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2 min read Last Updated : Jun 12 2022 | 11:54 PM IST
11:54 PM
The BJP's Delhi unit on Sunday passed a resolution condemning the AAP government's "support" to the illegal Rohingya and Bangladeshi immigrants in the city.
In the two-day executive meeting of the BJP's Delhi unit that concluded on Sunday, various leaders trained their guns on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over various issues.
They alleged that those behind the Jahangirpuri violence on Hanuman Jayanti on April 16 were AAP workers and leaders.
The AAP has supported Rohingyas and Bangladeshis and has crossed all limits in protecting them, the Delhi BJP claimed in the resolution.
It alleged that the illegal immigrants were getting free ration and the women travelling in buses for free and their children getting free education.
11:48 PM
Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Sunday termed "very wrong" senior Congress leader P Chidambaram's statement that the goal of a $5 trillion GDP appears to be a case of "shifting goalposts" as the original target year was 2023-24.
Speaking to reporters here in Maharashtra, the MOS for Electronics and Information Technology and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said India has become a $3 trillion economy and will become a $5 trillion economy by 2026.
Reacting to Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran's remarks that IMF has forecast the Indian economy to cross $5 trillion by 2026-27, Chidambaram has said that the "goal of a $5 trillion GDP appears to be a case of 'shifting goalposts'".
"Chidambaram can suggest that we follow the US economic model. He will say anything and what he has said is his personal view which is a very, very wrong view. He was wrong before and has been continuously wrong. There is a phrase for (such) people who were caught with their hand in the cookie jar," Chandrasekhar said.
He said the goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2026 is achievable.
11:39 PM
Pramod Zinjade, coordinator of the campaign, told PTI that he and his colleagues have also met these legislators and urged them to raise in the legislature the issue of humiliation of widows.
"Legislators can raise the issue of evil practices that widows are subjected to through various forums in the legislature like the question hour, calling attention notice, debates and work towards enacting a law," he said.
The campaign needs government's support as humiliation of widows should not happen in progressive Maharashtra, he added.
According to Zinjade, practices like wiping the sindoor, breaking her bangles, removing the mangalsutra and toe rings during the funeral of the husband need to be banned.
"Even though times have changed and women are educated and earning, a widow is not allowed in religious, social functions," he said
11:35 PM
Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik on Sunday said the farmers' movement is not over yet and that they will wage a "fierce battle" against the government if it does not bring a law on minimum support price (MSP).
Speaking at a Jat community programme here, Malik said he will also join the movement once he completes his term as Meghalaya governor.
Malik has targeted the government several times in the recent past over farmers' issues.
"The farmers' movement is not over yet, it was the dharna which ended. If a law on MSP is not made, then the farmers will wage a fierce battle against the country's government," Malik said.
He said only four months of his tenure as Meghalaya governor are left and he will also join the movement once he completes his term.
11:24 PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday wished a speedy recovery to former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, who has been admitted to a hospital in Mohali following a complaint of gastritis and bronchial asthma.
The five-time chief minister of Punjab and Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch was taken to the Fortis hospital on Saturday night.
Modi tweeted, "Praying for the good health and speedy recovery of Shri Parkash Singh Badal Ji.
11:23 PM
The website of the Institute of Science, Nagpur was found hacked on Sunday with the hackers identifying themselves as 'DragonForce Malaysia' whose message on its home page read that "it is a special operation on the insult of our Prophet Mohammad", police said.
The restoration work of the website is going on, they said.
The hacking of the website occurred amid protests in parts of the country over the objectionable remarks made on Prophet Mohammad by now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled party leader Naveen Kumar Jindal. Several countries, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Indonesia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Jordan, Bahrain, Maldives, Malaysia, Oman, Iraq and Libya, have denounced their comments.
"The home page of the website carried a message in which people were urged to unite and start a campaign against India. The website was hacked through a malware. The hackers identified themselves as 'DragonForce Malaysia'," police inspector (Cyber) Nitin Phatangare said.
