QBullet: PM Breaks Silence on Kashmir; Irom Sharmila Ends Fast

1. ‘Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat': PM Modi Invokes Vajpayee, Breaks Silence on Kashmir

Only a few days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke his silence on cow vigilantism in the country, on Tuesday, he finally addressed the mounting unrest in Kashmir, after the 8 July killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

In a public address, at a rally near the birthplace of revolutionary Chandrashekhar Azad, PM Modi reached out to the youth of Kashmir, invoking Atal Bihari Vajpayee's ideology of ‘insaniyat, jamhooriyat, Kashmiriyat'. He suggested that the only way forward was through dialogue.

He reiterated Vajpayee's mantra saying “jamhooriyat ka raasta hi baatchit ka raasta hai, samvad ka raasta hai, loktantra ke asoolon ka raasta hai (democracy alone is the path to dialogue, democratic values)” . He added that he would walk the same road as Vajpayee and not let the Kashmiriyat of Kashmir get tainted.

Source: The Indian Express

Also Read:
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2. After 16 Years, Irom Sharmila Ends World's Longest Fast

On Tuesday, an emotional Irom Sharmila, the ‘Iron Lady' of Manipur, ended her 16-year-long fast by eating honey out of her palms.

She wept, perhaps as she came to terms with the final moments of one aspect of her struggle. Regaining her composure, she announced she wanted to be the Chief Minister of Manipur, some day.

The moment marks a watershed in the tumultuous politics of Manipur, as Sharmila announced her decision to go from being the face of the resistance against AFSPA to contest elections in the state.

She added that people may have negative reactions to her decision as they have become used to seeing her only as a symbol of resistance.

Source: The Hindu

Also Read:
After 16 Long Years in Hospital, Irom Sharmila Has Nowhere to Go
I Want To Become CM of Manipur: 8 of Irom Sharmila's Bravest Lines

3. Great Train Robbery: Rs 5.75 Cr of RBI's Cash Stolen

In a dramatic heist on Tuesday, Rs 5.75 crore of the Reserve Bank of India's money was stolen from a moving train.

Robbers managed to cut through the roof of a coach booked by the RBI to transport money from Salem in Tamil Nadu.

There were 226 steel trunks in the train, which were carrying Rs 342 crore in soiled bank notes, which weighed around 23 tonnes.

It still remains unclear how the robbers managed to cut through the roof of a moving train, when several guards were deployed to protect the money being transferred.

The theft was discovered once the Salem Express reached Chennai's Egmore railway station. RBI officials found two trunks open, and the money gone.

Source: Hindustan Times

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4. Maharashtra Govt to Book Zakir Naik for Hate Speech

Trouble afoot for controversial televangelist Zakir Naik yet again, as the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government prepares to book him under the strict Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and some sections of the Indian Penal Code after the a 71-page report submitted by Mumbai police commissioner Datta Padsalgikar.

Despite Fadnavis' statement to seek the advice of the law and judiciary department and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) before taking any action, as senior bureaucrat confirmed the proceedings will be initiated soon, and action will be taken against both Naik and his NGO Islamic Research Foundation.

Source: Times of India

Also Read:
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5. Don't Tolerate Attacks on Individuals in Name of Cow Protection: MHA

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's impassioned speech decrying the violence against Dalits and calling gau rakshaks “anti-socials by night, cow protectors by day”, the Ministry of Home Affairs echoed the Prime Ministers sentiments, asking states and Union Territories not to tolerate incidents of violence against individuals in the name of cow protection.

In a note sent to all states and UT chief secretaries, the MHA conceded that “crimes” had been committed by “certain groups” in the name of gau raksha, and called it an “unacceptable situation.” The ministry implored states and UTs to take prompt action in case of such incidents.

