14:05 No stopping sealing, demolition of unauthorised constructions in Delhi: SC: The Supreme Court today said there would be “no stopping of sealing or demolition” of unauthorised constructions in Delhi. The apex court’s direction came after the Centre told a bench comprising Justices MB Lokur and Deepak Gupta that it had not given any instructions to authorities in Delhi to stop their sealing drive against illegal constructions.
The bench also directed that construction activity be stopped with immediate effect wherever any unauthorised construction is noticed or booked by authorities.
The apex court said adequate police protection should be given to officials when they are carrying out a sealing drive against unauthorised constructions.
Besides, the bench asked the Centre to contemplate blacklisting of builders, contractors and architects found responsible for unauthorised constructions. Attorney General K K Venugopal told the bench that the Delhi Development Authority had launched a mobile application on July 9 where citizens can complain about illegal constructions and encroachments in the city.
So far, 431 complaints have been received in the mobile application and action taken on 138 such complaints, he said. The bench directed that adequate publicity be given to the mobile application so citizens of Delhi are aware of it. The top court is dealing with the issue of validity of the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2006 and subsequent legislations which protect unauthorised constructions from being sealed. — PTI
13:58 IAF jet crashes in Himachal, pilot missing : An Indian Airforce MiG-21 Indian aircraft coming from Punjab’s Pathankot crashes in Patta Jattiyan in Jawali subdivision of Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district. The pilot is missing. A rescue team is on the way. More details awaited.
Image: The burning wreck of the MiG 21 aircraft. Pic: ANI
13:54 Here’s what happened in the LS today: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted members before the proceedings began in the Lower House. Clad in a white kurta and pyjama, Modi took a round of the front rows of ruling and Opposition benches. He greeted members with folded hands and was also seen exchanging a few words with Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. Some members clapped when the prime minister walked into the House.
UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi were among those present in the House. Before the Question Hour commenced, four new members took oath and Mahajan read out obituaries of three former members.
Kukade Madhukarrao Yashwantrao (NCP), Gavit Rajendra Dhedya (BJP), Tokheho (NDPP) and Tabassum Begum (RLD) took oath as members. Mahajan announced that members would have Wi-Fi access inside the House through intra-net and can browse various government websites, among others.
The House condoled the death of many people in a bus accident in Uttarakhand and terror attacks in Afghanistan. Mahajan expressed sorrow over the bus accident on July 1 that killed more than 40 people and injured many. She also condoled the death of people, including 13 members from Afghan Sikh and Hindu communities, who were killed in terror attacks at Jalalabad in Afghanistan on July 1. — PTI
13:10 MPs can now speak in 22 Indian languages in RS: Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu today announced that the Upper House now has facility for simultaneous interpretation in all 22 Indian languages after addition of five more languages. Members can now also speak in Dogri, Kashmiri, Konkani, Santhali and Sindhi, he said on the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Of the 22 scheduled languages, the Rajya Sabha earlier had simultaneous interpretation services for 17 languages including Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.
However, members will have to give a prior notice for the interpreter in the secretariat. Naidu said there may be some shortcoming in the beginning as translators may not be attuned to the speed and velocity of the speaker. He also said that members are free to follow suggestions.
Describing it as a wonderful gesture, Subramanian Swamy said efforts should be made to include Sanskrit words in the vocabulary. Naidu also mentioned that the Rajya Sabha has for the first time in 66 years signed a pact with a parliamentary institution of a foreign nation when it entered into an MoU with the Senate of Rawanda earlier this month.
The MoU provides for inter-parliamentary dialogue and parliamentary exchange visits among others, he said. Till now, only Lok Sabha used to enter into such kind of agreements with foreign parliamentary institutions.
— PTI
12:24 Nominated Rajya Sabha MP, boxer MC Mary Kom arrived at Parliament earlier today for the monsoon session.
12:21 LS accepts Cong, NCP, TDP’s no-trust motion on Andhra special status: Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan accepts the no-trust motion raised by the Congress, TDP and NCP on the special status demand for Andhra Pradesh.
The monsoon session got off to a stormy start immediately after the oath taking by new members. Opposition MPs staged a protest in the well of the house. In presence of the Prime Minister, the members started shouting slogans of “We want justice” – a reference to the special status demanded by Andhra Pradesh.
The notice is an extension of the TDP’s demand for special financial status to Andhra Pradesh that provoked Chandrababu Naidu’s party to pull out of the NDA government earlier this year.
The lawmakers of Andhra Pradesh’s opposition YSR Congress held a protest outside parliament demanding special status for the state.
The no-trust motion does not endanger the BJP-led government, which has 273 members in the Lok Sabha, far over the half-way mark. And then, there are its allies. But the motion is seen as an opportunity to make a point and possibly nudge fence sitters such as the Biju Janata Dal to choose a side.
