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Tue, 08 August 2017
Rebel Cong MLAs' votes invalid, declares EC

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23:38  
EC asks Returning Officer to start counting of votes after segregating the votes in question.
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23:37   Rebel Cong MLAs' votes invalid, declares EC
JUST IN: The Election Commission rejects votes of both rebel Congress MLAs in Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls.

The Congress alleged that since MLAs Bhola Bhai Gohil and Raghav Bhai Patel showed their votes to people other than authorised representatives, their votes should be rejected.

The EC accepted their demands after much deliberation.

Now the counting of votes will start.

IMAGE: Congress leaders at EC this evening. Photograph: PTI Photo
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23:13   RS poll fallout: JD-U sacks gen secy, Sharad Yadav's confidant
The Janata Dal-United on Tuesday removed Arun Shrivastav from the post of party general secretary for 'unauthorisedly' writing to the Returning Officer of Gujarat assembly appointing an election agent for the crucial Rajya Sabha election there.

A letter to this effect was served to Srivastav by party secretary general K C Tyagi.

'The party president (Nitish Kumar) has taken a serious note of the issue and has relieved you of your responsibility from the post of general secretary,' Tyagi said in his letter to Srivastav, considered a close confidant of senior party leader Sharad Yadav.

'The act of yours not only amounts to anti-party activity, breach of discipline but is also treachery,' Tyagi said in the letter.

The lone JD-U MLA in Gujarat, Chhotu Vasava, today claimed he voted for Congress' nominee Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha polls as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has done little for the tribal people and the poor.

The JD-U MLA's claim of voting for the Congress nominee comes at a time when the party has forged ties with the BJP in Bihar to form a government.

Tyagi showed a letter of JD-U president Nitish Kumar written to the Returning Officer of Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat authorising only Tyagi to appoint authorised agent and to take all steps in Rajya Sabha elections for the three seats held today.

But, Srivastav wrote to the Returning Officer of Gujarat Legislature 'unauthorisedly', it said.  -- PTI
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22:51   Gujarat RS poll: EC order on couting of votes shortly
Update on Gujarat Rajya Sabha poll.

The Election Commission will convey an order on counting of votes to Returning Officer at 11.30 pm.

Meanwhile, a Congress delegation visited the EC for the fourth time.

However, the officials are in a closed-door meeting. -- ANI
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22:40   Rahul Gandhi 'missing' posters appear in Amethi
Posters declaring Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi as 'missing' have appeared in his Lok Sabha constituency Amethi, with the party terming it as a 'handiwork' of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

The posters, which have been pasted at various places in the city, carry a picture of Gandhi with a message below it. 'Amethi ke mananiya saansad Amethi se lapata hain (Respected Amethi parliamentarian is missing from Amethi).'

Gandhi had last visited his constituency in February this year in run up to the state assembly elections. The posters also claim developmental works, supposed to be carried out by MPs in their areas, have stalled in Amethi.

'The common man is feeling cheated and humiliated due to his behaviour. Those giving information about him will be rewarded,' the message on the poster adds.

District Congress chief Yogendra Mishra termed it a 'conspiracy' of the BJP and the RSS and said such things have happened earlier also.

"We will register an FIR in this connection with the local police," Mishra said.

BJP district president Uma Shankar Pandey denied the allegations saying his party and the RSS have nothing to do with it.

"Had he (Gandhi) done something for Amethi, the situation would not have arisen," he said.

Additional Superintendent of Police B C Dubey said police have not received complaint in this matter from anyone.

"If we get a complaint, we will probe and take necessary action," he said.

Gandhi had last week met people of his constituency in Lucknow, where he had gone to submit a memorandum to the National Highway Authority of India regarding land acquisition of farmers for roads.  -- PTI
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22:07   EC officials didn't meet Congress, BJP delegations
JUST IN: The Election Commission officials did not meet the delegations of the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party for the third time.

Officials are in a closed-door meeting right now and a decision is expected tonight.

Union minister Piyush Goyal, who was in the BJP delegation visiting the EC office for the third time, said, "It is a complete sham that Congress is indulging in, the allegations are completely baseless."

Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who was also a member of the delegation, said, "We are confident about EC's judgement, they'll be giving opining on counting soon."

Another member of the delegation Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman said 'we want electoral process to be completed and counting to begin'.  -- ANI

IMAGE: BJP delegation leaving EC. Photograph: ANI
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21:35  
JUST IN: Congress leaders including R P N Singh and Randeep Surjewala going to the Election Commission for the third time.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party delegation also reaches Election Commission for the third time.

"Congress cannot put undue pressure on the EC. If Congress party goes to the EC the third time, so will we," Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said. -- ANI
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20:50   RS poll: Cong offers precedent to seek rejection of rebels' votes
Delegations of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress are at the Election Commission over the grand old party's demand of rejection of votes of its two MLAs in Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls who allegedly showed the votes to people other than authorised representatives.

Offering precedent of such an action, Congress leader Anand Sharma said, "One of our MLAs had mistakenly showed his vote in Haryana and his vote was rejected. Same was done in Gujarat so the vote should be rejected."

