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Fri, 25 October 2024
15th suspect arrested in Baba Siddique murder case
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23:23 Ahmedabad police detains 48 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants
The crime branch of Ahmedabad Police has detained 48 Bangladeshi nationals living illegally in different parts of the city, an official said on Friday, adding that they will be deported to their country.
The action came weeks after the crime branch came across two cases where forged documents were used for creating fake identities and women from Bangladesh trafficked to India and forced into prostitution here, said an official release.
Eight persons were arrested in these two cases, said assistant commissioner of police Bharat Patel.
"In a follow-up action, we conducted raids at several locations and questioned nearly 250 Bangladeshi nationals.
After a verification of documents, 48 persons were found to be living illegally in the city without any valid documents for periods ranging from two to 10 years," he added.
The illegal immigrants, including eight women and six minors, were held from areas such as Chandola Lake, Dani Limda, Shah-E-Alam and Kubernagar.
"Most of them were nabbed from Chandola Lake near Dani Limda area. They had encroached on the dry lake and created a settlement there. We compared satellite images and Google Earth data to assess how much area they had encroached on over the years to get an idea about the number of people living there," said the officer. -- PTI
23:06 Mild tremors felt in Maha's Nanded; no report of injuries, damage to property
Tremors of 1.5 and 0.7 magnitude were felt in Maharashtra's Nanded district on Friday, though there was no report of injuries to anyone or damage to property, an official said.
The tremors were experienced at 2:43pm and 3:13pm in Ambulga (Bu) in the district's Mukhed taluka, he added.
"The epicentre was 12 kilometres away from Mukhed town in the south-east direction. There is no report of anyone getting hurt or property being damaged," the official said. -- PTI
NCP leader Baba Siddique
22:35 15th suspect arrested in Baba Siddique murder case
The Mumbai police on Friday arrested a person in the murder case of NCP leader Baba Siddique from Ludhiana in Punjab.
Sujit Sushil Singh (32), a resident of Ghatkopar in Mumbai and the 15th person to be held in the high-profile case, was linked to absconding accused Zeeshan Akhtar, one of the alleged masterminds of the killing, a crime branch official said.
Elsewhere, the investigators seized a pistol from the rented house of one of the arrested accused in Panvel area near Mumbai.
In the hierarchy of the conspirators, Sujit was above Nitin Sapre and Ram Kanoujia (both arrested), the official said, adding that Sujit and Akhtar took instructions from above and passed them to Sapre and Kanoujia.
Sujit, resident of Chheda Nagar in Ghatkopar, fled Mumbai a month before the crime which took place on October 12, and was staying with his relatives in Ludhiana, the official said.
Crime branch officials also traced his financial transactions with Kanoujia and Sapre, the official said.
The money was given to the alleged shooters and others involved in the crime, he added. -- PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi/File image
22:14 Modi may address 12 public rallies in Maharashtra ahead of polls
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address 11 to 12 public meetings in Maharashtra ahead of the next month's assembly elections, BJP's state unit chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said in Nagpur on Friday.
Elections to the 288-member state assembly will be held on November 20 and the counting of votes will take place three days later.
Addressing a press conference in the Bharatiya Janata Party's media office here, where former MLA Raju Todsam (from Arni in Yavatmal) and few other local leaders joined the party, Bawankule said, "PM Modi ji's public meetings are proposed to be held at 11 to 12 places across Maharashtra, including Gondia, Akola, Nanded, Dhule, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai."
He added that in the next few days, more people are expected to join the Mahayuti alliance. -- PTI
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22:03 Chennai school children affected by gas leak
A few students of a matriculation higher secondary school, Tiruvottiyur, in Chennai, became ill due to a suspected chemical leak on the premises, and at least three of them were admitted to a hospital, the police said on Friday.
A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team deployed to ascertain the cause of the incident, said the exact cause was not known.
Preliminary inquiries by the police revealed that no gas emanated from the school lab.
Some students complained of difficulty in breathing and eye irritation while others felt a sudden nausea, triggering panic in the school.
"Some of us had to rush out of the classroom to get fresh air. Even our teachers had experienced difficulty in breathing. A few students even fainted and our teachers revived them," a student later said, and added that she felt nausea.
As many students complained of uneasiness, the management had to call ambulances and rushed the pupils to hospital.
Parents who turned up at the school, too, admitted their children to a government hospital where many were treated as outpatients.
The police said it was not clear if the leak occurred from the school or emanated from the vicinity where a chemical factory was situated.
The condition of three students admitted to the Stanley Government Medical College Hospital was said to be stable, the police said, and added that nearly 30 students complained of uneasiness and throat irritation.
"Our team assessed the chemistry lab and checked the air-conditioner unit, too, we did not smell any gas or leakage from the AC unit. We cannot tell the exact cause of the gas leak. We are yet to ascertain it," NDRF Commander A K Chauhan, told reporters.
State government officials too visited the school to enquire about the cause of the suspected chemical gas leak.
PM Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz greet each other during a joint press statement in New Delhi on Friday/Rahul Singh/ANI Photo
21:37 Baby Ariha case raised in Modi-Scholz talks: Govt
The case of Ariha Shah, a three-year-old Indian girl who has been in foster care in Germany, was raised during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in New Delhi on Friday, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said.
At a media briefing, the foreign secretary also said the chancellor has assured the prime minster that he is "very closely following" the issue.
The girl has been in foster care in Germany for more than 36 months following allegations of minor physical abuse.
Her parents, Bhavesh and Dhara Shah, are residents of Mira Bhayander in Maharashtra's Thane district.
"The case has been followed very, very closely by us.... Our embassy in Berlin has taken it up. When the external affairs minister was in Germany a few weeks ago, he had raised it very strongly with his counterpart," Misri said.
"Yes, I can confirm that it was raised during the meeting today as well. We have at all levels impressed upon the German side that an Indian child growing up in an environment that is not hers -- cultural, religious, linguistic environment -- is somewhat unnatural and that this situation needs to be addressed," he added.
