IN FRESH PROPOSAL, RAJASTHAN GOVT REQUESTS GUV TO CALL ASSEMBLY SESSION TO

DISCUSS COVID-19 SITUATION

The Ashok Gehlot government has sent a fresh recommendation to Governor

Kalraj Mishra asking for a session of the Rajasthan Assembly on July 31. The

Governor had returned an earlier recommendation by the government, asking

for clarifications on six specific points.

Until late on Sunday night, Raj Bhavan had not responded to the fresh

recommendation. In a video released in the evening as part of the Congress's

'Speak Up For Democracy' campaign, Chief Minister Gehlot said he hoped the

Governor would act soon.

"Until now, we have not received a reply," Gehlot said. "The Governor is a

long-time politician, sociable and vyavahar-kushal (well mannered), so I

hope that he gives us the order soon, and we will call the Assembly." The

government would like the House to discuss the Covid-19 crisis, the "ruined

economy" due to the lockdown, and have some political discussions as well,

the chief minister said.

In New Delhi, the Congress accused the Governor of acting in a partisan and

"motivated" manner. The queries that Mishra had raised "reflected a sorry

state of affairs of obfuscation, obstruction and dilatory tactics on flimsy,

frivolous, and non-jurisdictional grounds", Congress spokesperson Abhishek

Singhvi said at a press conference.

The Gehlot government, which faces a challenge from former deputy chief

minister Sachin Pilot and 18 MLAs loyal to him, wants a floor test so that

it can prove its majority, and be spared of another count in the Assembly

for the next six months. A successful floor test will also allow the

Congress to let its ministers and MLAs out of Jaipur's Fairmont hotel and

resort, where they have been kept for two weeks now. While seeking a session

of the Assembly, the second recommendation of the cabinet did not, however,

make a specific mention of a floor test.

After the Governor did not act on the cabinet's original recommendation on

Thursday, Gehlot had accused him of acting under "pressure from above", and

had led a protest of his MLAs at Raj Bhavan. The protest was called off

after an "assurance" by the Governor who, however, asked for the

government's response on six points.

PM'S MANN KI BAAT, ON KARGIL DIWAS

Needless enmity with everyone comes naturally to the wicked, Prime Minister

Narendra Modi said in his Mann ki Baat radio address on Sunday, as the

nation observed Kargil Vijay Diwas, the anniversary of the Indian Army's

victory over Pakistan 21 years ago.

Back in 1999, Modi said, Pakistan had embarked upon its Kargil misadventure,

"nursing delusions of encroaching upon Indian soil" at a time when India was

making efforts to foster good relations with that country.

"As it is said, 'Bairu akaran sab kahu son, jo kar hit anhit tahu son' -

which means, to the wicked, enmity with one and all for no reason comes

naturally. People with such a disposition keep thinking of harming even

their well-wishers.," the Prime Minister said.

India, he said, had extended a hand of friendship to Pakistan at that time,

but had instead been stabbed in the back. "But after that, when our gallant

Army displayed deeds of valour, when India demonstrated her might, the whole

world watched. It was the victory of high morale and bravery of our armed

forces in the truest sense of the term."

However, "these days, battles are fought not just on borders; they are

fought within the country too, on many fronts simultaneously," the Prime

Minister said. "And every countryman has to decide his or her role in that."

There are occasions when "without paying heed to the essence, we encourage

certain things on social media that are detrimental to the country," Modi

said. "There are times when we keep forwarding things out of sheer

curiosity. Despite knowing that it is wrong, we keep doing it."

INDIA'S DEMOCRACY WILL FUNCTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONSTITUTION: RAHUL

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said democracy in the country will

function in accordance with the Constitution and echo the voice of the

people, who will reject the BJP's "conspiracy of deceit and deception".

He was participating in the Congress's "SpeakUpForDemocracy" online campaign

to expose what it called the designs of the BJP to topple the Ashok Gehlot

dispensation in Rajasthan and other state governments run by opposition

parties. A large number of party leaders participated in the digital

campaign.

The Congress has accused the BJP of being behind the revolt by Sachin Pilot,

a charge denied by the saffron party.

The Congress will on Monday stage demonstrations outside all Raj Bhawans to

lodge their protest against the Rajasthan Governor's action.

