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Sun, 15 October 2017
BJP's downfall has begun: Amarinder on Gurdaspur victory
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21:15 Mumbai school named after Dr Kalam on his birth anniversary
Mumbai -based North Mumbai Welfare Society -- which was recently merged with the South Indian Education Society, Matunga -- was renamed as SIES Dr A P J Abdul Kalam memorial high school today at the school premises in Rifle Range, Ghatkopar, on the occasion of the 87th birth anniversary of the former president.
On the occasion, 87 students of the school unveiled a life-size statue of Dr Kalam.
The 'India at 70' exhibition -- which comprises of 70 panels each of the 'least known facts about India, things India has given to the world, and great achievers of India' etc -- was inaugurated by president of SIES Dr V Shankar.
The SIES is one of the oldest educational institutions in Mumbai and has a student-strength of 25,000. The NMWS is in the service of school education for over 55 years and has 3,250 students.
The school will also have a showcase called 'Kalam ki kalam', which will contain all the books authored by him.
It will also have a 'Thinking Laboratory', where we are planning to conduct sessions to sensitise students to the problems of the country, and encourage them to think outside the classroom, about the process of development.
"A kiosk at the entrance of the school will be classifying his speeches and have some of his quotes on display all day," said Shankar.
On the occasion, 87 students of the school unveiled a life-size statue of Dr Kalam.
The 'India at 70' exhibition -- which comprises of 70 panels each of the 'least known facts about India, things India has given to the world, and great achievers of India' etc -- was inaugurated by president of SIES Dr V Shankar.
The SIES is one of the oldest educational institutions in Mumbai and has a student-strength of 25,000. The NMWS is in the service of school education for over 55 years and has 3,250 students.
The school will also have a showcase called 'Kalam ki kalam', which will contain all the books authored by him.
It will also have a 'Thinking Laboratory', where we are planning to conduct sessions to sensitise students to the problems of the country, and encourage them to think outside the classroom, about the process of development.
"A kiosk at the entrance of the school will be classifying his speeches and have some of his quotes on display all day," said Shankar.
21:11 BJP's downfall has begun: Amarinder on Gurdaspur victory
After Congress' massive victory in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypolls, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday said that the elections have revived the grand old party and is the downfall for Bharatiya Janata Party.
"This is a happy occasion for us, and not only in Gurdaspur, but in Kerala as well. It is a very good sign emerging on the national scene," Singh said while addressing the media.
Singh further said that the elections show an indication that times are changing.
"The impact of Goods and Services Tax (GST) is very major; traders are fed up, while the impact of demonetisation is still being felt," Singh asserted.
He added that this is the highest margin in Gurdaspur since the elections started in 1950.
The Congress Party registered a massive victory in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha by-polls, as party candidate Sunil Jakhar won by a margin of 1,93,219 votes . -- ANI
"This is a happy occasion for us, and not only in Gurdaspur, but in Kerala as well. It is a very good sign emerging on the national scene," Singh said while addressing the media.
Singh further said that the elections show an indication that times are changing.
"The impact of Goods and Services Tax (GST) is very major; traders are fed up, while the impact of demonetisation is still being felt," Singh asserted.
He added that this is the highest margin in Gurdaspur since the elections started in 1950.
The Congress Party registered a massive victory in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha by-polls, as party candidate Sunil Jakhar won by a margin of 1,93,219 votes . -- ANI
19:57 26 fall ill after consuming IRCTC food on Tejas Express
At least 26 people aboard the Mumbai-bound Tejas Express from Goa were today taken ill after consuming food served by the Railways' catering wing, IRCTC, the Konkan Railways said.
The passengers were headed towards Mumbai.
After consuming the food served by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) on the Tejas Express, they complained of uneasiness, Konkan Railway Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Gupta told PTI.
The train was stopped at the Chiplun station and all 26people were admitted to the city's Life Care hospital. Theircondition is not serious, he said.
The Tejas Express, one of the premium trains of theIndian Railways, connects Mumbai and Karmali in Goa. -- PTI
Representative image only.
The passengers were headed towards Mumbai.
After consuming the food served by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) on the Tejas Express, they complained of uneasiness, Konkan Railway Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Gupta told PTI.
The train was stopped at the Chiplun station and all 26people were admitted to the city's Life Care hospital. Theircondition is not serious, he said.
The Tejas Express, one of the premium trains of theIndian Railways, connects Mumbai and Karmali in Goa. -- PTI
Representative image only.
19:03 Asia Cup: India down Pak 3-1
India beat Pakistan 3-1 at the Asia Cup hockey tournament in Dhaka on Sunday.
