LIVE
Fri, 13 December 2024
African swine fever outbreak reported in Kerala
Timeline Refresh
Former president Ram Nath Kovind
23:56 Simultaneous polls brain child of founding fathers, not BJP: Kovind
Former president Ram Nath Kovind on Friday asserted that the concept of holding simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was the brain child of the country's founding fathers and not the Bharatiya Janata Party.
He also said that then president Pranab Mukherjee was supportive of the idea of simultaneous polls and believed that the plan could be implemented either by consensus or by a government enjoying full majority.
Kovind-led high-level committee on 'one nation, one election' had recommended holding Lok Sabha, state assembly and local body elections simultaneously in a phased manner.
Earlier on Thursday, the Union Cabinet approved two bills to hold the parliamentary and assembly polls together.
Speaking at Agenda Aaj Tak in New Delhi, Kovind also said that series of elections give an elected government nearly 3.5 years to fulfil its electoral promises and aspirations of people.
He suggested that simultaneous polls will give the governments more time for governance.
Responding to a question on having an opposition member on the committee, Kovind said that initially then Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Choudhury was willing to be a member and wanted the government to send him an appointment letter.
He said "people conclude" that Choudhury decided to withdraw after he discussed the issue with party higher ups. Kovind said during the consultation process on 'one nation, one election', 32 political parties supported the idea while 15 did not. -- PTI
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23:51 African swine fever outbreak reported in Kerala's Kottayam
An outbreak of African Swine Fever, a highly contagious and devastating disease affecting pigs, has been reported in farms in two villages in this district, officials said on Friday.
The outbreak was detected at two pig farms located in the Koottickal and Vazhoor grama panchayats in Kottayam, they added.
Kottayam district collector John V Samuel has ordered the culling of pigs in the affected farms, officials said.
"All pigs in the affected farms and within a one km radius will be culled and disposed of according to Central Government guidelines. The district animal husbandry officer has been assigned to oversee this process," Samuel said in a statement.
The area within a km's radius of the affected farms has been declared an infected zone, while a 10-kilometre radius has been designated as a surveillance zone, he said.
"The distribution and sale of pork, as well as the transportation of pork and feed, from the infected areas have been prohibited. Similarly, the transportation of pigs, pork, or feed from these areas to other regions and vice versa is also banned," the Collector said. -- PTI
23:23 Delhi polls: Will contest from New Delhi seat, says Kejriwal
Amid rumours of him shifting to other constituency, Aam Aadmi Party supremo and former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced that he will contest from his New Delhi seat in the upcoming assembly polls.
Kejriwal asserted that the contest in the New Delhi constituency will be a battle between the "CM sons and the common man".
The Congress has fielded Sandeep Dikshit, the son of three-time CM Sheila Dikshit, while the BJP may field Parvesh Verma, the son of former chief minister Sahib Singh Verma, against him.
Speaking at Agenda Aaj Tak programme in New Delhi, Kejriwal said Delhi Chief Minister Atishi will also not shift to any other seat and contest from her Kalkaji constituency.
"There will be no change. I will contest from New Delhi seat and Chief Minister Atishi from Kalkaji," he said when asked about the possibility of changing seats by them.
Kejriwal said the Aam Aadmi Party is contesting the Delhi assembly elections in his name and asserted that his party will come back to power for the fourth time with a good mandate.
"This election is being fought in the name of Kejriwal and I will become the chief minister of Delhi," Kejriwal said, adding that Chief Minister Atishi was a "temporary" arrangement to fill the gap created due to his arrest in the excise policy case. -- PTI
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23:02 Sambhal mosque imam fined Rs 2L for noise breach
Days after violence over surveying of a Mughal-era mosque at Sambhal which killed four people, an imam of another mosque in Sambhal was fined Rs 2 lakh for allegedly using a loudspeaker at high volume on Friday, officials said.
The incident took place in the Anar Wali Masjid in the Kot Garvi area, according to administration officials.
"The loudspeaker was being used at high volume in the mosque, prompting action in the case. The imam, identified as 23-year-old Tahzeeb, was fined Rs 2 lakh as a precautionary measure and has been granted bail," Sambhal sub-divisional magistrate Vandana Mishra said.
The imam has also been directed to refrain from similar conduct for the next six months, according to an order passed by the SDM.
Sambhal has been tense since violence on November 24 during a clash between locals and security personnel over a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid in the Kot Garvi area.
The violence left four people dead and several others injured in its wake, as the episode snowballed into a major political controversy finding echo in Parliament too. -- PTI
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra speaks in the LS in New Delhi on Friday/ANI Photo
22:41 Better than my maiden speech: Rahul hails Priyanka's LS address
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi lauded Priyanka Gandhi's speech in the Lok Sabha on Friday and said it was better than his maiden speech in the House.
In her 32-minute speech in Hindi, Priyanka Gandhi was combative yet restrained, never raising her voice, as she highlighted the opposition's key planks.
These included the ruling BJP's alleged attempts to change the Constitution, the "growing monopoly" of the business group headed by industrialist Gautam Adani, atrocities on women, incidents of violence in Sambhal and Manipur and the demand for a nationwide caste census.
Participating in a debate on the Constitution, the member of Parliament from Kerala's Wayanad said the Constitution is a protective shield of justice, unity and freedom of expression, but the BJP-led Centre has made every effort to break it in the last 10 years.
Asked about the speech, Congress leader and Priyanka Gandhi's brother Rahul Gandhi told reporters outside Parliament, "It was a very good speech.... Wonderful speech. Better than my maiden speech, let us put it like that."
Rahul Gandhi became an MP for the first time in 2004.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also lauded Priyanka Gandhi's speech. -- PTI
22:17 Sukhbir Badal completes religious penance
After completing his 'tankhah' (religious punishment), former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday offered prayers at the Akal Takht.
Badal arrived at the Takht at the Golden Temple with his former cabinet colleagues amid tight security. He moved in a wheelchair due to a fracture in his foot.
The police had since the morning deployed heavy force near the temple complex.
Badal, 62, underwent a religious punishment pronounced on December 2 by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal body of Sikhs, for "mistakes" made by the Shiromani Akali Dal and its government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.
