Trump hails Supreme Court's support for travel ban
Washington, June 27 : US President Donald Trump on Tuesday hailed the Supreme Court ruling that travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries is lawful and termed it "a tremendous victory" and "moment of profound vindication".
In a 5-4 opinion, the court found that Trump's executive order on the immigration restriction fell "squarely within the scope of Presidential authority under the INA (the Immigration and Nationality Act)".
"The [order] is expressly premised on legitimate purposes: preventing entry of nationals who cannot be adequately vetted and inducing other nations to improve their practices," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion.
"The text says nothing about religion." Roberts wrote, rejecting claims that the ban was motivated by religious hostility.
"Today's Supreme Court ruling is a tremendous victory for the American People and the Constitution," Trump said in a statement.
"The Supreme Court has upheld the clear authority of the President to defend the national security of the US. In this era of worldwide terrorism and extremist movements bent on harming innocent civilians, we must properly vet those coming into our country," he added.
Trump said the ruling "is also a moment of profound vindication" for his government "following months of hysterical commentary from the media and Democratic politicians who refuse to do what it takes to secure our border and our country", Efe reported.
"As long as I am President, I will defend the sovereignty, safety, and security of the American People, and fight for an immigration system that serves the national interests of the United States and its citizens. Our country will always be safe, secure, and protected on my watch," he said.
The case has been central to the White House immigration policy, presenting a key test of Trump's campaign promise to restrict immigration and secure the US borders, Xinhua reported.
Trump has signed three versions of executive orders on immigration restrictions targeting several Muslim-majority countries. The initial order, signed soon after he took office in January last year, led to days of nationwide protests and chaos at airports across the country.
The third version of Trump's travel ban barred nearly all travelers from five mainly Muslim countries, namely Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. It also adds a ban on travelers from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and government officials from Venezuela.
The lower courts had ruled that all three versions either violate federal law or are unconstitutional.
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India has ample food stocks, says Union Minister Pralhad Joshi
Hubballi (Karnataka), May 12 (PTI): Allaying fears of shortage of essential commodities, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday said the country has ample food stocks and warned against hoarding, black marketing and creating artificial shortages.
He also urged people not to panic or rush to the markets to purchase food grains, due to rumours in the wake of the military conflict between India and Pakistan.
"We have an abundant quantity of food grains. We have a buffer stock sufficient for a minimum of 1 to 1.5 years. We have given instructions to states from our department to take strict action against hoarding and black marketing. We have given clear warning against creating artificial scarcity," the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said there are enough quantities of pulses and cooking oil, and there is no need for people to create rush for any reason, as there is a big system in place.
"Our production of rice, wheat and other food grains is huge, so there is no need for anyone to worry. If anyone indulges in practices like black marketing, the state governments should take strict action," he added.
Noting that currently a "ceasefire" is in place between India and Pakistan, the union minister said, it has been made clear that India will treat any future act of terror on its soil as an "act of war" and to respond accordingly.
"We will not consider terrorism as an isolated activity and it will be considered as an act of war," he added.
Pointing out that the central government has called all party meetings at every level following the Pahalgam terror attack and information has been shared with opposition parties from time to time, Joshi said the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry will be able to say on the demand for a special parliament session and other things.
He further stated that during the operation in the last three to four days, the Indian armed forces have given a major blow to terrorism infrastructure, terrorists, terror hideouts and training camps, and their supporters.
Regarding the opposition's criticism over the USA's mediation for the ceasefire announcement, the union minister said the Government of India had already made a statement in this regard, and has stated clearly that the understanding was following a call from the Pakistan's Director General Military Operation (DGMO) to India's DGMO, and there were certain preconditions.
"No senior ministers in the central government have made any political statement in contact with the current situation. I appeal to the opposition, the country should remain united," he added.
