The Evening Wrap: Keen on lifting AFSPA from northeast, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said efforts are on to remove AFSPA completely from the northeast region. Addressing a ‘Peace, Unity and Development’ rally here, he said the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act could be withdrawn from various parts of the region as the law and order situation has improved in the last eight years. In a major outreach to the northeast region, the Centre had announced a reduction of the disturbed areas imposed under the AFSPA in Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur from April 1, after decades. PM Modi also said the effect of the BJP’s “double engine” government is evident in the return of permanent peace and speedy development in Assam. The term “double engine” is used by BJP leaders to refer to the party being in power at the Centre as well as in a state. The government has entered into peace agreements in Assam’s Karbi Anglong and Tripura, while efforts are on to ensure permanent peace and speedy development in the entire region, he said. The prime minister laid the foundation stone for colleges of veterinary science and agriculture and a model government college in Karbi Anglong. Kamal Nath resigns as Madhya Pradesh Leader of Opposition, to continue as MPCC chief Congress veteran Kamal Nath on Thursday tendered his resignation as the Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, but will continue as the MPCC president, party sources said. Nath resigned from the post as per the party’s ‘one person-one post’ policy. The Congress leadership accepted his resignation and approved the appointment of former minister and seven-time Congress MLA Dr Govind Singh in his place as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), they said. In a communication addressed to Nath on Thursday, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K.C. Venugopal said, “The Congress president has accepted your resignation from the post of Leader, Congress Legislature Party (CLP), Madhya Pradesh with immediate effect.” Nath had offered to resign from the post as part of the Congress’s ‘one person-one post’ formula, the sources said. The communication further said, “The Congress president has approved the proposal to appoint Dr. Govind Singh as the CLP leader.” Nath will continue as the state unit chief of Madhya Pradesh, where assembly polls are due in 2023. Nath is a former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh and a former union minister. NATO chief says Finland, Sweden could join quite quickly NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday that Finland and Sweden would be embraced with open arms should they decide to join the 30-nation military organisation and could become members quite quickly. Stoltenberg’s remarks came as public support in Finland and Sweden for NATO membership mounts in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Media speculation in the two countries suggest the two might apply in mid-May. “It’s their decision,” Stoltenberg said. “But if they decide to apply, Finland and Sweden will be warmly welcomed, and I expect that process to go quickly.” He gave no precise time frame, but did say that the two could expect some protection should Russia try to intimidate them from the time their membership applications are made until they formally join. Stoltenberg said he’s “confident that there are ways to bridge that interim period in a way which is good enough and works for both Finland and Sweden.” NATO’s collective security guarantee ensures that all member countries must come to the aid of any ally under attack. Stoltenberg added that many NATO allies have now pledged and provided a total of at least $8 billion in military support to Ukraine. Before launching the war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that NATO stop expanding and pull its troops back from Russia’s borders. So the prospect of neighboring Finland, and Sweden, joining the trans-Atlantic alliance is unlikely to be welcomed in Moscow. Finland has a conflict-ridden history with Russia, with which it shares a 1,340-kilometer border. Finns have taken part in dozens of wars against their eastern neighbor, for centuries as part of the Swedish Kingdom, and as an independent nation, including two fought with the Soviet Union from 1939-40 and 1941-44. In the postwar period, however, Finland pursued pragmatic political and economic ties with Moscow, remaining militarily nonaligned and a neutral buffer between East and West. Sweden has avoided military alliances for more than 200 years, choosing a path of peace after centuries of warfare with its neighbours. Both countries put an end to traditional neutrality by joining the European Union in 1995 and deepening cooperation with NATO. However, a majority of people in both countries remained firmly against full membership in the alliance — until now. Supreme Court reserves orders on Centre’s plea to refer Delhi’s opposition to GNCTD Act to Constitution Bench The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved for orders a plea by the Centre to refer the Delhi government’s challenge to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021 to a Constitution Bench. During the hearing before a three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana, the Centre had quoted practical difficulties in the governance of Delhi as a reason to justify the new law which arms the Lieutenant Governor with greater powers in the administration of the Capital. The Arvind Kejriwal government, on the other hand, has described the status of Delhi as “hybrid” and unique, but certainly leaning towards statehood. Senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, appearing for the Delhi Government, said the new law had left a democratically elected government without powers to even transfer officials. The NCT government’s predicament without power over the ‘services’ had been like that of a king without a kingdom, he had argued. The situation was such that a “democratic representative government” had to get the approval of the Lieutenant Governor to appoint a Health Secretary or a Commerce Secretary. Singhvi, with advocate Shadan Farasat, referred to a Constitution Bench judgment of 2018 in which the Supreme Court had unanimously held that the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Delhi was bound by the “aid and advice” of the popularly-elected Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and both have to work harmoniously with each other. It had noted that there was no room for anarchy or absolutism in a democracy. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the Centre, had argued that the case should be heard by a Constitution Bench and not a three-judge one as it involved several crucial constitutional questions of law. The Centre had contended that Delhi, the nation’s capital and a sprawling metropolis, should be under its control. Delhi cannot be left to the “small mercies and smaller resources” of a State legislature, the Centre had justified the intent behind the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act or GNCTD Act of 2021. The Parliament later enacted the Transaction of Business of Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act. Police issue lookout notice against Malayalam actor-producer Vijay Babu The Kochi City police have further tightened the noose around actor-producer Vijay Babu, who stands booked in two cases, including for rape, by issuing a lookout circular against him across all airports and searching his multiple properties for evidence across the city. Babu was initially slapped with a case for rape by Ernakulam South police on a petition by an upcoming actor who had acted in one of the films produced by his production company and released on an OTT platform last year. The second case is charged under IPC Section 228A (disclosure of the identity of the victim in certain offences) after he had gone on Facebook live revealing the name of the survivor. “Prima facie, the evidence suggests that the charge of rape is true. For, there is an element of fear and exploitation involved,” said C.H. Nagaraju, District Police Chief (Kochi City). In fact, it’s been reported that police are convinced that the petition ticks all the boxes needed to register a case for such a serious offense. In her social media statement, the survivor had alleged Babu of physical and sexual assault amounting to rape after intoxicating her using alcohol and drugs and that she was scared of reporting earlier on account of the clout and influence wielded by the accused. It has emerged that South police had registered the case for rape last week but kept it confidential to gather evidence considering the high-profile nature of the accused. However, Babu probably got wind of it and fled the country, sources said. Considering that a lookout notice has been issued against him, Babu will be nabbed the moment he lands at any airport in the country. Police are also inspecting his multiple properties in the city for evidence. Babu’s decision to reveal the name of the survivor seems to have further worsened the situation for him. “We will seek exemplary punishment against him for that offence since naming the survivor is a dangerous trend and further added to her misery,” said Nagaraju. Police have already recorded the statement of the survivor before the magistrate under CrPC 164 and held her medical examination. Police consider Babu’s social media outburst as self-incriminating and corroborating the survivor on various counts. While Babu is learnt to have moved for anticipatory bail, police remain confident that it is likely to be turned down for his indiscretion of naming the survivor. His social media adventure is also seen as an open challenge to the rule of law. Amazon Prime launches movie rental service in India Amazon’s Prime Video launched a movie rental service in India on Thursday, promising to release more than forty original series and movies over the next two years in a key market. The world’s second-most populous nation with a population of nearly 1.4 billion, India is a valuable market for Amazon and its rivals Netflix and Walt Disney Co’s Disney+ Hotstar. “We are super excited about the launch,” Gaurav Gandhi, head of Amazon Prime Video India said at a function, adding that the service would widen customers’ reach and choice. It enables them to pay per movie, instead of a flat monthly fee. The move comes five years after the U.S. tech giant launched its streaming service in India, and the company said it planned to more than double its investment in Prime Video over the next five years, but did not give figures. The company unveiled plans for 41 original series in three Indian languages, some to be produced by top Bollywood directors such as Karan Johar and Zoya Akhtar. Amazon has invested heavily in acquiring and producing local content in India, where, founder Jeff Bezos said in 2020, Prime Video was doing better than anywhere else in the world. Amazon does not break out user numbers by country. It is also expected to take on heavyweights such as India’s Reliance Industries, Sony Group Corp and Disney in the battle for exclusive digital broadcast rights to the hugely popular Indian Premier League (IPL). In Brief Russia and the United States have carried out an unexpected prisoner exchange in a time of high tensions, trading on Wednesday a Marine veteran jailed by Moscow for a convicted Russian drug trafficker serving a long prison sentence in America. The deal involving Trevor Reed, an American imprisoned for nearly three years, would have been a notable diplomatic maneuver even in times of peace but it was all the more surprising because it was done as Russia’s war with Ukraine has driven relations with the U.S. to their lowest point in decades. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow [logo] The Evening Wrap 28 APRIL 2022 [The Hindu logo] Welcome to the Evening Wrap newsletter, your guide to the day’s biggest stories with concise analysis from The Hindu. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( PM Modi promises to remove AFSPA completely from Northeast Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said [efforts are on to remove AFSPA completely from the northeast region](. Addressing a ‘Peace, Unity and Development’ rally here, he said the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act could be withdrawn from various parts of the region as the law and order situation has improved in the last eight years. In a major outreach to the northeast region, the Centre had announced a reduction of the disturbed areas imposed under the AFSPA in Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur from April 1, after decades. [Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the ‘unity, peace and development rally’ at Loringthepi in Karbi Anglong district on April 28, 2022. ] PM Modi also said the effect of the BJP’s “double engine” government is evident in the return of permanent peace and speedy development in Assam. The term “double engine” is used by BJP leaders to refer to the party being in power at the Centre as well as in a state. The government has entered into peace agreements in Assam’s Karbi Anglong and Tripura, while efforts are on to ensure permanent peace and speedy development in the entire region, he said. The prime minister laid the foundation stone for colleges of veterinary science and agriculture and a model government college in Karbi Anglong. Kamal Nath resigns as Madhya Pradesh Leader of Opposition, to continue as MPCC chief Congress veteran Kamal Nath on Thursday [tendered his resignation as the Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly]( but will continue as the MPCC president, party sources said. Nath resigned from the post as per the party’s ‘one person-one post’ policy. The Congress leadership accepted his resignation and approved the appointment of former minister and seven-time Congress MLA Dr Govind Singh in his place as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), they said. In a communication addressed to Nath on Thursday, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K.C. Venugopal said, “The Congress president has accepted your resignation from the post of Leader, Congress Legislature Party (CLP), Madhya Pradesh with immediate effect.” Nath had offered to resign from the post as part of the Congress’s ‘one person-one post’ formula, the sources said. The communication further said, “The Congress president has approved the proposal to appoint Dr. Govind Singh as the CLP leader.” Nath will continue as the state unit chief of Madhya Pradesh, where assembly polls are due in 2023. Nath is a former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh and a former union minister. NATO chief says Finland, Sweden could join quite quickly [NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said]( on Thursday that Finland and Sweden would be embraced with open arms should they decide to join the 30-nation military organisation and could become members quite quickly. [NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg holds a news conference at the European Parliament in Brussels on April 28, 2022. ] Stoltenberg’s remarks came as public support in Finland and Sweden for NATO membership mounts in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Media speculation in the two countries suggest the two might apply in mid-May. “It’s their decision,” Stoltenberg said. “But if they decide to apply, Finland and Sweden will be warmly welcomed, and I expect that process to go quickly.” He gave no precise time frame, but did say that the two could expect some protection should Russia try to intimidate them from the time their membership applications are made until they formally join. Stoltenberg said he’s “confident that there are ways to bridge that interim period in a way which is good enough and works for both Finland and Sweden.” NATO’s collective security guarantee ensures that all member countries must come to the aid of any ally under attack. Stoltenberg added that many NATO allies have now pledged and provided a total of at least $8 billion in military support to Ukraine. Before launching the war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that NATO stop expanding and pull its troops back from Russia’s borders. So the prospect of neighboring Finland, and Sweden, joining the trans-Atlantic alliance is unlikely to be welcomed in Moscow. Finland has a conflict-ridden history with Russia, with which it shares a 1,340-kilometer  border. Finns have taken part in dozens of wars against their eastern neighbor, for centuries as part of the Swedish Kingdom, and as an independent nation, including two fought with the Soviet Union from 1939-40 and 1941-44. In the postwar period, however, Finland pursued pragmatic political and economic ties with Moscow, remaining militarily nonaligned and a neutral buffer between East and West. Sweden has avoided military alliances for more than 200 years, choosing a path of peace after centuries of warfare with its neighbours. Both countries put an end to traditional neutrality by joining the European Union in 1995 and deepening cooperation with NATO. However, a majority of people in both countries remained firmly against full membership in the alliance — until now. Supreme Court reserves orders on Centre’s plea to refer Delhi’s opposition to GNCTD Act to Constitution Bench The Supreme Court on Thursday [reserved for orders a plea by the Centre]( to refer the Delhi government’s challenge to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021 to a Constitution Bench. During the hearing before a three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana, the Centre had quoted practical difficulties in the governance of Delhi as a reason to justify the new law which arms the Lieutenant Governor with greater powers in the administration of the Capital. The Arvind Kejriwal government, on the other hand, has described the status of Delhi as “hybrid” and unique, but certainly leaning towards statehood. Senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, appearing for the Delhi Government, said the new law had left a democratically elected government without powers to even transfer officials. The NCT government’s predicament without power over the ‘services’ had been like that of a king without a kingdom, he had argued. The situation was such that a “democratic representative government” had to get the approval of the Lieutenant Governor to appoint a Health Secretary or a Commerce Secretary. Singhvi, with advocate Shadan Farasat, referred to a Constitution Bench judgment of 2018 in which the Supreme Court had unanimously held that the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Delhi was bound by the “aid and advice” of the popularly-elected Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and both have to work harmoniously with each other. It had noted that there was no room for anarchy or absolutism in a democracy. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the Centre, had argued that the case should be heard by a Constitution Bench and not a three-judge one as it involved several crucial constitutional questions of law. The Centre had contended that Delhi, the nation’s capital and a sprawling metropolis, should be under its control. Delhi cannot be left to the “small mercies and smaller resources” of a State legislature, the Centre had justified the intent behind the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act or GNCTD Act of 2021. The Parliament later enacted the Transaction of Business of Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act. Police issue lookout notice against Malayalam actor-producer Vijay Babu The Kochi City police have further tightened the noose around actor-producer Vijay Babu, who stands booked in two cases, including for rape, by [issuing a lookout circular against him]( across all airports and searching his multiple properties for evidence across the city. Babu was initially slapped with a case for rape by Ernakulam South police on a petition by an upcoming actor who had acted in one of the films produced by his production company and released on an OTT platform last year. The second case is charged under IPC Section 228A (disclosure of the identity of the victim in certain offences) after he had gone on Facebook live revealing the name of the survivor. “Prima facie, the evidence suggests that the charge of rape is true. For, there is an element of fear and exploitation involved,” said C.H. Nagaraju, District Police Chief (Kochi City). In fact, it’s been reported that police are convinced that the petition ticks all the boxes needed to register a case for such a serious offense. In her social media statement, the survivor had alleged Babu of physical and sexual assault amounting to rape after intoxicating her using alcohol and drugs and that she was scared of reporting earlier on account of the clout and influence wielded by the accused. It has emerged that South police had registered the case for rape last week but kept it confidential to gather evidence considering the high-profile nature of the accused. However, Babu probably got wind of it and fled the country, sources said. Considering that a lookout notice has been issued against him, Babu will be nabbed the moment he lands at any airport in the country. Police are also inspecting his multiple properties in the city for evidence. Babu’s decision to reveal the name of the survivor seems to have further worsened the situation for him. “We will seek exemplary punishment against him for that offence since naming the survivor is a dangerous trend and further added to her misery,” said Nagaraju. Police have already recorded the statement of the survivor before the magistrate under CrPC 164 and held her medical examination. Police consider Babu’s social media outburst as self-incriminating and corroborating the survivor on various counts. While Babu is learnt to have moved for anticipatory bail, police remain confident that it is likely to be turned down for his indiscretion of naming the survivor. His social media adventure is also seen as an open challenge to the rule of law. Amazon Prime launches movie rental service in India Amazon’s Prime Video [launched a movie rental service in India]( on Thursday, promising to release more than forty original series and movies over the next two years in a key market. The world’s second-most populous nation with a population of nearly 1.4 billion, India is a valuable market for Amazon and its rivals Netflix and Walt Disney Co’s Disney+ Hotstar . “We are super excited about the launch,” Gaurav Gandhi, head of Amazon Prime Video India said at a function, adding that the service would widen customers’ reach and choice. It enables them to pay per movie, instead of a flat monthly fee. The move comes five years after the U.S. tech giant launched its streaming service in India, and the company said it planned to more than double its investment in Prime Video over the next five years, but did not give figures. The company unveiled plans for 41 original series in three Indian languages, some to be produced by top Bollywood directors such as Karan Johar and Zoya Akhtar. Amazon has invested heavily in acquiring and producing local content in India, where, founder Jeff Bezos said in 2020, Prime Video was doing better than anywhere else in the world. Amazon does not break out user numbers by country. It is also expected to take on heavyweights such as India’s Reliance Industries, Sony Group Corp and Disney in the battle for exclusive digital broadcast rights to the hugely popular Indian Premier League (IPL). In Brief Russia and the United States have carried out an unexpected prisoner exchange in a time of high tensions, trading on Wednesday a Marine veteran jailed by Moscow for a convicted Russian drug trafficker serving a long prison sentence in America. The deal involving Trevor Reed, an American imprisoned for nearly three years, would have been a notable diplomatic maneuver even in times of peace but it was all the more surprising because it was done as [Russia’s war with Ukraine]( has driven relations with the U.S. to their lowest point in decades. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow  Today’s Top Picks [[All you need to know about pace sensation Umran Malik] All you need to know about pace sensation Umran Malik]( [[‘Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal’ movie review: A sincere Vijay Sethupathi and a superb Samantha deadlift this safe love triangle] ‘Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal’ movie review: A sincere Vijay Sethupathi and a superb Samantha deadlift this safe love triangle]( [[Sci-Five | The Hindu Science Quiz: on Comets] Sci-Five | The Hindu Science Quiz: on Comets]( [[DNA analysis suggests 160-year-old human skeletons found in Punjab are of Ganga plain martyrs] DNA analysis suggests 160-year-old human skeletons found in Punjab are of Ganga plain martyrs]( Copyright @ 2021, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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