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1. Cult Figure for Kashmiri Youth, Burhan Wani Dies in an Encounter
Burhan Wani was a household name in Kashmir, almost a cult figure for Kashmiri youth with his name trending at number two on Twitter in India, ahead of Wimbledon.
According to The Telegraph, one of the legends about him was that he’d call up the police to tell them his location and dare them to come after him.
His death is a huge setback for militancy, a senior police officer said.
His popularity drew a lot of young educated Kashmiris into militancy, in a manner that replicated ISIS’s recruitment of youth, the latest repercussions of which were recently felt in the Dhaka attacks.
Burhan’s father, retired school headmaster Muzaffar Wani, a Jamaat-i-Islami told The Telegraph:
Tears are flowing down my cheeks but I’m happy that my son has been martyred.
Read the full story on The Telegraph.
2. Manipur Probe: Indefinite AFSPA is a “Threat to Democracy”, Says SC
The Supreme Court dealt a blow at Army’s special immunity under the AFSPA on Friday, saying that it can’t use “excessive or retaliatory force” even in conflict-ridden regions, The Indian Express reported.
This is not the first time the Supreme Court has spoken out against AFSPA but this time, it rejected the central government’s submission that Manipur faces a war-like situation and an inquiry may “demoralise the security forces”.
The submission of the learned Attorney General is nothing but a play on words and we reject it and hold that an internal disturbance is not equivalent to or akin to a war-like situation.Supreme Court Bench
The SC also ordered an inquiry into 1,528 cases of alleged encounters by the army and the police, saying that “democracy would be in grave danger” if armed security forces are allowed to kill citizens.
Read the full story on The Indian Express.
3. Monsoon Session: Congress to Line Up Allegations of Scams Against BJP
The Congress is trying to line up allegations of scams before the monsoon session in which Modi declared that “isolating the Congress” is the prime priority, along with the GST bill, The Economic Times reported.
One Friday, the Congress accused the BJP of creating a ‘single vendor system’ in purchase of Army carbines and rejecting Bel’s offer to partially manufacture the carbines.
Many see the upcoming session as a particular stormy one, with the Congress raising the carbine issue, along with allegations of the telecom scam based on a CAG report.
Read the full report on The Economic Times.
4. Hardik Patel’s Bail, a Boon or Curse for BJP?
Hardik Patel has been granted bail and may be released before he turns 23, on July 20. Members of the Patidar Anamat Andola Samiti (PAAS) were out on the streets of Ahmedabad, distributing sweets to celebrate the fact that his exile “will help him fight for the Patidars across India”, The Indian Express reported.
There have been rebel BJP leaders who have fought for the cause of the Patidars since 2007, but that came to an end when Narendra Modi was elected Prime Minister.
Hardik’s bail will also coincide with Kejriwal’s visit to Gujarat. Kejriwal had openly supported Hardik Patel and attacked the BJP for booking him for sedition.
In September 2015, the state government announced the Mukhyamantri Yuva Swavalambhan Yojana (MYSY) and announced a 10 per cent EWS quota for upper castes in April. With this, the BJP feels that the Patidars cannot have any more grievances.
Read the full story on The Indian Express.
5. Government Closes in on Zakir Naik
Televangelist and Islamic scholar Dr Zakir Nak might be taken off TV soon. The Maharashtra government has directed the NIA to register an FIR and review the foreign aid that his foundation receives, The Hindustan Times reported.
Zakir Naik came under fire when it was recently revealed that one of the Dhaka attackers considered him an “inspiration”.
The National Investigation Agency is planning to register an FIR against Zakir Naik. Legal opinion is being soughtMinistry Official
The State Information and Broadcasting Ministry has decided to direct cable operator to take Peace TV off the channels provided. Peace TV is not licensed in India and is uplinked from Dubai and remains banned in several countries.
Read the full story on The Hindustan Times.
6. AAP Attacks BJP Over MCD’s Renaming Spree
The Aam Aadmi Party has mounted a fresh attack on the BJP ruled municipal corporations of Delhi for its renaming spree, The Economic Times reported.
Accusing the BJP of “financial corruption”, AAP MLA Nitin Tyagi demanded a financial audit into the projects.
Till today, no development work has happened in Delhi at the hands of MCD; however, over 400 existing projects are being renamed by it.Nitin Tyagi, AAP MLA
This comes a day after BJP leader of Opposition in Delhi said that public funds should not be spent on AAP’s “politically motivated advertisements”.
Read the full story on The Economic Times.
7. Dallas Sniper was an Army Veteran Who Hated White People
A black US Army reservist who served in the Afghan war and said he wanted to “kill white people” took part in an attack in Dallas, Texas in which five police officers were shot dead at a protest decrying police shootings of black men, officials said on Friday.
Seven other police officers and two civilians were wounded in the ambush in downtown Dallas on Thursday night, officials said.
Dallas Police Chief David Brown told reporters that Micah Johnson had confessed he was angry about the Louisiana and Minnesota killings.
Read the full story on The Quint.
8. Kerala First to Taste Fat Tax
Kerala introduced a 14.5 percent levy on burgers, pizzas, and other fatty foods in branded restaurants, with hopes that the rise in the cost will discourage the consumption of fatty food.
This is the first time that any Indian state has imposed such a tax, even though Bihar had imposed a VAT on packaged samosas for the purpose of earning revenues.
Sasidharan Nair, a doctor welcomed the tax but told The Telegraph:
Junk food is a health hazard but no one cares. I seriously doubt if a fat tax can deter people. If price was any deterrent, we should have run out of smokers by now.
The tax was scrapped in Denmark after the experiment failed.
Read the full story on The Telegraph.
9. Rajendra Kumar’s Post to Lie Vacant for Now
The post of principal secretary to Delhi chief minister is likely to be vacant after Rajendra Kumar’s suspension over allegations of bribe.
According to The Times of India, with chief secretary KK Sharma on leave, the state government appointed Ramesh Negi, IAS Officer from the batch of 1984.
Kejriwal had fought with the Centre to keep Negi as his choice for chief secretary when he assumed power in 2015. But ministry of home affairs (MHA) did not concede, on the ground of lack of seniority. Negi will retire on 31 July.
Read the full story on The Times of India.
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