logo
Shah, Meghwal meet President amid special session buzz

Shah, Meghwal meet President amid special session buzz

NEW DELHI: AMID demands from the Opposition for a special session of Parliament to discuss Operation Sindoor, Home Minister Amit Shah and MoS (Independent Charge) for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal met President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday. The meeting sparked speculation over the possibility of either a special House session or a cabinet reshuffle.
Opposition parties, including Congress, have been pressing for a special session, insisting that PM Narendra Modi address Operation Sindoor in Parliament. On Tuesday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge asserted that a special session was necessary to discuss the Operation Sindoor.
Sources, however, said that the government was reluctant to convene a special session ahead of the Monsoon session. 'The opposition demand seems unwarranted,' said a BJP leader.
When asked about Shah and Meghwal's meeting with the President, BJP sources said that the discussion might have been on various laws as well as possible cabinet reshuffle.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Karnataka truck operators withdraw strike as govt releases pending dues under Anna Bhagya
Karnataka truck operators withdraw strike as govt releases pending dues under Anna Bhagya

Indian Express

time11 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Karnataka truck operators withdraw strike as govt releases pending dues under Anna Bhagya

The Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents' Association on Tuesday withdrew its indefinite strike call after the government said it released Rs 244 crore in dues pending for transport operators under the flagship Anna Bhagya scheme. 'The government has given us in writing that the dues will be cleared in the next two days. So we have decided to withdraw the strike,' said G R Shanmugappa, president of the federation. An order issued by the Department of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology, dated July 8, empowered the chief account officer of Bengaluru Urban zilla panchayat to release 244.1 crore in dues for truck operators. The protest, announced by the federation on Monday, had threatened to disrupt the supply of subsidised foodgrains to ration shops under the Congress government's scheme benefiting low-income families, potentially affecting food security in Karnataka. The truck operators had halted rice transportation under the scheme, citing unpaid dues of Rs 260 crore from February to June 2025. Shanmugappa had claimed that 3,500–4,000 drivers were affected, with some having pawned jewellery to meet fuel and other expenses and facing truck seizures by finance companies. The state government had promised payments to be made by June 19, but failed to clear the dues. Separately, the federation also demanded the rollback of the Rs 5/litre diesel hike, abolition of toll plazas on 18 highways in the state, return of Rs 25-Rs 30 crore tender deposits, cancellation of the Rs 15,000 renewal fee for older vehicles, and a 50 per cent discount on fines. The Opposition BJP has trained guns at the Congress government over the pending dues. Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said, 'The government has run out of money and they have no money to pay to the truck owners. The chief minister, deputy chief minister and the entire cabinet are busy saving their chairs. The government is dead and the people are waiting to throw them out.' Sanath Prasad is a senior sub-editor and reporter with the Bengaluru bureau of Indian Express. He covers education, transport, infrastructure and trends and issues integral to Bengaluru. He holds more than two years of reporting experience in Karnataka. His major works include the impact of Hijab ban on Muslim girls in Karnataka, tracing the lives of the victims of Kerala cannibalism, exploring the trends in dairy market of Karnataka in the aftermath of Amul-Nandini controversy, and Karnataka State Elections among others. If he is not writing, he keeps himself engaged with badminton, swimming, and loves exploring. ... Read More

Bharat Bandh On July 9: What's Open, What's Closed
Bharat Bandh On July 9: What's Open, What's Closed

News18

time13 minutes ago

  • News18

Bharat Bandh On July 9: What's Open, What's Closed

Last Updated: The strike, which is expected to significantly disrupt public services and industrial operations, has been called to oppose the new labour codes A massive countrywide strike is set to take place on Wednesday, July 9, as over 25 crore workers affiliated with central and sectoral trade unions go on a Bharat Bandh. The strike, which is expected to significantly disrupt public services and industrial operations, has been called to oppose the new labour codes, privatisation of public assets, and to press for demands such as a minimum wage of Rs 26,000 and restoration of the old pension scheme. This will mark the 22nd general strike since the introduction of liberalisation policies in 1991. Who Is Calling The Strike? The Bharat Bandh has been organised by a joint forum of 10 central trade unions, representing a broad coalition of workers across both formal and informal sectors. These include the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC), Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), and the United Trade Union Congress (UTUC). What Are The Demands? According to the unions' joint statement, the central government's policies are 'anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate." The unions also submitted a 17-point charter of demands, which includes: The strike was earlier scheduled for May 20 but was postponed after the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor. Public Transport Public transport in major cities could face disruptions due to road blockades and union-led marches. Local bus services, auto-rickshaws, and app-based taxis may be limited in availability, especially in states with strong union presence such as West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. Indian Railways is not officially participating in the strike, but some union-led protests at railway stations may cause delays. Educational Institutions, Offices Schools, colleges, and private businesses are likely to remain open, unless local authorities issue advisories or protest activity leads to closures. So far, no state government has announced official closure of educational institutions. Government offices and public sector units may see a drop in attendance. However, essential services are expected to function. What Will Remain Open? Hospitals, emergency health services, and police operations are expected to function as usual. Essential services such as electricity and water supply are not expected to be affected. Retail shops, malls, and restaurants are likely to remain open, depending on local conditions. (With inputs from agencies)

Kolkata gang-rape: BJP fact-finding team recommends central agency probe
Kolkata gang-rape: BJP fact-finding team recommends central agency probe

Hindustan Times

time15 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

Kolkata gang-rape: BJP fact-finding team recommends central agency probe

A BJP fact-finding team has recommended a probe by a central agency into the gang rape of a law student in Kolkata, claiming the state police's way of handling the case raises suspicion of attempts being made to save the culprits. Panel member Satya Pal Singh alleged that the handwritten complaint submitted by the victim had been tampered with to remove accused's names.(ANI) Alleging a deteriorating law-and-order situation in the Trinamool Congress-ruled West Bengal, it has also recommended that a request be made to the Centre for some "effective measures" to control the situation in the state, said former Union minister and ex-Mumbai police chief Satya Pal Singh. He made the remark at a press conference on Tuesday as part of the fact-finding team. The four-member team comprising BJP MP and former Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb, Rajya Sabha MP Manan Kumar Mishra, and former Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi, besides Satya Pal Singh, submitted its report to party president J P Nadda here on Tuesday. Sharing with the media the findings of the BJP panel, Singh said there were questions on the registration of the case and its investigation by the Kolkata Police. He alleged that the handwritten complaint submitted by the victim had been tampered with to remove the names of the accused she had mentioned. "Police erased the names of the accused that the victim had given in her handwritten complaint and put in letters J, G, S, M in place of those names. When the police have tampered with the complaint itself, which is the basic document in the case, how can one hope that the victim and her family will get justice?" He said the committee has recommended that either a probe by a central agency be initiated or a high-level independent inquiry by persons of repute be instituted to ensure justice to the victim and her family. Mishra claimed the Kolkata Police Commissioner (Manoj Jha) was evasive in his reply when the enquiry committee asked him to clarify why names were erased and some letters were put in their place. The Kolkata Police's actions, like "tampering with the FIR and swift arrest of four accused", raise a big suspicion, he said. Singh said the BJP committee noted growing atrocities and crimes against women in West Bengal and police inaction in many such cases. "There is a total collapse of law and order in West Bengal," he said. Slamming the ruling Trinamool Congress over the law student's gang-rape, Deb demanded that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee take responsibility for the incident. "She has no right to continue in her post," he said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store