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Tue, 31 July 2018
Collective leadership would take on BJP in Lok Sabha polls: Mamata
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23:58 Collective leadership would take on BJP in Lok Sabha polls: Mamata
TMC chief Mamata Banerjee today said there would be a collective leadership of the opposition front to take on the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, indicating that the proposed coalition may not name a prime ministerial candidate ahead of the polls.
Banerjee, who is on a three-day visit to Delhi, would meet Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and other prominent opposition leaders tomorrow to personally invite them for her rally on January 19 in Kolkata aimed at showcasing opposition unity. NCP chief Sharad Pawar and his daughter Supriya Sule met the Trinamool chief this evening.
"There will be a collective leadership to take on BJP in the coming Lok Sabha polls in 2019. I will meet all the opposition leaders and invite them for the rally. I will also meet Congress leader Sonia Gandhi tomorrow," Banerjee told reporters.
The Trinamool Congress leader was asked whether she could be the prime ministerial candidate for the proposed anti-BJP front. Banerjee is considered a strong contender and the January 19 rally is also seen as an opportunity to consolidate her position within the opposition fold.
The Congress had earlier given indications that it is not averse to accepting a nominee for the top post from any other party who does not have the backing of the RSS.
The BJP has ridiculed the proposed opposition alliance, saying it may not materialise at all as leaders of its various constituents harbour prime ministerial aspirations.
While addressing a conclave organised by Catholic Bishops Conference in Delhi, the West Bengal chief minister cautioned the BJP and said that politics of intolerance would not be tolerated in the country.
This is not Indian politics as Indian politics is about tolerance, she said.
Banerjee said that the country needs a change and it would happen in 2019.
"The BJP can do the politics of dividing the people in states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh. But they can never do it in West Bengal. Because we are there. They also can not do it in states like Andhra Pradesh or Karnataka as leaders like Chandrababu Naidu and H D Kumaraswamy are there," she asserted.
Asserting that she would never allow a "divided motherland", Banerjee said the BJP should remember that "they (BJP) were not there few years back" and claimed "they will not be in the coming year too".
23:23 Mallya to be kept at Mumbai's Arthur road jail, one of India's best: MHA officials
Mumbai's Arthur road jail, where fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya would be kept after extradition from the United Kingdom, was one of the best in the country, home affairs ministry officials said today.
The prisons in India were as good as in any other country in the world and prisoners' rights were fully protected in Indian jails. Mallya's apprehension about threat to his life was "misleading", a home affairs ministry official said.
The comments came after a court in the UK today asked the Indian authorities to submit a video within three weeks of Arthur Road Jail cell where they plan to keep Mallya post-extradition to face the law in connection with the Rs 9,000 crore loan default cases.
The official said that adequate medical facilities were available to treat the prisoners in Arthur road jail, where Mallya would get full security cover as an undertrial prisoner and it was highly secured as per international standards.
The central government had already conducted an assessment of security cover given to prisoners in the Arthur road jail and its findings conveyed to the UK court.
Mallya, 62, was in the UK since March 2016 and he was arrested by the Scotland Yard on an extradition warrant on April 18. However, he was soon granted bail by the court.
India and the UK have an extradition treaty, signed in 1992, but so far only one extradition has taken place under the arrangement.
Samirbhai Vinubhai Patel was sent to India last October to face trial in connection with his alleged involvement in the post-Godhra riots of 2002. However, unlike Mallya, he had submitted to the extradition order without legal challenge.
During a brief hearing in London today, Judge Emma Arbuthnot said she was not able to hear the case fully and just addressed representations from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), representing the Indian government, and Mallya's defence team on the conditions at Barrack 12 of Mumbai Central Prison.
She asked the Indian authorities to submit a "step by step video" of Barrack 12 for "the avoidance of doubt" over the availability of natural light in the cell where the businessman was expected to be detained pre-trial, during trial and in the event he was convicted by the Indian courts. -- PTI
23:19 Deepak Parekh re-appointed as director on HDFC board, 22.64% voted against his continuation
Deepak Parekh was re-appointed as a non-executive director on the board of the country's largest mortgage lender HDFC but nearly 23 per cent of the shareholders voted against his continuation.
Results of the voting at the company's annual general meeting held in Mumbai on Monday showed that 22.64 per cent of the shareholders were not in favour of continuation of Parekh.
As many as 77.36 per cent of the shareholders voted for Parekh's continuation as a non-executive director, according to the voting results submitted by HDFC to the stock exchanges.
A prominent voice of the industry and HDFC Chairman, Parekh has been at the helm of the mortgage lender for close to three decades.
The proposals to re-appoint J J Irani and Keki Mistry as directors on the HDFC board were also approved by the shareholders.
According to reports, some US proxy advisories had asked investors to vote against Parekh over his directorship and independence of company's board.
The voting results are surprising, Indian proxy advisory firm IiAS Founder Amit Tandon said.
It could be on the advice of some proxy advisory firm but it is not clear what was the real reason for the opposition to Parekh's re-appointment, he noted.
As per the Companies Act, votes cast in favour of a special resolution should be not less than three times the number of the votes, if any, cast against the resolution.
HDFC had to come out with special resolution for re-appointment of Parekh as he would cross the age of 75 years in October 2019.
The mortgage lender had sought approval for continuation of directorship of J J Irani who has attained the age of 75 years, up to the expiry of his present term as an Independent Director (July 20,2019).
As many as 94.58 per cent of the shareholders voted in favour of Irani.
Keki Mistry's re-appointment as Managing Director -- designated as Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer -- for a period of three years.
Mistry got 99.51 per cent votes of shareholders and his re-appointment was through an ordinary resolution.
Upendra Kumar Sinha and Jalaj Ashwin Dani were appointed as Independent Directors at the annual general meeting.
In the latest June quarter, HDFC reported a 54 per cent increase in standalone net profit at Rs 2,190 crore, mainly due to Rs 511 crore dividend it received from HDFC Bank.
Shares of HDFC closed at Rs 1,994.75, down 1.64 per cent on the BSE today. -- PTI
23:00 Azad, Najma Heptulla to be conferred Outstanding Parliamentarian award
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla and BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab will be conferred the Outstanding Parliamentarian award tomorrow by President Ram Nath Kovind.
Heptulla, a former Rajya Sabha member will get the award for the 2013, Lok Sabha member Hukumdev Narayan Yadav for 2014. Both are from the BJP.
The award will be given to Azad for 2015, TMC MP Dinesh Trivedi for 2016 and Mahtab for 2017.
The five leaders will awarded by Kovind at a function in the Parliament House.
It will also be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. -- PTI
22:43 Rajini visits Karunanidhi in hospital
Top Tamil actor Rajinikanth today visited a private hospital here and enquired about the health of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M Karunanidhi, who is under intensive care for the fourth consecutive day.
Rajinikanth said he prayed for the speedy recovery of the DMK chief.
"Kalaignar is a very senior political leader. He is now asleep," he told reporters outside Kauvery Hospital, where Karunanidhi is admitted since Saturday.
Rajinikanth said he met the nonagenarian leader's family members including DMK working president M K Stalin, M K Alagiri and party Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi and enquired about the leader's health.
"I pray for his speedy recovery," he said.
The actor, who was out of the city for a film shoot, arrived in Chennai tonight by a flight from Mumbai. -- PTI
Image: Rajinikanth meets DMK leader MK Alagiri at Kauvery hospital. Photograph: ANI
22:11 Don't share Aadhaar number, says UIDAI after TRAI chief's dare
Days after Telecom Regulatory Authority of India chief's Aadhaar dare created a flutter, the Unique Identification Authority of India today asked people not to share publicly their 12-digit identifier on Internet and social media, or pose such challenges to others.
"Such activities are uncalled for and should be refrained as these are not in accordance with the law," the UIDAI said in a statement.
An all-out war has been raging on Twitter since Saturday after Trai chief R S Sharma shared his Aadhaar number publicly, challenging anyone to show how mere knowledge of the number can be misused to harm him. While some claimed to have got access to his bank account number and email, Sharma refuted the claims saying they were untrue.
The UIDAI said people should "refrain from publicly putting their Aadhaar numbers on Internet and social media and posing challenges to others".
The UIDAI also warned that doing Aadhaar authentication through somebody else's Aadhaar number or using someone else's Aadhaar number for any purpose may amount to impersonation and thereby a criminal offence under the Aadhaar Act and Indian Penal Code. Any person indulging in such acts or abetting or inciting others to do so makes themselves liable for prosecution and penal action under the law. Therefore people should refrain from such acts, it added.
Aadhaar, it said, is a unique identity which can be authenticated to prove one's identity for various services, benefits and subsidies.
"The UIDAI in its regular media campaigns have been consistently making people aware not to display or publish or share their Aadhaar number in public domain," the statement said.
The UIDAI said the 12 digit Aadhaar number "is personally sensitive information" just like bank account number, passport number, PAN number, which "should be strictly shared only on a need basis for a legitimate use for establishing identity and for legitimate transactions".
Also, as per the Aadhaar Act and other IT rules, personally sensitive information should not be published or shared publicly, it said.
"Indiscriminate and unwanted publication of any personally sensitive information whether Aadhaar or any other, may render the concerned person vulnerable and, therefore, should be avoided." -- PTI
21:06 US puts LeT's Abdul Rehman on list of Specially Designated Global Terrorist
The United States today designated Lashkar e-Tayiba commander Abdul Rehman al-Dakhil, who till recently was LeT's divisional commander for the Jammu region, as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist".
A longtime member of the US designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation and LeT, Dakhil was an operational leader for LeT's attacks in India between 1997 and 2001.
In 2004, Dakhil was captured in Iraq by UK forces, then held in US custody in Iraq and Afghanistan until his transfer to Pakistan in 2014.
After his release from Pakistani custody, Dakhil returned to work for the LeT.
In 2016, Dakhil was the LeT divisional commander for the Jammu region.
As of early 2018, Dakhil remained a senior commander in the LeT.
The designation seek to deny Dakhil the resources to plan and carry out terrorist attacks, the State Department said in a statement.
Among other consequences, all of his property and interests subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with him.
"Today's action notifies the US public and the international community that Abdul Rehman al-Dakhil has committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism," the State Department said.
Designations of terrorist individuals and groups expose and isolate organisations and individuals, and deny them access to the US financial system, it added. -- PTI
20:53 LPG price hiked by Rs 1.76 per cylinder
Subsidised cooking gas price was today hiked by Rs 1.76 per cylinder due to tax impact on the change in base price.
Subsidised LPG with effect from midnight tonight will cost Rs 498.02 per cylinder in Delhi as against Rs 496.26 currently, a statement issued by Indian Oil Corp (IOC), the nation's largest fuel retailer, said.
All LPG consumers have to buy the fuel at market price. The government, however, subsidises 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each per households in a year by providing the subsidy amount directly in bank accounts of users.
This subsidy amount varies from month to month depending on the changes in average international benchmark LPG rate and foreign exchange rate.
When international rates move up, the government provides a higher subsidy. But as per tax rules, GST on LPG has to be calculated at the market rate of the fuel. The government may choose to subsidise a part of the price but tax will have to be paid at market rates.
This has led to increase in price.
"The increase is mainly on account of GST on the revised price of domestic non-subsidised LPG," the statement said.
Rates were last revised upward by Rs 2.71 on July 1.
Oil firms revise LPG price on 1st of every month based on average benchmark rate and foreign exchange rate in the previous month.
As a result of higher global rates, the price of non-subsidised LPG in Delhi will increase by Rs 35.50 per cylinder to Rs 789.5. This increase comes on back of Rs 55.50 per cylinder hike in July.
The balance Rs 33.74 (Rs 35.50 minus Rs 1.76) is being compensated to the customer by the increase in subsidy transfer to their bank account. Accordingly, the subsidy transfer in the customer's bank account has been increased to Rs 291.48 in August from Rs 257.74 per cylinder in July.
"Thus the domestic LPG customer is protected against the increase in international prices of LPG," the statement said. -- PTI
20:45 Security preparedness top priority of NDA govt: Sitharaman
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today assured the army, the navy and the Indian air force that their preparedness to deal with security challenges facing the country would be top priority for the government.
In an address at the annual Unified Commanders Conference, she also stressed on the need for greater "synergy" among the three services as well as between them and the ministry of defence.
The conference, an annual forum top commanders of the three forces, also deliberated on a range of issues including counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir, situation along the Sino-India border and developments in India's maritime neighbourhood, officials said.
In a statement, the defence ministry said Sitharaman complimented the services for their performance and achievements in past year and stressed on the need for greater "synergy and jointmanship" among the services.
"She assured the services that preparedness of the services would be a top priority for the government," it said.
The three forces have been pressing the government to expedite procurement of various military platforms and weapons as well as to ensure modernisation of the forces in a time-bound manner.
The ministry said a large number of tri-services issues were deliberated thoroughly and solutions to contemporary challenges were provided to facilitate future plans for an integrated robust defence preparedness.
It said the two-day conference provided a platform for discussions at the apex level on all 'joint issues' among the three Services and the ministry.
It said the conference "enabled stock taking of the previous year and facilitated planning for future".
Navy Chief and Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal BS Dhanoa and Chief of Army Staff Gen Bipin Rawat also addressed the conference.
It was also was attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and top officials of the defence ministry. -- PTI
20:42 Accused in Muzaffarpur shelter home sex scandal also owned newspapers: Report
Brajesh Thakur, a key accused in the shelter home sex scandal case here, also owned a newspaper each in Hindi, English and Urdu which barely published a few hundred copies but are alleged to have claimed inflated circulation figures to gain greater slice of the governments advertisement revenue.
Of these, a state government publication lists Pratah Kamal as a Hindi daily published from here, News Next in English from Patna and Haalaat-e-Bihar an Urdu daily published from the adjoining district of Samastipur.
The publication also lists Brajesh as Special Correspondent of Pratah Kamal, Rahul Anand the son of Brajesh Thakur as a reporter of News Next and one Shaista Parveen as correspondent of Haalaat-e-Bihar, besides, one Ramashankar Singh as its editor.
Thakur was accredited both to the PIB and the state Information and Public Relations Department (IPRD), both of which have cancelled his accreditation after the case was lodged against him.
IPRD sources said that advertisements relating to north Bihar projects used to be released to Pratah Kamal since it was published from the region.
Media reports claimed that the hindi daily owned by Thakur published not more than 300 copies daily, but its daily circulation was shown as 60,862 copies.
And on the basis of this inflated figure it used to get advertisements worth nearly Rs 30 lakh per year from the Bihar government, the reports added.
But, the IPRD sources were not able to give the total value of the advertisement released to the papers during a year.
Police sources here said that Pratah Kamal was published from the same premises which housed the shelter home and it hardly circulated a few hundred copies daily and this fact had been mentioned in their report.
Police sources also said during their investigation they were surprised to find a staircase connecting the shelter home to the newspaper office. -- PTI
20:41 Rashid named in England XI for series opener against India
Adil Rashid was today named as the sole specialist spinner in the England playing XI for the series opener against India, creating more pressure on the leg-spinner after his controversial recall to the Test side.
Rashid, who last played a Test in December 2016, has been preferred over all-rounder Moeen Ali in the XI.
His sudden selection in the Test team created a furore as he signed only a white-ball contract with Yorkshire earlier this year and also chose not to play a four-day game against Lancashire when he was in the running for a place in the national team.
The 30-year-old has been recalled at the back of his impressive performances in the shorter formats of the game.
He picked up six wickets in the preceding ODI series against India, including the prized scalp of Virat Kohli, whom he bowled with a beauty.
Also finding a place in the XI is Sam Curran who will form the pace attack alongside James Anderson, Stuart Broad and all-rounder Ben Stokes.
England XI: Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Joe Root (captain), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow (wicket-keeper), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid, Sam Curran, Stuart Broad, James Anderson. -- PTI
20:16 PM thanks Congress for no-trust motion
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today took a jibe at the Congress over the no-confidence motion against his government, saying he was "thankful" to the party for allowing him to expose the opposition's hollowness and inform the masses about his dispensation's successes.
Modi said at a Bharatiya Janata Party parliamentary meeting that the motion in the Lok Sabha showed the opposition's political immaturity as his government neither lacked numbers nor faced any hostile political environment in the country, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar told reporters.
He was also felicitated on the occasion for the government's "grand win" during a division of votes on the motion.
A source quoting Modi said the prime minister offered 'badhai' (congratulations) to party members and allies for the motion's defeat and 'double badhai' to those who brought it.
The government got a platform to share the successes of its four and a half years rule with people far and wide, and also to expose the opposition, he said.
The Indian diaspora at Uganda, an African country he visited recently, had also keenly followed the debate on the motion.
Taking a dig at the Congress, which had brought in a no-confidence motion of its own before the speaker decided to take up the Telugu Desam Party's motion as it was first to be listed, Modi said no mature political party would have made such a mistake.
Now to cover up for this, it is raising irrelevant issues, he said, apparently referring to the Congress' attack on the government over the Rafale deal.
The meeting also saw top party leaders, including Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Sushma Swaraj, besides BJP president Amit Shah felicitating the prime minister and expressing their views.
Shah said there was no reason for the opposition to sponsor such a motion, which was comprehensively defeated with 326 members voting against it and only 126 supporting. -- PTI
20:00 Meenakshi Amman temple gets non-Brahmin priest
The famous Godess Meenakshi Amman temple in Madurai has got a non-Brahmin as 'archaka' (priest), twelve years after the Tamil Nadu government passed an order for appointment of people from any caste as priests.
The new priest, belonging to a backward caste, was among the 206 people who had undergone training conducted by the ancient temple administration, official sources said.
The state government had passed an order on May 23, 2006 allowing appointment as 'archaka' any Hindu possessing the requisite qualification and training in temples.
The G.O was challenged by an association of priests in the Supreme Court which had on December 16, 2015 upheld the order.
The Meenakshi Amman temple has appointed the priest with conditions which included that he could be suspended if he violated the 'Agama' rules, a manual for worship of the deity, rituals and construction of temples
The man had applied to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Board, which administers a large number of temples in the state, for the post and got selected after an oral interview.
An undergraduate in Tamil literature, the priest was a spiritual person interested in Hindu religion and was devoted to Lord Shiva, the sources said. -- PTI
Also read: The Dalit priest who made history
19:57 Ajit Pawar urges Maratha protesters not to kill themselves
Nationalist Congres Party leader Ajit Pawar appealed today to protesters seeking quota for the Maratha community in Maharashtra not to resort to killing themselves over the demand and urged them to demonstrate peacefully.
The former Maharashtra minister made the appeal through posts on Twitter, but did not refer to any particular incident.
His remark comes a day after a protester, Pramod Jaising Hore, allegedly committed suicide by jumping in front of a moving train in Aurangabad over the quota demand.
A 35-year-old man ended his life, while eight protesters attempted suicide today in Maharashtra over the quota issue.
Abhijeet Deshmukh, a resident of Veeda village in Beed district in the Marathwada region, hanged himself from a tree near his house, police said.
This was the fifth suicide in the state over the Maratha reservation issue.
Eight protesters attempted self-immolation by pouring kerosene in support of Maratha reservation in Latur district, also in Marathwada, they said.
Chakan town near Pune had witnessed violence yesterday as vehicles were torched and stones pelted amid protest by the community.
"I urge the campaigners from the Sakal Maratha Samaj (entire Maratha community) to follow path of peace ensuring their campaign is not stained by violence.
"Besides, I request you with folded hands none should resort to extreme step of ending life pushing family and friends into grief," the former deputy chief minister said on Twitter. -- PTI
19:57 Ajit Pawar urges Maratha protesters not to kill themselves
Nationalist Congres Party leader Ajit Pawar appealed today to protesters seeking quota for the Maratha community in Maharashtra not to resort to killing themselves over the demand and urged them to demonstrate peacefully.
The former Maharashtra minister made the appeal through posts on Twitter, but did not refer to any particular incident.
His remark comes a day after a protester, Pramod Jaising Hore, allegedly committed suicide by jumping in front of a moving train in Aurangabad over the quota demand.
A 35-year-old man ended his life, while eight protesters attempted suicide today in Maharashtra over the quota issue.
Abhijeet Deshmukh, a resident of Veeda village in Beed district in the Marathwada region, hanged himself from a tree near his house, police said.
This was the fifth suicide in the state over the Maratha reservation issue.
Eight protesters attempted self-immolation by pouring kerosene in support of Maratha reservation in Latur district, also in Marathwada, they said.
