Top stories on 6 June in a capsule
Amit Shah holds ‘positive’ meet with angry ally Uddhav Thackeray
BJP President Amit Shah met ally in Maharashtra Shiv Sena’s Chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday night in a determined move to improve the strained relations between them after, ahead of 2019 general elections. Shah, accompanied by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, arrived at Thackeray’s residence, Matoshree and the leaders held talks behind closed doors. News reports quoted the BJP calling the meeting ‘positive’, and more meetings will be held in the next 2-3 days. The ‘Sampark for Samarthan’ program by the BJP chief is being seen as a outreach tactic after a miffed Sena earlier this year had announced that they would contest all elections up to 2019 independently.
_______________
Trump holds first Iftar amid tense relations with Muslim American community
President Trump hosted a number of diplomats from Muslim countries on Wednesday night for the administration's first iftar, an evening meal that breaks the fast during Ramadan. In 1996, Hillary Clinton held the first White House iftar dinner, a tradition continued through the Clinton, Bush, and Obama administrations. Trump, however failed to host the iftar dinner last year. Some of the United States's largest Muslim organizations say they were not invited to an iftar dinner at the White House. Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR) is co-hosting a 'NotTrump's iftar' outside the White House on Wednesday night with a number of other Muslim organizations instead.__________________
Major fire erupts in 115-yr-old London hotel
A massive fire broke out in Central London’s Mandarin Oriental hotel on Wednesday, with the 12 storied building releasing black fumes of smoke up in the sky as 120 firefighters struggled to contain the accident. The scene at William Street, Knightsbridge was a chaotic one as the firefighters along with 20 engine, ambulance and police department were present on scene to avert any kind of unfortunate incident. With no casualty reported, the rescued were rushed to nearby Hyde Park and provided water and temporary medical help. News reports carried accounts of eyewitnesses that said they ‘didn’t know the cause of the fire.’ The building with 181 rooms and 115-year-old in age had been recently renovated.
____________
A special CBI court in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday awarded former Border Security Force (BSF) deputy inspector general and an ex-deputy superintendent of the state police, and three others 10 years of jail in a 2006 sex scandal case. Ex BSF DIG KC Padhi, Ex DSP Ashraf Mir, Shabbir Ahmad Laway, Shabbir Ahmad Langoo, and Masood Ahmad Maqsood were held guilty for coercing minor girls into prostitution in exchange of money. The case that originally had 9 accused people had witnessed two deaths and two acquittals. The case had made headlines in 2006 when even the mane of them Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had emerged in the case leading to him resigning from his post in July 2009.
Former BSF Deputy, DSP awarded 10 yrs in jail for 12-yr-old J&K sex scandal
A special CBI court in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday awarded former Border Security Force (BSF) deputy inspector general and an ex-deputy superintendent of the state police, and three others 10 years of jail in a 2006 sex scandal case. Ex BSF DIG KC Padhi, Ex DSP Ashraf Mir, Shabbir Ahmad Laway, Shabbir Ahmad Langoo, and Masood Ahmad Maqsood were held guilty for coercing minor girls into prostitution in exchange of money. The case that originally had 9 accused people had witnessed two deaths and two acquittals. The case had made headlines in 2006 when even the mane of them Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had emerged in the case leading to him resigning from his post in July 2009.
____________
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday raided the campus of National Defence Academy (NDA, Pune over allegations of the institution’s professors being involved in "irregularities in selection or appointment of various posts in the teaching faculty". According to news reports, the CBI has charged OM Prakash Shukla principal of NDA, along with political science professor and the Head of Department (HOD) and two assistant professors of the Chemistry department. The academy that trains military recruits is believed to have started the alleged corruption back in 2007, while Shukla was also a part of it when appointed in 2011. Apart from the offices, the residences of the authorities were also searched.
CBI raids Pune National Defence Academy; principal, professors in question
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday raided the campus of National Defence Academy (NDA, Pune over allegations of the institution’s professors being involved in "irregularities in selection or appointment of various posts in the teaching faculty". According to news reports, the CBI has charged OM Prakash Shukla principal of NDA, along with political science professor and the Head of Department (HOD) and two assistant professors of the Chemistry department. The academy that trains military recruits is believed to have started the alleged corruption back in 2007, while Shukla was also a part of it when appointed in 2011. Apart from the offices, the residences of the authorities were also searched.
