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Tue, 22 October 2024
India, Pak renew Kartarpur agreement for 5 yrs
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23:26 India, Pak renew Kartarpur agreement for 5 yrs
India and Pakistan have renewed the agreement on Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for the next five years, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Tuesday.
In view of the continued requests of the pilgrims regarding the removal of $20 service charge levied by Pakistan per pilgrim per visit, India has once again urged Pakistan to not levy any fee or charges on the pilgrims, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.
"It has been agreed between India and Pakistan through diplomatic channels to extend the validity of the Agreement on Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for a further period of five years," the MEA said.
The agreement, signed on October 24, 2019 to facilitate the visit of pilgrims from India to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, Narowal in Pakistan through the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, was valid for a period of five years.
"Extension of the validity of this agreement will ensure uninterrupted operation of the Corridor for use by the pilgrims from India to visit the holy Gurdwara in Pakistan," it said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also posted on X about the announcement.
Jaishankar in his post on X also shared a link to this statement.
'India and Pakistan have renewed the agreement on Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for the next five years. PM @narendramodi's government will continue to facilitate our Sikh community's access to their holy sites,' he wrote on the social media platform. -- PTI
23:19 Raj Thackeray's son Amit to make electoral debut from Mahim
Amit Thackeray, the son of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray, will make his electoral debut from Mahim assembly seat in central Mumbai, the party announced on Tuesday evening.
The party released its first list of 45 candidates for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls.
It fielded Sandeep Deshpande from Worli in south-central Mumbai where he is likely to take on Shiv Sena-UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray.
Pramod Patil, the only MNS MLA in the outgoing assembly, was renominated from Kalyan rural seat in neighbouring Thane district. -- PTI
23:08 No question of apology: Udhayanidhi on Sanatana remark
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, in a veiled reference to the Sanatana dharma 'eradication' remark he made last year, has said that he will not apologise for his comment.
Addressing an event in Dindigul, Udhayanidhi said that women did not have the right, once upon a time, to even step out of their homes and also to go to schools.
Reformist leader 'Periyar' EV Ramasamy raised his voice against all such discriminatory practices. The Deputy CM said he followed Periyar, Dravidian icon CN Annadurai and late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi and uttered only what such leaders had said in the past.
Udhaynidhi presided over the self-respect marriage of Andichami (son of party leader Natham M A Andi Ambalam, a former MLA) with Radha Devi in Dindigul.
"Case has been filed against me not only in Tamil Nadu but in several courts in India," he said without making a direct reference to his Sanatana dharma related comment.
Furthermore, the Dy CM said such petitions against him in courts were based on 'distortions, which he 'did not say,' but was presented as if he had said so.
"I was asked to apologise in court. If I make a comment, that is it. I am facing the case in court, I am the grandson of Kalaignar (late Chief Minister Karunanidhi), I will not tender apology," he said on October 21.
Though Udhayanidhi had already said that there was no question of him apologising for his Sanatana comment, he has now reiterated his position after recently assuming office as Deputy CM.
Also the DMK youth wing secretary, Udhayanidhi, alleging that many people were attempting to 'thrust Hindi' on Tamil Nadu through several ways, he appealed to the newlyweds to choose 'beautiful Tamil names' for their to-be born children. -- PTI
22:23 Hindu outfit wants IAS officer to apologise for flagging noise from temple loudspeakers
A woman Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer in Madhya Pradesh has questioned the noise pollution caused by loudspeakers installed on temples, triggering a row and prompting a Hindu outfit to demand an apology from her.
The controversy erupted after a tweet was put out by IAS officer Shailbala Martin, currently posted as an additional secretary.
While tagging a post about the noise pollution and DJ music being played outside mosques, Martin said on X, 'And the loudspeakers installed on temples, which spread noise pollution through speakers far and wide in many streets, which keep playing till midnight. They do not disturb anyone?'
The senior bureaucrat's post evoked a mixed response with a religious group reacting angrily.
Bhopal-based right-wing organisation Sanskriti Bachao Manch advised Martin to desist from making comments which have the potential of hurting the sentiments of Hindus.
"She should not be involved in such a controversy. The Sanskriti Bachao Manch opposes her comments," said the outfit's chief, Chandrashekhar Tiwari.
Tiwari said in temples, chanting and 'aartis' are performed in melodious voice and added "We do not shout".
"Martin says DJs and people in processions go and shout slogans (in front of mosques). Tell me when stones were pelted at a Muharram procession? Has any unruly act taken place in front of a mosque? But you see, stones are pelted at Ram Navami, Hanuman Jayanti processions and garba (folk dance performed during Navratri). Madam, evaluate the situation in the entire country and then react," he maintained.
Tiwari asked the IAS officer to apologize to Hindus and said Chief Minister Mohan Yadav should look into the intention behind the bureaucrat's remarks.
Asked about Martin's post, senior Congress leader KK Mishra, who is media advisor to state Congress president Jitu Patwari, said after soon taking oath in December last year, Yadav had issued an order that was about controlling noise pollution.
"Shailbala Martin is a government officer. The chief minister should react to her opinion," he said.
However, leaders of the ruling BJP declined to comment on the issue. -- PTI
21:48 Modi, Xi to hold bilateral meet in Russia tomorrow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan on Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said.
"I can confirm that there will be a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Jinping tomorrow," Misri said at a media briefing. -- PTI
21:43 Seat deal done, Hemant Soren will be CM again: Tejashwi
Amid an impasse over seat-sharing among Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) constituents for the Jharkhand assembly polls, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday said a consensus has been reached over the party's share of seats, which would be announced soon.
The remarks by the Leader of Opposition in the Bihar assembly came shortly after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma alleged that Yadav has 'no brand value' in the bloc, as he 'failed' to get adequate seats for the upcoming polls, despite 'visiting CM Hemant Soren's residence thrice'.
"The INDIA bloc stands united and we will contest the elections together. Hemant Soren will be the Jharkhand CM again. A consensus has been reached on seat-sharing and RJD's seats will be announced shortly," said Yadav, who has been camping in the poll-bound state.
He also alleged that the BJP destroyed Jharkhand, and accused it of being 'anti-constitution and anti-reservation'.
The assembly polls will be held in two phases on November 13 and November 20, and counting will take place on November 23. -- PTI
21:35 BSE Sensex: Top losers today
From the 30 Sensex pack, Mahindra & Mahindra, State Bank of India, Power Grid, Tata Steel, IndusInd Bank, Tata Motors, Larsen & Toubro, NTPC, Bajaj Finance and Reliance were among the biggest laggards. -- PTI
21:34 Sensex down by 1.15% to close at 80,220.72
Benchmark Sensex plunged by 930.55 points on Tuesday due to an intense sell-off across sectors and massive foreign fund exodus from the capital market.
Extending losses to the second day, the BSE Sensex plummeted 930.55 points or 1.15 per cent to settle at 80,220.72, the lowest closing level since August 14.
