Piloted by Amit Shah ..... Why has Modi's 'August Kranti Bills' against corruption made opposition nervous ??

The Opposition says the 130th amendment Bll seeking removal of Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and Ministers if jailed for 30 days is "dangerous" because it provides grounds for the removal of elected representatives even without being convicted in criminal cases. 

The Modi government on the other hand calls the three bills introduced by Home Minister Amit Shah as anti-corruption reform. It's like 'August Kranti Bills' against corruption. 

Why the opposition parties are nervous about it?

The fact of the matter is 13 out of the 31 chief ministers have declared criminal charges against them. Ten are from the opposition camp and they include powerful rulers such as Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy (89 cases) and his Tamil Nadu counterpart M K Stalin (47 cases). 

The new Bills the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025, propose a seismic shift: any Union minister, chief minister or even the prime minister could be forced to vacate office if held in custody for 30 consecutive days on charges punishable with at least five years in prison. 

Moreover the recent examples set by opposition states Delhi (when Arvind Kejriwal was CM) and DMK-ruled Tamil Nadu. 

Kejriwal spent more than five months in jail in 2024 on charges related to the liquor scandal and yet the morality issue did not prick him or his party founded on the protest against corruption alongside Anna Hazare.

Kejriwal's illustration made governance by proxy from prison ward. 

He quit only after the Supreme Court 'conditions'  disallowed disallowed his entry into the Secretariat.

In Tamil Nadu, CM Stalin remained V. Senthil Balaji as minister even after he was arrested in 2023 in a money-laundering case. 

He stepped down months after the Supreme Court insisted that his presence in the ministry undermined constitutional propriety. 

In contrast to the protest from opposition MPs, for the BJP, these new Bills now under consideration and scrutiny of a parliamentary panel are proof of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's much publicised claim -'Na  Khaunga and Na Khane doonga'. 

The saffron alliance leaders say this is an 'extension' of Modi Govt’s oft-repeated mantra of “zero tolerance” for corruption. 

The Statement of Objects and Reasons for the bills says - the Ministers, CMs and Prime Minister address “the hopes and aspirations of the people” and their conduct should be “beyond any ray of suspicion”. 

A minister in custody is anti-thesis to “the canons of constitutional morality”.

That could also diminish people's trust reposed in elected representatives.

Among 13 CM facing charges; 10 chief ministers are facing serious charges like attempt to murder, kidnapping, bribery and criminal intimidation. 

Of these 10, seven CMs are from Opposition-ruled states, two are from BJP allies and one is from the BJP.  

There is also an allegation that some chief ministers have been accused by rival politicians of getting the police to drop cases against themselves.  

The real anxiety is not related to the Bills per se but to the manner the ED and other agencies have functioned with the opposition leaders and ministers.

Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai has rebuked the ED for being used in “political battles”. Another court told the agency it was “crossing all limits”.  The ED filed cases against 193 politicians in the last 10 years but was able to get just two convicted.

The ED's success rate against politicians is a miserable 1%.

Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, part of a three-judge bench, said in August that the ED had been "successful" in incarcerating people for years without convictions.  Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, part of another bench, pointed to the ED's dismal conviction rate and said: "There is a difference between law enforcing and law violating...".

"The Centre's knack for targeting Opposition-ruled with the misuse of Article 356, used to impose the President's rule, goes back to the initial years of India's democracy. This has been criticised by the Supreme Court on multiple occasions. 

Few examples of cases against Opposition CMs --  

Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin -- Total cases: 47 

Number of cases under serious IPC sections: 11

**

Telangana chief minister Anumula Revanth Reddy

Total cases: 89

Number of cases under serious sections: 72

34 charges related to Punishment for criminal intimidation (IPC Section-506)

22 charges related to Section 505(2) (IPC Section-505(2)) (causing enmity between communities) 

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah

Total cases: 13

Alleged serious offences under various IPC sections: 6

***  (NDA ally CM)

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu

Party: Telugu Desam Party (TDP)

Total cases: 19

Alleged serious offences: 32

ends

Now ... 'Double Engines friendship' .... between India and China :::: Says who ???? --- Chinese envoy to India Xu Feihong

India, China are Asia's double engines; 

Beijing backs Delhi against Trump's tariffs

Speaking at an event organised by think tank Chintan Research Foundation (CRF) he said that "China will firmly stand with India", asserting that the two countries are double engines of economic growth in Asia.

"US has long benefited greatly from free trade but now uses tariffs as bargain chips to demand exorbitant prices from various countries. 

The US imposed tariffs of up to 50% on India, and has even threatened for more. China firmly opposes it. In the face of such acts, silence only emboldens the bully. China will firmly stand with India to uphold the multilateral trading system with the world trade," he said.

