Counter Vote Jihad with 'Dharma-yuddha': Fadnavis

"Vote Jihad" should be countered by "Dharma-yuddha" of vote, Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said here on Saturday as he campaigned for the November 20 assembly elections.

  

The BJP leader was speaking at a rally in support of Mahayuti coalition candidates Atul Save (Aurangabad East), Sanjay Shirsat (Aurangabad West) and Pradip Jaiswal (Aurangabad Central).

"No one can change the name of this city now.  At an AIMIM rally here, someone asked who was Sambhaji Maharaj. Sambhaji Maharaj remained undefeated for nine years. So we have given his name to the city," he said.

The city, earlier known as Aurangabad, was renamed for Sambhaji, the second ruler of the Maratha state after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

"A vote Jihad has begun in the state now. We saw that in the Lok Sabha elections. In Dhule, we were ahead by 1.90 lakh votes but the Malegaon (assembly segment) had 1.94 lakh votes and we were defeated by only 4,000 votes. This vote Jihad was the reason for our defeat there because we were not together," said the BJP leader.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has given the message 'batenge to katenge' (divided we perish) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said 'ek rahenge to safe rahenge' (united we remain safe), Fadnavis said.

The election is an opportunity to show that Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar was a saffron fortress, he added. 

Without naming Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and former BJP ally Uddhav Thackeray, Fadnavis said late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray gave the name `Sambhajinagar' to this city, "and now some people are ashamed to call Bal 

Thackeray Hindu-hridaya-samrat (ruler of Hindu hearts) and they call him  'Janab' Bal Thackeray. 

This is an election for crushing the dreams of those who are trying to bring the rule of Razakars to the city, he said in a  swipe at the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). -- PTI

Maintaining that he "made a mistake twice" in the past by joining hands with Rashtirya Janata Dal, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday said that now he would stay permanently with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Addressing a public meeting in favour of NDA nominee, Vishal Prashant of BJP for the Tarari assembly byelection, Kumar said, "I have said it earlier alsoI am once again saying that we (BJP-JDU) were together earlier. I made a mistake twice in the past by joining hands with the RJD., I went 'idhar udhar' twice in the pastBut now, I have again come to the NDA. I will remain permanently with the NDA".

He said, "We have been working for the development of Bihar since 2005. Several infrastructural and development works have been done in Bihar after 2005..and it will continue further under the NDA rule".

Kumar accused RJD of trying to "polarise" votes on "communal lines" in the upcoming bypolls in the state.

"They (RJD) always try to create a divide on communal lines. When RJD was in power in Bihar, the state witnessed several communal clashes. But, now the situation is totally different when the NDA is in power. I am sure that people will give a befitting reply to the INDIA bloc in the coming bypolls in the state", he said.

By-polls on four Bihar assembly seats will be held on November 13 for which results will be out on November 23.

All four assembly seats had fallen vacant after MLAs representing them were elected to the Lok Sabha. The four seats where by-polls will be held are Ramgarh, Tarari, Belaganj, and Imamganj. -- PTI 

Canada has ended with immediate effect the popular fast track study visa programme, SDS, a major policy decision that is likely to impact scores of international students, including from India.

   

The processing time for students applying under the Student Direct Stream (SDS) was significantly shorter and approval rates higher, something that will change after Canada ended the scheme on Friday.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September had announced on X: We're granting 35 per cent fewer international student permits this year. And next year, that number's going down by another 10 per cent.

"Immigration is an advantage for our economy - but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down, he added in the post as the Canadian government said it was looking to reduce the number of temporary residents.

The move comes amid the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada.

According to the Indian High Commission here, India is the largest source country of foreign students with an estimated 4,27,000 Indian students studying in Canada.

"Canada is committed to giving all international students equal and fair access to the application process for study permits," the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said in a statement on Friday.

Canada's goal is to strengthen programme integrity, address student vulnerability, and give all students equal and fair access to the application process, as well as a positive academic experience," the statement said.

The SDS was launched in 2018 to provide faster processing for eligible post-secondary students, it said, adding, it was eventually opened to legal residents of Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam.

There was a similar Nigeria Student Express (NSE) for prospective university students from Nigeria; it too has ended along with the SDS, the statement said, adding, both the SDS and the NSE initiatives ended on Friday. -- PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday attacked the BJP-led Centre, alleging that its policies on demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST) were weapons to kill farmers, labourers and the poor in the country.

He also claimed that a battle is on in India between the ideologies of the BJP-RSS and INDIA bloc, who are believers of hatred and love, respectively.

The battle is also between violence and unity, he claimed.

"Policies of Narendra Modi are responsible for spreading unemployment in India. Demonetisation, GST are weapons to kill the poor, farmers and labourers," he said while addressing a poll rally in Jamshedpur.

"The BJP-RSS are playing politics to divide India on the basis of caste, religion and language. The Congress wants to protect the Constitution of India, while the BJP-RSS is hell-bent on destroying it," Gandhi alleged.

The Congress leader also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of funding capitalists who in turn invest money abroad.

He exuded confidence that they would defeat Modi and work for welfare of the masses.

