The Evening Wrap: Protests continue in Bihar over Agnipath scheme

Violent protest over the Central government’s Agnipath scheme for recruitment in armed forces continued across Bihar on Thursday with hundreds of aspirants disrupting rail and road traffic while police fired tear gas shells to disperse them. On Wednesday also, aspirants staged protests at Muzaffarpur, Begusarai and Buxar district over the scheme, disrupting road and rail traffic movement. On Thursday, protesters set afire train bogeys in Kaimur and Chhapra districts, blocked train movements in Siwan, Ara (Bhojpur), Jehanabad, Nawada, Saharsha, Chhapra and other places while road traffic was disrupted at some places. As many as 22 trains were cancelled and five were stopped midway, said East Central Railway officials. BJP MLA Aruna Devi’s vehicle was attacked by protesters in Nawada, leaving her and some people accompanying her injured. The party office in Nawada too was vandalised by the protesters who were demanding that the old system of recruitment in defence services be restored. At Ara (Bhojpur) railway station, the protesters pelted stones at police, and railway staff were seen using fire extinguishers to put out a fire after protesters burnt station furniture on the tracks. Later, police had to open tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. In Jehanabad, the aspirants gathered at the railway track and disrupted movement of trains and hurled stones at police and public. The policemen too were seen pelting stones at protesters at the Jehanabad railway station. In Nawada, Saharsha and Chhapra railway stations and highways too, the aspirants burnt tyres and blocked movement of trains and damaged railway properties. The police at Nawada railway station were seen appealing to protesters to maintain peace. On Wednesday too, hundreds of protesters had blocked national highways and rail tracks in different parts of the State. The protesters had blocked national highway-28 in Muzaffarpur and disrupted movement of trains in Buxar district while burning tyres and shouting slogans like “Bharti do ya arthi do (recruit us or get us killed)”. They said that under the scheme, which was announced on June 14, only up to 25 % of the recruits or ‘Agniveers’ could get regular commission in the services and the rest would be jobless thereafter. “The government is playing a game like PUBG with us. We’ll continue to protest until the government takes some meaningful decision on this to help us”, said the protesters in Muzaffarpur while asking, “why had no BJP leader said anything even when their government was holding back recruitment in defence services for so long?” The recruitment, they said, in defence services was held up due to COVID-19 for the last two years. The age for recruitment under the Agnipath scheme for aspirants is 17.5 to 21 years. “Even MPs and MLAs get five years term. What will we do with just four years of job,” they asked in Buxar where the railway tracks were later cleared after police pacified the protesters. The Central government, though, has called the scheme “historic” while announcing that about 45,000 soldiers would be recruited into the defence services on short-term contract which would eventually enable a youthful profile of the armed forces and reduce the salary and pension bill burden on the government. The recruitment of Agniveers would begin in next 90 days and the first batch will be ready by July 2023. “The government should give Agniveers 20-30% reservation in other jobs once they are out of service after four years under Agnipath scheme,” said a protester at Buxar. Government issues note on ‘myths and facts’ of Agnipath scheme Amid growing protests in most parts of the country over short-term recruitment in the armed forces under the recently announced Agnipath scheme, government officials on Thursday released an unsigned note on “myths and facts” regarding the scheme. The note said it was a myth that “21-year-olds are immature and unreliable” and at no point of time will there be more youth than experienced people among the ranks. The numbers of Agniveers to be recruited in the first year would only make up 3% of the armed forces, the note said, adding that “no change is being done to the regimental system.” “The present scheme will only bring about a right mix of 50%-50%, slowly in a very long run, of youngsters and experienced supervisory ranks,” it said. The note said it is a myth that “no consultation” was held with former armed forces officers before announcing the decision. It said extensive consultations with serving armed forces officers were held over the last two years. “The proposal has been framed by the Department of Military Officers staffed by military officers. The department itself is a creation of this government. Many former officers have recognised the advantages of the scheme and welcomed it,” it said. It said that “such short term enlistment system exists in most countries and hence is already tested out and considered best practice for a youthful and agile army. Additionally, the performance of the Agniveers will be tested before re-induction in the Army after four years. Hence, the Army will get the tested and tried personnel for supervisory ranks,” it