Imphal, July 31,2023: A delegation of 21 MPs belonging to constituents of the INDIA alliance met Governor of Manipur Anusuiya Uikey at Raj Bhavan on Sunday and discussed the prevailing situation in the troubled North Eastern state.
The team, led by Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Chowdhury, is on a two day visit to Manipur since Saturday and went to various relief camps in Churachandpur, Bishnupur and Imphal districts where they met the violence affected people.
Chowdhury, while apprising the Governor of how the people in relief camps have been staying, said people are in pain and sorrow, Feeling of depression and fear is also common in their minds. Almost all sections of society including women, children and students are affected and it is high time to take concrete steps to end the ongoing conflict.
It is not only a problem of law and order but an ethnic conflict which needs special attention and therefore, an appropriate step to end the conflict and to remove hatred among the communities have to be initiated to restore peace and normalcy in the state, the delegates said as they submitted a memorandum to the Governor and requested for effective measures to restore peace and harmony and justice. In order to bring peace and harmony, rehabilitation and resettlement of the affected persons must be urgently done, they said.
The Governor welcomed the team for their visit to Manipur and appreciated their efforts for the restoration of peace and normalcy. The Governor informed them that she is fully aware of the problems faced by the people consequent upon her visit to different relief camps in both the hills and valley districts.
Both the Central and State governments are making relentless efforts to contain the situation and bring peace and normalcy at the earliest and security forces are also discharging their responsibilities to save the people. She said, to bridge the mistrust between the two communities, hatred among them has to be removed and therefore all stakeholders should work in this direction peacefully.
The Governor appealed to the delegates to extend their cooperation to restore peace and tranquillity through a peaceful dialogue with the representatives of Civil Society Organisations of both the communities to maintain the status quo ante of the age old tradition of peaceful co-existence.
Srinagar, July 29,2023: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday attended the 10th Muharram procession in Srinagar’s old city and distributed refreshments among the mourners, officials said.
Sinha joined the Zuljinah procession at Botakadal, downtown area of Srinagar.
“I pay my tributes to Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions. Their sacrifice for righteousness and greater good of humankind serves as a beacon light for the world,” the Lt Governor said.
The administration has made necessary arrangements for the smooth conduct of the procession from Botakadal to Imambargah Zadibal. Senior civil and police officials including Additional Director General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bhiduri, Senior Superintendent of Police Srinagar Rakesh Balwal, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Muhammad Aijaz Asad and other officials accompanied Sinha.
The Lt Governor also offered Chaddar to Zuljinah and served refreshments among mourners on the occasion.
Large number of Shia mourners joined the 10th Muharram procession and carried religious banners and raised religious slogans as it passed through the old city.
Earlier, on July 27, J&K government allowed the 8th Muharram procession on the traditional route, from Guru Bazar to Dalgate, Srinagar after 34 years. After the peaceful conduct of the Muharram procession on Thursday, government called it a “testimony to change and normalcy in J&K.”
The Muharram procession is taken out by Shia Muslims around the world to remember Imam Hussain, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who was killed along with his companions in the battle of Karbala 1,400 years ago .
Jammu, July 26,2023: Stating that the term of Panchayat polls is ending this year, newly appointed State Election Commissioner (SEC), B R Sharma on Tuesday said that the elections to constitute the grass root body (Panchayat Polls) are expected to be held in November-December this year.
“The five-year term of Panchayats is ending by the end of this year, which earlier ended in 2018 and elections were held in January 2019 to restore democracy at the grass root level,” Sharma told a news channel.
He said, “we have to conduct the elections as per the schedule, which is expected to be conducted in November-December this year.”
The SEC said that his predecessors have done a lot of work and the voter list till January 2023 is ready, “if anybody has been left out or not included into the list, a special summary revision will also be conducted. Rest, all necessary arrangements are on track.”
July 25,2023:The Chinese government has removed Qin Gang from the post of foreign minister and replaced him with his predecessor, Wang Yi, according to state media.
“China’s top legislature voted to appoint Wang Yi as foreign minister … as it convened a session on Tuesday,” the Xinhua news agency reported. “Qin Gang was removed from the post of foreign minister.”
The announcement came a month after Qin’s last public appearance.
The 57-year-old, who was made foreign minister in December, has not since been seen in public June 25, when he held talks with counterparts from Russia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka.
Qin’s final appearance in state media was a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, who visited Beijing less than 48 hours after the Wagner mercenary group’s abortive rebellion against Moscow’s top military brass.
China then cancelled talks between Qin and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on July 4 without explanation.
Imphal, July 25,2023: Manipur government has asked the Assam Rifles and state machinery to take biometrics and push back 718 Myanmar illegal immigrants who came to Manipur during July.
Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi said in a press statement that Headquarters 28 Sector Assam Rifles informed that 718 fresh refugees crossed the Indo-Meridian Border (IMB) and entered New Lajang, Chandel District, on July 23 due to the ongoing clashes at Khampat, Myanmar.
The State Government had clearly informed the Assam Rifles, being the Border Guarding Force, to take strict action to prevent entry of Myanmar nationals into Manipur on any ground without valid visas or travel documents as per the instruction of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, the Chief Secretary said.
The State Government views the fresh illegal entry of 718 refugees very seriously and with utmost sensitivity as the same may have international ramifications, particularly in view of the ongoing law and order issues, the statement said.
The State Government has sought a detailed report from the Assam Rifles Authority to clarify the facts and compelling circumstances or reasons as to why and how these 718 Myanmar nationals were allowed to enter India in Chandel District without proper travel documents, along with strict advice to push back those 718 illegal Myanmar nationals immediately.
The Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Chandel District have biometrics and photographs of all such persons.
Manipur Police, during a recent drive, found large numbers of Myanmar citizens in Churachandpur district, and ten Myanmar citizens were found at Churachandpur hospital. Most of the Myanmar citizens move towards Churachandpur district as they belong to the same ethnic group and speak the same language.
JERUSALEM,July 24,2023:Israel’s parliament on Monday ratified the first bill of a judicial overhaul sought by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after last-gasp compromise efforts collapsed and failed to ease a constitutional crisis convulsing the country for months.
The amendment to a law enabling the Supreme Court to void some government decisions if it deemed them “unreasonable” passed by a 64-to-0 vote after opposition lawmakers abandoned the session in protest, some of them shouting: “For shame!”
More deadlock loomed, however. Within minutes of the vote, a political watchdog group and the centrist opposition leader said they would appeal against the law at the Supreme Court.
Hoping to encourage a stopgap deal between the religious-nationalist coalition government and opposition parties, the Histadrut labour union threatened to declare a general strike if what it called “unilateral” measures were pursued.
Still, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, an architect of the reforms package cast by Netanyahu as needed to create more balance among branches of government, sounded undeterred.
“We took the first step in the historic, important process of fixing the justice system and restoring powers that were taken from the government and the Knesset (parliament),” he said in a speech.
Critics worry that the reforms aim to curb judicial independence.