UP allocates Rs 20 Million to build cow shelters in prisons

In a major move to protect cows in the state, Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government has allocated Rs. 20 million for setting up gaushalas (cow shelters) on the compounds of 12 district jails in the state.

Additional Director General of Prisons Chandraprakash, said “We have identified the prisons and work will be started soon. Rs 2 crore has been sanctioned for making cow shelters in jails.”

Following government’s order, 12 district prisons were chosen in Meerut, Gorakhpur, Kannauj, Sultanpur, Kanpur, Balrampur, Gautam Budh Nagar, Dehat, Firozabad, Agra, Barabanki, Sitapur and Raebareli.

In addition to this move, cow shelters will be opened in 68 out of 75 districts in the state on an expenditure of Rs 81.6 crore.

State Prison Minister Jai Kumar Singh said, “People will not only get milk but with cow dung, organic vegetables can also be produced. Our prisoners will get fresh milk and vegetables. It will also create a good environment.”

The Samajwadi Party MLC Sunil Sajan while opposing the decision reportedly said “Jails are already overpopulated and conditions of prisoners are extremely bad. This government has failed to focus on the issues that concern people.”

“The prison inmates, otherwise sitting idle, will have the prospect of serving cows. This will lead them in the right direction and to a clear concience. I appreciate this decision taken by the Yogi Adityanath government,” Mahant Nritya Gopal Dasji Maharaj, president of Ram Janma Bhoomi reportedly said in Ayodhya.

SC directs Jagannath temple management to consider allowing visitor irrespective of religion or faith

Ahead of most awaited festivals of Odisha the annual Rath Yatra in Puri, the Supreme Court on July 6 directed the management of Jagannath temple to consider allowing every visitor, irrespective of religion or faith, to offer prayers to the deity.

SC division bench, headed by Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and S Abdul Nazeer, stated in the interim order that the temple’s management committee will consider whether members of other religions will be allowed to visit the temple subject to regulations.

The bench said “Hinduism does not eliminate any other belief. It reflects eternal faith and wisdom and inspiration of centuries”.

“The temple management may consider, subject to regulatory measures with regard to dress code, giving of an appropriate declaration or compliance of other directions, permitting every visitor irrespective of his faith, to offer respects and to make offerings to the deity,” division bench added.

“I would not like to comment on what the Supreme Court decides, but reasonable restrictions are allowed in our religion through the Constitution,” BJP leader Subramanian Swamy reportedly said.

“In my opinion, if the temple and court have a problem then they should stop people of other religion getting closer to the main altar. Also, it’s only the temple’s management committee who will consider whether members of other religions will be allowed to visit the temple subject to regulations,” Swamy said.

His statement came a day after the Supreme Court asked the Jagannath temple authorities to implement the District Judge report and update its website to make it ‘friendly for devotees’.

Won’t deport Zakir Naik to India: Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad

Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, 52, who is wanted in India over several allegations of terror-related activities and hate speech is living in Malaysia. However, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on July 6 has refused to send him back to India.

“As long as he is not creating any problem, we will not deport him because he has been given permanent residency status,” said Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad at a news conference in administrative capital Putrajaya outside Kuala Lumpur.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Malaysia was reviewing India’s request to extradite him.

“At this stage, our request is under active consideration of the Malaysian side. Our High Commission in Kuala Lumpur is in regular touch with the relevant Malaysian authorities in this regard,” said Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs at a press briefing.

In a July 2008 TV broadcast, Zakir Naik suggested that Al-Qaeda was not responsible for flying hijacked airliners into New York’s World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, killing almost 3,000 people.

Zakir, who is the founder of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) is wanted in India for allegedly conducted terror-related activities and hate speech.

India and Malaysia have an existing extradition treaty.

BJP moving fast, PDP on verge of split in J&K !

The BJP, who withdrew it’s support from the PDP on June 19,  is all set to play a spoilsport for the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir. Sources told the Tehelka that Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP is on verge of split. At least five MLAs have so far revolted with Javed Baig latest in the list.

Former finance minister Haseeb Drabu, who was shunted out by Mehbooba Mufti from her government a few months ago is playing a vital role in the present developments, sources added. It is said that former loyalist of Mufti’s Dr Drabu is considered to be close to BJP general secretary Ram Madhav. Drabu with another PDP leader was in Delhi on Friday.

A senior Congress leader, on condition of anonymity told this correspondent that smelling BJP’s game plan former CM Mehbooba Mufti recently visited Delhi and met senior Congress leaders including former party chief Sonia Gandhi and tried to please them to help in forming PDP government. However, after strong opposition from some senior Congress leaders party leadership expressed it’s helplessness in supporting PDP and Mehbooba Mufti. It was PDP who broke it’s relationship from Congress in 2007 and Ghulam Nabi Azad government couldn’t complete it’s term after 3-3 years power sharing agreement between the two parties.

