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Mon, 28 October 2024
Fire in moving train in Haryana, injuries reported
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23:54 Fire in moving train in Haryana, injuries reported
A fire broke out in a moving train near Rohtak, Haryana on Monday evening following an explosion in firecrackers that were being carried by a passenger, officials said.
A few passengers sustained minor injuries in the incident.
The train was headed to Delhi from Jind via Sampla and Bahadurgarh.
The fire broke out in a portion of the train and it was soon shrouded in smoke, the Government Railway Police official said.
"According to preliminary information, it is suspected that there was a short-circuit in an electrical appliance on the train and as a result, some firecrackers that were being carried by a passenger burst," the official said on phone from Bahadurgarh.
Two to three passengers sustained minor injuries in the incident, he said. -- PTI
23:45 13-year-old girl raped in Navi Mumbai orphanage; four booked
A case has been registered against four persons for the alleged rape of a 13-year-old inmate of an orphanage in Navi Mumbai, the police said on Monday.
Based on a complaint, a case was registered at Khandeshwar police station under Sections 64 (rape) and 74 (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, an official said.
The accused include personnel of the orphanage, including a woman caretaker who did not report the abuse that took place between July and September, he said.
As per the first information report, one of the accused entered the girl's quarters through the window and raped her in July, while another man similarly assaulted her last month.
One of the men touched the girl inappropriately. The woman caretaker knew about the abuse but did not report it to the police, the official said, adding that no arrests have been made in the case. -- PTI
BJP spokesperson Shaina NC/ANI Photo
23:42 BJP's Shaina NC in Shinde Sena's third list
Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Shaina NC figures in the third list of 15 candidates released by the ruling Shiv Sena on Monday night for the November 20 assembly elections in Maharashtra.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena, announced the latest list which also has the name of Sanjana Jadhav, daughter of former Union minister and BJP leader Raosaheb Danve.
Shaina will contest from the Mumbadevi seat in Mumbai, where her main rival is sitting Congress MLA Amin Patel.
Jadhav will contest from Kannad in Aurangabad district (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district).
The seat is currently represented in the assembly by Udaysing Rajput of the Shiv Sena-UBT led by former CM Uddhav Thackeray.
Two of the 15 seats were given to regional allies of the BJP-led NDA -- Jansurajya Paksh and the Rajarshi Shahu Vikas Aghadi.
The Jansurajya Paksh has fielded its member Ashokrao Mane from Hatkanangale, while the Rajarshi Shahu Vikas Aghadi has given ticket to Rajendra Patil Yedrawkar from Shirol.
Both seats are in Kolhapur district. -- PTI
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23:07 Air India's Delhi-Colombo flight gets hoax bomb threat
An Air India plane coming from Delhi made an emergency landing at the international airport here on Monday following a bomb threat, that later turned out to be a hoax, according to officials.
The aircraft, operating the flight AI 281, had 108 passengers and eight crew members.
The officials said the plane made an emergency landing due to the bomb threat.
The fire brigade and the medical crews alongside bomb disposal squads were present at the time of landing, they added.
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22:41 Don't burst crackers post 10 pm, BMC urges Mumbai
With the city witnessing moderate pollution levels, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Monday appealed to citizens to limit the bursting of firecrackers till 10 pm during Diwali.
The civic body urged Mumbaikars to observe festivities in an eco-friendly manner by bursting less air and noise-polluting crackers.
"The BMC urges all citizens to respond positively to this appeal, making Diwali a safe, joyful, and eco-friendly celebration for everyone," the release said.
The Air Quality Index in the financial capital was "moderate' at 81 on Monday evening. The BMC, in the release, said the safety of children must be a priority, while loud fireworks should be avoided, keeping senior citizens and heart patients in mind.
Crackers must be burst in open areas, not in narrow lanes or crowded places, it said, adding that water and sand must be kept handy for safety. -- PTI
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22:32 Army dog killed in Jammu anti-terror operation
An Army dog laid down its life after being hit by a bullet from terrorists during an encounter in the Akhnoor sector of the Jammu region on Monday, the force said.
The courage, loyalty and dedication of the canine -- Phantom -- will never be forgotten, it added.
The Army's Jammu-based White Knight Corps said in a post on X, "We salute the supreme sacrifice of our true hero -- a valiant Indian Army dog, Phantom."
"As our troops were closing in on the trapped terrorists, Phantom drew enemy fire, sustaining fatal injuries," it added.
In the ongoing operation, one terrorist has been neutralised and warlike stores have been recovered, it further said. -- PTI
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22:03 U'khand board backs soldiers' rights on waqf property
The Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting on the proposed Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, received significant support from the Uttarakhand Waqf Board.
Several state waqf boards, including the Punjab Waqf Board, Haryana Waqf Board, and Uttarakhand Waqf Board, attended the meeting to present their views and suggestions to the JPC.
According to sources, representatives from the Uttarakhand Waqf Board made a unique request during their presentation to the committee.
They stated that when a soldier fights for the nation, he does so not as a Hindu, Muslim, or any other religion, but as a patriot.
In this spirit, they suggested a legal provision to allocate some benefits from waqf properties to soldiers or their families.
This proposal was met with opposition from several MPs of opposition parties.
Opposition MPs raised concerns, pointing out that there is no comparable provision in the Hindu or other religious contexts.
In response, the Uttarakhand Waqf Board suggested that rather than drawing parallels with other religions, they could initiate a new standard. During their presentation, the board strongly supported the bill, particularly highlighting its focus on transparency and the inclusion of women.
The Uttarakhand Council already has two women representatives. Regarding disputed properties, the board recommended that the JPC include provisions for thorough inspections and, where necessary, CBI inquiries.
