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Tue, 20 December 2022

Will stay in SP for life, says Shivpal Yadav

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23:18 Will stay in SP for life, says Shivpal Yadav

After the latest patch-up with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, his uncle Shivpal Yadav on Tuesday said he will stay in the party for the rest of his life irrespective of whether he gets a post or not.

Shivpal Yadav, who wielded immense influence when SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav was at the helm, also came down heavily on the BJP for calling SP a "party of goons", alleging that it is the saffron party that indulges in "goondaism" and false cases are registered against people under its rule.

"Now, I am going to stay lifelong in this party (Samajwadi Party), whether I get a post or not. This is our party. I had worked continuously with 'netaji' (Mulayam Singh Yadav)," Shivpal Yadav told reporters when asked whether this is his final "ghar wapsi" (homecoming) in the SP.

Shivpal was handed over an SP flag by party president Akhilesh Yadav after Dimple Yadav's win in Mainpuri by-poll on December 8, the fourth time in the last six years when uncle-nephew duo reunited after breaking up following a bitter power tussle. Shivpal had floated Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia after parting ways with the SP.

Asked if he could leave the SP in the future, Yadav said, "It will not happen. Why are you asking such a question?"

On the demand of his supporters that he should get a respectable post in the SP, he said, "I have no desire for any post."

To queries about his role in the Samajwadi Party, the senior socialist leader said, "You see, a post does not hold any meaning for me. I have occupied all posts (in the past). A post is not a big thing for me. The major thing is the faith of the people."

Asked about speculation that he could be nominated as the Leader of Opposition in UP Legislative Assembly, the SP MLA from Jaswantnagar in Etawah district said, "I had been the Leader of Opposition, and Akhilesh is discharging well the role of Leader of Opposition. The outcome of the Mainpuri Lok Sabha bypolls is a result of this.

"The actual work in the party is that of the organisation. Whatever responsibility is given, I will discharge it."

The 67-year-old leader said there were prominent people like Jayaprakash Narayan and Ram Manohar Lohia who worked for the country without holding any big post.

Evading a direct answer to whether the Samajwadi Party will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls with JD(U), the senior SP leader said, "A decision will be taken by the party."

"We want that all those who are Lohiavaadi, Gandhivaadi and Chaudhary Charan Singhvaadi, should converge and then move ahead. Our target is to remove the BJP," he said.

After dumping the BJP in Bihar and forming a new government with RJD and the Left parties, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has emerged as a prominent leader in the opposition camp against Narendra Modi in the 2024 general election.

Kumar had met Akhilesh after switching sides and senior JD(U) leader K C Tyagi was seen in election meetings of SP in the Mainpuri by-poll.

On the BJP calling the SP a 'party of goons', Shivpal Yadav said, "The BJP itself indulges in 'goondaism'. False cases are registered against people. Houses are bulldozed. Words such as 'thok do' (eliminate them) were not used by us.

"Before the Mainpuri Lok Sabha bypolls, SHOs who were Muslims and Yadav were asked to go on leave. What can be a bigger gundaism than this?"

When asked about the razing of properties of criminals, the SP leader said, "If anyone has committed a crime, then stringent action should be initiated against that person. What is the crime of the children and family members?

"The courts will give punishment. We will raise our voice against it from the streets to the Legislative Assembly,"

He also said that the false case lodged against the party workers will be withdrawn when the party comes to power in the state.

On the withdrawal of his security cover, he said, "Workers and people will provide security to me. I have to strengthen the Samajwadi Party, and on the basis of 'sangharsh' (protest and agitation), we have to bring a transformation, and remove this (BJP) government."

The state government recently downgraded his security from Z to Y.

Praising Akhilesh Yadav, he said, "I think that he is becoming better. You have seen in Mainpuri that when Akhilesh went out (on the ground), the people also started coming out. The atmosphere has started to build up, and this is because so much harassment has been meted out to people."

Accusing the BJP of "attacking democracy", he said, "False cases are being registered against people. Hundreds of cases are being registered, and people are being sent to jail. This new tradition by the BJP government is a murder of democracy and should not happen."

Referring to the recent bypoll in Rampur Sadar assembly seat, he alleged that police did not allow many voters to cast their votes in Rampur.

"If people do not cast their votes (in an election), then how will democracy survive?" he commented.

23:06 Amid LAC tension, India to get new missile

Amid the ongoing conflict with China, the Indian armed forces are now going to acquire the 'Pralay' ballistic missile which can hit targets from 150 to 500 Kms.

The proposal moved by the Indian defence forces is at an advanced stage and is scheduled to be taken up for clearance during a high-level meeting this week, defence sources told ANI.

The proposal is also important as it comes at a time when the Indian forces are working on the creation of a rocket force which has been in discussion at the highest levels in the Defence Ministry.

Recently, Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar stated that the late Gen Bipin Rawat was working on the creation of a rocket force to counter enemies on the border.

The missile was successfully tested twice on two consecutive days last year in December and since then, the forces are working towards its acquisition and induction.

With a range of 150 to 500 km, 'Pralay' is powered with solid propellant rocket motor and other new technologies.

The missile guidance system includes state-of-the-art navigation and integrated avionics. "Pralay' is a quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missile. The advanced missile has been developed in a way to able to defeat interceptor missiles. It has the ability to change its path after covering a certain range midair," sources said.

Social media platform Twitter has started rolling out a grey tick verification mark for government-related accounts and a golden tick mark for companies while the rest of the verified accounts will get a blue tick mark.

With the rollout, Twitter has replaced the blue tick mark of the Government of India's handle with a grey tick and also of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's. The prime minister's Twitter account has 85.1 million followers.

The company on December 12 announced that it will be "replacing the 'official' label with a gold checkmark on some business accounts on Twitter. It had said that it would add a grey checkmark for government and multilateral accounts.

Twitter has started charging USD 8 per month on the web and USD 11 per month for those who sign up on iOS for Twitter Blue which it plans to gradually roll out across the globe.

"Existing Twitter Blue subscribers will be able to upgrade, cancel, or auto-renew their subscription at the new price. Prices may vary by region. We plan to offer subscriptions on Android soon," the company had said.

The Twitter Blue service is available in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. -- PTI

A special team will probe why the Mira-Bhayander police did not act on a complaint filed by Shraddha Walkar against Aaftab Poonawala in November 2020, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the assembly on Tuesday.

Walkar was allegedly killed by her live-in partner Poonawala in May this year in their Delhi flat. He allegedly chopped her body into multiple pieces and disposed of them over several weeks before he was arrested by the Delhi Police last month.

Fadnavis, who handles the Home portfolio, said so far it has not occurred in any investigation if there was any political or any other pressure on the police behind Walkar withdrawing the complaint.

Walkar, who had resided in the Vasai region with Poonawala before moving to Delhi, had lodged a complaint with Vasai police on November 23, 2020, stating Poonawala had been physically abusing her for over six months and threatened to kill her and chop her into pieces.

Police had said that no action was taken as when they went to follow up with Walkar, she said Poonawala's parents had come and talked to him, and she had no more complaints. The complaint was withdrawn on December 19, 2020.

Meanwhile, against the backdrop of the Maharashtra government's decision to set up a committee to gather information on inter-faith marriage couples, Fadnavis said the state government is not against such marriages.

But it has been realised over time that there is a design as part of a conspiracy. In some districts such marriages are taking place in big numbers, he said.

The DY CM also said the inter-faith committee has been formed for the same purpose.

The panel, headed by a minister, will track and maintain records of inter-faith marriages, married couples, and also their families.

This panel is for the same purpose. When Shraddha Walkar's father said we didn't understand where to go and we could have saved her had someone facilitated a conversation with her. People do not know where to go in such a situation and the panel is for facilitation, Fadnavis added.

The Bharatiya Janta Party had sought to target the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi government over the Walkar case.

Raising the alleged inaction of police on Walkar's initial complaint in the Legislative Assembly, BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar said when Walkar was residing in Vasai she had lodged a complaint with the Tulinj police and then took it back.

Her father has said publicly that there was pressure on the police. Aaftab's parents also pressured her which is why she took back the complaint.

Was there political pressure on the police not to act when they received the complaint? When this happened, during that time, (Amravati pharmacist Umesh) Kolhe was killed and the Tablighi Jamaat's name cropped up in the charge sheet today, Bhatkhalkar said.

Another BJP MLA Ashish Shelar also raised the same issue.

Fadnavis said there was a month's gap between lodging the complaint (by Walkar) and taking it back. She lodged the complaint on November 23, 2020, but withdrew it on December 19.

