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Tue, 28 August 2018
Schools in flood-hit Kerala to reopen tomorrow
Timeline Refresh
23:35 Trump takes on Google in complaints about social media
US President Donald Trump today promised to address what he says is the "very serious situation" of social media companies "suppressing" conservative voices and "hiding information" and good news.
Trump recently has made similar complaints about the issue, which has been making the rounds in conservative media.
But today he targeted Google.
Asked whether Trump thinks Google should be subject to some regulation, Larry Kudlow, the president's top economic adviser, told reporters only that "we're taking a look. We'll let you know."
The US president said in a pre-dawn tweet that included a typo that a search for "Trump News" on Google "shows only the viewing/reporting of Fake New Media. In other words, they have it RIGGED, for me & others, so that almost all stories & news is BAD."
He added: "Republican/Conservative & Fair Media is shut out. Illegal?" Google, based in Mountain View, California, had no immediate comment.
Trump began complaining about the issue earlier this month as social media companies moved to ban right-wing "Infowars" conspiracy theorist Alex Jones from their platforms.
23:14 Schools in flood-hit Kerala to reopen tomorrow
Schools and other educational institutions in flood-affected Kerala are set open tomorrow after the Onam vacation, while the educational buildings which are damaged or which aren't fit for functioning are exempted.
Minister for Education C Raveendranath said that the district collectors can take the decisions in this regard, reported Mathrubhumi News.
"The situation in most schools in flood-affected areas have improved, but, in the cases of damaged schools, the district collectors make a call," said an official from Kerala Department of Higher Secondary Education.
The minister also told the Malayalam news channel that the education department will not be conducting the Onam examination anytime soon. The education department and DHSE had postponed several mid-year examinations which were set to start in August month after the floods and incessant rains ravaged the state recently.
22:41 Imran Khan gives 2-week deadline to recover stashed money
Fulfilling his poll promise to clampdown on corruption, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday gave a deadline of two weeks to a task force to chalk out a plan to recover unlawfully acquired foreign assets and stashed wealth.
On Monday, the task force chaired its first meeting, where various government departments informed the unit of the current status of pending probes of money laundering and financial fraud cases, officials were quoted by The Express Tribune, as saying.
Khan has said that his topmost priority is to retrieve hidden offshore assets and promised to bring back ill-gotten wealth in overseas banks.
According to the terms of reference of the task force, Khan has set a deadline of two weeks for the body to take steps for the "expedient return of unlawfully acquired assets from abroad".
-- ANI
22:12 Ruchi Ghanashyam appointed India's next high commissioner to UK
Senior diplomat Ruchi Ghanashyam has been appointed as India's next high commissioner to the United Kingdom, the external affairs ministry said today.
She succeeds Y K Sinha who had assumed the charge as the Indian high commissioner in the UK in December, 2016.
Ghanashyam, a 1982-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, is currently Secretary at the headquarters here and is expected to take up the assignment shortly, the ministry said.
Her appointment comes at a crucial time when the UK is in the process of coming out of the European Union.
-- PTI
22:00 Bill Gates Foundation makes emergency grant to UNICEF for Kerala floods
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation today said it is making a $600,000 (about Rs 4.2 crore) grant to UNICEF to help strengthen relief and
rehabilitation efforts in Kerala, ravaged by the worst floods in almost a century.
The emergency grant aims to bolster government efforts and initiatives by NGOs in the enormous task of assisting displaced, flood-affected people and helping them rebuild their lives, a release from Bill Melinda Gates Foundation said today.
NGOs such as UNICEF are currently working in tandem with district administrations to spearhead relief efforts, the release said.
The health department in the state is seeking to prevent serious outbreaks of water-borne infectious diseases.
There is also an urgent need to build temporary shelters and provide essentials like food, dry clothes, medicines, and blankets, the release said.
-- PTI
21:07 US to end suspension of military drills, amid NKorea tensions
The United States will end its suspension of military drills on the Korean peninsula, a move that had been decided as a "good faith" measure following US President Donald Trump's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the Pentagon said today.
"We took the step to suspend several of the largest military exercises as a good faith measure," Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters. "We have no plans to suspend any more."
Mattis, however, did not give any indication that exercises with allied forces in the region -- which have angered Pyongyang in the past -- would resume any time soon.
"We are not turning them back on," Mattis said. "We are going to see how the negotiations go and then we'll see."
20:37 '2 letters on plans to assassinate PM, Shah, Rajnath led to action'
Two letters, purportedly exchanged by Maoist leaders, indicated plans to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and Home Minister Rajnath Singh, leading to police action against prominent Left-wing activists in several states and arrest of five of them for suspected links with the red ultras, security officials said.
While the 2016 letter suggested that there were deliberations among the Naxals to kill Modi, Shah and Singh, the 2017 letter referred to a plan to carry out a Rajiv Gandhi assassination-type attack on the Prime Minister during one of his roadshows, they claimed.
The second letter was addressed to one "Comrade Prakash" and was found from the residence of a Delhi-based activist, Rona Wilson, on June 6, according to a security official privy to the development.
Along with Wilson, four others were also arrested during raids in June by police in different parts of the country in connection with the matter.
The letters were reportedly recovered after the anti-Naxal operations in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli, in which 39 Maoists were killed, in April.
The 2017 letter also referred about "senior comrades" suggesting "concrete steps" to end the NDA dispensation and about raising several crore of rupees to buy American M-4 rifles and some ammunition, the official said.
Today's police action started at 6 am and was carried out simultaneously by Maharashtra Police, led by Joint Commissioner of Pune, Ravindra Kadam, in Ranchi, Goa, Delhi and Hyderabad.
