REACH OUT TO DEPRIVED SECTIONS IN ALL COMMUNITIES: PM MODI TO PARTY

With the BJP eyeing regions and votebanks where it has not been able to make any significant inroads or electoral gains, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked leaders at the party’s national executive meeting, which concluded on Sunday, to reach out to “deprived and downtrodden sections” in communities other than Hindus.

“He said there are deprived and downtrodden sections in other communities also. He said that we should not be limited to Hindus only, we should work for all these deprived communities,” a BJP leader said, referring to remarks from Modi in discussions over the weekend.

Modi’s direction to the party comes days after the party won the Lok Sabha bypolls in Azamgarh and Rampur, toppling the SP in two key constituencies in UP where Muslim voters play a decisive role.

In 2021, Modi had issued a similar call to the party’s general secretaries, suggesting that they should keep the Christian community on its side in Kerala where the party has failed to make significant poll progress.

The BJP resolved to end “family rule” in Telangana and WB and come to power in states that have so far remained out of its reach.

The resolution moved by Home Minister Amit Shah on the closing of the two-day Hyderabad national executive meeting also affirmed that the “next 30 to 40 years will be the era of his party” and that India will become a “vishwa guru” (world leader).

There was a “collective hope and finding” at the meeting that the BJP’s next round of growth would come from South India, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, briefing mediapersons on the party’s political resolution.

The BJP’s poll victories underlined people’s approval of its “politics of development and performance” and the ending of the politics of family rule, casteism and appeasement. “Dynastic politics, casteism and appeasement” are the “greatest sins” and the reasons behind the country’s sufferings over the years, the resolution said. When asked about recent incidents like the one at Udaipur, Sarma said such issues would not have happened had some parties not followed the politics of appeasement and casteism. “Only when the politics of jaativaad, parivarvaad and tushtikaran (appeasement) is removed, can the country move forward.”

“The era of political violence should end,” Sarma said, quoting Shah.

PM MODI ADDRESSES A HUGE RALLY IN HYDERABAD, AVOIDS DIRECT ATTACK ON KCR

The BJP sounded the poll bugle for Assembly elections in Telangana Sunday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leaders calling for a change of guard in the state.

Notably, the parade ground that can accommodate close to one lakh people was bursting at the seams on account of Modi’s visit. The prime minister arrived to a rousing welcome from the crowd. “Looks like entire Telangana is here today,” Modi said after his arrival.

Modi added that sensing the mood for change in Telangana, the BJP had decided to hold the national executive meeting in Hyderabad.

“When BJP will form government in Telangana, the development of cities and towns will get a double engine growth. We want development with positivity and link everyone with it. Let us hasten up the development of Telangana with BJP government,’’ he said.

Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar stole the show earning praise from the PM who was visibly impressed with the crowd turnout. Kumar made a high-pitched rousing speech. “A vote for BJP here is a vote for a Modi-led government which will be free of corruption and ensure that promises to people are fulfilled,’’ he said.

Modi mainly spoke about how Telangana benefitted from his government’s welfare measures including free Covid-19 vaccines, gas cylinders, paddy procurement, and infrastructure development. He completely avoided talking about the ruling TRS government, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and his family which other BJP leaders criticised and attacked.

On Saturday, at a meeting to welcome Opposition presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha, the Telangana CM tore into Modi and his style of governance, and posed several questions.

BJP'S RAHUL NARWEKAR ELECTED AS MAHARASHTRA ASSEMBLY SPEAKER

BJP's Rahul Narwekar was on Sunday elected the speaker of Maharashtra assembly. Narwekar bagged a majority 164 votes and defeated MVA candidate Rajan Salvi, who received 107.

Narwekar on Sunday took charge amid chants of "Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji", "Jai Sri Ram", "Bharat Mata ki Jai" and "Vande Mataram".

MVA allies Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress took potshots at Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, his deputy Devendra Fadnavis, newly-appointed Speaker and rebel Shiv Sena MLAs at the Vidhan Bhavan on Sunday.

While congratulating Narwekar on his election as the Speaker, NCP leader Ajit Pawar said, “Narwekar was in Shiv Sena and close to his leader Aaditya Thackeray. In the NCP, he was close to me. Now, he is close to Devendra.” He said Shinde must develop good relations with Narwekar, “else one cannot say what will happen to you”. The NCP leader added that what Narwekar has achieved in three years, many BJP leaders could not achieve the same for years.

