1. No Firecrackers to Be Sold This Diwali, SC Upholds Ban Till 31 Oct
The Supreme Court on Monday said that its order of last November, banning the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) will continue till 31 October.
A bench headed by Justice AK Sikri said the apex court's 12 September order permitting sale of firecrackers would be effective from 1 November.
Diwali is on 19 October, and the order effectively means that no firecrackers will be available for purchase before the festival.
A report in The Hindu quoted the apex court as saying on Monday:
“Let’s try out at least one Diwali without firecrackers.”
Read more here.
2. Godhra Case: Guj Govt Failed to Maintain Law and Order, Says HC
The Gujarat High Court on Monday, 9 October, commuted the death sentence of 11 convicts to rigorous life imprisonment, while upholding the life sentence of another 20 in the 2002 Godhra train burning case.
While ordering the state and the railways to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of those killed in the Godhra incident, the high court observed that "the state has failed to maintain law and order, so has the railways". Those injured in the incident should be given compensation as per the disabilities they suffered, the court said.
Read more here.
3. Nigerian Tied to Pole, Beaten Up: Another Racist Incident in Delhi
On Monday, 9 October, shocking visuals of a Nigerian national tied to a pole in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar being beaten up by locals for an alleged theft, turned up.
The details of the circumstances are sketchy at the moment and more information is awaited.
Speaking to The Quint, Samuel T Jack, president, Association of African Students in India said:
The government is denying racism, but the video is a testament to the fact that racism is real and happening in India. The law is there, why didn’t the people call the police whose responsibility it is to protect us? Why take justice in their own hands? The point is we are not secure.
Read more here.
4. We’ll Listen to Your ‘Mann Ki Baat’: Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi began his three-day Yuva Rojgar Khedut Adhikaar Navsarjan Yatra from Ahmedabad, Gujarat on Monday. This is the second phase of the proposed four-phase Gujarat tour to cover all regions of the state prior to the assembly elections scheduled later in 2017.
Speaking at an event, Gandhi said PM Narendra Modi’s Gujarat model has “failed” and that the PM’s “focus is only on 10-15 industrialists”
Read more here.
5. Jay Shah Files Defamation Suit Against ‘The Wire’ Author, Editor
News website The Wire published a report on 8 October, alleging that BJP President Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah’s business grew 16,000-fold the year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed power in 2014. The article triggered a political storm with the Opposition demanding that the Modi government at the Centre order a probe by the CBI or Enforcement Directorate.
In a statement earlier, Jay Shah had said he would sue the author of the report, and the editors and owners of The Wire for criminal defamation.
Read more here.
6. Why John Lennon Still Makes Sense in Today’s World
Rock legend and Beatles singer-songwriter John lennon was born on 9 October 1940 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. During the 40 years of his life, Lennon wrote over 50 songs, winning over the hearts of many a fan with the gentle yet reassuring tone of his voice.
But even on his 77th birth anniversary, Lennon’s work continues to ring true in the context of today’s world.
Read more here.
(Breathe In, Breathe Out: Are you finding it tough to breathe polluted air? Join hands with FIT in partnership with #MyRightToBreathe to find a solution to pollution. Send in your suggestions to fit@thequint.com or WhatsApp @ +919999008335)
Video Producer: Srishti Tyagi
Video Editor: Ashutosh Bhardwaj
(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.)