Chinese ambassador Xu Feihong said that China firmly opposes the 50 per cent tariffs imposed by the US on India and stands firmly by it.  Talking about opening the Chinese market for Indian goods, Feihong said that both countries can progress a lot with the exchange of goods in each other's markets.

"We'll welcome more Indian goods to enter the Chinese market. India has a competitive edge in IT, software and biomedicine, while the Chinese see a rapid expansion in the fields of electronic manufacturing, infrastructure construction and new energy," said Feihong.

"If connected, the two major markets will produce an effect of one plus one bigger than two," he added.  

He said that remaining silent would only embolden the bully and asserted that China would firmly stand with India.  

Terming the US "a bully", Chinese Ambassador, said that the US had long benefited from free trade but was now using tariffs as bargaining chips. 

He stated that the US had imposed tariffs of up to 50% on India and that China firmly opposed this move.  

He said that China would want Indian businesses to invest in China and also hoped a fair environment for the Chinese businesses in the country.

"The Chinese side will want more Indian enterprises to invest in China. 

It is also hoped that the Indian side could provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises in India to promote common rearing of industries and benefit the people of the two countries," he added.

The US has imposed a whopping 50 per cent tariff on the import of select Indian goods. This includes a trade tariff of 25 per cent and an additional penalty of 25 per cent for buying Russian oil. 

The additional tariffs would come into effect from August 27.

Informal Summit -- 2019 

ends 

Here's 'achhey din' GST rates slashed :::: 90% goods may get cheaper ... GoM approves scrapping of 12%, 28% GST slabs ::::: "Congress has 'talent' and that's making Rahul Gandhi nervous !!" - says Modi

In a key meeting held on Thursday, the panel of state ministers accepted the Centre's plan to reduce the four-rate system to two main slabs of 5% and 18%.  

The move marks the beginning of what is being called GST 2.0, aimed at making the tax system simpler, easier to follow, and less of a burden on households and businesses.  At present, GST is charged at four different rates: 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%. Under the new structure, the 12% and 28% slabs will be scrapped. Goods and services will now mostly fall under 5% or 18%.

A higher 40% levy will continue on a limited list of “sin goods” such as tobacco and certain luxury items. The panel also recommended that luxury cars be brought under the 40% tax bracket.

According to the plan, 99% of items that were earlier taxed at 12% will now move to the lower 5% slab. Similarly, nearly 90% of items under the 28% slab will shift down to 18%.  

The GoM was chaired by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. Other members included Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, Rajasthan Health Minister Gajendra Singh, West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, and Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal.

The ministers reached a broad agreement after reviewing detailed proposals from the Finance Ministry.

The Centre has said that the new structure will bring relief to households, farmers, and the middle class by lowering the GST rate on everyday items. 

Medicines, processed food, clothing, footwear, and several household products are expected to move to the 5% slab.

Large household appliances, televisions, and other durable goods will fall under the 18% rate instead of the earlier 28%, which could reduce prices for middle-class families.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told the GoM earlier, “The rate rationalisation will provide greater relief to the common man, farmers, the middle class and MSMEs, while ensuring a simplified, transparent and growth-oriented tax regime.”

GST EXEMPTION FOR INSURANCE UNDER REVIEW

The GoM also discussed the Centre’s plan to exempt health and life insurance for individuals from GST. If approved, this would mean policyholders would no longer need to pay GST on their premiums.  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told NDA leaders during a tea meeting that several young leaders in the opposition, particularly in the Congress, are very talented but do not get an opportunity to speak because of "family insecurity". 

According to sources, PM Modi further said that the presence of such youth leaders may be making Rahul Gandhi feel insecure and nervous.

Addressing only the ruling alliance MPs. the Prime Minister described the recently concluded Parliament session as a good one because important bills were passed.

He specifically praised the passage of the Online Games Bill, calling it legislation with far-reaching impact that deserved wider discussion. He singled out the Online Gaming Bill, calling it a reform with "far-reaching impact" that will directly affect the public.  

Notably, the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking urgent intervention on the proposed Online Gaming Bill, warning that a blanket prohibition could inflict severe damage on the sector.

Pakistan has a series of stories on 'fraudulent' claims ... economy in shambles ... oil "unviable" after drilling and took a harsh beating when 140 soldiers died in India's Operation Sindoor

To be economical with truth is Pakistan's biggest economy.

Pakistan has nominated Donald Trump for Nobel peace prize.

It actually devalues the significance of Nobel peace committee itself. 

Analysts want to know how would the Nobel Committee 'consider' a nation that is Pakistan -  accused of suppressing human rights in Balochistan under Asim Munir's indirect dictatorship as a credible nominator !!

In his social media post, Baloch leader Mir Yar Baloch has accused the Pakistani leadership and Army chief Asim Munir of misrepresenting facts to U.S. officials. 

He asserted that Donald Trump had been misled and that Pakistan is making false claims for financial gain. 

