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Wed, 30 September 2020
58 Ayurveda-based Covid trials registered: Ayush
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23:45 58 Ayurveda-based Covid trials registered: Ayush
As many as 58 new COVID-19 trials involving Ayurveda intervention were registered from March 1 to June 25 in the Clinical Trial Registry of India, highlighting the emerging nationwide trend of evidence-based studies in Ayush disciplines, the AYUSH ministry said on Wednesday.
News reports in August this year had revealed that out of the 203 trials registered in the CTRI, 61.5 per cent were from Ayush disciplines, the ministry said in a statement.
A recent study published in the 'Journal of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences' titled 'Ayurveda Research Studies on COVID-19 Registered in CTRI: A Critical Appraisal' throws more light on this growing "research culture" in Ayush disciplines.
Of the total trials registered, approximately 70 per cent were sponsored by the government and various Ayurveda stakeholders associated with the Ministry of AYUSH.
"These trials will provide useful information to the researchers which will help them to strategize the next course of action and also help the general public in understanding the contribution of Ayurveda in (combating) COVID-19," the ministry said.
"Once completed, the results of these promising studies will expectedly be published at the earliest so that it will be useful for the policymakers from the Ayush systems of medicines to strategize effective solutions to benefit public health initiatives," it said.
Further, in these challenging times, they will provide information for the global scientific community to know about the outcomes of Ayurveda clinical trials being conducted on COVID-19 in India, it added.
These trials will form a potential source of information for further collaborative studies at the national and global levels, the statement said.
Of the 58 registered trials, 52 (89.66 per cent) are interventional trials and six (10.34 per cent) are observational trials, it stated.
The majority of the trials included adult participants of both genders as the target population.
The instant paper which is authored by researchers of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences provides detailed information about Ayurveda-based COVID-19 clinical trials with respect to administrative information on trial registry number and sponsorship, descriptive information on study type and length of study and study design, the ministry said.
"With an increasing number of registered trials in this field, the body of knowledge in Ayush disciplines will increasingly reflect more contemporary information," it said. -- PTI
23:38 Muslims in Ayodhya accept Babri verdict for peace
The Muslim community in Ayodhya on Wednesday appeared to accept the Central Bureua of Investigation court verdict in the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition conspiracy case in "interest of peace" in society, hoping that Mathura and Kashi issues will not be raked up after it.
Some of them, however, hoped that the CBI will go in appeal against the CBI court ruling to "complete the due process of law".
All the 32 accused in the Babri mosque demolition case, including Bharatiya Janata Party veterans L K Advani and M M Joshi, were acquitted by a special CBI court in Lucknow which said there was no conclusive proof against them.
"As we have accepted the Supreme Court's November 9 verdict, we will accept this verdict too. It is the final closure of the Ayodhya episode. The peace must prevail," Iqbal Ansari, the main litigant in the Ayodhya land dispute case in the apex court, said.
He also opined against challenging the CBI court ruling.
"When in 28 years, those accused of the Babri Masjid demolition could not be punished, what is the benefit of punishing them when half of them have died and remaining ones are at the last stage of their lives?" asked Ansari.
Ayodhya Nagar Nigam corporator Haji Asad hoped that Kashi and Mathura issues will not be raked up after the CBI court ruling.
"We were expecting the kind of judgement given today. People had been discussing it for over two months. I, however, fear that we may face movements for Kashi and Mathura soon," he said, referring to the mosques in these two places.
The secretary of Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation, the Ayodhya Mosque Trust, Athar Hussain, however, hoped that the CBI would go in an appeal against the court ruling. -- PTI
23:20 Cambridge University academic makes history as 1st Indian-origin department head
An academic from Newnham College at the University of Cambridge, Dr Manali Desai, has made history as the first woman of Indian heritage to take over as the Head of the Sociology Department of the prestigious United Kingdom varsity in its over 800-year history.
Desai, a Reader in Comparative and Historical Sociology and Fellow of Newnham College whose work focuses on social movements, ethnic and gendered violence and post-colonial studies, took over as Chair of the department this month.
"Sociology gives us the tools to be able to investigate and understand the world around us and so I think the department is a good place to be during periods of such upheaval," said Desai, in reference to her appointment amid the coronavirus pandemic and global movements such as Black Lives Matter.
"We are living through a period of ferment and we are at a crucial juncture when fundamental questions about our very existence are at stake. The discipline of sociology has always tackled the big questions, be it climate change, war, poverty, and intersectional social inequalities," she said.
Desai describes herself as a "hybrid child of three different cultures" having spent equal amounts of time in India, the US and UK.
She grew up in India and the US before moving to Britain.
She completed her PhD in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she trained as a Comparative and Historical Sociologist.
Her work, which has a strong India focus, encompasses the areas of parties and political articulation, social movements, ethnic and gendered violence, and post-colonial studies.
Her current research, as Principal Investigator on the GendV Project funded by the ESRC/GCRF Large Grant of GBP 1.76 million, is a comparative qualitative work titled 'Gendered Violence and Urban Transformation in India and South Africa'.
"Our aim is to historicise and contextualise this violence, and examine violence as something that appears to connect the most intimate of affective relations with changes that are happening in the wider world," she explains.
Desai has also spoken out about the need to address issues related to colonialism and facing up to historical events.
23:02 ISRO to launch its Venus mission in 2025
ISRO is scheduled to launch its Venus mission in 2025 and France will participate in it, French space agency CNES said on Wednesday.
The VIRAL (Venus Infrared Atmospheric Gases Linker) instrument co-developed with the Russian federal space agency Roscosmos and the LATMOS atmospheres, environments and space observations laboratory attached to the French national scientific research centre CNRS has been selected by the ISRO after a request for proposals, it said in a statement.
ISRO chairman K Sivan and CNES president Jean-Yves Le Gall held talks and reviewed the areas driving cooperation between France and India in space.
"In the domain of space exploration, France will be taking part in ISRO's mission to Venus, scheduled to launch in 2025. CNES will coordinate and prepare the French contribution, the first time a French payload will be flown on an Indian exploration mission," CNES said in a statement.
However, there was no comment from ISRO.
After the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) and Moon missions Chandrayaan-1 and 2, ISRO has set its eyes on Venus for carrying out its inter-planetary mission.
France and India share a robust collaboration in arena of the space. It is one of the three nations with whom India collaborates in the strategic sectors of nuclear, space and defence -- the other two being the US and Russia.
In March 2018, the two countries also issued a 'Joint Vision for Space Cooperation'.
India and France are also working on ISRO's human space mission Gaganyaan project, which aims to send three Indians to space by 2022.
Since September 2018, CNES and ISRO have set up a working group focused on cooperation in the field of human spaceflight, the French agency said.
"The two nations are pooling their expertise, notably in the domains of space medicine, astronaut health monitoring and life support. Initial exchanges have concentrated on training for India's flight physicians and technical teams and the supply of CNES flight systems," it added. -- PTI
22:50 Hathras victim killed by a ruthless govt: Sonia
In a scathing attack on the Yogi Adityanath dispensation in Uttar Pradesh over the Hathras gangrape incident, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday said the victim was "killed by a ruthless government", its administration and its ignorance.
