IMPHAL: Clashes have broken out between armed groups and security forces at over half a dozen places across Manipur on Sunday, officials said. The latest clashes began after army commenced coming operations to de-arm communities in order to bring peace.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh claimed to newspersons on Sunday that the latest round of clashes were not between rival communities but between Kuki militants and Security forces.
The house of BJP MLA Khwairakpam Raghumani Singh at Uripok in Imphal West was vandalised and his two vehicles have been set on fire, a top security official told PTI.
He also said that clashes broke out in the early hours of the morning at several places in different districts surrounding the Imphal Valley.
“According to our information, firing has been reported from Sugnu in Kakching, Kangvi in Churachandpur, Kangchup in Imphal West, Sagolmang in Imphal East, Nungoipokpi in Bishenpur, Khurkhul in Imphal West and YKPI in Kangpokpi,” the official said.
New roadblocks have also sprung up at areas manned by women.
There was also an unconfirmed report of arms being looted from Kakching police station by a Meitei group, the official said.
Ethnic clashes which have claimed over 75 lives first broke out in Manipur after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
The violence was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribal Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.
Around 140 columns of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles, comprising over 10,000 personnel, besides those from other paramilitary forces had to be deployed to bring back normalcy in the Northeastern state.

NEW DELHI: Ace wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Mallik and Bajrang Punia were among others who were detained by Delhi Police on Sunday while attempting to march to the new Parliament building where they planned to stage a demonstration.

Delhi police has reportedly “removed” the makeshift tents placed by the protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar in the national capital, sources said.
The wrestlers had announced that they planned to hold a women’s Maha Panchayat in front of the new Parliament as part of their protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan who has been accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers.
Mahila Maha Panchayat Live Updates
Seven women wrestlers have filed a police complaint against him.
“We are not being allowed to enter and our people are being detained. He (Brij Bhushan) is sitting in Parliament and we are being sent to jail,” said Vinesh Phogat said this morning. She also took to Twitter to post about the “murder of democracy.”

“On one hand the Prime Minister has inaugurated the new building of democracy. On the other hand the arrests of our people are on, ” Phogat tweeted.
Earlier Delhi Police said that “unsocial elements” won’t not be allowed to enter the national capital to ensure smooth conduct of the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building, said DCP, Sonipat East Gaurav Rajpurohit.

“We have deployed male and female companies at Delhi-Haryana border points to ensure unsocial elements are stopped from entering Delhi. Sonipat East Zone Police has not detained anyone so far. We will not allow people to enter Delhi if their motive is to disrupt the inauguration of the new Parliament House, our intelligence team is identifying such people,” added the DCP.
“We will not allow anything to disrupt the inauguration of the new Parliament building. The entire Delhi Police is on its toes to make sure the inauguration ceremony is conducted smoothly,” said Delhi Police Special CP Deepender Pathak.

Delhi Police increased the security in the national capital, including on its borders ahead of a march by wrestlers.
The Police barricaded all the borders of the national capital in order to prevent any protest or gathering.

“Delhi Police are prepared for such situations. We have enough force to deploy. Last time the border was closed for months because of the protesters (farmers’ protests). We have prepared our forces so that such situations do not arise again. We will convince the protesters to return,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Delhi Amrutha Gugulot told ANI.
(With ANI inputs)
Watch Clash erupts between wrestlers and Delhi police; Sakshi Malik detained

Earlier this week, Suella Braverman, the secretary of state for the home department of the UK, announced some significant immigration policy changes which will have an impact on students from India who are planning to go to her country for higher education.
One of the steps that UK’s home secretary announced is removing the right for international students to bring dependants unless they are on postgraduate courses currently designated as research programmes.
According to the announcement, immigration statistics of the UK highlighted an unexpected rise in the number of dependants coming to the UK alongside international students. Around 136,000 visas were granted to dependants of sponsored students in the year ending December 2022, a more than eight-fold increase from 16,000 in 2019, when the UK government’s commitment to lower net migration was made.

