QWrap: Opposition Parties Meet EC; Budgam Chopper Crash Probed
From Opposition parties meeting the EC, to how India may have shot down its own chopper in Budgam, here’s top news.
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Video Editor: Abhishek Sharma
1. 22 Oppn Parties Meet EC, Submit Memorandum Over EVM-VVPAT Tallying
Ahead of counting for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, 22 Opposition parties submitted a memorandum before the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday, 21 May, requesting that the verification of VVPAT slips of randomly identified (5) polling stations be done before vote counting is initiated, and not after the last round of counting is completed.
In the memorandum, the Opposition leaders have also demanded 100% counting of VVPAT paper slips in all polling stations of the Assembly segment if any discrepancy is found anywhere during VVPAT verification.
“We raised these same issues in last one and a half months. We asked EC why they have not responded. Strangely, EC heard us for almost an hour and they assured us they’ll meet again tomorrow morning to consider primarily these two issues,” Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi told ANI.
Read the full story here
2. ‘Very Rare’: Retd IAF Official on ‘Friendly Fire’ in Budgam Crash
On 28 Feb, a day after India struck Balakot, Pakistan Air Force retaliated by entering the Indian air space.
While everyone knows about Wing Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman and his MiG-21, India lost another aircraft that day. A Mi-17 helicopter crashed in Budgam killing 6 IAF men and with one civilian on the ground also dying in the crash.
Tragically, reports now indicate that this chopper was accidentally shot down by India.
According to the reports, “several violations of SOP” have been reported with the incident, with one officer possibly being charged with “culpable homicide not amounting to murder.”
The chopper crash happened in the middle of a dogfight even as IAF jets were scrambling to ward off a Pakistani aircraft heading towards Indian airspace.
3. #ReasonsWhy: You Shouldn’t Miss ‘City of Dreams’
Politics and power – the dirty world everyone knows about, yet few speak of. What happens when a family knee-deep in the political world is faced with an attack? Will they stick together and fight it, or fight among themselves instead? The new show City of Dreams, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, explores these themes of politics and conflict.
Another theme that is brilliantly explored by the show is that of feminism. Set in the reality of a patriarchal world, women fight to get what they deserve. In the City of Dreams, women are the true heroes. They’re strong and level-headed, while men are hot-headed and constantly make silly mistakes.
Catch the full story here
4. ‘Dear Dutee Chand, Stay True to Yourself; We’re so Proud of You’
Sprinter Dutee Chand came out of the closet recently, becoming the first Indian sportsperson to publicly admit to being in a same-sex relationship. She attributed her confidence to last year’s SC ruling decriminalising homosexuality in India.
While she is becoming an icon for the community, Dutee has faced backlash from her own family. In what is now becoming a public spat, Dutee’s sister has alleged that Dutee admitted to her relationship under pressure from her partner’s family, who were eyeing her property.
There has been a swell of support for Dutee with people reaching out with messages of support and solidarity from across the country. Catch a few messages here
5. NPP Leader Among 11 Dead in Militant Attack in Arunachal Pradesh
At least eleven people, including the MLA of the Khonsa West constituency, Triong Aboh, were killed on Tuesday, 21 May after unknown militants fired at the vehicle they were travelling in.
Aboh, a sitting MLA from Khonsa West constituency was seeking re-election from the seat, the results for which will be declared on 23 May.
The incident took place when the suspected rebels opened fire at Aboh's vehicle who – along with family members, three police personnel and a poll agent – was on his way to his constituency from Assam.
Read the full report here
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