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Mon, 21 September 2020
MSP hike will benefit crores of farmers: PM
Timeline Refresh
23:14 MSP hike will benefit crores of farmers: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed the hike in the minimum support price (MSP) of six rabi crops as 'historic', saying it will empower farmers and contribute to doubling of their income.
He also said it is his government's great privilege to work for the welfare of farmers.
'Higher MSP will empower farmers and contribute to doubling of their income. Increased MSP, along with the series of agriculture reforms passed by Parliament will ensure dignity and prosperity of farmers. Jai Kisan!' Modi tweeted after the Cabinet's decision.
In line with our ethos of taking farmer-friendly measures, the Cabinet has taken another historic decision to raise the MSP, he said, adding that crores of farmers will benefit from this.
The government on Monday hiked the minimum support price for buying six rabi crops, including wheat, by up to six per cent, as it sought to send a strong message to farmers on continuation of the MSP-based procurement system.
The MSP of wheat, the biggest crop of rabi season, has been hiked by Rs 50 to Rs 1,975 per quintal, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said in Lok Sabha.
Besides, MSPs of lentil (masoor), gram, barley, safflower and mustard/rapeseed have been increased. -- PTI
22:26 Pak Sikh girl abducted: India lodges protest
The external affairs ministry has summoned a senior official of the Pakistan High Commission and lodged a strong protest with him over yet another incident of alleged abduction of a Sikh girl in Punjab province of that country, government sources said.
The ministry has also issued a note verbale to Islamabad strongly raising its concerns over the incident.
'A senior official of the Pakistani High Commission was summoned on last Friday and a strong protest was lodged with him over the abduction,' said a source.
According to reports, the Sikh girl was abducted from Panja Sahib region of Punjab province recently.
Last month also, India raised with Pakistan an incident of a Sikh girl being forcibly converted to Islam in Punjab province.
A report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) earlier this year said that women including minor girls from religious minority communities continue to be victims of religious violence and persecution in Pakistan. -- PTI
21:41 Parl approves Covid-related changes in IBC
Parliament on Monday approved the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020, whereby fresh insolvency proceedings will not be initiated for at least six months starting from March 25 in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
Replying to a debate on the bill in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the amendments would provide relief to companies reeling under the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The bill seeking to replace the Ordinance was later approved by the Lok Sabha.
The Rajya Sabha has already approved in the bill on Saturday.
The bill mandates that a default on repayments from March 25, the day when a nationwide lockdown began to curb the spread of coronavirus, would not be considered for initiating insolvency proceedings for at least six months. -- PTI
21:03 Lok Sabha passes bill to amend FCRA
Lok Sabha passed a bill on Monday to amend the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act that seeks to make it mandatory for the office-bearers of an NGO to provide their Aadhaar numbers during registration.
Amid concerns raised by various Opposition members about the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said the legislation was not against any religion or NGO.
The bill was passed after a debate. Replying to the debate, Rai asserted the bill will help in curbing misuse of foreign funds and was necessary for an Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).
Among other provisions, the bill proposes to enable the Centre to allow an NGO or association to surrender its FCRA certificate.
Participating in the debate, Congress MP Anto Antony said an attempt was being made to 'suffocate the NGOs' through this bill.
He, however, said action should definitely be taken if an NGO is found involved in anti-national activities.
But in some cases it has been seen that due to technical reasons licences get cancelled 'which is an attack on the minority'.
Stating that the amendments to the bill was 'ill-conceived', he made a plea to the government to not be in a hurry with the legislation.
Bharatiya Janata Party's Satya Pal Singh said many organisations receiving foreign contributions were not spending the money on the work it was meant for.
He said money received as foreign contribution cannot be spent on terrorist activities.
Sougata Roy of the Trinamool Congress said there was 'no need' for the bill, stressing that when the Supreme Court has said Aadhaar is not compulsory then why is the government making it mandatory for registration of NGOs.
Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party's Bellana Chandra Sekhar supported the bill, saying it is 'much needed'.
Shrirang Appa Barne of the Shiv Sena also supported the bill and said that there is a need to come out with a strict law to stop religious conversion. Kaushalendra Kumar of the Janata Dal-United) said the bill would boost transparency. -- PTI
20:56 Mamata 'lauds efforts' of suspended RS MPs
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday spoke to the eight Rajya Sabha MPs who have been suspended from Parliament over the protests against the farm Bills, and appreciated their efforts towards 'upholding the values of Parliament'.
The MPs, who are now holding a protest against their suspension along with Opposition lawmakers from across parties, were suspended a day after the Upper House witnessed unprecedented unruly scenes during the passage of the two crucial farm Bills.
"The WB chief minister spoke to the MPs for 10 minutes and in her conversation with them appreciated their efforts in fighting against farmer Bills, labour Bills and upholding the values of Parliament," a senior Trinamool Congress leader said.
Banerjee, who in the morning condemned the government for its action, also released an audio clip in which she came down hard on the BJP, alleging the party is making an all out effort to make states powerless and itself all powerful.
The government Monday moved a motion seeking the suspension of Derek O'Brien (TMC), Sanjay Singh (Aam Aadmi Party), Rajeev Satav (Congress), K K Ragesh (Communist Party of India-Marxist), Syed Nazir Hussain (Congress), Ripun Boren (Congress), Dola Sen (TMC) and Elamaram Kareem (CPI-M).
The motion was adopted by voice vote amid opposition, and the MPs have been suspended for the remainder of the Monsoon Session. -- PTI
The MPs, who are now holding a protest against their suspension along with Opposition lawmakers from across parties, were suspended a day after the Upper House witnessed unprecedented unruly scenes during the passage of the two crucial farm Bills.
"The WB chief minister spoke to the MPs for 10 minutes and in her conversation with them appreciated their efforts in fighting against farmer Bills, labour Bills and upholding the values of Parliament," a senior Trinamool Congress leader said.
Banerjee, who in the morning condemned the government for its action, also released an audio clip in which she came down hard on the BJP, alleging the party is making an all out effort to make states powerless and itself all powerful.
The government Monday moved a motion seeking the suspension of Derek O'Brien (TMC), Sanjay Singh (Aam Aadmi Party), Rajeev Satav (Congress), K K Ragesh (Communist Party of India-Marxist), Syed Nazir Hussain (Congress), Ripun Boren (Congress), Dola Sen (TMC) and Elamaram Kareem (CPI-M).
