Headlines from today's papers.
SC ruling gives transgender people legal recognition
In a landmark judgment by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, transgender people have been granted the status of a third gender. The apex court stated that “it is the right of every human being to choose their gender”, granting rights to those who identify themselves as neither male nor female. The verdict, however, does not apply to gays, lesbians and bisexuals. The court also directed the Centre and the states to take the necessary steps to bring the transgender community into the mainstream by providing adequate healthcare, education and employment. All identity documents such as birth certificates, passports and driver's licenses will now have a third gender column. The judgement was hailed by human rights and civil society groups through the country.
Gandhi vs. Gandhi battle continues in UP
The war of words between estranged cousins Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of the Congress and Varun Gandhi of the Bharatiya Janata Party heated up in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. Priyanka accused Varun of “betraying the family” and said that this was “an ideological war and not a family tea party”. Varun hit back, saying that he hadn't crossed the “Laxman rekha of decency” and that his silence should not be considered as weakness. Meanwhile, hundreds of Congress party workers protested outside senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's residence in Delhi, demanding an “unconditional apology” for his remarks characterising Priyanka as an alcoholic and an “ungrateful daughter”.
Former West Bengal governor lashes out at CBI, Reliance
Gopalakrishna Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and West Bengal governor from 2004-2009, lashed out at the Central Bureau of Investigation, saying that it should be called the "Department of Dirty Tricks". He added that the bureau has been justifiably criticised for lack of sensitivity to the senior bureaucrats named in needless inquiries. Gandhi also laid into Reliance Industries, calling it a "parallel state" that "exercises power so brazenly, over the natural resources, financial resources, professional resources and, ultimately, over human resources". Gandhi was delivering the 15th DP Kohli Memorial lecture organised to mark the year-long golden jubilee celebrations of the CBI.
Muslims afraid of Modi, but not of Rajnath: senior Shia cleric
Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, a senior Shia cleric from Lucknow, remarked that the Muslim community is afraid of Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, but find party president Rajnath Singh acceptable and comparable to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The cleric also added that it “would have been better” if Singh was the prime ministerial candidate, instead of Modi. The remarks came a day after Singh, the BJP’s candidate from Lucknow, toured the city and met several Muslim clerics.
Petrol prices to fall effective Wednesday
Government-controlled oil marketing companies announced on Tuesday that they would be lowering petrol prices all over the country by 1.2%, or 70 paise, effective Wednesday. This is the second cut in petrol prices in less than a month. According to Indian Oil Corporation, the prices have been cut due to declining global prices and the strengthening of the rupee against the dollar. There was, however, no change announced in diesel prices.
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SC ruling gives transgender people legal recognition
In a landmark judgment by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, transgender people have been granted the status of a third gender. The apex court stated that “it is the right of every human being to choose their gender”, granting rights to those who identify themselves as neither male nor female. The verdict, however, does not apply to gays, lesbians and bisexuals. The court also directed the Centre and the states to take the necessary steps to bring the transgender community into the mainstream by providing adequate healthcare, education and employment. All identity documents such as birth certificates, passports and driver's licenses will now have a third gender column. The judgement was hailed by human rights and civil society groups through the country.
Gandhi vs. Gandhi battle continues in UP
The war of words between estranged cousins Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of the Congress and Varun Gandhi of the Bharatiya Janata Party heated up in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. Priyanka accused Varun of “betraying the family” and said that this was “an ideological war and not a family tea party”. Varun hit back, saying that he hadn't crossed the “Laxman rekha of decency” and that his silence should not be considered as weakness. Meanwhile, hundreds of Congress party workers protested outside senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's residence in Delhi, demanding an “unconditional apology” for his remarks characterising Priyanka as an alcoholic and an “ungrateful daughter”.
Former West Bengal governor lashes out at CBI, Reliance
Gopalakrishna Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and West Bengal governor from 2004-2009, lashed out at the Central Bureau of Investigation, saying that it should be called the "Department of Dirty Tricks". He added that the bureau has been justifiably criticised for lack of sensitivity to the senior bureaucrats named in needless inquiries. Gandhi also laid into Reliance Industries, calling it a "parallel state" that "exercises power so brazenly, over the natural resources, financial resources, professional resources and, ultimately, over human resources". Gandhi was delivering the 15th DP Kohli Memorial lecture organised to mark the year-long golden jubilee celebrations of the CBI.
Muslims afraid of Modi, but not of Rajnath: senior Shia cleric
Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, a senior Shia cleric from Lucknow, remarked that the Muslim community is afraid of Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, but find party president Rajnath Singh acceptable and comparable to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The cleric also added that it “would have been better” if Singh was the prime ministerial candidate, instead of Modi. The remarks came a day after Singh, the BJP’s candidate from Lucknow, toured the city and met several Muslim clerics.
Petrol prices to fall effective Wednesday
Government-controlled oil marketing companies announced on Tuesday that they would be lowering petrol prices all over the country by 1.2%, or 70 paise, effective Wednesday. This is the second cut in petrol prices in less than a month. According to Indian Oil Corporation, the prices have been cut due to declining global prices and the strengthening of the rupee against the dollar. There was, however, no change announced in diesel prices.
