Top news: Centre’s plan to scrap Article 370 will make India an occupier in J&K, says Mehbooba Mufti

J&K special status: Pakistan condemns India’s decision, says it will ‘counter illegal steps’

Pakistan on Monday condemned the Indian government’s resolution to revoke Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which provides special status to the state, and its decision to turn the state into a Union Territory with a legislature. The Pakistan Foreign ministry said that Jammu and Kashmir was a disputed territory that was internationally recognised, adding that they “would exercise all possible options to counter the illegal steps”.

J&K: 8,000 more paramilitary troops airlifted to state from parts of country; IAF and Army on alert

At least 8,000 paramilitary personnel were airlifted to Jammu and Kashmir on Monday from several parts of the country, including Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Assam, NDTV reported. This followed Home Minister Amit Shah’s proposal in the Parliament to revoke Article 370, which provides special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Unnao case: Supreme Court allows injured rape complainant to be airlifted to Delhi for treatment

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the injured Unnao rape complainant to be airlifted from Lucknow to Delhi for treatment, PTI reported. The complainant’s lawyer told the court that her mother wanted her to be shifted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi for better care as she was still in critical condition.

Sensex, Nifty 50 trim some losses after declining to five-month lows in early trade

The Indian benchmark indices sank to five-month lows on Monday morning following selling of shares in Asian markets due to fears of a trade war between the China and the United States, Reuters reported. The market sentiment improved briefly after the Centre introduced bills in Parliament on Jammu and Kashmir, according to PTI.

1984 anti-Sikh violence: SC postpones Sajjan Kumar’s plea on suspension of life sentence to May

The Supreme Court on Monday said the plea on the suspension of former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar’s life sentence in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot case would be heard in May next year, PTI reported. The Delhi High Court had, in December 2018, sentenced Kumar to life imprisonment and held him guilty of murder, promoting enmity between groups, and defiling public property.

‘India has failed Kashmir’: Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah lambast proposal to scrap Article 370

Peoples Democratic Party leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday condemned the Centre’s decision to table a resolution in Parliament to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution, which provides special status to Jammu and Kashmir. In a statement, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said the government’s unilateral decision was shocking and “a total betrayal of the trust that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had reposed in India when the state acceeded to it in 1947”.

Amit Shah proposes bill revoking Article 370, turning Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh into Union Territories

Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday moved a resolution in the Rajya Sabha to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution, which provides special status to Jammu and Kashmir, amid uproar from members of the Opposition. An order from President Ram Nath Kovind also removed provisions under Article 35-A, which provides special treatment to the state.

Tamil Nadu: Lok Sabha election being held in Vellore four months after being rescinded

The election to the Vellore Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu started on Monday morning, almost four months after it was rescinded on the Election Commission’s recommendation following a report that voters had been bribed. The rest of the state went to the polls on April 18.

Maharashtra rains: At least seven people killed, schools and colleges closed in Mumbai and Pune

At least seven people were killed in rain-related incidents in Maharashtra’s Mumbai, Pune and Palghar districts on Sunday as heavy rains forced the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to declare that all schools and colleges in the city would remain closed on Monday. “Some government offices providing emergency and essential services will remain open,” said the civic body. “Private office staff may move out only if essential.”

Gujarat: Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra’s show cancelled in Surat, says report

Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra’s show was cancelled in Gujarat’s Surat city on Saturday after a few people threatened to disrupt it, The Indian Express reported on Monday.

Delhi: AIIMS and Safdarjung resident doctors call off their protest against NMC Bill, resume duties

Resident doctors at All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi called off their strike and resumed duties on Sunday after Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan told them that their concerns about the National Medical Commission Bill would be addressed. They had been protesting since Thursday.

CJI Ranjan Gogoi voices concerns over ‘belligerent and reckless behaviour’ by individuals, groups

Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on Sunday voiced concerns over “belligerent and reckless behaviour” by certain individuals and groups, reported PTI. Speaking at the foundation ceremony of an auditorium of the Guwahati High Court, Gogoi said that he hoped that these incidents were exceptions, PTI reported.

Jammu and Kashmir parties say they will fight attempts to repeal state’s special status

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said that all the political parties in Jammu and Kashmir would be united to protect the special status of Kashmir, ANI reported. He also appealed to both India and Pakistan to not “take any step that may accelerate the tension between the two countries”.