In the past week, PM Modi has addressed the issue of cow protection and vigilantism twice in two consecutive days; the first time in his historic Town Hall address in New Delhi on Saturday, followed by an address to BJP workers in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Source: The Indian Express

Also Read:
Una Again: Gau Rakshaks Brutally Assault Two Dalit Men in Andhra
‘Your Mother, You Bury Her': Gujarat Dalits Abandon Cow Carcasses

6. Five Arrested in Mumbai's Hiranandani Hospital in Kidney Racket Scandal

Five doctors and members of senior management of LH Hiranandani Hospital in Mumbai were arrested on Tuesday evening for alleged involvement in a kidney transplant racket, which was earlier unearthed on 14 July.

Hiranandani Hospital) ">

The five arrested include chief executive officer Sujit Chatterjee and medical director Anurag Naik. This is perhaps the first instance of senior doctors at a reputed institute in the city being arrested for unethical medical practices.

So far 14 arrests have been made in the case, including Tuesday's five fresh arrests and a kidney failure patient along with his ‘fake wife.'

The five medicos will appear before the 66th Court of Andheri Metropolitan Magistrate on Wednesday.

Source: Times of India

Also Read: Delhi's Kidney Racket Kingpin Lived Luxuriously, Tipped His Barber Rs 1000

7. Unrest Builds in Arunachal After Former CM Kalikho Pul Commits Suicide

Less than a month after the Supreme Court reinstated the ousted Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh in a historic judgement, former CM, Kalikho Pul allegedly committed suicide.

His body was found hanging from the fan of one of the bedrooms in the Chief Minister's official residence, which he still had not vacated.

Police reportedly found a suicide note, but refused to confirm its existence.

The news of his death triggered protests in the capital city of Itanagar, as hundreds of his supporters gathered outside the CM bungalow, to protest his “betrayal.”

Some demanded current CM Pema Khandu's resignation, while others set fire to a coffin which was brought for Pul's body, saying it wasn't “worthy of a popular CM like Pul.”

Source: The Hindu

Also Read: Kalikho Pul: How a Carpenter, Guard Rose to Arunachal CM's Chair

8. India Summons Pak High Commissioner, Protests Cross-Border Terrorism

Lodging protests against “continuing cross-border terrorism”, India on Tuesday summoned the Pakistani envoy, in the backdrop of rapidly deteriorating bilateral ties.

Foreign secretary S Jaishankar handed over a “strong demarche” to Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit.

Demarche made specific reference to LeT terrorist and Pak national Bahadur Ali who was apprehended recently (2/2) pic.twitter.com/uYwEyCQokM

Responding to news of Basit's summoning, a Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson said:

We strongly reject Indian claim of any cross-LOC infiltration. Pakistan remains committed to the policy of not allowing its territory for any terrorist activity against anyone. However, it is necessary to establish the veracity of India's claim. Details in this regard will be gathered.

Diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan have soured and continue to dip after January's attack on Pathankot airbase, for which the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed has been accused.

Pakistan's intervention in Kashmir has also triggered further tensions.

Source: Hindustan Times

Also Read:
Stop Misleading the World: India on Pak's ‘Black Day' for Kashmir
Rajnath Singh at SAARC Meet in Pak, Sharif Stirs Kashmir Issue

9. Lack of Humane Approach in Kashmir: SC to Govt and Police

After 56 civilian deaths and mounting unrest in Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the state government and the police to apply a humane approach while dealing with the situation.

The apex court comprising Justices PC Ghose and Amitava Roy made this oral observation while upholding a session's court order to lodge an FIR against Deputy Superintendent of Police Yasir Qadri, for the killing of a 26-year-old youth, Shabir Ahmad Mir.

According to Mir's father's complaint, the DSP along with a police team, had entered their house and shot dead his son and assaulted his mother when she attempted to intervene.

Even before registering the FIR, the state government rushed to the Supreme Court, arguing that an FIR against police officers would demoralise the force.

While staying the order on the FIR, the bench asked the police to probe the matter without suspending or arresting the DSP and submit the report to the court on 12 August.

Source: Deccan Chronicle

Also Read:
Even After a Month and 56 Deaths, Why Kashmir Unrest Continues
Who Will Heal the Emotional Scars of Kashmir?

From The Quint

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