Voicing similar opinion, Congress leader P Chidambaram said, "There is enough evidence that the ballot paper were seen by people other than those authorised. The EC must reject these ballot papers as it did in Haryana in June 2016."

Meanwhile, terming Congress' objections as 'baseless', the BJP demanded immediate counting of votes for the Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat, contending that validity of votes once put in ballot boxes cannot be questioned.

A delegation of party leaders, including Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Piyush Goyal, approached the EC after the Congress asked the poll panel to cancel the votes of its two 'disgruntled' MLAs.

Goyal told reporters after meeting EC officials that the decision of presiding officers is final.

"If neither they (Congress) nor election observers object to it when votes were cast, then the votes cannot be questioned now," he said, and demanded that 'the counting of votes should be done immediately and results declared'.

Prasad said the Congress was reacting out of fear of losing the poll, in which its senior leader Ahmed Patel is locked in a tight fight with a Congress rebel fielded by the BJP.  -- PTI

IMAGE: Congress leaders P Chidambaram, right, and Randeep Surjewala at the Election Commission in New Delhi on Tuesday evening. Photograph: ANI
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20:20  
Sensex on Tuesday.
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20:20  
BSE Sensex top losers today.
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20:19   5,763 foreigners convicted under Foreigners Act in three years
More than 5,700 foreigners have been convicted under the Foreigners Act in the last three years, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said in response to a question that 2,476 foreigners were convicted under the Foreigners Act in 2016, 1,442 in 2015 and 1,845 in 2014, totalling to 5,763.

Replying to another question, Rijiju said 1,72,536 visas were issued to Pakistani citizens during 2014-15; 14,03,963 visas were issued to Bangladeshi citizens during the same period.

Under Section 14 of The Foreigners Act, 1946, a person can be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine for remaining in India for exceeding the period for which the visa was issued.  -- PTI
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19:58   Chandigarh stalking: Rajnath likely to make a statement in Parliament tomorrow
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh may make a statement in Parliament tomorrow on the incident of alleged stalking of a woman in Chandigarh, an official said in New Delhi.

The home ministry has received a report from the Chandigarh Police on the incident.

The son of Haryana Bharatiya Janata Party chief Subhash Barala, Vikash, and his friend Ashish Kumar were arrested for allegedly stalking a 29-year-old woman last week.

"The ministry has received a report on the incident. It is a statement of facts. The ministry is examining the report. The home minister may make a statement in Parliament tomorrow," the official said. -- PTI
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19:44   RS poll: EC meet on Cong plaint over; party says poll body 'under pressure'
JUST IN: A meet of the Election Commission over Gujarat Congress complaint seeking rejection of votes of two party MLAs in Rajya Sabha polls, who allegedly shown their votes publicly, has just concluded.

EC's decision will come today.

Bharatiya Janata Party delegation including Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Nirmala Sitharaman reached the Election Commission.

The BJP delegation also included Union ministers M A Naqvi, Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan.

Congress leaders including Anand Sharma and Randeep Surjewala also went to the EC again.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia said 'we had raised objection at 9.30 am, but the EC has not responded till now. It shows that they are being put under pressure'.

"We requested that Congress, BJP and Presiding officer should jointly watch the video, but the BJP objected. Waiting for EC's decision," Modhwadia said.

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "The Congress has been leveling baseless allegations, they did not protest about it in the morning."

Prasad 'requested the EC to reject Congress's plea as once votes are cast then nothing can be done'.     -- ANI

IMAGE: Congress leader Ahemd Patel. Photograph: ANI
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19:15   Chhattisgarh: CRPF jawans accused of molesting schoolgirls
A few Central Reserve Police Force troopers have been blamed for allegedly molesting schoolgirls in Palnar, Chhattisgarh.

This incident took place in Dantewada during Raksha Bandhan function.

When the programme concluded, a few school girls were allegedly molested in the toilet of an ashram in Palnar, 25 km away from the district headquarters of Dantewada.

An FIR has been registered in this case by the Chhattisgarh Police today and the investigation is underway.

The CRPF has also been investigating the matter.

Sundarraj P, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Baster, told ANI that the accused CRPF jawans are being interrogated.

"Strong action will be taken against those who will be found guilty, further investigation is underway." said Sundarraj.

He also said the issue is serious and guilty will be punished. -- ANI

Image only for representation.
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18:58   UPDATE: Dipak Misra to be next Chief Justice of India
Dipak Misra has been announced as the next Chief Justice of India. The current Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar is retiring on August 27 this year. 

Justice Dipak Misra will be the 45th Chief Justice of India.

Justice Dipak Misra enrolled as an Advocate on February 14, 1977. He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Orissa High Court in 1996 and was transferred to the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 1997. He became permanent Judge in December, 1997. 

Justice Misra assumed charge of the office of Chief Justice, Patna High Court in 2009 and later became the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court in 2010. He was elevated to the Supreme Court on October 10, 2011.