During the address, Gandhi took a two-minute break after Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta whispered to him that "Azan" was on. -- PTI

The Shiv Sena did not lose its identity even after an alliance of three decades with the Bharatiya Janata Party and there was no question of it turning into Congress now, former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Saturday.

  

The Sena-UBT chief was speaking at a campaign rally at Hingoli for Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance candidates from Kalamnuri, Hingoli and Vasmat assembly segments ahead of the November 20 Maharashtra elections.

Replying to criticism by the BJP that the Sena led by him has become another version of the Congress, Thackeray said his party was a BJP ally for several years, but did not lose its identity. 

"Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah come here and tell people that we (Shiv Sena-UBT) abandoned Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology. I did not leave the ideology, I left the BJP. The BJP is not Bal Thackeray's thoughts," he said.

"How can the Shiv Sena become Congress? Congress is with us. The Shiv Sena did not become BJP despite being with them for 25-30 years. How can it become Congress?" added Thackeray who severed the ties with the BJP in 2019 and joined hands with the Congress and (then undivided) NCP.

On the BJP's slogan 'ek hai to safe hai', he said, "We are already united, we will wipe out the BJP by staying together." 

Despite the elections in Maharashtra, the Tata Airbus project in Gujarat was inaugurated with fanfare, Thackeray said, referring to the Opposition's claim that big industrial projects meant for Maharashtra were being diverted to Gujarat.  

Santosh Bangar, sitting MLA and candidate of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena from Kalamnuri, had called on him when he was chief minister and suffering from coronavirus infection, Thackeray said.

"He was crying, and the next day I saw that he went there (Shinde camp). I came to know about his sins later," the Sena-UBT chief said, referring to the split in the party in June 2022.

His government took care of people during the coronavirus pandemic, Thackeray said. -- PTI

A man was killed and another injured in two incidents of firing carried out by three people in separate areas of northeast Delhi within a span of 10 minutes, police said on Sunday.

 

The accused first fired at a person in Welcome's Kabir Nagar around 1 am, looted his scooty and rode it to a location in neighbouring Jyoti Nagar and fired at a house, according to a senior police officer.

While Nadeem (alias Bobby) and Shahnawaz received bullet injure in the first incident, nobody was harmed in the second.  

Police said the two injured were taken to a hospital where Nadeem was declared dead, while Shahnawaz is recuperating, police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast) Rakesh Paweriya said the three suspects have been apprehended and are being interrogated.

Police said they first received information about firing in Kabir Nagar and when a team was sent, it found three empty cartridges and a motorcycle lying on the roadside.

When they enquired about it, police found that the motorbike belonged to the accused who left it there and fled with the scooty that belonged to one of the victims.

Meanwhile, another PCR call was received at 1.26 am from neighbouring Jyoti Nagar area about firing at a house by three men on a scooty.

The caller, identified as Rahul, said the accused came on a scooty and opened fire at his house but no one was injured in the incident. Six empty and a live cartridge were found at the spot.

Another officer said the accused were later apprehended from the same area.

It is suspected that the accused had a financial dispute involving Rs 10,000 with Nadeem. They wanted to target him but Shahnawaz also received bullet injury in his leg as he was was standing nearby.

The accused are being further interrogated to ascertain the exact cause of shooting at both the places.

A murder case has been registered at the Welcome Police Station and an FIR has been registered in Jyoti Nagar as well. -- PTI 

A minor student from Uttar Pradesh's Fatehpur who moved in Kanpur to prepare for her medical entrance exam NEET at a prominent coaching institute was allegedly held hostage for over six months and raped by two of its teachers, police said on Saturday.

 

They said the ordeal began for the student in December 2022, when she was putting up at a city hostel. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Kalyanpur) Abhishek Pandey said the case was registered on Friday after she approached the Kalyanpur police station.

Both teachers -- Sahil Siddiqui, who taught biology, and Vikas Porwal, who taught chemistry -- have been arrested and charged with offences of rape, wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation and under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act. The student was 17 years old when this happened.

In her complaint, the survivor told police that in December 2022, Siddiqui invited her to his friend's flat in Kalyanpur's Makdi-Khera area for a New Year's party, saying other students would be there as well.

She alleged that when she reached the flat, she found only Siddiqui there who drugged her by lacing her soft drink with sedatives and raped her while also recording the episode on video.

According to the complaint, Siddiqui allegedly held her hostage in his flat for over six months, during which he repeatedly raped her and also threatened to share the video online if she spoke to anyone about it.

The student alleged that Porwal raped her a few months after this.

She said in the FIR that she could not muster the courage to seek police help as she was afraid that it might land her family in danger. -- PTI

The shooting of Salman Khan-starrer Sikandar was going on at a star hotel in the old city of Hyderabad amid tight security against the backdrop of threats received by the top actor from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

The security has been tight as Khan is a 'Y plus' category security protectee, police sources said on Saturday, refusing to share details.

According to reports, Khan had his own security in addition to that of the government.

Khan, who had earlier received death threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, was issued a fresh threat, officials said in Mumbai on Friday.

 

The threat message was sent to Mumbai traffic police's WhatsApp helpline Thursday night..

        

The sender of the message threatened the actor and demanded Rs 5 crore, claiming it was being made on behalf of the Bishnoi gang. Besides, the individual also threatened the lyricist of the song Main Sikandar Hoon, an official said.