On the second day of his penance at the Golden Temple on December 4, Badal had a narrow escape as former Khalistani terrorist Narain Singh Chaura fired at him from a close range but missed the target and was overpowered by policemen in plain clothes. Chaura was later arrested.
Sukhbir Badal was directed to perform sewa at Guru Ram Dass Langar Hall community kitchen of the Golden Temple by cleaning utensils and shoes of devotees for one hour and listening to the kirtan. He was also directed to perform the service of sewadar at Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Takht Damdama Sahib, Darbar Sahib at Muktsar, and Fatehgarh Sahib for two days each as part of his religious punishment.
The 'guilty' Akalis were made to wear a plaque with Gurbani inscription about 'admittance of guilt' around their neck during sewa. Sukhbir, and other party leaders, including its working President Balwinder Singh Bhunder and former ministers Gulzar Singh Ranike and Daljit Singh Cheema, performed an ardas of penance and bheta, degh of karah prasad was offered as per the directions from the Akal Takht.
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22:15 Navy's latest survey ship INS Nirdeshak to be commissioned on Dec 18
The Indian Navy's latest survey ship -- INS Nirdeshak -- that boasts over "80 percent indigenous content", reaffirming the naval force's focus towards Aatmanirbharta, is all set to be commissioned at Visakhapatnam on December 18, a senior official said on Friday.
The commissioning ceremony will be presided over by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth.
"The Indian Navy is all set to commission its latest survey ship 'Nirdeshak' at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, on December 18," a Navy spokesperson said.
The ceremony will be hosted by the flag officer commanding-in-chief, Eastern Naval command and attended by distinguished guests, including senior naval officials and GRSE representatives.
The ship, built at GRSE Kolkata, boasts over 80 percent indigenous content, reaffirming India's expertise in ship design and construction and the Indian Navy's focus towards 'Aatmanirbharta', he said.
The 110-meter-long vessel, with a displacement of approximately 3,800 tonnes, is powered by two diesel engines and is equipped with state-of-the-art hydrographic and oceanographic survey equipment.
'Nirdeshak', the second ship of the Survey Vessel (Large) Project, is designed to conduct hydrographic surveys, aid in navigation and support maritime operations.
It represents the reincarnation of the erstwhile 'Nirdeshak', which served the Indian Navy with distinction for 32 years until its decommissioning on December 19, 2014, the spokesperson said. -- PTI
A view of IIT-Mandi in Himachal Pradesh/File image
21:46 IIT-Mandi prof axed for harassing 2 female students
A professor accused of sexually harassing two female PhD researchers at IIT-Mandi has been removed from his job, the institute said on Friday.
The professor had been compulsorily retired based on the report of the Internal Complaint Committee constituted to investigate the sexual harassment case, Registrar Sambhav Pandey said.
The decision was taken by the IIT Board.
The professor has challenged the decision. -- PTI
YS Jagan Mohan Reddy/File image
21:19 HC seeks media houses reply on Jagan Reddy's Rs 100 cr defamation suit
The Delhi high court has sought the response of various media houses on a Rs 100 crore defamation suit by former Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy over alleged derogatory news reports linking him to the indictment proceedings against Adani Group in the US.
Justice Subramonium Prasad issued summons to the media houses and their editors and search engine Google while asking them to file written statements in response to the suit.
"Let the plaint be registered as a suit. Issue summons," the court said in its December 9 order.
The judge also issued notice on Reddy's application seeking an interim relief and made it clear that any publication made after December 9 would be after being put to notice by court and have its own consequences.
The court posted the matter on December 16.
Reddy sought the court's direction to the media houses to take down the publications mentioned by him in the suit.
Reddy, the president of YSR Congress Party, also sought damages of Rs 100 crore from the defendant media houses for the alleged defamation caused to him due to the publication of the news reports.
It was the plaintiff's case that the statements in the articles or tweets were primarily based on and only referred to proceedings purportedly initiated in the US and he had not received any notice on it.
He said neither was he indicted in the proceedings nor made a party in any of the proceedings. -- PTI
21:00 Graphic: India's forex reserves drop
India's forex reserves dropped by $3.235 billion to $654.857 billion for the week ended December 6, the RBI said on Friday.
21:00 BSE Sensex: Top gainers today
Among the 30-share Sensex blue-chip pack, Bharti Airtel, ITC, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Hindustan Unilever, Titan, UltraTech Cement, HCL Technologies, and Power Grid were the biggest gainers.
On the other hand, Tata Steel, IndusInd Bank, JSW Steel and Bajaj Finserv were the laggards. -- PTI
20:59 Sensex stages strong comeback amid easing inflation
Benchmark stock indices Sensex rebounded sharply by about 1 per cent on Friday, propelled by bargain hunting in telecommunication, tech and consumer durable stocks amid encouraging domestic inflation data.
After falling 1,207.14 points in morning trade, the 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex recovered all the lost ground later and jumped 843.16 points or 1.04 per cent to settle at 82,133.12.
During the day, it surged 923.96 points or 1.13 per cent to 82,213.92. -- PTI
20:51 Woman gang-raped on Assam temple premises, 8 held
Eight people were arrested on Friday for allegedly raping a woman on a temple premises in Assam's Guwahati, the police said.
The arrests were made after a purported video of the incident in Gorchuk area was found circulating among locals, a senior police officer said.
While seven of the accused were apprehended initially, the eighth person was arrested later in the day.
Guwahati police commissioner Diganta Barah said the video of the alleged gang rape was received from a newsperson early on Friday.
"Based on information received and thorough analysis of the video, police teams immediately conducted raids at various locations under the jurisdiction of Gorchuk and Jalukbari police stations, and seven people identified in the video were arrested," Barah said.
All the arrested accused are aged between 18 and 23 years, he said. -- PTI
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20:46 Goat 'sacrificed' in full public view near Shimla, case filed
A goat was killed in a sacrifice in full view of the public in Rohru, about 110 km from Shimla, the police on Friday said.
An FIR was lodged in the matter on the complaint of a social worker.
The complainant, Surendra Papta, said that a goat was sacrificed on Shikhri Bridge near the New Bus Stand in Rohru.
A video that captured the alleged sacrifice showed up on social media and was shared widely.
It showed people witnessing the 'anusthan' (a ritual) in the presence of a deity with several vehicles stranded near the bridge.