The Vishva Hindu Parishad on Tuesday demanded the creation of a separate ministry for the development of pilgrimage sites across the country.

The affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh also demanded such a ministry in every state.

Addressing a press conference, VHP central working president Alok Kumar stressed on the need for creating a new ministry for pilgrimage sites, saying they cannot be developed like tourist destinations as they are "way different in nature".

Various pilgrimage sites and tourist destinations are being developed under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD), an umbrella scheme of the Union Tourism Ministry launched by the Narendra Modi government in 2014-2015.

Under the Swadesh Darshan scheme launched in 2014-15, the ministry provides funds to states and Union territories for development of theme-based tourist circuits.

"Religious pilgrimage sites cannot be developed like tourist destinations because they are way different from each other in their nature. Hence, it is our demand that a separate ministry be created for the development of religious pilgrimage sites," he told reporters.

Swadesh Darshan is a central sector scheme launched in 2014-15 by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture for the integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits.

The scheme aims to promote, develop and harness the potential of tourism in India.

According to the ministry, the PRASAD scheme focuses on developing and identifying pilgrimage sites across India for enriching the religious tourism experience.

The scheme seeks to integrate pilgrimage destinations in a prioritised, planned and sustainable manner to provide a complete religious tourism experience. -- PTI

21:53 Nagpur land case: Maha CM denies wrongdoing

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday refuted allegations of any wrongdoing as the urban development minister in the previous dispensation while allotting government land in Nagpur as the Opposition sought to corner him over the issue after a Bombay High Court order.

Speaking in the assembly, Shinde said when the matter came to him as an appellate authority, he did not pass any order to reduce or increase the rate of the land in question and insisted that the price be charged as per existing government rules.

Shinde said when the last week's HC order was brought to his notice, he cancelled his land allotment order dated April 20, 2021 (when he was urban development minister in the MVA government).

"I did not misuse my power as the urban development minister (in the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi govermnent). I have also not interfered in any court order," he said.

The chief minister currently handles the urban development department among several other portfolios.

The Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court has ordered status quo on a decision taken by Shinde, when he was the urban development minister, allotting land meant for slum dwellers to private persons.

A division bench of Justices Sunil Shukre and M W Chandwani, in its order passed on December 14, noted that the court since 2004 has been monitoring the land allotments made by the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) to politicians and other iinfluential individuals.

This was after a petition was filed by Nagpur-based social activist Anil Wadpalliwar, alleging the NIT, which comes under the urban development department, gave away land to politicians and others at meagre rates.

Elaborating further in the assembly, Shinde said when the matter was brought to him, neither the NIT nor the person who appealed to him in the case apprised that there was a court order pending.

He said the matter pertains to 49 layouts in Nagpur and they were regularised in 2007 as per a government decision. In 2009, a decision was taken whether people should be asked to pay as per ready reckoner rate or 'guntha' (a land measuring parameter).

In 2015, 34 layouts were approved. The 35th layout had 16 plots which is currently the bone of contention, said the chief minister.

When an allottee approached the NIT with regards to the 35th layout, the chairman of the local planning authority asked him (the allotte) to pay as per 'guntha', but the next chairman told him to pay as per ready reckoner rates, he said.

Ready reckoner rates are standard prices of residential property, land or commercial property for a given area.

Fitch Ratings on Tuesday affirmed India's sovereign credit rating at 'BBB-' with a stable outlook, saying the rating derives strengths from the country's robust growth outlook and still-resilient external finances.

It said India's robust medium-term growth outlook is a key supporting factor for the rating. A clear improvement in corporate and bank balance sheets, which were under strain prior to the pandemic, is likely to facilitate a steady acceleration in investment in the coming years.

Nevertheless, risks remain given dynamics in labour force participation, the lagging rural sector recovery, and uneven reform implementation record, Fitch added.

"Fitch Ratings has affirmed India's Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at 'BBB-' with a Stable Outlook," the rating agency said in a statement.

Fitch has forecast GDP growth of 7 per cent in the fiscal year ending March 2023 (FY23).

"India is somewhat insulated from the gloomy global outlook in 2023, given its modest reliance on external demand. Nevertheless, we expect declining exports, heightened uncertainty and higher interest rates to slow growth to 6.2 per cent in FY24," it noted. -- PTI

The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday lashed out at LG V K Saxena over his direction to recover Rs 97 crore from the party for political advertisements published allegedly in the guise of government advertisements, comparing him with Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and mocking his order as "another love letter" which has no legal value.

Chief AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed state governments ruled by the BJP spent 22,000 crore on advertisements, and party chief JP Nadda should tell when will they return it to the exchequer.

The angry reaction from the Delhi's ruling party came after official sources said LG Saxena has directed the chief secretary to recover Rs 97 crore from the AAP for political advertisements it published in the guise of government advertisements.

"The most important aspect here is that the LG has no power to speak on this matter. In our films we come across dialogues such as 'Aurangzeb aa rahe hain aur woh apna farmaan sunaayenge' (Aurangzeb is coming and he will announce his decree). I think the LG should soon expect himself to be addressed in a similar way," Bharadwaj said, referring to the 18th century Mughal emperor often criticised for his policies and actions.

He alleged the LG is issuing directives on matters he has no legal power on. "He is beginning to think of himself as a Shahenshah (emperor) and pass orders which have absolutely no legal standing."

He alleged the LG was acting at the behest of the BJP and the order was his another "love letter" to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. "We have said this earlier as well. As we get closer to the Valentine's Day, the number of letters from the LG would increase," he added.

He claimed the BJP was getting sleepless nights now that the AAP has become a national party.

"Also, with the way the people of Delhi defeated the BJP in the recently concluded MCD elections, the BJP is now starting to directly attack the people of Delhi. Now this matter is not about AAP vs BJP, but it has become BJP vs the people of Delhi, and therefore the BJP is starting to obstruct the work of the state government that will assist the people of Delhi," he claimed.

Bharadwaj claimed that the BJP 'has asked' the LG to refuel an old issue regarding the advertisement spending of the Delhi government and stressed it was sorted out earlier, but was being raked up again.

"He is asking us why advertisements by the Delhi government are being published in newspapers that are being circulated outside Delhi. I looked at the newspapers of the last one month, and I don't think there is any state with a BJP-ruled government that has not published advertisements in newspapers that are circulated in Delhi," he said.

Bharadwaj said if the ads of BJP-ruled states such as Gujarat, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, etc are taken into account, the costs will be around Rs 22,000 crore.

"The BJP has come forward to ask the Delhi government to pay Rs 97 crores, but what about the Rs 22,000 crore that has been spent by your own party in different states of the country? When will you pay back this amount? We want to ask the national president of BJP, Shri JP Nadda, when will his party pay this amount to the other state governments in the country? Let them come forward and pay this Rs 22,000 crore and then we will pay the Rs 97 crore," he said.

Gujarat Aam Aadmi Party president Gopal Italia was on Tuesday arrested here in an alleged case of hurting religious sentiments, and later got bail.

The case was registered at Umarala police station in Bhavnagar district on September 4, 2022 under section 295-A of the Indian Penal Code (outraging religious feelings), said district Superintendent of Police Ravindra Patel.

Italia was released on bail in the police station itself after his arrest, he added.

The case pertains to a statement he had made at a campaign rally in Dwarka. The complainant in the case alleged that Italia made an offensive remark about Lord Krishna.

Speaking to reporters after his release on bail, Italia accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of behaving like a dictator after it returned to power earlier this month.

"There is an attempt to break and harass us and weaken the Aam Aadmi Party," he said.

"Bhavnagar police arrested me today. My own grandmother passed away yesterday, the whole family is sad but the BJP has arrested me. Perhaps it got the majority for doing this work," he later tweeted in Hindi.

AAP could win only five seats in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly. Italia, who contested from Katargam seat in Surat city, was himself defeated. -- PTI

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has become the only Indian to be named in an international list of 50 greatest actors of all time by a prominent British magazine.

The 57-year-old actor is included in Empire magazine's list which also recognises Hollywood giants like Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks, Anthony Marlon Brando, Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson and many others.

In the accompanying short profile, the magazine said Khan has a career that has now spanned four decades of "near unbroken hits, and a fanbase of pretty much billions".

"You don't do that without outrageous amounts of charisma and absolute mastery of your craft. Comfortable in almost every genre going, there's pretty much nothing he can't do," it added.

From his extensive filmography, the publication highlighted Khan's notable characters from four movies -- Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed Devdas, Karan Johar's My Name Is Khan and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, and Swades, directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar.