This stance elicited sharp responses from some opposition MPs. -- ANI
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21:51 Mumbai cops book man over hoax bomb threat call to Delhi airport
The Mumbai police booked a man who allegedly made a threatening call to the Delhi airport control room, falsely claiming that a woman passenger was travelling with a bomb on a Mumbai-Delhi flight, officials said on Monday.
The police suspect that the caller was the nephew of the woman, who used to live in Andheri.
The motive behind making the call is under investigation.
According to officials from Sahar police station, the FIR was registered on Friday after the caller cited the name of one Gouri Bharwani, a 60-year-old resident of Andheri (West), in the hoax call, officials said.
The caller had described the woman passenger as a "human bomb" carrying Rs 90 lakh to meet her boyfriend.
He claimed that the woman would continue her journey to Uzbekistan from Delhi.
The message triggered an immediate alert, prompting an extensive search by airport authorities and law enforcement, officials added.
Despite thorough investigations, no passenger matching the description was found on any flights.
Both Mumbai and Delhi airport authorities, alongside police, reviewed passenger lists but reported no findings related to the alleged human bomb, officials said. -- PTI
21:30 Maha polls: CM Shinde's income falls 50% between 2018-19 and 2023-24
The income of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in 2023-24 dipped by almost 50 percent when compared to 2018-19 as per the affidavit he filed on Monday during submission of nomination papers for Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency in Thane for the November 20 assembly polls.
His income during the fiscal 2023-24 was Rs 34,81,135, down from Rs 61,00,841 in 2018-19.
The previous assembly polls in the state were held in 2019.
However, the income of his wife has increased from Rs 9,94,096 to Rs 15,83,972, a rise of 59 percent, during this period.
The CM has Rs 26,000 in cash, while this figure is Rs 2 lakh for his wife.
Shinde and his wife have investments of Rs 1.44 crore and Rs 7.77 crore, respectively, as per the affidavit.
The CM's immovable assets, which include land and flats, are valued at Rs 13.38 crore, while the figure is Rs 15.08 crore for his wife.
On the other hand, Shinde has liabilities of Rs 5.29 crore. His wife's liabilities stand at Rs 9.99 crore. -- PTI
20:42 YouTuber moves HC alleging law abuse by TN police, seeks Rs 1 cr compensation
YouTuber Felix Jerald on Monday moved the Delhi high court alleging violation of his human rights by the Tamil Nadu police, which reportedly detained him illegally.
Following his plea, Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri granted him time to file additional documents in support of his contention.
Jerald was allegedly arrested for hosting an "objectionable" interview of another YouTuber Savukku Shankar on his YouTube channel.
The interview purportedly contains objectionable remarks against the Madras high court and the women police officers of the Tamil Nadu police.
The high court listed the matter on December 16.
Jerald, a journalist, claimed he was illegally detained for two days by the Tamil Nadu police officials and his whereabouts were not disclosed to his family members or friends with an "ill motive".
He alleged non-compliance of provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure during his arrest in violation of his fundamental rights.
The plea, filed by advocates Surya Prakash and Avinash Kumar, sought a direction to state of Tamil Nadu and several police officials to pay Rs 1 crore compensation for the pain, suffering, humiliation and loss of reputation caused to the petitioner.
The plea said Jerald, owner of "RedPix 247" YouTube channel interviewed a critic and journalist Savukku Shankar on April 30, highlighting the alleged targeting of Savukku Media, the latter's news outlet, by the Tamil Nadu ruling dispensation. -- PTI
Malayalam film director Ranjith Balakrishnan (left)
20:12 Malayalam director Ranjith booked for sexually assaulting man in Bengaluru
A case has been registered against Malayalam film director Ranjith Balakrishnan on a complaint by a 31-year-old man, who alleged that he was sexually assaulted by him at a five-star hotel in Bengaluru, the police said on Monday.
In the FIR, the complainant has claimed that he met the director in 2012 in Kozhikode when he had gone to meet actor Mammootty during the shoot of Bavuttiyude Namathil, a film written and produced by Balakrishnan.
According to FIR, the complainant alleged that the director thereafter managed to get his phone number and invited him to the hotel near Kempegowda International Airport in December 2012 where he allegedly offered him alcohol and sexually assaulted him.
"The complaint was initially filed at a police station in Kerala but the case was transferred to Bengaluru because the alleged incident of sexual assault occurred at a five-star hotel here and an FIR has now been registered," a senior police official said.
"The incident allegedly took place in 2012 but the complainant came out now in the wake of a series of sexual harassment allegations by many artists in the Malayalam film industry which he claimed gave him the courage to register his complaint," the official said. -- PTI
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20:01 21 AI among 60 flights receive bomb threats today
More than 60 flights of Indian carriers received bomb threats on Monday, sources said.
In 15 days, over 410 domestic and international flights operated by the Indian carriers have received hoax bomb threats.
Most of the threats were issued through social media.
The sources in the know said around 21 flights each of Air India and IndiGo, and about 20 flights of Vistara received the threats on Monday.
An Air India spokesperson said a number of its flights were subject to security threats received on social media on Monday.
"Following the laid down protocols, relevant authorities were immediately alerted, and all security procedures strictly adhered to, as per guidance from the regulatory authorities," the spokesperson said in a statement.
Meanwhile, against the backdrop of a spate of hoax bomb threats to airlines, the IT ministry has asked social media platforms to observe due diligence obligations and promptly remove or disable access to misinformation within the strict timelines prescribed under IT rules. -- PTI
Bihar MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav/File image
19:49 Pappu Yadav writes to Amit Shah, claims Bishnoi gang threatened him
Bihar MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav has shot off a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking enhanced security in view of a "threatening call from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang".
The Purnea MP shared with the media his two-page letter to Shah, copies of which have been marked to the chief minister of Bihar and other top officials in the state.