Five persons have been arrested so far, another official said.
-- PTI
20:01 Foreigners barred from flying drones in India
When civilian drones take to skies under the new regulations from December, foreigners will not be piloting them as they have been barred from operating remotely piloted aircraft in the country.
The requirements for operation of civil Remotely Piloted Aircraft System, which were unveiled on Monday, would come into force from December 1.
For operating drones, which are unmanned aircraft system, entities have to obtain a Unique Identification Number from aviation regulator DGCA.
Besides, there should be an Unmanned Aircraft Operator Permit for commercial drone operations and for each flight, permission has to be taken through the proposed digital sky platform.
The civilian drones have been classified into five categories based on Maximum Take Off Weight (MTOW) -- nano, micro, small, medium and large.
In a detailed set of Frequently Asked Questions regarding drones, the aviation watchdog said that registration would be required for flying them even inside a building. However, the requirement would not be applicable for nano drones, those weighing less than or equal to 250 grams.
According to the regulator, foreigners are not permitted to fly drones in the country.
"Foreigners are currently not allowed to fly drones in India. For commercial purpose, they need to lease RPAS to an Indian entity who in-turn will obtain UIN and UAOP from DGCA," it said.
While drone operations can be carried out only in daylight, the regulator said that flying of micro drones could be allowed during night subject to various conditions.
-- PTI
19:28 Azam Khan threatened my daughters: Amar Singh
Rajya Sabha member Amar Singh today accused SP leader Azam Khan of threatening his minor daughters with an acid attack and said he will seek security for them.
Amar Singh, who has been expelled from the SP, said he will meet Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik tomorrow with the demand.
I want security for my daughters, who feel threatened, he said.
Singh also demanded a probe into the funding of Rampur's Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, headed by Azam Khan as its chancellor.
Singh claimed Azam Khan had threatened him and his twin 17-year-old daughters during an interview to a television channel.
The former SP leader said he will be in Rampur on August 30 and asked Khan to "sacrifice" him and spare his daughters.
He said western Uttar Pradesh saw no riots even at the time of Partition, but there were clashes when Azam Khan was in charge of the region under the previous SP government.
Singh said Azam Khan did not have the right to stay in the country.
He called the Samajwadi Party Namazwadi Party'.
-- PTI
19:00 'PM Modi expected to visit Egypt, meet Prez el-Sisi'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Egypt and meet with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the country's envoy to India said today, and asserted the warmth in ties as expressed by both the leaders exhibits there are avenues for greater bilateral cooperation.
"The Indian prime minister has in-principle accepted the invite sent to him by our President and confirmed that he will visit. But, work needs to be done through diplomatic channels to see the time availability," Egyptian Ambassador Hatem Tageldin said.
Interacting with the media on the sidelines of an event, the envoy also said that Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to visit his country later this year and Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan is expected to attend an international bio-diversity conference there in November.
-- PTI
18:31 Justice Ranjan Gogoi to be the next chief justice of India, say reports
Justice Ranjan Gogoi will take over as the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on October 2, when the incumbent, Justice Dipak Misra, retires, India Legal reported on Tuesday.
The ministry of law has requested Misra to recommend the name of his successor as per protocol, The Economic Times reported.
Misra is expected to send this letter on September 2.
Gogoi and three other senior top court judges had held an unprecedented press conference on January 12 to speak out against the manner in which Misra had been assigning cases to benches and other matters. Justice Jasti Chelameswar was the senior-most judge after Misra until he retired on May 18.
Gogoi, born on November 18, 1954, joined the Bar in 1978. He was appointed permanent judge of the Guwahati high court on February 28, 2001, and was transferred to the Punjab and Haryana high court nine years later. He was appointed the chief justice of the high court on February 12, 2011, and elevated to the top court the following year in April.
He will have a tenure of a year, one month and 14 days and will retire on November 17, 2019.
18:22 'Raids brazen attack on democratic rights, reminiscent of infamous Emergency'
The CPI-M today lodged its strong protest against the police raids on several civil and human rights activists and left intellectuals, and said it constituted a brazen attack on democratic rights and civil liberties.
The CPI-M Politbureau demanded withdrawal of the cases against these activists and their immediate release, while the Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist Liberation said the move was "reminiscent of the infamous Emergency" of the 1975.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist Liberation said the arrests and raids are an attempt to brand all dissenting voices as "anti-national" and intimidate them as the parliamentary polls draw near.
Two Left-wing activists Varavara Rao and Sudha Bhardwaj were arrested today as the Pune police carried out searches at multiple places in various states on the residences of people suspected to have Maoist links, a senior police official said.
The raids were carried out as part of a probe into the violence at Maharashtra's Koregaon-Bhima village, triggered by an event called 'Elgar Parishad' (conclave) held in Pune on December 31 last year.
The police have also taken away laptops, mobiles and other personal papers from the homes of those raided, the party said.
The CPI-ML Liberation said those arrested include noted rights activist Sudha Bharadwaj who has lifelong been a lawyer and champion of the rights of the most oppressed in Chhattisgarh, as well as Vernon Gonsalves, Gautam Navlakha and others.
In a statement, the party said, "The attempt to project the peaceful Bhima-Koregaon event as an act of terrorism is utterly baseless and condemnable."
The party said, "It is shocking but not surprising that under the BJP rule at the Centre and in Maharashtra, rights activists are arrested and booked on terror charges under draconian laws - while terror outfits such as Sanatan Sanstha and Shiv Pratishthan unleash violence on Dalits, plot terrorist attacks, assassinate dissenters and yet are referred to by BJP leaders including the current Prime Minister of India as 'nationalist'."
