Top stories on July 31 in a capsule

Assam NRC Debate: Mamata Banerjee warns of 'civil war, bloodbath' in the country

Mamata Banerjee's warning

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday voiced her apprehensions over the National Register of Citizens (NRC) controversy in Assam, saying it will lead up to civil war like situation in the country. “They (BJP) are trying to divide the people. The situation cannot be tolerated. There will be a civil war, blood bath in the country," the leader said while addressing a conference in Delhi. The BJP however refuting the claims assured a transparent process. Taking to micro blogging site Twitter, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said he met Banerjee regarding the same and assured her that a ‘totally fair, transparent, non-discriminatory and legal’ updating process will be observed.

Supreme Court's order

Putting all rumors about the National Register of Citizens (NRC) on rest, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said the report published is only a draft and no action will be taken against those who are not in it. The top court also directed the NRC Coordinator to follow rules and assure fair chance while people apply for their claims, starting August 7 this year. The bench headed by Ranjan Gogoi, who coincidentally, is also an Assamese said, they would like to ‘observe the complete draft of NRC’ and also emphasized that ‘the draft can't be the basis of any action by any authority.’ The court has further asked Attorney General KK Venugopal to frame and submit standard operating procedures by August 16.

BJP vs opposition in Rajya Sabha 

Meanwhile, chaos erupted in the Rajya Sabha on the issue, as BJP party president Amit Shah went on to say that his party only applied the rule but the Assam Accord was signed by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. “This was the Congress PM's initiative. He (Rajiv Gandhi) did not have the courage, we did. You want to save illegal Bangladeshis,” Shah said which led members of Congress and West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress protesting in the well of the House and the Upper House being adjourned for the day. Later on the day, Shah addressing a press conference assured that it is just a draft and not the final list and asked opposition parties to not confuse the audience.
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Karunanidhi to be kept for extended period: Hospital 

The Kauvery hospital on Tuesday evening issued a public statement on the hospitalization of party chief of Tamil Nadu’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam (DMK) M Karunanidhi, saying that he might have to be under observation for a few more weeks. As per news reports, the medical bulletein, quoting the hospital executive director said “DMK chief Karunanidhi to stay in hospital for an extended period due to age-related decline in health.” The hospital however added that the leader is now stable and is only being observed for age related illness. Earlier on the day, the leader by visited by Congress President Rahul Gandhi who called him a ‘tough man’ for fighting the condition.

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Shoot Rohingyas, Bangladeshis to keep India safe: BJP MLA 

In a shocking reaction against illegal immigrants, BJP MLA from Telangana T Raja Singh Lodh said illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas should be shot if they do not leave the country. “If these Rohingyas and Bangladeshi illegal immigrants do not leave India respectfully, then they should be shot and eliminated. Only then will our country be safe,” Singh said in a video on social media site. He further blamed the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 the reason for a large number of Bangladeshis to enter India. Singh, has been constantly in news for making controversial comments like making India ‘gau mata’ or political parties hosting iftar ceremonies beggars for votes.

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8 US states move lawsuit against Trump govt allowing 3D printable guns

Eight states of the United States of America on Tuesday sued the President Donald Trump government to allow a Texas based company to allow 3D printing guns. The case pertains to the Trump government allowing the company Defence Distributed owned by pro gun rights activist Cody Wilson to allow computer files for anyone, on its website, who want to design a 3D printed gun. “These downloadable guns are unregistered and very difficult to detect, even with metal detectors, and will be available to anyone regardless of age, mental health, or criminal history,” Bob Ferguson, Washington state’s attorney general and represented of the state’s told media agencies. 

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Imran Khan may invite PM Modi to his swearing-in ceremony, says his party

Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party is considering to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his oath-taking ceremony next month. The PTI, led by 65-year-old Khan, has emerged as the single largest party in the National Assembly after the 25 July elections, but it is still short of numbers to form the government on its own. Khan on Monday said that he would take oath as Prime Minister on 11 August. Khan’s party is thinking of inviting all SAARC nations to the ceremony. On Monday, PM Modi called Imran Khan to congratulate him on his party's victory in the general elections in Pakistan and hoped that "Pakistan and India will work to open a new chapter in bilateral ties".

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Another Bihar shelter home under scanner after 11 women go missing

In the latest update to the Muzaffarpur shelter home case where reportedly 40 minor girls were being raped, 11 women have gone missing from another shelter home run by prime accused Brajesh Thakur. FIR was registered against Thakur’s NGO Seva Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti by Divesh Kumar Sharma, associate director of the social welfare department of Bihar, accusing that his shelter home Swadhar Grih, upon instigation by a local daily had found that 11 women lodged as of March 2018 were not found on June. Thakur has also been named and accused of sexual assaults being carried out in Muzaffarpur’s Balika Grih shelter home. Out of the medical reports of the 48 girls rescued, 34 had confirmed rape.

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UK court asks for videos of jail in Vijay Mallya extradition trial

A court in the United Kingdom on Tuesday granted bail to businessman Vijay Mallya in connection with the extradition case against him and adjourned the hearing till September 12. It has also asked Indian authorities to submit videos of the condition of Mumbai’s Arthur Road jail, where Mallya will be held if extradited, by then. Mallya’s defense team has raised several questions about the living conditions in the jail. Mallya is wanted in India on charges of defrauding banks of more than Rs 9,000 crore. The businessman, who has been in the United Kingdom since March 2016, has said he will not return to the country.

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No investigation in Justice Loya’s death, SC rejects petition

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that Judge B H Loya’s death will not be investigated further, dismissing Bombay Lawyers Association’s review petition. Judge Loya died of a cardiac failure on December 1, 2014. He was conducting a trial in a case related to the alleged fake encounter killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in November 2005. On April 19, the Bombay Lawyers Association was one of the petitioners who pleaded for a Special Investigation Team probe into the death, which the Supreme Court declined. “The father and the sisters had spoken about the pressure on late Judge Loya (and) the offers of bribe to him, the review petition by the Bombay lawyers association had said.

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