11:53 In Parliament…:
Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia says in the Lok Sabha: “The govt which led farmers to commit suicide, under whose regime women are being raped every day…we move no confidence motion against you.”
Samajwadi Party and Telugu Desam Party MPs protest in the well of the House in Lok Sabha over different issues (mob lynching cases and demand for special status for Andhra Pradesh).
11:40 Monsoon Session of Parliament is underway in the Lok Sabha amidst sloganeering by members of the opposition over recent cases of mob lynching.
11:30 Jay Panda bids ‘adieu’ to Parliament, BJD: Baijayant Jay Panda @PandaJay says goodbye to Parliament: As Parliament’s monsoon session begins, i say adieu, after 18 yrs, 3 months, 2 wks & 1 day Met Hon’ Speaker y’day & said i cannot represent my former party anymore, it has strayed too far from its original principles & so, requested her to accept my resignation from Lok Sabha.
11:18 Sculptor Raghunath Mohapatra take oath as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha.
11:17 Author Rakesh Sinha takes oath as a Rajya Sabha MP
11:16 Sonal Mansingh takes oath as RS MP:
Danseuse Sonal Mansingh takes oath in the Rajya Sabha. Mansingh was one among the four persons nominated by the President to the Rajya Sabha a few days ago.
11:05 Ready to discuss all issues, says PM as monsoon session of Parl begins: As the monsoon session of parliament begins, the PM said the government was willing to discuss all issues. “We hope that the Monsoon Session of Parliament functions smoothly, whatever issues any party has, it can raise on the floor of the house. Govt is ready for discussion on all issues,” Modi said.
“Many important decisions in nation’s interest will be taken up in the session. We hope for good suggestions and discussions from all experienced members,” the PM added.
The monsoon session, which concludes on August 10, will have 18
sittings amid much-expected drama in both the houses – Rajya Sabha and
Lok Sabha.
11:05 Ready to discuss all issues, says PM as monsoon session of Parl begins: As the monsoon session of parliament begins, the PM said the government was willing to discuss all issues. “We hope that the Monsoon Session of Parliament functions smoothly, whatever issues any party has, it can raise on the floor of the house. Govt is ready for discussion on all issues,” Modi said.
“Many important decisions in nation’s interest will be taken up in the session. We hope for good suggestions and discussions from all experienced members,” the PM added.
The monsoon session, which concludes on August 10, will have 18
sittings amid much-expected drama in both the houses – Rajya Sabha and
Lok Sabha.
11:01 Monsoon session of parliament to begin shortly: EAM Sushma Swaraj in Parliament today.
The government has listed a substantive legislative business for the session. This includes 48 items including 46 Bills and two financial matters. On priority, are The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill or the anti-instant triple talaq bill and The Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, that gives Constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes. The National Medical Commission Bill, The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, The Consumer Protection Bill, The Dam Safety Bill and Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill are also on Centre’s agenda.
Besides this, there are six bills replacing ordinances promulgated in the inter-session period are also high on government’s agenda.
10:58 Monsoon Session: Parliament set for yet another battle : With the Monsoon Session of the Parliament kick-starting today, the Centre and Opposition will be looking forward to debates over a long pending list of bills and a slew of relevant issues.
The monsoon session, which concludes on August 10, will have 18 sittings amid much-expected drama in both the houses – Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.
An all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last night for smoothing functioning of the Monsoon session received a “positive” outcome, according to Union Minister Ananth Kumar.
However, the Opposition parties, led by Congress, will hopefully eye to target the in-power Bharatiya Janata Party over various amendments.
Prime Minister Modi said government gives huge importance to the issues raised by all political parties. He also urged the political parties to collectively strive for a constructive atmosphere in the monsoon session for national good. — ANI
Image: Home minister Rajnath Singh arrives in Parliament. Pic: ANI
10:44 Rahul’s ‘pop quiz’ over attack on Agnivesh: Rahul Gandhi hit out at the ruling BJP after a mob attacked social activist Swami Agnivesh yesterday. Gandhi tweeted a “pop quiz” with a subtle message.
Agnivesh, 80, was assaulted, punched and kicked by a group allegedly from the BJP Yuva Morcha or youth workers in Jharkhand.
Gandhi posted a news report of the assault with his tweet this morning.
@RahulGandhi Pop Quiz
“I bow to the most powerful in the line.
“A person’s strength & power are all that are important to me.
“I use hatred & fear to maintain the hierarchy of power.
“I seek out the weakest & crush them. I rank all living beings based on their usefulness to me.
“Who am I?”
Some ‘followers’ on Twitters turned around the quiz to lampoon him and the Congress.
“It’s not only #Pop but also #Pappu'” Chanchal Singh (@chanchal558) replied.
But others followed in Gandhi’s lead, like this one from @Mehboobp1
“I’m the same one who encourages Lynchings, rapists , looters
I’m BJP.”
