Parties happy as wait for civic polls to end soon
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New Indian Express
25 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
SC-monitored VC selection a blow to Kerala govt, Raj Bhavan senses upper hand
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Supreme Court's intervention in forming search committees to select a permanent vice-chancellor in Digital University Kerala and A P J Abdul Kalam Technological University has dealt a blow to the government's ongoing efforts to get an ordinance passed for constituting a five-member VC search panel in the digital university. The reconstituted panel, with four members owing allegiance to the government and no nominee of the chancellor (governor), was meant to give the ruling dispensation a greater leverage in the VC selection process. Notably, the hurry on the part of the government to get the ordinance promulgated was reportedly owing to the possibility of the draft UGC Regulations, 2025, coming into effect soon. The government's role in the VC selection process has been drastically cut down in the latest UGC regulations. On the other hand, the Raj Bhavan is of the view that the present arrangement has set the long-stalled process rolling and also given it a greater role in VC selection. With the apex court asking both the government and the chancellor to give four names each for constituting a search committee for the two varsities, legal experts say it is likely that the panel would have two members each from both sides. The fifth member would be the nominee of the University Grants Commission (UGC) as laid down in the regulations. 'Going by past instances, the UGC nominee would mostly prefer to endorse the panel of VC probables proposed by the search committee members nominated by the chancellor,' said a top source. This is expected to give the chancellor an upper-hand in the five-member panel, it is pointed out.
Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
Opposition PDP, PC trash Omar Abdullah's proposed signature campaign for restoration of statehood of Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir's opposition parties have criticized Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's proposed signature campaign. The campaign aims to restore statehood. Opposition leaders call it a betrayal of public trust. They accuse Abdullah of normalizing the 2019 decisions. These decisions revoked Article 370. Sajad Lone suggests a resolution in the assembly. Waheed Para demands an apology from Abdullah. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir stated that the signature campaign in support of statehood proposed by chief minister Omar Abdullah is mockery and betrayal of the trust and mandate of the people reposed in the National Conference in the last assembly opposition People's Democratic Party and People's Conference legislators accused Abdullah of normalizing the decisions of August 5, 2019, when the BJP led government in New Delhi, abrogated Article 370 and 35 (A) and downgraded the erstwhile state of J&K into the two Union Territories of J&K and during his speech on August 15, here in Srinagar had said that he will no longer be silent on the issue of restoration of statehood and instead hit the streets and reach out to people in all 90 assembly constituencies across J&K. He said that his government will get their signatures in support of restoration of statehood which will be submitted before the BJP leader government in New Delhi and the Supreme Court. The SC while hearing the petition on restoration of statehood on August 14, gave eight weeks time to the central government to submit their response.'We will support any movement towards statehood. But please don't make a mockery of statehood. Let us approach the Supreme Court as a constitutional entity not as another 'Tom Dick and Harry. Signature campaigns have no legal or constitutional sanctity,' said Sajad Lone of People's Conference. He suggested that the NC led government should pass a strong resolution in the J&K assembly. 'Our resolutions are not binding on the Supreme Court, but inherent in them will be constitutional dignity and reflect will of people…Political or signature campaigns have no legal or constitutional sanctity,' said Lone asking, 'Name one event empirically in India or in the rest of the world where signature campaigns have altered legal interpretations. They are not even admissible.'The PC chief also referred to the 2007 signature campaign 'Safr-e-Azadi' of the jailed Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front leader Yasin Malik. 'The signature campaign for independence was carried out by Yasin Malik also. How far did that campaign go,' Lone asked. He accused Abdullah of showing, 'disregard, disdain and contempt for the assembly that has made him the CM.''I beg you. Please stop this childish and immature attitude. We will support any campaign unconditionally. But please ensure that a resolution from the state assembly is also passed and sent to the Supreme Court,' said Lone, adding, 'Don't set the stage for denial of statehood. Act like a leader. Don't throw tantrums…This is a real ideological battle. This is not a video game.'The PC legislator from Handwara, who served as a minister in the last PDP-BJP government, asked Abdullah to explain 'whether he was shielding and protecting the state BJP and giving them the luxury of not taking a position on statehood, by not passing a resolution on statehood?'The PDP legislator from Pulwama, Waheed Para said that Abdullah owes an apology not a signature campaign for normalising 5th August. 'With 50 MLAs behind him, he has reduced the fight for J&K's statehood to token gestures, after seeking votes door-to-door on the promise of restoring pre–5th August status,' said Para, adding, 'This is not just retreat, it is betrayal.' The PDP leader said that the people of J&K gave Abdullah a historic mandate to fight for Article 370 and statehood, not to stage political theatre. 'If he has already surrendered, he must admit it and apologise to every citizen of J&K for selling promises he never intended to keep,' said Para.
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First Post
25 minutes ago
- First Post
This Week in Explainers: Does Delhi-NCR have the money to move lakhs of stray dogs to shelters?
