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Thu, 05 July 2018
Betting in sports including Cricket should be legalised: Law Commission
Timeline Refresh
23:31 Terrorists kidnap cop in J-K
Suspected terrorists tonight kidnapped a policeman from his house in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district.
Constable Javaid Ahmad was kidnapped by unknown gunmen from his house at Vehil, a police official said.
He said security forces have been alerted and operations launched to track down the kidnappers for rescuing the cop.
23:16 Former Fox News executive Bill Shine joins White House as deputy chief of staff for communications
The White House announced today that former Fox News president Bill Shine has been appointed as the White House's new Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications.
A White House statement about the appointment highlighted Shine's past experience with Fox News.
"[Shine] brings over two decades of television programming, communications, and management experience to the role. Previously, Mr. Shine served as Co-President of Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network," it reads.
Shine's hiring is eyebrow-raising because of his longtime association with Roger Ailes, the former chairman of the Fox News Channel. Shine was one of Ailes' deputies for years. When Ailes was accused of sexual harassment by numerous women in 2016, Shine was accused of covering up the alleged misdeeds.
22:41 Betting in sports including Cricket should be legalised: Law Commission
The Law Commission of India has recommended that gambling and betting on sports including cricket should be legalised and regulated while stronger laws be introduced to curb match fixing and incidents of cheating. The panel says that betting and gambling should be made taxable under the direct and indirect tax regimes and used as a source for attracting foreign direct investment or FDI.
"Parliament may also enact a model law for regulating gambling that may be adopted by the states or in the alternative, Parliament may legislate in exercise of its powers under Articles 249 or 252 of the Constitution. In case legislation is made under Article 252, states other than the consenting states will be free to adopt the same," it said.
The commission has also recommended linking Aadhaar or PAN cards of an individual indulging in betting and gambling, and making the transaction cashless to regulate illegal activities such as money laundering. The commission has also recommended amending the laws regulating foreign exchange and India's FDI policy to allow investments in the casino and online gaming industry.
22:16 US using DNA testing to reunite children split from migrant parents
DNA testing is being conducted as part of the process to reunite children who were separated from their parents at the US border, a federal official with knowledge of the reunifications said.
"The safety and security is paramount and that it is not uncommon for children to be trafficked or smuggled by those claiming to be parents. To our knowledge this is a cheek swab and is being done to expedite parental verification and ensuring reunification with verified parents due to child welfare concerns," the official said.
Read more HERE
21:59
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to meet Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal at 3 pm tomorrow
21:51 4 persons feared drowned off Mumbai's Juhu beach, search on
Four people are feared to have drowned off the Juhu beach in Mumbai after a group of five ventured into the sea for a swim today evening, police said.
"The sea was rough and there was high tide when they ventured into the sea for a swim at around 5:30 pm," Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone IX, Paramjit Singh Dahiya said.
One of them, Wasim Khan (22), has been rescued, while the search for the other four persons was underway, he said, adding that helicopters had also been deployed as part of the efforts.
A communication from the navy informed that it had deployed its SeaKing 42C helicopters, and divers, for the rescue.
The mavy statement added that the Coast Guard would join the search operation from tomorrow morning.
Those feared drowned have been identified as Fardeen Saudagar (17), Sohail Khan (17), Faisal Sheikh (17) and Nazeer Gazi (22), police said.
21:30 Sohrabuddin encounter: Number of hostile witnesses reaches 80
Three more prosecution witnesses today turned hostile in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh and Tulsiram Prajapati alleged fake encounter cases, taking the number of
such witnesses to 80.
Sharafat Ali, who had allegedly shared a prison cell with Prajapati and two others, deposed before Judge S J Sharma of the special CBI court.
Ali had told the Central Bureau of Investigation that while he was lodged in the Udaipur jail in 2006 in an Arms Act case, he met Prajapati.
Prajapati told him that he and Sohrabuddin worked for the Gujarat Police, but the police cheated him, Ali had stated.
Prajapati also told him that he knew about the killing of Sohrabuddin and his wife Kausar Bi by police, and he was going to disclose all facts to the Gujarat CID, according to Ali's statement to the investigators.
When Ali was released, Prajapati gave him a letter, which mentioned a threat to his life, to be handed over to his (Prajapati's) brother, Ali had said.
-- PTI
21:18 Sanjay Dutt should not be glorified, says Satyapal Singh
As the biopic on Sanjay Dutt is raking in moolah at the box office, Union Minister and former Mumbai Police commissioner Satyapal Singh today said the Bollywood actor should not be glorified.
Dutt was arrested in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts case and was convicted for illegal possession of an AK-56 rifle. He was released from prison in 2016.
"I think glorification of criminals should be avoided, whether it is Dawood Ibrahim or any other person. There should not be any glorification of Sanjay Dutt also. Truth should come out before the society," the minister of state for HRD told reporters.
He was replying to a question on Bollywood movie "Sanju".
"Sanju", directed by Rajkumar Hirani and starring Ranbir Kapoor, was released on June 29. The film got a huge opening, but also drew criticism for "glorifying" Dutt and indulging in media bashing.
"I don't watch films....I have not seen that film. Everybody knows about Sanjay Dutt...There is no question of my opinion (on the subject)," Singh said.
-- PTI
21:02 India's request for Naik's extradition under active consideration of Malaysia: MEA
India today said its request to Malaysia to extradite controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik was under active consideration of that country.
In January, the ministry of external affairs had made a formal request to Malaysia to deport Naik, wanted by India for allegedly inciting youngsters for terror activities through his hate speeches.
"At this stage, our request is under active consideration of the Malaysian side. Our High Commission in Kuala Lumpur is in regular touch with the relevant Malaysian authorities in this regard," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said at a press briefing.
He was asked about the status of India's request to Malaysia to extradite Naik. India has an extradition treaty with Malaysia.
There were media reports about his deportation to India by the Malaysian government.
Following the reports, Naik, in a statement, said he would not return to India till he felt "safe from unfair prosecution".
He is being probed under terror and money laundering charges by the National Investigation Agency. He had left India in July, 2016.
-- PTI
20:24 UK counter-terror dept probes new deadly nerve agent poisoning
Britain's counter-terrorism officers are today investigating how a couple from a quiet English town fell critically ill from the same military-grade deadly nerve agent that nearly killed former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in March.
Dawn Sturgess, 44, and Charlie Rowley, 45, were found critically ill on Saturday in the village of Amesbury, close to the city of Salisbury, where former double agent Skripal and his daughter were found slumped on a bench on March 4 in an incident that sparked a diplomatic crisis with Russia.
Scotland Yard's Neil Basu, the senior-most counter-terrorism officer, confirmed that expert scientists in chemical warfare at the UK's Porton Down laboratory had established that nerve agent Novichok had caused their collapse.
"Following the detailed analysis of these samples, we can confirm that the man and woman have been exposed to the nerve agent Novichok, which has been identified as the same nerve agent that contaminated both Yulia and Skripal," said Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Basu.
"The priority for the investigation team now, is to establish how these two people have come into contact with this nerve agent," he said.
Basu clarified that there was nothing in the backgrounds of Sturgess or Rowley, both British nationals, that would suggest they would be a target for a deliberate attack - they have no connections to the intelligence or security communities.
Around 100 detectives from the UK's Counter Terrorism Policing Network are now working on the investigation, alongside officers from Wiltshire Police. They have cordoned off a number of sites as a "precautionary measure" in the Amesbury and Salisbury areas that they believe the duo visited in the period before they fell ill.
British Prime Minister Theresa May said it was "deeply disturbing" to see two more people exposed to the deadly Soviet era Novichok nerve agent in the UK, and that British police would leave "no stone unturned in their investigation".
-- PTI
20:01 10 teams of BMC, Rlys, IIT experts to assess 445 bridges
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation along with Western and Central Railways have decided to form 10 teams to inspect 445 railway bridges in Mumbai.
The decision comes against the backdrop of Tuesday's incident in which the pathway of a road overbridge collapsed on to WR's tracks, south of Andheri station, injuring five people, and disrupting train traffic for almost the whole day.
A meeting was held at the BMC headquarters today which was chaired by civic chief Ajoy Mehta and was attended by CR general manager D K Sharma and his WR counterpart A K Gupta apart from the divisional managers of both the railway zones.
"During the meeting, a decision was taken to form 10 teams comprising BMC and Railway officials and experts from the Indian Institute of Technology to assess 445 structures passing over railway tracks in Mumbai," said CR chief spokesperson Sunil Udasi.
Udasi informed that the audit of these structures will start from tomorrow and bridges like Elphinstone Bridge, Lokmanya Tilak Bridge will be taken up first.
-- PTI
19:57 Giant 'Trump Baby' to fly over London during US president visit
A giant blimp depicting Donald Trump as a baby will fly over London during the US president's visit next week after mayor Sadiq Khan approved the request, protesters behind the stunt said.
The 6-metre (19-foot) orange balloon, which shows the president wearing a nappy, will fly near the British parliament at a height of 30 metres between 9.30 am and 11.30 am local time.
"The mayor supports the right to peaceful protest and understands that this can take many different forms," said a spokesperson for Khan, who has had frequent Twitter spats with the US leader.
Activist Leo Murray from the group behind the protest credited a "huge groundswell of support" for Khan's decision, with more than 10,000 signing an online petition.
"We didn't get off to the best start with the mayor's office over this, who originally told us that they didn't recognise 'Trump Baby' as legitimate protest," he told Sky News.
"But following a huge groundswell of public support for our plan, it looks like City Hall has rediscovered its sense of humour. Trump Baby will fly!"
Huge protests are expected when Trump visits Britain next week, where he will meet Prime Minister Theresa May and Queen Elizabeth II.