The 19-year-old Dalit woman, who died in a Delhi hospital a fortnight after she was gangraped in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras, was cremated in the early hours of Wednesday.
Her family alleged the local police forced them to conduct the last rites in the dead of the night.
However, local police officers told PTI that the cremation was carried out "as per the wishes of the family".
In a video statement posted on the Congress' official Twitter handle, Gandhi said crores of people were sad and angry and the "demoniac behaviour that Hathras' daughter had to suffer is a blot on our society".
Asking if it was a crime to be a poor person's daughter, Gandhi questioned the Yogi Adityanath government in the state as to why "the cry for justice" of the victim's family was not heard for weeks.
"There was an attempt to hush up the matter. The girl was not given timely treatment and a daughter is no more amongst us. I want to say that Hathras' Nirbhaya has not died, she has been killed -- by a ruthless government, by its administration and by the UP government's ignorance," the Congress chief said.
"When she was alive, she was not heard, she was not protected, and after her death she was also deprived of her home's soil. She was not handed over to her family and a crying mother was not even given the chance to bid final adieu to her daughter. This is a big sin," Gandhi said.
She alleged that the woman's body was cremated "forcibly".
Even in death there is a person's dignity and the Hindu religion talks about that as well, she said.
"But that girl was cremated like orphans by using the force of the police. What kind of justice is this, what kind of a government is this. You think that you can do anything and the country will just keep looking. No, the country will speak out against your injustice," Gandhi said.
"From the Congress party, I demand justice for the Hathras victim. India is a country for all and everyone has the right to live with dignity. The Constitution has given us this right. We will not allow the BJP to break the country and the Constitution," she asserted.
On September 14, the young woman had gone to the fields with her mother and went missing soon after. She was found later, beaten and tortured, her tongue cut as she bit it when the accused attempted to strangle her.
She was first admitted to Aligarh Muslim University's Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital and then shifted to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi on Monday. -- PTI
22:36 NHRC notice to MHA over Amnesty closing operations
The National Human Rights Commission has issued notice to the Union home secretary over rights organisation Amnesty International winding up its operations in the country after alleging "witch-hunt" by the government, officials said on Wednesday.
According to media reports, after the complete freezing of its bank accounts in India the Amnesty International has reportedly halted all the work in the country, the NHRC said in a statement.
"The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter and directs issuance of the notice to the Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, government of India, calling for their comments on the allegations levelled by the Amnesty International as mentioned in the news report," it said.
In a statement earlier, the international NGO had stated that "it has been compelled to let go of staff in India and pause all its ongoing campaign and research work," the NHRC said.
"It is alleged that this is the latest in the incessant witch-hunt of human rights organisations by the government of India over unfounded and motivated allegations," the rights panel said. -- PTI
22:25 BMC orders 72,000 Remdesivir injections
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said on Wednesday that it has ordered 72,000 vials of the Remdesivir injection for the treatment of critical COVID-19 patients.
The city witnessed a single-day highest spike of 2,654 coronavirus cases during the day.
It has received the first batch of 10,000 vials which were distributed to various hospitals and jumbo (large-scale) COVID-19 treatment facilities in the city, the BMC said in a release.
The highest 1,700 vials were handed over to the Director of Medical Education and major hospitals, 1,200 vials to Seven Hills Hospital and 800 vials each to KEM, Sion and Nair hospitals in the city, it said in a release.
The civic body also said it decided to buy the Remdesivir injection considering its effectiveness.
Mumbai is one of the worst-hit COVID-19 hotspots in the country with over 2.05 lakh cases and 8,900 deaths recorded so far. -- PTI
22:07 A car can overturn in UP: BJP leader on Hathras
Calling for exercising patience over the Hathras gang-rape incident, Bharatiya Janatav Party general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Wednesday said under the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh, a "vehicle can
overturn anytime".
A 19-year-old Dalit woman was raped in a village in Hathras by four men on September 14. After her condition deteriorated, she was referred to Delhi's Safdarjung hospital where she died on Tuesday.
The brutal incident has caused a nationwide outrage and led to criticism of the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh.
Answering a question on the Hathras gang-rape, Vijayvargiya told reporters in Bhopal, the accused in the case have been arrested.
"The case will be tried in a fast-track court and I think we should all wait and have patience. All of them will go behind bars. Because under Yogiji, who is the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, I know that in his state a vehicle can overturn anytime," he said.
Vijayvargiya did not elaborate, but he was apparently referring to the death of dreaded gangster Vikas Dubey in an alleged encounter with the UP police in July.
According to the Uttar Pradesh police, Dubey was shot dead while trying to escape after the police vehicle carrying him overturned near Kanpur on July 10, a day after his arrest from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh.
In another incident, a gangster, who was being taken to Lucknow from Mumbai, died when the police vehicle carrying him overturned after being hit by a 'nilgai' in Madhya Pradesh's Guna district on Sunday, police had said. -- PTI
21:58 SC notice to Maharashtra assembly over motion against Arnab
The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Maharashtra legislative assembly on a plea filed by Arnab Goswami, editor-in-chief of Republic TV, challenging a breach of privilege motion moved against him in the House.
After issuing the notice, a bench, headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde, posted the matter for hearing after a week.
Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Goswami, contended that privileges of an assembly could not be used against someone outside of the House.
There could be a breach of privilege only if there is any hindrance, obstruction, interference by a person in the performance of duties or workings of the House, Salve said.
Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik had on September 16 moved the breach of privilege motion against Goswami for allegedly using derogatory language against chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and Mationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar for their alleged inaction in the actor Sushant Singh Rajput death case.
A similar motion was moved by MLA Manisha Koyande in the Legislative Council. -- ANI
21:18 India, China agree to implement Jaishankar-Wang plan
India and China on Wednesday held another round of diplomatic dialogue on the border standoff in eastern Ladakh, and emphasised the need to implement the decisions arrived at the last round of military talks to avoid misunderstandings and maintain stability on the ground.
After the virtual talks under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on border affairs, the ministry of external affairs said the two sides reviewed the current situation along the Line of Actual Control and "positively evaluated" the outcome of the sixth meeting of their senior commanders last week.
"They emphasised the need to implement the steps outlined in the joint press release issued after the last meeting of the senior commanders so as to avoid misunderstandings and to maintain stability on the ground. In this context, the need to strengthen communication, especially between the ground commanders, was emphasized by both sides," the MEA said in a statement.
Corps commanders of the two sides held a nearly 14-hour-long meeting on September 21 following which they announced a slew of decisions to de-escalate the tense situation.
The decisions included to stop sending more troops to the frontline, refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground and avoid taking any actions that may further complicate matters.
On Wednesday's talks, the MEA also said the two sides reviewed the current situation along the LAC and had frank and detailed discussions on the developments since the last meeting of the WMCC on August 20.
"They also noted that the agreement between the two Foreign Ministers should be sincerely implemented to ensure disengagement at all the friction points along the LAC," the MEA said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi had held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meet in Moscow in the backdrop of a deteriorating situation in eastern Ladakh triggered by a fresh confrontation between the armies of the two countries.
