PARLIAMENT LOGJAM PERSISTS: NO COMMON GROUND FOUND OVER THE WEEKEND

The standoff between the govt and the Opposition in Parliament on the Manipur violence is likely to intensify as both the sides Sunday signaled they would not back down from their positions.

While the govt has said it was ready for a discussion, the opposition has been insisting that a suo motu statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi should precede the discussion.

Govt sources have indicated that Union Home Minister Amit Shah can make a statement on the situation and would reply to the discussion.  Shah had chaired an all party meeting on Manipur on June 24.

Asked whether there will be a washout of the proceedings on Monday as well, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, “Looks like… After all, this is the monsoon session.” The MPs of the Opposition parties will stage a protest — their first joint action this session — at the Gandhi statue on Monday at 10.30 am.

On Sunday, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur appealed to the opposition parties to join the discussion. Thakur also urged the opposition not to politicise the issue of atrocities against women in Manipur. He said the govt is keen on a discussion on the issue of atrocities on women, which are prevalent in states such as Rajasthan, Bihar, West Bengal and Manipur. “We wish that there should be a good discussion on this in the House, where all political parties will participate. Nobody should run away from the debate. It is my request to the opposition with folded hands, do not run away from the

The govt has lined up as many as 31 Bills for consideration and passage in this session. And among them are the contentious The Govt of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill to replace the ordinance on services in Delhi, The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill and The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill.

DISTURBANCE, DISRUPTION WEAPONISED TO TAINT TEMPLES OF DEMOCRACY: V-P

With the standoff between the Opposition and the govt over the Manipur issue washing out proceedings on the first two days of the monsoon session of Parliament, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is also Chairman of Rajya Sabha, said Sunday that “disturbance and disruption are being weaponised as strategic means to taint the temples of democracy”.

Addressing the centenary year convocation of Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi, the Vice President said, “Democracy is all about dialogue, discussion, deliberation and debate to secure public good. Surely, democracy can’t be disturbance, it can’t be disruption. Disruption and disturbance are antithetical to the essence of democratic values. I am pained and anguished to indicate to you that disturbance and disruption are being weaponised as strategic means to taint the temples of democracy that should be functional 24×7 to secure justice for the people at large…..When there is disruption in Parliament on a particular day, there can’t be a Question Hour.”

“Question Hour is a mechanism to generate accountability and transparency in governance. The govt is obligated to respond to every question and to the supplementaries that are placed. This goes to enormous benefit of governance. Everyone is on track. Not having Question Hour can never be rationalised when you think in terms of democratic values and good governance,” he said.

TO COUNTER UCC ‘MISCONCEPTIONS’, BJP-LINKED MUSLIM ‘PASMANDA’ BODY HOLDS FIRST MEET, CHALLENGES AIMPLB

In the face of opposition against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) from the Muslim community in different parts of the country, a BJP-linked “Pasmanda” (backward) Muslim organisation, Rashtravadi Muslim Pasmanda Mahaz, held a convention in Lucknow Sunday in a bid to “remove” the “misconceptions” about the UCC that it alleged was being spread by sections of the Muslim clerics, leaders and Opposition parties.

The Rashtravadi Muslim Pasmanda Mahaz’s meeting was attended by several senior BJP leaders and UP Ministers.

In his speech, the Mahaz president, Atif Rashid, who is affiliated to the BJP, challenged “Ashraf” (upper caste) members of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) for a debate on the UCC. He said his organisation’s activists would meet the AIMPLB members to appeal to them that they should not “mislead” Pasmanda Muslims over the UCC. Rashid said that the objective of the UCC proposal is to give equal rights to every woman and that it would not change the ways of prayers, culture or lifestyle of people.

The UP in-charge of the Mahaz, Faisal Mansoori, said that leaders like AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and many Muslim clerics and AIMPLB members were spreading “misconceptions” in the Muslim community about the UCC without reading it.

