Rajiv Gandhi killing: HC asks state to file response to Nalini Sriharan’s plea for extended parole

The Madras High Court on Tuesday asked the Tamil Nadu government to file its response to a plea by Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convict Nalini Sriharan, which sought an extension of 30 days for her ongoing parole, PTI reported. The Madras High Court had granted her leave for a month on July 5 and she was released 20 days later to attend her daughter’s wedding.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad detained at Jammu airport, sent back to New Delhi again

“Ghulam Nabi Azad left for Jammu today at 1.30 pm by flight No UK-812 Vistara Airlines,” an aide of the Congress leader said in a statement. “After deboarding at Jammu airport Ghulam Nabi Azad was detained at the behest of the current administration from 2.55 pm. Now he’s been sent back to Delhi from there. He was not allowed to go home or attend the meeting at Jammu Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters either.”

J&K: Soldier killed, four others injured in alleged ceasefire violation in Poonch district

An Indian soldier was killed and four others were injured on Tuesday in an alleged ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, PTI reported. Naik Ravi Ranjan Kumar Singh, 36, was a resident of Bihar.

Saradha scam: Calcutta HC extends ex-police commissioner’s interim protection from arrest

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday extended the interim protection granted to former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar till August 28, PTI reported. The Central Bureau of Investigation is investigating Kumar in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam.

NRC process: Assam government to give legal help to those excluded from final list, says MHA

The Ministry of Home Affairs said on Tuesday that the Assam government will make adequate arrangements for people to appeal against the non-inclusion of their names in the National Register of Citizens. A home ministry press release said that every individual, whose name does not figure in the final NRC, can represent their case to foreigners’ tribunals.

Air force chief says IAF is ‘cautious and alert’ to face any situation on India-Pakistan border

Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said on Tuesday that the force was “cautious and alert” to face any eventuality on the border, ANI reported. “We have seen their deployment,” he said, referring to Pakistan. “Indian Air Force is always cautious. We are responsible for air defence and we are always alert.”

Akali Dal leader says ‘Sacred Games’ season 2 hurts Sikh religious sentiments, wants legal action

Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday urged Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javedkar to take legal action against Netflix India and its show Sacred Games season 2. Sirsa said a particular scene where the character Sartaj Singh, played by actor Saif Ali Khan, throws his kada away hurts Sikh religious sentiments. Kada is considered to be a religious symbol by Sikhs.

Growing intolerance, communal polarisation and violence will damage polity, says Manmohan Singh

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday warned that the “unpleasant trends” of growing intolerance, communal polarisation, and incidents of violent crimes will damage our polity, PTI reported.

INX media case: P Chidambaram moves Supreme Court after Delhi HC rejects plea for anticipatory bailFormer Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court hours after the Delhi High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea in the INX media case. His son Karti Chidambaram is also an accused in the case.

West Bengal: Actors, activists write to CM Mamata Banerjee against police action, violence

A group of prominent actors, activists and theatre personalities on Monday wrote to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to condemn police action on teachers and the assault on a theatre actor in recent days in the state. Some of the signatories of the letter were also among those who wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month about lynchings in the country.

Three NIA officers transferred for allegedly seeking bribe in terror-funding case, inquiry initiated

Three National Investigation Agency officers conducting inquiries into a terror-funding case have been transferred for allegedly seeking a bribe. Pakistan-based militant and alleged 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed is an accused in this case. The agency was investigating how funds were being sent to India to set up terror networks.

SC to hear Facebook’s plea to transfer cases related to linking social media with Aadhaar

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear Facebook’s petition to transfer cases being heard in some High Courts in connection with the linking of social media profiles with Aadhaar. The petition sought the transfer of the cases from the High Courts of Madras, Bombay and Madhya Pradesh to the top court.

Delhi: Yamuna continues to flow above danger mark, water level expected to rise even more

The Yamuna in New Delhi continued to flow above the danger level on Tuesday. At 11 am, the river was at 206 metres, 67 cm above the danger mark. The water level had crossed the danger mark at 6 pm on Monday.

Ayodhya hearing: Ram Lalla’s lawyer shows SC more evidence to claim temple existed at disputed site

The advocate representing the deity Ram Lalla in the Ayodhya case continued to argue in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, citing more evidence to suggest that a temple existed at the disputed site in the past. CS Vaidyanathan claimed that artefacts and records clearly pointed to the fact that the site was Ram’s birthplace.

India rejects Pakistan’s claim of using water as a weapon in Kashmir dispute

India on Monday rejected Pakistan’s claims that it had failed to inform Islamabad about the release of water from a dam that could cause flooding across the border. Islamabad accused New Delhi of waging “fifth-generation warfare” and said the unexpected release of water into the River Sutlej that flows from India to Pakistan was an attempt by India to flout the longstanding Indus Water Treaty between the two countries.