During the day, it tanked 1,001.74 points or 1.23 per cent to 80,149.53. -- PTI
Image only for representation
21:19 Over 150 trains cancelled amid cyclone threat
More than 150 express and passenger trains running through South Eastern Railway jurisdiction have been cancelled in view of the possibility of formation of a severe cyclonic storm which is likely to hit Odisha-West Bengal coasts on October 25, an SER official said on Tuesday.
The trains cancelled include Howrah-Secunderabad Falaknuma Express, Kamakhya-Yesvantpur AC Express, Howrah-Puri Shatabdi Express, Howrah-Bhubaneswar Shatabdi Express and Howrah-Yesvantpur Express, he said.
The trains cancelled were scheduled to depart their originating stations from October 23 to 25, the SER official said.
More trains running through the SER zone may be cancelled if the situation demands.
The Kolkata-headquartered SER zone is spread over the states of West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand.
The Eastern Railway will operate an emergency control room from October 24 to 25, an ER official said.
According to the Met office, a depression over the east-central Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and cross Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island in the early hours of October 25 with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph. -- PTI
20:54 Why Putin told Modi 'you don't need a translator'
Reflecting close ties between India and Russia and his personal rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin quipped during their bilateral meeting on Tuesday that they have such a relationship that Modi will not need a translator.
"We have such a relationship that I felt that you do not need any translation," President Putin said with a smile.
Modi also smiled appreciatively on hearing the Hindi translation of the remarks which were made by President Putin in Russian.
The leaders had a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of BRICS Summit.
The Russian President also recalled their meeting during the India-Russia Annual Summit in July this year, which was held in Moscow.
"I remember we met in July and had a very good discussion on several issues. We also spoke on the telephone a lot of times. I am very grateful to you for accepting the invitation to come to Kazan. Today, we will participate in the opening ceremony of the BRICS Summit and after that, we will have a dinner. During the upcoming BRICS Summit today with other leaders, we should take some very important decisions," he said.
In his remarks, Modi said that his two visits to Russia in the last three months reflect close coordination and deep friendship between the two countries and he looks forward to take part in the BRICS Summit.
"My two visits to Russia in the last three months reflect our close coordination and deep friendship. Our Annual Summit in Moscow in July has strengthened our cooperation in every field...In 15 years, the BRICS has created its special identity and now many countries of the world want to join it. I am looking forward to participating in the BRICS Summit tomorrow," he said.
The prime minister said the opening of India's new consulate in Kazan will further strengthen ties between India and the Russian city.
"I express my heartfelt gratitude for your friendship, warm welcome and hospitality. It is a matter of great pleasure for me to have the opportunity to visit a beautiful city like Kazan for the BRICS Summit. India has deep and historical ties with this city. The opening of India's new consulate in Kazan will further strengthen these ties," he said. -- ANI
20:11 Mumbai bans sale, flying of sky lanterns for one month
The Mumbai police have banned the sale and flying of sky lanterns ahead of Diwali as a safety and security measure, an official said on Tuesday.
The police have issued prohibitory orders under section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, keeping the ban in place for a month from October 23 to November 21, he said.
As per the order, the sale, storage and flying of sky lanterns is prohibited, considering the safety and security of the public to prevent activities of anti-social elements, he said. -- PTI
19:38 BJP opposes Nawab Malik's candidature
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ashish Shelar on Tuesday said his party is against the candidature of Nationalist Congress Party leader Nawab Malik for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly election.
"We will not accept giving a ticket to someone linked to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim," Shelar, Mumbai BJP president, told a news channel.
"We won't support Malik and will have a different stand," he added.
He was responding to media reports that Malik, sitting MLA from Anushakti Nagar in Mumbai South-Central parliamentary constituency, may contest from Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar and leave the Anushakti Nagar constituency to his daughter Sana, who plans to make her debut in electoral politics.
Malik was a minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government and was arrested in 2022 in a case first registered by the NIA against Dawood and his associates including Chhota Shakeel and Tigar Memon.
Malik was granted bail on medical grounds in July this year. After the NCP split, the faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar took the MLA into its fold, despite objections from ally BJP. -- PTI
"We will not accept giving a ticket to someone linked to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim," Shelar, Mumbai BJP president, told a news channel.
"We won't support Malik and will have a different stand," he added.
He was responding to media reports that Malik, sitting MLA from Anushakti Nagar in Mumbai South-Central parliamentary constituency, may contest from Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar and leave the Anushakti Nagar constituency to his daughter Sana, who plans to make her debut in electoral politics.
Malik was a minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government and was arrested in 2022 in a case first registered by the NIA against Dawood and his associates including Chhota Shakeel and Tigar Memon.
Malik was granted bail on medical grounds in July this year. After the NCP split, the faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar took the MLA into its fold, despite objections from ally BJP. -- PTI
Lee Kuan Yew
19:34 Son of Singapore's founder is now 'political refugee' in UK
Lee Hsien Yang, the youngest son of the founder of modern Singapore, the late Lee Kuan Yew, said on Tuesday that he is now a political refugee in the United Kingdom after seeking asylum protection from the British government 'as a last resort'.
"I remain a Singapore citizen and hope that someday it will become safe to return home," Lee was quoted as saying in a Facebook post by Channel News Asia (CNA).
Citing the Singapore government's 'attacks' against him, Lee, the younger brother of former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, said he is now a political refugee in the United Kingdom after seeking asylum protection in 2022 'as a last resort'.
Lee Hsien Yang and his sister Lee Wei Ling, who died earlier this month, have been at odds with their brother Lee Hsien Loong, who was prime minister from 2004 until May this year, over what to do with their father's home after his death in 2015, in a public spat that saw the siblings estranged.
In an interview with the UK-based newspaper The Guardian, Lee alleged that a 'campaign of persecution' forced him to seek asylum in Britain.
Reacting to Lee's allegations, the Singapore government said there is 'no basis' to allegations of 'a campaign of persecution' against him as well as other claims about political repression in the country.
"Singapore's judiciary is impartial and makes decisions independently. This is why Singaporeans have a high level of trust in the judiciary," a government spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said there are no legal restraints on Lee and his wife and lawyer Lee Suet Fern returning to Singapore.
"They are and have always been free to return to Singapore," the spokesperson said.
Lee and his wife have been out of Singapore since 2022 after deciding not to attend a scheduled police interview over potential offences of giving false evidence in judicial proceedings regarding the will of his father Lee Kuan Yew on what to do with the family home.
Lee and his late sister Lee Wei Ling, who had been living at the property, had alleged that they felt threatened in trying to fulfil their late father's wish to demolish the house. They had also accused their elder brother and former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong of abusing his influence in government to drive his personal agenda.
