Finance
In a recent afternoon briefing, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge directed strong criticism towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government concerning the prolonged unrest and violence in Manipur, referring to the state as a “battlefield.” Kharge expressed deep concern over the situation, emphasizing that the people of Manipur have endured 147 days of suffering without a visit from PM Modi.
He particularly highlighted the distressing images of students being targeted in the violence, stressing that violence against women and children has been employed as a distressing weapon amidst the strife. Holding the saffron party accountable for the violence, Kharge went on to label Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh as “incompetent,” urging PM Modi to take decisive action and remove him to curb further turmoil. The tensions in Manipur further escalated following the tragic disappearance and subsequent killing of two students from the Meitei community.
Shifting gears to another significant development, the Supreme Court has intervened by issuing a stay order on criminal defamation proceedings against Union Minister of State, L Murugan. These proceedings were initiated by the DMK-affiliated Murasoli Trust over comments made by Murugan regarding land under the trust’s possession in Chennai. The court has also served a notice to the Murasoli Trust, scheduling a review of the matter in six weeks’ time.
Arguing the illegitimacy and alleged political motivations behind the defamation proceedings, Murugan’s lawyer emphasized that the Union Minister has the right to express his honest opinion under Article 19 (freedom of speech) and asserted that his comments were made during a press meeting. It’s important to note that the defamation case was initially filed by former MP and DMK leader RS Bharathi in 2021, in response to Murugan’s reported derogatory statements about the trust.