        

On a complaint by traffic officials, the Worli police have registered a case and launched a probe.

Sikandar also features Pushpa: The Rise star Rashmika Mandanna. -- PTI

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said a man becomes a "saint" not by what he wears but what he speaks.

   

The dig, apparently aimed at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, was made on the birthday of 'Khajanchi'   a boy born to a woman standing in a queue to exchange banknotes after demonetisation. The boy was named so by Yadav.

"Countdown has started for those who do encounters. Their days in the seat of power are numbered," Yadav said at the programme.

Yadav, without naming anyone, said people with cunning tend to become bitter in speech.

"You can see that their language has changed, their way of thinking and understanding have also changed," he said.  

"A person who does not consider anyone to be bigger than him, what kind of a yogi is he? If there is anybody who is setting the seers against each other, it's the people in the government," the former UP chief minister said.

"It is said that the greater a saint is, the less he speaks, and when he speaks, it is for public welfare. Here, everything is the opposite. The kind of language which is being used... A person is not a Yogi by what he wears, but by what he speaks," the SP chief said.  

Yadav said the older 'Khajanchi,' gets, the more he will remind people of the failure of demonetisation.

"And the truth is, demonetisation emerged as the biggest corruption in economic history of the world. Demonetisation has proved to be the ocean of BJP's corruption. It was a cosmetic exercise, and it has remained so," he said.

Yadav likened the impact of demonetisation to that of a "slow poison" which afflicted farmers, labourers, the middle and salaried class, small traders and street vendors, all alike. -- PTI 

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's grandnephew Chandra Kumar Bose on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take immediate steps for bringing the 'remains' of the great freedom fighter from the Renoki temple in Japan to India before his birth anniversary on January 23 next year.

He said that it was a "great dishonour" to Netaji that his 'remains' are still lying at the Renkoji temple in Japan.

Chandra Bose, who had made similar demands to Modi on past occasions the last being on August 17, also called for a memorial in Netaji's honour in the national capital.

"Netaji's remains are still lying at Renkoji Temple in Japan. Netaji wanted to return to Independent India, but he could not as he sacrificed his life on August 18, 1945 fighting for India's freedom," he said in the letter sent to the PM.

"It is a height of dishonour that his remains should lie in a foreign land. It is of utmost importance that Netaji's remains must be brought back to India within January 23 and a Memorial built in his honour in Delhi on Kartavya Path," he said in the letter, a copy of which was made available to the media.

"It is creditable that the government of India, under your (PM) able leadership has taken the initiative to declassify Netaji-related files to come to a closure. After the release of all the files (10 enquiries- national and international), it is evident that Netaji perished on August 18, 1945.

"It is, therefore imperative that a final statement is made from the government of India, so that false narratives about the liberator of India is laid to rest," Bose said in the letter.

Bose said the government of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1956 had set up a three-member inquiry committee with INA veteran General Shah Nawaz Khan in the chair.

"For the first time, detailed information, including from eleven direct witnesses to the crash in Taiwan and then Netaji's death some hours later, was thus recorded in the official report. It is notable that there should have been so many first-hand accounts, from fellow passengers on the aircraft, Japanese military personnel on the ground beside the runway and Japanese and Taiwanese medical staff at the hospital. Netaji's Indian military aide from the INA Colonel Habib ur Rahman who travelled with Netaji and survived the crash and aftermath, was also one of the direct witnesses," he said. -- PTI

If patriarchy stopped women from achieving what they want in India, how come Indira Gandhi made it as prime minister, asked Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

She met the students of CMS Business School in Bengaluru on Saturday and discussed various measures undertaken by the Centre to support innovation as well as the government schemes available for young people, including the 1 crore internships for the unemployable youth' in the age group of 21 to 24 years old.

Replying to a question about women empowerment, Sitharaman insisted that patriarchy is a concept invented by the Left.

"Don't get carried away by fantastic jargons. If you stand up for yourself and speak logically, patriarchy will not stop you from achieving your dreams," she advised the women in the audience.

However, she admitted that women are not facilitated adequately and that more facilitation is needed.

Answering a question about the prospects of innovators in India, the finance minister said the Modi government is creating an environment that is conducive to innovators.

"We do not just support innovation by bringing out policies," she said, adding that the Indian government is doing its best to ensure that such innovations find markets too.

As an example, she cited the support mechanism that is available for MSMEs. According to her, they are given priority in government procurements.

Sitharaman said that 40 per cent of all government procurements is coming from MSMEs. "That is why we have more than 2 lakh startups today in India and more than 130 have become unicorns. The opportunity is immense but is not fully utilised," she said.

It is the same with digital banking transformation that is happening in India, she added. -- PTI

The ban on the entry of women in Darul Uloom, an Islamic seminary here Uttar Pradesh's Deoband, has been lifted. They will now be able to enter the campus, subject to some rules, the institution said.

   

Women will have to wear hijab and have to be accompanied by a family member to enter the campus, according to the rules that came into effect on Friday.

The management of the Islamic educational institution, which earlier this year banned the entry of women over complaints of "reels" being shot inside the campus, said videography would be completely prohibited and visitors would have to deposit their phones at the gate before entering.

