
Kavitha backs Telangana government on BC quota, slams BRS for opposing ordinance
During an informal chat with reporters, Kavitha said that the draft ordinance prepared by the state government for BC quota was 'absolutely correct' and the BRS leaders opposing it was 'wrong'.
Kavitha went a step further and said that the BRS had no other option but to toe her line on BC reservations.
'The BRS leaders may take four days' time to accept it,' she said. 'Amending the 2018 Act and bringing the ordinance to provide 42 per cent reservations to BCs in local body elections was justified,' Kavitha added.
'I have supported the ordinance only after discussing it with legal experts,' she said. The former MP lamented that the BRS leaders did not respond to the derogatory comments made against her by MLC Ch Naveen Kumar alias Teenmaar Mallanna and added that she would leave it to the wisdom of the BRS leaders.
Meanwhile, at a press conference, Kavitha demanded that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy should lead an all-party delegation to Delhi, coinciding with the commencement of the Parliament session next week, to bring pressure on the Centre to protect the interests of Telangana regarding the Banakacherla project.
The delegation should also make all possible efforts to ensure early clearance for the Bill on 42 per cent reservations for BCs in education, employment and public life, pending with the President.

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First Post
23 minutes ago
- First Post
FirstUp: Lok Sabha to begin 16-hour discussion on Operation Sindoor and other top news
The long-anticipated discussion on Operation Sindoor is set to begin in Parliament today. The Lok Sabha will take it up today, while the Rajya Sabha will hold its debate tomorrow (Tuesday). Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to take part in the discussion. The Opposition is likely to question the government over repeated claims by the US that it helped broker a ceasefire between India and Pakistan read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to speak during the discussion. PTI/File Photo It's a busy Monday. The Lok Sabha is set for an intense debate today on Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack. US President Donald Trump will visit his golf resort in Turnberry, where he will also meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The third round of trade talks between the US and China will take place in Stockholm, Sweden. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a petition on whether BS VI-compliant vehicles in the Delhi-National Capital Region should have a fixed life span of 15 years for petrol and 10 years for diesel variants. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Google and Meta have been called in by the Enforcement Directorate today over the promotion of online betting and gambling apps labelled as 'illegal.' Let's take a look at the events: Operation Sindoor debate in Lok Sabha The much-awaited discussion on Operation Sindoor will begin today in Parliament. The Lok Sabha will take it up today, followed by the Rajya Sabha tomorrow (Tuesday). Both Houses have set aside 16 hours for the debate, expected to run over two days. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to speak during the discussion. The Lok Sabha is set for an intense debate today on Operation Sindoor. PTI/File Photo On the first day of the monsoon session, PM Modi set the stage for the government's stand on the Opposition's call for a debate on Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack. He had called India's strike on terror camps inside Pakistan a '100% success.' The Opposition plans to raise questions about the US repeatedly claiming to have brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. It also plans to bring up the alleged intelligence failure in Pahalgam, where 26 civilians were killed by armed terrorists on April 22. Trump to meet UK PM Starmer in Scotland As part of his Scotland visit, US President Donald Trump will meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his Turnberry golf resort. He will later travel around 200 miles (320 km) to his large golf estate near Aberdeen in the west. During the visit, he is expected to open a new 18-hole course at the Aberdeen property. The course is named after his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born and raised on a Scottish island before moving to the US. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump is now suing WSJ, its parent company, and owner Rupert Murdoch for $10 billion. Reuters/File Photo This overseas trip comes as Trump deals with the biggest political crisis of his second term. White House officials, concerned by the ongoing focus on the Epstein controversy, are hoping the issue loses steam while Trump is abroad. Trump is expected to return to Britain for a state visit from September 17 to 19, hosted by King Charles. China-US trade talks The United States and China will begin the third round of key trade negotiations in Stockholm, Sweden. The talks are taking place from July 27 to July 30. According to a statement from China's commerce ministry, both sides will continue discussions based on the principles of 'mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.' Notably, China is facing an August 12 deadline to reach a lasting agreement with the White House or face higher tariffs from the US. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had earlier said that officials from both countries would also explore the possibility of extending the deadline for finalising the deal. Key SC hearing over end-of-life rules for BS VI vehicles in NCR The Supreme Court will today hear a plea on whether BS VI-compliant vehicles in the Delhi-National Capital Region should be treated the same as BS IV ones, with an end-of-life cap of 15 years for petrol and 10 years for diesel variants. A two-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran agreed to take up the matter after a lawyer requested an urgent hearing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the petition today. File Photo/Reuters In 2015, the National Green Tribunal had ruled that diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol ones older than 15 years must not be allowed to operate in the NCR to curb pollution. The Supreme Court upheld this decision in 2018. Recently, the Delhi Government made an attempt to implement the same rule for BS VI vehicles. However, the move led to opposition from the public, leading to its suspension. Meta, Google to appear before ED over betting sites Google and Meta are due to appear today before the Enforcement Directorate over allegations of promoting 'illegal' online betting and gambling apps. The two tech companies are accused of allowing and giving prominence to advertisements and websites linked to betting platforms. According to news agency PTI, representatives of both firms had earlier requested a delay in their July 21 summons, saying they needed more time to gather documents and prepare for questioning. Once they appear, their statements will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). With inputs from agencies


The Print
3 hours ago
- The Print
Modi announces statues of Chola kings as BJP takes Shaivite route to cracking Tamil Nadu puzzle
Addressing the people gathered, Modi harked back to the installation of the Sengol in the new Parliament building. A gold-plated, silver sceptre, the Sengol was earlier housed at the Allahabad Museum. Emissaries from the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam Matha, a Shaivite monastery, are believed to have had brought the Sengol to North India. Since then, the Sengol had been lying in the Allahabad museum for decades before it hit the headlines in 2023, when Modi, along with Hindu priests heading the 20 Adheenams in Tamil Nadu, installed it near the Lok Sabha Speaker's chair. On Sunday, participating in the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival at Tamil Nadu's Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, established by Rajendra Chola I in the then-capital of the Chola Empire, Prime Minister Modi said the statues would 'serve as modern pillars of India's historical consciousness'. Honouring Rajendra Chola I, he also released a commemorative coin at the temple, which is now celebrating its 1,000th anniversary. Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that the government will install statues of Raja Raja Chola, who ruled the Chola empire at its peak in the 10th and early 11th centuries, and his son Rajendra Chola I in Tamil Nadu in the upcoming years. 'During the inauguration of the new Parliament building, the saints from the Shaivite Adheenams led the ceremony spiritually. The sacred Sengol, deeply rooted in Tamil culture, has been ceremoniously installed in the new Parliament,' Modi said, emphasising that the Shaivite tradition in the state had played a key role in shaping the country's cultural identity. 'Chola emperors were key architects of this legacy. Even today, Tamil Nadu remains one of the most significant centres—where this living tradition continues to thrive.' Political analysts in the state, however, say the PM's address is an extension of the BJP's efforts to gain a foothold in Tamil Nadu. 'They (BJP leaders) have been trying to leverage the worship of Lord Vinayagar (Tamil Nadu's Ganesha) through the Vinayagar Chaturthi festival (also known as Ganesh Chaturthi) for a long time, and for the last couple of years, they have tried to leverage Murugan (Ganesha's brother and god of war and victory). Now, they have taken the Shaivite tradition and Lord Shiva to appease the people of Tamil Nadu and bring everyone under one umbrella as Hindus,' said A. Ramasamy, a political analyst and former head of Tamil department at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University. However, BJP leaders in the state said that it was not about politics and that analysts are misreading intentions. Speaking to ThePrint, the BJP's former Tamil Nadu president, Tamilisai Soundararajan, said that the PM's visit demonstrated that history and legacy matter. 'Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple was a historically important temple, built 1,000 years ago, and the Prime Minister visiting it was a symbol of celebrating the past, and it has nothing to do with politics. By the visit of the Prime Minister to a small district, like Gangaikonda Cholapuram, the city has got the light of the country, and [I] hope it regains its past glory,' she told ThePrint. 'C hola Empire advanced democratic tradition s' Stating that the history and heritage of the Chola Empire proclaim the true potential of India, the PM said, 'The legacy of Raja Raja Chola and Rajendra Chola is synonymous with India's identity and pride.' He also said that it was the Chola Empire, which implemented democratic election practices first, centuries before Britain's Magna Carta came into being. 