Justice Misra will have a tenure of nearly 14 months as the CJI. He will retire on October 2, 2018.
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18:10   Gujarat EC to watch video of MLAs showing ballot paper to Amit Shah
Just in: Reports say the Election Commission will reject votes of the two MLAs who who violated the secrecy clause and showed their ballot papers. Ballot papers can only be shown to the polling officer.  Two Congress MLAs Bholabhai and Raghavji Bhai voted for BJP and publicly showed their votes, the Congress party's Shaktisinh Gohil says. Randeep Surjewala and RPN Singh had approached the EC over the matter. The Congress says Rule 39 (secrecy of vote) has been violated and the two votes should be disqualified. The Gujarat Election Commission agrees to watch the video recording of MLAs showing their votes to Amit Shah.

Counting of votes has begun once again.

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17:41   Shia Waqf Board to SC: Mosque can be built near Ram Temple in Ayodhya
The Shia Waqf Board on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that mosque can be built near Ram Temple in Ayodhya.In a major development, the Shia Waqf Board on Tuesday filed an affidavit before the apex court in which it stated that a mosque can be constructed at a place near birth place of Lord Ram.


"Since, the Babri Masjid was a Shia Waqf, we are alone entitled to negotiate and arrive at peaceful settlement with other stakeholders," Shia Waqf Board said in its statement.


However, in the year 1961 the Sunni Central Waqf Board also filed a lawsuit, demanding possession of the site and removal of idols from the mosque premises.


Reportedly, the board had earlier decided to become a party in ongoing litigations in relation to the Ramjanmabhoomi - Babri Masjid dispute.The mosque was demolished by Hindu Karsevaks on December 6, 1992 in Ayodhya.


The country witnessed massive riots in which over 2000 people were killed.The Hindus claim that it is the birthplace of Lord Rama where a mosque was built in 1528-29 CE (935 AH) by Mir Baqi.


Since the mosque was built on orders of the Mughal emperor Babur, it was named Babri Masjid.Before it was demolished in 1992, the Nirmohi Akhara had forcefully occupied the Babri Masjid in 1853 saying it was Ram Janmabhoomi (Birth place of Lord Rama).
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17:34   Cong complains to EC against 2 rebel MLAs who showed Amit Shah ballot papers
The Congress has lodged a complaint against two rebel MLAs who showed their ballot papers to BJP president Amit Shah. While the names of the two Congress MLAs are not available, Gujarat Congress leader Dharmendra Jadeja and Raghavji Patel have both said that they voted for BJP candidate Balwantsinh Rajput. A JDU MLA has also voted for the BJP. The Congress wants the two MLAs who showed their ballot papers to be disqualified for breach of the EC's code of conduct. 

Gujarat's Chief Electoral Officer BB Swain announced that the counting will begin at 5 pm and the results will be in by 6 pm. But the counting has been delayed because of this complaint.

Former Gujarat Congress chief Shankersinh Vaghela said he voted for BJP despite earlier calling Patel his "friend". The good news for Congress candidate Ahmed Patel is that he got one vote each from both NCP and JD(U).

Congress leader Ashok Gehlot claimed that Patel will comfortably win as he has the required numbers of 45 votes, though he accepted that one of the party MLAs, who was part of the 44 legislators huddled together for over a week in Bengaluru, has cross-voted.

Congress leaders said they have got 45 votes, the magical number required to win the seat, as 43 of their MLAs, one from NCP and one from JD (U) have voted for the party.

The Congress has 51 MLAs in the House after six legislators resigned following a rebellion by senior party leader Shankarsinh Vaghela. Out of the 51 MLAs, seven of Vaghela group (including Vaghela) had not gone to Bengaluru, unlike the rest of the 44.

Technically, these seven MLAs are still with the Congress, including Vaghela as he has not resigned as MLA. Gehlot accepted that all the seven MLAs of Vaghela group, including Raghavji Patel and Dharmedrasinh Jadeja, have cross-voted.
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17:01   The 1st orangutan to use sign language dies at 39
Chantek, one of the first orangutans to use sign language to communicate with humans, has died at a zoo in the US, aged 39. Although the cause of death is not yet known, the Zoo Atlanta's Animal Care and Veterinary Teams had been treating Chantek with a regimen of advanced medical therapy targeted at mitigating his progressive heart disease.


At 39, he was one of the oldest living male orangutans within the North American zoos. Orangutans are considered geriatric after the age of about 35. Born December 17 in 1977 at the Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center in the US, Chantek arrived at Zoo Atlanta in 1997. He was well-known for his knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL), learned prior to his arrival at the Zoo.


He frequently used ASL to communicate with his caregivers, with whom he developed close personal bonds throughout his years at Zoo Atlanta, officials said.


"Chantek will be deeply missed by his family here at Zoo Atlanta. He had such a unique and engaging personality and special ways of relating to and communicating with those who knew him best," said Hayley Murphy, Vice President of Animal Divisions. Zoo Atlanta announced in September last year that the Animal Care and Veterinary Teams had begun a progressive medical regimen to treat Chantek's symptoms of heart disease.


Chantek participated in the world's first echocardiogram (EKG) ever performed with an awake orangutan. This procedure monitors the heart's electrical rhythms and was used to aid in the diagnosis of Chantek's condition. Like other orangutans at Zoo Atlanta, Chantek also participated in cardiac ultrasounds, blood pressure readings and blood draws, all of which were valuable means of monitoring his health.