Chakan town near Pune had witnessed violence yesterday as vehicles were torched and stones pelted amid protest by the community.
"I urge the campaigners from the Sakal Maratha Samaj (entire Maratha community) to follow path of peace ensuring their campaign is not stained by violence.
"Besides, I request you with folded hands none should resort to extreme step of ending life pushing family and friends into grief," the former deputy chief minister said on Twitter. -- PTI
19:48 Karuna stable, to remain in hospital for extended period
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M Karunanidhi will require an extended period of hospitalisation due to "decline" in his general health though his vital parameters have normalised, the Chennai hospital where he is admitted since Saturday said today.
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, met the 94-year-old leader at the Kauvery Hospital.
"Although there has been resolution of the condition which led to his hospital admission, an extended period of hospitalisaiton will be necessary due to age related overall decline in his general health, altered liver function and haematological parameters," hospital's Executive Director Dr Aravindan Selvaraj said in a press release.
Recalling that the former chief minister was admitted with a drop in blood pressure on July 28, he said Karunanidhi was later "resuscitated and stabilised" in the ICU and managed by a team of doctors and nurses.
There was a setback in his clinical condition on July 29 due to difficulty in breathing, but the DMK leader "responded well to medical management and his vital signs have gradually normalised", he said.
Selvaraj said Karunanidhi continues to maintain his vital signs with active medical support.
Karunanidhi is in the intensive care unit of the hospital for the fourth day today.
Gandhi, who visited Karunanidhi in the ICU, said the ailing leader was stable.
"I met him, he is fine, stable. I am quite happy to see that he is doing well. He is a very tough person like the people of Tamil Nadu. He has the spirit of Tamil Nadu in him," he told reporters after visiting Karunanidhi.
After spending about 15 minutes at the hospital, the Congress president said his mother and predecessor Sonia Gandhi had sent her best wishes and regards to Karunanidhi and his family.
The Congress party has a long-standing relationship with DMK chief Karunanidhi, he said.
Gandhi was accompanied by Tamil Nadu Congress chief Su Thirunavukkarasar and party leader Mukul Wasnik. -- PTI
Image: Congress President Rahul Gandhi visited ailing DMK chief M Karunanidhi at Kauvery Hospital in Chennai. Photograph: Kind courtesy @kalaignar89/Twitter
19:20
Stock Markets during July 2018.
19:15 Names of Congress MLA, BJP MLA's wife missing from NRC
Exclusion of names of family members in the final draft of the NRC published in Assam on Monday has emerged as a major concern for many among the over 40 lakh applicants whose names do not figure in it.
Many of them whose names did not figure in the final draft of the NRC have pointed out that they had submitted the same set of documents as their family members to establish their legacy date, but were left out.
Prominent personalities in Barak Valley whose names are missing from the draft include Archana Paul, the wife of Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Cachar Dilip Paul, former Congress MLA Ataur Rahman Mazarbhuiya and All India United Democratic Front's Cachar unit president Samimul Islam and family.
"This is not the final list and there is no need to panic. My wife's name is not in the list and she will file her claim in due process. We should wait for the final NRC," Paul said.
Congress MLA from Karimganj (N), Kamalakhya De Purkayastha said while it is true that claims, objections and corrections can be made, exclusion of the names of some family members is 'very unfair' and the NRC process has caused 'immense harassment' to the poor.
"The draft is full of errors and is aimed at harassing people, particularly the poor who mostly work as daily wage earners and lack the necessary resources to travel to NRC Seva Kendras," Purkayastha said.
Forty-year-old Saira Begum, who hails from Bilasipara but works as a domestic help in Guwahati, said that her name along with that of her daughter's has appeared in the draft but excludes the name of her husband, who was declared as the head of the family during application and that of her two sons.
"We were shocked to find that his name is missing from the draft. My husband and sons have to now go again to the village where they had applied to get their names included. Our documents were the same and in fact I had to establish my marriage to my husband," she said.
Congress leader Bobbeeta Sharma pointed out that at least those names for which there were no doubts should not have been left out.
"The names of many, both common and prominent personalities have been left out and that is why we have a huge excluded list of 40 lakh. My husband's name was missing from the first list and has been included in the final draft but with spelling mistakes. These are irritants," she said.
The work has been done carelessly and should not have happened in such an important matter, she added. The head of Bengali department of Cotton State University, Prasanta Chakraborty said that the names of his two elder brothers have been included in the final draft but those of their wives and children are missing.
"Names of my family -- mine, my wife and and my son's names were in the first list. The names of my brothers in the final draft but the names of other family members are missing though we have the same legacy," he said.
This is probably due to lack of competence of the people working at the ground level and maybe also due to the pressure under which they had to work to complete the draft within the stipulated period, he added.
"The huge number of 40 lakh excluded will definitely come down and we hope that the claims and objections are checked impartially so that genuine citzens are not harrassed," Chakraborty added.
There are many more who are facing the same plight and are now waiting for the authorities to inform them of the reason behind the ommission of their names.
The next step will be to file their claim in another prescribed form which will be available from August 30 to September 28. These claims will be finally disposed of after proper hearing, officials said. -- PTI
18:58 US, Pak resolve to restore bilateral ties: Report
The United States and Pakistan have agreed to restore their bilateral relationship during a meeting between US Defence Secretary James Mattis and Islamabad's Ambassador in America Ali Jahangir, according to a media report.
Mattis and Jahangir met at the Pentagon, the headquarters of the US Department of Defence, where the two held discussions on the ties between their countries and regional security in South Asia, Pakistan's Express Tribune newspaper reported.
The meeting took place following the July 25 elections in Pakistan which saw the cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerging as the single biggest party in Parliament.
The relations between Pakistan and the United States had nosedived this January after President Donald Trump accused Islamabad of giving nothing to Washington but 'lies and deceit' and providing 'safe haven' to terrorists.
Subsequently, the White House had confirmed suspending its $255 million military aid to Pakistan, saying the fate of such assistance would depend on Islamabad's response to combat terrorism on its soil.
Earlier, US Department of State spokesperson Heather Nauert had highlighted that the US will look for opportunities to work with the new government to advance goals of security, stability, and prosperity in South Asia.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also said yesterday that he was looking forward to working with the new government in Pakistan.
"There's new leadership in Pakistan, and we welcome engagement with them in a way that we think will benefit each of our two countries," he said. -- PTI
18:25 Centre to withdraw controversial FRDI bill; writes to House panel
The government has decided to withdraw the controversial Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance bill and has informed about it to the chairman of the parliamentary panel examining the proposed legislation.
Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Ray said in the Lok Sabha that Finance Minister Piyush Goyal has written to the chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, saying the government has decided to withdraw the FRDI Bill.
The Union cabinet had earlier this month decided to withdraw the legislation in view of the concerns expressed by certain sections of people, including politicians, over the 'bail-in' clause, which they feared would harm the interest of depositors.
"Minister Piyush Goyal has written to the Chairman of the Committee saying that the government has decided to withdraw the bill... This is a victory of the opposition," Ray said while participating in a debate on Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (2nd Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha.
The TMC member said the government understood that with such a bill, it would not have won the elections next year as there were concerns about depositors' money.
The Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha, on August 11 last year, had a 'bail-in' clause, which some experts said had the potential to harm deposits in savings bank accounts.
Amid concerns, the government had then referred the bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee headed by Bharatiya Janata Party's Bhupendra Yadav.
The 'bail-in' clause was included in the bill as one of the tools for resolution for bank failure. It provides for depositors to bear a part of the cost of the resolution by corresponding reduction in their claims.
This provision had raised concerns that deposits could be used to bail out the failing banks. It also provided for raising the security cover for bank deposits.
At present, each depositor is protected only up to Rs 1 lakh by the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee. -- PTI
17:51 Loya death verdict: SC dismisses review plea
JUST IN: The Supreme Court has dismissed a review petition filed by Bombay Lawyers Association in Judge Loya case.
More details awaited.
17:49 No genuine Indian citizen will be left out of NRC: Shah
Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah today said no Indian should be worried about Assam's National Register of Citizens (NRC), asserting that names of genuine citizens will not be deleted.
"Opposition is politicising this issue for vote-bank politics. The NRC is an issue about national security and national security is most important for us," he said.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Shah demanded that all political parties must clarify their stand on the NRC issue.
"NRC was at the heart of the Assam Accord. No Indian citizen should be worried about the NRC. For us, NRC is key to security of the country," he said.
He also underlined that BJP's stand on this issue has always been consistent, while adding that the Congress did not have the courage to implement it and now the Modi government is doing what the Congress could not. -- PTI
17:09 Woman who moved SC against nikah halala claims death threats
A Muslim woman from Uttar Pradesh's Sikandrabad, who had filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking abolition of nikah halala practice earlier this month, today alleged that she has received death threats from her husband.
The woman, Farzana, had claimed in her petition that she had been illegally divorced by her husband, leaving her and their daughter without any means of living or financial support.
"From the day I have filed the petition my husband has been pressuring me to withdraw it and has even threatened to kill me. He has also told me that going to the Supreme Court will not help me and I will be forced to do halala," Farzana told reporters New Delhi.
The practice of nikah halala requires a divorced woman to marry someone else, consummate the marriage and then get a divorce in order to again marry her first husband under the Muslim personal law. -- PTI
16:45 Ex-prez Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed's kin not in Assam list: Mamata
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee at a press conference on 'Love For Neighbour' at Delhi's Constitution Club, says, "India needs a change & that change must come in 2019 for the betterment of the world."
Excerpts from her speech.
"What is going on in Assam? The NRC problem. It is not only the Bengalis, it is the minorities, it is Hindus, it is Bengalis, it is Biharis. More than 40 lakh people voted yesterday for the ruling party and suddenly today they have been made refugees in their own country. I don't want to see my motherland with no hope, I don't want to see my motherland divided.
"We will not allow this to happen in Bengal because we are there. Today these people cannot even vote. I am surprised to see that the names of our former President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed's family members are not on the NRC Assam list. What else can I say? There are so many people whose names are not there.
"If Bengalis say Biharis can't stay in Bengal, South Indian people say North Indians can't stay there and North Indians say South Indians can't stay here. What will be state of this country, because we are together. Our country is a family. Only to win polls people can't be victimised. Don't you think people who's name isn't in list will lose a part of their identity? Please understand India-Pakistan-Bangladesh were one before partition. Whoever came from Bangladesh to India till March 1971 is an Indian citizen."
