Imphal: The death toll in the month-long ethnic violence has risen to 98 and the number of injured to 310 while 144 sophisticated arms, looted earlier from the police and various security forces, have been surrendered at different districts after Union Home Minister Amit Shah's appeal on Thursday, Chief Security Advisor to Manipur government Kuldiep Singh said on Friday.
Singh said that the numbers of FIRs registered have gone up to 3,734 and a total of 65 persons have been arrested till Friday while the 4,014 cases of arson have been reported.
"Of the 144 surrendered weapons, there are 37 SLRs, 18 carbines, four AK 47 rifles," he told the media, adding that currently around 37,450 people of different communities are being sheltered in 272 relief camps, including community halls, in 13 districts.
He also said that no major violent incident has been reported in the last 24 hours, barring a one or two incidents of firing in the state which has been dealt with strictly by the security forces like state police, central paramilitary forces, Army and Assam Rifles.
Shah, on the last day of his four-day visit to violence hit Manipur on Thursday, requested all concerned to surrender their weapons to the security forces and administration, otherwise strict legal action would be taken against those who are possessing arms and ammunition.
Defence officials said that intelligence information-based combing operations are underway across Manipur.
"To ensure sustainable peace in Manipur, security forces have identified de-weaponisation and enforcement of the provisions of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement signed with the Kuki militants as focal points to be addressed immediately from the security perspective across Manipur," a defence spokesman said.
He said that intelligence sources have been energised and dedicated columns kept on standby to ensure quick action on receipt of input for early recovery of weapons.
"Surprise checks are being conducted in the designated camps of the Kuki militants under the SoO deal to ensure the availability of weapons and presence of cadres as stipulated in the agreement," the defence PRO said.
He said that the Union Minister asked the Kuki militants to abide by the provisions of the agreement to maintain peace.
"Pursuant to the Home Minister's directions, security forces have evolved detailed plans to launch large scale combing operations for the recovery of snatched weapons besides surprise checks of the designated camps Kuki militants," he said.
The Home Minister on Thursday announced that an Inter-Security agency unified command headed by Chief Security Advisort Kuldiep Singh, a retired IPS officer and former CRPF chief, would be formed and it would impartially conduct all the security related operations.
There are 2,266 Kuki cadres staying in different designated camps in Manipur after the Centre and the Manipur governments signed the tripartite Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with three outfits -- the Kuki National Army (KNA), Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), and Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) -- on August 22, 2008.
Meanwhile, officials in Imphal said that curfew was relaxed for 7 to 12 hours in most of the districts including Imphal West and Imphal East district. There is no curfew now in Tamenglong, Noney, Senapati, Ukhrul, and Kamjong districts.
Manipur had witnessed unprecedented ethnic violence since May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in 11 hill districts by the All Tribal Students' Union of Manipur to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
It was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers by the state government from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations in four districts.
—IANS

The death toll in the month-long ethnic violence has risen to 98 and the number of injured to 310 while 144

Death Toll In Manipur's Month-Long Ethnic Violence Rises To 98, 310 Injured

Bhubaneshwar/New Delh: At least 50 people were killed and over 150 injured as 3-4 coaches of Yashwantpur Howrah Superfast Express derailed and fell on opposite track, near the Bahanaga railway station in Odisha's Balasore district on Friday evening, where the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express collided with them, leading to derailment of 10-12 more coaches, officials said.
Railways Minister Ashwani Vaishnaw, who said that he is rushing to the spot, announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the next of the kin of the dead, Rs 2 lakh for seriously injured and Rs 50,000 for minor injuries.
"At least 3 to 4 coaches of Yashwantpur Howrah Superfast Express derailed around 6.58 p.m. near Bahanaga railway station in Odisha and fell on the opposite track. And soon Coromandel Express came on opposite track and collided with derailed coaches that led to derailment of its 10 to 12 coaches," a senior Railway Ministry official in Delhi told IANS.
A ministry statement said: "Train number 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express and Train number 12864 SMVB-HWH Superfast Express got derailed near Bahanaga Bazaar railway station at around 6.55 p.m. on Friday."
The official said that as of now it is tough to tell the number of casualties as railways is indulged in rescue operations to save maximum lives.
However, sources at the spot said that 50 people were killed and over 100 injured.
Railway staff and officials are present at the accident site and rescue operations are going on at utmost priority, it said.
On the direction of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Revenue Minister Pramila Mallik and Special Relief Commissioner Satyabrata Sahu proceeded towards the accident spot.
Sahu had directed the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) team at Balasore to proceed to the spot immediately for search and rescue operations.
On receiving the information, the Balasore Collector, the SP and other officials rushed to spot to supervise the rescue operation. Railway officials are now there on the spot. About 20 ambulances have been sent to the accident site to transport the passengers to local hospitals, officials said.
Two fire teams were sent from Bhadrak to the spot.
An emergency helpline No +91 6782 262 286 has been opened at Balasore. The Odisha government has directed the fire service DG to rush to the spot and monitor the rescue operation.
Doctors were sent from the Balasore Medical College and all medical college and all hospitals in and around Balasore have been kept on alert. SCB Medical College, Cuttack has also been put on readiness.
Odisha Chief Minister Patnaik told media persons that he had "just reviewed the situation about this truly tragic railway accident" and will be visiting Balasore on Saturday morning.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief at the accident.
"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 @AshwiniVaishnaw 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", he tweeted.
On his part, Vaishnaw said that he was rushing to Balasore.
"Rushing to the site in Odisha. My prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured and condolences to the bereaved families. Rescue teams mobilised from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata. NDRF, State govt. teams and Airforce also mobilised. Will take all hands required for the rescue ops", he tweeted.
The West Bengal government said it was sending a six-member team to Odisha's Balasore.
A senior state government official said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had personally instructed Chief Secretary H.K. Dwivedi to send the team to the accident spot and help the people from West Bengal who were travelling.
"Since the train started from Shalimar station in West Bengal, it is natural that a good number of passengers travelling by the train are domiciles of West Bengal. The Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary are keeping a constant watch on the situation," the state government official said.
—IANS