India scored through Chinglensana Singh (17), Ramandeep Singh (44), before Harmanpreet Singh sounded the board a minute later to close the contest.
Ali Shan scored a late consolation goal for Pakistan in the 49th minute.
India scored through Chinglensana Singh (17), Ramandeep Singh (44), before Harmanpreet Singh sounded the board a minute later to close the contest.
Ali Shan scored a late consolation goal for Pakistan in the 49th minute.
19:02 Bengaluru rains: Girl drowns in drain, toll mounts to 10
A 16-year-old girl drowned in an overflowing drain today, taking the death toll from rain- related incidents in Bengaluru to 10.
The incident happened at Krishnappa Garden. Narasamma had gone to attend nature's call and she accidentally slipped into the drain.
Her body was later recovered at some distance from the slum where her family resides.
The family hailed from a northern district of Karnataka and they worked as construction labourers in the city.
Meanwhile, the city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike along with the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force fished out the body of 22-year-old Pushpa from a storm-water drain at Kumbalgodu this morning.
Pushpa and her mother Ningamma were washed away in the storm water drain following heavy rains in the city on Friday night.
Officials involved in search operations said efforts were on to recover Ningamma's body. The 10 deaths in the past 15 days in mishaps due to potholes and incessant rains have triggered a political slugfest between ruling the Congress and the BJP.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hit out at the BJP for politicising the issue.
He said his government has taken up the repair work and clearance of the 850-km storm water drain network in the city by allocating Rs 800 crore.
"No government including the BJP has done it in the past. Now they are playing politics over deaths," he said.
Siddaramaiah said he had been residing in Bengaluru since 1983 and he had never seen such large scale rains.
About 46 days in the last two months gauged heavy rains, he said, adding 'our drainage system and storm water drains do not have the capacity to bear it'.
Bharatiya Janata Party state president Yeddyurappa who visited the rain affected areas yesterday had squarely blamed Siddaramaiah for the deaths.
Reports quoting MeT department officials suggested the city has witnessed about 1,620 mm of rainfall this year so far, breaking the record of about 1,600 mm of precipitation in 2005.
The department has predicted generally cloudy sky in and around Bengaluru, one or two spells of rain and heavy showers in some areas in the next 48 hours.
Meanwhile, there were reports of heavy rains from different parts of the state. In neighbouring Ramanagara, a 35-year-old man was washed away as he slipped into an overflowing pit. -- PTI
Photograph: ANI
The incident happened at Krishnappa Garden. Narasamma had gone to attend nature's call and she accidentally slipped into the drain.
Her body was later recovered at some distance from the slum where her family resides.
The family hailed from a northern district of Karnataka and they worked as construction labourers in the city.
Meanwhile, the city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike along with the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force fished out the body of 22-year-old Pushpa from a storm-water drain at Kumbalgodu this morning.
Pushpa and her mother Ningamma were washed away in the storm water drain following heavy rains in the city on Friday night.
Officials involved in search operations said efforts were on to recover Ningamma's body. The 10 deaths in the past 15 days in mishaps due to potholes and incessant rains have triggered a political slugfest between ruling the Congress and the BJP.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hit out at the BJP for politicising the issue.
He said his government has taken up the repair work and clearance of the 850-km storm water drain network in the city by allocating Rs 800 crore.
"No government including the BJP has done it in the past. Now they are playing politics over deaths," he said.
Siddaramaiah said he had been residing in Bengaluru since 1983 and he had never seen such large scale rains.
About 46 days in the last two months gauged heavy rains, he said, adding 'our drainage system and storm water drains do not have the capacity to bear it'.
Bharatiya Janata Party state president Yeddyurappa who visited the rain affected areas yesterday had squarely blamed Siddaramaiah for the deaths.
Reports quoting MeT department officials suggested the city has witnessed about 1,620 mm of rainfall this year so far, breaking the record of about 1,600 mm of precipitation in 2005.
The department has predicted generally cloudy sky in and around Bengaluru, one or two spells of rain and heavy showers in some areas in the next 48 hours.
Meanwhile, there were reports of heavy rains from different parts of the state. In neighbouring Ramanagara, a 35-year-old man was washed away as he slipped into an overflowing pit. -- PTI
Photograph: ANI
18:10 Trump needs another hug: Rahul to Modi over POTUS' Pak tweet
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi today over Donald Trump's remarks about improving ties with Pakistan, saying that the United States president 'needs another hug'.
Trump had said yesterday that Pakistan took 'tremendous advantage' of the US over the years, but the two countries are now 'starting to have a real' relationship.
Posting a snapshot of Trump's tweet, Gandhi said, "Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug."