MEA FACILITATES TRAVEL OF 11 SIKHS, HINDUS FROM AFGHANISTAN TO INDIA

Eleven persons, who were granted short-term visas after repeated appeals

following an Islamic State-backed attack at the Guru Har Rai Sahib gurdwara

in Kabul's Shor Bazar on March 25, arrived in new Delhi yesterday.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said those who were granted

visas include members of the "Sikh and Hindu minority community of

Afghanistan". "India has granted appropriate visa and facilitated their

travel to India. We appreciate the efforts of the Government of the Islamic

Republic of Afghanistan in extending necessary support for the safe return

of these families," it said.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa, president, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee,

said they have been assured by Home Minister Amit Shah that most of the

Sikhs in Kabul "will be brought back in the coming days and the process for

giving them citizenship will begin soon".

COVID-19 DASHBOARD - (Nos. IN INDIA / Nos. WORLDWIDE)

(Indian data from covid19india / and World Data from

worldometers.info/coronavirus/ )

Total Cases 14,35,598 (+50,524) / 1,64,13,954 (+2,13,063)

Total Deaths 32,812 (+716) / 6,52,057 (+3,612)

Total Recovered 9,18,735 (+32,500) / 1,00,42,584 (+1,29,352)

Active Cases 4,84,051 (+17,308) / 57,19,313 (+80,099)

TOP IMPACTED NATIONS SO FAR: (AND SOME OF INDIA'S NEIGHBOURS)

Country, Total Cases / Total Deaths / Recovered Cases / Active

Cases

1 USA 43,71,839 / 1,49,849 /

20,90,129 / 21,31,861

2 Brazil 24,19,901 / 87,052 /

16,34,274 / 6,98,575

3 India 14,36,019 / 32,812 /

9,18,735 / 4,84,472

4 Russia 8,12,485 / 13,269 /

6,00,250 / 1,98,966

5 South Africa 4,45,433 / 6,769 /

2,65,077 / 1,73,587

6 Mexico 3,90,516 / 43,680 /

2,51,505 / 95,331

7 Peru 3,79,884 / 18,030 /

2,63,130 / 98,724

8 Chile 3,45,790 / 9,112 /

3,18,095 / 18,583

9 Spain 3,19,501 / 28,432 / N/A

/ N/A

10 UK 2,99,426 / 45,752 / N/A

/ N/A

11 Iran 2,91,172 / 15,700 /

2,53,213 / 22,259

12 Pakistan 2,73,113 / 5,822 /

2,37,434 / 29,857

17 Bangladesh 2,23,453 / 2,928 /

1,23,882 / 96,643

112 Sri Lanka 2,782 / 11 /

2,106 / 665

TOP IMPACTED INDIAN STATES SO FAR

State / Confirmed Cases / Active Case / Recovered /

Deceased

Maharashtra 3,75,799 / 1,48,601 /

2,13,238 / 13,656

Tamil Nadu 2,13,723 / 53,703 / 1,56,526

/ 3,494

Delhi 1,30,606 / 11,904 / 1,14,875

/ 3,827

Andhra Pradesh 96,298 / 48,956 / 46,301 /

1,041

Karnataka 96,141 / 58,414 / 35,838 /

1,880

Uttar Pradesh 66,988 / 23,921 / 41,641 /

1,426

West Bengal 58,718 / 19,595 / 37,751 /

1,372

Gujarat 55,822 / 13,033 / 40,467 / 2,322

Telangana 54,059 / 12,264 / 41,332 /

463

Bihar 38,919 / 12,361 / 26,308 / 249

Rajasthan 36,430 / 9,852 / 25,954 /

624

Assam 32,229 / 8,106 / 24,041 / 79

Haryana 31,332 / 6,556 / 24,384 /

392

Madhya Pradesh 27,800 / 7,857 / 19,132 /

811

Odisha 25,389 / 8,422 / 16,793 / 174

Kerala 19,026 / 9,655 / 9,300 / 62

Jammu and Kashmir 17,920 / 7,680 / 9,928 /

312

Punjab 13,218 / 4,102 / 8,810 / 306

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

======================

WITH 100 DAYS TO ELECTIONS, TRUMP TRAILS IN POLLS AMID GROWING UNREST

With 100 days to go for the 2020 elections, the US is boiling with social

unrest and political fervour, with riots and clashes in several cities over

the weekend and a brewing confrontation between a federal Republican

administration and states and cities run by Democrats.

President Trump is pouring in heavily-armed and militarised federal

enforcement personnel into many cities, including Portland, Seattle,

Chicago, Baltimore, and Philadelphia - all Democrat-run - to contain growing

protests that began as a Black Lives Matter movement and is now transforming

into a broader agitation against the Trump administration's strong-arm

methods, including what some critics describe as Gestapo tactics where

unidentified federal personnel are scooping up protesters from the streets.