The government has stated on several occasions that the former premier had recused himself on all matters relating to the family house. -- PTI
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18:38 17 workers trapped in Bengaluru building collapse
At least 17 workers are feared trapped after an under-construction building collapsed in Babusapalya in Bengaluru on Tuesday amid heavy rains, officials said.
Two rescue vans from the fire and emergency department have been pressed into rescue operations.
The incident occurred at a time when Bengaluru is witnessing heavy downpour, they said.
"17 people are feared trapped inside the building and rescue operation is being carried out in a coordinated effort with help from other agencies," a senior police officer said.
According to preliminary inquiry, the entire building collapsed following which people got trapped underneath, a fire department official said. -- PTI
18:15 Boy held for bomb threats alleges sexual assault
A 17-year-old boy, detained in connection with bomb hoax threats to flights, has alleged that he was sexually assaulted by an inmate at a children's home in south Mumbai, police said on Tuesday.
The teen, a Class 11 student, was apprehended from Chhattisgarh last week after he allegedly posted bomb hoax threats on social media targeting three international flights on October 14.
Based on the boy's complaint about a sexual assault, the Dongri police have registered a case under relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and started the investigation, an official said.
Officials have questioned inmates at the Dongri Children's Home, and they haven't provided any information about the assault so far, he said, adding that the teen's medical report also did not indicate any assault.
According to officials, the boy had previously levelled allegations of sexual assault on two occasions in Chhattisgarh, and his claims were found false.
The boy, in his complaint, alleged that a 16-year-old inmate sexually assaulted him in the dormitory on Monday morning, the official said.
He was taken to the state-run J J Hospital for treatment, and the medical report confirmed that there were no injuries to his private parts, he said.
The official said the boy appears to be levelling false allegations, and action will be taken accordingly.
The teen is accused of posting bomb threat messages to Air India and IndiGo on an X handle, disrupting three international flights on October 14, he said. -- PTI
18:07 Nilesh Rane to switch parties to contest Kudal assembly seat
Nilesh Rane, son of Bharatiya Janata Party MP Narayan Rane, on Tuesday said he will join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and contest the Kudal assembly election.
As per the seat-sharing formula in the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the Kudal constituency is with the Shiv Sena, and that is the reason for Nilesh to switch from the BJP to the Sena, party sources said.
Vaibhav Naik of Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, who is an old rival of the Ranes, is sitting MLA from Kudal, which is part of Narayan Rane's Lok Sabha constituency, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg.
The adjoining Kankavali assembly constituency is represented by Nilesh's younger brother Nitesh, who is with the BJP.
Nilesh Rane, who was earlier with the Congress, was the MP from the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency from 2009 to 2014.
He joined the BJP in 2014 and lost the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. -- PTI
17:37 Bear attack! Investors lost Rs 9.19 lakh cr today
Investors' wealth eroded by a massive Rs 9.19 lakh crore on Tuesday as markets came under heavy sell-off with the BSE benchmark index Sensex falling 930.55 points.
Extending its previous day's decline, the BSE Sensex plummeted 930.55 points or 1.15 per cent to settle at 80,220.72. During the day, it tanked 1,001.74 points or 1.23 per cent to 80,149.53.
The market capitalisation of BSE-listed firms eroded by Rs 9,19,374.52 crore to Rs 4,44,45,649.22 crore (USD 5.29 trillion). "There has been no respite from FIIs selling in local equities in the current month so far, which has been creating uncertainty among domestic investors.
Also, foreign investors are fleeing Indian equities to invest in relatively cheaper locations such as China, especially after the stimulus announcement by its government to boost its slowing economy.
"Along with sectoral stocks, mid and smallcap stocks too bore the brunt as persistent buying had led to valuations in several stocks getting expensive and hence the breather," Prashanth Tapse, Senior VP (Research) at Mehta Equities Ltd, said.
From the 30 Sensex pack, Mahindra & Mahindra, State Bank of India, Power Grid, Tata Steel, IndusInd Bank, Tata Motors, Larsen & Toubro, NTPC, Bajaj Finance and Reliance were among the biggest laggards. In contrast, ICICI Bank, Nestle and Infosys were the gainers from the pack.
17:22 Seat-sharing agreement in 2 days: Cong on Maha
Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole said on Tuesday that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming assembly elections in the state will be finalised within a day or two, adding that the situation in the rival Mahayuti alliance is more chaotic than in the MVA.
"The situation in Mahayuti is more messed up than MVA. Seat-sharing takes time because we need to consider our party workers. Our issue will be resolved within a day or two. Balasaheb Thorat met with Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray, and I will now meet Thorat. After that, the MVA seat-sharing meeting will take place," Patole told ANI.
"The problem lies in 25-30 seats, but it will be resolved soon," he added. Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat expressed confidence that the issue would be solved, noting that the alliance has sufficient time.
"Things are being worked out. The seats in question are not too many...We have time and will resolve this quickly," Thorat said.
On October 20, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its first list of 99 candidates for the Maharashtra assembly elections.
17:01 Sensex plunges 930 points to 2-month low
Benchmark Sensex plunged by 930.55 points while broader Nifty dropped below the 24,500 level to settle at more than two-month lows on Tuesday due to an intense sell-off across sectors and massive foreign fund exodus from the capital markets.
Extending losses to the second day, the BSE Sensex plummeted 930.55 points or 1.15 per cent to settle at 80,220.72, the lowest closing level since August 14. During the day, it tanked 1,001.74 points or 1.23 per cent to 80,149.53. The NSE Nifty tumbled 309 points or 1.25 per cent to 24,472.10 as 47 of its constituents closed lower and three advanced. The index hit a low of 24,445.80 during the day. A weak earnings growth trend and sluggish global markets hit investor sentiment, analysts said, adding that rising US bond yields and policy actions by China are triggering FII outflows.
From the 30 Sensex pack, Mahindra & Mahindra, State Bank of India, Power Grid, Tata Steel, IndusInd Bank, Tata Motors, Larsen & Toubro, NTPC, Bajaj Finance and Reliance were among the biggest laggards. In contrast, ICICI Bank, Nestle and Infosys were the gainers from the pack.
16:58 Airline Threat Calls: 'Someone Is Testing Security Agencies'
Advocate Yeshwant Shenoy, whose public interest litigation revolving around improving safety of India's airports and civil aviation security (pdf file) has been pending in the Bombay high court for almost a decade now for some reason or the other, tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com that the threats received by various airlines -- as many as 100 in about just seven days lately -- should not be treated as hoax calls and immediate measures must be taken to tighten aviation security.
"Always remember, security agencies have to get it right 100 per cent of the times, whereas the bad guys just need one hit from a hundred plots," warns the Ernakulam-based Shenoy who has persistently taken on the civil aviation ministry for improving the safety and security of India's airlines passengers.
Read the interview here.