At least 50 people were killed and over 150 injured as 3-4 coaches of Yashwantpur Howrah Superfast Express 

50 Dead In Major Accident In Odisha As Express Train Hits Derailed Coaches Of Another Train 

Jaipur: Rajasthan Minister Pratap Singh Khachariawas on Friday attacked PM Narendra Modi, saying that after losing the elections in Karnataka, he and other BJP leaders have stopped taking the name of Bajrangbali (Lord Hanuman).
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not take the name of Bajrangbali even once in his meeting," he said, referring to Modi's rally in Ajmer.
"Now the sanjeevani of Bajrangbali has come in the hands of Rahul Gandhi. The way Rahul Gandhi's residence was snatched, similarly, the government and office in Karnataka was snatched away. After Karnataka, the Congress government will again be formed in Rajasthan. If BJP comes by mistake, then neither pension nor benefit of OPS will be given," he said.
He said that the public was expecting from the PM's visit that he would announce big decisions to give relief from inflation, poverty, and unemployment. "But in his speech, he only spoke against the Congress. His entire speech was political. Instead of cursing the Congress all the time, if he had spoken about even a single achievement of the BJP government at the Centre, then it would have felt that he had done something."
Khachariawas said that on the contrary, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot gave a big relief to the people of Rajasthan from inflation by making 100 units of electricity completely free and removing all surcharges up to 200 units.
—IANS

Rajasthan Minister Pratap Singh Khachariawas on Friday attacked PM Narendra Modi, saying that after losing the elections

Bajrangbali vanished from BJP leaders' speeches post Karnataka, quips Raj minister

Bhubaneswar: In a major accident, several coaches of the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel express train derailed near Bahanaga railway station in Odisha's Balasore district on Friday evening and several passengers are trapped, and feared dead.
According to initial reports, at least four coaches of the express train derailed at Bahanaga station after ramming into a goods train standing at the station.
Several people were feared dead, sources said but there was no official confirmation yet.
Odisha Special Relief Commissioner Satyabrata Sahu has directed the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) team at Balasore to proceed to the spot immediately for search and rescue operations.
On receiving information, the Balasore Collector, the SP rushed and other officials rushed to spot to supervise the rescue operation. Railway officials are now there on the spot. About 20 ambulances have been sent to the accident spot to transport the passengers to local hospitals, officials said.
Two fire teams were sent from Bhadrak to the spot.
An emergency helpline No +91 6782 262 286 has been opened at Balasore. The Odisha government has directed the fire service DG to rush to the spot and monitor the rescue operation.
Doctors were sent from Balasore Medical College. So far, there are 10 injured passengers at Balasore Medical College, officials said.
All medical college and all hospitals in and around Balasore have been kept on alert. SCB Medical College, Cuttack has also been put on readiness.
—IANS

 In a major accident, several coaches of the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel express train derailed near Bahanaga railway station

Express overturns After Hitting Goods Train At Odisha's Balasore, Fatalities Feared

