Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal Are Religious Militant Organisations: CIA
The United States’ CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) has listed Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal as religious militant organisations in its annual World Factbook.
The two organisations have been named as militant outfits under the tag ‘Political pressure groups and leaders’. Under the same heading, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has been classified as a nationalist organisation. Read more here.
Naroda Patiya Case: Gujarat HC Adjourns Order on Three Convicts’ Sentences
The Gujarat High Court today adjourned the pronouncement of the quantum of sentence of three convicts in the 2002 Naroda Patiya case. A division bench of justices Harsha Devani and A S Supehia posted the matter for further hearing on June 19, when lawyers of the convicts would start fresh arguments on the quantum of sentence. The HC had upheld the conviction of 16 people, including Bajrangi, and acquitted 18 others, including Kodnani. Read more here.
Saaf Niyat: As Sewage Water Dirties Ganga, NGT Pulls Up UP Municipal Bodies; Municipalities Blame UP Govt
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) came down heavily on municipal bodies across Uttar Pradesh as the discharge of untreated sewage into the river Ganga continued, the NDTV reported. The NGT underlined that environment and public health were not a part of the municipal bodies’ priority list. Read more here.
Govt Should Review Kashmir Policy: Mayawati
Voicing concern over the killing of a journalist and security-men in Kashmir, BSP president Mayawati today asked the Narendra Modi government to shun its “stubborn attitude” and review its Kashmir policy. The BSP supremo alleged the BJP’s Kashmir policy seems to be guided more by “narrow politics” of the party rather than being guided by the welfare of the people.
Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead outside his office in Srinagar yesterday along with two of his PSOs.“The BJP needs to give up efforts aimed at gaining cheap publicity as they have made the lives of people in all walks of life troublesome,” she alleged. Read more here.
All India Kisan Sabha Demands Judicial Probe into Jharkhand Lynching Case
The All India Kisan Sabha today demanded that the Jharkhand government set up a judicial commission to investigate the lynching of two Muslim men by a group of villagers on suspicion of cattle theft in Godda district.
In a statement, the AIKS urged the Supreme Court to intervene and ensure protection to citizens from cow vigilantes. The organisation has said the state government should provide Rs. one-crore compensation to the family of each victim. Read more here.
If We Don’t Raise Our Voice Against RSS/BJP’s Poisonous Politics, History Will Not Forgive Us: Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday underlined that history will not forgive the countrymen if the “poisonous politics of RSS / BJP’s hatred of humanism” isn’t stopped. Gandhi made the statement while reacting to the incident of two Dalit boys getting beaten up in Jalgaon, Maharashtra. Read more here.