The police said the video was old and since it was shot from a distance, it was difficult to identify the people.
Local station house officer Kamal said that an FIR, however, has been registered and an investigation is on. -- PTI
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20:26 IndiGo passengers stranded at Istanbul airport after long flight delays
Hundreds of IndiGo passengers have been stranded at Istanbul airport due to their flights to Mumbai and Delhi facing long delays, with the airline apologising for the inconvenience.
IndiGo operates one flight each daily from Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul with Boeing 777 aircraft.
While the exact details of the impacted flights could not be immediately ascertained, many passengers took to social media complaining about the long delays stretching up to 24 hours and also lack of facilities at the airport.
Many of them have been stranded since Thursday.
"We are aware of the delays on the IndiGo flight connections to Istanbul. We accord the highest priority towards customer convenience and our teams are available at all contact points to assist customers," IndiGo said in a statement on Friday.
The airline also apologised for the "inconvenience" caused to the passengers.
However, specific details were not disclosed. Some passengers also shared pictures of people stuck at the airport.
In a post on X, a passenger said, "first time to India and stranded at the Istanbul Airport for the last 24 hours because the IndiGo flight keeps cancelling. No food. No clarity. No representative, No compensation, Pathetic treatment". -- PTI
20:11 Only 19 Indians remain in Russian armed forces: Govt
Most of the Indian nationals in the Russian armed forces have been discharged and only 19 of them are currently deputed there, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh shared the data in a written response to a query about the number of Indian nationals recruited for serving the Russian Army who are yet to be repatriated and the reasons for the delay in their release and repatriation despite assurances from the Russian authorities.
The query also sought to know whether the Indian nationals are deputed on the war front, if the Indian mission is able to contact all of them and the measures taken or proposed to be taken by the government for their early release and repatriation.
"As a result of concerted efforts by the government, most of the Indian nationals in the Russian armed forces have been discharged and several have been repatriated to India," Singh said in his reply.
According to the available information, 'currently only 19 Indian nationals remain in the Russian armed forces', he said.
The government has requested the Russian authorities concerned to provide an update on the whereabouts of the remaining Indian nationals in the Russian armed forces and also ensure their safety, well-being and early discharge, the minister said. -- PTI
19:20 Allu Arjun not at fault: Victim's husband
The husband of a woman who died when fans jostled during the December 4 premiere show of Pushpa 2 at a film theatre in Hyderabad, said on Friday he doesn't hold the film's male lead Allu Arjun 'responsible for the tragedy'.
Bhaskar, the woman's husband, stated he was 'ready to withdraw' his case over the incident.
"Allu Arjun is not at fault for coming to the theatre. I am ready to withdraw my case," he told reporters.
Bhaskar added that he was not informed by the police about Arjun's arrest and learned about it only from the news.
His eight-year-old son, who suffered serious injuries in the incident, has been undergoing treatment at a private super-speciality hospital in Hyderabad.
The city police arrested Allu Arjun on Friday in connection with the woman's death.
However, the Telangana high court granted him a four-week interim bail. -- PTI
19:06 No info about Rohingya immigrants living near IB in Jammu: BSF
Ruling out a possibility of any unidentified person roaming near the border without the knowledge of security agencies, a senior Border Security Force officer on Friday said there was no presence of illegally settled Rohingya immigrants near the International Border in Jammu sector.
Inspector General of BSF, Jammu frontier, D K Boora said Jammu border has always been sensitive and 'we keep a close watch on the situation, irrespective of what happens in Bangladesh or elsewhere'.
"We do not have any information about Rohingyas living near the IB (in Jammu). The entire border is under strict surveillance of BSF and other agencies, while border police also play an important role in the hinterland," the officer told reporters at a press conference here.
He was responding to a question about any presence of Rohingya near the IB or any attempt by any member of the community or illegally settled Bangladeshi immigrants attempting to cross over to Pakistan.
"No, there is no such incident on this border (when any Rohingya or Bangladeshi attempted to cross over to the other side of the IB)," he said.
Asked about the threat posed by the presence of a large number of unidentified labourers, the BSF officer said 'you may feel that their verification has not been done but the reality is otherwise'.
"The secret services or the police continue to do that work and the people hiring them for work have to report to the police and get their verification done. So, there is no such situation that unidentified people are roaming on the border and no one knows about it," he said.
He refused to comment on the situation along the Bangladesh border and said, "We have no direct role in its security, as far as the Jammu border is concerned, it has always been sensitive irrespective of what happens in Bangladesh or elsewhere. And keeping that in mind, we keep a close watch and increase over deployment as per the requirement."
The BSF officer said there was no instance reported anywhere in Jammu when any person posing as insane crossed into this side from Pakistan and returned back.
"As far as drug smuggling is concerned, the police and all other security agencies are working hard to counter the menace and have managed to control it," he said. -- PTI
Inspector General of BSF, Jammu frontier, D K Boora said Jammu border has always been sensitive and 'we keep a close watch on the situation, irrespective of what happens in Bangladesh or elsewhere'.
"We do not have any information about Rohingyas living near the IB (in Jammu). The entire border is under strict surveillance of BSF and other agencies, while border police also play an important role in the hinterland," the officer told reporters at a press conference here.
He was responding to a question about any presence of Rohingya near the IB or any attempt by any member of the community or illegally settled Bangladeshi immigrants attempting to cross over to Pakistan.
"No, there is no such incident on this border (when any Rohingya or Bangladeshi attempted to cross over to the other side of the IB)," he said.
Asked about the threat posed by the presence of a large number of unidentified labourers, the BSF officer said 'you may feel that their verification has not been done but the reality is otherwise'.
"The secret services or the police continue to do that work and the people hiring them for work have to report to the police and get their verification done. So, there is no such situation that unidentified people are roaming on the border and no one knows about it," he said.
He refused to comment on the situation along the Bangladesh border and said, "We have no direct role in its security, as far as the Jammu border is concerned, it has always been sensitive irrespective of what happens in Bangladesh or elsewhere. And keeping that in mind, we keep a close watch and increase over deployment as per the requirement."
The BSF officer said there was no instance reported anywhere in Jammu when any person posing as insane crossed into this side from Pakistan and returned back.