New Delhi: A minor wrestler was sexually harassed by WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh multiple times, claims the FIR registered by the Delhi Police.
The FIR gives the details of the harassment allegations.
"Sir, mein apne bal-boote par yaha tak aayi hu, aage bhi mehnat karke aage tak jaugi (I have come this far with my hard work and determination, and I will continue to strive forward)," said the 17-year-old wrestler in her complaint against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who she said was holding her tightly while pretending to get a picture clicked.
The girl said, as per the FIR, that "he squeezed her towards himself and pressed really hard on her shoulder and then deliberately slid his hand down her shoulder and brushed his hands against her breasts, saying 'Tu mere ko support kar, mei tere ko support karuga, mere saath touch mein rahna (you support me, I will support you, you remain in touch with me)".
As per the FIR filed by the minor's father, the episode occurred in 2022, when she was 16 years old, she participated in the Sub Junior Wrestling Championship in the National Games.
The FIR further mentioned that after the minor strongly opposed Singh, he told her that the trials for the Asian Championship were soon to be held and since she was not cooperating with him, she will have to bear the repercussions in the upcoming trials.
"The accused also called my daughter to his room. My daughter was under pressure of getting her career ruined at the behest of the accused, and visited him in the room. The accused pulled my daughter towards himself and tried making forceful physical contact with her. My daughter being stunned and shell-shocked immediately freed herself from the clutches of the accused and ran outside the room," said the FIR.
Proving their point against Singh, the complainant further stated that in May 2022, trials for the Asian Championship were being held where Singh discriminated with the minor wrestler.
"It is general practice in the trials that whichever athlete wins a gold medal in the previous bout or national championship held earlier, the said athlete is given a preference in the trials, however, let alone giving my daughter preference, all strong contenders/athletes in her weight category were made part of the same group in which she was also a member.
"The said trial was totally contrary to the prevailing practice wherein the strong athletes are always put in different groups so that they have a better chance of securing a place in the trial so that India can then be represented by the strongest athletes of the lot," the FIR said.
"Furthermore, during my daughter's trial, a violation of the established norms occurred. It was stated that the referee or the Mat Chairman should not belong to the same state as the participating athlete. However, in her case, she was pitted against an athlete from Delhi, and both the referees presiding over the bout and the Mat Chairman were from Delhi, which contradicted the prescribed guidelines," said the FIR.
"Upon noticing this discriminatory practice, my daughter immediately raised objections. However, she was given an ultimatum that she either had to proceed with the match or the opposing athlete would be granted a walkover victory," according to the FIR.
During her trial, she was subjected to deliberate point deductions by the referee and the Mat Chairman. Whenever she scored a point, they would assert that the clock had already stopped, denying her the entitlement to the point, even though this was not the case, the FIR stated.
"The matches conducted during the trials were supposed to be recorded, yet during her trial, the recording was manipulated by repeatedly switching it on and off. These actions were carried out under the direction and instruction of the accused, as my daughter had rejected his unwelcome sexual advances," the complainant claimed in the FIR.
"When my daughter was practicing in the Lucknow trials, the accused again approached my daughter and told her 'personally aakar milna (meet me personally)'. She clearly told the accused that she had already told him that she was not interested in having any sort of physical relationship and that he should stop stalking her and desist from making such remarks which had sexual overtones and were made in an indecent manner," the FIR further stated.
The FIR has been registered against Singh at the Connaught Place police station under IPC sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 34 (common intention). He has also been booked under the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.—IANS

A minor wrestler was sexually harassed by WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh multiple times, claims the FIR registered by the Delhi Police

Minor Wrestler Sexually Harassed Multiple Times By WFI Chief, Claims FIR

New Delhi: At least 98 people lost their lives and 310 others were injured in the ethnic violence in Manipur that broke out a month ago, the government said in a statement on Friday.
A total of 37,450 people are in 272 relief camps at present, said the statement, issued by the Chief Minister's Office.
In all, 4,014 cases of arson have been reported since the violence broke out in the state on May 3, it said.
"The number of deaths is 98 and the number of injured reported is 310," it said.
Over the last one month, the state police has registered 3,734 cases and arrested 65 people for their involvement in the violence, the statement said. "Sporadic incidents of firing or torching of houses by miscreants are becoming rare now as coordinated effort is made by different security agencies," it said.
The Army, Assam Rifles, CAPFs and local police have been deployed in vulnerable places, it added. Till now, 84 companies of central armed forces have been deployed, the statement said. "More companies are being deployed. Flag march and area domination exercises are being carried out widely. Search operations will be conducted from today to recover snatched arms and ammunition," it said.
The government appealed to the people to surrender the snatched arms and ammunition.
"Stringent legal action will be taken against any person if caught with snatched arms and ammunition," it said. So far, 144 arms with 11 magazines have been recovered by the security agencies, said the statement. Meetings were being held with village heads and civil society organisations to resolve conflict and bring peace, it said, claiming that the situation is normal in most of the districts. Curfew has been relaxed for 12 hours in Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur and Pherzawl, for 11 hours in Kangpokpi, for 10 hours in Churachandpur and Chandel, for eight hours in Jiribam and Tenugopal, and for seven hours in Thoubal and Kakching districts, it said.
There is no curfew in Tamenglong, Noney, Senapati, Ukhrul and Kamjong, it added.
"Movement of essential items along the NH-37 has been ensured," the statement said, noting that around 450 trucks were on the move with essential items. An uneasy calm prevailed in Manipur a day after Home Minister Amit Shah left the state, concluding his four-day visit and announcing a slew of measures to bring back normalcy.
Clashes broke out on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
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.—PTI

At least 98 people lost their lives and 310 others were injured in the ethnic violence in Manipur that broke out a month ago

Manipur Violence: 98 Killed; 37,450 People In 272 Relief Camps

Chandigarh: Farmers and representative of Khap panchayats, expressing solidarity with the protesting wrestlers in Delhi, on Friday gave the BJP government in the Centre an ultimatum to arrest Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is accused of sexually harassing female grapplers, by June 9 or prepare for a larger protest.