His dialogue from the 2012 movie Jab Tak Hai Jaan -- Zindagi toh har roz jaan leti hai... Bomb toh sirf ek baar lega (Every day life kills us a little. A bomb will kill you only once) -- has been recognised as the "iconic line" of his career.

Jab Tak Hai Jaan was filmmaker Yash Chopra's swansong and featured Khan as an Indian Army Major named Samar Anand. The film also starred Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma.

The actor will be next seen in the actioner Pathaan, set to be released worldwide on January 25, 2023. Directed by Siddharth Anand, the movie also stars John Abraham and Deepika Padukone.

Khan will also star in two more movies -- action-entertainer Jawan with filmmaker Atlee and the Rajkumar Hirani-directed Dunki.

Jawan, a pan-India project, is set to come out on June 2, 2023, while Dunki, also starring Taapsee Pannu, will release in December 2023.

Amid a fresh spurt in COVID-19 cases in Japan, South Korea, Brazil, China and the United States, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will review the pandemic situation on Wednesday, official sources said.

The minister will review the COVID-19 situation at 11:30 am on Wednesday considering the international scenario, they said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Health Ministry urged all states and Union territories to ramp up the whole genome sequencing of positive samples to keep track of newer variants.

In a letter to states and UTs, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said such an exercise will enable timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country and will facilitate undertaking of requisite public health measures.

He highlighted that India with its focus on the five-fold strategy of test-track-treat-vaccination and adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour has been able to restrict the transmission of the coronavirus and is having around 1,200 cases on a weekly basis.

Public health challenge of COVID-19 still persists around the world with around 35 lakh cases being reported weekly, Bhushan said.

"In view of the sudden spurt of cases being witnessed in Japan, United States of America, Republic of Korea, Brazil and China, it is essential to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the variants through Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network," he said.

"In this context, all states are requested to ensure that as far as possible samples of all positive cases, on a daily basis, are sent to the designated INSACOG Genome Laboratories that are mapped to states and UTs," he added. -- PTI

A Delhi court on Tuesday sought a response from the Enforcement Directorate to a plea by Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez, accused in a Rs 200 crore money laundering case also involving alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekar, seeking permission to travel to Bahrain to visit her mother.

Special Judge Shailendra Malik issued notice to the anti-money laundering probe agency returnable by December 22 when it will hear the fresh plea of Fernandez who wants to visit Bahrain from December 23 to January 5.

Fernandez, who appeared before the special court on Tuesday, was earlier permitted by the Delhi High Court on May 31 this year to travel abroad for the IIFA awards subject to certain conditions.

The high court had then rejected the ED's appeal against a trial court order permitting her to visit abroad.

The hearing in the main money laundering case has now been adjourned to January 6.

During the hearing, the court on Tuesday directed the ED to take possession of 26 cars linked to Sukesh and his actor wife Leena Maria. The agency alleged in the court that the vehicles were purchased from the proceeds of crime.

Sukesh was also produced before the court from jail.

The court had on November 15 granted regular bail to the actress who has not been arrested in the case yet.

It had on August 31 taken cognizance of a supplementary charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate and asked Fernandez to appear before the court.

Fernandez, who was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate several times in connection with the investigation, was named as an accused for the first time in the supplementary charge sheet.

The ED's earlier charge sheet and a supplementary charge sheet did not mention her as an accused. -- PTI

An official has instructed PAC jawans to stop and salute their seniors even if they are riding a bicycle or a motorcycle, or face disciplinary action, an order that has gone viral on social media.

The commandant of the 27th battalion of the Pradeshik Armed Constabulary said there is "nothing wrong" with the letter issued by an assistant commandant but a probe will be carried out to find how an internal order was leaked on social media.

In the purported order dated December 19, the assistant commandant of the 27th battalion of the PAC directed his subordinates to stop and salute their seniors while riding a bicycle or a motorcycle within the administrative building and residential and non-residential premises of the PAC campus.

The order will come into effect immediately and failure to follow it will result in disciplinary action, it said.

Asked about the order, Commandant of the 27th battalion of the PAC Maniram Singh on Tuesday said it has been issued to prevent indiscipline and "nothing wrong" is observed in the intention of the officer who issued it.

Such orders are issued from time to time. A probe will be conducted to find out how an internal order of the force was leaked online, he added.

The PAC was created to prevent frequent deployment of the Army in grave law and order situations that the police could not handle on their own.

Both Houses of Karnataka legislature will be passing a resolution on the border dispute with Maharashtra.

The legislature reiterated the state's stand that the issue is a settled one, and not an inch of land will be given to the neighbouring State.

During a debate on the border dispute in the legislative assembly on Tuesday, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai himself suggested passing a unanimous resolution in both Houses of the State legislature reiterating and asserting the stand.

"If everyone agrees, while giving the government's reply on the border issue debate, we will pass a resolution reiterating the State's stand in both Houses of legislature. Already we have passed several such resolutions, we will reiterate it," he said.

Members of all political parties including Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah agreed.

Initiating the debate, Siddaramaiah said there is no question of any dispute, and the border issue is already settled with the Mahajan Commission report.

With him recently attending a meeting of chief ministers of Karnataka and Maharashtra, called by Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently, drawing some criticism from the Opposition Congress, Bommai said, "There is no ambiguity or confusion" and that he has reiterated the State's stand very clearly at the meeting, without any dilution.

"I'm the last person to do such a thing on matters concerning the interest of the State. I will not go back an inch from the State's stand, which is the same as the one taken by the governments that have ruled this State so far," he said.

Siddaramaiah had earlier said the chief minister should not have gone to a meeting called by the Union Home Minister, because Maharashtra wants to project that there is a border dispute, to keep the issue alive, and to use it politically.

Also, the chief minister should not have accepted the proposal for constituting a committee consisting of three Ministers each from both the States.

Reacting to this, Bommai said the meeting of chief ministers convened by the Union Home Minister was regarding law and order, and in a federal set-up "we had to attend the meeting, where our State's stand was clearly put forward."

"Home Minister in the meeting said the solution for this issue can be only through Constitutional and legal means as the case is before the Supreme Court, it cannot be settled on the streets, and peace should be maintained at all cost," he said, adding that the Ministerial committee from both sides is to maintain peace and to resolve smaller issues between the two States.

Senior Congress MLA H K Patil, too, raising objections to Bommai attending a meeting of chief ministers called by Shah, said the maintainability of Maharashtra's petition on the border dispute is pending before the Supreme Court. In such a situation, agreeing to forming a three- member committee from both sides raises a question.

"...is the situation so grave, has the law and order situation deteriorated in Belagavi, is our (Karnataka) Home Minister incapable of handling the situation," he asked.

To this the CM retorted, "don't over read things."

"On border issue, we have always spoken with one voice. As a chief minister, as someone from this region, I'm speaking with responsibility and I'm speaking truth...we have taken the case very seriously, there is no dilution in our stand either before the Prime Minister or Union Home Minister or the Supreme Court, it is very clear," he said.

Amid a sudden spurt in COVID-19 cases in Japan, South Korea, Brazil, China and the United States, the central government on Tuesday urged all states and Union territories to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive samples to keep track of emerging variants.

Public health challenge of COVID-19 still persists around the world with around 35 lakh cases reported weekly, Bhushan said.

In his letter, he also referred to the operational guidelines for revised surveillance strategy in context of COVID- 19 issued by the ministry in June this year. It calls for early detection, isolation, testing, and timely management of suspected and confirmed cases to detect and contain outbreaks of new SARS-CoV-2 variants.

"Therefore, monitoring the trends of existing variants is of crucial importance," he said.

The global trajectory of monkeypox continues to show a declining trend since mid-August, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

Most cases detected till date have been mild and treatment for the disease remains largely supportive, Pawar said in written reply to a question.

According to the WHO, investigational drugs are used in some countries in clinical research settings only.

In terms of building diagnostic capacities for disease diagnosis, 20 ICMR-network laboratories have been operationalised across the country for testing of monkeypox.

"While the World Health Organization (WHO) declared outbreak of monkeypox disease as a public health emergency of international concern on July 23, 2022, the global trajectory of monkeypox continues to show a declining trend since mid-August, 2022," she said.

Monkeypox is a self-limited disease presenting with fever, intense headache, lymphadenopathy or swelling of lymph nodes, back pain, myalgia or muscle aches and rash which tends to be more concentrated on the face and extremities.

Symptoms of monkeypox generally last from two to four weeks. The disease is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal, or with material contaminated with the virus, Pawar said. -- PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Tuesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop "favouring friends" and start serving people reeling under high inflation.

He highlighted that the Congress government in Rajasthan is providing gas cylinders at less than half the price provided by the Centre.