The motion was adopted by voice vote amid opposition, and the MPs have been suspended for the remainder of the Monsoon Session. -- PTI
20:46 Rajeev Sharma's custody in espionage case extended by a week
A Delhi court on Monday extended by seven days the custodial interrogation of freelance journalist Rajeev Sharma, arrested in an espionage case under the Official Secrets Act.
He was produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Singh Rajawat and the investigators said his further custodial interrogation was necessary since he has to be confronted with two of his associates -- a Chinese woman and a Nepalese man -- whose police custody was also extended till September 28.
Further, the Speciall Cell of the Delhi Police told the court that it needed to conduct its investigation in relation to the defence ministry as Sharma was 'found to be in possession of some defence-related classified documents'.
While allowing interrogation of the three accused in police custody, the court directed the cops to hand over a copy of the FIR to Sharma's counsel Adish Aggarwala.
The hearing was conducted virtually and press was allowed to attend the proceedings.
Sharma was arrested on September 14 and was remanded to police custody for a week.
According to the police, the Chinese woman and her Nepalese associate were also arrested for paying him large amounts of money routed through shell companies. -- PTI
20:00 Imports from China dip 27% during Apr-Aug: Govt
India's imports from China declined by 27.63 per cent during April-August this fiscal to $21.58 billion over the same period previous year, Parliament was informed on Monday.
Value of imports from China stood at $4.98 billion in August and $5.58 in July, according to the data provided by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in his written reply to the Lok Sabha.
"India's imports from China have declined by 27.63 per cent during April-August, 2020-21 over the corresponding period of the previous year," he said.
In a separate reply, the minister said there is no proposal under consideration on withdrawal of Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to China.
"No such proposal is under consideration at this time," he said, while replying to a question whether the government is planning for the withdrawal of MFN status to China to reduce the export-import business with that country.
Later in a media briefing, the minister informed that the country's export is reviving.
During the first half of September, exports have recorded a growth of 10 per cent over the same period last year, he added. -- PTI
19:33 Govt increases MSP of 6 rabi crops
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday told the Lok Sabha said that minimum support price (MSP) of six Rabi crops has been increased.
The increase came a day after two agriculture-related bills were passed by parliament.
He said MSP of wheat was hiked by Rs 50 per quintal to Rs 1,975 per quintal.
The minister said that the NatioDA government has been implementing the Swaminathan Committee recommendation to provide farmers price at 1.5 times of production cost.
"After the Parliament passed historic agriculture bills, today some important decisions were taken regarding an increase in MSP. Before the sowing of Rabi crops, today, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the MSP of six Rabi crops," the minister said.
"After an increase of Rs 50, MSP of wheat is now Rs 1,975 per quintal. MSP of chana (gram) has been hiked by Rs 225 per quintal to Rs 5,100. MSP of masoor (lentil) has been fixed at Rs 5,100 per quintal after an increase Rs 300. MSP of sarson (mustard) has been increased by Rs 200 to Rs 4050 per quintal. MSP of barley has increased by Rs 75 Rs to Rs 1600 per quintal. After an increase of Rs 112, MSP of safflower is now Rs 5,327 per quintal," he said.
Lauding the passage of agriculture bills in Parliament, Tomar said that the MSP and APMCs will continue.
"Congress was saying that MSP and APMC will end. I had said that MSP and APMC will continue. Farmers are also free to sell their produce anywhere outside APMC," he said.
He said that Rs 7 lakh crore were paid to farmers as the MSP payment in the last six years which was almost double than that of the corresponding period during the United Progressive Alliance regime.
The Rajya Sabha on Monday passed Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 amid opposition protest in the Rajya Sabha.
The bills were earlier passed by Lok Sabha. The opposition parties have been alleging that MSP will be impacted due to the bills. -- ANI
19:28 Pak Army shells forward areas in J-K's Poonch, Rajouri
Pakistani troops shelled forward areas along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Rajouri districts on Monday, prompting strong retaliation by the Indian Army, a defence spokesperson said.
The shelling from across the border at Shahpur, Kirni and Qasba sectors in Poonch and Sunderbani in Rajouri was 'unprovoked' and in violation of the ceasefire agreement between the two sides, according to the official.
The Pakistani troops first initiated ceasefire violation around 2.30 pm in the three sectors of Poonch by shelling mortars and firing from small arms.
Later, they opened fire and shelled areas at Sunderbani sector, the spokesperson said.
There was no report of any casualty in the cross-border shelling, which was continuing when last reports were received, he added. -- PTI
19:20 Farm bills: Cong to launch nationwide protests
Congress party on Monday said it will launch a nationwide agitation against the farm bills passed by Parliament and also initiate a campaign for collecting two crore signatures of farmers and the poor against these proposed legislation.
At a press conference after a meeting of the party's senior leaders, K C Venugopal said the Congress will also launch a massive signature campaign in which it aims to collect two crore signatures from farmers and the poor people against farm bills.
A memorandum would be subsequently submitted to the President, the Congress leader said.
Another Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said a series of press conferences will also be organised against the farm bills across the country.
The state party chiefs and other senior leaders will take out marches in their respective states and submit the memorandum to the respective state governors, Surjewala said.
The Congress also accused Shiromani Akali Dal of indulging in double-speak and of being dishonest on the farm bills and asked why they have not left the ruling National Democratic Alliance.
Congress and some other opposition parties have been protesting against the farm bills, alleging these would harm the interest of farmers and benefit corporates. -- PTI
18:36 China building third aircraft carrier with catapult launch system
Reports on the PLA Navy's third aircraft carrier currently under construction say the 'Type 002 carrier will feature a catapult launching system that will be able to launch more aircraft with heavier weapons than China's two existing carriers based on Cold War-era Soviet designs,' reports Sam LaGrone in USNI.org.
'The key feature of the Type 002 is an angled flight deck that would include either a steam or electronically launched catapult launching system like those on the Nimitz and Gerald R. Ford-class, reads the Pentagon's annual report to Congress on Chinese military capabilities,' LaGrone writes.
Reacting to the news of a third aircraft carrier with China, Adm Chris Grady, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces in charge of providing forces to the fleet said, 'Good on 'em. It makes the argument that carriers are important. We have them. They want them and they're building them,' reports LaGrone, here.
