After his formal appointment by the Union government, Justice Sanjiv Khanna officially took oath as the 51st Chief Justice of India in a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. He succeeded Justice DY Chandrachud, who had recommended him as his successor in line with constitutional norms. With a distinguished four-decade long judicial career, Justice Khanna is set to serve a short six-month tenure before his retirement in May 2025.
The National Conference (NC) leader, Omar Abdullah, took oath as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Along with five other ministers, the NC government made efforts to ensure equal representation from both Jammu and Kashmir provinces. In his first address, Omar made it clear that his government will work towards bridging the gap between people and the administration, and prioritizing balanced political representation. Despite facing criticism for not including the Congress in the government, senior Congress leaders and other political leaders attended the swearing-in ceremony, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi guaranteed his support and cooperation for the progress of Jammu and Kashmir under Omar's leadership.
Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui has been sworn in as the 27th chief justice of the Sindh High Court. The oath was administered by Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori at a ceremony attended by top officials and legal professionals. Justice Siddiqui, who has already been serving as acting chief justice since June, has a 12-year judicial career and is the senior-most judge at SHC after the elevation of former chief justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi. After taking oath, Chief Justice Siddiqui visited the Quaid-i-Azam's mausoleum and paid tribute to the father of the nation.
Business "Maharashtra MPs Take Oath in Unique Languages, Prove Unity Amidst Political Differences" The oath-taking ceremony of the 18th Lok Sabha has been ongoing in the first session of the Lower House of Parliament. Prominent figures from Maharashtra, including Narayan Rane, Supriya Sule, Arvind Sawant, and Shrikant Shinde, took their oaths in various languages, showcasing the diversity and unity in the state. Most of the MPs took their oaths in Marathi, while some opted for English and Hindi. This display of linguistic harmony amidst political differences highlights the importance of unity in a diverse democracy like India.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressed concern after Congress MP Deepender Hooda was reprimanded by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for chanting ‘Jai Samvidhan’ during Shashi Tharoor's oath-taking ceremony. The Speaker had earlier interrupted the opposition's chant, stating that Tharoor was already taking oath on the Constitution. This incident has raised questions about freedom of expression in Parliament.
While taking his parliamentary oath, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi ended with the words "Jai Palestine", sparking criticism from Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy and Kiren Rijiju. Reddy labelled the statement as against the rules of the House and stated that Owaisi does not say "Bharat Mata ki Jai" while living in India. Rijiju also expressed his disapproval, stating that praising another country during the oath-taking ceremony is inappropriate. Meanwhile, Owaisi defended his statement, citing Mahatma Gandhi's views on Palestine and the ongoing conflict in the region.
Asaduddin Owaisi, MP and leader of the AIMIM party, caused a stir in political circles when he concluded his oath ceremony for the 18th Lok Sabha with the words, "Jai Palestine". In response to criticism and questions about his political intentions, Owaisi issued a statement defending his choice. He argued that expressing solidarity with Palestine is within his rights and aligns with principles of justice and international solidarity. Controversies like this highlight the complexities of free speech and political expression, especially in the context of global issues that intersect with domestic politics.
The 18th Lok Sabha session commenced on Monday with a solemn moment of silence and the oath-taking ceremony for the newly-elected Members of Parliament, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Former Chief Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Manohar Lal Khattar were among the newly-elected MPs who took their oath. The session is expected to witness clashes between the BJP-led NDA government and opposition parties on various issues, with the election of the Speaker, exam paper leaks, and pro-tem Speaker appointment being some of the major points of contention. The recently elected Congress MPs are also set to meet and discuss at the CPP office in Parliament.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has allocated the portfolios of the new ministers in Andhra Pradesh, with himself retaining the important ministry of Law and Order. Naidu's son Nara Lokesh has been given the responsibility of HRD, IT Electronics & Communication, while Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan has been appointed the Panchayati Raj, Environment, Forest, Science & Technology ministry. Along with Naidu, Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan and Nara Lokesh also took the oath of office in a ceremony attended by several leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
In a ceremony at Dorjee Khandu Convention Hall, BJP leader Pema Khandu was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh for the third time. He was joined by other elected BJP leaders who took oath as Cabinet Ministers. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the G7 leaders summit in Italy, where India will raise issues of global significance like ongoing conflicts and challenges to the global economy and supply chains. What to watchout for today? Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidy will be signing files related to poll promises and taking charge of his office in Amaravati. In other news, the newly elected BJP government in Odisha fulfills its poll promise of reopening the gates of Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri and Odisha ministers witness the ceremonial event.