Image: Chantek/Reuters
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16:47   'The Ashokan rock edicts are a marvel of history'
'The ideas carved into the rock articulate an important -- if often suppressed and denied -- impulse in Indian history: A call to mutual respect of different beliefs, and to persuasion as opposed to coercion as the basis of how we interact with one another.' Historian Sunil Khilnani picks some of India's treasures. Do read
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16:10   Mumbai IT professional, who stalked woman, rang her doorbell, arrested
A day after Varnika Kundu was stalked in Chandigarh, in 'safe' Mumbai, comes news of another shocking incident.

On Tuesday, the police arrested the 36-year-old IT professional for stalking the woman, a fashion designer for almost 45 minutes early Monday morning.

The accused identified as Niteshkumar Sharma (36) chased the victim Aditi Nagpaul in a car and followed her up to her first floor flat in Andheri (West) and also rang her doorbell.

When Nagpaul shouted at Sharma he went downstairs and waited in his car and stared at her flat.

Nagpaul posted this on her her Facebook account:


"This is shocking and nerve wrecking!
In the last 10 years, I've always felt safe in Bombay, and in the same breath have always cursed Delhi! But last night showed me a different side to my 'not so safe anymore' city!
2 women and 2 kids in a car together don't stop a random man from stalking and following you upto your house and ringing your door bell at 2am!
He dint have any fear in his eyes, a fear of being captured by security cameras, interrogation by security guards or threats of Police! He just hung around coolly in his car long after the incident very comfortable in getting his pictures clicked!
So here they are! Please do circulate and make others aware of this mans possible psychotic streak!
However , a police complaint has been lodged, and I'm awaiting to find out more details on him to take further necessary actions!
But well what a Rakhi! In the end you have to protect your own self..."


Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone IX) Paramjit Singh Dahiya told the Times of India that the accused has been booked under the Indian Penal Code section 354 (D) (stalking). He claimed himself an IT professional and hails from Hyderabad and has visited his relatives house at Malad. He also claimed that he came to Mumbai four days ago and was roaming in the city at night. He parked the car he was driving in the basement of the building where the victim stays with his husband and two kids," said Dahiya.


Image: The accused, a 36-year-old IT professional, waited in his car below the victim's building, all the while staring at her. 
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15:42   What I do, where I go, what time I go, is my business: Varnika Kundu
Refusing to succumb to political attacks launched at her, Varnika Kundu, the victim of alleged stalking and harassing by two men, including Vikas Barala, son of BJP Haryana unit President Subhash Barala, lashed out at her critics, saying nobody had the right to point fingers at her character, and the time of the incident.


"Where I go at what time, and what I do is none of anybody's business. This should not be a means of judging any woman's character. When a man does certain things, nobody questions him. But when a woman decides to do the same thing, society immediately begins to assault her character. I think women need to fiercely oppose such mentality," Varnika told ANI.


Varnika fell prey to the recent trend of pictures and videos being made viral on social media, when a few snaps of her came to light on various social media platforms. Subsequently, Varnika faced flak for the same, including accusations of her painting a different picture of the incident compared to the reality.


However, refusing to succumb to this form of victim-shaming, Varnika vehemently opposed to being affected by such 'blatant lies', adding that there was nothing illegal or objectionable in those photographs.


"These kind posts shouldn't be dignified with a response. However, I would like to say that it is a very watered-down attempt to scare me, but I refuse to be affected by it. Such comments being made say more about them than me," she opined.


Vikas Barala was arrested on August 5 on the charges of stalking and harassing the IAS officer's daughter in Chandigarh. He was, however, granted bail on the same day.


A case was registered by the Chandigarh Police against Vikas and other youth under under Section 354 D (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 185 (Motor Vehicle Act) of the CRPC on the basis of complaint filed by the woman.


Narrating the horrific ordeal, Varnika had told the media she was lucky for not being the daughter of a common man.


"I'm lucky, it seems, to not be the daughter of a common man, because what chance would they have against such VIPs? I'm also lucky, because I'm not lying raped and murdered in a ditch somewhere," she had written in a Facebook post.


Meanwhile, Subhash Barala, finally broke his silence over his son and asserted that he is not using his political influence to pressurize the investigation in the matter.


He further said that Varnika, who was stalked by his son, is like his daughter and he will cooperate to bring justice to her.


"Investigation is being done in Varnika Kundu case. Whatever action is required it will be taken against Vikas in this case. BJP bats for daughter's freedom and Varnika Kundu is like my daughter. Neither I nor BJP is pressuring anyone in this matter," he told ANI exclusively.


Earlier in the day, it was reported that the CCTV footage, which was earlier deemed unavailable, has been recovered today.


Image: Varnika Kundu's Facebook page
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14:36   Stalking case: Varnika is like my daughter, says father of accused
Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala's first statement in the wake of the arrest of his son Vikas, for stalking a woman, Varnika Kundu.

Vikas Barala, 23, and his friend, Ashish Kumar, 27, were released on bail hours after they were arrested last week.

Subhash Barala said today that that the victim, Varnika, was like his daughter and that there was no pressure to influence the investigation.

"The law should take its own course, BJP is a party which believes in women's rights and freedom," said Barala.

The Chandigarh Police has retrieved footage of five CCTV cameras on the route on which the 29-year-old woman was allegedly chased by the two men last week.