18:35 'War in the Himalayas next spring a real possibility'
'Prime Minister Modi has been able to get away with such perennial grandstanding in India, but with China it will not end well. The Chinese have studied Modi and concluded that he is not a reliable partner.
'Without a drastic change in Modi's approach, therefore, a war in the Himalayas next spring is becoming a real possibility. Beijing has been preparing for the worst ever since the 73-day stand-off on the Doklam plateau in 2017.
But Modi also needs to be told, firmly and unequivocally, that while the Indian armed forces may be capable of holding their ground when attacked, they simply cannot hold on to each and every inch of the 3,000 km-long Line of Actual Control,' writes Prem Shankar Jha in The Wire, here.
18:34 EC to decide on Bihar polls in next two days
Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on Monday said the commission would take a decision on holding Bihar elections within the next two to three days after visiting the state.
Arora made the remark while speaking about the tough predicament faced by election management bodies across the world on whether and how to hold scheduled elections in a state of public health emergency such as Covid-19.
Chairperson the Association of World Election Bodies, Arora on Monday inaugurated an international webinar on the theme 'Issues, Challenges and Protocols for Conducting Elections during Covid-19: Sharing Country Experiences' to mark the completion of one year of chairmanship by India.
Explaining the impact of Covid-19 on elections, Arora highlighted how the pandemic's exigencies and social distancing measures necessitated a revisit of the ECI's extant instructions and mentioned the specific and detailed guidelines that have been drawn up on conducting elections.
-- ANI
18:17 Kafeel Khan writes to UN human rights expert group
In a letter to a group of UN human rights experts, Paediatrician Kafeel Khan has alleged that he was "tortured" in Mathura jail where he was lodged under the NSA for allegedly giving provocative speeches in AMU during anti-CAA stir in December 2019.
"I was tortured mentally as well as physically, denied food and water for many days, and treated inhumanely during months of incarceration in a congested, overcrowded Mathura prison," he wrote to the United Nation human rights experts.
Dr Khan, who is now out on bail, wrote to the UN human rights group of experts on September 17 with reference to their June 26 letter, in which they had urged the Indian government to release him. The human right group comprises independent experts, not the UN staff.
Image: Dr Kafeel Khan and his wife meet Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
Missionary Graham Staines with his family
17:57 Sule condemns BJP MP's remarks on Graham Staines
Supriya Sule, NCP MP, attacks BJP MP Satya Pal Singh, during a discussion on Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill. "As a retired police officer from Maharashtra, what example did he (BJP MP Satya Pal Singh) give? That one NGO did not do good work. If he was the Police Commissioner what action did he take?"
Satya Pal Singh said earlier that in the Graham Staines case, the NGO was converting people to Christianity. "There was uproar over Graham Staines. What happened to him and his two children was wrong. But CBI, Odisha Crime Branch and the Justice DP Wadhwa Commission probe concluded that tribals were being converted there. It was the biggest reason that people turned against him," Singh said.
Sule said, "Like there may be one NGO doing bad work, there are thousands of NGOs doing very good work. He has defended a case in Odisha about a family that was burnt alive. Whatever they did, no law anywhere in the world allows you to burn people and their children.
"What's even more shameful that somebody who was in police, just because he's in an organisation, says CBI said it (that tribals were upset with Staines). Does that mean CBI says it's okay to burn somebody's children because of actions of parents?"
SP Singh said earlier while discussing the bill, "We know what happened in northeast, how things changed there in last 50 years and a particular religion rose. There's government and intelligence report on how insurgency increased there with money under FCRA."
Graham Staines was an Australian Christian missionary, who along with his two sons, Philip (10) and Timothy (6), was burnt to death by members of the Bajrang Dal, in 1999. In 2003, Bajrang Dal activist Dara Singh was convicted of leading the murderers and was sentenced to life in prison.
17:35 Maha govt moves SC seeking vacation of its stay order on Maratha reservation
The Maharashtra government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking vacation of its stay on the reservation to the people of the Maratha community in education and jobs in the state.
The apex court had had earlier this month directed that no quota will be granted to people of the Maratha community in education and jobs in the state this year and referred the hearing on a batch of plea challenging the constitutional validity of a Maharashtra law granting Maratha reservation in education and jobs to a larger bench.
The bench held that no Maratha quota will be granted for jobs and admissions for the session 2020-21 and said that admissions to postgraduate courses in the state will not be altered.
The bench was hearing two appeals, including one filed by J Laxman Rao Patil challenging the Bombay High Court order that upheld the constitutional validity of the quota for the Maratha community in education and government jobs in the state.
The Bombay High Court had on June 27, 2019, observed that the 50 per cent cap on total reservations imposed by the Supreme Court could be exceeded in exceptional circumstances.
Another appeal filed by advocate Sanjeet Shukla, a representative of 'Youth for Equality', said the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2018, enacted to grant reservation to the Maratha community people in jobs and education, breached the 50 per cent ceiling on reservation fixed by the top court in its judgment in the Indira Sawhney case. -- ANI
17:13 Didn't make illegal alterations: Kangana to HC
Actor Kangana Ranaut on Monday denied the Mumbai civic body's claim in the Bombay High Court that she had made illegal structural alterations at her Pali Hill bungalow, part of which was demolished on September 9. In a rejoinder affidavit filed in response to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's reply to her plea, Ranaut stated she didn't make any structural changes or repairs illegally.
She also denied that her plea seeking that the demolition be declared illegal and that she be paid Rs 2 crore in damage by the BMC, was an abuse of the process of law.
"I deny that I have carried out unlawful additions and alterations as alleged or at all," the affidavit said. Last week, the BMC, through its counsel Joel Carlos, had filed an affidavit before a bench led by Justice SJ Kathawalla, responding to Ranaut's petition.
The civic body had said the actress had made major structural changes to the building without the civic body's permission. It had said BMC officials were merely following the rule of law in razing these alterations on September 9.
The civic body had urged the high court to dismiss Ranaut's plea and impose a cost upon her for filing the petition, which it said was an "abuse" of the process of law. In her rejoinder affidavit, Ranaut said the civic body had abused the statutory process by initiating the demolition of a part of her property without giving her adequate notice.
She had said earlier that the BMC had given her only 24 hours to respond to the demolition notice and had hurriedly rejected her reply to its notice. Ranaut further said the BMC acted out of bias against her as on September 9, it had also issued a notice to fashion designer Manish Malhotra over alleged illegal alterations at his property adjacent to her bungalow.