He made it clear that Balochistan is not for sale, and warned that no foreign power, including the U.S. or China, will be allowed to exploit Balochistan’s minerals, stating: “This is a non-negotiable sovereignty.”

Yet surprisingly a section of media and worse President of America believes Pakistanis. 

A 2019 oil discovery hyped by former Prime Minister Imran Khan had proved unviable after drilling.

'Failed' military boss Asim Munir's new plans - as were made out to be - to save Pakistan's economy through rare earth minerals, apparently bowled over Nobel crazy Donald Trump.

No wonder Islamabad has already recommended for the same.   

Pakistan claims there are rare earth minerals particularly via the Reko Diq project. Munir has claimed Reko Diq could generate $2 billion annually.

This is also gripped in falsehood. Firstly, the project can start production only in 2028 and there are ifs and buts around. 

Some say these are unlikely as the oil promises. 

Of course the claims of the presence of rare earth minerals in Pakistan remain unproven. 

Moreover, rare earth element (REE) extraction requires advanced technology and infrastructure that Pakistan lacks, while environmental risks and high costs further complicate profitability.  

** 

Into another plane.  

At present China dominates global 'rare earth' REE production, and is understandably tolerating Pakistan’s US engagement due to its strategic utility against India. 

However, as US ambitions challenge China’s entrenched stakes in Balochistan, Pakistan’s tightrope walk becomes riskier.

Moreover, Pakistan's mineral reserves, often claimed to be worth $6 trillion and in some official narratives even inflated to $8 trillion, are seemingly exaggerated figures, as Canada-based defence journal Quwa points out.

Pakistan has copper and gold deposits in the Chagai district of Balochistan, but here extraction remains hampered by Balochistan's security challenges, with separatist attacks frequently targeting projects such as CPEC.

Reports of Pakistan planning to nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize surfaced soon after Munir landed in the US. Later, the White House confirmed that the US hosted Munir after he backed the Nobel bid, which was one of the first to nominate the "Peace President" for the prize.

However, the nomination lacks credibility given Pakistan's history of supporting terrorism, which undermines its moral authority on peace advocacy.

The US, under the Presidencies of Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Trump himself, has listed Pakistan as a safe haven for groups like the Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba, among others. The LeT and its front, The Resistance Front, are proscribed terror organisations by the US State Department.

Baloch leader wrote in his post -- 

“Allowing Pakistan’s radicalized military and rogue ISI, known for sponsoring Al-Qaeda and various proxy groups responsible for the deaths of thousands of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, to exploit Balochistan’s trillion-dollar reserves of rare earth minerals would be a grave strategic mistake. 

Such access would significantly enhance the operational and financial capabilities of the ISI, enabling it to expand its global terror networks, recruit more militants, and potentially facilitate large-scale attacks reminiscent of 9/11.”

((As one of Pakistan’s largest provinces, Balochistan remains largely unexplored, yet it holds some of the world’s richest critical mineral reserves — including gold, copper, chromite, lithium, and rare earth metals.))  

Diplomacy and US hypocrisy:

"Emboldened by Trump's support, Munir has threatened India from US soil and warned Pakistan's nuclear arsenal could plunge the world into chaos. Washington's failure to challenge this rhetoric reveals the Trump administration's shortsightedness," says an article in 'India Today'.  

Pakistan army chief Munir visited the US when Israel launched Operation Rising Lion against Iran in June. 

By then he got the taste of Narendra Modi's 'Operation Sindoor'.  

Pakistan's false claims after Operation Sindoor stood exposed when Samna TV reported that over 140 Pakistani soldiers were given 'posthumous gallantry awards' on Pakistan's Independence Day.

The report was deleted soon after it went viral. 

Regardless, the fact that Pakistan suffered deep damage within its territory during India's Operation Sindoor is a fact of life.

Visuals of Munir arriving in Washington DC surfaced just four days after the Israeli assault began. The visit was strategically timed, and came just over a month after Pakistan had taken a beating from India.

Pakistan shares a border with Iran and the US was to engage in airstrikes against the Khamenei regime. In what appeared to be a Trumpian "deal" with Pakistan, an arrangement was made.

The US was likely exploring greater cooperation from Pakistan just days before it went on to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities.

Pakistan, fearful of unrest spilling over from Iran, where Baloch fighters enjoy cross-border support and ethnic ties, was apprehensive about any US-backed regime change in Tehran. Yet, Munir, reeling from the humiliation of Operation Sindoor, was desperate enough to offer whatever he could. 

The embrace of the US after years must have felt like a new-found life for the military leader of the Islamic Republic where fauj is supreme.

In the last two decades, the feeling in Islamabad was that it was losing its strategic value to the US.

