Grenfell tragedy: Minute's silence marks 1st anniversary
London, June 14: Buildings across the United Kingdom capital were illuminated overnight and a national minute's silence was observed on Thursday in memory of the victims of devastating Grenfell Tower fire that swept through the 24-floor residential apartment block in West London exactly one year ago.
Grenfell Tower itself and other sites, including the Prime Minister's official residence at Downing Street and the London Eye, were lit up green overnight. Besides claiming the lives of 72 people, the blaze destroyed family homes when it swiftly gutted the tower block in the early hours of June 14, 2017.
The names of the 72 people who died in the blaze were read out at a memorial service in west London. Speaking at the service, Labour MP David Lammy said it was a "bittersweet" moment as the community celebrated their unity but mourned those lost. A vigil took place at a church near the block, the BBC reported.
Clarrie Mendy, who lost two family members in the fire and organised the anniversary event, said: "It's a service of healing, community, inclusivity and solidarity, to know we are not alone."
Bishop of Kensington Dr Graham Tomlin said there was an atmosphere of "quiet dignity, a sombre mood in the air".
Prime Minister Theresa May wrote on Twitter that she wanted to "pay tribute" to the victims' "family, friends and loved ones for the strength and dignity they have shown".
"1 year ago at 00:54 a fire started at Grenfell Tower. Seventy-two lives were lost because of that fire and our lives were changed forever. Forever in our Hearts," citizens' group Grenfell United tweeted. The 24-storey block in North Kensington had been home to some 350 people, according to the UK authorities.
"The terrible tragedy of Grenfell Tower remains very real, raw and painful for many people, every day," Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick said.
"The continued resilience and sense of spirit shown by the community at the heart of this tragedy is inspiring," she said, adding: "Many of us will take time today, one year on, to think back and remember."
The tragedy led to a crackdown on similar buildings across the country after the cladding covering Grenfell Tower's facade was found to fall short of fire safety standards.
The anniversary came as an inquiry into the fire continued its fact-finding stage.
Member of the Justice 4 Grenfell campaign group Yvette Williams said: "We want the nation to keep Grenfell in their consciousness. "The anniversary is about love and support - the fight can start again on Friday and Saturday - and keeping that humanity going on that day."
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SC to hear plea challenging blocking of YouTube channel '4PM' on May 13
New Delhi, May 10 (PTI): The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a plea seeking quashing of an order blocking YouTube channel '4PM' on May 13.
The apex court on May 5 sought responses from the Centre and others on the plea filed by Sanjay Sharma, the editor of digital news platform '4PM', which has a subscriber base of 73 lakh.
The plea claimed that the blocking was effected by the intermediary pursuant to an undisclosed direction allegedly issued by the Centre citing "vague" grounds of "national security" and "public order".
As per the top court's cause list for May 13, the plea is slated to come up for hearing before a bench of justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih.
The plea claimed that the blocking was a "chilling assault on journalistic independence" and the right of public to receive information.
The petition, filed through advocate Talha Abdul Rahman, said no blocking order or underlying complaint was furnished to the petitioner, violating both statutory and constitutional safeguards.
The plea also contended that it was a settled law that the Constitution does not permit blanket removal of content without an opportunity to be heard.
"'National security' and 'public order' are not talismanic invocations to insulate executive action from scrutiny," it said.
The action was not only ultra vires the parent statute, but also strikes at the core of democratic accountability ensured by a free press, the plea said.
"The blocking is a chilling assault on journalistic independence and the right of the public to receive information," it said.
The plea sought a direction to the Centre to produce the order with "reasons" and "records", if any, issued to the intermediary for blocking the channel.
It also sought quashing of Rule 16 of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009.
Rule 16 mandates strict confidentiality regarding all requests, complaints and actions taken under the rule.
The plea also sought striking down and/or reading down Rule 9 of the Blocking Rules, 2009, to mandate issuance of a notice, opportunity of hearing and communication of a copy of the interim order to the originator or creator of the content prior to passing a final order.
It said the petitioner's YouTube channel was blocked without giving any fair opportunity to clarify or justify his case.
