Sanatana Dharma | Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remarks require proper response, PM Modi tells Ministers at informal meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reportedly told his Ministerial colleagues that DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remarks on Sanatana Dharmarequired a “proper response” based on “facts of the issue” within the contemporary situation and emphasised that the Constitution does not allow for abuse of any religion. On the issue of Bharat being substituted for India in government communication in English as well, Mr. Modi reportedly said that only those authorised to speak on behalf of the government should comment on the issue.

Ready to hold polls as per legal provisions, CEC on ‘one nation, one election’

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on September 6 said the Election Commission of India was “ready to conduct elections as per legal provisions”. He was responding to a query whether the ECI was ready to conduct the much-discussed ‘One Nation, One Election’. The CEC was addressing a press conference in Bhopal on the preparations for the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh due later this year. On the specific questions asked in the context of ‘One nation, One election’, Mr. Kumar said the poll commission was mandated to “deliver elections before the time” as per constitutional provisions and the RP Act (Representation of the People Act, 1951.)

‘India-Bharat’ issue being raised to mislead people: Mallikarjun Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on September 6 said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was raising irrelevant issues like changing the country’s name to Bharat because it was unnerved by the formation of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) coalition. “The India-Bharat issue reflects the BJP’s panic. The party is desperately trying to mislead the people,” Mr. Kharge said.

Blocking blacklisting of terrorists smacks of doublespeak: India

India has told the UN Security Council that blocking evidence-based proposals to blacklist globally sanctioned terrorists without providing justifications is uncalled for and “smacks of doublespeak”. “The working methods of the UNSC Sanctions Committees continue to dent the credibility of the UN Security Council,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said here on Tuesday.

40 injured in protest over Army barricade in Manipur

More than 40 people were injured in a stampede at Manipur’s Bishnupur district on Wednesday as security forces fired tear gas shells to disperse over 10,000 people who had converged to demand the removal of an Army barricade. A defence source said the stand-off continued through the day. Armed miscreants fired at the Central security forces and a mob threw stones at them. Three personnel of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), a specialised anti-riot force, were injured in the incident. 

Won’t let INDIA bloc seat-sharing talks become media spectacle: SP leader 

The Samajwadi Party (SP) won’t allow seat-sharing negotiations in Uttar Pradesh to become a media spectacle, said party leader Javed Ali Khan, who is part of the INDIA bloc’s 14-member coordination committee. In an interview to The Hindu, he also junked suggestions that the Congress and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) are pretending to be cosying up to the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) as a tactic to get more seats for themselves in the State.

Shah, Meghwal meet Kovind days after he was appointed head of ‘one nation, one election’ panel

Home Minister Amit Shah and Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on September 6 met former president Ram Nath Kovind who heads the committee on simultaneous polls in New Delhi, days after the government notified the panel, sources said. They described the nearly hour-long meeting as a “courtesy call”. Efforts are on to hold the first meeting of the high-level committee in the coming days and a venue is being finalised.

Punjab AAP Minister says there is no alliance with Congress 

The cracks between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), partners in the newly formed Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) were on display on September 6 after a Cabinet Minister in Punjab, where the AAP is in power, ruled out any alliance with the Congress. Punjab Tourism Minister Anmol Gagan Maan at a press conference in Chandigarh said there would be no alliance of the AAP with the Congress party in Punjab.

China warns against ‘new Cold War’ at ASEAN summit

Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on September 6 it is important to avoid a “new Cold War” when dealing with conflicts between countries as world leaders gathered in Indonesia amid sharpening geopolitical rivalries across the Indo-Pacific region. Speaking at an annual summit involving members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, Japan and South Korea, Mr. Li said countries needed to “appropriately handle differences and disputes”.

Not the joint statement but Ukraine will be EU’s priority at G-20 summit: EU official

Ukraine will be the topmost item on the agenda of the European Union at the G-20 Summit, a senior EU official said on Wednesday. Clarifying the Western expectation about the upcoming summit that will be held here during the weekend, the official expressed confidence about forming consensus about the Global South and placed it on record that the EU “wished” to have the participation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G-20 summit in New Delhi. He also indicated that Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission is unlikely to travel to Delhi for the summit and said India’s text for negotiating an outcome document is “not sufficient”. 