Excerpts from her speech.
"What is going on in Assam? The NRC problem. It is not only the Bengalis, it is the minorities, it is Hindus, it is Bengalis, it is Biharis. More than 40 lakh people voted yesterday for the ruling party and suddenly today they have been made refugees in their own country. I don't want to see my motherland with no hope, I don't want to see my motherland divided.
"We will not allow this to happen in Bengal because we are there. Today these people cannot even vote. I am surprised to see that the names of our former President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed's family members are not on the NRC Assam list. What else can I say? There are so many people whose names are not there.
"If Bengalis say Biharis can't stay in Bengal, South Indian people say North Indians can't stay there and North Indians say South Indians can't stay here. What will be state of this country, because we are together. Our country is a family. Only to win polls people can't be victimised. Don't you think people who's name isn't in list will lose a part of their identity? Please understand India-Pakistan-Bangladesh were one before partition. Whoever came from Bangladesh to India till March 1971 is an Indian citizen."
16:06 Kumaraswamy accuses media for separate statehood protests
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday warned that media would be held responsible if anything went wrong in the north Karnataka statehood protests in future.
"You, the media, are adding fuel to fire for no reason. People of north Karnataka are with the government. If anything happens, you (media) will be responsible," Kumaraswamy told media here.Kumaraswamy's statement comes days after Bharatiya Janata Party MLA B Sriramulu, during the budget discussion, threatened to not only lead the agitation but intensify it if the government continued to neglect the region.
Expressing his annoyance with the media for dubbing him a chief minister of four districts, Kumaraswamy asserted that if he has given only a small amount of over 500 crore to the four districts out of a huge state budget of more than Rs 2 lakh crore then how could he be ridiculed.
He said, "You (media) keep referring to me as Chief Minister of only four districts. Out of a budget of Rs. 2, 18,000 crore, I have given only Rs. 514 crore to four districts. What is the big deal!"
The issue over separate statehood for north Karnataka has raised a storm following the Uttara Karnataka Pratyeka Rajya Horata Samiti, spearheading the demand for a separate state, announced a day-long bandh in 13 districts of the region on August 2. -- ANI
"You, the media, are adding fuel to fire for no reason. People of north Karnataka are with the government. If anything happens, you (media) will be responsible," Kumaraswamy told media here.Kumaraswamy's statement comes days after Bharatiya Janata Party MLA B Sriramulu, during the budget discussion, threatened to not only lead the agitation but intensify it if the government continued to neglect the region.
Expressing his annoyance with the media for dubbing him a chief minister of four districts, Kumaraswamy asserted that if he has given only a small amount of over 500 crore to the four districts out of a huge state budget of more than Rs 2 lakh crore then how could he be ridiculed.
He said, "You (media) keep referring to me as Chief Minister of only four districts. Out of a budget of Rs. 2, 18,000 crore, I have given only Rs. 514 crore to four districts. What is the big deal!"
The issue over separate statehood for north Karnataka has raised a storm following the Uttara Karnataka Pratyeka Rajya Horata Samiti, spearheading the demand for a separate state, announced a day-long bandh in 13 districts of the region on August 2. -- ANI
15:59
And that's the lady flying the Dalai Lama. Ashrrita @caramelwings 11 Aug 2017 Just had the privilege of flying down His Highness The Dalai Lama This is a sign. Thank you, universe #grateful #thankyou #believe
15:55 On stewardess' last flight as she retires, daugther pilots the plane
A heartwarming story worth a share.
Ashrrita, a pilot who flies the Airbus A320 with Air India shared this picture of a very special moment in her young life. She tweeted, @caramelwings "So happy and honoured to be able to pilot the one flight that mattered. It was my mom's dream to have me pilot her last flight as an Air Hostess with @airindiain :) As she retires after her glorious 38 years of service, I will be carrying on with her legacy #grateful #proud."
Air India responded saying, "@caramelwings Our heartfelt wishes to your mother and you for this special flight when she passes the baton on to you to have the privilege of serving our passengers with dedication. The legacy lives on."
Congratulations and best wishes, Ashrrita!
Ashrrita, a pilot who flies the Airbus A320 with Air India shared this picture of a very special moment in her young life. She tweeted, @caramelwings "So happy and honoured to be able to pilot the one flight that mattered. It was my mom's dream to have me pilot her last flight as an Air Hostess with @airindiain :) As she retires after her glorious 38 years of service, I will be carrying on with her legacy #grateful #proud."
Air India responded saying, "@caramelwings Our heartfelt wishes to your mother and you for this special flight when she passes the baton on to you to have the privilege of serving our passengers with dedication. The legacy lives on."
Congratulations and best wishes, Ashrrita!
15:40 Unhappy over derailment of NRC debate in RS, Naidu tells Azad
After the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu called Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad to his chamber and 'conveyed his unhappiness over the way a good discussion on NRC in Assam was derailed towards the end.
The Rajya Sabha had taken up the discussion by doing away with the Question Hour, but the debate was disrupted due to vociferous protests by TMC, Congress and some other parties which finally led Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to adjourn the House for the day.
The protests began soon after BJP President Amit Shah took a jibe at the erstwhile Congress-led governments for not showing the courage to identify illegal migrants in Assam in accordance with the 1985 accord, forcing adjournment of the proceedings for the day. Shah's remarks asking whether the Opposition wanted "to save illegal Bangladeshis in Assam", provoked the opposition members including those from the Congress and TMC who trooped into the Well demanding a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"This was the Congress PM's initiative. He (Rajiv Gandhi) did not have the courage. We have courage and we are doing it," he informed the House. "NRC is being conducted on the SC order. There are 40 lakh people (missing in the list) ... Whom do you want to save? You want to save illegal Bangaldesis," the BJP chief posed.
Shah's remarks provoked noisy protests by the Opposition members led by those from the Congress and the TMC. The House was adjourned for about 10 minutes.
File pic.
The Rajya Sabha had taken up the discussion by doing away with the Question Hour, but the debate was disrupted due to vociferous protests by TMC, Congress and some other parties which finally led Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to adjourn the House for the day.
The protests began soon after BJP President Amit Shah took a jibe at the erstwhile Congress-led governments for not showing the courage to identify illegal migrants in Assam in accordance with the 1985 accord, forcing adjournment of the proceedings for the day. Shah's remarks asking whether the Opposition wanted "to save illegal Bangladeshis in Assam", provoked the opposition members including those from the Congress and TMC who trooped into the Well demanding a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"This was the Congress PM's initiative. He (Rajiv Gandhi) did not have the courage. We have courage and we are doing it," he informed the House. "NRC is being conducted on the SC order. There are 40 lakh people (missing in the list) ... Whom do you want to save? You want to save illegal Bangaldesis," the BJP chief posed.
Shah's remarks provoked noisy protests by the Opposition members led by those from the Congress and the TMC. The House was adjourned for about 10 minutes.
File pic.
15:33 Don't take coercive action on 40 lakh not in Assam list: SC tells Centre
The Supreme Court on Tuesday told the Centre that no authority will take any coercive action against the 40 lakh people who have been excluded from Assam's National Register of Citizens' list. The court also said the claims procedure has to be fair. The SC has also asked the government's coordinator to submit the claims.
The court also told the Centre to prepare a standard procedure to provide a mechanism to deal with claims and objections of people who have been excluded.
The much-anticipated second and final draft of the National Register of Citizens was published on Monday with 2.9 crore names out of the total 3.29 crore applicants in Assam. The names of 40.07 lakh applicants did not find a place in the historic document, touted to be a proof of Assamese identity.
The first draft of the NRC was published during the intervening night of December 31 and January 1 this year, containing 1.9 crore names.
The court also told the Centre to prepare a standard procedure to provide a mechanism to deal with claims and objections of people who have been excluded.
The much-anticipated second and final draft of the National Register of Citizens was published on Monday with 2.9 crore names out of the total 3.29 crore applicants in Assam. The names of 40.07 lakh applicants did not find a place in the historic document, touted to be a proof of Assamese identity.
The first draft of the NRC was published during the intervening night of December 31 and January 1 this year, containing 1.9 crore names.
15:32
Former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi selected for Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award.
14:46 No demand for citizen's register in Tripura: CM Biplab Deb
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said today that there was no demand for a citizen's register like the National Register of Citizens in his state. He said it is not even a sensitive issue in Assam, where the final draft of the NRC was published yesterday with over 2.89 crore names out of the total 3.29 crore applicants in the north-eastern state.
Around 40.07 lakh applicants did not find a place in the historic document, touted to be a proof of Assamese identity. Deb, who visited Nagpur today to meet Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, said there was no demand for the NRC in Tripura. "Everything is in order in Tripura and everyone has valid papers. Hence, it is not an issue for us," the BJP leader told reporters.
"I don't feel it is even a sensitive issue in Assam and its chief minister is capable of handling the situation," he said to a query. Some people in politics having "foreign mindset" were trying to vitiate the atmosphere, Deb alleged.
The NRC contains names of Indian citizens of Assam.
Around 40.07 lakh applicants did not find a place in the historic document, touted to be a proof of Assamese identity. Deb, who visited Nagpur today to meet Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, said there was no demand for the NRC in Tripura. "Everything is in order in Tripura and everyone has valid papers. Hence, it is not an issue for us," the BJP leader told reporters.
"I don't feel it is even a sensitive issue in Assam and its chief minister is capable of handling the situation," he said to a query. Some people in politics having "foreign mindset" were trying to vitiate the atmosphere, Deb alleged.
The NRC contains names of Indian citizens of Assam.
14:41 Mallya returns to UK court for extradition hearing
Embattled liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya, wanted in India on fraud charges, returned to Westminster Magistrates' Court in London today for closing arguments in his high-profile extradition trial.
The 62-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines boss, who has been on bail on an extradition warrant since his arrest in April last year, is fighting extradition to India on charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to around Rs 9,000 crores. He arrived at the court along with his son Siddharth.
"At the end of the day, the courts will decide," Mallya told reporters outside the court. At the last hearing in the case on April 27, the Central Bureau of Investigation had received a boost in the case as Judge Arbuthnot confirmed that the bulk of the evidence submitted by the Indian authorities will be admissible in the case.
