Sharad Pawar interacts with workers amid protest over his resignation

Sharad Pawar meets NCP workers amid protest by them after resignation announcement by Pawar as party chief. NCP workers also handed over a memorandum to Sharad Pawar regarding his resignation.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and  Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang arrived in Goa for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ meeting.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reached Goa for a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). This is the first time in several years that a senior Pakistani Minister is visiting the country to attend an international summit. Bhutto will lead the Pakistani delegation at the SCO meeting.

Amritpal’s wife on Thursday, May 4 reached Dibrugarh jail in Assam to meet the Khalistani preacher. After the arrest of Amritpal, this is the first visit of Kirandeep Kaur.

Change in PM Modi’s Roadshow plan

• On 6 May: PM Modi will start the roadshow at 10 am from New Thippasandra to the Brigade War Memorial
• On 7 May: PM Modi will begin the roadshow from Brigade Millenium from 10 am to 2.30 pm

Here are exclusive details of the two-day SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting:

1. Membership of Belarus as a member will be discussed by SCO and Iran may be added. 
2. 14 dialogue partners are in. 4 dialogue partners yet to be confirmed will be Kuwait, UAE, Myanmar and Maldives.
3. Member states still confirming for July but as standard format for past summits, all leaders will be present. Formal confirmation to come in. 
4. 15 decisions at this meet are under negotiations. Standard agenda is for the council of foreign ministers to take stock to make way for the summit in July. 
5. The agenda for this meet are regional and international issues. If any member state wants to discuss any issue of common interest, it will be but they focus is on reform and modernisation. 
6. Leaders of Belarus and Iran will be invited for the summit in July as observers. 
7. India has brought dynamism to the SCO. Focusing on Innovation and startup, traditional medicine, science and technology. India will lead the way. 
8. As official languages of the SCO are Russian and Chinese, there is a push for English to be the official language. 
9. SCO is positive with India’s chairmanship and the role played by India in a short time.
10. Mutual settlement of trade in national currency proposal is in the very initial stage.

Hearing the plea by seven women wrestlers, who have leveled allegations of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said, “You came up for the registration of FIR, that purpose is fulfilled, we moved one step ahead giving liberty to you to move the respective forum.”

When a petitioner requested for the investigation to be monitored by either this court or a retired judge, CJI said that you (wrestlers) can approach Delhi High Court if there are any issues.

HQ Northern Command said, “At about 11:15 hours on 4 May 2023, an Army Aviation ALH Dhruv helicopter on an operational mission made a precautionary landing on the banks of Marua river in the Kishtwar region of Jammu and Kashmir.”

“As per inputs, the pilots had reported a technical fault to the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) and proceeded for a precautionary landing. Due to the undulating ground, undergrowth, and unprepared landing area, the helicopter apparently made a hard landing.” HQ Northern Command said.

It further said that immediate rescue operations were launched and Army rescue teams reached the site. “Two pilots and a technician were on board. All three injured personnel have been evacuated to Command Hospital in Udhampur.  A Court of Inquiry has been ordered. Further details are being ascertained,” HQ Northern Command added. 

National Investigation Agency filed a Supplementary Chargesheet against two more accused in the case related to the murder of BJP Yuva Morcha member Praveen Nettaru by cadres of the Popular Front of India (PFI) in Karnataka last year. Both the accused, including Thufail MH and Mahammad Jabir, have been charged under various sections of IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. NIA said that with this, a total of 21 accused persons have been charge-sheeted in the case.

NIA investigations have also revealed that Thufail MH, was in-charge of the Popular Front of India’s ‘Service Teams’ in Kodagu and also a ‘PFI Master Trainer’ who would regularly impart advanced training, including arms training to the banned outfit’s cadres at the Freedom Community Hall in neighbouring DK district. He had harboured the three assailants of Praveen Nettaru in Kodagu and Mysuru districts of Karnataka and in Erode district of Tamil Nadu. 

The accused Mahammad Jabir was the PFI Puttur District President and had actively participated in the conspiracy meeting where it was decided to recce and murder Praveen Nettaru. He had also made provocative speeches where he had claimed that Masood’s murder will be avenged.

SC hearing plea by seven women wrestlers, who have levelled allegations of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
 

Supreme Court has refused to entertain a plea challenging the constitutional validity of Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 which lays down blanket automatic disqualification of legislators from the Parliament or State Assembly after the conviction in a criminal case. The plea was filed following the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as an MP.

President Droupadi Murmu was accorded a warm reception by people at Badampahar in Rairangpur as she comes home nearly a year after her election as President of India.

Speaking to reporters, NCP state president Jayant Patil said that Sharad Pawar will not take back his resignation. “He will not change his mind. I am a state leader and not a national leader. I don’t want to be the party president. Now, a committee will decide further,” Jayant Patil said. 

An Indian Army ALH Dhruv Helicopter crashed in the Marwah area of Kishtwar on Thursday morning, confirmed Kishtwar Police. According to sources, the chopper took off 15 minutes prior to the crash. 

As the wrestlers’ protest at Jantar Mantar widened on Wednesday night, Anurag Thakur said that PM Modi-led Central government has fulfilled all demands of wrestlers. Speaking to Republic, Anurag Thakur said, “Modi government has contributed a lot for sports and players. Infact, whatever they demanded, we fulfilled all those demands, even FIR has been registered. But there are some political parties who want to create controversy. India is watching that we are trying to give our best for sports and sport personalities.”

Supreme Court allows plea by DMK leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi challenging Madras High Court order refusing to set aside election petitions against her.

Notably, Kanimozhi had contested from the Thoothukudi constituency in 2019 and her election was challenged by a voter, on the grounds that she failed to mention her husband’s Permanent Account Number (PAN) in her election affidavit disclosing family assets. The Madras High Court had earlier rejected the plea of Kanimozhi seeking the dismissal of the election petition filed by the voter. 

Two terrorists were killed in an encounter as security forces foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Wednesday. Based on a specific intelligence input provided by the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kupwara about likely infiltration from one of the terrorist launch pads across the LoC towards Machil sector troops was put on high alert on Monday. A well-coordinated counter-infiltration grid was put in place in a rugged and extremely difficult area. A number of additional ambushes, including those of the Indian Army and SOG (Special Operations Group), Kupwara, were placed along the likely routes of infiltration.

An 18-member committee, appointed to choose the candidate for the post of NCP national President, will hold a meeting tomorrow, Friday at 11 am, said NCP sources adding that the meeting will be held at party office in Mumbai. 

Notably, the committee was announced by Sharad Pawar after announcing his retirement.

Speaking regarding clashes in the northeastern state of Manipur, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said, “There were some misunderstandings and miscommunications that led to the violence. Additional Central Paramilitary Forces have been called to tackle the situation. Communal harmony should not be disturbed. Vested interests should not be promoted. I appeal to everyone to maintain peace.”

He further asserted that the state government is trying to restore normalcy in Manipur and action against those who spread violence will be taken. 

According to sources, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on violence in the state. The centre is monitoring the situation there. 

After receiving information regarding fire incident at a hotel in Sanasar area of district Ramban, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that he is in touch with DC, Mussarat Islam and all possible help is being provided to the injured who are being shifted out for better medical care. 

According to Delhi Police, DCPs of all districts in Delhi have been asked to be on alert in their districts, especially in the border areas. Special care is to be taken on roads which go towards Central Delhi, barricades have been put up at several places. Police have received some inputs that a large number of people can reach Jantar Mantar where the wrestlers are protesting. 

Supreme Court to shortly hear the plea by seven women wrestlers, who have leveled allegations of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh