Latest news with #Shirui
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Watch: Congress v Tharoor, Modi's Bengal rally, courts block Trump's retaliatory tariffs & more
Watch: Congress v Tharoor, Modi's Bengal rally, courts block Trump's retaliatory tariffs & more | News Wrap Here are the top headlines of the day. Congress vs. Tharoor battle erupts over MP's comments on surgical strikes; he slams 'zealots' There is a war of words brewing between the Congress and its Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor after the latter's comments about India's surgical strikes to target Pakistani terror camps in 2016. Tharoor, who is leading a team of parliamentarians to five countries, described his critics as 'zealots' and 'trolls' while trying to explain the context of his statement on the surgical strikes. Hitting back, Pawan Khera, who heads Congress's media and publicity wing, posted a portion from Tharoor's 2018 book in which he had accused the Modi government of 'shameless exploitation of the 2016 surgical strikes' on X . The controversy erupted after Tharoor, addressing a public event at Panama to explain India's stance on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, claimed that India had crossed the LoC to target Pakistani terror launch pads for the first time in 2016 to avenge the Uri terror attacks. This prompted Unorganised Workers and Employees' Congress chief Udit Raj to dub Tharoor as a 'super spokesperson of the BJP' in a social media post on Wednesday. Raj's X post was reposted by Congress communication chief Jairam Ramesh and Khera as a sign of endorsement. Responding to such criticism, Tharoor said 'critics and trolls are welcome to distort my views and words as they see fit. I genuinely have better things to do.' Manipur govt will ensure Gwaltabi incident does not occur in future: Chief Secretary Manipur Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh has clarified that the State government had no involvement in the Gwaltabi incident, where security personnel allegedly covered the word 'Manipur' on a state-run bus — an act that triggered widespread protests across the state. He denied that the government issued instructions to cover the name of the State, and noted that strict action would be taken. On May 20, 2025, a Manipur State Road Transport Bus ferrying journalists to the Shirui festival at Ukhrul was stopped and the name of the State written in the windshield was reportedly covered with a white paper. Several protests over the incident have rocked the Meitei-inhabited Imphal Valley over the last week. PM Modi tears into Trinamool Congress over Murshidabad violence, teacher scam in West Bengal PM Modi launched a blistering attack on the TMC government in West Bengal, saying that the State is 'plagued' by violence, corruption, and lawlessness, and asserted that people are now yearning for change from the 'Nirmam sarkar' (cruel government). He said incidents of communal violence in Murshidabad and Malda are grim reminders of the TMC regime's 'cruelty and indifference' to the sufferings of ordinary citizens. He also said that 'pervasive corruption' is eroding public trust in the system. Turning his guns on the West Bengal teacher recruitment scam, he accused the TMC of 'ruining the future of thousands of teachers and their families' through rampant corruption and irregularities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day trip to four States to launch numerous development projects, as he keeps up a busy itinerary touring different regions in the run-up to the first anniversary of his third term in office. IMD issuing a red alert for eight districts of Kerala The heavy monsoon rains and accompanying strong winds damaged homes, power lines and crops in many parts of Kerala, with the IMD issuing a red alert for eight districts of the State. The heavy rains and winds caused uprooting of trees, waterlogging, and flooding of low-lying areas. In many hilly regions like Wayanad people were relocated to relief camps. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority said water levels in various rivers were rising due to the heavy rains. It advised those living on the banks of these rivers to be vigilant. Federal court blocks Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs under emergency powers law A federal court has blocked U.S. President Donald Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs on imports under an emergency-powers law, swiftly throwing into doubt Trump's retaliatory tariffs that have rattled global financial markets, frustrated trade partners and raised broader fears about inflation intensifying and the economy slumping. The ruling from a three-judge panel at the New York-based U.S. Court of International Trade came after several lawsuits arguing Trump has exceeded his authority and left the country's trade policy dependent on his whims. Trump has repeatedly said the tariffs would force manufacturers to bring back factory jobs to the U.S. and generate enough revenue to reduce federal budget deficits. He used the tariffs as a tool to negotiate trade deals to serve the U.S.' interest with other nations. We don't know if the White House will respond to the ruling by pausing all of its emergency power tariffs.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Manipur govt will ensure Gwaltabi incident does not occur in future: Chief Secretary
Manipur Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh on Thursday (May 29, 2025) said that the government will ensure that the incident at Gwaltabi, where security forces allegedly covered the state's name written in the windshield of a bus with a white paper, does not occur in future. He said the administration is committed to the integrity of the State of Manipur. Addressing a press conference with Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, the Chief Secretary said the recently concluded Shirui festival at Ukhrul district attracted about 1.70 lakh people, and people of all communities travelled with families from valley areas and other parts of the state as well as from outside the state. Mr. Singh acknowledged that an unfortunate incident happened at Gwaltabi on May 20 when a Manipur State Road Transport Bus ferrying journalists to the festival was stopped, and the name of the state written on the windshield was reportedly covered with a white paper, leading to widespread criticism. Over the last