Daily wrap: Fresh Triple Talaq bill in LS; Chaos in West Bengal

Govt tables fresh Triple Talaq bill in LS amid opposition from member

The government on Friday (June 21) introduced the fresh Triple Talaq Bill in the Lok Sabha amid vehement protests by opposition members who said that it violated the Constitution. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2019 became the first legislation to be tabled in Parliament by the Narendra Modi dispensation in its second term, with law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad asserting the legislation was a must for gender equality and justice. The bill was introduced following a division of votes, with 186 members supporting and 74 opposing it. “This is not a question of religion but about justice to women,” Prasad said.

CM Palaniswami admits to delay in taking action on water crisis

A day after hitting out at the media for “hyping” the water crisis in Tamil Nadu, CM Edapaddi Palaniswami admitted to a delay in taking action to resolve the shortage. Following a meeting with senior ministers and officials to take stock of the water scarcity in the state, Palaniswami told reporters that Rs 65 crores has been allotted to bring water from Jolarpet through rail. He said that four lakes that served as the source of drinking water for Chennai have dried up. “However, we still manage to provide drinking water to the people in Chennai.”

Bihar encephalitis deaths figure in Rajya Sabha

The death of over 130 children in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district due to encephalitis figured in the Rajya Sabha on Friday (June 21), with Opposition parties demanding that the government make an urgent intervention and pay compensation to families. The issue first figured when Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu was reading out obituary references on death of former members as well as those killed in terrorist attacks in New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Opposition members demanded a similar reference be made for the children who died in Bihar.

Mamata’s anti-graft drive backfires, unleashes fresh chaos in West Bengal

Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee’s recent call to party functionaries to return bribe money, if they have taken any, from beneficiaries of government schemes, has triggered a statewide backlash against workers of the ruling party, including violent attacks. At least five persons, including a sexagenarian woman, were injured in the ensuing clashes since her appeal at a meeting of party councilors in Kolkata on Tuesday (June 18). Besides, Trinamool leaders and elected representatives were mobbed in Bankura, Malda, Purulia and Birbhum districts by “disgruntled” beneficiaries demanding return of the “cut money” allegedly paid to them to get benefits of the schemes.

CVC seeks sanction to prosecute ex-Niti Aayog CEO, officials for alleged graft

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has sought sanction to prosecute some serving and retired bureaucrats, including former Niti Aayog CEO Sindhushree Khullar and the ex-secretary of Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Anup K Pujari, for their alleged involvement in a corruption case, officials said on Friday (June 21). Besides them, the anti-corruption watchdog has sought approval to prosecute Prabodh Saxena, who is Principal Secretary in the Himachal Pradesh government, and Rabindra Prasad, former Under Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs in the case involving INX Media, they said.

Rahul tweets Army dog squad pic with New India caption, gets trolled

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on  Friday (June 21) courted controversy by tweeting pictures of the dog squad of Indian Army doing yoga and captioning it “New India”, an apparent dig at the Narendra Modi dispensation. The pictures in the tweet showed the Army dog unit and their trainers prostrating. The BJP took a swipe at Gandhi saying for him life is only about a joke, as he keeps posting pictures about his pet dog. It also said while a new India is emerging under Prime Minister Modi, a new Congress is coming up under Gandhi.

Deve Gowda says mid-term polls will happen, later clarifies his stance

HD Deve Gowda, JD (S) leader has on Friday (June 21) said that mid-term polls will be held in Karnataka without any doubt hinting at trouble in Congress-JD(S) coalition in the state. The former PM and JDS leader said that the Congress had promised JD(S) support for five years and now their behaviour has changed. Amid simmering tension between Congress and JD(S) the veteran also stated that till now all the arbitrary demands of Congress were accepted. Hinting that the partnership was formed under pressure he said, “I was the glue for the coalition in Karnataka. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi sent Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot to Bangalore. While having a discussion, I told them the pain of the coalition I had experienced before. I told them I don’t need it.”

Light to moderate rainfall likely in TN, Pondy in next 2 days

The Met Department on Friday (June 21) said favourable atmospheric conditions are likely to bring light to moderate rainfall in isolated places in Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Puducherry in the next two days. There has been a reduction in the heatwave conditions, it said and credited the northward movement of the south west monsoon for it. “Due to favourable atmospheric conditions, in the next two days, there are chances of light to moderate rainfall in isolated places in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry,” Deputy Director General of Meteorology of Regional Meteorological Centre, S Balachandran told reporters.