19:29 Marin Cilic crashes out of Wimbledon
Marin Cilic, seeded number 3, is out of Wimbledon in the second round. Last year's runner-up lost to Argentinia's Guido Pella in 5 sets -- 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-7, 5-7.
19:25 Passports issued to inter-faith couple as per norms: MEA
The ministry of external affairs on Thursday clarified that the inter-faith couple, Tanvi Seth and her husband Anas Siddiqui were issued passports as per the ministry's norms and due procedures.
The MEA's response came after several media reports emerged that the passport officer, Vikas Mishra was wrong in asking questions to the inter-faith couple.
In this regard, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "In the last couple of weeks, a lot of misinformation has been going around in the matter. Ms Tanvi Seth submitted her passport application at Passport Seva Kendra Lucknow on June 20. The passport was issued to Seth after careful examination of the documents submitted and following due process as per the Passport Act."
"The passport was issued post police verification. The PV report sent to RPO Lucknow was to be based on a decision taken in December 2017 that PV will be undertaken only on two points - whether the applicant is a citizen of India and whether the applicant has any criminal case pending against him or her. These two aspects were converted into a six-point PV form. In the Tanvi Seth case, there was no adverse report on all six points mentioned in the revised form," he added.
Kumar further said that the police officer doing the verification added two comments based on which the PV report was put under the adverse category.
"The first point says that the name of the applicant in the passport form is Tanvi Seth, while in her marriage certificate her name is Sadia Anas, and the second issue was a discrepancy in her address on the ground that her rental address in Noida is not mentioned in the passport form by the applicant," he clarified.
The MEA spokesperson said that under the revised passport application rules, there was no requirement for submitting a marriage certificate. Hence, the controversy around Seth's name was irrelevant.
-- ANI
19:07 Amarnath Yatra suspended from Jammu due to heavy rains
The Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir was today suspended from Jammu due to inclement weather.
No pilgrim has departed the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas for the cave shrine, Additional District Magistrate Jammu Arun Manhas said.
"Due to inclement weather the Amarnath Yatra from the base camp Yatri Niwas (at Bhagwatinagar) via both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes will remain suspended," he said.
However, a batch of 1,798 pilgrims, who were stopped at Udhampur from leaving from the Pahalgam base camp in view of the inclement weather conditions, were allowed to move to Pahalgam today, a police official said.
Three pilgrims and a helper were killed and seven others injured in landslide that hit the Brarimarg-Railpathri stretch of the trek from Baltal to the cave shrine on July 3.
The yatra via both Baltal as well as the Pahalgam routes remained suspended yesterday because of landslides and shooting stones between Railpathri and Brarimarg.
However, limited helicopter services functioned from both the routes.
On the seventh day of the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, 5,919 yatris paid obeisance at the holy cave.
Till date, 60,752 yatris have paid obeisance at the Shivling at the holy cave, the spokesperson said.
A total of 27,426 pilgrims have left the Jammu base camp for their onward journey to the Amarnath shrine.
The 60-day yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 26, which is coinciding with the 'Raksha Bandhan' festival. -- PTI
19:00 Court declares another accused as adult in Kathua rape-murder case
The Pathankot district and sessions court has accepted a medical report of an accused in the Kathua rape-and-murder case, who claimed to be a juvenile, which ascertained his age to be more than 20 years, Special Public Prosecutor J K Chopra said.
Rejecting the plea of defence counsel, district and sessions judge Tajwinder Singh said the accused, Parvesh Kumar alias 'Mannu', will be treated as an adult, the lawyer said.
Chopra said the court has declined his application and declared the accused as a 'major'.
Kumar's counsel A K Sawhney told reporters outside the court that they would be challenging the verdict of the trail court in the Supreme Court soon.
The medical report was submitted before the court earlier this week by the Jammu and Kashmir police's crime branch after it resumed post summer break.
The district and sessions judge had issued directions to the crime branch to conduct a bone ossification test to ascertain the age of Kumar, one of the eight accused in the brutal rape-and-murder case of an eight-year-old nomadic girl in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir in January.
Asked what was the opinion of the doctors about the age of the accused, Chopra said, "According to it (the medical opinion), his age is stated to be 20 plus."
The fate of another accused, who has claimed to be a juvenile, is yet to be decided as the matter was pending before the Jammu and Kashmir high court after the crime branch moved an application urging him to be treated as an adult based on his medical reports.
The court had ordered the test after the defence counsel moved an application in the first week of June, requesting to treat him as a minor citing his matriculation certificate.
The crime branch had constituted a team of doctors, comprising medicos from various streams including the radiology department, and the accused was examined on June 22 and 23. -- PTI
18:57 Sohrabuddin case: Witnesses turning hostile as CBI doctored evidence, says Jethmalani
Senior lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani today accused the Central Bureau of Investigation in the Bombay high court of fabricating evidence in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh alleged fake encounter case, saying that is why a large number of prosecution witnesses have turned hostile in the case.
A total of 77 witnesses have turned hostile so far in the case.
Jethmalani is the counsel for IPS officer Rajkumar Pandian, who was discharged by a trial court in the case.
He told a single-judge bench of Justice A M Badar that it was "no surprise" that the agency's star witnesses Nathuba Jadeja and Gurdayal Singh, drivers with the Gujarat ATS at the time of the alleged encounter, had turned hostile.
"Both Jadeja and Singh were coerced by the Central Bureau of Investigation into giving statements that suited the prosecution's case," Jethmalani alleged.
It is no surprise that they turned hostile because even if they had stood their ground their depositions wouldn't have passed the test of law, he said.
"That is because the CBI was given a mandate when it took over the probe in 2010, and it manufactured the content and fabricated evidence to suit its case," Jethmalani charged.
He pointed out that as per the evidence on record, between 2005 (when the alleged encounters of Sohrabuddin Shaikh and his wife Kausar Bi took place) and 2010 (when the CBI took over the probe), Jadeja's statement was recorded seven times.
In his first two statements before the Gujarat Crime Investigation Department in February 2006, Jadeja had said he was a witness to the incident and that the encounters were genuine.
Jadeja had stated that Sohrabuddin Shaikh, a Gujarat-based gangster was apprehended by the officials and as he was trying to flee the spot, one of the junior officials, an accused in the alleged fake encounter case, case had to fire some shots at him and he was killed, Jethmalani said.
But, Jadeja told the Gujarat CID in April 2007 that the above statement was incorrect and the said encounter was a fake one. He repeated this story before the CBI in May 2010, the senior lawyer said. -- PTI
18:48 Alagiri claims genuine DMK cadres are with him
Days after DMK carried out a revamp of the party set up in southern districts, expelled leader M K Alagiri today claimed genuine cadres were with him and took a dig at his brother M K Stalin, dubbing him as a "non-working president".
The former union minister, who had been lying low for a long time, chose the occasion of a wedding of a DMK functionary and his supporter Madurai Veeran near here to air his views on the happenings in the party.
Madurai-based Alagiri, elder son of DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, was sacked from the party ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections for alleged indiscipline.
Arriving for the wedding at Palamedu after a rousing reception given by party workers on his way, he said those occupying organisational posts were sticking to the party only for the sake of the positions and did not work for the party.
He claimed that genuine workers of the party were with him.
His remarks come days after DMK working president M K Stalin effected a rejig, easing out party functionaries in seven southern districts and appointing new office-bearers.
The changes were carried out after Stalin's extensive brainstorming sessions over the past two months with cadres.
Despite his expulsion, Alagiri, who was the DMK's organising secretary of the south zone, enjoyed considerable clout among the middle and lower level cadres of the party many of whom respected him for his leadership qualities and ability to mingle with the grassroot workers.
Without naming Stalin, Alagiri said "a non-working president is occupying the post of working president in the party in Chennai."
His observations could cause embarrassment to the party leadership which is keen on a revivial of its fortunes ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls after back-to-back defeats in assembly elections and rout in the 2014 Parliamentary polls.
DMK had also forfeited deposit in the December 2017 byelection to RK Nagar assembly constituency. -- PTI
18:29 Nuns held for child trafficking
Ranchi: Police arrested two nuns of Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity on charges of child trafficking. According to a report, the racket was busted
after a couple approached the Child Welfare Committee for not
getting their child even after paying a sum of Rs 1.2 lakh to the lady
working with the organization.
18:18 Mallya's UK properties can be searched: Court
A UK High Court judge has issued an enforcement order in favour of a consortium of 13 Indian banks, seeking to recover funds owed to them by beleaguered liquor baron Vijay Mallya who is fighting extradition to India on fraud and money laundering charges worth nearly Rs 9,000 crore.
The order grants permission to the UK High Court Enforcement Officer to enter the 62-year-old tycoon's properties in Hertfordshire, near London. It permits the officer and his agents entry to Ladywalk and Bramble Lodge in Tewin, Welwyn, where Mallya is currently based.
However, it is not an instruction to enter, which means the banks have the option to use the order as one of the means to recover estimated funds of around 1.145 billion pounds.
"The High Court Enforcement Officer, including any enforcement agents acting under his authority, may enter Ladywalk, Queen Hoo Lane, Tewin, Welwyn' and Bramble Lodge, Queen Hoo Lane, Tewin, Welwyn, including all outbuildings of Ladywalk and Bramble Lodge to search for and take control of goods belonging to the First Defendant (Mallya)," notes the order by Justice Byran, dated June 26.
According to legal experts with knowledge of the case, the latest order by the High Court's Queen's Bench Division is the granting of permission, should it be required, while the banks consider "all the enforcement options available to them".
The order relates to the UK's Tribunal Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 and follows a UK High Court ruling in May, which refused to overturn a worldwide order freezing Mallya's assets and upheld an Indian court's ruling that the Indian banks were entitled to recover funds.
It permits the officer and his agents entry to Ladywalk and Bramble Lodge in Tewin, Welwyn, where Mallya is currently based. However, it is not an instruction to enter, which means the banks have the option to use the order as one of the means to recover estimated funds of around 1.145 billion pounds.