The letter, dated October 21, was made public on Monday when a section of the media also played an audio clip of the call from a purported aide of Bishnoi "made from a Dubai number".
Besides seeking upgradation of his 'security cover', Yadav also demanded 'police escort' at all functions he attends across Bihar, warning "if I get murdered, the blame shall fall upon the Centre as well as the state government".
Meanwhile, Purnea SP Kartikeya Sharma said, "We have come to know about the MP's charge through the media. We are looking into it, and also ensuring that arrangements are made for his safety in accordance with his ' plus' security cover".
Yadav, a gangster-turned-politician, claimed that the caller was upset over his social media outbursts against Bishnoi, who is lodged in a Gujarat jail. -- PTI
19:22 Prime Video announces 'Mirzapur: The Film'
Prime Video's popular show Mirzapur is getting a theatrical movie based on the award-winning crime thriller franchise featuring iconic characters Kaleen Bhaiya, Guddu Pandit and Munna Tripathi, the streamer announced on Monday.
Created by Puneet Krishna and directed by Gurmmeet Singh, Mirzapur: The Film is scheduled for a release in 2026.
Actors Pankaj Tripathi and Ali Fazal are set to return as Kaleen Bhaiya and Guddu Pandit.
Also back in the fray is Divyenndu's Munna Tripathi, who starred in a guest role in the third season of Mirzapur which premiered in July.
Stree star Abhishek Banerjee, who plays the role of the Compounder in the series, will star in the film too.
Manish Menghani, director, content licensing, Prime Video India, said Mirzapur has established itself as one of the most-loved franchises among audiences of today's era with its nuanced characters, unforgettable dialogues, and riveting storyline.
"We take pride in crafting tailored content that reflects the diverse tastes of our viewers and are committed to backing local stories that resonate deeply and engage on a personal level, allowing them to connect with narratives that are both authentic and immersive," Menghani said. -- PTI
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19:01 80-90% disengagement completed by India, China: Defence sources
About 80 per cent to 90 per cent troops disengagement has been completed at Depsang and Demchok in eastern Ladakh by the armies of India and China, said defence sources on Monday.
"The process includes removal of all types of infrastructure and pulling back of troops by both sides. Process is likely to be completed by Tuesday (October 29)," said the defence sources.
More details soon. -- ANI
18:33 K'taka HC ex-judge Puttaswamy, lead petitioner in privacy case, dies at 98
Former Karnataka high court judge Justice K S Puttaswamy, who played a pivotal role in declaration of right to privacy as a fundamental right from the Supreme Court in 2017, passed away at his Bengaluru residence on Monday.
He was 98.
Justice Puttaswamy was the lead petitioner who had moved the apex court in 2012 challenging the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar scheme as being violative of the privacy right.
The Aadhaar scheme subsequently received legislative sanction.
In a landmark verdict in August 2017, a nine-judge bench through an unanimous verdict declared the right to privacy a fundamental right under Article 21 (protection of life and personal liberty) of the Constitution.
It had underlined privacy to be "the constitutional core of human dignity". Born on February 8, 1926, Puttaswamy studied at Maharaja's College, Mysore and obtained a law degree from Government Law College, Bengaluru. -- PTI
MLA Zeeshan Siddique/File image
18:13 Security lapse: Zeeshan Siddique's cop suspended
A constable deployed for the security of MLA Zeeshan Siddique has been placed under suspension after he was found missing from his spot of duty during a surprise visit by the area's deputy commissioner of police, an official said on Monday.
The Bandra East MLA's father and former state minister Baba Siddique was gunned down in Nirmal Nagar area on October 12, an incident that made national headlines. Following this, Zeeshan Siddique's security was enhanced.
However, the MLA recently met zonal deputy commissioner of police Dixit Gedam and expressed displeasure at his security detail, the official said.
Gedam then visited Zeeshan Siddique's house to assess his security cover and found constable Vishal Ashok Thange missing from his spot of duty, he said.
"Thange was not at his assigned duty location when Zeeshan Siddique was leaving his house for some official purpose. After a preliminary probe, Thange was suspended. A detailed departmental inquiry has been initiated against him," the official said. -- PTI
Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba (right)/File image
17:53 Mahila Cong chief seeks action against Cong min over remarks against BJP MP
Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba on Monday condemned the alleged derogatory remarks by her party leader and Jharkhand minister Irfan Ansari against BJP's Sita Soren and demanded legal action over the matter.
She said that the Congress governments in various states have made strict laws for crimes against women.
Soren, who is contesting from Jamtara assembly constituency against Ansari, on Sunday broke down while speaking about the derogatory remarks allegedly made by Ansari.
Ansari allegedly made the derogatory remark about Soren after filing his nomination papers on Thursday.
Asked about Ansari's remarks, Lamba told reporters, "Whether it is a person inside the party or outside, crime should be seen as crime. If you have said something verbally, caused physical harm, all kinds of laws have been made in the Congress government after the Nirbhaya incident."
"We never support this (comment). Whether it is Irfan Ansari, the woman belongs to any party, we condemn this (comment), oppose it, demand legal action on it," she said. -- PTI
17:36 Sensex ka Diwali mithai is ready, closes higher
After logging an over one year low last week, Indian stock indices gained momentum on Monday, possibly due to value buying by investors. Sensex closed 679 points higher at 80,081.30 points, whereas Nifty settled at 24,367.35 points, up 186.55 points. All Nifty sectoral indices were in the green, with the Nifty PSU bank the top mover at 3.8 per cent. Last week, the Nifty 50 and the Sensex shed 2.7 per cent and 2.2 per cent, respectively.
Sunetra Pawar does an aarti ahead of Ajit Pawar's nomination
17:08 Ajit Pawar reveals who actually split the family
After filing the nomination on Monday from Baramati assembly, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar got emotional while adressing a rally.