Varnika, daughter of a bureaucrat, had called up the police on Friday night complaining that two youth were chasing her along a stretch of over 5 km from Chandigarh.

On Monday, UT Chandigarh SSP Eish Singhal had said the police was in the process of taking the footage of CCTV on the route where the victim was allegedly stalked by the accused.

"We have identified several CCTV cameras on the route taken by the accused and we are in the process of taking footage when their technical analysis is complete, we will let you know," he had said.

On allegations that six CCTV cameras on the route were non-functional, the SSP had said, "I can brief about this only when the technical analysis is complete."

"We are analysing every single camera on that road stretch. When technical analysis is complete, details will be put before you."

Police had rejected claims that it was under any kind of pressure.

The Chandigarh Police had also said it will not hesitate to add non-bailable provisions in the case if legal opinion is in its favour.

Singhal had said they were investigating the matter with an "open mind" and were taking legal opinion on several issues pertaining to the case.

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had yesterday condemned the incident and said no attempt should be made to dilute charges against the accused.

"We are living in 2017. Nothing to do with ladies coming out to work at night. Clear case of 'gundagardi'. Doesn't matter whose son he is. If we give free hand to police they'll find things out," Capt. Amarinder Singh, Punjab CM, said.


IMAGE: The victim, Varnika Kundu. Photograph: Varnika Kundu/Facebook
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14:05   Gujarat RS polls end
Polling for the Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat over as all 176 MLAs cast their vote: State Chief Electoral Officer B B Swain.
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13:44   WNYC Studios picks up weekly Preet Bharara Podcast
Preet Bharara, the former US Attorney for the Southern District of New York whose path has proved of great interest since he was removed from his post by the Trump administration, has a lot more to say. Read more
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13:27   Rahul went abroad without security, what is he hiding: Rajnath
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi was away from India on six occasions for 72 days without taking any SPG security along, posing grave threat tohimself, Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha today. He was responding to allegations by Congress members that Gandhi could have been killed in Gujarat where stones were pelted on his car last week.


Responding to the issue raised by Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Singh said the nation as well as the House want to know what Rahul wants to hide by not taking SPG protection along, when he left India on six occasions totalling 72 days.

The Home Minister told the House, "It is worth mentioning that in the past, there have been many instances of Shri Rahul Gandhi ignoring the security advice. In his earlier visit to  Gujarat on July 21, Shri Gandhi preferred to use a non-BR car in disregard of advice given by SPG to use a BR Car.

"Shri Rahul Gandhi undertook 121 tours in the last 2 years, out of which there were 100 security protocol violations of not using BR Car.

"In the last 2 years, Shri Gandhi has been out on six foreign visits for 72 days. He has not kept the SPG cover with himself in these 72 days. We want to know why didnt Shri Rahul Gandhi take SPG cover on several foreign trips? What is he trying to hide? 

"A SPG protectee gets security cover under an Act of Parliament reflecting the will and wisdom of  Parliament for providing security. Going abroad without taking SPG cover is not only a violation of the SPG Act, but also a negligence towards ones own security."

He said one person has been arrested during the course of investigation, who is now in judicial custody. The Gujarat CM has also appointed an officer of the ADG rank to inquire into all the aspects of the Dhanera incident.

Earlier, Kharge alleged that if one of the stones had hit their leader, he could have been killed.
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12:46  
Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls: 61 BJP MLAs and 43 Congress MLAs have cast their votes so far.
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12:32   Don't support old chela, remember what Cong did for you: Digvijaya to Vaghela
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Tuesday made a fervent appeal to former party leader Shankersinh Vaghela over the Gujarat Rajya Sabha Polls, reminding him not to forget what the grand old party has done for him over the past years.


Singh took to Twitter to remind Vaghela of his Rajput roots and said that he should stay true to his party.


"My fervent appeal to Bapu Shankar Singhji Vaghela as an individual and his brother who hosted him in Khajuraho before he became CM. Don't forget what Congress has done for you. You are a Rajput. Please ensure Ahmed Bhai's victory. He has been our friend and supporter," Singh tweeted.


Singh further wrote that whatever issue is their will be resolved within the party and requested Vaghela to not to ditch the Congress."Whatever your issues in Congress we shall resolve within. Don't ditch and support your old chela who is taking the whole country for a ride," he said.


However, despite Singh's request, Vaghela did not vote for Patel and said there was no point voting for the grand old party as they are never going to win the elections.


"The entire nation will face the impact and effect of this election. I tried to explain a lot to the Congress party before the elections, they didn't listen, following which I left the party. Now when the Congress Party is not going to win the elections, there was no point giving my votes to it," Vaghela told the reporters after casting his vote.


Expressing sorrow for not voting for Patel, Vaghela further said the Congress party shouldn't have put the reputation of the former on stake, when the party knew that their MLAs were resigning."It is not even sure that all the 44 MLAs of the Congress will vote for the same person, they may also do cross voting. That's why there is no chance of the Congress Party winning this seat. So, I have not given my vote to Ahmed Patel," he said.


However, Vaghela did not confirm whether he voted for the BJP candidate or opted for NOTA (none of the above). Meanwhile, two Congress MLA Dharmendra Jadeja and Raghavji Patel have voted for the BJP.