The Congress leader's remarks were in reference to the visible bonhomie between Trump and Modi with the two leaders exchanging hugs during the prime minister's last visit to the US.
'Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders. I want to thank them for their cooperation on many fronts,' Trump had said in a tweet yesterday.
Trump's comments had come a day after Pakistani forces rescued an American-Canadian family from the Haqqani terror group. -- PTI
Trump had said yesterday that Pakistan took 'tremendous advantage' of the US over the years, but the two countries are now 'starting to have a real' relationship.
Posting a snapshot of Trump's tweet, Gandhi said, "Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug."
The Congress leader's remarks were in reference to the visible bonhomie between Trump and Modi with the two leaders exchanging hugs during the prime minister's last visit to the US.
'Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders. I want to thank them for their cooperation on many fronts,' Trump had said in a tweet yesterday.
Trump's comments had come a day after Pakistani forces rescued an American-Canadian family from the Haqqani terror group. -- PTI
16:57 BJP must read writing on wall: Jakhar after Gurdaspur win
Having trounced the Bharatiya Janata Party's nominee in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypolls, Congress leader Sunil Jakhar today said the saffron party must read the writing on the wall now.
Jakhar, who is the chief of Punjab Congress, defeated his nearest rival BJP nominee Swaran Salaria with a margin of 1,93,219 votes, poll official said.
"The BJP must read the writing on the wall now," Jakhar said after his emphatic win.
"People have rejected the BJP and also shown mirror to (their ally) the Akalis," he said.
As such the Akalis were wiped out six months ago when they were relegated to the third place in the Punjab assembly elections, he said.
"Now, I think this (Gurdaspur win of Congress) will be the beginning of disintegration of SAD because nobody has seen Prakash Singh Badal for the last six months. The newleadership under Sukhbir Singh Badal is on the verge ofdisintegration. I think the entire SAD is going to be reformed under some new leadership, I believe," Jakhar said.
To a question, Jakhar said Sukhbir Badal and other Akali Dal leaders had all along been saying that Gurdaspur bypolls will be a referendum on the six-month-old Congress government.
"Now, Sukhbir will have to eat his own words.Where will Akalis go and hide their faces now, people have reaffirmed their faith in the leadership of Amarinder Singh and at the same time expressed anguish at the National Democratic Alliance government led by Narendra Modi," Jakhar said.
Jakhar also gave credit for his victory to the peopleand Congress workers who tirelessly worked over the past several weeks to enable him register a thumping win. -- PTI
Jakhar, who is the chief of Punjab Congress, defeated his nearest rival BJP nominee Swaran Salaria with a margin of 1,93,219 votes, poll official said.
"The BJP must read the writing on the wall now," Jakhar said after his emphatic win.
"People have rejected the BJP and also shown mirror to (their ally) the Akalis," he said.
As such the Akalis were wiped out six months ago when they were relegated to the third place in the Punjab assembly elections, he said.
"Now, I think this (Gurdaspur win of Congress) will be the beginning of disintegration of SAD because nobody has seen Prakash Singh Badal for the last six months. The newleadership under Sukhbir Singh Badal is on the verge ofdisintegration. I think the entire SAD is going to be reformed under some new leadership, I believe," Jakhar said.
To a question, Jakhar said Sukhbir Badal and other Akali Dal leaders had all along been saying that Gurdaspur bypolls will be a referendum on the six-month-old Congress government.
"Now, Sukhbir will have to eat his own words.Where will Akalis go and hide their faces now, people have reaffirmed their faith in the leadership of Amarinder Singh and at the same time expressed anguish at the National Democratic Alliance government led by Narendra Modi," Jakhar said.
Jakhar also gave credit for his victory to the peopleand Congress workers who tirelessly worked over the past several weeks to enable him register a thumping win. -- PTI
16:40 Prez remembers Dr Kalam on his birth anniversary
President Ram Nath Kovind today remembered the 'Missile Man' of India, A P J Abdul Kalam, on his birth anniversary, describing him as one of the greatest visionaries who ignited young minds.
He was speaking with a group of children who arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan from Rameswaram by the bus 'Dr Kalam Sandesh Vahini Vision 2020'.
These children had called on the president.
Kovind said he saluted Kalam and his monumental achievements as a scientist, a scholar and as the President of India.
"One of the best ways of building the character of the youth of any country is to inspire them to read biographies of great personalities," Kovind said.
The president said Kalam was one of India's greatest visionaries and is fondly remembered as 'The Missile Man of India' and 'People's President'.
He has made momentous contribution to India's scientific heritage through his involvement in varied fields ranging from nuclear technology to designing low cost stents for the he art or lightweight calipers for polio victims, Kovind said.