At the meeting on September 10, the two sides reached a five-point agreement that included measures like quick disengagement of troops, avoiding action that could escalate tensions, adherence to all agreements and protocols on border management and steps to restore peace along the Line of Actual Control. -- PTI
21:07 Uddhav directs withdrawal of cases against Aarey activists
Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday directed the state home department to withdraw cases registered against protesters last year for opposing felling of trees for a proposed metro car shed in
Aarey Colony, a prime green lung of the city.
The decision was taken at the state cabinet meeting.
A tweet from the Chief Minister's office said Thackeray has directed the state home department to begin the process of withdrawing the cases.
The request for withdrawal of cases was made at the cabinet meeting by state environment minister Aaditya Thackeray, which was supported by deputy CM Ajit Pawar and other ministers.
"I thank all the cabinet colleagues of the MVA government for prioritising and realizing the importance of sustainable development and green governance and supporting such issues," Aaditya Thackeray tweeted.
He said the protesters were citizens standing up for future of the planet.
"To hold them from stopping desired work was one thing but to press police charges was another. We can't have cases against those who stand up for environment and forests," he said in another tweet.
Uddhav Thackeray had announced withdrawal of cases against green activists last December, days after he took oath as chief minister.
Cases were registered after clashes broke out between the police and green activists opposing axing of trees by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd in Aarey Colony last October for construction of a metro car shed for the Metro-3 line.
Police had booked at least 38 protesters under IPC sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging duty), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from duty) and 143 (unlawful
assembly).
Last month, the CM had asked the Mumbai Metro and MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) officials to examine whether the proposed metro car shed can be shifted to Pahadi Goregaon area near Oshiwara. -- PTI
20:51 I am a pledged organ donor: Amitabh Bachchan
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Wednesday said he has pledged to donate his organs.
Bachchan, 77, took to Instagram and posted a picture from the sets of his game show Kaun Banega Crorepati with a green ribbon to mark the gesture.
"The distinction of the wear of the green ribbon. I am a pledged organ donor! Bearing the giving of life to another," the actor captioned the picture.
Earlier in the day, the Gulabo Sitabo star tweeted that he was off to shoot for the the show with necessary precautions, including face mask.
Writing in Hindi, Bachchan posted, "Off we go to work, wearing a mask. Will have to work for 15 hours, that's our only task."
Bachchan resumed shooting for KBC last month after recovering from COVID-19. -- PTI
20:35 Unlock 5: Cinemas, swimming pools to reopen
The government has said cinema halls, multiplexes, exhibition halls and entertainment parks will be allowed to open with up to 50 per cent of their seating capacity from October 15.
Announcing the guidelines for Unlock 5, the government said that schools and colleges will be allowed to reopen from October 15 but the final call has been left to the states and the institutions involved.
As per the guidelines, swimming pools being used for training of sportspersons will be permitted to open, for which the standard operating procedure will be issued by ministry of youth affairs and sports.
20:26 Hotels, restaurants, bars to reopen in Maha
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday extended coronavirus-induced lockdown till October 31, but also said that hotels, restaurants and bars will be allowed to operate from October 5 with restricted capacity.
All the trains originating and ending the journey within the state will be restarted with immediate effect subject to health protocols for COVID-19, the latest guidelines said.
Hotels, food courts, restaurants and bars can operate from October 5 with capacity not exceeding 50 percent or as prescribed by local authorities.
A separate Standard Operating Procedure will be issued by the tourism department for precautions to be taken while operating these establishments, an official release said.
All industrial and manufacturing units producing non-essential items will be allowed to operate in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The railways will increase the frequency of local trains in the MMR.
Local trains in Pune region will restart with protocols and procedures adopted in the MMR.
Dabbawallahs of tiffin carriers in MMR will be allowed to travel by local trains after procuring QR code passes from the Mumbai police commissioner's office.
There shall be free movement of oxygen carrying vehicles within and out of the state without any restrictions of time.
Schools, colleges and other educational and coaching institutions will remained closed.
Cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theaters in malls and market places, auditoriums, assembly halls will continue to remain closed.
Social, political,sports, entertainment, academic, cultural and religious events and other large congregations will remain prohibited, the guidelines said. -- PTI
20:18 Hathras case: NHRC notice to UP govt, top cop
The National Human Rights Commission has issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and the state's police chief in connection with the gang rape of a 19-year-old Dalit women in Hathras district, officials said on Wednesday.
The woman, who was battling for her life after the assault, died at Safdarjung Hospital on Tuesday.
The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance in connection with the "gang rape and brutality of a 19-year-old women belonging to the Scheduled Caste in Hathras district", the rights panel said in a statement.
According to reports, she had gone missing on September 14 and was found in a badly injured condition on September 22, and was subjected to gang rape and brutality in Hathras over two weeks ago, it said.
The Commission has sent notices to the chief secretary of the state government and the Director General of Police of Uttar Pradesh, the officials said.
On September 14, the young woman had gone to the fields with her mother and went missing soon after. She was found later, beaten and tortured, her tongue cut as she bit it when the accused attempted to strangle her.
She was first admitted to Aligarh Muslim University's Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital and then shifted to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi on Monday. -- PTI
19:55 BJP says will fight Bihar polls together with NDA partners JD-U, LJP
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday sought to scotch speculation about differences with Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party, asserting that all the three National Democratic Alliance partners will fight Bihar assembly polls together.
After a long meeting of party leaders, including home minister Amit Shah and president J P Nadda besides those from the state, BJP general secretary Bhupender Yadav told reporters that talks with allies on the seat-sharing arrangement will be completed in a couple of days. Yadav is the party's in-charge for the state's affairs.
"A lot of development work has happened in Bihar and the NDA will fight the polls on the basis of this under the leadership of chief minister Nitish Kumar. The BJP, the JD-U and the LJP will fight the polls strongly along with Jitan Ram Manjhi, who has joined hands with JD-U, and will form government again with a three/fourth majority," he said.
Official sources said the final seat-sharing arrangement is likely to be announced soon and the list of candidates for the first phase of polls will be out by October 4 or 5.
The nomination process for the first phase, under which 71 of the total 243 seats will go to polls, begins on Thursday and ends on October 8.
The Chirag Paswan-headed LJP has indicated it will fight on 143 seats if it does not get a "honourable" deal from its allies.
In 2015, it had contested 42 seats and won two.
The JD-U was then part of the opposition alliance which decisively defeated the NDA. -- PTI
19:33 Haryana BJP leader quits over new farm laws
Haryana Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shyam Singh Rana on Wednesday quit the party over the recently enacted agriculture laws.
The former MLA from Radaur in Yamunanagar district submitted his resignation to state BJP chief Om Prakash Dhankar.
Rana, who was chief parliamentary secretary in the first term of the M L Khattar-led BJP government, said he was quitting the party keeping the farmers issue in mind.
In his resignation letter to Dhankar, Rana said keeping in view the problems faced by the farmers, "I support them and resign from all the posts I hold and also resign from the party".
Later talking to reporters in Yamunanagar, he said the farmers issue was not being resolved. He said thousands of farmers were protesting against the farm laws.
