Afghanistan earthquake: Jaishankar speaks to Muttaqi
New Delhi (PTI): India on Monday started delivering relief materials for people hit by a major earthquake in Afghanistan with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar assuring his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi of more supplies.
A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit northern Afghanistan, killing at least 20 people and injuring over 500.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India delivered food items for the families affected by the earthquake.
Earlier, Jaishankar dialled Muttaqi and conveyed condolences over the loss of lives in the earthquake that struck Balkh, Samangan and Baghlan provinces.
"Indian relief material for the earthquake impacted communities is being handed over today. Further supplies of medicines to reach soon," the external affairs minister said on social media.
"Discussed progress in our bilateral relationship since his visit. Welcomed the improving people-to-people contacts between India and Afghanistan. Appreciated the exchange of views on the regional situation," he added.
It is learnt that the Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict figured in the phone conversation between the two foreign ministers.
The military conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan erupted while Muttaqi was visiting India last month.
The clashes erupted following a Pakistani airstrike on Kabul. Afghanistan strongly responded to the attack following which the conflict escalated.
The two sides entered into a ceasefire on October 19 following talks brokered by Qatar and Turkiye.
Days after Muttaqi's trip to India, New Delhi announced upgrading its technical mission in Kabul to the status of an embassy as part of broader efforts to deepen bilateral engagement with Kabul.
India had withdrawn its officials from its embassy in Kabul after the Taliban seized power in August 2021. In June 2022, India re-established its diplomatic presence in the Afghan capital by deploying a "technical team".
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on October 21 said the Indian embassy in Kabul will further augment India's contribution to Afghanistan's comprehensive development, humanitarian assistance, and capacity-building initiatives.
Muttaqi was in India last month for six days that signalled a new approach in New Delhi's ties with Kabul though it has not yet recognised the Taliban set up.
In New Delhi, the foreign minister had said Afghanistan will not allow any elements to use its territory against New Delhi's interests.
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'Someone must be held accountable': HC converts civil suit on Goa nightclub tragedy into PIL
Panaji (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Monday converted a civil suit against Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub into a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) saying "someone has to be held accountable" for the tragedy in which 25 people were killed.In a stern observation, Goa bench of the High Court of Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ashish Chavan said the local panchayat had "failed to take suo motu cognisance" of the club and had taken "no action despite complaints."
The division bench directed the Goa government to file a detailed reply on the permissions granted to the nightclub.
The High Court, while fixing January 8 as the next date of hearing, pointed out that commercial operations were continuing in the structure despite it having been served a demolition order.
The original petition was filed after the December 6 tragedy by Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar and Sunil Divkar, the owners of the land on which the nightclub was operating.
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Advocate Rohit Bras de Sa, the lawyer representing the petitioner, was made amicus curiae in the matter and has been asked to file a detailed affidavit in the matter.
In their petition, Amonkar and Divkar highlighted "the alarming pattern of statutory violations that have remained inadequately addressed despite multiple complaints, inspections, show-cause notices, and even a demolition order".
They contended that these violations posed "immediate threats to public safety, ecological integrity, and the rule of law in the state of Goa."
Investigations by multiple agencies into the nightclub fire have revealed various irregularities, including lack of permissions to operate the nightclub.
The Goa police arrested five managers and staff members of the club, while co-owners Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra have been detained in Thailand after they fled the country.
