Sushma, Rahul trade accusations in Lok Sabha
The Narendra Modi-led Central government on Wednesday rejected the Congress’ demand for Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s resignation, saying that the opposition party was using the Lalit Modi issue as an excuse to “sabotage the Indian growth story”. Swaraj and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi traded accusations on the penultimate day of the Monsoon session of Parliament, with the minister denying that she had accepted money from former Indian Premier League Chairperson Lalit Modi to arrange travel documents for him. For her part, Swaraj accused the Congress and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi of having taken bribes to allow Bofors scam-accused Ottavio Quattorcchi and Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson to flee the country. Protests by the Congress and other opposition parties have forced both Houses to be adjourned several times throughout the duration of the session, rendering Parliament unable to discuss key legislation.
Rajnath seeks updates on Naga accord
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has sought monthly updates on the peace accord signed between the Central government and the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah). N Ravi, the interlocutor for the peace talks, has been asked to keep the minister informed of progress. The minister has also asked Assam peace talks interlocutor PC Haldar to submit updates every month. A senior government official denied that Singh had taken the step due to a rift between his ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office.
SC reserves verdict on remission powers
The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on the power of state governments to remit prison sentences. A Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India HL Dattu will look into the matter, including whether state governments can remit sentences where agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation have been the prosecutors in the case. The court reserved its verdict after hearing a plea that challenged the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to cancel the life imprisonment sentences of those convicted for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The Centre had argued that the state could not use its power of remission to release the seven convicts, whose death penalties were commuted to life sentences by the apex court in February last year.
Experts say 41 tigers dead so far
Wildlife groups and conservationists on Wednesday said that 41 tigers had died so far this year, out of which 32 had been killed by poachers. The groups expressed concern that the Central government was not doing enough to protect the country’s tigers, noting that 66 tigers were killed last year. Indian environmental authorities said that the number of tigers in the country had risen to 2,226 in 2014 from 1,706 in 2010.
Supreme Court grants Maran interim protection
The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted former Union Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran interim protection from being arrested for allegedly having set up an illegal telephone-exchange. The court asked the Central Bureau of Investigation why it wanted to arrest Maran. Staying the Madras High Court’s order cancelling the anticipatory bail granted to him, a bench of the court led by Justice TS Thakur criticised the CBI for indulging in “political vendetta”. The Bureau had alleged that 360 high-speed telephone lines had been provided to Maran at his Chennai home when he was Union Telecom Minister between 2004 and 2007.
The Narendra Modi-led Central government on Wednesday rejected the Congress’ demand for Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s resignation, saying that the opposition party was using the Lalit Modi issue as an excuse to “sabotage the Indian growth story”. Swaraj and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi traded accusations on the penultimate day of the Monsoon session of Parliament, with the minister denying that she had accepted money from former Indian Premier League Chairperson Lalit Modi to arrange travel documents for him. For her part, Swaraj accused the Congress and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi of having taken bribes to allow Bofors scam-accused Ottavio Quattorcchi and Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson to flee the country. Protests by the Congress and other opposition parties have forced both Houses to be adjourned several times throughout the duration of the session, rendering Parliament unable to discuss key legislation.
Rajnath seeks updates on Naga accord
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has sought monthly updates on the peace accord signed between the Central government and the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah). N Ravi, the interlocutor for the peace talks, has been asked to keep the minister informed of progress. The minister has also asked Assam peace talks interlocutor PC Haldar to submit updates every month. A senior government official denied that Singh had taken the step due to a rift between his ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office.
SC reserves verdict on remission powers
The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on the power of state governments to remit prison sentences. A Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India HL Dattu will look into the matter, including whether state governments can remit sentences where agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation have been the prosecutors in the case. The court reserved its verdict after hearing a plea that challenged the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to cancel the life imprisonment sentences of those convicted for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The Centre had argued that the state could not use its power of remission to release the seven convicts, whose death penalties were commuted to life sentences by the apex court in February last year.
Experts say 41 tigers dead so far
Wildlife groups and conservationists on Wednesday said that 41 tigers had died so far this year, out of which 32 had been killed by poachers. The groups expressed concern that the Central government was not doing enough to protect the country’s tigers, noting that 66 tigers were killed last year. Indian environmental authorities said that the number of tigers in the country had risen to 2,226 in 2014 from 1,706 in 2010.
Supreme Court grants Maran interim protection
The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted former Union Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran interim protection from being arrested for allegedly having set up an illegal telephone-exchange. The court asked the Central Bureau of Investigation why it wanted to arrest Maran. Staying the Madras High Court’s order cancelling the anticipatory bail granted to him, a bench of the court led by Justice TS Thakur criticised the CBI for indulging in “political vendetta”. The Bureau had alleged that 360 high-speed telephone lines had been provided to Maran at his Chennai home when he was Union Telecom Minister between 2004 and 2007.
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