Rana said the farmers' apprehensions pertaining to the new agriculture laws were not unfounded.
"The government should have created avenues for farmers by improving the existing system. The farmers' concerns are genuine and the government should have addressed these," he said.
He also claimed that a large number of farmers in the state have been facing difficulties in crop procurement since the past few days, but the government did not pay adequate attention to the matter.
Asked if he will join any other outfit, Rana said he will consult his supporters before making the next move.
Haryana BJP leaders Parminder Singh Dhull and Rampal Majra had also recently dubbed the Centre's farm reforms "anti-farmer", claiming that the apprehensions about the minimum support price needed to be addressed.
Two MLAs from the Jannayak Janta Party, which is part of the BJP-led ruling coalition in Haryana, had also participated in the protests against the farm reforms.
President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday gave his assent to the three contentious bills -- the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020; the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020. -- PTI
19:24 Rs 1.11 cr bid tops auction for all-new Mahindra Thar's first unit
Domestic auto major Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd on Wednesday said it has raised Rs 1.11 crore from online auctioning of the first unit of the all-new version of SUV Thar, which is set to be launched on October 2.
Mahindra has matched the amount raised at the auction and the total proceeds of Rs 2.22 crores will be donated towards coronavirus pandemic relief work, a release said.
The idea of the auction was to harness Thar's iconic status to galvanise the country during this trying time and aid its fight against Covid-19 pandemic, it said.
The online auction, which lasted for six days, witnessed almost 5,500 registrations from nearly 550 locations across the country.
The auction reserve price was set at Rs 25 lakh, and the winning bid was placed at Rs 1.11 crore, M&M Ltd in the release.
The winner has chosen Swades Foundation to receive the entire proceeds from the auction and support Covid-19 relief work, it added.
"It is heartening to see the interest and generosity that this auction for the all-new Thar#1 has garnered from across every corner of the country. We will be contributing an amount equal to the bid amount, to the Swades Foundation, which is the winner's charity of choice," said Pawan Goenka, MD and CEO, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
The hard-fought auction garnered interest among several bidders, including those from big cities and small towns, it said.
According to the company, there were 37 bidders who put their top bid value at more than Rs 50 lakhs and four bidders placed their top bids at over Rs 1 crore.
-- PTI
You can read more about the Thar's auction here.
18:55 India received 'above normal' rainfall: IMD
The country received above normal monsoon during the four-month rainfall season, recording the second highest precipitation in the last 30 years, the India Meteorological Department said on Wednesday.
The country received 109 per cent rainfall of the Long Period Average with three of four months -- June (107 per cent), August (127 per cent) and September (105 per cent) -- witnessing above normal rainfall, while July recorded (90 per cent) below deficient rainfall.
"Quantitatively the 2020 monsoon seasonal rainfall during 1 June to 30 September 2020 has been 95.4 centimetres against long period average of 87.7 cm based on data of 1961-2010 (109 per cent of its Long Period Average)," R K Jenamani, scientist with the National Weather Forecasting Centre said.
The monsoon season in India officially starts on June 1 and lasts till September 30.
The southwest monsoon delivers about 70 per cent of the country's annual rainfall, critical for the agriculture sector that accounts for about 14 per cent of India's GDP and employs more than half of the country's 1.3 billion population.
Good rains have boosted sowing of the kharif crops which farmers have sown in record 1,116.88 lakh hectares till last week as compared to 1,066.06 lakh hectares a year ago, according to the Agriculture Ministry's data.
The IMD has four meteorological divisions.
Of the four, the east and northeast India, central India and south India have received above normal rainfall. The northwest India division has recorded deficient rainfall.
Nineteen states and union territories have received normal rainfall this year, while nine states and union territories saw excess rainfall.
Bihar, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Goa, Andhra Pradesh Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Lakshdweep islands have recorded above normal rainfall.
Sikkim recorded large excess rainfall.
However, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir have recorded deficiency.
Ladakh has recorded large deficiency.
"Considering recent years since 1990, the seasonal rainfall was 110 per cent of LPA in 1994 and 2019. It is consecutively for two monsoon years, when India received good rainfall of 9 per cent above LPA or more.
"Data shows similar consecutive good monsoon rainfall years in 1958 and 1959 when it was 10 per cent and 4 per cent above LPA respectively," Jenamani added.
Monsoon made an onset over Kerala on June 1, its normal annual onset date.
Its timely onset was also aided by cyclone Nisarga.
The monsoon covered the entire country by June 26, 12 days ahead of its normal date of July 8.
The withdrawal was also late. It withdrew from west Rajasthan and parts of Punjab on September 28, 11 days after its normal onset date.
One of the main features of the monsoon was the rainfall in August.
The month saw five low pressure areas (cyclonic circulations) that brought large amount of rainfall over central India.
Total number of low pressure days was 28 against normal of about 15 in August. -- PTI
18:50 Yogi speaks to UP gangrape victim's family
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday spoke to the father of a 19-year-old woman, who died two weeks after she was gang-raped in Hathras, and assured him of stringent action against all the accused, a senior official said here.
"The CM has spoken to the father of the deceased woman of Hathras. Her father...asked for harshest penalty against the accused. The CM assured him that the most stringent action shall be taken against the accused and all possible help shall be provided to the family of the deceased," Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Kumar Awasthi said.
The Dalit woman, who died in a Delhi hospital a fortnight after she was gang-raped, was cremated in the early hours of Wednesday.
Her family alleged the local police forced them to conduct the last rites in the dead of the night. However, local police officers claimed that the cremation was carried out "as per the wishes of the family" and news regarding cremation was "incorrect".
On September 14, the young woman had gone to the fields with her mother and went missing soon after. She was found later, beaten and tortured, her tongue cut as she bit it when the accused attempted to strangle her.
She was first admitted to Aligarh Muslim University's Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital and then shifted to Safdarjung hospital in Delhi on Monday. -- PTI
18:14 India, China to continue diplomatic, military level talks
India and China have agreed to continue close consultations at diplomatic and military level. They agreed that the next (7th) round of meeting of Senior Commanders should be held at an early date so that both sides can work towards early and complete disengagement of the troops, the two countries decided at the meeting on Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination today.
The MEA said that India and China reviewed the current situation along the Line of Actual Control and had detailed discussions on developments since the last WMCC meeting on 20 August. The two sides attached importance to meetings between the two defence ministers and the two foreign ministers earlier this month.
17:54 Caught a cold? You may be immune to Covid-19
People who have had a bout of seasonal or common cold in the past may get some protection from Covid-19, according to a study which suggests that immunity to the disease is likely to last a long time -- maybe even a lifetime.
The study, published in the journal mBio, is the first to show that the Covid-19-causing virus, SARS-CoV-2, induces memory B cells, long-lived immune cells that detect pathogens, create antibodies to destroy them and remember them for the future. The next time that pathogen tries to enter the body, those memory B cells can hop into action even faster to clear the infection before it starts, according to the researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) in the US. Because memory B cells can survive for decades, they could protect COVID-19 survivors from subsequent infections for a long time, but further research will have to confirm this. The study is also the first to report cross-reactivity of memory B cells -- meaning B cells that once attacked cold-causing coronaviruses appeared to also recognise SARS-CoV-2.