“The international education strategy plays an important part in supporting the economy through the economic contribution students can bring to the UK, but this should not be at the expense of our commitment to the public to lower overall migration and ensure that migration to the UK is highly skilled and therefore provides the most benefit. The proposals we are announcing today will ensure that we can continue to meet our international education strategy commitments, while making a tangible contribution to reducing net migration to sustainable levels. The terms of the graduate route remain unchanged,” Braverman announced.
“The government will seek to continue to strike the balance between reducing overall net migration with ensuring that businesses have the skills they need and we continue to support economic growth. Those affected by this package will predominantly be dependants of students who make a more limited contribution to the economy than students or those coming under the skilled worker route, minimising the impact on UK growth.” Experts feel that the change affecting dependants will come into effect in January 2024, though the details have not yet been announced by the UK government.
Sakshi Bhatia Chopra, an Indian student from Chandigarh, who is now studying a masters course in international development at UK’s University of Bristol, feels that while on one hand the British government is trying to cut down the burden on government-linked public services such as the National Health Service (NHS), through the curb on dependents of international students; there is also a focus on the economic benefits that international students bring. including their fees. “Dependents of students are sometimes perceived as competing for jobs with the local people besides being a burden on UK’s public services,” Bhatia Chopra said. She added that the negative aspect of this move for Indian students would be the separation of families. “When Indian students, who are around 30-32, go to a foreign country for a masters course, the right to take their dependents with them will affect their decision in choosing the country where they would like to go. Besides, migrants bring different cultural aspects with them and are very important for the diversity of global classrooms,” she added.
Commenting on these announcements, Karan Bilimoria, member of the British House of Lords and president, UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA), a national advisory body that serves the interest of international students, told the Times of India: “It will definitely affect some international students who, if they cannot bring their dependents with them, even for a one-year master’s programme will choose another country.” He, however, added that it is a relief that the two-year post graduate work visa has not been reduced. “We are in a global race particularly, competing with the USA, Australia, and Canada. Australia for example, now offers a minimum of four years post-graduation work visa, double of what we offer,” Bilimoria added.
According to him, the elephant in the room is the UK government continuing to insist on treating international students as immigrants and including them in the net migration figures. “They are creating a rod for their own back, if they exclude international students from the net migration figures, with internationals students’ numbers growing rapidly over the past couple of years, since the reintroduction of the two-year post graduate work visa, you will have more students coming to the UK than leaving. The estimate is that the net migration figures would reduce by over 300,000 if international students were excluded from the net migration figures,” he said.

Bilimoria, who is the co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on International Students, feels that the UK should exclude international students from their net migration figuresand treat them as temporary migrants; as is being done by the USA and Australia. “Instead of unnecessarily creating a fear of migration, the UK government should instead be celebrating international students who now make up 18% of British universities income. The latest figures released earlier this month, show that international students boost the UK economy by 42 billion pounds every year and every 1 in 11 non-EU international student, generate 1 million pounds of net economic impact in the UK.”
The UK government’s decision to restrict international students from bringing family members with them, except for those studying postgraduate research courses, is likely to have an impact on Indian students who choose the UK for higher education, feels Saurabh Arora, CEO, University Living, a company focussed on student accommodation around the world. “Many Indian students value the opportunity to have their family members accompany them during their studies as it provides emotional support and a sense of familiarity in a foreign country. This policy change may deter some Indian students from pursuing education in the UK, especially those who rely on family support,” he said.
Arora feels that the absence of family members may create challenges related to emotional well-being and adjusting to a new environment. “Having family support can significantly ease the transition and help students feel more comfortable in their new surroundings. Additionally, the financial burden may increase as students may need to bear the full cost of accommodation, living expenses, and other related costs without the potential income contribution from their family members,” he said. The restriction on bringing family members could also impact the accommodation and housing needs of Indian students in the UK. “Typically, when families accompany students, they often seek larger accommodation or consider options suitable for families. With this restriction, Indian students may opt for smaller and more affordable housing options, such as shared accommodations or university-provided accommodations. This shift in preferences may have implications for the demand and availability of different types of housing in university towns and cities,” Arora said.
Some of the other measures announced in the package of immigration policy changes earlier this week, include removing the ability for international students to switch out of the student route into work routes before their studies have been completed; reviewing the maintenance requirements for students and dependants and steps to clamp down on unscrupulous education agents who may be supporting inappropriate applications to sell immigration not education.
“The restriction on switching to the skilled worker route until completing the programme could be seen as a potential drawback for international students, including Indian students. This policy prevents students from seamlessly transitioning into employment opportunities in the UK upon completing their studies. It may pose challenges for those who wish to explore job prospects or gain work experience in the UK immediately after graduation,” says Arora. However, he feels that this restriction may be aimed at ensuring that students complete their academic programmes before pursuing employment opportunities, which aligns with the primary purpose of their student visas.

NEW DELHI: A short film about India’s new Parliament was screened at the grand inauguration ceremony of the building on Sunday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, MPs and chief ministers of various states.
The 9 minute 26-second-long film delves into the history of India’s Parliament and offers insightful details about the sprawling new building which was inaugurated by PM Modi earlier today.
It also explains the philosophy behind the majestic statues of animals placed at the various gateways of the building.
Here are some key facts about India’s new Parliament …
Tribute to nature
The video said that the six entrances of Parliament feature figurines of auspicious animals as well as mythical creatures who have been placed as “doorkeepers”.
The gateway installations feature Garud (eagle), Gaj (elephant), Ashva (horse), Maggar (crocodile), Hans (swan)and Shardul (mythological creature).
It said that each animal is symbolic of nature and its various forms. For instance, Maggar and Hans pay respect to water while Shardula and Garuda are symbolic of the sky.