The CBI had submitted a detailed set of documents to the UK court, which includes its case of conspiracy against former IDBI Bank Deputy Managing Director BK Batra, who was referred to in court as a new "villain" of sorts in the case.
As per the Indian authorities' case of conspiracy, Batra reportedly colluded with Mallya in sanctioning some of the loans to the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines without following due diligence procedures.
In the separate extradition proceedings, if the judge rules in favour of the Indian government, the UK home secretary will have two months to sign Mallya's extradition order. However, both sides will have the chance to appeal in higher courts in the UK against the Magistrates' Court verdict. Mallya's defence team, headed by barrister Clare Montgomery, has disputed the fraud allegations and also submitted further written material from UK-based prisons expert Dr Alan Mitchell, challenging some of the photographs of Barrack 12 of Mumbai Central Prison on Arthur Road, where Mallya is to be held if he is extradited from the UK.
The CPS team, led by barrister Mark Summers, dismissed the additional material as an "attempt to criticise" the information provided by the Indian authorities.
The extradition trial, which opened at the London court on December 4 last year, is aimed at laying out a prima facie case of fraud against Mallya, who has been based in the UK since he left India in March 2016. It also seeks to prove there are no "bars to extradition" and that the tycoon is assured a fair trial in India over his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines' alleged default of over Rs 9,000 crores in loans from a consortium of Indian banks. -- PTI
The 62-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines boss, who has been on bail on an extradition warrant since his arrest in April last year, is fighting extradition to India on charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to around Rs 9,000 crores. He arrived at the court along with his son Siddharth.
"At the end of the day, the courts will decide," Mallya told reporters outside the court. At the last hearing in the case on April 27, the Central Bureau of Investigation had received a boost in the case as Judge Arbuthnot confirmed that the bulk of the evidence submitted by the Indian authorities will be admissible in the case.
The CBI had submitted a detailed set of documents to the UK court, which includes its case of conspiracy against former IDBI Bank Deputy Managing Director BK Batra, who was referred to in court as a new "villain" of sorts in the case.
As per the Indian authorities' case of conspiracy, Batra reportedly colluded with Mallya in sanctioning some of the loans to the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines without following due diligence procedures.
In the separate extradition proceedings, if the judge rules in favour of the Indian government, the UK home secretary will have two months to sign Mallya's extradition order. However, both sides will have the chance to appeal in higher courts in the UK against the Magistrates' Court verdict. Mallya's defence team, headed by barrister Clare Montgomery, has disputed the fraud allegations and also submitted further written material from UK-based prisons expert Dr Alan Mitchell, challenging some of the photographs of Barrack 12 of Mumbai Central Prison on Arthur Road, where Mallya is to be held if he is extradited from the UK.
The CPS team, led by barrister Mark Summers, dismissed the additional material as an "attempt to criticise" the information provided by the Indian authorities.
The extradition trial, which opened at the London court on December 4 last year, is aimed at laying out a prima facie case of fraud against Mallya, who has been based in the UK since he left India in March 2016. It also seeks to prove there are no "bars to extradition" and that the tycoon is assured a fair trial in India over his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines' alleged default of over Rs 9,000 crores in loans from a consortium of Indian banks. -- PTI
14:27 Editors Guild welcomes draft data protection bill
The Editors Guild of India today welcomed the draft data protection bill, noting that the provisions for journalists in it broadly allow media professionals to use sensitive as well as non-sensitive personal data while discharging their duties.
Amid a sharp rise in data breaches, a new legislation last week proposed taking explicit consent of individuals before sensitive personal information such as religious or political beliefs, sexual orientation and biometric information, is processed.
The draft of the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2018 -- which is based on the recommendations of the government -- constituted high-level panel set up last year and headed by Justice B N Srikrishna -- restricts and imposes conditions on the cross-border transfer of personal data, and suggests setting up of the Data Protection Authority of India to prevent any misuse of personal information.
The Editors Guild of India, in a statement, said it welcomes the specific provisions for journalists in the draft Personal Data Protection Bill 2018 as they broadly allow media professionals to use sensitive as well as non-sensitive personal data while discharging their duties. -- PTI
Amid a sharp rise in data breaches, a new legislation last week proposed taking explicit consent of individuals before sensitive personal information such as religious or political beliefs, sexual orientation and biometric information, is processed.
The draft of the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2018 -- which is based on the recommendations of the government -- constituted high-level panel set up last year and headed by Justice B N Srikrishna -- restricts and imposes conditions on the cross-border transfer of personal data, and suggests setting up of the Data Protection Authority of India to prevent any misuse of personal information.
The Editors Guild of India, in a statement, said it welcomes the specific provisions for journalists in the draft Personal Data Protection Bill 2018 as they broadly allow media professionals to use sensitive as well as non-sensitive personal data while discharging their duties. -- PTI
14:25 Salman welcomes Katrina to Bharat
Salman Khan @BeingSalmanKhan welcomes Katrina Kaif to his film, Bharat with this tweet and image: "Ek sundar aur shusheel ladki jiska Naam hai Katrina Kaif .... Swagat hai aapka #Bharat ki zindagi mein ..."
Salman and Katrina were in a relationship years ago when she was new to Bollywood.
Katrina replaces Priyanka Chopra in the film. Chopra opted out citing personal commitments (read engagement/marriage to Nick Jonas).
Salman and Katrina were in a relationship years ago when she was new to Bollywood.
Katrina replaces Priyanka Chopra in the film. Chopra opted out citing personal commitments (read engagement/marriage to Nick Jonas).
14:16 Joshi points out mistake in agenda papers of Lok Sabha
Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi today pointed out a mistake in the agenda papers of the Lok Sabha and described it as a violation of a constitutional provision relating to business of House. As soon as the House met for the day, Joshi rose to say that while the revised agenda papers in English say today is Tuesday, the one in Hindi mentions the day as 'guruvar' or Thursday.
He said such mistakes have happened in the past too and he feels saddened that they continue to take place. He said the mistake is violative of Article 120 of the Constitution regarding language to be used in House proceedings. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said she agrees that it was a mistake and will see how it happened. -- PTI
He said such mistakes have happened in the past too and he feels saddened that they continue to take place. He said the mistake is violative of Article 120 of the Constitution regarding language to be used in House proceedings. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said she agrees that it was a mistake and will see how it happened. -- PTI
13:59 Priyanka in talks for Chris Pratt film
Priyanka Chopra is close to locking a deal with Universal Pictures for the female lead opposite Chris Pratt in "Cowboy Ninja Viking", days after she exited Salman Khan-starrer Bollywood project "Bharat".
The film is a feature adaptation of the Image Comics graphic novel of the same name from AJ Lieberman and illustrator Riley Rossmo, reported Deadline.
The story revolves around a counter-intelligence unit formed by psychotherapist Dr Sebastian Ghislain, who transforms agents known as Triplets, a reference to multiple personalities. Pratt will portray a formidable agent with the fighting skills and personalities of a cowboy, a ninja, and a viking. The film will be directed by Michelle MacLaren, who is best known for helming episodes of major TV series such as "Game of Thrones", "Westworld", "The Leftovers" and "The Breaking Bad". -- PTI
The film is a feature adaptation of the Image Comics graphic novel of the same name from AJ Lieberman and illustrator Riley Rossmo, reported Deadline.
The story revolves around a counter-intelligence unit formed by psychotherapist Dr Sebastian Ghislain, who transforms agents known as Triplets, a reference to multiple personalities. Pratt will portray a formidable agent with the fighting skills and personalities of a cowboy, a ninja, and a viking. The film will be directed by Michelle MacLaren, who is best known for helming episodes of major TV series such as "Game of Thrones", "Westworld", "The Leftovers" and "The Breaking Bad". -- PTI
13:48 5th suicide over Maratha quota
A 35-year-old man allegedly ended his life today in Maharashtra's Beed district, the latest in a spate of suicides over the Maratha quota demand, police said. Abhijeet Deshmukh, a resident of Veeda village in Kej tehsil, hanged himself from a tree near his house, police said.
"We found a suicide note in which he mentioned that he is taking this extreme step in support of Maratha reservation demand," Beed SP G Shridhar told PTI. The note also mentioned other reasons for his suicide, like unemployment and unpaid bank loan, another police official said. This is the fifth suicide in the state over Maratha reservation issue. -- PTI
Image: A vehicle on fire in Navi Mumbai on July 25 as Maratha Kranti Morcha protesters called for reservations in jobs and education. Photograph: PTI Photo
"We found a suicide note in which he mentioned that he is taking this extreme step in support of Maratha reservation demand," Beed SP G Shridhar told PTI. The note also mentioned other reasons for his suicide, like unemployment and unpaid bank loan, another police official said. This is the fifth suicide in the state over Maratha reservation issue. -- PTI
Image: A vehicle on fire in Navi Mumbai on July 25 as Maratha Kranti Morcha protesters called for reservations in jobs and education. Photograph: PTI Photo
13:40 Mukesh Ambani's RIL reclaims most valued co status in m-cap
Reliance Industries Ltd today regained its status as the country's most valued firm by market capitalisation (m-cap), replacing Tata Group's TCS from the top slot. During afternoon trade on BSE, the market valuation of RIL stood at Rs 7,47,676.35 crore, which is Rs 8,378.48 crore more than that of Tata Consultancy Services' Rs 7,39,297.87 crore m-cap. Shares of RIL surged 2.75 per cent to Rs 1,181.35 -- its lifetime high on BSE today. On the other hand, shares of TCS fell by 0.79 per cent to Rs 1,929.55. TCS had first replaced RIL as the most valued firm more than five years ago. So far this year, RIL shares have surged over 28 per cent, while those of TCS slumped 28.5 per cent.
13:32 BJP MLA: Rohingyas should be shot
BJP's Telangana MLA Raja Singh on the NRC Assam: If these Rohingyas and Bangladeshi illegal immigrants do not leave India respectfully, then they should be shot & eliminated. Then only our country will be safe.
13:30 Rajiv Gandhi's Assam accord was nothing but NRC: Amit Shah
Rajya Sabha MP Amit Shah speaking on the NRC as the house erupts in an uproar with Congress MPs storming the well of the house. Rajya Sabha chairperson Venkaiah Naidu admonishes the MPs saying it the Rajya Sabha was the house of elders and they were making a mockery of the democracy. "God save democracy," a hassled Naidu said requesting MPs repeatedly to return to their seats.