"As far as drug smuggling is concerned, the police and all other security agencies are working hard to counter the menace and have managed to control it," he said. -- PTI
Devendra Fadnavis
19:02 Maha cabinet expansion in Nagpur on Sunday
The cabinet expansion of the BJP-led Maharashtra government would take place on December 15 with the new ministers taking the oath of office at a ceremony in Nagpur, official sources said on Friday.
About 30 ministers would take oath, a senior BJP leader told PTI.
The week-long winter session of the state legislature is slated to begin in Nagpur, Maharashtra's second capital, from December 16.
Devendra Fadnavis took oath as Chief Minister with Shiv Sena leader Eknath shinde and NCP chief Ajit Pawar as his deputies at a grand ceremony in Mumbai on December 5.
The council of ministers in Maharashtra can have a maximum of 43 members including the chief minister.
18:42 ISRO one step closer to send humans in space
Indian Space Research Organisation announced on Friday that it has achieved a significant milestone for the Gaganyaan programme with the first solid motor segment moved from the production plant to the launch complex.
The announcement came days after the space agency conducted 'well deck' recovery trials of the Gaganyaan with the Indian Navy on December 6.
The space agency said the well deck in a ship can be flooded with water so that boats, landing crafts, recovered spacecraft can be taken inside to dock within the ship.
Taking to the social media platform 'X,' the space agency stated, 'A significant milestone for the Gaganyaan Programme! The first solid motor segment has been moved from the production plant to the launch complex, marking a key step towards the HLVM3 G1 flight. India's human spaceflight dreams are taking shape!'
Gaganyaan, India's first human space mission, is one of the projects approved by the Union Cabinet.
Gaganyaan project envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching crew of three members to an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission and bringing them back safely to Earth, by landing in Indian sea waters. -- PTI
18:05 HC grants interim bail to actor Allu Arjun
The Telangana high court on Friday granted interim bail to actor Allu Arjun, who was arrested earlier in the day by Hyderabad police in connection with the death of a woman during the screening of his movie Pushpa 2 last week.
The HC order came shortly after the actor was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days by a local court.
Arjun was sent to the jail at Chanchalguda in Hyderabad following the remand, amid tight security arrangements. -- PTI
18:00 3 Indian students killed in Canada
Three Indian students have been murdered in Canada last week and the Indian high commission in Ottawa has taken up the matter of safety of Indians with the Canadian authorities, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.
The safety, security and welfare of Indian nationals in Canada remains of utmost importance to us, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
"In the last week or so we have had unfortunate tragedies. Three Indian students have been murdered. We are saddened at these terrible tragedies that have struck our nationals in Canada," Jaiswal said.
"We extend our deepest condolences to the grieving families. Our High Commission and Consulates in Toronto and Vancouver are extending all possible help in the matter," he said.
Jaiswal said the Indian missions in that country are in touch with the local authorities for thorough investigation of the incidents.
"Issues faced by them, especially Indian students, are raised by our high commission and Consulates with the relevant Canadian authorities on a regular basis," he said.
"We have also issued an advisory for our nationals and Indian students to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant in view of the deteriorating security environment in Canada as a result of the growing incidence of hate crimes and criminal violence," Jaiswal added.
According to official data, over 400,000 Indian students are studying in Canada.
Asked about reports of instances of the Indian high commission not granting visas in Canada, Jaiswal described them as a 'disinformation' campaign.
"We have seen the said media report. It is yet another example of Canadian media's disinformation to malign India," he said.
"Granting of Indian visas is our sovereign function and we have the legitimate right to deny visas to those who undermine our territorial integrity," he said.
"The commentary that we see in the Canadian media on this matter is akin to foreign interference in India's sovereign affairs," Jaiswal added. -- PTI
17:57 India's forex reserves drop by $3.23 billion
India's forex reserves dropped by $3.235 billion to $654.857 billion for the week ended December 6, the Reserve Bank of India said on Friday.
In the previous reporting week, the reserves had increased by $1.51 billion to $658.091 billion, ending a multi-week decline in the overall kitty. The forex reserves had increased to an all-time high of $704.885 billion in end-September.
For the week ended December 6, foreign currency assets, a major component of the reserves, decreased by $3.228 billion to $565.623 billion, the data released on Friday showed.
Expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the foreign exchange reserves. Gold reserves decreased by $43 million to $66.936 billion during the week, the RBI said.
The Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) were up by $25 million to $18.031 billion, the apex bank said.
India's reserve position with the IMF was also up by $12 million to $4.266 billion in the reporting week, the apex bank data showed. -- PTI
17:19 Atul Subhash case: Cops visit court's record room
A team of Bengaluru Police on Friday arrived at the record room of District and Sessions Court in Jaunpur, as a part of their investigation into the suicide case of a techie, Atul Subhash.
Earlier today, a four-member team of Bengaluru Police, including one woman police personnel, arrived in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur.
They pasted a notice outside the residence of the wife of Atul Subhash in Jaunpur which reads, 'There are reasonable grounds to interrogate you to ascertain the facts and circumstances. You are directed to appear before the investigating officer at Bengaluru within three days.'
Atul Subhash, the 34-year-old deputy general manager of a private firm, died by suicide on Monday in his Bengaluru apartment, leaving behind a 24-page suicide note, accusing his wife and her relatives of harassment.
In his suicide note, he also alleged that a judge had demanded Rs 5 lakh to 'settle' the case.
The father of Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash, said his son had been 'broken from inside' after multiple cases were filed against him and his family by his wife. -- ANI
16:57 Former RG Kar principal, cop granted bail
The Sealdah court on Friday granted bail to former officer-in-charge of Tala police station Abhijit Mondal and R G Kar Medical College and Hospital ex-principal Sandip Ghosh in the rape and murder case of an on-duty doctor.
While Mondal was accused of alleged delay in filing of FIR in the rape and murder of the on-duty doctor at R G Kar Hospital on August 9, Ghosh was accused of tampering of evidence in the case.
The two were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is investigating the rape-murder case on an order of the Calcutta high court.
The additional chief judicial magistrate (ACJM), Sealdah court, granted bail to the two accused persons as chargesheet against them was not filed within the mandatory 90-day period, a lawyer representing Ghosh said.