India–US ties continue to remain at an impasse. According to a 'Washington Post' report, senior White House officials, including Ricky Gill, the US National Security Council’s Senior Director for South and Central Asia, were in New Delhi, 

They met former Indian diplomats too. The Indian side reportedly voiced frustration over the derailment of trade talks and also expressed unhappiness on Trump's repeated claims that he brokered the India-Pakistan ceasefire.

Trump also made uncharitable remarks against India's economy calling it dead - which is totally untrue.

Gill sought to reassure former Indian diplomats of America’s commitment, but noted frustration within the White House over India’s insistence on downplaying US involvement in ending the May conflict with Pakistan. Former Indian diplomats were “surprised” by this question as India has consistently maintained that its long-standing disputes with Pakistan, must be addressed bilaterally.

The tariffs have made things worse and complicated. New Delhi has called the measures “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.”

ends 

India ‘successfully tests’ nuclear-capable missile that hit targets deep into China

 

India ‘successfully tests’ nuclear-capable missile able to reach deep into China

The Agni-5 missile was successfully launched in India’s eastern Odisha state on Wednesday.

The launch “validated all operational and technical parameters”.

India and China, the world’s two most populous nations, are intense rivals competing for influence across south Asia.

The relations plummeted in 2020 after a deadly border clash.

India is also part of the Quad security alliance with the US, Australia and Japan, which is seen as a counter to China.

India’s bitter rival, Pakistan, has nuclear weapons as well and the two countries came to close to war in May after militants killed 26 people in Kashmir.

Caught in global trade and geopolitical turbulence triggered by Donald Trump’s tariff war, New Delhi and Beijing have moved to mend ties.

In October 2024, prime minister, Narendra Modi, met the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, for the first time in five years at a summit in Russia.

Modi is expected to make his first visit to China since 2018 on Aug 31 to attend the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation – a regional security bloc.

Ties between New Delhi and Washington, meanwhile, have been strained by Trump’s ultimatum that India end its purchases of Russian oil.

So far India has remained unfazef.

The US says it will double new import tariffs on India from 25% to 50% by 27th of  August if New Delhi does not switch crude suppliers.

The Agni-5 is one of a number of indigenously produced short- and medium-range Indian ballistic missiles aimed at boosting its defence posture against Pakistan, as well as China.

Agni-5 intermediate-range ballistic missile also part of Narendra Modi’s defence strategy against Pakistan

Ends 

CANDID TALK: ... by NNPG co-convener Isak Sumi : "We are caught between Challenges and Hope .... unless we come together, we can't say Govt of India does not have political will"

Isak Sumi, co-convener of NNPG led by Neokpao Konyak says: 

" We are stuck between challenges and hope ..... the challenges of coming together and the hope of coming together. Now our sincere effort is instead of preempting on the difficulties of the issues, let us first agree to come together.... to work together (with all Naga groups)," 

Participating in a TV discussion, Sumi said: "That is why we are trying to gain each other's confidence. Once we agree to work together... no matter what the issue may be; we can together present our issue to the Govt of India. There we will know whether the Govt of India has the political will to resolve the issue or not. 

Isak Sumi and his NNPG colleague P Tikhak Naga

"But utill and unless we come together and present our case together we cannot also simply not blame the Govt of India saying you don't have the political will to resolve when one or the other party (locally) is not willing to resolve it".  

"We cannot keep blaming the Govt of India as well... I think almost every Naga who is concerned about Indo-Naga political stalemate must have already realised there will be only One Solution for one issue. And the Govt of India has on several occasions made it clear there will be only One Solution".  

Answering questions during the programme, he said - "With so many multiple groups giving divergent ideas about the nature of Solution; about the different demands no matter the divergence we have to convince ourselves unless we work together there cannot be any headway." 

His remarks at this juncture assume enough significance only recently NSCN-IM chairman Q Tuccu said his organisation NSCN-IM is not willing to share stage with the NNPG.

Reacting to such remarks, the NNPG led by Kitovi has issued a strong rebuttal saying -- 

that "at no point of time" it had any desire to be a part of any agreement where NSCN - IM was a party. 

"There is a term going around called a "Common Draft" for convergence of all stakeholders. Let it be known that it is the initiative of the Government of India (Gol) for an inclusive Naga solution. The WC, NNPGs have acknowledged it in principle, provided the draft do not disturb the core fabric of AGREED POSITION of 17th November 2017," said a statement from the conglomeration. 

The NNPG led by Kitovi was a bit harsh when it said -- "There was absolutely no consultation with the Naga tribes prior to signing the document. The moral and emotional consent and approval of the Naga Tribes never pricked their conscience. 

Even today, Nagas are not privy to their real political conversation. 

"For this very reason the Indigenous Nagas, the ancestral entities do not consider FA as genuinely theirs. Consider the word 'NAGALIM', it is a utopian term, irrelevant and non-existent in the Naga history pages". 