The researchers believe this could mean that anyone who has been infected by a common coronavirus -- which is nearly everyone -- may have some degree of pre-existing immunity to COVID-19. "When we looked at blood samples from people who were recovering from COVID-19, it looked like many of them had a pre-existing pool of memory B cells that could recognise SARS-CoV-2 and rapidly produce antibodies that could attack it, said study lead author Mark Sangster, a research professor at URMC. The findings are based on a comparison of blood samples from 26 people who were recovering from mild to moderate COVID-19 and 21 healthy donors whose samples were collected six to 10 years ago -- long before they could have been exposed to COVID-19. -- PTI
17:48 PSEs back to 90% of their production capacity: Javadekar
The central public sector enterprises (PSEs) have got back to 90 per cent of their production capacity, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Wednesday, while releasing a compendium on the contribution of the PSEs amidst Covid-19.
"The central public sector enterprises are the pride of India as they have done a laudable job even during the COVID-19 pandemic," said the Union minister for environment, forest and climate change who also holds the heavy industries and public enterprise portfolio.
Lauding efforts of the PSEs, he said the electricity supply was at 99 per cent during the COVID-19 lockdown, while petrol pumps remained open.
The compendium, 'Building Self Reliant, Resurgent, Resilient India', stated that the production and distribution of electricity continued during the pandemic.
"Around 71 crore LPG cylinders were supplied to the people; oil marketing companies gave 21 crore free refills to consumers for a period of three months from April to June with the financial assistance of Rs 13,000 crore," the minister said.He added the transportation of goods was nearly 100 per cent.
"As much as 33 million tonnes of food grain was transported," said Javadekar.
He added the central PSE's also gave medical assistance by providing nearly 11,000 beds in 201 hospitals across the country.
He also congratulated Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, who was present during the release. -- ANI
17:36 Babri mosque verdict will be challenged in high court: Jilani
Senior lawyer and member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board Zafaryab Jilani on Wednesday said the verdict of a special court acquitting all the 32 accused in the Babri mosque demolition case would be challenged in the high court. There were hundreds of statements by the witnesses and in criminal cases these are very important, Jilani said, adding that among those who gave their statements were IPS officers and journalists who had said that the accused persons were sitting on the dias and inflammatory speeches were being given.
The special CBI court has given its verdict ignoring the evidence and so Muslims will challenge it in the high court, he said. He also indicated that the board might also be a party. CBI judge SK Yadav acquitted the accused, which included BJP veterans L K Advani and MM Joshi, saying there was no conclusive proof against them.
Jilani claimed that when the structure fell down, there was celebration and sweets were distributed but the court was of the view that there was no conspiracy. There were clear evidences under153-A (promoting enmity, hatred between different communities), 153-B (assertion prejudicial to national integration) against Advani and others and yet they were acquitted, he further claimed.
When pointed out that it was the CBI which was fighting the case, Jilani said the victims and the witnesses also have the right to appeal but the agency too needs to do so. "We are victims, several of our people were witnesses in the case. I too was among them," he said. He further said that from the Muslims' side both the victims and the witnesses would file appeal. For the victims, Haji Mehboob and Hafiz Akhlaq would file. Others who would also be filing appeals would be decided later, he said. -- PTI
17:25 Paris explosion caused by operational Rafale jet, not bomb
The powerful explosion that occured in Paris on Wednesday was caused by a fighter jet crossing the sound barrier, Sputnik reported.Informing about the source of the explosion, the prefecture said in a tweet, "A very loud sound was heard in Paris and the Paris region. There was no explosion, this is a fighter plane that went over the sound barrier."
"[It was] an operational Rafale jet of the 113 airbase in Saint-Dizier, which assisted an aircraft that lost a radio signal and was authorized to break the sound barrier to assist the airplane in difficulty. It broke the sound barrier in the east of Paris," Sputnik quoted the Defence Ministry Spokesperson as saying. -- ANI
17:23 Babri verdict runs counter to SC judgement: Cong
The Congress on Wednesday said a special CBI court's decision to acquit all the accused in the Babri Masjid case runs counter to constitutional spirit and the 2019 Supreme Court judgement that described the demolition of the structure as an "egregious violation of the rule of law".
Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said every Indian who has innate faith in the Constitution and in the spirit of communal amity and brotherhood expects and urges the Central and state governments to file an appeal against the verdict delivered Wednesday.
The governments must follow the letter of the law and the Constitution without any "partiality and pre-meditated prejudice" Surjewala said, adding this is the true calling of rule of law and Constitution.
"The decision of the Special Court to acquit all the accused in Babri Masjid demolition case runs counter to Supreme Court judgement as also the constitutional spirit," he said.
The Supreme Court in its judgement on November 9 last year, pronounced by five judges, had clearly held that the demolition of Babri Masjid was a clear illegality and an "egregious violation of the rule of law", Surjewala told reporters. "But the Special Court exonerated all the accused. It is clear that the decision of the Special Court runs counter to the decision of the Supreme Court of India," he said. -- PTI
17:14 Delhi govt will use PUSA technique to reduce need for stubble-burning
The Delhi government will work with Pusa Research Institute from October 5 to make an agri mix using a technique developed by it to reduce the need for stubble-burning in farms, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Wednesday. In an online briefing, he said that the work on creating the agri mix capsules is likely to be completed by October 12-13.
"We will visit farmers' homes and if they are willing, we will spray the mix. The mixture will soften the stubble and slowly convert it into manure, he said. This will also bring down the fertiliser usage in farm land, besides increasing the productivity, he said.
Kejriwal said he had also written to the Centre urging it to ensure that other state governments also implement this solution. Stubble burning is a major cause of pollution in Delhi-NCR every year, especially in the winter months.
"During the time of coronavirus, pollution can be dangerous and state governments should work towards finding solutions. Pusa Research Institute has found an economical solution," he said. In his letter to the Centre on September 26, Kejriwal had said Indian Agricultural Research Institute (famously known as PUSA) scientists have developed a chemical that decomposes stubble and turns it into manure. There is no need for farmers to burn stubble.
Experts at the institute have developed what they call as decomposer capsules. Just four capsules, some jaggery and chickpea flour are needed to prepare 25 litres of a solution, enough to cover one hectare of land. PTI
16:55 Raut: Justice only for actress, not Hathras girl?
The Shiv Sena on Wednesday questioned the "silence" of dalit leaders and social media 'activists' on the gang-rape and brutal murder of a woman in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras. Speaking to reporters, Sena MP Sanjay Raut questioned the "hue and cry" generated by certain sections over the demolition of a "house roof" of an actress, an apparent reference to Kangana Ranaut.
"Is it that justice is sought only for a celebrity or an actress? Where is the media now which was screaming for justice for an actress whose house roof was demolished?" he said while terming the Hathras incident "shocking and unfortunate".
Raut said he hadn't seen a social media campaign demanding justice for the victim.