Mondal's lawyer told reporters outside the court that he will walk out of the correctional home where he is incarcerated on judicial remand. Ghosh, who is on judicial remand in another case of alleged financial irregularities at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, will however, remain behind bars despite being granted bail in the rape-murder case. -- PTI
16:30 PETA announces Rs 50K for leads on dog stabber
Animal rights organisation PETA India has announced a reward of up to Rs 50,000 for any information on suspects involved in the stabbing of two stray dogs in north east Delhi.
The attacks, which took place two days apart in Kabir Nagar last week, left one dog dead and another injured, an official from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said.
While the dog stabbed late December 5 is undergoing treatment, the other attacked on the night of December 6 died at the hospital, the official added.
The culprits remain unidentified and the police are investigating the matter, he said, adding that anyone who can identify the perpetrators to assist with the investigation will be receive a reward of up to Rs 50,000 from the organisation.
"Those who abuse animals often move on to harming humans. For everyone's safety, people must come forward with what they know about this case and report about cruelty to animals to the police," PETA India's Cruelty Response Coordinator Sunayana Basu said.
An FIR was registered at Welcome police station on Thursday after the attacks, according to a statement by PETA India.
The organisation also emphasised that the culprits of animal abuse should undergo psychiatric evaluation and receive counseling, as acts of animal cruelty indicate deep psychological disturbances. -- PTI
The attacks, which took place two days apart in Kabir Nagar last week, left one dog dead and another injured, an official from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said.
While the dog stabbed late December 5 is undergoing treatment, the other attacked on the night of December 6 died at the hospital, the official added.
The culprits remain unidentified and the police are investigating the matter, he said, adding that anyone who can identify the perpetrators to assist with the investigation will be receive a reward of up to Rs 50,000 from the organisation.
"Those who abuse animals often move on to harming humans. For everyone's safety, people must come forward with what they know about this case and report about cruelty to animals to the police," PETA India's Cruelty Response Coordinator Sunayana Basu said.
An FIR was registered at Welcome police station on Thursday after the attacks, according to a statement by PETA India.
The organisation also emphasised that the culprits of animal abuse should undergo psychiatric evaluation and receive counseling, as acts of animal cruelty indicate deep psychological disturbances. -- PTI
16:04 Patole urges Kharge to relieve him from Maha Cong chief post
Days after the Congress suffered its worst-ever defeat in assembly polls in Maharashtra, its state unit president Nana Patole has requested the central leadership to relieve him of the responsibility of the organisational post, party sources said on Friday.
The sources said Patole has emailed a letter to All India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge, telling him he wants to be relieved from the post of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief.
The Congress, a constituent of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), contested 101 assembly seats in Maharashtra and won only 16, logging its worst-ever performance in its one-time bastion.
Several of its top leaders in the state failed to retain their assembly constituencies.
Patole himself retained his Sakoli assembly constituency in Bhandara district by just 208 votes. -- PTI
15:34 Better than my maiden speech: Rahul on Priyanka
Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday lauded Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi's maiden speech in the Lok Sabha and said that her speech was better than his.
"Wonderful speech. Better than my maiden speech, let's put it like that," Rahul Gandhi said. Meanwhile, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi called Priyanka Gandhi's speech "Excellent."
Priyanka Gandhi's husband and businessman Robert Vadra said he is happy with the speech of the Wayanad MP, adding that Congress will move forward strongly.
"I am very happy. She spoke very clearly about her experience across the country... She talked about the difficulties of the people... Lok Sabha should function properly and there should be discussions in the House. Prime Minister Modi should also take care of the difficulties faced by the people of different states. I am very proud and Congress will move forward strongly," Robert Vadra said.
Moreover, Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge said that Priyanka put all the facts before the government. "Excellent speech. Very good. She put all the facts before the Government - how the Constitution is being misused and they are not protecting women and people of this country. We are very happy about her performance," Kharge said.
Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi in her maiden address in the Lok Sabha attacked the ruling government and said that in the last 10 years, the Union government have made all attempts to break down the 'kavach' (shield).
-- ANI
14:57 Actor Darshan gets bail in murder case
Karnataka HC grants bail to Kannada film actor Darshan, his friend Pavithra Gowda arrested in Renukaswamy murder case.
On Friday, the Karnataka High Court granted bail to the Kannada star and his partner Pavithra Gowda, who are the prime accused in the case.
Darshan was arrested by the Bengaluru police from Mysuru on June 11, 2024. Police officials were investigating his involvement in the Renuka Swamy murder case and had also already seized his cell phones. His bail plea was also rejected multiple times previously.
13:56 Priyanka's maiden speech in LS has begun
In Lok Sabha, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra makes her debut speech: "Today, people of the country are demanding that there be a Caste Census. Colleague of the ruling side mentioned this, the mention is also being made only because of these results in the Lok Sabha elections. The Caste Census is essential so that we know the condition of everyone and policies can be made accordingly."
A special discussion on the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution has begun on Parliament. Priyanka, the newly elected Wayanad MP is now making her maiden speech.
12:58 Allu Arjun arrested for death of woman in stampede
Actor Allu Arjun arrested days after woman killed in stampede at 'Pushpa 2' screening in Hyderabad.
Allu Arjun was charged for the stampede that erupted outside a Hyderabad theatre that left one woman dead last week, after he arrived without prior intimation for the premiere show of his movie "Pushpa 2: The Rule", police said.
Besides the actor, the management of Sandhya Theatre will also be charged for not making any "additional provisions regarding security to manage the crowd".
12:55 Jeff Bezos dines at Vikas Khanna's Bungalow
Senior journalist Vir Sanghvi shares this image on X saying, "The most happening Indian restaurant in the world. @TheVikasKhanna had Jeff Bezos as a guest last night at Bungalow Congratulations Vikas, Jimmy Rizvi & the entire Bungalow team."
Bezos is the CEO of Amazon.
Chef Khanna's New York restaurant, Bungalow, has hosted Mukesh Ambani, Isha Piramal Ambani, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas earlier.
Having bagged eight Michelin stars during his more than 40 years of cooking professionally, Chef Khanna's Bungalow won the Michelin 2024 Bib Gourmand Award last week. And was recently featured on the Top 14 list of new restaurants by The New York Times.
