Citizenship Amendment Act: Students erupt in nationwide protests
- Stung by the brutal police action in Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University on Sunday, students hit the streets in Chennai, Puducherry, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Varanasi, Kolkata and Guwahati in solidarity, even as political leaders held rallies and dharnas against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
- Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra led a dharna at India Gate in the capital, condemning the Modi government for bringing the CAA and attacking innocent students of Jamia Millia. “An attack on students is an attack on the soul of India,” she said.
Don’t let ‘vested interests’ divide society, says Modi
- As violence and unrest spread across various States against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday termed the protests “unfortunate and deeply distressing” and appealed to people to stay away from rumour-mongers and not let “vested interests” divide society.
- The law, he noted, was passed by both Houses of Parliament with overwhelming support. “A large number of political parties and MPs supported its passage. This Act illustrates India’s centuries-old culture of acceptance, harmony, compassion and brotherhood,” he said.
- “The Citizenship Amendment Act has nothing to do with people who are Indian citizens already, but political parties are shooting from the shoulders of students as they could not prevent the passage of the Bill in Parliament,” he said.
Under fire, govt. releases ₹35,298 cr. in GST compensation
- The Centre released ₹35,298 crore to the States in Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation on Monday, just two days before a crucial meeting of the GST Council. The decision comes at a time when several States had urged the Centre to transfer the compensation payments, which have been pending for several months, with the Punjab government warning that it was prepared to take the issue to the Supreme Court.
‘Abuse’ of RTI has led to ‘paralysis and fear’ among officials, says CJI Bobde
- Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde on Monday said the unbridled use of the Right to Information (RTI) Act had created a sense of “paralysis and fear” in the government.
- “There is paralysis and fear about this Act (RTI). People are not taking decisions,” Chief Justice Bobde observed orally.
- The CJI said government functionaries were too scared to even take any decisions.