Opposition claims victory
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the controversial land acquisition ordinance will be allowed to lapse on Monday. In his monthly radio programme, Modi said that the decision not to re-promulgate the ordinance for a fourth time was taken after the Centre received advice from the states on the matter. Welcoming the decision, opposition parties criticised the Central government for playing a “cruel joke on farmers”. At an election rally in Patna, opposition leaders including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Congress President Sonia Gandhi said that their protests against the amended Land Acquisition Bill had forced the government to withdraw the ordinance.
Patel vows nationwide quota movement
Patidar community leader Hardik Patel on Sunday said that he was planning to expand the community’s movement for reservations under the Other Backward Class category to a national scale. After meeting with Gujjar community leaders from Rajasthan in New Delhi, Patel said that he would launch a “large-scale agitation” against the Centre in October. Protests by the Patidar community in Gujarat turned violent last week after the Ahmedabad Police detained Patel for sitting on a hunger strike. Ten people were killed in clashes between the protesters and security forces.
Kannada scholar MM Kalburgi shot dead
Kannada scholar and Sahitya Akademi award winner MM Kalburgi was shot dead in his home by two unidentified assailants at his home in Dharwad in Karnataka on Sunday. The two fled on a motorcycle. The officials said that Kalburgi’s murder was being investigated from various angles, including the controversies arising out of his research on traditional religious practices. A rationalist scholar, Kalburgi had previously received threats to his life from radical sections of the Lingayat community for a collection of articles about their patron saint.
Rajnath criticises ceasefire violations
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that India would only initiate talks with Pakistan after Islamabad assured New Delhi that it would stop violating the ceasefire agreement between the two countries. Accusing Pakistan of firing on the border areas, Singh said that Indian soldiers had been asked to give Pakistani forces a “befitting reply”. His remarks came a day after Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that Islamabad would “retaliate in full force” if Pakistan’s civilian population was targeted by India.
Sushma reiterates demand on UNSC seat
Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday reiterated India's hope for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. At a meeting with Mogens Lykketoft, the President-Elect of the United Nations’ General Assembly, the Minister of External Affairs “conveyed India’s expectations” about adopting a text calling for the reform of the United Nations as well as inducting new members into the Security Council. A senior official later said that while Lykketoft was “extremely positive” over India’s demands for the UN reform process, the President-Elect did not “give a firm assurance” on the matter.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the controversial land acquisition ordinance will be allowed to lapse on Monday. In his monthly radio programme, Modi said that the decision not to re-promulgate the ordinance for a fourth time was taken after the Centre received advice from the states on the matter. Welcoming the decision, opposition parties criticised the Central government for playing a “cruel joke on farmers”. At an election rally in Patna, opposition leaders including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Congress President Sonia Gandhi said that their protests against the amended Land Acquisition Bill had forced the government to withdraw the ordinance.
Patel vows nationwide quota movement
Patidar community leader Hardik Patel on Sunday said that he was planning to expand the community’s movement for reservations under the Other Backward Class category to a national scale. After meeting with Gujjar community leaders from Rajasthan in New Delhi, Patel said that he would launch a “large-scale agitation” against the Centre in October. Protests by the Patidar community in Gujarat turned violent last week after the Ahmedabad Police detained Patel for sitting on a hunger strike. Ten people were killed in clashes between the protesters and security forces.
Kannada scholar MM Kalburgi shot dead
Kannada scholar and Sahitya Akademi award winner MM Kalburgi was shot dead in his home by two unidentified assailants at his home in Dharwad in Karnataka on Sunday. The two fled on a motorcycle. The officials said that Kalburgi’s murder was being investigated from various angles, including the controversies arising out of his research on traditional religious practices. A rationalist scholar, Kalburgi had previously received threats to his life from radical sections of the Lingayat community for a collection of articles about their patron saint.
Rajnath criticises ceasefire violations
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that India would only initiate talks with Pakistan after Islamabad assured New Delhi that it would stop violating the ceasefire agreement between the two countries. Accusing Pakistan of firing on the border areas, Singh said that Indian soldiers had been asked to give Pakistani forces a “befitting reply”. His remarks came a day after Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that Islamabad would “retaliate in full force” if Pakistan’s civilian population was targeted by India.
Sushma reiterates demand on UNSC seat
Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday reiterated India's hope for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. At a meeting with Mogens Lykketoft, the President-Elect of the United Nations’ General Assembly, the Minister of External Affairs “conveyed India’s expectations” about adopting a text calling for the reform of the United Nations as well as inducting new members into the Security Council. A senior official later said that while Lykketoft was “extremely positive” over India’s demands for the UN reform process, the President-Elect did not “give a firm assurance” on the matter.
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