"India will never forget the remarkable contributions of Kalam. He had a great passion for teaching and education and truly ignited young minds with the power to think and innovate," the president said.
Kovind said former president Kalam enjoyed being with people.
"He was adored by people and youngsters. He loved students and spent his final moments among them," the president said.
The president said that the Kalam Sandesh Vahini bus presents the life story of the former president in a very interesting manner. -- PTI
He was speaking with a group of children who arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan from Rameswaram by the bus 'Dr Kalam Sandesh Vahini Vision 2020'.
These children had called on the president.
Kovind said he saluted Kalam and his monumental achievements as a scientist, a scholar and as the President of India.
"One of the best ways of building the character of the youth of any country is to inspire them to read biographies of great personalities," Kovind said.
The president said Kalam was one of India's greatest visionaries and is fondly remembered as 'The Missile Man of India' and 'People's President'.
He has made momentous contribution to India's scientific heritage through his involvement in varied fields ranging from nuclear technology to designing low cost stents for the he art or lightweight calipers for polio victims, Kovind said.
"India will never forget the remarkable contributions of Kalam. He had a great passion for teaching and education and truly ignited young minds with the power to think and innovate," the president said.
Kovind said former president Kalam enjoyed being with people.
"He was adored by people and youngsters. He loved students and spent his final moments among them," the president said.
The president said that the Kalam Sandesh Vahini bus presents the life story of the former president in a very interesting manner. -- PTI
15:27 I never spoke about 'fiscal stimulus', only the media did: Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said that he never talked about any stimulus package for boosting economy.
The media has spoken about it and 'you should ask' them on it, Jaitley said when asked whether the government was considering a massive fiscal stimulus package.
"I have not used that phrase (fiscal stimulus). I said, we will respond to situations and your fraternity translated the word respond as meaning stimulus. So you are the ones who should be answering and not me," the minister told reporters in Washington, DC in response to a question.
His remarks came amidst an increased speculation over a possible fiscal stimulus which can go above Rs 40,000 crore after six successive quarters of dip in the economic growth, which slid to 3-year low of 5.7 per cent in the April-June quarter.
Noting that his government had inherited a huge fiscal deficit just three-and-a-half years ago: 4.6 per cent, the minister said that gradually India has been moving on a glide path, which will continue.
"What are the requirements on the economy? How steep is that glide path, You can decide on a year to year basis," he said in response to a question.
He also said that the Reserve Bank of India is a mature institution and it knows what to do.
"They know that inflation management and growth both have to be balanced. RBI has an expertise of its own. They take their decisions accordingly," said Jaitley, who is on a week-long visit to the United States to attend the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Earlier, Jaitley also said that countries across the world are lauding India for having the guts to bring in major structural reforms like demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST). -- PTI, ANI
The media has spoken about it and 'you should ask' them on it, Jaitley said when asked whether the government was considering a massive fiscal stimulus package.
"I have not used that phrase (fiscal stimulus). I said, we will respond to situations and your fraternity translated the word respond as meaning stimulus. So you are the ones who should be answering and not me," the minister told reporters in Washington, DC in response to a question.
His remarks came amidst an increased speculation over a possible fiscal stimulus which can go above Rs 40,000 crore after six successive quarters of dip in the economic growth, which slid to 3-year low of 5.7 per cent in the April-June quarter.
Noting that his government had inherited a huge fiscal deficit just three-and-a-half years ago: 4.6 per cent, the minister said that gradually India has been moving on a glide path, which will continue.
"What are the requirements on the economy? How steep is that glide path, You can decide on a year to year basis," he said in response to a question.
He also said that the Reserve Bank of India is a mature institution and it knows what to do.
"They know that inflation management and growth both have to be balanced. RBI has an expertise of its own. They take their decisions accordingly," said Jaitley, who is on a week-long visit to the United States to attend the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Earlier, Jaitley also said that countries across the world are lauding India for having the guts to bring in major structural reforms like demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST). -- PTI, ANI
15:17 Raped by 5 men, minor girl ends life in UP
Five people, accused of raping a minor girl, have been arrested in Baghpat.
The girl allegedly committed suicide on Saturday.
The case of rape was registered in July.
"We probed and concluded the five accused be arrested and produced before court. The investigating officer who probed earlier ahs been suspended," Baghpat SP said. -- ANI
The girl allegedly committed suicide on Saturday.
The case of rape was registered in July.
"We probed and concluded the five accused be arrested and produced before court. The investigating officer who probed earlier ahs been suspended," Baghpat SP said. -- ANI
14:22 Indian economy on 'very solid track': IMF chief
International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde has said the Indian economy is on a 'very solid track' in themid-term, days after the IMF lowered its growth forecast for the current and the next year.
