1. Delhi HC Sentences Sajjan Kumar To Life Imprisonment
The Delhi High Court on 17 December awarded life imprisonment to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots related case. The high court has reversed the judgement of the trial court that had acquitted him in the same case back in 2013.
Justices Muralidhar and Vinod Goel also noted that the 1984 mass killings answered the description of crimes against humanity, given the involvement of political actors and the assistance of law enforcement agencies – and that this had happened on other occasions as well. As a result, they called for strengthening the legal system by introducing crimes against humanity and genocide as concepts in Indian domestic law.
Kumar has been convicted for criminal conspiracy to commit murder, rioting and the burning of a gurudwara, as well as for promoting enmity and acts against communal harmony. He has been asked to surrender himself by December 31. Besides Sajjan Kumar, Captain Bhagmal, Girdhari Lal and former Congress councillor Balwan Khokhar have also been sentenced to life imprisonment.
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2. Ashok Gehlot, Kamal Nath, Bhupesh Baghel Take Oath As CMs
After a prolonged wait and much deliberation, the Congress' win in the Hindi heartland will finally be commemorated with several of its leaders taking oath as the CMs of the respective states today. While veteran leader Ashok Gehlot and millennial favourite Sachin Pilot were sworn-in as the Rajasthan CM and Deputy CM, earlier in the day, Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Bhupesh Baghel too followed suit to officially don the hot seats of MP and Chhattisgarh CMs later in the day.
Amid the excitement for the Congress, two big opposition leaders- BSP Supremo Mayawati and SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav- have chosen to skip all of these events. With the oath-taking ceremonies of all three Congress leaders being wrapped up in a day- it seems to indicate the party's need to settle and get down to the business of running the three states- right away.
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3. Petitioners ‘Shocked & Disappointed’ Over SC’s Rafale Verdict
Just days after the Supreme Court dismissed all petitions seeking investigation into the Rafale deal, former union ministers- Arun Shouri and Yashwant Sinha, and advocate Prashant Bhushan expressed shock and disappointment that some of the facts mentioned in the court order were incorrect.
The trio who are petitioners were referring to the statement mentioned in the order that said the CAG report on the Rafale deal was provided to the Public Accounts Committee.
These observations come in the midst of a political storm over the Apex Court’s verdict. While the BJP held 70 press briefings across the country today accusing the Congress of conspiring against the PM Modi led Central Govt, the Congress is demanding the SC judgement be recalled.
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4. India Need 175 Runs to Win Perth Test
The second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Perth is slipping out of India's hands. The Men in Blue bowled the Aussies out for 243 on Day 4 and are now chasing a target of 287 runs at Perth. India now need 175 runs with 5 wickets in hand. Can they still cross the line, and take a 2-0 lead in the four-match Test series?
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5. Deepika Padukone Left Teary Eyed At Star Screen Awards
Bollywood star Deepika Padukone was moved to tears at the Star Screen Awards held in Mumbai on Sunday after husband Ranveer Singh delivered an emotional speech while receiving the award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Allaudin Khilji in Padmaavat.
While collecting the award, Ranveer thanked Deepika for her support and said that whatever he has achieved in the last 6 years is because she kept him centered.
Ranveer concluded his speech by dedicating the award to his grandmother, who passed away this year.
(Catch the details here)
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