Hence coming on Aug 20th; Isak Sumi's observation may work to give some soothing touch.  

All these have become vital as Ao Sneden and FNR initiated a meeting has been called at Ungma village on Aug 22. 

Of course who all will attend remains to be seen.  

But at the same time Isak Sumi remained firm about certain things which can be called 'frank' outbursts. 

"So... it is not time for any political group to be very adamant about their own idea of a Solution or the peace process.

"It is high time that we sit together .... and honestly bring the issue on the table."  

To a pointed question on the prolonged insurgency and how it has impacted development and created hurdles for the youths for decades now; Isak Sumi said -- 

"This unresolved Naga political issue has been the pretext from politicians to business people to Naga political groups ... we all have taken undue advantage of this unresolved Naga political issue. 

"It may be out of context but give a simple instance since the foundation (formation) of the Nagaland state we have never seen a single politician or bureaucrat who has been prosecuted by the investigating agencies". 

This was a rather loaded statement meant to be grasped and analysed well in New Delhi.

 

Participating in the discussions, social activist Theja Therieh called for early solution.

He said the on-going negotiation between the Govt of India and the Naga groups has paradoxically turned into "a huge burden" on the common Nagas. 

ends 

'Democracy returns' ::: In Lok Sabha, Opposition tears bills to remove arrested PM, CMs and ministers -- throws it at Amit Shah

Under the proposed legislation, a Prime Minister, Chief Minister(s) or ministers facing charges with a minimum five-year jail term will lose their chair if they are arrested or detained for 30 consecutive days. 

The three draft-laws were introduced - the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The opposition was up on its feet and tore copies of the legislation as pandemonium prevailed. 

As Shah was proposing that the bills be sent to a joint committee for examination, Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee and other opposition leaders tore copies of the bills and threw them at the Home Minister. Visuals showed pieces of paper falling near the minister. However, Banerjee denied tearing copies of the bills.

There is at present no provision to remove a sitting minister or chief minister if they are accused of a serious crime.

How is the new law necessary ?

In 79 years of Independent India's history, only one chief minister went to jail and ran a government from there. 

The Modi Govt now wants  law that seems to address this exception.  The centre's move is being termed draconian,

Take the clock to March 2024 - India was in the election season. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested but he did not step aside from office.

He created a 'first' for India. He made use of the law which had not set any rule clearly that a CM held behind bars had no moral right to decide the fate of his state. 

Earlier all CMs arrested or facing arrest, be it Lalu Prasad or Hemant Soren, resigned beforehand. The Opposition parties are in panic mode.

They say there are serious concerns that the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill could bring a law that would create room for misuse against CMs of Opposition-ruled states. 

The Central regime, the present or subsequent, might use it to make the CMs toe its line, or pull down Opposition governments.  

With vindictive politics allegedly on rise; it is apprehended that the elected governments would be now left at the mercy of the Executive -- that is the government in power especially the central government.   

It is commonly argued that the central agencies such as CBI and ED have been weaponised by the BJP to cripple the opposition parties.

Many say keeping Kejriwal in jail created enough hurdles for the AAP in Delhi and ultimately in 2025 - his party lost miserably.

The ED, a premier agency, has been at the forefront in probing corruption cases involving money laundering. 

However, the government in March this year presented data in Parliament that adds to the concerns. 

The ED filed cases against 193 politicians in the last 10 years but was able to get just two convicted.

The ED's success rate against politicians is a miserable 1%.

Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, part of a three-judge bench, said in August that the ED had been "successful" in incarcerating people for years without convictions.

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, part of another bench, pointed to the ED's dismal conviction rate and said: "There is a difference between law enforcing and law violating...".

"The Centre's knack for targeting Opposition-ruled with the misuse of Article 356, used to impose the President's rule, goes back to the initial years of India's democracy. This has been criticised by the Supreme Court on multiple occasions. In the SR Bomai case of 1994, the Supreme Court had underlined that Article 356 should only be invoked as "a last resort"." says an article in 'India Today'.

This proposed legislation is being seen as an opportunity/tool for the Centre to impose Article 356 and impose Presdient's Rule in states.  

It is a welcome move that the draft Bill includes the process to even sack the Prime Minister, but as critics have pointed out, it is a fig leaf to push through a stringent law.

"Amit Shah knows no case will be initiated against the PM, so this bill is for CM's ruled by his opponents!" posted Congress supporter Vijay Thottathil on X. 

"This bill violates the basic principle of the Constitution. When Amit Shah was the Home Minister of Gujarat, he was arrested (encounter case). Did he uphold morality then?" Congress leader KC Venugopal said.

To this, an agitated Shah said he had resigned as Gujarat minister before he was arrested. "There were false allegations against me. I had resigned on moral grounds till I was under trial. I did not hold a single constitutional post till I was cleared of all the charges by the court," Shah said.