Taking on Shinde, Pawar said, “He should have come and told me… and I would have told Uddhav Thackeray… and there would have been no problem in making him the CM.”

Responding to the same, BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said, “Over the next few months, if you (Ajit Pawar) also develop some ambitions, you can let us know quietly and we will consider it.”

COVID DASHBOARD – INDIA

As of 0800 IST / July 4

from mohfw.gov.in ,

New Cases on Sunday 16,135

Active Cases 1,13,864 (+2,153)

Total Deaths (Deaths Yesterday) 5,25,223 (13)

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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

RUSSIA: FORCES FULLY CONTROL UKRAINE’S LUHANSK REGION

Russia said it had taken full control of the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk on Sunday after capturing the final Ukrainian bastion of Lysychansk, the city where Kyiv said it had withdrawn to save the lives of its troops.

The region’s capture, a major Russian war aim, is a political victory for the Kremlin after weeks of grinding advances and shifts the battlefield focus to neighbouring Donetsk region, where Kyiv still controls swathes of territory. Since abandoning an assault on the capital Kyiv, Russia has concentrated its military operation on the industrial Donbas heartland that comprises the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, where Moscow-backed separatist proxies have been fighting Ukraine since 2014.

BIG CHANGES TO AUSTRALIA’S BORDER AS GOVT SCRAPS VACCINATION REQUIREMENT

The Australian government has scrapped the need for incoming international travellers to declare their Covid-19 vaccination status. Health Minister Mark Butler said the change would come into effect from 12.01am on Wednesday morning.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil also announced travellers will no longer have to complete a Digital Passenger Declaration.

However, they must still comply with the requirements of airlines and states and territories, including the wearing of masks on flights.

“The Australian Government makes decisions on Covid related issues after considering the latest medical advice,” Butler said.

EASTERN CHINA CITIES TIGHTEN CURBS AMID NEW COVID CLUSTERS

Cities in eastern China tightened Covid curbs on Sunday as Covid clusters emerge, posing a new threat to China’s economic recovery under the government’s zero-Covid policy.

Wuxi, a manufacturing hub, halted operations at many public venues, including shops and supermarkets. Dine-in services in restaurants were suspended, and the government advised people to work from home. Authorities urged people not to leave Wuxi, after reporting 42 new asymptomatic cases on Saturday. Si county in Anhui province locked down its 7,60,000 residents and suspended public traffic as it reported 288 cases on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong lawmaker Steven Ho, who posed for a group photo with China’s President Xi Jinping during the leader’s visit to the city last week, said on Sunday he has since tested positive for Covid.

THE REST

=========

NEW SPEAKER REINSTATES EKNATH SHINDE AS SHIV SENA LEGISLATIVE LEADER

Newly appointed Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde has been reinstated as a Shiv Sena legislative leader by the office of Speaker Rahul Narvekar, a day before the Shinde government is set to face a floor test in the assembly to prove their majority.

The newly-appointed speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly, in a letter issued on Sunday night, removed Shiv Sena MLA Ajay Chaudhary as the legislative party leader.

The speaker further recognized the appointment of Bharat Gogawale from the Shinde camp as the chief whip of the Shiv Sena. He removed Sunil Prabhu from the position, who belonged to the Thackeray camp of the party. The Sena said that this decision by the speaker will be challenged by them in court.

The development comes as a major setback to the Thackeray faction comprising 16 MLAs who will be bound by the whip to be issued by Gogawale for Monday's trust vote. If these 16 MLAs refuse to follow the whip, they may face disqualification.

LeT TERRORIST NABBED IN J-K REPORTEDLY LINKED TO BJP

A political slugfest erupted between the BJP and the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir after a top Lashker-e-Taiba terrorist, overpowered by locals and handed over to the police, was reported to be an active member of the saffron party who was recently selected as its IT and social media cell in charge of the minority morcha in Jammu province.

As the news about villagers overpowering Talib Hussain Shah and handing him and his associate Faisal Ahmad Dar to the police surfaced, purported pictures of Shah with JK BJP chief Ravinder Raina and his participation in party functions emerged on social media.

While Raina dismissed the presence of Shah in his party as a "conspiracy hatched by Pakistan to target him and the party headquarters", Pradesh Congress Committee chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said the ruling party should answer to the nation the alleged presence of terrorists in their ranks and holding important party positions.