This is what Amit Shah said in the house: 'Rajiv Gandhi signed the Assam accord in 1985, which was nothing but the NRC. They did not have courage to implement it, we did. NDA did what UPA could not do."
Congress MPs protest in the well of the house and the house was adjourned for 10 minutes.
This is what Amit Shah said in the house: 'Rajiv Gandhi signed the Assam accord in 1985, which was nothing but the NRC. They did not have courage to implement it, we did. NDA did what UPA could not do."
Congress MPs protest in the well of the house and the house was adjourned for 10 minutes.
13:30 Rohingyas illegal migrants, not refugees: Govt in LS
This is what happened in the Lok Sabha today where the discussion was entirely about the NRC.
The government informed the Lok Sabha today that some of the Rohingya migrants living in India have been involved in illegal activities. The government also made it clear that Rohingyas do not have the status of "refugee" but are "illegal migrants".
Responding to a series of supplementaries, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said the government has reports that some of the Rohingyas have been involved in illegal activities but he would refrain from getting into details. He said since they are illegal migrants, they are not entitled to any government facility. The minister said the priority of the government is to take care of the rights of Indian citizens. He said though they have not been given legal documents like ration cards, if they have acquired such facilities, it must have been done through illegal means. The states, he said, have to ensure that such illegal migrants do not get legal documents so that they do not stake claim to citizenship at a later date.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the BSF and the Assam Rifles guarding international borders have been sensitised to ensure that such illegal migrants do not enter the country. In February this year, Singh said, a latest advisory has been sent to the states asking them to confine Rohingyas in one place and keep them under watch. He said states have also been asked to carry out enumeration of such people and also collect their biometric details. He said though states have a right under the Foreigners Act to deport illegal migrants, state governments have been asked to collect details about Rohingyas and share it with the Home Ministry. The Home Ministry would then urge the Ministry of External Affairs to take up their deportation with Myanmar.
Saugata Bose (TMC) said India has a history of sheltering refugees and the government must do the same with the Rohingyas. Rijiju hit back, saying he was saddened by the stand of Bose. He said though India is not a signatory to the UN Convention on Refugees, it has been "soft" on such migrants. He said there is a need to have a system to check such migrants in the interest of the country and Indian citizens.
He said India has set up facilities for Rohingyas in Rakhine State in Myanmar and its track record on humanitarian assistance should not be questioned. In an apparent slip of tongue, Rijiju referred to refugees from Sri Lanka as those from Tamil Nadu. It led to slogan shouting from members of the opposition, including the Congress and the Left. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the minister has rectified himself and it was a slip of tongue which can happen. Rijiju also said that the maximum number of Rohingyas are in Jammu and Kashmir. They are also in Hyderabad, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi. -- PTI
The government informed the Lok Sabha today that some of the Rohingya migrants living in India have been involved in illegal activities. The government also made it clear that Rohingyas do not have the status of "refugee" but are "illegal migrants".
Responding to a series of supplementaries, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said the government has reports that some of the Rohingyas have been involved in illegal activities but he would refrain from getting into details. He said since they are illegal migrants, they are not entitled to any government facility. The minister said the priority of the government is to take care of the rights of Indian citizens. He said though they have not been given legal documents like ration cards, if they have acquired such facilities, it must have been done through illegal means. The states, he said, have to ensure that such illegal migrants do not get legal documents so that they do not stake claim to citizenship at a later date.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the BSF and the Assam Rifles guarding international borders have been sensitised to ensure that such illegal migrants do not enter the country. In February this year, Singh said, a latest advisory has been sent to the states asking them to confine Rohingyas in one place and keep them under watch. He said states have also been asked to carry out enumeration of such people and also collect their biometric details. He said though states have a right under the Foreigners Act to deport illegal migrants, state governments have been asked to collect details about Rohingyas and share it with the Home Ministry. The Home Ministry would then urge the Ministry of External Affairs to take up their deportation with Myanmar.
Saugata Bose (TMC) said India has a history of sheltering refugees and the government must do the same with the Rohingyas. Rijiju hit back, saying he was saddened by the stand of Bose. He said though India is not a signatory to the UN Convention on Refugees, it has been "soft" on such migrants. He said there is a need to have a system to check such migrants in the interest of the country and Indian citizens.
He said India has set up facilities for Rohingyas in Rakhine State in Myanmar and its track record on humanitarian assistance should not be questioned. In an apparent slip of tongue, Rijiju referred to refugees from Sri Lanka as those from Tamil Nadu. It led to slogan shouting from members of the opposition, including the Congress and the Left. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the minister has rectified himself and it was a slip of tongue which can happen. Rijiju also said that the maximum number of Rohingyas are in Jammu and Kashmir. They are also in Hyderabad, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi. -- PTI
12:58 Mika Singh robbed
In other news, singer Mika Singh, through his manager, on Monday lodged a complaint at the Oshiwara Police Station reporting a theft of around Rs 3 lakh at his residence in Mumbai. According to the police, gold jewellery worth Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1 lakh were stolen from Mika's residence at around 2 pm. The police have registered a case and have started investigating the matter. -- ANI
12:55 NRC about human rights, not Hindu-Muslim issue: Azad
A united opposition took on the government over the draft citizens' list in Assam that leaves out over 40 lakh people. While the government has said that those names absent from the citizens' list can appeal, and will not be deported as of now, a strident opposition led by a vociferous Mamata Banerjee has said the government is indulging in divide and rule.
The opposition stalled parliament today as the Rajya Sabha adjourned within minutes and the opposition protested loudly in the Lok Sabha. The Congress and Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress put in notice to discuss the National Register of Citizens or NRC in the Lok Sabha.
Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress MP in Rajya Sabha said, "Genuine Indians should not be sent out of the country. NRC should not be politicised and used as vote bank. It is a human rights issue, not a Hindu-Muslim issue."
Mos PMO Jitendra Singh said outside parliament that as far as the NRC for West Bengal is concerned, the decision will be taken by Home Ministry.
Mayawati read out a statement at the party HQ saying, citizenships of 40 lakhs minorities have been almost seized in NRC draft in BJP-ruled Assam. "If people living for a long time in Assam haven't been able to provide proof about their citizenship, it doesn't mean they should be thrown out of the country."
Dilip Ghosh, of the BJP, demdanded an NRC in Bengal as "infiltration was rampant here." He said, "Over 1 crore illegal migrants are present & adding to the pressure on our economy. They enter political sphere as well. If BJP comes to power in Bengal, we will hold NRC to eliminate unwanted."
The opposition stalled parliament today as the Rajya Sabha adjourned within minutes and the opposition protested loudly in the Lok Sabha. The Congress and Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress put in notice to discuss the National Register of Citizens or NRC in the Lok Sabha.
Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress MP in Rajya Sabha said, "Genuine Indians should not be sent out of the country. NRC should not be politicised and used as vote bank. It is a human rights issue, not a Hindu-Muslim issue."
Mos PMO Jitendra Singh said outside parliament that as far as the NRC for West Bengal is concerned, the decision will be taken by Home Ministry.
Mayawati read out a statement at the party HQ saying, citizenships of 40 lakhs minorities have been almost seized in NRC draft in BJP-ruled Assam. "If people living for a long time in Assam haven't been able to provide proof about their citizenship, it doesn't mean they should be thrown out of the country."
Dilip Ghosh, of the BJP, demdanded an NRC in Bengal as "infiltration was rampant here." He said, "Over 1 crore illegal migrants are present & adding to the pressure on our economy. They enter political sphere as well. If BJP comes to power in Bengal, we will hold NRC to eliminate unwanted."
12:43 In loving memory of KK, loving boyfriend of Kiki... Jaipur police nails it
Police departments across the country have united to warn citizens not to take up the Kiki Challenge, a spectacularly stupid dare that risks not only your life and limb but also that of others.
The Mumbai and UP Police have shared videos of people doing the Kiki challenge to warn people of its hazards, and now the Jaipur Police has done likewise by using dark humour.
Sharing a picture of a man with a garland around it, the Jaipur police writes, "In loving memory of KK: loving boyfriend to Kiki, died while doing the Shiggy."
The challenge which has now gone international, involves you to step out of a slow moving vehicle and dance to the song while the car is still in motion and then get back in the car to complete it. All this while someone films you from inside the vehicle.
So far, Will Smith, Ciara and back home Adah Sharma, Nora Fatehi and Nia Sharma have successfully taken the challenge.
None of these celebrities have encouraged you to try it while driving, cause nuisance or risk your life.
But turns out, there have been several incidents where people have fallen off their vehicle, been hit by a pole, moving car and put unsuspecting travellers at risk while attempting the challenge.
Given the dangerous repercussions, police officials from around the world, including India, Spain, the US, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates, have warned citizens against taking the dance challenge on the road.
If you are caught trying it in Mumbai and Noida, you could face penalty and criminal charges too.
'Dear Parents, whether Kiki loves your child or not, we are sure you do! So please stand by your kids in all the challenges in life except KiKi Challenge,' Noida Police.
More on what the Kiki Challenge is all about here.
The Mumbai and UP Police have shared videos of people doing the Kiki challenge to warn people of its hazards, and now the Jaipur Police has done likewise by using dark humour.
Sharing a picture of a man with a garland around it, the Jaipur police writes, "In loving memory of KK: loving boyfriend to Kiki, died while doing the Shiggy."
The challenge which has now gone international, involves you to step out of a slow moving vehicle and dance to the song while the car is still in motion and then get back in the car to complete it. All this while someone films you from inside the vehicle.
So far, Will Smith, Ciara and back home Adah Sharma, Nora Fatehi and Nia Sharma have successfully taken the challenge.
None of these celebrities have encouraged you to try it while driving, cause nuisance or risk your life.
But turns out, there have been several incidents where people have fallen off their vehicle, been hit by a pole, moving car and put unsuspecting travellers at risk while attempting the challenge.
Given the dangerous repercussions, police officials from around the world, including India, Spain, the US, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates, have warned citizens against taking the dance challenge on the road.
If you are caught trying it in Mumbai and Noida, you could face penalty and criminal charges too.
'Dear Parents, whether Kiki loves your child or not, we are sure you do! So please stand by your kids in all the challenges in life except KiKi Challenge,' Noida Police.
More on what the Kiki Challenge is all about here.