The message posted on the website's home page read: "It is a special operation on the insult of our Prophet Mohammad. We witnessed that you guys had abused Muslim people publicly..."
Police have launched an investigation, the official said.
11:20 PM
The Kanpur administration on Sunday started sealing the properties of those allegedly involved in the June 3 violence sparked by the controversial comments of two now-sacked BJP functionaries against Prophet Mohammad.
Kanpur police have sealed three properties in various areas, said Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and order) Anand Prakash Tiwari.
Kanpur Development Authority (KDA) vice-chairman Arvind Singh said properties built by Haji Wasi, Shabi, Saleem and H S Malik without taking proper clearance have been sealed.
This came a day after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath instructed officials to take stern action against the accused in the June 3 violence so that no one dares to disturb the peace.
The officer alleged that Haji Wasi, Shabi, Saleem and H S Malik provided financial support to some of the accused in the Kanpur violence.
The seized properties have been handed over to Station House Officers concerned, Singh told PTI.
"A request has been made to the police commissioner to instruct the SHO to lodge an FIR if anyone dares to start construction by entering the sealed properties," he added.
11:15 PM
One Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist was neutralized by Srinagar Police during an encounter on Sunday.
According to the police, the killed terrorist has been identified as Adil Parray of Ganderbal, who was involved in the killing of two J-K police personnel in Sangam and Anchar Soura of the valley.
"LeT #terrorist Adil Parray of #Ganderbal who was involved in #killing of 02 JKP personnel Gh Hassan Dar in Sangam and Saifulla Qadri in Anchar Soura and injuring of a 9-year-old girl, killed in a chance #encounter with a small team of Police," Kashmir Zone Police tweeted quoting IGP Vijay Kumar.
The encounter was started at the Kreesbal Palpora Sangam area of Srinagar with a small team of Srinagar Police.
"A chance #encounter started at Kreesbal Palpora Sangam area of #Srinagar with #terrorists and a small team of #SrinagarPolice," Jammu Kashmir Police had tweeted," it said in a tweet.
11:10 PM
Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Sunday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party for 'dividing people on the basis of religion', amid the ongoing row over the suspended BJP spokesperson's remarks against religious minorities.
"We won't compromise with our (Congress party) ideology. BJP is dividing people on the basis of religion. Riots are being incited not only in big cities but also in small towns. We are still a national party even though our numbers have dwindled in the Parliament," the Chief Minister said while addressing reporters in the national capital.
Protests erupted in various states including Punjab, Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh over the controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad made by suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled leader Naveen Jindal. Notably, some Gulf nations expressed outrage against the controversial remarks against the Prophet. The country has been witnessing protests.
11:09 PM
Pakistan reported 67 new Covid-19 cases over the past 24 hours, the country's ministry of health said on Sunday.
The tally of infected people climbed to 1,531,179 across the country after adding the fresh cases, according to the data released by the ministry.
A total of 30,381 people died of Covid-19 in Pakistan, with no more deaths over the last 24 hours, according to the ministry's statistics.
As many as 13,548 tests for Covid-19 were conducted in Pakistan while the positivity rate stood at 0.49 per cent. There are 47 active cases that are in critical condition in the South Asian country.
Earlier on Friday, Pakistan reported 73 new Covid-19 cases and 51 active cases that are in critical condition.
11:07 PM
Uttar Pradesh police on Sunday arrested an 18-year-old youth, suspecting him to be the key conspirator behind the violence that erupted in Saharanpur after the Friday prayers.
A police official said in connection with the incident that Muzammil, who is a student in a madarsa, was seen provoking groups to join the protests. He was arrested.
Protests erupted in Saharanpur and other parts of the Uttar Pradesh on June 10 after Friday prayers opposing the controversial remarks of suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma against Prophet Muhammad.
"2 involved in this had been identified & it was found they had illegal constructions. Bulldozers were brought in & their houses were mowed down. Muzammil (18) was seen invoking and provoking groups and people to join protests. He studies in a madarsa," said Rajesh Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Saharanpur.
