Crackdown on Ford Foundation and Greenpeace questioned
The United States on Friday sought clarification from India regarding the crackdown on the Ford Foundation and Greenpeace India. “We are concerned that this recent ruling limits the necessary and critical debate within Indian society,” said Marie Harf, the acting deputy spokesperson for the country’s state department. She added that the US was also concerned about the manner in which the Foreign Contributions Regulations Act had been applied to the two Non-Governmental Organisations. India had on Thursday placed the Ford Foundation on its watch list, ordering that all funds coming from the organisation had to be cleared by the union home ministry. The country also suspended the registration of Greenpeace India earlier this month, saying that the environmental organisation’s activities had harmed India’s economic interests.
Rajya Sabha passes private member’s bill to protect transgender rights
The Rajya Sabha on Friday passed a private member’s bill to protect the rights of the transgender community in the country. The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014 was introduced by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam legislator Tiruchi Siva. Leader of the House Arun Jaitley called for the bill to be passed unanimously, saying that all the members of the House were in favour of equal rights. However, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot requested Siva to withdraw the bill, saying that many issues on the question of rights for the transgender community were yet to be resolved by various Ministries. He assured Siva that the government would come out with a comprehensive bill on the issue. However, Siva rejected Gehlot’s assurance and said that it was “high time” that the bill was passed. The bill was the first private bill to be passed by the Upper House of Parliament in 47 years – 'The Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Bill, 1968’ that became an Act on August 9, 1970 was the last such bill.
Arvind Kejriwal apologises for continuing rally after farmer’s suicide
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday apologised for continuing his rally on April 22 even after a Rajasthan farmer committed suicide during his speech. “I should have called off the rally,” he said. “I don’t think that anybody of those present there would have thought that a person would commit suicide.” Meanwhile the Delhi Police refused to share the details of the case with the District Magistrate, who had been ordered by the state government to conduct an inquiry into the farmer’s suicide. The Magistrate had earlier set a Friday morning deadline for the police to share the information. The police claimed that since a First Information Report had been lodged in the case, the inquest into the death of Gajendra Singh had become part of their investigation.
Rahul Gandhi likely to visit Maharashtra, Telangana over farmer suicides
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi was likely to visit Maharashtra and Telangana in the coming days over the number of farmer suicides in the two states, Congress officials said on Friday. The officials said that Gandhi would either conduct a padayatra to the states or visit the families of the farmers who had committed suicide. He was also expected to speak in Parliament next week over the issue of price rise, the officials added. “We are now hearing him more and seeing him more,” said party General Secretary Digvijaya Singh. Meanwhile, Gandhi completed a pilgrimage to the Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand on Friday.
Opposition walkout from Lok Sabha on Goods and Services Tax Bill
Opposition parties staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha on Friday after the Union government introduced a constitutional amendment to pass the Goods and Services Tax Bill. The Congress, Trinamool Congress and Left parties staged the walkout after their request for sending the bill for review to a Standing Committee was denied. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the tax would lead to a “win-win” situation for both the Centre and the states. While Jaitley urged the Congress to support the bill, the party refused to do so, saying that the bill was different to the one introduced by its United Progressive Alliance government.
We welcome your comments at
letters@scroll.in.
The United States on Friday sought clarification from India regarding the crackdown on the Ford Foundation and Greenpeace India. “We are concerned that this recent ruling limits the necessary and critical debate within Indian society,” said Marie Harf, the acting deputy spokesperson for the country’s state department. She added that the US was also concerned about the manner in which the Foreign Contributions Regulations Act had been applied to the two Non-Governmental Organisations. India had on Thursday placed the Ford Foundation on its watch list, ordering that all funds coming from the organisation had to be cleared by the union home ministry. The country also suspended the registration of Greenpeace India earlier this month, saying that the environmental organisation’s activities had harmed India’s economic interests.
Rajya Sabha passes private member’s bill to protect transgender rights
The Rajya Sabha on Friday passed a private member’s bill to protect the rights of the transgender community in the country. The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014 was introduced by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam legislator Tiruchi Siva. Leader of the House Arun Jaitley called for the bill to be passed unanimously, saying that all the members of the House were in favour of equal rights. However, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot requested Siva to withdraw the bill, saying that many issues on the question of rights for the transgender community were yet to be resolved by various Ministries. He assured Siva that the government would come out with a comprehensive bill on the issue. However, Siva rejected Gehlot’s assurance and said that it was “high time” that the bill was passed. The bill was the first private bill to be passed by the Upper House of Parliament in 47 years – 'The Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Bill, 1968’ that became an Act on August 9, 1970 was the last such bill.
Arvind Kejriwal apologises for continuing rally after farmer’s suicide
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday apologised for continuing his rally on April 22 even after a Rajasthan farmer committed suicide during his speech. “I should have called off the rally,” he said. “I don’t think that anybody of those present there would have thought that a person would commit suicide.” Meanwhile the Delhi Police refused to share the details of the case with the District Magistrate, who had been ordered by the state government to conduct an inquiry into the farmer’s suicide. The Magistrate had earlier set a Friday morning deadline for the police to share the information. The police claimed that since a First Information Report had been lodged in the case, the inquest into the death of Gajendra Singh had become part of their investigation.
Rahul Gandhi likely to visit Maharashtra, Telangana over farmer suicides
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi was likely to visit Maharashtra and Telangana in the coming days over the number of farmer suicides in the two states, Congress officials said on Friday. The officials said that Gandhi would either conduct a padayatra to the states or visit the families of the farmers who had committed suicide. He was also expected to speak in Parliament next week over the issue of price rise, the officials added. “We are now hearing him more and seeing him more,” said party General Secretary Digvijaya Singh. Meanwhile, Gandhi completed a pilgrimage to the Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand on Friday.
Opposition walkout from Lok Sabha on Goods and Services Tax Bill
Opposition parties staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha on Friday after the Union government introduced a constitutional amendment to pass the Goods and Services Tax Bill. The Congress, Trinamool Congress and Left parties staged the walkout after their request for sending the bill for review to a Standing Committee was denied. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the tax would lead to a “win-win” situation for both the Centre and the states. While Jaitley urged the Congress to support the bill, the party refused to do so, saying that the bill was different to the one introduced by its United Progressive Alliance government.