Politics
Akal Takht Jathedar declines government security, SGPC deploys men

After the Punjab government withdrew half of his security cover, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on Saturday said he asked his office to send the remaining security personnel to the government as he “does not need” them.
At the same time, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) deployed its armed men in the security of the jathedar, who this week asked Sikhs to keep a licensed weapon in view of the “uncertain times”.
In an order, the government withdrew or curtailed the security of 424 VIPs in the state. They largely include former legislators, heads of various “deras” and police officers.
The head of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, is among them.
Looking at the sensitivity of the case, the government later restored his security but he declined.
Giani Harpreet Singh had a security cover of six police personnel. Three were withdrawn after the order.
Responding to the withdrawal of security, the jathedar said: “I don’t need the security. “Khalsa Panth and the Sikh youths are there for our security.”
“After the controversy, the Punjab government restored the security of the Akal Takht jathedar. However, the jathedar is adamant on his decision and refused to take the government security,” an official with the SGPC said.
He said on the direction of SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami, four SGPC employees were deployed to guard Giani Harpreet Singh.
The security of Giani Raghbir Singh, Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib; Sant Niranjan Dass, chief of Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar; Satguru Udhay Singh Namdhari, Bhaini Sahib, Ludhiana; Giani Jagtar Singh, head granthi at Golden Temple in Amritsar; Baba Lakha Singh, Gurdwara Nanaksar Kaleran Wale, Jagraon; and Sant Tarminder Singh, dera chief of Kahna Dhesian in Goraya in Jalandhar, has also been withdrawn.
The security of those that have been curtailed include heads of Dera Radha Soami Satsang in Beas; Dera Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan in Noormahal, and Shahi Imam Punjab, Mohammad Usman Ludhianvi.
In a video message to the Sikh community on May 23, the Akal Takht jathedar had said: “Every Sikh should try to keep licensed weapons, because the time that is coming, and the circumstances which are going to prevail, demand it. The Sikh youth should be skilful in gatka (Sikh martial art) and shooting.”
National
Maha: Oppn slams NCP MLA for political remarks while presiding in Assembly

Mumbai, July 5: The opposition parties in Maharashtra took a serious objection to the political remarks made by the Assembly’s Presiding Officer Chetan Tupe while conducting the business in the House.
They said that it was not acceptable, demanding that the dignity of the chair must be maintained.
The issue was raised by the Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar and it was supported by Bhaskar Jadhav (Shiv Sena-UBT) and Nana Patole (Congress).
They also asked, “Do those who make political statements have the right to be the presiding officer?”
Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar took a serious note and expressed serious displeasure, saying that such incidents should not happen in future.
“Those sitting as presiding officers should maintain letter and spirit of the law. It is necessary for the presiding officers to work within the framework of the rules given by the Constitution.”
The Speaker assured that the chair of the Speaker will not be used for political purposes.
He also told the House that he will take a decision in this regard in his chamber.
Earlier, Wadettiwar criticised the presiding officer for his political remarks during the discussion over a motion on farmer suicides and the current state of agriculture amid the state government’s apathy.
He appealed to the Assembly Speaker to reprimand the presiding officer Chetan Tupe.
“While the discussion was on, the Agriculture Minister and the officials of that department were not present, but the work continued. But since some members were not present, does the presiding officer Chetan Tupe have the right to sit in the chair and present the government’s position? While the chair has a certain dignity, it is not right to make political speeches from there, such a thing has not happened in the past,” Wadettiwar said.
He also said: “The presiding officer in his statements targeted opposition party members for their absence while saying they speak about farmers but skip the proceedings. Tupe said he has been in the House for 13 hours and has not given out.”
He added that even though the presiding officer is conducting the business in the absence of a Speaker, he is treated as the Speaker and it is binding on him not to make any political statements.
“While it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that the House functions properly, it is the responsibility of the Parliamentary Affairs Minister to see whether the Ministers of the department are present in the House. In such a case, the custom and tradition should be followed from the highest position in the House,” Wadettiwar said.
National
Thackeray brothers to address joint victory rally today to celebrate Maha govt’s turnaround on Hindi from Grade 1

Mumbai, July 5: Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray will on Saturday participate in a joint victory rally organised by the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), in Worli Dome to celebrate the MahaYuti government’s decision to withdraw two government resolutions on the introduction of Hindi from Classes 1 to 5.
It will be the first joint rally of the Thackeray cousin brothers Uddhav and Raj, after the split in the Shiv Sena in 2005.
Amid talks of coming together ahead of the upcoming BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections slated to be held within the next six months, Uddhav and Raj have decided to jointly rake up the issues of Marathi language and ‘Marathi Manoos’ in a serious bid to corner the BJP-led MahaYuti government in Maharashtra.
Both the parties have decided not to display party flags and banners but the Shiv Sainiks and ManSainiks have worked hard to put up a major show of strength on Saturday.
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray will be seen on the same platform as they will reach the joint rally venue at 11.30 A.M.
Before they speak, the Communist leader Prakash Reddy, the Peasants and Workers Party of India leader Jayant Patil and NCP (SP) leader and party MP Supriya Sule will address the rally.
Incidentally, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has conveyed his inability to be part of the joint rally due to prior engagements but said his party is against the imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra.
The senior Pawar chose to stay away so that the focus will remain on both the Thackeray brothers.
The Congress has decided not to join the rally especially due to differences with Raj Thackeray’s protests against Hindi speaking people, especially North Indians.
Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS sources said that if the Congress decides to join at the last moment the party representative will be given an opportunity to address the joint rally.
Big screens have been installed inside and outside the joint rally venue as the organisers expect a big turnout.
Both the Thackeray cousins have said that the issue of imposition of Hindi is not yet over as the government’s move to appoint the Narendra Jadhav committee is meaningless and they will continue to oppose the introduction of Hindi.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra Marathi Hindi Controversy: Strict action will be taken against those who take law into their hands: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has made it clear on the Hindi-Marathi language dispute that linguistic discrimination and violence cannot be tolerated. If anyone instigates violence in the name of Marathi language or takes the law into his own hands, strict action will be taken against him because it is the government’s responsibility to maintain law and order. He said that in the Mira Road Hindi Marathi violence case, the police have registered a case and taken action.
A committee has been formed in the matter of Marathi and Hindi language. Whatever is better for the students on its recommendation, the government will implement it. No decision has been taken under anyone’s pressure. He said that the recommendation for Hindi language was made during the Maha Vikas Aghadi rule itself, but now these same people are opposing it. The public knows everything.
He said that in this election, BJP has got 51 percent Marathi votes. Violence and discrimination in the name of language cannot be tolerated. Marathi is a source of pride for us, but we do not oppose Hindi. What will happen if a Marathi businessman in another state is asked to speak his language? In Assam, he was asked to speak Assamese. He said that strict action will be taken against those who break the law.
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