The 19-year-old Dalit woman was raped in a village in Hathras by four men on September 14. After her condition deteriorated, she was referred to Delhi's Safdarjung hospital where she breathed her last on Tuesday.
The Sena chief spokesperson said it was "unfortunate" that once aggressive dalit movement has lost its lustre. "(Union minister and RPI (A) chief) Ramdas Athawale sought justice for an actress, but not for the poor girl from Hathras whose family was denied the right even to cremate her mortal remains," he said.
"Where are those who were demanding President's rule in Maharashtra for justice to an actress?" he asked. Raut clarified the Sena was not demanding resignation of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the incident. Raut and Ranaut have been at loggerheads since the actress compared Mumbai to "Pakistan occupied Kashmir" (PoK), following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June this year.
Raut has also been made a party in the case filed in the high court by Ranaut against partial demolition of her bungalow by the Mumbai civic body. -- PTI
16:12 Fadnavis to lead BJP's Bihar poll campaign
Former Maharashtra CM and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Devendra Fadnavis appointed party's Bihar in-charge, ahead of Bihar Legislative Assembly elections.
Fadnavis has been roped in by the party leadership for the poll preparedness and attended a Bihar core committee meeting through video-conferencing this month. He is said to have presented his viewpoints on different matters.
The elections for the 243-member Bihar assembly will take place from October 28th to November 7th.
Fadnavis being given the charge of Bihar elections is in line with the partys policy of entrusting its key leaders with the responsibility of handling state elections. Late BJP leader Ananth Kumar was the partys in-charge for the Bihar assembly polls in 2015.
16:07 Serena forced to withdraw from French Open
Serena Williams, the 23-time major champion, hands Tsvetana Pironkova, a walkover into the third round. The American Grand Slam champion cited an Achilles injury.
15:53 Indo-China meet underway
Virtual meeting on Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination between India and China underway.
15:52 Media, entertainment sector to rebound by FY22
The media and entertainment (M&E) sector should recover from its current levels and post a 33 per cent growth in FY22 (following a contraction of 20 per cent in FY21), which still implies a loss of around two years of growth, KPMG in India said in its latest report here on Wednesday.
KPMG in India today launched the 12th edition of its Media and Entertainment report, titled 'A year off script: Time for resilience' that examines the performance of the M&E sector during a particularly challenging period.
The report said India was already experiencing a slowdown in economic activity even prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 in March and the onset of the global pandemic and ensuing lockdown dealt a severe blow to the Indian economy.
The M&E sector has been affected but to varying degrees: outdoor entertainment formats (films and events) and traditional media (print and TV to some extent) have been badly impacted as people stayed indoors and advertising spends dried up.
The report said: "The two areas that offer encouragement are the continued economic growth of Bharat and the universal acceleration of digital adoption among users across geographies and SECs. As per our revised estimates, India could be home to a billion digital users by 2028 rather than the earlier projected 2030 timeline."
"There have been several structural changes to digital behaviour on account of the experience of the lockdown resulting in a new homogeneity among users, and it is our belief that many of these changes will translate into a more democratic and sophisticated digital citizenry within the country," it added.
Digital advertising, OTT and gaming fared much better, with massive spikes in digital consumption during the lockdown across geographies and socio-economic classes.
It projected that digital advertising spends are now set to overtake those on TV by FY21, which is an important milestone and turning point in the evolution of M&E in India.
"The distinction among segments of M&E has become more pronounced with the experience of the lockdown. Marketing spend has moved perceptibly towards digital media and away from traditional segments like print, radio and to some extent TV," said Satya Easwaran, Partner and Head, Technology, Media and Telecom, KPMG in India. -- ANI
15:30 Nitin Gadkari recovers from Covid
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said that he has recovered from COVID-19. "I am very happy to tell all of you that on the strength of all your blessings and good wishes, I have recovered from Corona. Thank you for your affection," Gadkari tweeted.
The Minister had tested positive for COVID-19 on September 16, following which he had isolated himself. -- ANI
15:23 CBI to decide on appealing Babri verdict
The CBI will decide on filing an appeal against the special court verdict acquitting all 32 accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case after consulting the legal department, its counsel said on Wednesday.
"After a copy of today's verdict is received, it would be sent to the CBI headquarters where it would be studied by the legal department and a decision on filing an appeal would be taken as per its suggestion," CBI counsel Lalit Singh said.
He was replying to query on whether the investigating agency will challenge the verdict of the special court which had on Wednesday acquitted all the 32 accused, including BJP veterans LK Advani, M M Joshi, Uma Bharti and Kalyan Singh, in the politically sensitive case. Delivering the much-awaited verdict in the 28-year-old case, CBI judge S K Yadav held that there was no conclusive proof against the accused.
The case relates to the razing of the disputed structure in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, which triggered riots for several months that left nearly 2,000 people dead across the country. The structure was demolished by 'kar sevaks' who claimed that the mosque was built on the site of an ancient Ram temple. The central agency produced 351 witnesses and 600 documents as evidence before the court. PTI
Image: Sweets being distributed outside L K Advani's house after the Babri verdict. Pic: PTI
14:50 I am doing well, says V-P Naidu from home quarantine
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, who has tested positive for Covid-19, on Wednesday thanked the vice president of Maldives for his message wishing him speedy recovery, and said he appreciates his spontaneous response and sincere concern.
Responding to a message from Vice President Faisal Naseem of Maldives, Naidu said, "I am doing well and there is no cause for concern." "I am taking all necessary steps to combat the virus as per medical advice. I am indeed touched by your warm good wishes," the Vice President Secretariat tweeted quoting Naidu.
The vice president also thanked ministers, chief ministers and legislators for their messages wishing him a speedy recovery. "I am indeed touched by your warm, good wishes," he responded on Twitter. Naidu had on Tuesday tested positive for Covid-19. He is asymptomatic and in good health. Naidu, 71, has been advised home quarantine. His wife Usha Naidu has tested negative for Covid-19 and is in self-isolation. -- PTI
14:33 Babri case irrelevant after mandir verdict: Sena
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said the Babri masjid demolition case lost its relevance after the supreme court settled the Ram Janmabhoomi title suit in 2019.
Speaking about the special CBI court's verdict to acquit all accused in the Babri case, Raut told reporters "the case in the special court lost its relevance after the supreme court's verdict on Ram temple and bhoomi pujan of the temple conducted by prime minister (in August)," Raut told reporters.
The special CBI court in Lucknow has acquitted all the 32 accused in the case, including BJP veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, saying there was no conclusive proof against them. The case relates to the razing of the disputed structure in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992. -- PTI
14:22 Hathra rape: Cong, Bhim Army protest in Lucknow
Congress and Bhim Army workers held demonstrations in Lucknow and Hathras over the gang-rape of a 19-year-old Dalit woman a fortnight ago, and demanded stern punishment for the culprits. The woman died in a Delhi hospital on Tuesday and was cremated in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras in the early hours of Wednesday, with her family members alleging the local police forced them to conduct her last rites in the dead of the night.
The Congress' Uttar Pradesh unit president Ajay Kumar Lallu led protesters to the chief minister's residence but were stopped at the VVIP guest house, the party's media convenor Lalan Kumar said. He claimed a number Congress workers were injured as police used batons to stop them from proceeding towards the chief minister's residence.
