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Retired Madras HC judge Justice A Arumughaswamy to probe Jayalalithaa’s death

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Jayalalitha

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Judicial enquiry ordered days after Tamil Nadu’s forest minister hinted that AIADMK chief’s family and kin had a role in her death

Days after Tamil Nadu’s forest minister Dindigul Sreenivasan issued a public apology claiming that the party’s top brass “lied” about the medical condition of deceased AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa and indicated that her family had a role to play in her death, the Tamil Nadu government delivered on its promise of a judicial inquiry into the chief minister’s mysterious death in December last year.

The Edappadi Palaniswami-led state government, on Monday, appointed retired Madras High Court judge Justice A Arumughaswamy to probe the circumstances in which Amma died at Chennai’s Apollo Hospital on December 5 last year – 75 days after she was wheeled into the facility for treatment of fever and dehydration.

“A government order has been issued to set up an inquiry commission headed by retired judge of the high court Justice Arumughaswamy to probe Jayalalithaa’s death and submit a report,” a brief statement by the state’s information department said.

Last month, in a bid to broker a truce with the party’s rival faction led by O Panneerselvam, Palaniswami had agreed to his demand of setting up a judicial probe to look into the circumstances leading to the demise of Jayalalithaa. Days later, while the Panneerselvam and Palaniswami factions of AIADMK united and the former returned to join the state government as chief minister, the third rival faction led by Jayalalithaa’s close aide and party’s now sidelined chief, the jailed VK Sasikala, and her nephew TTV Dhinakaran continued their machinations to destabilise the state government.

However, the biggest shocker on the mystery behind Jayalalithaa’s death had come on Friday when Sreenivasan claimed that no political leader – including Panneerselvam (OPS) who was then the acting chief minister – was allowed by Amma’s family members and closest aide, VK Sasikala, to see the AIADMK chief during the 75 days that she was admitted in the Apollo hospital- from September 22 till her death on December 5.

Sreenivasan was referring to the several claims made by OPS, his ministerial colleagues in Tamil Nadu and various AIADMK functionaries during the time when Jayalalithaa was in hospital – each of whom claimed to have paid her a visit in the hospital and many who gave media bytes about her condition, what she enquired about or what she ate.

“The claims made by us that she ate idlis in hospital were a total lie, because none of the ministers were allowed to meet her in the hospital and none of us knew the reality,” Sreenivasan said, adding: “There were several leaders who visited the hospital, but all of them were allowed only up to the first floor. Beyond that no one was allowed. All were made to sit on chairs or on the floor and after a chat left. Nobody saw Amma”.

“The family did not allow anybody near Amma during her hospitalisation. They alone know how Amma died and they are responsible,” Sreenivasan had said, in a comment that expectedly put renewed focus on rumours that Jayalalithaa’s death was not ‘natural’ and that her family members or the jailed Sasikala may have had a role to play in the death.

Sasikala’s nephew and the now sidelined AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran – who for the past few weeks has been trying to unseat Palaniswami from the chief minister’s chair – has dismissed Sreenivasan’s charges.

On Monday, hours before the Palaniswami government appointed Justice Arumughaswamy to lead the judicial probe into Jayalalithaa’s death, Dhinakaran revealed to the media that Sasikala had shot a video of the ailing Amma while she was hospitalized.

“CCTV footages are available with the hospital. We have a footage shot by Chinnamma (Sasikala), after insisted by Jayalalithaa over her weight loss (sic),” Dhinakaran told reporters, adding that Jayalalithaa was in her night wear and was watching television when the video was shot.

“When asked by him (pointing to his confidante and RK Nagar poll in-charge, P Vetrivel) if the footage could be used during RK Nagar bypolls, Sasikala said no. She told us to seek setting up inquiry commission ourselves and submit the video footage at an appropriate time. We are ready to give to any inquiry panel, CBI or whatever. We are not scared,” Dhinakaran said.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Parliament winter session: Government lists 15 bills, including Waqf bill

The session will kick off on November 25 and conclude on December 20.

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The government has listed five new ones and one to amend the contentious Waqf law out of 15 bills for the winter session of Parliament. The session will kick off on November 25 and conclude on December 20.

The government has introduced five new bills, including the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, which aims to promote coasting trade and increase the participation of Indian-flagged vessels owned and operated by Indian citizens for both national security and commercial purposes.

Another significant legislation that will be introduced by the government is the Indian Ports Bill, 2024. This bill is designed to implement measures for the conservation of ports, enhance security, and manage pollution, ensuring compliance with India’s international obligations and statutory requirements.

