Important News - 2025-06-20
20 June 2025
Stay Updated. Stay Ahead!
📂 Categories & Latest Updates
Politics (6)
Priests Lead Hunger Strike Demanding Sea Wall for Kannamaly-Fort Kochi Coastline
Priests from the Alappuzha and Kochi dioceses organized a hunger strike near the BOT Bridge at Thoppumpady on Friday, demanding immediate government action to construct a tetrapod sea wall along the Puthenthodu (Kannamaly)-Fort Kochi coastline. This coastal area has been severely affected by frequent sea incursions, leading to significant damage to homes and posing a threat to residents' safety. The protest, which began at 10 a.m. and concluded at 5 p.m., was supported by hundreds of coastal residents who participated in rallies from Palluruthy and Thoppumpady. The agitation was led by the NGO Care Chellanam-Kochi, which highlighted the government's failure to complete the construction of a 12-km-long sea wall, as promised after the 2017 Okhi Cyclone. Despite an allocation of ₹340 crore, only 7.35 km of the wall was built, leaving the remaining stretch vulnerable. The hunger strike was inaugurated by Joseph Jude, vice president of the Kerala Region Latin Catholic Council (KRLCC), and concluded with a speech by Bishop of Kottapuram Ambrose Puthenveetil. Socio-political leaders and community members also addressed the gathering, emphasizing the urgent need for government intervention.
Telangana Demands Return of Five Villages Amid Polavaram Project Concerns
A round-table meeting organized by Telangana Jagruthi in Hyderabad has called for the transfer of five villages from Andhra Pradesh back to Telangana. These villages—Purushottapatnam, Gundala, Yetapaka, Kannayigudem, and Pichukalapaka—were initially part of Telangana but were transferred to Andhra Pradesh in 2014 following the state's bifurcation. The meeting, held at the Press Club on Friday, highlighted concerns over the submergence threat posed by Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram project, particularly to the temple town of Bhadrachalam. Telangana Jagruthi president and BRS MLC K. Kavitha urged Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to leverage his influence with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to expedite the transfer. She also called for an immediate joint survey to assess the submergence impact, accusing Andhra Pradesh of deliberate delays. The issue is set to be discussed at a meeting with the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 25.
Tensions Rise in Manipur Districts Following Violence and Ethnic Clashes
Two districts in Manipur, Churachandpur and Bishnupur, remained tense on June 20, 2025, following incidents of violence. On June 19, an unidentified gunman injured a Meitei farmer in Bishnupur, and later, a Kuki woman, Hoikholhing Haokip, was shot dead in Langchingmanbi village. Churachandpur, dominated by the Kuki-Zo community, observed a shutdown to protest the killing, demanding immediate action against the perpetrators and an independent investigation. Bishnupur residents blocked a highway leading to Churachandpur, seeking the arrest of the farmer’s assailants. Manipur Police reported that security forces retaliated after coming under fire in Bishnupur’s Phubala area, where the farmer was injured. The All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO) condemned the Phubala incident, alleging a possible conspiracy between attackers and security forces, and criticized the Ministry of Home Affairs for failing to restore normalcy. Manipur has been grappling with ethnic conflict between the Kuki-Zos and Meiteis since May 3, 2023, which has claimed over 250 lives and displaced 60,000 people.
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy Criticizes Union Minister Kishan Reddy Over BRS Liaison Role
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy criticized Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, urging him to cease acting as a ‘liaison officer’ for the BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samithi). Revanth Reddy questioned Kishan Reddy’s purpose in meeting Union Ministers ahead of a Telangana government delegation led by the CM, which was scheduled to discuss issues including the Banakacherla project. He also raised concerns over Kishan Reddy’s silence regarding BJP MP Eatala Rajender’s exoneration of former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao in the controversial Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. Revanth Reddy highlighted the disparity between statements by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, who alleged significant corruption in the project, and Rajender’s clean chit. He disclosed that tenders worth ₹1,27,872 crore were issued for the project, but payments amounted to only ₹96,000 crore, with an additional ₹50,000 crore required for completion. The CM also questioned the motives of former Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao, accusing him of misleading the public about the project.
