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Mon, 02 December 2024
Rupani 'feels' Maha will get a BJP CM
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23:19 Refused money to buy phone, teen threatens mother with sword
An 18-year-old boy allegedly threatened his mother with a sword after she refused to give him Rs 10,000 to buy a phone, a Nagpur police station official said on Monday.
The incident happened on Sunday evening, the Jaripatka police station official added.
"When the woman returned home from work, the boy asked Rs 10,000 to buy a phone. When she refused citing her poor financial condition, he abused her, threatened her and his sister with a sword and then vandalised the house," the official said.
On the complaint of the woman, a case was registered and a hunt is on for the boy, who fled from his house some time after the incident, the official added. -- PTI
22:49 Rupani 'feels' Maha will get a BJP CM
Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, one of the two central observers of the Bharatiya Janata Party for its legislature party meet in Maharashtra, on Monday asserted efforts will be made to unanimously elect a leader and said he feels the neighbouring state will get a 'BJP CM'.
Earlier in the day, the BJP, which heads the ruling Mahayuti in Maharashtra, named Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Rupani as central observers for its legislature party meeting in Mumbai, where the MLAs will elect their leader.
"Maharashtra BJP legislature party's meeting will be held either on Tuesday or Wednesday. Efforts will be made to unanimously elect a leader in that meeting of BJP MLAs. I and Sitharaman ji will attend the meeting as observers and submit a report to the high command for the declaration of a leader, who may eventually become the CM if such a formula is finalised," said Rupani at his residence in Rajkot.
"I have a feeling that Maharashtra will get a BJP chief minister this time around since (outgoing CM) Eknath Shinde has made it clear that he will back the party's candidate (for the top post)," he maintained.
The crucial meeting of newly-elected BJP MLAs will be held on Wednesday morning in Vidhan Bhawan in south Mumbai, a party functionary said in the financial capital.
The BJP has already announced that Maharashtra's new chief minister will take oath on December 5 evening at Azad Maidan in Mumbai in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders of the saffron party and its allies.
Though the party has not made any formal announcement, Devendra Fadnavis, a two-time former chief minister and deputy CM in the outgoing Mahayuti government, is widely seen as the frontrunner for the top post.
The BJP's two main allies in the Mahayuti coalition, the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), are each tipped to be given deputy CM positions in the new government.
Caretaker Chief Minister Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena, has already made it clear he will abide by the top BJP brass' decision on the chief minister's post.
In the November 20 Maharashtra polls, the Mahayuti won 230 of the 288 assembly seats. The BJP led with 132 seats followed by the Shiv Sena (57) and NCP (41). -- PTI
22:24 Gadkari gets back seat next to Shah in Lok Sabha
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been allocated seat number one in the Lok Sabha chamber, while the seat opposite to him on the other side of the semicircular front row has been earmarked for Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union minister Nitin Gadkari was earlier allocated division number 58 in the second column, but has now been given seat number four next to Home Minister Amit Shah, according to a circular issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has got division seat number two, next to the prime minister.
Another prominent opposition leader, Akhilesh Yadav, who heads the Samajwadi Party, will sit on seat number 355 in the front row.
Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandhopadhyay will sit next to Yadav. TMC leaders Abhishek Banerjee, Kalyan Banerjee and Saugata Roy have been allocated seats numbered 280, 281 and 284 in the second row.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leaders T R Baalu and A Raja have also been allocated front-row seats.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who won the recent Wayanad bypoll, has been allocated seat number 517, which is in the fourth row.
The circular said division numbers are same as seat numbers.
Division numbers are used mainly during a division of votes when the electronic voting system is used.
The House has one vacancy -- Basirhat from West Bengal -- due to the death of S K Nurul Islam of the TMC. -- PTI
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21:39 Fungus, live larvae in nutritional snacks for kids
In a shocking incident, fungus and live larvae were allegedly found in the nutritional snacks provided to students of at least two Zilla Parishad and state government-aided schools in tribal-dominated Palghar district.
Confirming the incident, Palghar collector Govind Bodke told PTI on Monday that the samples have been collected. He assured action against the supplier after the laboratory report was received.
Issues were primarily reported at Anand Laxman Chandavar Vidyalaya in Khanivli and Chinchani Zilla Parishad School number 3, where the chikki (a sweet, nutrition-rich snack) was found to be contaminated.
Parents claimed the snack was covered with fungus and live larvae.
"The health of our children is at risk. How can we trust the meals being given to them?" a parent said.
The School Education Department ensures these meals are part of a scheme aimed at providing nutritional food to underprivileged students, helping them meet their dietary needs and incentivising school attendance.
"We've complained repeatedly, yet the administration shows negligence towards our children," another parent claimed.
Bodke said it was true that the fungus and larvae were found in the food given to students from a couple of schools in Palghar district.
"The district-level education officers have collected the samples and sent them to laboratories for a detailed report. We need to wait until the laboratory submits its report. Action will be initiated against the supplier after the report is submitted," he told PTI.
Confirming the incident, Palghar collector Govind Bodke told PTI on Monday that the samples have been collected. He assured action against the supplier after the laboratory report was received.
Issues were primarily reported at Anand Laxman Chandavar Vidyalaya in Khanivli and Chinchani Zilla Parishad School number 3, where the chikki (a sweet, nutrition-rich snack) was found to be contaminated.
Parents claimed the snack was covered with fungus and live larvae.
"The health of our children is at risk. How can we trust the meals being given to them?" a parent said.
The School Education Department ensures these meals are part of a scheme aimed at providing nutritional food to underprivileged students, helping them meet their dietary needs and incentivising school attendance.
"We've complained repeatedly, yet the administration shows negligence towards our children," another parent claimed.
Bodke said it was true that the fungus and larvae were found in the food given to students from a couple of schools in Palghar district.
"The district-level education officers have collected the samples and sent them to laboratories for a detailed report. We need to wait until the laboratory submits its report. Action will be initiated against the supplier after the report is submitted," he told PTI.
20:57 Modi, ministers watch Sabarmati Report with Massey
Prime Minister Narendra Modi watched the movie The Sabarmati Report on Monday along with several members of his cabinet besides MPs from the ruling alliance at the Balyogi Auditorium in the Parliament library building.
Some members of the audience, including veteran actor Jeetendra and Raashii Khanna, who has a key role in the movie, told reporters after the meeting that Modi told them this was the first film he had watched after becoming the prime minister.
Modi was joined by Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari and Jitan Ram Manjhi, a Bharatiya Janata Party ally, among others.