“A resolution was passed at the convention that the UCC is in the interest of the Muslim community,” Mansoori said, claiming that such conventions would be organised in Delhi, Jharkhand, Assam, West Bengal, Haryana, Punjab and Hyderabad in the coming days.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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PROTESTS SWELL ON THE EVE OF KEY JUDICIAL VOTE THAT HAS SPLIT ISRAEL

Thousands of demonstrators were camped outside Israel’s parliament on Sunday as lawmakers debated a key part of PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to overhaul the judiciary, a proposal that has set off perhaps the country’s gravest domestic crisis since its founding 75 years ago.

Talks were continuing to seek an 11th-hour compromise over the bill, which aims to limit the ways in which the Supreme Court can overturn govt decisions. Lawmakers are expected to hold a binding vote on one part of the plan today in parliament, where Netanyahu’s far-right and religiously conservative ruling coalition holds a four-seat majority. It would be the first reform written into law of a package critics fear aims to curb judicial independence, but which Netanyahu — who is on trial on corruption charges he denies — insists are needed for balance among branches of govt

Critics say Monday’s amendment has been rushed through parliament and will open the door to abuses of power by removing one of the few effective checks on the executive’s authority in a country without aformal written constitution.

The crisis has spread to the military, with protest leaders saying thousands of volunteer reservists would not report for duty if the govt continues with the plans and former top brass warning that Israel’s war-readiness could be at risk. The military chief, Herzi Halevi, wrote in an open letter that “dangerous cracks” are formed when politics impact on the military.

UKRAINE HAS TAKEN BACK 50% OF TERRITORY THAT RUSSIA SEIZED: BLINKEN

US secretary of state Antony Blinken said that while Ukraine has reconquered half the territory that Russia initially seized in its invasion, Kyiv faced a “a very hard fight” to win back more. “It’s already taken back about 50% of what was initially seized,” Blinken said in an interview to CNN on Sunday. “These are still relatively early days of the counteroffensive. It is tough,” he said, adding: “It will not play out over the next week or two. We’re still looking I think at several months. ” Hopes that Ukraine could quickly clear Moscow’s forces from its territory following the launch of a summer counteroffensive are fading as Kyiv’s troops struggle to breach heavily entrenched Russian positions in the country’s south and east. Late last month President Zelensky was quoted as saying that progress against Russian forces was “slower than desired” but that Kyiv would not be pressured into speeding it up.

THE REST

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MANIPUR UNREST: SECURITY TIGHTENED IN MIZORAM AHEAD OF MIZO GROUPS' PROTESTS

Security was beefed up across Mizoram on Sunday ahead of state-wide protests by Mizo organisations against violence in Manipur and amid reports of Meiteis leaving the state after a statement by an ex-militant group.

While 78 people flew to Manipur on Sunday in three flights, 65 people travelled to the neighbouring state on Saturday.

Another 41 Meitei people from Mizoram went to Assam's Cachar district by road after the ex-militants' group asked the community to leave the state following the viral video of two women being paraded naked in Manipur, they said.

Also, 31 Mizo students from Manipur returned to Mizoram due to the prevailing situation there, they added.

NGO Co-Ordination Committee, a conglomerate of five major civil society organisations including the Central Young Mizo Association and Mizo Zirlai Pawl, will stage demonstrations across the state on Tuesday to extend solidarity to the Zo ethnic people in strife-torn Manipur.

Mizoram's DGP Anil Shukla held a high-level meeting on Sunday to assess the security arrangements.

RAIGAD LANDSLIDE: NDRF CALLS OFF SEARCH OP; 57 STILL MISSING

The National Disaster Response Force has finally called of its search-and-rescue operation in Wednesday's landslide in Irshalwadi in Maharashtra's Raigad district, state minister Uday Samant said on Sunday. Addressing a press conference, Samant, who is guardian minister of Raigad, said the decision was taken in consultation with the district administration and other concerned authorities as well as local residents

So far, 27 bodies have been recovered while 57 are untraceable, officials said, adding that no body was found from the debris on Sunday.

At least 17 of 48 houses in the remote tribal village, which is at least an hour away from a motorable road, were fully or partially buried in the landslide that took place around 10:30pm on July 19.