Pawar alleged that the NCP patron Sharad Pawar had created a split in the family and fielded a candidate against him.
"I previously admitted to making a mistake, but it seems like others are now making errors too. My family and I had agreed to file the form in Baramati first, but that didn't happen. Despite the challenges, we managed to improve the situation. My mother has been very supportive, and she even advised that they should not nominate anyone against Ajit Pawar. However, I was told that Saheb (Sharad Pawar) instructed someone to file a nomination against me.... Saheb created the split within the family. ... I just want to say that politics should not be brought to such a low level, because it took the generations to be united and it doesn't take a single moment to break the family..," he said.
He further said that Baramati had seen significant development yet people had the right to question him on the subject.
"Some people questions development work done in Baramati, this doesn't mean development by making roads and even building schools does not mean development. I need to understand what is development what should be done so that we can say this development, ... I understand you have a right to speak ......but, what you talk it is not understandable..." he said.
16:55 Police begins probe in Bandra terminus stampede
The railway police on Monday began its probe into the stampede at Western Railway's Bandra Terminus a day earlier, which left 10 passengers injured, including two seriously.
The stampede took place at 2:45am on Sunday when people tried to board the Bandra-Gorakhpur Antyodaya Express while it was entering platform number 1 from the yard. The train was scheduled to depart at 5:10am.
The terminus was packed to the brim with thousands of passengers wanting to get to their natives places, mostly in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, for Diwali and Chhath festivals. "Our probe into the incident has begun," said railway police DCP Manoj Patil. Another official said there was presence of police and Railway Protection Force at the station at the time of the incident but the sheer number of passengers overwhelmed the arrangements in place.
The two passengers with serious injuries have been identified as Indrajit Shahani (19) and Noor Mohammad Sheikh (18). Of the 10 injured persons, seven are hospitalised, while three took discharge against medical advice, also called DAMA in health parlance. PTI
The screen grab from the ad
16:40 Watch Cong's pakoda-seller ad making a jibe at PM
The Congress party releases an ad ahead of the Maharashtra polls.
The ad shows a young man selling pakodas. He is introduced as an engineer by a lackey.
Three men, one called 'Saheb' who sports a beard and looks similar to the Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde meet the young man and tell him that they are proud of him.
The man says, "Why? Because I'm an engineer and I sell pakodas?"
The Shinde-like man says tomorrow many young men will be inspired by the pakoda seller.
The pakoda seller says its all thanks to them and then goes on to say how Maharashtra lost projects and employment worth Rs 7.5 lakh crore to Gujarat.
The other two men accompanying 'Shinde' are likenesses of Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.
The pakoda seller reference is to a comment made by Prime Minister Modi in January 2018 stating that street food vendors (selling pakodas) should also be considered in employment statistics and hence unemployment in the country is actually much lower than statistically reported.
Watch the ad here.
16:38 Modi-Xi 'Agreement': The Nation Needs To Know!
China does not have to give up what it took in 2020, it will never give up its claim to Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh and other areas, and it has all the time now to plan its next surprise, points out Lieutenant General Prakash Katoch (retd). Read the column here.
16:32 Census likely from early 2025
The much-delayed decadal census exercise and the work to update the National Population Register (NPR) are likely to begin early 2025 and the data will be declared by 2026, thus changing future census cycles completely, official sources said.
However, no decision has been taken yet on whether caste census will also be carried out along with the general census. The country's population count has been conducted every 10 years since 1951, but the census work in 2021 could not be carried out due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, no formal announcement has been made on its next schedule.
"In all probability, the work for the census and the NPR will begin early next year and the population data will be announced by 2026. With this, the census cycle is likely to be changed. So, it will be 2025-2035 and then 2035-2045 and so on in future," sources privy to the thinking of the government said.
16:01 Markets snap 5-day losing run on ICICI Bank buys
Stock markets snapped the five-day losing streak on Monday with the benchmark Sensex rebounding 602 points on buying in ICICI Bank, firm global trends and continuous buying by domestic institutional investors. The BSE Sensex jumped 602.75 points or 0.76 per cent to settle at 80,005.04.
During the day, it surged 1,137.52 points or 1.43 per cent to 80,539.81. The NSE Nifty soared 158.35 points or 0.65 per cent to 24,339.15. A sharp correction in global crude prices in international markets boosted sentiments, traders said.
From the 30 Sensex pack, ICICI Bank climbed 3 per cent after the private sector lender posted a 14.5 per cent growth in standalone profit to Rs 11,746 crore for the second quarter ended September 2024. JSW Steel, Mahindra & Mahindra, Adani Ports, Tata Steel, Sun Pharma, Hindustan Unilever, Tata Motors and State Bank of India were the other big gainers from the pack. Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Tech Mahindra, HDFC Bank and Maruti were the laggards.
15:45 What did Modi tell Spanish PM on Real Madrid?
Spanish football, which boasts of some of the greatest footballers of all time and produces fascinating matches between iconic giants Real Madrid and FC Barcelona found mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech on Monday.
PM Modi touched upon Saturday's 'El Clasico' clash between traditional rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid in the ongoing La Liga, saying that the match and Spanish football in general attract a lot of discussion among Indian football fans. and the fervour of the fans of both the clubs was same in India as it is in Spain.
"Spanish football is liked a lot in India. Yesterday, the match between Real Madrid and Barcelona, and the discussions were held in India, too. Barcelona's spectacular victory was a subject of discussion here as well. I can also tell you that there was as much banter between the fans of the two clubs in India, as it would've been in Spain," PM Modi said in Vadodra.
