CENTRE’S ORDINANCE WARNING SIGN FOR OTHER STATES: KEJRIWAL

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, during a rally at Ramlila Maidan over Centre’s ordinance that effectively grants control of running the government to the Centre through the L-G, had a warning for the states ruled by Opposition parties.

“What does the ordinance say? Modiji’s ordinance says there will be no democracy in Delhi. There is dictatorship. The people are not supreme, the L-G is. It doesn’t matter who the people choose, I will run Delhi, Modiji says… Don’t think that this is happening to only Delhi. I have heard they are planning to bring a similar ordinance for the rest of the country as well. An ordinance like the one for Delhi is like the declaration of dictatorship. It will be brought in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh,” the CM said.

During the rally, called at the same grounds where the Aam Aadmi Party was formed and where three successive Kejriwal governments were sworn in, Kejriwal said the ordinance brought in by the Centre will cripple the elected government.

The rally comes in the backdrop of Kejriwal visiting states run by non-BJP governments, seeking support to defeat the ordinance in the Rajya Sabha. That, however, is a tall order since the ordinance requires a simple majority to be passed, which the BJP and its allies have in the Upper House.

Speaking about the formation of the party at Ramlila Maidan in 2012, Kejriwal said, “Twelve years ago, we gathered here against corruption. This is a sacred stage. Today, we have gathered to oust a dictator from the country. At the time, our movement was successful. This is a movement to end dictatorship and bring back democracy.

He added: “The Prime Minister says I don’t respect the Supreme Court. This is for the first time in several years that a Prime Minister has behaved this way. The people of the country are shocked. They can’t believe their PM is so arrogant. This is called dictatorship. The will of the people is not being followed. What does the SC say that the PM does not want to follow the order? The SC said that democracy is supreme. The will of the people is supreme. The elected government, irrespective of the party, should have the right to work. I want to ask, was the SC wrong? Should the PM adhere to the order?”

AT 1ST NATIONAL TRAINING CONCLAVE, PM MODI CALLS FOR ENDING SILOS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday inaugurated first-ever National Training Conclave, which is aimed at strengthening governance in the country, as he underlined the importance of capacity-building, the need to end silos and enhance service-delivery.

He asked the officers to “improve and advance the governance process and policy implementation” and said for this, training modules for young officers were a “pre-requisite”.

Later in a statement, the PMO said Modi’s speech was “replete with many anecdotes and stories emanating from his rich political and administrative experience”.

Discussing his experience of earlier serving as CM and later as PM, Modi underlined that the government had never lacked talented, dedicated and committed officials. “But just like the institution of the Army, which has built impeccable credibility in the eyes of the public, it is the responsibility of all government servants to further repose the faith of people in the government system,” he said.

CENTRE NAMES 51 TO MANIPUR PEACE PANEL

The Governor-led committee announced by the Centre to restore peace in Manipur, which has been roiled by ethnic clashes, comprises 51 members including those from the warring Meitei and Kuki communities.

Of those named by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to represent the ethnic groups, 25 are from the majority Meitei community, 11 belong to Kuki groups and 10 are from the Naga community. The Muslim and the Nepali communities will be represented by three and two members, respectively.

The committee was announced Saturday, with the Ministry of Home Affairs naming Governor Anusuiya Uikey as its chairperson and “Chief Minister N Biren Singh, a few ministers in the state, MPs, MLAs and leaders of different political parties” as its members.

The civil society will be represented by two retired professors of Manipur University, the chairman of the Bar Council of Manipur, five social workers and retired government officials. The committee has also included former Director General of Police P Doungel.

With fragile peace prevailing in the state, the government yesterday issued an order extending the ban on Internet service. Officials said more than 50,000 people continued to stay in 349 relief camps managed and protected by security forces.

ARMY EXPOSES ISI'S PLOT TO INVOLVE WOMEN, JUVENILES IN TERROR NETWORK

A 'dangerous move' by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and heads of terror groups to rope in women and juveniles to carry weapons and messages has come to light amid a decline in the use of traditional means of communication by terrorists in Kashmir valley, a top army officer has said.

