Karur stampede: SC to hear tomorrow TVK's plea challenging HC order to set up SIT
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Friday the plea filed by Tamil actor Vijay's political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, challenging the Madras High Court order directing that an SIT be constituted to probe the Karur stampede in which 41 people were killed.
The apex court had on Tuesday agreed to hear the plea on October 10.
A bench comprising Justices J K Maheshwari and N V Anjaria is scheduled to hear the matter as per the apex court cause list.
On Tuesday, the CJI-headed bench agreed to hear BJP leader Uma Anandan's plea challenging the high court order refusing a CBI probe into the September 27 stampede.
The TVK has sought an independent investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court, contending that a fair and impartial probe would not be possible if conducted solely by officers of the Tamil Nadu Police.
The plea has objected to the high court constituting a special investigation team (SIT) only with officers of the Tamil Nadu Police.
It alleged the possibility of a pre-planned conspiracy by some miscreants that led to the stampede.
The plea also took exception to scathing remarks of the high court against the party and the actor politician that they abandoned the place after the incident, and that they did not express any remorse.
Earlier, police said the rally saw a turnout of 27,000, nearly three times the expected 10,000 participants, and blamed a seven-hour delay by Vijay in reaching the venue for the tragedy.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
