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Tue, 16 July 2024
MP: 7 sacked as dead cow dragged away by tractor
Timeline Refresh
23:31 Govt reconstitutes Niti Aayog
The Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government on Tuesday reconstituted Niti Aayog, following changes in the council of ministers.
While the prime minister remains the chairperson of the Aayog, there are no changes in the post of Vice Chairman and other full-time members.
Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the new ex officio member, while Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda and Minister of Heavy Industries H D Kumaraswamy are new members after their inclusion in the Union Cabinet.
"In continuation of Cabinet Secretariat notification... the Prime Minister has approved the revised composition of NITI Aayog," a notification from the Rashtrapati Bhawan said.
Under the revised composition of Niti Aayog, Suman K Bery will continue to hold the Vice Chairman post, while VK Saraswat, Ramesh Chand, V K Paul and Arvind Virmani will remain full-time members. -- PTI
Image only for representation
23:08 MP: 7 sacked as dead cow dragged away by tractor
The services of seven temporary sanitary employees were terminated in Madhya Pradesh's Bhind district on Tuesday after a picture showing the carcass of a cow tied to a tractor and being dragged away surfaced on social media.
The alleged incident took place in the limits of Malanpur Nagar Panchayat.
After finding a cow lying dead by the roadside, sanitary workers of the civic body tied it to a tractor trolley, dragged it for one and a half kilometres, and dumped it in the open instead of burying it, said Sub Divisional Magistrate Parag Jain.
After the photograph went viral, a notice was served to Chief Municipal Officer (CMO) Yashwant Rathore, he said.
The Nagar Panchayat said in a statement that seven temporary sanitary workers were sacked for carelessness and violation of directives after the incident came to light. -- PTI
22:47 Prosecution to invoke murder charge in 2015 drunk driving case
The prosecution intends to invoke a charge of murder under the erstwhile Indian Penal Code in the 2015 drunk driving case involving corporate lawyer Janhavi Gadkar who allegedly crashed her Audi car into a taxi in Mumbai, killing two persons.
The case in the sessions court is at the stage of framing of charges.
Gadkar was initially booked under relevant sections of the erstwhile IPC for culpable homicide, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, grievous hurt and rash driving, besides under the Motor Vehicles Act.
Special Public Prosecutor Iqbal Solkar on Monday requested the court to grant time for making a submission on invoking section 302 (punishment for murder) of the IPC, contending that being a lawyer, Gadkar was aware that drunk driving was illegal.
However, she still consumed drinks at three different places and later drove on the wrong side of the Eastern Freeway at high speed. She had an intention, knowledge and attempt, the prosecution noted.
In the early hours of June 10, an Audi driven by Gadkar rammed into a taxi, resulting in the death of two persons, including the cabbie.
After spending almost two months in jail, the lawyer was granted bail by a sessions court in August 2015.
The court will hear the matter on August 1.
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah
22:18 100% quota for Kannadigas in certain posts at private firms
The Karnataka cabinet has approved a bill mandating 100 per cent reservation for Kannadigas in private firms for Group C and Group D posts, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Tuesday.
The CM said the decision was taken in the cabinet meeting held on Monday.
"The cabinet meeting held yesterday approved a bill to make recruitment of 100 per cent Kannadigas mandatory for 'C and D' grade posts in all private industries in the state," Siddaramaiah said in a post on social media platform X.
He said it was his government's wish that Kannadigas be given an opportunity to lead a comfortable life in their state and not be deprived of jobs in 'Kannada land'.
"We are a pro-Kannada government. Our priority is to look after the welfare of Kannadigas," the chief minister said.
According to sources in the law department, the bill will be tabled on Thursday in the assembly.
21:58 Learn from RSS: Digvijaya tells Youth Cong workers
Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh on Tuesday asked agitating Youth Congress workers to learn from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on how to convey the message effectively and focus on expanding the organisation.
Singh was addressing a sit-in protest organised by the Youth Congress against the alleged nursing college scam and NEET paper leak in Jabalpur.
"Learn from RSS though we are their staunch opponents. They play mind games. They will never protest, never stage demonstrations, never get beaten up, and will never go to jail, but rather they will send us to jail," Singh said.
The former Madhya Pradesh chief minister said holding protests will not prove effective in the absence of the grassroots organisational network.
He suggested holding agitations at three levels ranging from booth to district.
"RSS normally focuses on three things: distributing pamphlets, holding discussions, and finally the expenses incurred on the movement. If you want to fight them, beat them in their own game, of course, not physically but intellectually," Singh said.
The Congress leader said RSS could be countered effectively by understanding their modus operandi and propaganda.
Later talking to reporters, Singh expressed disappointment over the Congress party's performance in the state elections, stating that the party is currently analysing the reasons behind the setback.
Singh pointed out that while the Bharatiya Janata Party had claimed it would secure 400 seats in Lok Sabha polls, it fell to bag even 250 seats and attributed BJP's majority to the support from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu.
Furthermore, Singh criticised the National Testing Agency (NTA) chairperson, Pradeep Kumar Joshi, for the NEET paper leak scandal, questioning why the examination had not been cancelled.
Additionally, Singh levelled various charges of corruption against the state government. -- PTI
Abhishek Bachchan
21:40 Abhishek Bachchan to play villain in SRK's 'King'
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who is an avid social media user, gave cinephiles a major update about his son Abhishek Bachchan's upcoming projects.
Big B confirmed that Abhishek's next project will be with superstar Shah Rukh Khan in the film King.
However, an official announcement regarding the film is still awaited.
Sharing a screenshot of a news article about Abhishek joining the cast of King where he will be playing the antagonist, Big B on X wrote, "All the best Abhishek... It is TIME!!!"
Abhishek and SRK have previously featured together in films such as Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and Happy New Year.
20:55 Puja Khedkar files harassment complaint against collector
Probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar has lodged a complaint of harassment against Pune district collector Suhas Diwase with Washim police, an official said on Tuesday.
Khedkar is under the scanner for her claims on her disability as well as OBC certificates while clearing the IAS and for her conduct when she was posted in the Pune collector's office.
"Women police personnel visited Khedkar at her residence in Washim on Monday when she lodged a complaint of harassment against Pune district collector Suhas Diwase," the official said.
Earlier in the day, Khedkar refused to elaborate on the purpose of the visit by police personnel while speaking to TV news channels.
"I had called the female police personnel because I had some work," she had said.
Amid the row, the government on Tuesday put on hold the 'district training programme' of Khedkar as she was summoned back to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration for "necessary action".
Founder Byju Raveendran
20:28 Byju's faces insolvency proceedings over Rs 159 cr default
Edtech company Byju's, which was once India's most valuable start-up worth an estimated USD 22 billion, will face insolvency proceedings for failure to pay Rs 158.9 crore to cricket board BCCI.
The Bengaluru bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on Tuesday allowed bankruptcy proceedings against the firm and appointed an interim resolution professional, suspending the company's board of directors and freezing its assets.