A collective and unanimous decision in this regard was taken at the ;mahapanchayat' held in Haryana's Kurukshetra town on the future strategy of wrestlers' protest.

A day earlier a 'mahapanchayat' was held in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar where it was decided that a delegation would meet President Droupadi Murmu to seek justice for the wrestlers.

In Kurukshetra, khap panchayats (community courts) of Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi were gathered to seek justice.

Addressing a huge gathering, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait warned the Central government that if no action is taken against Brij Bhushan by June 9, they will hold a larger protest along with wrestlers.

"We have taken a decision that the government must address the grievances of wrestlers and he should be arrested otherwise we will go with wrestlers to Jantar Mantar, Delhi, on June 9 and will hold panchayats across the nation," he said.

At the same time, Tikait warned the Central government that if they aren't allowed to protest at Jantar Mantar on June 9, "there will be an announcement of agitation".

The farmer leader also demanded that cases against the wrestlers, who were manhandled and detained during their march towards the new Parliament building, should be withdrawn.

"We will not compromise on anything less than the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. If this does not happen, we will go to Jantar Mantar on June 9 and hold panchayats across the nation. Cases against wrestlers should be withdrawn and the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh must happen," Tikait, the leader behind the year-long farmers' protests and forcing the Centre to repeal them, added. —IANS

 Farmers and representative of Khap panchayats, expressing solidarity with the protesting wrestlers in Delhi, on Friday

Arrest WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh by June 9: Haryana 'mahapanchayat'

New Delhi: Congress on Friday reminded the BJP of its veteran leader L.K. Advani hailing Jinnah as the "most secular" person during his Pakistan visit and the party taking Mohammad Ali Jinnah-led Muslim League's support to form the government in Bengal. The remarks followed BJP IT cell in charge Amit Malviya slamming former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for calling Kerala's Muslim League a "secular" party.  In a tweet, Malviya on Friday said, "Jinnah's Muslim League, the party responsible for India's partition, on religious lines, according to Rahul Gandhi is a 'secular' party. Rahul Gandhi, though poorly read, is simply being disingenuous and sinister here... It is also his compulsion to remain acceptable in Wayanad."  He was responding to Rahul Gandhi's comments made at the National Press Club in Washington on Thursday.  Rahul Gandhi said that Muslim league is completely a secular party there is nothing non-secular about it.  He made the remarks while responding to a question on alliance with Muslim league in Kerala, from where he was elected as a Lok Sabha MP.  Hitting back at the BJP, Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said, "The party he (Rahul Gandhi) mentioned is IUML. It is a registered party in India. Does ECI register wrong parties? It is not that party with which Shyama Prasad Mukherjee formed the government in Bengal after joining hands with Muslim League. That Muslim League was formed by Mohammad Ali Jinnah."  Vallabh said, "Rahul Gandhi has not spoken about that party, but it was the founder of BJP L.K. Advani, who went to Jinnah cemetery and said that he was the biggest secular person in Pakistan."  "None of the Congress leaders and other dignitaries visiting Pakistan went to Jinnah's cemetery but only the BJP founder who went there and what he said is written in records.  "The people of BJP should first speak to Advaniji. And Rahul Gandhi only talked about IUML and not the one founded by Jinnah," he added.  Even Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera slammed BJP saying, ""Are you illiterate brother? Don't you know the difference between Kerala's Muslim League and Jinnah's Muslim League? Jinnah's Muslim League is the one with which your forefathers allied.  The second Muslim League, with which the BJP had an alliance."  Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also took a dig at Malviya and said, "You are such a desperado - you silly silly man. Dont worry, you and your fake news factory will be occupied with a lot of work for a few days."  "Hey fake news peddler, good to see you burning the midnight oil. But brace up for some more sleep deficient days tracking Rahul Gandhi's US trip. You got a sad life man!," she added.  Meanwhile, Congress also slammed the BJP over the comments made by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat that one should not defame a country on foreign soil.  Taking a pot shot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vallabh said, "Bhagwatji said it correctly and Modiji should answer. When Modi said that it is wrong to take birth in India during his visit to South Korea. We want to ask him why have you made someone sit on the important post."  "There was a time when people used to feel that what sin they committed in their past life which resulted in taking birth in India, is this what you call a country and a government, is this how the people are, let's leave it and go somewhere else, and people did leave. Now I can say with firm belief that intelligent people from all walks of life, renowned scientists too, even if they are earning big abroad but now they are eager and happy to come back and settle India for even lesser incomes," Modi had said during his Korea visit.  Citing other examples of the Prime Minister's remarks made on foreign soil, Vallabh said that Modi during his visit to Japan just after the demonetisation and said people are not able to get their daughters married. "This was an insult to the entire middle class and poor of the country. Bhagwat must seek answers from Modi. Modi also said that India is a country of snakes and snake charmers during his visit to the US. Modi defamed India while Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of people and said that values of India are being dented," the Congress leader added.  Rahul Gandhi is on a six-day visit to the US. The Congress leader is scheduled to meet several people during his visit to the US in the coming days in Washington DC and New York. —IANS