Vinesh, Bajrang, Sakshi during the protests in 2023
16:42 Don't agree with Sakshi's claims: Vinesh
Star wrestler and Congress MLA Vinesh Phogat on Tuesday disagreed with Sakshi Malik's view that her and Bajrang Punia's decision to accept exemption from the Asian Games trials last year undermined their protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Olympic bronze-winning wrestler Sakshi, one of the three prominent faces of the prolonged protest against the former WFI chief, had claimed in her recent book that Vinesh and Bajrang's decision made their movement seem "selfish". "That is her personal opinion. I don't agree with that. Unless I am weak, the fight cannot be weak. This is my belief. Till the time Sakshi, Vinesh and Bajrang are alive, the fight cannot be weak," Vinesh told PTI Video.
"Those who want to win should never be weak. They should always choose to fight on the field. For that you will have to be tough and face the obstacles. And we are ready for fight."
In her recently-released book 'Witness', Sakshi said their protest developed cracks when "people close to" Bajrang and Vinesh began to fill their minds with "greed".
The trio had alleged that Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh sexually harassed women wrestlers during his tenure as WFI president. The case is still being heard in a Delhi court. The ad-hoc committee, that took over the administration of wrestling after WFI's suspension, exempted Bajrang and Vinesh from the 2023 Asian Games trials but Sakshi decided not to seek the favour as suggested by her colleagues.
Eventually, Sakshi did not compete while Vinesh suffered an injury before the Games and Bajrang failed to win a medal in Hangzhou. Vinesh, who was elected from Julana constituency in the Haryana Assembly elections earlier this month, said their fight will continue "till we are alive".
"When we were playing, the responsibility of crores of people of the country was on us. Today I am elected (as MLA) from Congress party ... even today the whole nation is looking at us," she said.
"But we can assure you that the fight we fought on the streets and up to Olympics is for all daughters and sisters and for all women who know how to fight and want to fight. Farmers, youth and athletes are the foundation of our country. We will fight till we are alive."
The protest, which went for months, ended after the wrestlers' march towards the new Parliament Building was halted by the Police on May 28, 2023. Both Vinesh and Bajrang joined the Congress party before the Haryana assembly elections earlier this month. The former contested and won from the Julana constituency, while the latter was made head of the party's national farmers' unit.
16:18 Putin to Modi@Kazan: We spoke on phone a lot
Kazan, Russia: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets and holds a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Kazan on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit.
At the bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin says "I remember we met in July and had a very good discussion on several issues. We also spoke on the telephone a lot of times. I am very grateful to you for accepting the invitation to come to Kazan. Today, we will participate in the opening ceremony of the BRICS Summit and after that, we will have a dinner."
PM Narendra Modi says, "I express my heartfelt gratitude for your friendship, warm welcome and hospitality. It is a matter of great pleasure for me to have the opportunity to visit a beautiful city like Kazan for the BRICS Summit. India has deep and historical ties with this city. The opening of India's new embassy in Kazan will further strengthen these ties."
16:01 The Russian welcome for PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives a warm welcome as he lands in Kazan, Russia, today. The BRICS summit is being held in Kazan.
Representational image
15:45 Husband claims wife is transgender, moves HC
A husband has approached the Delhi High Court requesting that the Delhi Police conduct a medical examination of his wife at a Central Government hospital to establish her gender. The petitioner husband has alleged that his wife is a "transgender individual," a fact he has claimed was fraudulently hidden before their marriage.
He has contended that this concealment has caused him mental trauma, prevented the consummation of their marriage, and led to various false legal proceedings against him.
The plea, submitted by Advocate Abhishek Kumar Choudhary, has acknowledged that an individual's sex or gender identity is a private matter. However, it emphasizes that in the context of marriage, the rights of both parties are interconnected. To ensure a healthy and peaceful marital life, it is crucial to balance and respect the fundamental rights to life of both individuals as guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
The plea further stated that the petitioner has a fundamental right to a fair investigation and determination of facts before being subjected to legal proceedings designed for women.
It asserted that the petitioner should not be required to pay maintenance or face allegations under domestic violence and dowry laws if the wife does not qualify as a "woman" within the meaning and scope of these legislations.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met Mallikarjun Kharge yesterday
15:27 Priyanka@Wayanad: India was waiting, says Selja
Congress MP Kumari Selja on Tuesday welcomed Priyanka Gandhi's decision to enter full-time electoral politics, expressing her happiness that Gandhi will contest the upcoming elections from Wayanad.
Selja criticised the BJP, claiming that they attempt to communalize issues where they face electoral challenges.
"The BJP always communalizes issues where they are losing. This is an old tactic of the BJP. The country has been waiting for a long time. There has been a nationwide demand for Priyanka to enter full-time politics and contest elections. We are happy that she is going to fight from Wayanad. Today is the nomination day, and I wish her all the best. I am confident she will win there with record votes," she said.
The senior Congress leader added, "The Minister said that machines should not overpower humanity. The Election Commission must pay attention to this. The issue of EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) has been raised repeatedly, and it is their responsibility to ensure that there should be no doubt anywhere in the country. Everything must be completely fair."
15:20 The BJP's senior member renews membership
Veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani gets active membership of BJP, under the party's membership drive.
14:56 TMC MP smashes glass bottle, BJP leader injured
A meeting of the Joint Committee on Waqf Bill turned dramatic on Tuesday when TMC member Kalyan Banerjee smashed a glass water bottle and threw it away during a heated exchange of words with BJP's Abhijit Gangopadhyay. In the process, Banerjee hurt his thumb and index finger and had to be given first aid.
He was later seen being escorted back to the meeting room by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and AAP leader Sanjay Singh. The TMC member was also offered soup by the officials.
The committee, chaired by BJP's Jagdambika Pal, was listening to the views of a group of retired judges and lawyers when the opposition members questioned what was their stake in the bill. PTI
Should India trust China?
14:18 Trusting China will take time: Army chief
Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday emphasised the need to rebuild trust between India and China following the recent border patrolling agreement.
Speaking at an event titled "Decade of Transformation: Indian Army in Stride with the Future" at the United Service Institution, Gen. Dwivedi made his first statement after the announcement of the India-China border patrolling agreement.Gen Dwivedi stressed that restoring trust along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) would be a gradual process, to return to the April 2020 status quo.
"We are working to rebuild trust, and restoring that trust will take time," he added, highlighting the steps of disengagement, de-escalation, and buffer zone management as crucial for easing tensions between the two nations.
He further explained that the process will take place in phases, with each step aimed at reducing tensions.
"This normal management of the LAC will not just stop there. There are phases in that as well," he added.
Referring to the buffer zones created along the LAC, Gen Dwivedi underscored that trust between the two countries will be rebuilt through mutual understanding.
"We are trying to restore the trust. How will the trust be restored? It will get restored once we can see each other and convince each other. And we need to reassure each other that we are not creeping into buffer zones that are created," he said.