Founder and CEO Byju Raveendran will report to the resolution professional.
NCLT has appointed Pankaj Srivastava as the interim resolution professional.
Byju's had previously sponsored the Indian cricket team.
While Byju's said it is hopeful of reaching "an amicable settlement" with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), sources said the company plans to challenge the order before the appellate tribunal, NCLAT.
When contacted, a Byju's spokesperson said: "As we have always maintained, we wish to reach an amicable settlement with BCCI and we are confident that, despite this order, a settlement can be reached. In the meantime, our lawyers are reviewing the order and will take necessary steps to protect the company's interests."
Byju's was once valued at USD 22 billion but reopening of schools after easing of pandemic restrictions led to its unraveling.
BlackRock recently slashed its valuation of USD 1 billion.
The company's troubles began when it missed financial reporting deadlines two years ago and fell short of revenue projections by more than 50 per cent.
20:16 Will the Union Budget be as sweet as the halwa, Nirmalaji?
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday participated in a traditional 'halwa' ceremony, marking the final stage for preparation of Union Budget 2024-25 to be unveiled on July 23 in Lok Sabha.
The 'halwa' ceremony is a ritual in which the traditional dessert is prepared and served to officials and staff members of the finance ministry who are involved in the preparation of the budget.
It is organised in the basement of North Block, which houses the ministry in the national capital and is attended by the finance minister and other high-ranking officials.
"The final stage of the Budget preparation process for Union Budget 2024-25 commenced with the customary halwa ceremony in the presence of Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. @nsitharaman, in New Delhi, today," the finance ministry said in a post on X.
As part of the ceremony, the finance minister also took a round of the Budget Press and reviewed the preparations besides extending her best wishes to the officials concerned.
Like the previous three full Union Budgets and one Interim, the full Union Budget 2024-25 will also be delivered in paperless form.
All the Union Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement (commonly known as Budget), Demand for Grants (DG), Finance Bill etc, as prescribed by the Constitution, will be available on the "Union Budget Mobile App" for hassle-free access to the Budget.
Besides Sitharaman, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary and other senior officials, including Finance Secretary T V Somanathan, Economic Affairs Secretary Ajay Seth, and Financial Services Secretary Vivek Joshi were present at the ceremony.
20:01 SC quashes Bihar 2015 order revising EBC list
The Supreme Court has quashed a 2015 notification of the Bihar government by which it had deleted 'Tanti-Tantwa' caste from the Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) and merged it with 'Pan/Sawasi' caste in the Scheduled Castes list.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Prashant Kumar Mishra said the state government had no competence or authority to tinker with the lists of Scheduled Castes published under Article 341 of the Constitution.
The Scheduled Castes list specified under the notification under Clause-1 can be amended or altered only by a law made by the Parliament, the bench said.
It said as per Article 341 neither the central government, nor the President can make any amendments or changes in the notification issued under Clause-1 without a law made by the Parliament, specifying the castes in relation to the states or Union territory, as the case may be.
"We have no hesitation in holding that the resolution dated July 1, 2015 was patently illegal, erroneous as the state government had no competence/ authority/ power to tinker with the lists of Scheduled Castes published under Article 341 of the Constitution," the bench said in its verdict pronounced on Monday.
It added that the submission of the state government that resolution dated July 1, 2015 was only clarificatory is not worth considering for a moment and deserves outright rejection.
"Whether or not it (Tanti-Tantwa caste) was synonymous or integral part of the Entry-20 ('Pan/Sawasi' caste) of the lists of Scheduled Castes, it could not have been added without any law being made by the Parliament," it said.
The bench said the Bihar government knew very well that it had no authority and had accordingly forwarded its request to the Centre in 2011 for inclusion of 'Tanti-Tantwa' in the list of Scheduled Castes as a synonym of 'Pan, Sawasi, Panr'.
"The said request was not accepted and returned for further comments/ justification/review. Ignoring the same, the State proceeded to issue the circular dated July 1, 2015," it said.
The bench said the state government may be justified in deleting 'Tanti-Tantwa' from the Extremely Backward Classes list on the recommendation of the State Backward Commission, but beyond that to merge 'Tanti-Tantwa' with 'Pan, Sawasi, Panr' under Entry 20 of the list of Scheduled Castes was nothing short of 'mala fide exercise for whatever good, bad or indifferent reasons, the State may have thought at that moment'.
It said whether synonymous or not, any inclusion or exclusion of any caste, race or tribe or part of or group within the castes, races or tribes has to be done by law made by the Parliament, and not by any other mode or manner.
"The submission that the recommendation of the Commission for Extremely Backward Classes was binding on the State, is not a question to be determined here, inasmuch as, even if we accept the submission, such recommendation could relate only to the EBC. Whether or not to include or exclude any caste in the list of EBC would be within the domain of the Commission," it said.
The bench further stated that the Commission would have no jurisdiction to make recommendation with respect to any caste being included in the Scheduled Castes lists and, even if it makes such a recommendation, right or wrong, the State has no authority to proceed to implement the same when it was fully aware that the Constitution does not permit it to do so.
"The Provisions of Article 341 sub-Clause-1 and sub-Clause-2 are very clear and discrete. There is no ambiguity or vagueness otherwise requiring any interpretation other than what is mentioned therein. The State of Bihar has tried to read something in order to suit its own ends for whatever reason, we are not commenting on the same," the bench said.
It said the Patna high court fell in serious error in upholding the 2015 notification on a completely wrong premise without referring to Article 341 of the Constitution.
"The impugned resolution dated July 1, 2015 is, hereby, quashed," the bench ruled.
It said the action of the State is found to be mala fide and de hors the constitutional provisions and the State cannot be pardoned for the mischief done by it.
"Depriving the members of the Scheduled Castes covered by the lists under Article 341 of the Constitution is a serious issue. Any person not deserving and not covered by such a list if extended such benefit for deliberate and mischievous reasons by the State, cannot take away the benefit of the members of the Scheduled Castes," it said.
The top court said since it has found fault with the conduct of the State and not of any individual member of the 'Tanti-Tantwa' community, it does not wish to direct that their services may be terminated or that recovery may be made for illegal appointments or withdrawal of other benefits which may have been extended.
"We are of the view that all such posts of the Scheduled Castes reserved quota which have been extended to the members of the 'Tanti-Tantwa' community appointed subsequent to the Resolution dated July 1, 2015 be returned to the Scheduled Castes Quota and all such members of the 'Tanti-Tantwa' community, who have been extended such benefit may be accommodated under their original category of Extremely Backward Classes, for which the State may take appropriate measures," it said. -- PTI
19:53 Bengaluru court dismisses private complaint against Modi
A special court in Bengaluru on Tuesday dismissed a private complaint filed against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The complaint by a person named Ziaur Rahman was in respect of Modi's statement during an election speech earlier this year that if the Congress comes to power after the Lok Sabha polls, it would redistribute wealth of people to Muslims.