This is a second incident within two days where it has been alleged that terror accused had links with the BJP.

The two people arrested in Udaipur were alleged by the Congress to have links with the Saffron party. Congress leader Pawan Khera on Saturday had cited Facebook posts showing accused Riyaz Akhtari with local BJP leaders and sought to know whether the Centre had moved quickly to transfer the case to the National Investigation Agency due to this reason.

The charge was denied by the BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya saying the accused were not BJP members and said the opposition party was peddling in fake news.

PM CALLS HYDERABAD "BHAGYANAGAR", SPARKS NAME CHANGE BUZZ

Hyderabad or Bhagyanagar? Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the city for the big BJP meet, referred to Telangana capital as Bhagyanagar during his address to the delegates from across the country.

"PM Modi said that Hyderabad is Bhagyanagar which is a significance for all of us. Sardar Patel kept the foundation of a unified India and now it's BJP's responsibility to carry it further," BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said in Hyderabad quoting the Prime Minister.

Asked if Hyderabad's name will be changed to Bhagyanagar, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said, "When the BJP comes into power in the state, the chief minister will decide this along with the cabinet colleagues."

Telangana Minister and Chief Minister KCR's son, KTR, hit back at the BJP, saying, “Why don't you change Ahmedabad's name to Adanibad first?”

TEJAS BEATS CHINA'S JF-17 TO EMERGE AS MALAYSIA'S TOP CHOICE

India's Tejas light combat aircraft has emerged as the top choice for Malaysia as the Southeast Asian nation looks at replacing its ageing fleet of fighter jets and the two sides are holding negotiations to firm up the procurement.

Malaysia has narrowed down on the Indian aircraft notwithstanding the stiff competition from China's JF-17 jet, South Korea's FA-50 and Russia's Mig-35 as well as Yak-130, Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, R Madhavan, told PTI in an interview.

As part of the package, India has offered to set up an MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) facility in Malaysia for its Russian-origin Su-30 fighter fleet as it is facing difficulties in procuring spares for the aircraft from Russia in view of western sanctions against Moscow.

NUPUR SHARMA HEARING JUDGE SLAMS SOCIAL MEDIA OPINIONS

Digital and social media need to be mandatorily regulated in the country to preserve the rule of law under the Constitution, Supreme Court Judge Justice J B Pardiwala said on Sunday, terming as "dangerous" the crossing of 'Lakshman rekha' on these platforms for "personalised, agenda-driven attacks" on the judges.

The remarks by Justice Pardiwala at an event in Delhi come amid an uproar over the strong oral observations of a vacation bench, in which he was a member, against suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma for her controversial comments against Prophet Mohammed. The bench had said that her "loose tongue" has "set the entire country on fire" and she should apologise.

The observations of the bench, which had also refused to club the FIRs lodged against Sharma across the country, sparked a debate, including on digital and social media platforms, leading to some uncharitable comments against the judges also.

OVER 50% INDIGO FLIGHTS DELAYED AS CREW CALL IN SICK, DGCA SEEKS REPORT

More than half of the flights operated by IndiGo, India’s largest airline, were delayed on Saturday as a large number of its cabin crew members called in sick. The DGCA has taken a note of this development, and has sought a report from the airline on the delays, officials said.

Notably, Saturday also marked the beginning of the second phase of Tata Group-owned Air India’s recruitment drive for cabin crew members.

ASHOKE PANDIT SLAMS 'HINDUPHOBIC' ANUPAMA CHOPRA'S 'ROCKETRY' REVIEW

After being in the Indian film industry for over two decades, R Madhavan made his directorial debut with Rocketry: The Nambi Effect. He’s also the lead actor.

The biopic is on the life of Indian aerospace scientist S Nambi Narayanan.

One review from a noted film critic, Anupama Chopra, caught R Madhavan’s attention as he found it in terrible taste. He slammed her views and stated that he is fine if she didn’t like the film but to give it a religious spin is not okay.

Anupama Chopra of Film Companion mentioned in her review about Nambi Narayanan being a “true-blue Hindu patriot”. She wrote, “the screenplay repeatedly underlines his patriotism and also leans pointedly into his religion. Our first visual of Narayanan is in the puja room at his home. At crucial moments, he prays. Narayanan is a true-blue Hindu patriot.”

Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit called her out on Twitter & wrote, ..@anupamachopra This is being #Hinduphobic Why does it trouble U if Narayanan is a Hindu patriot and prays during crucial times? Every maker doesn’t justify trrsm d way #VinodChopra dd in Shikara . @ActorMadhavan hs done a brilliant job and hv d guts to praise it.

BRIMINGHAM TEST, DAY 3: PACERS GIVE INDIA 132 RUN LEAD IN FIRST INNINGS

India's famed pace bowling unit for the umpteenth time put its team in pole position, bowling out England for 284.

At stumps on Day 3, India were 125/3 in their second innings with Cheteshwar Pujara (50 not out) hitting a gutsy half-century, battling it out in the company of the flamboyant Rishabh Pant (30 not out) as the duo extended India's overall lead stood to 257 with two day's play still left.

However, the dismissals of Shubman Gill (4), Hanuma Vihari (11) and Virat Kohli (20) had given England some hopes earlier in the day.

It was an action-packed day on Sunday as England scored runs at 4.61 runs per over, courtesy of Jonny Bairstow, who smashed a brilliant 106 off 140 balls for his third successive century.

But, in line with India's overseas script in the last couple of years, the troika of skipper Jaspreet Bumrah (3/68 in 19 overs), Mohammed Shami (2/78 in 22 overs) and Mohammed Siraj (4/66 in 11.3 overs), Shardul Thakur (1/48) kept up the pressure to ensure a sizeable lead of 132 runs.

Scores: India 416 & 125/3; England 284

SEHWAG TROLLS VIRAT KOHLI AS JONNY BAIRSTOW GOES BERSERK AFTER SLEDGING

After starting cautiously on Day 2, Jonny Bairstow got into his groove after England had resumed resumed play from their overnight score of 84 for five on Day 3. Virat Kohli was seen sledging Bairstow and the two were involved in a heated exchange, and this seemed to stir something in the England batter, as he teed off soon after, going on to bring up his third consecutive century off just 119 deliveries.

"Jonny Bairstow's Strike Rate before Kohli's Sledging - 21. Post Sledging - 150. Pujara ki tarah khel rahe thhey, Kohli ne Pant banwa diya bewajah sledge karke (He was playing like Pujara, Kohli turned him into Pant after sledging him)," Sehwag tweeted.

WIMBLEDON: DJOKOVIC, SINNER, GOFFIN, NORRIE REACH QUARTER FINALS

Top seed Novak Djokovic raised his level to put an end to the fairytale run of Dutch wildcard Tim van Rijthoven during a battling 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory on Sunday and keep his Wimbledon title defence on track.

Djokovic is now unbeaten on the manicured lawns of the All England Club since retiring due to an elbow injury against Tomas Berdych in the 2017 quarter-finals.

Djokovic will play Italian 10th seed Jannik Sinner for a place in Friday's semi-finals. Italian Jannik Sinner enjoyed a day to remember on his Centre Court debut as he toppled fifth seed Carlos Alcaraz with a barnstorming 6-1, 6-4, 6-7(8), 6-3 win in a battle of the young-guns to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time.

On a day when Wimbledon's most famous stage celebrated its centenary, the two youngest players left in the men's draw gave a glimpse of the future with some breathtaking shotmaking that earned them a standing ovation from 15,000 hollering fans.

Belgian David Goffin edged American 23rd seed Frances Tiafoe in a five-set thriller. Now ranked 58th, Goffin held his nerve to outlast Tiafoe 7-6(3), 5-7, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 in an absorbing contest on court one that lasted four hours 36 minutes.

In quarter-final, Goffin will be up against Briton Cameron Norrie, who also beat an American in Tommy Paul but in straight sets - 6-4, 7-5, 6-4.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Thinking is difficult, that’s why most people judge. - C.G. Jung

OFF TRACK

A cyclone hit the Tamilnadu coast just before dawn one morning. It tore off the roof, and picked up the beds on which a doctor and his wife were sleeping. By some miracle, the cyclone set them down unharmed in the adjoining district.

The wife was sobbing uncontrollably. "Don't be scared, Usha," her husband said. "We're not hurt."

Usha continued to cry. "I'm not scared," she said between sobs. "I'm happy... this is the first time in sixteen years we've been out of town together."