INDIA

Students from Jammu and Kashmir have come under sharp criticism for offering ‘Namaz’ at the University campus in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh. Right-wing organization All India Hindu Mahasabha has demanded action against the students and even threatened to perform shuddhikaran (purification process) on the campus with Ganjajal and recite Hanuman Chalisa if the university fails to take any action against the Kashmiri students. Sanskriti University, however, has clarified that the matter is being exaggerated and the video circulated on social media is one month old. The University has asked Kashmiri students to offer prayers in their hostel and not in the open. All India Hindu Mahasabha submitted a memorandum to the district administration seeking action against the students as...

Amid the ongoing crackdown, a major meeting was presided by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh in which the Jathedar asked the Punjab Police to release all the arrested innocents within 24 hours. If the government refuses to accept demands, then Khalsa vaheer will start from Akal Takht, the body decided unanimously. Khalsa vaheer is an old tradition of Sikhism, as part of which Dharam prachar is done in the sacred presence of Maharaj (Guru Granth Sahib). The vaheer stops at various places where hymns will be sung and stories will be told from lives of the Gurus. They also demanded that no one should be booked under NSA. He also demanded action against those who call for formation of Hindu nation and they too be booked under NSA. "The flags of Khalsa raj being labelled as Kha...

India on Sunday launched its heaviest rocket, Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3 or GSLV Mark 3), which successfully placed 36 satellites into orbit, the country's Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced. “All 36 OneWeb Gen-1 satellites injected into the intended orbits. In its 6th consecutive successful flight, LVM3 carried 5805 kgs (12,798 pounds) of payload to Low Earth Orbit,” the agency wrote on Twitter, calling the mission "accomplished." At local time 9 a.m., the rocket was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, the agency said. According to the ISRO, today's mission is the second mission under a commercial agreement between New Space India Limited, a government-run firm, and UK-based satellite company, OneWeb...

Rahul Gandhi has updated his Twitter bio on Sunday to reflect his new status as a “Dis’Qualified MP, two days after he was disqualified by the Government as an elected member by the people. He also wrote “Dis’Qualified MP” on his official Wayanad Twitter account. He was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after a court in Gujarat’s Surat convicted him in a 2019 defamation case. The disqualification will prevent Gandhi (52), a four-time MP, from contesting elections for eight years unless a higher court stays the conviction. Even though Gandhi is yet to file a review petition, Congress has said it would fight it legally and politically.

The son of a BJP leader, who was a senior official in the Gujarat Chief Minister's office for decades was a part of the conmen team of "Prime Minister's Office" which tricked the Jammu Kashmir administration and security apparatus to secure a Z-plus security cover, official accommodation at a five-star hotel, and a lot more, NDTV reported. Amit Hitesh Pandya, son of Mr. Pandya, was part of a fake 'official team' led by conman Kiran Bhai Patel who made headlines after his arrest early this month. The official has said his son is innocent, however, he has rendered his resignation stating that he doesn't want the image of the Prime Minister's Office and the Gujarat Chief Minister's Office to be tarnished. "My son is innocent. However, I don't want the image of the CMO and the PMO tar...

Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction in the criminal defamation case on March 23 over his 'Modi surname' remark, Hindustan Times reported. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction by a Surat court in the criminal defamation case on March 23 over his 'Modi surname' remark. "Rahul Gandhi... stands disqualified from the member of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction," a notice from the national parliament said on Friday. Gandhi was convicted Thursday in a criminal defamation case for his "Modi surname" remarks and sentenced to two years of imprisonment. The court granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a highe...

The Supreme Court on Friday overruled its 2011 judgments in Arup Bhuyan vs State of Assam, Indra Das vs State of Assam and State of Kerala vs Raneef which held that mere membership of a banned association is not sufficient to constitute an offence under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 or the Terrorism and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, unless it is accompanied with some overt violent reported Livelaw. in. A bench comprising Justices MR Shah, CT Ravikumar and Sanjay Karol also upheld Section 10(a)(i) of the UAPA which makes membership of an association, which has been declared to be unlawful, to be an offence. The 2011 judgment in Arup Bhuyan was delivered by a 2-judge bench comprising Justices Markandeya Katju and Gyan Sudha Mishra while deciding a bail applica...

The Chief Justice of India said that a “functional and healthy democracy must encourage the development of journalism”. He made these remarks at the 16th Ramnath Goenka awards for excellence in journalism, where he was speaking as the chief guest. He described responsible journalism as the force that propels democracy into a better future. “Responsible journalism is the engine that drives democracy forward to a better tomorrow. In a digital age, it is more important than ever for journalists to be accurate, impartial, responsible and fearless in their reporting,” he said. He asserted that a “functional and healthy democracy must encourage the development of journalism as an institution that can ask difficult questions to the establishment – or as it is commonly known, ‘speak truth...

The Surat District Court sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail in a 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him for his alleged “Modi surname” remarks, reported Indian Express. Moments later, the court granted him bail, and stayed its order for a period of 30 days so the Congress leader can appeal in a higher court. The case was filed against Gandhi on a complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi for remarks he had made at a Lok Sabha election rally in Karnataka’s Kolar on April 13, 2019. “Why all the thieves, be it Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi or Narendra Modi, have Modi in their names,” the Congress leader had allegedly said during the rally. Reacting to the court order outside Parliament on Thursday, Union Law Minister Kiren Riji...

Amid the large scale crackdown on pro-Khalistan outfit 'Waris Punjab De' and other Sikh bodies, Amnesty India released a statement on Wednesday expressing its concern over the restrictions imposed in the region. "We are concerned about reports of mass arrests and restrictions on peaceful assemblies, taking place alongside online censorship and internet shutdowns. Certain districts continue to experience an internet shutdown today," Amnesty said. It added that on 18 March authorities in Punjab imposed an internet shutdown as they launched an operation to search for Amritpal Singh, leader of the organization Waris Panjab De. And that the shutdown was lifted in some areas, but continues in others. "Social media accounts of several journalists and leaders in Punjab were also withheld ...