"The High Court Enforcement Officer, including any enforcement agents acting under his authority, may enter Ladywalk, Queen Hoo Lane, Tewin, Welwyn and Bramble Lodge, Queen Hoo Lane, Tewin, Welwyn, including all outbuildings of Ladywalk and Bramble Lodge to search for and take control of goods belonging to the First Defendant (Mallya)," notes the order by Justice Byran, dated June 26.
"The High Court Enforcement Officer, including any Enforcement Agent acting under his authority, may use reasonable force to enter the Property if necessary," it states.
-- PTI
The order grants permission to the UK High Court Enforcement Officer to enter the 62-year-old tycoon's properties in Hertfordshire, near London. It permits the officer and his agents entry to Ladywalk and Bramble Lodge in Tewin, Welwyn, where Mallya is currently based.
However, it is not an instruction to enter, which means the banks have the option to use the order as one of the means to recover estimated funds of around 1.145 billion pounds.
"The High Court Enforcement Officer, including any enforcement agents acting under his authority, may enter Ladywalk, Queen Hoo Lane, Tewin, Welwyn' and Bramble Lodge, Queen Hoo Lane, Tewin, Welwyn, including all outbuildings of Ladywalk and Bramble Lodge to search for and take control of goods belonging to the First Defendant (Mallya)," notes the order by Justice Byran, dated June 26.
According to legal experts with knowledge of the case, the latest order by the High Court's Queen's Bench Division is the granting of permission, should it be required, while the banks consider "all the enforcement options available to them".
The order relates to the UK's Tribunal Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 and follows a UK High Court ruling in May, which refused to overturn a worldwide order freezing Mallya's assets and upheld an Indian court's ruling that the Indian banks were entitled to recover funds.
It permits the officer and his agents entry to Ladywalk and Bramble Lodge in Tewin, Welwyn, where Mallya is currently based. However, it is not an instruction to enter, which means the banks have the option to use the order as one of the means to recover estimated funds of around 1.145 billion pounds.
"The High Court Enforcement Officer, including any enforcement agents acting under his authority, may enter Ladywalk, Queen Hoo Lane, Tewin, Welwyn and Bramble Lodge, Queen Hoo Lane, Tewin, Welwyn, including all outbuildings of Ladywalk and Bramble Lodge to search for and take control of goods belonging to the First Defendant (Mallya)," notes the order by Justice Byran, dated June 26.
"The High Court Enforcement Officer, including any Enforcement Agent acting under his authority, may use reasonable force to enter the Property if necessary," it states.
-- PTI
17:03 Now, 2 men assaulted in Manipur on suspicion of being child-lifters
Triggered by rumours on the social media, locals roughed up two men in separate incidents in Manipur suspecting them of being child-lifters and cannibals, police said today.
According to police, the locals found the duo in a "disoriented state", about 2 km apart, in Saikul area of Kangpokpi district, police said adding, that the social media posts were untrue.
As the victims failed to give a satisfactory reply upon being quizzed, they were assaulted, police said.
None of them was carrying any documents which could prove their identity, they added.
The duo was rescued and taken into preventive custody by the police.
They were later taken to Imphal's Regional Institute of Medical Sciences where the doctors said that one of the men claimed to be from Assam's Cachar district.
The police were trying to ascertain their identities.
Although, no child was reported to be missing from the district in the last three months, police said the locals, swayed by the rumours of child-lifting gangs being active in the area, had voluntarily taken upon themselves to keep their neighbourhoods under surveillance. -- PTI
15:58 No signs of truce, Kejriwal wants to meet LG
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today requested all stakeholders to implement the Supreme Court order on the distribution of powers between the Delhi government and the Lieutenant Governor, and to get down to work for the development of the city.
Welcoming the apex court order that held the L-G was bound by the aid and advice of the council of ministers, Kejriwal said the verdict had clearly demarcated power sharing among the stakeholders.
The Supreme Court has in "clear terms" stated the powers of the Delhi government, the central government and the LG. Police, public and land are under control of the LG, and the Delhi government has executive powers on other subjects, the chief minister said.
"I want to appeal to all the stakeholders to implement the order and work together for the development of Delhi," he said. "Sought time to meet Hon'ble LG today to seek his support and cooperation in the implementation of the order of Hon'ble SC and in the development of Delhi," he wrote on Twitter.
Kejriwal's appeal came amid refusal of officers to comply with the Delhi government's directive on new transfers and posting powers being given to the chief minister, deputy CM and ministers of the government. Earlier the power was exercised by the Lt Governor. The government was seeking legal opinion on the matter, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said earlier in the day. The government was likely to move a "contempt petition" before the Supreme Court in this regard, said a government spokesperson. -- PTI
Welcoming the apex court order that held the L-G was bound by the aid and advice of the council of ministers, Kejriwal said the verdict had clearly demarcated power sharing among the stakeholders.
The Supreme Court has in "clear terms" stated the powers of the Delhi government, the central government and the LG. Police, public and land are under control of the LG, and the Delhi government has executive powers on other subjects, the chief minister said.
"I want to appeal to all the stakeholders to implement the order and work together for the development of Delhi," he said. "Sought time to meet Hon'ble LG today to seek his support and cooperation in the implementation of the order of Hon'ble SC and in the development of Delhi," he wrote on Twitter.
Kejriwal's appeal came amid refusal of officers to comply with the Delhi government's directive on new transfers and posting powers being given to the chief minister, deputy CM and ministers of the government. Earlier the power was exercised by the Lt Governor. The government was seeking legal opinion on the matter, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said earlier in the day. The government was likely to move a "contempt petition" before the Supreme Court in this regard, said a government spokesperson. -- PTI
15:35 Sedition row: JNU upholds punishment for Umar Khalid, Kanhaiya Kumar
The JNU's high-level inquiry committee has upheld Umar Khalid's rustication and a fine of Rs 10,000 imposed on Kanhaiya Kumar in connection with the February 9, 2016 incident.
The JNU panel had in 2016 recommended rustication of Khalid and two other students and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on Kumar, the then students' union president, in connection with the campus event against Afzal Guru's hanging during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.
The five member panel had also imposed financial penalty on 13 other students for violation of disciplinary norms. The students had then moved the Delhi High Court, which had directed the university to place the matter before an appellate authority to review the panel's decision.
According to sources, the panel has upheld its decision in the case of Khalid and Kumar. "The penalty has also been reduced for some students," a source said. Kumar, Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya were arrested in February 2016 on charges of sedition in connection with the controversial event and are out on bail. Their arrest had triggered widespread protests.
-- PTI
Image: Umar Khalid.
The JNU panel had in 2016 recommended rustication of Khalid and two other students and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on Kumar, the then students' union president, in connection with the campus event against Afzal Guru's hanging during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.
The five member panel had also imposed financial penalty on 13 other students for violation of disciplinary norms. The students had then moved the Delhi High Court, which had directed the university to place the matter before an appellate authority to review the panel's decision.
According to sources, the panel has upheld its decision in the case of Khalid and Kumar. "The penalty has also been reduced for some students," a source said. Kumar, Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya were arrested in February 2016 on charges of sedition in connection with the controversial event and are out on bail. Their arrest had triggered widespread protests.
-- PTI
Image: Umar Khalid.
15:07 Man who threatened to rape Cong spokesperson's daughter held
The Mumbai Police has arrested a 36-year-old man in Gujarat for allegedly giving a rape threat on Twitter to the daughter of Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi, an official said today.
Girish Maheshwari was arrested from Bavla near Ahmedabad late last night, a senior police official said.
The accused was being brought to Mumbai and would be produced in the Dindoshi court later in the day, he said.
Image: Priyanka Chaturvedi.
Following a directive from the Union Home Ministry, the police had registered a case against Twitter user '@GirishK1605' for threatening to rape Chaturvedi's 10-year-old daughter.
Chaturvedi has said she had to face a stream of abuses on Twitter after a fake quote on the recent gang-rape of a seven-year-old in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur was attributed to her.
Chaturvedi tweeted today, "I would like to thank @MumbaiPolice , @DelhiPolice , especially @IPSMadhurVerma and @CPDelhi . Also my gratitude to @HMOIndia & @rajnathsingh ji for taking this up."
The case was registered under Section 509 (word, gesture intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code, and relevant sections of the Information Technology Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, on Tuesday after the Congress spokesperson filed a complaint. -- PTI
Girish Maheshwari was arrested from Bavla near Ahmedabad late last night, a senior police official said.
The accused was being brought to Mumbai and would be produced in the Dindoshi court later in the day, he said.
Image: Priyanka Chaturvedi.
Following a directive from the Union Home Ministry, the police had registered a case against Twitter user '@GirishK1605' for threatening to rape Chaturvedi's 10-year-old daughter.
Chaturvedi has said she had to face a stream of abuses on Twitter after a fake quote on the recent gang-rape of a seven-year-old in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur was attributed to her.
Chaturvedi tweeted today, "I would like to thank @MumbaiPolice , @DelhiPolice , especially @IPSMadhurVerma and @CPDelhi . Also my gratitude to @HMOIndia & @rajnathsingh ji for taking this up."
The case was registered under Section 509 (word, gesture intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code, and relevant sections of the Information Technology Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, on Tuesday after the Congress spokesperson filed a complaint. -- PTI
14:56 Mandsaur gang-rape: Nurse held for bid to reveal victim's identity
Police have arrested a senior nurse of the state-run Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital in Indore on the charge of trying to reveal the identity of the Mandsaur gangrape victim by clicking the minor's pictures on her phone, a senior official said today.
Talking to PTI, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Harinarayanachari Mishra said the police personnel posted near the ward in MYH, where the victim is undergoing treatment, got the information that senior nurse Rama Kushwaha (50) had clicked photos of the eight-year-old victim and her medical reports on her mobile camera.