said. The note claimed that it is a myth that “Agniveers will be a danger to society and join terrorists.” It stated that “this is an insult to the ethos and values of the Indian armed forces. Youngsters who have worn the uniform for four years will remain committed to the country for rest of their lives.” Even now thousands retire from armed forces with skills etc. but there have not been any instances of them joining the anti-national forces.” It said the claim that the “future of Agniveers is insecure” is a myth and the fact remains that those wishing to be entrepreneurs will get a financial package and bank loans, a bridge course for further studies, priority in jobs in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the State police and “several avenues are also being opened up for them in other sectors.” The note claimed that the opportunities for youth will not decrease due to the scheme but on the other hand it will increase. “In the coming years, recruitment of Agniveers will be around triple the current recruitment in armed forces,” it said. The note said that it is a myth that regimental bonding will be affected, on the contrary it will be further accentuated because the best of Agniveers will be selected, further boosting cohesiveness of the unit. A press release by the Education Ministry said the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is instituting a special programme in consultation with the defence authorities to enable Agniveers who have passed Class X to further their education and obtain a Class XII certificate by developing customised courses that are relevant to their area of service. The Ministry of Defence on June 14 unveiled the Agnipath scheme, a pan India merit-based recruitment scheme for enrolling soldiers, airmen and sailors. Under the scheme, young persons will be provided an opportunity to serve in the armed forces as Agniveer for a period of 4 years, which included the training period. After completion of the four-year tenure, the scheme provides for retaining 25% of the recruits for regular service, based on organisational requirements and existing policies. Agniveers shall be recruited between the ages of 17.5 to 21. Candidates who are Class X and XII pass can apply for the recruitment process. Joining the chorus of chief ministers of other BJP-ruled States, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the Agnipath scheme will give a “new dimension” to the life of the youth. The Chief Minister also said soldiers recruited under the Central government’s Agnipath scheme would be given preference in recruitment in police and other services in the State. Demolitions should be in accordance with law and not retaliatory, says Supreme Court The Supreme Court on Thursday told the Uttar Pradesh government that demolitions could happen only in accordance with the provisions of law and could not be retaliatory after hearing petitions that State authorities had taken the “appalling” step to wreak “vengeance” on the homes of people allegedly linked to violence in the aftermath of the Prophet remarks row. “Ultimately, the rule of law should prevail… any action by you should be in accordance with the law,” Justice A.S. Bopanna, leading a Vacation Bench also comprising of Justice Vikram Nath, addressed the Uttar Pradesh government, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocate Harish Salve. Issuing notice to the State and listing the case for hearing next week, the Bench said the question was whether the State had followed due process of law before demolishing the properties in places such as Prayagraj and Kanpur. The court said that nothing “untoward” should be seen to happen during the weekend. “There should be some restraint… Everything should be fair. They should not be harmed. The question here is of following due process,” Justice Bopanna observed orally. The court did not give credence to the State’s argument that certain “misconceived” third parties such as the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind had approached the court solely based on media reports about the nature and intent of the demolitions. “Ultimately, the rule of law should prevail. This is not about who came to the court. This matter requires legal consideration,” Justice Bopanna responded. The court agreed to the State government’s suggestion to file an affidavit with details to buttress its claim that the demolitions were done after prior notice was issued to affected persons and the buildings razed down were illegal. The court listed the case for further hearing next week. The Bench did not pass any interim order staying the demolitions. Senior advocate C.U.Singh, for the petitioner side, indicated a pattern to these demolitions. “Retaliatory statements are made by high-functionaries of the State of Uttar Pradesh against stone-pelters and rioters. Demolitions of properties are done. Once demolitions are over, the authorities justify that the buildings pulled down by the bulldozers are illegal constructions,” Singh submitted. He said many of these buildings reduced to rubble by bulldozers were homes belonging to the family members of those named in the FIRs. “These are homes and shops belonging to, in some cases, to the father or the wife of the person accused. These are structures which have stood for over 20 years. The pattern followed by the State is something out of a playbook. This is not just shocking, but appalling,” Singh said. Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi and advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan, also for the petitioner side, submitted that it was a “remarkable coincidence” that homes and shops were pulled down immediately after the statements of the high-functionaries in the State were published. “This is a case of cherry-picking based on malafide intentions on the part of the authorities. The homes of only those persons who are named in the FIRs are picked and demolished. You cannot come overnight and demolish homes. There is no prior notice nor are the affected persons given a chance to appeal,” Ahmadi contended. “Demolition cannot take place without issuance of prior notice. We are conscious of that,” Justice Bopanna noted. Singh drew the court’s attention to Section 27 of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973 which required affected persons to be heard and given 15 days’ prior notice before proceeding with the demolition of their property. Besides this, the Act allowed a person aggrieved with the order of demolition entitled to appeal within 30 days. Countering, Mehta said the court could not entertain “omnibus” petitions questioning every demolition in the country. He said such petitions had been filed since the Jahangirpuri demolitions in Delhi. The Jamiat was not an aggrieved party. No affected person had come before the court with a specific case of injury. Salve submitted that the demolition in Prayagraj was preceded by notices issued in May to the persons concerned. Notice was also served by the authorities before action was taken in Kanpur. In one case, notice was issued way back in August 2020. “The media picks up these cases. Political statements are made and third parties rush to the court making omnibus statements to stop all demolitions. Why should there be any generic order? Please allow us to file an affidavit. We will put everything on affidavit, we are answerable to the court,” Salve submitted. Mehta indicated that the State side was better informed than the petitioner, who banked on media reports and had no direct cause of action. To the court’s observation that the State should show restraint, especially during the weekend, now that the court was seized of the case, Mehta said the court could not pass a mandamus and if something were to happen “hypothetically”, if demolitions were carried out in accordance with the law, the injured party could approach the court with a plea of specific injustice done to him or her. “You can file your objections, but make sure that nothing untoward happens in the meanwhile,” Justice Bopanna asserted. Rahul Gandhi questioning by ED | Congress serves legal notice on Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Kiren Rijiju The Congress has sought action against Enforcement Directorate officials who “selectively leaked” to some media houses information related to Rahul Gandhi’s questioning, as the party also served a legal notice on three Union Ministers over the issue. In the notice to Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, the Congress MP and legal cell head Vivek Tankha has asked them to stop using the ED as a tool to settle political scores, and desist from “spreading false narratives” about the former Congress chief. The notice comes in the wake of media reports claiming that Gandhi has told the ED that he has no knowledge about the dealings of Young India with Associated Journals, which publishes the National Herald, and that it was done by the late party treasurer Motilal Vora. The notice also calls upon the ministers to fix responsibility on such officers of the Enforcement Directorate who have resorted to such “illegalities”. “This is a judicial proceeding and selective leaks by the ED to malign Rahul Gandhi’s image is a criminal offence and an attempt to interfere with an ongoing judicial proceeding which is a second crime,” Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said. “We have demanded that the responsibility of the ED officers be fixed and if not, the Congress party will be constrained to prosecute ED officers for fixation of officers and crimes by them,” he told PTI. The notice asks them to ensure the Enforcement Directorate immediately stops spreading “false narratives about Rahul Gandhi for ulterior political motives and as a tool to settle political scores”. “I also call upon you (the ministers) to fix responsibility on such officer of the Enforcement Directorate who has resorted to such illegalities by causing the leaks,” Tankha said in his notice. Explaining why he served the legal notice on the ministers, Tankha said the ED is clearly acting at the “behest of its political masters” and is carrying out political vendetta against Rahul Gandhi. “It is appropriate (then) that this letter be addressed to the finance minister, the minister of law and the home minister jointly,” he said. “It is deplorable that the Enforcement Directorate is being used as a tool of political vendetta against Rahul Gandhi, the former president of the Congress, which