The film claims to reveal the truth behind the fire incident in Sabarmati Express at Godhra on February 27, 2002, killing 59 devotees returning from Ayodhya after participating in a religious ceremony.
Vikrant Massey, who played the lead protagonist, said it was a different experience watching the movie with Modi that cannot be expressed in words.
He expressed his delight and appealed to the people to watch the film.
This experience was the highest point in his career, he added.
In a post on X after watching the film, Modi commended the makers of the film for their effort.
Jeetendra told reporters that this was the first time he had watched a film with the prime minister due to his daughter Ekta Kapoor, one of its producers.
"He (Modi) told me that it was the first movie he has seen after becoming prime minister," one of the Hindi film industry's leading actors of his times said.
Actor Raashii Khanna also made a similar comment and expressed delight at the experience.
The ruling BJP has actively promoted the movie, with many of its state governments making it tax-free.
Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat at the time of the incident, which was followed by communal riots, and the state police had blamed a Muslim mob for setting some of the train coaches on fire. Many accused chargesheeted by the police were later convicted in courts.
The incident had triggered a major political row as an enquiry commission constituted by the then railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, a Congress ally, had claimed that the fire was an accident.
The Gujarat high court had, however, quashed its findings and termed the commission unconstitutional. -- PTI
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19:54 Till Nov 14, airlines got 999 hoax bomb threats this year
As many as 666 hoax bomb threats were received by airlines in October alone, out of the total 999 such threats reported this year till November 14, according to official data.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol on Monday said hoax bomb threats result in adversely affecting operations of some of the flights resulting in impact on airlines.
A total of 999 hoax bomb threat incidents were reported during January 2024 to November 14, 2024, the minister said in a separate written reply.
Out of the total, 666 incidents were there in October and 52 till November 14, as per the data shared by the minister.
The count was at 116 in June and 60 in April.
The number of incidents stood at 11 in January, 17 in February, 5 in March and 26 in May. In July and August, the count was at 10 and 21, respectively.
The data also showed that there were 15 hoax bomb threat calls in September.
Mohol, in another written reply, said 256 FIRs have been filed during January to November 14, 2024, and 12 arrests have been made so far.
Pic: PTI Photo/Rediff archives
19:32 INS Vikrant declared fully operational
The INS Vikrant, India's indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC), has achieved full operational status after completing its final operational clearance this year, Vice Admiral V Srinivas, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOCINC), Southern Naval Command, said on Monday.
Speaking to the media aboard the naval ship INS Shardul in Kochi, Srinivas said that INS Vikrant completed its final operations clearance this year.
"With the completion of various trials and the ship's fleet integration, INS Vikrant is now fully operational and is operating under the Western Fleet," he added.
Srinivas emphasised that the ship, which is a symbol of pride for the country and the Navy, is fully capable of undertaking all operations and commitments of the Indian Navy.
Commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022, INS Vikrant is now under the Western Naval Command and is capable of handling naval assignments.
Designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, Vikrant is the largest ship ever constructed in India's maritime history, the official release said.
It boasts of state-of-the-art automation features and houses around 2,200 compartments, designed to accommodate a crew of about 1,600, including women officers and sailors, it added.
The ship is equipped to operate a diverse air wing, including MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31 helicopters, MH-60R multi-role helicopters, and indigenously manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) (Navy), it stated.
19:07 Non-bailable warrant to be issued against Rahul Gandhi if...
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi failed to appear in a Pune court on Monday in connection with a defamation complaint filed against him by the kin of Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar due to the Winter Session of Parliament.
Gandhi's lawyer Milind Pawar said his client had sought exemption from appearance due to the ongoing session of Parliament, adding the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha would be present in court on January10.
Savarkar's grandnephew Satyaki Savarkar had filed a complaint in a Pune court claiming Gandhi, in his speech in London in March 2023, stated that Savarkar had written in a book that he and five to six of his friends once beat up a Muslim man and he (Savarkar) felt happy.
As per the plea, VD Savarkar has not written this anywhere.
At the time, the court had asked police to investigate the allegations and file a report.
The Vishrambaug police in Pune, after an inquiry, submitted that there is prima facie truth in the complaint.
On November 18, a special court for MPs/MLAs of Joint Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Amol Shinde issued an order directing Gandhi to appear before the court on December 2.
Advocate Sangram Kolhatkar, who is representing complainant Satyaki Savarkar, urged the court to issue a non bailable warrant against Gandhi as he had failed to appear before the court on three occasions.
It was contempt of court since Gandhi had failed to appear despite receiving summons, Kolhatkar argued.
Action has been sought against the Congress leader under section 174 (non-attendance in obedience to an order from a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code, he said.
If he does not appear in court on January 10, a non bailable warrant will be issued, Kolhatkar told reporters later.
Kolhatkar also presented a couple of news cuttings pertaining to a speech made by Rahul Gandhi on November 26 in which the latter had made similar comments against Savarkar.
He asked the court to refrain Gandhi from making any comments against Savarkar, to which Judge Shinde orally told advocate Pawar to ask his client to not make such remarks.
On October 4, the court had asked Gandhi to be present in person on October 23.
Gandhi, however, failed to do so with his lawyer telling court that he had not received the summons.
On November 18, Pawar told court his client needs time since he was busy with election campaigns.
At the time, the court had asked Gandhi to be present on December 2.
On Monday, Judge Shinde kept the matter for hearing on January 10, when Gandhi is expected to be present. -- PTI
18:57 Rahul misses court appearance in Savarkar case
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi failed to appear in a Pune court on Monday in connection with a defamation complaint filed against him by the kin of Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar due to the winter session of Parliament.
Gandhi's lawyer Milind Pawar said his client had sought exemption from appearance due to the ongoing session of Parliament, adding that the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha would be present in court on January10.
Savarkar's grandnephew Satyaki Savarkar had filed a complaint in a Pune court claiming Gandhi, in his speech in London in March 2023, stated that Savarkar had written in a book that he and five to six of his friends once beat up a Muslim man and he (Savarkar) felt happy.
As per the plea, VD Savarkar has not written this anywhere.
At the time, the court had asked police to investigate the allegations and file a report.
The Vishrambaug police in Pune, after an inquiry, submitted that there is prima facie truth in the complaint.
On November 18, a special court for MPs/MLAs of joint civil judge and judicial magistrate (first class) Amol Shinde issued an order directing Gandhi to appear before the court on December 2.
Advocate Sangram Kolhatkar, who is representing complainant Satyaki Savarkar, urged the court to issue a non bailable warrant against Gandhi as he had failed to appear before the court on three occasions.