However, Malhotra was given seven days to respond, she stated. "While the Respondent No. 1 (BMC) and its officials, malafidely issued me the Impugned Notice to seek personal vendetta, they, on the contrary on the same day, issued a Notice to an adjacent bungalow occupied by the famous fashion designer, Manish Malhotra giving him 7 days' time to provide explanation," Ranaut stated.
"This conduct of the Respondent No.1 and its officials clearly demonstrates bias and further displays that the Impugned Notice issued to me is vitiated by malice and was issued as a counterblast to the statements made by me," she said. -- PTI
16:51 BJP govt couldn't evict China but using strength to evict 8 opposition MPs: Ahmed Patel
Slamming Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress MP Ahmed Patel on Monday said that the BJP government could not evict China and COVID-19 but they are using their strength to evict eight opposition MP's who are standing up for farmer's rights.
Taking to Twitter, Patel said, "The strong BJP government couldn't evict China, couldn't evict the Coronavirus and couldn't evict the Crisis the economy is facing But they are using their strength to evict 8 opposition MP's And reason to evict? Standing up for farmer's rights."
Meanwhile, the Congress party has condemned the "brazen and undemocratic manner" in which members of the Rajya Sabha were "expelled" from the House and said that the party will protest to restore the status quo.
Addressing a press conference with party colleagues at Vijay Chowk, outside Parliament House, the Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the move was against the procedures and rules of the parliamentary system.
Congress General Secretary, Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged that the "Central Government has been scuttling dissent voices in and outside the parliament".All the eight MPs who were on Monday suspended from the Upper House announced an indefinite protest in the Parliament premises.
Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu today announced the one-week suspension of Trinamool Congress' (TMC) Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen, Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Sanjay Singh, Indian National Congress' (INC) Rajeev Satav, Ripun Bora and Syed Nasir Hussain, CPI(M)'s KK Ragesh and Elamaram Karim for unruly behaviour with the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman yesterday during the passage of the farm bills. -- PTI
16:40 LIVE! Why govt made passengers pay for Vande flights
Offering tickets free of cost on flights under the Vande Bharat mission would have further affected the finances of Indian airlines including Air India, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Monday. The finances of airlines have been hugely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
In a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, Puri said, "The COVID-19 pandemic has had unprecedented impact on the entire global civil aviation sector. In view of stoppage/restrictions in both domestic/international flights, Air India and other Indian carriers are also in a financially distressed condition."
"If tickets would have been offered free of cost, it would have further affected the finances and viability of Air India and other Indian carriers," the minister noted.
The Central government had started the Vande Bharat mission on May 6 to help stranded people reach their destinations through special international flights on payment basis. Scheduled international passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 23. Between May 6 and August 31, a total of 5,817 inbound flights have been operated under the Vande Bharat mission from various countries, Puri said. PTI
16:14 1,000 ICU beds available in Delhi, says Satyendar Jain
Delhi Health Minister, Satyendar Jain on Monday said that as of now, there are around 1,000 ICU beds available in Delhi. He further said the 30 per cent of the Covid-19 patients admitted to Delhi hospitals are from other states. "Delhi had reported 3,812 COVID-19 positive cases. The death ratio for 10 days is .77 and so far we have conducted over 25 lakh tests in the national capital. As of now, there are around 1,000 ICU beds available in Delhi," said Jain while speaking to reporters.
"There is no problem in the availability of plasma right now in Delhi. People coming from outside Delhi, mostly require ICU beds currently. Anyone can check on the Delhi COVID app regarding the availability of beds, nothing is concealed...anyone can check it," he added.
The Delhi Health Minister said that the ICU beds and other beds are being increased continuously across the national capital.
"As many as 30 per cent of the people admitted here (for COVID) are from outside Delhi," he added.
The total number of active COVID-19 cases in Delhi stands at 32,097, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Meanwhile, with a spike of 86,961 new cases and 1,130 deaths in the last 24 hours, India's Covid-19 count reached 54,87,581 on Monday.
According to the Union Health Ministry, the count includes 10,03,299 active cases, and 43,96,399 cured and discharged or migrated patients. -- ANI
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
15:39 Opposition to urge Prez not to sign Farm Bills
A day after two contentious farm bills were passed by Rajya Sabha amid a bedlam, a number of non-NDA parties wrote to President Ram Nath Kovid over the manner in which the government "pushed through its agenda" and urged him not to grant his assent to the proposed legislations.
According to sources, leaders of various political parties including the Congress, the Left parties, NCP, DMK, SP, Trinamool Congress and the RJD have in a memorandum to the President sought his intervention in the matter and asked him not to sign the bills.
The bills will become a law only after the President grants his assent to them.
The two key farm bills, dubbed by the government as the biggest reform in agriculture, were passed by Rajya Sabha on Sunday with voice vote amid unprecedented unruly scenes by protesting opposition MPs.
Some opposition members charged towards the podium of Deputy Chairman Harivansh, flung the rule book at him and tore official papers. They yanked his microphone and heckled him over their demand for a division of vote on their motion to refer the legislation to a select committee. Sources said the opposition parties have described the manner in which the bills were passed in Rajya Sabha on Sunday as "murder of democracy" by the ruling BJP. They have also sought time from the President for a meeting, likely on Tuesday.
The Shiromani Akali Dal leadership will meet President Ram Nath Kovind separately on Monday to urge him not to sign on the bills. Sources said the memorandum of opposition leaders has been sent to the President. Congress MP and noted lawyer Abhishek Singhvi is learnt to have framed the memorandum.
The opposition leaders wish to present their case in urging the President not to grant his assent to the bill after both the Houses of Parliament passed the two bills. They are alleging that the bills are against the interest of farmers and seek to enslave farming at the hands of corporates. These will prove to be a "death knell" for farming, the opposition leaders claim.
The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 seeks to give freedom to farmers to sell their produce outside the notified APMC market yards (mandis).
This, the government says, is aimed at facilitating remunerative prices through competitive alternative trading channels. Farmers will not be charged any cess or levy for sale of their produce under this Act, according to the government.