The foreign secretary said Scholz assured Modi that "he is very closely following this issue and continues to pay close attention to it", adding, "I am sure that both sides will remain in touch on this issue through various channels." -- PTI
21:18 Renowned physicist Rohini Godbole passes away
Renowned physicist and Padma Shri award winner Professor Rohini M Godbole passed away on Friday, according to the Centre for High Energy Physics, Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru.
Godbole was 71.
Godbole, a brilliant researcher and a champion of women in science, joined CHEP as an associate professor in 1995 and has been a professor since 1998.
Post her superannuation on July 31, 2021, she became an honorary professor.
Her countless students and colleagues have taken to 'X' to pay tribute to her.
Joydeep Chakraborty, Professor of Theoretical Physics at Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur posted on 'X': "It's a huge loss not only for the HEP community but also for physics in general... She will be remembered as a great physicist and a teacher who motivated younger people to pursue careers in research."
K Vijaya Raghavan, Developmental biologist at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research said on 'X' that she was full of energy and drive.
"She was a physicist, flag-bearer for women in science, a public citizen and a friend to many. She will be missed and is irreplaceable," his post read. -- PTI
20:50 Maharashtra polls: Dy CM Fadnavis declares assets of Rs 13.27 cr
Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday declared movable and immovable assets worth Rs 13,27,47,728 in the affidavit filed along with his nomination papers from Nagpur South West seat for the November 20 assembly polls.
As per his tax return forms, his total income stood at Rs 79,30,402 in 2023-24, while it was Rs 92,48,094 in 2022-23.
Fadnavis declared movable assets of Rs 56,07,867 in his name, Rs 6,96,92,748 in his wife Amruta Fadnavis' name as well as Rs 10,22,113 in his daughter's name.
As per his poll affidavit, the senior BJP leader has Rs 23,500 cash in hand, while this figure is Rs 10,000 in the case of his wife.
His deposits in bank accounts, including term deposits and deposits in financial institutions, NBFCs and cooperative societies, is Rs 2,28,760, while that of his wife stands at Rs 1,43,717.
Fadnavis has not invested in bonds, debentures, shares and mutual funds but has invested Rs 20,70,607 in NSS, postal savings, insurance policies and financial instruments.
His wife has invested Rs 5,62,59,031 in bonds, debentures, shares and mutual funds, as per the affidavit. -- PTI
AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal
20:37 People linked to BJP tried to attack Kejriwal: AAP
People affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party tried to attack Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal on Friday evening during his padyatra in West Delhi's Vikaspuri, the city's ruling party alleged.
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj made the claim and said it was a "cowardly" attempt by the BJP.
It was done because Kejriwal is going among the masses and is getting their love and affection, he charged.
"We want to make it clear that if Kejriwal faces any danger to his life or any harm is done to him, only the BJP will be responsible for it," he alleged.
Aam Aadmi Party leaders including Kejriwal are undertaking padyatras (foot marches) in different assembly segments in the city in run-up to the February 2025 polls.
No immediate reaction was available from the BJP over the Aam Aadmi Party's allegations. -- PTI
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah
20:23 Lokayukta police question CM Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathi in MUDA case
The Lokayukta police on Friday questioned Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathi BM in the MUDA site allotment case, Lokayukta sources said.
"Parvathi was summoned today and the questioning went on for more than two hours," a Lokayukta official said.
In the MUDA site allotment case, it is alleged that compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife in an upmarket area in Mysuru, which had higher property value as compared to the location of her land which had been "acquired" by the MUDA.
The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where it developed a residential layout. Under the controversial scheme, MUDA allotted 50 percent of developed land to the land losers in lieu of undeveloped land acquired from them for forming residential layouts.
It is alleged Parvathi had no legal title over this 3.16 acres of land at survey number 464 of Kasare village, Kasaba hobli of Mysuru taluk Lokayukta police on September 27 registered an FIR against Siddaramaiah, his wife, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, Devaraju -- from whom Mallikarjuna Swamy purchased land and gifted it to her -- and others, following a Special Court order on September 25. -- PTI
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19:55 EC team recovers jewellery worth Rs 139 cr in Pune
A static surveillance team of the Election Commission on Friday found jewellery worth Rs 139 crore being transported in a logistics service firm's vehicle in Pune.
A city-based jewellers' firm claimed that it was a legitimate consignment.
SSTs have been deployed in the city in view of the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections.
A tempo belonging to Sequel Global Precious Logistics was intercepted in Sahakarnagar area here, said Smartana Patil, deputy commissioner of police (zone 2).
"Upon inquiry, the team found that the boxes in the vehicle contained jewellery and the vehicle had come from Mumbai....we informed the Income Tax department and election officials about it," she said, adding that the consignment was worth Rs 139 crore.
Amit Modak, CEO of jewellery firm PN Gadgil & Sons, said the jewelry being transported belonged to various jewellery shops in Pune, including cargo of 10 kg belonging to his firm.
"Each article has a GST invoice attached to it. Even the driver does not know what is there inside the boxes. It is only the sender jeweller and the recipient jeweller who know about the consignment....It also includes old gold jewellery sent to us by our branches. Besides, diamond jewellery worth Rs 1 to 1.5 crore is also there," he said. -- PTI
Five accused who were arrested in Baba Siddiqui murder case, in Esplanade court, in Mumbai/ANI Photo
19:34 Siddique murder case: Police custody of 9 accused extended till Oct 26
A court in Mumbai on Friday extended till October 26 the police remand of nine accused in the Baba Siddique murder case.
The NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister was shot dead on October 12 near his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique's office in Nirmal Nagar in Bandra East.
Nine persons, who were arrested on various dates, were produced before additional chief metropolitan magistrate (Esplanade Court) VR Patil at the end of their initial remand on Friday.
While police sought extension of remand by three days, the court extended it by one day till Saturday.
The nine comprise Gurmail Baljit Singh (23), Dharmaraj Kashyap (21), Harish Kumar Nisad (26), Pravin Lonkar (30), Nitin Gautam Sapre (32), Sambhaji Kisan Pardhi (44), Pradeep Dattu Thombre (37), Chetan Dilip Pardhi and Ram Fulchand Kanoujia (43). -- PTI
The recent derailment of Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Superfast Express in Tamil Nadu/ANI Photo
19:05 NIA probes sabotage angle in recent train accidents
The National Investigation Agency has begun a preliminary enquiry to ascertain any sabotage angle in recent train derailments, officials said on Friday.
