New Delhi, July 4 (IANS) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has amended parliamentary rules to restrict newly elected MPs from using any additional words or remarks before or after taking the oath or affirmation of membership.

The Speaker has made an amendment to Rule 389 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha (Seventeenth Edition).

According to the amendment, a “member shall make and subscribe oath or affirmation, as the case may be, in accordance with the form set out for the purpose, in the Third Schedule to the Constitution of India and shall not use any word or expression or make any remark as a prefix or suffix to the form of oath or affirmation.”

The amendment comes amid controversy over some MPs raising slogans like “Jai Palestine”, “Jai Hindu Rashtra” while taking oath.

Recently, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi raised slogans of ‘Jai Bhim, Jai Mim, Jai Telangana and ‘Jai Palestine’ in the House after taking oath as an MP. Apart from Owaisi, some other MPs were also seen raising slogans before or after taking oath.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, July 4 (IANS) The police in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district have registered a case against four persons who have been accused of harassing a couple while they were spending time together, an official said on Wednesday.

The incident happened at the Tunga Reservoir on Tuesday.

According to police sources, the couple, who are in a relationship, had gone to the reservoir along with their common friend.

When they were spending time talking to each other, a group of four local youths approached them.

The youths had misbehaved with the couple and assaulted the woman’s boyfriend and his friend.

They also asked both to leave the place and leave the girl behind. Eventually, the police were informed, following which a team rushed to the spot and rescued the young woman.

The police have registered a case of kidnapping against the accused youths.

–IANS

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Jammu, July 4 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir DGP Police R.R. Swain, while providing updates on the security situation in the UT, on Wednesday said that the graph of terrorism within the region has come down and assured that the few remaining foreign terrorists would soon be neutralised.

Swain highlighted the challenge of individuals supporting terrorists for financial gain, emphasising that the police are taking strict measures against anyone aiding terrorism.

He affirmed the commitment to addressing coordinated support for terrorism and reiterated that any ideology promoting violence will not be tolerated.

The DGP also cited the massive participation in the recent Lok Sabha elections as proof of significant improvements in the law and order situation in the Kashmir Valley.

–IANS

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Guwahati, July 4 (IANS) The flood situation in the northeastern state of Assam has further deteriorated as eight fresh deaths were reported, taking the toll to 46, an official said on Wednesday, adding over 15 lakh people have been affected so far.

An Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) official said that on Wednesday, two persons died in Sonitpur district and one each died in Dibrugarh, Darrang, Golaghat, Biswanath, Tinsukia and Morigaon districts.

According to ASDMA officials, the flood also inundated over 39,451 hectares of crop areas in 2,800 villages.

Over 11.20 lakh domestic animals were also badly affected in the current flood.

The Brahmaputra, Barak, and all their tributaries are flowing above the danger level in many places. The flood damaged 74 roads, 14 embankments, and 6 bridges.

The state government has opened 515 relief camps where around 26,000 people took shelter, while 359 more relief distribution centres are also functioning in different districts.

Many national and state disaster response forces teams have also been deployed for rescue and relief operations.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reviewed the flood scenario in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve on Tuesday.

The park authorities issued traffic diversions to ensure the safety of animals. The movement of heavy commercial vehicles through the park has been restricted.

Sarma also visited the flood-affected Golaghat district.

He said that several battalions of NDRF and SDRF were working to deal with the situation.

“We have taken help from the Indian Air force wherever required. We have decided to carry out a damage assessment and provide relief to the flood affected people by August 15,” the Chief Minister said.

He said: “To carry out this exercise, ministers will fan out in different districts and camp for three days. I will go to Barak Valley for a couple of days. In September-October, we will be able to allocate funds for the damaged infrastructure and get the same repaired by March next year.”

–IANS

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Ramanagar, (Karnataka), July 4 (IANS) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar on Wednesday dismissed allegations of any wrong-doings in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allocation as he asserted that there have been no scams during the Congress government’s tenure in the state.

Talking to reporters after a ‘Government at your doorstep’ programme in the taluk, he said: “All the scams that the state witnessed have taken place during the BJP tenure. We will respond to all the allegations during the (Assembly) session.”

The BJP is demanding resignation of CM Siddaramaiah alleging his role in the alleged MUDA scam.

Reacting to Union Minister and JD-S leader H.D. Kumaraswamy’s ‘Jana Samparka’ programmes in Mandya district, Shivakumar said: “Let him do it. It is good for the people if leaders do programmes like this, even if it is a copy of someone else.”

To a query on the announcement of candidates for bypolls, he said: “Let the election dates be announced. Then the candidates will come and file nominations.”

Asked about BJP leader G. Devaraje Gowda’s allegation that Shivakumar was behind his arrest, the Deputy CM said: “It is a good thing if he is remembering me.”

Gowda had alleged that Shivakumar had lured him to defame former PM Dave Gowda’s family in sex video case and he was arrested when he refused to do so.

Shivakumar also said that Channapatna town will become Bengaluru under his leadership.

“We are all from Bengaluru district. We were in Bengaluru and we are in Bengaluru. We don’t have to lose the name, wait for a couple of days. You may check the textbooks on all our origins. Hosakote, Devanahalli, Magadi, Kanakapura, all surrounding cities of state capital, all belong to Bengaluru.”

On Union Minister Kumaraswamy’s promise that he would make Ramanagara and Channapatna twin cities, he said: “He was the Chief Minister twice, why did he not fulfil his promises. I will keep my word.”

–IANS

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