It was contempt of court since Gandhi had failed to appear despite receiving summons, Kolhatkar argued.
Action has been sought against the Congress leader under section 174 (non-attendance in obedience to an order from a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code, he said.
If he does not appear in court on January 10, a non bailable warrant will be issued, Kolhatkar told reporters later.
18:12 Sukhbir Badal to clean utensils, shoes at Golden Temple: Akal Takht
The Sikh clergy at the Akal Takht on Monday pronounced tankhah (religious punishment) for Sukhbir Singh Badal for the "mistakes" committed by the Shiromani Akali Dal and its government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017, directing him to perform as a 'sewadar' and clean utensils and shoes at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Pronouncing the order from the faseel (podium) of the Akal Takht in Amritsar, Jathedar of the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, Giani Raghbir Singh, also directed the working committee of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to accept the resignation of Sukhbir Badal as party chief, besides forming a committee to hold elections for the post of SAD president and office-bearers within six months.
The Jathedar further announced to withdraw the title of 'Fakhre-e-Qaum' bestowed upon former chief minister late Parkash Singh Badal, father of Sukhbir Badal.
The five Singh Sahibans (Sikh clergy) also pronounced religious punishment for other Sikh leaders who served as ministers in the Akali cabinet during 2007 to 2017.
Giani Raghbir Singh said Sukhbir Badal, who was on a wheelchair because of a fractured leg, and rebel leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa have been asked to sit outside the Golden Temple wearing the dress of 'sewadar' for one hour each for two days.
They will also perform the service of 'sewadar' at Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Takht Damdama Sahib, Darbar Sahib at Muktsar and Fatehgarh Sahib for two days each.
Both Sukhbir Badal and Sukhdev Dhindsa were asked to clean utensils and shoes of devotees at the Golden Temple for one hour, besides listening to 'kirtan'.
Fadnavis is the frontrunner for CM
17:37 BJP legislative party meet on Thursday
BJP Legislative Party meet to meet at 10 am on 4th December at Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan: BJP Maharashtra.
The BJP has already announced that the new chief minister will take oath on December 5 at Azad Maidan in Mumbai in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders. Though the party has not made any formal announcement, a senior BJP leader on Sunday claimed Devendra Fadnavis' name has been finalised for the CM's post.
17:22 Remembering Danto...
Former Rediff.com journalist, Sumit Bhattacharya pays tribute to a colleague and journalist we lost too soon -- Anthony D'Costa.
Posting on Facebook, Sumit writes, "The noted cartoonist Satish Acharya remembers Anthony D'Costa, Danto to all who knew him, who passed away too soon a couple of days ago. Usually, eulogies flow for the departed but allow me to be different (I think Danto would like it). In 2004, when I joined Rediff.com -- where I worked for 10 years, had the best time of my working career and met many, many outstanding journalists and human beings, a rare combination -- Danto was one of my bosses.
"He didn't take to me immediately. I was told he was the only one on the interview panel who objected to hiring me. When I joined Rediff and India Abroad, the newspaper for desis in America that Rediff owned then, we had a five-day week, a rarity for news orgs.
"I was unaware of it. Danto made me come to office on Saturdays for more than six months till I gathered up courage to ask the superbosses if it was okay if I didn't come on Saturdays because I mostly sat and twiddled my thumbs. I have never forgiven Danto for that, but without malice.
"That was what journalism was like then. I learnt a lot from Danto, esp from his way of chiselling away at copy -- not rewriting, mind -- till it turned into a sharp gem. And Danto had his own way of showing affection. He liked making things out of Mechano pieces, and once when he made a man with a guitar he tagged me in the post. And after he left Rediff, Danto called me up to offer a job in the org he had joined. The first question I asked him was: "Five-day week hai kya?" And we both had a good laugh. Farewell, Danto. I will see you on the other side."
17:04 Maharashtra CM's name will be announced on...
The name of the Maharashtra chief minister will be announced on Wednesday, a day ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of the Mahayuti government, after the BJP elects its legislature party leader, a senior functionary said on Monday.
The BJP on Monday named Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani as central observers for its Maharashtra legislature party's meeting, where the MLAs will elect their leader.
"Rupani and Sitharaman would meet the BJP's elected representatives in Mumbai on Wednesday. Following this meeting, the chosen candidate's name will be relayed to senior leaders in Delhi. These observers will then announce the elected leader of the BJP, who is set to be the next chief minister," the BJP functionary told PTI.
The BJP has already announced that the new chief minister will take oath on December 5 at Azad Maidan in Mumbai in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders. Though the party has not made any formal announcement, a senior BJP leader on Sunday claimed Devendra Fadnavis' name has been finalised for the CM's post. The BJP's two main allies in the Mahayuti coalition, the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party, are each tipped to be given deputy CM positions in the new government.
Eknath Shinde, who is the caretaker chief minister, has already made it clear that he will not come in the way of BJP getting the chief minister's post. In the recently concluded state polls, the Mahayuti won 230 of the 288 assembly seats. The BJP led with 132 seats, while the Shiv Sena got 57 and NCP 41 seats. -- PTI
16:59 Ajit Pawar leaves for Delhi
Maharashtra's former Deputy CM and NCP chief Ajit Pawar leaves from his residence in Mumbai. He is scheduled to arrive in Delhi today.
Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule has said that the oath-taking ceremony of the new Mahayuti government will take place on December 5 evening at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai.
Though the party has made no announcement, former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, the deputy chief minister in the outgoing government, is being seen as the frontrunner for the key position.
The party's two main allies, the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party, are each tipped to be given deputy CM positions in the new government.
Flooding in Cuddalore
16:55 Flood fury overwhelms Villupuram in TN
Villpuram district in north Tamil Nadu continued to reel under unprecedented flooding on Monday following extremely heavy rainfall, virtually blocking access to villages and residential colonies as bridges and roads overflowed, inundating huge acreage of standing crops and leaving passengers stranded as rail and road traffic was hit.
Vehicles were submerged up to two feet and the roads came completely under water in several parts of Villupuram, and nearby Cuddalore, where residents were stunned by the flooding. River Thenpennai was in spate and trees were uprooted in several areas. Several houses, particularly tiled tenements, at Aragandanallur in Villupuram were almost submerged with water level rising over 4 feet.
Parts of Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts, in west Tamil Nadu, too witnessed floods unseen in the past two decades. Uthangarai in Krishnagiri district received a whopping 50 cm rainfall, Villupuram district received upto 42 cm, and Harur in Dharmapuri received 33 cm. Cuddalore and Tiruvannamalai recorded 16 cm, and all of which was from 8.30 am on December 1 to 8.30 am, on the following day.
