Major breakthrough in Dharmasthala mass burial case: What was found?
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Jagdeep Dhankhar has suddenly resigned as Vice President, effective immediately, citing health concerns – two years before his term was set to end. This shocking move, coming right after the Monsoon Session began, has sparked intense speculation. Was it truly health-related, or was there more to his abrupt exit? Known for his outspoken views and frequent clashes with the judiciary and opposition, Dhankhar's tenure was tumultuous. From questioning Supreme Court rulings to allowing a motion for Justice Yashwant Varma's removal (after wads of cash were found at his home), his actions often stirred controversy. Now, the focus shifts to who will be the next Vice President of India. Names like Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh Singh are in the running, but social media is abuzz with other possibilities, from Nitish Kumar to Shashi Tharoor. The Constitution mandates that the vacancy must be filled "as soon as possible."
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Hindustan Times
15 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Wrote to parties to push for bill on statehood restoration in Parl: Omar
As demand for restoration of statehood has gained momentum, chief minister Omar Abdullah said he has written to several parties with a sizeable presence in Parliament, seeking their support for the introduction of a Bill for the restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir in the ongoing Monsoon session. J&K CM Omar Abdullah. (File) J&K CM had written to 40 MPs, including the Congress president Malikarjun Kharge, and other prominent Lok Sabha members urging them to raise the issue of J&K's statehood in the Parliament. 'I have written a letter to all those parties who have a good number of MPs in Parliament and requested them to help on the promise made to J&K on statehood and raise the issue in Parliament so that a Bill is brought in this session itself and J&K gets its statehood back,' Omar told reporters in Srinagar. 'The act of reducing J&K from a state to a Union territory in 2019 and the prolonged delay in restoring its status as a full state... has profound implications for the future of Indian polity,' the three-page letter stated. The CM said the reorganisation of J&K into a UT in August 2019 was presented as a 'temporary and transitional measure' and cited repeated public assurances from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the Supreme Court likely to hear a plea for the restoration of statehood on August 8, Omar said the restoration should come through the court if the government does not do it. 'It is a good thing and I hope the Supreme Court keeps in mind is that when they gave a judgement on the August 5 case (in December 2023), they had said that the statehood should be restored as soon as possible. Now, many years have passed but we have not got it yet,' he said. The CM also highlighted the 'remarkable and enthusiastic participation' of the people of J&K in last year's assembly elections and said that they turned up in record numbers and demonstrated an unshaken faith in our constitutional processes and democratic institutions. In a 'respectful acknowledgement' of this, his government's first act was to pass a unanimous resolution calling for the immediate restoration of statehood. He said had the SC not set a deadline for conducting assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, 'perhaps I would not have been talking to you as the chief minister today'. 'We got elections last year as SC had set a timeframe. Otherwise they (centre) would have never held elections and I wouldn't have been a CM. Let's hope, government gives a time for statehood restoration. It has been promised to people of J&K in parliament, meetings and rallies.' Will take issue in INDI alliance meeting: Farooq Abdullah National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said that he will raise the issue of statehood of J&K in meeting of INDI alliance. 'Congress president has called a meeting of alliance parties and will raise the issue of J&K's statehood. They have been supporting us on this,' Farooq told on sidelines of function. PDP, NC on same page on statehood demand The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (JKPDP) welcomes the recent appeal by chief minister for a collective push toward restoring statehood in J&K. However, JKPDP expresses concern over the selective focus on statehood, while overlooking the far more critical demand for restoring Article 370 and Article 35A, which form the constitutional foundation of Jammu and Kashmir's identity, rights, and autonomy. JKPDP chief spokesperson Mehboob Beg said that while the party wholeheartedly supports the call for statehood and stands ready to back any meaningful initiative that fulfils promises made to the people in Parliament, public forums, and before the Supreme Court, it is disheartening to see that the NC, under CM Omar Abdullah's leadership, has not demonstrated equal urgency or clarity on the restoration of J&K's special status. 'The abrogation of Article 370 and 35A in August 2019 was a historic betrayal that struck at the heart of our political and cultural identity. Ignoring this reality while demanding statehood alone dilutes the larger struggle for justice and dignity,' Beg said. 'Statehood without special status is akin to treating the symptoms while ignoring the root cause,' Beg asserted. The JKPDP reiterated its position that statehood, while important, cannot be the ultimate goal. The restoration of Articles 370 and 35A must remain central to any political roadmap for Jammu and Kashmir.