Debris on the pavement after a CRPF school was bombed in Delhi
14:12 Hoax bomb threats sent to several CRPF schools
The CRPF has received a hoax threat e-mail claiming that its three schools in Delhi and Telangana will be targeted by improvised explosives, official sources said Tuesday.
The schools-- one each in Rohini and Dwarka of Delhi and one in Medchal near Hyderabad -- are safe and functioning normally, the sources said. The suspicious email was received by the CRPF Monday night.
It claimed that the improvised devises may explode on the three premises by 11 am Tuesday. Anti-sabotage checks were carried out and nothing suspicious was found, the sources said. The three CRPF schools are functioning normally, they said.
The threat email comes a day after a blast along the boundary wall of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) school in Prashant Vihar area of Rohini in the national capital. Security and intelligence agencies are probing the role of Khalistani supporters in the Sunday morning blast. Probe agencies are also investigating the origin and creator of the Monday night hoax email that speaks about some political events from Tamil Nadu, the sources said. The CRPF schools are run by the country's largest paramilitary force that is deployed in three major combat theatres of anti-Naxal operations, counterterrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and counter-insurgency in the Northeast. PTI
13:35 China confirms deal to end standoff in Ladakh
China on Tuesday confirmed that it has reached an agreement with India to end the standoff between the two armies in eastern Ladakh.
"Over a recent period, China and India have been in close communication through diplomatic and military channels on issues related to the China-India border," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a media briefing here.
"Now the two sides have reached a resolution on the relevant matters which China speaks highly of," he said.
Going forward China will work with India to implement these resolutions, he said.
He, however, declined to provide details.
On the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping on the margins of the BRICS summit at Russia's Kazan, he said, "We will keep you updated if anything comes up."
13:26 'Wayanad deserves Priyanka'
A day before Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra files nomination for the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said he cannot imagine a better representative for the constituency than his sister. Vadra will file her nomination on Wednesday.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi would be present during the filing of papers.
"The people of Wayanad hold a special place in my heart, and I can't imagine a better representative for them than my sister, Priyanka Gandhi," Rahul Gandhi said in a post in X on Tuesday.
"I'm confident she will be a passionate champion of Wayanad's needs and a powerful voice in Parliament," he added.
Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi will also lead a roadshow from Kalpetta New Bus Stand at 11 AM before filing her nomination before the district collector at 12 noon.
Urging people to join them, Gandhi said, "Together, let's ensure Wayanad continues to be represented with love." Vadra, who has been the Congress general secretary for a few years now, will make her electoral debut from the Wayanad seat, a constituency earlier represented by Rahul Gandhi. PTI
The PM's plane touches down at Kazan
13:09 Modi arrives in Kazan for BRICS Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday arrived in Kazan to attend the 16th BRICS Summit, where he is likely to hold bilateral meetings, including with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
India values close cooperation within BRICS which has emerged as an important platform for dialogue and discussion on a range of key issues concerning global developmental agenda, Modi said in a statement before embarking on a two-day visit to the Kazan, about 900 km east of Moscow.
The expansion of BRICS with the addition of new members last year has added to its inclusivity and agenda for the global good, he said. Being hosted by Russia, the summit is being seen as an attempt by non-Western powers to project their clout amid the conflict in Ukraine and the escalating situation in West Asia. Modi is expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings, including with the Russian president and Chinese President Xi Jinping, on the margins of the summit.
The departure statement also said that his visit to Kazan will further reinfore the 'Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership' between India and Russia coming months after Modi's Moscow visit in July for the annual summit during which he held talks with Putin. PTI
12:49 Now, centipede in railway lounge food!
While on Indian railways experiences, a Delhi man shared this image alongside while dining at IRCTC's VIP Executive Lounge. He discovered a live centipede in his 'raita'.
Aaraynsh Singh took to X to express his disgust and highlight the food safety issue.
Debunking claims of improved food quality on Indian Railways, Singh shared a stomach-churning picture of the centipede floating in his meal. He writes sarcastically: "Yes, for sure, Indian Railway food quality has improved, now they are serving raita with more protein.''
Singh also noted that the incident happening in an IRCTC VIP Executive Lounge raises alarming questions about food quality standards in regular trains and pantry cars. ''This incident happened in one of the IRCTC VIP Executive Lounges, so you can imagine the quality in regular trains or pantry cars,'' he added.
See our 12:19 post for another terrible experience.
Dear reader, do you have any experiences travelling on Indian railways? They may be excellent, terrible, good... doesn't matter. Share it with us, with a picture if you have one, to: newsdesk@rediff-inc.com.
12:34 Paytm posts profit of Rs 928.3 cr in Q2
One97 Communications, the parent of Paytm, on Tuesday posted a net profit of Rs 928.3 crore in the quarter ended September 2024, compared to Rs 290.5 crore loss it incurred a year ago, as an exceptional gain from sale of entertainment ticketing business to Zomato improved the fintech firm's Q2 scorecard.
The revenue from operations slumped 34.1 per cent year on year to Rs 1,659.5 crore during the just-concluded quarter. For Q2FY25, Paytm reported a Profit after Tax (profit attributable to owners of parent) of Rs 928.3 crore. This included an exceptional gain of Rs 1,345 crore on account of sale of entertainment ticketing business, Paytm said in its earnings statement.
12:33 Did Maha CM promise MLAs Rs 50 cr?
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Monday alleged that Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has promised Rs 50 crore to each MLA to secure election victories.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Raut said "Yesterday, there were 2 vehicles which had almost Rs 15 crores in them. As I had said earlier, Eknath Shinde has promised his people to give them Rs 50 crore each to win elections, it was the first instalment of Rs 15 crore."
"There were two vehicles, they let go of one after receiving a call as the inspector that was on duty there was in service of the MLA earlier. Almost 150 MLAs of the state have received Rs 15 crore each by now," Raut alleged.
His statement comes after Pune Rural Police seized cash worth Rs 5 crore at Khed Shivapur toll booth during a Nakabandi late evening on October 21.
"A total of Rs 5 crore cash was found in the car during Nakabandi by Pune Rural Police at Khed Shivapur toll Naka... Four people who were travelling in the car including the driver were questioned," Pune Rural SP, Pankaj Deshmukh said.
"Cash has been handed over to officials of the Income Tax Department for further probe," Pune Rural SP, Pankaj Deshmukh said.
This comes as Maharashtra prepares for a single-phase election on November 20, with counting set for November 23.
12:19 Passenger shares insect in dal aboard Tejas
Passenger Supriya Jha shares this image alongside of food aboard the luxury train Tejas Express. She writes, "The paid mehamaananawaazi: welcomed with soulful daal having insects in it. #TejasRajdhaniPatnaToNDLS @indianrailway__ @RailMinIndia @railcomplaint."
The picture shows a rather large ant floating on the dal. There have been numerous complaints about the terrible food aboard Indian railway trains over the years, despite Apps offering pizza on the go.