Ashraf Usmani, media in charge at Darul Uloom, on Saturday said that after several rounds of talks, the management has issued rules for the entry of women coming from across the globe.

Following this, women will be able to enter the Darul Uloom campus, he said.

Usmani said the Darul Uloom management has appointed an officer to issue visitor passes, which will apply to both men and women, for entry into the campus.

Aadhaar card or voter ID or PAN card will have to be shown to the concerned officer for the visitor pass. Visitors' names, mobile numbers, addresses, number of men and women seeking entry, will also be recorded, he said.

Women will have to wear the hijab and will be allowed to enter the institution till sunset. Mobile phones of every person visiting the madrassa will be deposited at the main gate, which will be returned to them when they leave, Usmani added.

He said that the visitor pass will have a validity of two hours and it will be automatically cancelled after sunset.

The Darul Uloom management system banned the entry of women on May 17 over complaints that women without veils were taking photos and videos of the buildings of the institution and sharing them on social media.

According to the media in charge, students of the madrassa were also getting affected by it. -- PTI 

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday hit out at the BJP, saying its leaders were diverting people's attention by giving provocative speeches and peddling lies. 

Addressing a press conference in Nagpur city of Maharashtra, where assembly elections will be held on November 20, he said the state needs a good government which will bring it on the path of development again, and expressed confidence that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will win the elections.

He also said while Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has raised 'Batenge toh katenge' (divided we perish) slogan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the call of 'Ek hain toh safe hain' (we are safe if we are united). 

"First you decide between yourselves whose slogan is to be followed - whether Yogi ji's or Modi ji's," the Congress chief said.

"BJP gives inciting speeches and speaks lies and divert people's attention from core issues," he alleged. 

He said two big leaders from Vidarbha could not stop big investments going out of the region to Gujarat as they are concerned about saving their own posts and do not have anything to do with the people's interests. 

Although he did not name anyone, his remarks were apparently targeted at Union minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, both senior BJP leaders hailing from Nagpur. 

He also asked the BJP to engage in a debate with the Congress and tell what work its government carried out in the last 11 years. 

"We will tell you about the work we have done in 55 years," he said. -- PTI 

A 50-year-old woman was stabbed to death by her son allegedly after she did not allow him to shift to Canada for work, police in New Delhi said on Saturday.

   

The incident took place in Molarband village in southeast Delhi's Badarpur area, they said.

After killing his mother on the evening of November 6, the accused, Krishna Kant (31), called his father Surjeet Singh (52) and asked him to come home, they said.

When Singh reached home, Krishan Kant said "sorry" to him and asked him to go upstairs and see for himself what he had done, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) Ravi Kumar Singh said.

Upon reaching the first floor of the house, Singh found his wife Geeta lying in a pool of blood with multiple stab injuries on her body, he said, adding that during this the accused managed to flee.

Singh immediately took Geeta to Apollo Hospital, where she was declared dead, the police said.

The DCP said Singh has two sons. While his younger son, Sahil Bholi (27), works in a bank. Krishan Kant was jobless and a drug addict.

"Both sons are unmarried and at the time of incident only Geeta and the accused were present at home," the officer said.

Krishan Kant was later arrested from the same area and a case of murder has been registered against him, the officer added.

During interrogation, he revealed that he wanted to migrate to Canada but his family wanted him to marry first. -- PTI

Ricky Kej and Anoushka Shankar are among the Indians nominated for the 67th Grammy Awards.

 

Kej, a three-time Grammy winner, earned his fourth nomination for Break of Dawn in the Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album category, as announced by the Recording Academy on Friday.

The category, which includes albums featuring more than 75 per cent new vocal or instrumental new age recordings, also features Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn by sitarist and composer Shankar.

Other nominees in this category are Warriors of Light by Radhika Vekaria and Triveni by entrepreneur and musician Chandrika Tandon, created in collaboration with flautist Wouter Kellerman and cellist Eru Matsumoto.

Shankar also earned an additional nomination for her featured role on Jacob Collier's song A Rock Somewhere, which also includes vocalist Varijashree Venugopal, who bagged her first nomination. 

The track is nominated in the Best Global Music Performance category, a segment dedicated to "new vocal or instrumental Global music recordings".

Kej first won a Grammy in 2015 for Winds of Samsara in the Best New Age category and later for Divine Tides, with Stewart Copeland in 2022. 

In 2023, he and Copeland were honoured again for Divine Tides, this time winning the award for Best Immersive Audio Album.

The 2025 Grammy Awards are scheduled to take place on February 2, 2025, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. -- PTI

The issue of 'dynastic politics' has taken the centre-stage in Assam by-elections with both the ruling alliance and the main opposition party fielding candidates from political families, and the parties engaging in a sparring match targeting each other over it.

If it is Barpeta MP Phani Bhusan Choudhury's wife Diptimayee contesting as ruling alliance candidate on an Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) ticket from Bongaigaon, opposition Congress has named its Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain's son Tanzil from Samaguri seat.

Besides Bongaigaon and Samaguri, bypolls are slated in Dholai, Sidli and Behali on November 13, with the Congress contesting all the five assembly segments and the BJP three, leaving one each for its allies AGP and UPPL.

