Timeline Refresh
Even if it was just a photo-op on a Kumaraswamy's big day, the possibility of a united opposition to take on the BJP wasn't far from anyone's mind. Who will be the leader? How will they stitch up their differences? Will it survive the push and pull of coalition politics?
Answers will have to wait. For now, the cheering crowds before the Vidhana Soudha, braving surprise showers looked at dais on the steps of the magnificent State Assembly and whistled and clapped as heads of Opposition parties held hands, embraced, laughed and posed ahead and after Kumaraswamy's swearing-in. For the first time ever, SP's Akhilesh Yadav and BSP's Mayawati shared the stage, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee shook hands with arch political rival CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury, moments that will define the occasion.
This was 58-year-old Kumarawamy's second term as the chief minister of Karnataka since 2007, when he last held the post for 20 months.
CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury, NCP president Sharad Pawar, SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and son of former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad, Tejaswi Yadav, Rashtriya Lok Dal'S Ajit Singh (also an ex-Union Minister), actor-turned-politician and founder of Makkal Needhi Maiam, Kamal Haasan.
"We've come here to witness the swearing-in of HD Kumaraswamy and express our solidarity to him. In the future, we'll work together to protect and promote national interest. We're here to strengthen all regional parties," they said.
And wait, we just saw Sitaram Yechury and Mamata Banerjee, shake hands.
Congresss Ramesh Kumar, a former minister, will be the next Assembly speaker, while the deputy speakers post will go to the JD-S, Venugopal told PTI.
The Congress would have 22 ministers and JD(S) 12, he said, adding they would be sworn-in after the floor test slated for Friday. Officials had earlier said Kumaraswamy will seek a confidence vote on Thursday. The decision to defer the trust vote by a day ostensibly stems from rules that require the election of the Speaker before the exercise.
BSP's Mayawati and SP's Akhilesh Yadav wave to the crowds. This is a historic photograph, since they have never shared the dais.
The swearing-in ceremony of Karnataka Chief Minister-designate H.D. Kumaraswamy will be used as a "show of strength" of the opposition parties ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, in a possible line up against the BJP.
HD Devegowda appears on the dais to loud cheers from the crowds, who are there in their thousands.
Kumaraswamy arrives too.
So far, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his mother UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury, NCP's Sharad Pawar have arrived in the garden city.
Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony which is to take place at 4:30 pm on the steps of the magnificent Vidhan Soudha, Yechury, Naidu, Kejriwal and Trinamool Congress finance minister Amit Mitra had an informal meeting.
A JD-S-Congress coalition government headed by Kumaraswamy could plant a seed for a broad-based anti-BJP platform before the Lok Sabha polls next year.
Karnataka Congress president G Parameshwara will be sworn-in as the deputy chief minister, AICC general secretary in-charge of the state K C Venugopal said. Congresss Ramesh Kumar, a former minister, will be the next Assembly speaker, while the deputy speakers post will go to the JD-S, Venugopal told PTI.
The Congress would have 22 ministers and JD(S) 12, he said, adding they would be sworn-in after the floor test slated for Friday. Officials had earlier said Kumaraswamy will seek a confidence vote on Thursday. The decision to defer the trust vote by a day ostensibly stems from rules that require the election of the Speaker before the exercise.
"Tamilians have been massacred because they refused to accept Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ideologies. The RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been opposed by Tamil Nadu. Also, people of Tamil Nadu cannot be suppressed," he tweeted in Tamil.
The Congress President also extended support to the people of Tamil Nadu."Dear Tamil brothers and sisters, we are with you," he said. -- ANI
Masked ARSA fighters killed scores of Hindus near a remote village named Kha Maung Seik, after launching the coordinated attacks on 30 security posts and an army base in northern Rakhine state in the early hours of August 25, claimed Amnesty International on Tuesday.
Amnesty International came up with witnesses' statements, including eight Hindu women, who alleged they were abducted by the ARSA fighters and forcefully converted to Islam.
As per Dhaka Tribune, Amnesty International also said it had documented killing of six Hindus by these insurgents from Rohingya Muslim armed group near the town of Maungdaw on August 26. -- ANI
HD Kumaraswamy will be the second Chief Minister to take oath in Karnataka within a week, after BS Yeddyurappa stepped down without facing the floor test on May 19 in the face of an imminent defeat.
Kumaraswamy, the third son of JD-S supremo and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, will be administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Vajubhai Vala at 4:30 pm in front of the Vidhana Soudha, the seat of the government in Bengaluru.
A huge stage has been erected in front of the majestic stone building for the ceremony, where a host of national and regional leaders are expected to be present to send a message across to the BJP over the shape of things to come in 2019.
Government officials and sources in the JD-S said Congress president Rahul Gandhi, his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, are likely to be present.
Newbie politicians Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan will also be there.
Full report here.
The Tamil Nadu government today appointed a one-person Commission of Inquiry headed by a retired judge of the Madras High Court to probe the violence at Tuticorin in which 10 people were killed. The toll has gone up to 10, (eight men, two women).