Trains delayed for hours without any help from railway officials has also become par for the course despite the propaganda machine lauding Tejas or the Vande Bharat. Will things change in Modi 3.0?
The IRCTC has responded to Supriya's message saying: "Sir, kindly share PNR and mobile no preferably in Direct Message (DM)."
Dear reader, do you have any experiences travelling on Indian railways? They may be excellent, terrible, good... doesn't matter. Share it with us, with a picture if you have one, to: newsdesk@rediff-inc.com.
12:08 Man apologises for 'Pak zindabad' chant, says BMJ
An accused man, Faizal Nisar alias Faizan salutes the Tiranga and raises Bharat Mata ki Jai slogans at Jabalpur Police Station, as part of his bail conditions. He was purportedly seen shouting the slogan "Pakistan Zindabad India Murdabad" in a video.
The High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur granted him bail on 15th October on a personal bond of Rs 50,000, with one solvent surety in the like amount and on the condition that he shall continuously mark his presence before Police Station, Misrod, Bhopal between 10 am to 12 o'clock of the day on every 1st and 4th Tuesday of the month till final conclusion of the trial and shall salute the National Flag unfurled on the building of police station 21 times, raising the slogan 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'.
Faizal Nisar says, "'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. I accept that I made a mistake, I will abide by what the High Court ordered me...A man was shooting a video and thus the reel was made...I agree that I made a mistake, I will never do this again. I also tell others to not make this mistake...."
Burnt shops in Bahraich after clashes
11:59 Bahraich violence: SC to hear plea by accused against demolition notices
he Supreme Court agreed to hear on Wednesday a plea filed by three accused in the Bahraich communal violence incident against demolition notices issued by the Uttar Pradesh government. Senior advocate C U Singh, appearing for the petitioners, mentioned the matter before a bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan seeking urgent hearing. "This is an application by three persons who are recipients of demolition notices. The state government has given only three days to respond to the notices," Singh told the bench. Singh submitted that petitioner No.1's father and brothers have surrendered and notices were purportedly issued on October 17 and pasted on 18th evening.
"We sought hearing on Sunday, but that did not happen," he added. Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, told the court that the Allahabad High Court is seized of the matter and has given 15 days' time to respond to the notice.
The bench then said, "If they (UP govt) want to take risk of flouting our order, it's their choice." The counsel for the petitioners said no protection has been granted by the high court. The apex court then orally asked the ASG not to take any action till Wednesday and posted the matter for hearing.
Ram Gopal Mishra (22) died of gunshot injuries after an inter-faith dispute over loud music being played outside a place of worship in Maharajganj on Sunday. The incident triggered communal violence, leading to arson and vandalism in the area and internet suspension for four days. PTI
File pic
11:34 Child mauled to death by lioness in Gujarat's Amreli
A five-year-old son of a farm labourer has been mauled to death by a lioness in Gujarat's Amreli district, a forest official said on Tuesday. The child was playing outside his hut in a plantation area of Navi Jikadri village under Jafrabad taluka on Monday evening when the big cat attacked him and took him away, range forest officer GL Vaghela said.
After an extensive search carried out by locals and forest department personnel in the area, the body was found and sent to a hospital, he said. The victim was the son of farm labourers, he said. Efforts were being made to capture the lioness, the official said.
11:22 Serial sex offender Harvey Weinstein has cancer
Producer Harvey Weinstein, who became synonymous with Hollywood's 2018 #MeToo campaign, has been diagnosed with cancer. Weinstein has chronic myeloid leukaemia and is undergoing treatment while still in prison at Rikers Island in New York, reported NBC News.
According to the Mayo Clinic, chronic myeloid leukaemia is an uncommon form of cancer of the bone marrow. The news of Weinstein's cancer diagnosis came after he underwent an emergency heart surgery last month, and tested positive for COVID and double pneumonia in July.
Weinstein is currently lodged at Rikers Island as he awaits a retrial in November after his 2020 rape conviction in New York, and 23-year sentence, was overturned in April. He was also indicted on further sexual assault charges in New York last month. He has pleaded not guilty and is now charged under two indictments for three sex crimes.
He is expected to be arraigned at a later date. Weinstein didn't appear in court when the details of the indictment were revealed, as he did not receive medical clearance. He, however, appeared in a wheelchair to plead "not guilty."
An influential producer and a top power broker in the 1990s and 2000s Hollywood, Weinstein has been accused of sexual harassment and assault by scores of women, including the likes of Ashley Judd, Mira Sorvino, and Cate Blanchett. PTI
Balasaheb Thorat at a rally.
11:21 Thorat meets Pawar ahead of MVA seat-sharing meet
Congress state legislature party leader Balasaheb Thorat on Tuesday met with Sharad Pawar of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) ahead of today's meeting of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) constituents, which includes that two parties and Shiv Sena (UBT) on seat-sharing for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said "Congress' senior leader Balasaheb Thorat who was in Delhi has come to meet Sharad Pawar today morning. Later, he will go to Matoshree and then we Uddhav Thackeray and other Shiv Sena leaders will have a meeting with Congress leaders and then we will see what to do, but everything is fine as of now..."
Yesterday, the Central Election Committee (CEC) of the Congress chaired by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had met in the national capital to finalise candidates for the assembly polls. Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar said that the final decision on all 288 seats for MVA for the Maharashtra assembly election will be made by this evening.
Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Wadettiwar said, "We will finalise the 17 seats. There are issues on six to seven seats in Vidarbha and that too will be resolved. We are going to contest as Aghadi...Since 3 parties are sharing 288 seats, it took a little time...The final decision on all 288 seats for Maha Vikas Aghadi will be made by tomorrow evening."
Congress election in-charge for Maharashtra assembly elections, Ramesh Chennithala refuted reports of differences among the INDIA alliance partners in the state. "There are no differences (in Maha Vikas Aghadi). We are united. Talks are going on regarding seats, it will be resolved soon," Chennithala said. Both the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) -- comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress -- have intensified their preparations for the upcoming elections to 288 Assembly seats in the State.
The BJP is part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance alongside the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. The BJP has announced its list of 99 candidates for the elections. Voting in Maharashtra will be held in a single phase on November 20. Counting will be held on November 23. -- ANI
11:06 90 Indian flights affected by hoax calls in 1 week
Bomb hoax calls, which have affected more than 90 flights of Indian carriers since October 14, will soon be made a cognisable offence under Indian laws, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said on Monday.
"We have come to the conclusion that there are two areas that we can explore. One is the amendment in Aircraft Security Rules... once we catch the perpetrators, we will put them on the no-fly list," he said.
"Second thing is the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1982. Multiple offences such as committing violence onboard an aircraft and destruction or damage to air navigation facilities have already been listed under this Act. It takes care of offences in the flight. We want to expand to include offences such as hoax calls when the aircraft is at an airport," he said.