The MPs from Barpeta and Dhubri were representing Bongaigaon and Samaguri respectively in the state assembly before making their Lok Sabha debut earlier this year.

Choudhury, a former minister, has the distinction of being the longest-serving MLA in the state, having represented his Bongaigaon constituency since 1985, while Hussain, also an ex-Congress minister, has been the Samaguri MLA for the last 23 years.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while campaigning for the ruling alliance briefly earlier this week after taking a break from his party duties in poll-bound Jharkhand, had slammed the Congress for nominating Tanzil, maintaining that dynastic politics of the opposition party is preventing talented youth from joining politics.

"We are not just fighting Congress, we are up against an entrenched and corrupt family-led club... Will anyone be able to tell who will be the MLA in Samaguri after Tanzil? It will obviously be his son. Only their children and grandchildren will be the next leaders," Sarma had said at an election rally.

He claimed that Samaguri has seen only dynastic politicians as first it was Nurul Hussain, former Congress minister, then his son Rakibul Hussain, who was also a minister, and now it is Tanzil, who is eyeing a seat in the assembly.

The BJP has nominated Diplu Ranjan Sarma, a state party general secretary and former president of the state youth wing, from Samaguri.

The Congress has also accused the BJP for promoting dynastic politics, right from its national level, while also pointing to putting up Diptimayee Choudhury from Bongaigaon by the saffron party's ally AGP. -- PTI

A woman working in the paddy fields was gunned down by suspected hills-based militants in Manipur's Bishnupur district on Saturday, officials said.

The incident took place in Saiton area when the woman, along with other farmers, went to tend to the crops when militants opened fire from hill-based positions on the low-lying farmlands in Imphal Valley.

The woman died on the spot, the officials said, adding the incident sparked tension in the village with the locals alleging that the central forces deployed in the area were not taking action to thwart such attacks.

Additional security forces have been sent to the area.

The killing came two days after a 31-year-old woman was killed in an attack by unidentified persons on Zairon Hmar village in Jiribam district on Thursday night.

Six houses were burnt in the incident. The woman's charred remains were found by villagers on Friday afternoon.

More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kukis in Manipur since May last year. -- PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Centre, saying its tax structure is designed to "loot the poor".

"Indian tax structure is to loot the poor. Adani pays taxes equivalent to you. Dharavi land, worth Rs 1 lakh-crore, is being handed over to him," Gandhi alleged while addressing a rally in Jharkhand's Dhanbad.

He also took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging, "PM Modi travels in seaplanes, goes inside the sea, but the poor and women bear the brunt of price rise."

Gandhi further alleged that Scheduled Tribes (STs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) constitute 90 per cent of India's population, but they are not represented in government institutions.

"We will give to the poor funds equivalent to debt of capitalists waived by PM Modi," said Gandhi. -- PTI 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of insulting and making a mockery of the Constitution by showing a "fake" copy of it. 

Shah also claimed that the BJP will never allow the Congress to implement reservations for minorities.

 

"Rahul Gandhi shows a copy of the Constitution. He was exposed two days back. Someone got a copy of the Constitution he has shown. The Constitution of India was written on the cover of that copy which was void of any content....Don't make a mockery of the Constitution. It is a question of faith and trust. By waving a fake copy of the Constitution, you have insulted B R Ambedkar and the Constituent Assembly. The Congress party has made the Constitution a mockery," Shah alleged addressing a BJP rally in Palamu.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to observe November 26 as Constitution Day.

Shah alleged that Congress was "hell-bent on snatching reservations from OBCs, tribals and Dalits and "planned to give it to minorities".

"The Congress is against OBC quota, it promised 10 pc reservation to minorities when a delegation of Ulemas met Congress leaders in Maharashtra. Under PM Modi's leadership, the BJP will never allow religion-based reservations," Shah said.

He also attacked Congress for its alleged attempts to restore Article 370 in Kashmir.

"Kashmir is an integral part of India. I warn Rahul Gandhi that even your fourth-generation can't bring back Article 370," he claimed. 

Shah also hit out at the JMM-led dispensation in Jharkhand, terming it as the "most corrupt government" in the country. -- PTI

Three workers were charred to death and three others injured in a fire caused by a chemical leak at a godown in Gujarat's Navsari district on Saturday morning, police said.

The blaze broke out around 9 am when workers were unloading barrels containing chemicals from a truck at a godown in Devsar village in Billimoria taluka, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) BV Gohil said.

"Three workers died, and three others sustained injuries and were shifted to a hospital," he said.

Gohil said five fire tenders were pressed into service from nearby talukas, and the blaze was brought under control.

Mamlatdar Jagdish Chaudhary said chemicals leaked from one of the barrels in the truck, causing the fire.

The truck first caught fire, and the flames spread in the godown, killing three persons. Three workers sustained severe burns, while one is still missing, he said.

The cooling operation is underway at the godown, the official added. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that wherever a Congress government is formed, that state becomes the ATM (Automated Teller Machine) of the party's 'shashi parivar'.

  

"We won't let Maharashtra become the ATM of Congress," Modi said, addressing a campaign rally in Akola for the November 20 state assembly elections.