They said at least four such train cases are being looked into by the officials of the anti-terror agency.
"A preliminary enquiry has been registered to look into sabotage angle in recent train accidents/derailments. So far, at least four such cases are being looked into," an official said.
Nothing concrete has come up so far that suggests there was sabotage attempts in these train derailments or accidents, the official said.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had last month said that the railway administration was on alert against potential train sabotage bids and was holding talks with authorities including the NIA and the police in several states.
"There is dialogue going on with state governments, DGPs and home secretaries. The NIA is also involved. Strict action will be taken against anyone who tries to cause such an accident. This is our resolve," he had said. -- PTI
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18:59 JNU says no seminar on West Asia cancelled, one postponed
Asserting that it wants to provide a platform for balanced discussions, the Jawaharlal Nehru University on Friday said it has cancelled no seminar on the West Asian conflict but had to postpone one where Iranian ambassador Iraj Elahi was scheduled to speak due to logistical and protocol reasons.
Amitabh Mattoo, the Dean of the School of International Studies, said the university plans to invite Elahi, who was supposed to addresses a seminar on the subject on Thursday, on a rescheduled date soon, likely next month.
He said that invitations for two other events -- on November 7 when Palestinian ambassador was supposed to speak and November 14 when Lebanese ambassador was to speak -- were not sent through official channels so there is no question of cancelling them.
He said there was no "external pressure" behind the university's decision and they want to "maintain the integrity of our academic platforms".
His remarks come a day after seminar coordinator Sima Baidya informed students about the postponement of the Iranian ambassador's seminar and the cancellation of the two other events due to "unavoidable circumstances".
Mattoo, however, said on Friday none of the seminars has been cancelled.
"The only seminar that was postponed is the one where the Iranian ambassador was scheduled to speak. That was due to a communication gap between the Center for West Asian Studies and the faculty," he said. -- PTI
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18:52 Coaches of goods trains derail in UP's Meerut, Saharanpur; no one hurt
Coaches of two goods trains derailed in Meerut and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh on Friday, officials said.
No one was injured in the two incidents, they added.
Two coaches of a goods train derailed in the Kaiserganj area of Meerut, they said.
Railway Superintendent, Moradabad, Ashutosh Shukla said the incident occurred while shunting the goods train and no one was injured.
He said two wheels of the two coaches of the goods train came off near the Meerut City station at around 9 am.
In a similar incident, two coaches of another goods train derailed near the Saharanpur railway station in the early hours.
No injury was reported in the incident, the officials said.
Divisional railway manager, Ambala, Mandip Singh Bhatia said, "The derailed goods train, originating from Ferozepur, Punjab, was approaching the Saharanpur railway station when the incident occurred. The cause of the derailment is currently under investigation. Nobody was injured." -- PTI
File image of an anti-Maoist operation
18:14 Explosives seized from Maoist hideout in Maha's Gondia
The police have recovered gelatin sticks, detonators and Maoist literature were recovered from a hideout in a forest in Maharashtra's Gondia district, an official said on Friday.
In light of the upcoming state assembly elections, the police's C-60 team, bomb detection and dog squads have increased patrolling along the state's border with Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the official said.
Based on a tip-off, a team of security personnel recovered explosives and Maoist literature from a hideout in the hills of Takezari under the jurisdiction of Salekasa police station on Thursday, he said.
The official said the team found bundles of wire, batteries, an aluminium cooker, gelatin sticks, an electronic detonator, iron nails, iron pieces and other materials.
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita and the Unlawful Activity Prevention Act, and a probe is underway, he said. -- PTI
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17:42 More than 25 flights receive bomb threats today
More than 25 domestic and international flights operated by Indian carriers received bomb threats on Friday, according to sources.
An IndiGo spokesperson on Friday said 7 of its flights, including 6E 87 from Kozhikode to Dammam, got security-related alerts.
The sources in the know said around 7 flights each of IndiGo, Vistara and SpiceJet got the threats while 6 flights of Air India received the threats. IndiGo's six other flights -- 6E 2099 (Udaipur to Delhi), 6E 11 (Delhi to Istanbul), 6E 58 (Jeddah to Mumbai), 6E 17 (Mumbai to Istanbul), 6E 108 (Hyderabad to Chandigarh) and 6E 133 (Pune to Jodhpur) received the threats.
"Flight 6E 2099, operating from Udaipur to Delhi, received a bomb threat. Following security agency guidelines, the aircraft was redirected to isolation bay before take-off and standard operating procedures were followed. All passengers were safely disembarked," the airline spokesperson said in a statement.
In 12 days, more than 275 flights operated by the Indian carriers have received bomb threats.
Most of the threats were issued through social media. -- PTI
Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut
17:24 Court grants bail to Raut as he challenges conviction in defamation case
A sessions court in Mumbai on Friday granted bail to Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut as he challenged his conviction in a defamation case filed by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya's wife Medha Somaiya.
Raut has filed a revision application in the sessions court against his conviction and the 15-day jail sentence awarded by a magistrate's court.
The Rajya Sabha member appeared before the court on Friday and sought bail.
The court granted him bail in the sum of Rs 50,000.
Judicial magistrate (first class) Aarti Kulkarni on September 26 held Raut guilty of defamation under Indian Penal Code section 500.
Besides sentencing him to 15 days in jail, the court also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on him.
The court, however, suspended the sentence for 30 days to enable him file an appeal.
Raut, in his revision application before the sessions court, said the magistrate's order was "bad in law and improper on facts".
Medha Somaiya had claimed that Raut made baseless and defamatory allegations in the media against her and her husband, accusing them of being involved in a Rs 100 crore scam related to the construction of public toilets in Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation area.
"As Raut appeared in person, we did not oppose his bail application, following which the court granted it," said advocate Laxman Kanal, Somaiya's lawyer. -- PTI
17:07 Sensex tanks by 662 points
Domestic stock markets closed in the negative territory for the fourth consecutive day, with both benchmark indices registering significant losses. The Sensex plunged by 662.81 points, ending the day at 79,402.29, while the Nifty fell 218.60 points to close at 24,180.80.
