26 countries seek India’s assistance in evacuation efforts
As 1,052 more Indians were evacuated from Yemen on Monday, nearly 3,300 of the 4,000 country's citizens in the war-torn nation have now been rescued as part of Operation Rahat. “This has been achieved without a single injury or loss of life or without firing even a single bullet,” said Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. India has received requests from 26 countries, including the United States, France and Sri Lanka, for help in evacuating their citizens. Yemen is witnessing fighting between Shia Houthi rebels and forces loyal to ousted President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
Government launches National Air Quality Index
The Union government launched a National Air Quality Index on Monday in response to concerns about the worsening air quality in major Indian cities. The index will initially cover 10 cities, and display real-time data about the level of pollutants in the air. Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the index may prove to be a major impetus for controlling air pollution because of the public awareness it will create. The air quality index is eventually expected to cover all cities with a population of over one million. Officials from the Central Pollution Control Board, however, warned that the quality of monitoring stations across the country was mixed. “The new index should be seen as indicative,” a board official said.
Modi criticised for remark about ‘five-star activists’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was criticised for saying that the judiciary had to be wary of “five-star activists”. “The Prime Minister’s remarks were outrageous,” said Prashant Bhushan, a senior advocate. “Be it the coal scam or other similar cases, those accused of corruption have been held accountable by the activists.” Lawyer Indira Jaisingh asked Modi to share names of those activists in the public interest. Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat said that Modi spoke of such activists while he wearing a Rs 10 lakh suit himself. Modi had made the remarks to a joint conference of chief justices and chief ministers in New Delhi on Sunday.
Rahul Gandhi to make appearance at farmers’ rally on April 19
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi will attend at a farmers’ rally on April 19, making his first public appearance since taking a sabbatical from politics two months ago. The rally is being held to protest the government's land acquisition bill and is expected to be attended by lakhs of farmers. Rahul Gandhi is expected to address the rally along with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, said party leader Digvijay Singh. The rally is being held on the eve of the second phase of the Budget session in Parliament. Last fortnight, the Union government re-promulgated the disputed land acquisition ordinance.
Increase punishment for juveniles in heinous crimes, says SC
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Union government to increase the punishment for juveniles involved in heinous crimes such as rape and murder. In an order issued by a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and PC Pant, the court suggested that legislators should change the law to hold juveniles accountable for their actions since with a heinous crime "it is extremely difficult to conceive that the juvenile was not aware of the consequences". The order was issued after a plea hearing of a murder accused who claimed to be younger than 18 at the time of the crime. Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi said that the rising rate of crimes by juveniles had become “a matter of grave concern".
We welcome your comments at
letters@scroll.in.
As 1,052 more Indians were evacuated from Yemen on Monday, nearly 3,300 of the 4,000 country's citizens in the war-torn nation have now been rescued as part of Operation Rahat. “This has been achieved without a single injury or loss of life or without firing even a single bullet,” said Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. India has received requests from 26 countries, including the United States, France and Sri Lanka, for help in evacuating their citizens. Yemen is witnessing fighting between Shia Houthi rebels and forces loyal to ousted President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
Government launches National Air Quality Index
The Union government launched a National Air Quality Index on Monday in response to concerns about the worsening air quality in major Indian cities. The index will initially cover 10 cities, and display real-time data about the level of pollutants in the air. Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the index may prove to be a major impetus for controlling air pollution because of the public awareness it will create. The air quality index is eventually expected to cover all cities with a population of over one million. Officials from the Central Pollution Control Board, however, warned that the quality of monitoring stations across the country was mixed. “The new index should be seen as indicative,” a board official said.
Modi criticised for remark about ‘five-star activists’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was criticised for saying that the judiciary had to be wary of “five-star activists”. “The Prime Minister’s remarks were outrageous,” said Prashant Bhushan, a senior advocate. “Be it the coal scam or other similar cases, those accused of corruption have been held accountable by the activists.” Lawyer Indira Jaisingh asked Modi to share names of those activists in the public interest. Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat said that Modi spoke of such activists while he wearing a Rs 10 lakh suit himself. Modi had made the remarks to a joint conference of chief justices and chief ministers in New Delhi on Sunday.
Rahul Gandhi to make appearance at farmers’ rally on April 19
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi will attend at a farmers’ rally on April 19, making his first public appearance since taking a sabbatical from politics two months ago. The rally is being held to protest the government's land acquisition bill and is expected to be attended by lakhs of farmers. Rahul Gandhi is expected to address the rally along with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, said party leader Digvijay Singh. The rally is being held on the eve of the second phase of the Budget session in Parliament. Last fortnight, the Union government re-promulgated the disputed land acquisition ordinance.
Increase punishment for juveniles in heinous crimes, says SC
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Union government to increase the punishment for juveniles involved in heinous crimes such as rape and murder. In an order issued by a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and PC Pant, the court suggested that legislators should change the law to hold juveniles accountable for their actions since with a heinous crime "it is extremely difficult to conceive that the juvenile was not aware of the consequences". The order was issued after a plea hearing of a murder accused who claimed to be younger than 18 at the time of the crime. Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi said that the rising rate of crimes by juveniles had become “a matter of grave concern".