He said this in his address after inagurating the TATA Aircraft Complex with visiting Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez.Further the Prime Minster spoke about yoga and its popularity in Spain. "I have heard that yoga is also very popular in Spain. Spain's football is also very much liked in India."
Touching upon India and Spain's multifaceted partnership, the Prime Minister said, "Whether it's food, films, or football, our strong people-to-people connect has always strengthened our ties."
The Prime Minister expressed happiness that India and Spain have decided to celebrate 2026 as the India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism, and AI."Food, films, and football all connect us through strong people-to-people ties. I am happy that India and Spain have decided to celebrate the year 2026 as the India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism, and AI..." PM Modi said.
15:08 Thane will be with Mahayuti: Fadnavis
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday spoke about the Maharashtra assembly election, where he said CM Eknath Shinde is filing his nomination papers.While speaking to the reporters in Thane, Maharashtra Deputy CM Fadnavis said that CM is filing his nomination papers and he would win the elections with record votes. Thane would be with Mahayuti.
"Thane always had saffron colour, and it will be the same. CM Eknath Shinde is going to file his nomination. He will win the election with record votes, he will break his own record. Thane will be with Mahayuti", he said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde will file his nomination today from the Kopri-Pachpakhadi Assembly constituency, for the Maharashtra assembly election.
15:05 Where did Modi, Spain PM meet?
PM Modi shares this image on X and says, "In Vadodara, held productive discussions with the President of the Government of Spain, Mr. Pedro Sanchez. We took stock of the progress in India-Spain relations across diverse sectors. We wish to add even more momentum in our bilateral ties, especially in trade, commerce, culture, innovation, technology and more."
The meeting was held inside the gorgeous Laxmi Vilas Palace.
14:25 Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid back in Tihar Jail
Baramulla MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid on Monday surrendered before authorities in Tihar Jail in Delhi after the end of his interim bail, prison officials said. The Awami Ittehad Party leader, who has been arrested in a terror funding case, reached jail premises at noon after a Delhi court, which was scheduled to pass the order on his bail plea, adjourned the matter. Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh had on September 10 granted interim bail to Rashid, alias Engineer Rashid, to enable him to campaign for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections while deferring the order on his regular bail plea. Rashid's interim bail was previously extended till October 28 on the grounds of his father's poor health.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) hadn't opposed the plea after verifying the documents.
He has been lodged in Tihar jail since 2019 after the NIA arrested him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the 2017 terror funding case. Elections to the 90-member J-K Assembly were held in three phases between September 18 and October 1. The results were declared on October 8 in which the National Conference-Congress alliance attained a majority with 48 seats. PTI
14:18 Close contests
The Wayanad result seems almost to be a foregone conclusion. In the previous two elections, Rahul Gandhi won this United Democratic Front stronghold by massive margins. Read the column here.
14:01 Take message of Sangh to every home: RSS leaders
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has asked its 'pracharaks' to take the agenda of bringing social harmony in Hindu society to the grassroots level besides taking the message of the Sangh to every home.
After the formal meeting of the All India Executive Board of the RSS held at the Deendayal Upadhyaya Gau Vigyan Research and Training Centre in Parkham village here, a meeting of the area and province pracharaks (volunteers) was held on Sunday.
According to RSS sources, outfit chief Mohan Bhagwat gave next year's targets to the area and province-level pracharaks during the meeting. Bhagwat and RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale entrusted the office bearers with the responsibility of taking the agenda of the Sangh (efforts to bring social harmony in Hindu society through 'Panch Parivartan') to the grassroots level in all the 11 regions and 46 province pracharaks of the organisation.
"All the office bearers were called upon to take the message of the Sangh to every home," the sources said. The office bearers were told that as per the issues decided in the meeting of the All India Karyakari Mandal, they should take the message of the Panch Parivartan of family enlightenment, environmental protection, indigenous lifestyle, social harmony and civic duty to every village and town and inspire people to follow them.
13:46 We can also make mistakes: Raut warns Congress
Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Sanjay Raut on Monday warned Congress about fielding a candidate for the Solapur South assembly seat, for which his party has already announced a nominee.
Speaking to reporters, Raut said such actions could provoke a similar response from their side and create 'problems' for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
"The Congress, in its new list, has announced its candidate (Dilip Mane) from the Solapur South constituency. This has happened when we have already fielded our candidate (Amar Patil) from the same seat. I consider it a typing mistake by the Congress. Such a mistake could happen from our side as well," he said.
"I have heard that local Congress leaders are eager to contest the Miraj assembly constituency, which is part of our seat-sharing formula. If this infection (of fielding candidates against allies) spreads across the state, it will create problems for the MVA," Raut said.
The Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-UBT, and the Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar are part of the opposition MVA, which is challenging the ruling Mahayuti.
When asked about the Congress being keen on contesting more seats in Mumbai, Raut said, "The party is asking for one more seat in Mumbai. Traditionally, the Shiv Sena has been contesting more seats in Mumbai. The party is needed in Mumbai, the way Congress in Vidarbha region."
Congress state president Nana Patole said the party high command had decided to contest the Solapur South seat.
"We, at the state level, cannot comment on it. It is my humble suggestion to Raut that he should direct his criticism to the opposition. The issue of filing nominations will be over by tomorrow."
The MVA has announced candidates for more than 200 seats for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections.
However, the Shiv Sena-UBT and the Congress are at a stalemate over a few seats. -- PTI
13:07 Salman, Shah Rukh's iconic 'Karan Arjun' to re-release on...
Bollywood fans are in for a major treat as the iconic 1995 film 'Karan Arjun', starring Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, is set to re-release globally on November 22, 2024.
Directed by Rakesh Roshan, the film also stars Rakhee, Kajol, Mamta Kulkarni, and the legendary Amrish Puri.
The movie, which has achieved cult status over the years, will hit single screens and multiplexes across India and will also have a simultaneous international re-release.