"There are only two parties in Gujarat - Congress and BJP. If I'm not with Congress, you know where will I be," Congress MLA Raghavji Patel said after casting his vote for the BJP.
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12:14   Plea for minority status to non-Muslims in J&K: SC grants time to Centre
The Supreme Court today gave a final opportunity to the Centre and asked it to take a decision within three months on a plea to grant minority status to non-Muslims in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices AK Goel and D Y Chandrachud considered the submission of the central government that it needed more time to hold consultations with the state government and other stakeholders, if any.

The bench was hearing a PIL filed by Jammu-based lawyer Ankur Sharma that in a Muslim majority state like Jammu and Kashmir, non-Muslims should have been granted minority status to avail benefits of various governmental schemes.
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11:53   Rahul car attack: HM says Cong VP did not follow security instructions
The Chandigarh stalking incident, involving the son of Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala and the daughter of a senior IAS officer, came up for discussion in the Upper House as did the attack on Congress VP Rahul Gandhi's car.

The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, the Requisition and Acquisition of Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill and the Companies (Amendment) Bill, are also scheduled to be taken up today.

Addressing the Lok Sabhya, home minister Rajnath Singh said that Rahul Gandhi did not listen to the area police or SPG officials, but only his personal secretary.

The Gujarat government is investigating the matter and one person has been arrested, the HM said.

"Rahul should have followed security related suggestions. There was a heavy presence of security personnel, but he did not use the car provided by the police," Rajnath Singh said after the Congress raises the issue of attack on its vice president's car in Gujarat.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's car was pelted with stones on Friday during his visit to this flood-affected town in Gujarat but he escaped unhurt, police said.

He had to cut short his address to a gathering at Lal Chowk area of Dhanera in Banaskantha district as black flags were waved at him by some of those who turned up for the meeting.

The glass panes of the car, in which Rahul was seated on his way to the helipad in Dhanera from Lal Chowk, was shattered in the attack, a police official said.

However, Rahul did not suffer any injury and moved on to his next venue, Runi village in Thara taluka, where he asserted his party is not going to be cowed down by stone pelting.
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11:29   Yoga not compulsory in schools, what is taught is not fundamental right: SC
The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea seeking the framing of a national yoga policy and making the practice compulsory for students of classes 1-8 across the country.


A bench headed by Justice MB Lokur dismissed the plea and said it is for the government to take a decision on such issue. "We are nobody to say what is to be taught in schools. It is none of our business. How can we direct that," the bench said. The apex court said it was not possible for it to grant the relief as sought by petitioners - Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, a lawyer and Delhi BJP spokesperson and J C Seth. "What is to be taught in schools is not a fundamental right," it said.


Upadhyay had sought a direction to the Ministry of Human Resources Development, NCERT, NCTE and CBSE to "provide standard textbooks of 'yoga and health education' for students of Class 1-8 keeping in spirit various fundamental rights such as right to life, education and equality."


The apex court had on November 29 last year asked the Centre to treat the petition as a representation and take a decision. The plea had said, "State has an obligation to provide health facilities to all the citizens, especially to children and adolescents. In a welfare state, it is obligation of the State to ensure the creation and sustenance of conditions congenial to good health."


It had said that right to health cannot be secured without providing 'yoga and health education' to all children or framing a 'national yoga policy' to promote and propagate it.
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11:22   Jairam goes quiet
Just ahead of the Lok Sabha session, Jairam Ramesh arrived at the Parliament House; evades questions on his statement 'Congress facing existential crisis'.
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11:20   News updates
-- Terror funding: Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani Geelani's son Naeem and Naseem Geelani arrive at NIA HQ in Delhi.


-- Congress raises attack on Rahul Gandhi's car in Lok Sabha, says 'it was an attack on Rahul's life'


-- Home Minister Rajnath Singh responding to the attack on Rahul Gandhi's car in Gujarat last week.
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11:14   Existential crisis: BJP celebrates Jairam Ramesh's self goal
A day after Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that his party is in 'existential crisis', the BJP on Tuesday took a jibe at his statement saying that the grand old party should revamp its leadership.

Speaking to ANI, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said, "Jairam Ramesh should collect all his Indian Swadesi colleagues of Congress and give a new leadership to the Congress party."

In a veiled attack at Congress vice-president Sonia Gandhi, Swamy said that the grand old party is working under the leadership of 'foreign elements' who don't know anything about India.

"Because of their negative programme they attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We have got a programme. Hindutva, anti corruption, good governance is our programme. What is Congress party's programme? The Congress party has just got some foreign elements heading the party who don't know anything about India," he added.

Ramesh on Monday said that the grand old party is currently facing an 'existential crisis' and called for 'a collective effort' to overcome the challenges it is facing from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

"I would say that the Congress is facing an existential crisis. It is not an electoral crisis. The party really is in deep crisis. We have to understand we are up against Prime Minister Modi, Amit Shah. And they think differently, they act differently, and if we are not flexible in our approach, we will become irrelevant, frankly," Ramesh said in an interview.

