Morning Brief: Government Approves Five Metro Rail Projects Worth Rs 1 Lakh Crore, Amarnath Yatra Begins Today; Alliance With JD(S) May End After 2019, Says Siddaramaiah

Good morning, dear reader! Here’s your morning news and views brief for today.

Government Approves Metro Rail Projects Worth Rs 1 Lakh Crore

The Finance Ministry has approved metro rail projects for Indore, Bhopal, Kanpur, Agra, and Delhi to be undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs 1.07 lakh crore. The proposed length of the Indore project is 104.25 km and the estimated cost is Rs 26,762 crore. The proposed length of the Bhopal metro, estimated to cost Rs 22,504 crore, is 95.03 km. Both Kanpur and Agra metros will have two corridors with the total length of 32.3 km and 30 km respectively. These corridors will be completed at an estimated cost of Rs 28,445 crore, excluding the land cost and state taxes. Three corridors of phase four of the Delhi metro, running into 61.66 km, will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 29,000 crore. The ministry has also granted in-principle approval for the Rs 32,000 crore Delhi-Meerut corridor of the Rapid Rail Transit System. The “in-principle” approval is just the first step in a series of approvals. These projects have not been approved by Public Investment Board and the Union Cabinet.

Amarnath Yatra Begins Today

The first batch of pilgrims for the annual Amarnath Yatra will leave from Jammu's Bhagwati Nagar base camp today. The highest-ever number of pilgrims are expected to take part in the Amarnath Yatra this year. The number of advance registrations for the yatra has already crossed 2 lakh. However, security continues to remain a concern. Security agencies have said that the Amarnath Yatra is a target for Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in Kashmir and over 250 of those are waiting at launchpads across the Line of Control. At least 40,000 security personnel from the police, paramilitary forces, National Disaster Response Force and the Army have been being deployed this year. The yatra is scheduled to conclude on 26 August. In the past 18 years, at least 52 Amarnath pilgrims have been killed in five terrorist attacks. Eight Amarnath pilgrims were killed in a deadly attack on a bus last year in Anantnag. Operational chief of terror group Hizbul Mujahideen has said the people participating in the yatra were their guests in Kashmir and won't be targeted.

Congress-JD(S) Alliance May Not Last After 2019 Election: Siddaramaiah

A video in which former Chief Minister of Karnataka and Congress leader Siddaramaiah has hinted that the alliance between his party and the Janata Dal (Secular) may not last for five years was aired by regional channels in the state on Tuesday, Times Now has said in its report. The video was reportedly recorded in Dharmasthala, where Siddaramaiah is currently undergoing treatment.

"Five years...difficult...let's see what will happen after the parliament election (in 2019). They (government) will remain until parliament elections are over, after that, what all developments will happen (we will have to see)," news agency Press Trust of India quoted Siddaramaiah as saying in the video.

US Supreme Court Upholds Trump’s Travel Ban

US President Donald Trump’s ban on people traveling to the united States from several Muslim-majority countries was on Tuesday upheld by the Sureme Court of the country. Reversing the decision of the lower courts, which deemed the ban unconstitutional, the US’ top court reversed the decision in a 5-4 conservative majority ruling. Trump’s ban restricts nationals from seven countries - Iran, North Korea, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Venezuela - from entering the US. Trump has hailed the ruling as a "tremendous victory for the American People and the Constitution." While the court case continued, the Supreme Court had allowed the ban to take effect in December. Trump’s ban allows for waivers on a case-by-case basis. However, even as the court upheld the ban, Chief Justice John Roberts criticised Trump.

Six Policemen Killed In Maoist Attack In Jharkhand

Six jawans belonging to a special unit of the Jharkhand police, called the Jaguar Force, were killed in a landmine blast carried out by Maoists on the border of Latehar and Garhwa districts of the state. According to Deputy Inspector General, the six jawans had reached the spot after being informed about the presence of Maoists. When Maoists detected their presence, they triggered a landmine blast and opened fire, killing six personnel. An encounter is currently ongoing in the area and reinforcements have been rushed in. This is the first big attack by Maoists in Jharkhand after the one in 2016, when seven police personnel were killed in Palamu district. Landmines were used in the attack, like in this case.

Vijay Mallya Offers To Settle Bank Dues

Beleaguered business tycoon Vijay Mallya has offered to settle bank dues by selling some of his assets worth about Rs 13,900 crore ($2.04 billion) and sought permission from the Karnataka High Court. Mallya’s move comes when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed an application seeking to declare him a “fugitive economic offender” and sought to confiscate Rs 12,500 worth of his assets. According to the Deccan Herald, the Debt Recovery Tribunal has recovered and transferred to ED assets worth Rs 7,528.85 crore. In recent weeks, Indian agencies have also ramped up their efforts to extradite him back to the country. In his note, Mallya has blamed the ED for misusing power and said that he was a victim of a witch hunt.

MUST READ OPINIONS AND COLUMNS

Ripples Of Reform In Dhaka: Bangladesh’s transformation of the water sector, that connects the urban poor to the piped network, has lessons for Indian cities.

False Comparison: Misogynistic violence against women in India is a fact. Equally, context-free comparisons are unhelpful.

SWARAJYA SPECIAL

Meat And Liquor Ban In Mathura Towns Polarises Hindus and Muslims On Expected Lines: Meat and liquor have been banned in several towns of the Mathura district after they were declared holy pilgrimage sites by the government. While the Hindus have mostly welcomed the ban, the Muslims say it is hurting their livelihood and food habits, and are eyeing it with suspicion.

We hope you enjoyed reading our morning brief. Have a great day ahead!

SUBSCRIBE NOW: For more insights and detailed analysis, get a copy home and enjoy reading Swarajya in print. Subscribe here for just Rs 349.

Swarajya Apps: Enjoy reading morning brief and all other articles from Swarajya on your mobile. Download our app here on Android and iOS.