Describing the two major recent reforms in India -- demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax -- as a monumental effort, Lagarde said it is hardly surprising that there 'is a little bit of a short-term slowdown' as a result.
The IMF last week lowered India's growth projection to6.7 per cent in 2017, 0.5 percentage points less than its previous two forecasts in April and July, attributing it to demonetisation and introduction of the GST.
It also lowered the country's growth for 2018 to 7.4 per cent, 0.3 percentage points less than its previous two projections in July and April.
"Turning to India... we have slightly downgraded India; but we believe that India is for the medium and long-term on a growth track that is much more solid as a result of the structural reforms that have been conducted in India in the last couple of years," IMF Managing Director Lagarde said.
"But for the medium term, we see a very solid track ahead for the Indian economy," she said to a question on India.
"We very much hope that the combination of fiscal,because the deficit has been reduced, inflation has been down significantly, and the structural reforms will actually deliver the jobs that the Indian population, particularly the young Indian people expect in the future," Lagarde said. -- PTI
Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com
Describing the two major recent reforms in India -- demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax -- as a monumental effort, Lagarde said it is hardly surprising that there 'is a little bit of a short-term slowdown' as a result.
The IMF last week lowered India's growth projection to6.7 per cent in 2017, 0.5 percentage points less than its previous two forecasts in April and July, attributing it to demonetisation and introduction of the GST.
It also lowered the country's growth for 2018 to 7.4 per cent, 0.3 percentage points less than its previous two projections in July and April.
"Turning to India... we have slightly downgraded India; but we believe that India is for the medium and long-term on a growth track that is much more solid as a result of the structural reforms that have been conducted in India in the last couple of years," IMF Managing Director Lagarde said.
"But for the medium term, we see a very solid track ahead for the Indian economy," she said to a question on India.
"We very much hope that the combination of fiscal,because the deficit has been reduced, inflation has been down significantly, and the structural reforms will actually deliver the jobs that the Indian population, particularly the young Indian people expect in the future," Lagarde said. -- PTI
Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com
13:12 Gurdaspur bypoll: Congress' Jakhar wins by over 1.9 lakh votes
UPDATE: Congress' Sunil Jakhar wins Gurdaspur LokSabha bypoll by 1,93,219 votes. -- ANI
12:09 Gurdaspur bypoll: Celebrations in Congress camp as Jakhar nears victory
Ruling Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar was today leading by a huge margin of 1,08,230 votes over his nearest rival Bharatiya Janata Party contestant Swaran Salaria in the counting of votes for the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll, as per trends available.
Jakhar, who is leading in all nine assembly constituencies after the ninth round of the counting of votes, thanked voters and the party for the massive lead.
Talking to reporters, state cabinet minister Navjot SinghSidhu said, "We have sent a beautiful Diwali gift packed with red ribbon to our would-be president Rahul Gandhi because it sets the tone...It will be a shot in the arm for the Congress."
"This (victory) is a big slap on the face of 'jija-saala' (Shirmani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia). Today BJP will realise that Akali Dal in Punjab has become a burden. Time and again people have reprimanded them. It will be demoralising and send them (SAD-BJP) packing," said Sidhu.
Two counting centres have been set up for the counting of votes.
For six assembly constituencies of Gurdaspur district, counting center has been set up at Sukhjindra College Gurdaspur and for three assembly constituencies of Pathankot district, counting centre has been set up at the SD College in Pathankot.
Tight security arrangements have been made at the counting centres, official said.
The Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat has nine Assembly segments-- Bhoa, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Dinanagar, Qadian, FathegarhChurian, Dera Baba Nanak, Sujanpur and Batala.
The result will decide the fate of total 11 candidatesincluding Congress nominee Jakhar, BJP's Salaria and Aam Aadmi Party's Khajuria. -- PTI
IMAGE: Congress' Gurdaspur bypoll candidate Sunil Jakhar, right, with Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. Photograph: Courtesy @INCPunjab/Twitter
Jakhar, who is leading in all nine assembly constituencies after the ninth round of the counting of votes, thanked voters and the party for the massive lead.
Talking to reporters, state cabinet minister Navjot SinghSidhu said, "We have sent a beautiful Diwali gift packed with red ribbon to our would-be president Rahul Gandhi because it sets the tone...It will be a shot in the arm for the Congress."
"This (victory) is a big slap on the face of 'jija-saala' (Shirmani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia). Today BJP will realise that Akali Dal in Punjab has become a burden. Time and again people have reprimanded them. It will be demoralising and send them (SAD-BJP) packing," said Sidhu.
Two counting centres have been set up for the counting of votes.