week, protests over the Gwaltabi incident have rocked the Meitei-inhabited Imphal Valley. Mr. Singh said, "That there had been no instructions whatsoever or even remote thought of covering the name of the State, as has been alleged. This has been amply clarified by the state government as well as by the responsible political leadership. What transpired on the ground, would be revealed after a thorough inquiry only." Expressing regret over the incident, Mr. Singh also said the state administration has taken the reported untoward incident with utmost seriousness and the Governor has constituted an Inquiry Committee which will submit its report in a timebound manner. Urging all to maintain public order, Singh also assured all concerned that "Once the report is submitted and those responsible for the lapses, if any, are identified, strict action would be taken." "The state government will also ensure that such incident does not occur in future. The administration is committed to the integrity of the state of Manipur, and the only aim of all these efforts is to establish lasting peace in the state," Mr. Singh added.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
COCOMI agitation turns violent, scuffle with forces near Raj Bhavan leaves 5 injured
Imphal: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity's (COCOMI) protest, demanding an apology from governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla for the May 20 incident in Gwaltabi, turned violent on Sunday as scuffle broke out between protesters and security forces. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Responding to the call by COCOMI, hundreds of protesters gathered at Khwairamband Bazaar near the Raj Bhavan to take part in the mass agitation but they were stopped by security forces. As the scuffle ensued, security forces fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters in front of Kangla Gate, around 150 metres from the Raj Bhavan gate, as a result of which many people were injured. Five injured protesters have been admitted to RIMS Hospital, a hospital official said. "The governor continues to disregard the sentiments of the people by his silence," a protester said. On May 20, a Manipur state transport bus with journalists on board, en route to the Shirui festival in Ukhrul district, was reportedly issued a directive to remove 'Manipur' from its windshield near Gwaltabi check-post. The govt has formed a two-member inquiry committee and said it will 'examine facts and circumstances involving security personnel and Manipur state road transport Bus...', an order issued by the home department said. The unrest comes after the expiry of a 48-hour deadline set by COCOMI for the governor to issue a public apology. COCOMI has decided to meet MHAin New Delhi on Tuesday to push forward the pending political and security processes regarding the prolonged Manipur crisis. Expressing dissatisfaction over the use of mock bombs and tear gas shells on non-violent protestors, COCOMI said, "The deployment of such aggressive crowd control measures against unarmed civilians, many of whom were mothers and elderly women, is unbecoming of a democratic and sensitive administration."
United News of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Visitors pouring in at Ukhrul for Manipur Shirui festival
Imphal, May 20 (UNI) Large numbers of people including Manipur Governor AK Bhalla have reached Ukhrul district headquarter to attend the Shirui festival scheduled to begin later on Tuesday. The 5th State-Level Shirui Lily Festival will be organised in various spots. The festival is named after the endangered Shirui flower which blooms in May and June in Ukhrul district. The opening ceremony will be held at Heritage ground, Shirui village, followed by Pork eating competition and a rock concert named Shirock at Bakshi ground. In another venue camping, zorbing, ziplining, trampoline, Burma bridge and other interesting events will be organised. Special security measures were also taken up along the Imphal Ukhrul road specially in the areas where some Kuki houses are present as Kuki Students Organisation, Delhi and other Kuki bodies have threatened to attack people belonging to another community. UNI NS ARN
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Security beefed up in parts of Manipur ahead of Shirui Lily festival
Imphal, Elaborate security arrangements have been made in the 80-km stretch between Manipur's capital Imphal and Ukhrul town to ensure a smooth conduct of the five-day Shirui Lily festival from May 20, police said on Monday. Vehicle checking and patrolling are being conducted along the stretch, a senior officer said. The security has been beefed up after threats by a few Kuki organisations were given to the Meitei community people who were planning to attend the state-level 5th Shirui Lily festival, he said. The 5-day programme is held in honour of the state flower Shirui Lily, which is found in the hills of the Tangkhul Naga-majority Ukhrul district. Several officials from Tourism and other departments have already reached venues in the district, he said. Adequate security arrangements have also been made between the stretch from Yaingangpokpi to Litan via Mahadev, where there are a few Kuki villages, the police officer said. Both central and state forces are in place to ensure security in Ukhrul district, he said, adding that additional deployment would be made during the festival period from May 20 to May 24. Tests have also been conducted to determine the range of wireless communication in the hilly areas to ensure immediate reinforcements in case of any requirement, another official said. Volunteers from the Tangkhul Naga community have also been assisting security forces to ensure the safety of tourists from Imphal. The Manipur Police had on Sunday said that threats to the Meitei community people, who are planning to attend the festival, are being taken seriously and inquired into promptly. The police, in a statement, said that precautionary measures are in place to ensure the security of the movement of people attending the Shirui festival. More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups, who are the majority in the hill areas, since May 2023. The Centre imposed President's rule in Manipur on February 13 after N Biren Singh resigned as chief minister. The assembly, which has tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation.