During an investigation, the information was found to be authentic, he said. The nurse is being questioned as to why she clicked the pictures of the victim and her medical documents. It is suspected that she wanted to send these photos to someone, Mishra added.
The DIG said that a case has been filed against the nurse under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
A detailed investigation is underway. The victim was raped on June 26 after being abducted from outside her school by two men. After the sexual assault, the accused had tried to kill the minor by slitting her throat with a knife, police had said. -- PTI
Talking to PTI, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Harinarayanachari Mishra said the police personnel posted near the ward in MYH, where the victim is undergoing treatment, got the information that senior nurse Rama Kushwaha (50) had clicked photos of the eight-year-old victim and her medical reports on her mobile camera.
During an investigation, the information was found to be authentic, he said. The nurse is being questioned as to why she clicked the pictures of the victim and her medical documents. It is suspected that she wanted to send these photos to someone, Mishra added.
The DIG said that a case has been filed against the nurse under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
A detailed investigation is underway. The victim was raped on June 26 after being abducted from outside her school by two men. After the sexual assault, the accused had tried to kill the minor by slitting her throat with a knife, police had said. -- PTI
14:45 MEA advisory for Kailash pilgrims: High chances of being stranded
The External Affairs Ministry today issued an advisory for pilgrims planning to undertake the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Nepal, saying there were "high chances" of getting stranded in various legs of the journey in case of inclement weather.
The advisory comes in the wake of the recent inclement weather along the Nepalganj-Simikot-Hilsa route of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Nepal, and the consequent stranding of pilgrims for over a week.
The advisory said the prospective pilgrims should note that Simikot and Hilsa in Nepal are connected to rest of the world only by air through small aircraft and helicopters.
These small aircraft and helicopters can operate only when the weather is absolutely clear in these places and their adjoining areas, as the terrain and the route is extremely dangerous, the advisory said.
In case of poor weather, there are high chances of pilgrims getting stranded in various legs of the yatra, it said. Noting that Simikot and Hilsa are extremely infrastructure lean places lacking medical facilities and comfortable boarding and lodging, the advisory said pilgrims should get themselves medically examined before starting the yatra and carry medicines for up to a month.
It also asked all prospective pilgrims, state governments and tour agencies to apprise themselves with the ministry's advisory issued in April and implement it in letter and spirit. In the April advisory, the ministry had said that Indians travelling for the yatra through Nepal should ensure that they have appropriate Chinese visa and travel permit for Tibet in hand before commencing their journey. -- PTI
The advisory comes in the wake of the recent inclement weather along the Nepalganj-Simikot-Hilsa route of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Nepal, and the consequent stranding of pilgrims for over a week.
The advisory said the prospective pilgrims should note that Simikot and Hilsa in Nepal are connected to rest of the world only by air through small aircraft and helicopters.
These small aircraft and helicopters can operate only when the weather is absolutely clear in these places and their adjoining areas, as the terrain and the route is extremely dangerous, the advisory said.
In case of poor weather, there are high chances of pilgrims getting stranded in various legs of the yatra, it said. Noting that Simikot and Hilsa are extremely infrastructure lean places lacking medical facilities and comfortable boarding and lodging, the advisory said pilgrims should get themselves medically examined before starting the yatra and carry medicines for up to a month.
It also asked all prospective pilgrims, state governments and tour agencies to apprise themselves with the ministry's advisory issued in April and implement it in letter and spirit. In the April advisory, the ministry had said that Indians travelling for the yatra through Nepal should ensure that they have appropriate Chinese visa and travel permit for Tibet in hand before commencing their journey. -- PTI
14:29 Peace, stability can be brought to JK through honest administration: Rajnath
On his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the imposition of Governor's rule, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today that peace and stability could be brought to the state through an honest, effective and efficient administration. Singh said this after reviewing the security situation in the state at a high-level meeting attended by Governor N N Vohra, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and top civil and police officials here.
"The dream of a developed and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir will be realised when there is peace and normalcy in the state. It is our firm resolve to bring peace, stability and prosperity through an honest, effective and efficient administration for the problems facing the state," a statement quoted him as saying.
Discussing the way forward for the state, Singh said development and good governance had remained elusive for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the central government was committed to taking all possible measures to bring accountability and transparency in the system.
"With a renewed focus on good governance and development, the Centre is looking forward to kindle new aspirations and hopes amongst the people of the state," he said. The home minister said the solution to problems lies in empowerment of the people and strengthening the institutions of local self-government. Jammu and Kashmir was placed under governor's rule on June 20 after the BJP withdrew support to alliance partner PDP, prompting Mehbooba Mufti to resign as chief minister. -- PTI
"The dream of a developed and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir will be realised when there is peace and normalcy in the state. It is our firm resolve to bring peace, stability and prosperity through an honest, effective and efficient administration for the problems facing the state," a statement quoted him as saying.
Discussing the way forward for the state, Singh said development and good governance had remained elusive for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the central government was committed to taking all possible measures to bring accountability and transparency in the system.
"With a renewed focus on good governance and development, the Centre is looking forward to kindle new aspirations and hopes amongst the people of the state," he said. The home minister said the solution to problems lies in empowerment of the people and strengthening the institutions of local self-government. Jammu and Kashmir was placed under governor's rule on June 20 after the BJP withdrew support to alliance partner PDP, prompting Mehbooba Mufti to resign as chief minister. -- PTI
13:54
Union Home Ministry asks states to take steps to prevent incidents of mob lynching fulled by rumours of child lifting: Officials.
13:38 Immigrant woman climbs base of Statue of Liberty to protest Trump's policy
An immigrant woman who scaled up the stone pedestal of the iconic Statue of Liberty to protest President Donald Trump's controversial "zero tolerance" immigration policy has been arrested after a three hour-long standoff with the police amid US' Independence Day celebrations.
The 44-year-old woman identified as Therese Patricia Okoumou, an immigrant from Democratic Republic of the Congo staged the dramatic protest against Trump's tough immigration policy that has separated nearly 2,000 children from their parents and guardians and placed into holding facilities between April 19 and May 31 of this year.
The controversial decision however has been reversed by President Trump through an executive order following widespread protests against the move. Okoumou climbed up to the base of the Statue of Liberty late afternoon yesterday leading, law enforcement officials to order evacuation of the Liberty Island on a day when thousands of visitors and tourists flock to the island where the Statue is located to see one of the most iconic symbols of America and its immigration history. -- PTI
The 44-year-old woman identified as Therese Patricia Okoumou, an immigrant from Democratic Republic of the Congo staged the dramatic protest against Trump's tough immigration policy that has separated nearly 2,000 children from their parents and guardians and placed into holding facilities between April 19 and May 31 of this year.
The controversial decision however has been reversed by President Trump through an executive order following widespread protests against the move. Okoumou climbed up to the base of the Statue of Liberty late afternoon yesterday leading, law enforcement officials to order evacuation of the Liberty Island on a day when thousands of visitors and tourists flock to the island where the Statue is located to see one of the most iconic symbols of America and its immigration history. -- PTI
13:11 Jaitley decodes SC order on AAP vs Centre: LG can disagree with state
In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the Lieutenant Governor cannot obstruct Delhi governments policy decisions as he has no independent power and was bound by the elected dispensations advice, an order hailed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as a major victory in his long-running fight for administrative powers to run the national capital.
This is what Union Minister Arun Jaitley posted on Facebook today.
"The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on the 4th of July, 2018 settled the law with regard to allocation of legislative and executive powers between the elected Delhi Government and the Central Government along with the administrator of the Union Territory of Delhi -- the Lieutenant Governor. There are three judgements delivered. The principal judgement by Chief Justice with whom two other judges have agreed. Theoretically there is very little difference in the opinion of all the five judges and the law declared could be considered a unanimous opinion of the Supreme Court.
It would be both important and necessary to first analyse the law declared by the Supreme Court since various versions of what the Supreme Court has said have appeared in the media.
Delhi as a Union Territory
Delhi unquestionably is a Union Territory. Its power structure has to be separate and distinct. It is the seat of the Central Government, the Supreme Court, the Rashtrapati Bhawan, offices of the Central Government, embassies of foreign countries are located in Delhi, heads of foreign States are frequent visitors to Delhi. Who should, therefore, be controlling the law and order, police, land and various other facets of Delhi? After experimenting Delhi as part 'C' State and then as a Union Territory, a hybrid administrative structure for Delhi was conceived. Some powers, including police, public order and land, were vested in the Central Government and several other residuary powers were vested in the elected State Government. They were, however, subject to the keen eye of the Central Government in rare cases where power was not being appropriately used. It has been held by the Supreme Court that the proviso to Article 239AA of the Constitution is in the nature of a protector to safeguard the interests of the Union on matters of national interest in relation to the affairs of the National Capital Territory. It would be appropriate to construe the proviso as a protector of national concerns in regard to governance of the NCT. The Lieutenant Governor is a watchdog to protect them. The court has rightly observed that all the three institutions, the elected Government, the LG and the Central Government must work in harmony keeping the interest of the people and the national capital in mind. Cooperation, operating in their respective constitutional space and not confrontation should be the objective.
The Supreme Court's Opinion
The Supreme Court has categorically ruled the following:
(1) The power in relation to police, public order and land shall vest exclusively in the Central Government. It can be exercised through the Lieutenant Governor and the elected State Government has no role in the exercise of these powers.
(2) The powers mentioned in the State and the Concurrent List will be exercised by the elected State Government. However, the Central Government [under the provision of Article 239AA(3)(b) being pari materia to Article 246(4)] shall also have the legislative power on all the subjects in relation to NCT Delhi.
