11-08-2025
August 11, 1985, Forty Years Ago: US Push for NPT
The United States has repeated its call for India to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty following New Delhi's announcement that it could now produce plutonium from its own resources. The State Department said it noted that India continued to eschew producing nuclear weapons, for which plutonium is a vital component. 'However, we believe that the appropriate way to effectively limit nuclear proliferation is for countries like India (and Pakistan, among others) to put their nuclear programmes under full scope safeguards,' it added.
Plot to Kill PM
Three alleged terrorists, two of them still at large, have been indicted by a New York grand jury for plotting the assassination of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in June. The plot was uncovered with the arrest of Gurpratap Singh Birk a few weeks before Gandhi's visit to the US. Birk is currently on trial in New Orleans in connection with a plot to kill Haryana CM Bhajan Lal.
Judicial Reforms
Chief ministers and state law ministers and chief justices of the high courts will be meeting in New Delhi on August 31 to discuss the country's judicial system and consider reforms. This will be preceded by a conference of the chief justices of the high courts. The conference will discuss steps to stop delays in litigation and speed up the disposal of cases.
Lokpal Bill
The Lokpal Bill, proposed to be introduced in the current session of Parliament, is likely to undergo some changes. The Union Cabinet is yet to consider the Bill. It is likely that the Bill will exclude the Prime Minister from its jurisdiction.