The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 seeks to give farmers the right to enter into a contract with agribusiness firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters, or large retailers for the sale of future farming produce at a pre-agreed price. It seeks to transfer the risk of market unpredictability from farmers to sponsors. -- PTI
Actor Amitabh Bachchan recovered from Covid-19 in August
15:12 At 80% India's Covid recovery rate world's highest
India has crossed the significant landmark of more than 80 per cent national Recovery Rate of Covid-19 cases -- the highest in the world by registering over 90,000 recoveries for the third successive day, the government said on Monday.
At least 93,356 patients were discharged in the last 24 hours.
The total recovered cases are close to 44 lakh (43,96,399), so far which is highest in the world.According to the health ministry, the recovery rate was 27.52 per cent on May 4, while it was 63.02 per cent on July 13, and on September 21 -- the recovery rate has reached 80 per cent.
Twelve states and Union Territories have registered Recovery Rate more than the national average. These include Andaman Nicobar Island (94.50), D&D & D&N (92.10), Bihar (91.80), Tamil Nadu(89.80), West Bengal (87) Andhra Pradesh (86.50), Delhi (85), Gujarat (84.01), Rajasthan (83) Telangana (82.20) Assam (81.30) and Odisha (81) respectively.
About 79 per cent of the new recovered cases are from 10 states/UTs.
According to the health ministry, India tops the global figure of total recoveries. It accounts for more than 19 per cent of the world total, it said.
COVID-19 cases have crossed over 5.49 million mark in India with 87,882 deaths. -- ANI
15:05 Delhi govt bans public demonstrations, protests till Sept 30
Citing an order of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), police on Monday said people cannot be allowed to hold demonstrations in the city till September 30 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Amid protests against farm bills in the city, the Delhi Police in a series of tweets informed people about the September 3 order of the DDMA which prohibits such activities.
"The general public is hereby informed that in view of DDMA order dated 03/09/2020, "Status Quo" is required to be maintained with respect to prohibited/permitted activities in NCT of Delhi till 30/09/2020 (sic)," the Delhi Police tweeted.
"As such, all political, cultural and social gatherings in NCT of Delhi shall remain suspended till 30.09.2020 (sic)," it added. Delhi Congress leaders and workers marched towards Parliament on Monday to protest against the new farm bills. The protesters were marching towards the Parliament building but were stopped and detained by the police on R P Road, the party said. -- PTI
Image: TMC's Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen, AAP's Sanjay Singh, INC's Rajeev Satav, Ripun Bora and Syed Nasir Hussain, CPI(M)'s KK Ragesh and Elamaram Karim suspended for one week for unruly behaviour with the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman yesterday, protest in Parliament premises. Pic: ANI
14:51 IAF's Rafale fleet to have first woman pilot soon
A woman fighter pilot of the Indian Air Force will soon join the Golden Arrows squadron operating the newly-inducted Rafale fighter jets, official sources said on Monday. The woman pilot is undergoing training to fly Rafale aircraft, they said. She has been flying MiG-21 fighters and was selected for the Rafale fleet following an internal process, the sources said.
At present, the IAF has 10 women fighter pilots and 18 women navigators. The total strength of women officers serving in the IAF is 1,875. Last week, Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik told Parliament that women fighter pilots are inducted and deployed in IAF as per strategic needs and operational requirements.
The Golden Arrows squadron of the IAF was resurrected on September 10 last year. The squadron was originally raised at Air Force station, Ambala on Oct 1 1951.
The squadron has many firsts to its credit; in 1955 it was equipped with the first jet fighter, the legendary De Havilland Vampire. Five French-made multirole Rafale fighter jets were inducted into the Indian Air Force on September 10 at the Ambala air force base. Ten Rafale jets have been delivered to India so far and five of them stayed back in France for imparting training to IAF pilots.
The delivery of all 36 aircraft is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021. A second batch of four to five Rafale jets are likely to arrive in India by November. The Rafale jets are India's first major acquisition of fighter planes in 23 year after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia.
14:45 SC reserves order on plea seeking guidelines on right to protest in wake of Shaheen Bagh
The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its order on a number of petitions seeking guidelines and other directions on the right to protest in wake of the Shaheen Bagh protest where a group of people had gathered for months to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act blocking a key road connecting Delhi and Noida.
A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and also comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Krishna Murari, reserved its order and observed that the right to protest should be balanced with the right of movement of people.
The right to protest is not absolute, but there is a right," the bench said adding that protests can be done peacefully.
The apex court, hearing a batch of petitions filed by the petitioner and lawyers-in-persons Amit Sahni and Shashank Deo Sudhi against protest, which had blocked a high-traffic road causing problems to the commuters, and seeking removal of the protestors.
"In the future, the protest should not continue as per their choice and demand. In the larger public interest, a decision may be taken. I request the Supreme Court to keep this matter pending and an elaborate order may be passed," Sahni submitted.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, a senior law officer of the Central government, said that earlier the Supreme Court had refused to entertain any intervention in the case. ANI
14:31 Payal Ghosh to file FIR against Kashyap today
Actor Payal Ghosh, who has accused filmmaker Anurag Kashyap of sexual harassment, said that she will file an FIR against him at Oshiwara Police Station by today evening.
The 'Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi' actor said that her advocate Nitin Satpute will also be writing to Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh to provide security, as there is a threat to her life.
Ghosh also talked about her meeting with the 'Gangs of Wasseypur filmmaker' and said, "I don't know whether Anurag Kashyap consumes drugs or not but when the incident took place, he was smoking something but it was definitely not a cigarette."
Talking about the filmmaker getting support from actors, she said, "There are many people who have supported Anurag Kashyap because of their bread and butter and their family run because of him so they will definitely talk in support of him."
Earlier in the day Kashyap's lawyer rejected "the false allegations of sexual misconduct" levied against his client, terming it "completely false, malicious and dishonest".
The statement from Kashyap's lawyer, Priyanka Khimani, came after Ghosh's lawyer of, who had accused the Bollywood director of sexual harassment, said that an FIR would filed an against him at the Oshiwara police station today. -- ANI
13:55 Bills not against agri mandis, PM tells farmers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds forth on the two Agriculture Bills:
"Yesterday, two farm bills were passed in the Parliament. I congratulate my farmers. This change in the farming sector is the need of the present hour and our government has brought this reform for the farmers.
"This change in farming sector is the need of the present hour and our govt has brought this reform for farmer. I want to assure every farmer that the Minimum Support Price system will continue as before. These Bills will empower the farmers to freely trade their produce anywhere. I want to make it clear that these Bills is not against the agriculture mandis.