"We condemn the arrests and raids, and demand the release of Sudha Bharadwaj, Gautam Navlakha, Vernon Gonsalves, Vara Vara Rao and others arrested today.
"Under the Modi regime's undeclared Emergency, rights activists and dissenters are either shot at, killed, or raided, arrested and jailed," it said.
-- PTI
17:32 India's first manned space mission to send 3 persons
India's first manned space flight - Gaganyaan - is expected to send three persons into the space for seven days and the spacecraft will be placed in a low earth orbit of 300-400 km.
Giving details of the programme, Minister of State for Atomic Energy and Space, Jitendra Singh said GSLV Mk III, the three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle, will be used to launch Gaganyaan as it has the necessary payload capability.
He said two unmanned Gaganyaan missions will be undertaken prior to sending humans.
"The total programme is expected to be completed before 2022 with the first unmanned flight within 30 months. The mission will aim to send a three-person crew to space for a period of seven days. The spacecraft will be placed in a low earth orbit of 300-400 km. The programme is expected to cost less than Rs 10,000 crore," Singh said.
The Gaganyaan mission was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address. He had said that by 2022 or even before that, some of the young boys and girls will unfurl the Tricolour in space.
17:00 'Activists' arrest is a clear declaration of Emergency'
The arrests of prominent civil rights activists and multi-city searches of their homes triggered outrage and condemnation by several lawyers, academics and authors today, some who termed the move "absolutely chilling" and others saying it amounted to a "virtual declaration of emergency".
What is happening is absolutely perilous, said author and Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy after the raids, whichwere carried out as part of a probe into the violence at Maharashtra's Koregaon-Bhima village, triggered by 'Elgar Parishad' event in Pune on December 31 last year.
Searches were carried out at the residences of poet Varavara Rao in Hyderabad, activists Vernon Gonzalves and Arun Ferreira in Mumbai, trade unionist and lawyer Sudha Bhardwaj in Faridabad and Chhattisgarh and civil liberties activist Gautam Navalakha in Delhi, a police official in Pune said. The official said Rao and Bhardwaj were arrested.
There were unconfirmed reports about arrests of several other activists in the raids. "The simultaneous state-wide arrests are a dangerous sign of a government that fears it is losing its mandate and is falling into panic. That lawyers, poets, writers, Dalit rights activists and intellectuals are being arrested on ludicrous charges... while those who make up lynch mobs and threaten and murder people in broad daylight roam free, tells us very clearly where India is headed," Roy told PTI in a message.
She added that murderers are being honoured and protected and anybody who speaks up for justice or against Hindu majoritarianism is being made into a criminal. "What is happening is absolutely perilous. In the run up to elections, this is an attempted coup against the Indian Constitution and all the freedoms that we cherish," Roy said.
In June, five activists were arrested in connection with the case. Voicing their deep anguish at today's developments, civil rights activists said the scale of raids and subsequent arrests were unprecedented. "Fascist fangs are now openly bared," tweeted lawyer Prashant Bhushan.
"It is a clear declaration of emergency. They are going after anyone who has spoken against the government on rights issues. They are against any dissent," Bhushan said. Noted historian Ramachandra Guha called the action "absolutely chilling" and demanded the intervention of the Supreme Court to stop this "persecution and harassment" of independent voices. "Sudha Bharadwaj is as far from violence and illegality as Amit Shah is close to those things," tweeted Guha. Rights activist Shabnam Hashmi, too, strongly condemned the raids. "Strongly condemn raids on human right defenders' homes since Morning in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Telangana, Delhi, Goa. Stop harassing HRDs! Condemn Modi's authoritarian regime," Hashmi said on Twitter. JNU student leader Shehla Rashid alleged the raids were an attempt to "instil fear among those are vocal about issues". "It is also to manufacture a narrative and a sense of false enemy to misguided people ahead of the 2019 elections I highly condemn these," she said. Former JNU leader Umar Khalid said the raids are an attempt to send a message to those who are raising their voices. "Ahead of 2019 elections, a sense of fictitious enemy is being conjured," he said. PTI
What is happening is absolutely perilous, said author and Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy after the raids, whichwere carried out as part of a probe into the violence at Maharashtra's Koregaon-Bhima village, triggered by 'Elgar Parishad' event in Pune on December 31 last year.
Searches were carried out at the residences of poet Varavara Rao in Hyderabad, activists Vernon Gonzalves and Arun Ferreira in Mumbai, trade unionist and lawyer Sudha Bhardwaj in Faridabad and Chhattisgarh and civil liberties activist Gautam Navalakha in Delhi, a police official in Pune said. The official said Rao and Bhardwaj were arrested.
There were unconfirmed reports about arrests of several other activists in the raids. "The simultaneous state-wide arrests are a dangerous sign of a government that fears it is losing its mandate and is falling into panic. That lawyers, poets, writers, Dalit rights activists and intellectuals are being arrested on ludicrous charges... while those who make up lynch mobs and threaten and murder people in broad daylight roam free, tells us very clearly where India is headed," Roy told PTI in a message.
She added that murderers are being honoured and protected and anybody who speaks up for justice or against Hindu majoritarianism is being made into a criminal. "What is happening is absolutely perilous. In the run up to elections, this is an attempted coup against the Indian Constitution and all the freedoms that we cherish," Roy said.
In June, five activists were arrested in connection with the case. Voicing their deep anguish at today's developments, civil rights activists said the scale of raids and subsequent arrests were unprecedented. "Fascist fangs are now openly bared," tweeted lawyer Prashant Bhushan.
