Shibu Soren, former Jharkhand CM, dies at 81
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren, who played a crucial role in the state’s formation, died on Monday morning at the age of 81. Born on 11 January 1944 in Nemra village of Ramgarh district, he was popularly known as ‘Dishom Guru’ (leader of the land).
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) supremo had been undergoing treatment at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi for over a month for a kidney-related ailment.
Jharkhand will observe a three-day state mourning following his death.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the former chief minister, calling him a ‘grassroots leader’ who rose through the ranks of public life with ‘unwavering dedication’ to the people.
Govt to push Sports Governance Bill aimed at bringing greater transparency in sports bodies
The government is expected to push the National Sports Governance Bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday, amid continued deadlock in Parliament as the Opposition’s united demand for a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in Bihar has not received a favourable response from the ruling party.
The Bill seeks to bring greater transparency to the functioning of sports bodies.
The Rajya Sabha is also scheduled to take up a resolution by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on extending President’s Rule in Manipur by another six months, effective from 13 August.
SC stays proceedings against Rahul Gandhi in defamation case
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed proceedings in a criminal defamation case against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, related to remarks he made about the Indian Army in the context of the 2020 Galwan Valley clash with China.
A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih expressed oral disapproval of Gandhi’s remarks.
The court agreed to consider submissions made by Gandhi’s counsel, Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, and issued notice on a Special Leave Petition challenging the Allahabad High Court’s refusal to quash the trial court proceedings. An interim stay has been granted for three weeks.
Govt gathers evidence confirming Pakistani nationality of 3 Pahalgam attackers
Security agencies have confirmed the Pakistani nationality of the three foreign terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack, citing government-issued documents and biometric data.
The militants, identified as senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives, were killed in an encounter in the Dachigam forest on the outskirts of Srinagar on 28 July, during operation ‘Mahadev’.
They had been hiding in the Dachigam-Harwan forest belt since the 22 April attack at Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow, which claimed 26 lives. Evidence collected suggests no local was involved.
Govt must agree to debate SIR: Priyanka Gandhi
Congress general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday said the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar is a “very big” issue and the government must agree to a discussion.
Her comments came after the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm amid Opposition protests.
She said, “Why shouldn’t the Opposition raise the issue when it concerns the voters’ list? The government should agree to a discussion and move forward.”
SC asks petitioner to approach Bombay HC in Raj Thackeray hate speech plea
The Supreme Court on Monday asked Sunil Shukla, national president of the Uttar Bhartiya Vikas Sena, to approach the Bombay High Court with his plea accusing Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray of hate speech and inciting violence against the north Indian community.
A bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran questioned why the petitioner had not approached the high court. “Is the Bombay High Court on vacation?” asked the CJI, prompting Shukla’s counsel to withdraw the plea.
Karnataka govt forms Anti-Narcotics Task Force
The Karnataka government has constituted an Anti-Narcotic Task Force (ANTF) to strengthen its fight against drug-related crimes.
The task force will function under the overall supervision of the Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG & IGP), and report to the Additional Director General of Police, Cyber Command.
It will include 10 new posts, such as two Additional Superintendents of Police and two Assistant Commissioners of Police. Additionally, 56 posts from the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) will be reallocated, including two police inspectors and four sub-inspectors.
Drought relief programme launched in Assam’s BTR
Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) chief Pramod Boro has launched a comprehensive drought relief programme for affected farmers in five districts of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
The initiative aims to provide immediate aid and establish long-term mechanisms to mitigate future climate-related adversities.
Four districts — Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, and Tamulpur — are facing acute drought, while Udalguri is experiencing moderate drought, threatening rice production and food security for thousands of farming families.
SC to hear plea against Madras HC order on leaders’ photos in welfare schemes
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the Tamil Nadu government’s appeal against a Madras High Court order barring the use of names and photographs of present and former chief ministers in welfare scheme materials.
A bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice Vinod Chandran observed that the high court had passed an interim order restricting the display of such political imagery.
Odisha girl who died of burn injuries laid to rest amid heavy security
The 15-year-old girl from Odisha’s Puri, who allegedly died by suicide after being raped and sustaining severe burn injuries, was laid to rest on Monday amid heavy security.
She died at AIIMS, New Delhi. Her mortal remains were buried in the presence of her family at her native village, along the banks of the Bhargavi river.
Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida attended the burial.
Kasturi Walimbe is an alum of ThePrint School of Journalism, currently interning with ThePrint
(Edited by Shashank Kishan)
Also read: BJP can’t win Jharkhand with just catchy ‘roti-beti-mati’. It needs reserved tribal seats