"Another accused Salman, who is an adult, was involved in getting printed several posters for protest. He has been booked and will be sent to jail. No involvement of any 'funding' for the incident has come to fore," said the SP while elaborating on the incident.
10:57 PM
Tamil Nadu has inoculated 1,383,573 people against Covid-19 in the 30th mega vaccination camp held in the state, the health department said on Sunday.
A total of 244,520 people received the first dose, 1,030,753 the second dose, while 1,08,300 people received the precautionary booster dose, a press release said here.
The total number of people who were vaccinated above the age of 18 years with the first dose comprises 94.31 per cent and the second dose 84.81 per cent.
Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ma Subramanian along with Minister for Milk and Dairy Development S M Nasar, and senior health department officials inspected the vaccination camps in neighbouring Tiruvallur district.
The department commenced the mass vaccination programme every Sunday beginning September 12, 2021.
10:49 PM
Religious belief and communalism are two different things, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Sunday urging those who believe in secularism to come forward and fight all forms of communalism prevailing in the country.
Vijayan attacked the Sangh Parivar alleging that the grouping was trying to create a rift among the minority communities in the country and said it was engaged in a systematic agenda to alter the basic structure of the Indian Constitution.
Inaugurating a national seminar on the topic, "The world of EMS", organised as part of the 113th birth anniversary of communist stalwart E M S Namboodiripad, Vijayan criticised the Union government over its decision on abrogating Article 370 which gave special status for Jammu and Kashmir.
"News reports of attacks against minority communities including Muslims and Christians are coming from across the country. This agenda of the Sangh Parivar is not part of its so called 'aarsha bharatha' culture. It's not propagated by any of the sages. It's not there in any of the Vedas or Puranas. But they are following the Nazi propaganda of Hitler," Vijayan said.
He said the Sangh Parivar was buttering up the Christian community in Kerala but the same community was being attacked in neighbouring Karnataka.
10:46 PM
Over 400 people have been arrested so far in a clampdown on those involved in the violent protests on Friday in several states against the controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad by two now-sacked BJP functionaries, with authorities in Uttar Pradesh razing "illegal" houses of the accused for the second day.
Sporadic incidents of violence and protests were reported including a group of people attacking and damaging a local train at Bethuadahari railway station in West Bengal's Nadia district on Sunday evening even as prohibitory orders continued in parts of Howrah and Murshidabad districts.
Among those arrested, 316 were held in eight districts in Uttar Pradesh and 100 in West Bengal, while the Ranchi police registered 25 FIRs against "thousands" of people for the clashes that left two dead and scores of others injured on June 10 in the Jharkhand capital, and security was stepped up in other parts of the state also.
Political parties, including the Samajwadi Party, and activists have accused authorities of high-handedness in the aftermath of the protests. Senior Congress leader and former home minister P Chidambaram said the prime minister should have spoken and acted immediately after the offensive utterances.
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur, however, said that law and order is a state subject and they should take strict action against the rioters.
10:38 PM
Mumbai reported 1,803 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours, according to a bulletin by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Sunday.
With this, the active cases in the city stand at 10,889.
As per the bulletin, 959 Covid patients recovered in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries since the beginning in the city to 1,050,285.
The recovery rate in Mumbai is 97 per cent.
Two patients succumbed to the virus during this period. The death toll in the city rose to 19,573.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra on Saturday saw a marginal dip in COVID-19 cases, with the state reporting 2,922 fresh infections, 159 less than the previous day, and one fatality due to the infection, the state health department said.
With this data, the total number of active cases scaled up to 14,858 in the state. Also, with one fatality, the overall death toll in the state moved up to 1,47,868.
India reported as many as 8,582 fresh COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours, informed Union Health Ministry on Sunday.
