Political updates: India steps up diplomatic pressure on Pakistan
In other news, the Congress is regrouping for a big push in the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab
New Delhi: Mint brings to you your daily dose of political news reported by newsrooms across the country.
Narendra Modi will not attend Saarc summit in Pakistan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit in Islamabad in November, a foreign ministry statement said on Tuesday, amid mounting tensions between India and Pakistan over terrorism.
The announcement by the foreign ministry came as India signalled a rethink on a 1960 water-sharing pact with Pakistan that is a lifeline for the economy as well as revoking the most favoured nation (MFN) status extended to Pakistan under international trade rules. Read more.
In a risky gambit, Gandhis bet big on Uttar Pradesh over Punjab
Two years after being drubbed in the Lok Sabha election, the Congress is regrouping for a big push in the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
Spearheading the campaign is Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and being advised by Prashant Kishor, the poll strategist who scripted Nitish Kumar’s victory in the 2015 Bihar election. At the moment, Gandhi is focusing most of his energies and time in UP, leading to a section of the party’s Punjab unit feeling neglected. Read more.
Govt unveils draft rules on GST returns
The Centre on Tuesday released draft rules that establishments have to follow for filing returns and claiming refunds under the goods and services tax (GST).
The draft rules mandate taxpayers to file monthly tax returns. Those opting for the compounding scheme (traders with an annual revenue of up to ₹ 50 lakh can pay a flat tax and escape the compliance requirements) need to file their tax returns quarterly. Read more.
Khairlanji: Ground zero for Dalit protests
An iron cot stands in a corner of an open plot, the only surviving piece of furniture in the dwelling in Khairlanji village of Bhandara district, Maharashtra, burnt down 10 years ago by upper caste villagers; the only survivor was Bhaiyyalal Bhotmange, the family head, who wasn’t home that fateful day.
The 10th anniversary of this benchmark moment in contemporary Dalit history falls on 29 September. Coincidentally at a time when the debate on Dalit atrocities has acquired a new narrative. Read more.
Supreme Court asks Centre to intervene in Cauvery water impasse
The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to intervene in the Cauvery river water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu after the states reached an impasse in courts.
Despite Karnataka’s protests, a bench comprising justices Dipak Misra and U.U. Lalit ordered the state to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu from 28-30 September. Read more.
Oil minister to launch LPG drive in J&K
Poor households in Jammu and Kashmir will be able to access clean cooking fuel without having to pay an upfront deposit as part of a central government initiative to engage more closely with people in the militancy-hit state.
Oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan will on Wednesday launch a drive by oil companies for distributing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connections on a massive scale under the Ujjwala scheme. Read more.
Muslim groups plan meetings across Mumbai to demand quota
The growing mobilisation of the Maratha community and its clamour for reservation has prompted Muslim groups in Maharashtra to raise a similar demand. Over the next month, several Muslim organisations would hold consultations and public meetings in Mumbai, asking the state government to provide reservation to Muslims in education. Read more.
AAP says its manifestos will be specific to constituencies in Goa
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has declared that it will release localized manifestos for each constituency of Goa. While the party will design the documents bearing in mind constituency-specific problems, it will also come out with a manifesto for the entire state. Read more.
DMK moves high court seeking quota for ST in civic polls
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the principal opposition party in the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly, on Tuesday moved the Madras high court seeking to quash the reservation of wards and posts for civic bodies announced by the state, and instead provide adequate reservation for scheduled tribes as mandated by the Constitution. Read more.
Telangana govt to complain against Andhra Pradesh on water sharing
The Telangana government has decided to complain to the Union water resources ministry against Andhra Pradesh for allegedly diverting more than its share of water allocated to Rayalaseema through Pothireddypadu project located on the backwaters of Srisailam reservoir. Read more.
Abhiram Ghadyalpatil from Mumbai, Maulik Pathak from Ahmedabad, Dharani Thangavelu from Chennai , Viswanath Pilla from Hyderabad, Soumonty Kanungo from Kolkata and Viswanath Pilla from Hyderabad, contributed to this wrap.
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