The murder of BSP Tamil Nadu president Armstrong has led to the formation of 10 special teams for investigation, while the main suspect in the Hathras stampede has surrendered to authorities. In other political news, the Odisha Assembly session is set to begin on July 22, with the budget being presented on July 25.
Murder of BSP Leader Armstrong and Investigation Efforts
The brutal murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Tamil Nadu president, S.P. Balasubramaniam, known as Armstrong, has sent shockwaves across the state. The incident occurred on July 28, 2022, in Trichy district, leaving Armstrong dead and his associate, R. Guna, critically injured.
The Tamil Nadu government has constituted 10 special teams to investigate the crime and apprehend the perpetrators. The teams comprise senior police officers from various branches of the state police force. The investigation is currently underway, and the police are examining CCTV footage, searching for witnesses, and analyzing forensic evidence.
Surrender of Hathras Stampede Suspect
In the ongoing investigation into the Hathras stampede, which claimed the lives of 36 people in August 2016, the main suspect has surrendered to the authorities. The suspect, identified as Sandeep Pandey, had been absconding for over five years.
Pandey's surrender comes after the Supreme Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the investigation from the Uttar Pradesh Police. The CBI has been tasked with conducting a thorough and impartial probe into the incident.
Odisha Assembly Session and Budget Presentation
The Odisha Assembly is set to commence its monsoon session on July 22, 2022. The session will feature the presentation of the state budget for the 2022-23 financial year on July 25.
The budget is expected to focus on addressing the economic and developmental needs of the state. Key areas of focus are likely to include agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare, and education. The opposition parties are expected to scrutinize the budget and demand accountability from the government.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
Q1: Who is Armstrong and why was he killed? A1: Armstrong was the president of the Tamil Nadu unit of the Bahujan Samaj Party. He was killed in a political conspiracy due to his influence and rising popularity.
Q2: What is the status of the investigation into Armstrong's murder? A2: The Tamil Nadu government has formed 10 special teams to investigate the crime. The investigation is ongoing, and the police are actively pursuing leads and collecting evidence.
Q3: Who is Sandeep Pandey and why did he surrender? A3: Sandeep Pandey is the main suspect in the Hathras stampede case, which occurred in 2016. He surrendered to the CBI after the Supreme Court directed the central agency to take over the investigation.
Q4: When is the Odisha Assembly session and what is the key agenda? A4: The Odisha Assembly monsoon session will begin on July 22, 2022. The key agenda is the presentation of the state budget for the 2022-23 financial year on July 25.
Q5: What are the developmental priorities of Odisha's upcoming budget? A5: The budget is expected to prioritize areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare, and education, aligning with the state's developmental goals and aspirations.
Tensions have risen in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district as a team arrived to survey a disputed site, where a Harihar temple was claimed to stand on the grounds of the historic Shahi Jama Masjid. Videos of cars being set on fire and stone-pelting have emerged on social media, showing the chaos that ensued. Police have used tear gas to control the situation, and a local court had ordered a second survey to be conducted after a previous one was conducted last week. Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq has spoken out in defense of the mosque, citing a Supreme Court order from 1991.
The largest gathering of nationalist thinkers and practitioners, Lokmanthan 2024, is set to begin in Hyderabad on November 21. President of India Droupadi Murmu, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and several Union ministers will engage in talks, exhibitions, cultural performances, and a food festival over the course of four days. Organized for the first time in South India, the platform aims to promote the oneness of ancient civilization through discussions with prominent academicians, thinkers, artists, and activists.
With 7 candidates vying for the Karhal MLA seat, the bypoll elections were necessitated by the resignation of Akhilesh Yadav. Watch live updates on the election process, including who is leading, trailing, and ultimately wins the seat. Karhal is part of the 21st Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh and had previously been won by Yadav's wife, Dimple Yadav. As per the gazette notification, the bypoll will take place on November 20, 2024, and the results will be announced on November 23, 2024.
On Sunday morning, Sambhal district in Uttar Pradesh saw an outburst of violence when a team of surveyors arrived at the Shahi Jama Masjid to conduct a second survey of the mosque. The police had to resort to lathi charge and tear gas shells to control the crowd, who were throwing stones and attacking media personnel. Amidst all this chaos, the police announced that they would take strict action against those who were involved in the violence, stating that their actions were illegal under section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita.
During his monthly radio program, PM Modi emphasized the significant role youth play in shaping India's future and announced the upcoming Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue to coincide with Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary and National Youth Day. The event will bring together 2,000 young minds from across India to brainstorm and develop a roadmap for the country's progress. PM Modi also urged youth from non-political backgrounds to join politics and will personally attend as much of the dialogue as possible.
The bypoll for the Meerapur Vidhan Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh has attracted attention with a total of 11 candidates vying to be elected as the MLA. The constituency, which is part of the Bijnor Lok Sabha seat, has been necessitated due to the resignation of Chandan Chauhan. Stay updated with live result updates to find out who will be the new Member of Legislative Assembly for Meerapur.
A heated debate has arisen between the Samajwadi Party and the BJP over the issue of voter identity verification for Muslim women wearing burqas, hijabs, niqabs, and ghunghats in the upcoming UP by-election. The Samajwadi Party has approached the Election Commission demanding that Muslim women should not have to remove their burqas for checks, while the BJP argues that every voter must be identified. The Election Commission has confirmed that only the polling officer is authorised to verify voter ID cards, and police or security personnel are not permitted to check ID cards or request a woman to remove her burqa. As polling continues, the outcome of this controversy remains to be seen.
Amidst growing controversy and criticism, the ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh seems to have a dilemma over its slogan, "Batoge to Katoge" coined by CM Yogi Adityanath. Within the party, Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya has expressed ignorance about the slogan's context, causing opposition parties to question the party's unity. The BJP's attempts to present a consistent narrative seem to have failed as even party leaders like Ajit Pawar have spoken against the slogan. With differing slogans from top leaders, the opposition accuses the BJP of contradictions.
The results for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly polls are in, with the Shiv Sena-NCP alliance and the JMM facing a stiff challenge from the BJP. Despite facing internal divisions, the Maha Yuti alliance in Maharashtra looks set to secure a victory. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM, bolstered by its I.N.D.I.A. allies, is expected to retain power. Stay updated with live updates and coverage on Deccan Herald and make sure to follow their Whatsapp, X, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram channels for more news.
In the recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Congress faced a major defeat in direct contests with the BJP, winning only 10 out of 75 seats. This is a significant decline from their performance in the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year. The BJP's average vote share per seat contested rose by 6 percentage points, while the Congress saw a decline of 14 percentage points. In some key constituencies, the Congress finished in fourth place, highlighting the immediate need for the party to reassess its strategies and connect with the voting public.