10:37 PM
A mob attacked and damaged a local train at Bethuadahari railway station in West Bengal's Nadia district on Sunday evening to protest against the controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad, while the situation in Howrah and Murshidabad districts that witnessed violence in the past two days remained more or less peaceful.
Another group vandalised Dhubulia railway station in Nadia to protest against the comments of suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma on the Prophet, a senior police officer said.
Some employees of the station and passengers of the Krishnagar-Lalgola local train were injured, an official of the Eastern Railway said.
In Purba Medinipur district, police prevented the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in state Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP, from visiting violence-hit areas of Howrah as a precautionary measure as prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC have been clamped in many areas in the district.
Police claimed that his visit may cause law and order problems there.
Adhikari said he would move the court on Monday against this.
10:36 PM
In a significant move, India and the European Union have discussed increasing maritime security cooperation and the prospect of co-development and co-production of defence equipment.
The deliberations took place at the first-ever India-EU Security and Defence Consultations held in Brussels pursuant to a decision taken at the India-EU summit in July 2020.
The Indian Embassy in the Belgium capital said India's participation in Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) also figured in the talks on Friday.
It said the wide-ranging discussions on Friday covered the evolving security situation in Europe, India's neighbourhood and the Indo-Pacific.
PESCO is a part of the EU's security and defence policy. Its establishment in December 2017 has raised cooperation on defence among the participating EU member states to a new level.
The embassy said the two sides noted a number of positive developments in the area of security and defence cooperation in recent years, including the establishment of a regular maritime security dialogue.
"During the consultations, the two sides also discussed various means of increasing India-EU cooperation on maritime security, implementation of the European code of conduct on arms export to India's neighbourhood, cooperation in co-development and co-production of defence equipment, including India's participation in PESCO," it said in a statement.
"Both sides agreed to increase India-EU defence and security cooperation as an important pillar of the bilateral strategic relations," it said.
10:15 PM
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Sunday that Turkey has legitimate concerns over terrorism and other issues that need to be taken seriously.
Turkey has accused Finland and Sweden of supporting Kurdish militants and says it will not back the two Nordic nations joining NATO until they change their policies.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, Stoltenberg stressed that no other NATO ally has suffered more terrorist attacks than Turkey and pointed to its strategic geographic location with neighbors like Iraq and Syria.
These are legitimate concerns. This is about terrorism, it's about weapons exports, Stoltenberg said. We have to address the security concerns of all allies, including Turkish concerns about the terrorist group PKK.
He spoke at Finland's presidential summer residence Kultaranta in western Finland.
After decades of military non-alignment, Russia's war in Ukraine pushed Finland and Sweden to apply to join NATO in May. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, however, accuses the Nordic nations of supporting Kurdish militants deemed by Turkey to be terrorists and has vetoed their entry into the 30-member alliance.
When a vital key ally as Turkey raises concerns on terrorism then of course we have to sit down and take them seriously. And that's exactly what we do, Stoltenberg said.
10:14 PM
The Uttar Pradesh Police has so far arrested over 300 people from eight districts of the state, including Prayagraj and Saharanpur, in connection with Friday's violence during protests against the controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad by now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
In a statement issued here on Sunday evening, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said, "316 people have been arrested from eight districts of the state and 13 FIRs have been registered in this regard in nine districts."
Giving district-wise details, Kumar said, "92 people have been arrested in Prayagraj, 79 in Saharanpur, 51 in Hathras, 34 in Ambedkar Nagar, 35 in Moradabad, 15 in Firozabad, six in Aligarh and four in Jalaun."
Of the 13 cases, three cases each were registered in Prayagraj and Saharanpur, and one each in Firozabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Moradabad, Hathras, Aligarh, Lakhimpur Kheri and Jalaun, the senior officer said.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who has often spoken of how under his rule the state has been rid of frequent riots, on Saturday issued a stern warning against anti-social activities.
10:14 PM
Ahead of the WTO's 12th ministerial conference in Geneva, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) on Sunday asked the global body's chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to protect the interest of India and other developing countries.