He said the civil aviation ministry's team is working thoroughly on this issue. "We will bring an amendment. We are consulting other stakeholders... We are making it a cognisable offence. Based on the amendment, there will be a punishment and a fine," Naidu added.
A cognisable offence is one in which the police can arrest someone without a warrant and begin an investigation without court approval. It typically involves serious crimes like murder or theft.
It differs from non-cognisable offences, where police need a warrant to arrest and cannot initiate an investigation without court permission.
When asked if there is a conspiracy behind the series of bomb threats, Naidu said: "Till the time the investigation is complete, there is no point commenting on it. Let us go through the process. Let the investigation happen. Let everything come out. Then, we will discuss it."
On the financial impact on airlines, he said: "They are also cooperating on how to come up with a better process to address the issue. They are partnering with us to enhance the whole process. Even if there is a certain amount of inconvenience, they also understand the whole atmosphere that has been created now. So, they are also supporting us."
-- Deepak Patel/Business Standard
Salman Khan en route to pay homage to Baba Siddique
10:40 Man who sent death threats to Salman apologises
Days after Bollywood actor Salman Khan received a threatening message last week, demanding Rs 5 crore to settle the long-standing feud with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, the Mumbai police received an apology from the same sender stating that the message was "sent by mistake."
The initial threat message was sent to the number of Mumbai Traffic Police's control room on October 18. A few days later, the Mumbai Traffic Police received another message from the same number, in which the individual who had issued a threat apologized, claiming the message was sent by mistake.
According to Mumbai police, the location of the person who sent this message was tracked from Jharkhand. The person who sent the message claimed to be close to Lawrence Bishnoi's gang and claimed to put the actor's life in danger if not provided with the extortion money.
The sender claimed, "Don't take it lightly, if Salman Khan wants to stay alive and wants to end the enmity with Lawrence Bishnoi, then he will have to pay Rs 5 crore. If the money is not given, Salman Khan's condition will be worse than Baba Siddique's."
The Worli Police filed a case in connection to the threat message received by the Mumbai traffic police. The incident came in the backdrop of the recent murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique. -- ANI
File pic
10:20 Odisha, Bengal brace for severe cyclone tomorrow
The well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a depression on Tuesday morning as it rolled towards the eastern coast with the likelihood of turning into a severe cyclonic storm, the IMD said.
In its bulletin, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the well-marked low-pressure area over the east-central Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards, concentrated into a depression and lay centred at 730 km southeast of Paradip in Odisha around 5.30 am. "It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 23, 2024, over east-central Bay of Bengal," the bulletin said.
Thereafter, the weather system will continue moving northwestwards and is very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm, which will cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island on the night of October 24 and morning October 25 with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph, it added.
The system is likely to affect the coast of both Odisha and West Bengal with heavy rain and high-speed wind, the bulletin said. A deep depression is a more intense stage of a low-pressure system and typically precedes the formation of a cyclonic storm, according to the IMD.
The Odisha government has cancelled the leaves of all staff from October 23 to 25 in view of the cyclone forecast. In a letter to all the departments, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) DK Singh has asked them to remain prepared to tackle the challenges of the impending calamity. PTI
10:12 Family of 6 killed in oxygen cylinder blast in UP
Six people died and three were injured following an oxygen cylinder blast which led to a partial house collapse in the Sikandrabad area of Bulandshahr district, officials said on Tuesday.
District Magistrate of Bulandshahr Chandra Prakash Singh said the incident occurred on Monday evening in the house of one Riyazuddin in which around 19 people, including women and children, were living. Riyazuddin was involved in shuttering work -- the process of giving support and stability to concrete during construction work before it becomes solid. The initial death toll was five which increased to six in the early hours of Tuesday.
City Magistrate Chandra Prakash Priyadarshi said six bodies -- three male and three female -- were brought to the district hospital. According to officials, those dead were identified as Riyazuddin alias Raju (50), his wife Rukhsana (45), Salman (16), Tamanna (24), Hivja (3) and Aas Mohammed (26). DM Singh said, "A cylinder blast occurred in the Ashapuri colony of Sikandrabad between 8.30 pm and 9 pm leading to the collapse of the entire house."
He said eight residents were taken to the hospital while others were safe. Additional Director General of Police, Meerut Zone, Dhruva Kant Thakur said information about the casualties was received, after which rescue and relief operations were launched immediately. Personnel of the NDRF, fire brigade, police, medical and the local administration were involved in the rescue work, he said.
"Chief Minister (Yogi Adityanath) took immediate cognisance of the incident. We were sent to the spot and directions were issued that good quality treatment should be given to the injured persons," the DM said.
About the rescue operation, he said the iron beams of the roof of the house had to be pried open using gas cutters. At the same time, an excavator was pressed into action to clear the debris. On Tuesday morning, Senior Superintendent of Police of Bulandshahr Shlok Kumar told PTI that the rescue operation had been completed at the site.
Although the surviving family members have said that no one was trapped under the debris anymore, the rescue teams took all precautions while carrying out their work, he added. "A total of six persons have died and another three suffered injuries in the blast because of which the front portion of the double-storey house collapsed," Kumar said. The wife of Riyazuddin was undergoing treatment for an ailment at a hospital and was recently brought back to the home, where the family had brought an oxygen cylinder along with its accessories to help in the post hospitalisation care, the SSP said.
"This oxygen cylinder exploded. The cylinder, its nozzle, etc have been recovered from the debris," the district police chief told PTI. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem and further legal proceedings in the matter are underway, he added. PTI
Representative image
09:56 Arms, ammunition seized in Manipur's Kangpokpi
Arms and ammunition were seized in Manipur's Kangpokpi district, police said on Tuesday.
The seizures were made during an area domination exercise in Aigejang in the hill district, they said.
One each of .303 rifle, 9mm CMG with magazine, 9 mm pistol, SBBL along with two 51mm mortars, two hand grenades, five live ammunition, and two smoke grenades were seized, they added. -- PTI
09:46 Delhi's air quality plummets to 'very poor' category
Delhi's air quality dropped to the 'very poor' category on Tuesday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 385 recorded around 8:00 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
A thick layer of fog was seen in areas like Anand Vihar, Kalkaji, Nehru Place, and Akshardham Temple, as the city's air quality continued to deteriorate.
Smog also engulfed the Ghazipur area, further worsening visibility. The CPCB classified the city's air as 'very poor,' warning of possible health impacts for residents, especially those with respiratory conditions. The pollution levels are expected to remain high if weather conditions remain unfavourable.
"Everyone faces difficulty in breathing during these months, especially in October, November, and December. The government is taking the right steps to curb pollution. The situation in Delhi is such that if the right steps are not taken on time, it could cause a lot of trouble in the future," Saif, a Kartavya Path visitor, said.
Earlier on Monday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) ordered the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-II) in Delhi-NCR after the overall AQI fell into the 'very poor' category.