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday announced at a rally in Alwar that the state government will provide Rs 500 subsidy on every LPG gas cylinder to the poor people of the state under the Ujjwala scheme.

"Rajasthan's Congress government's big announcement of providing gas cylinders for Rs 500 -- less than half the price of the Central government. Mr prime minister, stop favouring your 'friends' and serve the people hit hard by high inflation," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

Rahul Gandhi and his party have been attacking the prime minister and his government over the rise in prices of essential commodities, saying they are hurting the poor. -- PTI

Markets and restaurants across Pakistan will have to pull down their shutters by 8 pm while wedding halls will be limited till 10 pm, as the cash-strapped country on Tuesday unveiled a desperate plan to conserve energy.

Pakistan is in the midst of an acute energy crisis, high inflation and depleting remittances.

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the catastrophic floods in June have only compounded the country's energy woes.

The national energy-conservation programme was launched by Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and it comes a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to reduce circular debt in the energy sector.

Asif said the federal government will approach provinces for the implementation of this nationwide scheme.

Briefing the media after the cabinet meeting, the minister said a final decision will be taken by Thursday.

"In the next few days, we will be approaching all the provinces with this national project and then on Thursday the final approval of the conservation policy will be given, Asif said.

Under this scheme, he said the timing of wedding halls would be limited to 10pm, while restaurants, hotels and markets would close down by 8pm.

He, however, said that there may be some room for the closing time for restaurants to be extended by an hour.

Asif said that if 20 per cent of the government workforce worked from home on a rotation basis, Rs 56 billion could be saved and coupled with a few steps, the country would be able to save Rs 62 billion.

He also said that energy-efficient fans and bulbs would soon be introduced to help save Rs 38 billion and electric bikes would replace traditional motorcycles to reduce the consumption of petrol.

Police in Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra have registered a case against Congress leader Ajay Rai for his "latka-jhatka" remark against Union minister Smriti Irani, an official said on Tuesday.

The Uttar Pradesh Congress leader on Monday took a jibe at Irani, saying she only comes to her constituency Amethi to show "latkas" and "jhatkas", an unflattering reference to dance moves that provoked a sharp response from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Station House Officer of Roberstganj Police Station, Balmukund Mishra, told PTI, "A case has been registered against Ajay Rai on the complaint lodged by BJP's mahila morcha head of Sonbhdra Pushpa Singh at the Robertsganj Police Station."

The case has been registered under sections 354(A) (sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment), 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory), and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code.

Asked if Gandhi will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Amethi, Rai had told reporters, "It has been the seat of the Gandhi family. Rahul ji has been the Lok Sabha MP from there. So has been Rajiv (Gandhi) ji and Sanjay (Gandhi) ji, and they have served it."

"Most of the factories in Amethi are on the verge of closure. Half of the factories in Jagdishpur industrial area are lying shut. Smriti Irani only comes, shows 'latka-jhatka', and leaves," Rai, who is a regional chief of the party had said.

Currently, Amethi is represented in Lok Sabha by Union Minister for Women and Child Development Irani.

Responding to the statement, Irani said Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi needed a new scriptwriter.

"You and Mummy ji need to get your mysoginistic (misogynist) goons a new speechwriter, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development had said. -- PTI

18:23 Chhota Rajan discharged in 1999 murder case

A sessions court in Mumbai has discharged gangster Chhota Rajan in a case related to the 1999 murder of an alleged member of the Dawood Ibrahim gang.

The court allowed Rajan's discharge plea on December 17. The detailed order became available on Tuesday.

As per the prosecution, Anil Sharma, an alleged member of the Dawood gang, was shot by Rajan's men in suburban Andheri on September 2, 1999.

Sharma was allegedly part of the team that had carried out a shootout at JJ hospital here on September 12, 1992. The shooting had been allegedly carried out by the Dawood gang to kill a rival gang member.

Sharma was killed due to the rivalry between Dawood and Rajan gangs, the prosecution claimed.

But the judge, in his order, noted that the prosecution did not bring or collect any incriminating evidence against this applicant (Rajan) except the words allegedly uttered by the informant (complainant).

Chhattisgarh Health Minister T S Singh Deo, who is locked in a power tussle with Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, has said that he will decide about his future ahead of the state assembly elections which are due in 2023.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party shared a video of his comments on Tuesday and said Singh Deo should not delay his next move.

Talking to reporters in Surajpur district on Monday, the minister said, "I will take a decision about my future ahead of the elections. As of now, I have not thought about it."

Asked about a section of party workers 'wanting' to see him as chief minister, Singh Deo said, "It is up to the workers. It is up to them to decide what they want to work on."

Chief minister Baghel claimed elsewhere that the media was distorting his cabinet colleague's remarks.

"He (Singh Deo) said he will decide about fighting elections in future. You are deliberately twisting his statementEvery leader asks his supporters before entering into the election fray and Baba (as Singh Deo is fondly called) said nothing wrong. Even I ask my supporters before contesting an election," Baghel said.

BJP leader and former minister Rajesh Munat shared a video of Singh Deo's statement on Twitter and said "At last his pain spilled out in the open. When this 'chingari' (spark) will turn into an explosive and explode, only time can tell."

Tagging Singh Deo in the tweet, Munat further said, "Maharaj! Sonia-Rahul ji could not take a decision even after 2.5 years. But now after four years if you have to take a decision, then there should be no delay."

In July this year Singh Deo gave up his Panchayat and Rural Development department, indicating his resentment over not getting the CM's post, though he continued to hold his other four portfolios.

As per Singh Deo's supporters, it was decided when the Congress came to power in 2018 that he would be made chief minister for half the term. But the party leadership has denied that any such deal was struck. -- PTI

A foggy morning at the Golden Temple

17:51 School timings changed in Punjab due to fog

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday announced that all schools in the state will open at 10 am from December 21 till January 21 due to foggy weather.

The closing time of the schools will remain the same, he said.

"In view of the safety of school students and teachers because of dense fog in the state, the timing of government, aided, recognised and private schools will be 10 am from 21-12-2022 to 21-01-2023," said Mann in a tweet.

At present, schools start at 9 am and close at 3 pm.

Dense fog is being witnessed in most parts of the state. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, along with fellow MPs, enjoyed a lunch hosted by agriculture minister Narendra Tomar to mark Millet Year 2023.

The PM was present at the event for nearly 40 minutes.

Sitting alongside Modi while having the meal were Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and other MPs in Parliament where millet dishes were served.

"As we prepare to mark 2023 as the International Year of Millets, attended a sumptuous lunch in Parliament where millet dishes were served. Good to see participation from across party lines," Modi tweeted sharing some pictures of the lunch.

Interestingly, the lunch was conducted after ruling and opposition members in Rajya Sabha earlier in the day sparred over remarks made by Kharge in Rajasthan's Alwar, with ruling party members seeking an apology from him for the "foul" comments.

At a rally in Rajasthan on Monday, Kharge claimed that while the Congress stood for the country and helped attain Independence after its leaders gave supreme sacrifices, 'not even a dog of the BJP was lost' for the country.

17:11 Navy gets 5th Scorpene-class submarine Vagir

The Indian Navy on Tuesday received the fifth scorpene-class submarine Vagir ahead of its planned commissioning next month, officials said.

The induction of the submarine, built under Project-75, is set to bolster the Indian Navy's combat capability.

India has been focusing on shoring up its maritime capability with a focus on the Indian Ocean in the backdrop of concerns over China's growing forays into the region, considered the backyard of the Indian Navy.

Project-75 includes the indigenous construction of six submarines of Scorpene design.

The submarines are being constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai in collaboration with the Naval Group of France.

"Launched on Nov 12, 2020, Vagir commenced the sea trials from February 1 and it is a matter of great pride that she has completed all major trials including the weapon and sensor trials in the shortest time in comparison to the earlier submarines," Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.

Submarine construction is an intricate activity as the difficulty is compounded when all equipment are required to be miniaturised and are subject to stringent quality requirements, he said.

Commander Madhwal said the construction of these submarines in an Indian yard is another step towards 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'.

He said the submarine would shortly be commissioned into the Indian Navy.

On Sunday, the Navy commissioned the indigenously built guided missile destroyer INS Mormugao. -- PTI

Opposition members staged demonstrations in the Maharashtra legislature complex in Nagpur on Tuesday accusing the government of being corrupt and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde over his decision taken when he was a minister in the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government of allotment of land meant for slum dwellers to private persons.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in the state Legislative Council that their government does not give costly plots at lower rates to anyone.

However, the Upper House proceedings were adjourned for the day after arguments between members of the opposition and ruling parties over the matter.