Peacock-themed Lok Sabha, Lotus-themed Rajya Sabha
The video said that the Lok Sabha has been inspired by India’s national bird peacock and is twice the size of the old chamber.
The designs drawn from the national bird’s feathers are carved on the walls and ceiling, complemented by teal carpets.
Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha is inspired by the national flower lotus and is almost 1.5 times the size of the old upper house chamber
It said that both the chambers are dedicated to the citizens of the country, which is why there is a massive visitors’ gallery inside.

Ample seating space
The new building can comfortably seat 888 members in the Lok Sabha chamber and 300 in the Rajya Sabha chamber.
In case of a joint sitting of both the Houses, a total of 1,280 members can be accommodated in the Lok Sabha chamber.
In both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, two members will be able to sit on one bench and each member will have a touch screen on the desk.
During his inauguration speech in Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that there was a need for a new Parliament building since the number of members is expected to rise in the future.
He was referring to the delimitation exercise which will take place in 2026, following which the parliamentarians may increase.

Modern technology
Both the chambers will be equipped with modern technology and the new Parliament will be completely paperless.
The video said there is a provision for biometrics for the MPs in the new building for ease of voting.

There is also a huge multimedia display inside the chambers which will show live proceedings and events such as voting on bills.
The building will also have automatic camera control and a fully-equipped command centre, the video said.
Pendulum clock
The Central foyer inside Parliament will feature a stunning triangular-shaped roof.
It will also have a pendulum clock circling an artwork depicting the universe. It will be illuminated by the sun’s rays coming through the roof, the video said.

The building will also have a Constitution hall which will showcase India’s democratic heritage, a lounge for members of Parliament, a library, multiple committee rooms, dining areas and ample parking space.
A digital copy of the Indian Constitution will also be kept inside the hall.
Constructed in record time
The video said that the Parliament building was constructed in a record time of under 2.5 years by as many as 60,000 workers.
It was constructed by Tata Projects Ltd.
The new, triangular-shaped parliament complex is just across from the heritage building built by British architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker in 1927, two decades before India’s independence.
The four-storey building has a massive built-up area of 65,000 square metres.
Imprint of various states
The video said that the building and its adornments were constructed from materials sourced from various parts of the country.
The teakwood used in the building was sourced from Nagpur in Maharashtra, while the red and white sandstone was procured from Sarmathura in Rajasthan. The teakwood has also been used in the Ashok Chakra adorning both the Houses.
The sandstone for the Red Fort and Humayun’s Tomb in the national capital was also known to have been sourced from Sarmathura.
The Kesharia green stone has been procured from Udaipur, the red granite from Lakha near Ajmer and the white marble has been sourced from Ambaji in Rajasthan.
The steel structure for the false ceilings in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha chambers have been sourced from the union territory of Daman and Diu, while the furniture in the new building was crafted in Mumbai.
The stone ‘jaali’ (lattice) works dotting the building were sourced from Rajnagar in Rajasthan and Noida in Uttar Pradesh.
The materials for the Ashoka Emblem were sourced from Aurangabad in Maharashtra and Jaipur in Rajasthan, while the Ashok Chakra donning the massive walls of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha chambers and the exteriors of the parliament building were procured from Indore in Madhya Pradesh.

Manufactured sand or M-sand from Charkhi Dadri in Haryana has been used for creating a concrete mix for the construction activities of the building.
The fly ash bricks used in the construction were sourced from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, while brass works and pre-cast trenches were from Ahmedabad in Gujarat.
Energy efficient
The new Parliament boasts of an inbuilt process that makes it highly efficient in energy, water and other inputs utilisation and has green building certification of GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) 5 Star.
There is a provision of a decentralised sewage treatment plant that will recycle water and use it for flushing and irrigation needs.
Native vegetation is used to minimise irrigation needs with irrigation done efficiently with systems like drip irrigation. The entire building has been designed to be energy efficient and has a Green Building Certification of GRIHA 5 Star.
The building is also designed to maintain good indoor air quality. It is provided with a three stage filtration process along with UV lamp to ensure clean and fresh indoor air.
An ultrasonic humidifier is also employed to maintain relative humidity within threshold limits especially in winter season. Further, air quality monitoring devices will be used to ensure good air quality within the premises.
The building was constructed by employing processes that were designed to produce minimal waste and minimise any potential adverse environmental effects.
To avoid any water pollution, the construction site utilised two sewage treatment plants (STPs) for treating wastewater.
Watch Exploring New Parliament Building: Key features and architectural highlights