11:56 Rajnath to speak in RS on Assam citizens' list
The Opposition TMC today forced adjournment of proceedings in the Rajya Sabha till noon over the issue of non-inclusion of over 40 lakh people in Assam's National Register of Citizens. Amid the uproar, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu told members that Home Minister Rajnath Singh will come to the House after attending to his duties in the Lok Sabha and reply to the "sensitive and serious matter".
TMC leader Derek O'Brien wanted his notice under Rule 267, which calls for setting aside of the day's business to take up issue pressed, to be taken up. TMC members, who had yesterday too led the protests that saw Rajya Sabha proceedings being adjourned without transacting any business, vociferously protested from the aisles. As other members joined in, Naidu adjourned proceedings till noon.
Before doing so, Naidu pointed out that the home minister had on his request come to the House yesterday but could not make a statement. Maintaining that the issue at hand had a historical background as it was rooted in the Assam Accord, he said today he has asked the home minister to be come to the House. The home minister, he said, has agreed to do so once he finishes replying to questions in the Lok Sabha.
Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad asked if members would be given an opportunity to seek clarification after the home minister makes his statement. Naidu replied in the affirmative.
Out of the 3.29 crore applicants, 2.89 crore have been found eligible for inclusion in the complete draft of NRC, that was released in Guwahati yesterday. This meant that the names of 40.07 lakh have been left out. PTI
File pic
TMC leader Derek O'Brien wanted his notice under Rule 267, which calls for setting aside of the day's business to take up issue pressed, to be taken up. TMC members, who had yesterday too led the protests that saw Rajya Sabha proceedings being adjourned without transacting any business, vociferously protested from the aisles. As other members joined in, Naidu adjourned proceedings till noon.
Before doing so, Naidu pointed out that the home minister had on his request come to the House yesterday but could not make a statement. Maintaining that the issue at hand had a historical background as it was rooted in the Assam Accord, he said today he has asked the home minister to be come to the House. The home minister, he said, has agreed to do so once he finishes replying to questions in the Lok Sabha.
Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad asked if members would be given an opportunity to seek clarification after the home minister makes his statement. Naidu replied in the affirmative.
Out of the 3.29 crore applicants, 2.89 crore have been found eligible for inclusion in the complete draft of NRC, that was released in Guwahati yesterday. This meant that the names of 40.07 lakh have been left out. PTI
File pic
11:33 Nearly 700 hikers trapped in volcano in Indonesia
More than 680 people were trapped on a volcano on Lombok, an Indonesian tourist island, after a deadly earthquake claimed more than a dozen lives.
"689 people are still trapped on and around the 3,726 meter (12,224 ft) mountain following the shallow 6.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Sunday morning," CNN quoted National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, as saying.
Currently, a rescue operation is underway to save those trapped tourists in landslides on Mount Rinjani, an active volcano on the Lombok island.
"According to Indonesia's national disaster management agency, 149 climbers are still believed to be stranded on the volcano itself, while 500 people are trapped in Sembalun Village on the volcano's slopes, and an additional 40 tourists are in nearby Batu Ceper," reported the CNN.
An earthquake measuring 6.4 magnitude on the Richter Scale struck off eastern Indonesia on Sunday, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).Indonesia is located in the Ring of Fire, an area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean, which is vulnerable to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. -- ANI
"689 people are still trapped on and around the 3,726 meter (12,224 ft) mountain following the shallow 6.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Sunday morning," CNN quoted National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, as saying.
Currently, a rescue operation is underway to save those trapped tourists in landslides on Mount Rinjani, an active volcano on the Lombok island.
"According to Indonesia's national disaster management agency, 149 climbers are still believed to be stranded on the volcano itself, while 500 people are trapped in Sembalun Village on the volcano's slopes, and an additional 40 tourists are in nearby Batu Ceper," reported the CNN.
An earthquake measuring 6.4 magnitude on the Richter Scale struck off eastern Indonesia on Sunday, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).Indonesia is located in the Ring of Fire, an area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean, which is vulnerable to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. -- ANI
11:21 Pakistan: An Election Heist and Beyond
Pakistan's just-concluded elections rank among the four most tainted ones since 1970. In 1970, the people's mandate was stolen after the elections lead eventually to the independence of Bangladesh. In the current instance, however, the heist took place before the polls with massive political engineering under the auspices of the Pakistan army. The army did not just back Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) but virtually bulldozed its joint opponent Nawaz Sharif and his party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN). As the results came in, the army's spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor could barely hide his glee when he took to Twitter to declare victory.
Read the column here
Read the column here
11:18
TMC, Aam Aadmi Party and Samajwadi Party MPs stage protest in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament over the NRC Assam issue.
11:02 Maneka apologises for calling transgenders 'other' ones
Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi apologised for using the term 'the other ones' to refer to members of the transgender community during a debate in the Lok Sabha, saying she did not 'snigger but was embarrassed by her own lack of knowledge'.
While discussing the inclusion of information on prevention of human trafficking in school textbooks, Maneka Gandhi, on Thursday, had called transgenders 'the other ones'.
"The Bill focuses on the victim (of trafficking). If a voluntary sex worker is not a victim, has not been trafficked, has no one to blame for his or her problem; or other ones,", she said in the Lok Sabha as it appeared that she was smirking at her categorisation.
Her comment was met by sniggering and thumping from other members in the House.The minister drew flak from all quarters for using transphobic language. Meera Sanghamitra, a member of the National Alliance for People's Movements and a transwoman, was quoted by news agency PTI as saying that Maneka Gandhi and all the MPs who 'thumped and laughed must apologise'. Sanghamitra also wrote a Facebook post calling the action 'dehumanizing'.
Her statement was also objected to by Baramati MP Supriya Sule, who in the debate in the Lok Sabha, requested her to not using othering language when referring to the transgender community.
Gandhi today apologised for using the term during the debate, saying she was not mocking the transgender community."I sincerely apologise for using the term 'other ones' during the debate on the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018, in Lok Sabha. I did not 'snigger', I was embarrassed at my own lack of knowledge," Gandhi said in a tweet.
"I was not aware of the official terminology for the transgender community," she added in another tweet.
She also announced that in future all official communication will use the term TGs for transgenders."I would like to assure that the Anti-Trafficking Bill 2018 is gender neutral and provides protection to the aggrieved," she added.
While discussing the inclusion of information on prevention of human trafficking in school textbooks, Maneka Gandhi, on Thursday, had called transgenders 'the other ones'.
"The Bill focuses on the victim (of trafficking). If a voluntary sex worker is not a victim, has not been trafficked, has no one to blame for his or her problem; or other ones,", she said in the Lok Sabha as it appeared that she was smirking at her categorisation.
Her comment was met by sniggering and thumping from other members in the House.The minister drew flak from all quarters for using transphobic language. Meera Sanghamitra, a member of the National Alliance for People's Movements and a transwoman, was quoted by news agency PTI as saying that Maneka Gandhi and all the MPs who 'thumped and laughed must apologise'. Sanghamitra also wrote a Facebook post calling the action 'dehumanizing'.
Her statement was also objected to by Baramati MP Supriya Sule, who in the debate in the Lok Sabha, requested her to not using othering language when referring to the transgender community.
Gandhi today apologised for using the term during the debate, saying she was not mocking the transgender community."I sincerely apologise for using the term 'other ones' during the debate on the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018, in Lok Sabha. I did not 'snigger', I was embarrassed at my own lack of knowledge," Gandhi said in a tweet.
"I was not aware of the official terminology for the transgender community," she added in another tweet.
She also announced that in future all official communication will use the term TGs for transgenders."I would like to assure that the Anti-Trafficking Bill 2018 is gender neutral and provides protection to the aggrieved," she added.
10:43 UP temple purified with Ganga water after woman MLA's visit
A temple in Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur town was purified with 'Gangajal' and statutes of deities were sent to Allahabad for purification after the visit of Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Manisha Anuragi.
"Till today no women have entered the temple. Women are not allowed here. When Manisha Anuragi entered the premises, I was not there, otherwise, I would not have allowed her to enter," the priest of the temple told ANI.
Anuragi visited the temple on July 12 while she was in her assembly constituency to attend a function. Commenting on the same, the MLA said: "It's an insult to women if such things have happened. These are deeds of half-witted people."
The locals believe that the temple is from the Mahabharat era. "Since there is a ban on women entering the temple, they can stand outside and pray," a local said. -- ANI
"Till today no women have entered the temple. Women are not allowed here. When Manisha Anuragi entered the premises, I was not there, otherwise, I would not have allowed her to enter," the priest of the temple told ANI.
Anuragi visited the temple on July 12 while she was in her assembly constituency to attend a function. Commenting on the same, the MLA said: "It's an insult to women if such things have happened. These are deeds of half-witted people."
The locals believe that the temple is from the Mahabharat era. "Since there is a ban on women entering the temple, they can stand outside and pray," a local said. -- ANI
10:36 Sensex falls over 100 pts to snap six-day record run
Benchmark Sensex slipped from life highs to fall over 100 points to 37,381.05 today as markets took a breather after six consecutive record-setting sessions.
Weak trends in other Asian markets, muted earnings and fresh foreign capital outflows weighed on investor sentiment here.
Overall market mood was cautious as investors were on a wait-and-watch mode ahead of RBI policy outcome, scheduled tomorrow, and profit-booking at record level, brokers said.
The 30-share Sensex, after rising to 37,534.95 points in early trade, turned negative and retreated from record high by losing 113.55, or 0.30 per cent, to 37,381.05. -- PTI
Weak trends in other Asian markets, muted earnings and fresh foreign capital outflows weighed on investor sentiment here.
Overall market mood was cautious as investors were on a wait-and-watch mode ahead of RBI policy outcome, scheduled tomorrow, and profit-booking at record level, brokers said.
The 30-share Sensex, after rising to 37,534.95 points in early trade, turned negative and retreated from record high by losing 113.55, or 0.30 per cent, to 37,381.05. -- PTI
10:34
Congress President Rahul Gandhi to travel to Chennai today to meet DMK chief M Karunanidhi who is admitted to Kauvery Hospital.
File pic.
File pic.
10:25 PML-N, PPP, MMA to form opposition alliance
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Majlis Amal (MMA) have agreed to form a 'solid' alliance in the Pakistan Parliament and the Provincial Assemblies.