On December 14, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court was informed by amicus curie (appointed by court to assist) advocate Anand Parchure that Shinde during his tenure as the urban development minister in the previous Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government had directed the Nagpur Improvement Trust to give away land acquired for housing scheme for slum dwellers to 16 private persons.

The court then said, "If any such order as claimed is really passed then we would direct the authorities to maintain status quo till the next date."

The matter would be again heard on January 4, 2023.

The bench in its order said the court was since 2004 monitoring the land allotments made by the NIT to politicians and other influential individuals.

This was after a petition was filed by Nagpur-based social activist Anil Wadpalliwar, alleging the NIT gave away land to politicians and others at meagre rates.

On Tuesday, Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly Ajit Pawar, Congress leaders Nana Patole, Prithiviraj Chavan, Balasaheb Thorat, Shiv Sena-UBT legislator Aditya Thackrey and other leaders staged demonstrations in the legislature complex.

The MVA leaders raised slogans accusing the Shinde government of being corrupt and demanded the CM's resignation.

In the Legislative Council, Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve said the NIT had reserved a plot 4.5 acres in the city for the construction of houses for the rehabilitation of slum dwellers.

"However, former urban development minister Eknath Shinde, who is now the chief minister of the state, had issued an order to hand over the land parcel to 16 persons at the cost of Rs 1.5 crore. The current ready reckoner rates calculate the cost of the land to be Rs 83 crore," he claimed.

It is very serious matter. The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court had already put a stay on the hand over of the land and the case was going on. Despite that, Shinde as the urban development minister took the decision to hand over the land, which is a serious interference in the court's work, said Danve, who is part of the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-UBT.

The Bharatiya Janata Party claimed on Tuesday that the current Congress is not the "original" one but "Italian Congress" as it hit back at the opposition party on its president Mallikarjun Kharge's jibe that while his party helped the country get independence, the ruling party did not lose even a "dog" for the nation.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi expressed his party's strong condemnation of Kharge's comments and claimed that the opposition party was wrong in claiming the legacy of the freedom movement as Mahatma Gandhi had said after independence that the Congress should be disbanded.

"This is not the original Congress. We all know how it treated leaders like Subhas Chandra Bose, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Sardar Patel who were in the original Congress. This is an Italian Congress led by some other people," he told reporters in an apparent reference to the opposition party's longest-serving president Sonia Gandhi's country of birth.

"This is a bogus Congress full of bogus leaders. Their president is a rubber stamp," Joshi alleged, targeting Kharge.

At a rally in Rajasthan on Monday, Kharge claimed that while the Congress stood for the country and helped attain Independence after its leaders gave supreme sacrifices, "not even a dog of the BJP was lost" for the country.

He had also alleged that the BJP government "talks like a lion but acts like a mouse" as it is not taking on China for indulging in incursions along the border and is running away from a debate on the issue in Parliament.

Ruling and opposition members in Rajya Sabha also sparred over Kharge's remarks, with BJP MPs demanding an apology from him.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju accused Kharge of using "abusive" language and said this is how politicians become a subject of ridicule in people's minds. "One cannot believe that he can stoop so low," the BJP leader told reporters.

Another Union minister Ashwani Kumar Choubey said such petty comments will sink the Congress and noted that its leader Rahul Gandhi had also used "demeaning" language against armed forces.

"With comments like these, the Bharat Jodo Yatra will turn out to be 'shav yatra' (funeral procession) of the opposition party," he said.

The government has allowed persons transferring their residence to India after two years of continuous stay abroad to bring up to two pets -- dogs or cats -- as passenger baggage without permission from the directorate general of foreign trade.

This is part of the clarification issued by the commerce ministry for import of pet animals.

"Import is allowed as passenger baggage, without DGFT authorisation, only to persons transferring their residence to India after two years of continuous stay abroad. Only cats and dogs can be imported under baggage rules," the directorate general of foreign trade said in a trade notice to all international airlines, all embassies and consulates of India abroad; and concerned pet owners.

The notice was issued by the government following representations received for clarity on norms for import of pets.

It also said that permission would be required for import of more than two pets.

A person who has not stayed continuously for more than two years abroad would also have to seek permission for import of up to two pets, it added.

"Import authorisation (for up to two pet) from DGFT is required if -- the period of continuous stay abroad is less than two years, or the pet is not being transported as passenger baggage, or pet cannot be imported under the baggage rules," the directorate said.

In case of more than two pets, applications have to be submitted for examination based on the justifications along with supporting documents to the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

Further, the notice said that in case of temporary imports of pets, permission from DGFT is required.

Vaccination book, pet passport, pet book, certificate for emotional support are required for permanent import of pets.

Besides these documents, a copy of return ticket or expected date of return; and an undertaking from the local host/relative/family that in case the applicant/pet owner fails to take back the pet, he/she would be liable for action under the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992.

16:24 Modi will recover land lost to China: BJP MP

Bharatiya Janata Party Lok Sabha member Prataprao Patil on Tuesday said the people of India are now confident that the Modi government would recover the land lost to China in the 1962 war.

Speaking during the Zero Hour, Patil told Lok Sabha that Parliament passed a resolution on November 14, 1962 that India would recover the land, but could not achieve it in 60 years.

When the BJP came to power in 2014, the government killed terrorists in Pakistan, and gave a befitting reply to China at Galwan and Tawang, Patil said.

Indians are now confident the Modi government will fulfil the commitment made in 1962 to recover the land lost, said the Nanded MP.

"I would request the Prime Minister to fulfil the resolution passed by Indian Parliament on November 14, 1962," Patil added.

When the BJP MP raised the China resolution issue, Congress members demanded the prime minister come to the House and inform about the latest attempts by the Chinese army to change the status quo at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). -- PTI

The names of more than 2,000 Bru voters have been deleted from the electoral roll of Mizoram following their enrolment in neighbouring Tripura's voter list, an election official said.

Mizoram Joint Chief Electoral Officer David Liansanglura Pachuau said the state election department has received the deletion request of over 3,000 names from its Tripura counterpart so far.

Of this, the names of 2,091 Bru voters have been removed from Mizoram's voter list to date and deletion of the remaining voters is underway, he said.

The official said the Bru voters, who resettled in Tripura after not returning to Mizoram during repatriations, were electors of nine assembly constituencies in three districts of Mizoram.

Among the disenfranchised Bru voters, 1,643 hailed from Mamit, 187 from Kolasib and 262 from Lunglei district, he said.

He said the deletion was done as per the requests sent by the Tripura election department through Electoral Roll Officer Net (ERONet).

Pachuau said they have requested their counterparts in Tripura to expedite enrollment of the Bru voters in the state's voter list as Mizoram is due for assembly election next year.

Thousands of Bru voters had fled to Tripura following ethnic tensions triggered by the murder of a Mizo forest officer by Bru militants in 1997.

Since then, they have been living in transit camps for more than two decades.

The first repatriation attempt in November 2009 was not only scuttled by the murder of a Mizo villager by the Bru militants, but it also triggered another round of exodus.

The Centre and governments of Mizoram and Tripura had made at least nine attempts between 2009 and 2019 to repatriate the Bru tribals from Tripura.

On January 16, 2020, the Centre, governments of Mizoram and Tripura and representatives of several Bru organisations signed an agreement, according to which over 35,000 displaced Bru tribals, who were reluctant to return to Mizoram during repatriation, were allowed to resettle permanently in Tripura. -- PTI

Three rebel Bharatiya Janata Party leaders elected as independent MLAs in the recently held Gujarat Assembly elections on Tuesday extended support to the ruling BJP in the state.

Ahead of commencement of the first session of the newly-formed 15th Legislative Assembly in Gandhinagar on Tuesday morning, the three independent MLAs -- Dhavalsinh Zala, Dharmendrasinh Vaghela and Mavjibhai Desai -- called on Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat at the Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar and informed him about their decision to support the BJP.

The three legislators also gave Devvrat letters of their support to the ruling party.

In their letters, having common text, the MLAs said they decided to support the BJP as they were inspired by the pro-people work of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

Later, the three legislators met newly-elected Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary and conveyed their decision to support the ruling fold.

In the just-concluded Assembly elections, the BJP retained power by winning 156 out of the total 182 Assembly seats in the state.

The Congress bagged only 17 seats, five seats went to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), three seats were won by independents and one by the Samajwadi Party.

Zala, Vaghela and Desai were associated with the BJP before their decision to contest as independent candidates.

They had been suspended by the BJP for contesting as independents.

Zala won from Bayad seat in Aravalli district, Vaghela from Waghodiya seat in Vadodara and Desai won from Dhanera seat in Banaskantha as independents after they were denied ticket by the BJP.