"During the Coronavirus pandemic, record purchase of wheat has been made from farmers during the Rabi season. Rs 1 lakh 13 thousand crores given to the farmers at MSP. This amount is more than 30% over last year."
Congress MPs Kodikunnil Suresh on Monday said the party will hold a meeting today to take appropriate decision to support the farmers and to plan for a nationwide strike against the agriculture Bills passed by the government in the parliament.
While talking to ANI, Suresh said the government should understand the sentiment of farmers, the demand of the farmers and should address their grievances.
"The government should call a meeting of farmers' leaders and talk to them, even farmers are barely convinced with this bill. Farmers are not believing whatever the government is saying. They are very doubtful about this bill," he said.
Two Bills -- The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 -- were passed from both Houses of the parliament.
13:46 #MeToo: Anurag Kashyap to take 'legal remedy'
Director Anurag Kashyap, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by actor Payal Ghosh, on Monday once again denied the allegations against him and said he intends to pursue remedies in law to the fullest extent. Issuing a statement through his lawyer, Kashyap also said it was sad that a movement as important as the#MeToo one had been co-opted by vested interests and reduced to a mere tool for character assassination.
On Saturday, Ghosh claimed on Twitter that the "Gangs of Wasseypur" director was sexually inappropriate with her, an allegation he described as "baseless".
Kashyap, who has been backed by his former wives Arti Bajaj and Kalki Koechlin, also said it was an attempt to silence him.
On Monday, the 48-year-old director spoke through his lawyer Priyanka Khimani. "My client, Anurag Kashyap, has been deeply pained by the false allegations of sexual misconduct that have recently surfaced against him. These allegations are completely false, malicious and dishonest..."
Calling Ghosh's allegations fictitious, Khimani added that they seriously undermine the #MeToo movement and seek to unconscionably trade upon the pain and trauma of actual victims of sexual harassment and abuse. "My client has been fully advised of his rights and remedies in law and intends to pursue them to the fullest extent, the statement added. You have fought for the freedom of women in your scripts, you've defended their integrity in your professional space as well as in your personal life. I have been witness to it, in the personal and professional space you have always seen me as your equal, you have stood up for my integrity even after our divorce, and you have supported me when I felt unsafe in a work environment even before we got together," she wrote in a long post on Instagram.
13:06 Oppn protests suspension of MPs
MPs of opposition parties, including the suspended MPs, hold protest in front of Gandhi statue in the Parliament premises, against the suspension of eight MPs by Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu today.
13:05 Modi lays foundation stone for nine highway projects in Binhar
PM Narendra Modi lays foundation of nine highway projects of Rs 14,258 crore, inaugurates optical fibre internet services in Bihar.
13:05 Modi lays foundation stone for nine highway projects in Binhar
PM Narendra Modi lays foundation of nine highway projects of Rs 14,258 crore, inaugurates optical fibre internet services in Bihar.
12:51 Police custody extended for scribe in spy case
A Delhi court on Monday remanded freelance journalist Rajeev Sharma, a Chinese woman and another accused to seven days police custody in connection with a case related to allegedly leaking sensitive information to the Chinese intelligence.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Singh Rajawat extended the custody of Rajeev Sharma and others after they were presented before the court on the completion of his earlier custody.
Defence counsel, appearing for Sharma, opposed the plea seeking an extension of custody.
According to the Delhi Police, Rajeev Sharma was arrested by its Special Cell on September 14 under Official Secrets Act for allegedly passing sensitive information to Chinese intelligence.
The police had said that a Chinese woman and her Nepalese associate were also arrested for paying him large amounts of money routed through shell companies.
The Special Cell of the Delhi Police had said that Sharma, a resident of Pitampura in New Delhi, was "found to be in possession of some defence-related classified documents". -- ANI
12:43 How Covid numbers were hushed up
Researchers acting under government orders expunged from a scientific paper the prevalence rates of the new coronavirus infection in containment zones or hotspots in 10 cities, estimated through a nationwide survey, authoritative sources have said.
The head of India's health research agency, Balram Bhargava, had asked the researchers to remove the infection prevalence data from the 10 cities' hotspots they had included in their paper, multiple people familiar with these events have told The Telegraph.
Bhargava, director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and health research department secretary, told the researchers that the council did not have approval to publish the findings from the hotspots, the sources said. Read the report here
12:30
With the Viraat's sad and silent movement from her berth within the Naval Dockyard (Mumbai) to the shipbreaking yard at Alang, an era has drawn to an end' the inevitable endpoint of an apathetic populace and an uncaring succession of governments, both at the Centre and the state-level. Read the report here
12:19 Centre presses for curbs on digital media
Just in: Centre presses to regulate 'web based digital media' which includes 'web magazines' and '"web-based news channels' and 'web-based news-papers' which are 'uncontrolled'. The Centre says digital media uses spectrum and internet which is 'public property.'
12:13 Tablighis caused Covid spread: MHA to RS
The Union Home Ministry on Monday said the Tablighi Jamaat gathering in Delhi's Nizamuddin locality in March led to the coronavirus infection spreading to "many persons". Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy also said in the Rajya Sabha that Delhi Police arrested 233 Tablighi Jamaat members and 2,361 people have been evacuated from the organisation's headquarters since March 29.
"However, regarding Jamaat Chief Maulana Mohd Saad, the investigation is underway," he said in a written reply.
As reported by Delhi Police, despite guidelines and orders issued by various authorities in pursuance of the outbreak of COVID-19, a huge gathering assembled inside a closed premises over a protracted period of time and without any semblance of social distancing or provision of masks and sanitisers. "This also caused the spread of Coronavirus infection amongst many persons," the minister said. -- PTI
12:10 Cong workers against Agri Bills
Congress workers hold protest against the Centre's agriculture Bills Rajya Sabha passed the Farmers' & Produce Trade & Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment & Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 yesterday.
12:05 4.78 lakh prisoners in 1,350 jails across country: MHA
About 4,78,600 prisoners were locked up in close to 1,350 prisons across the country as of December 2019 as opposed to the maximum capacity of 4,03,739, according to the Union Home Ministry on Monday.
As per the data provided by Minister of State (MoS) G Kishan Reddy, through a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles the statistics provided to it by States and Union Territories.
The data provided above is from the report of 2019, which however has the figure of 2017 for the state of West Bengal due to lack of data for the year 2019.