"I challenge the shahi parivar of Congress to prove if they ever visited Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's panchteerth," Modi said.

Modi has coined the term panchteerth to denote Amedbkar birthplace in Mhow, the place in London where he stayed while studying in the UK, Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur where he embraced Buddhism, his 'Mahaparinirvan Sthal' in Delhi, and 'Chaitya Bhoomi' in Mumbai.

People of Haryana foiled the conspiracy of Congress by following the 'Ek hai to safe hai' (we are safe if we are united) mantra, Modi said.

"The Congress knows that it will be strengthened only if the country is weakened. The policy of that party is to pit one caste against the other," he said.

Modi said the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra means corruption and scams of thousands of crores of rupees.

"In my first two terms as the PM, I have given four crore pucca houses to the poor," Modi said.

"I have come to seek your blessings for the BJP-led Mahayuti (grand alliance) in the Maharashtra assembly elections," he said. -- PTI

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the presence of Khalistan supporters in Canada but said they do not represent the Sikh community as a whole. 

 

His comments came during Diwali celebrations at Ottawa's Parliament Hill recently amid an ongoing diplomatic row with India over the killing of Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

"There are many supporters of Khalistan in Canada, but they do not represent the Sikh Community as a whole. Similarly, there are supporters of Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi's government in Canada, but they do not represent all Hindu Canadians," Trudeau said.

The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following Trudeau's allegations in September last year of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's killing.

New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as "absurd".

India expelled six Canadian diplomats and withdrew its high commissioner Sanjay Verma and other "targeted" officials from Canada after strongly dismissing Ottawa's charges.

India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.

Last week, Khalistani supporters disrupted a consular event co-organised by the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton and the Indian Consulate. 

Penning a tribute to the widely respected former Tata Group chairperson, Modi said his absence since his passing has been deeply felt not only in India but across the world. 

Tata remains alive in the lives he touched and the dreams he nurtured, and generations will be grateful to him for making India a better, kinder and more hopeful place, the prime minister said in a piece -- Tribute to Shri Ratan Tata -- which appeared in several newspapers and was posted on his website. 

From bustling cities and towns to villages, his absence is deeply felt across every segment of society, Modi said, adding that seasoned industrialists, budding entrepreneurs and hardworking professionals have mourned his loss. 

Those passionate about the environment and devoted to philanthropy are equally saddened, he said, citing Tata's investment in these fields, including in numerous start-ups. 

Tata, the prime minister said, envisioned a society where business can serve as a force for good, where every individual's potential is valued and where progress is measured in the wellbeing and happiness of all. 

For the youth, he was an inspiration, a reminder that dreams are worth pursuing and that success can coexist with compassion as well as humility, Modi said. 

For others, he represented the finest traditions of Indian enterprise and a steadfast commitment to the values of integrity, excellence and service, the prime minister said. 

He noted that under his leadership the Tata Group ascended to new heights, embodying respect, honesty and credibility worldwide. 

Despite this, the industrialist wore his achievements lightly, with humility and kindness, Modi said. -- PTI

Taking to his official handle on X, Jairam Ramesh posted, "The Congress Government in Telangana will begin its caste-based survey today. 80,000 ennumerators will be going door to door over the next few weeks, covering over 1.17 crore households across 33 districts." 

"This is the first time a caste-based survey is being conducted by the government in Telangana since 1931. It is a historic, revolutionary moment - one that is a realisation of the Telangana Movement's aspirations for the state and a fulfilment of one of the key ideals of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution," Jairam Ramesh's post read. 

He posted, "It is also, as Rahul Gandhi noted in Hyderabad earlier this week, a blueprint for the national caste census that the INDIA coalition's Government will conduct. This census, and the lifting of the Supreme Court's arbitrary ceiling of 50 percent on reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes are central to @INCIndia's vision for the country." 

"We are committed to the idea of social, political, and economic justice in India, as laid out in our Constitution and as envisioned by India's founding fathers," said Jairam Ramesh. -- ANI

The cash was seized at Wada in the coastal district on Friday, police inspector Datta Kindre said. 

"The police's vigilance and flying squad received a tip-off that a van was transporting cash through the district. Based on the information, the team intercepted the van and carried out a check, during which it found that Rs 3,70,50,000 cash was being transported. The driver and security personnel failed to produce valid documents required for the transportation of the cash," he said. 

They told the police that the cash was being taken from a company based in Navi Mumbai to Vikramgad in Palghar, he added. 

The cash has since been seized and the Income Tax Department as well as election officials have been informed for further probe, he said, adding that two occupants of the van have been detained. -- PTI

Preliminary reports indicate that the explosion took place at the railway station's booking office just before the train arrived at the platform, Geo News reported.

The Jaffer Express was scheduled to depart for Peshawar at 9 am, the report said, quoting railway officials.

The officials said the train had not yet arrived at the platform when the explosion took place.

Given the station's usual crowd, there is a high risk of significant casualties, the report said. -- PTI

The price of onions has risen from Rs 40-60 kg to Rs 70-80 per kg at the wholesale markets. 