(3) The elected State Government will have the executive and the legislative authority in relation to these powers. The Central Government simultaneously will also have the authority to legislate in relation to these powers. If there is an exercise of power by the Central legislature in relation to these powers, it will override the authority of the State legislature.
(4) The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi is bound by the aid and advice of the State Council of Ministers and has no independent power to overrule the power of the State Cabinet.
(5) It is incumbent on the State, however, to keep the Lieutenant Governor informed of the exercise of these powers.
(6) Ordinarily, in the larger interest of democracy and federal politics, the Lieutenant Governor should accept the exercise of power by the State. But if it has good and cogent reasons supported by material to disagree, he can record the same in writing and refer the same to the President (i.e. the Central Government), which will resolve the difference of opinion between the State Government and the Lieutenant Governor. The decision of the Central Government will be binding both on the Lieutenant Governor and the elected State Government. Thus hereto the opinion of the Centre is overriding. The opinion of the court gives due importance to the opinion of the elected State Government but maintains the primacy of the Central Government in the larger interest of the national capital.
Delhi is not a State and, therefore, there could be no assumption that powers which belong to State Government's also belongs to the elected Government of the Union Territory. It has been specifically held by the Supreme Court that it is crystal clear that by no stretch of imagination, NCT of Delhi can be accorded the status of a State under the present constitutional scheme and the status of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi is not that of a Governor of a State, rather he remains an Administrator, in a limited sense, working with the designation of Lieutenant Governor. The Council of Ministers being headed by the Chief Minister should be guided by values and prudence accepting the constitutional position that the NCT of Delhi is not a State.
The Judgement in terms of the Constitution
The judgement elaborates at length the constitutional philosophy behind the Constitution and reaffirms precisely the text of what the Constitution says. It does not add to the powers of the State Government or the Central Government nor does it in any way dilute the same. It emphasises at the importance of elected State Government, but Delhi being a Union Territory makes its powers subservient to the Central Government.
There are several issues which had directly not been commented upon but by implication there is some indication of those issues. However, unless issues of importance are flagged, discussed and a specific opinion is rendered, none can assume that silence implies an opinion in favour of one or the other.
There are two obvious indications. Firstly, if Delhi has no police powers, it cannot set up investigative agency to investigate crimes as had been done in the past.
Secondly, the Supreme Court has held categorically that Delhi cannot compare itself at par with other States and, therefore, any presumption that the administration of the UT cadre of services has been decided in favour of the Delhi Government would be wholly erroneous. Since several versions of this judgement have appeared in the public space, I hope those who want to contribute to the public debate would read the judgement before commenting on it."
This is what Union Minister Arun Jaitley posted on Facebook today.
"The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on the 4th of July, 2018 settled the law with regard to allocation of legislative and executive powers between the elected Delhi Government and the Central Government along with the administrator of the Union Territory of Delhi -- the Lieutenant Governor. There are three judgements delivered. The principal judgement by Chief Justice with whom two other judges have agreed. Theoretically there is very little difference in the opinion of all the five judges and the law declared could be considered a unanimous opinion of the Supreme Court.
It would be both important and necessary to first analyse the law declared by the Supreme Court since various versions of what the Supreme Court has said have appeared in the media.
Delhi as a Union Territory
Delhi unquestionably is a Union Territory. Its power structure has to be separate and distinct. It is the seat of the Central Government, the Supreme Court, the Rashtrapati Bhawan, offices of the Central Government, embassies of foreign countries are located in Delhi, heads of foreign States are frequent visitors to Delhi. Who should, therefore, be controlling the law and order, police, land and various other facets of Delhi? After experimenting Delhi as part 'C' State and then as a Union Territory, a hybrid administrative structure for Delhi was conceived. Some powers, including police, public order and land, were vested in the Central Government and several other residuary powers were vested in the elected State Government. They were, however, subject to the keen eye of the Central Government in rare cases where power was not being appropriately used. It has been held by the Supreme Court that the proviso to Article 239AA of the Constitution is in the nature of a protector to safeguard the interests of the Union on matters of national interest in relation to the affairs of the National Capital Territory. It would be appropriate to construe the proviso as a protector of national concerns in regard to governance of the NCT. The Lieutenant Governor is a watchdog to protect them. The court has rightly observed that all the three institutions, the elected Government, the LG and the Central Government must work in harmony keeping the interest of the people and the national capital in mind. Cooperation, operating in their respective constitutional space and not confrontation should be the objective.
The Supreme Court's Opinion
The Supreme Court has categorically ruled the following:
(1) The power in relation to police, public order and land shall vest exclusively in the Central Government. It can be exercised through the Lieutenant Governor and the elected State Government has no role in the exercise of these powers.
(2) The powers mentioned in the State and the Concurrent List will be exercised by the elected State Government. However, the Central Government [under the provision of Article 239AA(3)(b) being pari materia to Article 246(4)] shall also have the legislative power on all the subjects in relation to NCT Delhi.
(3) The elected State Government will have the executive and the legislative authority in relation to these powers. The Central Government simultaneously will also have the authority to legislate in relation to these powers. If there is an exercise of power by the Central legislature in relation to these powers, it will override the authority of the State legislature.
(4) The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi is bound by the aid and advice of the State Council of Ministers and has no independent power to overrule the power of the State Cabinet.
(5) It is incumbent on the State, however, to keep the Lieutenant Governor informed of the exercise of these powers.
(6) Ordinarily, in the larger interest of democracy and federal politics, the Lieutenant Governor should accept the exercise of power by the State. But if it has good and cogent reasons supported by material to disagree, he can record the same in writing and refer the same to the President (i.e. the Central Government), which will resolve the difference of opinion between the State Government and the Lieutenant Governor. The decision of the Central Government will be binding both on the Lieutenant Governor and the elected State Government. Thus hereto the opinion of the Centre is overriding. The opinion of the court gives due importance to the opinion of the elected State Government but maintains the primacy of the Central Government in the larger interest of the national capital.
Delhi is not a State and, therefore, there could be no assumption that powers which belong to State Government's also belongs to the elected Government of the Union Territory. It has been specifically held by the Supreme Court that it is crystal clear that by no stretch of imagination, NCT of Delhi can be accorded the status of a State under the present constitutional scheme and the status of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi is not that of a Governor of a State, rather he remains an Administrator, in a limited sense, working with the designation of Lieutenant Governor. The Council of Ministers being headed by the Chief Minister should be guided by values and prudence accepting the constitutional position that the NCT of Delhi is not a State.
The Judgement in terms of the Constitution
The judgement elaborates at length the constitutional philosophy behind the Constitution and reaffirms precisely the text of what the Constitution says. It does not add to the powers of the State Government or the Central Government nor does it in any way dilute the same. It emphasises at the importance of elected State Government, but Delhi being a Union Territory makes its powers subservient to the Central Government.
There are several issues which had directly not been commented upon but by implication there is some indication of those issues. However, unless issues of importance are flagged, discussed and a specific opinion is rendered, none can assume that silence implies an opinion in favour of one or the other.
There are two obvious indications. Firstly, if Delhi has no police powers, it cannot set up investigative agency to investigate crimes as had been done in the past.
Secondly, the Supreme Court has held categorically that Delhi cannot compare itself at par with other States and, therefore, any presumption that the administration of the UT cadre of services has been decided in favour of the Delhi Government would be wholly erroneous. Since several versions of this judgement have appeared in the public space, I hope those who want to contribute to the public debate would read the judgement before commenting on it."
12:38 Despite SC order, trouble still continues for AAP govt
The refusal of bureaucrats to comply with the Delhi government's directives amounts to contempt of court and the leadership is seeking legal opinion on the matter, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said today.
A day after the Supreme Court ruled that that lieutenant governor is bound by the elected government's advice and cannot be an "obstructionist", Sisodia said he appealed to officials and the Centre to abide by the judgement.
"The chief secretary has written to me saying the services department will not follow the orders. If they are not going to abide by it and the transfer files will still be seen by the LG then it will amount to contempt of the constitution bench," Sisodia told reporters.
"We are consulting our lawyers about what can be done in the situation," he said, adding that the Supreme Court had clearly stated that the LG has the power to interfere only in three subjects, which does not include the services department.
"I appeal to the officers as well as the Centre to abide by the Supreme Court judgement," Sisodia said.
Hours after the Supreme Court's landmark judgement yesterday, the Delhi government introduced a new system for transfer and postings of bureaucrats, making Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal the approving authority.
However, the services department refused to comply, saying the Supreme Court did not abolish the notification issued in 2016 which made the Ministry of Home Affairs the authority for transfers and postings.
The tussle between the Delhi government and central government continues even after the Supreme Court's judgement, which clipped the powers of the LG. It said he has no "independent decision making power" and has to act on the aid and advice of the elected government.
The judgement by a five-judge constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, laid down broad parameters for the governance of the national capital, which has witnessed a bitter power tussle between the Centre and Delhi government since the Aam Aadmi Party government first came to power in 2014. -- PTI
A day after the Supreme Court ruled that that lieutenant governor is bound by the elected government's advice and cannot be an "obstructionist", Sisodia said he appealed to officials and the Centre to abide by the judgement.
"The chief secretary has written to me saying the services department will not follow the orders. If they are not going to abide by it and the transfer files will still be seen by the LG then it will amount to contempt of the constitution bench," Sisodia told reporters.
"We are consulting our lawyers about what can be done in the situation," he said, adding that the Supreme Court had clearly stated that the LG has the power to interfere only in three subjects, which does not include the services department.
"I appeal to the officers as well as the Centre to abide by the Supreme Court judgement," Sisodia said.
Hours after the Supreme Court's landmark judgement yesterday, the Delhi government introduced a new system for transfer and postings of bureaucrats, making Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal the approving authority.
However, the services department refused to comply, saying the Supreme Court did not abolish the notification issued in 2016 which made the Ministry of Home Affairs the authority for transfers and postings.
