Top news: Mayawati severs alliance with Samajwadi Party, calls former ally ‘anti-Dalit’

Here are the day’s top updates:

Congress moves Gujarat HC to expel MLA Alpesh Thakor, court sends notice to leader and speaker

The Gujarat High Court on Monday sent a notice to former Congress MLA Alpesh Thakor after the party sought a directive to Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi for an early decision on the expulsion of Thakor. Thakor quit the party on April 10 after Thakor Kshatriya Sena, the outfit founded by him, decided to withdraw its support to the Congress.

Congress dissolves its district committees in Uttar Pradesh, sets up panel to address complaints

The Congress on Monday approved the dissolution of all its district committees in Uttar Pradesh, a month after the party’s dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections in the state. It has also decided to set up a three-member disciplinary committee to look into complaints of “gross indiscipline” during the recently concluded elections and depute a two-member team to oversee election preparations in all the Assembly seats in eastern and western Uttar Pradesh where the bye-polls for 12 seats are scheduled to take place soon.

MK Stalin leads protests in Chennai, blames AIADMK for ‘inefficient handling’ of water crisis

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Working President MK Stalin on Monday led a protest against the state government’s “inefficient handling” of the water crisis in Tamil Nadu. Stalin criticised the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for trying to downplay the water shortage. “Yagams [rituals] that AIADMK leaders are conducting are to save their positions in the government and not to please the rain gods,” said Stalin.

Modi, Xi, Putin to meet on sidelines of G20 summit in Japan, talks likely to focus on US policies

Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold the second trilateral summit in Japan’s Osaka with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of G-20 summit. It will be held in Osaka on June 28 and June 29. The leaders are expected to focus on opposing the “protectionist” trade policies of the United States. All the three leaders recently met at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek.

Jharkhand mob attack: Three arrested a day after Muslim man dies in Seraikela Kharsawan

The Jharkhand Police on Monday said they have arrested three people in connection with the death of a 24-year Muslim man who was beaten by a mob in Seraikela Kharsawan district on June 18. Tabrej Ansari died in a hospital on Saturday. The Jharkhand Police have formed a Special Investigation Team to probe the incident.

Payal Tadvi suicide: Special court rejects bail plea of three accused doctors

A special court on Monday dismissed the bail plea of three doctors arrested for allegedly abetting the suicide of their junior colleague Payal Tadvi last month. Hema Ahuja, Bhakti Mehere and Ankita Khandelwal of BYL Nair Hospital were arrested on May 29, seven days after Tadvi committed suicide after allegedly facing casteist abuse from them at the Topiwala National Medical College in Mumbai, where she worked.

Assam: Man allegedly involved in forcing Muslim youths to chant ‘Jai Sri Ram’ arrested

The Assam Police have arrested a man for allegedly being involved with a group that forced some Muslim youths to chant “Jai Sri Ram” in Barpeta district earlier this week. The police arrested him after a video of the incident went viral but his accomplices have not yet been held.

Odisha: BJD leader Saroj Meher arrested for making engineer do sit-ups

The Odisha Police on Monday arrested Biju Janata Dal leader Saroj Meher for allegedly making a junior engineer do sit-ups in public. The incident occurred on June 5 and came to light after a video of the episode started doing the rounds on social media. Police picked up Meher from a hotel in Nuapada earlier on Monday and brought him to Bolangir for questioning.

Barmer marquee collapse: CM Ashok Gehlot announces compensation of Rs 5 lakh as toll rises to 15

“The incident is very unfortunate,” Gehlot said, while directing officials to ensure those injured in the incident are given proper treatment. “We are thinking of issuing an advisory regarding arrangements and security at such events to prevent similar incidents in future.”

‘Metro Man’ E Sreedharan quits as advisor to Lucknow Metro citing health concerns

“Sreedharan personally monitored the construction work of the North-South Corridor,” Lucknow Metro Director Kumar Keshav said. “His valuable guidance was crucial in construction of the underground section. I requested him not to resign but he said his health was not supporting him at this point of time.”

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar formally joins BJP

Jaishankar was a key member of the Indian team that negotiated the Indo-US nuclear deal in 2007, during the tenure of the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance government. He has also served as India’s ambassador to China and the United States.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis’ bungalow has defaulted on water bills worth Rs 7.44 lakh, says BMC

The RTI query, filed by activist Shakeel Ahmed, also showed that 17 other Maharashtra Cabinet ministers have not paid their water bills over the past several years. This includes Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar’s “Devgari” bungalow that has defaulted on Rs 4,45,055 in water bills, Transport Minister Diwakar Rawte’s “Meghdoot” bungalow that failed to pay bills worth Rs 1,61,719 and Pankaja Munde’s bungalow that has defaulted on bills worth Rs 35,033, News18 reported. Some of the bills have been pending since 2001.

Maratha quota: Supreme Court refuses to entertain plea challenging reservations

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and BR Gavai said it cannot pass any order as the admission process ended on June 17. “No, we will not pass any order as it will lead to chaos,” the bench said.