Congress MLA B.R. Patil’s Audio Clip Exposes Corruption in Rajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme
An audio clip allegedly featuring Congress MLA B.R. Patil and an associate of Karnataka Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, Sarfaraz, has surfaced, exposing corruption in house allotments under the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation Ltd. In the clip, Patil claims that houses were distributed in exchange for bribes, ignoring recommendation letters from MLAs in Aland, Afzalpur, and Hosapete constituencies. He alleges that some officials demanded ₹25,000 for each house allotment. The Opposition BJP has demanded the resignation of Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan and a judicial inquiry led by a High Court judge. Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy also criticized the state government, stating that corruption is rampant across departments. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, however, claimed unawareness of the allegations. Earlier, Yelburga MLA Basavaraj Rayaraddi had termed Karnataka as 'number one in corruption,' adding to the government's embarrassment.
NC MP Ruhullah Criticizes Declining Polity in Jammu and Kashmir, Calls for Reform
On June 20, 2025, Aga Syed Ruhullah, a Member of Parliament from the ruling National Conference (NC) in Jammu and Kashmir, expressed his dissatisfaction with the declining quality of politics in the region. Speaking in Sopore, located in the Baramulla constituency of north Kashmir, Ruhullah emphasized the need for systemic reform and accountability, urging societal support for the cause. He criticized the current political climate, stating that merely changing political parties would not address the issues. Ruhullah engaged with the youth in a Q&A session on Kashmir’s political challenges, though his event was notably boycotted by local NC leaders, highlighting growing tensions within the party. Earlier, Ruhullah had joined protests over the rationalization of reservation quotas and admitted that the NC’s top leadership had not been in contact with him. He also advocated for the public release of the Cabinet Sub-Committee’s report on reservation quotas, submitted to the Cabinet earlier that week. Ruhullah, a prominent Shia cleric, is known for his bold stance on issues like Article 370, greater autonomy, and security forces’ crackdowns in Kashmir.
Appointments (1)
KSAT Halts Transfer of Raichur University Registrar Shankareppa Vanikyal
The Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal (KSAT), Bengaluru Bench, issued an interim order on June 19, 2025, staying the State government’s decision to transfer Shankareppa Vanikyal, Registrar (Administration) of Raichur University. The government had, through a notification on June 18, 2025, appointed Channappa A., Registrar (Administration) of Karnataka University, Dharwad, as his replacement. Vanikyal challenged the transfer, arguing it was premature and arbitrary, as he had not completed his tenure and was not assigned a new post. The tribunal found that the transfer guidelines were likely violated due to the lack of clarity in the order and the absence of an alternative posting for Vanikyal. Consequently, the tribunal directed the State government not to relieve Vanikyal from his current position until the next hearing, scheduled for July 7, 2025. Following the stay order, Vanikyal resumed his duties as Registrar (Administration) at Raichur University on Friday afternoon.
Heritage (1)
Supreme Court Stays Demolition of Unauthorized Temple in Madurai
The Supreme Court of India, on Friday, issued a stay order on the demolition of a temple in Madurai, which was allegedly constructed without valid permission by the Visthara Welfare Association. A bench comprising Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan has issued a notice to the Madurai Corporation in response to a petition filed by the association. The petition challenges the Madras High Court’s order directing the demolition of the temple. The High Court had ruled that the temple was illegally built on land designated as open space within an apartment complex, and the apartment owners’ association failed to provide any construction permits. The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing for August 25. The temple’s fate remains uncertain as the legal proceedings continue.