The tussle between the Delhi government and central government continues even after the Supreme Court's judgement, which clipped the powers of the LG. It said he has no "independent decision making power" and has to act on the aid and advice of the elected government.
The judgement by a five-judge constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, laid down broad parameters for the governance of the national capital, which has witnessed a bitter power tussle between the Centre and Delhi government since the Aam Aadmi Party government first came to power in 2014. -- PTI
12:32 Kumaraswamy announces Rs 34,000 cr loan waiver in maiden budget
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy presents the government's first budget at the Vidhana Soudha. Excerpts from his speech.
"To facilitate farmers to avail new loans, action will be taken by the government to issue clearance certificate by waiving the arrears form the defaulting account. For this purpose, Rs 6,500 crore is earmarked in the 2018-19 budget.
"I have decided to limit the loan amount to Rs 2 lakh per farmer. Due to this crop loan wiaver scheme, farmers will get the benefit of Rs 34,000 crore. I have decided to waive all defaulted crop loans of farmers up to 31 Dec 2017 in the first stage. Farmers who repaid the loan within time, as an encouragement to the non defaulting farmers, I have decided to credit the repaid loan amount or Rs 25000 whichever is less.
"I propose to increase the rate of tax on petrol from the present 30% to 32% and diesel from 19% to 21%, so petrol price will be increased by Rs.1.14/ltr and diesel by Rs 1.12/litre."
"To facilitate farmers to avail new loans, action will be taken by the government to issue clearance certificate by waiving the arrears form the defaulting account. For this purpose, Rs 6,500 crore is earmarked in the 2018-19 budget.
"I have decided to limit the loan amount to Rs 2 lakh per farmer. Due to this crop loan wiaver scheme, farmers will get the benefit of Rs 34,000 crore. I have decided to waive all defaulted crop loans of farmers up to 31 Dec 2017 in the first stage. Farmers who repaid the loan within time, as an encouragement to the non defaulting farmers, I have decided to credit the repaid loan amount or Rs 25000 whichever is less.
"I propose to increase the rate of tax on petrol from the present 30% to 32% and diesel from 19% to 21%, so petrol price will be increased by Rs.1.14/ltr and diesel by Rs 1.12/litre."
12:11 Whenever Modi appears on TV, viewership rises: Data
If you thought that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is losing his lustre among TV viewers, think again. Data culled out by Broadcast Audience Research Council India (BARC), which measures TV viewership, showed whenever the PM made an appearance on television, viewership shot up substantially.
The telecast of events, such as the Smart India Hackathon and PM Modi Krishi Unnati Mela, between April and May 2018 on DD News, saw a spike in viewership by 1.4 times and 2.3 times respectively, compared to the previous four weeks in the same time slot.
Viewership of regional news channels rose when the PM went to attend events there. The telecast of Parivartan Rally in Bengaluru on February 4 boosted viewership of Kannada news channels by 418 per cent. The goods and services tax launch event, which was held in July 2017 inside the Parliament's central hall, reached around 15 million people.
It helped Hindi news viewership register a growth of 240 per cent, while the English news viewership grew 2 times as compared to the previous four weeks. Modi's address to the nation on GST, which was aired on both Hindi and English news channels from 7pm to 8pm, was 20 million people. It helped Hindi news channels garner around 4 million impressions, with a growth of 47 per cent.
For English news channels, viewership rose 2.7 times.Breaking the myth that political and business issues interest male audiences more, BARC's data showed that for the GST launch event, female viewership grew by 123 per cent in English news and 239 per cent in Hindi.
For male audiences, the growth was 101 per cent and 240 per cent for English and Hindi news, respectively. For Modi's address to the nation, female viewership grew by 22 per cent in English and 53 per cent in Hindi, and for male audiences it went up by 17 per cent in English and 44 per cent for English and Hindi respectively.
Surajeet Das Gupta/Business Standard
The telecast of events, such as the Smart India Hackathon and PM Modi Krishi Unnati Mela, between April and May 2018 on DD News, saw a spike in viewership by 1.4 times and 2.3 times respectively, compared to the previous four weeks in the same time slot.
Viewership of regional news channels rose when the PM went to attend events there. The telecast of Parivartan Rally in Bengaluru on February 4 boosted viewership of Kannada news channels by 418 per cent. The goods and services tax launch event, which was held in July 2017 inside the Parliament's central hall, reached around 15 million people.
It helped Hindi news viewership register a growth of 240 per cent, while the English news viewership grew 2 times as compared to the previous four weeks. Modi's address to the nation on GST, which was aired on both Hindi and English news channels from 7pm to 8pm, was 20 million people. It helped Hindi news channels garner around 4 million impressions, with a growth of 47 per cent.
For English news channels, viewership rose 2.7 times.Breaking the myth that political and business issues interest male audiences more, BARC's data showed that for the GST launch event, female viewership grew by 123 per cent in English news and 239 per cent in Hindi.
For male audiences, the growth was 101 per cent and 240 per cent for English and Hindi news, respectively. For Modi's address to the nation, female viewership grew by 22 per cent in English and 53 per cent in Hindi, and for male audiences it went up by 17 per cent in English and 44 per cent for English and Hindi respectively.
Surajeet Das Gupta/Business Standard
12:03 Mukesh Ambani to launch fixed line broadband services
After shaking the mobile telephony market with free voice calls and dirt cheap data, richest Indian Mukesh Ambani today announced plans to launch ultra high speed fixed line broadband services for homes and enterprises.
Speaking at the company's 41st annual general meeting, Ambani said the service will provide ultra high definition entertainment on TV, voice activated assistance, virtual reality gaming and digital shopping as well as smart home solutions.
"We will now extend fiber connectivity to homes, merchants, small and medium enterprises and large enterprises simultaneously across 1,100 cities to offer the most advanced fiber-based broadband connectivity solutions," he said.
Jio, the company's telecom service, will move India to top five nations in fixed line broadband in coming year, Ambani said. Its launch in September 2016 has made India the highest mobile data consuming nation.
Ambani said since its launch, Jio has amassed 215 million customers and has sold over 25 million Jio phones. The Jio phone, which was offered on payment of are fundable security deposit only, will provide Whatsapp, Facebook and Youtube commercially from August 15 this year, he said.
The fixed line broadband will offer "ultra high-definition entertainment on large screen TVs, multi-party video conferencing from your living room, voice-activated virtual assistants, virtual reality gaming, digital shopping, immersive experiences," he said.
The service will be called 'Jio GigaFiber Service'. Ambani targets 100 million Jio phone users in 'shortest possible time'. Registration for fixed line broadband service will begin from August 15, Ambani said.
He also announced that Jio Phone Monsoon Hungama starting July 21, where feature phones can be exchanged for Jio Phone for Rs 501. Reliance, he said, has reached an inflection point with consumer business contributing as much as its energy and petrochemical. -- PTI
Speaking at the company's 41st annual general meeting, Ambani said the service will provide ultra high definition entertainment on TV, voice activated assistance, virtual reality gaming and digital shopping as well as smart home solutions.
"We will now extend fiber connectivity to homes, merchants, small and medium enterprises and large enterprises simultaneously across 1,100 cities to offer the most advanced fiber-based broadband connectivity solutions," he said.
Jio, the company's telecom service, will move India to top five nations in fixed line broadband in coming year, Ambani said. Its launch in September 2016 has made India the highest mobile data consuming nation.
Ambani said since its launch, Jio has amassed 215 million customers and has sold over 25 million Jio phones. The Jio phone, which was offered on payment of are fundable security deposit only, will provide Whatsapp, Facebook and Youtube commercially from August 15 this year, he said.
The fixed line broadband will offer "ultra high-definition entertainment on large screen TVs, multi-party video conferencing from your living room, voice-activated virtual assistants, virtual reality gaming, digital shopping, immersive experiences," he said.
The service will be called 'Jio GigaFiber Service'. Ambani targets 100 million Jio phone users in 'shortest possible time'. Registration for fixed line broadband service will begin from August 15, Ambani said.
He also announced that Jio Phone Monsoon Hungama starting July 21, where feature phones can be exchanged for Jio Phone for Rs 501. Reliance, he said, has reached an inflection point with consumer business contributing as much as its energy and petrochemical. -- PTI
11:26 Srinagar: College students remain seated during national anthem
A video from Srinagar has surfaced wherein some college students can be seen seated while the national anthem was being played.
The video was shot at the convocation ceremony of Srinagar's Sher-e-Kashmir University, which took place on July 4.
While a majority of those present at the ceremony stood up during the national anthem, a handful chose to remain seated. More details are awaited in this regard.
A similar incident took place in November last year, when two students of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University in Rajouri were booked for disrespecting the national anthem.In another identical incident, a Students' Federation of India leader was suspended from his college in Kochi for allegedly insulting the national anthem in March this year. -- ANI
Image: Students at Srinagar's Sher-e-Kashmir University, some of who remained seated while the national anthem was played. Pic: ANI
The video was shot at the convocation ceremony of Srinagar's Sher-e-Kashmir University, which took place on July 4.
While a majority of those present at the ceremony stood up during the national anthem, a handful chose to remain seated. More details are awaited in this regard.
A similar incident took place in November last year, when two students of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University in Rajouri were booked for disrespecting the national anthem.In another identical incident, a Students' Federation of India leader was suspended from his college in Kochi for allegedly insulting the national anthem in March this year. -- ANI
Image: Students at Srinagar's Sher-e-Kashmir University, some of who remained seated while the national anthem was played. Pic: ANI
11:17 Main accused in Dhule lynching case arrested: Police
The police has arrested the main accused in the case of lynching of five men by a mob in district on suspicion of child lifting, an official said today. Maharu Pawar, 22, was arrested from the neighbouring Nandurbar district yesterday, Dhule Superintendent of Police M Ramkumar told PTI.
