1. Panama Papers: Records Show Amitabh Bachchan Joined Board Meetings Via Phone
When an investigation into the Panama Papers revealed that actor Amitabh Bachchan served as director of four offshore shipping companies in the years between 1993 and 1997, the actor issued a statement that he did not know any of the companies and that it was possible his name had been misused.
The Indian Express has obtained new records which contradict Amitabh Bachchan’s statement.
These show that Bachchan, as director of two of these firms, took part in their board meetings “by telephone conference.” These meetings of Tramp Shipping Limited (Bahamas) and Sea Bulk Shipping Company Ltd (British Virgin Islands), were held on 12 December 1994. Bachchan’s name was also recorded in the list of directors and office bearers on the Certificate of Incumbency issued by both companies.Report in The Indian Express
2. President Can Be ‘Horribly Wrong’, Uttarakhand HC Tells Centre
Rapping the Centre for “introducing chaos,” the Uttarakhand High Court asked whether the government was going to look for opportunities in state assemblies to impose President’s rule.
Hearing arguments on ousted Chief Minister Harish Rawat’s petition challenging President’s rule in the state and other related petitions, the bench of Chief Justice KM Joseph and Justice VK Bist asked the Union Government why it was “concerned” about the disqualification of nine Congress MLAs.Report in The Indian Express
The bench said that for the Cabinet to assume disqualification as one of the grounds while recommending President’s rule was “irrelevant”.
How can be it be a concern of the Central government? …the defection of the Congress MLAs. You cannot take a political line. This must be clear.Uttarakhand High Court
3. TERI Governing Council Asks Pachauri to Leave
The Governing Council of TERI has decided to sever its association with former Director-General RK Pachauri, according to a report in The Hindu. Pachauri’s employment contract expires in 2017, but the Council has decided to pay all his dues for the remainder of the tenure and terminate their contract with him. He will also cease to be Executive Vice-Chairman, a post that had been created for him in February this year.
...Dr. Pachauri’s term as a Member of the Governing Council of TERI ended on 31 March 2016. As the post of Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) is co-terminus with this membership, his role as EVC also ended along with his membership of the Council.TERI Spokesperson
Dr Pachauri has headed TERI, which conducts research in sustainable development and climate change, for the last 35 years.
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4. Police Horse Shaktimaan Hurt During BJP Protest Breathes Her Last
The Uttarakhand police horse Shaktimaan who was injured during a BJP protest in Dehradun passed away on Wednesday. The 14-year-old police horse was injured during a protest led by BJP workers in which it was allegedly thrashed by Mussoorie MLA Ganesh Joshi. The horse was left with a broken leg which later had to be amputated.
Union Minister and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi demanded the arrest of the person responsible for Shaktimaan’s death and was harshly critical of the use of horses in the police force.
They (horses) serve no purpose and in every crowd engagement they are at the mercy of any vicious person who is too cowardly to do anything but injure the defenceless animal. Shaktimaan was a police officer on duty and the person who put her through so much pain and ultimately killed her should be arrested for killing a police officer.Maneka Gandhi
Read the full story here.
5. NIA Seeks Time to File Chargesheet in Malegaon Case
A Mumbai court has been approached by the NIA, which sought more time to file a chargesheet in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, according to a report in The Hindu. The case involves members of Abhinav Bharat. The NIA’s request comes even as Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi remains undecided on whether the agency should retain the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act in the case.
Though the case was transferred to the NIA in 2011, it has still not filed a chargesheet owing to the delay in the probe and multiple petitions filed by the main accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit who have questioned the applicability of the MCOCA. It is learnt that Mr. Rohatgi has only given a “verbal suggestion” to the agency and has not given any written reply.Report in The Hindu
Since the NDA came to power, there have been allegations that the agency has been asked to go slow in the terror cases involving rightwing groups.
Also Read:
DeQoded: The 2008 Malegaon Blasts Investigation
NIA’s U-Turn on Malegaon Blast Case, a Blow to Justice: Owaisi
6. India to Sign Paris ‘Climate Justice’ Pact
The signing of the Paris agreement on climate change has been approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday. The agreement has been adopted by more than 190 countries in December last year and will be signed on Friday in New York.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar will sign on behalf of India at a high-level signature ceremony convened by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
India had advocated a strong and durable climate agreement based on the principles and provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the agreement addresses all the important “concerns and expectations” of India. A record number of countries — more than 150 — are expected to sign the “historic” Paris agreement in New York.Report in the Asian Age
The agreement will come into force 30 days after at least 55 countries, accounting for 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, deposit their instruments of ratification or acceptance with the Secretary-General.
7. At Maharashtra Temple, Women and Children Beaten Up
Members of the Swarajya Mahila Sanghatna and children, led by president Vanita Gatte were allegedly beaten up by priests, a former municipal president and villagers when they attempted to enter the sanctum of Trimbakeshwar Temple in Nashik on Wednesday.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Dr Pravin Mundhe confirmed that cases had been registered under various sections of the IPC. Section 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman) has also been applied, according to an Asian Age report.
The priest told me that I was wearing a cotton sari and told me to enter with wet clothes, so I went out and did as I was told. But by this time a menacing mob, including a sizeable number of women, barred our way. In the confusion, we were pushed, punched, thrown on the ground and kicked. My little son was punched in his face by these inhumans. Those beating us included former president of Trimbak Municipal Council Angha Phadke, priests Dhananjay, Yogesh and Prashant, all Tungars.Vanita Gatte
8. Narendra Modi Expected to Visit US in June
The Mint has reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to make a trip to the US in June. A bipartisan group of top American lawmakers have called on the House of Representatives speaker to invite him to address a joint session of Congress in his fourth trip to America in two years.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Washington on 7 and 8 June this year. Given the depth of our relationship with India across a range of areas —defence, humanitarian and disaster relief, space cooperation, conservation, and innovation — we believe this is an ideal opportunity for the US Congress to hear directly from the Prime Minister. Therefore, we ask that you invite Prime Minister Modi to address a Joint Meeting of Congress. It is our understanding that if invited, the Prime Minister would acceptUS Congressmen’s Letter
The Prime Minister’s office and the White House are yet to make an official announcement about the visit.
9. Why India Needs Vibrant Small Enterprises
Despite the fact that small enterprises are the best right now to create jobs that the country desperately needs, the life of a small entrepreneur is a tough one. He has to battle credit constraints that hurt his ability to grow his business. Whatever bank finance he can access comes at far higher interest cost than what large enterprises can negotiate.
Recent RBI data however, suggests that despite the difficulties, small enterprises are thriving champions of growth.
The data on 2,37,398 small private limited companies that are neither owned by the government nor are in the business of financing shows that output by these enterprises has been growing faster than the underlying nominal gross domestic product. This is in contrast to the more sluggish growth in the 5,788 listed companies whose financial performance dominates public discourse—especially the over-leveraged giants that are so important in the various stock market indices.Editorial in the Mint