And more support from
@IamAlok_INC
Replying to @RahulGandhi
I am Narendra Modi, the weakest PM of Indian Republic. I am so week that I have to resort to:
Lies
Hatred
Abuses
Hooliganism
Communalism
Data Manipulation
Appropriation of History
Fake Promises to people
Subversion of democratic institutions
etc.
to win a the second term.
And @mysterious2810 tweeted:
I am BJP and I know how to divide the society aomgst religions, castes and communities while calling others tukde tilde gang. I am pioneer of tukde tukde concept.”
Agnivesh, was in Pakur in Jharkhand when he was attacked by a mob as soon as he came out of his hotel, flanked by tribals.
The activist said that the mob shouted “Jai Shri Ram” as they beat him up, not relenting as he begged them to stop.
The BJP has condemned the attack and denied that the attackers were linked to the party. At the same time, a spokesperson of the party said “one shouldn’t see the attack in isolation and Swami Agnivesh’s ‘track record’ is such that the reaction doesn’t come as a surprise”.
10:08 After ‘Hindu Pakistan’, Tharoor slams BJP with ‘Taliban in Hinduism’ jibe:
Days after his ‘Hindu Pakistan’ comment against the Bharatiya Janata Party triggered a massive controversy, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has once again hit out at the ruling party, asking if it is trying to instill aspects of Taliban in Hinduism.
“They are asking me to go to Pakistan. Who has given them the right to decide that I am not a Hindu like them and I don’t have the right to stay in the country? Have they started a Taliban in Hinduism? Tharoor said while addressing a party event in Thiruvananthapuram.
Tharoor also said the BJP’s discourse on ‘Hindu rashtra’ is very dangerous.
“It will destroy the country,” he said.
Last week, the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram triggered a huge controversy with his remarks that if voted to power again, the BJP will rewrite the Constitution and pave the way for creation of a “Hindu Pakistan”.
The comments sparked demands from the BJP for an apology from Congress president Rahul Gandhi for the “attack on Indian democracy and Hindus” while his party voiced its disapproval and cautioned its leaders to exercise restraint in their response to what it called the saffron party’s “hatred”.
10:02 Sensex scales record high, Nifty holds above 11K:
Extending yesterday’s rally, the benchmark BSE Sensex jumped over 200 points to record a new high of 36,747.87 in early trade today amid buying by domestic institutional investors and easing global crude oil prices.
The market rally was driven by strong buying on the oil & gas, banking, PSU and realty counters and strength in the rupee.
The 30-share BSE index spurted by 227.91 points, or 0.62 per cent, to hit new high of 36,747.87, surpassing its previous record of 36,740.07 recorded on July 13.
However, at 0950hrs, the index pared some gains and was trading 108.72 points, or 0.30 per cent, higher at 36,628.68.
The gauge had gained 196.19 points in the previous session.
The 50-share NSE Nifty also rose by 62.05 points, or 0.56 per cent, to 11,070.10.
Traders said positive cues from other Asian markets, tracking overnight gains in the US market following upbeat remarks from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell during his congressional testimony boosted investor sentiment.
Domestic institutional investors bought shares worth a net pf Rs 840.06 crore, while foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net of Rs 673.99 crore yesterday, provisional data released by stock exchanges showed.
Major gainers include Adani Ports, HDFC Bank, Sun Pharma, ONGC, Coal India, HDFC Ltd, Asian Paint, Wipro, Bajaj Auto, Hero MotoCorp, Maruti Suzuki, Infosys, PowerGrid, L&T, RIL and TCS, rising up to 1.65 per cent.
Sectoral indices led by oil & gas, PSU, realty and banking stocks gained up to 1.12 per cent.
Other Asian markets were trading higher too. Key indices such Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.90 per cent, Shanghai Composite Index 0.43 per cent and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng 0.29 per cent in early trade.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.22 per cent higher yesterday. — PTI
09:09 Trump says he misspoke on Russia meddling:
United States President Donald Trump has said that he believes in the assessment of his intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in American elections in 2016 and his remarks contrary to this a day earlier in Helsinki was a case of misspeaking.
His statement came after he faced a barrage of criticism from his opponents and even from his own party for not backing the American intelligence community’s assessment during a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Monday.
“I have full faith and support for America’s great intelligence agencies, always have. And I have felt very strongly that while Russia’s actions had no impact at all on the outcome of the election, let me be totally clear in saying and I’ve said this many times, I accept our intelligence community’s conclusion that Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election took place,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
“Could be other people also. A lot of people out there. There was no collusion at all, and people have seen that and they’ve seen that strongly. The House has already come out very strongly on that, a lot of people have come out strongly on that,” he said amidst a national political outrage over his remarks that the Russians did not interfere in the 2016 presidential elections.
At the Helsinki press conference, Trump had said “I don’t see any reason why it would be” Russia that meddled in the US election.