Schemes (1)
8,583 Students Selected in Final Phase of RTE Act Free Admissions in Andhra Pradesh
Samagra Shiksha State Project Director B. Srinivasa Rao announced that 8,583 students have been selected in the second and final phase of the lottery conducted for free admissions under clause 12 (1) (C) of the Right to Education (RTE) Act in private unaided schools across Andhra Pradesh for the academic year 2025-26. The selected students' parents will receive information via SMS, and details will also be available on the official website https://cse.ap.gov.in/. Students must confirm their admissions by visiting their respective schools with valid documents between June 21 and June 28. A toll-free number, 18004258599, has been provided for further assistance. School managements have been instructed to verify documents and ensure admissions, with departmental action threatened against any school denying admission without valid reasons. Additional Project Coordinators (APCs) of Samagra Shiksha at the district level will verify these admissions. In the first phase, 37,427 children registered for Class 1 admissions, with 28,561 deemed eligible and 23,118 allotted seats, of which 15,541 have joined schools.
World Affairs (1)
Iran Opens Airspace for Safe Evacuation of 1,000 Indians Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
In a significant humanitarian gesture, Iran announced on June 20, 2025, that it would open its airspace, which had been closed due to escalating conflict with Israel, to facilitate the safe return of approximately 1,000 Indian nationals. The evacuees, including students, professionals, and tourists, will be transported via chartered flights operated by an Iranian airline, organized by the Indian Embassy in Tehran. The flights will depart from Mashaad, near the Iran-Uzbekistan border, with the first flight arriving in Delhi on Friday night, followed by additional flights on Saturday and Sunday. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also confirmed that another chartered flight would evacuate Indians who had crossed into Turkmenistan, departing from Ashgabat on Friday. Iranian officials emphasized their commitment to ensuring the safe passage of Indian nationals, despite the ongoing conflict. The MEA had earlier expressed deep concern over the Israel-Iran conflict, urging dialogue and diplomacy to de-escalate tensions. Meanwhile, Iran called on India to join international efforts to pressure Israel to halt its military actions, warning that failure to condemn such aggression could embolden other nations to pursue unilateral actions. The conflict has seen Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, with Tehran retaliating by launching missiles that breached Israel's 'Iron Dome' defense system. The situation has broader implications for regional stability, including potential disruptions to trade and oil shipments through the Straits of Hormuz, which Iran has not ruled out closing as a pressure tactic.
Miscellaneous (2)
KSRTC Uncovers Diesel Theft Attempt in Mandya During Routine Inspection
Officials of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) uncovered an attempted diesel theft during a routine fuel tanker inspection at the Pandavapura depot in Mandya district, Karnataka, on May 13, 2024. The inspection revealed a shortage of approximately 130 litres in the fourth compartment of the tanker, and a detailed examination exposed a 15 mm external tube illegally inserted into the delivery pipe. This setup allowed fuel to be diverted directly into the tanker's diesel tank, indicating a deliberate attempt to siphon diesel before delivery. The depot manager promptly filed a complaint with the Assistant Commissioner of the Legal Metrology Department in Mandya. A joint team confirmed the illegal arrangement on May 14, and a case was registered under Section 15 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009. The tanker and related documents were subsequently seized.
Karnataka High Court Stays Bengaluru Waste Management Tender Over Breach of Undertaking
The Karnataka High Court has issued a stay on the new tender invited by the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd (BSWML) on May 28 for the collection and transportation of the city’s garbage. The court observed that this move breaches the undertaking given earlier, where the State Advocate General had assured the continuation of the November 7, 2024 tender. The court had previously permitted the State government and BSWML to proceed with the November 7 tender, but both entities instead introduced a new tender with new clauses. Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the interim order in response to a petition filed by the Bengaluru Mahanagara Swachate Mattu Lorry Malikara Hagoo Guthigedarara Sangha. The petition highlighted that the government’s May 26 approval for the new tender imposed a condition requiring BSWML to seek permission from the minister in charge, which violates the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act. The court expressed serious displeasure with the State government’s conduct in breaching its earlier undertaking.
Comments
Post a Comment