Reddy was responding to a question posed by MP Jyotiraditya Scindia, in which he had raised the issue of overcrowding in prisons and the steps taken by the Centre to stop it from happening.
"No such directions have been issued to the State governments. However, to address the issue of overcrowding and improving the condition of prisons, the MHA has issued various advisories to States and UTs from time to time. MHA has also circulated the Model Prison Manual 2016 to all of them," the reply read. - ANI
11:54 Multi-pronged approach to strengthen border with Pak: MHA
A multi-pronged approach has been adopted by the government to strengthen border protection along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, according to Union Minister Nityanand Rai on Monday.
The Minister of State (MoS) Home Affairs, in a written reply in the Upper House, said, "Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to strengthen border protection, which inter-alia includes strengthening of border infrastructure, multi-tiered deployment of border guarding forces along International Border/Line of Control, construction of border fencing."
The reply to a question posed by MP Jyotiraditya Scindia further adds that improved technological surveillance, weapons and equipment for security forces, improved intelligence and operational coordination are also being carried out.
Apart from these, the forces are also conducting special operations based on vulnerability mapping, anti-tunnelling exercise and are also taking pro-active action against intruders. -- ANI
11:37 Govt has 'Nil' data on farmers' suicides: NCRB
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles prison statistics reported to it by States and Union Territories and publishes the same in its annual report 'Prison Statistics India'.
MoS Home G Kishan Reddy in a written reply tells the Rajya Sabha: "The latest published report is of the year 2019."
Following the Supreme Court order dated 13th April, 350 detenues lodged in different Detention Centres of Assam have been released on bail. 15 detenues have died due to illness during the last two years till 16th September.
Mos MHA Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, says, "During the last 5 years under NSA, no case has been registered in Delhi. There is no proposal under consideration of the Government to repeal the National Security Act.
"13 incidents of thefts and other crimes took place in MPs flats/bungalows in New Delhi between 1st Jan 2020 to 31st July 2020.
"Delhi Police has taken concrete measures to control crime.
"As informed by National Crime Records Bureau, many States/UTs had reported 'Nil' data on suicides by farmers/cultivators and agricultural labourers, even while reporting suicides in other professions."
MoS Home G Kishan Reddy in a written reply in Rajya Sabha, says, "2120 Pakistan nationals, 188 Afghanistan nationals and 99 Bangladesh nationals were granted Indian citizenship in the last three years."
11:29 RS adjourned till noon amid din
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12 noon. In the chair, Bhubaneshwar Kalita, asks suspended members to leave the House as Opposition leaders continue sloganeering. He says, "LoP will speak but suspended members should be out of this House. House has to be in order. Also, request MPs to follow COVID protocol."
11:17 Paytm accuses Google of trying to dominate India's digital ecosystem
Financial services app Paytm has accused Google of making policies that are over and above the laws of India after it was briefly delisted from the Playstore last week.
"As a startup, we are running law-abiding businesses and building for India. Google and its employees are making policies which are over and above the laws of our country, and are arbitrarily implementing them," it said in a blogpost.
Paytm said Google owns Android which is the operating system on which over 95 per cent of smartphones in India run. Google, as a result, has enormous control over which apps you download through its Playstore policies.
It also makes billions of dollars in advertising revenues from the Indian startups that make these apps. In many cases like maps, email, payments, shopping and cloud storage, Google also has apps that compete with other apps, including, of course, the apps that are made by Indian startups.
Paytm said it had launched a campaign where users could collect cricket stickers and scratch cards to earn UPI cashback. The offer was applicable on recharges, utility payments, UPI money transfers and adding money to Paytm wallet.
On September 18, it got an email from Google Play Support informing that the Paytm Android app had been delisted.
This was the first time that Google was sending it a notification regarding its UPI cashback and scratch cards campaign. -- ANI
10:53 Students allowed to return to school in Srinagar
In Srinagar, students of Class 9 to 12 can visit schools from today on a voluntary basis, for taking guidance from teachers A student says, "I'm really excited to come to school today. Our teachers have supported us a lot. We have to take a lot of precautions."
10:38 Uproar after suspended MPs present in RS
An update of what's happening in the Rajya Sabha.
TMC's Derek O'Brien and& Dola Sen, AAP's Sanjay Singh, INC's Rajeev Satav, Ripun Bora and Syed Nasir Hussain, CPI(M)'s KK Ragesh and Elamaram Karim have been suspended for one week for unruly behaviour with the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman yesterday.
However, the suspended MPs were present in the House today.
Following this, Rajya Sabha MP V Muraleedharan, says the suspended members have no right to be in the House. "The House cannot function with the presence of non-members."
Deputy Chairman Harivansh urges the members named by the Rajya Sabha Chairman to not take part in the House proceedings.
The Rajya Sabha was then adjourned till 10.36 am, amid continuous protest against the suspension of Opposition MPs.
TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray says, "Amendments of several members for referring the matter to Select Committee were not taken up for disposal before passing of the farm Bill by so-called voice vote. The role of Chair in this context was ex facie partisan, unprecedented & unlawful. If Constitutional Authorities, in this case RS Dy Chairman, act as per their whims and fancies in blatant violation of Rules and in detriment to laid down procedures of parliamentary democratic system, country is destined to fall prey to majoritarianism, if not fascism.
Congress Lok Sabha MP Suresh Kodikunnil gives adjournment motion of the business of the house 'for the purpose of discussing the suppression of rights of farmers of the country.
10:00 India reports 1-day rise of 86,961 Covid cases
Indias coronavirus tally has crossed 54 lakh as the country continued to report the highest single-day caseload in the world since early August.
As of now, India only lags behind the United States in terms of total cases reported so far.
India has reported a single-day rise of 86,961 coronavirus cases and 1,130 deaths on Monday.
Active cases in India currently stand at 10,03,299 while nearly 44 lakh people have recovered after getting infected.
At least 87,882 people have died due to Covid-19 in India.
Nearly 6.50 crore Covid-19 samples have been tested in India, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research. According to ICMR, 6,43,92,594 have been tested up to September 20 including 7,31,534 samples tested on Sunday.
09:49 Derek O'Brien among 8 MPs suspended for 1 week
A day after high drama in Rajya Sabha over farm sector bills, the Upper House has reassembled.
Soon after reassembling, Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu on Monday condemned the MP's misbehaviour with Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh on Sunday.