Congress on Friday reminded the BJP of its veteran leader L.K. Advani hailing Jinnah as the "most secular" person during his Pakistan

Cong reminds BJP of Advani praising Jinnah, forming govt with Muslim League in Bengal

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nepal's counterpart Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' on Thursday jointly unveiled the e-plaque of the Kurtha-Bijalpura section of the Railway. Both leaders jointly flag off the Indian Railway cargo train from Bathnaha in Bihar to Nepal Custom yard.
PM Modi and Dahal jointly inaugurated the integrated check posts at Rupaidiha in India and Nepalgunj in Nepal, built with India's assistance. The two leaders also unveiled the integrated check posts at Sanauli in India and Bhairahawa in Nepal.
PM Modi and his Nepalese counterpart Dahal jointly set into motion the Gorakhpur-New Butwal substation 400 KV cross-border transmission line. The two leaders laid the foundation stone of Phase II of the Motihari-Amlekhgunj Oil Pipeline between India and Nepal. The exchange of seven agreements took place between India and Nepal in the presence of PM Modi and Dahal on infrastructure development, connectivity and people-to-people ties.
The exchange of MoU took place between the Institute of Foreign Affairs, Nepal, and the Sushma Swaraji Institute for Foreign Service, India. Exchange of MoU between two sides for the development of ICP at Dodra (Contd On Page 2)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nepal's counterpart Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' on Thursday jointly unveiled

Modi, Nepal Counterpart Dahal Jointly Flag Off Cargo Train From Bathnaha To Nepal

Imphal: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday announced a judicial probe into the month-long ethnic violence in Manipur by a retired High Court Chief Justice and CBI probe into six specific conspiracy cases.
After a four-day visit to strife-torn Manipur, the Home Minister said that a high-level peace committee headed by Governor Anusuiya Uikey would be formed and people from all sections and communities, including Meitei and Kuki communities would be included in the committee. "The judicial inquiry and the CBI probe into the six specific conspiracy cases would be closely monitored by the central government," Shah told the media in Imphal before leaving for New Delhi after a four-day visit to the restive Manipur. He said that a joint security command headed by Chief Security Advisor to Manipur Kuldiep Singh (Retired IPS officer and former CRPF Chief) would be formed and it would impartially conduct all the security related operations. The Home Minister announced that a Joint Secretary and five director level officers would be posted in Manipur by the central government to supervise and to deal with all the issues and actions in the ongoing Manipur crisis. The Centre would provide an additional 30,000 MT of rice besides taking all out efforts for uninterrupted supply of petrol, diesel, cooking gas, essentials, vegetables and all other required items.
Issuing a stern warning to the Kuki militants, who signed a Suspension of Operation agreement on August 22, 2008 with the government, the Home Minister said that the security forces would take strictest actions against the Kuki militants if they violate the provisions of the pact.
"The ongoing border fencing work along the India-Myanmar border (400 km) with Manipur would be expedited to prevent cross border movement of militants and inimical elements," he said, adding that there are apprehensions that the porous border is being used for drug smuggling and for movement of militants.
Noting that a permanent solution to the India-Myanmar border issue, the Home Minister said that the fencing along the border between the two countries need to be completed at the earliest.
He said biometrics of people coming from neighbouring countries are being collected.
Initiative would be taken to set up a circuit bench of the Manipur High Court in the tribal dominated Tengnoupal, Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts for speedy trial of cases.
He announced that supply of essential items in the hill areas would be ensured and helicopter services would be conducted for emergency needs in Churachandpur, Moreh and Kangpokpi districts.
Announcing that compensation of Rs 10 lakh with Centre and state government's equal share would be given to the next of kin of the deceased, the home Minister said that a Relief and Rehabilitation Package would be announced by the central government within a day or two for all the violence affected families in Manipur.
Shah said that the Central government would send six medical teams to provide medical support to the injured people and those living in the relief camps. Announcing that special arrangements, including online systems, would be initiated for the violence hit students in Manipur, the Home Minister said that all possible steps would be taken so that the students of all levels in the state do not face any kind of academic problems.
Shah claimed that after BJP, which came to power in Manipur six years ago, had ensured the northeastern state had remained free of road blockades, bandhs, curfews, and other disturbances till the recent spell of ethnic clashes, which he described as the result of a misunderstanding after a High Court order.
"Dialogue among the cross section of the communities is the only solution to the ongoing crisis in Manipur," he pointed out.
The Union Home Minister, who arrived in violence-hit Manipur on Monday, visited Churachand Pur, Imphal East and Imphal West, Tengnoupal and Kangpokpi districts and held over two dozen meetings with Governor, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, top security officials, around 40 civil society organisations, women and youths bodies, prominent tribal leaders, retired security officials, intellectuals.
Shah, who also held an all-party meeting with 11 political parties in Imphal, directed the heads of all security agencies to take stern and swift actions against armed miscreants to prevent violence and recover looted weapons to bring back normalcy in Manipur at the earliest.
—IANS

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday announced a judicial probe into the month-long ethnic violence in Manipur