"It is a clear declaration of emergency. They are going after anyone who has spoken against the government on rights issues. They are against any dissent," Bhushan said. Noted historian Ramachandra Guha called the action "absolutely chilling" and demanded the intervention of the Supreme Court to stop this "persecution and harassment" of independent voices. "Sudha Bharadwaj is as far from violence and illegality as Amit Shah is close to those things," tweeted Guha. Rights activist Shabnam Hashmi, too, strongly condemned the raids. "Strongly condemn raids on human right defenders' homes since Morning in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Telangana, Delhi, Goa. Stop harassing HRDs! Condemn Modi's authoritarian regime," Hashmi said on Twitter. JNU student leader Shehla Rashid alleged the raids were an attempt to "instil fear among those are vocal about issues". "It is also to manufacture a narrative and a sense of false enemy to misguided people ahead of the 2019 elections I highly condemn these," she said. Former JNU leader Umar Khalid said the raids are an attempt to send a message to those who are raising their voices. "Ahead of 2019 elections, a sense of fictitious enemy is being conjured," he said. PTI
16:57 Suspected militants shot at, injure civilian in J-K's Pulwama
Suspected militants today shot at and injured a civilian in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said. Unidentified militants fired upon Mohammad Amin Malik near his residence in the Lurgam area of Tral in the south Kashmir district, a police official said. He said Malik received gunshot wounds and was rushed to a hospital. A case has been registered and investigation initiated, the official said. -- PTI
16:44
Bhima Koregaon violence: Delhi High Court stays transit remand of activist Gautam Navlakha to Pune. He will be put under house arrest till the case is heard tomorrow.
16:35 GoAir to launch int'l ops; first flight on Mumbai-Phuket route
The Wadia group-owned budget carrier GoAir is all set to fly international from October, with the first flight to operate on the Mumbai-Phuket route, a source privy to development said.
The bookings for the maiden international flight will commence soon and an announcement to this effect is expected to be made by Thursday, the source said.
The city-based airline, which became eligible to fly overseas more than two years ago when it took delivery of its 20th aircraft, which was also the first Airbus A320 Neo for the airline, will be the fifth domestic carrier to have international operations. -- PTI
The bookings for the maiden international flight will commence soon and an announcement to this effect is expected to be made by Thursday, the source said.
The city-based airline, which became eligible to fly overseas more than two years ago when it took delivery of its 20th aircraft, which was also the first Airbus A320 Neo for the airline, will be the fifth domestic carrier to have international operations. -- PTI
16:33 248 died 'shocked' by Karuna's death: DMK
The DMK today said as many as 248 party workers died, 'shocked' by the death of party patriarch M Karunanidhi and announced a solatium of Rs 2 lakh each to their families. After knowing about the hospitalisation and failing health of Karunanidhi and later his death, 248 party workers died, a resolution adopted at the party general council meeting said. Condoling their deaths, DMK said, "this general council resolves to provide a solatium of Rs 2 lakh each totalling Rs 4.96 crore to their families." DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi died on August 7 here in a private hospital, after prolonged illness. -- PTI
16:25 Days after leaving IAS, former Raipur collector joins BJP
Ending speculations, former Raipur collector O P Choudhary today joined the BJP, days after resigning from the IAS. "I have assumed the membership of the BJP," said Choudhary, who tweeted a photo of him with BJP president Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh after joining the party.
Talking to PTI, the former bureaucrat said he served the people of Chhattisgarh for 13 long years and did all to help them. "I am very satisfied with my tenure in the IAS. But bureaucracy has its own limitations. I want to work more for my people and my soil that is why I decided to leave the service," Choudhary, who hails from Chhattisgarh, said.
An IAS officer of the 2005 batch, he resigned from the service last week. He was allotted his home state as his cadre. His resignation has been accepted by the Union Personnel Ministry, the nodal authority for the service. Choudhary, who is credited for bringing transformation in education in Chhattisgarh' naxal-affected Dantewada district, is likely to contest the upcoming Assembly polls from the Kharsiya seat, a Congress bastion in Raigarh district, sources said.
Umesh Patel, son of former state Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel, who was killed in the Jhiram valley naxal attack in Bastar's Darbha region ahead of the 2013 Assembly polls, is the incumbent Congress MLA from Kharsiya. -- PTI
Image: Former Raipur Collector OP Chaudhary with BJP President Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh CM Dr Raman Singh. He had resigned as Collector on August 25.
Talking to PTI, the former bureaucrat said he served the people of Chhattisgarh for 13 long years and did all to help them. "I am very satisfied with my tenure in the IAS. But bureaucracy has its own limitations. I want to work more for my people and my soil that is why I decided to leave the service," Choudhary, who hails from Chhattisgarh, said.
An IAS officer of the 2005 batch, he resigned from the service last week. He was allotted his home state as his cadre. His resignation has been accepted by the Union Personnel Ministry, the nodal authority for the service. Choudhary, who is credited for bringing transformation in education in Chhattisgarh' naxal-affected Dantewada district, is likely to contest the upcoming Assembly polls from the Kharsiya seat, a Congress bastion in Raigarh district, sources said.
Umesh Patel, son of former state Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel, who was killed in the Jhiram valley naxal attack in Bastar's Darbha region ahead of the 2013 Assembly polls, is the incumbent Congress MLA from Kharsiya. -- PTI
Image: Former Raipur Collector OP Chaudhary with BJP President Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh CM Dr Raman Singh. He had resigned as Collector on August 25.