The General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based 15 Corps, also known as Chinar Corps, Lt Gen Amardeep Singh Aujla also said the forces need to be cautious as people sitting across the Line of Control are busy scheming and planning to disturb the prevailing peaceful atmosphere.

"Today's threat, as I see it, is involving women, girls and juveniles in carrying messages, drugs or, at times, weapons. So far, the army has detected some cases highlighting an emerging trend which in itself is a dangerous move that Pakistan's ISI and heads of 'tanzeems' (terror groups) have adopted. We, along with other agencies, are jointly working out on this," Lt Gen Aujla told PTI.

As part of the deradicalisation strategy, the army, with the cooperation of the Union Territory administration, has undertaken a series of initiatives -- one of which is the Sahi Rasta (right path) programme that has in recent times proved to be a game changer in the right earnest.

"We have come a long way in ensuring peace and stability in Kashmir, but I will be naive to claim an early victory as we feel that every gain needs to be cemented before achieving lasting peace in the Union territory," he said. Without naming Pakistan, Lt Gen Aujla said the challenge is that the neighbouring country has not given up on its intent and is repeatedly creating trouble on both sides of Pir Panjal.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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VIOLENT RHETORIC BY TRUMP ALLIES DISTURBS EXPERTS

The federal indictment of former President Donald Trump has unleashed a wave of calls by his supporters for violence and an uprising to defend him, disturbing observers and raising concerns of a dangerous atmosphere before his court appearance in Miami on Tuesday.

In social media posts and public remarks, close allies of Trump have portrayed the indictment as an act of war. The allies have painted Trump as avictim of a weaponised justice department controlled by President Joe Biden.

The calls to action and threats have been amplified on right-wing media sites and have been met by supportive responses from social media users and cheers from crowds. Experts on political violence warn that attacks against people or institutions become more likely when elected officials or prominent media figures are able to issue threats or calls for violence with impunity. The pro-Trump mob that attacked the Capitol in 2021, was drawn to Washington inpart by a post on Twitter from Trump weeks earlier, promising that it would be “wild. ”

“Eye for an eye,” wrote Representative Andy Biggs, Arizona, on Twitter on Friday. His warning came shortly before the special counsel in the case, Jack Smith, spoke to the public for the first time since he took over Trump’s classified documents investigation.

On Instagram, Trump’s eldest son’s fiancée, Kimberly Guilfoyle, posted a photo of the former president with the words, “Retribution Is Coming”. In Georgia, Kari Lake, who refused to concede the Arizona election for governor in 2022, emphasised that many of Trump’s supporters owned guns. He added: “That’s not a threat, that’s a public service announcement. ”

THE REST

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ALERT SOUNDED AS CYCLONE BIPARJOY HEADS TO GUJARAT COAST

The cyclone Biparjoy in the Arabian Sea, which earlier seemed headed towards the Pakistan coastline, is now predicted to move slightly east towards the northern Gujarat coast, with a landfall expected on June 15.

It is expected to result in 2-3 metre storm surges, destruction of thatched houses, damage to pucca houses and roads, floodings, widespread damage to standing crops, plantations and orchards, and disruption of railways, powerlines and signalling systems in the northern and western coastal districts of Gujarat, a bulletin from the India-based Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC) said.

AMIT SHAH'S "2G, 3G, 4G PARTIES" DIG AT CONGRESS, DMK

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday took a swipe at the Congress and DMK over dynasty politics and alleged corruption, calling them "2G, 3G, 4G" parties and said the time has come in Tamil Nadu to throw away these and give the power to a "son of the soil".

Addressing a public meeting to highlight the nine years of the BJP-led NDA government's achievements, he also lashed out at the two opposition parties at the Centre for opposing the abrogation of Article 370 and lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "uniting Kashmir" with India by a stroke of the pen.

"Congress and DMK are 2G, 3G, 4G parties. I am not talking about the 2G (spectrum allocation scam). 2G means two generations, 3G means three generations and 4G means four generations," he said.