The order was passed by the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court Judge K N Shivakumar. -- PTI
19:52 If my son is guilty, hang him: Revanna
Senior Janata Dal-Secular MLA H D Revanna on Tuesday told the Karnataka Legislative Assembly that his son and former MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexually abusing several women, should be hanged if he has committed wrongs.
The emotional former minister also targeted the Director-General of Police, Alok Mohan, calling him 'unfit' to be a top cop.
"If my son has committed wrongs, let him be hanged. I won't say no," Revanna said.
He said, "I have not come here to defend things or to have a discussion. I have been a lawmaker for 25 years. I have spent 40 years in political life. Against me, some woman is brought to the Director-General's office and the DG gets the complaint filed. He is 'nalayak' to be the DG. He is unfit to be DG... This is a shameless government."
Members from the ruling Congress side took strong objection to this. Even Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was heard suggesting that Deputy Speaker Ramappa Lamani, who was in the chair, expunge the comments.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said, "He (Revanna) is making allegations against the officials. Let him give notice, and then let him be given a chance for discussion if injustice has happened to him."
Revanna made his intervention after Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka drew a comparison between the manner in which Special Investigation Teams (SIT) are probing the Hassan sexual abuse case and the alleged financial irregularities in a the state-run Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd.
Four separate cases have been registered against Revanna's 33-year-old son Prajwal Revanna, all of which are being investigated by a SIT.
In the recent Lok Sabha polls, Prajwal failed in his bid to retain the Hassan parliamentary constituency.
The cases of sexual abuse came to light after pen drives containing explicit videos allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna were reportedly circulated in Hassan ahead of polling day April 26.
The JD-S suspended Prajwal from the party following the cases filed against him. Prajwal's father H D Revanna and mother Bhavani are out on bail.
They have been accused of kidnapping and confining an alleged victim of their son Prajwal's sexual assaults. -- PTI
TN CM M K Stalin
19:04 Stalin govt carries out bureaucratic rejig
The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday effected a bureaucratic reshuffle, transferring among others, Principal Home Secretary P Amudha, IAS.
She has been replaced with Dheeraj Kumar, currently additional chief secretary to government, information technology and digital services department.
Kumar has been allotted the home, prohibition and excise department.
Amudha has been posted as principal secretary, revenue and disaster management department.
The government also transferred a number of other senior officials, including Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner Dr J Radhakrishnan and posted him as additional chief secretary, cooperation, food and consumer protection department.
Senior IAS officer Kumar Jayant has been transferred and posted as additional chief secretary to government, information technology and digital services department, according to a public (Special A) department order.
J Kumaragurubaran, secretary, school education department, succeeds Radhakrishnan in the city civic body.
Similarly, many district collectors were also transferred.
18:38 Jailed BRS leader K Kavitha taken to hospital
Bharat Rashtra Samiti leader K Kavitha, who is lodged in Tihar jail in New Delhi in connection with a money laundering case, was taken to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital on Tuesday, officials said.
The 46-year-old BRS leader was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case on March 15.
"She was taken to DDU Hospital due to some health issues," an official said.
Further details are awaited. -- PTI
Representational image
18:04 Delhi doctors call off strike after assurance from govt
The Resident Doctors' Association of the GTB Hospital which was on an indefinite strike to demand better security measures in the wake of a shooting incident on Tuesday, called off its stir following an assurance from the Delhi government.
A representative from the doctors' body said that a meeting with Special Health Secretary of Delhi Danish Ashraf was held regarding improvements in security measures for the staff and patients at the hospital.
"The health department has assured us that they will look into our demands. They have agreed to take measures such as metal detectors at entry gates, and walkie-talkies for security guards, for the safety of doctors and patients," he said.
The association also mentioned that Ashraf has assured police patrolling within the hospital premises.
The representative said that they had signed the letter to call off the strike.
In a case of mistaken identity, a 32-year-old man was shot dead by a teenager inside a ward of the GTB Hospital here on Sunday after which the doctors went on indefinite strike the next day.
The strike commenced at 9 am on Monday, affecting routine patient care in all non-emergency areas, according to members of the doctors' association.
17:43 Govt puts Puja Khedkar's training programme on hold
The government on Tuesday put on hold the district training programme of controversial IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who is under the scanner for allegedly forging disability certificates to clear the Civil Services examination.
She has been asked to report back to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration by July 23, a state government official said. The academy has decided to recall her for further necessary action, the official said.
A letter by Additional Chief secretary of Maharashtra, Nitin Gadre said the academy has decided to put Khedkar's district training programme on hold and has immediately recalled her for further necessary action. "You are hereby relieved from the district training programme of the state government of Maharashtra. You are instructed to join the academy at the earliest but not later than 23rd July 2024 under any circumstance," the letter said.
Khedkar, 34, came into the limelight after reports about her alleged demands for a separate office and official car and the unauthorised use of a beacon in her private car emerged. PTI
17:34 Why is TMC skipping all-party meeting on July 21?
The government has convened an all-party meeting on July 21 ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament which will start next Monday, the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry said.
The meeting, which will be held at 11 am on Sunday, has been called by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, the ministry said in a statement. This will be Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's first time at the customary session-eve meeting of floor leaders from all parties if he attends it.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) said no representatives from the party will attend the meeting as July 21 is observed by the party as Martyrs' Day. TMC's parliamentary party leader in Rajya Sabha Derek O'Brien wrote to Rijiju and informed him that his party will not be able to attend the meet.
"For 30 years now, 21st July has been observed as 'Martyrs' Day' in Bengal in honour of our 13 colleagues who were unlawfully killed in a police firing on the day in 1993.
"In this context, all MPs of the All India Trinamool Congress including myself will be in our home state to mark the day along with other party colleagues. Therefore, no MP will be able to attend the meeting," he said. The July 21 Martyrs' Day is observed in memory of 13 Congress supporters who were shot dead in firing by the Kolkata Police in 1993 during a march to the state secretariat -- Writers Buildings -- when the CPI(M)-led Left Front was in power in West Bengal.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was the state Youth Congress chief at that time and she continued to mark the day by holding a rally every year even after forming the TMC on January 1, 1998.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament is scheduled to begin on July 22 and will conclude on August 12. The Union Budget will be presented on July 23.
17:15 Sensex, Nifty score hat-trick on record highs
Continuing the record-breaking run for the third straight day, benchmark Sensex and Nifty closed at record high levels on Tuesday following buying in FMCG, telecom and select IT shares and FII inflows.
The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 51.69 points or 0.06 per cent to settle at a new lifetime high of 80,716.55. During the day, it advanced 233.44 points or 0.28 per cent to hit a fresh record high of 80,898.30.
The NSE Nifty rose by 26.30 points or 0.11 per cent to settle at an all-time closing high of 24,613, extending the gaining streak to the third day. Intra-day, it rallied 74.55 points or 0.30 to hit a new record peak of 24,661.25.