In 2014, a special CBI court cleared Shah of all charges, citing a lack of evidence.

ends 

ends 

Monsoon session of Parliament 'washout' .... now Govt to press for new Bills ::: Prime Minister, Ministers and CMs if arrested for 30 days will have to quit

The Monsoon session of Parliament will come to an end on Thursday, Aug 21. The session has been washout due to opposition protests.

Now the centre will come out with a new set of Bills to ensure that a sitting Minister and the Prime Minister in Delhi and the chief ministers and ministers in the states may be removed from office if they are detained or arrested for 30 days on charges of crime. 

There is at present 'no provision' to remove a sitting minister if they are accused of a crime. Only a Member of Parliament or a member of legislative assembly (MLA) can lose their seat (and if they’re a minister, effectively their ministership) if they are convicted for a crime that carries a punishment of two years imprisonment or more.  

Under the proposed amendment, the law for a sitting Prime Minister has been tightened. 

“ ... in case of the Prime Minister, who for any period of thirty consecutive days during holding the office as such, (if) is arrested and detained in custody, on allegation of committing an offence under any law for the time being in force, which is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or more, shall tender his resignation by the thirty-first day after such arrest and detention...."

The amendment says -- if he/she does not tender resignation, the person in office shall cease to be the Prime Minister with effect from the day falling thereafter,” the legislation said. 

The new proposal in the Bills to be piloted by Home Minister Amit Shah proposed a new 5(A) clause in Article 75 of the Constitution.

 “A minister, who for any period of thirty consecutive days during holding the office as such, is arrested and detained in custody, on allegation of committing an offence under any law for the time being in force, which is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or more, shall be removed from his office by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister to be tendered by the thirty-first day, after being taken in such custody.”

It says that even if the PM’s advice “for the removal of such minister is not tendered to the President by the thirty-first day, he shall cease to be a Minister, with effect from the day falling thereafter.”  

The list of government business in the Lok Sabha showed that the Centre will introduce three bills – The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill and The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill – in the Lower House on Wednesday.

Over 500 passengers stuck :: Mumbai monorail breaks down amid heavy rain :::: Monorail stopped at around 6.15 pm

Mumbai monorail breaks down amid heavy rain; over 500 passengers stuck

The monorail services in Mumbai was disrupted amid heavy rain between Chembur and Bhakti Park. The passengers dialled the BMC helpline number following which fire brigade officials arrived at the scene.  

Mumbai Monorail stopped at around 6.15 pm

Disruption between Chembur and Bhakti Park

Over 500 passengers were trapped after a Mumbai monorail train came to a halt between two stations amid torrential rain in the city on Tuesday. The train, which runs on an elevated track, was stuck for over two hours, and suffered a "minor power supply issue".

The technical snag occurred around 6:15 pm when the train was running between Mysore Colony and Bhakti Park stations. Fire brigade and rescue officials were carrying out rescue operations to evacuate the passengers using cranes.  

"I was in the train from 5:30 PM. The rescue operation started after 1 hour. There were at least 500 passengers in the train. This train arrived after a gap of 30 minutes, so the entire train was overloaded with passengers," said a passenger who was rescued to ANI.  

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he was in contact with the concerned officials and ordered an inquiry into the incident. He also urged passengers not to panic.

He assured that all passengers would be safely evacuated and requested everyone to remain patient. He added that he was in contact with the MMRDA Commissioner, the Municipal Commissioner, the police, and all relevant agencies, and that an inquiry would also be conducted into the cause of the incident.  

"Due to some technical reason, a monorail is stuck between Chembur and Bhakti Park. MMRDA, the fire brigade, and the municipal corporation, all agencies have reached the spot. The highest priority is being given to the safety of all passengers. 

Therefore, no one should worry or panic. 

All passengers will be safely evacuated. I request everyone to remain patient. I am in contact with the MMRDA Commissioner, the Municipal Commissioner, the police, and all relevant agencies. 

An inquiry will also be conducted into why this incident occurred," tweeted Fadnavis.

Supreme Court slams ‘Misdirected’ Forensic Probe on Ex-Manipur CM Biren Singh

It is one of the bizarre things of India's own -- 'law will take its own course' phenomenon.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday, Aug 19 criticised CFSL for giving “wishy-washy answers” in testing leaked audio tapes linked to ex-Manipur CM N Biren Singh’s alleged role in ethnic violence. 

The bench clarified it only wanted a voice-match, and not video authenticity.  

A Kuki organisation KOHUR petition had sought a court-monitored SIT investigation into Singh’s alleged role. According to Bhushan, the leaked audios contained “very serious matter” where Singh could be heard saying that Meitei groups were permitted to loot arms and ammunition belonging to the state.