On their part, Trump and his supporters are characterising protesters as

"antifa radicals" and "terrorists" bent on destroying peace and social

harmony. Some of the most serious clashes have occurred in Portland, Oregon,

and Seattle, Washington, both white-majority Democratic cities on the west

coast, where federal personnel have engaged in a brutal crackdown, including

trying to break down a much-admired "Wall of Moms" - mothers protecting

peaceful protesters.

All this is happening at a time of unprecedented public health crisis

arising from a pandemic that is now returning with a vengeance - claiming

1,000 lives each day for the last five days. The Trump administration's

shambolic response to the crisis has contributed to a public backlash, with

polls showing Trump heading for a defeat in almost all battleground states.

In fact, some surveys suggest the Republican Party is set to lose the

Senate, the House of Representatives (which Democrats control), and the

White House, for a trifecta rout.

The president and his aides challenge such surveys, maintaining they are

"fake polls", and insisting that there is a vast "silent majority" that

desires social stability, while hoping that the federal "law & order"

crackdown will consolidate voters fearful of unrest.

THE REST

========

BSP ISSUES WHIP TO 6 RAJASTHAN MLAs TO VOTE AGAINST CONGRESS

In a new twist to the unfolding political drama in Rajasthan, the BSP on

Sunday issued a whip to the six MLAs, who had left the party to join the

Congress last year, to vote against the ruling party in the state in case of

a trust motion in the Assembly.

In a statement, BSP general secretary Satish Chandra Misra said, "All six

MLAs have been issued separate notices wherein they have been informed that

since BSP is a recognised national party as such there cannot be any merger

under para (4) of the 10th Schedule at the state level at the instance of

six MLAs unless there is a merger of the entire BSP everywhere at the

national level."

"If the six MLAs voted against the party whip, they were liable for

disqualification from the Assembly," Mishra said.

The 6 MLAs applied for merger as a group with the Congress on September 16

last year. The merger was a boost to the Ashok Gehlot-led government as the

Congress tally increased to 107 in a House of 200.

JAVADEKAR RESPONDS TO JAIRAM RAMESH'S CONCERNS OVER ENVIRONMENT

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Sunday termed as "unfounded and

based on misinterpretation" the "suggestions" by Chairman of the Standing

Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change

Jairam Ramesh on the contentious draft EIA notification 2020.

Javadekar was responding to the "strongest objections" voiced by Ramesh, who

said the "proposed changes in environmental clearance process for

infrastructure projects will routinely legitimise illegality and promote

land grab, not development".

Writing back, Javadekar said the draft notification is kept in the public

domain for comments and suggestions. "Your suggestions are noted. There are

15 more days for suggestions.

In his letter to Javadekar and marked to Vice President and Rajya Sabha

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, Ramesh said "environmental regulation is not an

unnecessary burden but an essential obligation for the health and welfare of

our people and sustainable development".

According to Ramesh, the "draft notification allows post facto approvals

that go against very principle of assessment and public participation prior

to environment clearance", "has provisions that will routinely legitimise

illegality" and "reduces public participation in all steps of the

environment clearance process".

HIGH TIME PARTY GETS FULL-TIME PRESIDENT: SANDEEP DIKSHIT

It is "high time" that the Congress appoints a full-time president by

"selection or election", party leader Sandeep Dikshit said on Sunday,

asserting that the Congress Working Committee (CWC) comprising senior

leaders should have settled the leadership issue earlier, dealing with it on

priority.

There is a "sense of drift" and a feeling that "we need to get on with the

job" in the party with an interim president at the helm, Dikshit said.

In an interview to PTI, the Congress leader said for him, there was no

"particular fixation" with any person, and Rahul Gandhi or anyone else could

be appointed by "selection or election", but the important thing is that the

party needs a full-time president. We should have a full-time president,

whether it is Mr. A or Mr. B or Mr. Gandhi that is not an issue at all.

Party ideology and collective leadership make a party, he said.

Dikshit's remarks assume significance as Sonia Gandhi nears completion of

one-year as interim Congress president in early August and the party is

abuzz with hectic parleys on the way forward.

DELHI, MUMBAI MANAGE TO TAME THE COVID CURVE

With Covid-19 cases rising steadily in India, Delhi and Mumbai, which have

turned a corner in fight against coronavirus, could show the way forward in

tackling the pandemic.

While daily Covid cases have dropped significantly in Delhi - from over

3,000 in June to around 1,000 during the last week, the daily growth rate of

cases has come down to 1 per cent for both cities.