Hindustan Times
15 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
MHA says more facial recognition CCTVs to be installed in Delhi
New Delhi Security is being strengthened in the run-up to Independence Day. (Representative photo) Select parts of Delhi will be covered with facial recognition-enabled closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras as part of the ministry of home affairs' 'Safe City Project', the ministry said in a written response in Rajya Sabha to a question by Trinamool Congress (TMC) Parliamentarian Saket Gokhale. It stated that the project aims to enhance urban security and surveillance infrastructure, including the establishment of an Integrated Command, Control, Communication & Computer Centre (C4I). The 'Safe City Project', funded by the Centre, aims to ensure technology-enabled enhanced policing and better security, especially for women, and costs around ₹798 crore, officials associated with the programme said. This involves the setting up of command and control centres, with facilities for video analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and facial recognition. The ministry stated that the facial recognition system will be used to monitor 'suspected persons/criminals', and that its operation is governed by Standing Order No. Tech. & PI/04/2022, issued by Delhi Police on June 9, 2022. In August 2024, Delhi Police procured 700 facial recognition CCTV cameras to ensure robust security arrangements for the Independence Day celebrations in the city. These cameras were installed in and around the north and central districts, especially covering the Red Fort, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his Independence Day speech, to monitor VVIP movement and keep a close eye on suspicious activities. Delhi Police officers said that presently, there are nearly 25,000 CCTV cameras installed by them under various schemes, including the Safe City Project, besides installations by other agencies, such as Indian Railways and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). The city police's C4I has a facial recognition software (FRS) database of around 350,000 criminals with facial details. 'The 10,000 CCTV cameras that we will be installing under the Safe City Project will all be dynamic cameras on which the FRS can be run. Even now, we have the FRS software in our C4I through which live feed of normal CCTV cameras can also be used for identification of the suspect,' a senior police officer with the modernisation unit of the city police said. The Delhi Police has recently issued directions to commercial establishments in Aerocity, including hotels, guest houses, restaurants and petrol pumps, to install a 'sufficient number' of CCTV cameras covering a 50-metre radius outside their premises to bolster surveillance and enhance public safety ahead of Independence Day. The CCTV footage must be stored for a minimum of 90 days, officials said. 'The FRS helps us in identifying and locating high-value targets and criminals who are wanted by the law enforcement agencies or those looking for a safe haven,' said special commissioner of police (operations and modernisation) Manish Kumar Agarwal. The directive, which remains in force until September 2, aims to prevent crimes and strengthen monitoring in high-profile areas near the IGI Airport, which clocks heavy tourist footfall. A senior Delhi Police officer said that all establishments in and around the Aerocity have been asked to ensure their CCTV systems are in working order, and report any malfunction immediately to the nearest police station.
United News of India
28 minutes ago
- United News of India
Omar writes to all parties over restoration of J&K statehood
Srinagar, Aug 6 (UNI) Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that he has written to political parties with a significant presence in Parliament, urging them to push for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Omar said he has formally reached out to several parties, requesting their support so that a bill is introduced during the ongoing session of Parliament. 'I have written letters to all parties with a large number of honourable MPs in Parliament asking them to help us so that the promise (made by the Central government) on restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is fulfilled,' the CM told media in Srinagar. He hoped that parliamentarians would raise this issue so that a bill would be introduced during the ongoing session of the Parliament and the people of Jammu and Kashmir get the status of a state again. The Chief Minister emphasized that the restoration of statehood is not a matter concerning an individual, a party, or a government, but a commitment made to the people of J&K. 'This promise was made in public rallies, in Parliament, and even before the Supreme Court. Now we want this promise to be fulfilled,' he remarked. It is learnt that Omar has written to presidents of all national and regional parties, including NDA allies, over restoration of statehood. He reminded them that Prime Minister and Home Minister have made repeated assurances, both within Parliament and in public forums, that statehood will be restored to Jammu and Kashmir. Omar welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to list a hearing on restoration of statehood on August 8. 'It is a good thing that the date has been fixed. I hope the Supreme Court will give due attention to this issue,' he said. The Chief Minister said when the SC announced the decision on abrogation of Article 370, they made it clear that J&K should get statehood 'as soon as possible.' 'It has been years since to 'as soon as possible' and we haven't got it yet,' he added. He credited the Supreme Court for ensuring the timely conduct of assembly elections in J&K last year. 'Had the court not set a timeline, I wouldn't be addressing you today as a Chief Minister. Elections happened because the Supreme Court fixed a deadline,' Omar said, expressing hope that the Supreme Court will now also intervene to expedite the restoration of statehood, if the government doesn't do it. UNI MJR PRS
