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Putin holds a portrait of his father, war veteran Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin, as he takes part in the Immortal Regiment march on Victory Day, which marks the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany. Photo: Reuters.
Sri Lanka PM invites protesting youth to join governance
Sri Lanka's prime minister said on Sunday that protesting youth groups will be invited to be part of governance under political reforms he is proposing to solve the country's political crisis triggered by an economic collapse.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that under proposed constitutional reforms, powers of the president will be clipped and those of Parliament strengthened. In a televised statement to the nation, he said that governance will be broad-based through parliamentary committees where lawmakers, youth and experts will work together.
"The youth are calling for a change in the existing system. They also want to know the current issues. Therefore, I propose to appoint four youth representatives to each of these 15 committees," Wickremesinghe said.
Protesters consisting of mainly young people have camped out outside the president's office for more than 50 days. They're demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, holding him and his family responsible for the country's worst economic crisis. They also want an overhaul of a system of governance, saying successive administrations since independence from Britain in 1948 have misruled the country leading to economic and social crises.
Pakistan rejects notion of any delegation from Islamabad visiting Israel
Pakistan on Sunday rejected the notion that any delegation from Islamabad had visited Israel, days after Israeli President Isaac Herzog said a group from South Asia that included Pakistani citizens met him in the Jewish state.
During a special address at the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting on May 26 in Davos, Israel President Herzog said that he recently received a delegation of Pakistani-Americans, calling it an "amazing experience".
"Responding to media queries, the (FO) Spokesperson categorically rejected the notion of any delegation from Pakistan visiting Israel," the Foreign Office said.
It, however, added that the reported visit in question was organised by a foreign NGO which is not based in Pakistan.
Pakistan's position on the Palestinian issue is clear and unambiguous and there is no change whatsoever in our policy on which there is complete national consensus," the FO said.
CEC Kumar, Niti Aayog's Bery, Delhi L-G Saxena call on vice president
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery and Delhi Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena called on Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday.
The three, who have taken over their new posts recently, met Naidu separately.
The Vice President Secretariat tweeted pictures of the three meetings.
The meetings were described as courtesy calls.
26 Rohingyas coming from Jammu refugee camp detained in Assam
Twenty-six Rohingyas, including 12 children and 8 women, coming from Jammu were detained in southern Assams Cachar district on Sunday and the police are now verifying their UNHCR cards, officials said.
Cachar district superintend of police Ramandeep Kaur said that three Rohingya Muslim families comprising 26 members came to Guwahati from the Jammu refugee camp via Delhi.
"We are now verifying their UNHCR cards and their motive of visiting the northeastern region. We are also probing who guided them to move from their Jammu refugee camp to Assam and why," Kaur told the media.
On May 2, 24 Rohingyas, including 10 children and 8 women, all coming from the Jammu camp, were detained in Tripura's Unakoti district. They were subsequently released as they were holding UNHCR cards.
On April 27, six Rohingyas, including a woman and two children, were detained in Tripura's Dharmanagar after they arrived there from Delhi.
Rohingya Muslims often enter the northeastern states illegally from Bangladesh in search of jobs and for other purposes.
During the past two years, over 270 Rohingyas, all citizens of Myanmar, have been detained in different northeastern states by the Border Security Force and other security agencies.
Since 2016, over 860,000 Rohingyas fled from Myanmar to evade violence and were sheltered in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh.
BJP blames Kejriwal, Raghav Chaddha for Moosewala's murder
The BJP on Sunday blamed AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and his party colleague Raghav Chaddha for the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, saying "anti-national and subversive elements are having free play" in Punjab under the AAP govt
Moosewala was shot dead Sunday by unidentified assailants in Punjab's Mansa district, a day after the state government withdrew his security cover.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, party spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged that the secret list which had the names of those whose security was removed was made public, exposing those people to mortal threat.
"In a way, it was an open invitation to murderers, that you can do you work...
Arvind Kejriwal is responsible for this murder," Patra said.
Along with Kejriwal, Patra held AAP's Raghav Chaddha too responsible for the gruesome murder.
"Both these people should apologise and explain what is happening in Punjab today," he said. Chaddha was the party's co-in charge for the latest Punjab polls, in which the AAP was swept to power in the border state.