"The Maran family (of the DMK) is doing corruption for two generations. The Karunanidhi family is doing corruption for three generations. The Gandhi family is 4G. Rahul Gandhi is fourth generation and for four generations they are enjoying power," Shah said attacking the two parties.

NOW VICTIMS SHOULD BE READY TO RECORD ASSAULT: KAPIL SIBAL’S DIG OVER POLICE PROBE INTO WRESTLERS’ CHARGES

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Sunday took a dig over the Delhi Police reportedly asking two women wrestlers to provide photos, audio and video evidence for their sexual harassment allegations against outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, saying now victims should be ready to click on camera and have someone to record the assault they face.

In a tweet, Sibal said, “Brij Bhushan investigation: Police wants video, audio, call recordings, WhatsApp chats as proof. Now victims should be ready to click on the camera and have someone ready to record the assault.” “For that the assaults will have to take place after notice to victims!” he added.

A DEFIANT BRIJ BHUSHAN SAYS WILL CONTEST 2024 POLLS

“Kaiserganj Lok Sabha se chunav ladunga, ladunga, ladunga (I will contest the election from Kaiserganj Lok Sabha constituency),” Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh asserted after addressing his first rally since some of India’s top women wrestlers raised sexual harassment allegations against him.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP made his plans for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections clear at the rally held in his Kaiserganj constituency, in the Katra area of Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district.

In his speech at the rally, Singh did not directly touch on the protest by the wrestlers or the allegations raised against him. He began the speech with the lines, “Yeh mila mujhko muhabbat ka silla, bewafa kehke mera naam liya jata hai. Isko ruswai kahen ki shohrat apni, dabe hontho se mera naam liya jata hai (This is the reward I have received for my love, they call me unfaithful. Call it notoriety or fame, they take my name with pursed lips).”

SACHIN PILOT KEEPS ALL GUESSING ON SPLIT FROM CONG

Speculation had been rife the past week that Sachin Pilot, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot’s bete noire, would make his biggest move—possibly launching a new party—Sunday. But Pilot, while attending an event to mark his father Rajesh Pilot’s death anniversary, neither quelled the rumour nor indicated the Congress brass had convinced him enough to back down from what has been a long-standing dissent against Gehlot.

Pilot said this was “not the forum for political deliberations”, though he remained “resolute in fulfilling my commitments”. He, however, took a swipe at the CM without naming him.

“When we provide assistance to the underprivileged, the central government claims it will lead to financial bankruptcy. And when I support the youth, someone says it is mental bankruptcy,” he said, targeting BJP and Gehlot in the same breath.

‘IT’S APPEASEMENT’: NAT’L PANEL ON OBC TAG FOR WB MUSLIMS

Alleging discrepancies in the granting of OBC status under the state list in West Bengal, the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) chairperson Hansraj Ahir said that out of 179 OBC groups in the Bengal state list, 118 belong to the Muslim community. He said there have also been complaints that Bangladeshi immigrants and some Rohingyas have been included in Bengal’s OBC list. The NCBC is probing the matter and have asked the state to fix the problem, he said. “Appeasement politics is behind granting OBC status to so many Muslim castes,” the NCBC chief said while adding that going by the complaints, it has been concluded that the entire exercise of granting OBC status has not been done in a responsible manner. “The Commission has held meetings and also written to the state to correct this,” Ahir said.

RSS BODY OUT WITH 'THERAPY' FOR BEARING CULTURED, PATRIOTIC KIDS

An NGO affiliated with the Rashtriya Sevika Samiti, RSS’ women’s wing, on Sunday launched a documentary and guidance titled “Garbha Sanskar” that is aimed at helping pregnant women bear “cultured and patriotic children”.

The event was graced by Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, who said 60 per cent of the child’s brain developed in the womb and the foetus responded to external stimuli, which was why it was important to read spiritual texts, and maintain positive thinking during pregnancy.

“Recitations of the Sunderkand, which speaks of the miracles of Lord Hanuman, could be very useful for the baby in the womb. While scientific approach will prevent complicated pregnancy, holistic approach will ensure normal pregnancy,” Soundararajan said at the launch of the guidance by Samwardhini Nyas.