ITALY HONOURS INDIAN TROOPS OF WWII

A memorial to commemorate the 50,000 Indian Army soldiers who fought for the liberation of Italy from Nazi occupation during the Italian Campaign in World War II was unveiled in Italy Saturday. The ‘V.C. Yeshwant Ghadge Sundial Memorial’ was unveiled by the Commune of Monotone (in Italy) and Italian military historians at Montone in Perugia as a tribute to Indian troops who died in action during the Italian Campaign.

The soldiers were part of the 4th, 8th and 10th Divisions of the British Commonwealth forces that fought against the Axis powers — Germany, Italy and Japan. The Italian Campaign refers to the two-year campaign (1943-1945) by the Allied power — Great Britain, the US and the Soviet Union — to liberate Italy from German occupation.

Among the Indian soldiers who were honoured was Naik Yeshwant Ghadge. The memorial in his honour is a sundial that symbolises unity. Inscribed on it is the motto “Omines Sub Eodem Sole”, which translates to “we all live under the same sun”.

Dr Neena Malhotra, India’s Ambassador to Italy and the Indian Defence Attaché represented India at the ceremony. Many Italian citizens, distinguished guests and members of Italian armed forces also attended the event Saturday.

Interestingly, of the 20 Victoria Crosses awarded in Italy, six were given to Indian soldiers. 5,782 Indian soldiers lost their lives and are commemorated in the 40 Commonwealth War Graves spread across Italy.

VARANASI'S GYANVAPI MOSQUE SURVEY BEGINS, REPORT DUE ON AUGUST 4

A team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has started a "scientific survey" of Varanasi's Gyanvapi mosque today even as the mosque management committee filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the Varanasi district court's order allowing the inspection. The survey - which began at 7 am - will extend to all areas except the sealed "wuzukhana" where a structure that Hindu litigants claimed to be a 'Shivling' - a relic of Lord Shiva -- was found during an earlier survey in 2022. The ASI has to submit the report to the district court by August 4.

The inspection is being carried out following an order by the Varanasi district court on Friday. The order was passed based on a plea by four women worshippers who claim the Gyanvapi mosque was built after razing an ancient Hindu temple and that a scientific study is needed to bring out the full facts.

While passing the order, the court held that the scientific investigation is "necessary" for the "true facts" to come out.

Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, who also represents Hindu side in the Gyanvapi case, claimed the court's decision is a turning point in the case.

RADIO COLLARS OF SIX KUNO CHEETAHS REMOVED, TWO HAD ‘SEVERE INFECTION’

At least two free-ranging cheetahs at the Kuno national park in Madhya Pradesh were treated for a severe infection detected after their radio collars were removed, wildlife officials said. The two cheetahs are among six free-ranging cheetahs that have been brought back to their enclosures as part of a prevention plan following the death of two cheetahs on July 11 and 14.

After the incidents, two South African cheetah experts had said that radio collars could be causing problems.

On Sunday, officials said they removed the radio collars of six cheetahs — Pavak, Aasha, Dheera, Pavan, Gaurav and Shaurya — and also examined them for medical conditions.

Wildlife officials said they faced difficulty in tranquilising the cheetahs in order to shift them to the enclosures and it became possible only after long-range darting experts were called in. The cheetahs, the officials added, were eventually tranquilised by South African expert Mike Toft.

'OPPENHEIMER' SPARKS SOCIAL MEDIA ROW OVER SCENE INVOLVING BHAGAVAD GITA

A scene in Oppenheimer, in which the titular character appears to have sex as he reads out verses from an ancient Sanskrit scripture, has irked a section of social media users, who claimed the lines are from the Bhagavad Gita and demanded the removal of the sequence from Christopher Nolan's latest film.

Oppenheimer, a 180 minute-long sprawling biographical drama on the titular American theoretical physicist, opened in India on Friday to positive reviews and has reportedly amassed close to Rs 30 crore at the box office in two days.

Uday Mahurkar, Information Commissioner, govt of India, wrote an open letter to Nolan, terming the scene a "disturbing attack on Hinduism" and appealed to the director to remove the scene worldwide.

"We urge, on behalf of billion Hindus and timeless tradition of lives being transformed by revered Geeta, to do all that is needed to uphold dignity of their revered book and remove this scene from your film across world. Should you choose to ignore this appeal it would be deemed as a deliberate assault on Indian civilisation. Eagerly await needful action" Mahurkar, founder of Save Culture Save India Foundation, wrote.