Stock markets opened on a firm note and benchmark indices hit intra-day record high levels in the first half.
However, losses in Reliance Industries and Kotak Bank restricted gains and dragged indices from the day's highs. Sensex and Nifty have been on a record-breaking run since Friday as foreign investors have turned net buyers in the Indian equities amid growing hopes of a rate cut by the US Fed by September. Encouraging quarterly results by blue-chips have also supported the rally despite high valuation concerns, according to analysts.
16:20 Person who stole NEET paper from trunk held
CBI arrests a person who allegedly stole NEET-UG paper from NTA trunk in Hazaribagh: Officials.
NEET-UG examination, conducted by NTA, is the pathway for admissions into MBBS, BDS and AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.
The NEET-UG, 2024 was held across 4,750 centres on May 5 and around 24 lakh candidates appeared in it.
16:17 Sensex, Nifty close at record high levels for 3rd day in a row
Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty settled at record high levels in their third straight day of gains on Tuesday following buying in FMCG, telecom and select IT shares and FII inflows.
The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 51.69 points or 0.06 per cent to settle at a new lifetime high of 80,716.55. During the day, it advanced 233.44 points or 0.28 per cent to hit a fresh record high of 80,898.30.
The NSE Nifty went up by 26.30 points or 0.11 per cent to settle at an all-time closing high of 24,613. Intra-day, it rallied 74.55 points or 0.30 to hit a new record peak of 24,661.25.
15:44 BMW crash: Mihir Shah sent to jail for 14 days
BMW hit-and-run case: Mumbai court sends main accused Mihir Shah to 14-day judicial custody.
Mihir Shah, 23, who stands accused of claiming the life of a 45-year-old woman, confessed in a police interrogation after being arrested, that he would frequently drink. The investigation also revealed that he shaved off his beard and cut his hair at a barber shop in Virar to mislead the police, NDTV had reported.
On July 6, Mihir Shah was returning from a bar in Juhu, when the BMW luxury car he was driving allegedly hit a couple on a two-wheeler at 5:30am.
The woman killed was Kaveri Nakhwa, 45, a mother of two, who was out to buy fish with her husband Pradeep Nakhwa. He also suffered injuries.
CCTV camera footage of the incident revealed that Kaveri Nakhwa was dragged for 1.5 km after the collision before the car stopped. According to the police, the footage shows that Mihir Shah switched seats with driver - Rajrishi Bidawat, and then moved Nakhwa's body out from under the car, before driving away.
15:20 Modi govt systematically bludgeoned MSMEs: Cong
The Congress on Tuesday alleged that the Modi government spent 10 years "systematically bludgeoning" India's MSMEs through a combination of deliberate policy and willful neglect, and asserted that the upcoming Budget will be judged by what it does to revive and rejuvenate MSMEs.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government must "revisit their economic agenda, shed their cronyism, and end their whimsical policy-making".
He said Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) account for 30 per cent of India's GDP and about 45 per cent of our exports.
"They employ 12 crore people -- second only to agriculture -- and are responsible for most job creation. MSMEs, with their wide geographic dispersion, also promote balanced regional development. Yet, the Modi Sarkar has spent 10 years systematically bludgeoning India's MSMEs through a combination of deliberate policy and willful neglect," Ramesh said in a statement.
Listing the policies and steps that harmed MSMEs, Ramesh said the virtual cessation of all economy activity during demonetisation forced many MSMEs, unable to pay employees or repay their debts, to close.
"Business systematically moved from smaller firms to bigger, more organised players," he said. Ramesh further said the initial struggles with implementation of GST put many MSMEs out of business.
"Seven years later, however, GST continues to constrain MSMEs due to its high compliance burden, punitive enforcement, and slow disbursal of refunds. MSMEs do not have the resources to hire lawyers and CAs to deal with the compliance burden. Delayed tax refunds have led to working capital blockages, jeopardizing their financial stability," the Congress leader said.
The encounter is underway in Doda, the third in the last few weeks
14:47 He will never return: Parents mourn Doda martyr
Colonel Bhuwanesh Thapa (retd), the father of Captain Brijesh Thapa, who was killed in action in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda, remembered his son and said that he is "proud" that his son has done something for the nation and for the security of the nation.
Speaking to ANI, Col. Bhuwanesh Thapa (retd) on Tuesday said that the government is taking action against the terrorists.
"I could not believe when I was informed that he was no more. He always wanted to be in the Indian Army, right from his childhood. He used to wear my Army dress and roam around. Even after he had done his engineering, he still wanted to go to the Army. He cleared the exam in one go and was admitted into the Army. I feel proud that my son has done something for the nation and for the security of the nation. The only sad part is we won't be able to meet him again; otherwise, I am happy that he sacrificed his life for his country," he said.
Nilima Thapa, the mother of Captain Thapa, said that she is proud of her son, who sacrificed his life for the country. "He won't return to us. At 11 pm, we received the news. He was a very decent guy. He always wanted to join the Army. We used to tell them that life in the Army is tough. I am very proud of my son who sacrificed his life for the country. The government will take action. Unfortunately, we lost our son," the mother of the Captain told ANI.
Yogesh Thapa, uncle of Captain Brijesh Thapa urged the union government to act against the terrorists. Yogesh Thapa said that the loss they have suffered can never be coped with.
Yogesh Thapa said that Captain Brijesh Thapa was killed last night, adding that his body will be handed over by Wednesday. "He was my brother's son. He was killed in action last night in Doda. We are waiting for his body to arrive, after which we will go to Darjeeling. His parents live in Darjeeling. He joined the service 5 years ago. He was born and brought up in Army areas. He was unmarried. His father is a Colonel in the army. We are expecting the body to be handed over by tomorrow," he said.
"It is easy to say he sacrificed his life for the country, but the loss we have suffered as a family can never be coped with," he added.
Four army personnel, including a captain, died after being injured in a gunfight with heavily armed terrorists in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Tuesday while reinforcements were rushed in to track and neutralize the militants.
Those killed in the encounter have been identified as Captain Brijesh Thapa, Naik D Rajesh, Sepoy Bijendra and Sepoy Ajay, they said.
PM Modi had spoken about opening pakoda shops to counter unemployment
14:23 More pakoranomics: Cong on BJP's tyre shop advice
The Congress on Tuesday took a swipe at the BJP over its Madhya Pradesh MLA's advice to students to open "motorcycle puncture repair shops", saying this is simply an extension of the "pakoranomics popularised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi".
At an event in Guna, BJP MLA Pannalal Shakya advised students to open "motorcycle puncture repair shops" since nothing would be gained by obtaining degrees.
"We are opening a PM College of Excellence today. I appeal to everyone to keep one sentence ('bodh vakya') in mind that nothing is going to happen with these college degrees. Instead, open a motorcycle puncture repair shop to at least earn a livelihood," BJP MLA Shakya said at the event.
Reacting to the BJP legislator's remarks, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "This is simply an extension of 'pakoranomics' popularised by the self-anointed non-biological PM."