12:46 Dhankar cries 'farmer's son' over no-trust motion
Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned until December 16 after a war of words erupted between Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday amid a row over the no-confidence motion against the Chairman.
The RS Chairman lambasted the opposition and said that he would "sacrifice his life for the country" and that the opposition was insulting the constitution.
"I am a farmer's son; I will not show weakness. I will sacrifice my life for my country. You (opposition) have only one job 24 hours a day, why is a farmer's son sitting here...look what you are saying. I have tolerated a lot...you have the right to bring a motion but you are insulting the Constitution," the Rajya Sabha Chairman said.
Replying to Dhankhar, Rajya Sabha leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that they have not come here to listen to his praises.
"You are encouraging the (BJP) members to speak against members of other parties... I am also a son of farmer. I have faced more challenges than you... You are insulting our party leaders; you are insulting the Congress... We have not come here to listen to your praises, we have come here for discussion," Kharge said.
Responding to Kharge, Rajya Sabha Chairman said, "The whole world knows whose praises you like. It is important that the House should function."
The Rajya Sabha failed to function on Friday with uproar from the Treasury and Opposition benches over the no-confidence notice against House Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.
The INDIA bloc submitted the no-confidence motion on December 10 to the Secretary-General of the Upper House of Parliament. INDIA bloc parties held a joint press conference and said they were forced to resort to the step to "safeguard the democracy and Constitution" -- ANI
12:24 Severed human head found in garbage dump
A severed human head, suspected of that of a woman, was recovered from a garbage dump in Kolkata's Tollygunge area on Friday morning, police said. Local people spotted a plastic bag containing the body part at Graham Road near Golf green, they said.
Senior police officers of the South Suburban division, along with personnel from local police stations, rushed to the spot and started an investigation. The severed head has been sent to M R Bangur Hospital for further examination, an officer said.
"A human body part has been recovered from a garbage dump. A probe has been launched, and efforts are underway to locate the remaining body parts," a senior police officer said.
Kolkata Municipal Corporation councilor of Ward number 95, Tapan Dasgupta said, "I went to the spot after receiving information from local people about a plastic bag containing body part. I informed the Golf Green police station about it." -- PTI
12:00 Grounds to interrogate you: Police to techie wife
Techie dies by suicide in Bengaluru: In Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, a four-member team of Bengaluru police, including one woman police personnel, arrive at Kotwali, Jaunpur.
The wife of Atul Subhash, the techie who died by suicide in Bengaluru, lives in Jaunpur. The Bengaluru police paste a notice outside her residence. "There are reasonable grounds to interrogate you to ascertain the facts and circumstances. You are directed to appear before the investigating officer at Bengaluru within 3 days," reads the notice.
The brother of the deceased, Vikas, said his family had "no idea" that the Bengaluru techie would take such a drastic step. "We talked to him normally. We had no idea he had decided to take such a step. We had never felt he was going to take such a step. I am in touch with a few of his friends and even they didn't have any idea of his thoughts," the brother said.
The brother also alleged that there had been "false cases" filed on him and his family too, saying that his brother had been mentally tortured. "False cases have been filed on me, and my parents, just like they were filed on my brother. Action should be taken against all those who mentally tortured my brother and filed false cases against him," the brother said. --
11:49 Classes go online: Delhi school on bomb threat
After more than six schools received bomb threats on Friday morning, the Principal of Cambridge School in Srinivaspuri Madhvi Goswami said that immediate alerts were sent to the police following the threat e-mail and classes were shifted to an online mode to ensure students' safety.
The Cambridge School Principal said that the mail indicated threats for December 13 and 14, leading to heightened security and precautionary measures across the affected schools.
The principal said that police vehicles were dispatched to the premises immediately after the threat was reported, and under instructions, no students were picked up by buses, and parents were informed of the situation.
"When I checked the mail at 5:50 am, I informed the police, who immediately sent their vehicles. We informed all buses to not pick up any students, and parents were informed that the classes would be conducted online today. The mail mentioned threats for the 13th and 14th. Police have checked the school and nothing has been found yet. We are taking due precautions suggested by the police," Cambridge Principal Goswami told the media. -- ANI
11:07 Afzal Guru honoured by tukde-tukde gang: BJP
Terming the 2001 Parliament attack "unfortunate," Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Friday alleged that attacker Afzal Guru was honoured by the 'tukde-tukde gang'.
"It is very unfortunate that the temple of democracy was attacked. The attacker Afzal Guru was honoured by the 'tukde-tukde gang'," Giriraj Singh told ANI.
Afzal Guru was hanged on February 9, 2013, for his role in the attack on Parliament in December 2001.Meanwhile, when asked about the debate on the Constitution in the Lok Sabha today, Giriraj Singh thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for celebrating November 26 as Constitution Day.
"I thank PM Modi for celebrating 26th November as Constitution Day. The youth should remember the teachings of the Constitution and the Constitution is not just something to keep in the pocket, but it should also be put into practice. Today there is a debate on the Constitution in the Lok Sabha," Singh added.
A special discussion on the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution is all set to begin today and the newly elected Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is likely to make her maiden speech in the Lok Sabha during the debate.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to initiate the debate.
The two-day debate is expected to begin at 12 noon on Friday. Over 12 leaders from the BJP are expected to take part in the debate. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reply to the discussion on December 14 evening. -- PTI
10:41 BJP announces Ram temple in Bengal
West Bengal BJP's Murshidabad unit has announced plans to construct a Ram temple in Berhampore, days after TMC MLA Humayun Kabir proposed to set up a mosque, modelled after the Babri Masjid, at Beldanga in the same district.
The BJP said the temple's construction will begin on January 22, 2025, exactly one year after the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. BJP's Berhampore organisational district president Shakharav Sarkar said land for the temple has already been identified, and the project is estimated to cost Rs 10 crore.
"We have already identified a land in Beharampore area and the construction work for the Ram temple, based on the design of the temple in Ayodhya, will begin soon," he told reporters. Kabir, the TMC MLA from Beldanga, had on Tuesday announced plans for the mosque, which he said would honour the sentiments of the region's significant minority population.
