QBullet: Tobacco Users Decline by 81L; Rahul Gandhi Arrested in MP
The Quint’s roundup of headlines from the national dailies.
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1. Rahul Gandhi at MP Border: Farmers Not Given Same Respect as Jawans
After courting arrest at the Rajasthan-Madhya Pradesh border, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday met the families of the farmers killed in Mandsaur. However, the local administration barred Rahul Gandhi from entering Madhya Pradesh and was also briefly arrested. He was allowed to only meet them at the border in the evening.
Calling for a probe into the death of the farmers killed in the police firing, Rahul Gandhi said: “The ones who shot the farmers need to be investigated. There is a clear procedure laid down for this... Without any warning they fired directly at the farmers.”
(Source: Indian Express)
2. PM Modi Meets Sharif at Astana, Enquires About His Health
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Kazakhstan on a two-day visit to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, where India and Pakistan will be inducted as full members of the bloc, in the first ever expansion since its inception in 2001.
Trade, connectivity and energy through the membership of SCO, terrorism will be a key focus area for India.
Modi met Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif and exchanged greetings at the Astana Opera. He enquired about Sharif’s health and also about his mother and family.
Read the full story on The Quint.
3. Number of Tobacco Users Decline by 81 Lakh, Fewer Youth Smoking in India
Fewer youngsters seem to find smoking cool in India.
Government data reveal a drop of six percentage points in young people using tobacco products.
The highlights of the second Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), released by the Union Health Ministry on Thursday, show prevalence of tobacco use among people between 15 and 24 years has reduced from 18.4 per cent in 2009-10 to 12.4 per cent in 2016-17.
He was conferred the WHO director general’s special recognition award for global tobacco control on Thursday.
“My focus has always been on the youth... I am very pleased to note, therefore, that there has been a 54% relative reduction in the prevalence of tobacco use among minors (15-17 years) and 28% reduction in the age group of 18-24 years.”
(Source: Hindustan Times)
4. NIA Moves to Revoke Zakir Naik's Passport, Probe His Money Trail
The National Investigation Agency is set to move to revoke the Indian passport issued to Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) President Dr Zakir Abdul Karim Naik wanted in a criminal case registered last year.
After interrogating Naik’s sister and aide, the agency says it is also tracking his web of financial transactions that include at least 10 companies and 19 properties in Mumbai and Pune in which Naik has invested an estimated Rs 104 crore.
The NIA, on 18 November 2016, on the orders of Ministry of Home Affairs, registered a criminal case against Naik at its Mumbai branch under Sections 153A of Indian Penal Code and Sections 10, 13 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
(Source: Indian Express)
5. No Intention to Circumvent SC Order on Liquor Store Ban Along Highways: Karnataka CM
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said the state government had no intentions to circumvent the Supreme Court order banning all liquor stores along the national highways and state highways.
Responding to a question raised in the Legislative Council by BJP on the government circumventing SC orders and denotifying the NH and SH roads passing through urban local bodies (ULB), Siddaramaiah said: "We have no intentions to circumvent the SC order. The NH and SH roads passing through the municipalities are anyway maintained by the local bodies. We are just trying to denotify these stretch of roads and handing it over to the ULBs for better maintenance."
When the BJP raised objections, citing that saving these liquor shops would mean continued harassment of women by drunk spouses and deterioration of health who are addicted to alcohol, Siddaramaiah said the government is not encouraging anyone to drink.
(Source: The Times of India)
6. Petrol and Diesel Prices to Change Daily From 16 June, Dealers Upset
Get ready to pay different fuel prices everyday from 16 June. And if you face delays during late night refills, blame the dynamic pricing that state-run companies are rolling out to change petrol and diesel rates daily, which is expected to insulate retailers from volatility of global crude prices.
An organisation representing dealers across the country said the move entails logistical problems for them and could lead to delays around midnight when the prices will be changed.
Government officials said the decision was taken after the success of a pilot project since May in five cities where prices changed daily at fuel stations fed by the three state-run oil marketing companies – Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL).
(Source: Hindustan Times)
7. CRPF Exploring Tech to Track Looted Weapons
In what could be a game-changer for the security forces, CRPF – the country's largest paramilitary force – is exploring technology that could track and disable weapons looted by Maoists in Left-wing extremism-affected districts and terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir.
CRPF Director General Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar confirmed that the force is looking at such technology. He, however, said that this is in planning stage.
Presently, some countries like the US use GPS technology in some of their weapons.
(Source: The Times of India)
8. Army Called in to Control Gorkha Protests in Darjeeling
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supporters on Thursday clashed with police, which used baton charge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the agitators in West Bengal’s Darjeeling.
The Army is being deployed in the area on requisition from the West Bengal government. Two Army columns, each comprising 80 men, have been mobilised.
The protesters tried to march to the venue of the state cabinet meeting.
Shopkeepers at some places, including the Mall, downed their shutters while the traffic came to a halt, causing inconvenience to tourists.
Read the full story on The Quint.
9. J&K: Army Foils Six Infiltration Bids by Pakistan in 48 Hours, Seven Militants Killed
At least seven militants and a jawan have been killed as Army foiled nearly six infiltration bid along the Line of Control in last 48 hours, according to a statement released by the Army on Thursday.
Large quantities of arms, ammunition and war-like stores have also been recovered.
According to the statement, three militants were killed in the Naugam sector on Thursday, while four were killed in the Machhil sector on Wednesday.
Also, two jawans were injured early Thursday morning in an encounter in Uri district where at least five militants tried to infiltrate the border but the Army foiled their attempt. In Gurez, armed intruders ran back leaving rucksacks behind.
(Source: Indian Express)