Manipur Violence: Shah Announces Separate Judicial, CBI Probes

Washington: Former Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi on Thursday once again launched a blistering attack on the BJP-led Central government, saying that the ruling party polarises society and are not inclusive and that is damaging India.
Addressing media here, Gandhi said, "They sought to generate a certain amount of hate, polarise society and they are not inclusive."
Criticising the BJP, he alleged, "They brace everybody and divide society and that's damaging India."
The former Lok Sabha MP said that India has a tradition of conversation of openness.
Citing examples of great leaders, spiritual and political personalities, he added that they (Congress) promoted peace, harmony and conversation.
"So its in our culture, tradition and history to bring people together and have these dialogues and I think it is the difference between us (Congress) and them (BJP). We feel that India should be allowed to express and we feel that political leaders should be comfortable when questioned and should learn from that question. It's just the difference," Gandhi said.
The Congress leader was responding to a query when asked that the BJP engages in hatred and violence.
To another query about the press freedom in India and the arrest of a senior journalist on charges of espionage, Gandhi said, "I think there is a weakening of press freedom and it is not hidden and it is apparent in India, the rest of the world can see it."
Asserting that press freedom is very important for India, he said, "One should be open to criticism and one should listen to criticism and that's the feedback that builds democracy. On multiple access there is a clampdown on institutions that allowed the Indian people to talk and negotiate. I view India as a negotiation between people, different languages, different cultures etc. and architectures that Mahatma Gandhi set up was to allow that negotiation to be carried out fairly and freely."
"And that structure that allows the negotiation between India's people is going under pressure," he added.
To another query on the Opposition unity, the Congress leader, who is on a six-day visit to the US, said, "The opposition is pretty well united, and its getting more and more united."
He noted that "we are having conversations with all the opposition".
"I think quite a lot of good work is happening there. Its a complicated discussion because there are spaces where we are competing with the opposition. So a bit of give and take is required. But I am confident it will happen," Gandhi said on the Opposition unity.
Asked about the Citizenship law, the former Congress Chief added that he thinks that all Indian people have a right to expression, religious freedom.
"All should feel free to express themselves. I don't differentiate between any community and any caste. I think India is a conversation and the freer and more open the conversation becomes, India will become more powerful," he noted.
Gandhi is also scheduled to participate in several programmes during his US tour.
He has already delivered a lecture at the Stanford University and also interacted with the Indian diaspora in San Francisco.
—<span style="color: rgb(53,53,53);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 14px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji;">IANS&nbsp;

 Former Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi on Thursday once again launched a blistering attack on the BJP-led Central government, 

BJP polarises society, not inclusive & is damaging India: Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday declined to stay an investigation against Ashneer Grover and Madhuri Jain Grover in connection with an FIR registered by Delhi Police based on a complaint by fintech firm BharatPe, which has alleged a fraud of nearly Rs 81 crore.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani said that at this stage, no case is made out for staying the investigation and also declined to direct the investigating officer to give an advance notice to the couple if he wanted their custody.
The court asked them to file an anticipatory bail instead. Petitioners' counsel argued that the FIR was based on malafides. The court said: "This court is of the view that no case is made out, at this stage, for staying the investigation and so far as prayer about advance notice is concerned, petitioner is at liberty to adopt other remedies available to them in accordance with law."
The high court also issued notice to BharatPe and Delhi Police on Grovers plea for quashing the FIR and on the application for stay of investigation. Senior advocates Vikas Pahwa and Dayan Krishnan represented the complainant and opposed issuance of notice on the plea, and argued that the matter involved complex financial transactions which resulted in defalcation of funds. They further argued that petitioners availed input tax credit under GST law with respect to bogus transactions and forged certain documents, and indulged in siphoning of funds. The petitioners' counsel contended that the allegations pertained to matters relating to GST and management of the company, which they were anyway entitled to do as directors and they disclose no criminality. The high court has scheduled the matter for further hearing on September 25. BharatPe had approached the high court months after Grover and his wife were dismissed from the company over allegations of misappropriation of funds.
Delhi Police's EOW had registered the FIR in May under eight sections of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal breach of trust, 420 (cheating and dishonesty), 467 and 468 (forgery). A senior police official privy to investigation said that a complaint was received and after initial enquiry into the allegations, the FIR was registered. "We welcome the registration of an FIR by the EOW in the company's complaint in relation to the criminal offences by Grover, his wife Madhuri Jain and other family members. For the last 15 months, the company has been facing a vicious and malicious campaign run by Grover against the company, the board and its employees," said BharatPe in a statement.
"The registration of the FIR is a step in the right direction which unearths various suspicious transactions made by the family for their personal pecunary gains. This FIR will now enable the law enforcement agencies to investigate deeper into the criminality and bring the culprits to books," it said.
—IANS

The Delhi High Court on Thursday declined to stay an investigation against Ashneer Grover and Madhuri Jain Grover