Talking to reporters outside the Raj Bhavan, the three MLAs justified their decision saying it will ensure development of their constituencies.

"Since the BJP is in power, the three of us have decided to extend support to the BJP government without any selfish motive. We only want to ensure the smooth implementation of developmental works in our constituencies," Zala said.

Expressing similar views, Vaghela said, "We have extended support to the BJP government for the people of our constituency and we also consulted them before taking this decision. I was with the BJP since the beginning." -- PTI

15:09 Bommai will make me minister again: Eshwarappa

Sulking Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party legislator K S Eshwarappa on Tuesday claimed Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has assured to make him a minister soon.

Along with him, senior MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi may also be inducted in the cabinet, he added.

Eshwarappa had resigned as the state Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister earlier this year after a contractor from Belagavi allegedly committed suicide in an Udupi hotel accusing him of demanding 40 percent commission in a public work in 2020.

The Shivamogga MLA had earlier decided not to attend the ongoing winter session of the Karnataka legislature in Belagavi to protest against not giving him a ministerial position.

"The chief minister has assured me he will speak to the party high command and induct me in the cabinet after I got a clean chit," he told reporters in Bengaluru.

"Not only me but Ramesh Jarkiholi also will be made a minister because he too got a clean chit," the MLA added.

His grouse was that despite the investigation agency giving him a clean chit, he has been denied a place in the cabinet.

Jarkiholi had resigned over the alleged 'sex-for-job' scam.

Eshwarappa, the former deputy chief minister and the ex-BJP state president, said he did not approach anyone in the party national headquarters but relied on Bommai, who had promised him cabinet re-induction once he came out clean.

When asked whether he would attend the assembly after the assurance, Eshwarappa said, "I will speak to the Chief Minister in the evening before taking any decision," the BJP legislator said.

Both Eshwarappa and Jarkiholi had earlier been given clean chit by the probe agencies in the respective cases. -- PTI

14:15 Parl Winter Session likely to end a week ahead

The Winter Session of Parliament is likely to conclude on December 23, a week ahead of schedule, official sources said on Tuesday.

The decision to recommend early conclusion of the session was taken at a meeting of Lok Sabha's Business Advisory Committee chaired by Speaker Om Birla, they said.

The Winter Session began on December 7 and was originally scheduled to end on December 29.

Several Opposition leaders had urged the government and Birla to end the session early, citing Christmas and New Year festivities. -- PTI

13:53 MPs are eating a millet lunch today

Today's fancy millet lunch menu for Parliamentarians. The BJP Parliamentary Party meeting PM laid emphasis on celebration of International Millet Year 2023 and suggested ways to promote nutrition campaign through millet.

13:36 Dr Arvind Mayaram joins BJY

Dr Arvind Mayaram, former Finance Secretary, Govt of India, along with his wife and noted author Shail Mayaram joined the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra, today.

Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan last week briefly joined the Yatra in Bhadoti, Sawai Madhopur district in Rajasthan.

Prominent personalities from various walks of life, including politicians, activists, celebrities and actors,have joined Gandhi in his march. Swara Bhasker, Pooja Bhatt, Amol Palekar, Riya Sen, Rashmi Desai and Sushant Singh are among those from Bollywood who have participated in Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Then PM Jawaharlal Nehru with then Chinese premier Zhou Enlai

13:28 '1962 War Broke Nehru'

"The war of 1962 exposed the hollow intellectual foundations of Nehruvian foreign policy, especially vis--vis China and that is why it was such a shock," writes Utkarsh Mishra/Rediff.com.

Read the interview here.

13:23 Jaishankar meets Pichai

EAM Dr S Jaishankar shares a picture. "Great to meet CEO, @Google and Alphabet, @sundarpichai today afternoon. Discussed India's digital transformation and global strategic developments," Jaishankar tweeted.

13:20 Tharoor enters Parliament in a wheelchair

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has hurt his leg and realises this.

"When you need to enter Parliament in a wheelchair, there's only one entrance with a ramp, at door 9, a good four minute trip (with the assistance of helpers) to the Lok Sabha. This temporary disability has taught me how poorly equipped we are to support people with disabilities," Tharoor tweeted.

The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday said Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has no power to pass orders directing the chief secretary to recover Rs 97 crore from the party for "political advertisements".

Addressing a press conference here, AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj termed the LG's direction a "new love letter".

"The BJP is flustered that we have become a national party and wrested power from it in the MCD. LG sahab is doing everything in accordance with the BJP's directions and that is troubling the people of Delhi.

The more worried Delhi's people are, the happier the BJP gets," Bhardwaj claimed. He further said that the LG's directions would not stand in the eyes of law.

"The Delhi LG has no such power. He cannot issue such directions. These won't stand in front of the law. Other state governments also issue advertisements. The BJP's various state governments issued advertisements that have been published here. We want to ask when will the Rs 22,000 crore spent on the advertisements be recovered from them? The day that money is recovered, we will also give Rs 97 crore," the AAP leader said.

Delhi LG Saxena has directed the chief secretary to recover Rs 97 crore from the Aam Aadmi Party for political advertisements it published in the guise of government advertisements, official sources said on Tuesday.

The Delhi government's Directorate of Information and Publicity (DIP), acting on a 2016 directive from a Committee on Content Regulation in Government Advertising set up by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, had notified that Rs 97.14 crore (Rs 97,14,69,137) had been spent or booked on account of "non-conforming advertisements", they said. "Of this, while payments amounting to over Rs 42.26 crore had already been released by the DIP, Rs 54.87 crore for advertisements published were still pending disbursal," a source said.

Acting on the directive, the DIP had in 2017 directed the AAP to pay over Rs 42.26 crore to the state exchequer immediately and directly pay the pending amount of Rs 54.87 crore to the advertising agencies or publications concerned within 30 days, they said. "However, even after the lapse of five years and eight months, the AAP has not complied with the DIP order.

This is serious as public money, despite a specific order, has not been deposited by the party to the state exchequer. Such defiance of a legitimate order by a registered political party is not only contemptuous of the judiciary, but also does not augur well for the health of good governance," the source added.

In 2015, the Supreme Court had postulated guidelines to regulate government advertising and eliminate unproductive expenditure. Following this, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting formed the three-member Committee on Content Regulation in Government Advertising (CCRGA) in 2016. The CCRGA investigated advertisements published by the DIP and issued an order in September 2016, identifying those which were in "stark violation of the guidelines" set by the apex court. PTI

A huge row erupted in parliament today as the ruling BJP demanded an apology from the Congress over controversial comments by its chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

Kharge made the comments yesterday while hitting back at the BJP for mocking Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra as "Bharat todo (Divide India)'.

At a rally in Rajasthan's Alwar, the Congress president said the Grand Old Party "won independence for the country', and its leaders like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives.

"Has even your dog at home died for the country? Still, they (BJP) claim to be patriots and if we say something we are termed as deshdrohi (anti-nationals)." Kharge said.

In the House today, Kharge said, "What I said during Bharat Jodo Yatra in Rajasthan's Alwar was outside the House. What I said was politically outside the House, not inside. There is no need to discuss that here. Secondly, I can still say that they had no role in the freedom struggle."

12:23 Investor grievances: What Sebi plans to do

The Securities and Exchange Board of India has proposed modifications in the investor grievance redressal mechanism, to facilitate dispute resolution and arbitration online on an end-to-end basis.

The proposed changes include doing away with the appellate arbitration system administered by market infrastructure institutions (MIIs), and reorganising the Investor Grievance Redressal Committee (IGRC) into a panel of mediators.

"To reduce costs for the parties, ease/eliminate the coordination issues in forming a panel and enable availability of a higher number of arbitrators for resolution of matters, it is proposed that all matters, irrespective of the amount of claim, be dealt with by a sole arbitrator, and accordingly, the requirement of a panel of arbitrators will be discontinued," said Sebi.

Currently, a sole arbitrator is appointed under the MII-administered arbitration mechanism for matters involving claims of up to Rs 25 lakh, while a panel of three arbitrators is appointed for higher claims.In a consultation paper floated on December 19, Sebi has suggested that the existing partially online mode can be enhanced to enable end-to-end online experience for investors and intermediaries.

The regulator has suggested the use of tools like multimodal communication between the parties, automatic case-status updates, easy scheduling and appointment of arbitrators/mediators, etc.

"There is scope to make the processes followed by the MIIs themselves more efficient and accessible, especially given the improvement in grievance redressal processes worldwide post the pandemic," said the capital markets regulator.