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also tagged a media report on the BJP MLA's remarks and said that just when all are concerned about the state of education and lack of employment, comes this frank admission from a BJP MLA that "punctures" the pretensions of his own government.
"Does anyone still need to ask which party has the better ideas for India's future?" he said and tagged the Congress' 'X' account.
The BJP MLA's statement ironically came at the event to inaugurate a 'PM College of Excellence' in his Guna assembly constituency. Ramesh had taken a swipe at the BJP over the remarks by the party MLA on Monday too.
"We must credit the BJP for the top-class discipline in their economic messaging. The self-anointed divinity talks about the virtues of selling 'pakodas' as an antidote to unemployment, and their MLAs dismiss college degrees as 'useless' and urge students to open puncture shops," Ramesh had said on 'X'. PTI
The Ambani clan
14:13 'World would go upside down if bomb went off at Ambani wedding'
Update: The Mumbai police on Tuesday arrested a 32-year-old engineer from Gujarat over his social media post about a bomb threat at the wedding of Anant Ambani, the youngest son of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, in Mumbai last week, an official said.
The accused was identified as Viral Shah, a resident of Vadodara, he said. "He was nabbed this morning by the Mumbai police's crime branch from his residence in Gujarat," he said.
The Mumbai police were on high alert after an X user @ffsfir wrote a post about the potential threat which reads like "My mind is wondering shamelessly that half the world would go upside down tomorrow after a bomb went off at the Ambani wedding. trillions of dollars in one pin code."
Following the post, the police had stepped up security of the wedding event. "The police also launched an investigation into the potential threat," he said.
During the probe, the X user was traced to Vadodara, following which a team of the Mumbai crime branch was sent to the city in the neighbouring state and apprehended the accused, the official said, adding that the accused was being brought to Mumbai.
Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani, married Radhika Merchant, the daughter of pharma tycoons Viren and Shaila Merchant on July 12 at a star-studded event held at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). The mega event was attended by celebrities from across the globe, politicians, who's who of Hindi and south Indian cinema world and almost all the top cricketers of the country. PTI
Nita Ambani
13:30 Engineer held for post on bomb at Ambani wedding
Mumbai police arrest 32-year-old engineer from Gujarat for social media post on bomb threat at Anant Ambani's wedding.
With their larger-than-life wedding and a fair share of pre-wedding festivities, the world could not help but swoon when Radhika Merchant tied the knot to Anant Ambani, making them the much talked about couple in town.
The wedding festivities were held last weekend.
13:27 Kanchanjunga train mishap waiting to happen: Probe
The Commissioner of Railway Safety has said the Kanchanjunga Express accident involving a goods train was "waiting to happen" due to lapses at multiple levels in managing train operations in automatic signal zones, and "inadequate counselling" of loco pilots and station masters.
In its probe report into the June 17 accident in West Bengal's Darjeeling district that left 10 persons dead, including the loco pilot of the goods train, the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) also recommended implementation of the Automatic Train-protection system (KAVACH) on top priority.
The CRS said wrong paper authority or T/A 912 to cross defective signals was issued to the loco pilot of the goods train involved by authorities concerned. Further, the paper authority didn't mention the speed that the goods train driver was supposed to follow while crossing the defective signal.
Considering various lapses on part of the rail administration, the CRS said, "Due to improper authority and that too without adequate information, such an incident was an "accident-in-waiting".
The CRS, in its probe, found that besides the Kanchanjunga Express and the goods train, five other trains entered the section from when the signals turned defective until the accident happened on that day.
"In spite of issuing the same authority, different speed pattern was followed by loco pilots," it said. The CRS noted that only the Kanchanjunga Express followed the norm of moving at a maximum speed of 15 kmph and stopping for one minute at each defective signal while the rest of the six trains, including the goods train involved in the accident, didn't follow this norm.
This shows that "action to be taken when T/A 912 is issued to them is not clear. Some of the loco pilots have followed the 15 kmph rule while most of the loco pilots did not follow this rule.
"The absence of proper authority and that too without adequate information created misinterpretation and misunderstanding about the speed to be followed." PTI had first reported that the T/A 912 didn't mention speed restriction which the CRS has also flagged in its report as a major reason for the accident.
13:08 X usage hit all-time high on Monday, says Musk
Tech billionaire and Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed on Tuesday that his platform X, formerly Twitter, reached a 'record high in usage'.
Musk said that X experienced a total of "417 billion user-seconds globally" in one day.
In a post on X, Musk said, "X usage hit another all-time high yesterday with 417 billion user-seconds globally! In the US, user-seconds reached 93B, 23% higher than the previous record of 76B. In a single day."
In March, XData claimed that 250 million people use X every day for 30 minutes on an average. "You're absolutely right @XNews. 250 million people use X every day. 550 million people visit the global town square every month. On average, users spend 30 minutes a day on X," the post said.
Weapons recovered along the LoC
12:52 Soldiers bearing brunt of BJP's policies: Rahul
The Congress on Tuesday hit out at the Centre after four soldiers were killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda, with Rahul Gandhi asserting that the government should take full responsibility for the repeated security lapses and take strict action against the culprits.
Four army personnel, including an officer, died after being injured in a gunfight with heavily armed terrorists in Doda district, officials said on Tuesday. The latest incident comes a week after a terrorist ambush on an Army patrol in the remote Machedi forest belt in Kathua district claimed the lives of five soldiers and injured as many.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said he was deeply distressed by the martyrdom of the four brave soldiers, including an officer.
"Our heart goes out to the families of our bravehearts, who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of Bharat Mata. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured, and we wish him a speedy and complete recovery," he said. No words of strong and unequivocal condemnation will suffice for these acts of violence being perpetrated by cowardly terrorists," he said.
"The spate of terror attacks that has gripped Jammu and Kashmir in the past 36 days, needs careful recalibration in our security strategy. The Modi government is acting as if everything is 'business as usual' and nothing has changed. They must know that increasingly the Jammu region is bearing the brunt of these attacks," Kharge said.
"We cannot endanger our national security by indulging in false bravado, fake narratives and high-decibel whitewashing. As a nation, we have to collectively fight the scourge of cross-border terrorism," he said. "The Indian National Congress stands strongly with our valiant Armed Forces," Kharge said.
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi paid tributes to the martyrs and expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families. Such horrific incidents one after the other are extremely sad and worrying, he said. "These continuous terrorist attacks are reflecting the deteriorated condition of Jammu and Kashmir. Our soldiers and their families are bearing the brunt of BJP's wrong policies," Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X.
"It is the demand of every patriotic Indian that the government should take full responsibility for the repeated security lapses and take strict action against the culprits of the country and the soldiers," he said. "In this hour of grief, the entire country stands united against terrorism," Gandhi said. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said there have been 11 terror attacks in the last 78 days in Jammu alone.