“We had not asked about authenticity of the video. What we are asking for is after testing that voice with the admitted voice of the individual whether it can be identified that same persons are speaking in both?”

-- a bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Satish Chandra Sharma said the Govt-run laboratory had misunderstood its directions. 

The court explained that it had not asked for the authenticity of the videos to be checked, but only wanted to know if the voice in the clips matched Biren Singh’s admitted voice samples.  

“We had not asked about authenticity of the video. What we are asking for is after testing that voice with the admitted voice of the individual whether it can be identified that same persons are speaking in both?”

It further told Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati : 

“We don’t need authenticity of the video to be established. The entire exercise seems to be misdirected. Only wishy-washy answers are being given. The CFSL is under the impression that we want to know if the video is authentic or not.”  

Since Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was engaged in another court, the matter was posted for hearing again on August 25.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had criticised the Manipur government for failing to place on record a fresh forensic report on the leaked clips despite being ordered to do so.

On May 5, a bench led by former CJI Sanjiv Khanna had already seen a forensic report about the authenticity of the leaked audios and directed the state to file a fresh report.

During the hearing, the court rejected a plea from senior counsel Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioner Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR).

The Kuki body pressed for an independent Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe. He argued that the same government to which Singh belongs has control over the CFSL, raising doubts about fairness.

But the bench was not convinced. 

“You cannot suspect the bonafides of every organisation on the ground of administrative control. We will have to bring an organisation from abroad," the two-member bench said.  

The Manipur government had informed the court that a new forensic report on the authenticity of the audios was ready to be filed.

Manipur is now under President's Rule.

Biren Singh resigned as Manipur Chief Minister on February 9, 2025  after rising pressure within the BJP and demands for a change in leadership. 

On November 8 last year, a bench headed by former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud directed KOHUR to furnish material substantiating the authenticity of the leaked recordings.  

The violence in Manipur began in May 2023 after a “Tribal Solidarity March” was organised in the hill districts protesting against a Manipur High Court order related to the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

Officials say since then, over 260 people have lost their lives and thousands have been displaced as clashes broke out between the Meitei population in the Imphal valley and the Kuki community in the hills. 

There is absolute communication gap between Kukis and Meities since May 2023. 

ends

"Putin wants to decide which territory Russia will retain" ::: Craze for Nobel Peace prize has made Trump go crazier !! He claims to have ended six wars ! ... :: On India-Pakistan he is being silly and economical with truth ... there are questions on others too !!

 Personal ambition beyond a point is dangerous thing like the adhocism of Congress party or 'little learning' of Rahul Gandhi. 

Donald Trump does not need to join any club. He has his own wisdom and intellect on diplomacy. But he has made Vladimir Putin - already the winner of Russia-Ukraine battle.

Looking for a quick Nobel; Trump has inched closer to a Vladimir Putin-endorsed roadmap to ending a conflict that has proved much harder -- than he have even imagined. 

On ceasefire between India and Pakistan; the Modi government is firm that Trump had no role.  

Trump and his administration have claimed to have helped settle the conflicts between Israel and Iran, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, Cambodia and Thailand, India and Pakistan, Serbia and Kosovo, and Egypt and Ethiopia.

Yet the claim to have settled those conflicts is embellished and in some cases contradicted by continued violence in countries like DR Congo, where Rwanda-backed rebels missed a deadline to reach a peace deal in Doha.  

In Iran, the US carried out its own strikes using bunker-buster bombs against military and nuclear facilities before strong-arming Iran to accept a ceasefire. India has denied that Trump played any role in reaching a ceasefire deal with Pakistan to end days of strikes over the disputed Kashmir territory in May. Egypt and Ethiopia have no deal to settle the root of their conflict – a Nile River dam constructed by Ethiopia that would divert water from Egypt. 

And Serbia has denied it had any plans to pursue a war with Kosovo, although Trump took credit for preventing one.

On the subject of ceasefires, by Trump’s own admission, he has often been seeking them in these conflicts. Now, he has sought to rewrite the record, piling pressure on Ukraine.

Trump’s declaration that he was not seeking a ceasefire in Ukraine came after meeting Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week where the Russian president initially demanded that Ukraine cede control over territory in the country’s southeast before negotiating a ceasefire.

The question is crucial to the sequencing of an eventual peace in Ukraine: 

Putin wants to decide which territory Russia will retain while the fighting still rages, while Kyiv has demanded the guns fall silent in a ceasefire before any decisions are made over territorial claims.

By Monday’s meetings with European leaders, Trump had said he was no longer pursuing a ceasefire.

“If you look at the six deals that I settled this year, they were all at war. I didn’t do any ceasefires,” Trump stated, telling Zelenskyy, 

“I don’t think you need a ceasefire.”  

MSNBC, the US television news station, posted a compilation of Trump calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine in the weeks and days before his meetings with Putin and then Zelenskyy.