Among Nifty-listed companies, only 12 stocks advanced, whereas 38 stocks declined, reflecting a broad-based sell-off across sectors. Leading the list of Nifty gainers were ITC, Axis Bank, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Britannia, and Hindustan Unilever.
Conversely, the top losers included IndusInd Bank, Adani Enterprises, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Shriram Finance, and Coal India, which faced significant downward pressure.
16:57 SC dismisses LOCs against Rhea Chakraborty
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed an appeal of the Maharashtra government challenging the Bombay High Court's order quashing Look-Out Circulars (LOC) issued against actress Rhea Chakraborty, her father and brother.
A Look-Out Circular was issued by the CBI against Rhea, her brother Showik Chakraborty and her father Lt Colonel Indrajit Chakraborty (an army veteran) in relation to a probe into actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan called the petition of CBI "frivolous" saying it was filed merely because the accused were high-profile.
As the counsel of CBI sought a pass-over of the matter, Justice Gavai said, "We are warning. You are filing such a frivolous petition, only because one of the accused is a high-profile person... It will be with exemplary cost. Both persons have deep roots in society. If you want the cost and some compliments to CBI, we will pass over."
16:31 India, China disengagement by October 29
Patrolling along LAC to begin once disengagement over; both sides to move troops, dismantle temporary structures, says Army sources on China pact. Disengagement at two friction points at Demchok and Depsang planned to be completed by Oct 28-29.
India and China have begun troop disengagement at the two friction points at Demchok and Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh, official sources said on Friday. The process follows an agreement firmed up between the two countries on patrolling and disengagement of troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, a major breakthrough to end an over four-year standoff.
16:15 Hear Sharjeel Imam's bail plea quickly: SC to HC
The Supreme Court asks the Delhi High Court to decide expeditiously the bail plea of Sharjeel Imam booked under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the Delhi riots case in February 2020.
A bench of Justices Bela Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma declined to entertain the bail plea of Imam as it had been filed directly before the Supreme Court under Article 32 of the Constitution seeking bail. "We are not inclined to entertain the Article 32 plea. The same is dismissed," said the bench. However, the apex court asked the Delhi High Court to expeditiously decide Imam's bail plea pending before it.
Senior advocate Siddhartha Dave, appearing for Imam, told the bench that they are not pressing for bail but said the bail petition has been pending for hearing since April 2022.
The petition was listed for hearing more than 60 times before seven different benches, he said. The Delhi High Court on September 4 rejected Imam's request seeking an early hearing of his bail. In 2020, the Delhi police arrested Imam under the UAPA and named him as the main conspirator behind the Delhi riots case.
16:09 To papa with love...
Vilified on social media for an alleged affair with a married actor, actress Nimrat Kaur posts this on X saying, "Today, on my father's 72nd Birth Anniversary, a long term dream for our family came true by inaugurating a war memorial created dedicated to him and 12 other gallant martyrs all hailing from Papa's hometown Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. May the supreme sacrifice of all these soldiers be remembered forever and inspire generations to come. My deepest gratitude to our army family in tandem with the civil administration and authorities for making this dream come true for our family. Jai Hind @adgpi."
15:44 Concerned about Ukraine, West Asia conflicts: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia are a matter of concern and India is ready to make every possible contribution for restoration of peace.
His remarks came after talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who called upon India to contribute to find a political solution to the conflict in Ukraine that has been raging for a long time.
"The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia are a matter of concern for both nations. India has always been of the view that war cannot be a solution to problems. India is ready to make every possible contribution for the restoration of peace," Modi said after the 7th Inter-Governmental Consultations with the visiting German Chancellor. Modi said he and Olaf agreed that the global forums established in the 20th century were inadequate to address the challenges of the 21st century.
"There is a need for reforms in multilateral institutions, including the UN Security Council," the prime minister said.
Earlier, initiating the IGC, the strategic partnership between India and Germany has emerged as a strong anchor at a time when the world is faced with tensions, conflicts and uncertainty. Modi said India-Germany ties were a transformational partnership of two capable and strong democracies and not a transactional relationship.
"The world is passing through times of tensions, conflicts and uncertainty. In the Indo-Pacific region, there are serious concerns about the rule of law and freedom of navigation. In times like this, the strategic partnership between India and Germany has emerged as a strong anchor," he said.
The prime minister recalled that this was Scholz's third visit to India and marked the "triple celebration" of the friendship between India and Germany.
"In the last IGC in Berlin in 2022, we took important decisions for our bilateral cooperation. In two years, there has been encouraging progress in various sectors of our strategic relations. There has been increasing cooperation in areas such as defence, technology, energy, green and sustainable development that have become symbols of mutual trust," he said. Modi also welcomed the 'Focus on India' strategy announced by Germany.
"I am delighted that to expand and elevate our partnership, we are taking several new and important initiatives and moving from the 'Whole of Government' to the Whole of Nation approach," he said. The IGC framework was launched in 2011 and allows for a comprehensive review of cooperation and identification of new areas of engagement between the two countries across various sectors. PTI
Mamata Banerjee spent the night at the secretariat
15:04 Cyclone: 1 dead, 2.16L people evacuated in WB
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said that 2.16 lakh people have been evacuated from affected areas to relief camps. Addressing a press conference Chief Minister Mamata said, "Some districts are affected badly due to cyclone, especially kaccha houses. All DMs, SPs and concerned officials are doing their best. We coordinate with all of them from time to time. 2.16 lakh people evacuated from affected areas to relief camps. I talked to an MLA, he informed me that Kapil Muni Mandir has been affected and faced massive waterlogging. I talked to all MLAs of affected districts."
Banerjee on Friday added that one person died in the state in cyclone Dana, even as the administration evacuated around 2.16 lakh people from the low-lying areas.
Banerjee, who held a review meeting at the state secretariat after spending the night there to monitor the situation, directed the officials to ensure that relief materials reach all those affected by the cyclone.
IMD informed that Cyclone Dana has crossed the north Odisha coast as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph and warned that isolated extremely heavy rainfall is very likely over south Gangetic West Bengal (east and west Medinipur) today. "The Severe cyclonic storm "Dana" crossed north Odisha coast close to Habalikhati Nature Camp (Bhitarkanika) and Dhamara during 0130 hrs IST to 0330 hrs IST of today, 25th October as a Severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph," IMD said in a post on X.
