Top stories on 6 August in a capsule

Rajya Sabha passes OBC Bill during Monsoon session

The Upper House of the Parliament, Rajya Sabha during its Monsoon Session on Monday passed the Other Backward Classes (OBC) Bill or the 123rd Amendment Bill, 2017 granting the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) full constitutional validity. Representing the BJP during the discussion hour, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot argued that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government is pro-reservation and stands in support of marginalized groups. Calling it a ‘historic moment’, taking to microblogging site Twitter, PM Modi said the bill will contribute to the empowerment of the OBC communities across India.’ Several Rajya Sabha members urged the Central government to make the findings of the caste census public and then implement reservation.
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PM Modi govt to launch Incredible India 2.0 to attract tourists

In a big push for the tourism sector of the country, the Tourism Ministry on Monday announced that the facility of e-visa will be extended to over 165 countries, 25 airports and five seaports. Addressing the Lok Sabha, Union Minister KJ Alphons announced a series of new programs, titles Incredible India 2.0 campaign. “To promote tourism in India, events such as 'paryatan parv' (tourism festival), International Buddhist Conclave and International Tourism Mart too have been organised,” Alphons was quoted saying. Besides all this, a 24x7 toll free helpline will also be inducted to help foreign tourists.

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Italy airport blast kills 2, injured 70

At least 2 people were dead and 70 were injured as massive fire accident occurred near an airport in Italy’s Bologna, due to a truck going up in flames. The explosion occurred in broad daylight on Monday after a tanker carrying liquified petroleum gas, as reported by news agency The Independent, crashed. Live videos showed several cars in the Casalecchio junction route that connects the highways A1 to A14 abruptly slowing down causing traffic disturbance. As per news reports citing Italian media, most of the injured were hit by flying glass and debris, an effect of the accident. _______________

After Bihar, 24 girls rescued from UP shelter home

In yet another case of minors being sexually abused in a shelter home, a couple in Uttar Pradesh was arrested on Monday for allegedly running a prostitution racket. Director of the shelter home based in Deoria district, Girija Tripathi along with her husband Mohan were taken into police custody, under charges of wrongfully forcing girls to engage in prostitution. The matter came to light after a 10-year-old victim, a native of Bihar escaped from the home and informed the police about the ongoing crime. As per the figures given by police, 24 girls have been rescued while 18 are reported missing. Chief Minster Yogi Adityanath has directed District magistrates to conduct investigations in all 75 districts.

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15 Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district

A total of 15 Maoists were gunned down and five were arrested by armed forces in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh on Monday morning after a gunfight ensued between the two parties. A combined force of the District Reserve Guard, the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Special Task Force engaged in firing with around 200 Maoists on Sunday night. Addressing the media, Anti Naxal Operations Chief DM Awasthi said the forces are combing through the interiors of the forest to cross-check for the presence of Maoists. “This was one of the biggest Maoist operations in the history of Chhattisgarh, where 15 bodies of rebels were recovered in a single incident,” Awasthi added.

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Asking wife to cook properly not ill-treatment: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court on Monday while hearing a case of suicide ruled that telling someone to cook properly or to do household work can't be called ill-treatment. The observation came after the family of a deceased approached the high court against the acquittal of a man, Vijay Shinde, whose wife had committed suicide 17 years ago in 1998. The prosecution accused the victim's husband of "ill-treatment", and infidelity. It said the women consumed poison as she was being treated badly by her husband and in-laws, and that she knew about his illicit relationships. The court, however, said remarks over food can't amount to ill-treatment. Also, no evidence was shown that could have suggested that the victim was harassed, added the court.

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Jet Airways releases salaries to employees, decide against pay cuts

The country's second-largest airline Jet Airways has reportedly scrapped plans to trim its operating costs through salary cuts after being criticised by protesting employees and media reports over the past week. The airlines also credited the salary for July to employees on Friday. "The salaries were earlier put on hold because the management had expected that they would be able to convince everyone to take a cut, but were released after the chairman's assurance that there will be no cut," a Jet executive told The Economic Times. Chairman Naresh Goyal conveyed this to a section of the employees who met him on Friday. He also assured the staff that the airline is well placed to encash on the growth that the Indian aviation market offers. After a loss of Rs 1,040 crore for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, the airline was in serious damage control mode and had informed its employees that a 5-25 percent salary cut was on the cards.

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CBI team reaches Bihar to probe Muzaffarpur shelter home case 

The Central Bureau of India (CBI) on Monday, taking charge of the Muzzafarpur shelter home rape case arrived in Bihar on Monday, following the promise of a stern action by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The CBI started its operation by collecting all documents from the Social Welfare Department of Patna and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), whose report had highlighted the ordeal of minor girls going through sexual abuse since the last two months. The national investigation body has been given a deadline of two weeks by the Patna High Court to file a report in the case.
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