Sebi has also recommended that the mechanism adopted by MIIs be extended to other specified securities market intermediaries which currently follow varying modes of grievance resolution.

-- Khushboo Tiwari/Business Standard

12:21 UTI AMC's shares soar 10% on reports of ...

UTI Asset Management Company has responded to reports of Tata group getting close to acquiring a majority stake in the AMC, saying that it is not part of any such negotiations.

"The company is not part of any such negotiation/events as mentioned in the news report. The company has not taken any decision on the transaction as mentioned in the news item," the AMC told exchanges on Monday.

Earlier, a report claimed that the Tata group is in final talks for acquiring a majority stake in India's eight-biggest fund house from four state-owned financial entities -- Punjab National Bank, Life Insurance Corporation of India, State Bank of India and Bank of Baroda.

The shares of the company surged over 10 per cent on Monday, December 19, 2022.There were similar reports in August 2022 and UTI AMC had then, too, denied having any knowledge of such negotiations.

If such a deal goes through and a merger happens, then the combined entity is likely to become the fourth-largest AMC in India.

In the September quarter of the 2022-23 financial year, UTI and Tata AMC, together, had average assets under management (AUM) of Rs 3.2 trillion.

UTI MF was then eighth in AUM rankings, with assets worth Rs 2.3 trillion. Tata MF was at 12th spot with an AUM of Rs 91,300 crore (Rs 913 billion).

-- Abhishek Kumar/Business Standard

A three-year-old boy died after he fell from the fifth floor of a club in south Mumbai where his family had gone to watch the FIFA World Cup final, a police official said on Tuesday.

He slipped out of a gap in the railing of the floor on Sunday evening when he was returning from a washroom, the official said.

The child, Hrudyanshu Rathod, along with his family members had gone to the club to watch the FIFA World Cup match, the official from Marine Drive police station said.

While he was returning from the washroom, he fell from the fifth floor. An 11 year-old boy, who was walking ahead of the victim, heard some noise. When he turned around, he found the younger boy had fallen into the staircase pit, the official said.

He then immediately rushed upstairs and informed about it to the boy's family members. The victim's family members and the club's security guard rushed the child to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead, the official said. The child had received severe injuries on his forehead and back of the head, he said.

The police have recorded the statement of the 11 year-old boy and the security guard, the official said. An Accidental Death Report (ADR) has been registered and further investigation is on into the incident, the official said. -- PTI

12:06 US worried about new Covid mutant from China

The United States has expressed its concern over the possibility of a new mutation of the Covid-19 virus as numbers continue to regularly increase in the world's most populous nation China, even though many countries have arrested the pandemic spread.

While addressing the media, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said, "First and foremost, any time there is death and illness anywhere around the world, we want to see a situation like that come to an end. When it comes to COVID, secondly, we know that any time the virus is spreading, that it is in the wild, that it has the potential to mutate and to pose a threat to people everywhere."

"We've seen that over the course of many different permutations of this virus and certainly another reason why we are so focused on helping countries around the world address COVID, another reason why bringing this to a close in China would be beneficial," he added.

Talking about Covid-19 toll Price said he is concerned that "not only does China need to be in a good position" but other countries as well.

He said, "the US is concerned that China might not be fully transparent about the COVID numbers, the cases, and also the deaths that we're seeing in China right now".

This development came after China reported two Covid deaths on Monday. -- ANI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has called his Bharat Jodo Yatra as 'Mohabbat ka dukaan' (shop of love) amid an existing 'nafrat ka bazaar' (market of hatred) while responding to BJP leaders who questioned him for conducting the ongoing Kanyakumari to Kashmir foot-march.

"I am opening 'Mohabbat ka dukaan' (a shop of love) in 'nafrat ka bazaar' (the market of hatred). This is my response to BJP leaders who ask why I am doing this yatra," Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said in Alwar, Rajasthan on Monday. Rahul was addressing a rally when a chance gesture of love from an attendee caused him to digress and he said that while on his over 100-day long march he has often come across BJP leaders on rooftops in several towns and cities viewing his padayatra.

Often they would gesture to him asking "what are you doing?", Rahul Gandhi said that they would often force him to ponder on "what exactly he was doing -- walking, meeting people, joining people, reaching out", but finally on Monday he could come up with his exact response.

The former Congress president said that his "mohabbat ka dukaan" is, however, not something new as all Congress leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sadar Patel, BR Ambedkar and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad had also done the same opening "shops of love" amid "vast markets of hatred" during the freedom struggle from the British rule.

Rahul Gandhi also said he has no animosity towards the BJP leaders. He may disagree with their views but he likes all of them. He said while those BJP leaders who now view him from rooftops may not be allowed to even wave at him, they will one day for sure join his path of love as that is what India and its faith and religion were all about -- "love"."You may hate me and badmouth me, your market sells hatred while my shop sells love," said the Congress leader.

11:04 China's crematoriums flooded with Covid bodies

After the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, China is experiencing a massive surge in coronavirus cases.

Hospitals are completely overwhelmed in China, reported Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist and health economist.

The epidemiologist estimates that more than 60 per cent of China and 10 per cent of Earth's population are likely to be infected over the next 90 days with deaths likely in the millions.

One of Beijing's designated crematoria for Covid-19 patients has been flooded with dead bodies in recent days as the virus sweeps through the Chinese capital, offering an early hint at the human cost of the country's abrupt loosening of pandemic restrictions, reported Wall Street Journal.

According to Feigl-Ding, the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) goal is "let whoever needs to be infected, infected, let whoever needs to die, die. Early infections, early deaths, early peak, early resumption of production."

China has reported no Covid deaths in Beijing since the authorities announced four deaths between November 19 and 23. The information office for China's cabinet, the State Council, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment sent late on Friday.

Beijing Dongjiao Crematory, on the eastern edge of the Chinese capital, has experienced a jump in requests for cremation and other funerary services, according to people who work at the compound, reported WSJ.

"Since the Covid reopening, we've been overloaded with work," said a woman who answered the phone at the crematorium on Friday, adding, "Right now, it's 24 hours a day. We can't keep up." -- ANI

A record number of 32 million viewers tuned into the JioCinema app on Sunday to watch the Fifa World Cup final between Argentina and France.

On Monday, the Reliance-backed Viacom18, the official broadcaster of the Fifa World Cup, said over 110 million viewers had consumed its football content on JioCinema during the month-long tournament.

JioCinema, part of the Viacom18 network, was live-streaming the tournament for free, a first for a broadcaster in India. The World Cup was also broadcast on the Sports18 TV channel.

-- Viveat Susan Pinto/Business Standard

10:40 AAP asked to cough up Rs 97 cr spent on ads

Delhi LG VK Saxena directs the Chief Secretary to recover Rs 97 crore from AAP, which it spent on political advertisements. The LG's directions come in the wake of the Supreme Court orders of 2015, the Delhi high court order of 2016 and the CCRGA's order of 2016, which was being violated by the AAP government.

10:21 BJP Parl meet begins

BJP Parliamentary Party meeting underway in Delhi. PM Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP national president JP Nadda and others attend the meeting.

The Bharatiya Janata Party parliamentary party meeting began with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, other prominent BJP leaders and party MPs participating, in the national capital.

Prominent party leaders participating in the meeting include national president JP Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and V Muraleedharan.

This evening, Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party state president CR Paatil has organised a dinner in the national capital to celebrate the party's biggest victory in the recently held assembly polls in the state.

Sources said that the idea of such a gathering was suggested by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

All MPs from the National Democratic Alliance along with their spouses have been invited to this dinner at the Delhi Gymkhana club in the national capital.

According to sources, personalised invitation letters have been sent to all MPs and CR Paatil has personally made calls to these MPs to attend the Tuesday evening dinner. -- PTI

09:45 This what the UN Chief said about Elon Musk

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said he has no personal feelings about who manages Twitter, but he is very interested in how the platform is managed, underlining the importance of combating hate speech and ensuring freedom of expression, especially of journalists, on social media platforms.

"I have no personal feelings in relation to who manages a platform. I am very interested in about how the platform is managed," he said on Monday.

Guterres was responding to a question during his end of the year press conference on whether he thinks Twitter's owner Elon Musk was a threat to free speech and would he be relieved if the billionaire stepped down as head of the social media platform.

Twitter users had voted on Monday for Musk to quit as head of the social media giant in a poll the technology tycoon ran on his future and promised to abide by its results.

A total of 57.5 per cent of people voted "yes" after the 51-year-old billionaire asked his 122 million followers whether he should stand down.