15:59 Delhi HC to hear plea staying activist's case transfer
Bhima Koregaon violence case: Pune Police has got transit remand till 30th August of activist Gautam Navlakha. However, a plea has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking a stay on transferring Navlakha to Pune, amongst other prayers. Case to be heard shortly.
15:24 Bhima Koregaon violence: Five left wing activists arrested
Pune Police today conducted searches at the residences of prominent activists across the country for their suspected Maoist links, a senior police officer said. The raids were carried out as part of the probe into the violence at Maharashtra's Bhima Koregaon village following an event held in Pune last year, he said.
Searches are being carried out at the homes of Left wing activist and poet Varavara Rao in Hyderabad, activists Vernon Gonzalves and Arun Ferreira in Mumbai, trade union activist Sudha Bhardwaj in Chhattisgarh and civil liberties activist Gautam Navalakha, who lives in Delhi, he said. TV reports say all of them have been arrested.
Rao's name had cropped up in a letter seized by the police during searches at the premises of one of the five people arrested in June in connection with the Elgar Parishad event on December 31 last year to commemorate 200 years of the Koregaon Bhima battle in 1818.
In June, five people were arrested for having close Maoist links after they allegedly made "provocative" speeches at the event, triggering violence at Koregaon Bhima village in the district, according to an FIR registered at the Vishrambaug Police Station after the event. Dalit activist Sudhir Dhawale was arrested from his home in Mumbai, while lawyer Surendra Gadling, activist Mahesh Raut and Shoma Sen were picked up from Nagpur and Rona Wilson was arrested from his flat in Munirka in Delhi in simultaneous raids in June. Police said probes were being conducted at homes of the five arrested and those who were directly or indirectly connected with them. -- PTI
Also read: A propaganda tool called #UrbanNaxal
Searches are being carried out at the homes of Left wing activist and poet Varavara Rao in Hyderabad, activists Vernon Gonzalves and Arun Ferreira in Mumbai, trade union activist Sudha Bhardwaj in Chhattisgarh and civil liberties activist Gautam Navalakha, who lives in Delhi, he said. TV reports say all of them have been arrested.
Rao's name had cropped up in a letter seized by the police during searches at the premises of one of the five people arrested in June in connection with the Elgar Parishad event on December 31 last year to commemorate 200 years of the Koregaon Bhima battle in 1818.
In June, five people were arrested for having close Maoist links after they allegedly made "provocative" speeches at the event, triggering violence at Koregaon Bhima village in the district, according to an FIR registered at the Vishrambaug Police Station after the event. Dalit activist Sudhir Dhawale was arrested from his home in Mumbai, while lawyer Surendra Gadling, activist Mahesh Raut and Shoma Sen were picked up from Nagpur and Rona Wilson was arrested from his flat in Munirka in Delhi in simultaneous raids in June. Police said probes were being conducted at homes of the five arrested and those who were directly or indirectly connected with them. -- PTI
Also read: A propaganda tool called #UrbanNaxal
15:03 Heres why Modi gets away with his gaffes, while Rahul Gandhi gets called Pappu
There's a clip of a Narendra Modi speech that made the rounds of social media recently, where the Prime Minister is talking about converting foul gas coming from a sewer into fuel. The statement became such a butt of jokes that the BJP and its supporters on social media were forced to counter it.
Had the same statement been made by Rahul Gandhi, it would have added to the mountain of evidence that Mr Gandhi isn't a very bright leader, and certainly unfit for prime ministership. Why, then, does the same standard not apply to Modi? Why do Modi's gaffes not turn his supporters away from him? Read more
Had the same statement been made by Rahul Gandhi, it would have added to the mountain of evidence that Mr Gandhi isn't a very bright leader, and certainly unfit for prime ministership. Why, then, does the same standard not apply to Modi? Why do Modi's gaffes not turn his supporters away from him? Read more
14:17 It's Lasith Malinga's birthday today
Sachin Tendulkar @sachin_rt When it came to batting against #Lasith Malinga, I always said ... baal ko nahin, ball ko dekho (don't look at the hair, look at the ball). Happy birthday, my friend.
14:12 Rahul Gandhi visits flood relief camps in Kerala
Congress president Rahul Gandhi today embarked on a tour of flood-affected areas in Kerala and spoke to people at relief camps, days after the deluge left a trail of destruction and death in the state. Gandhi, who arrived here this morning from the UK, visited relief camps in Chengannur and Alapuzha. He would also visit some camps in Ernakulam district later in the day. During his two-day visit to Kerala, he will also tour flood-hit areas of Wayanad and Kozhikode districts tomorrow.
In Chengannur, the Congress chief visited the relief camp at the Christian College and that at an engineering college. He spoke to people at both the centres. Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala and Congress's state unit president M M Hassan were among those present at the camps. -- PTI
Image: Congress President Rahul Gandhi made way for an air ambulance to take off in Kerala's Chengannur, ahead of his flight, today. This has made news because most politicians rarely make way. He is on a two-day tour to the flood affected areas in Kerala.
In Chengannur, the Congress chief visited the relief camp at the Christian College and that at an engineering college. He spoke to people at both the centres. Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala and Congress's state unit president M M Hassan were among those present at the camps. -- PTI
Image: Congress President Rahul Gandhi made way for an air ambulance to take off in Kerala's Chengannur, ahead of his flight, today. This has made news because most politicians rarely make way. He is on a two-day tour to the flood affected areas in Kerala.
14:00 Let's throw out Modi: DMK prez Stalin
MK Stalin, who was elected unopposed as president of the DMK today, called out the AIADMK, PM Modi and his brother MK Alagairi.