Delhi recorded a daily average AQI of 310, as per the CPCB's daily AQI Bulletin.
"As per the dynamic model and forecasts for weather/meteorological conditions and air quality provided by IMD/IITM, there is a likelihood of the daily average AQI of Delhi remaining in the 'very poor' category (AQI 301-400) in the coming days due to unfavourable meteorological and climatic conditions," according to a Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change release.
09:33 Shah turns 60, Modi lauds 'exceptional administrator'
Home Minister Amit Shah turned 60 on Tuesday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other leading politicians greeted him on his birthday.
Modi said on X, "He is a hardworking leader, who has devoted his life towards strengthening the BJP. He has made a mark as an exceptional administrator and is making many efforts to realise the vision of a Viksit Bharat. Praying for his long and healthy life."
BJP president J P Nadda lauded his predecessor's commitment, hard work and organisational skills as a source of inspiration. Shah's significant contribution to the country's internal security is unforgettable, he said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said his role in the development of India as well as the BJP is laudable.
BJP allies such as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, JD-U leader Lalan Singh and LJP-R leader Chirag Paswan, both Union ministers, also greeted the home minister.
Born in Gujarat, Shah has been a trusted ally of the prime minister for close to four decades and is seen as an astute political mind who brings a determined approach coupled with commitment and hard work to implement key government and party agendas.
Under Modi's leadership, he is considered instrumental in the party's growth and crafting its electoral strategy, which has paid the BJP rich dividends since 2014.
Shah has received a large part of the credit for the BJP's win in a number of state polls when it initially appeared that the party was behind its rivals, mostly Congress. The BJP's surprise win in the recent Haryana election when almost every exit poll predicted a Congress win is one such example. -- PTI
09:16 Rs 5cr seized from car in Maha; Raut claims Shinde Sena link
Pune rural police have seized Rs 5 crore in cash from a car amid the model code of conduct in force in Maharashtra for the November 20 assembly polls, an official said.
The unaccounted cash was seized on Monday evening near Khed-Shivapur plaza on Mumbai-Bengaluru highway during a police nakabandi (on-road checking), the official said.
"A car travelling towards Satara was intercepted during nakabandi. A search led to the seizure of Rs 5 crore cash from the vehicle's four occupants. The money is being counted by police and district election officials. A probe into the source of the cash and other details is underway," the Pune rural police official said.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena-UBT MP Sanjay Raut in a post on X on Monday night claimed "Rs 15 crore" has been seized from a car belonging to an MLA from the Shiv Sena (which is led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde). -- PTI
08:34 Modi leaves for Kazan to attend Brics summit
India values the close cooperation within BRICS which has emerged as an important platform for dialogue and discussion on a range of issues concerning the global developmental agenda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday.
Modi said this in a statement as he embarks upon a two-day visit to the Russian city of Kazan to attend the annual summit of the BRICS grouping.
The prime minister said the expansion of BRICS with the addition of new members last year has added to its inclusivity and agenda for the global good.
Modi said he was looking forward to extensive discussions on a wide range of subjects at the summit.
"India values the close cooperation within BRICS which has emerged as an important platform for dialogue and discussion on issues concerning the global developmental agenda, reformed multilateralism, climate change, economic cooperation, building resilient supply chains, promoting cultural and people to people connect, among others," he said. -- PTI
01:36 2 foreign terrorists likely behind J-K attack: J-K LG
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said two foreign terrorists, who have possibly infiltrated from north Kashmir's Bandipora area, were involved in an attack that left seven people dead in Ganderbal district a day before.
A doctor and six labourers were killed when terrorists struck a tunnel-construction site on the Srinagar-Leh national highway in Ganderbal on Sunday, officials said.
The unidentified terrorists carried out the attack when the labourers and other staff working on the tunnel project at Ganderbal's Gund had returned to their camp late in the evening, they added.
Sinha said police and other security forces have been given instructions and full freedom to track down and eliminate the perpetrators of the heinous act. -- PTI
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav/File image
00:46 Bihar minister sported surgical shoe cover on head during hospital visit: Tejashwi
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday mocked Bihar health minister Mangal Pandey, claiming that he donned a surgical shoe cover on his head during the inspection of a hospital.
Yadav, who earlier held the health portfolio, also shared photographs of Pandey with the apparent headgear, asserting it showed that he "cannot tell the difference between a shoe cover from a head cover'.
"The health department staff made him wear a surgical shoe cover on his head instead of a surgical head cover during inspection of a hospital. Even the minister does not know the difference. Now' one can imagine the health system of Bihar. He has been the most unsuccessful health minister of the state to date," the RJD leader wrote on X.
Pandey could not be contacted for a comment on the matter, while the state health department did not confirm the veracity of the photographs. -- PTI
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00:23 NIA arrests 3 more in ISIS-inspired Coimbatore car bomb blast case
The National Investigation Agency arrested three more accused on Monday in a case pertaining to the ISIS-inspired car bomb blast in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore in October 2022, the agency said.
As per the NIA, the total number of arrests in the case has gone up to 18 with the arrest of Aboo Hanifa, Saran Mariappan, and Pavas Rahman.
With the arrests, NIA has unearthed the terror financing angle in the case and four chargesheets have been so far filed against 14 accused before the NIA Court at Poonamallee, Chennai, the agency said.
The case is related to a vehicle-borne Improvised Explosives Device explosion near the ancient Arulmigu Kottai Sangameshwarar Thirukovil temple at Eswaran Kovil Street, Ukkadam, Coimbatore, on October 23, 2022.
The terror attack was perpetrated by deceased Jamesha Mubeen, a self-styled ISIS operative, and suicide bomber, as an act of revenge against Kafirs or non-believers of Islam.
NIA investigations have revealed that the three accused arrested on Monday had colluded with one other to provide funds for the commission of the terror act.
Accused Aboo Hanifa was employed as a faculty in Kovai Arabic College, where Jamesha Mubeen and other arrested accused persons got radicalized in ISIS ideology, the agency said.
"Prior to carrying out the Coimbatore terror attack, Jamesha Mubeen had sworn allegiance by giving "bayath" to Abu-Al-Hasan Al-Hashimi Al-Qurashi, the then self-styled Calipha of ISIS," the agency release mentioned. -- ANI
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00:12 Maha polls: Cops seize Rs 5 cr from car in Pune
Pune Rural police on Monday seized Rs 5 crore cash amid the model code of conduct in force in Maharashtra since October 15 for the November 20 assembly polls, an official said.
The unaccounted cash was seized in the evening from a car near Khed-Shivapur plaza on Mumbai-Bengaluru highway during a police nakabandi (on-road checking), the official added.
"A car travelling towards Satara was intercepted during nakabandi. A search led to seizure of Rs 5 cr cash from the vehicle's four occupants. The money is being counted by police and district election officials. A probe into the source of the cash and other details is underway," the Pune Rural police official said. -- PTI
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