QBullet: India-Seychelles Naval Base On; Yogi Confirms Ram Temple

Here are the top stories of the day.

Yogi Adityanath worships River Sarayu in Ayodhya.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/ @myogiadityanath)

1. No Doubt Ram Temple Will Be Built in Ayodhya: Yogi Adityanath

Raising the heat on the Ayodhya issue ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Monday, 25 June that “there should be no doubt” that a temple will be built at the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site.

Addressing a “Sant Sammelan” in Ayodhya, Adityanath said: “Maryada Purushotam Ram iss brahmand ke swami hain. Swabhavik roop se Ayodhya mein jab prabhu Ram ki kripa hogi toh Ayodhya mein bhagwan Ram ka bhavya mandir banke hi rahega… ismein koi sandeh hona hi nahin chahiye (Lord Ram is the master of this universe. It is obvious that when Ayodhya has his blessings, the Ram temple would be built in Ayodhya… there should be no doubt about this).”

This is the first time in the recent past that Adityanath has spoken so strongly in favour of the temple’s construction.

(Source: The Indian Express)

2. Mumbai Skyscraper at Risk as Heavy Rains Clobber Maharashtra

A 32-storey skyscraper in Mumbai was feared to be at risk after a parking lot and driveway caved in while at least seven persons were killed as heavy rains clobbered the city and large parts of coastal Maharashtra, officials said on Monday.

(Source: The Times of India)

3. Sebi All Set for Adjudication Process Against ICICI Bank, CEO Chanda Kochhar

A preliminary examination by regulator Sebi has favoured adjudication proceedings against ICICI Bank and its CEO Chanda Kochhar for alleged violation of disclosure norms regarding “conflict of interest” in the business dealings of her husband with the Videocon group, a PTI report said.

Chanda Kochhar, MD and CEO of ICICI Bank. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@EthosCorporate)

(Source: The Indian Express)

4. India, Seychelles Agree to Work on Assumption Island Naval Base Project

India and Seychelles said on Monday they would work together on developing a naval base on Assumption Island while keeping “each other’s interests” in mind, days after reports suggested the Indian Ocean archipelago had scrapped an agreement on the project.

(Source: Hindustan Times)

5. Arun Jaitley Compares Indira Gandhi to Hitler, PM Modi Backs Him

In a sharp attack on Congress, Union minister Arun Jaitley on Monday suggested that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi may have been inspired by dictator Adolf Hitler in suspending democracy in 1975 by imposing Emergency on a manufactured pretext. In a blog to mark the 43rd anniversary of Emergency, Jaitley said there were striking parallels between the way Indira suspended fundamental rights and persecuted political opponents and the manner in which Hitler installed himself as the sole ruler in Germany.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.(Photo: PTI)

(Source: The Times of India)

6. HC Stays Felling of Trees in South Delhi till 4 July

The Delhi high court on Monday stayed felling of trees in south Delhi as a part of a redevelopment plan till 4 July – when it will hear the matter next.

Delhi’s citizens had taken out back-to-back protests on consecutive days following the controversial decision.(Photo: Shorbori Purkayastha/The Quint)

“Can Delhi afford cutting of trees for the development of roads and buildings?” asked the HC while acting a petition.

(Source: The Times of India)

7. Madhya Pradesh Police Personnel Get Clean Chit in Alleged Simi Encounter

The one-man judicial commission probing the jailbreak and killings of eight activists of banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) in a gunbattle with Madhya Pradesh police in October 2016 has justified the encounter and cleared the personnel involved in the shooting.

MP Police and locals at the scene after SIMI suspects were killed in an encounter. (Photo: IANS)

(Source: Hindustan Times)

8. BJP Free to Fight Elections Alone in Bihar If It Doesn’t Need Ally in 2019: JD(U)

Raising the ante significantly higher, JD(U) on Monday declared it would contest the highest number of seats among the NDA allies in Bihar and BJP was free to fight the coming Lok Sabha elections alone if it did not need an ally. The public declaration came amid persisting divergence between the two sides over who gets to contest how many of 40 Lok Sabha seats from the state.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.(Photo: Reuters)

(Source: The Times of India)

9. PNB Fraud: ED Moves Court for Nirav Modi’s Extradition from UK, Hong Kong

While the Interpol is yet to issue a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against absconding jeweller Nirav Modi, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) moved a Mumbai special court on Monday, seeking his extradition from the UK and Hong Kong.

(Source: The Indian Express)

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