Trump's record on Indo-Pak ceasefire remains questionable.

Except Pakistan's military establishment and India's Rahul Gandhi no one seems to agree what the US President is talking.

 

On 10 May, after the outbreak of violence between India and Pakistan, Trump announced: “After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence". 

It was like a competition for 'breaking news'. India's formal announcement came much later than his social media posting. It was also something in bad taste diplomatically.

On 26 July, Trump said he was calling the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia in order to call for a ceasefire after three days of border fighting. “The call with Cambodia has ended, but expect to call back regarding War stoppage and Ceasefire based on what Thailand has to say,” he wrote. “I am trying to simplify a complex situation!”

And on Israel and Iran, Trump had also written: “It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE.”

ends 

Opposition pitches 'Telugu man from Supreme Court' to take on RSS man and NDA nominee Radhakrishnan ::: Can Telugu factor put TDP in dilemma ?

If BJP had surprised friends and foes alike by selecting C P Radhakrishnan - a RSS man and an OBC from Tamil Nadu - as the NDA nominee for vice presidential polls, the Opposition INDI alliance think they can play a smarter move by putting up a Telugu man from the Supreme Court. 

Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the Opposition to support NDA’s Vice-Presidential candidate CP Radhakrishnan, the INDIA bloc on Tuesday fielded its own nominee — former Supreme Court judge Sudershan Reddy.

Before his elevation to the Supreme Court, Reddy served as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court and as a Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Reddy retired as a Supreme Court judge in 2011.

Announcing the joint Opposition candidate, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the upcoming Vice Presidential election was an ideological battle.

“All Opposition parties are on board. Democratic values are under attack,” Kharge stated.

"All INDIA bloc parties have decided to have a common candidate. The decision has been taken unanimously. I am happy that all Opposition parties have agreed to one name. It is a big achievement for democracy," Kharge added.

Highlighting the nominee’s credentials, he said:  “He has served as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court and as a Judge of the Supreme Court, and has been a champion of social and political justice.”

Reddy later said:  

"I appeal to all parties, including NDA, to support me." Expressing confidence about the upcoming elections, Reddy told India Today TV that, as the Opposition’s candidate, he represented 60% of India. 

Out of 782 total number of MPs (as of now) for election to the coveted Vice President's post - the NDA led by BJP has 423 MPs, with 293 in Lok Sabha.

And remaining 130 in Rajya Sabha. The Modi-led ruling alliance is pretty comfortable in terms of numbers as they would require only 392 to win. 

Sources indicate that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, tasked with securing support from other parties, spoke with YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy over the phone. Jagan stated the party would finalize its stance after an internal meeting.

According to sources, Jagan, after consulting party leaders, communicated YSRCP’s support for the NDA’s vice-presidential candidate via the party’s parliamentary leader, YV Subba Reddy.

YSRCP holds four Lok Sabha seats and seven Rajya Sabha seats. Notably, the party has previously supported NDA candidates in presidential and vice-presidential elections.

The BJP's decision to field a Tamil candidate had created some problems for DMK especially because the state goes to elect its new assembly in March-April 2026. 

Accordingly, DMK insisted that the opposition candidate should be from south. So even if Reddy is not from Tamil Nadu, he is a Telugu speaking leader from Telangana.

Of all three Telugu-based parties the BRS led by K Chandrashekhar Rao will be in deeper dilemma if at all because Reddy is from Telangana.

While Opposition thinks TDP leader N Chandrababu will be in some kind of problems and 'linguistic dilemma', the TDP sources rule out any such possibility. 

Chandrababu has 19 MPs in Lok Sabha and two in Rajya Sabha - making it 21.

Jagan Mohan Reddy YSRCP has 4 members in Lok Sabha and seven in the Upper House making it 11. 

The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress did not object to a candidate from south; only thing it wanted was that the nominee should be 'apolitical'.

In 2022, NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar had defeated Margaret Alva of the opposition while in 2017, opposition's non-political nominee Gopalkrishna Gandhi (a former Governor in West Bengal) was defeated by BJP veteran M Venkaiah Naidu.   

On 2 May 1993, Reddy became a judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. 

In 2005, he was appointed as the chief justice of the Gauhati High Court from  December 5. 

Reddy was appointed as a Supreme Court judge on January 12, 2007 during the Manmohan Singh regime. He retired on July 7, 2011, with one of his last cases being the influential Salwa Judum case.

Following the passage of the The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, he became the first Lokayukta of Goa in March 2013. In October 2013, Reddy resigned from the role due to personal reasons.

This year vice presidential elections will be held in India on September 9 following the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar due to health concerns.  

In fact, Dhankhar had resigned over major political differences with the NDA government for his alleged hobnobbing with the opposition parties especially the Congress.