For six assembly constituencies of Gurdaspur district, counting center has been set up at Sukhjindra College Gurdaspur and for three assembly constituencies of Pathankot district, counting centre has been set up at the SD College in Pathankot.
Tight security arrangements have been made at the counting centres, official said.
The Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat has nine Assembly segments-- Bhoa, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Dinanagar, Qadian, FathegarhChurian, Dera Baba Nanak, Sujanpur and Batala.
The result will decide the fate of total 11 candidatesincluding Congress nominee Jakhar, BJP's Salaria and Aam Aadmi Party's Khajuria. -- PTI
IMAGE: Congress' Gurdaspur bypoll candidate Sunil Jakhar, right, with Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. Photograph: Courtesy @INCPunjab/Twitter
11:14 Have told scientists to work on 'zero-pollution' crackers: Harsh Vardhan
Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has said that thet government has asked scientists to work on 'zero-pollution' crackers, for a pollution-free Diwali.
"We have told our scientists to work on zero pollution crackers. So we can find solution and everyone is happy," Dr Vardhan said.
His comments comes days after he had to remove his tweet welcoming Supreme Court verdict banning sale of crackers in Delhi and NCR, allegedly due to massive backlash from Twitter users who were angry at 'only Hindu festivals being targeted'. -- with inputs from ANI
"We have told our scientists to work on zero pollution crackers. So we can find solution and everyone is happy," Dr Vardhan said.
His comments comes days after he had to remove his tweet welcoming Supreme Court verdict banning sale of crackers in Delhi and NCR, allegedly due to massive backlash from Twitter users who were angry at 'only Hindu festivals being targeted'. -- with inputs from ANI
10:56 Update: Congress gains huge lead over BJP in Gurdaspur
Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar was leading by 68,172 votes over his nearest rival BJP contestant Swaran Salaria in the counting of votes for the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll, as per trends available. Jakhar is leading in all the nine assembly constituencies.
10:52 Sukh Ram's son all set to join BJP
In a jolt to the Congress ahead of assembly polls, Himachal Pradesh Rural Development Minister Anil Sharma is set to join the BJP.
Sharma, son of former Union communication minister Sukh Ram, announced his decision to join the saffron party on Saturday. A formal announcement in this regard is expected to be made today.
The minister in the Virbhadra government said he has been given a party ticket from Mandi. "I have been given a BJP ticket from Mandi and the party has informed me about this,' he said.
10:47 Tata Steel's tribal conclave goes global this year
After launching the annual tribal conclave Samvaad in 2014, steel behemoth Tata Steel is taking the calendar event this year to the international level with participation of foreign nationals, reports Nirmalya Behera in Business Standard.
Tribals from Australia, Canada, Zimbabwe, Laos and Kenya are slated to attend the event, christened 'Samvaad' or 'Engaging in Conversation' this year to be held in Jamshedpur between November 15 and 19.
Tata Steel's manufacturing facilities and mining operations in the tribal belts of Jharkhand and Odisha in the eastern part of India are central to the company's business.
"This year, we are giving an international flavour to the Samvaad. We are getting aboriginals from Australia and first nation tribals from Canada. Tribals from Laos, Kenya and Zimbabwe will also be attending it. About a dozen delegates from international countries will be here for exchanging of cultures, identifying issues and its solutions," said Biren Bhuta, chief of CSR at Tata Steel.
He said the presence of foreign tribals will encourage networking and solidarity.
Samvaad is a four-day tribal conclave, hosted at Jamshedpur to commemorate the birth anniversary of the iconic tribal leader Birsa Munda. The theme for this year's event is 'Building Tribal Youth Leadership'.
About 500 tribal youths chosen from across 22 states representing 150 tribal communities will go through a proper leadership programme during the event. Over and above these 500 youths, a total of 1500 tribals will be attending the event where the top officials of the steel behemoth and other group companies like Taj Group of Hotels, Tata Capital, Tata Motors, Tata Chemicals and Tata Metaliks would also participate.
The steel major has already conducted regional Samvaad in Kerala, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Ranchi and Odisha.
This year there will be 10 workshops on topics like malnutrition, livelihood, social entrepreneurship, peace building, culture preservation, human rights and governance besides the cultural events.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and tribal leader and Padma Shri awardee Tulasi Munda, among others will also grace the four-day long extravaganza.
10:28 BJP may pick Nadda over Dhumal as Himachal CM candidate
Top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah, met in New Delhi last night to finalise the party candidates for the Himachal Pradesh assembly polls, scheduled to be held on November 9.
The party's Central Election Committee deliberated on the names of probables to contest elections for the 68-seat assembly, for over two hours, and a list of candidates is likely to be announced on Sunday, a party leader said.
