Approach HC for CBI probe into assault cases, Supreme Court tells Agnivesh
New Delhi, Sep 17 : The Supreme Court on Monday asked social activist Swami Agnivesh to approach the High Court for a probe by the CBI or the NIA into attacks on him in Jharkhand and Delhi.
A bench of Justice S.A. Bobde and Justice L. Nageswara Rao also asked the social activist to approach the competent authority in the central government for security.
"We can't prevent threats to ourselves, how can we prevent these to you? People threat us also," the bench said when counsel Mehmood Pracha sought prevention of attacks on his client.
Pracha said that Agnivesh had been attacked twice -- first in Jharkhand and then in Delhi -- and that his safety should be ensured.
He urged the two FIRs be clubbed and the investigation be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation or the National Investigation Agency.
The counsel contended that Agnivesh doesn't expect a fair police investigation and hence the probe should be transferred to the CBI. The court replied: "How can it be a part of CBI jurisdiction? How can we assume that there won't be a fair investigation?"
Agnivesh, 79, was abused and assaulted on July 17 in Jharkhand's Pakur by a mob which, he claimed, comprised members of a BJP-affiliated youth group.
He was also shown black flags for making alleged anti-Hindu remarks earlier and provoking the tribals.
On August 17, Agnivesh was again abused and thrashed outside the BJP headquarters in Delhi when he went there to pay tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whose body was lying in state for the people to pay homage.
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EAM Jaishankar meets Jamaican PM, gifts over 10 BHISHM Cubes
Kingston (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and discussed ways to further deepen "political, economic and people-to-people cooperation."
Jaishankar also conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Holness.
"Pleased to call on Prime Minister @AndrewHolnessJM in Kingston. Conveyed the greetings of PM @narendramodi," Jaishankar posted on X.
"Discussed deepening our political, economic and people-to-people cooperation. Value his commitment towards further strengthening India-Jamaica relations," the post further read.
Also, the external affairs minister handed over 10 BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) Cubes as a gift to Jamaica.
"Formally handed over 10 BHISHM Cubes as a gift from India to Jamaica, in the presence of PM @AndrewHolnessJM, Health Minister @christufton and FM @kaminajsmith," Jaishankar posted on X.
"The BHISHM Cube mobile hospital system, designed for rapid deployment, will help Jamaica during disasters and emergencies. The gift of these cubes is a statement of friendship, a commitment to disaster preparedness, and an outcome of innovation," the post said.
Jaishankar arrived in Kingston on Saturday evening, marking the first leg of his nine-day tour of Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at further strengthening India's strategic and cultural ties with the Caribbean nations.
Earlier in the day, he interacted with the Indian diaspora and discussed India's ongoing transformation in infrastructure, human development and technology-driven governance and entrepreneurship with them.
He also highlighted the cricket bond between both countries as India gifted a scoreboard to Jamaica.
A scoreboard was dedicated at Sabina Park in Kingston. It is the home of the Jamaica cricket team and is the only Test cricket ground in the Caribbean island nation.
The minister expressed hope that the new scoreboard would witness many memorable innings, including those symbolising the enduring friendship between the two countries.
Cricket has long been a strong cultural bridge between India and Jamaica, which is part of the West Indies cricket team.
Jamaican players, including Chris Gayle, Courtney Walsh and Michael Holding, have played a major role in shaping the legacy of West Indies cricket in the international arena, contributing to its dominance in earlier decades and its continued global appeal.