The inquiry will cover the "law and order incidents following the siege of the District Collectorate by thousands of persons violating prohibitory orders," an official release said.
Appointing retired Judge Aruna Jagadeesan for the task, the government said she would submit her report to the government. However, the time-frame for submitting the report has not been specified.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi termed the deaths a brutal example of state-sponsored terrorism. He said people were murdered in Tuticorin for protesting against injustice.
The gunning down by the police of 9 people in the Sterlite protest in Tamil Nadu is a brutal example of state sponsored terrorism. These citizens were murdered for protesting against injustice. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of these martyrs and the injured, Gandhi said on Twitter.
Hurling stones and setting government vehicles and public property on fire, the agitators went on the rampage in the town, about 600 km from Tamil Nadu capital Chennai. PTI
At least 9 people were killed, according to PTI (news agency ANI puts the figure at 11, while TV channels puts the number between 10 and 12) in police firing in Tuticorin yesterday after protests for the closure of the plant over pollution concerns turned violent. Sterlite said the facility has been shut since March 27 when the company took up annual scheduled maintenance.
The firm's application to renew its licence to operate the copper smelter facility was rejected by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. Expressing sorrow at the loss of lives, Sterlite in a statement said it has appealed to the government to ensure safety of employees, facilities and the surrounding communities.
"The Sterlite Copper plant is currently non-operational as we await approval for the consent to operate," it said.
The three month-long protest by locals demanding closure of Sterlite Copper unit of Vedanta Group turned violent yesterday with agitators pelting stones and toppling police vehicles after they were prevented from marching towards the plant. -- PTI
Must read:How Sterlite copper plant polluted Tuticorin
In a series of tweets, the former finance minister said the bonanza to central government is Rs 25 on every litre of petrol and this money rightfully belongs to the average consumer.
"The Central government saves Rs 15 on every litre of petrol due to fall in crude oil prices. Central government puts additional tax of Rs 10 on every litre of petrol. "It is possible to cut up to Rs 25 per litre, but the government will not. They will cheat the people by cutting price by Rs 1 or 2 per litre of petrol," he said on Twitter.
More than a week after state-owned oil firms ended a 19-day pre-Karnataka poll hiatus on revising fuel prices, petrol and diesel rates have touched record highs.
Petrol costs Rs 76.87 per litre in Delhi and diesel costs Rs 68.08 a litre. In the last nine days, petrol price has risen by Rs 2.24 a litre and diesel by Rs 2.15. Rates vary from state to state depending on the incidence of local sales tax or VAT. The prices in Delhi are the cheapest among all metros and most state capitals. -- PTI
After opening the day on a weak note, the stock further lost 5.80 per cent to Rs 253.85 on BSE. On NSE, shares of the company dropped 6 per cent to Rs 253.75.
Eleven people were killed in police firing after protests against the closure of Vedanta group's Sterlite Copper plant over pollution concerns turned violent in Tuticorin, with the police action drawing opposition criticism.
The protests have been going on in Tuticorin for over three months now, but violence erupted yesterday with agitators fighting pitched battles with police, prompting an open fire. -- PTI
The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has stayed construction of a new copper smelter by Sterlite industries in Thoothukudi.
The victims were killed in police firing after protests for the closure of Vedanta group's Sterlite Copper plant over pollution concerns turned violent in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin, with the police action drawing opposition criticism.
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami confirmed reports about the death of nine people in 'police action', while reports claimed many, including policemen, were injured in clashes. Governor Banwarilal Purohit condoled the deaths.
Anbumani Ramadoss of the Pattali Makkal Katchi said what happened in Tuticorin is a cold-blooded murder by the police. "They should be booked for murder & SP, Collector, DGP & Chief Secretary should be suspended. Taking moral responsibility, CM Edappadi K Palaniswami should resign," he said.
Dr A Edwin Joe, Director of Medical Education, Tamil Nadu, said at least 42 people have hospitalised till now, with a few transferred to Tirunelveli medical college to reduce congestion. Ten bodies are in the mortuary in the hospital, while 17 surgeries have been done.
Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan has arrived at the General Hospital in Kozhikode.
Chief Opposition party in Tamil Nadu, the DMK has compared the deaths to the Jallianwallah Bagh Massacre.
Police said nearly 5000 protesters gathered near a local church and insisted on taking a out a rally to the district collectorate after they were denied permission to march to the copper smelter plant.
Initial pushing and shoving soon led to violent clashes, after agitated locals began hurling stones at police and overturned a vehicle.
Security personnel used batons and burst teargas shells to break up the protest. Many were injured in stone-pelting by the agitators, who also set some vehicles on fire.
Windscreens of some government cars were smashed and bank premises were attacked by the rampaging mobs. As the violence spiralled, police opened fire, killing nine people.
NCERT books in Urdu, Hindi and English languages will be introduced to give students a better training and enhanced skill set in madrasas.
According to some sources, madrasas have been asked to follow the NCERT curriculum and introduce subjects like Science, Mathematics and Social Science.