14:50 Canada nod for 5/26 Khalistani extraditions: Envoy
Of the 26 requests sent to Canada for extraditing Khalistani terrorists, Ottawa has resolved only five and the rest remain in limbo, India's top envoy to that country has said, calling it the result of "inaction".
The five men are in the process of being extradited, High Commissioner Sanjay Verma told PTI in an interview this week. He said he is not at liberty to disclose the name or give details.
The interview took place on Wednesday, a couple of days after his return to New Delhi. India recalled him and five other Indian diplomats after they were named "person of interest" in a Canadian investigation into the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist who was a Canadian citizen. Relations between the two countries have plunged to their lowest level ever over the issue of Canada's tacit support for Khalistani extremists among the large Sikh-Canadian population of about 8 lakh. New Delhi accuses Ottawa of doing next to nothing to stop the activities of Khalistani supporters who seek to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India.
"According to the last information that I had, five of them have been resolved. Twenty-one are still pending, and these are pending since decades. So, I would say that there is an inaction rather than consultation. All the issues which get into the judicial system of a country, sometimes need consultations, because we follow two different judicial systems," he said. But, if there is no action in the last four-five or 10 years, then "I would only call it inaction", Verma said.
14:46 Four years in jail without trial: The price of dissent in Narendra Modis India
Modi's government has worked to bend the judicial system to its will and wield it as a weapon against a range of adversaries, writes Suhasini Raj. Read the column here.
14:19 Heavy rains lash Kerala, orange alert sounded
As heavy rains continued to lash several parts of Kerala since Friday morning, disrupting normal life by causing waterlogging of roads and traffic jams, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) sounded an orange alert in three more southern districts of the state.
The IMD initially issued an orange alert for the day in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur districts. By afternoon, an orange alert was also sounded in Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Alappuzha districts of the state.
The weather department predicts very heavy to heavy rainfall till October 27 in the state due to cyclonic circulations over the Arabian Sea near the southern Kerala coast. In many places, the skies were dark with clouds giving the impression that it was late evening, according to visuals on TV channels. The IMD also issued a yellow alert in three other districts of the state. An orange alert means very heavy rain (6 cm to 20 cm).
A yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 and 11 cm. The IMD also predicted thunderstorms with heavy rainfall and gusty winds at one or two places in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Idukki districts.
It also predicted thunderstorms with moderate rainfall and gusty winds in some parts of Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts of the state. PTI
13:54 Do Patti Review: One By Two
Do Patti collapses like a house of cards when it aims to be clever, notes Sukanya Verma. Read the review here.
13:45 India-Germany friendship not transactional: PM
"Welcomed my friend, Chancellor Scholz, to my residence in New Delhi. Glad to be meeting him and discussing a diverse range of issues that will add momentum to the India-Germany friendship. Our nations have a strong track record of developmental cooperation and we look forward to building on this in the times to come," PM Modi says.
"India-Germany partnership is not transactional relationship, but a transformational partnership of two strong democracies. India-Germany strategic ties a strong anchor at a time when world is faced with tensions, conflict and uncertainty," Modi added.
Pic: Fayaz Kabli/Reuters
13:28 Gulmarg Gondola ropeway shut after terror attack
Authorities on Friday temporarily shut the Gondola ropeway service at the resort town of Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district as a precautionary measure following the killings of four people, including two soldiers, in a terror attack, officials said.
Two soldiers and two Army porters were killed in the attack on Thursday while another porter and a soldier were injured.
Terrorists attacked a vehicle of the force six kilometres from Gulmarg, a tourist hotspot.
The officials said, "The Gondola cable car project in Gulmarg's Bota Pathri sector has been temporarily shut following Thursday's terror attack. The shutdown is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of tourists and staff."
The Gondola, known for attracting tourists year-round with stunning views and unique mountain experiences, is expected to resume operations once security assessments and measures are complete, they further said.
Local authorities are working closely with security agencies to monitor and address the situation, they added.
The Gondola in Gulmarg is the second longest and second highest cable car service in the world. A two-stage lift ferries people to and from the Kongdoori mountain, near the Apharwat peak at a height of 13,976 feet.
The first stage transfers from the Gulmarg resort at 8,694 feet to Kongdoori station in the bowl-shaped Kongdoori Valley. The second stage of the ropeway takes tourists and skiers to a height of 13,058 feet on the Kongdoori mountain.
A scene from the Netflix series on the murders, Monsters
13:06 Watched Monsters? Read this
Two brothers who were convicted of murdering their parents in a case that shook America more than three decades ago are a step closer to being released on parole. A Los Angeles County district attorney has recommended that Erik and Lyle Menendez be resentenced by a judge because new evidence merited a review. Read the report here
12:52 Listen to your CEA alarm on economy: Cong to govt
The Congress on Friday said inequality, wage stagnation and inflation were "structurally corrosive" to India's long-term growth prospects and urged the government to address concerns over the growing financialisation of the Indian economy.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the centrality of increasing the rates of private investment as a percentage of GDP in order to sustain higher rates of economic growth was incontrovertible.
These rates have fallen from 33.4 per cent (2004-2014) to 28.7 per cent (2014-2023), he said.
Ramesh shared an article by a noted public finance economist and said it revealed issues that were a further cause for concern.
Citing the article, Ramesh said the share of passive income -- income from rent, dividends, capital gains, etc -- in the total reported income had increased from 16 per cent in 2016-17 to 24 per cent in 2023-2024. For the corporate sector, the share of passive income (income outside of operating profits) increased from 16.6 per cent in 2016-17 to 30.7 per cent in 2023-24, the Congress leader said. This shift in capital gains indicates a shift in corporate preferences in favour of financial investments rather than productivity-raising physical investments, Ramesh said.
The cause of this shift away from physical investments is the muted demand for goods and services in the post-Covid recovery, which has largely left the poor and the middle classes behind, he said citing the article.
Ramesh said, "Inequality, wage stagnation, and inflation are not just political issues -- they are structurally corrosive to India's long-term growth prospects. If not the opposition, the government must listen to its own chief economic advisor, who has himself raised alarm over the growing financialisation of the Indian economy," he said.