Many vehicles, including cars and vans were dragged by floods from a road at Uthangarai into low-lying area, shocking people. Several of the vehicles were owned by local tour operators. Road access from Uthangarai to towns such as Krishnagiri and Tiruvannamalai has been affected due to heavy inundation. -- PTI
16:47 Sensex, Nifty settle higher on buying in blue chips
Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended higher on Monday amid buying in blue-chip stocks Reliance Industries, Infosys and HDFC Bank along with a firm trend in the US markets. Recovering the early lost ground, the BSE benchmark Sensex climbed 445.29 points or 0.56 per cent to settle at 80,248.08.
During the day, it hit a high of 80,337.82 and a low of 79,308.95. The NSE Nifty surged 144.95 points or 0.60 per cent to 24,276.05. From the 30-share Sensex pack, UltraTech Cement, JSW Steel, Adani Ports, Tech Mahindra, Titan, Maruti, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Steel and Reliance Industries were the biggest gainers. NTPC, Hindustan Unilever, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IndusInd Bank and Larsen & Toubro were among the laggards. -- PTI
16:27 Sena-UBT: Disparities in EVMs, postal ballot
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Varun Sardesai on Monday claimed the trends in postal ballots and EVM results of the Maharashtra assembly polls appear inconsistent, raising doubts about the integrity of the EVM system.
Sardesai, who defeated NCP's Zeeshan Siddique to win the Vandre East assembly seat in the debut contest, also claimed a suspicious spike in voter turnout during the final two hours of polling and demanded a reply from the Election Commission.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Sardesai claimed statistical anomalies were observed in the Election Commission's official data, and called for greater transparency and accountability.
"While I am not making direct allegations, the data raises several doubts that must be addressed," he said. He said that postal ballots, which largely represent soldiers, senior citizens, essential service workers, and government employees, "generally align with the overall voter sentiment in their constituencies".
"Trends in postal ballots were consistent with EVM results in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections (when MVA won 30 out of 48 seats in Maharashtra). However, in the assembly elections, a striking divergence was observed," Sardesai said.
For example, the Maha Vikas Aghadi was leading in 31 constituencies through postal ballots, while the BJP-led Mahayuti was ahead in 16 constituencies. Yet, the final EVM results showed the MVA securing only 46 seats, while the Mahayuti tally surged to 230 seats (in assembly polls), he said. Sardesai further claimed that Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray received 874 postal votes and 62,450 EVM votes in the Worli constituency in Mumbai, while his opponent Milind Deora got 522 postal votes and 54,001 EVM votes.
According to Sardesai, this "pattern" extended beyond the Shiv Sena (UBT). "Congress leader Nana Patole was ahead by 54 per cent in postal ballots but saw a sharp 12.7 per cent drop in EVM counts," he said. Similarly, NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil, who had 70 per cent of postal votes, experienced an 18 per cent decline in EVM results, Sardesai said, adding that this trend was never observed in previous elections. He also mentioned Kolhapur South, Tivsa, and Ghatkopar East constituencies where MVA candidates "leading in postal ballots saw significant drops in EVM counts."
"How is it possible that in almost every case, MVA candidates experienced a 5 to 15 per cent decline in votes from postal to EVM results, while Mahayuti candidates saw an equivalent rise? This raises serious doubts about the integrity of the EVM system," he said. -- PTI
16:23 PMI slips to 56.5
India's manufacturing sector demonstrated resilience in November despite headwinds owing to price pressures and fierce competition. The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) stood at 56.5, down from October's 57.5, marking a joint 11-month low. However, the figure remained well above the long-run average, signalling sustained expansion in the sector.
16:17 RBI unlikely to cut rates in upcoming MPC meeting
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to keep policy rates unchanged in the upcoming Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting scheduled from December 4 to December 6, according to a report by the State Bank of India (SBI).
The report highlighted that the headline inflation continues to remain at uncomfortable levels, making an immediate rate cut unlikely. It suggested that the RBI's monetary stance should remain neutral, prioritizing growth without altering its policy approach drastically. "We believe the stance should continue to be neutral, supporting growth (withdrawal of accommodation removed in last policy)," it said.
The Abdullahs during the Umrah last month
15:42 Treat Muslims as equals: Farooq Abdullah tells Centre
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Monday said the Centre should put a stop to activities that can spark communal tension in the country, and treat Muslims as equals.
"There is a need to stop (incidents like Sambhal). I will tell the government of India to stop (such acts) because they cannot throw the Muslims (of India) into the sea. Where will they throw 24 crore Muslims? Treat Muslims as equals, that is what our Constitution stands for. If they fiddle with the Constitution, how will India survive," Abdullah asked while speaking to reporters in Srinagar.
The National Conference (NC) president, who recently performed Umrah (minor Hajj pilgrimage) along with his son and chief minister Omar Abdullah and several of his colleagues, said no one was against the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley.
"Who is stopping Kashmiri Pandits from coming back? Every political party has said they should return. It is their decision when they want to return. Our hearts are open for them. Even when I was the chief minister, when the situation was bad, we tried to bring them back," he said.
On demands seeking review of the reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said the government should review the same.
"We will tell the government to review it. Reservation is for the underprivileged sections so that they can come up as equals," he said.
The NC government has formed a Cabinet sub-committee to look into the demands for rationalisation of reservations, which have gone up to 70 per cent in the Union Territory.
On Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha last week firing two government employees for their alleged terror links, Abdullah said the government "will keep an eye on everything and go into why the two employees were terminated".
The veteran politician also welcomed the Israel-Lebanon 'ceasefire', but called for an end to attacks on Gaza, Syria and Iran as well. -- PTI
MPs file out of Parliament after it was adjourned for the day
15:26 Parl unlikely to discuss Adani, logjam may end
The government and opposition parties have come close to reaching an agreement to break the impasse in Parliament with a discussion on the Constitution to mark its 75th year of adoption likely to take place in the coming days, sources said.
The Samajwadi Party may also be allowed to raise the Sambhal issue and the Trinamool Congress happenings in Bangladesh in the Lok Sabha, they said. The opposition wants an official announcement of dates for the discussion on the Constitution before agreeing to the resumption of regular parliamentary proceedings, they added.
"We are hopeful that Parliament will begin its work from Tuesday. Positive talks have happened," a source said.
However, there is little possibility of any specific discussion on the Adani issue, sources added, noting that opposition members may touch on it during other debates. The Congress has been persistent in raising the issue of the indictment of US prosecutors of Adani Group chairperson Gautam Adani and other company officials on bribery and fraud charges.