happens to the principal opposition party to the BJP,” the notice said. He said the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi will never bow down to this kind of abuse of process and threats, and will fight to protect the constitution and the freedoms enshrined in it till the last breath. Political battles have to be fought between political parties and using the Enforcement Directorate to settle political scores and harass the opposition leadership is an assault on the Constitution, Tankha said in his notice. The entire country knows that Rahul Gandhi is being summoned at this juncture as he is the most vociferous and credible voice against the BJP, he noted, adding that “the case that has been foisted is utterly hopeless and has no basis in law”. It appears the Enforcement Directorate is selectively divulging false information at the behest of its political masters to certain media houses in order to create a completely false political narrative with malafide motive and to misrepresent the actual facts as to what transpired before the ED during the questioning, he said. “If the government is allowing this, it is complicit in this exercise and this is happening at its behest,” the notice alleges. Trashing reports that Gandhi is not cooperating the with the probe agency, Tankha asked under what law the ED is authorised to leak what has transpired during the investigation. In Brief The GST Council, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, will meet on June 28 and 29 in Srinagar. “The 47th meeting of the GST Council will be held on June 28-29, 2022 (Tuesday & Wednesday) in Srinagar,” the Finance Minister’s office tweeted. This is the second time that the GST Council meeting is being held in Srinagar. Before the launch of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on July 1, 2017, the 14th meeting of the Council was held on May 18 and 19 in the city. GST rates on 1,211 items were approved at the two-day meeting. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow [logo] The Evening Wrap 16 JUNE 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]( Protests continue in Bihar over Agnipath scheme Violent protest over the Central government’s [Agnipath scheme]( for recruitment in armed forces [continued across Bihar]( on Thursday with hundreds of aspirants disrupting rail and road traffic while police fired tear gas shells to disperse them. On Wednesday also, aspirants staged protests at Muzaffarpur, Begusarai and Buxar district over the scheme, disrupting road and rail traffic movement. On Thursday, protesters set afire train bogeys in Kaimur and Chhapra districts, blocked train movements in Siwan, Ara (Bhojpur), Jehanabad, Nawada, Saharsha, Chhapra and other places while road traffic was disrupted at some places. As many as 22 trains were cancelled and five were stopped midway, said East Central Railway officials. [Smoke billows from a train coach after it was set on fire at Chapra railway station in Bihar’s Saran district on June 16, 2022 during a protest against the Agnipath scheme. ] BJP MLA Aruna Devi’s vehicle was attacked by protesters in Nawada, leaving her and some people accompanying her injured. The party office in Nawada too was vandalised by the protesters who were demanding that the old system of recruitment in defence services be restored. At Ara (Bhojpur) railway station, the protesters pelted stones at police, and railway staff were seen using fire extinguishers to put out a fire after protesters burnt station furniture on the tracks. Later, police had to open tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. In Jehanabad, the aspirants gathered at the railway track and disrupted movement of trains and hurled stones at police and public. The policemen too were seen pelting stones at protesters at the Jehanabad railway station. In Nawada, Saharsha and Chhapra railway stations and highways too, the aspirants burnt tyres and blocked movement of trains and damaged railway properties. The police at Nawada railway station were seen appealing to protesters to maintain peace. On Wednesday too, hundreds of protesters had blocked national highways and rail tracks in different parts of the State. The protesters had blocked national highway-28 in Muzaffarpur and disrupted movement of trains in Buxar district while burning tyres and shouting slogans like “Bharti do ya arthi do (recruit us or get us killed)”. They said that under the scheme, which was announced on June 14, only up to 25 % of the recruits or ‘Agniveers’ could get regular commission in the services and the rest would be jobless thereafter. “The government is playing a game like PUBG with us. We’ll continue to protest until the government takes some meaningful decision on this to help us”, said the protesters in Muzaffarpur while asking, “why had no BJP leader said anything even when their government was holding back recruitment in defence services for so long?” The recruitment, they said, in defence services was held up due to COVID-19 for the last two years. The age for recruitment under the Agnipath scheme for aspirants is 17.5 to 21 years. “Even MPs and MLAs get five years term. What will we do with just four years of job,” they asked in Buxar where the railway tracks were later cleared after police pacified the protesters. The Central government, though, has called the scheme “historic” while announcing that about 45,000 soldiers would be recruited into the defence services on short-term contract which would eventually enable a youthful profile of the armed forces and reduce the salary and pension bill burden on the government. The recruitment of Agniveers would begin in next 90 days and the first batch will be ready by July 2023. “The government should give Agniveers 20-30% reservation in other jobs once they are out of service after four years under Agnipath scheme,” said a protester at Buxar. Government issues note on ‘myths and facts’ of Agnipath scheme Amid growing protests in most parts of the country over short-term recruitment in the armed forces under the recently announced Agnipath scheme, government officials on Thursday [released an unsigned note on “myths and facts” regarding the scheme](. The note said it was a myth that “21-year-olds are immature and unreliable” and at no point of time will there be more youth than experienced people among the ranks. The numbers of Agniveers to be recruited in the first year would only make up 3% of the armed forces, the note said, adding that “no change is being done to the regimental system.” “The present scheme will only bring about a right mix of 50%-50%, slowly in a very long run, of youngsters and experienced supervisory ranks,” it said. The note said it is a myth that “no consultation” was held with former armed forces officers before announcing the decision. It said extensive consultations with serving armed forces officers were held over the last two years. “The proposal has been framed by the Department of Military Officers staffed by military officers. The department itself is a creation of this government. Many former officers have recognised the advantages of the scheme and welcomed it,” it said. It said that “such short term enlistment system exists in most countries and hence is already tested out and considered best practice for a youthful and agile army. Additionally, the performance of the Agniveers will be tested before re-induction in the Army after four years. Hence, the Army will get the tested and tried personnel for supervisory ranks,” it said. The note claimed that it is a myth that “Agniveers will be a danger to society and join terrorists.” It stated that “this is an insult to the ethos and values of the Indian armed forces. Youngsters who have worn the uniform for four years will remain committed to the country for rest of their lives.” Even now thousands retire from armed forces with skills etc. but there have not been any instances of them joining the anti-national forces.” It said the claim that the “future of Agniveers is insecure” is a myth and the fact remains that those wishing to be entrepreneurs will get a financial package and bank loans, a bridge course for further studies, priority in jobs in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the State police and “several avenues are also being opened up for them in other sectors.” The note claimed that the opportunities for youth will not decrease due to the scheme but on the other hand it will increase. “In the coming years, recruitment of Agniveers will be around triple the current recruitment in armed forces,” it said. The note said that it is a myth that regimental bonding will be affected, on the contrary it will be further accentuated because the best of Agniveers will be selected, further boosting cohesiveness of the unit. A press release by the Education Ministry said the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is instituting a special programme in consultation with the defence authorities to enable Agniveers who have passed Class X to further their education and obtain a Class XII certificate by developing customised courses that are relevant to their area of service. The Ministry of Defence on June 14 unveiled the Agnipath scheme, a pan India merit-based recruitment scheme for enrolling soldiers, airmen and sailors. Under the scheme, young persons will be provided an opportunity to serve in the armed forces as Agniveer for a period of 4 years, which included the training period. After completion of the four-year tenure, the scheme provides for retaining 25% of the recruits for regular service, based on organisational requirements and existing policies. Agniveers shall be recruited between the ages of 17.5 to 21. Candidates who are Class X and XII pass can apply for the recruitment process. Joining the chorus of chief ministers of other BJP-ruled States, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the Agnipath scheme will give a “new dimension” to the life of the youth. The Chief Minister also said soldiers recruited under the Central government’s Agnipath scheme would be given preference in recruitment in police and other services in the State. Demolitions should be in accordance with law and not retaliatory, says Supreme Court The Supreme Court on Thursday told the Uttar Pradesh government that [demolitions could happen only in accordance with the provisions of law and could not be retaliatory]( after hearing petitions that State authorities had taken the “appalling” step to wreak “vengeance” on the homes of people allegedly linked to violence in the aftermath of the Prophet remarks row. “Ultimately, the rule of law should prevail… any action by you should be in accordance with the law,” Justice A.S. Bopanna, leading a Vacation Bench also comprising of Justice Vikram Nath, addressed the Uttar Pradesh government, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocate Harish Salve. [A bulldozer in Prayagraj on June 12, 2022 demolishes the house of an activist that Uttar Pradesh authorities accuse of being involved in riots that erupted following comments about the Prophet Muhammad. Authorities claim the house was illegally built. ] Issuing notice to the State and listing the case for hearing next week, the Bench said the question was whether the State had followed due process of law before demolishing the properties in places such as Prayagraj and Kanpur. The court said that nothing “untoward” should be seen to happen during the weekend. “There should be some restraint… Everything should be fair. They should not be harmed. The question here is of following due process,” Justice Bopanna observed orally. The court did not give credence to the State’s argument that certain “misconceived” third parties such as the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind had approached the court solely based on media reports about the nature and intent of the demolitions. “Ultimately, the rule of law should prevail. This is not about who came to the court. This matter requires legal consideration,” Justice Bopanna responded. The court agreed to the State government’s suggestion to file an affidavit with details to buttress its claim that the demolitions were done after prior notice was issued to affected persons and the buildings razed down were illegal. The court listed the case for further hearing next week. The Bench did not pass any interim order staying the demolitions. Senior advocate C.U.Singh, for the petitioner side, indicated a pattern to these demolitions. “Retaliatory statements are made by high-functionaries of the State of Uttar Pradesh against stone-pelters and rioters. Demolitions of properties are done. Once demolitions are over, the authorities justify that the buildings pulled down by the bulldozers are illegal constructions,” Singh submitted. He said many of these buildings reduced to rubble by bulldozers were homes belonging to the family members of those named in the FIRs. “These are homes and shops belonging to, in some cases, to the father or the wife of the person accused. These are structures which have stood for over 20 years. The pattern followed by the State is something out of a playbook. This is not just shocking, but appalling,” Singh said. Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi and advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan, also for the petitioner side, submitted that it was a “remarkable coincidence” that homes and shops were pulled down immediately after the statements of the high-functionaries in the State were published. “This is a case of cherry-picking based on malafide intentions on the part of the authorities. The homes of only those persons who are named in the FIRs are picked and demolished. You cannot come overnight and demolish homes. There is no prior notice nor are the affected persons given a chance to appeal,” Ahmadi contended. “Demolition cannot take place without issuance of prior notice. We are conscious of that,” Justice Bopanna noted. Singh drew the court’s attention to Section 27 of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973 which required affected persons to be heard and given 15 days’ prior notice before proceeding with the demolition of their property. Besides this, the Act allowed a person aggrieved with the order of demolition entitled to appeal within 30 days. Countering, Mehta said the court could not entertain “omnibus” petitions questioning every demolition in the country. He said such petitions had been filed since the Jahangirpuri demolitions in Delhi. The Jamiat was not an aggrieved party. No affected person had come before the court with a specific case of injury. Salve submitted that the demolition in Prayagraj was preceded by notices issued in May to the persons concerned. Notice was also served by the authorities before action was taken in Kanpur. In one case, notice was issued way back in August 2020. “The media picks up these cases. Political statements are made and third parties rush to the court making omnibus statements to stop all demolitions. Why should there be any generic order? Please allow us to file an affidavit. We will put everything on affidavit, we are answerable to the court,” Salve submitted. Mehta indicated that the State side was better informed than the petitioner, who banked on media reports and had no direct cause of action. To the court’s observation that the State should show restraint, especially during the weekend, now that the court was seized of the case, Mehta said the court could not pass a mandamus and if something were to happen “hypothetically”, if demolitions were carried out in accordance with the law, the injured party could approach the court with a plea of specific injustice done to him or her. “You can file your objections, but make sure that nothing untoward happens in the meanwhile,” Justice Bopanna asserted. Rahul Gandhi questioning by ED | Congress serves legal notice on Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Kiren Rijiju The Congress has sought action against Enforcement Directorate officials who “selectively leaked” to some media houses information related to Rahul Gandhi’s questioning, as the party also [served a legal notice on three Union Ministers]( over the issue. In the notice to Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, the Congress MP and legal cell head Vivek Tankha has asked them to stop using the ED as a tool to settle political scores, and desist from “spreading false narratives” about the former Congress chief. The notice comes in the wake of media reports claiming that Gandhi has told the ED that he has no knowledge about the dealings of Young India with Associated Journals, which publishes the National Herald, and that it was done by the late party treasurer Motilal Vora. The notice also calls upon the ministers to fix responsibility on such officers of the Enforcement Directorate who have resorted to such “illegalities”. “This is a judicial proceeding and selective leaks by the ED to malign Rahul Gandhi’s image is a criminal offence and an attempt to interfere with an ongoing judicial proceeding which is a second crime,” Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said. “We have demanded that the responsibility of the ED officers be fixed and if not, the Congress party will be constrained to prosecute ED officers for fixation of officers and crimes by them,” he told PTI. The notice asks them to ensure the Enforcement Directorate immediately stops spreading “false narratives about Rahul Gandhi for ulterior political motives and as a tool to settle political scores”. “I also call upon you (the ministers) to fix responsibility on such officer of the Enforcement Directorate who has resorted to such illegalities by causing the leaks,” Tankha said in his notice. Explaining why he served the legal notice on the ministers, Tankha said the ED is clearly acting at the “behest of its political masters” and is carrying out political vendetta against Rahul Gandhi. “It is appropriate (then) that this letter be addressed to the finance minister, the minister of law and the home minister jointly,” he said. “It is deplorable that the Enforcement Directorate is being used as a tool of political vendetta against Rahul Gandhi, the former president of the Congress, which happens to the principal opposition party to the BJP,” the notice said. He said the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi will never bow down to this kind of abuse of process and threats, and will fight to protect the constitution and the freedoms enshrined in it till the last breath. Political battles have to be fought between political parties and using the Enforcement Directorate to settle political scores and harass the opposition leadership is an assault on the Constitution, Tankha said in his notice. The entire country knows that Rahul Gandhi is being summoned at this juncture as he is the most vociferous and credible voice against the BJP, he noted, adding that “the case that has been foisted is utterly hopeless and has no basis in law”. It appears the Enforcement Directorate is selectively divulging false information at the behest of its political masters to certain media houses in order to create a completely false political narrative with malafide motive and to misrepresent the actual facts as to what transpired before the ED during the questioning, he said. “If the government is allowing this, it is complicit in this exercise and this is happening at its behest,” the notice alleges. Trashing reports that Gandhi is not cooperating the with the probe agency, Tankha asked under what law the ED is authorised to leak what has transpired during the investigation. In Brief The [GST Council, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, will meet on June 28 and 29 in Srinagar](. “The 47th meeting of the GST Council will be held on June 28-29, 2022 (Tuesday & Wednesday) in Srinagar,” the Finance Minister’s office tweeted. This is the second time that the GST Council meeting is being held in Srinagar. Before the launch of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on July 1, 2017, the 14th meeting of the Council was held on May 18 and 19 in the city. GST rates on 1,211 items were approved at the two-day meeting. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow  Today’s Top Picks [[RBI lifts restrictions on Mastercard] RBI lifts restrictions on Mastercard]( [[Auto-rickshaw driver dies in petrol queue as energy crisis worsens in Sri Lanka] Auto-rickshaw driver dies in petrol queue as energy crisis worsens in Sri Lanka]( [[Watch | How serious is the world food crisis?] Watch | How serious is the world food crisis?]( [[Data | India, China help lift Russia’s post-war crude oil exports] Data | India, China help lift Russia’s post-war crude oil exports]( Copyright @ 2022, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. If you are facing any trouble in viewing this newsletter, please [try here]( If you do not wish to receive such emails [go here](