the final will have reserve days. (ANI)

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Hazara Express Derail

Pak: 20 Dead, 80 Injured After 10 Coaches Of Hazara Express Derail Near Sindh

At least 20 people lost their lives and 80 others suffered injuries on Sunday after nearly 10 bogies of Hazara Express derailed near Sahara Railway Station, 275 kilometres away from Karachi, reported Geo News. 

The victims were taken to the People’s Medical Hospital in Nawabshah, Sindh while authorities fear more injuries as the ill-fated train is said to be carrying a large number of people.

Train operations to and from the interior districts of Sindh have been suspended, Railway authorities said, adding that it may take up to 18 hours to restore operations as removing bogies from the tracks require time. 

As per officials, the cause behind the derailment is unknown yet, reported Geo News.  

Earlier, Sukkur Mahmoodur Rahman, Railways Divisional Superintendent, said that 10 bogies derailed in the train crash and further details are still being obtained. 

According to the police, rescue efforts have been carried out to recover passengers from the affected bogies. 

As per local administration, an emergency has been imposed in the nearby hospitals after the crash, Geo News reported. 

A train to carry out relief activities on the site of the incident is on the way from Loco Shed Rohri and will reach in at least three hours, Rahman said. 

“Due to the accident, the traffic on the up track is suspended,” Rahman added. 

The train, comprising 17 bogies with a capacity of 950 passengers in its economy class and 72 in its air-conditioned standard coach, went off track on its way to Havelian from Karachi in district Sanghar, the senior superintendent of police said. 

He said that 10 Station House Officers, four district superintendent of police (DSPs) and more than 100 police personnel are participating in rescue work.

A large number of police personnel from the Police Training Center are also present for relief work.

Pakistan Army also joined the relief activities at the site of accident after special intrsuctions issued by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir. 

Additional troops were also called in from Hyderabad and Sakrand with army aviation helicopters. 

The military personnel will reach site with edibles for the rescued passengers. 

Meanwhile, the Rangers’ sources told Geo News that personnel of the paramilitary force have also been dispatched for rescue work as per Sindh Rangers Director General (DG) Major General Azhar Waqas.

Ambulances have also reached the site where medical aid and food is being provided to the rescued passengers.

Such train accidents are common in Pakistan. However, the authorities fail to prevent such happenings by taking relevant measures, reported Geo News. 

It may be noted that the same locomotive — heading to Hevelian from Karachi — had escaped a grave accident in March this year after railway officials put a rusted train on tracks. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

The latest accident came just a day after three coaches of Allama Iqbal Express — travelling from Karachi to Sialkot — derailed, but no one suffered injuries.

Earlier in June, the engine of Green Line Express derailed in Pakistan’s Ghotki.

The engine of the Green Line Express from Karachi to Rawalpindi was running at full speed when it suddenly descended from the track in Ghotki. However, the engine derailment did not cause any casualties. 

Pakistan has a record in terms of train-related accidents. In the past years, such incidents have seen a sharp rise. (ANI) 

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