His remarks have sparked political controversy, with opposition parties accusing him of attempting to polarise communities for political gain. The BJP's counterproposal to build a Ram temple is seen as a strategic move to strengthen its presence among the Hindu community in Murshidabad, a district where minorities account for around 75 per cent of the population.
Responding to the controversy, the TMC distanced itself from Kabir's remarks, describing them as his opinion. The TMC has nothing to do with this statement of Kabir, a senior party leader said. Kabir's announcement has also drawn criticism from the Congress, which accused him of playing divisive politics in a sensitive region. -- PTI
10:32 Extremely serious and worrying: Kejriwal on bomb threats to schools
Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo has voiced serious concerns about recurring bomb threats targeting schools in the national capital.
Kejriwal questioned the potential psychological and academic impact on children, saying such incidents could disrupt their studies and well-being if they continue unabated.
"This is the second time this week that Delhi schools have received bomb threats, which is extremely serious and worrying. If this continues, how badly will it affect the children? What will happen to their studies?" posted Kejriwal on X. More than 6 prominent schools in Delhi received bomb threats via email on Friday morning, triggering immediate security protocols.
The schools that received the threats included the Bhatnagar Public School in Paschim Vihar, Cambridge School in Srinivaspuri, Delhi Public School in East of Kailash, Delhi Public School in Defence Colony, Delhi Police Public School in Safdarjung Enclave and Venkatesh Public School in Rohini.
The bomb threat email received by the schools said, "This email is to inform you that there are many explosives in your school premises and I am sure that you all do not check your student's bags frequently when they enter the school premises. A secret dark web group is involved in this activity and many red rooms also. The bombs are powerful enough to destroy the buildings and harm people." -- ANI
10:17 'Boy who would be king', Vishy's message to Gukesh
Viswanathan Anand, Indian chess grandmaster, a former five-time World Chess Champion, shares this image saying, "The boy who would be King @FIDE_chess @WacaChess."
The reference is of course, this:
Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh yesterday became the youngest world chess champion at 18 years after beating title-holder Ding Liren in the last game of a roller-coaster showdown, heralding a new era of dominance for the country's chess players and taking forward the incredible legacy of the great Viswanathan Anand.
Gukesh became only the second Indian to clinch the title after Anand, who owned the prestigious crown five times in his career. After settling into "semi-retirement", the 55-year-old Anand, incidentally, played a pivotal role in shaping Gukesh at his chess academy in Chennai.
10:10 Sensex, Nifty slump in early trade
Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty slumped in early trade on Friday dragged down by metal stocks, foreign fund outflows and weak global cues.
The 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex tumbled 412.8 points to 80,877.16 in early trade. The NSE Nifty tanked 129.85 points to 24,418.85. Among the 30-share Sensex blue-chip pack, Tata Steel, JSW Steel, IndusInd Bank, Axis Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, Larsen & Toubro, State Bank of India and Reliance Industries were the biggest laggards. Bharti Airtel, Nestle, Adani Ports and Hindustan Unilever were the gainers.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 3,560.01 crore on Thursday, according to exchange data. -- PTI
09:42 Man booked for giving triple talaq to wife for going alone for walk
Police in Maharashtra's Thane district have booked a 31-year-old man for allegedly giving triple talaq' (instant divorce), which was banned in 2019, to his wife, an official said on Friday.
The accused, a resident of the Mumbra area, called the father of his 25-year-old wife on Tuesday and said he was annulling his marriage through triple talaq', now a criminal offence, as she was going alone for a walk, the official said.
On a complaint by his wife, police on Wednesday registered an FIR against the man under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section 351(4) for criminal intimidation and the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act. A probe is underway, the official added. -- PTI
09:30 My son was broken from inside, says techie's dad
The father of Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash who died by suicide, said his son had been "broken from inside" after multiple cases were filed against him and his family by his wife.
Atul Subhash, the 34-year-old deputy general manager of a private firm, died by suicide on Monday in his Bengaluru apartment, leaving behind a 24-page suicide note, accusing his wife and her relatives of harassment. In his suicide note, he also alleged that a judge had demanded Rs 5 lakh to "settle" the case.
"My son used to say that there is a lot of corruption but he will fight as he is on the path of truth...He was broken from inside, though he didn't tell anyone anything," Subhash's father Pawan Kumar told ANI. Kumar, who currently stays in Bihar's Samastipur, said Subhash's wife started filing cases against them in January 2021.
"She started filing cases since January 2021...My son had thought that she had left (their home) after Corona and that their 1-year-old son would grow up a little at his maternal uncle's home... she also started filing cases against our entire family," the father said.
Earlier, a four-member team of Bengaluru Police, including one woman police personnel reached Kotwali in Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh. Jaunpur is the residence of Subhash's in-laws. The father has alleged that the judge overseeing the case also asked for Rs 5 lakhs to "settle the case".
"When they went ahead for mediation, it began from Rs 20,000 and then escalated to Rs 40,000; then the judge said that if he (the deceased) wants a settlement, he should give Rs 5 Lakh," the father said.
Meanwhile, the brother of the deceased, Vikas, said his family had "no idea" that the Bengaluru techie would take such a drastic step. "We talked to him normally. We had no idea he had decided to take such a step. We had never felt he was going to take such a step. I am in touch with a few of his friends and even they didn't have any idea of his thoughts," the brother said. -- ANI
09:08 Viral video: BEST bus drivers drink driving
Videos of drivers of wet-leased buses in Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking's fleet allegedly buying or drinking alcohol have gone viral on social media.
These videos are in circulation after the horrific December 9 accident in which a wet-leased electric bus of the civic-run transporter ploughed into vehicles and people in Kurla West, killing seven and injuring 42.
A senior BEST official said they have come across four such purported videos this week. In one of the videos, a driver is seen consuming alcohol while sitting at the wheel and being questioned by a security officer.
The video is apparently from Mulund depot and took place on election day. The driver was immediately sacked. We have also received three other videos in which drivers are seen stopping their buses by the road, buying alcohol and coming back to their seats, the official said.
Two of these videos are from Bandra East and Andheri, while the location of the third is unclear. The Bandra East video was apparently shot on December 11, two days after the Kurla West accident, sources said. It was not immediately known as to what action BEST authorities took against the drivers seen in these videos.