According to the Express Tribune, the MMA was on Monday swayed by the PML-N and the PPP into an agreement to not boycott the assemblies and to protest against the alleged wrongdoings during the July 25 General Elections in a constitutional manner.A meeting between senior leaders of the PML-N, PPP, MMA and the Awami National Party (ANP), chaired by PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif, discussed the political developments since the MMA decided to boycott the parliament and provincial assemblies.
According to sources, the leaders of the PML-N, PPP and the ANP agreed to cooperate in the national and provincial assemblies to form a 'solid' opposition.
Three former Pakistani Prime Ministers, Yousaf Raza Gillani, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, PML-N chairman Raja Zafarul Haq, Awami National Party's Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, MMA chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other top leaders were part of the meet. -- ANI
According to the Express Tribune, the MMA was on Monday swayed by the PML-N and the PPP into an agreement to not boycott the assemblies and to protest against the alleged wrongdoings during the July 25 General Elections in a constitutional manner.A meeting between senior leaders of the PML-N, PPP, MMA and the Awami National Party (ANP), chaired by PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif, discussed the political developments since the MMA decided to boycott the parliament and provincial assemblies.
According to sources, the leaders of the PML-N, PPP and the ANP agreed to cooperate in the national and provincial assemblies to form a 'solid' opposition.
Three former Pakistani Prime Ministers, Yousaf Raza Gillani, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, PML-N chairman Raja Zafarul Haq, Awami National Party's Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, MMA chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other top leaders were part of the meet. -- ANI
10:10 BJP lawmakers meet underway
Delhi: BJP Parliamentary Party Meeting underway at the Parliament library building.
10:07 Mamata to meet Rajnath over Assam citizens' list
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh later today to talk about the National Register of Citzens Draft -- the Assam citizenship draft -- today. The TMC chief will also meet BJP rebel leaders Yashwant Sinha and Shatrughan Sinha at advocate Ram Jethmalani's residence.
Mamata's Trinamool Congress has also decided to send an eight-member delegation to Assam later this week to assess the situation in the north-eastern state in the wake of the publication of the final draft of the NRC. Nearly 40 lakh people were declared 'outsiders' in the NRC draft released on Monday.
Mamata Banerjee had earlier accused the BJP-led central government of resorting to "vote-bank politics" with regard to the NRC. "Indian citizens have become refugees" in their own land, she said. Amid tight security, the much-awaited NRC final draft was published in Assam on Monday with over 2.89 crore names of the 3.29 crore applicants.
Expressing concern over the exclusion of 40 lakh names in the final National Register of Citizens draft, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said those "Indian citizens have become refugees" in their own land. Banerjee also alleged that the central government has resorted to "vote-bank politics".
Mamata's Trinamool Congress has also decided to send an eight-member delegation to Assam later this week to assess the situation in the north-eastern state in the wake of the publication of the final draft of the NRC. Nearly 40 lakh people were declared 'outsiders' in the NRC draft released on Monday.
Mamata Banerjee had earlier accused the BJP-led central government of resorting to "vote-bank politics" with regard to the NRC. "Indian citizens have become refugees" in their own land, she said. Amid tight security, the much-awaited NRC final draft was published in Assam on Monday with over 2.89 crore names of the 3.29 crore applicants.
Expressing concern over the exclusion of 40 lakh names in the final National Register of Citizens draft, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said those "Indian citizens have become refugees" in their own land. Banerjee also alleged that the central government has resorted to "vote-bank politics".
10:03 China donates warships to Sri Lanka and Philippines in drive to expand regional influence
Vessels handed over as part of military aid packages as Beijing seeks to increase its footprint in the Indo-Pacific region. Read the report here.
09:46 Film on Modi's childhood
The BJP's PR machinery working full steam ahead of the 2019 general elections. That's a film on PM Narendra Modi's childhood. The popcorn's on us.
09:19 Should Judge Loya death case be probed? SC to hear review plea today
The Supreme Court will today hear a plea seeking review and recall of its judgment that held that Special CBI Court Judge BH Loya had met with natural death and that a PIL was misused for advancing political agenda and to scandalise the judiciary.
Judge Loya died of a cardiac failure on December 1, 2014. He was conducting a trial in a case related to the alleged fake encounter killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in November 2005.
The plea was filed by the Bombay Lawyers Association
A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, which had earlier rejected the plea for a SIT probe into the judges death, will hear the plea on Tuesday.
The top court in its April 19 judgment had said: It gives a sense of anguish that the proceedings were converted to scandalise the judiciary bordering on contempt.
The Bombay Lawyers Association was one of the petitioners who pleaded for a Special Investigation Team probe into the death, which the Supreme Court declined.
The recall plea filed by senior counsel Dushyant Dave said that the judgment and order passed by this court requires serious reconsideration and upon such reconsideration deserve to be recalled in the interest of justice and in larger public interest.
09:08 Would prefer Modi and Yogi than SP-BSP: Amar Singh
Amar Singh hit out at the Samajwadi Party and the BSP in Uttar Pradesh by dubbing them as "castiest" and said he would prefer to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi and state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The expelled Samajwadi Party leader's remarks came a day after Modi said Singh knew the people who interact with industrialists behind the curtains.
"I believe in politics of sanity and sensitivity...There is no Congress in UP. It is a fringe player. The SP and BSP are the two sides of the same coin," he said.
He said the two parties symbolise "castiest politics" and believe that secularism is appeasement of only one community.
"It is for you to decide to prefer Modi and Yogi or 'babua-bua'," he said.
He calls SP chief Akhilesh Yadav as 'babua' (little boy). Akhilesh often calls BSP supremo Mayawati as 'bua' (his father's sister).
Singh, who was a Rajya Sabha MP from the SP, was expelled from the Akhilesh Yadav-led party last year.
-- PTI
08:38 Our favourite BFFs reunite at Washington bakery
Former United States president Barack Obama reunited with his vice president and dear friend Joe Biden over lunch at the Dog Tag Bakery in Georgetown, Washington DC, where they showed support for veterans and military families and military caregivers.
The bakery, a non-profit that provides work experience and education for veterans and military families through fellowship programs, shared a photo via Twitter of the dynamic duo ordering lunch on Monday.
Megan Ogilvie, Dog Tags CEO, said that Obama and Bidens lunchtime outing was completely unexpected, with the bakery finding out less than 10 minutes in advance.
According to Ogilvie, both Obama and Biden ordered Dog Tags ham and Gruyre sandwich, which was served with shallot-infused jam on ciabatta bread. Obama chose a fennel side salad, while Biden indulged his noted sweet tooth with a piece of mint basil blueberry cake. Both men had coffee with their lunch.
And before leaving, Obama praised the bakery saying, "What you guys are doing... that's what makes us proud. We so appreciate you guys."
Photograph: @DogTagBakery/Twitter
08:21 PM Modi asks for suggestions for his Aug 15 speech
Ahead of his address from the Red Fort on the occasion of India's Independence Day -- August 15 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked people to send in their thoughts and ideas for his speech.
Taking to his Twitter handle, the PM wrote, "What are your thoughts and ideas for my 15th August speech? Share them with me on a specially created forum on the Narendra Modi App. I look forward to receiving your fruitful inputs in the coming days."
Last year, the PM delivered his shortest speech at 56 minutes. The year before, in 2016, Modi made the record of delivering the longest Independence Day at 96 minutes.
07:50 Mallya's UK extradition case reaches last stage, final hearing today
The extradition case of controversial businessman Vijay Mallya has reached a concluding stage with a final hearing scheduled for Tuesday, when the Crown Prosecution Service on behalf of India and the defence are due to present final submissions.
The case is being heard before chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot in the Westminster Magistrates Court, with Mallya attending almost every hearing. He has suffered legal setback in a separate court case related to debt recovery brought by 13 banks.
A CPS spokesperson said: The next hearing is on July 31. On that day the Senior District Judge will hear final submissions. Judgment will be reserved until a future date (to be arranged).
The judgment that will include a recommendation to the home secretary under the Extradition Act, 2003, is likely to be delivered in September, when the court resumes after the summer recess; both sides will have opportunities to appeal.
Mallyas defence has raised four objections to his extradition: absence of a prima facie case, extraneous considerations, human rights and abuse of process. These relate to alleged political witch-hunt, prison conditions breaching human rights, inability to get a fair hearing in an Indian court and lack of a case to answer.
Mallya arrived in London on March 2, 2016 in the wake of allegations in India of financial irregularities. Indias extradition request was certified by the home secretary on February 21, 2017; he was arrested and bailed on April 18, 2017.
00:14 ULFA chief Paresh Baruah in final NRC draft
Separatist ULFA (Independent) 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah's name was in the final draft National Register of Citizens on Monday.
His name had also appeared in the first draft published on the intervening night on December 31-January 1.
Paresh Baruah, who launched his revolution for 'sovereignty' of Assam nearly 40 years ago and leading it reportedly now from somewhere along the China-Myanmar border, has his name in the complete draft also, along with the names of five of his family members, according to his brother Bikul Baruah.
The Complete Draft NRC with his photo states Paresh Baruah's birthplace as Chakalibhoria village (also known as Jeraigaon) in the Chabua area of upper Assam's Dibrugarh district and date of birth as February 15, 1957, the brother said.
The names of Paresh Baruah's wife Boby Bhuyan Baruah and his two sons Ankur and Akash could not be included in the list "because some documents were missing. We will complete the process in the next phase," he added.
The names of his five other family members, who appear alongside his name, are his deceased mother Miliki Baruah, brother Bikul Baruah, sister-in-law Renu Baruah, niece Dimpi Baruah and nephew Sukapha Baruah.
Baruah's sister-in-law Renu Baruah told reporters, "Paresh Baruah may not be aware of his inclusion in the draft NRC. I had submitted the legacy data and the application at the NRC seva kendra. So we were certain that his name would feature in the list. Our family is happy about it."
However, the names of Baruah's wife Boby Bhuyan Baruah and his two sons Ankur and Akash could not be included in the list "because some documents were missing. We will complete the process in the next phase," Renu said.
The ULFA leader's brother Bikul Baruah, who is a teacher, said his 11 years senior sibling had left home 37 years ago when he was just 12 years old.
The Complete draft of the National Register of Citizens was published today with 2.9 crore names out of nearly 3.29 crore applications in Assam for inclusion of their names in the NRC submitted in 2015.
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