Derek O Brien, Sanjay Singh, Raju Satav, KK Ragesh, Ripun Bora, Dola Sen, Syed Nazir Hussain and Elamaran Karim have been suspended for one week for unruly behaviour.
The Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Venkaiah Naidu, also rejected the no-confidence motion moved by Opposition members last night against Deputy Chairman Harivansh.
Dismissing the motion, he pontificates towards it "wrong format".
09:30 Essential Commodities Amendment Bill to be taken up in Rajya Sabha today
The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and The Banking Regulation Amendment) Bill, 2020 are among the four Bills that will be brought in Rajya Sabha for consideration and passing on Monday, according to Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs.
In a tweet, Joshi shared today's list of businesses in Rajya Sabha. The Bills for consideration and passing include--The Indian Institue of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020, The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020, The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and The Banking Regulation Amendment) Bill, 2020.
The Bills for consideration and return include --The Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020, The Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2020 and The Appropriation (No.4) Bill, 2020.
The monsoon session 2020 of Parliament commenced on September 14.
This is the first Parliament session is being held amid the COVID-19 pandemic. All safety measures have been initiated to conduct the session as per health guidelines amid COVID-19.
-- ANI
09:10 Govt to seek suspension of RS MPs who misbehaved
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi will likely move a motion under rule 256 of procedure & conduct of business in Rajya Sabha to seek suspension of MPs who misbehaved with Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Singh.
Rajya Sabha on Sunday passed two key farm bills, dubbed as the biggest reform in agriculture by the government, were on Sunday passed by Rajya Sabha with voice vote amid unprecedented unruly scenes by protesting opposition members.
While the BJP and its allies are claiming that Opposition MPs disrupted the house, Opposition leaders accused Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh Narayana Singh of failing to adhere to established parliamentary procedure.
08:49 Anurag Kashyap's lawyer rejects allegations of sexual misconduct
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap's lawyer on Monday rejected "the false allegations of sexual misconduct" levied against her client, terming it "completely false, malicious and dishonest".
The statement from Kashyap's lawyer, Priyanka Khimani, came after the lawyer of actor Payal Ghosh, who had accused the Bollywood director of sexual harassment, said that she would file an FIR against him at the Oshiwara police station today. Meanwhile, Kashyap shared the statement by his lawyer close to midnight, through his official Twitter handle.
"My client, Anurag Kashyap, has been deeply pained by the false allegations of sexual misconduct that have recently surfaced against him. These allegations are completely false, malicious and dishonest. It is sad that a social movement as important as the #Metoo movement has been co-opted by vested interests and reduced to a mere tool for character assassination," the statement read.
It also claimed that the "fictitious allegations" of this nature are undermining the movement of this nature undermine the movement and "seek to unconscionably trade upon the pain and trauma of actual victims of sexual harassment and abuse."
Khimani further said that her client, Kashyap, also intends to pursue his rights and remedies to the fullest extent.
On Saturday, Ghosh accused Kashyap of sexual harassment. She said, "Five years ago I met Anurag Kashyap regarding work. He called me to his house. When I went there, he took me to a separate room and tried to sexually assault me. He forced himself on me."
"I request the authorities to kindly take action and let the country see the demon behind this creative guy. I am aware that it can harm me and my security is at risk. I am seeking action against him," said Ghosh.
Post the allegations, Kashyap responded on Twitter in which he denied the allegations, claiming that they were 'baseless'. "I neither behave like this nor do I ever tolerate this at any price," he said.
-- ANI
08:37 India, China to hold 6th Corps Commander talks
India and China are scheduled to hold their sixth Corps Commander-level talks today at the Chinese side of the Chushul/Moldo meeting point in the Eastern Ladakh sector to address the ongoing military standoff there, sources informed on Sunday.
The Corps Commanders of the two sides would be meeting after more than a month as both sides had been engaged in at least three firing incidents which have taken place more than 45 years along the Line of Actual Control.
The corps commanders would be meeting at the Moldo meeting hut opposite Chushul on the Indian side. This time, a joint secretary of the external affairs ministry would also be present in the discussions, sources said.
The agenda and issues to be raised by the Indian side in the meeting were discussed and finalised during a high-level meeting attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane last week on Friday.
India is likely to press for simultaneous disengagement and de-escalation by the Chinese side in the Eastern Ladakh sector during the meeting of two Corps Commanders.
The talks are happening at a time when the Indian side has also occupied six major hill features which are helping the Indian Army to be in dominating positions on heights.
-- ANI
08:18 Tourists queue up as Taj Mahal opens with all COVID-19 norms in place
After being shut for tourists for around six months, one of the seven wonders of the world, Taj Mahal reopened from Monday. It was closed on March 17 after all heritage monuments protected under the Archeological Survey of India, after discussion with the union ministry of culture, were asked to close for the visitors following the rapid outbreak of SARS-CoV-2.
One of the first few visitors to step inside the Taj Mahal's premises Debargha Sengupta, 25 arrived in Prayagraj on September 19 for SSB exam and later took a train to Agra to visit the monument for the first time ever.
"The government locker room was closed for which I had to keep my luggage in a private shop but as I took entry and saw Taj Mahal for the first time ever I remained speechless. It is mesmeric. Moreover, less crowd had added more essence of its majestic presence," he said.
To keep up with the COVID guidelines, the site has imprinted norms saying not more than five thousand visitors are allowed in a day. Also, group photographs are not at all encouraged.
Guards are keeping strict vigil so that tourists do not touch the railing and walls of the monument and used tissue paper, mask, gloves shoe covers are dumped in the dustbin.
Although most of the historical sites under ASI were opened, Agra Fort and Taj Mahal remained closed as it fell under the containment zone.
-- ANI
07:51 8 dead after building collapses in Bhiwandi
Eight persons were killed and around 20 were feared trapped after a three-storeyed building collapsed in Maharashtra's Bhiwandi town, police said.
The building caved in early on Monday, police said, adding search and rescue operations are underway.
A civic official said that the building, situated at Patel compound of Narpoli near Dhamankar Naka, collapsed at 3.40 am, while the residents were asleep.
He said around 20 occupants of the building were feared trapped in the debris of the collapsed building.
A team of NRDF has rushed to the scene, he said.
Rescue personnel have pulled out a child from the debris and he has been rushed to a nearby hospital, he said.
-- PTI
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