As the crisis in Manipur continues to escalate, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to Twitter on Wednesday, questioning the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urging him to take proactive steps to address the situation.
Ramesh’s tweet came in response to the prolonged strife that has plagued Manipur for the past seven weeks. Despite the visit of Home Minister Amit Shah the state remains in turmoil, and the absence of a response from the Prime Minister has raised concern among the public.
“There appears to be no letting up in the enormous disaster that has engulfed Manipur for the past seven weeks. The Home Minister visited belatedly after a month and the nation must be thankful for small mercies, ” said Ramesh in a tweet.
“But why is the Prime Minister still silent? Why doesn’t he visit the state and make an appeal for reconciliation between communities? Why can’t he at least encourage an all-party delegation to go to Manipur?, ” he tweeted.
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav has assured full support to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal against the Centre’s ordinance on control over administrative services in the national capital.
Arvind Kejriwal, accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Delhi minister Atishi and AAP MP Sanjay Singh, met Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow on Wednesday evening to seek his support.
Later talking to reporters, Kejriwal said that if non-BJP parties join hands, they can defeat the controversial ordinance in Rajya Sabha where they have an upper hand in numbers.
“If we can defeat the ordinance, it will send a strong message ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. I have spoken to Akhilesh Yadav and I thank him for extending his party’s support to us on this issue, ” he said.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that the Centre was using Governors to disturb elected non-BJP governments in states. “They are playing with democracy, ” he added.
Akhilesh Yadav said that the BJP was unnerved by the good work that the Kejriwal government was doing in Delhi and wanted to disturb it. “We will support AAP in Rajya Sabha, ” he added.
Ranchi: A major train accident was averted at Jharkhand’s Bokaro after a tractor crashed the railway gate near the Santhaldih railway crossing when the New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express (train no. 22812) was passing from there on Tuesday evening, a railway official said.
The incident occurred at the Santhaldih railway crossing, near the Bhojudih railway station, and the tractor got stuck between the railway track and the gate.
“A tractor crashed the railway gate when it was closing at the Santhaldih railway crossing of the Bhojudih railway station in Bokaro district. However, the driver of the train applied the brakes and the train stopped, averting any major accident,” Manish Kumar, DRM, Adra Division, South Eastern Railway,
Highlighting the contributions made by people of Indian origin in the development of Suriname, President Droupadi Murmu has said that a “mini India” resides in the country.
She said it was a matter of pride that Indians have reached the highest positions in Suriname.
The president said this during an address to the Indian diaspora at a community reception on Tuesday, where her Surinamese counterpart Chandrikapersad Santokhi was also present.
Murmu concluded her first state visit as the President of India to Suriname on June 6.
“My first state visit after assuming office is to Suriname. It is a privilege for me to be part of the celebration of 150 years of the arrival of Indians in Suriname. It is a matter of pride for us that Indians have reached the highest positions in Suriname. Indians have been contributing significantly to the development of Suriname economically, socially and culturally, ” she said.
The president added that India develops permanent relations with friendly nations.
She gave the example of India helping friendly nations by providing vaccines and medicines during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The president later departed for Serbia after concluding her visit to Suriname.
She will be in Serbia on a state visit till June 9, at the invitation of Aleksandar VuAiA, the President of Serbia.
Imphal: A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed and two Assam Rifles personnel injured in an encounter with suspected Kuki insurgents in Manipur’s Serou area early Tuesday, officials said.
The exchange of fire between the two sides took place in a school in Serou area of Sugnu in Kakching district, the officials said. A BSF official said suspected Kuki miscreants resorted to indiscriminate and heavy firing targeted at BSF troops deployed at the Serou Practical High School around 4.15 am.
Amritsar: Amid heavy security build up, the 39th anniversary of Operation Bluestar was observed at the Golden Temple here on Tuesday with the gathering of a large number of radicals and sympathisers, who started gathering ahead before dawn.
Operation Bluestar was carried out between June 1 and 8, 1984, and claimed several lives and left the shrine and complex damaged.
Sikh radical group Dal Khalsa organised a rally in the city to commemorate the day and in support of Khalistan.
Tight security across Punjab has been observed with the radical outfit calling for Amritsar bandh.
Akal Takht has directed the SGPC to ensure that the sanctity of the Golden Temple is not be disturbed during the Operation Bluestar anniversary.
Jaspal Singh, personal assistant of Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, has written to the Secretary of the SGPC that keeping in view the Golden Temple’s inviolability, the resolution passed under the signature of then Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh, be implemented in toto, as per the directions of the Akal Takht.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP from Punjab Vikramjit Singh Sahney has demanded that all government documents pertaining to ‘Operation Bluestar’ be de-classified.
In a message to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Sahney urged them that the files should be made accessible.
Describing ‘Operation Bluestar’ as the utmost human rights violation, with brutal killings of thousands and the rampage of the holy sanctum at Harmandir Sahib and the highest seat of Sikhism, Akal Takht Sahib, Sahney in a statement here, said the destruction of the museum and the Toshakhana of the Golden Temple caused loss of precious scriptures and records relevant to “our lineage and history”.
Sahney said the only “justice for this heinous crime would be to know the truth, for which it is imperative that all pertaining documents be declassified”.
“Thirty-nine years is a long time to avert the truth behind Operation Bluestar. It (declassification) is only the way to unlock and bring to task the culprits responsible, ” he added.