Earlier also Adityanath stressed the importance of introducing modern education in madrasas. -- ANI
Lini Puthussery's two sons will get a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each. The Kerala government has also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakhs to the kin of the other victims.
Nipah has so far claimed 10 people.
Lini, a nursing assistant with the Perambra Taluk Hospital in Kozhikode, Lini was exposed to the virus while treating affected patients. Her husband works in Bahrain.
Lini left a brief note in Malayalam for her husband Sajeesh minutes before she died on Monday. Read it here.
The girls also alleged that the warden walks around the premises mysteriously and touches them inappropriately. They have written a complaint to the District Magistrate against the warden.
However, the accused warden Poonam Bharti has denied the charges and demanded an investigation in the matter.
"I've demanded investigation in this matter and have also told the authorities to check the CCTV footage. The truth will automatically be out," Bharti said. -- ANI
Image: The students of the Kasturba Gandhi school.
Read journalist Rana Ayyub's column here
Earlier today, one civilian was injured in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan in the Arnia Sector. Earlier on May 18, Pakistan violated ceasefire along the Line of Control in RS Pura and Arnia sectors, killing a total of five people including one Border Security Force jawan and four civilians.
Following the heavy shelling, the district administration had sent a bulletproof vehicle to border village Bobiya and evacuated the people to safe place.
Pakistan has been violating the ceasefire agreement and resorting to heavy shelling in Hiranagar, Samba, Ramgarh, Arnia and Suchetgarh sectors in the state over the last few weeks. -- ANI
"Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav was on a three-day visit from May 18 to MP during which he made it clear that the party will be contesting polls on all 230 seats. This time 'cycle' (SP symbol) will run in MP also," SP chief spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury told PTI.
Akhilesh toured extensively in the areas bordering UP from Bundelkhand to Vindhya region.
He addressed the public in Sidhi and Satna districts of Vindhya region, besides Khajuraho in Chhattarpur district of Bundelkhand.
"The SP will help people of MP get rid of 15 years misrule of BJP. We will try to save people of MP from BJP's conspiracy and fight for them," Akhilesh said in one of his meetings in MP. -- PTI
The RJD chief was accompanied by son Tej Pratap, daughter Misa Bharti, and daughter-in-law Aishwarya.
Lalu has been convicted in three fodder scam cases by a special CBI court in Ranchi since December last year and was undergoing treatment at Rajendra Institute Medical Sciences earlier. He was admitted to RIMS on March 16 after he complained of discomfort at Birsa Munda Jail, and was later moved to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
The suggestion came after the medical board at the RIMS reviewed the condition of Lalu Prasad and found that his sugar level was high and increasing. They also said that he had developed some renal problems.He also reportedly suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes. -- ANI
"The monsoons typically deposit 2.5 meters of rain on Cox's Bazar, resulting in significant flooding. As a result, 150,000-200,000 refugees and 883 community facilities are at risk from flooding and landslides during the monsoon season, including 25,000 refugees at critical risk," he said. Dujarric said UN Agencies have ramped up preparedness activities to mitigate the effects of the rains on refugees.
While Bangladesh has been dealing with monsoons annually and has developed some experience in these matters, the situation present in the refugee camps is unique in scope and volume, and the international humanitarian community is working to support and protect the refugee communities most at risk, he said.
"The lack of sufficient safe space for at-risk refugees and of safe shelters, limits the UN's risk mitigation possibilities," Dujarric said. -- PTI
Image: Rohingya siblings flee violence as they hold one another as they cross the Naf River along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Palong Khali, near Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh in November 2017. This is a Pulitzer Prize winning picture by Reuter's Adnan Abidi.
Yesterday, an eight-month old baby died after he was hit by a bullet in Akhnoor. The baby died instantly.
ANI reported that the baby was struck by the bullet during cross-LoC firing by Pakistani troopers in the Keri Battal area of Akhnoor.
While Indian forces have been retaliating with heavy counter fire, civilians have been moved to safer locations.
Pakistani forces have been firing without provocation in several sectors in J&K despite the Indian government declaring a unilateral ceasefire in view of the holy month of Ramzan.
Both sides have suffered loses with BSF losing two jawans in firing from across LoC last week.
Reinforced bunkers have been built in several locations to ensure civilians had proper cover from fire and mortar shelling, but there appears to be no end to the shelling from Pakistani forces.
As he welcomed Moon in the Oval Office, Trump told reporters that it will be great if his meeting with Kim takes place as scheduled, but if did not, that took was fine.
"We're moving along. We'll see what happens," Trump said in response to a question.
Trump and Kim are scheduled to meet in Singapore on June 12.
However, North Korea has threatened to cancel the meeting over a joint US-South Korea military exercise. The US has said it was going ahead with the preparation.
"If it doesn't happen, maybe it will happen later...You never know about deals...I've made a lot of deals. You never really know," Trump said.
At one point he said that it may not work out for June 12.
"You will know soon," Trump told reporters about the summit.
He declined to say whether he had spoken to Kim.
"They're hardworking, great people," he said of North Koreans.
"He will be extremely happy. He will be very happy" he said of Kim and if the deal works out. -- PTI