Now Mehbooba Mufti is trying to play “Kashmir card” to garner support for her but it seems that she has failed. Sources said that one of her close aide also tried to woo those who are revolting, but for all in vain. National Conference chief Omar Abdullah has already claimed that his party wants early dissolution of the state Assembly so that people could give fresh mandate. There had been a very low turnout in the recent election in the state. 

It is said that the BJP is trying to garner support of at least dozen PDP MLAs. BJP have 25 members in the 87 member house. Ram Madhav, influential BJP general secretary had already camped in Srinagar. BJP chief Amit Shah have also visited Jammu after the fall of PDP-BJP government. This indicates that BJP is trying to focus on Jammu & Kashmir to win next parliamentary elections, which are due next year. However, here also there are words doing the rounds that BJP is planning to hold Lok Sabha polls in December along with few state assembly elections. 

Sources said that BJP is trying to split the PDP and in condition it succeeds in managing MLAs equal to majority, it will project a senior leader from the breakaway group as the chief minister. Party is also trying to woo a senior leader Sajjad Lone, minister in the previous government. Others whose name is doing the rounds in the BJP camp is Haseeb Drabu. Sources said that BJP also tried  to get support of PDP founder member and former deputy chief minister Muzzaffar Baig, however it is not yet clear that what was his response. If he revolts against Mehbooba Mufti in open, PDP may land in serious trouble. When Azad was heading the Congress-PDP government in 2006, Baig, then deputy chief minister in the government, had come very close to Azad which had annoyed Muftis. 

Now political developments are fastly taking place in J&K. Next few days are very crucial. BJP want to form a government whose chief minister is not from their party but their rubber stamp, so party could fast work on its agenda before 2019 elections. Sources said that BJP wants to make J&K it’s main poll plank in these elections. 

CJI ‘Master of the Roster,’ has power to allocate cases: SC

The Supreme Court on July 7 ruled on a petition challenging the existing roster practice of allocation of cases that the Chief Justice of India (CJI) is the “master of the roster” and has the power to assign cases.

“The Chief Justice (CJI) has the role of first among equals and is empowered to exercise leadership in administration of the court which includes assignment of cases,” said Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, confirming the verdict by two previous benches.

“There is no dispute that the Chief Justice is the master of roster and allocates cases to Judges. The constitution is silent on the Chief Justice. Conventions and judgements over the time and accepted by all stake holders that the Chief Justice is first among judges and senior most,” said the judges.

“The erosion of judiciary in the minds of people is greatest threat to judicial system,” he said, adding that CJI, being the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court is the “spokesperson and leader of judiciary,” Justice Sikri added.

A judgment is based on the plea filed by former law minister Shanti Bhushan challenging the existing roster practice of allocation of cases.

“There are rich conventions and practices of the Supreme Court that are time-tested and should not be tinkered with,” Justice Bhushan said.

Congress alleges multi crore ‘Bitcoin Scam’ in Gujarat, Seeks judicial probe

The Congress Party on July 5 has demanded a Supreme Court-monitored judicial probe into the alleged multi-crore (more than Rs. 5,000 crore) “bitcoin scam” that has surfaced in Gujarat with suspected involvement of BJP leaders for converting black money through Bitcoin transactions.

While addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil said, “A new mega bitcoin scam has been unraveled in Gujarat. The finger of suspicion of this massive scam of illegal cryptocurrency directly points to several top Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and a mastermind — an absconding BJP leader and former MLA Nalin Kotadiya.”

Congress alleged that Bitcoin (digital currency) is used for illegal hawala transactions, kidnappings post-demonetisation and the scam came to view following the abduction of Surat-based builder Sailesh Bhatt.

While terming Congress allegations ‘laughable’ BJP spokesperson Anil Baluni said: “nothing can be more unfortunate as it is the state police which has cracked the case and acted against several persons.”

“The dirty tricks department of the Congress is at work to spread confusion and lies. It is blaming the police who have uncovered the case. I wonder if the Congress is trying to help somebody in this case as part of a conspiracy,” Baluni said.

The scam began with a complaint made to Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home, by a Surat-based builder Sailesh Bhatt against Gujarat’s Amreli District police of alleged extortion of “200 bitcoins (Rs. 10 crore) and demanding Rs. 32 crore in cash. Later probe agencies found Amreli District police involvement in extortion and action was taken against several officials.