Ahead of Joe Biden visit, India drops tariff hikes on U.S. almonds, lentils

Two days before U.S. President Joe Biden arrives in New Delhi for a bilateral meeting as well as the G-20 Summit, India has dropped the retaliatory customs tariffs it had imposed on imports of some American goods like almonds and lentils, effective September 6, 2023. India had raised import duties on 28 American products in June 2019, after the United States had hiked its customs duties on certain steel and aluminium products. In a notification issued on September 5, the Finance Ministry dropped some of these tariff hikes “on being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do”.

Sri Lanka will investigate allegations of intelligence complicity in 2019 Easter bombings

Sri Lanka’s government will appoint a parliamentary committee to investigate allegations made in a British television report that Sri Lankan intelligence had complicity in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 269 people. A man interviewed in the Channel 4 videos released on Tuesday said he arranged a meeting between a local Islamic State-inspired group and a top state intelligence official to hatch a plot to create insecurity in Sri Lanka and enable Gotabaya Rajapaksa to win the presidential election later that year.

Ukraine’s Parliament approves ex-lawmaker Rustem Umerov as Defence Minister

Ukraine’s parliament approved the appointment of former lawmaker Rustem Umerov as Defence Minister on September 6, in the biggest shake-up of the defence establishment since Russia’s invasion 18 months ago. Mr. Umerov (41) replaces Oleksii Reznikov, who helped secure billions of dollars of Western military aid as Defence Minister but was dogged by media allegations of corruption at the Ministry and sacked by President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday.

This summer was a global record breaker for the highest heat ever measured, meteorologists say

Earth has sweltered through its hottest Northern Hemisphere summer ever measured, with a record warm August capping a season of brutal and deadly temperatures, according to the World Meteorological Organization. Last month was not only the hottest August scientists ever recorded by far with modern equipment, it was also the second hottest month measured, behind only July 2023, WMO and the European climate service Copernicus announced Wednesday.

Asia Cup | Pakistan pace trio too hot to handle as Bangladesh bowled out for 193

Haris Rauf proved to be too quick for the Bangladeshi batters, who were also troubled relentlessly by Naseem Shah as the Shakib Al Hasan-led side was bundled out for a paltry 193, well inside 40 overs in an Asia Cup Super 4 match against Pakistan in Lahore on September 6. Despite a 100-run stand and twin half-centuries by skipper Shakib (53 off 57 balls) and former captain Mushfiqur Rahim (64 off 87 balls), Bangladesh suffered twin batting collapse on either side of the fifth wicket partnership.

Ballon d’Or | Messi, Haaland, Mbappe in shortlist; Ronaldo left out for first time in 20 years

Argentina forward Lionel Messi was among the nominees for the men’s Ballon d’Or trophy announced by organisers France Football magazine on Wednesday. Seven-times winner Messi, who plays for Inter Miami, led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in December, their first triumph since 1986. Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won the award five times, did not receive a nomination for the first time in 20 years.

People holding placards and candles take part in a prayer service for peace in Manipur, in Dimapur, Nagaland on Sep. 3, 2023.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Continued violence in Manipur undermines India’s strides in development ahead of G-20: Meitei diaspora to PMO

The persistence of violence in Manipur for over four months now threatens to undermine the “significant strides in development” India is making as the country prepares to host the G-20 Summit, a group of 1,300 Meitei people from across Europe, the U.S., and other parts of the world and their supporters have said in an open letter to the Prime Minister’s Office. 

Arvind Kejriwal pledges electricity bill waivers, free education in Rajasthan as AAP gears up for polls

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on September 4 pledged to waive all previous electricity bills in Rajasthan if his party secures victory in the upcoming Assembly election in the State. He also promised free electricity up to 300 units per month to every household and an uninterrupted 24-hour power supply.

Congress chief Kharge constitutes Central Election Committee

Ahead of the Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on September 4 constituted the party’s Central Election Committee (CEC) with 16 members, including himself and his predecessors Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Sanatana row | Congress says Sarva Dharma Sambhava is the party’s position, Kamal Nath is categorical in rejecting Udhayanidhi Stalin’s comment

Respecting all religions is our philosophy, the Congress said on Monday as the party tried to play down the Sanatana Dharma comments by Udhayanidhi Stalin, a Minister in the Tamil Nadu government and son of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. On Saturday, Mr. Udhayanidhi had said that Sanatana Dharma is like “malaria and dengue” and “such things should not be opposed but eradicated”.