This coupled with vociferous opposition protests over matters such as the Sambhal violence and Manipur unrest have resulted in constant adjournments of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha since the Winter Session began on November 25.
However, some other opposition parties, especially the TMC, have not attached the same priority to the Adani row and want Parliament to discuss a host of different issues, including unemployment, price rise and the Centre's alleged discrimination against opposition-ruled states in fund allocation. The TMC has skipped opposition meetings to formulate the INDIA bloc's joint strategy during the Session. -- PTI
File pic
14:48 Farmers' march: Mega jam at Delhi-Noida border
Massive traffic snarls caused inconvenience to commuters crossing the Delhi-Noida border on Monday as police set up multiple barricades in view of the farmers' protest march towards the national capital. A senior police officer said checking was underway at the border.
Additional Commissioner of Police (east) Sagar Singh Kalsi said, "We have made adequate arrangements in east Delhi borders and have taken all precautionary measures, including anti-riot equipment. We are using drones for vigilance and are also coordinating with traffic police for smooth vehicular movement in the area." Aprajita Singh, a resident of Greater Noida, said the barricades were put up at the Chilla border were causing inconvenience to commuters.
"It took me about an hour to get through that stretch. The police set up barricades on both sides of the Delhi-Noida border, causing significant traffic congestion, especially on the carriageway heading from Noida to Delhi," she said. PTI
14:44 What are they talking about?
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in his office today.
Senthil Balaji
14:38 What's going on? SC on Senthil appointed minister
The Supreme Court on Monday was surprised after knowing that Senthil Balaji was appointed as Minister in Tamil Nadu soon after he was granted bail in the money laundering case related to the cash-for-jobs scam.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih said, "We grant bail and the next day you go and become Minister. Anybody will be bound to be under the impression that now with your position as a senior cabinet minister witnesses will be under pressure. What is this going on?" The top court was hearing a plea seeking to recall the September 26 judgment by which it had granted bail to Balaji on the ground that witnesses would be under pressure since Balaji was appointed minister after his release.
The bench said that it would not recall the judgment but it would limit the scope of enquiry to whether the witnesses were under pressure. It asked Balaji's counsel to get instructions and posted the matter to December 13.
"The apprehension is that considering the seriousness of allegations against the 2nd respondent (Balaji) in the predicate offences, the witnesses may not be in the frame of mind to depose against the 2nd respondent who is holding the position of cabinet minister... This is the only aspect on which prima facie we are inclined to consider the application, and while making it clear that there is no reason to interfere with the judgement on merits and adjudication of the application remains confined to the aforesaid," said the apex court -- ANI
14:07 Remembering the Bhopal gas tragedy
Children born with congenital disabilities with their parents and relatives during a candlelight vigil to pay tributes to the people killed in the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy on the 40th anniversary of the disaster, in Bhopal yesterday. The horror happened on the night of December 2-3 when a pesticide plant owned by Union Carbide Corporation leaked about 40 tonnes of deadly MIC gas.
Delhi's AQI has improved to 'poor'
13:56 The world's most polluted city is...
Lahore has retained its position as the world's most polluted city, with hazardous air quality readings posing a significant threat to public health. According to recent data, the city's air quality reading stands at 303 points, indicating extremely poor air quality, ARY News reported.
The air quality in other major cities in Pakistan is also a cause for concern. Multan's air quality reading is 268 points, while Peshawar and Karachi have readings of 230 and 215 points, respectively.
These readings indicate hazardous air quality, which can have serious health implications for residents. The onset of winter has led to a significant increase in air pollutant levels in Punjab, with the province struggling to contain severe air pollution.
The levels of pollutants in the air have reached alarming levels, exceeding the limits deemed safe by the World Health Organization, as per ARY News. Lahore, the provincial capital, has been particularly affected, with a thick smog enveloping the city for days. The pollution is caused by a combination of factors, including vehicle emissions, smoke from burning crops, and cold weather, making it difficult for people to breathe.
Notably, health experts have raised alarms over the long-term effects of such unprecedented pollution levels, particularly on vulnerable populations. Before this crisis, air pollution was responsible for 12 per cent of deaths in children under five in Pakistan, The Express Tribune reported
13:44 Trump barks, not bites: Ex-RBI guv on Brics threat
President-elect Donald Trump's warning that BRICS countries will face 100 per cent tariffs if they choose to move away from the US dollar is unclear to what extent he will carry out his threat, as it remains to be seen if the US law permits such an action, former RBI Governor Duvvuri Subbarao said on Monday.
He also said even for BRICS, there are internal differences about bringing out an alternative to the US Dollar. The nine-member group that includes India, Russia, China, and Brazil, moving out of the US currency and having a common one remains a non-starter because of both politics and economics.
"Donald Trump has threatened to slap 100 per cent tariffs on imports from countries that try to move out of the dollar. His ire was particularly directed at the BRICS bloc which has been actively talking about developing an alternative to the dollar. Trump is known to bark more than he bites," Subbarao told PTI.
BRICS, formed in 2009, is the only major international group of which the US is not a part. Its other members are South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Over the past few years, a few of its member countries, in particular Russia and China, are seeking an alternative to the US Dollar or creating their own BRICS currency. India has so far not been part of the move.
"It's not clear to what extent he will carry out his threat. What yardstick will America use to determine if a country has moved out of the dollar? And does American law permit imposing sanctions on countries merely because they are de-dollarising," the former RBI chief asked. In theory, a BRICS common currency would shield the bloc from the perils of dollar hegemony.
In practice, that project will remain a non-starter because of both politics and economics, he further said. It is inconceivable that member countries, not least India, would be willing to give up their monetary policy autonomy and become hostage to a common currency that would be vulnerable to instability anywhere in the bloc, he added.
Replying to a query, Subbarao said the costs of moving out of the dollar are high for both China and India, but the former is better placed because of its large trade footprint and its BRI projects in emerging economies. Over the last decade, China has been fairly successful in internationalising the RMB (its currency) and a significant part of Chinese trade is invoiced and settled in that currency.
A large portion of Chinese loans under the BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) are denominated in RMB and in contrast, India's share in global trade is low. It still needs investment in hard currencies, particularly the US Dollar. India has a long way to go before the Rupee can become international, Subbarao opined. PTI
Pic: Vaihayasi Pande Daniel/Rediff.com
13:10 Remembering Danto
Mumbai journalism is the crucible of talent, throwing up talent every now and then that blazes a trail.