J&K Police Constable Kidnapped, Killed by terrorists, body found in Kulgam

A Jammu & Kashmir Police Constable Ahmed Dar (personal security officer to Senior Superintendent of Police Shailendra Mishra) who was kidnapped by terrorists on July 5 in south Kashmir’s Shopian District was found dead today morning (July 6) with multiple bullet injuries.

He was kidnapped when he had gone to local medicine shop in his residential area Vehil, said the police.

Locals from Pariwan village in Kulgam found Dar’s bullet-ridden body on the early morning of July 6.

He was off duty when the terrorists came in a santro car and abducted him on gunpoint.

Following the kidnapping, a massive search operation was launched to locate the constable. 

The Jammu and Kashmir police today paid tribute to the martyred constable in a wreath-laying ceremony.

In a similar incident last month an Army soldier Aurangzeb, was also kidnapped and later killed by terrorists in Pulwama District of Jammu and Kashmir. His bullet-ridden body was found by a team of Jammu and Kashmir Police and Indian Army.

UK court issues enforcement order against Vijay Mallya

A UK High Court judge has issued an enforcement order in favour of a consortium of 13 Indian banks, seeking to recover funds owed to them by fugitive tycoon Vijay Mallya.

This order enables 13 Indian banks which include State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Corporation bank, Federal Bank Ltd, IDBI Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Jammu & Kashmir Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, Punjab National Bank, State Bank of Mysore, UCO Bank, United Bank of India and JM Financial Asset Reconstruction Co. Pvt Ltd to enforce the Indian judgement against Mallya’s assets in England and Wales.

The order grants permission to the UK High Court Enforcement Officer to enter Mallya’s properties in UK.

According to the order by Justice Byran, dated June 26, “The High Court Enforcement Officer, including any enforcement agents acting under his authority, may enter Ladywalk, Queen Hoo Lane, Tewin, Welwyn and Bramble Lodge, Queen Hoo Lane, Tewin, Welwyn, including all outbuildings of Ladywalk and Bramble Lodge to search for and take control of goods belonging to the First Defendant (Mallya).”

“The High Court Enforcement Officer, including any Enforcement Agent acting under his authority, may use reasonable force to enter the Property if necessary,” it states.

Mallya has made an application in the Court of Appeal seeking permission to appeal against the order, which remains pending. 

Mallya is also fighting a separate case on his extradition to India on fraud and money laundering charges worth an estimated Rs 9,000 crores, the case will come up at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on July 31.

Rajnath Singh Reviews Situation In Jammu And Kashmir

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh during his two day visit to Jammu and Kashmir reviewed the state’s security situation on Thursday and discussed the way forward at a meeting with the Governor and state administration in Srinagar.

The Union Home Minister restated the government’s commitment to take all possible measures that would bring accountability, transparency and good governance in the system, as development and good governance had remained elusive for the common people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“With renewed focus on good governance and development the Centre is looking forward to kindle new aspirations and hopes amongst the people of the State. The solution to problems lies in empowerment of the people and strengthening the institutions of local self governance,” he said.

The home minister said, that it’s the central government’s firm resolve to bring peace, stability and prosperity through an honest, effective and efficient administration for the problems facing the state, as the dream of a developed and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir will be realised when there is peace and normalcy in the state,” he added.

Mukesh Ambani unveiled his vision about ‘Jio’ at Reliance’s 41st AGM

Addressing the 41st annual general meeting (AGM) of Reliance Industries’, its Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Mukesh Ambani on Thursday unveiled his future vision for Reliance industries and specifically for Reliance Jio.

Mr. Ambani at the AGM said, “We are determined to connect everyone and everything everywhere –always at the highest quality and the most affordable price. Our network has a wider coverage than any other network in India; we are on track towards achieving our target of 99% population coverage with 4G-LTE. This means that jio will be present in every disctrict, taluka, gram panchayat and village in India.”

Sharing some interesting facts about data usage in India, Mr. Ambani  said, “Data usage has grown from 125 crore GB per month to more than 240 crore GB per month. The amount of video consumption has grown from 165 crore hours of videos per month to more than 340 crore hours per month. Voice usage on the network has grown from 250 crore minutes per day to more than 530 crore minutes per day.”

“Even after serving all the needs of our 215+ million customers, the capacity utilization of the JIO network is less than 20%,” Ambani added.

Talking about the Reliance Jio’s growth, Mukesh Ambani said, “we have achieved this unprecedented network growth while maintaining our number one position as the fastest network in India as attested by TRAI speed test data for each and every month of the past year.”

Along with Ambani scions Isha and Akash Ambani, Shloka Mehta, the to-be daughter-in-law of Mukesh Ambani was also present at the AGM.

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