J Robert Oppenheimer, regarded as 'the father of the atom bomb', had learnt Sanskrit and was said to be influenced by the Bhagavad Gita.

In the film, Oppenheimer -- played by Cillian Murphy -- is shown having sex with psychologist Jean Tatler (Florence Pugh) as she asks him to read a verse from what appears to be a Sanskrit book, whose title or cover is not visible. On Tatler's insistence, a confused Oppenheimer reads out the verse she points at: "Now, I am become Death, destroyer of the world."

In his post, Mahurkar said he was "perplexed as to how the Central Board of Film Certification could approve the movie with this scene."

BADMINTON: SATWIK AND CHIRAG WIN KOREAN OPEN

The Korean city of Yeosu may long be remembered as the base camp from where Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty began their ascent to the impending World No 1 status. With their blazing attacking play, the current third-ranked Indian pair beat the World No. 1, 2 and 5 at the Korean Open Super 500 held from 18–23 July.

In the finals Sunday, Rankireddy and Shetty came from behind against the World No. 1 and All England champions, Fajar Alfian and Muhamad Rian Ardianto, to win 17-21, 21-13, 21-14.

Sunday’s win ensures the Indian duo’s rise to World No 2 on Monday, when the rankings are out.

The Korea win is the Indian pair’s sixth consecutive victory after they lost the French Open finals three seasons ago. It’s been a no-break run ever since — with the next French Open, then the Thomas Cup, the Swiss Open, the Asian Championships, the Indonesian Open and now Korea.

PORT OF SPAIN TEST, DAY 4: INDIA LOOK SET FOR SERIES SWEEP

India gave themselves the best chance to win the second Test against the West Indies with an ultra-aggressive batting approach after lead pacer Mohammed Siraj produced career-best figures on another rain-hit day at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, on Sunday.

Siraj's five-wicket haul in the morning session saw India bowl out the West Indies for 255 in their first innings, after the hosts started Day 4 on 229 for 5. They lasted a mere 7.4 overs, and added 26 runs.

Having gained a massive 183-run first innings lead, India went on an all-out attack in the second innings and rattled up 181 for 2 in 24 overs before declaring 35 minutes after the tea break to set the home team a 365-run target.

India raced to 100 runs in 12.2 overs, the fastest team hundred in Test cricket history.

At stumps on Day 4, the West Indies were 76 for 2 in 32 overs in their second innings after Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Kraigg Brathwaite (28) and Kirk McKenzie (0).

The hosts need another 289 runs on the final day for an improbable victory.

Scores so far: India 438 & 181/2 (declared); WI 255 & 76/2

RAIN BREAKS HOME HEARTS AS AUSTRALIA RETAIN ASHES

Australia retained the Ashes after the fourth Test at Old Trafford was drawn on Sunday with no play possible on day five due to rain, leaving England trailing 1-2 in the series with one match to play.

England needed to take five more wickets in Manchester on the final day of a thrilling fourth Test to level the series at 2-2 and ensure the final Test at the Oval in London next week was a decider, but the wet weather broke home hearts.

The result meant England cannot win the series and therefore Australia, as holders, would retain the Ashes.

Having won the last Test at Headingley, England did everything within their power to storm back and restore parity in the series in Manchester.

After posting a colossal 592 in their first innings -- their highest Ashes innings total on home soil since 1985 -- in reply to Australia's 317 all out, they were frustrated as the tourists battled well on a rain-hit day four to reach 214-5 in their second innings.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Truth is not only violated by falsehood; it may be equally outraged by silence. - Henri Frederic Amiel

OFF TRACK

"I just know you'll do the right thing by this girl," said a common friend of the boy and the girl. "You just marry her, and you'll be at the end of your troubles."  

So he did the right thing, and he married the girl, and about six months later when he saw that friend again he tried to murder him.  

"You miserable liar!" shouted the young man. "You told me if I married her, I would be at the end of my troubles. Well, I married her, and she has made my life miserable."  

"That may be true, but you can't blame me," replied the friend. "I said you'd be at the end of your troubles, but I never said which end."