Karan Arjun is one of Bollywood's most beloved movies, with its unique combination of action, drama, and the theme of reincarnation. Fans are excited to relive the magic of the film, especially on the big screen. The announcement was made by Salman Khan himself, who shared a brand-new teaser of the film.
In a 1-minute teaser that Salman posted, viewers get a nostalgic trip back to the movie's famous scenes.
The teaser was captioned, "Raakhi ji ne sahi kaha tha film mein ki mere Karan Arjun aayenge ...November 22 ko duniya bhar ke cinema gharon mein!" (Raakhi ji was right in the film when she said my Karan Arjun will return ... on November 22 in cinemas worldwide!).
13:01 Maha CM holds roadshow ahead of filing nomination
Maharashtra CM and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde to file his nomination today from the Kopri-Pachpakhadi Assembly constituency for the Maharashtra Election 2024. He held a road show and ahead of that his family applied tilak on his forehead and performed aarti.
Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that people seeing him as a Chief Minister is a solution, not a problem, adding that it does not mean that he will be becoming the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
"In a lighter mode, I want to say that, when you gave me the introduction, you said that Devendra ji log aapko CM samjhte hai yeh logo ki samasya hai, I see it as a solution, not a problem. This doesn't mean I am saying that I am going to become the CM. Just want to say don't take it as a problem," Fadnavis said and laughed during the NDTV Marathi's election conclave.
He further said that the ruling Mahayuti does not need to announce the candidate for the chief ministerial post, as Eknath Shinde is the incumbent Chief Minister.
12:27 MVA no consensus on 10% seats, deadline looms
A day before the deadline for filing of nominations, NCP (SP) head Sharad Pawar on Monday said the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has reached a consensus over 90 to 95 per cent of the total 288 seats in the state.
Speaking to reporters, Pawar, in a veiled attack on the BJP, said their fight was against those who engineered splits in rival political parties and those who compromised with their ideology. Those who are in power did not solve problems of the people, he claimed. The Maharashtra assembly elections are scheduled on November 20 and votes will be counted on November 23. The last date for filing of nomination papers is October 29. The MVA comprises the NCP (SP), Congress and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT). The Shiv Sena split in June 2022, causing the collapse of Thackeray's MVA government, while the Sharad Pawar-founded NCP broke into two factions after his nephew Ajit Pawar joined the ruling alliance in July 2023. "
Those who are in power did not solve problems of the people. We are fighting against those who engineered splits in political parties, made unnecessary compromises with their ideology and did things they were not supposed to do," Sharad Pawar said.
In March this year, Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis countered the jibes he was subjected to over his "I will be back" assembly poll campaign line in 2019 by claiming he did return to power (in June 2022 following the rebellion by Eknath Shinde) and that too "after splitting two parties".
12:03 I know Baramati will elect me: Ajit Pawar
Ahead of filing nomination on Monday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP candidate from Baramati assembly seat Ajit Pawar held a roadshow and exuded confidence saying that the people of Baramati will give him a mandate this time as well.
"Everyone has the right to contest. Whenever any candidate is fielded against me I take them as a strong candidate and campaign accordingly. This time too the people of Baramati will elect me and I have faith in them," said Ajit Pawar.
Notably, Ajit Pawar's nephew and grandson of Sharad Pawar, Yugendra Pawar, is contesting from the same constituency as the NCP-SP candidate.
Baramati will see another Pawar versus Pawar contest after Supriya Sule, daughter of Sharad Pawar, defeated Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar, during the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year.
Ajit Pawar split the NCP in June 2023.Speaking to ANI, when asked about contesting the election against his uncle, who has won this seat seven times, Yugendra Pawar said that he feels it is quite sad and quite unfortunate.
11:33 Tata-Airbus to deliver first aircraft in 2026
Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran on Monday said that the TATA Aircraft Complex, built in partnership with Airbus, aims to deliver its first C295 aircraft within the next two years.
"Exactly after two years from now, we will deliver the first indigenously manufactured C-295 Aircraft," Tata Sons Chairman said in his address at the inauguration of the TATA Aircraft Complex for manufacturing C295 military transport aircraft in Vadodara in Gujarat.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez inaugurated the country's first private military transport aircraft production plant here today.
Chandrasekaran emphasised, "This is a very, very important day for India and Indian defence sector. We will deliver the first aircraft in next two years. This project will propel India into the next generation of advanced manufacturing. It will build a diverse and sophisticated skills ecosystem, as well as a very strong supply of base, more importantly, give a lot of high tech opportunities for our entrepreneurs and youth."
11:12 Ajit Pawar's nephew on Baramati contest: I feel sad
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar will file his nomination from the Baramati assembly seat today.
Notably, his nephew and grandson of Sharad Pawar, Yugendra Pawar, is contesting from the same constituency as the NCP-SP candidate.
Baramati will see another Pawar versus Pawar contest after Supriya Sule, daughter of Sharad Pawar, defeated Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar, during the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year.
Ajit Pawar split the NCP in June 2023.
Speaking to ANI, when asked about contesting the election against his uncle, who has won this seat seven times, Yugendra Pawar said that he feels it is quite sad and quite unfortunate.
"I feel it is quite sad, quite unfortunate that this had to come in the family. Not in Vidhan Sabha but it started in Lok Sabha and we were always together and even the incumbent MLA was always under the guidance of the founder of the party and family patriarch Sharad Pawar Sahab. What happened all of India has seen. The party split and the symbol was given to them by the election commission," he told ANI.
10:32 Modi, Spanish PM launch Tata-Airbus facility
PM Modi, his Spanish counterpart Sanchez inaugurate Tata Advanced Systems Limited facility for manufacturing C-295 aircraft in Vadodara.