The Congress has been attacking the government over its handling of the economy and raising concerns over "increasing" unemployment and price rise
12:44 Has Alia's 'Botox gone wrong'? Actress says...
Actor Alia Bhatt took a stand on social media Friday, addressing the barrage of speculation surrounding her appearance and the claims of cosmetic surgery that have circulated online.
In a post on her Instagram stories, Alia slammed critics for their misleading articles and videos that have labelled her expressions as signs of Botox misuse.
"Absolutely NO JUDGEMENT towards anyone who chooses cosmetic corrections or surgery--your body, your choice," she wrote. "But wow, this is beyond ridiculous! To the random video floating around literally claiming I've had Botox gone wrong... this is your hypercritical, microscopic judgment of a human face," the 'Jigra' actress further wrote.
Alia expressed her frustration with the unfounded assertions that she has a "crooked smile" and a "weird way of speaking," calling out the casual nature of such serious claims without any evidence. She highlighted the harmful impact of these rumours, especially on young, impressionable individuals who may take such clickbait seriously.
"Why are you saying this? For clickbait? Attention? Because none of it makes sense," she continued, urging society to celebrate individuality instead of tearing it apart, adding, "Whatever happened to 'live and let live'? We've become so accustomed to picking each other apart that it's almost normalized."
Alia, who is frequently targeted for her expressions while speaking, has largely refrained from reacting to online trolling in the past. However, this time she decided to respond to the negativity head-on. Currently, the actress is busy filming her upcoming movie 'Alpha' in the picturesque landscapes of Kashmir, alongside co-star Sharvari.
12:43 Wanted: Lawrence Bishnoi's brother, bounty: Rs 10L
The NIA has announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Anmol Bishnoi, the younger brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, officials said on Friday.
Anmol Bishnoi, who is under the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) radar for his alleged involvement in a firing incident outside actor Salman Khan's Mumbai residence in April, has also been put on the anti-terror agency's most wanted list, they said.
The bounty on Anmol Bishnoi alias Bhanu -- believed to be living in Canada and making regular travels to the US -- was announced last month, the officials said. Anmol Bishnoi is also allegedly said to be behind the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique on October 12 in Mumbai's Bandra, they said.
A Mumbai court recently denied bail to one of the two accused involved in the firing incident outside Khan's residence, saying they did so with the "intention or knowledge" to kill Khan on Anmol Bishnoi's instigation.
Both Anmol Bishnoi and Lawrence Bishnoi, who hail from Fazilka in Punjab, have been shown as wanted accused in the case. Lawrence Bishnoi is currently lodged in a jail in Sabarmati in Gujarat. A lookout circular was also issued in April against Anmol Bishnoi, who had claimed responsibility for the firing incident outside Khan's residence.
11:35 It's Aaditya Thackeray vs Milind Deora from Worli
Shiv Sena to field Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora from Worli for the Assembly elections. He will face Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray.
Deora joined the Shinde-led Shiv Sena from the Congress and was made a Rajya Sabha MP from Maharashtra earlier this year. He had previously won the Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat twice as a Congress candidate, in 2004 and 2009.
Sena UBT leader Arvind Sawant had said on Thackeray: "His name is not new - the entire Maharashtra knows him and he is known in the entire country and even abroad. The works done by him are so important that he gets compliments from everyone and is in the hearts of the people."
11:12 Cyclone: Flights, trains resume in Kolkata
Flight operations resumed at Kolkata airport in West Bengal from 8 am on Friday after cyclone Dana made landfall on the coast of neighbouring Odisha, officials said.
Train services on the south section of the Sealdah Division under the Eastern Railway also resumed at 10 am after scheduled cancellations due to the cyclone, they said. The authorities of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport here suspended flight operations since Thursday evening as a precautionary measure against cyclone Dana.
According to an Airports Authority of India (AAI) spokesperson, the first flight departed from Kolkata at 8.40 am. IndiGo's flight on the Kolkata-Imphal route was the first flight to depart from here, he said.
The first flight to land in Kolkata was of Vistara. It landed here around 8.45 am from Delhi, the AAI spokesperson said. In a tweet, Kolkata airport said, "Flight operations resumed at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata at 08:00 hrs, after it was closed for flight operation yesterday in view of the cyclone Dana."
Meanwhile, train services in the south section of the Sealdah Division restarted at 10 am with the first train being a Sonarpur local, a railway official said. Services will be restored gradually during the day, he added. In view of the cyclonic storm, the South Eastern Railway (SER), which oversees routes in West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand, has cancelled more than 170 express and passenger trains scheduled between October 23 and 27.
A policemen asks people to evacuate from Puri
10:58 Zero casualty after cyclone: Odisha CM
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday claimed that the state has achieved its "Zero Casualty Mission" as there has been no report regarding any loss of human life or injury in the severe cyclonic storm Dana which made landfall in the coast on Thursday night.
Majhi who reviewed the cyclone situation here in the morning announced that there has been no human casualty in the calamity.
"There is no report of any death of any human life. Our zero casualty Mission has been successful with the cooperation of everyone," Majhi announced.
Ahead of the formation of a cyclonic system in the Bay of Bengal, the Odisha government had set a target of "Zero Casualty" and worked in that direction from day one of the preparation, he said, adding that about six lakh people were evacuated to safety for which precious human lives have been saved.
While thanking all the stakeholders including ministers, MLAs, other peoples representatives, rescue teams of NDRF, ODRAF, Fire Service, Odisha Police, social activists, media and others, the chief minister said: "By the grace of Lord Jagannath and cooperation of all, the government have succeeded in saving human lives." PTI
10:54 Hum rahe yana rahe kal... Google celebrates KK
On Friday, Google celebrated the enduring legacy of the beloved Indian playback singer Krishnakumar Kunnath, known as KK, with a special Doodle.
Born on August 23, 1968, in Delhi, KK's soulful voice and romantic ballads have made him a cherished figure in the Indian music industry. KK's journey in music began after he graduated from Kirori Mal College at Delhi University.