The drop in the curve, experts say, is partially because of the two cities

finally getting their act together by ramping up the testing capacity and

implementing stricter quarantine norms.

The experts feel that the rapid antigen test has changed the script for the

national capital due to its affordability, quicker result and its ability to

serve as a fast diagnostic tool.

Testing figures have risen since June 18, when the testing began in the city

using the rapid antigen kits. It can give a result in 30 minutes, even if

with a higher chance of false negatives.

Dr Sumit Sharma, Dean of Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, said testing has

played a significant role in checking the spread of cases. "Asymptomatic

patients are being detected and isolated now, and symptomatic patients are

being isolated earlier than previously when testing was limited. Early

treatment has reduced the infection," he opined.

AMID FACE-OFF AT LAC, INDIAN ARMY OPENS SIACHEN TO CIVILIAN EXPEDITIONS

The Indian Army is all set to "liberally" issue permits for civilian

expeditions to the Siachen Base Camp and Kumar Post in Ladakh.

The decision to open up the world's largest non-polar glacier and the

highest battlefield was taken in October last year. Carrying through that

decision amid the border stand-off with China indicates government's

assertiveness and a possible rethink on keeping forward villages off limits

for civilians in future. Lack of opportunities have led to thinning of

population in forward areas, which has left them vulnerable. In contrast,

tourism boom has brought visible economic prosperity in Leh and Nubra in the

north and Man-Merak areas along the Pangong-Tso.

The district administration has been pushing for opening up more areas,

reflecting the demand from locals who want to reap the benefit of tourism.

The Army Adventure Cell will vet prospective visitors to the Siachen area

and issue permits. But all visitors will have to follow protocols and

quarantine requirements put in place by the Leh district administration.

Currently movement of non-locals is restricted within a 40-km radius of Leh.

ALIBABA, JACK MA SUMMONED BY GURGAON COURT ON FORMER EMPLOYEE'S COMPLAINT

A district court has summoned Alibaba and its founder Jack Ma in a case in

which a former employee says he was wrongfully fired after objecting to what

he saw as censorship and fake news on company apps.

The case comes weeks after India cited security concerns in banning

Alibaba's UC News, UC Browser and 57 other Chinese apps after a clash

between the two countries' forces on their border.

The former employee of Alibaba's UC Web, Pushpandra Singh Parmar, alleges

the company used to censor content seen as unfavourable to China and its

apps UC Browser and UC News showcased false news "to cause social and

political turmoil".

Civil Judge Sonia Sheokand of a district court in Gurgaon has issued summons

for Alibaba, Jack Ma and about a dozen individuals or company units, asking

them to appear in court or through a lawyer on July 29.

Parmar included clippings of some posts showcased on the UC News app that he

alleged were false. One post from 2017 was headlined in Hindi: "2,000-rupee

notes to be banned from midnight today". Another headline of a 2018 post

said: "Just now: War broke out between India and Pakistan" and contained

description of firing across the disputed border between the countries.

BCCI TREATED ME, MANY OTHERS UNPROFESSIONALLY: YUVRAJ SINGH

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh believes the BCCI did not manage his

former teammates such as Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan

well towards the end of their careers and hoped the board will recognise the

efforts of match-winners in the future and honour them for their

contribution towards Indian cricket.

Yuvraj, who retired from international cricket last year after playing for

19 years, did not get a farewell game and neither did Zaheer or Sehwag.

Yuvraj also feels that the way BCCI handled him towards the end of his

career was 'unprofessional', although it wasn't surprising for him.

"Giving someone a farewell, that's not for me to decide. It's up to the

BCCI. But I felt the way that they managed me towards the end of my career,

was very unprofessional," Yuvraj told SportsKeeda. "But looking back at some

of the great players from India - Harbhajan [Singh], [Virender] Sehwag,

Zaheer Khan - were also badly mismanaged. It's part of Indian cricket, I

have seen that in the past so I wasn't really surprised."

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.

- Edward Abbey

OFF TRACK

A man was ordering a cake for his wife's birthday party

The salesman asked him what message he wanted to be put on the cake.

He thought for a moment and said, "put getting older but you are getting

better".

The salesman asked "how do you want me to arrange it.....I mean in how many

lines?"

The man said ' Well...put "You are getting older" at the top and "but you

are getting better" at the bottom.

When the cake was unveiled at the party all the guests were aghast at the

message on the cake. It read :

"You are getting older at the top,

but you are getting better at the bottom"