Additionally, the government plans to introduce the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024, which aims to meet India’s obligations under maritime treaties and support the development of Indian shipping while ensuring the efficient operation of the Indian mercantile marine in a way that serves national interests.

Pending legislation includes the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which is awaiting consideration and passage after the joint committee of both Houses submits its report to the Lok Sabha. The committee is expected to report by the end of the first week of the winter session.

Currently, there are eight bills, including the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, pending in the Lok Sabha, while two additional bills are in the Rajya Sabha.

Furthermore, the government has also listed the Punjab Courts (Amendment) Bill for introduction, consideration, and passage, which seeks to increase the pecuniary appellate jurisdiction of Delhi district courts from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.

The Merchant Shipping Bill, along with the Coastal Shipping Bill and the Indian Ports Bill, is slated for introduction and eventual passage.

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International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant against Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu over war crimes

The court accused Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant of crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, inhumane acts, and the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare.

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International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant against Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu over war crimes

The International Criminal Court (ICC) today issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The court accused Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant of crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, inhumane acts, and the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare. The leaders allegedly restricted essential supplies such as food, water, and medical aid to civilians in Gaza, resulting in severe humanitarian crises and deaths, including among children.

Last year in October, Israel had launched attacks on Gaza in retaliation for the surprise attack by Hamas. The Israel-Hamas war has led to the death of thousands of civilians, while lakhs have been displaced. The major infrastructures in Gaza, including hospitals and schools, were also destroyed as Israel vowed to wipe out Hamas.

The International Criminal Court stated that it found reasonable grounds to believe the accused intentionally targeted civilians and limited medical supplies, forcing unsafe medical procedures, which caused immense suffering. This ruling was based on the findings from at least October 8, 2023 until at least May 20, 2024.

The court remarked that it has assessed that there are reasonable grounds to believe that PM Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population of Gaza.

Furthermore, it also noted that the lack of food, water, electricity and fuel, and medical supplies created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza, leading to death of civilians, including children due to malnutrition and dehydration.

Additionally, the International Criminal Court dismissed two challenges by Israel against its jurisdiction in the situation in the State of Palestine.

Notably, Israel had contested the ICC’s jurisdiction, claiming it could not be exercised without Israel’s consent. Nonetheless, the Chamber ruled that the Court has jurisdiction based on Palestine’s territorial scope, including Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. It further noted that Israel’s objections were premature, as jurisdictional challenges under the Rome Statute can only be made after an arrest warrant is issued.

Reportedly, Israel had also requested a fresh notification regarding the investigation, started in 2021. Denying the request, the court stated that Israel had earlier declined to request a deferral, making additional notifications unnecessary.

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Yogi Adityanath accords tax-free status to Sabarmati Report film in Uttar Pradesh

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have also praised this film.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday accorded a tax-free status to ‘The Sabarmati Report’ film, based on the train burning incident at Godhra in Gujarat in 2002, in the state.

The announcement was made after Chief Minister Adityanath attended the screening of Vikrant Massey and Raashii Khanna-starrer ‘The Sabarmati Report’ in Lucknow with the film’s cast.  

Speaking to reporters, actor Vikrant Massey thanked the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister for making ‘The Sabarmati Report’ film tax-free in the state. “I want to thank Yogi Adityanath ji. This is an important film and I appeal to everyone to go and watch this film,” he said.

Chief Minister Adityanath along with many of his cabinet colleagues watched the film ‘The Sabarmati Report’ under a special screening at a cinema hall in the capital, said a spokesperson of the state government.

Several people associated with the film unit were also present on the occasion. Later the chief minister announced to make this film tax-free in UP.

The BJP-ruled states have been praising the makers of The Sabarmati Report, claiming the team has tried to bring out this truth in front of the people of the country through the film.

The saffron party is appealing to people to watch this film and try to get closer to the truth of Godhra.

Uttar Pradesh becomes the sixth BJP-ruled state after Haryana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat to declare lead actors Vikrant Massey and Raashii Khanna’s film tax-free.

Adityanath said along with identifying the faces of those who are conspiring against the country for political gains, there is also a need to expose them. The film team has discharged its responsibilities to expose the truth, he said, adding an attempt has been made to bring the real truth in front of the country in a big way through the film.

The Sabarmati Report is said to be based on the incident of setting fire to a train full of ‘karsevaks’ in Godhra on February 27, 2002, killing 90 devotees. After this incident, communal riots broke out in Gujarat. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have also praised this film.

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