1. Khattar Says Can’t Hold State BJP Chief Responsible For Son in Chandigarh Stalking Case
Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday ruled out the resignation of state BJP chief Subhash Barala, whose son was arrested for stalking a woman. Barala can’t be punished for his son’s actions, the CM said.
The Opposition is gunning for Barala after his 23-year-old son Vikas and his friend Ashish Kumar, 27, were arrested in Chandigarh on Friday after they allegedly chased and harassed the disc jockey who was driving home. The two were released on bail.
The accused will be punished once found guilty. This is my official stand on this matter. This case has nothing to do with Subhash Barala. Such an act is highly condemnable if proved correct.Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar
Source: Hindustan Times
2. Arun Jaitley Slams CPI(M) on Kerala Political Violence
Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday alleged that Kerala has always witnessed a spike in political violence under the CPI-M led LDF regime, insisting that the onus lies on the state government to ensure perpetrators of heinous crimes are brought to justice. “Every time the LDF comes to power, the incidents of violence increase. The political opponents are killed in a most brutal and barbaric manner,” Jaitley said while addressing a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram.
Earlier in the day, Jaitley met family members of slain RSS worker Rajesh Edavakode, who was allegedly hacked to death by CPI(M) workers on 29 July. “The kinds of wounds inflicted on Rajesh would have embarrassed even terrorists,” the Union Minister said.
Source: The Indian Express
3. Doklam Row: India Reasonably Sure China Does Not Want War Despite Angry Rhetoric
Far away from the actual faceoff site at Doklam, where rival soldiers are close enough to literally smell each other in the rarefied air of the high-altitude region, the Indian security establishment is reasonably sure China will not risk a war or even “a small-scale military operation” despite all its belligerent rhetoric.
A “face-saving” workable option is for both India and China to simultaneously withdraw their troops from the Bhutanese territory of Doklam (called Dong Lang by China) near the Sikkim-Bhutan-Tibet tri-junction, said sources in the security establishment.
But, added the sources, if it does come down to a skirmish or battle, the Indian Army is well-poised with “fully acclimatised troops” and “an enhanced border management posture” to prevent “any misadventure” by the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
Source: The Times of India
4. LeT Behind Attack on Amarnath Yatris: Police
Jammu and Kashmir police on Sunday said the 10 July attack on Amarnath pilgrims was carried out by four Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, including three Pakistanis, and there was a “criminal conspiracy” behind it.
It made the disclosure after arresting the Pakistan-based terror outfit’s three “over-ground workers (OGWs)”, who allegedly provided logistic supports to the four attackers.
Incidentally, the LeT had condemned the attack, saying Islam does not allow violence against any faith.
Source: Hindustan Times
5. Centre, States to Come Out With Post-GST Product Rates
Amid pressure from some states, the GST Council will soon start publishing rates of various products to prod companies to pass on gains, including those from input tax credit.
“To begin with, 150 items will be taken up. It will have a detailed explanation of previous taxes and prices as well as new prices after GST. It will also explain the price differential between the two tax regimes,” said an official who did not wish to be identified.
More items would be added once the campaign with 150 products takes off. Another officer said, “This will only be illustrative.”
Source: The Times of India
6. 9 High Courts Against Central Judicial Exam
Nine high courts have objected to a plan for a countrywide exam for recruitment to lower judiciary, a proposal that has the backing of the Supreme Court.
The government has proposed an exam on the lines of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, better known as NEET, held for medical course to select judicial officers to address concerns over the quality of junior judges and lack of uniformity in recruitment.
The high courts of Andhra Pradesh, Bombay, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Patna and Punjab and Haryana are not in favour of the idea, the law ministry recently told a parliamentary panel.
They want “the administrative control over the subordinate judiciary to remain with the respective high courts”, the document sent by the ministry to the concases sultative committee on law says.
Source: Hindustan Times
7. Cess on SUVs, High-end Cars Likely to Rise From 15 Percent to 25 Percent
Sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and top-end luxury cars are expected to cost more with states and the Centre seeking to increase the cess on these vehicles to correct a so-called "anomaly" that crept in when goods and services tax (GST) rates were decided.
Sources said the plan is to increase the cess from 15 percent to 25 percent. Currently, the levy on these vehicles, including the 28 percent GST, adds up to 43 percent, which will rise to 53 percent once the law is amended.
There are also plans to reduce rates on a number of aam aadmi products – ranging from custard powder and idli and dosa batter to idols and prayer beads.
UP has been leading the charge for lower levies on many products, said sources.
Source: The Times of India
8. 3 Workers Die Cleaning Sewer Line in South Delhi
Three labourers died in south Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar on Sunday after inhaling poisonous fumes from a sewer drain they had entered to clean without any safety gear, police said on Sunday.
The deaths come barely three weeks after four workers died under similar circumstances in Ghitorni, 10km from Lajpat Nagar.
A case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder was registered against the private contractor who hired the three to clean a Delhi Jal Board (DJB) sewer line but failed to provide them protective equipment, deputy commissioner of police (south-east) Romil Baaniya said.
Source: Hindustan Times
9. VP Warns Against Military Might Halo, Insecurity of Dalits, Minorities
Cautioning against a “trend of sanctification of military might” and expressing concerns over “enhanced apprehensions of insecurity amongst segments of our citizen body, particularly Dalit, Muslims and Christians,” vice president Hamid Ansari on Sunday underlined the values of pluralism and secularism enshrined in the constitution.
Delivering his final address as the Vice President at the 25th annual convocation of the National Law School of India University in Bengaluru, Ansari said that cultural nationalism is an “illiberal nationalism” which promotes “intolerance and an arrogant patriotism.”
Source: The Indian Express
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