- Assam: BJP leader, Senior Cop Arrested In APSC Scam
Assam Police have arrested three persons, including a BJP leader and a senior police official for trying to influence the probe into the cash-for-job scam which has rocked the state, an official said today. Vice-president of ruling BJP’s Darrang unit Sailen Sarma Barua, deputy superintendent of police (DSP) of Duliajan Kabita Das and businessman Surajit Chaudhury were held last night, Dibrugarh district superintendent of police Gautam Bora said. Read more here.
- My Only Crime Is That I Am A Muslim, Says An Anguished Police Officer. Am I Not An Indian Citizen? He Asks.
A video posted by many on Twitter shows a police officer from Jharkhand – Abid Khan – expressing anguish after being harassed by a mob. “Main musalman hun, yehi mera gunah hai? (I am a Muslim. Is this my sin?)”, the officer says in the video, repeatedly. Khan was accused by a mob of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) workers of not taking action against the murderers of a local BJP leader who was shot dead in Ranchi on June 18. Read more here.
- Non-NDA Parties To Oppose ‘Anti-Federal’ Motor Vehicles Bill
A united Opposition has decided not to support the “anti-federal” motor vehicles bill unless the changes proposed by it are incorporated in it. According to a senior opposition leader, the decision to oppose the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill was taken at a co-ordination meeting of the non-NDA parties today. It was decided that the bill would not be allowed to pass in the Rajya Sabha until the government incorporated all the amendments listed by the opposition parties, the leader said, requesting anonymity. Read more here.
- Rahul Gandhi Meets Women Journalists, Earns Appreciation For Unscripted, Candid Interaction
Congress president Rahul Gandhi met several women journalists on Wednesday evening. He interacted with them freely and answered their questions on an array of issues. Female journalists took to Twitter and appreciated Gandhi for talking ‘without reservations’ on issues like feminism, triple talaq, porn, among others. Read more here.
- SC Slams Modi Govt Over Non-Compliance Of Order On Making Public Institutions Disabled-Friendly
The Supreme Court today slammed the Centre over non-compliance of its last year verdict of making public institutions disabled-friendly and said the government had to follow the law and order. The top court also expressed annoyance over the states not complying with its order and warned that respective chief secretaries will be called to explain the delay. Read more here.
- Dilution Of SC, ST Act May Cost NDA Many Allies: Congress
The dilution of the SC/ST Act may force many BJP allies to quit the NDA and join the opposition camp ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year, AICC in-charge of Bihar Shaktisinh Gohil said today. Such a development is most likely in Bihar, where all the NDA constituents — JD(U), LJP and RLSP — primarily draw their support from people belonging to the SC/ST and OBC categories, Gohil told PTI. Read more here.
- Old, Inactive “Women’s Safety” Helpline Number Circulated As PM Modi’s New Initiative
A post shared by Facebook page Yogi Adityanath – True Indian claims that women travelling alone via auto or taxi at night can now SMS the vehicle’s number to the police at 9969777888 and the police will keep a track of the vehicle via GPRS. The post urges people to “share this information as many times as possible as one can never know if the next victim is our dear one.” The alleged notification has been circulated with an image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting that the initiative was started by this government. It has been shared by nearly 3,000 people. Read more here.
- No More Delay: CPI(M) Seeks Urgent Passage Of Women’s Reservation Bill
The CPI(M) today made a strong plea for the passage of the women’s reservation bill in the Lok Sabha, saying it should be brought now so that it can be implemented before the International Women’s Day next year. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, CPI(M) member P K Sreemathy Teacher also exhorted Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to intervene and ask the government to bring the bill in the Lower House so that it can be implemented before March 8, 2019. Read more here.
- Simmering Revolt? BJP MP Udit Raj Echoes Paswan’s Sentiments, Objects To AK Goel’s Appointment As NGT Chief
In the parliament on Tuesday, Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) MP Udit Raj objected to retired Supreme Court judge Adarsh Kumar Goel’s appointment as the Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The BJP lawmaker said that as a judge in the Supreme Court, Goel’s judgement in the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, had “adversely affected the lives of Dalits.” Read more here.