News18.com Daybreak: Cyclone Ockhi; Sri Lankan Cricketers' Mask And Our Ignorance
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Cyclone Ockhi has killed 13 people in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The state government decided to urge the Centre to declare Cyclone Ockhi, which left a trail of destruction in the state, a national calamity. The Centre, however, refused to do so. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the storm will weaken gradually.
Congress leader Indranil Rajyaguru, who is contesting the upcoming Gujarat elections against Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in Rajkot West, was detained by police following a scuffle with BJP workers. The clashes broke out when BJP workers allegedly tried to remove Congress posters in the constituency ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the city. Rajyaguru and his brother Dipu Rajyaguru tried to stop the BJP workers, leading to a brawl.
There seems to be no drop in the number of candidates with criminal records contesting in the first phase of the Gujarat assembly election. Gujarat Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) analysed 923 of a total of 977 affidavits filed by candidates contesting the first phase of the Assembly election and found out that as many as 137 candidates have declared criminal cases against them. That’s about about 15 percent of the candidates.
A Muslim-majority region near Delhi rarely saw communal strife. But, the pot got boiling after the 2016 Mewat gang-rape, followed by the mob lynching of Pehlu Khan by cow vigilantes and the killing of Umar Mohammad. Why are the Meo Muslims suffering repeated brunt of cow vigilantism. Is it just because of their religious identity or is there more to it?
Pakistan has violated the ceasefire along the International Border and the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir more than 720 times this year. This is the highest in the past seven years.
According to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, those who are opposing the bullet train project should travel by bullock carts.
Agree or disagree? The outrage against the Sri Lankan cricketers for wearing masks during the match on the second day of the third Test between India and the visiting team is ridiclous. While the BCCI called it “a big fuss”, it’s practically a no-brainer to understand that subjecting an athlete to high levels of pollution for a long period of time will affect their breathing, and hence, their performance. The Sri Lankan cricketers’ message to us was clear— there should be no sports in Delhi till the situation improves. But is anyone listening?
Three months after the Supreme Court ‘set aside’ the practice of instant triple talaq, the Centre has drawn up a draft law which makes it a cognizable and non-bailable offence, punishable with three years jail and a monetary fine. However, the new law is unlikely to be applicable to the state of Jammu and Kashmir — the only Indian state with a Muslim majority population. The question is whether the Mehbooba Mufti government will rise to the occasion and bring a legislation to protect and empower women? It’s about time.
Rahul Gandhi's visit to Porbandar has turned the port city into a hot seat. After a local BJP leader shared stage with the Congress Vice President, leading to his suspension from the BJP, the Kharva community was up in arms against the party. While the suspension was later revoked under pressure, doubts have entered the minds of some voters in Porbandar.
On reel
In an exclusive interview to Vir Singhvi, economist and author Surjit Bhalla talks about his new book ‘The New Wealth of Nations’. Bhalla said that Prime Mnister Narendra Modi is certainly less educated than Manmohan Singh but he is not less able than Singh. Watch it here.