Today in History (December 15th, 1939)
On this day, “Gone with the Wind,” a film adaptation of Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel, premiered in Atlanta, Georgia, starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable. The movie, directed by Victor Fleming, is a romantic epic set in the American South during the Civil War. It became a major success, winning several Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Summary of Today’s News
Terror charges invoked in security breach case
Following a major security breach in the Lok Sabha, the Delhi Police invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against four individuals, charging them under sections of the Indian Penal Code related to criminal conspiracy and other offenses. The accused, alleged to have attacked the Parliament, are also suspected of having links to terrorist outfits. The breach involved posting a pamphlet on social media depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “Missing” with a reward offer through Swiss banks. The Lok Sabha Secretariat suspended eight security personnel, and the accused individuals have been sent to police custody for seven days.
Madras HC: whether killing of Hindu religious leaders is a terrorist act is debatable.
The Madras High Court has questioned whether a conspiracy to kill leaders of the RSS or the BJP, or the killing of Hindu religious leaders, can be termed a “terrorist act.” Justices expressed doubts about applying the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in such cases unless the act poses a threat to the country’s unity, integrity, security, economic security, or sovereignty. The observations were made while granting bail to Asif Musthaheen, accused of conspiring to kill Hindu organization members.
Delisting parties with religious names: ‘only House can decide
The Delhi High Court has stated that the legitimacy of political parties with names containing caste, religious, ethnic, or linguistic connotations should be decided by Parliament, asserting that policymaking is not within the judiciary’s purview. This observation was made during the hearing of a petition seeking the deregistration of such parties. The petitioner argued that names with religious connotations or symbols could impact candidates’ election prospects, but the court emphasized that it does not make laws and suggested that the focus should be on the policies of political parties rather than just their names.
‘India’s fastest’ solar electric boat launched.
Barracuda, touted as India’s fastest solar-electric boat, has been launched at the Navalt Solar and Electric Boats yard in Alappuzha. The eco-friendly vessel, designed by Navalt, can carry up to 12 passengers and cargo, is capable of navigating rough seas, and attains a top speed of 12.5 knots with a seven-hour range on a single charge.