A total of 56 aircraft are there under the C-295 programme, of which 16 are being delivered directly by the aircraft manufacturing company Airbus from Spain, and the remaining 40 will be built at the TATA Aircraft Complex located inside the TATA advanced systems limited (TASL) campus.
10:25 Is Diljeet Dosanjh joining BJP?
Singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh meets BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill, at the latter's residence in Delhi. It's probably a social visit, but we'll keep you posted on more.
Dosanjh has been criticized for his recent visit to Delhi's Bangla Sahib Gurdwara days before his "Dil-luminati" concert. The actor-singer filmed inside the Gurudwara though photography is banned inside.
10:10 Markets rebound in early trade on buying in ICICI Bank
Equity markets rebounded in early trade on Monday, driven by buying in the stock of blue-chip ICICI Bank, firm trends in Asian peers and continuous buying by domestic institutional investors. The BSE Sensex jumped 462.45 points to 79,864.74 in early trade. The NSE Nifty climbed 112.1 points to 24,292.90.
From the 30 Sensex pack, ICICI Bank climbed nearly 3 per cent after the private sector lender posted a 14.5 per cent growth in standalone profit to Rs 11,746 crore for the second quarter ended September 2024.
State Bank of India, IndusInd Bank, Infosys, HCL Technologies, Asian Paints and Hindustan Unilever were the other big gainers from the pack. JSW Steel, Larsen & Toubro, Power Grid and ITC were among the laggards.
10:07 Gautam Singhania blasts Lamborghini for ghosting him
Raymond Group Chairman and Managing Director Gautam Singhania has blasted Italian carmaker Lamborghini for "arrogance" having failed to reach out to him regarding an issue with his car.
Singhania had earlier tweeted on X about his Lamborghini Revuelto getting stranded at Mumbai's trans-harbour link due to a complete electrical failure.
"I'm shocked at the arrogance of India Head @Agarwal_sharad and Asia Head Francesco Scardaoni. No one has reached out even to check what the customer issues are," he tweeted on Sunday. Lamborghini India could not immediately reach out about the matter. In a tweet on October 16, Singhania had noted that the Lamborghini India and Asia leadership failed to reach out to him despite him being an old loyal customer.
"It is shocking that the India Head of Lamborghini @agarwal_sharad has not even bothered to make a phone call to enquire what the problem with an old loyal customer is. Is the brand arrogance getting to another level?" he tweeted.
Earlier this month, Singhania had tweeted about taking his new Lamborghini Revuelto for a test drive and ended up stranded on the trans-harbour link due to a complete electrical failure.
"It's a brand-new car'. Are there reliability concerns? This is the third one I've heard of experiencing issues within 15 days of delivery," he had stated. Lamborghini Revuelto is priced around Rs 8.89 crore in India. PTI
10:01 Modi, Spain PM to launch C-295 aircraft facility now
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sanchez hold a roadshow in Vadodara The two leaders will inaugurate the Final Assembly Line Plant of C295 aircraft at Vadodara today.
The two leaders will open the new facility - the first private sector Final Assembly Line (FAL) for military aircraft in India - at the TATA advanced systems limited (TASL) Campus in Vadodara.
A total of 56 aircraft are there under the C-295 programme, of which 16 are being delivered directly by the aircraft manufacturing company Airbus from Spain, and the remaining 40 will be built at the TATA Aircraft Complex.
Sanchez's flight landed at the Vadodara airport at around 1.30 am as he began his maiden official visit to India. He is scheduled to visit Mumbai on Tuesday before returning to Spain.
The 2.5 km roadshow from the airport to the Tata facility will have cultural shows en route. The two leaders will also visit the historic Laxmi Vilas Palace, where they will hold a bilateral meeting organised by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
They will have lunch at the palace before proceeding to their respective destinations, officials said. Sanchez will leave for Spain at around 12.30 am Wednesday, according to his schedule shared by the MEA.
Representational image
09:38 Terrorists target army vehicle in J-K's Akhnoor
Jammu and Kashmir: Terrorists fire upon an army vehicle in the Battal area of Akhnoor. No injury or causality was reported and a search operation has been launched, the Army officials added. Details awaited.
09:30 Why is Delhi going red?
The gorgeous and majestic North Block and South Block illuminated in red. It's being done for something very specific, do you know what it is?
09:28 Engineer Rashid asks Omar: What did you tell PM?
President of Awami Ittehad Party and MP, Sheikh Abdul Rashid, alias Engineer Rashid, has urged Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to disclose details of his meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during his recent visit to New Delhi.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Engineer Rashid said, "People have a right to know what was discussed in those talks when you met the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Defence Minister and others."
Rashid urged Omar Abdullah to clarify if the restoration of Article 370 and the release of political prisoners were discussed during his meetings.
"You have met the Prime Minister, Home Minister and others; it is your duty to let people know about the issues discussed and their responses. Talks should not happen behind closed doors; the public has a right to know what was discussed about Article 370 and statehood and Prime Minister's response. Did you discuss the release of political prisoners ? If yes, what was PM Modi's response? If it was positive, when can we expect the release of prisoners? If it was not positive, what will be your next step?" he added. Last week, Chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory Omar Abdullah met with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Minister of Roads, Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital. Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the first chief minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on October 16 after the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC)-Congress alliance won a majority in the assembly elections.
The National Conference won 42 seats, while its ally Congress won only 6 seats. The BJP put up an impressive performance, bagging 29 seats. The People's Democratic Party won three seats and one seat each was won by the People's Conference, CPI-M and AAP. Seven seats were won by the Independents. -- ANI
09:19 Cyclone Dana: 50,000 households in Odisha yet to get power
About 50,000 households in cyclone-hit areas of Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore districts in Odisha are yet to get back power supply, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on Sunday.
