1. Mandsaur Violence: CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan Calls off Fast
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan called off his fast at Bhopal’s Dussehra Maidan on Sunday. BJP General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, who had told Chouhan on Saturday that bureaucratic “shortcomings” sometimes come in the way of farmers reaping the benefits of various welfare schemes, was also present at the venue.
Chouhan had been fasting since Saturday for “restoration of peace” after a farmer agitation in Mandsaur turned violent following the death of six protesters in police firing.
(Source: The Indian Express)
2. Maharashtra Farmer Stir off After Loan-Waiver Deal
Concerned over the fallout of a prolonged agrarian unrest, the BJP-led government in Maharashtra backed down on Sunday and agreed "in principle" to a loan waiver for all sections of farmers. The criteria will be fixed by a committee of officials and agriculturists.
Soon after, farmer groups, which had been agitating for the past 10 days and threatening to intensify it on Monday, called off their protest. They set a deadline of 25 July for the government to fulfil its promises. The stir was launched in west and north Maharashtra on 1 June with activists disrupting traffic and supplies to markets. CM Devendra Fadnavis had offered a conditional waiver last week, but the offer was spurned.
(Source: Times of India)
3. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi Tells Govt Not to Consider His Re-Appointment
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi on Sunday said that he is not interested in seeking an extension of his tenure. The AG said that he spoke to the government last month and conveyed his wish to resign from the coveted post now, as he wanted to get back to private practice.
“I have worked for five years as law officer under the Vajpayee government and now three years under the Modi government. I want to return to my private practice. I have a good relationship with the government… That’s why I wrote to government not to extend my term,” Rohatgi was quoted by NDTV as saying.
(Source: The Indian Express)
4. GST Cut on 66 Items, 'Joke' on Film Ticket
The GST Council sought to address the concerns of small businesses and traders by lowering taxes on 66 products, including ketchup, agarbatti (incense stick), insulin, tractor parts, school bags and concrete pipes.
The council brought down from 28 to 18 percent the rate on movie tickets priced below Rs 100. Tickets costing more than Rs 100 will attract 28 per cent tax. Regional cinema or award-winning movies can be given tax exemption by individual states.
Filmmakers in states like Bengal, where movies now attract only 2 per cent tax, have been seeking deeper cuts.
(Source: The Telegraph)
5. Mamata Cracks Hill Whip in Darjeeling
The salaries of employees who fail to turn up for work during the Darjeeling agitation will be docked and their service considered broken, the Mamata Banerjee government has announced on the eve of the launch of an indefinite campaign that will test the writ of the State in the hills.
The government order detailing the penal measures for government employees who skip work was issued on a Sunday, suggesting the government had decided to deal with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's challenge to its authority on the first day itself.
"All arrangements have been made to ensure offices function normally. In case there is any disruption, there are laws in place and action will be taken," District Magistrate Joyoshi Das Gupta told The Telegraph.
The Morcha, on the other hand, resolved to make the agitation a success. Party chief Bimal Gurung said: "All government offices will remain closed from tomorrow."
(Source: The Telegraph)
6. Ex-Cong MP Sandeep Dikshit Calls Army Chief 'Sadak Ka Goonda', Apologises Later
Former Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit on Sunday likened Army chief General Bipin Rawat to a "goon on the street" over his recent remarks, triggering a controversy.
While the BJP sought an apology from the Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the AICC distanced itself from Dikshit's remarks. Later, he withdrew his remarks and apologised. "Ours is not a mafia Army like Pakistani army which makes statements like goons on the street. It looks bad when our Army chief gives a statement like a 'sadak ka goonda' (goon on the street)," Dikshit said.
(Source: Times of India)
7. Congress to Hold Protests in Gujarat Over Shah's 'Baniya' Remark
Gujarat Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki on Sunday slammed BJP President Amit Shah’s remark describing Mahatma Gandhi as chatur baniya (cunning baniya/trader). Solanki also announced that the party would hold statewide protests to demand an apology from Shah for the “disparaging remark”.
“Shah’s remark about the Father of the Nation shows his mentality,” Solanki said, addressing media persons on Sunday.
According to Solanki, the BJP president’s remark was not merely an insult to Mahatma Gandhi, but also to the entire Baniya community known for its business acumen and enterprising spirit.
(Source: The Hindu)
8. PMO Seeks Details About File Movement
In an apparent bid to assess the performance of Cabinet Ministers, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has sought details about movement of files, particularly the time a file remained pending in their offices.
The exercise is being seen by many ministries as a precursor to a Cabinet reshuffle which is likely to take place after the presidential poll.
The ministers have been asked to submit details of the files they received in their offices between 1 June 2014 (five days after the government took charge) and 31 May 2017.
The PMO has sought to know the period within which the files were cleared along with the details of files which were pending till 31 May.
(Source: The Hindu)
9. High Drama at Poes Garden
High drama unfolded at the ‘Veda Nilayam’ bungalow of late chief minister Jayalalithaa in Poes Garden on Sunday morning as her niece Deepa, who had gone there at the invitation of her brother Deepak, was denied entry beyond the porch. While Deepak too was denied entry, he left following a commotion over an assault of a news television channel crew, whom he had invited to the house.
A heavy posse of police was posted at Poes Garden after Deepa alleged that Deepak had invited her to the house with an ulterior motive and that guards posted at the bungalow denied her entry into the house.
(Source: The Hindu)
More From The Quint
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)