"This is a wholly new development. While we must demonstrate an effective collective response cutting across political parties, the question must also be asked: what happened to all those grand claims made by the self-anointed non-biological PM and the self-styled Chanakya?" Ramesh said on X. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the news of martyrdom of four soldiers, including an army officer, in an encounter with terrorists in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir is extremely saddening.
Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar
12:13 IAS Khedkar's disability certificates to be probed
Pune police will conduct an inquiry into the authenticity of medical certificates submitted by probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, accused of misrepresenting herself under the physical disabilities category, an official said on Tuesday.
Khedkar, the 2023-batch officer currently posted in Washim district, had submitted to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) multiple medical certificates, one of them indicating visual impairment, under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) provision.
The 34-year-old Maharashtra cadre officer faces accusations of using fraudulent means to clear her civil services exam, including allegedly misrepresenting herself under the physical disabilities and OBC categories, and misusing power and privileges during her posting in Pune. The Office of the Commissioner For Persons With Disabilities has written a letter to the Pune police and the district collectorate to verify the certificates submitted by Khedkar.
A senior police official said, "We have received a letter from the Office of the Commissioner For Persons With Disabilities. They have asked us to check the authenticity of certificates submitted by Puja Khedkar. We will verify the facts about these certificates, from where they were obtained, which doctor or hospitals certified them will also be scanned."
It has also emerged that the controversial junior IAS officer had submitted a fitness certificate while securing admission to a private medical college in 2007. Last week, the Centre set up a single-member committee "to verify the candidature" of Khedkar and submit a report in two weeks. The government said the probe would be conducted by an additional secretary-rank officer to verify the candidature claims and other details of the IAS officer.
Khedkar on Monday sidestepped questions related to the ongoing probe against her, saying the truth will eventually prevail. The Pune police have also been searching for her parents in a separate criminal case.
An FIR has been registered against the couple and five others after a video emerged showing Puja Khedkar's mother Manorama Khedkar, a village sarpanch, allegedly threatening some persons with a gun over a land dispute. The Pune police on Sunday confiscated a luxury car used by Puja Khedkar by allegedly installing a red beacon light on it illegally. PTI
11:51 Outstanding! Ramaswamy on classmate Vance
Expressing tremendous support for Donald Trump's pick of JD Vance as his running mate in the forthcoming US presidential elections, Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy said on Monday that Vance will become an outstanding Vice President.
Reminiscing the days of his law school, Ramaswamy underscored how impressed he is with his "classmate" JD Vance getting the "strongest presidential ticket."
"So proud of my friend, classmate, and fellow southwest Ohioan today. We used to watch Bengals games at the bar in law school, it's awesome we're now here a decade later with JD joining the strongest presidential ticket in our lifetime," he wrote in a post on X.
"He'll be an outstanding Vice President and I look forward to everything ahead for him and for our country," Ramaswamy further added.
It is pertinent to note that Ramaswamy dropped out of the 2024 Republican presidential race after finishing fourth in the Iowa caucuses earlier.Ramaswamy had finished fourth in Iowa, according to CNN News projections, well behind Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.The Iowa caucus victory was considered the first step in Donald Trump's bid to claim the Republican nomination in a third consecutive election.
As the US presidential elections draw near, Trump made his pick for Vice President, selecting JD Vance as his running mate on Monday. Trump confirmed Vance's candidature through a post on social media.
"After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio," Trump posted on Truth Social. -- ANI
Sen said the Yatra was good for Rahul and India
11:26 Rahul has matured as a politician: Amartya Sen
Describing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as a man who has "significantly gained maturity" over the years, Nobel laureate economist Professor Amartya Sen felt the leader's true test would be how he led the Opposition in Parliament during the current regime of Narendra Modi-led NDA government.
The nonagenarian also opined that Rahul's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' has not only shaped him as a national leader but also enriched the country's political landscape.
Talking to PTI in an exclusive interview at his ancestral residence in Bolpur in West Bengal's Birbhum district, Sen recollected how Rahul, as a student at Trinity College in Cambridge, was unsure about "what he wanted to do" in life given that "politics never quite appealed to him then".
"I think he (Rahul) is a much more mature person (now). I knew him as a young man during his days at Trinity College... the college where I studied and later became its Master. He (Rahul) visited me at that time and he came across as someone who was unclear about what he wanted to do. Politics didn't seem to appeal to him then," Sen recollected.
The Bharat Ratna awardee said that the young Congress leader may have faced some difficulty during his initial days in politics, but he has evolved over the years and his recent performance was "extraordinarily good".
"Then he (Rahul) forayed into politics and I think initially he had some difficulty finding his feet. But his recent performance has been quite extraordinarily good and I am very admiring of that. Of course, you can't be fighting elections based on your qualities alone, it also depends on what the country is like," he stated.
Asked whether he could see India's next Prime Minister in Rahul Gandhi, an amused Sen said that such possibilities are tough to predict. "I am not going to answer this thing (laughs). How people become prime ministers is very difficult to catch. "If somebody asked me when I was a student in Delhi, who among my fellow students was least likely to become a prime minister, I would have named Manmohan Singh since he did not seem to take any interest in politics. But then he went on to become a prime minister and, I think, an excellent one at that. So, it's difficult to predict these things," Sen smiled.
Referring to Rahul's 'Bharat Jogo Yatra' initiative, the academic extolled the Congress leader's "improved ability of articulation" in politics. "Rahul has done a good job. I think the yatra was good both for India and for him. And I think he has shown remarkable improvement in this ability to articulate, especially his thoughts on politics, much more clearly than he could in the past.
"When he came to Trinity, he was possibly trying to be a development expert and we talked about what he should read and so on. He was very eloquent there, but in politics, not really. But now he is very articulate in matters of politics," he emphasised.
According to Sen, the most significant change in Rahul's leadership quality comes from his newfound rootedness in the complexities of Indian polity which, he said, would be a boon both for the Congress party he leads and for the country in Parliament of which he is the Leader of the Opposition. Sen concluded by highlighting the importance of Gandhi's role in addressing the pressing issues of inequality and sectarianism in India.
"The most important issue is how he leads the Opposition in a country which has seen a great increase in inequality and sectarianism, particularly with respect to the majority community exercising overarching dominance over minorities like Muslims, Christians, and others. That's his primary role, and I think he's handling it well," Sen said.
The encounter underway in Doda
11:05 9 terror attacks in 38 days of Modi 3.0: Cong
After four Indian Army soldiers were killed in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district on Tuesday, the Congress party criticised the central government by posting a graphic on 'X' which claimed that within 38 days of the third term of the Bharatiya Janata Party government, nine terrorist attacks have already taken place.
The post also mentions that during these recent terrorist attacks, 12 soldiers were killed, 13 injured, 10 civilians were killed and 44 were injured.
In its official post, the party also consoled the loss of lives of the bravehearts. "Four of our soldiers have been martyred in the terrorist encounter in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir. Pray to God to give place to the virtuous souls in his feet and give strength to their families to bear this sorrow. Our condolences are with his family," the party posted on X.