Pawar was absconding since the incident took place on Sunday and hiding in Nandurbar, he said. "Our team was searching for him and was able to nab him," he said. In a video of the incident that went viral on social media, Pawar was purportedly seen leading the mob while thrashing the five men with sticks and rods, Ramkumar said.
Pawar is the 24th person arrested in the case, the SP said, adding that a search was on for some more accused. On July 1, five men of a nomadic tribe were lynched by a mob in Dhule's Rainpada village on the suspicion of being child-lifters, sending shock waves through the state.
According to videos which went viral, one of the five victims apparently tried to speak to a six-year-old girl after which they were pounced upon, stoned and thrashed with sticks and chappals.
The provocation was apparently some rumours on social media which suggested that a gang of child-lifters was active in the area. According to police officials and locals, the victims were first attacked by a group of "highly inebriated" people in Kakar pada village.
The five men were then brought to the adjoining Rainpada village while being continuously thrashed along the one-km stretch. The police received a distress call around 11 am on July 1 and they reached the spot around 12 noon, a distance of nearly 40 km, Pimpalner's assistant police inspector Yogesh Khatkal had earlier said. He said there was a crowd of about 3,000 people when they reached the incident site. "When we reached there, all the five were dead," Khatkal had said.
The tribals had arrived there on last Saturday night and had planned to go to the police station on Sunday to register themselves. The victims belonged to the nomadic Nath Gosavi community who move from place to place in Maharashtra in search of food and work. Whenever people from this community visit a village, they report to the local police station about their stay.
Incidents of lynching triggered by rumours claimed 10 lives in 14 incidents in Maharashtra during the last one-and-a-half months, the police had earlier said. In the wake of the horrific crime, the police decided to compile data of lynchings so as to devise a preventive strategy, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Bipin Bihari had said. -- PTI
Pawar was absconding since the incident took place on Sunday and hiding in Nandurbar, he said. "Our team was searching for him and was able to nab him," he said. In a video of the incident that went viral on social media, Pawar was purportedly seen leading the mob while thrashing the five men with sticks and rods, Ramkumar said.
Pawar is the 24th person arrested in the case, the SP said, adding that a search was on for some more accused. On July 1, five men of a nomadic tribe were lynched by a mob in Dhule's Rainpada village on the suspicion of being child-lifters, sending shock waves through the state.
According to videos which went viral, one of the five victims apparently tried to speak to a six-year-old girl after which they were pounced upon, stoned and thrashed with sticks and chappals.
The provocation was apparently some rumours on social media which suggested that a gang of child-lifters was active in the area. According to police officials and locals, the victims were first attacked by a group of "highly inebriated" people in Kakar pada village.
The five men were then brought to the adjoining Rainpada village while being continuously thrashed along the one-km stretch. The police received a distress call around 11 am on July 1 and they reached the spot around 12 noon, a distance of nearly 40 km, Pimpalner's assistant police inspector Yogesh Khatkal had earlier said. He said there was a crowd of about 3,000 people when they reached the incident site. "When we reached there, all the five were dead," Khatkal had said.
The tribals had arrived there on last Saturday night and had planned to go to the police station on Sunday to register themselves. The victims belonged to the nomadic Nath Gosavi community who move from place to place in Maharashtra in search of food and work. Whenever people from this community visit a village, they report to the local police station about their stay.
Incidents of lynching triggered by rumours claimed 10 lives in 14 incidents in Maharashtra during the last one-and-a-half months, the police had earlier said. In the wake of the horrific crime, the police decided to compile data of lynchings so as to devise a preventive strategy, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Bipin Bihari had said. -- PTI
10:48 No food, water, for old, infirm abandoned in Dhule's lynch village
Rainpada, a remote village of Maharashtra where five men were brutally lynched five days ago, is empty. There are only a few elderly people and some women in the village which has a population of 750. The young men have fled in the wake of intensified police investigation into the lynching.
On last Sunday, five tribals were lynched here by a large mob on the basis of suspicions that they were child lifters. According to videos which went viral, one of the five victims apparently tried to speak to a six-year-old girl after which they were pounced upon, stoned and thrashed with sticks and chappals.
The police has arrested 23 people so far and is looking for others who were involved in the incident in this remote village, located around 100 km from the Dhule district headquarters in Maharashtra, but borders Gujarat.
"Our men have left their homes since Sunday and there is no contact with them since. Only the women and a few elderly people are left here now," says 72-year-old Dagubai Gaikwad, a resident of the village.
She said since the young men have left, there is nobody to arrange for food and open water supply taps that bring water to the village.
PTI reported that most houses were locked and the narrow lanes empty, with only cattle and livestock roaming around. Vishwas Gangurde, a member of the panchayat samiti, confirmed that the the village had just 750 residents, but were now down to a handful.
"The young men, who fled the village, could not take their elders along with them as they are not physically fit. As a result, they are lying in their homes unable to even walk as they do not have the strength to do so in the absence of food," said 45-year-old Kalgibai Raut, another villager.
Rajubai Kokni, a teacher at the local school in the village, said out of the total of 102 students enrolled, nobody has turned up to study since the incident. "I have been coming here since Monday morning but no student turns up. I sit idle all day and close the school at the end of the day," she said.
Kokni said her husband Rajaram too was arrested by the police when he was working at his farm on Sunday. "Being a Sunday, I had accompanied my husband at the farm as well. We were sowing seeds there when out of nowhere the police personnel came and arrested my husband. I have not heard from him since," she said.
"The main perpetrators were from other villages. However, our men are suffering the most," she alleged. Kokni said that being a Sunday, people from several adjoining villages had come to the weekly market in Rainpada to buy clothes, vegetables, soaps and oil on display.
Gounda Deshmukh, whose sister's son was arrested by the police, claimed he was picked up from outside a clinic where he had gone to take medicines.
"The police came and randomly caught people and put them in police vans. My sister's son had nothing to do with the lynching," she said. Gangurde, a witness to Sunday's incident, said when the five men were taken to the panchayat samiti office for questioning, people from adjoining villages called up their friends and around 3,000 people gathered and indulged in lynching.
"We kept pleading with them not to hit the men but they accused us of taking money from them to save them. They did not want them (victims) to be handed over to the police but kill them there itself. We had to back out when they threatened to kill us too," he said. Dhule Superintendent of Police M Ramkumar said his personnel were trying to distribute food material to the elderly and the women to ensure they do not go hungry. "We are sharing with villagers the food cooked for our personnel," Ramkumar said. PTI
Image: Families of victims who were lynched in Dhule on suspicion of being child lifters on July 2. Photo: ANI
Also see: MAPPED: Lynchings over WhatsApp rumours in India
On last Sunday, five tribals were lynched here by a large mob on the basis of suspicions that they were child lifters. According to videos which went viral, one of the five victims apparently tried to speak to a six-year-old girl after which they were pounced upon, stoned and thrashed with sticks and chappals.
The police has arrested 23 people so far and is looking for others who were involved in the incident in this remote village, located around 100 km from the Dhule district headquarters in Maharashtra, but borders Gujarat.
"Our men have left their homes since Sunday and there is no contact with them since. Only the women and a few elderly people are left here now," says 72-year-old Dagubai Gaikwad, a resident of the village.
She said since the young men have left, there is nobody to arrange for food and open water supply taps that bring water to the village.
PTI reported that most houses were locked and the narrow lanes empty, with only cattle and livestock roaming around. Vishwas Gangurde, a member of the panchayat samiti, confirmed that the the village had just 750 residents, but were now down to a handful.
"The young men, who fled the village, could not take their elders along with them as they are not physically fit. As a result, they are lying in their homes unable to even walk as they do not have the strength to do so in the absence of food," said 45-year-old Kalgibai Raut, another villager.
Rajubai Kokni, a teacher at the local school in the village, said out of the total of 102 students enrolled, nobody has turned up to study since the incident. "I have been coming here since Monday morning but no student turns up. I sit idle all day and close the school at the end of the day," she said.
Kokni said her husband Rajaram too was arrested by the police when he was working at his farm on Sunday. "Being a Sunday, I had accompanied my husband at the farm as well. We were sowing seeds there when out of nowhere the police personnel came and arrested my husband. I have not heard from him since," she said.
"The main perpetrators were from other villages. However, our men are suffering the most," she alleged. Kokni said that being a Sunday, people from several adjoining villages had come to the weekly market in Rainpada to buy clothes, vegetables, soaps and oil on display.
Gounda Deshmukh, whose sister's son was arrested by the police, claimed he was picked up from outside a clinic where he had gone to take medicines.
"The police came and randomly caught people and put them in police vans. My sister's son had nothing to do with the lynching," she said. Gangurde, a witness to Sunday's incident, said when the five men were taken to the panchayat samiti office for questioning, people from adjoining villages called up their friends and around 3,000 people gathered and indulged in lynching.
"We kept pleading with them not to hit the men but they accused us of taking money from them to save them. They did not want them (victims) to be handed over to the police but kill them there itself. We had to back out when they threatened to kill us too," he said. Dhule Superintendent of Police M Ramkumar said his personnel were trying to distribute food material to the elderly and the women to ensure they do not go hungry. "We are sharing with villagers the food cooked for our personnel," Ramkumar said. PTI
Image: Families of victims who were lynched in Dhule on suspicion of being child lifters on July 2. Photo: ANI
Also see: MAPPED: Lynchings over WhatsApp rumours in India
10:24 India engages with Maldives over visa denial
India is in talks with the Maldives over the issue of visa denial by the island nation and is hoping that at "some point" they will take an economically viable decision, sources said.
This comes in the backdrop of the reports which state that hundreds of work visas have been denied to Indians by Maldives.
Indians who were offered work in the Maldives have been told that "political issues" are behind the visa delays, as per media reports.