"Lallu was bodily stopped by policemen who were deployed in large numbers and he along with others were held and taken to Eco Garden," Kumar said. Kumar said Congress workers, led by the party's Dalit wing district unit chief Kuldeep, staged a sit-in in Hathras demanding justice for the gang-rape victim. In Aligarh district, Bhim Army workers staged a protest in Hathras and Tappal towns alleging that the outfit's chief Chandrasekhar Azaad has been arrested. -- PTI
Image: Security was heightened outside Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi, where Congress and Bhim Army workers are holding a protest demanding justice for Hathras gang-rape victim. Pic: ANI
14:17 Ram temple litigant asks Muslims to obey verdict
Iqbal Ansari, the main litigant in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute, welcomed a special CBI court's decision acquitting all the accused in the mosque demolition case on Wednesday and appealed to all Muslims to honour it.
"It is good that all have been acquitted. Whatever had to happen happened on November 9 last year. This case should also have ended the same day. This is the CBI's case and the court has given its ruling today. I appeal to Muslims not to take any further action in this. Just as they honoured the November 9 decision, this verdict too needs to be accepted similarly," he said.
On November 9 last year, the Supreme Court ordered the 2.77-acre disputed land in Ayodhya to be handed over to a trust for the construction of a Ram temple. Ansari said he does not want any dispute between Hindus and Muslims in the country.
"Only those who want to break the country try to continue with disputes," he added. There are no differences between Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians in Ayodhya and the same atmosphere needs to prevail in the entire country, he said.
Earlier in the day, a special CBI court acquitted all 32 accused, including BJP leaders LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh, in the Babri Masjid demolition case, in the absence of conclusive proof to suggest a criminal conspiracy. --PTI
Image: A 2018 pic of BJP veterans LK Advani and MM Joshi. Pic: PTI
14:11 Govt extends FY19 GST filing deadline by 1 month
The government has extended the deadline for filing GST annual return and audit report for 2018-19 fiscal year by a month till October 31. After obtaining due clearances from the Election Commission in view of the Model Code of Conduct, Government has extended due date for furnishing Annual Return in GSTR-9 and GSTR 9C for 2018-19 from 30.09.2020 to 31.10.2020, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) tweeted.
In May, the government had extended the last date for filing annual GST return for 2018-19 by three months till September 2020. GSTR-9 is an annual return to be filed by taxpayers registered under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime.
It consists of details regarding the outward and inward supplies made or received under different tax heads. GSTR-9C is a statement of reconciliation between GSTR-9 and the audited annual financial statement. - PTI
14:04 Mumbai local trains may resume by Oct 15: Aaditya Thackeray
The Maharashtra government is seriously considering the resumption of normal local train services in Mumbai by October 15, Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana said on Wednesday quoting state minister Aaditya Thackeray.
According to the Sena publication, Thackeray, who is the environment and tourism minister, said the issue of resumption of suburban train services for common citizens is being considered as part of efforts to bring the state's economy back on track.
In a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19,local trains are currently being run only for essential services staff, state and central government staff, employees of nationalised and private banks, PSUs and pharma companies, and QR code-based identity cards are mandatory for them.
"The government is seriously considering starting normal train services for citizens by October 15. The decision will be taken after ensuring all Covid-19 related safety protocols are followed," Thackeray said.
He also said that to reduce vehicular traffic, a proposal of keeping offices and commercial establishments working for 24 hours is being considered.
-- PTI
13:55 Mumbai police summons Anurag Kashyap on Thursday
The Mumbai police have issued summons to filmmaker Anurag Kashyap in connection with a rape case filed against him by actress Payal Ghosh, an official said on Wednesday.
Kashyap has been asked to appear before the Versova police on Thursday for further probe into the case registered against him nine days back, the official said.
The Versova police registered an FIR against Kashyap on September 22 after the actress along with her lawyer Nitin Satpute approached the police, the official said.
In her police complaint, the actress alleged that Kashyap raped her in 2013.
On Tuesday, Ghosh and Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale met Maharashtra Governor B S Koshyari to seek action against Kashyap.
After the meeting, Athawale told reporters that the governor said he will speak with Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on the issue.
-- PTI
13:49 'Babri verdict vindicates my personal belief'
BJP stalwart LK Advani, acquitted of conspiracy charges in the 1992 Babri mosque demolition, said today that the judgment vindicated his and the BJP's belief and commitment towards the Ram temple movement.
He also said he had chanted "Jai Shri Ram" after the verdict, describing it as a "moment of happiness for all of us".
"The judgment vindicates my personal and the BJP's belief and commitment towards the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. I also feel blessed that this judgment has come in the footsteps of another landmark verdict of the Supreme Court given in November 2019, which paved the way for my long cherished dream of seeing a grand Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, the foundation-laying ceremony of which was held on August 5," Advani, 92, said in a statement.
He said he "wholeheartedly welcomed the significant judgment". He added: "Along with millions of my countrymen, I now look forward to the completion of the beautiful Ram Mandir in Ayodhya."
A special CBI court in Lucknow, acquitting all 32 accused in the case including Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti and Kalyan Singh of conspiracy charges, said the Babri mosque on December 6, 1992, was not planned.
13:33 SC refuses to postpone civil service exam of 2020
The Supreme Court Wednesday refused to postpone UPSC civil services preliminary exam, to be held on October 4, because of COVID-19 pandemic and floods in several parts of the country.
A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar, B R Gavai and Krishna Murari asked the Centre to consider granting one more chance to those aspirants who may not appear in their last attempt for the exam due to the pandemic.
It also refused to consider the plea for clubbing of UPSC civil services exam of 2020 with 2021 exams saying "this will have a cascading effect".
The bench was hearing a plea seeking postponement of the Civil Services Exam for two to three months, so that the flood/ incessant rains recede and the COVID-19 curve flattens.
The Union Public Service Commission opposed the plea saying all necessary precautions have been taken and adequate arrangements have been made for holding the exam.
-- PTI
13:24 Verdict proves no conspiracy hatched: MM Joshi
BJP senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi reacts to the Babri Masjid demolition verdict which acquitted him and all the 31 other accused in the case. "It's a historic decision by the court. This proves that no conspiracy was hatched for December 6 incident in Ayodhya. Our program and rallies were not part of any conspiracy. We are happy, everyone should now be excited about Ram Mandir's construction," Joshi said.
Immediately after the verdict, BJP minister Ravi Shankar Prasad visited LK Advani's house, ostensibly to congratulate the senior leader on his acquittal in the case.
13:09 RS Prasad meets Advani
Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad arrives at the residence of senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani who, along with 31 other accused, was acquitted in the Babri Masjid demolition case by the Special CBI Court in Lucknow today.
13:09 'Babri accused tried to stop mob, not incite them'
Update: The Babri mosque demolition was not planned, Judge SK Yadav, said while announcing the verdict at the Special CBI court in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. All 32 accused including BJP leaders LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti, have been acquitted.
The court observed: Babri mosque demolition was not pre-planned.