____________
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday promised the people of Madhya Pradesh that the party will waive farm loan waiver off within a deadline of 10 days if they come into power in the upcoming state assembly elections, possibly by the end of the year. Addressing the audience at Mandsaur, on the occasion of death anniversary of the five farmers who were killed in police firing during protests last year, Gandhi accused PM Modi government of favouring his ‘industrialist friends.’ “My dream is that when we come here after 5-7 years, we find 'Made in Mandsaur' written on our phone instead of 'Made in China'. Narendra Modi and Shivraj Singh won’t be able to do this work,” Gandhi added. Responding to Gandhi’s speech, Finance Minster Arun Jaitley said’ “How much does Rahul Gandhi know? Is he being inadequately briefed or is he being too liberal with his faccts?’
____________
____________
At least one person was injured and three people were detained from Golden temple as pro-separatist groups and security forces clashed in the premise. The incident happened amidst protests carried out by pro-Khalistani groups on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of Operation Blue Star. Tension broke out as the separatist, pro-Khalistani groups raised anti-India slogans and flaunted weapons within the interior premise of the holy site. On Tuesday, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and the Indo-Tibetan Border police were deployed across Punjab, after the state police hinted that attempts were being made to advertise militancy back in the state. The managing body of Golden temple, Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee (SGPC) were quoted by news agencies saying ‘the situation was prevented from turning violent due to swift action by the task force members.’ The Operation Blue Star of 1984 was a 10-day operation by the Indira Gandhi government where the Army ‘flushed out’ militants from the temple premise but also led to the killing of over 400 civilians.
____________
Former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav said on Wednesday that his party supports simultaneous elections and dared the BJP to hold simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha polls in 2019. Addressing his party workers in Lucknow, he said that "one nation, one poll" is good and they welcome it. Also, we demand that the voter list is linked to Aadhaar to ensure fair and free polls”. The SP Chief also took a dig at the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for keeping the Opposition parties out of the committee on the PM’s ‘one nation one poll’ plan. Yadav also claimed that his party will contest Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh on all seats. “We are open to alliances in these states also or else we will go alone to contest polls,” he declared.
____________
____________
We will waive off farmer loan within 10 days: Rahul Gandhi in MP
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday promised the people of Madhya Pradesh that the party will waive farm loan waiver off within a deadline of 10 days if they come into power in the upcoming state assembly elections, possibly by the end of the year. Addressing the audience at Mandsaur, on the occasion of death anniversary of the five farmers who were killed in police firing during protests last year, Gandhi accused PM Modi government of favouring his ‘industrialist friends.’ “My dream is that when we come here after 5-7 years, we find 'Made in Mandsaur' written on our phone instead of 'Made in China'. Narendra Modi and Shivraj Singh won’t be able to do this work,” Gandhi added. Responding to Gandhi’s speech, Finance Minster Arun Jaitley said’ “How much does Rahul Gandhi know? Is he being inadequately briefed or is he being too liberal with his faccts?’
____________
Uttar Pradesh in tight security amid blast threats
Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday issued a high alert on Wednesday after a letter written by a Lashkar terrorist warned of several attacks in the state this week, several media reports said. Security has been raised at major railway stations in Saharanpur, Hapur and elsewhere, including the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi and Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura. The letter, signed by self-styled LeT area-commander Maulana Ambu Sheikh, reached the divisional railway manager, Northern Railways, in Delhi on June 1. It reportedly threatened bomb blasts at major railway stations and religious places on June 6, 8 and 10.____________
Clash on Operation blue star anniversary, three detained
____________
We are ready for one nation, one poll: Akhilesh Yadav
____________
Bhima Koregaon violence: 5 arrested for alleged links with Naxals
The Pune Police on Wednesday arrested 5 people including leader Sudhir Dhawale, for having close links with Naxals and inciting the Bhima Koregaon protests that took place on the 1st of January this year. The five identified as Rona Wilson, Sudhir Dhavale, Surendra Gadling, Shoma Sen and Mahesh Raut were arrested from Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur. They were accused of organizing the ‘Elgaar Parishad’ to commemorate 200 years of the Bhima-Koregaon battle. Police sources said the arrested have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Police have claimed that Dhavale is a Left-wing extremist and member of the Kabir Kala Kanchan, which is known for its association with Maoists. Gadling, who is a lawyer, allegedly provided aid to suspected Naxals, while Wilson has allegedly been a Maoist activist.____________