Briefing media persons in Bhubaneswar on Sunday evening after reviewing the post-cyclone situation, Majhi said the restoration work has reached the last stage and obstructions on roads have been completely cleared.
Power supply has been restored in 98 per cent of the affected areas. Out of 22.84 lakh power consumers affected by the cyclone, power supply was restored in 22.32 lakh households.
Nearly 50,000 households of Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore districts are yet to get back power supply as the villages remained marooned, he stated.
For restoration of power supply in the affected areas, about 7,000 workers have been engaged and they are working hard to restore power in those areas too, Majhi said.
More than 8 lakh people in the cyclone-affected area had been evacuated to 6,210 shelter centres. Most of the people have returned to their homes after the situation became normal, he said.
A total of around 30,000 are still there in 470 shelter centres as their homes are still under water, Majhi said.
The chief minister said standing crops over 2.21 lakh acres in 4,100 villages of 12 blocks in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jajpur and Mayurbhanj have been damaged by the natural calamity, as per preliminary estimation.
Detailed damage assessment will be made after field verification once the water level receded in the areas, he added.
Concerned district collectors have been asked to submit a damage assessment report by November 2. After that compensation will be provided to the affected people, Majhi told media persons.
On possible flood like situation in Budhabalanga river, the CM said that there is no threat of flood as water has started receding in the river.
Majhi said he will make another aerial survey of rain-affected areas of Mayurbhanj, Balasore and Bhadrak districts on Monday.
The CM undertook an aerial survey of the coastal areas of Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district, Mahakalapada, Rajnagar and Rajkanika area of Kendrapara district and Chandbali area of Bhadrak district on Sunday afternoon. -- PTI
08:58 Rahul Gandhi helps barber get essential items for his shop
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said it was his promise to every working poor and middle class person in India that he would bring back the smile on their faces.
Gandhi posted a video on his WhatsApp channel in which the barber the former Congress chief had interacted with at his shop in Delhi's Uttam Nagar is seen being taken to a shop to buy the essential items needed for his shop.
Gandhi had arranged for all the essentials needed by Ajit, the barber, to be made available to him.
"I have a promise to every working poor and middle class person of India that I will bring back the smile on their faces," Gandhi said in his post alongside the video.
In the video, the barber thanks Gandhi for making all the things needed for his shop available to him.
Gandhi said on Friday that hard-working poor people had been robbed of their dreams due to falling incomes and rising inflation, and new schemes were needed that would allow them to take home savings.
He had made the remarks after he interacted with the barber.
Gandhi had shared on X the video of his visit to the barber shop in Uttam Nagar's Prajapat Colony. He was seen in the clip enquiring about the barber's problems while getting his beard trimmed.
Since his Kanyakumari-to-Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra and the Manipur-to-Mumbai Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Gandhi has been interacting with a cross-section of people from mechanics and cobblers to labourers and bus drivers.
He often posts videos of his interactions and highlights the plight of various sections of society. -- PTI
08:32 Nepal currency to feature areas disputed with India
The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has entrusted a Chinese company to print 300 million copies of Nepali rupee 100-denomination banknotes featuring the revised political map that shows the controversial territories of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani.
A cabinet meeting earlier in May this year had approved the design of to-be-printed 100-denomination banknotes. Chinese company China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation has been awarded the contract for printing the new banknotes, as per the letter of intent issued by the central bank, the NRB.
'This is to notify you that, it is our intention to award the contract for execution of the Procurement of the Designing, Printing, Supply and Delivery of 300 Million Pieces of Nepalese Rupees 100 Denomination Circulation Banknotes and Related Services (IFB No. NRB/CMD/ ICB/ G-03/080/81) to you as your bid price USD 8,996,592.00 (United States Dollars Eight Million Nine Hundred and Ninety-Six Thousand Five Hundred and Ninety-Two Only), as corrected and modified in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders is hereby selected as substantially responsive lowest evaluated bid,' the letter by Nepal Rastra Bank said.
On May 20, 2020, Nepal issued a new map incorporating Limpiyadhura, Lipulek, and Kalapani through a constitutional amendment.
Notably, All the three contested, interconnected areas lying across western Tibet's Ngari region, have been fully under India's control over the past 60 years or so, with the people living in them being Indian citizens, paying taxes in India, and voting in the Indian elections.
Nepal shares a border of over 1,850 km with five Indian states -- Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The three disputed areas cover a total of about 370 sq km (140 square miles). -- ANI
A cabinet meeting earlier in May this year had approved the design of to-be-printed 100-denomination banknotes. Chinese company China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation has been awarded the contract for printing the new banknotes, as per the letter of intent issued by the central bank, the NRB.
'This is to notify you that, it is our intention to award the contract for execution of the Procurement of the Designing, Printing, Supply and Delivery of 300 Million Pieces of Nepalese Rupees 100 Denomination Circulation Banknotes and Related Services (IFB No. NRB/CMD/ ICB/ G-03/080/81) to you as your bid price USD 8,996,592.00 (United States Dollars Eight Million Nine Hundred and Ninety-Six Thousand Five Hundred and Ninety-Two Only), as corrected and modified in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders is hereby selected as substantially responsive lowest evaluated bid,' the letter by Nepal Rastra Bank said.
On May 20, 2020, Nepal issued a new map incorporating Limpiyadhura, Lipulek, and Kalapani through a constitutional amendment.
Notably, All the three contested, interconnected areas lying across western Tibet's Ngari region, have been fully under India's control over the past 60 years or so, with the people living in them being Indian citizens, paying taxes in India, and voting in the Indian elections.
Nepal shares a border of over 1,850 km with five Indian states -- Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The three disputed areas cover a total of about 370 sq km (140 square miles). -- ANI
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