AgustaWestland case: SC to hear plea against permission granted to Rajeev Saxena to travel abroad

The Delhi High Court had allowed Saxena to travel outside India to receive treatment for blood cancer and other ailments. Justice Anu Malhotra had vacated the High Court’s June 4 interim order that had stayed the trial court’s June 1 decision allowing him to travel abroad.

IAF has never blocked civilian traffic unlike Pakistan, says Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa

The Air Force chief said the airspace over Srinagar had been stopped only for two to three hours on February 27. “Rest of it we did not allow tension with Pakistan to dictate our civil aviation because our economy is much bigger and much stronger than Pakistan,” he added.

Southwest monsoon: Rainfall so far has been 38% below normal, says weather department

Rainfall in the southwest monsoon season so far this year has been 38% below normal, latest data from the India Meteorological Department showed. The weather department said that India received only 70.9 mm rainfall until June 23, against a long-period average of 114.2 mm for the period. The southwest monsoon season starts from June 1 officially, and ends on September 30. This year, it reached the Kerala coast on June 8.

Parliament: Aadhaar Amendment Bill tabled in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha discusses water crisis

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad introduced the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019, in the Lok Sabha on Monday during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The amendments will make the Aadhaar Act conform to the Supreme Court judgement on its constitutionality. Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha discussed the water crisis plaguing different parts of the country.

Trinamool Congress MPs protest outside Parliament against electronic voting machines

Trinamool Congress MPs on Monday staged a protest against electronic voting machines near the Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex. The MPs demanded that paper ballots be used instead of voting machines for casting votes. Senior Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien led the protest.

‘BSP will fight all elections on its own’: Mayawati calls Samajwadi Party ‘anti-Dalit’

Mayawati’s remarks on Twitter came a day after the party’s all-India national convention in Lucknow. Mayawati said the all-India meeting lasted for more than two hours, following which state-wise meetings went on till late night “without media presence”.

Encephalitis outbreak: SC asks Centre, Bihar and UP to list steps taken to stop spread of disease

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the Centre, and the governments of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to submit affidavits on the steps taken, and facilities provided, to combat the outbreak of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome. The governments have been given seven days to file replies.

‘Economic manhandling’: Congress lashes out at Centre after RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya quits

The Congress on Monday lashed out at the Centre after Business Standard reported that Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Viral Acharya has resigned from the central bank six months before his term was scheduled to end.

Punjab: Dera Sacha Sauda demands judicial inquiry into follower’s murder in jail

The followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda outfit on Sunday demanded a judicial inquiry into the killing of a sect follower at the New Nabha prison in Punjab. Mohinder Pal Bittu was the main accused in several sacrilege cases, including the one that took place at Burj Jawahar Singh Wala and Bargari in 2015.

Andhra Pradesh: Six, including three boys, arrested for allegedly raping 16-year-old girl

Six people, including three boys, have been arrested in Andhra Pradesh’s Ongole town for allegedly locking up a 16-year-old girl and raping her for five days. The accused were arrested from different parts of the state, and the boys have been sent to a juvenile home, said the police.

RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya resigns six months before term was to end: Business Standard

Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Viral Acharya has resigned six months before the scheduled end of his term. Acharya reportedly resigned a few weeks before the RBI’s monetary policy committee earlier this month. His last day in office will be a few days before the end of July.

Hurriyat Conference is ready for meaningful dialogue with Centre, says Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

Hurriyat Conference Chairperson Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Sunday said his organisation will respond positively if the Centre initiates meaningful talks with separatists in Kashmir. His statement came a day after Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik said the situation in the state was changing and the leaders of the separatist group were ready for talks with the Centre.

Arvind Kejriwal claims ‘dangerous spurt’ in crimes in Delhi, police reject accusation

The Delhi Police on Sunday countered Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s accusation that the national capital was witnessing a “dangerous spurt” in crimes. Kejriwal had cited the murder of an elderly couple and their domestic help in Vasant Vihar, while claiming that crime in the city had increased.

Bihar encephalitis outbreak spreads to 20 districts but officials report decline in number of cases

The toll in Bihar’s Acute Encephalitis Syndrome outbreak rose to 152 on Sunday as two children died in Muzaffarpur district. According to state health department officials, the deaths have occurred in 20 of the state’s 38 districts.

A non-Gandhi can lead Congress but Gandhis must stay active to resolve crises: Mani Shankar Aiyar

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said on Sunday that a “non-Gandhi” can lead the party but the Gandhi family must remain active within the organisation. His comments came amid uncertainty over the next party president as Rahul Gandhi stuck to his decision to quit the post following last month’s debacle in the General Elections.

Bodies of seven missing mountaineers believed to be found in Uttarakhand

An Indo-Tibetan Border Police team on Sunday found the bodies of seven people believed to be of the mountaineers who had gone missing in Uttarakhand. Deputy Inspector General APD Nimbadia said the team dug out seven bodies from the snow and were looking for the body of one more mountaineer.