Short news for quality minds. Power your niche.Smartly curated short news for quality minds. Want your own niche feed? Integrate with us today.
Tensions are rising within the Mahayuti alliance as Shiv Sena and NCP leaders allege step-motherly treatment by the BJP. The recent cancellation of a bungalow allotment for Shiv Sena MLA Sachin Ahir sparked fresh anger. A party leader said, "We swallowed all humiliation to bring back the BJP to power."
Tirunelveli Corporation decided to increase underground drainage and drinking water connection deposits on Thursday. The council fixed new rates based on building plinth area and added a 3% annual hike. Some councillors opposed this, saying, "This arbitrary decision to exorbitantly revise the underground drainage and drinking water connection deposits should be withdrawn."
MA&UD Minister P. Narayana said residential towers for legislators in Amaravati are nearing completion. On Thursday, he inspected the site with Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu and Palla Srinivasa Rao. They reviewed progress on the HoD towers and Secretariat complex. These modern buildings will soon get handed over to the state government.
The Supreme Court adjourned a plea by the Chandigarh administration to revive a protest case against Bhagwant Mann. The bench said, "Everybody does naare-baazi," and refused to interfere with the high court order that quashed the FIR. The court will take up the matter again on July 20.
BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra and MP Basavaraj Bommai led a protest march in Haveri on Thursday. They condemned the deteriorating law and order situation across the State. Mr. Bommai said, "Law and order has completely collapsed in the district and criminals show no fear of law," during the event.
Arvind Kejriwal visited Jantar Mantar on Thursday to support Sonam Wangchuk, who is on a hunger strike for 19 days. Kejriwal warned the Centre, "Listen to the youth, the movement, and Sonam Wangchuk; otherwise, three years later, you will meet a 2014-like fate." He also demanded Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
Support for Sonam Wangchuk grew on Thursday as Congress and Raj Thackeray targeted the Centre over his hunger strike. Wangchuk started his fast on 28 June, now in its 19th day. Congress leader K.C. Venugopal said, "His concerns are our concerns and that of other Opposition parties as well."
The Special Investigation Team summoned former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal for questioning regarding the 2015 Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura police firing incidents. He must appear on Monday. This move follows a statement from BJP leader Vijay Sampla, as the probe into the decade-old sacrilege case continues to grow.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday expressed deep concern over the health of activist Sonam Wangchuk. Wangchuk has been on a hunger strike for nearly three weeks. Abdullah said, "there should be some room for humanity and compassion even in politics," while urging the Centre to talk.
The National Conference will hold a protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20 to demand statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. Omar Abdullah said, "There is no change in our plans." Meanwhile, the BJP announced a Secretariat Gherao in Srinagar the same day to protest against alleged job outsourcing scams.
The Kerala CPI chartered an entire train to take party workers to a Delhi protest against the Union government. State secretary Binoy Viswam said, "This is the first time that a special train is being chartered." The train leaves Kochuveli on August 29 and reaches Delhi on August 31 for protests.
The Supreme Court on Thursday closed 13 petitions challenging the Election Commission’s special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu. The bench said the poll panel has the power to conduct such revisions. The DMK had moved the court on November 3 last year, calling the exercise unconstitutional and arbitrary.