Two-time chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who also attended the meeting, and Union minister J P Nadda, a member of the CEC, are being seen as the two most likely choices for the post of chief minister, with the latter being considered a favourite because of his clean image and proximity to the party's central leadership.
However, the party has not yet named any chief ministerial candidate. The filing of nomination is scheduled to begin from October 16 and the process will conclude on October 23.
10:21 Update: Congress takes early lead in Gurdaspur LS bypoll
Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar was leading by 25,598 votes over his nearest BJP rival Swaran Salaria, as per early trends available for the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll.
Jakhar, who is also Punjab Congress chief, is leading in all the nine assembly constituencies, as per initial trends available.
10:14 Jaitley meets Iran's FM, says oil payment issue resolved
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said that most of the pending issues with Iran, particularly relating to oil payment, have been resolved.
Jaitley, who is on a week-long visit to the US to attend the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, made the remarks after his meeting with Iran's Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Masoud Karbasian.
"There were several pending issues with Iran particularly relating to the oil payment. Most of them have been resolved," he told reporters on Saturday.
He said India has a very stable relationship with Iran. "It's very strategic for us, because the Chabahar port is not only going to service Iran, but also going to service Afghanistan," he said.
According to Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg, the Iranian minister did not raise the issue of US President Donald Trump's new Iran policy during his meeting with Jaitley.
"We discussed more on Chabahar port, the trilateral agreement and expediting that kind of work," Garg said.
09:45 Man arrested for having sex with stray dog
A 19-year-old man was arrested in Mumbai for allegedly having unnatural sex with a stray dog in suburban Powai, a senior police official said.
As per the complainant, who is also an eyewitness, he saw the accused taking a stray dog inside a community toilet in area, on Friday night and performed unnatural sex with it, the police said.
The accused got scared after being caught and asked the complainant not to reveal the incident to anyone, the official said However, the complainant brought the matter to the notice of the Powai police and lodged a complaint in this regard.
The control room later informed the Powai police and the accused was detained late on Friday night. The Powai police have booked the accused under section 377 (unnatural offences) of IPC, the official said.
The police have noted the statement of the eyewitness and interrogated the accused, the official said, adding that further investigation into the matter was underway.
09:33 BJP files police complaint against K'taka minister for abusing Modi
Peeved at an expletive hurled at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP's Karnataka unit has lodged a police complaint against state Minister R Roshan Baig who is embroiled in the controversy over his alleged remarks.
In a written complaint to the police, the party's city unit and BJP MLAs said Baig has given statements in public "which are wholly defamatory and absolutely false."
"It is relevant to bring to your notice that Roshan Baig, minister of Karnataka, has issued certain statements against Narendra Modi, which are wholly defamatory and absolutely false and reckless allegations," the complaint said.
Referring to a viral video clipping showing Baig allegedly using the expletive, the leaders said he has crossed all limits of free speech and decency. "This is a penal offence under section 99 of the Indian Penal Code... The BJP is filing this criminal complaint and requesting (you) to register a case against Roshan Baig," the leaders said in the complaint.
The complaint was filed at the Malleshwaram police station by MLAs B N Vijaykumar and Ashwathnarayan, and city unit president Sadashiv, among others.
In his remark, Baig had said, "When Modi was voted to power as prime minister, his supporters said he is our son. But, now what has happened? He banned Rs 1000 note. Banned Rs 500 note. Now, these very same people are chiding him." He then went on to use an expletive.
It stirred a huge controversy as the video clipping of his speech, delivered in Tamil, was aired by TV channels. Baig made the remark in his address to Congress workers of Pulikeshinagar assembly constituency in the city, which has a large Tamil population, four days ago.
Baig later said he did not know Tamil properly. "If I have hurt anyone's feelings while speaking in my broken Tamil, I apologise for it," he had said, adding that he never used such language against the prime minister.
09:15
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09:09 Who will succeed Vinod Khanna in Gurdaspur?
The counting process for the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll, which is witnessing a three-cornered race among the BJP, the Congress and the AAP, was underway today at two counting centres.
The seat had fallen vacant following the death of actor-turned-politician Vinod Khanna of the BJP in April.
The outcome will decide the fate of the 11 candidates in the fray,including Congress nominee Sunil Jakhar, BJP's Swaran Salaria and AAP's Major General (retd) Suresh Khajuria.
The Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat has nine assembly segments -- Bhoa, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Dinanagar, Qadian, Fathegarh Churian, Dera Baba Nanak, Sujanpur and Batala.
The bypoll is seen as a barometer for the popularity of the six-month-old Congress government in Punjab.