In a letter to Okonjo-Iweala, the RSS affiliate urged her to ensure Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) waiver is extended to medicines, therapeutics, diagnostic, disposables and all types of equipment along with vaccines used in Covid treatment, saying people in different parts of the world are still struggling for equitable access of these.
It also urged the World Trade Organization (WTO) chief to ensure that the meeting arrives at a permanent solution to the issue of public stock holding of grains for food security programmes.
While the world saw the importance of public stockholdings for food security in the last two years of COVID-19 pandemic, poor countries are still in dire need of affordable food for the survival of their population, the SJM said.
With the member countries negotiating a fishery subsidies agreement to eliminate subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing as well as curbing subsidies for overfished stocks, the SJM urged the WTO chief to ensure that the interest of India's small fishermen and fishing activities in the country is safeguarded.
10:13 PM
A lightning strike killed an Army soldier along the Line of Control (LoC) in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday.
Rifleman Lokendra Singh (30) was deployed at a forward post along the LoC in Gulmarg Sector in north Kashmir, an Army spokesperson said.
Around 10.15 pm on Saturday, he was struck by lightning while observing the enemy from a surveillance post, the official said.
Singh sustained grievous injuries and was administered first aid at the post. He was then taken to a medical facility, where he was declared dead at 11.45 pm, he said.
Meanwhile, the Army on Sunday paid tributes to the rifleman.
9:34 PM
Pre-monsoon activities in several parts in Udaipur and Kota divisions of Rajasthan brought down temperatures in the last 24 hours.
However, in northern and western parts, there was no respite from heat conditions.
According to the Meteorological (MeT) department, Dholpur was recorded as the hottest place with a maximum of 45.9 degrees Celsius, while Karauli, Alwar, Sriganganagar, Churu and Bikaner recorded respective high of 45.2, 45, 44.8, 44.5 and 43.5 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, Jalore recorded 11.5 mm rains till Sunday evening. Salumbar in Udaipur recorded a maximum of 115 mm rains till morning since evening. The rainfall was 1 mm to 111 mm at several other places during this period.
The department has predicted light to moderate rainfall in Ajmer, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Bhilwara, Bundi, Kota, Baran, Tonk, Jaipur, Jhalawar, Dungarpur, Dausa, Sawaimadhopur, Karauli, Pratapargh, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Sirohi, Jalore and Pali districts during next 24 hours.
9:33 PM
The ruling DMK on Sunday slammed the head of a Shaivite math in Tamil Nadu for his 'hate' remarks and said he was trying to 'frighten' the government and the party by harping on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The BJP condemned the remarks against the pontiff and said it was an 'intimidation.'
Demanding that the Madurai Aadheenam immediately halt his 'communal' speeches as it would stoke violence and affect law and order, the DMK mouthpiece, 'Murasoli', in its today's edition, dubbed him as a 'zero' in terms of his popularity and influence.
Aadheenam is a Tamil word that denotes both a Shaivite math and its head. The pontiff of a Shaivite math is also referred to as a Aadheenakarthar.
Sri la Sri Harihara Sri Gnanasambanda Desika Swami is the 293rd pontiff of Madurai Adheenam, which is located near the Meenakshi temple in Madurai.
The pontiff had recently criticised politically influential people who have not paid their dues for possessing the land owned by the math.
Also, he had reportedly hit out at the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department while taking part in a Vishwa Hindu Parishad organised function. At that event, the Madurai Aadheenam also had reportedly targeted actor Vijay for "insulting a Hindu deity".
9:32 PM
Russia deeply cherishes its "equal and respectful" relations with India, and the multidimensional cooperation between the two strategic partners is among the world's "most elaborate" ones, Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov has said.
The envoy has also said the positions of the two countries on "core issues remain similar or coinciding" and that there are plenty of new opportunities for the Indian business in the Russian market, especially against the backdrop of the withdrawal of many western companies from the country.
