Daily wrap: Ayodhya hearing from Aug 6, India responds on Jadhav
Ayodhya: As mediation fails, SC to hold daily hearing from Aug 6
The mediation proceedings have failed to resolve amicably the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute in Ayodhya, the Supreme Court said on Friday (August 2) and ordered day-to-day hearing of the politically sensitive case from August 6. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi took note of the report of the three-member mediation panel, headed by former apex court judge FMI Kalifulla, that its effort to find out an amicable resolution to the dispute has failed.
Panic grips Kashmir after advisory asks Amarnath pilgrims, tourists to pack up
Residents of Kashmir started stocking up dry ration and essentials, fearing long law and order disturbance after the Jammu and Kashmir government issued an advisory, asking Amarnath pilgrims and tourists to leave the Valley. “Keeping in view the latest intelligence inputs of terror threats with specific targeting of the Amarnath Yatra, and given the prevailing security situation in the Kashmir Valley, in the interest of safety and security of the tourists and Amarnath Yatris, it is advised that they may curtail their stay in the Valley immediately and take necessary measures to return as soon as possible,” an order issued by principal secretary, home department, Shaleen Kabra stated.
Also read: Govt cites terror threat, asks Amarnath pilgrims, tourists to curtail Kashmir stay
India asks Pakistan for ‘unimpeded’ consular access to Jadhav
India has asked Pakistan to provide “unimpeded” consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav in an environment free from the “fear of intimidation” and reprisal, in sync with the International Court of Justice’s ruling in his case, official sources said on Friday (August 2). India sent a communication to Pakistan on Thursday, virtually turning down Islamabad’s conditional offer of providing consular access to Jadhav on Friday afternoon. Around three days ago, Pakistan offered India consular access to Jadhav. The offer came two weeks after the Hague-based ICJ ordered Pakistan to grant consular access to Jadhav without further delay.
Unnao rape accused MLA’s aide ‘bribes’ cop, police probe video
The Uttar Pradesh police ordered a probe on Friday (August 2) after a policeman posted at the Sitapur jail, where rape accused MLA Kuldeep Sengar is lodged, was seen in a video allegedly being bribed by a person considered close to the legislator. Sengar, accused of raping a minor girl from Unnao two years ago and killing two members of her family, was expelled from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday. “I have not seen the video but it has come to our knowledge. We will get the matter probed and strict action will be taken. If policemen are found guilty, they will be dismissed,” Director General (DG), Prisons, Anand Kumar said here.
Also read: SC stays order to transfer Unnao rape survivor’s accident case to Delhi
UGC recommends Institute of Eminence status to DU, IIT-Madras, IIT-Kharagpur
The UGC has recommended granting of Institution of Eminence (IoE) status to Delhi University, Hyderabad University, Banaras Hindu University, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur. While the recommendation for Jadhavpur University in Kolkata and Anna University in Chennai has been subjected to consultation with the respective state governments, six others have been recommended for issue of Letter of Intent (LoI) for the eminence status. The decision was taken at a meeting of the University Grants Commission (UGC) where the report of the Empowered Expert Committee (EEC) was considered.
Rajya Sabha passes UAPA Bill, opposition calls it draconian
The controversial amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was passed in the upper house of Parliament through a division of votes on Friday (August 2). While 147 voted in favour of the bill, 42 voted against it. The Bill to become a law will now require the approval of the President. This is the third controversial bill to be passed in Parliament this year after The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 and the RTI (Amendment) Bill. Earlier, after Union Home Minister Amit Shah tabled the bill, opposition parties slammed the bill as it would empower the central government to declare individuals as terrorists. They said the new law was “draconian” and could be misused against anyone opposed to the ruling establishment.
Bombs rattle Bangkok during ASEAN summit wounding four
Several small bombs exploded across Bangkok on Friday (August 2), rattling the Thai capital as it hosted a regional summit attended by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and leaving four people wounded but not disrupting the diplomatic event. Thailand, which has a grim history of political violence, remains deeply divided after a controversial March election returned a junta to power as a civilian government. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, who led the junta, blamed the bombs on “ill-intended people inciting violence” to “destroy peace and the country’s image”. Top Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) diplomats and their US and Chinese counterparts are in town.