Ramesh said the Congress party must understand that India has changed and the party should also change accordingly. "Old slogans don't work, old formulas don't work, old mantras don't work. India has changed, the Congress party has to change," he added.  -- ANI
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11:07  
The Supreme Court dismisses a PIL to make yoga compulsory in schools.
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11:02   How the Rajya Sabha poll is conducted
A candidate will require 45 votes for a straight win in the poll, and the BJP with 121 MLAs can secure easy victories for BJP chief Shah and union minister Irani. The party will be left with 31 surplus votes for the third BJP candidate Balwantsinh Rajput, who will require the backing of rebel MLAs of the Congress and smaller parties to win. Rajput till recently was Congress' chief whip in the House.

It is after a gap of about two decades that a contest is happening in Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat, where official nominees of major parties used to get elected unopposed, after the BJP fielded a Congress rebel against Patel, who is seeking a fifth term.

According to Election Commission officials, a candidate would require one-fourth of the total number of votes plus one to get elected. This would mean a contestant has to muster 45 votes. The MLAs have to give their preferential votes indicating first choice, second, third, fourth (as per number of candidates) or they can choose NOTA, they said.
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10:44   Guj RS polls: 2 Congress MLAs vote for BJP
In Gujarat, the voting for the crucial Rajya Sabha elections on three seats began at 9 am and will end at 4 pm today.

While the Congress maintains that it is confident of a win, it has also confirmed that at least two of its MLAs have switched loyalties, voting for BJP candidates. "Two MLAs voted for BJP despite being Congress MLAs. Gujarat Congress chief Shakti Singh Gohil has taken objection against this," Arjun Modhwadia of the Congress said.

The win of two of the 3 BJP candidates party president Amit Shah and union minister Smriti Irani is almost certain, while the fate of the third party candidate Balwantsinh Rajput who joined BJP after resigning from Congress is still hanging in balance along with the sole Congress candidate Ahmed Patel.

Dharmendra Jadeja of the INC said that the Congress hasn't been listening to them for a year. "We have voted for Balwantsinh Rajput [the BJP candidate]."


Another Congress MLA Raghavji Patel, said he voted for Balwantsinh Rajput of the BJP. "I want to stay in politics but not in Congress," he said. 

Gujarat Congress MLAs arrived at the state assembly in Gandhinagar from the Neejanand resort in Anand this morning.

Congress needs the support of 45 MLAs for victory of Patel who is contesting for his fifth term for the upper house.

Congress party MLA Shailesh Parmar struck an optimistic note claiming that out of the 4 candidates, Ahmed Patel will get the most votes.

However, Jayant Patel of the NCP said he had voted in favour of Ahmed Patel.

Stay with us for more updates.
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10:28  
Mahendra Sinh Vaghela, another Congress MLA, refused to reveal whom he voted for, saying "in a democracy the voting is secret."  Vaghela was among those seven MLAs who did not go to Bengaluru.
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10:28  
Mahendra Sinh Vaghela, another Congress MLA, refused to reveal whom he voted for, saying "in a democracy the voting is secret."  Vaghela was among those seven MLAs who did not go to Bengaluru.
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10:27   2 MLAs voted for BJP despite being Congress
#RajyaSabhaPolls

Arjun Modhwadia, INC: 2 MLAs voted for BJP despite being Congress MLAs. Shakti Singh Gohil has taken objection against this.

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10:26   'Want to stay in politics but not in Congress'
#RajyaSabhaPolls

Raghavji Patel, Congress: Voted for Balwantsinh Rajput. I want to stay in politics but not in Congress.
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10:24   Congress hasn't been listening to us: Cong MLA
#RajyaSabhaPolls

Dharmendra Jadeja, Congress: Congress hasn't been listening to us for a year. We have voted for Balwantsinh Rajput [the BJP candidate].
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10:23   Wait till the evening: NCP
#RajyaSabhaPolls

NCP MLA Kandhal Jadeja: Had cleared things yesterday itself. You will know everything in the evening.
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10:22   We are going to win: Ahmed Patel
#RajyaSabhaPolls.

Ahmed Patel, INC candidate: When I am confident, party is confident we are going to win. Wait for the result to come.
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10:21   Both NCP MLAs voting for BJP
Rajya Sabha polls:

Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani: Both NCP MLAs voting for BJP candidate, it is clear. We have voted according to the whip issued, confident of victory of all our candidates. 
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10:09   Murdering a great journal, one editor at a time
The conduct of the Sameeksha Trust demonstrates that one does not have to be a Congress chamcha or CPI(M) apparatchik or Sanghi ideologue to undermine and devalue the integrity of a great scholarly institution. Read more


Image: Former EPW editor Paranjoy Guha Thakurta
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09:59   Did NOT vote for Ahmed Patel, says Shankersinh Vaghela
Gujarat's veteran Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela, who quit the party two weeks ago and resigned as Leader of Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly announced today that he did not vote for the Congress party's Rajya Sabha nominee from the state, Ahmed Patel.

"It is an important election, the Congress party said that I am free to vote anyone, hence I have not voted for Ahmed Patel," Vaghela said.

Gujarat has three vacancies and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded party chief Amit Shah, Union minister Smriti Irani and Congress turncoat Balwantsinh Rajput. Of them, two are set to win, given the BJP's strength of 122 lawmakers in the assembly.