Trump, however, said that he misspoke.
“It should’ve been obvious, I thought it would be obvious, but I would like to clarify just in case I wasn’t. A key sentence in my remarks, I said the word ‘would’ instead of ‘wouldn’t’. The sentence should have been I don’t see any reason why I wouldn’t or why it wouldn’t be Russia,” he said.
“So just to repeat it, I said the word ‘would’ instead of ‘wouldn’t’, and the sentence should have been — and I thought I would be maybe a little bit unclear on the transcript or unclear on the actual video. The sentence should have been, ‘I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be Russia. Sort of a double negative. So you can put that in, and I think that probably clarifies things pretty good by itself.
“I have on numerous occasions noted our intelligence findings that Russians attempted to interfere in our elections,” said the US President.
Trump alleged that unlike previous administrations, his administration has and will continue to move aggressively to repeal any efforts and will stop and repel any efforts to interfere in US elections.
“We’re doing everything in our power to prevent Russian interference in 2018. We have a lot of power. As you know, President (Barack) Obama has given information just prior to the last election 2016, and they decided not to do anything about it. The reason they decided that was pretty obvious, cause oh, they thought Hillary Clinton was going to win.
08:51 2 killed as under-construction building collapses in Noida:
A six-storey under-construction building collapsed in Greater Noida, killing at least two persons and trapping several others under the debris, officials said today.
At least 12 labourers were inside the building in Shah Beri village when the incident took place and all of them are feared trapped, chief fire officer Arun Kumar Singh said.
A National Disaster Relief Force officer said that two bodies have been pulled out of the rubble.
Fire and police officials are carrying out rescue operations.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate and the police to monitor relief and rescue activities along with the NDRF team.
DGP O P Singh has informed the chief minister about the rescue operation being carried out by police and NDRF personnel. — PTI
08:42 Govt, Oppn set for showdown as monsoon session begins today:
The government and the opposition appeared set for a showdown in Parliament’s monsoon session beginning today with the Congress pushing for a no-confidence motion while the Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to raise Rahul Gandhi’s reported statement that his party “is for Muslims” to corner it.
Worries remain if the impasse seen in the budget session will carry over to this session with both the government and the opposition engaged in acrimonious exchanges in its run-up over a host of issues including religious polarisation, lynching incidents and banking scams.
Opposition leaders yesterday wrote to the Lok Sabha Speaker that trends that emerged in the last session might prove lethal to the constitutional democracy if left unchecked.
The last budget session was the least productive since the year 2000 after Parliament saw daily disruptions by parties on Cauvery issue, special status to Andhra Pradesh and Punjab National Bank scam. The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress had blamed each other for the washout.
At an all-party meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought cooperation of all political parties and asked them to ensure that it turns out to be a productive session.
The monsoon session will begin today and end on August 10. — PTI
00:10 Pak files second counter-memorial on Jadhav’s case in ICJ:
Pakistan on Tuesday filed its second written reply to India’s arguments in the International Court of Justice on the conviction of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism.
The ICJ on January 23 gave a timeline to both Pakistan and India for filing another round of memorials in the case.
Foreign Office Director General for India Dr Fareeha Bugti submitted the second reply today, Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said.
“Director India Dr Fareha Bugti submitted the dossier, along with Waseem Shahzad, an officer of the Embassy of Pakistan in The Hague,” he said.
Pakistan in its rejoinder, gave detailed answers to India’s submissions to the international court, the spokesperson said, adding that Pakistan also responded to Indian objections in over 400 pages reply.
Pakistan’s counter-memorial was in response to pleadings filed by India in the Hague-based ICJ on April 17.
The ICJ will now fix the matter for hearing.
India had moved the ICJ in May last year after Jadhav, 48, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism.
A 10-member bench of the ICJ on May 18, 2017 had restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav till adjudication of the case.
In its written pleadings, India had accused Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention by not giving consular access to Jadhav arguing that the convention did not say that such access would not be available to an individual arrested on espionage charges.
In response, Pakistan through its counter-memorial on December 13 told the ICJ that the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963 applied only to legitimate visitors and did not cover clandestine operations.
Pakistan had said that ‘since India did not deny that Jadhav was travelling on a passport with an assumed Muslim name, they have no case to plead’.
Pakistan said that India did not explain how ‘a serving naval commander’ was travelling under an assumed name. It also stated that ‘since Jadhav was on active duty, it is obvious that he was a spy sent on a special mission’.
India has been maintaining that the trial of Jadhav by a military court in Pakistan was ‘farcical’.
Pakistan claims that its security forces arrested Jadhav from restive Balochistan province on March 3, 2016 after he reportedly entered from Iran.
However, India maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy.
Jadhav’s sentencing had evoked a sharp reaction in India. — PTI
Source: Rediff