‘Garbha Sanskar’ document speaks of encouraging pregnant women to chant mantras, shlokas and read the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana and Mahabharata to create positive vibrations and connect with the baby in the womb.

SMARTPHONES BREAK INTO TOP-5 CLUB IN EXPORTS

Smartphones catapulted into the league of five most exported commodities by value, n FY23, up from the ninth rank in the pecking order in FY22. Those above smartphones include various automotive fuels and diamonds — cut or polished.

The exports of smartphones nearly doubled, hitting Rs 88,726 crore in FY23, against Rs 45,000 crore in FY22.

India’s ambition, which has inspired the production-linked incentive scheme for mobile devices, is clearly to replace Vietnam and become the second largest manufacturing exporter of mobile phones in the world after China.  However, this might take a long while. In calendar year 2022, according to estimates, Vietnam exported $33.3 billion smartphones, of which 95 per cent were Samsung’s (the figure represented half of Samsung's total output).

China is far ahead and exported $128 billion worth of mobile phones in 2021. Despite moving some production to India, Apple assembles 90 per cent of its iPhones in China.

DJOKOVIC CLAIMS RECORD 23RD GRAND SLAM TITLE!

Novak Djokovic won a record 23rd Grand Slam singles title at the French Open on Sunday to stand alone at the summit of men's tennis with a 7-6(1) 6-3 7-5 victory over fourth seed Casper Ruud in the final.

The 36-year-old Serb leapfrogged the injured King of Clay Rafael Nadal, in his own backyard to claim his third Roland Garros title after triumphs in 2016 and 2021.

On a historic day on Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic won his 21st consecutive Grand Slam tournament match to become the only man to bag each of the four majors - Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open - at least three times.

He also eclipsed Nadal as the oldest champion in Paris after a testing fortnight where he shrugged off a heated political row after his comments on Kosovo and saw off the challenge of top seed Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals.

As Djokovic closed out the win, he dropped to the clay before soaking up the applause. He continued his celebrations by climbing up to his players' box and shared hugs with his family. He then sported a specially made jacket with the number 23 displayed on it, just like he did at Melbourne Park with 22.

"Another day, another record and another day you rewrite tennis history," Ruud said, addressing a beaming Djokovic. "It's tough to explain how incredible it is, how good you are and what an inspiration you are to people around the world. "This tastes best of them all, so congratulations. I'm happy that I'm the first one to congratulate you from the stage."

INDIA LOSE WTC FINAL AS BATTING COLLAPSES

India's underwhelming record in ICC tournaments continued with a 209-run hammering by Australia in the WTC final in London on Sunday.

Australia were clearly the better team on all fronts while India had only themselves to blame for yet another loss in a global event. India's last ICC title came way back in 2013 and it was their second successive defeat in the WTC final, having gone down against New Zealand two years ago.

India lost seven wickets for the addition of 70 runs on the final day.

While the non selection of R Aswhin was the big talking point on the opening day, India lost the title contest mainly due to the failure of their high-profile batting line-up. The top four comprising Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara and Kohli failed to deliver in the high-stake game.

Chasing a record 444 at The Oval, Indian fans went into day five high on hope with Kohli (49) and Ajinkya Rahane (46) walking into the middle. However, Scott Boland removing Kohli (49) and Jadeja (0) in the seventh over of the morning pretty much shut the door on India, who resumed the day at 164/3 needing another 280 runs for an improbable win.

Kohli, who had looked in extremely good touch on day four, had to make a big hundred if India had to get anywhere close to the massive target. On a surface with variable bounce, there was always going to be an odd ball that had your name on it, and that is what happened with both Kohli and Jadeja.

Scores: Aus 469 & 270/8 (decl); India 296 & 234

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right. - Isaac Asimov

OFF TRACK

Do bachchon ki maa teesri shadi kar rahi thi.

Pheron ke waqt ek bachcha rone lag gaya.

Maa ka jawaab sun kar dulha bechara behosh ho gaya kyonki woh bachche se boli:

"Chup ho ja varna agli baar nahin laoongi."