Before fully immersing himself in his passion for singing, he briefly explored a career in marketing. His breakthrough came in 1994, when he submitted a demo tape that led to him performing commercial jingles, setting the stage for his illustrious career.
In 1999, KK marked his entry into Bollywood playback singing with the emotional track "Tadap Tadap" from the film 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'.
That same year, he released his debut solo album, 'Pal', which quickly became a sensation. The album's title song and 'Yaaron' became timeless anthems of friendship and nostalgia, connecting with audiences across various generations.
Throughout his remarkable career, KK showcased his versatility, lending his voice to over 500 Hindi songs and more than 200 tracks in regional languages such as Telugu, Bengali, Kannada, and Malayalam. Additionally, he recorded around 3,500 jingles in 11 languages, cementing his reputation as one of India's most prolific playback singers.
10:39 101 people get lifer for atrocities against Dalits
As many as 101 people were sentenced to life imprisonment by a court in Koppal district for setting on fire the hutments of the Dalit community. The accused were found guilty recently and the quantum of punishment was pronounced by the court on Thursday.
The case is related to caste based violence in Marakumbi village in Gangavathi Taluk on August 28, 2014. The accused had set on fire the dwellings belonging to the downtrodden community. The clash broke out over Dalits being denied entry into the barber shop and eateries.
The incident led to widespread protests in several parts of the state. According to the prosecution, out of 117 accused, 16 passed away during the course of trial. PTI
File pic
10:20 Karnataka cop dragged 100 meters on car bonnet
A traffic policeman in Karnataka's Shivamogga district was dragged on the bonnet of a car on Thursday when he attempted to stop the vehicle for a routine check, police said.
The accused driver, identified as cable operator Mithun Jagdale, drove the car at a high speed, forcing the official to cling to the car to avoid being crushed.
According to Shivamogga Superintendent of Police Mithun, the incident occurred around 2 pm in front of Sahyadri College. While conducting routine checks, officers signalled a car coming from Bhadravati to stop.
Instead, the driver accelerated, dragging the officer for over 100 meters before fleeing the scene.
"A Traffic Police personnel on duty narrowly escaped death after being dragged on a car bonnet on Thursday, 24th October in front of Sahyadri College in Shivamogga city. The Police personnel was dragged for over 100 meters. The incident took place around 2 pm, while Traffic Police personnel were conducting routine checks near the college. When they signalled a car coming from Bhadravati to stop, the driver sped up towards the personnel, forcing him to cling to the bonnet to avoid being crushed," Shivamogga SP Mithun said.
"The accused's name is Mithun Jagadale, he worked as a cable operator. Police arrested him and investigation is on," Shivamogga SP Mithun added. Further investigation is underway.
09:49 Zeeshan Siddique joins NCP: 'MVA deceived me'
Zeeshan Siddiqui, son of former MLA and NCP leader Baba Siddique, joined the NCP on Friday in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, ahead of the upcoming elections.
Zeeshan has been announced as the NCP candidate for the Vandre East constituency, where he won in the 2019 elections, defeating Shiv Sena's Vishwanath Mahadeshwar.
After joining the NCP, Zeeshan Siddiqui said, "This is an emotional day for me and my family. I am thankful to Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, and Sunil Tatkare for believing in me in these tough times. I have got the nomination from Vandre East; I am sure that with the love and support of all the people, I will definitely win Vandre East yet again."
Zeeshan was upset with the Congress after the party gave away his seat Bandra East to the UBT Sena as per the seat sharing formula of the Aghadi.
"Maha Vikas Aghadi declared their candidates and Congress' sitting seat was given to Shiv Sena (UBT), this is very unfortunate. Congress leaders and Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders were in touch with me in the past few days...But they intended to deceive. In that difficult time, Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare and NCP placed their trust in me. I am thankful to them. It was an unfinished dream of my father that we have to win this seat again and fight fo the rights of people. He was murdered while fighting for this. His blood runs in my veins and I will fight his fight and win Bandra East with a record margin," Zeeshan said.
For the Vandre East seat, Zeeshan will be contesting against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arun Sardesai. Hence, the former Congress leader indirectly took a jibe at Congress via a social media post on Wednesday.
"I have heard that old friends have declared themselves as candidates from the East. Staying together was never in their nature. Keep a relationship with only those who give you respect and honour. There is no benefit in increasing the crowd. Now the public will decide," he said.
NDRF alerting people to stay home
09:34 Cyclone: NDRF starts removing uprooted trees
The NDRF and ODRAF teams on Friday started restoration work by removing uprooted trees from the roads in the coastal districts of Odisha even as the landfall process of severe cyclonic storm Dana is still going on, an official said.
The IMD said at 8.23 am that the "Landfall process continues and the rear sector of the cyclone is entering into the land. The landfall process would continue for the next 1-2 hours. The system is likely to move nearly northwestwards across the north Odisha and weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm by the forenoon of October 25."
The system is under continuous surveillance of the Doppler radar at Paradip. Odisha Higher Education minister Suryabanshi Suraj, who is in charge of Bhadrak district, said there was no report of any casualty in the district.
"There is no report of any casualty. There has been massive damage to electrical installations due to tree falling. Roads are being cleared," the minister said The NDRF and ODRAF teams started work despite gusty winds and heavy rainfall in Dhamra area of Bhadrak district.
The Tehsildar of Rajnagar in Kendrapada district, Ajay Mohanty said that there has been no major damage in the Bhitarkanika area except uprooting of some trees and damage to some thatched houses.
"The wind speed has substantially come down to 80 to 90 kmph, but the rain continues to lash the area," Mohanty said, adding that seawater has entered into some water bodies and low-lying areas during the tidal surge on Thursday night. Chandabali in Bhadrak received the highest rainfall of 131.6 mm during the last six hour followed by 42.8 mm in Balasore, an official said.
Passengers were stranded as flights were cancelled
09:20 Cyclone aftermath: Bhubaneswar Airport resumes ops
Biju Patnaik International Airport here resumed its operation at 8 am this morning as the weather conditions became normal in Bhubaneswar, an official said.