Gurdaspur has for long been a stronghold of the BJP, with actor-turned-politician Vinod Khanna retaining it for four terms.
08:53 Thieves walk away with ATM in Delhi
Some burglars uprooted an entire ATM and decamped with nearly Rs 30 lakh in it after they failed to break into the system, the police said.
The incident took place in southwest Delhi's Chhawla area and the police were informed about it soon after.
The police said the thieves sprayed a chemical on the CCTV cameras so that their activities could not be recorded and there was no clear footage of the incident.
"It is suspected that the accused wanted to break open the ATM and after they could not do so, they uprooted it and took it away," the police said.
The machine contained almost Rs 30 lakh in cash, they added.
The police have recovered some unclear footage in which two people can be seen inside the ATM booth.
08:42 CPM meet debates allying with Congress to defeat BJP
A high-level meeting of the CPI-M in New Delhi yesterday saw divergent views being expressed on whether the party should have any electoral understanding with secular forces including the Congress to take on the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
The contentious issue of an electoral understanding with other secular parties was the focal point of discussion in the three-day meeting of the CPI-M central committee.
A top CPI-M leader told PTI that the overwhelming view in the meeting was that all non-Left secular parties should unite to defeat the BJP.
"All non-Left secular forces have to be united to fight the BJP without entering into any alliance or electoral front with them," the leader said.
According to party sources, many leaders, especially those from the West Bengal unit, were of the view that the party should have an electoral understanding with secular forces, including the Congress, as it had done in the recent presidential and vice-presidential polls.
However, some leaders opposed the views and said they believed that the party should focus its attack against the BJP, along with non-Congress secular parties.
About seven members of the central committee spoke on the issue on the first day of the meeting.
According to the sources, a leader from Kerala suggested that while framing the draft political resolution, the political situation in West Bengal should be taken into account.
Though the political line worked out by the CPI-M in 2015 had precluded having any understanding or electoral alliance with the Congress in the fight against the BJP, the party had allowed state units to review specific political situation before deciding their own tactical line in consonance with the overall understanding.
As a result, the West Bengal state unit had entered into a tactical alliance with the Congress for the 2016 assembly election. The Left was relegated to third position in the state in the assembly polls.
08:26 7 arrested in Bengal for blackmarketing of FIFA U-17 tickets
The police have arrested seven persons, including three volunteers of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, from near Salt Lake Stadium in Bidhanagar area near Kolkata, when matches were in progress.
Acting on a tipoff, the Bidhannagar police nabbed all the seven when they were busy selling tickets against high prices, Bidhannagar police commissionerate sources said.
Some of the arrested persons were also allegedly found in an inebriated state, the sources added.
This is first such instance in Kolkata since the beginning of FIFA U-17 World Cup on October 8 in the city, where arrests were made for blackmarketing tickets of the international event.
08:14 Nirmala Sitharaman to commission stealth corvette INS Kiltan tomorrow
An indigenously-built anti-submarine warfare stealth corvette, INS Kiltan will be commissioned into the Indian Navy by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam on October 16.
According to a Navy statement, this is the third of the four Kamorta-class corvettes being built under Project 28.
The commissioning ceremony will be attended by chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba and a host of other dignitaries.
Designed by the Navy's in-house organisation Directorate of Naval Design and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, INS Kiltan portrays the growing capability of the Indian Navy, it said.
The country is "becoming self-reliant through indigenisation, thus, accentuating our national objective of 'Make in India'," the statement said.
INS Kiltan is the latest indigenous warship after Shivalik Class, Kolkata Class and sister ships INS Kamorta and INS Kadmatt to have joined the Indian Navy's arsenal wherein a plethora of weapons and sensors have been integrated to provide a "common operational picture", it said.
It is India's first major warship to have a superstructure of carbon fibre composite material resulting in improved stealth features, lower top weight and maintenance costs, the statement added.
The ship hosts a predominantly indigenous cutting-edge weapons and sensors suite which includes heavyweight torpedoes, ASW rockets, 76 mm calibre medium range gun and two multi-barrel 30 mm guns as close-in-weapon system (CIWS) with dedicated fire control systems, missile decoy rockets (Chaff), advanced ESM (Electronic Support Measure) system, most advanced bow mounted sonar and air surveillance radar Revathi, it said.
The ship in the future would also be installed with short range SAM system and carry an integral ASW helicopter, it added.
The ship derives its name from one of the islands in Aminidivi group of the strategically located Lakshadweep and Minicoy group of islands.
The ship also boasts of the proud legacy of the erstwhile Petya Class ship of same name 'Kiltan (P79)' built in the USSR, which had actively participated as Task Force Commander in the 'Operation Trident' during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, the statement added.
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