Speaking to ANI, a seller at a market in Delhi said, "The price of onions has risen from Rs 60 to Rs 70 per kg. We source it from the mandi so the prices we receive from there affect the prices on which we sell it. There has been a reduction in sales because of the price hike but people are still purchasing it since it is an important part of food eating habits here." 

A buyer, Faiza shared her distress over the price hike of onions and said, "The price of onions has shot up even though it should have come down according to the season. I purchased onions at Rs 70 per kg. It has affected food-eating habits in the household. I appeal the government to at least reduce the prices of vegetables that are eaten every day." 

The price of onions in Delhi is around Rs 80 per kilogram as of November 8, 2024. 

The price of onions has been on the rise in many states of the country including across the markets in Mumbai. 

Dr Khan, a buyer in Mumbai spoke to ANI about the price rise and said, "The price of onions and garlic has gone up manifold. It has doubled. This has also affected the budget of the household. I purchased 5 kg of onion for Rs 360." -- ANI

Data from the CPCB's Sameer App, which provides hourly AQI updates, showed that the air quality at Bawana and New Moti Bagh stations was in the severe category with readings of 409 at both. 

Delhi has been witnessing very high of level of air pollution for the past few weeks which has been primarily blamed on stubble-burning in neighbouring states, Diwali fireworks and low wind speed. 

The AQI was in the 'very poor' category on Friday morning as well with a reading of 387. 

Meanwhile, Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 18.3 degree Celsius on Saturday, four notches above the season's average. 

The humidity level stood at 98 percent at 8.30 am, according to the India meteorological department. -- PTI 

According to the sources, nine different locations are covered in the raids in Ranchi and Jamshedpur. 

More details are awaited. 

Notably, this comes days ahead of the assembly elections in Jharkhand. CM Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, in alliance with Congress, RJD and left parties is facing major competition from the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA alliance in the state. 

Earlier, Jharkhand high court in June had granted bail to Hemant Soren in the alleged land scam case. -- ANI

The flight operations will be disrupted from 4:00 in the afternoon to 9:00 in the evening. 

The procession for Alpassi Arattu will be carried out from Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. 

"The runway at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport remains closed twice a year for the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple procession to pass through," Thiruvananthapuram International Airport informed in a post on X. 

"The practice of the procession taking the airport path to reach the Shangumugham Beach for the holy bath of the idols began centuries ago. This ritual continues even after the Airport was established in 1932, ensuring that the culture and traditions of the region remains intact," the airport said. 

The airport issued a passenger advisory, suggesting passengers check updated flight timings with the respective airlines. -- ANI

According to superintendent of police Rural Firozabad Akhilesh Bhadoria, the bus was enroute from Mathura to Lucknow when it collided with a parked vehicle near Thana Nasirpur on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway. 

"Five people died and several others were injured in the incident," he said.

Shortly after receiving the information, police reached the spot. 

SP Rural and CO Sirsaganj inspected the spot. "The injured were immediately sent to the District Hospital. In the investigation, it was discovered that the bus had lost control due to the negligence of the driver," said the SP. 

Sharing further details, the SP said, "Sandeep, a resident of Mohaddinpur in Lucknow, had gone to Mathura for his four-year-old son Siddharth's mundan ceremony. There were about 20 people on the bus including his family and relatives. This tragic accident occurred while returning from Mathura." -- ANI

Farhad Shakeri, 51, of Iran was charged as an asset of the Iranian regime who was tasked by the regime to direct a network of criminal associates to further Iran's assassination plots against its targets, including President-elect Donald Trump, according to United States Department of Justice statement. 

"The charges announced today expose Iran's continued brazen attempts to target US citizens, including President-elect Donald Trump, other government leaders and dissidents who criticize the regime in Tehran," said FBI director Christopher Wray. 

The Justice Department has charged an asset of the Iranian regime who was tasked by the regime to direct a network of criminal associates to further Iran's assassination plots against its targets, including President-elect Donald Trump. 

"We have also charged and arrested two individuals who we allege were recruited as part of that network to silence and kill, on U.S. soil, an American journalist who has been a prominent critic of the regime. We will not stand for the Iranian regime's attempts to endanger the American people and America's national security," read the statement. -- PTI

He was absconding for four months after shooting two people in the city's Rail Globe Chowk, the police said.  

Josh was being trailed by the police after his criminal stint a few months ago and was killed in a quick operation carried out by the police. 

This comes after the police received information that the absconding accused was in Bhilai.  

The police crime branch team reached near Jayanti Stadium while trailing Josh who was seen riding a motorcycle with one of his associates. 

The accused opened fire after spotting the police after which Crime Branch deputy superintendent of police Hem Prakash Nayak retaliated, officials said, adding that the accused was injured in the leg and chest during the operation.  

Durg SP Jitendra Shukla said that Josh had opened fire at two people four months ago in Sector 10's Globe Chowk after which he was absconding. -- ANI

"The weekly special train derailed at Nalpur, about 40 km from Kolkata. No casualties or injuries have been reported so far," they said. 

A parcel van was among the derailed coaches. 

The 22850 Secunderabad Shalimar Weekly Express was passing through Nalpur station in Kharagpur Division when the coaches derailed, officials said. 

The railways said an accident relief train and medical relief trains from Santragachi and Kharagpur were immediately dispatched for assistance. 