Sahney, while stressing on the sensitivity of the impact of the release of details about ‘Operation Bluestar’, said: “We cannot forget that 39 years have passed and though it is impossible to forget what has occurred, however, the truths with the unveiling of documents will shed a better understanding of what conspired to lead to this extraordinary military operation at the holy Sri Harmandir Sahib.”
Keeping in view of the Operation Bluestar anniversary, Punjab Police have beefed up the security across the state to ensure peaceful observance of the day.
Police teams have been conducting flag marches in sensitive and vulnerable areas as a measure to instill confidence among the public in all 28 police districts, officials said.
Property of a drug peddler was seized in Bandipora district of north Kashmir on Monday, police said.
The drug peddler has been identified as Khursheed Ahmad Waza alias ‘Mandela’ under NDPS Act.
Reports said that a residential plot measuring 1 kanal 1.5 marlas worth a market value of Rs 44 lakh and two vehicles worth Rs 12 lakh have been seized as illegally acquired property through sale of narcotic drugs.
The further investigation is going on, police said.
In Kashmir, the police are increasingly using preventive detention laws such as Public Safety Act against drug dealers. According to the provisions of the law, an individual may be held for a year without trial if they are deemed to be a threat to public order and for up to two years if they are considered a threat to national security.
The police have also used the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act to deal with offenders. The law enables preventive detention for up to one year in “certain cases for the purpose of preventing illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated president Droupadi Murmu on receiving Suriname’s highest civilian honour, ‘Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star’.
“Congratulations to Rashtrapati Ji on being conferred the highest civilian award of Suriname – Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star. This special gesture from the Government and people of Suriname symbolises the enduring friendship between our countries, ” Modi tweeted on Tuesday.
President Droupadi Murmu on Monday received the honour. She is on her first state visit since becoming president of the country.
“I am greatly honoured to receive Suriname’s highest distinction, “Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star, ” she had said in a tweet through her official Rashtrapati Bhavan handle. “This recognition holds tremendous significance, not only for me but also for the 1.4 billion people of India whom I represent. I also dedicate this honor to the successive generations of the Indian-Surinamese community, who have played a stellar role in enriching the fraternal ties between our two countries, ” she had further added.
New Delhi- Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Tuesday that he, along with his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, would meet Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav to seek support against the Modi government’s ordinance.
Prior to this, Kejriwal had met with CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on this matter.
“Tomorrow, Bhagwant Mann and I will meet Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow to seek support for the people of Delhi against the unconstitutional ordinances of the Central Government, ” Kejriwal tweeted.
Kejriwal also requested meetings with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi twice, but the Congress is yet to respond.
Kejriwal has stated that the centre’s ordinance is an unprecedented act that contradicts the principles of democracy and disregards the sanctity of the judiciary.
Congress on Tuesday once again slammed the Centre for recommending a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into Balasore train accident in Odisha and termed it nothing but “headlines management” having failed to meet deadlines.
Targetting the government, party general secretary communications in charge Jairam Ramesh said, “Even before the Commissioner of Railway Safety has submitted his report on Balasore train disaster, a CBI inquiry is announced. This is nothing but headlines management having failed to meet deadlines.”
Citing the government decision to hand over the probe of the Patna-Indore Express train accident, in which 150 people to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), he said, “Now remember this chronology, on November 20, 2016, Indore-Patna Express derails near Kanpur. Over 150 people lose their lives. On January 23, 2017, then Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu writes to Union Home Minister asking for a NIA probe into this accident. On February 24, 2017, Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) says Kanpur train accident is a conspiracy. On October 21, 2018, newspapers report NIA will not file any charge sheet in the derailment. June 6, 2023, still no official news on NIA final report on Kanpur derailment. �Zero accountability!”
The government had ordered for a NIA probe into the Patna-Indore Express train derailment, which was raised by PM Modi during the crucial Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh in 2017.
The government has come under fire from the Opposition, including the Congress, for recommending a CBI probe into the Balasore train accident that led to the death of 275 passengers.
On Monday, government sources indicated that it was a case of “deliberate interference” in the system that came to the fore during the preliminary investigation, thus necessitating an investigation by a professional agency like the CBI.
While speaking to the media on Sunday, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the railway board has recommended a CBI probe into Friday’s horrifying accident.
Vaishnaw also said that the accident happened due to a change in electronic interlocking.
A government source on Monday here said that there is a need for a CBI probe even when the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) was already probing the incident, as the officials who were part of the preliminary investigation indicated the need for a more thorough investigation by a professional agency having expertise.
“Lots of information has come during the course of the investigation. Various kinds of information has been made available which required a professional investigative agency, ” the source said.
The accident in which a speeding Coromandel Express crashed into a stationary goods train on the loop line instead of travelling on the main line, “indicated issues” with the electronic interlocking system which changed the route of the train leading to the collision.
The source said, “Unless there is deliberate interference in the system, it is impossible that a route set for the main line is switched to the loop line.”
The ministry had earlier ruled out driver error or a malfunction in the interlocking system, and said that all angles are being probed extensively to come to the exact conclusion how this happened.
The Congress has been demanding the resignation of Vaishnaw for the horrific train accident near Odisha’s Bahanaga Bazar station, where 21 coaches of Chennai-bound Coromandel Express and Howrah-bound SMVP-Howrah Superfast Express derailed and led to death of 275 people and leaving over 800 injured.