Anthony D'Costa was one such who burst into the scene in the late 1980s, when editor Vinod Mehta raided the Indian Post newsroom wholesale. Among the handful who stayed back was Anthony D'Costa, known universally as Danto.
At 23, Danto almost single-handedly brought out the Indian Post, working round the clock and even sleeping in the office on many days, his unstinting hard work and commitment to the job earning him a place in the deskies' hall of fame.
When the Indian Post eventually died an unnatural death, Danto moved on to other newsrooms -- Mid-Day, Rediff/India Abroad, DNA and, finally, the ToI -- the qualities that earned him his journalistic spurs staying with him. Work remained his passion, and he remained a team man till the end.
This was evident on Sunday at his funeral in Mumbai, where scores of journalists remembered a wonderful colleague who went too early. Danto was just 59, and succumbed to years of battle with various ailments.
So how does one remember Danto? He was a loving husband, a doting father, a great friend, and a dedicated journalist for who the hours never mattered -- he was all this and more.
At Rediff we remember him for all these qualities, yes, and also as a prankster who infused the workplace with his wry sense of humour. The many jokes he played on us still bring a chuckle to our faces as we recall a wonderful human being with who we spent many years.
RIP, Danto.
File pic
13:03 Don't inconvenience people: SC to protesting farmers
The Supreme Court on Monday asked Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border point to press for the acceptance of farmers' demands, to persuade the protesting farmers not to obstruct highways and cause inconvenience to people.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan disposed of a habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of Dallewal, who was removed from the Khanauri protest site on the Punjab-Haryana border on November 26. "We have seen that he has been released and he even persuaded a fellow protestor to end his fast-unto-death protest on Saturday," the bench said, adding that the issue raised by the farmers has been noted by the court and is considered in a pending matter.
"In a democratic setup, you can engage in peaceful protests but do not cause inconvenience to people. You all know that the Khanauri border is a lifeline for Punjab. We are not commenting on whether the protest is right or wrong," the bench told advocate Guninder Kaur Gill, appearing on behalf of Dallewal.
Justice Kant said that Dallewal could persuade the protestors to organise peaceful protests under the law and without causing any inconvenience to people. The bench said that at this stage, it was not entertaining Dallewal's petition but he could approach later.
Hours before beginning his fast-unto-death on November 26, Dallewal was allegedly forcibly removed from the Khanauri border and taken to a hospital in Ludhiana. He was discharged on Friday evening. The plea was moved in the apex court on November 29 challenging his alleged illegal detention by the Punjab Police. -- PTI
12:34 5000 cops, 3-tier security for farmers' protest
A 3-tier security plan has been put into effect and security forces have been deployed in parts of Noida-Delhi ahead of the farmers 'Delhi Chalo' protest march, said an official on Monday.
According to the Shivhari Meena, Addl. Commissioner Of Police Noida, "We are in constant talks with farmers regarding the 'Delhi Chalo' march. Yesterday also we spoke to them for 3 hours. We have also prepared a 3-tier security plan...around 5,000 Police personnel are conducting checking at various locations...we have also issued traffic advisory...around 1000 PSC personnel have also been deployed, there are arrangements of water cannons..."
The Police say they are constantly communicating with the farmers, and also seeing to the traffic management.
A traffic advisory has also been issued so that security arrangements are maintained. Around 5,000 police officials and 1,000 PSC workers have been deployed, and water cannon, TGS squad, fire squad and others have been deployed for emergency and traffic management. Meanwhile, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has reached out to farmers, urging them to resolve their issues through dialogue. -- ANI
12:23 India set to acquire 26 Rafale-M jets soon: Navy chief
India is set to seal the proposed procurement of 26 naval variant of Rafale jets and three additional Scorpene submarines soon, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said on Monday.
At a media briefing ahead of Navy Day, Admiral Tripathi also said that the government's approval for two SSNs (nuclear-powered submarines) indicated its faith in the country's indigenous capabilities to build such boats.
The Navy chief also said that 62 ships and a submarine are currently under construction within the country as part of efforts to boost its naval power. A large number of platforms are waiting for induction in the next one year and at least one ship will be inducted into the Navy, he said. "We have redoubled efforts to include niche technologies into the force," Admiral Tripathi said.
The procurement of Rafale-M (naval variant) and the Scorpene submarines is likely to be finalised next month, he added. In July last year, the defence ministry approved the purchase of the Rafale-M jets from France, primarily for deployment on board the indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. -- PTI
12:19 Parliament adjourned for the day
Floor leaders of the INDIA bloc had convened a meeting in the chamber of Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge ahead of the resumption of proceedings of both Houses of Parliament today.
Parliament was adjourned for the day after ruckus over issues like Adani, Sambhal and Manipur. Another week with the same results as last week.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, was also present in this meeting along with other party leaders.
12:13 FIR against 15 CISF jawans for assaulting doctor
Police have registered a case against 10 to 15 CISF personnel for allegedly assaulting a doctor, his brother and another person in a road rage incident in Maharashtra's Navi Mumbai township, officials said on Monday.
The accused personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) have been issued notices in connection with the incident which took place at 10.15 pm on November 29, they said. Some buses were ferrying the CISF personnel to their quarters in Navi Mumbai's Kharghar area from Mumbai airport.
While moving towards Sector 36 in Kharghar, a speeding bus came dangerously close to a car between Utsav Chowk and Central Park, an official said. The car owner, who is a doctor by profession and also local functionary of a political party, chased the bus and asked its driver to stop the vehicle, he said.
The car owner objected to the bus driver's rash driving following which an argument broke out. By the time, five-six CISF personal stepped out of the bus, confronted the doctor and allegedly assaulted him, the official said.
Some CISF personnel also allegedly hit the doctor's brother and friend and broke the windshield of his car, he said.
Later, the doctor lodged a complaint against the CISF personnel at Kharghar police station. The complainant also claimed that some of the CISF personnel involved in the attack were under the influence of alcohol, but fled after the incident, the official said.
A case has been registered against 10 to 15 CISF personnel under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for rioting and assault and notices have been issued to them, he said. Further probe was on into the case, the police added. PTI
A poster of the film
11:51 Modi to watch film 'The Sabarmati Report' today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will watch Vikrant Massey starrer 'The Sabarmati Report' movie at 4pm at Balyogi Auditorium in the national capital. The film is based on the burning of the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express near Godhra station, Gujarat on February 27, 2002.
Incidentally, Massey announced a break from films today.
11:46 Stones hurled at Kashi Vishwanath Express in UP
Unidentified persons pelted stones at the Kashi Vishwanath Express at Dhaneta Halt, near Fatehganj West in Bareilly and damaged the window of a coach, an official said on Monday. No injuries were reported in the incident, he said.