'While historians speak of Britain's Magna Carta in the context of democracy, the Chola empire had implemented democratic election practices centuries earlier, through the Kudavolai Amaippu system,' he said, adding that the Chola Empire also advanced India's democratic traditions but had often been overlooked in global narratives. Under the Kudavolai Amaippu system, the names of contestants for membership of the village 'Maha Sabhas' were written on palm leaves, with the winner selected by a lucky lot drawn in front of all villagers. The Prime Minister also highlighted a belief that Rajendra Chola I transported Ganga water from North India to South India. 'While many are remembered for acquiring gold, silver, or livestock from other regions, Rajendra Chola is recognised for bringing sacred Ganga water. Rajendra Chola transported Ganga water from North India and established it in the South,' Modi said. The Prime Minister also highlighted the Union government's Kashi Tamil Sangamam and Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam programmes.'The Chola rulers have woven a thread of cultural unity across India. Today, our government is carrying forward the ideals from the Chola era,' the PM said. he also emphasised that the Shaivite philosophy would pave the way for meaningful solutions for several crises. Referring to the teachings of Tirumular, who wrote 'Anbe Sivam', meaning 'Love is Shiva', he said that 'had the world embraced this thought, many crises could resolve on their own'. India, he proclaimed, is currently advancing this philosophy through the motto, 'One world, One Family, One Future'. (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: Tamil Nadu on mission to get Blue Flag tag for 4 of its beaches. But Marina presents a unique challenge


Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
New self-confidence in India post Sindoor: PM Modi before Parliament debate
GANGAIKONDA CHOLAPURAM/NEW DELHI: A day ahead of the parliamentary debate on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor , PM Narendra Modi on Sunday reasserted that the precision strikes on terror dens in Pakistan was India's message that there are no safe havens for terrorists and their masters. India places the highest priority on its national security and the operation has created a new awakening and a new self-confidence across the country, Modi said at an event in Tamil Nadu's Gangaikonda Cholapuram to honour Chola emperor Rajendra Chola. The world witnessed India's firm and decisive response to the threat against its sovereignty during Operation Sindoor and it has sent a clear message, there is no safe haven for terrorists and enemies of the nation, he said, setting the tone for the govt's response for the debate in Parliament, starting in Lok Sabha on Monday. Oppn plans to point to big terror attacks under 'PM Modi's watch' The upcoming discussion in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the attack and the operation comes as a significant opportunity for the govt to reaffirm its strong stance on national security and counter-terrorism. The debate - after a first week of disruption of Parliament's Monsoon session - is likely to be a fiery one between the ruling alliance and the opposition as they prepare to lock horns over the issues steeped in national security and foreign policy imperatives. The two sides have consented to a marathon 16-hour debate in each House, which invariably stretches longer in practice. Union defence minister Rajnath Singh is likely to initiate the debate immediately after the question hour in Lok Sabha. Sources said home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh, and external affairs minister S Jaishankar will be speaking on the issues amid indications that the PM may make an intervention to convey his govt's "robust" stand against terrorism . Leaders of opposition in LS and RS - Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge - may lead the charge against the govt along with Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav, besides a host of others. Congress , however, plans to attack the govt and particularly PM Modi on what BJP has claimed to be their calling card over a decade, and have used incessantly to target Congress over national security. More than Operation Sindoor, the opposition would be looking to hammer home that the country has been extremely unsafe from cross border threats, pointing to repeated big terror attacks under Modi's watch, from Uri to Pahalgam. This will also put Shah in the oppositions crosshairs. It is here that the opposition plans to undercut Modi's claim on national security. As has been seen since the terror attack, Congress and opposition have been pointing to the fact that the terrorists singled out the tourists by religion to execute them - a point that the opposition would have been reluctant to touch in the past for fear of polarisation. Congress ahead of the debate raised the issue of US President Donald Trump's claims of halting Operation Sindoor. Party leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said since May 10, Trump has claimed "26 times" that he stopped the operation by "threatening to cut off trade with India, and claimed that five fighter jets may have been shot down". Ramesh on X said "even though Congress had been demanding a special two-day session of Parliament immediately after Operation Sindoor was abruptly halted that demand was ignored. "Nevertheless, better late than never," he said.