The Supreme Court order to round up and relocate all stray dogs in Delhi and NCR has triggered a debate. Are there enough shelters to accommodate nearly 10 lakh canines, and how much could this cost? We answer these questions and discuss other big stories from India in this roundup The Supreme Court has reserved its order on pleas challenging the August 11 ruling to relocate all stray dogs in Delhi and NCR. According to estimates, the national capital could have as many as 10 lakh strays. File photo/Reuters It's the Independence Day weekend in India, and there is a lot to cheer and take pride in. What an exhilarating 78 years. Today, India's economy continues to be a bright spot in a bleak world. In a shifting world order, the country leads by example. We are in the age of hectic geopolitics, and India stands its ground. Its relationship with the US is strained at the moment, as Donald Trump has slapped 50 per cent tariffs on goods exported from the country. However, New Delhi is not one to give up, as efforts are on to crack a trade deal with America. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Amid tariff threats, ties with China appear to be thawing, and those with Russia are ever-evolving. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India on August 18 (Monday) to hold border talks, and India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be travelling to Moscow. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is heading to China by August end and Russia's Putin is expected in India by the end of the year. As far as Pakistan goes, it has been ruffled by India's growing power. Operation Sindoor taught the neighbour a lesson, yet its leaders continue to threaten India… now over the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. However, none of this could hamper India's I-Day celebrations. Sticking to tradition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a passionate speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, speaking about Operation Sindoor and delivering a warning message to Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort during India's Independence Day celebrations in New Delhi, India, on Friday. AP One of the other big stories from India is the Supreme Court ruling on stray dogs, ordering the removal of all canines from Delhi-NCR. It has triggered a massive debate, with animal lovers and activists opposing the judgment. Following the outcry, Chief Justice BR Gavai intervened, and the matter was heard by a new bench, which reserved the interim order. In heartbreaking news, a massive cloudburst hit a village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar, claiming more than 30 lives. We talk about all this and more in our weekly wrap, and revisit stories about India and its independence. 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his longest yet address on India's 79th Independence Day, speaking for 103 minutes. He spoke about Operation Sindoor and delivered a strong message to Pakistan. Atmanibhar Bharat featured often as the PM spoke of India's growing self-reliance. He also had a wish list for India for the near future. Here are the big takeaways from the address. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Addressing the nation on Independence Day. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 15, 2025 2. Independence Day is a time to look back at history. After the freedom struggle came the Partition, which gave birth to two nations – India and Pakistan. But do you know how the borders were drawn? We revisit the chapter that changed the subcontinent. 3. India is a country of diversity… it is also one of many names. While we cheer 'India, India' when our sportspersons emerge victorious, we also chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' when gripped in patriotic fervour. Often, we refer to it as Hindustan. This is a tale of the country's many names. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A giant screen displays Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the International Media Centre, as he sits behind the country tag that reads 'Bharat', during the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, September 9, 2023. Reuters 4. Stray dogs have been a big conversation in India this week. The Supreme Court, on August 11, directed the Delhi government, civic bodies, and authorities to start collecting these canines and shift them to shelters. Following the outrage, Chief Justice BR Gavai withdrew the case from the earlier bench and posted it for hearing before a three-judge special bench. It did not grant a stay on the directions issued to the municipal authorities. But why does the country's top court want stray dogs to be rounded up from the streets? How will the Capital go about this, and how much could it cost? 5. While the Supreme Court order has sparked a big debate, one cannot ignore the menace linked to stray dogs. There has been a rise in attacks and a spike in rabies. It might be time to look elsewhere for inspiration. While Bhutan achieved full sterilisation of its strays in 2023, the Netherlands became the first country in the world to eliminate its stray dog population without resorting to mass euthanasia. Here are the success stories. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 6. The coming week will be an important one for Indian diplomacy. Amid unease with Washington over the tariffs, New Delhi seems to be inching closer to Beijing and Moscow. China's Foreign Minister will be visiting the Indian capital on Monday, soon after which External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be heading to Moscow. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling to China soon, and Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India later this year. Here's why these visits matter. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India on Monday ahead of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to Moscow. File photo/AP 7. The American dream is becoming more and more distant. A major change in the US immigration policy, which came into effect on August 15, could affect thousands of children. Those born to Green Card holders may lose their protected immigration status once they turn 21. Indians are worried about the change. We tell you why. 8. Tragedy struck a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Thursday (14 August). A massive cloud burst in Chasoti, the last motorable village on the way to the Machail Mata temple, claimed more than 60 lives, with dozens still missing. But what's a cloud burst, and why was the one that hit the J&K village so deadly? This story answers the questions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Household goods are strewn around next to buildings damaged by flash floods in Chositi village, Kishtwar district of Kashmir, on Friday. AP That is all from us this week. If you are hooked to the news, you will find more such explainers here.