Kapil Sharma, Shehnaaz Gill mourn Sidhu Moosewala's killing
Even as politicians began sparring over the killing of Punjabi rapper and celebrity Sidhu Moosewala on Sunday evening, people from the entertainment industry reacted to the death with shock and disbelief.
Comedian and TV star Kapil Sharma, who is from Amritsar, called the incident "very shocking" and "very sad". "Satnam Shri Waheguru very shocking n very sad, a great artiste n a wonderful human being, may God give his family strength #sidhumoosewala," Sharma tweeted.
Former 'Bigg Boss' contestant Shehnaaz Gill wrote: "Kise da jawaan dhee ya putt es duniya toh chala jaave, es toh vadda dukh koi nahi ho sakda duniya te. Waheguruji mehar kareyo #sidhumoosewala." Her tweet roughly translates to, "Nothing is more painful in the world than someone losing their young child. God, please show your mercy."
Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit also took to Twitter to make a political statement: "Well-known Punjabi singer #SidhuMoosewala Shot Dead in Mansa district. Security was withdrawn yesterday. Heartfelt condolences to the aggrieved family and fans. It's an intelligence failure & the @ArvindKejriwal Govt. should own the responsibility."
Music composer and singer Vishal Dadlani called it a "sad day". VJ and actor Rannvijay Singha expressed his shock in a tweet, where he wrote, "Shocking news about #sidhumoosewala, can't believe it."
UP CM reviews preparations for Kovind's June 5 visit
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday took stock of preparations for the visit of President Ram Nath Kovind to Maghar on June 5, officials said.
Maghar is a town in Sant Kabir Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh. Kabir, the 15th-century mystic poet, disappeared and flowers were found in his place that were buried in Maghar.
Adityanath inspected Sant Kabir Samadhi Sthal, mazar, cave, newly constructed Sant Kabir Academy and Research Institute and Sant Kabir mural painting gallery interpretation centre and exhibition hall.
He also laid flowers at the mazar/samadhi of Sant Kabirdas, they said.
Wrong to tamper with security for sake of publicity: Gehlot after Moosewala killing
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday expressed grief over the killing of famous Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and said tampering with security "for the sake of publicity" is absolutely wrong.
Moosewala was shot dead on Sunday by unidentified assailants in Punjab's Mansa district, a day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government withdrew his security cover.
"The news of the murder of eminent singer and Congress candidate in the Punjab Assembly elections, Sidhu Moosewala, is sad. May God give peace to his soul and courage to his family members. His contribution in the field of music will be remembered," Gehlot tweeted in Hindi.
Moosewala had fought on the Congress ticket from Mansa assembly seat in the recent assembly election and was defeated by AAP's Vijay Singla.
"The Punjab government should ensure the safety of all the citizens of Punjab. Tampering with security for the sake of publicity is absolutely wrong. Punjab has lost thousands of people including Chief Minister Shri Beant Singh. To maintain peace in Punjab, the government should take all necessary steps in time," Gehlot said in another tweet.
Chhattisgarh sees three Covid-19 cases, no death; active tally 52
Chhattisgarh on Sunday recorded three COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 11,52,431, while the death toll remained unchanged at 14,034, an official said.
The three cases, at a positivity rate of 0.29 per cent, were reported from Raipur, Kabirdham and Koriya, while 11 districts have no active case currently, he said.
The recovery count increased by nine to touch 11,38,345, leaving the state with 52 active cases, the official said.
With 1,027 samples examined during the day, the number of tests carried out so far in Chhattisgarh went up to 1,77,34,990, he added.
Chhattisgarh's coronavirus figures are as follows: Positive cases 11,52,431, new cases 3, death toll 14,034, recovered 11,38,345, active cases 52, today tests 1,027, total tests 1,77,34,990.
Sidhu Moosewala killing seems result of inter-gang rivalry, says Punjab DGP
Punjab Director General of Police V K Bhawra Sunday said the killing of famous singer Sidhu Moosewala seems to be a fallout of an inter-gang rivalry and that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was involved in it.
He further said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will be set up to investigate the Sunday evening killing.
In a media statement, the state police chief said Moosewala's security cover was scaled down to free personnel for deployment during the Operation Bluestar anniversary next month.
Two of the four Punjab police commandos deployed with Moosewala were withdrawn, he said.
He said Moosewala did not take the two of his remaining commandos with him when the incident happened in Mansa district.
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First Published: May 29 2022 | 7:08 AM IST