Stalin, 65, who is the second president of the DMK, was the only candidate to file his nomination for the party chief's post on August 26.
Hitting out at the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu Stalin said, "AIADMK doesn't work for the people and opposes the people's welfare."
He also challenged the BJP and PM Narendra Modi saying, "Let's throw PM Modi out of power, lets teach him a lesson."
He said today's political situation has come as a grave challenge. Education, art, literature, religion are under attack by authoritative and communal forces. The Union govt is trying to destabilise judiciary, selection of governors. All this has dealt a blow to the secular principles.
Staking claim to the post of party president, Stalin said, "Kalaignar always praised me." Without mention his brother MK Alagiri who has also staked claim to the throne, Stalin declared, "I have no brother."
Congress president Rahul Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today congratulated DMK president M K Stalin on his elevation to his party's top post.
Stalin, 65, who is the second president of the DMK, was the only candidate to file his nomination for the party chief's post on August 26.
Hitting out at the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu Stalin said, "AIADMK doesn't work for the people and opposes the people's welfare."
He also challenged the BJP and PM Narendra Modi saying, "Let's throw PM Modi out of power, lets teach him a lesson."
He said today's political situation has come as a grave challenge. Education, art, literature, religion are under attack by authoritative and communal forces. The Union govt is trying to destabilise judiciary, selection of governors. All this has dealt a blow to the secular principles.
Staking claim to the post of party president, Stalin said, "Kalaignar always praised me." Without mention his brother MK Alagiri who has also staked claim to the throne, Stalin declared, "I have no brother."
Congress president Rahul Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today congratulated DMK president M K Stalin on his elevation to his party's top post.
13:33 When floods destroy the home you love
"We have lost everything. My parents escaped to the terrace with a dead cell phone and our education certificates."
Shinju Thomas, a B Com student, tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih what the floods did to her home.
Read the report here.
Shinju Thomas, a B Com student, tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih what the floods did to her home.
Read the report here.
13:09 PM meets BJP CMs
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Chief Ministers of BJP-governed states at party headquarters in Delhi
13:05 Delhi's Chandni Chowk to go pedestrian
While on Delhi, Chandni Chowk will soon become the first locality in the national capital where only pedestrians, cycle rickshaws and e-rickshaws will be allowed between 9 am and 9 pm every day, according to an official.
The decision has been taken at a recent governing body meeting of the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC). -- PTI
The decision has been taken at a recent governing body meeting of the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC). -- PTI
12:53 Heavy rains trigger massive jams in Delhi-NCR
Heavy rains lashed several parts of Delhi-NCR through the night with waterlogging disrupting road traffic movement at many places in the national capital and Gurgaon.
Rush hour traffic was thrown out of gear in Haryana's Gurgaon as morning commuters got stuck in traffic snarls, including an over five-kilometer jam on a road between Hero Honda Chowk and Khirki Daula Toll Plaza.
Several residents took to Twitter to share their experiences and posted photos of waterlogging and jams.
Office-goers in Delhi, too, faced a lot of inconvenience due to traffic disruptions with most opting to use the Delhi Metro rail's services, which were delayed due to over-crowding.
Classes in several colleges here were also cancelled.
The meteorological department has forecast more rains through the day and relative humidity at 100 per cent in Delhi.
The Palam observatory recorded 101 mm rainfall, Lodi 22.2 mm, Safdarjung 49.6 mm and Ridge 6.8 mm, the department said.
Heavy rains were recorded in central and eastern parts of Delhi with waterlogging and traffic congestion being reported from areas such as Mayur Vihar, Palam, Duala Kuan, Bhairon Enclave in Punjabi Bagh, Moti Nagar flyover and between Mundka and Rajdhani Park.
Traffic was affected near Narela Mandi due to an uprooted tree.
Waterlogging was also reported from Devli, Vayusenabad, Sangam Vihar, at GTK towards Mahendra Park, Inderlok Chowk towards Zakhira near underpass, Rao Tula Ram Marg, on Rama Road and at the roundabout between Windsor place and Dr Rajendra Prasad Road. -- PTI
11:58
DMK workers in Coimbatore distribute sweets after MK Stalin was elected as the president of the party.
11:52 This is what Karunanidhi's memorial looks like
Visual from M Karunanidhi's memorial at Chennai's Marina beach where MK Stalin will visit later today. Stalin has been elected as President of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. The thick black frames are iconic of the DMK leader and the pen signifies that he was a man of letters. Could have been done more tastefully, we think.
The DMK has organised a memorial meeting of the DMK chief at Marina Beach on August 30.
BJP national president Amit Shah will not attend the memorial meeting and instead he will be represented by BJP senior and Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari and partys national general secretary Muralidhar Rao at the meeting. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is also unlikely to attend the meet.
Karunanidhi was buried at Chennai's Marina Beach near his mentor CN Annadurai's grave. This was after the Madras High Court granted permission for Karunanidhi's burial at the beach. The DMK patriarch was buried at Anna Square memorial.
The DMK has organised a memorial meeting of the DMK chief at Marina Beach on August 30.
BJP national president Amit Shah will not attend the memorial meeting and instead he will be represented by BJP senior and Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari and partys national general secretary Muralidhar Rao at the meeting. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is also unlikely to attend the meet.
Karunanidhi was buried at Chennai's Marina Beach near his mentor CN Annadurai's grave. This was after the Madras High Court granted permission for Karunanidhi's burial at the beach. The DMK patriarch was buried at Anna Square memorial.
11:34 'Is Rahul Gandhi illiterate?'