According to Ajit Pratap Singh, the station in-charge of Bareilly Railway Police Force, the incident took place on Saturday, when the train was going from Delhi to Varanasi.
When the train reached Dhaneta Halt, some people started throwing stones at it, causing a window of coach B-1 to crack, Singh said. An FIR has been filed in Rampur in connection with the incident.
The RPF has launched a search operation in villages along the railway line, from Bareilly Junction to Chandausi, Moradabad and Shahjahanpur to identify and apprehend the stone pelters, Singh said. PTI
11:33 Karnataka IPS officer dies in accident
A 26-year-old IPS officer on his way to take up his first posting died in a road accident in Hassan district, police said on Monday. Harsh Bardhan was a 2023-batch IPS officer of the Karnataka cadre and hailed from Madhya Pradesh, they said.
The accident took place on Sunday evening, when the tyre of the police vehicle he was travelling in allegedly burst near Kittane in Hassan taluk, following which the driver lost control and the vehicle hit a house and a tree on the roadside, police said.
According to police, Bardhan was on his way to Hassan to report for duty as a probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police in Holenarasipur, police said. Bardhan sustained severe head injuries and died in the hospital during the course of treatment, while the driver, Manjegowda, suffered minor injuries, a senior police officer said.
The IPS officer had recently completed his four-week training at the Karnataka Police Academy in Mysuru, police said, adding his father is a sub-divisional magistrate. -- PTI
11:07 Politics is a sea of unsatisfied souls: Gadkari
Union minister Nitin Gadkari has said politics is a "sea of unsatisfied souls" where every person is sad and aspiring for a higher post than his current position. Life is a game of compromises, compulsions, limitations and contradictions, Gadkari added while speaking at the launch of a book, titled '50 Golden Rules of Life', in Nagpur on Sunday.
Whether a person is in family, social, political or corporate life, the life is full of challenges and problems and the person should understand the "art of living" to face them, the senior BJP leader said.
The minister recalled a programme he had attended in Rajasthan where he said, "Politics is sea of unsatisfied souls, where every person is sad...the one who becomes corporator is sad because he did not get the chance to become MLA, and an MLA is sad because he could not get a ministerial berth."
"The one who becomes a minister is sad because he could not get a good ministerial department and could not become chief minister, and chief minister is in tension because he does not know when the high command will ask him to leave," the BJP leader said.
The problems in life pose a big challenge and facing them and moving forward is the "art of living", he said. Gadkari said he remembers in his political life a quote from former US President Richard Nixon autobiography which says 'A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits'.
The Union minister emphasised on good human values and "sanskars" for a happy life. He also highlighted the importance of "person, party and party philosophy" while sharing his golden rules to live life and be successful. PTI
Representational image
10:58 7 trapped in bldg under boulder, NDRF search on
Teams of NDRF personnel commenced clearing the mud over a building in which seven individuals were feared "trapped" in Annamalaiyar Hill area in the district on Monday. The teams involved in the operation arrived with rescue dogs.
"The locals say that seven, including five children have been living in this building. It is not known whether the occupants are still there or have taken shelter (due to heavy rains) elsewhere. We will know the true picture through the rescue operation," Thiruvannamalai district Collector D Bhaskar Pandian said, after inspecting the affected house in VOC Nagar on the foothill.
The collector told reporters that a boulder had rolled down due to a mud slip on the hilltop on Sunday owing to the heavy rain triggered by Cyclone Fengal.
"Due to this, a house was completely buried under mud. I and the Superintendent of Police, and other officials visited the spot," the collector said. There was a boulder still precariously hanging on the hillside, and it may fall anytime.
"Though there is no rain now, there is a possibility of a mud slip on the hill due to the impact of overnight rains. So, we have evacuated 50 to 80 people from the area so far. Only mud has covered up the house," he said. The personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have commenced the rescue operation in association with the district administration, police and fire and rescue services department, an official said. PTI
10:51 Thick, thick fog in Srinagar
And while you book that shikara ride on the Dal Lake, you may want to consider the thick fog that envelopes Srinagar.
10:22 Going to Kashmir? Take a Uber shikara ride!
Ride-hailing app Uber has launched its first water transport service in India, with a booking of a shikara at Dal Lake in Srinagar through its app, a senior company official said on Monday.
The company introduced the first service of its kind in Asia. "Uber Shikara is our humble attempt to blend technology and tradition to give a seamless experience to travellers for their shikara ride. We are proud to create this iconic experience enhancing accessibility and uplifting tourism in the breathtaking landscape of Kashmir," Uber India and South Asia, President, Prabhjeet Singh said.
An Uber spokesperson confirmed that Uber's water transport service in India is also the first in Asia. Uber offers water transport booking in some of the European countries including Venice in Italy. In India, the company has initially onboarded seven shikaras and plans to gradually expand the fleet based on the service's traction.
Uber users will be able to book shikara at government-determined rates. The company's spokesperson said Uber is not charging any fees from its shikara partners and the entire amount will be passed to them.
Each Uber Shikara ride can be booked for a period of 1 hour between 10 am to 5 pm, allowing up to 4 passengers from Shikara Ghat No 16. Uber Shikara rides can be booked 12 hours prior and up to 15 days in advance. Shikara Owners Association President Wali Mohammad Bhatt said that there are around 4,000 shikaras in Dal Lake and he expects Uber to onboard more shikara partners.
"Uber service will boost shikara operators' business as the app will facilitate the booking of the boats at fixed rates and end bargaining which provides relief to tourists. The booking will also provide assured income for Shikara operators. We expect more shikara to join Uber, based on the response of tourists," Bhatt said.
Uber has already been operating cab service booking in Srinagar. PTI
10:15 GST collection for November rises by 8.5%
Driven by festive demand, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections for the Union and state governments climbed to Rs 1.82 trillion in November, marking an 8.5% year-on-year growth, according to official data released on Sunday. Sequentially, however, the latest collection figures are lower than the Rs 1.87 trillion reported in October, which was the second highest reported so far since the new indirect tax regime was introduced in 2017.
Representational image
10:04 2 cops dangle on SUV as driver speeds away
A couple sped off in their SUV during a combing drive with a constable perched precariously on the vehicle's bonnet and another policeman clinging on to its window in Ahmedabad, an official said.
The constable who was on the bonnet suffered injuries as he got dragged for some distance before falling due to the SUV's speed and narrowly escaped being run over by a dumper, the official said on Sunday.