The airport operation was suspended from 5 pm on October 24 in view of cyclone Dana which made landfall between Dhamra and Bhitarkanika from midnight to early morning. Though the airport authority had decided to suspend flight operation till 9 am on Friday, the operation resumed at 8 am as the weather conditions became normal, said Airport Director Prasanna Pradhan. -- PTI
08:54 Troops start disengaging at Demchok, Depsang
Disengagement of troops of India and China has started at two friction points in Demchok and Depsang Plains in Eastern Ladakh sector, ANI reports quoting defence officials.
As per the agreements between the two sides, the Indian troops have started pulling back equipment to rear locations in the respective areas. -- ANI
08:42 Army op continues in Baramulla after terror attack
Search Operations continued on Friday morning in Baramulla following the firefight between the Indian Army and terrorists last night.
Two Indian Army soldiers and two civilian porters were killed after terrorists attacked a military vehicle in Baramulla.
One soldier and one porter are injured and undergoing treatment, Indian Army officials said.
In an intial post on X, the Srinagar-based Chinar corps said that, 'A brief firefight took place between Indian Army and terrorists in general area Butapathri, Baramulla. During the firefight two soldiers and two porters have suffered injuries and have been evacuated for medical care.'
In a subsequent update, the Chinar Corps said, "During the firefight two soldiers and two porters have suffered injuries and have been evacuated for medical care. Operation in progress."
On the same day (October 24), in another incident, terrorists shot at and injured a labourer in Batgund Tral area of Pulwama district.
The injured labourer was identified as Pritam Singh, a resident of Uttar Pradesh. -- ANI
08:30 Trees uprooted, roads blocked as Cyclone Dana hits Odisha
Several trees were uprooted due to gusty winds and heavy incessant rains in Bhadrak district of Odisha as the landfall process of Cyclone 'Dana' continued in the early hours of Friday.
Several roads were blocked in the area after trees were uprooted following strong winds and heavy downpours.
Heavy rains packed with gusty winds also lashed parts of southern West Bengal. In various parts of Mandarmani in Purba Medinipur and Gosaba in South 24 Parganas, waterlogging has been reported, compounding the misery of the affected residents.
The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but initial reports suggested the storm brought heavy rains, which continued into Friday morning, causing inundation in low-lying areas.
The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but initial reports suggested the storm brought heavy rains, which continued into Friday morning, causing inundation in low-lying areas.
According to the latest bulletin from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the severe cyclonic storm lay centred over north coastal Odisha, near north-northwest of Dhamara and north-northwest of Habalikhati nature camp (Bhitarkanika).
The landfall process continues and the rear sector of the cyclone is entering into land. The landfall process would continue for the next 1-2 hours. It is likely to move nearly west-northwestwards across north Odisha and weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm by forenoon of today, a bulletin of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) at 6.15 am stated. -- ANI/PTI
NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar/File image
01:04 Maha polls: NCP-SP releases first list, fields Yugendra against uncle Ajit
The NCP-SP on Thursday announced the candidature of Yugendra Pawar against his uncle and Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar from Baramati as the party released its first list of 45 candidates for the November 20 state assembly elections.
Ajit Pawar, who became president of the Nationalist Congress Party after parting ways with his uncle and party founder Sharad Pawar last year, is the sitting MLA from the Baramati assembly constituency in Pune district.
His party has already announced that Ajit would contest from his traditional seat.
Yugendra (32) is the son of Ajit Pawar's younger brother Shrinivas Pawar. Others in the NCP-SP list included its state chief Jayant Patil (Islampur), Jitendra Awhad (Mumbra-Kalwa), Anil Deshmukh (Katol), Harshvardhan Patil (Indapur) and late NCP politician R R Patil's son Rohit Patil who is making a debut (Tasgaon-Kavthemahankal).
Notably, in the Lok Sabha elections Ajit Pawar's wife and NCP candidate Sunetra Pawar had polled 5,73,979 votes in Baramati parliamentary constituency, losing to her sister-in-law and NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule who got 7,32,312 votes.
Jayant Patil announced the first list of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidates at a press conference in Pune.
Yugendra was selected as candidate on the demand of the people of Baramati, he said to a question. -- PTI
Sameer Bhujbal/Courtesy X
00:47 Bhujbal's nephew Sameer quits NCP, to fight as independent from Nandgaon
Mumbai NCP president Sameer Bhujbal quit the party on Thursday and announced he will contest the November 20 assembly polls from Nashik's Nandgaon seat, which has been allotted to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
Talking to reporters, Bhujbal said he aspired to contest from Nandgaon the Sena has fielded its sitting MLA Suhas Kande. Bhujbal said since he did not want to hurt the alliance dharma, it was prudent he quit the party to contest the polls.
The ruling alliance, also called Mahayuti, comprises Shiv Sena, the BJP and Ajit Pawar-led NCP.
The former Nashik MP said he will file nomination papers from Nandgaon on October 28.
Sameer Bhujbal's uncle and senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal is contesting from his pocket borough Yevala.
Earlier this month, Sameer Bhujbal's cousin and Chhagan Bhujbal's son Pankaj Bhujbal took oath as a governor-nominated MLC. -- PTI
File image
00:14 Hindu groups demand razing of mosque in Uttarkashi
Twenty-seven people, including seven policemen, got injured in a lathi-charge by police during a protest by a Hindu outfit who demanded the demolition of a mosque in Uttarkashi alleging that it is built on government land.
Markets remained closed in Uttarkashi, Dunda, Bhatwadi and Joshiyada in support of the an Akrosh' rally organised by Sanyukt Hindu Sangathan.
The protesters have alleged that the mosque built in the Barahat area is an illegal construction on government land.
However, the district administration has clarified that the mosque is old and built on the land of people of the Muslim community.
The Uttarkashi district magistrate's office clarified this in a notice, which cites a report of Bhatwadi's sub-divisional magistrate Mukesh Chand Ramola.
Supporters of the Hindu outfit gathered at Hanuman Chowk to hold a rally demanding the demolition of the mosque.
They raised slogans of 'Jai Shri Ram'. Swami Darshan Bharti was also among the protesters.
To stop the protesters from moving towards the mosque, the administration put up barricades on the Gangotri National Highway towards Bhatwadi.
There was a heated argument between the protesters and the police to remove this barricading but the police did not let them proceed further. -- PTI
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