Full text: ‘Access to healthcare is being impeded in Jammu and Kashmir,’ claim 18 doctors

Eighteen doctors from across the country have said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, which has been under unprecedented security lockdown since August 5, is hampering people’s access to healthcare. The doctors said this in a letter published in medical journal The BMJ on August 16.

2008 Malegaon blasts: NIA opposes journalists’ plea for public hearing, says case is sensitive

The National Investigation Agency on Monday insisted in a special court in Mumbai that even though it supports press freedom, the trial in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case should be held in camera. The agency had in July sought an in-camera hearing, saying it was essential to maintain harmony in society and ensure the safety of witnesses.

‘As an Indian, I am not proud’: Amartya Sen criticises Centre’s decisions on Jammu and Kashmir

Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen on Monday criticised the Narendra Modi-led administration’s decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and split the region into two Union Territories.

Malaysia bars Zakir Naik from delivering public speeches, PM says he’s stirring up ‘racial feelings’

Islamic preacher Zakir Naik has been prohibited from delivering public speeches in Malaysia with the aim of preserving “racial harmony”, the police said on Tuesday. This came days after reports of the Malaysian police questioning Naik about his controversial remarks earlier this month about minority communities in the country, including the ethnic Chinese and Hindus.

Chandrayaan-2 successfully enters Moon’s orbit

India’s second Moon mission, Chandrayaan-2, has entered the lunar orbit on Tuesday morning, Indian Space Research Organisation said. The spacecraft is days away from soft landing on the Moon, which is scheduled for September 7.

At least 38 people killed in North India floods, hundreds stranded in Himachal and Uttarakhand

Heavy rainfall in North India has killed at least 38 people and triggered landslides that left hundreds of people in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand stranded. The situation was particularly grim in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The Himachal Pradesh government has released Rs 15 crore for restoration work.

Karnataka: Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa to induct 17 ministers into his Cabinet

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa will expand his Cabinet with the induction of 17 ministers on Tuesday. The expansion is expected to take place around 10.30 am and Governor Vajubhai Vala will administer the oath of office.

Slowdown in economy is ‘very worrisome’, bold reforms needed, says Raghuram Rajan

Former Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan on Monday called the slowdown in the economy “very worrisome”. Rajan advised the government to immediately fix problems in the power and the non-bank financial sectors and enact reforms to spur private sector investment.

Kamal Nath’s nephew Ratul Puri arrested by Enforcement Directorate in bank fraud case: Reports

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday arrested businessman Ratul Puri, who is the nephew of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, two days after the Central Bureau of Investigation booked him and four executives of electronics company Moser Baer in connection with an alleged case of bank fraud worth Rs 354 crore. On Monday, the CBI had conducted searches at six locations.

Trump dials Imran Khan after talking to Modi, urges them to reduce tensions over Kashmir dispute

United States President Donald Trump on Monday spoke to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan after a telephonic conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This was the US president’s second conversation with Khan in less than a week. Trump said he had spoken to the two leaders about working towards reducing tensions over the Kashmir dispute. They also spoke about trade and strategic partnerships. “A tough situation, but good conversations!” the US president tweeted.

Music composer Khayyam dies at 92

Music composer Mohammed Zahur Khayyam Hashmi died in Mumbai on Monday after suffering a cardiac arrest. The composer had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at a Mumbai hospital since July 28. He was 92 years old. The composer, popularly known as Khayyam, was known for his music in films such as Umrao Jaan and Kabhie Kabhie. His popular songs include, “Dikhayii Diye Yun” from Bazaar, “Aaja Re” from Noorie and “Tere Chehre Se” from Kabhie Kabhie.

RSS clarifies Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks on reservation, calls controversy around it needless

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Monday called the controversy around its chief Mohan Bhagwat’s comments on reservation as needless. The group said Bhagwat had only stressed on mutual discussions in harmony within the society to address a problem. Bhagwat, on Sunday, had said that there should be a dialogue between those in favour of reservation and those who oppose it. He said that those in favour of it should keep in mind the interests of those who were against it and vice-versa.

Jammu and Kashmir: Opposition parties to protest in Delhi against detention of political leaders

Several Opposition parties, led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, will hold a protest at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Thursday against the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The protest will be held to seek democracy in the region, and demand the release of political leaders, DMK chief MK Stalin said on Monday.

Anyone dividing country is a criminal, says BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur on Jawaharlal Nehru

Bhopal Bharatiya Janata Party MP Pragya Singh Thakur on Monday said that anyone who harmed the country was a criminal, referring to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Thakur’s comments followed a week after former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that Nehru had committed a crime by “announcing ceasefire in war with Pakistan”.

J&K: Shah Faesal moves Delhi HC against his detention, says he was going to Harvard

Kashmiri bureaucrat-turned-politician Shah Faesal on Monday moved the Delhi High Court, challenging his detention at the Delhi airport last week. In his habeas corpus petition, Faesal said he was detained when he was about to board a flight to go to Harvard University in the United States to pursue his academic career.

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