Ahmed Patel needs the support of 45 MLAs after six Congress lawmakers resigned amid horse-trading charges against the BJP, bringing the party's strength in the assembly to 51.

The party is banking on the Nationalist Congress Party and Janata Dal-United lawmakers to support Patel, who is seeking re-election to the Upper House of Parliament.

But the calculations could change as one of the two NCP legislators -- Kandhal Jadeja, the MLA for Kutiyana -- said on Monday evening he was asked by his party leadership to vote for Rajput.
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09:48   Why it's a bit premature to presume Modi will win hands down in 2019
It is advisable for the BJP to curb its triumphalism, and focus on delivering jobs. It would help if the party softened its political rhetoric and made genuine efforts to engage with the opposition parties on big issues. Barring war or other unexpected national crises, the only thing that will prove helpful to Modi in 2019 is jobs, jobs, and more jobs. Sometimes, strength is weakness, and weakness is strength. Read more
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09:27   Chandigarh stalking case: Police say CCTV footage retrieved
The Chandigarh Police on Monday said that it retrieved CCTV footage that supported a woman's charge that the Haryana BJP chief's son and his friend followed her car in a midnight chase.

Earlier, the police were facing flak after they said that the CCTVs along the route were not working.

According to media reports, footage of CCTV cameras installed at five locations in Sector 26 were procured.

The footage, as per the reports, showed the victims car being followed by a white SUV.

The footage is vital to proving the charge that BJP leader Subhash Barala's son Vikas and his friend Ashish Kumar followed the 29-year-old victim as she was driving home on August 4 at around 12.30am.
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09:09  
Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls: BJP chief Amit Shah arrives at state legislative assembly.
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08:59   Not going to run scared from North Korea, says Nikki Haley
The United States and the international community is "not going to run scared from North Korea", US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has said after Pyongyang refused to roll back its nuclear weapons programme.
"All of us should be concerned about what's happening right now. But I think the signs that we're seeing from North Korea, they're concerned back. Now they see the international community is standing with one voice. China didn't pull off. Russia didn't pull off. And all of the Security Council and the international community said that's enough. You've got to stop it," Haley told Fox News in an interview.
"It's reckless. It's irresponsible. And the international community really laid down the groundwork of saying we're not going to watch you do this anymore. Now, North Korea has to respond. And yes, they're going to threaten, they're going to do all these things. But we're not going to run scared from them," the top Indian-American diplomat said.
Haley praised both Russia and China for the UN Security Council vote on North Korean sanctions.
"Ninety per cent of the trade that North Korea has is with China. So that's why they were so important to this resolution. And what we saw was the fact that China did step up -- these are hard-hitting sanctions that we're doing. Over a billion dollars out of their USD 3 billion export," she said.
"What was more important was China stepped up and said, we will follow through on these sanctions. We will make sure that we follow. And they encouraged the international community to follow it. China feels this. I mean when I talk to the Chinese ambassador, when that missile test took off, they they felt it in China. It was so close to their border that the ground shook," she said.
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08:47   Amit Shah vs Ahmed Patel: Gujarat RS poll to be held today
Gujarat looks set for a tight contest in the Rajya Sabha elections today, which will decide, among others, the fate of Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.  

Gujarat has three vacancies and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded party chief Amit Shah, Union minister Smriti Irani and Congress turncoat Balwantsinh Rajput. Of them, two are set to win, given the BJP's strength of 122 lawmakers in the assembly.

Ahmed Patel needs the support of 45 MLAs after six Congress lawmakers resigned amid horse-trading charges against the BJP, bringing the party's strength in the assembly to 51. 

The party is banking on the Nationalist Congress Party and Janata Dal-United lawmakers to support Patel, who is seeking re-election to the Upper House of Parliament. 

But the calculations could change as one of the two NCP legislators -- Kandhal Jadeja, the MLA for Kutiyana -- said on Monday evening he was asked by his party leadership to vote for Rajput.
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00:20   22 injured in blast in Lahore
An explosive device went off inside a truck on Monday night in Lahore, the capital of Pakistan's Punjab province, injuring at least 22 people, police said.

The blast happened at Bund road area, which is part of the route former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had finalised for his return to Lahore from Islamabad on Wednesday.

An official of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said Sharif's route in the city would be revised now.

Police and rescue officials have cordoned off the area. A rescue official told PTI that an explosive device hidden inside the truck went off at around 9 pm local time.

The kind of device and the explosives used were not yet known.

"At least 22 people have been injured and shifted to hospitals. A minor girl is stated to be critical," he said.

DIG Haider Ashraf confirmed that it was a bomb blast.

"The device was planted in the fruit truck," he said, adding a huge crater has developed at the site of the blast.

"We have launched investigation on all aspects," he said.

Azim Hanif, an eyewitness, said he was going to the parking stand in the area when a powerful blast took place.

"Due the impact of the blast, I fell on the ground. After a couple of minutes when I gained my senses, I saw some people injured," Hanif said.

The explosion shattered the windows of nearby buildings. A number of bikes and cars were damaged due to its intensity.

Lahore, the cultural capital of Pakistan, has witnessed several terror attacks in recent months.  -- PTI

Representative image.

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