The other policeman was also thrown off as the vehicle speeded up late Saturday night, he said. Instead of stopping, the SUV driver continued to move the vehicle allegedly with an intention to run over the policemen when they tried to stop the vehicle, the official said. Police later arrested the man and his wife after tracing them based on their SUV's registration number noted by cops, he said.
"The SUV driver tried to run over the police personnel when he was signalled to stop during a combing drive at 11.15 pm on Saturday. In order to stop the car, constable Nitesh Ramji clung on to its bonnet. He was dragged for some distance by the SUV, leaving him with injuries on the hands and legs," the official from Chandkheda police station said.
When the policeman fell, he was in danger of being crushed by a dumper, which stopped in time, he said.
"Another policeman, who clung to the half-opened window on the driver's side, was also thrown off as the vehicle gathered speed. The woman, who was sitting next to the driver, had signalled him to speed away," the official said.
The man and his wife were later arrested and booked under sections 109 (attempt to murder) and 121 (causing grievous hurt to a public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, he said. Further investigation was underway into the case. -- PTI
09:54 Govt defers launch of PM internship scheme
The launch of the ambitious PM Internship Scheme (PMIS) has been postponed, two sources in the ministry of corporate affairs (MCA) confirmed to FE, even as they insisted the decision had little to do with response to the scheme from companies and job seekers.
As per the plan, the scheme was supposed to start from today (December 2) with a duration of 12 months for the first batch of beneficiaries.
The delay in start of the scheme has left the candidates in the dark. As per the latest data from MCA, the pilot project of PMIS received over 6.5 lakh applications for 1.27 lakh opportunities offered by 280 companies participating in the scheme.
Initially, the registration window was also expected to close on November 10 but it was later extended to November 15 for wider participation from candidates.
09:35 Kannada actress dies by suicide in Hyderabad
Kannada film and TV actress Shobitha S allegedly died by suicide at her residence in Hyderabad on Sunday, police said.
Shobitha (32) was found hanging from a ceiling fan by a sari in her bedroom, according to police.
Shobitha, who had appeared in TV serials and films in Kannada, had been residing in Hyderabad after her marriage last year.
Police stated that the exact reasons behind her alleged suicide are under investigation. No suicide note was found, a senior police official said, based on preliminary findings.
A case has been registered at Gachibowli police station, and further investigation is underway. -- PTI
09:25 IMD issues red alert in Kerala; heavy rains expected
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for four districts in the state, forecasting extremely heavy rains today.
According to the IMD, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur are expected to experience extremely heavy rainfall on Monday.
Though the weather agency earlier placed Kottayam and Pathanamthitta under an "orange" alert today, it was changed into a "red alert" later in the day.
A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rain of over 20 cm in 24 hours, an orange alert signifies very heavy rain of 11 cm to 20 cm, and a yellow alert warns of heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm.
Meanwhile, the district administrations declared a holiday for all educational institutions including professional colleges and anganwadi in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Wayanad districts on Monday.
In view of the heavy rains warning, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has advised people living in landslide and mudslide-prone areas to stay vigilant and relocate to safer places as directed by authorities.
Those residing along riverbanks and in dam catchment areas should also evacuate as per official instructions, the SDMA added. -- PTI
09:16 Vikrant Massey announces retirement from acting
Actor Vikrant Massey on Monday shocked his fans by announcing that he planned to retire from acting after 2025.
Vikrant shared a note on Instagram where he mentioned he would meet his fans for "one last time" in 2025.
"The last few years and beyond have been phenomenal. I thank each and every one of you for your indelible support. But as I move forward, I realise its time to recalibrate and go back home. As a Husband, Father & a Son. And also as an Actor," the 12th Fail and Sector 36 actor wrote.
He continued, "So coming 2025, we would meet each other for one last time. Until time deems right. Last 2 movies and many a years of memories. Thank you again. For everything and everything in between." He added "forever indebted" at the end of the note.
According to reports, Vikrant is currently shooting for two films - Yaar Jigri and Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan.
Vikrant made his debut on television with the show Dhoom Machao Dhoom.
He rose to fame through Balika Vadhu in 2009.
He grabbed eyeballs with his stellar performance in Konkona Sen Sharma's directorial A Death in the Gunj.
Vikrant has also acted in films like Chhapaak, Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi, Haseen Dillruba, Gaslight.
He featured in web series like Broken But Beautiful, Criminal Justice, Mirzapur.
08:55 Miscarriage of Justice: Trump on Biden pardoning son
United States President-elect Donald Trump has responded to outgoing US President Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter who had been convicted on charges related to gun crimes and tax violations, calling it a 'miscarriage of justice'.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!"
The J6 hostages is a reference to those people imprisoned for their role in the January 6, 2021 riots on Capitol Hill. Trump and his supporters have called the imprisoned people hostages claiming they were acting peacefully and patriotically.
It has been speculated that once Trump takes over as President he will issue a pardon for those who are imprisoned for their role in the siege of Capitol Hill.
Biden Sunday issued "a full and unconditional pardon" to Hunter Biden arguing that he was singled out only because he was his son.
Hunter Biden was convicted early this year on federal gun and tax charges and was set to appear soon in Delon, California, where he faced the potential of lengthy prison sentences.
08:28 Biden pardons son Hunter in criminal cases
Outgoing United States President Joe Biden Sunday issued "a full and unconditional pardon" to Hunter Biden arguing that he was singled out only because he was his son.
"For my entire career I have followed a simple principle: just tell the American people the truth. They'll be fair-minded. Here's the truth: I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further," Biden said in a statement Sunday night.
Hunter Biden was convicted early this year on federal gun and tax charges and was set to appear soon in Delon, California, where he faced the potential of lengthy prison sentences.
"From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department's decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted," Joe Biden said.
"Without aggravating factors like use in a crime, multiple purchases, or buying a weapon as a straw purchaser, people are almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form. Those who were late paying their taxes because of serious addictions, but paid them back subsequently with interest and penalties, are typically given non-criminal resolutions. It is clear that Hunter was treated differently," said the president.
Biden said the charges in his cases came about only after several of his political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose his election.
"Then, a carefully negotiated plea deal, agreed to by the Department of Justice, unraveled in the court room with a number of my political opponents in Congress taking credit for bringing political pressure on the process. Had the plea deal held, it would have been a fair, reasonable resolution of Hunter's cases," he said.
"No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter's cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son and that is wrong," he said.
"There has been an effort to break Hunter -- who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution. In trying to break Hunter, they've tried to break me -- and there's no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough," Joe Biden said. -- PTI
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