A significant number of western business entities are leaving Russia over its attack on Ukraine as well as the subsequent economic sanctions imposed against it by the United States and Europe.
In a foreword in the Russia Digest magazine on the occasion of the 75th year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Russia, Alipov said both sides are for upholding the central role of the United Nations (UN) towards "just and equal multipolarity" and "opposing unilateral and confrontational approaches".
He said Russia and India continue to successfully implement flagship initiatives, which make the cooperation "unparalleled".
Among those, the envoy said are the Kudankulam nuclear power plant project in Tamil Nadu, the AK-203 rifles manufacturing programme and the production of the main battle tanks as well as frigates, submarines and Brahmos missiles.
He also said the delivery of S-400 air defence missile systems to India is proceeding well in accordance with the schedule.
"Russia deeply cherishes equal and respectful relations with India. Our cooperation plays the role of a defining factor for global peace, stability and sustainable development," Alipov said.
"We are confident in the future of our bilateral ties and are ready to move forward in utilising their potential and exploring new horizons for the benefit of the people of our two friendly nations," he added.
9:17 PM
A day before Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to appear before the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case, the Congress on Sunday accused the ruling BJP of indulging in vendetta politics while asserting the former party chief "won't back down".
The Congress has decided that all its top leaders and MPs would take out a protest march to the agency headquarters here and stage a "satyagraha" against what the party termed "misuse" of the ED by the Centre.
In an interview with PTI, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram asserted the summons to the former party chief was "baseless" and said it appears that the ED's jurisdiction does not extend to the BJP members or to states ruled by it.
About the ED summons to Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi and the Congress' decision of a show of strength when the former appears before the probe agency on Monday, Chidambaram said, "I speak as a Congress member and an advocate. The ED's summons to Rahul Gandhi under PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) is baseless."
Pointing out that the offence of money laundering requires 'money' and "laundering of money", the former home minister said in the National Herald debt-to-equity conversion, something which lending banks do on a regular basis, there was no transaction of money.
Therefore, how can there be money laundering, he posed.
"It is like accusing a person of purse snatching when there was no purse and no snatching," Chidambaram argued.
9:16 PM
West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar on Sunday held a sit-in before the statue of Mahatma Gandhi here protesting against the alleged failure of the West Bengal government to contain violence in Howrah district.
The Gandhi statue at the Mayo Road-Dufferin Road crossing in central Kolkata has been witness to numerous protests.
Majumdar, who started his agitation around noon, also flayed the alleged attempt of the TMC-run government to stop opposition leaders from meeting people, hit by the recent violence.
Widespread violence broke out in Howrah district on Friday over inflammatory comments by now-suspended BJP functionaries Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal.
The BJP leader alleged that the police had not taken prompt action to prevent the violence from spiralling in Panchla, Uluberia, Dhulagarh in Howrah district, and Beldanga in Murshidabad district at the outset.
Majumdar and his supporters were arrested on Saturday while trying to visit Howrah district where several saffron party offices were attacked, as the district was under prohibitory orders and gatherings of five or more people were banned there.
The BJP leader and his companions were, however, later released.
9:09 PM
A security conference attended by senior Army and police officers in Jammu region's Chenab valley called for increased synergy, interaction and coordination between the civil and military agencies for the success of the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, a defence spokesperson said on Sunday.
The meeting, jointly presided by the general officer commanding, Delta Force and Additional Director General of Police, Jammu Mukesh Singh, was held at the Dharmund Army Garrison in Ramban district on Saturday, he added.
The spokesperson said the meeting with the civil administration and police officials from Ramban and Kishtwar districts was held with the aim of increasing synergy, interaction and coordination between the civil and military agencies for the forthcoming pilgrimage.
The 43-day-long yatra to the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine of Amarnath is scheduled to start on June 30 from two routes -- the traditional 48-km Nunwan route in south Kashmir's Pahalgam and the 14-km shorter Baltal route in central Kashmir's Ganderbal. The pilgrims pass through Ramban along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway to reach the base camps in the valley.