Party President Mallikarjun Kharge also questioned the Central government alleging that the government was acting as if it were business as usual. "Deeply distressed by the martyrdom of 4 brave Army soldiers, including an officer, in a terror encounter in Jammu & Kashmir's Doda. Our heart goes out to the families of our bravehearts, who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of Bharat Mata. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured, and we wish them a speedy and complete recovery. No words of strong and unequivocal condemnation will suffice for these acts of violence being perpetrated by cowardly terrorists.
"The spate of terror attacks that has gripped Jammu and Kashmir in the past 36 days, needs careful recalibration in our security strategy. Modi Govt is acting as if everything is "business as usual" and nothing has changed. They must know that increasingly Jammu region is bearing the brunt of these attacks. We cannot endanger our National Security by indulging in false bravado, fake narratives and high-decibel whitewashing. As a nation, we have to collectively fight the scrouge of cross-border terrorism. The Indian National Congress stands strongly with our valiant Armed Forces," the Congress president posted on X.
10:52 Just overwhelmed with gratitude: Vance
Senator JD Vance and Donald Trump's running mate in the US presidential elections reacts to being chosen as the veep candidate. "Just overwhelmed with gratitude. What an honor it is to run alongside President Donald J. Trump. He delivered peace and prosperity once, and with your help, he'll do it again. Onward to victory!," Vance said.
Vance, a venture capitalist and acclaimed author of the best-selling memoir 'Hillbilly Elegy,' who was named Donald Trump's running mate, clinched a Senate seat in 2022 with a pivotal endorsement from former President Trump amid a heated Republican primary.
This marked a significant shift from his stance just six years earlier, when Vance emerged as a prominent figure in the 'Never Trump' movement during the contentious 2016 election, openly opposing the former president.
10:26 Use ties, ask Russia to end war: US tells India
Observing that India has a longstanding relationship with Russia, the US has said that it has encouraged New Delhi to "utilise" that relationship with Moscow and urge President Vladimir Putin to end the "illegal war" against Ukraine.
These remarks were made by State Department Spokesperson Mathew Miller at his daily news conference on Monday. India has a longstanding relationship with Russia. I think that's well-known. And we have encouraged India to utilise that relationship with Russia, that longstanding relationship and the unique position that they have, to urge President Putin to end his illegal war and to find a just peace, a lasting peace to this conflict; to tell Putin to respect the UN Charter, to respect Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, he said.
That's what we'll continue to impress upon the Government of India, which is an important partner of ours when it comes to their relationship with Russia, Miller said in response to a question. Miller made similar remarks on July 9 soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi left Russia. Modi was in Russia for two days from July 8-9 for the 22nd India-Russia annual summit that has been watched closely by the West amidst the raging Ukraine conflict. This was the Prime minister's first visit to Russia since the war started between Moscow and Kyiv in 2022.
During his talks with Putin on July 9, Prime Minister Modi told President Putin that a solution to the Ukraine conflict is not possible on the battlefield and peace efforts do not succeed amid bombs and bullets.
India has been stoutly defending its "special and privileged strategic partnership" with Russia and maintained the momentum in the ties notwithstanding the Ukraine conflict. India has not yet condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has consistently pitched for a resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. PTI
10:09 Markets rally for 3rd day running
Equity benchmark indices maintained their winning momentum for the third day running in early trade on Tuesday, with the Nifty hitting its new all-time peak, amid foreign fund inflows and a rally in the US markets.
The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 185.55 points to 80,850.41 in early trade. The NSE Nifty rallied 63.35 points to hit a new all-time peak of 24,650.05.
Among the Sensex pack, Bharti Airtel, Mahindra & Mahindra, Hindustan Unilever, Tata Steel, Adani Ports, Infosys, ICICI Bank and Titan were the biggest winners. Power Grid, Larsen & Toubro, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Axis Bank were among the laggards. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 2,684.78 crore on Monday, according to exchange data.
Narayan Surve
10:06 Thief returns valuables after realizing house belonged to famous writer
A thief was overcome with remorse after realizing that the house he stole valuables from belonged to a famous Marathi writer and returned the valuables he had decamped with, police said on Tuesday.
The house from where the thief stole the valuables, including an LED TV, belonged to Narayan Surve and is located at Neral in Raigad district, police said. Surve, who died on August 16, 2010 at 84 years, was a celebrated Marathi poet and social activist.
Born in Mumbai, his poems vividly depicted the struggles of the urban working class. Surve's daughter Sujata and her husband Ganesh Ghare now live in the house. They had gone to Virar to be with their son and their house was locked for 10 days.
It was during this period that the thief entered the house and stole a few things, including the LED TV set. When he returned to pick up a few more articles the next day, he noticed Surve's photo and memorabilia in a room. The thief, who was obviously well-read, was filled with remorse and returned all the items he had picked up.
He pasted a small note on a wall, asking for the owner's forgiveness for stealing from such a great literary figure's house. Sujata and her husband found the note when they returned from Virar on Sunday, police inspector Shivaji Dhavle of Neral police station said. Police are carrying out further investigation based on the fingerprints found on the TV set and other articles, he said.
Before Surve became a famous Marathi poet, he had grown up as an orphan on the streets of Mumbai, then survived by working as a domestic help, a dishwasher in a hotel, a babysitter, a pet-dog caretaker, a milk delivery boy, a porter and a mill hand. Through his poetry, Surve glorified labour and challenged the established literary norms in Marathi literature. PTI
Trump appears with bandaged ear at Republican Convention
09:55 Musk to give $45 mn a month to support Trump's run
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said he plans to give USD 45 million a month to a new super political-action committee supporting former US President Donald Trump's presidential run, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Other backers of the group called American PAC, include Palantir Technologies PLTR 2.14 per cent increase; green up pointing triangle co-founder Joe Lonsdale, the Winklevoss twins, former US ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft and her husband, Joe Craft, who is chief executive of coal producer Alliance Resource Partners ARLP -0.04 per cent decrease; red down pointing triangle, The Wall Street Journal reported.
America PAC, formed in June, is focused on registering voters and urging constituents to vote early and request mail-in ballots in swing states, according to one of the people.
The coalition assessed that the Democrats have historically had very robust "get out the vote" campaigns and took note of the money that the Biden camp has dedicated to so-called on-the-ground efforts in swing states.
America PAC will attempt to counter that. Currently, Musk is the world's richest person, with an estimated fortune of more than USD 250 billion. The money that Musk has said he plans to give to America PAC is an extraordinary amount, according to The Wall Street Journal report.
While it can be difficult to find the full scope of some political commitment, the largest known donation in the 2024 US presidential election so far is USD 50 million, which has been given by banker Thomas Mellon's great-grandson to a super PAC supporting Trump.
VIP chief Mukesh Sahni
09:50 VIP chief's father murdered in Darbhanga
Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahni's father was allegedly killed at his residence in Darbhanga last night, a police official said on Tuesday.