Congress President Rahul Gandhi dug himself into a hole by asserting in London that the Congress party was not involved in the October 31-November 4, 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the wake of then prime minister Indira Gandhi's assassination.
At a meeting with British MPs in London on August 24, Rahul described the violence as a 'very painful tragedy', but insisted that the Congress was not involved.Senior Congress leader Palinappan Chidambaram tried to stem the damage from Rahul's statement by saying, "We are not saying the Congress is absolved. The Congress was in office in 1984, nobody is denying that. A very terrible thing happened for which Dr Manmohan Singh has apologised in Parliament. Now you can't hold Rahul Gandhi responsible for that, he was 13 or 14 years of age."
Hartosh Singh Bal, political editor, Caravan magazine, spoke to Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf about the 1984 riots on which he has written extensively including an essay in the book 1984: In Memory and Imagination -- Personal Essays and Stories on the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots.
Read the full interview here.
At a meeting with British MPs in London on August 24, Rahul described the violence as a 'very painful tragedy', but insisted that the Congress was not involved.Senior Congress leader Palinappan Chidambaram tried to stem the damage from Rahul's statement by saying, "We are not saying the Congress is absolved. The Congress was in office in 1984, nobody is denying that. A very terrible thing happened for which Dr Manmohan Singh has apologised in Parliament. Now you can't hold Rahul Gandhi responsible for that, he was 13 or 14 years of age."
Hartosh Singh Bal, political editor, Caravan magazine, spoke to Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf about the 1984 riots on which he has written extensively including an essay in the book 1984: In Memory and Imagination -- Personal Essays and Stories on the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots.
Read the full interview here.
11:24 Man, 116 cattle killed after portion of hill collapsed in Himachal
A man and 116 cattle died in Nirmand village of Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district after being trapped under boulders when a portion of a hill collapsed on Monday.
Panchayat chief, Rakesh Thakur confirmed the incident and said, "We were able to find the body of the cattle herder, but since it was dark they could not rescue the animals stuck under the boulders."The panchayat chief also informed the police and the revenue department about the incident, who reached the spot to take stock of the situation."The police and the revenue department reached the spot to review the situation as soon as they got the information," Thakur added. -- ANI
Panchayat chief, Rakesh Thakur confirmed the incident and said, "We were able to find the body of the cattle herder, but since it was dark they could not rescue the animals stuck under the boulders."The panchayat chief also informed the police and the revenue department about the incident, who reached the spot to take stock of the situation."The police and the revenue department reached the spot to review the situation as soon as they got the information," Thakur added. -- ANI
11:07
DMK passes a resolution at the party's General Council meeting urging the Union government to confer a Bharat Ratna to former Tamil Nadu CM M Karunanidhi.
10:47 Stalin takes over as DMK president
MK Stalin elected as president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam at the party headquarters in Chennai. He will be the second president in the history of the DMK, the first being MK Karunanidhi. He held the position for 49 years.
Stalin's elevation as the DMK president is a foregone conclusion as all the district secretaries have filed nominations on his behalf. Before filing his nomination papers, Stalin visited the memorials of party founder CN Annadurai and former Chief Minister Karunanidhi on Marina Beach. He also sought the blessings of his mother Dayalu Ammal and DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan before filing the nomination papers.
Stalin's elevation as the DMK president is a foregone conclusion as all the district secretaries have filed nominations on his behalf. Before filing his nomination papers, Stalin visited the memorials of party founder CN Annadurai and former Chief Minister Karunanidhi on Marina Beach. He also sought the blessings of his mother Dayalu Ammal and DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan before filing the nomination papers.
10:47 Stalin to take over from as DMK prez today
MK Stalin, DMK acting president, files his nomination for the post of party president. The position of DMK president has been lying vacant after the demise of former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi on August 7.
Stalin's brother, MK Alagiri was expelled from the political outfit in March 2014 by Karunanidhi for slanderous attacks on senior party members and carrying out anti-party activities.
Stalin filed his nomination for the post of president on Sunday. Hours after that, Alagiri said he will decide the future course of action after the by-elections are announced.
"What do I do? You want me to go and propose his name? We will see what to do when bypolls are announced," Alagiri said.
The political battle between the brothers got yet more intense after Alagiri on August 13 claimed, "All the supporters in Tamil Nadu are on my side and are encouraging me only. Only time will give the answers; that is all I am willing to say now."
Founded by CN Annadurai in 1949, DMK was a breakaway faction from the Dravida Kazhagam that was popularly known as Justice Party until 1944. This political outfit had been headed by Karunanidhi from 1969 until his death in August.
Image: MK Stalin with Alagiri and their sister Kanimozhi during their father M Karunanidhi's funeral ceremony at Anna Memorial, in Chennai. Alagiri presented a united front at the funeral only to reveal political aspirations a few days later.
Stalin's brother, MK Alagiri was expelled from the political outfit in March 2014 by Karunanidhi for slanderous attacks on senior party members and carrying out anti-party activities.
Stalin filed his nomination for the post of president on Sunday. Hours after that, Alagiri said he will decide the future course of action after the by-elections are announced.
"What do I do? You want me to go and propose his name? We will see what to do when bypolls are announced," Alagiri said.
The political battle between the brothers got yet more intense after Alagiri on August 13 claimed, "All the supporters in Tamil Nadu are on my side and are encouraging me only. Only time will give the answers; that is all I am willing to say now."
Founded by CN Annadurai in 1949, DMK was a breakaway faction from the Dravida Kazhagam that was popularly known as Justice Party until 1944. This political outfit had been headed by Karunanidhi from 1969 until his death in August.