Over 17 million votes were cast in the poll that began on Sunday evening and ended early Monday morning with most respondents voting in the affirmative, CNN reported. Musk tweeted on Sunday, "Should I step down as head of Twitter? I will abide by the results of this poll. As the saying goes, be careful what you wish, as you might get it, he added in a later tweet.

Messi O Messi!

09:28 Did Sikh driver for Argentina team prove lucky?

The driver appeared to be a fan of Argentina and Messi and he was sporting a sky blue turban, say netizens. Read more here.

09:22 Pichai meets PM

Google CEO Sundar Pichai met PM Narendra Modi yesterday.
"Thank you for a great meeting today PM @narendramodi. Inspiring to see the rapid pace of technological change under your leadership. Look forward to continuing our strong partnership and supporting India's G20 presidency to advance an open, connected internet that works for all," Pichai tweeted.

File pic

09:14 Three Lashkar terrorists killed in dawn encounter

Three Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, police said.

A police official said security forces had launched a cordon and search operation at Munjh Marg in Zainapora area of Shopian following information about the presence of terrorists there.

The search operation later turned into an encounter, he said. A police spokesman said three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) ultras were killed in the exchange of firing with the security forces.

"03 #terrorists linked with proscribed #terror outfit LeT killed. Identification being ascertained. Further details shall follow," he tweeted.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday night constituted a special investigating team (SIT) to probe the killing of two civilians in a firing incident outside an Army camp in Rajouri district, official sources said.

The killings of two civilians and injuries to another on Friday lead to massive protests with people demanding a fair probe into the incident.

While the Army had said in a tweet that some unidentified terrorists had started firing at the camp, eyewitnesses claimed a sentry posted at the gate opened fire at approaching locals, resulting in the casualties.

The sources said police have constituted a special investigation team (SIT) headed by a gazette-rank police officer to probe the incident.

The SIT has been constituted by Deputy Inspector General of Police, Rajouri Poonch range, Haseeb Mughal, they said.

The SIT will work under the supervision of Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajouri, Mohammad Aslam and will be headed by Deputy SP (headquarters), Rajouri, Chanchal Singh.

Its members will be Inspector Danish Maqbool, Probationary Sub-Inspector (PSI) Jatinder Sharma and two head constables, the sources said.

The SIT has been asked to update day to day progress of investigation with the range police headquarters, they said.

The team will investigate the incident of firing that took place at the Alfa gate of the Army camp in the Phalyana area of Rajouri town in which two local men Surinder Kumar and Kamal Kumar, both residents of ward 15 Phalyana, got killed, while Anil Kumar from Uttrakhand was injured and is under treatment in Government Medical College (GMC), Rajouri, the sources said. -- PTI

IMAGE: A police personnel stands guard near an army camp in the Darhal area of Rajouri. Image only for representation. Photograph: ANI Photo

'After the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, China is experiencing a massive surge in coronavirus cases. Hospitals are completely overwhelmed in China,' reported Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist and health economist.

The epidemiologist estimates that more than 60 per cent of China and 10 per cent of Earth's population are likely to be infected over the next 90 days with deaths likely in the millions.

One of Beijing's designated crematoria for COVID-19 patients has been flooded with dead bodies in recent days as the virus sweeps through the Chinese capital, offering an early hint at the human cost of the country's abrupt loosening of pandemic restrictions, reported Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

According to Feigl-Ding, the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) goal is 'let whoever needs to be infected, infected, let whoever needs to die, die. Early infections, early deaths, early peak, early resumption of production'.

China has reported no Covid deaths in Beijing since the authorities announced four deaths between November 19 and 23.

The information office for China's cabinet, the State Council, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment sent late on Friday.

"Since the Covid reopening, we've been overloaded with work," said a woman who answered the phone at the crematorium on Friday, adding, "Right now, it's 24 hours a day. We can't keep up."

The woman said Dongjiao Crematory, which is operated by Beijing municipality and which the National Health Commission has designated to handle Covid-positive cases, was receiving so many bodies that it was conducting cremations in the predawn hours and in the middle of the night.

"There's no other way," she said.

She estimated that there were roughly 200 bodies arriving each day at the crematorium, from 30 or 40 bodies on a typical day.

The increased workload has taxed the crematorium staff, many of whom have become infected with the fast-spreading virus in recent days, she said.

Men who work at the compound, which in addition to a funeral hall includes a small complex of shops selling burial attire, flowers, caskets, urns and other funerary items, said the number of corpses had risen markedly in recent days, though none would offer an estimate of the magnitude of the increase, reported WSJ.

'Doubling time in China may not be days anymore. Doubling time now possibly 'hours' says some experts -- let that sink in. R is hard to calculate if doubling is less than 1 day because it's hard to PCR test that fast. The point is China & the world is in deep trouble,' said Feigl-Ding.

Moreover, the deaths in mainland China is being hugely underreported. Through a survey of hospitals, funeral parlors and related funeral industry chains in Beijing--there is a recent explosion in funeral services caused by the sharp increase in deaths.

According to the epidemiologist, 'The cremation in Beijing is nonstop. Morgues are overloaded. Refrigerated containers needed. 24/7 funerals. 2000 bodies backlogged for cremations. Sound familiar? It is spring 2020 all over again-- but this time for China, emulating more Western-mass infection approach.'

People rushed to a pharmaceutical factory to buy ibuprofen because it is completely sold out elsewhere.

One said that, typically, all the day's corpses would be cremated by midday. But the recent increase in the number of bodies has meant that cremations are now taking place long after nightfall.

In a series of abrupt moves this month, China dismantled much of the lockdown, testing and quarantine regimes that underpinned its 'Zero Covid' approach for the past three years to suppress even small outbreaks of the virus.

Because of the lifting of testing requirements, the scale of China's coronavirus surge has been hard to measure.

Daily national case counts have steadily fallen as fewer people test themselves at public facilities, and health authorities earlier this week stopped releasing daily tallies of asymptomatic cases for the first time since the pandemic began.

Earlier this month, the Beijing Emergency Medical Centre urged only critically ill patients to call for ambulances, saying that emergency requests had jumped to 30,000 a day from an average of about 5,000, straining the capacity of paramedics to respond, reported WSJ.

According to National Health Commission regulations, corpses diagnosed as Covid-positive or suspected of being Covid-positive must be cremated immediately in specially designated furnaces, with no dressing of bodies or memorial services.

But many of China's 1.4 billion people remain vulnerable to the virus because of limited exposure, low vaccination rates and poor investment in emergency care. -- ANI

Haryana home minister Anil Vij on Monday said he had a miraculous escape when the shock absorber of his official vehicle broke down on the KMP expressway.

The incident took place when Vij was going from Ambala Cantt to Gurugram to attend a party meeting, the minister tweeted in the night.

"Escaped miraculously while travelling from Ambala Cantt to Gurugram when shocker of my official @MercedesBenzInd E200 broke into two pieces in moving car on KMP Road (sic)," Vij said on Twitter.

The senior BJP leader also posted photos of the car and the broken part. When contacted, Vij told PTI that when the car was moving on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal expressway, suddenly the shock absorber broke down.

Fortunately, the car was moving at a slow speed at the time of the incident, Vij, MLA from Ambala Cantt, said.

"The shock absorber of the driver's side broke down. The driver then took the car to a workshop," said Vij, adding no one was injured in the incident. Vij said after the incident he continued his journey in party leader Ghanshyam Saraf's car. -- PTI

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath

00:33 FIR after Yogi image appears on 'Pathaan' poster

Amid the controversy surrounding the film Pathaan, the song Besharam Rang has sparked a new controversy after morphed posters of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in place of Deepika Padukone surfaced.

A First Information Report has been registered in Lucknow's cyber police station for putting CM Yogi's photo in the ongoing Pathan film controversy, informed the police.

"FIR was lodged in the Cyber police station of Lucknow for posting a morphed picture of Chief Minister Yogi in place of Deepika Padukone. FIR registered under sections of the IT Act," said Cyber Cell deputy SP Alpana Ghosh.

Cyber Cell deputy SP Alpana Ghosh said that the head constable of Vibhuti Khand cyber police station Santosh Tiwari lodged the FIR.

"FIR registered under Section 295A of IPC and Section 66 of IT Act. FIR registered on Twitter handle @AzaarSRK," said cyber cell deputy SP Alpana Ghosh.

Bharatiya Janta Party leader Saurabh Marodia took to his Twitter and demanded action against the poster.

Earlier on December 16, Former BJP minister Jaibhan Singh Pawaiya on Friday waded into the row over the song 'Besharam Rang' featuring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone from their upcoming film Pathaan. -- ANI

Will stay in SP for life, says Shivpal Yadav

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