In a press conference, BEST Kamgar Sena president Suhas Samant said these videos are tarnishing the image of the transporter and its staffers. Unlike wet-leased bus drivers, BEST employees are bound by standing orders and service regulations. Hence, they won't dare to stop buses anywhere on the road and get down to buy alcohol, Samant claimed. -- PTI
08:41 'Pope Francis Was Warm And Welcoming'
It was a special day in Vatican City and among the sea of people at St Peter's Basilica were many Indians, particularly from Kerala.
Surely, there must have been plenty of Malayalam spoken in St Peter's Square last weekend.
People from around the world had congregated to see Pope Francis elevate 21 cardinals in one of the most significant ceremonies of the Catholic church, and seated in the pews was an Indian government delegation along with a large contingent of Christians from Kerala.
The Indians were there to celebrate the elevation of Thiruvananthapuram born Father George Jacob Koovakad as cardinal.
The 51 year old is among the youngest cardinals and the first Catholic priest from India to be directly appointed to the rank without serving as a bishop or archbishop. He is the sixth Indian in the collegium of cardinals.
Read the report by Archana Masih/Rediff.com here.
08:36 6 dead, 20 injured in massive fire in TN hospital
As many as six people lost their lives in the fire accident that occurred at a private hospital in Tamil Nadu's Dindigul on Thursday night, the Dindigul district Superintendent of Police said. Over 20 people were also injured.
More than three fire engines and over 10 ambulances were deployed to rescue patients trapped inside the hospital in the Gandhi Nagar area near the Dindigul-Trichy highway, a senior official said. According to Dindigul District Collector MN Poongodi, the patients have been rescued and admitted to other hospitals.
"A fire broke out at a private hospital. The patients here have been rescued and admitted to nearby government and private hospitals. There could be some casualties, but we will confirm the number of deaths only after confirmation from doctors," the District Collector said.
Further details are awaited.
08:26 4-storey building partially collapses in Bhendi Bazar
A four-storey vacant building partially collapsed at the Bhendi Bazar area of south Mumbai in the early hours of Friday, officials said in Mumbai. There were no casualties, the officials said, adding fire brigade personnel are at the site and clearing the rubble.
The incident occurred around 12.30 am on the Nishanpada Road near khoja Jamat Khana, an official said. As per primary information, the building was vacant as it was in dilapidated condition, he added.
Five vehicles of the fire brigade were rushed to the spot to conduct a search-and-rescue operation, the official said. As locals had gathered near the building in large numbers, police also rushed to the spot to prevent any law-and-order situation. PTI
Representational image
08:20 3 Delhi schools receive bomb threat mail
Three schools in Delhi received bomb threats over email early on Friday, triggering a multi-agency search of the premises, officials said. The latest threats come on the back of at least 44 schools receiving similar emails on December 9. Police had declared those threats as hoaxes.
A Delhi Fire Services official said, "We received calls (regarding the threat emails) from Bhatnagar International School in Paschim Vihar (4:21 am), Cambridge School in Shri Niwas Puri (6:23 am) and DPS Amar Colony in East of Kailash (6:35 am)."
The fire department, police and bomb detection teams, along with dog squads, have reached the schools and are conducting checks, he said. The schools' authorities have sent messages to guardians to not send their wards for classes. A police official said checks were underway. -- PTI
File image
01:14 Lok Sabha to begin two-day debate on the Constitution today
The Lok Sabha will on Friday begin a two-day debate on the Constitution to mark the beginning of the 75th year of its adoption in the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to reply to the two-day debate on the Constitution in the Lok Sabha on Saturday, sources said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will initiate the debate on the Constitution in the Lok Sabha, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to initiate a similar debate in the Rajya Sabha, said government sources.
As per the listed agenda of the Lok Sabha, there will be a "Special discussion on the 75th anniversary of adoption of the Constitution of India".
The discussions will begin after the Question Hour, which is also listed in the agenda of the lower house.
Ahead of the two-day debate, Prime Minister Modi held a strategy meet, which was attended among others by Shah and Singh besides BJP president J P Nadda.
Shah earlier held a meeting with senior BJP ministers, including Nadda, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, at his office in Parliament.
The opposition Congress also held a strategy meeting at the party headquarters here which was attended by party president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi besides other senior leaders, including K C Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh, to plan for the strategy in Parliament for the upcoming week.
The Winter Session of Parliament is likely to end on December 20. -- PTI
File image
00:54 Snag in train at CSMT hits harbour line; second case in as many days
Suburban services on Central Railway's harbour line were affected on the second day in a row on Thursday due to technical glitches, an official said.
A snag in a suburban train at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus at around 5:50pm affected services, leading to delay on the route and overcrowding in trains and at platforms during the evening peak hours, he said.
The train was "non responsive" for almost 25 minutes on platform number 2 at CSMT, he said.
"To compound problems, the Auxiliary Warning System (AWS) of a CSMT-bound train got activated at Sandhurst Road for a few minutes and again near Chunabhatti a couple of times. This resulted in crowding at Kurla, a major station, resulting in hardships to people," the official explained.
On Wednesday afternoon, services on harbour line were affected due to a snag in the track circuit between Panvel and Khandeshwar stations in Navi Mumbai, officials said.
Around 10 lakh passengers use harbour line services.
The route is from CSMT to Panvel in Navi Mumbai and till Goregaon on Western Railway. -- PTI
Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde/File image
00:49 Sena to fight BMC polls as part of Mahayuti: Shinde
The Shiv Sena will contest the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls, likely to be held next year, as part of Maharashtra's ruling alliance Mahayuti, said deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday.
Talking to reporters after a meeting with former BMC corporators, party MLAs, MPs and functionaries, Shinde said Mumbai has to be country's powerhouse and for doing so Mahayuti has to control its civic body just like it is in power in the state as well as at the Centre.
The BMC polls will be contested as Mahayuti (alliance) in all 227 civic wards, said Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena.
The BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP are part of the Mahayuti alliance. Shinde's remarks assume significance as his main rival Shiv Sena-UBT, which is part of the opposition MVA, has hinted it may go solo in the BMC polls.
Shinde said the Mahayuti government under him undertook several steps with regards to Mumbai's developmental work.
He also listed steps taken to concretise roads to make them pothole free, deep clean drive, work in the health department. -- PTI
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