Setback For Ashneer Grover, Wife As Hc Refuses To Stay Probe Against Them

Setback For Ashneer Grover, Wife As HC Refuses To Stay Probe Against Them

Capetown: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and discussed issues of bilateral and global interests.
Jaishankar, who is here to participate in a conclave of five-nation grouping BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa), held talks with Lavrov on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting. "Good to meet FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia in Cape Town this morning on BRICS FMM sidelines. Our discussions covered bilateral matters, BRICS, G20 and SCO," Jaishankar said in a tweet.
India will hold the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and G-20 summits in July and September respectively. In the last few months, India has become a leading importer of discounted crude oil from Russia notwithstanding increasing disquiet in the West over the procurement in view of Russian invasion of Ukraine.
India's economic engagement with Russia has been on a major upswing in the last one year, largely due to its procurement of discounted Russian oil.
India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it has been pushing for resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
On Wednesday, Jaishankar said these are still "early days" for conflict resolution between Ukraine and Russia as presently, the focus is on problems such as a grain corridor, nuclear issues and matters related to the exchange of prisoners of war.
In an interview to DD India, Jaishankar noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) brings together five of the largest developing countries of the world, representing 41 per cent of the global population, 24 per cent of the global GDP and 16 per cent of the global trade Jaishankar is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with his other BRICS counterparts.
—PTI

 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and discussed issues of bilateral and global interests.

Jaishankar Meets Russian Counterpart Lavrov In SA

New Delhi: The Standing Committee members of Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports met on Thursday to discuss the issues of wrestlers and the opposition leaders demanded immediate government intervention in the matter.
Talking to ANI, a member of the committee said, "We have raised the issues before the chairman of the committee and sought immediate intervention from the government." According to a member of the committee, the members of the opposition parties in the meeting demanded that the chairman of the committee should write a letter to the government in connection with the forceful removal of protesting wrestlers from the protest site at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. "The meeting consisting of specific members of the opposition parties have demanded that the chairman of the committee should write a letter to the government in connection with the wrestlers who were forcefully removed from the protest site at Jantar Mantar in Delhi during the inauguration of the new parliament building," a member told ANI.
On Sunday, India's Olympic medallist wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia along with Vinesh Phogat and Sangeeta Phogat were detained by Delhi Police while attempting to march to the new Parliament building where they planned to stage a demonstration. FIR has been filed under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 147, 149, 186, 188, 332, 353, Section 3 of the PDPP Act, said Delhi Police.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Vivek Thakur is the chairman of the committee and there are a total of 31 members in the committee from both houses (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha).
The standing committee for Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports called a meeting on Thursday to discuss the "Olympic Preparedness and Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)", a review of progress in the construction of National Sports University, Manipur and the up-gradation of sports complexes at Varanasi and Ahmedabad" committee agenda read.
Senior officials of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) also attended the meeting and disposed of the detailed consideration in the meeting on said agenda.
The protesting ace grapplers on Tuesday decided to push back their plan of immersing their medals in the Ganga as a mark of protest against WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh after farmer leader Naresh Tikait intervened and secured a five-day ultimatum from them.
The wrestlers are pressing for the removal and arrest of the WFI chief over allegations of sexual harassment.
—ANI

The Standing Committee members of Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports met on Thursday to discuss

Parliamentary Panel Demands Immediate Government Intervention In Wrestlers' Issue

New Delhi: On Thursday, the Congress claimed a Joint Parliamentary Committee is needed to determine who weakened and then deleted the basic rule in this regard to benefit the Adani group. The Congress also requested that SEBI guarantee thorough disclosure of ownership of Foreign Portfolio Investors from retrospective effect.
The demands were made a day after the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), which regulates India's financial markets, recommended enforcing more information regarding the holding of high-risk Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs).
To help the Adani Group, Congress general secretary for communications Jairam Ramesh said that the market regulator is now looking to tighten the rule that it was "forced to dilute" in December 2018 and its removal in August 2019.—Inputs from Agencies

On Thursday, the Congress claimed a Joint Parliamentary Committee is needed to determine who weakened and then deleted the basic rule in this regard to benefit the Adani group.

Cong wants JPC probe of SEBI's "forced diluting" FPI disclosure standards to favour Adani

New Delhi: Sushil Modi, a senior BJP leader and member of parliament, took a jab at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on the eve of the opposition parties' conference in Patna on June 12, stating that Kumar's actions are only designed to keep him in the news now that the balloon of their unity exercise has been burst. Kumar, the public face of the Janata Dal (United), can convene as many opposition party meetings as he likes, but it's obvious that his unity exercise isn't having any effect, he remarked.
Modi pointed out that West Bengal's chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, was recently accused of being a B-team of the BJP after she successfully recruited the state's lone Congress MLA to join her party.
Adding that the main opposition party and the BSP had ruled out supporting the Samajwadi Party in the recent MLC elections in Uttar Pradesh, he said that Congress leaders in Punjab and Delhi have requested the party to avoid working with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).—Inputs from Agencies

Sushil Modi, a senior BJP leader and member of parliament, took a jab at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on the eve of the opposition parties' conference in Patna on June 12, stating that Kumar's actions are only designed to keep him in the news now that the balloon of their unity exercise has been burst. 