Government proposes in SC tech panel to evaluate carrying capacity of 13 Himalayan States

The Centre has proposed forming a 13-member technical committee to evaluate the “carrying capacity” of 13 Himalayan States. Frequent landslips leading to deaths and destruction had led the Supreme Court to moot a re-evaluation of the load-carrying capacity of hill towns and cities.

CJI asks petitioners if Article 370 is above Basic Structure, amending powers of Parliament

Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud on September 4 said petitioners were placing Article 370 on a pedestal loftier than the Basic Structure Doctrine of the Constitution and even beyond the reach of the amending powers of Parliament. The Chief Justice, heading a Constitution Bench hearing the challenge to the repeal of Article 370, was responding to submissions by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, for the petitioner side, that Article 370 (1) had assumed a permanent character as soon as the Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly was dissolved in 1957 after the framing of the State Constitution.

Himachal Pradesh Assembly monsoon session set to be stormy 

The monsoon session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, set to begin on September 18, is expected to be a stormy one as the ruling Congress and the principal opposition BJP are drawing up plans to match against each other on various issues, including the ‘management and mismanagement’ surrounding adverse climate-linked events in the State.

After COVID-19, Russia rolls out the red carpet for Indian tourists again

Russian authorities are pulling out all the stops to lure Indian tourists in a bid to shore up arrivals in a post-pandemic scenario and amid the ongoing Ukraine imbroglio. While the e-visa facility with validity for 60 days and a processing time of just four workdays was extended to Indians last month, efforts are under way to tide over issues around the rouble and the inability to access plastic money arising out of the sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United States.

President Macron to raise risks against ‘partitioning of the world’ at G-20

President Emmanuel Macron of France will speak against “partitioning of the world” in the G-20 summit to be held here during September 9-10 and focus on deepening French engagement with the Indo-Pacific region during his September 10 Dhaka visit, the French government said on September 4.

Turkey’s President meets Russia’s Putin and aims to revive the wartime Ukraine grain export deal

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday sought to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to revive an agreement that allowed Ukraine to export grain and other commodities from three Black Sea ports despite the war with Russia. Mr. Putin in July refused to extend the agreement, which was brokered by Turkey and the United Nations a year earlier and was seen as vital for global food supplies, especially in Africa, West Asia and the rest of Asia. Ukraine and Russia are major suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other goods that developing nations rely on.

Asia Cup | India crush Nepal by 10 wickets to enter Super Four

Unfazed by a bland bowling effort, India hit the top gear through Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, who made polished unbeaten fifties, to post a 10-wicket win over Nepal that also ensured them an Asia Cup Super Four berth here on Monday. Amidst frequent rain interruptions, Nepal posted an impressive 230 after being asked to bat first.

India set to announce WC squad, Prasidh, Tilak and Samson likely to miss out

Prasidh Krishna and Tilak Varma — the two additional members of India’s 17-member squad along with Sanju Samson, the travelling reserve — are set to miss out on India’s squad for the men’s Cricket World Cup. The 15-member squad is set to be announced on Tuesday, the last day of the deadline to submit the squad.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury declines to join ‘one nation, one election’ panel

The Union Law Ministry on Saturday named eight members to the committee, headed by the former President Ram Nath Kovind, that will examine the issue of simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, Assemblies, municipalities and panchayats.

No Question Hour, private members business during September 18-22 special session of Parliament

A session of both Houses of Parliament will be held from September 18-22 without Question Hour or private members’ business, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha secretariats said on September 2. The session will have five sittings and members will be informed about the provisional calendar separately, the secretariats said.

Systematic attempt to sabotage Indian democracy: Congress

Hours after the Law Ministry announced the composition of the eight-member committee set up to examine the possibility of holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the Assemblies, the Congress not only declined to be part of it but also questioned the exclusion of the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

PM Modi can’t order an inquiry against Adani, Rahul Gandhi alleges in Chhattisgarh

Asserting that Congress-run States are ruled by “governments of poor people” instead of being “governments of Adani”, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi can never order any inquiry against the Adani Group as it “will not put the Adani Group in trouble but someone else”.

INDIA bloc makes additional appointments to newly formed panels for 2024 election

The Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) on Saturday made some additional appointments to some of the committees that were set up at its meeting in Mumbai on Friday. The names of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and Congress leader Pawan Khera were added to the working group for media, while Dayanidhi Maran of the DMK and Rohit Jakhad of the RLD find a place in the working group for social media.

