 "Vijay Shah’s controversial remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi quickly went viral, sparking nationwide outrage and drawing sharp criticism from political leaders and women’s rights groups. Image courtesy: PTI, X")
The Supreme Court will today hear a case involving Madhya Pradesh Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah, who is facing criticism for his remarks on Indian Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. The minister is seeking a stay on the FIR linked to an earlier order by the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
What else is planned for the day?
A team of Indian officials, headed by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, is scheduled to travel to the United States today for discussions on a bilateral trade agreement.
Hadi Matar, found guilty of attacking and blinding Indian-born British writer Salman Rushdie three years ago, will be sentenced today.
Iran will meet with several European countries in Istanbul today to discuss the 2015 nuclear deal, which has largely come to a halt.
Here is a look at these events:
SC hearing in case against MP minister over remarks on Col Sofiya Qureshi
Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, leading a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court, will today hear the case involving Madhya Pradesh Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah over his remarks about Indian Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.
Earlier, the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Jabalpur passed a sharply worded order asking the state’s Director General of Police to file an FIR against the minister.
The minister has now approached the Supreme Court, seeking a stay on the FIR that was registered following the High Court’s order. The matter will be taken up in court today.
Last Thursday, the Supreme Court criticised the Madhya Pradesh minister, calling his comments unacceptable and lacking sensitivity. The court also remarked that people holding constitutional posts must speak responsibly.
Impact Shorts
View AllIndia-US to hold talks on bilateral trade agreement
A delegation from India, led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, is set to visit the United States today for discussions on a bilateral trade agreement.
As Firstpost reported earlier, New Delhi is working to finalise a deal during the 90-day pause on tariff hikes announced by Donald Trump on April 9. This pause includes a proposed 26 per cent tariff on Indian goods.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US in February, both sides agreed to prepare the first part of a trade deal by autumn 2025. The aim is to reach $500 billion in two-way trade by 2030.
Alongside efforts to manage domestic supply, India is also seeking better access for its steel exports by engaging in trade talks with various partner countries.
Sentencing of Hadi Matar in Rushdie attack case
Hadi Matar, the American-Lebanese man who was found guilty of attacking and blinding Indian-born British writer Salman Rushdie three years ago, is due to be sentenced today.
Matar faces a possible prison term of up to 25 years. His sentencing was originally set for April 23, four months after he was convicted of second-degree attempted murder. However, the court agreed to delay the hearing until May following a request from his legal team.
During the trial, Rushdie told the jury that Matar “was stabbing and slashing” him during an event in August 2022 at a cultural venue in rural New York.
Matar attacked Rushdie with a knife, stabbing him several times in the head, neck, torso and left hand.
The attack left Rushdie blind in one eye and caused serious injuries to his liver and intestines, requiring urgent surgery and a long recovery.
Iran, 3 European nations to hold nuclear talks
Iran is expected to hold talks in Istanbul with representatives from the three European nations involved in the 2015 nuclear agreement, which has since stalled.
These senior-level discussions come as both sides prepare for what may be a fifth round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States in the coming days.
Since late last year, Iran has quietly held several rounds of discussions with the European trio on the nuclear issue, with the most recent meeting taking place in February in Geneva. These discussions have taken place ahead of indirect talks with the US, which began on April 12.
Relations between Iran and the E3 have deteriorated over the past year, despite occasional meetings. This decline comes amid new sanctions on Tehran related to its ballistic missile programme, detention of foreign nationals, and support for Russia in the war against Ukraine.
With inputs from agencies