According to the normal visa procedures, it takes 15 days for Indians to obtain permits to work in Maldives. However, since February this year, there has been a sharp decline in the number of work visas issued to the Indians.
On a related note, in March, Maldives' President Abdulla Yameen lifted a 45-day state of emergency he imposed on February 5 after the island nation's Supreme Court reversed criminal convictions against nine of his opponents.
India has expressed its concern over the political situation in the Maldives and has also called upon the Maldivian government to allow democratic institutions to work in a transparent manner. -- ANI
IMAGE: A Maldives National Defence Force soldier walks past the president's office building after Maldives President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency in February. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters
This comes in the backdrop of the reports which state that hundreds of work visas have been denied to Indians by Maldives.
Indians who were offered work in the Maldives have been told that "political issues" are behind the visa delays, as per media reports.
According to the normal visa procedures, it takes 15 days for Indians to obtain permits to work in Maldives. However, since February this year, there has been a sharp decline in the number of work visas issued to the Indians.
On a related note, in March, Maldives' President Abdulla Yameen lifted a 45-day state of emergency he imposed on February 5 after the island nation's Supreme Court reversed criminal convictions against nine of his opponents.
India has expressed its concern over the political situation in the Maldives and has also called upon the Maldivian government to allow democratic institutions to work in a transparent manner. -- ANI
IMAGE: A Maldives National Defence Force soldier walks past the president's office building after Maldives President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency in February. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters
10:08 Tharoor gets interim bail in Sunanda Pushkar death case
Delhi's Patiala House Court has granted anticipatory bail to Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in connection with the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar. Bail was granted on a surety of Rs 1 lakh. The court said that he cannot tamper with evidence and if he needs to go abroad he has to take permission of the court.
Yesterday, the court had reserved its order on the plea. The Special Investigation Team had opposed Tharoor's anticipatory bail plea.
On June 5, the Delhi court had issued a summons notice to Tharoor in the case.
Tharoor, who has been charged for 'abetment to suicide and cruelty' in the case, was asked to appear before the court on July 7.
The court had also taken cognizance of the charge-sheet filed in the case.
Earlier on May 24, the Delhi court, which was hearing the case, transferred the matter to the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM), Samar Vishal.
The court had said, "Since he (Tharoor) is a sitting Member of Parliament, the matter is being sent to the special designated court for politicians, that is ACMM Samar Vishal. Matter be taken up on May 28."
On May 14, the Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet in the court, in which it named Tharoor as an accused, under sections 306 (Abetment of suicide) and 498A (Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) of the Indian Penal Code.
Tharoor, however, had dismissed the charge sheet filed as 'preposterous'.
Sunanda was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a suite of a five-star hotel in Delhi on the night of January 17, 2014. -- ANI
Yesterday, the court had reserved its order on the plea. The Special Investigation Team had opposed Tharoor's anticipatory bail plea.
On June 5, the Delhi court had issued a summons notice to Tharoor in the case.
Tharoor, who has been charged for 'abetment to suicide and cruelty' in the case, was asked to appear before the court on July 7.
The court had also taken cognizance of the charge-sheet filed in the case.
Earlier on May 24, the Delhi court, which was hearing the case, transferred the matter to the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM), Samar Vishal.
The court had said, "Since he (Tharoor) is a sitting Member of Parliament, the matter is being sent to the special designated court for politicians, that is ACMM Samar Vishal. Matter be taken up on May 28."
On May 14, the Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet in the court, in which it named Tharoor as an accused, under sections 306 (Abetment of suicide) and 498A (Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) of the Indian Penal Code.
Tharoor, however, had dismissed the charge sheet filed as 'preposterous'.
Sunanda was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a suite of a five-star hotel in Delhi on the night of January 17, 2014. -- ANI
10:00 Burari deaths: CCTV footage shows family members brought stools, wires for hanging
More morbid details came out in the mysterious deaths of 11 members of a family in Burari here as CCTV footage showed some members bringing stools and wires that were used for their hanging, even as police recovered 11 diaries that were maintained over a period of 11 years.
The content of the diaries matched the way the alleged suicides happened, the police said. The diaries had instructions such as "keep water in a cup. When it will change colour, you will be saved".
The family was not expecting to die and thought that "the earth will shake" and "there will be thunder in the sky", following which they will be saved. Police said that the fact that there were 11 diaries maintained over a period of eleven years is a coincidence and it is not in any way related to the deaths of the 11 family members.
The footage of a camera installed outside a house opposite the residence of the family showed that the elder daughter-in-law of the house, Savita, along with her daughter, Neetu, could be seen bringing five stools that were later used for the members to be hanged. Neetu could be seen in the footage carrying stools accompanied by her mother. Around 10.15 pm, Dhruv and Shivam, the youngest members of the house, were seen taking electrical wires from the plywood shop. These wires were used by the 10 members of the family for hanging.
Ten of the 11 members of the Bhatia family were found hanging from an iron-mesh in the ceiling on Sunday, while the body of 77-year-old Narayan Devi, the head of the family, was lying on the floor in another room of the house. -- PTI
Image: Neighbours of the Bhatias said they were kind and friendly.
The content of the diaries matched the way the alleged suicides happened, the police said. The diaries had instructions such as "keep water in a cup. When it will change colour, you will be saved".
The family was not expecting to die and thought that "the earth will shake" and "there will be thunder in the sky", following which they will be saved. Police said that the fact that there were 11 diaries maintained over a period of eleven years is a coincidence and it is not in any way related to the deaths of the 11 family members.
The footage of a camera installed outside a house opposite the residence of the family showed that the elder daughter-in-law of the house, Savita, along with her daughter, Neetu, could be seen bringing five stools that were later used for the members to be hanged. Neetu could be seen in the footage carrying stools accompanied by her mother. Around 10.15 pm, Dhruv and Shivam, the youngest members of the house, were seen taking electrical wires from the plywood shop. These wires were used by the 10 members of the family for hanging.
Ten of the 11 members of the Bhatia family were found hanging from an iron-mesh in the ceiling on Sunday, while the body of 77-year-old Narayan Devi, the head of the family, was lying on the floor in another room of the house. -- PTI
Image: Neighbours of the Bhatias said they were kind and friendly.
09:14 Iran to only trade with countries that import its oil
In the wake of threats from the United States to reduce its oil revenue to zero, Iran has floated plans of purchasing goods only from countries that import its oil.
"We will use a bartering system to exchange oil for goods. This means that we will make the purchase of goods conditional on oil sales. We are telling relevant markets and countries, which will purchase our oil, that we will buy goods in case they purchase our oil," a representative of the Iranian parliament's energy committee, Asadollah Qarekhani, was quoted by Sputnik as saying.
He also mentioned that a working group to discuss the plan was being formed.US President Donald Trump took to his Twitter handle to lambast the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, demanding them to do more to reduce oil prices 'NOW!'
'The OPEC Monopoly must remember that gas prices are up & they are doing little to help. If anything, they are driving prices higher as the United States defends many of their members for very little $'s. This must be a two way street. REDUCE PRICING NOW!' Trump tweeted.
This comes in the light of increased pressure from the Trump administration on allies to stop funding to Iran.
The US has asked countries to cut all oil imports from Iran by the start of November or else face powerful sanctions, a senior official of the State Department stated.
According to the sources, India is hoping to hold engagement on this subject with the US within the span of a month but it is unlikely for the US to grant a waiver.
Furthermore, the sources assured that India will take a decision keeping in view its national interests and energy security needs. -- ANI
08:07 Order on Tharoor's anticipatory bail plea likely today
A Delhi court on Thursday is likely to pronounce order on the anticipatory bail plea of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in connection with the death case of his wife Sunanda Pushkar.
On Wednesday, the court reserved its order on the plea.Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team opposed Tharoor's anticipatory bail plea.
"We will wait for the order. It is listed for tomorrow. We have argued it in the court and let's see what the results states. The report today which has been filed in the court is contrary to their own charge sheet that has been filed one month back," advocate Vikas Pahwa told media in New Delhi.
"Anyways, they have taken a stand and the court will pass the order," he added.
On June 5, the Delhi court had issued a summon notice to Tharoor in the connecting case.
Tharoor, who has been charged for 'abetment to suicide and cruelty' in the case, was asked to appear before the court on July 7.
The court had also taken cognizance of the charge-sheet filed in the case.
Earlier on May 24, the Delhi court, which was hearing the case, transferred the matter to the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM), Samar Vishal.
The court had said, "Since he (Tharoor) is a sitting Member of Parliament, the matter is being sent to the special designated court for politicians, that is ACMM Samar Vishal. Matter be taken up on May 28."
On May 14, the Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet in the court, in which it named Tharoor as an accused, under sections 306 (Abetment of suicide) and 498A (Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) of the Indian Penal Code.
Tharoor, however, had dismissed the charge sheet filed as 'preposterous'.
Sunanda was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a suite of a five-star hotel in Delhi on the night of January 17, 2014. -- ANI
00:09 Japan's Abe to cancel Iran trip over US pressure
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has given up on a plan to visit Iran this summer, Kyodo News said, as US President Donald Trump has taken an increasingly tough line against Tehran.
The visit to Iran would have been the first by a Japanese leader in 40 years, forming part of Abes scheduled tour through the Middle East from July 11, Kyodo said.
But Japan has told Iran Abe would not be able to visit its capital, Tehran, despite arrangements it had been making for talks with President Hassan Rouhani, the agency added, citing government sources.
However, Motosada Matano, a spokesman for the Japanese prime ministers office, said nothing had been decided about Abes overseas travel plans.
The decision not to visit Iran was made in light of Trumps push to isolate Tehran and choke off its oil exports, after he pulled the United States out of the 2015 Iran nuclear pact in May.
The United States has urged Japan and its other allies to stop buying Iranian crude oil entirely by November 4.
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