The local police, who reached the spot, said the incident happened last night. Darbhanga SP Jagannath Reddy has confirmed the incident and said that police has began an investigation into it.
According to the police, Mukesh Sahni's father Jeetan Sahni was found murdered with a sharp weapon inside his house. He was living alone in his house.
"We are conducting a thorough investigation, senior officers have also reached the spot, we are investigating it from every angle," local police said.
Jitan Sahni, was the father of former Bihar government minister and president of the VIP Party, Mukesh Sahni.
Further investigation is underway.
In the Lok Sabha elections, the Mukesh Sahani-led Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) on April 5 joined hands with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) to contest from three Lok Sabha seats in Bihar.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who is leader of opposition in the state assembly, has been using the jungle raj barb to target the NDA government led by Nitish Kumar in the state over the surge in crimes.
RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari has reacted strongly against the killing of Sahni's father, saying that this exposed the lawlessness in the state and claimed that no one is safe in the state.
-- MI Khan/Patna for Rediff.com
09:34 Kamala leaves voicemail note for Vance saying...
Vice President Kamala Harris left a congratulatory voicemail to GOP Ohio Senator JD Vance on Monday after he was announced as the Republican vice presidential pick on Truth Social by former President Donald Trump, The New York Post reported.
In her message, Harris expressed her congratulations and said that "she hoped to see [Vance] at the CBS News debate," as confirmed by a Biden-Harris campaign official.
While the Biden campaign has agreed to a vice presidential debate hosted by CBS News, the Trump camp has been advocating for a Fox News debate instead. During their convention in Milwaukee, Republican National Committee delegates unanimously nominated Vance as the official GOP vice presidential candidate. CNN reported that Harris "welcomed him to the race," and congratulated Vance on his selection.
If elected alongside Trump, Vance would become the second youngest vice president in American history, as reported by The New York Post.
"After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator JD Vance of the Great State of Ohio," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"JD honourably served our Country in the Marine Corps, graduated from Ohio State University in two years, Summa Cum Laude, and is a Yale Law School Graduate, where he was Editor of The Yale Law Journal, and President of the Yale Law Veterans Association.
"JD's book, 'Hillbilly Elegy,' became a Major Best Seller and Movie, as it championed the hardworking men and women of our Country," the former president wrote. -- ANI
09:22 Modi likely to address high-level UNGA session on Sep 26
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address the high-level UN General Assembly session at the United Nations on September 26, according to a provisional list of speakers issued by the United Nations.
The high-level General Debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly will take place from September 24-30.
As per the provisional list of speakers for the General Debate issued by the UN on Monday, India's "Head of Government" is scheduled to address the high-level session in the afternoon of September 26.
The list is not final and the UN releases updated provisional lists of speakers in the weeks leading up to the high-level session to reflect any modifications in attendance, schedules and speaking slots of leaders, ministers and ambassadors.
Brazil, traditionally the first speaker at the debate, will open the high-level session on September 24, followed by the US, with American President Joe Biden delivering his current term's final address to global leaders from the iconic UN podium before his country heads to presidential elections in November.
Modi, who was sworn in last month as India's Prime Minister for a historic third term, last addressed the annual high-level UNGA session in September 2021.
Prime Minister Modi visited the UN headquarters on June 21 last year, leading the historic Yoga Day commemoration at the North Lawn of the world body's headquarters before heading to Washington DC for a State Visit hosted by Biden.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will present his report before the start of the General Debate, followed by an address by the President of the 79th session of the General Assembly. -- PTI
08:25 5 pilgrims dead after bus collides with tractor on Mumbai-Pune Expressway
Five pilgrims died and more than 30 were injured after their bus collided with a tractor on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, police said on Tuesday.
The deceased were warkaris (devotees of Lord Vitthal) who were on their way to Pandharpur for the Ashadhi Ekadashi celebrations from their hometown Dombivli near Mumbai, police said.
The bus collided against the tractor and fell into a gorge around midnight.
DCP Vivek Pansare told reporters that a total of 42 passengers from Dombivli were on their way to Pandharpur when their bus hit a tractor near Adne village.
The injured were rushed to a nearby of hospital, he said, adding the condition of three of them is serious. -- PTI
08:07 Officer among 4 soldiers killed in JK encounter
UPDATE: Four army personnel, including an officer, who were critically injured in a gunfight with heavily-armed terrorists, succumbed to injuries in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir early Tuesday, official sources said.
The encounter took place when the troops of Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group of J&K Police launched a joint cordon and search operation at Dhari Gote Urarbagi in Desa forest belt, some 55 km from Doda town, late Monday evening, the officials said.
After a brief exchange of fire, the terrorists tried to escape but were chased by the brave troops led by an officer, despite challenging terrain and thick foliage, leading to another firefight in the woods around 9 pm, they said.
Five soldiers were critically injured in the encounter and four of them, including the officer, later succumbed to injuries, the officials said. -- PTI
US senator J D Vance
00:56 Trump announces US senator JD Vance as his V-P pick
Republican Party's presidential aspirant Donald Trump on Monday announced the US senator from Ohio, J D Vance, as his running mate.
In a post on his Truth Social network, Trump said, 'After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J D Vance of the Great State of Ohio.'
About his choice for VP, Trump wrote, 'JD honorably served our Country in the Marine Corps, graduated from Ohio State University in two years, Summa Cum Laude, and is a Yale Law School Graduate, where he was Editor of The Yale Law Journal, and President of the Yale Law Veterans Association. JD's book, "Hillbilly Elegy,' became a Major Best Seller and Movie, as it championed the hardworking men and women of our Country.
'JD has had a very successful business career in Technology and Finance, and now, during the Campaign, will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American Workers and Farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and far beyond.'
00:26 5 personnel injured in gunfight with terrorists
Five security personnel, including an army officer, were critically injured in a gunfight with terrorists in a forest area in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday night, officials said.
The encounter started after the troops of Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group of J-K Police launched a joint cordon and search operation at Dhari Gote Urarbagi in the Desa forest area around 7.45 pm, they said.
They said four army personnel, including an officer, and a police personnel were injured in the exchange of fire which initially lasted for over 20 minutes.
The injured were evacuated to hospital and their condition was stated to be critical, the officials said.
The Army said that additional troops were moved into the area and the operation was continuing when reports last came in.
The operation was launched on an input about the presence of terrorists, the officials said.
A police spokesperson confirmed the exchange of fire between the security forces and terrorists in the Desa forest area but said that further details are awaited.
"Based on specific intelligence inputs, a joint operation by Indian Army and JKP was in progress in the general area North of Doda.
"Contact with terrorists was established tonight at about 2100 h in which heavy firefight ensued. Initial reports suggest injuries to our bravehearts.
"Additional troops have been moved into the area. Operations are continuing," the Army's 16 Corps, also known as White Knight Corps, posted on X. -- PTI
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