1. India Slams Pakistan over BRICS Wall
While India called Pakistan the “mothership” of terrorism and said “terrorism has become its favourite child”, the Goa declaration on Sunday betrayed divisions within the five-nation BRICS grouping on terrorism, especially emanating from Pakistan.
For one, the Goa declaration did not mention “cross-border terrorism” – a term used to describe Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. It also did not name any Pakistan-based terrorist groups, including Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Toiba, in the statement, whereas it named Islamic State, Al Qaeda and Syria’s Jubhat al-Nusra.
Two, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through his three statements on Sunday, tried to name and shame Pakistan, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “political solutions” to “regional hotspots” in a reference to the need for dialogue between India and Pakistan.
(Source: The Indian Express)
2. Personal Laws Have to Comply With Constitution, Says Jaitley
Brushing aside protests by Muslim outfits against the government's opposition to triple talaq in the Supreme Court and the Law Commission's questionnaire seeking the opinion of all stakeholders on reforming family laws of different communities, the government asserted on Sunday that personal laws must be compliant with the Constitution and fundamental rights.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, in a Facebook post, rejected the argument that the government's opposition to triple talaq interfered with the constitutional scheme guaranteeing citizens the right to practise a religion of one's choice. Jaitley said while personal laws enjoyed primacy over fundamental rights in the past, this had to change now.
(Source: The Times of India)
3. Eye on Gujarat Polls, Kejriwal Praises Hardik, Dalit Leader Jignesh
Setting the tone of his party’s campaign for the 2017 Assembly elections in Gujarat, AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addressed a rally at a Patidar-dominated locality in Surat on Sunday, reaching out to three emerging youth leaders in the state – Hardik Patel, Jignesh Mevani and Alpesh Thakore – representing Patidar, Dalit and OBC communities, respectively.
Kejriwal targeted both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, calling the two “husband and wife”, but he was most severe on BJP national president Amit Shah who, he said, was calling the shots in the state government.
(Source: The Indian Express)
4. UP’s Communal Cauldron Simmers as Elections Near
As Uttar Pradesh heads for the assembly elections next year, an investigation based on police records showed that there have been over 12,000 incidents of communal violence in the state since 2010.
More than 11,000 incidents of the kind occurred after the last assembly polls in 2012. Since June 2013, not a single day – barring the Christmas of 2014 – has passed without a communal conflagration somewhere in the state.
The incidents were triggered by a variety of reasons, ranging from beef consumption to alleged conversions. Though many of them were too localised to make national headlines, they nevertheless contributed to keeping the state on edge.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
5. Army Jawan Killed in Pakistan Firing Along LoC
An Indian Army jawan was killed as Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire twice on Sunday along the Line of Control in Tarkundi area of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir.
The violations took place on a day when India hosted world leaders for the BRICS and BIMSTEC Summits.
“There was ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops along the LoC in Rajouri sector, resulting in the death of a soldier today ,” a senior Army officer said. In the morning, too, there was unprovoked firing in the Naushera sector in the same district.
(Source: The Times of India)
6. After 10 Arrests, Police Suspect Maoists Trying to Build Base in UP
During successive raids conducted since Saturday night, the Uttar Pradesh anti-terrorist squad (UP-ATS) arrested nine people, including three suspected to be involved in Maoist operations, from Noida’s Hindon Vihar and Sadarpur.
A tenth person was arrested from Chandoli in eastern UP and three guns, including an INSAS rifle with three magazines, were seized from him during raid on Sunday morning.
Following the seizure of 45 Gelatine rods, 125 detonators, pistols and nearly 90 live cartridges at Noida, the officials suspect that the group had “more intent than just indulging in criminal activities.” Those arrested from Noida includes Ranjit Paswan, with five known cases against his name, including those under the Explosives Act and Gangster Act, at Chandoli in UP, Bhabhua and Rohtash in Bihar.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
7. Trump Would ‘Love’ to Be India-Pakistan Mediator
Describing India-Pakistan tensions as a “very, very hot tinderbox”, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he would “love to be the mediator or arbitrator” if it was necessary, and if the two countries wanted him to.
In an exclusive interview before his address to Indian-Americans at Edison, New Jersey, on Saturday, Trump spoke about several issues that hold significance for India, including tinderbox... That would be a very great thing. I hope they can do it.”
“Look at the recent problem that you (India) had, and other problems that you have had over the years,” he added, making an oblique reference to the Uri terror attack and the flare-up in Indo-Pakistan tensions.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
8. States May Have to Offer Bids, Compete Now to Get Projects, Events
The Centre plans to introduce bidding among states for infrastructure projects, hospitals, educational institutions and for hosting national events.
According to a communication from the Cabinet Secretariat, the NDA government plans to adopt the Swiss Challenge Method for “selection of location” for future IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, ports, refineries, LNG terminals and food processing units, as well as film festivals, national games and Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, among others.
Depending on the issue, states would have to compete over ease of providing land, extent of fiscal concessions, connectivity, provision of utilities, speedy statutory clearances, and quantum of employment to be generated.
(Source: The Indian Express)
9. Homes Ransacked in Bengal Communal Violence, People Flee
Communal clashes at Hazinagar and Halisahar in North 24 Parganas district since Wednesday have left several people injured, while an estimated 30 homes and several shops, apart from four vehicles, have been ransacked or set on fire.
Police said the situation is under control now but many people have fled their homes.
“We are ascertaining how many people were injured in the violence,” an official said. “But it is spread over a large area, which is very densely populated. The figure will not be less than 20. At least 30 homes and shops have been damaged, while at least four vehicles have been gutted.”
(Source: The Indian Express)
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