1. Karunanidhi Under Medical Observation, Next 24 Hours Crucial
There has been a decline in the health condition of DMK president M Karunanidhi, who has been in Kauvery Hospital in Chennai since 28 July, hospital authorities said in a statement on Monday, 6 August.
“There has been a decline in the medical condition of Kalaignar Dr M Karunanidhi, DMK President and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Maintaining his vital organ functions continue to remain a challenge considering his age-related ailments,” the statement issued by Executive Director Dr Aravindan Selvaraj said.
It added, “He is on continuous monitoring and being treated with active medical support. His response to the medical intervention over the next 24 hours will determine the prognosis.”
(Source: The Indian Express)
2. Another Shelter Home of Rape, This Time in UP
Girija Tripathi, her husband Mohan Tripathi and their daughter who manage a shelter home for women and girls in Uttar Pradesh’s Deoria town, have been arrested after inmates were found missing and they were accused of running a sex racket.
The arrest took place after the police rescued 24 inmates and found 18 others missing Sunday night. The shelter home, which was funded by the UP government till three years ago, was searched after a 10-year-old girl, who belonged to Bihar’s Betia, escaped by scaling the boundary wall on Sunday night.
She told the police that men visited the shelter home in the evenings and took four or five women along with them after speaking to Girija and Mohan. She also told the police that inmates were treated like servants and forced to mop floors and clean utensils.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
3. Indra Nooyi to Step down as Pepsico Ceo
After leading the US food and beverage giant for 12 years, Indra Nooyi has decided to step down as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PepsiCo Inc, the company announced on Monday. She will be replaced by Ramon Laguarta.
“Growing up in India, I never imagined I’d have the opportunity to lead such an extraordinary company,” Nooyi said in a statement.
The 62-year-old female executive will leave the company on 3 October after 24 years with the PepsiCo. However, she will remain as chairman until early 2019.
(Source: The Indian Express)
4. Govt Says Went by Seniority in Naming Judges
The Union government has gone by a “transparent seniority principle” in the elevation of three judges to the Supreme Court earlier this month, and it would have been “completely improper, unreasonable and unfair” to have made Justice KM Joseph senior to justices Indira Banerjee and Vineet Saran because they are both two-and-a-half years his senior as high court judges, a top government functionary said on Monday, on the condition of anonymity.
The appointments of justices Banerjee, Saran and Joseph to the apex court were cleared by the government on 3 August. But the government notification placed justice Joseph below justices Banerjee and Saran, thereby granting them seniority to him in the court’s internal hierarchy.
On Monday morning, some senior Supreme Court judges took up the issue of “altering” justice Joseph’s seniority vis-a vis the other two judges with chief justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra.
The CJI assured the judges he would take up the matter with the government after consultations with the attorney general of India, KK Venugopal, the judge added.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
5. Veteran Congress Leader RK Dhawan Passes Away at 81
Former Union minister and veteran Congress leader Rajinder Kumar Dhawan passed away at BL Kapur hospital in the national capital around 7 pm on Monday, 6 August. He was 81.
The former Rajya Sabha MP, who was a close aide of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was admitted to the hospital last Tuesday for age-related ailments.
Expressing its condolences to the family of the senior leader, the Congress tweeted, “We’re saddened to hear about the passing away of RK Dhawan, a valued member of the Congress party. Our thought and prayers are with his family tonight.”
(Source: The Indian Express)
6. Commonwealth Card to Get Choksi
Hopeful of using its Commonwealth membership to pursue the extradition of Mehul Choksi from Antigua, the government has issued a Gazette notification extending extradition rights to the Caribbean country as part of the Commonwealth procedure.
Choksi, a jeweller and uncle of fugitive Nirav Modi, both of whom are wanted for loan defaults in India, has reportedly been residing in the islands of Antigua and Barbuda.
He was granted a “Citizenship by Investment” there in November 2017.
(Source: The Hindu)
7. Shashi Tharoor Asks Why PM Modi Doesn’t Wear Skull Cap
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday launched an intense attack on Congress MP Shashi Tharoor for his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi donning “outlandish” Naga and other headgear on his trips but refusing to sport a Muslim skull cap.
Demanding an apology from the Congress, MoS Home Kiren Rijiju said, “I demand an apology from the Congress Party for insulting the people of India’s Northeast and tribals. Shashi Tharoor described Northeast people and Naga tribal headgears as funny looking outlandish and hilarious.”
(Source: The Indian Express)
8. HC Raps Authorities on Hanuman Statue
No spirituality can be attached to criminal activities, the Delhi High Court said on Monday, observing it was “unfortunate and painful” that a 108-foot Hanuman statue was allowed to be raised on public land’s pavement in the city.
The court asked the CBI to ensure the matter is dealt with seriously and stringent action is taken against all the lawbreakers.
A bench of acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar said if prosecution is launched against any person, the court concerned shall ensure the matter is dealt with expeditiously and guilty are brought to book.
The court appointed senior advocate Dayan Krishnan and advocate Gautam Narayan as amicus curiae. It asked the DDA to file a status report and listed it till 6 September.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
9. Delhi Metro Fares May Not Be Hiked till 2020
Delhi Metro fares will not see another hike till at least 2020. Also, students and senior citizens will soon be able to travel on concessional rates.
“I don’t think we would need to hike metro fares further. If the revenue is good, why would there be a hike,” Union minister for housing and urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri said on Monday after flagging off the 8.1km-long Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus-Lajpat Nagar section of Pink line.
Puri was accompanied by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. “We are looking at technology-based solutions for students and senior citizens,” Puri added.
(Source: The Times of India)
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