9:07 PM
World Trade Organization chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala expressed cautious optimism on Sunday that more than 100 trade ministers meeting in Geneva would achieve one or two global deals this week, but warned the path there would be bumpy and rocky.
The director-general from Nigeria said the world had changed since the WTO's last ministerial conference nearly five years ago.
"I wish I could say for better. It has certainly become more complicated," she told a news conference before the June 12-15 meeting, listing the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war, and major food and energy crises as pieces of a "polycrisis".
Speaking to ministers at the opening, the WTO chief urged them to "show the world that the WTO can step up to the plate" and achieve agreements on subjects such as reducing fishing subsidies, boosting access to COVID-19 vaccines, addressing food security and setting a course for reform of the WTO itself.
"What remains to be decided requires political will - and I know you have it - to get us over the finish line," she said.
However, she warned that it would be challenging.
"Let me be clear, even landing one or two will not be an easy road. The road will be bumpy and rocky. There may be a landmine along the way," Okonjo-Iweala said, adding she was "cautiously optimistic" that the meeting would conclude with one or two deals.
She also cautioned ministers to recognise that compromises are never perfect. The WTO's 164 members take decisions by consensus, meaning a single member can block progress, and negotiations often last years.
The 27-year-old WTO is itself in trouble. Former U.S. President Donald Trump crippled the WTO's Appellate Body that rule on disputes over two years ago, and WTO members have only ever agreed one global deal, the red-tape cutting Trade Facilitation Agreement, in 2013.
In a sign of the global difficulties, Sunday's opening session meeting was dedicated to "challenges facing the multilateral trading system".
Campaign groups gathered near the body's lakeside headquarters over the weekend, some denouncing capitalism and others calling for an end to "vaccine apartheid". They were all barred from entering the WTO headquarters on Sunday on security grounds, according to an email seen by Reuters.
9:05 PM
Apprehending breach of peace in wake of provocative remarks on the Prophet by now suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, prohibitory orders have been imposed in several areas of Assam's Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakhandhi districts, officials said on Sunday.
Officials of the district administrations said that the prohibitory orders have been promulgated in view of the emerging situation on the law and order front after the controversial statement and protests have been seen in many places of the country as reported in various media.
"There is an ample apprehension of breach of public peace and tranquility, loss of human life and property due to public gathering on the issue in the district," separate orders of the Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakhandhi district administrations said.
The DMs' orders said that no procession, rally, dharna (demonstration), distribution of leaflets, banners and posters attracting breach of public peace and tranquility will be allowed in these three districts.
In view of the inflammatory remarks, some rallies were taken out in certain places of the three districts on Friday and Saturday and the police stopped them leading to the imposition of the prohibitory orders.
9:04 PM
After it came to the fore that at least 77,000 trees were either cut or transplanted in Delhi in the last three years, environment experts have started questioning the findings of India State of Forest Report (ISFR) that showed rising forest cover in the national capital.
According to a government data submitted to the high court recently, Delhi forest department granted permission to cut or transplant at least 77,000 trees, or three trees every hour, for developmental work in the city in the last three years.
Whereas, an ISFR report released by the Union Environment Ministry on January 13, 2022, said Delhi's green cover has increased from 21.88 per cent to 23.06 per cent of its geographical area in the last two years.
Speaking about the 'contradicting' statistics, green activist Bhavreen Kandhari told PTI that the purported green gains are largely coming from Forest Survey of India's "problematic and contradictory redefinition of forest."
"The new definition of forest would lead to an increase in clear areas being counted as forest. However, what land cover types might it include on the ground, or how valid was their inclusion as forests, remained extremely hard even for experienced field researchers to assess," she said.
Topics :Piyush GoyalWTOWorld Trade OrganizationCommerce ministryBJPCoronavirus TestsHealth Ministry
First Published: Jun 12 2022 | 6:48 AM IST