Nitish's opposition unity efforts aimed at hogging headlines, not working on ground: BJP's Sushil Modi

New Delhi: The CPI(M) has claimed that the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi carrying a "Sengol" and leading a parade of religious men to install it in Parliament is "symbolism of a new India, which is a mimicking of a Hindu rashtra."
The Left Party's mouthpiece "People's Democracy" has published an editorial arguing that this practise is antithetical to democratic ideals.
The installation of the Sengol beside the speaker's chair on the morning of May 28—with Prime Minister Modi holding it and leading a parade of adheenaams (priests and heads of mutts)—was a public display emblematic of the new India, which aped a Hindu rashtra. A secular democratic republic would not support this, it argued.—Inputs from Agencies

The CPI(M) has claimed that the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi carrying a "Sengol" and leading a parade of religious men to install it in Parliament is "symbolism of a new India, which is a mimicking of a Hindu rashtra."

PM Modi putting Sengol in Parliament symbolises new India: CPI(M)

New Delhi: On Thursday, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced that the PM SVANidhi initiative, which was established to provide simple loans to street vendors, is seeing one of the fastest roll-outs of any government schemes.
The Union minister for housing and urban affairs was speaking at a celebration marking the third anniversary of the Prime Minister's Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi).
At the event, the minister stated in a statement that PM SVANidhi has caused a historic surge in financial inclusion and digital literacy across the country.—Inputs from Agencies

On Thursday, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced that the PM SVANidhi initiative, which was established to provide simple loans to street vendors, is seeing one of the fastest roll-outs of any government schemes.

PM SVANidhi scheme's spread among fastest, says Hardeep Puri

Srinagar: On Thursday, BJP MP Maneka Gandhi said she has faith that the protesting wrestlers, who are calling for the arrest of stepping down WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment claims, will be vindicated.
Gandhi came to this city to take part in the "Let's Co-exist" event, which honoured the idea that human beings may coexist and even thrive in the same world.
When asked by reporters where she stood on the matter of the wrestlers, the member of Lok Sabha said, "I am sure that they will get justice at the end of it."—Inputs from Agencies

On Thursday, BJP MP Maneka Gandhi said she has faith that the protesting wrestlers, who are calling for the arrest of stepping down WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment claims, will be vindicated.

Confident that protesting wrestlers will get justice: Maneka Gandhi

San Francisco: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that he was the first person to be given a "maximum sentence for defamation" and had never imagined something like him being disqualified from the Lok Sabha, could ever happen when he joined politics two decades ago..
Referring to his disqualification from Lok Sabha as a Member of Parliament (MP), Rahul Gandhi who is on a 10-day tour to the US made the remarks at Stanford University in California on Wednesday. "I don't think when I joined politics in 2004, I ever imagined what I see going on in our country. It was way outside what I had ever imagined," Gandhi said.
"I was the first person to be given a criminal sentence for defamation and the maximum sentence to be disqualified from the parliament. I didn't imagine something like this was possible. But I think it has given me a huge opportunity, probably much bigger than the opportunity I would have gotten sitting in the parliament, that's just the way politics works," said Rahul Gandhi. His remarks come a day after he while addressing the Indian diaspora in San Francisco lashed out at the PM Modi.
Rahul Gandhi in March was disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha after a Surat court sentenced him to two years imprisonment in a defamation case filed against him over his 'Modi surname' remark. The decision came pertaining to his remark made in April 2019, where he had said "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname" at a Lok Sabha ele-ction rally at Kolar in Kar-nataka.&nbsp;
The court approved Gandhi's bail on a surety and stayed the sentence for 30 days to allow him to approach the higher courts. In his Stanford address, Gandhi said that opposition in India is struggling and the drama started months ago. "The drama started six months ago. We were struggling....The opposition is struggling in India. A huge financial dominance, institutional capture, struggling to fight the Democratic fight in our country. None of the systems were working," said Rahul Gandhi.
"Democracy isn't just about an opposition party. It's about several institutions that support the opposition. Those institutions were either captured or were not playing the role they were supposed to play," he added.
On Tuesday, addressing NRI's in California, Rahul Gandhi took Taking a jibe at PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi said that some groups in India have the "disease" of being under the impression that they know everything.
"In India, we grew up with people of different languages, different religions. And that is what is being attacked. The tradition in India, of people like Gandhi Ji and Guru Nanak Ji, has been that you should not be under the impression of knowing everything. It is a 'disease' that some groups of India think that they know everything. Even if they have a conversation with God, they might explain to him," he said. Further adding to his remark, the Congress leader said, "And of course, Prime Minister is one of them. If you make him sit with God, he would start explaining to him (God) how the universe works...and God would get confused about what I had created."
The remarks triggered a backlash from BJP who criticised the Congress leader of using foreign soil to tarnish the image of India.
Rahul Gandhi is on a 10-day visit to the country. He will cover three cities-- San Francisco, Washington DC, and New York.—ANI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that he was the first person to be given a "maximum sentence for defamation

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