Image: MK Stalin with Alagiri and their sister Kanimozhi during their father M Karunanidhi's funeral ceremony at Anna Memorial, in Chennai. Alagiri presented a united front at the funeral only to reveal political aspirations a few days later.
10:37 Rahul to visit flood-devastated places in Kerala
Congress President Rahul Gandhi arrives at Trivandrum airport. He will be visiting flood-hit regions in Kerala including Chengannur, Alappuzha and Angamaly later today. He will also visit flood-affected areas in Wayanad district tomorrow.
10:35 Amit Shah arrives at CMs' meeting
BJP President Amit Shah, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das, and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi arrive at the BJP headquarters in Delhi for the meeting of Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states.
10:10 DMK meeting underway
DMK General Council meeting underway at party headquarters in Chennai. DMK Working President MK Stalin has filed his nomination for the post of party president. Image: Kalaignar TV
09:20 With eye on upcoming polls, BJP to hold CMs' meet today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah and 15 chief ministers of the party will attend a meeting in New Delhi today as it gears up for the Lok Sabha polls, which are less than eight months away.
BJP sources said the conference of chief ministers, in which the top brass takes stock of works going on in states ruled by the party and issues them directions, has assumed added significance due to the upcoming assembly elections in three states and the Lok Sabha polls and these would be likely discussed in the day-long meeting.
Assembly polls are due in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, all ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), later this year.
The agenda of good governance and running pro-poor policies has been a key feature of the chief ministers' meetings, which have been taking place regularly since Modi took over as prime minister in 2014.
BJP's deputy chief ministers in different states will also attend the meeting. -- PTI
08:55 Veteran Indian diplomat appointed UN Asst Secretary-General, to head will head NY environment office
United Nations Secretary General Antnio Guterres has appointed veteran Indian development economist and UN official Satya S Tripathi as Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the New York Office of the United Nations Environment Programme.
Tripathi, who will succeed Elliott Harris of Trinidad and Tobago, has since 2017 served as Senior Adviser on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at UNEP.
A development economist and lawyer with over 35 years of experience, Tripathi has worked for the United Nations since 1998 in Europe, Asia and Africa on strategic assignments in sustainable development, human rights, democratic governance and legal affairs, spokesman for the Secretary-General Stphane Dujarric told reporters.
Tripathi was previously the Director and Executive Head of the United Nations Office for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries Coordination in Indonesia, as well as for the United Nations Recovery Coordinator for the USD 7 billion post-tsunami and post-conflict recovery efforts in Aceh and Nias.
He participated as Chair of the Committees on Laws and Treaties for the United Nations-mediated Cyprus unification talks in 2004.
Earlier in his career he acted as a Senior Distinguished Fellow on Natural Resources Governance with the World Agroforestry Centre and on the World Economic Forum's Global Advisory Council on Forests.
Tripathi holds honours, bachelor's and master's degrees in commerce; and bachelor's and master's degrees in law from Berhampur University, India.
UN Environment is the leading agency at the world body focussed on environment. It works with governments, the private sector, the civil society and with other UN entities and international organisations across the world. -- PTI
08:43 Ban Sanatan Sanstha if needed: Union minister
Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Monday said that "if needed", Hindu right-wing group, Sanatan Sanstha should be "completely banned."
"The Sanatan Sanstha will have to stop its violent activities. If it was involved in the murders of (rationalist) Dr Narendra Dabholkar and (journalist) Gauri Lankesh then action needs to be taken against it. The culprits should be nabbed as soon as possible. If needed, the organisation should be completely banned," Athawale said at a press conference in Mumbai.
Athawale's statement comes after the Sanatan Sanstha denied reports of any involvement in the Dabholkar and Lankesh death cases.
"The nine people recently arrested don't belong to the Sanathan Sanstha, which is being targeted unnecessarily in these circumstances. Out of the nine people, five are those, whose names we have come to know through media only. There are different types of people who are referred to as Sanathan workers and I want to clear that none of the arrested are connected with our outfit," Sanathan Sanstha spokesperson Chetan Rajhans said.
"Just because these people came to Sansthan ashrams, these people can't be connected with us. The ATS in its press conference has mentioned that the investigation is not completed and is in its initial phase. We have decided to go judicial way to stop these rumours. We have always followed proper procedures, therefore, I request everyone not to target Sanathan Sansthan and have proper information before you write or speak," he added.
The Central Bureau of Investigation had earlier recovered the pistol used for killing Bengaluru-based journalist-cum-activist Gauri Lankesh while investigating the Narendra Dabholkar murder case, thus establishing a connection between the two murders.
The pistol was recovered from Shubham Surale, the brother-in-law of Sachin Andure, an accused in the Dabholkar murder case, who was arrested from Aurangabad by the CBI on August 18.
Narendra Dabholkar, who was the founder of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, was shot dead on August 20, 2013, by bike-borne assailants while returning home from a morning walk, while Gauri Lankesh was shot dead outside her Bengaluru residence on September 5 last year. -- ANI
00:04 France's Macron says Europe can't rely on US for security
French President Emmanuel Macron told France's overseas ambassadors gathered in Paris on Monday that Europe can "no longer rely" upon the US for its security.
"It is up to us today to take our responsibilities and guarantee our own security, and thus have European sovereignty," Macron said.
Since his election in 2016, US President Donald Trump has been distancing himself from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, challenging a post-World War Two consensus on peace and security in Europe.
Macron said he wanted to see a complete rethink of how Europe defends itself in the future.
"I want us to launch an exhaustive review of our security with all Europe's partners, which includes Russia," he added.
Macron's call for greater European military cooperation echoes recent comments by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.
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