Buses have also been sent to ferry the passengers to Kolkata. -- PTI

Ramgopal, a resident of Suswar village, reported that his niece, the 13-year-old daughter of Ramautar from Devipura village in Gajraula area, was attacked around 9 am near JMB College, they said.

The three youths allegedly stopped her on the road and forced her to consume a poisonous substance before fleeing, the police said.

City circle officer Deepak Chaturvedi told reporters the incident appears to be linked to a land dispute.

"The victim's father has an ongoing land division dispute with her uncle. The accused, holding a grudge over this issue, reportedly stopped the girl and forced her to consume poison," Chaturvedi said.

He added that a detailed investigation into the matter is underway.

Superintendent of police Avinash Pandey said, "We are gathering evidence based on the CCTV footage and surveillance data. Four police teams have been formed and action will be taken against the accused if the incident is verified."

The girl was admitted to a private hospital in critical condition, but the doctors have since reported her condition as stable, the police said.

Chaturvedi visited the hospital to check on the victim and assured her family of prompt action. -- PTI

The bodies of Nazir Ahmed and Kuldeep Kumar, the two Village Defence Guards killed by terrorists, were found near a rivulet during a massive search operation, officials said.

The officials said the two VDGs were executed on Thursday after being abducted in the higher reaches of Kishtwar.

On Friday, Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva -- the General Officer Commanding of the Jammu-based White Knight Corps -- visited the area and reviewed the operations.

A large-scale cordon-and-search operation is underway to apprehend the terrorists responsible for the killings.

"The GOC of White Knight Corps, along with commanders, visited Kishtwar and the general area of Bhart Ridge to review the operations in progress," the White Knight Corps said in a post on X.

The Army, police and other security agencies have cordoned off the area to prevent the terrorists from escaping. -- PTI

Addressing an election rally in Ranchi, he accused the JMM-led ruling coalition of patronising infiltrators, and alleged that they were coming to the state, marrying tribal women by "trapping them in the web of illusion". 

"India is not a dharmshala where anyone can come and settle. Foreign infiltrators pose a grave threat to Jharkhand. This country is ours -- our land, water, forests, rivers, mountains, and fields. We will not let anyone else take those from us," he said. 

"The JMM-led alliance considers these intruders as its vote bank. In their greed for votes, they are protecting them, getting them enrolled on the voters' list, and helping them get Aadhaar and ration cards. The situation is such that tribal population in Santhal Parganas has come down from 44 per cent to 28 per cent," he claimed. 

Chouhan said if the BJP is voted to power in the state, a citizenship register will be made and the infiltrators will be ousted. -- PTI

Addressing an election rally in Ranchi, he accused the JMM-led ruling coalition of patronising infiltrators, and alleged that they were coming to the state, marrying tribal women by "trapping them in the web of illusion". 

"India is not a dharmshala where anyone can come and settle. Foreign infiltrators pose a grave threat to Jharkhand. This country is ours -- our land, water, forests, rivers, mountains, and fields. We will not let anyone else take those from us," he said. 

"The JMM-led alliance considers these intruders as its vote bank. In their greed for votes, they are protecting them, getting them enrolled on the voters' list, and helping them get Aadhaar and ration cards. The situation is such that tribal population in Santhal Parganas has come down from 44 per cent to 28 per cent," he claimed. 

Chouhan said if the BJP is voted to power in the state, a citizenship register will be made and the infiltrators will be ousted. -- PTI

The airline announced additional frequencies on the Kolkata-Bangkok route. 

The new frequencies will operate on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, starting from November 24, the airline said in a statement.

With the new frequencies, the airline will have 11 weekly flights to Bangkok, sources in the airline said.

The airline also announced new direct flights between Guwahati and Dimapur, and resumption of operations between Guwahati and Ahmedabad, operating daily from December 10.

An IndiGo statement also said that from October 29, the airline has begun maiden direct flights connecting Agartala and Dibrugarh. 

The tri-weekly flights operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

According to the statement, these operations will bolster domestic connectivity and provide business and leisure travellers with increased flight options to travel to their preferred destinations across East and Northeast India, thereby enhancing regional accessibility this winter.

We are pleased to announce these multiple new routes as a part of our ongoing winter schedule. -- PTI

Pawar is contesting the November 20 state assembly elections from his Baramati seat. 

Asked by reporters why he did not invite Modi to hold a public meeting in his support, Ajit said when leaders like Modi campaign, their rallies are organised at district headquarters, and not at tehsil places. 

"People from tehsils go and attend the rally. A rally in Pune will be for the entire district which includes Baramati," he said. 

Asked why Modi had held a rally in Baramati in 2019, he said then the objective was to defeat "a candidate named Ajit Pawar". 

Pawar, as part of the NCP led by his uncle Sharad Pawar then, was in the opposition camp in 2019. 

"This time, Modi does not have to defeat that person. He wants to make him win and that is why they are not holding a rally," said Ajit in a lighter vein. 

On Thursday, Ajit Pawar had said he did not request Modi to come to Baramati constituency because the fight there is within the family. 

Pawar is contesting against his nephew Yugendra Pawar, the candidate of the rival Nationalist Congress Party led by Sharad Pawar. -- PTI