ASI seeks more time to complete Gyanvapi survey

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Saturday sought eight more weeks to submit its report on the scientific survey being conducted at the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi. The Varanasi District Court had asked the ASI to submit the report in four weeks, which ended on September 2. In an application, counsel for the ASI said the survey would take more time as a lot of trash and debris were dumped in the cellars as well as around the structure, covering the original features of the structure.

Three-fourths of India’s irrigation sources run on electricity: study

The latest edition of the Minor Irrigation Census (MIC) — a compendium of borewells, tubewells, and other privately owned irrigation sources by farmers — finds that electricity is the dominant source of power to extract water, over diesel, windmills, and solar pumps. While the use of electricity showed a quantum jump from powering only 56% of sources in 2011 to 70% in 2017, the latest report, made public last week, shows electricity as powering 76% of sources – a slower growth rate.

Imphal’s remaining Kuki families allege forcible eviction

The last of the Kuki-Zo people, who had stayed put in Imphal after ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on May 3, said they were forcibly evicted from their homes by security forces in the early hours on September 2. A source in the defence forces said the families were provided safe passage from New Lambulane in Imphal East to Motbung in Senapati district on a special request by the civil administration. The source said the tribal people had stayed there for a long period and had become “vulnerable targets”.

Tamils caught in the crossfire in strife-torn Manipur

With 45 Tamil homes and shops burnt down in Moreh, a town in Tengnoupal district bordering Myanmar, according to government officials, the strong trader community is under pressure to support the fight financially, or leave. “If I give them money, my Meitei friends will see it as support to their enemy. I can’t take sides. They are both my friends,” he adds. The houses and shops caught fire as they were adjacent to Meitei properties and were not burnt intentionally.

G-20 Sherpas to sit for final round of pre-summit negotiations

As Sherpas of all G-20 countries arrived in New Delhi ahead of the final week of negotiations for the summit next weekend, India’s G-20 Sherpa said he was “confident” of consensus on economic issues. Meanwhile, government sources sought to play down the impact that the absence of at least three leaders including Presidents of Russia, China and Mexico will have on the summit’s outcomes.

India to be part of implementation of Zelenskyy’s peace formula: envoy

India will be part of the implementation of the 10-point peace formula proposed by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the details are being discussed, Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk has said. Mr. Polishchuk welcomed Indian students to continue their education in that country stating that the Ukrainian government had shifted educational institutions to safer areas.

Thailand’s king approves a new Cabinet more than 3 months after elections

Thailand’s King has formally endorsed members of a new Cabinet, paving the way for a government headed by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to take office more than three months after the general election. Mr. Srettha, representing the Pheu Thai party, was named Prime Minister by Parliament on August 22. A prominent real estate developer until officially entering politics last year, he will also hold the Finance Minister’s post.

Nobel Foundation cancels Russian ambassador invite to prize ceremony

The Nobel Foundation said on Saturday it was reversing its decision to invite Ambassadors from Russia and Belarus to this year’s Nobel award ceremony in Stockholm, after the move sparked a backlash. In 2022, the Nobel Foundation, which organises the annual Nobel prize ceremony and banquet in Stockholm, decided not to invite the Russian and Belarusian Ambassadors to the Stockholm award event because of the war in Ukraine.

Rival Eritrean groups clash in Israel, leaving dozens hurt in worst confrontation in recent memory

Hundreds of Eritrean government supporters and opponents clashed with each other and with Israeli police Saturday, leaving dozens injured in one of the most violent street confrontations among African asylum seekers and migrants in Tel Aviv in recent memory. Among those hurt were 30 police officers and three protesters hit by police fire.

Asia Cup 2023 | Kishan, Hardik and Pakistan pacers shine on a day when the rain has the final say

Two standout batters. Three pacers spewing venom. And three rain interruptions. All of it culminated in one big disappointment for the scores of fans who flocked the Pallekele International Stadium for the high-voltage Asia Cup clash between India and Pakistan.

Tata Steel Chess: Divya Deshmukh emerges as the queen in her own fairytale

Divya Deshmukh’s fairytale at the National Library had quite a fairytale ending on a wet Saturday evening. She got to play in India’s Tata Steel Chess India tournament only because R. Vaishali pulled out at almost the last minute. And she began as the 10th seed in a field of 10 in the women’s rapid section. She finished right at the top, though. The 17-year-old from Nagpur authored one of the most remarkable stories — and there have been many — in Indian chess of late to become the champion.