Not enough evidence against the accused.
Can't probe authenticity of audio, video provided by CBI.
Those who climbed on the dome are anti-social elements.
The audio of the speech is not clear.
The accused tried to stop the anti-social elements from climbing the dome.
The case relates to the razing of the disputed structure in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992. The 32 accused persons include former deputy prime minister Advani, former Union minister Joshi and Uma Bharti, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh, during whose tenure the structure was pulled down, besides Vinay Katiyar and Sadhvi Rithambara. Champat Rai, the general secretary of the trust in charge of constructing the temple, is also among the accused. The CBI, which went into the case, produced 351 witnesses and 600 documents as evidence before the court.
Charges were framed against 48 people, but 16 had died during the course of the trial. Over two dozen of 32 accused were present. Advani (92), Joshi (86), Bharti (61), Singh (88), Nritya Gopal Das and Satish Pradhan were not present in court.
12:38 CBI court acquits all accused in Babri masjid case
All 32 accused in Babri Masjid demolition case acquitted by Special CBI Court in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Accused Sadhvi Ritambhara, Sakshi Maharaj, Vinay Katiyar and Champat Rai Bansal are in court. Three key accused BJP leaders have skipped court, and are attending hearing through video-conferencing. While Uma Bharti has tested positive for coronavirus, LK Adavni and Murli Manohar Joshi have excused themselves on grounds of health and age.
Judge SK Yadav observed that evidences against the accused are not strong enough and the Babri Mosque demolition incident was not pre-planned.
The leaders present there were trying to stop the mob and not incite them, the court observes. It was anti-social elements who climbed over dome and the accused tried to stop them. The authenticity of the audio and video proofs cannot be proven, the court observes.
12:23 Uma Bharti to attend proceedings via video conferencing
Kalyan Singh, Uma Bharti, Satish Pradhan and Mahant Nritya Gopal Das attend proceedings via video conferencing, as court is set to announce verdict in Babri Masjid demolition case.
12:18 Judge dictates 2,000 page order on Babri verdict
CBI judge Surendra Kumar Yadav has begun reading the 2,000-page order in 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case with accused Sadhvi Ritambhara, Sakshi Maharaj, Vinay Katiyar and Champat Rai Bansal in court.
Three key accused BJP leaders have skipped hearing, and are likely to attend it through video-conferencing. While Uma Bharti has tested positive for coronavirus, LK Adavni and Murli Manohar Joshi have excused themselves on grounds of health and age.
If convicted, saffron veterans Advani, Joshi, Bharti, Katiyar, Ritambhara, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Bansal, Ram Vilas Vedanti, Dharmadas and Dr Satish Pradhan would face maximum imprisonment up to five years.
A high alert has been sounded in Uttar Pradesh.
12:16 SC had extended tenure of judge SK Yadav
The Supreme Court had extended the tenure of Allahabad trial court judge SK Yadav, directing him to complete the trial and deliver the verdict in Babri Masjid demolition case. The 60-year-old judge was to retire in 2019, but he has been given extensions by the top court to hear the high- profile case which he has been handling since 2015.
The top court had in May asked special judge S K Yadav to control the proceedings in accordance with law so that the time-frame is no longer breached. It had indicated to the special judge to avail the facilities of video conferencing to complete recording of evidence and hearing of applications that are filed during the course of trial proceedings.
File pic
12:08 Babri verdict: Tight vigil in national capital
The Delhi Police Wednesday said they will keep a strict vigil in the national capital in view of the judgement in the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case which is slated to be announced during the day. "We will keep a watch on the security aspect across the city," a senior police officer said. The much-awaited judgment in the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case in which BJP veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi are among the accused will be pronounced on Wednesday. Advani, Joshi and other accused Uma Bharti and Kalyan Singh are not present in the trial court today. Their advocate KK Mishra also said that Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas chief, Nritya Gopal Das, too is unlikely to be present in the CBI special court in Lucknow
11:21 Babri demolition case: 6 Accused to be absent from court
Total six accused including Advani, Joshi and Uma Bharti will not appear physically in the court for the hearing today.
They may appear through video-conferencing though to hear the verdict.
They will also give undertakings before the special judge to abide with every order of the court.
10:59 Waiting for Babri verdict: Sanjay Raut
As the special CBI court readies to deliver verdict in 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case, three key accused BJP leaders will skip hearing.
While Uma Bharti has tested positive for coronavirus, LK Adavni and Murli Manohar Joshi have excused themselves on grounds of health and age.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut reacted to the same, saying, "Waiting for the court's verdict on the Babri demolition case. There is no importance of the case once the Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan was done in August."
According to legal experts, if convicted, veteran leaders like LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti, Vinay Katiyar, Sadhvi Rithambhara, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Champat Rai Bansal, Ram Vilas Vedanti, Dharmadas and Satish Pradhan would face maximum imprisonment up to five years for conspiracy.
If former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj and then Ayodhya district magistrate RN Srivastava are convicted, they may get maximum three years of jail term.
10:41 Babri Case verdict: Judge arrives at special court in Lucknow
A special court in Lucknow will today announce the verdict in the 28-year-old case involving the demolition of Babri Masjid, which stood at the Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya.
BJP's founder-members LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi are accused in the 1992 demolition that had cost around 3,000 lives.
Sadhvi Ritambhara, Sakshi Maharaj, Vinay Katiyar and Champat Rai Bansal have also reached court. If convicted, saffron veterans Advani, Joshi, Bharti, Katiyar, Ritambhara, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Bansal, Ram Vilas Vedanti, Dharmadas and Dr Satish Pradhan would face maximum imprisonment up to five years.
10:14 UP CM forms SIT for Hathras rape incident
Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath forms a three-member SIT to investigate the Hathras gangrape incident.
The CM has ordered that the SIT submit its report within 7 days. Yogi Adityanath has also directed for the trial of the case in a fast-track court.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi attacked the UP government and demanded for the resignation of the CM.
She tweeted, "Instead of protecting the victim and her family, your government became complicit in depriving her of every single human right, even in death. You have no moral right to continue as chief minister."
Protests against the Farm Laws at India Gate yesterday
10:06 Will take decisions in favour of farmers: Maharashtra Minister
Reacting to the recent farm laws enacted by the Centre, Maharashtra Cooperation Minister Balasaheb Patil on Tuesday said the State government will take decisions that are in favour of farmers.
Addressing the media here Patil said, "The way Centre has the right to make laws same way State can also make laws. Centre has made laws regarding Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMC) and our leaders have made it clear that we will take decisions which are in favour of farmers. This is not flip flop."
Notably, the Maharashtra Government is facing criticism for its double standards in opposing farm Bills passed by Parliament last week. However, notifications in the lines of recently passed farm Bills were already issued by Maharashtra Government to all its APMCs in the month of August but now the government is opposing the Bills passed with the same provisions as Maharashtra Government.
Recently, Maharashtra Congress President and State Minister Balasaheb Thorat said that the Bills passed by Parliament were anti-farmer. "So we are opposing it. Maha Vikas Aghadi will also oppose it and not implement it in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena is also with us. We will sit together and form a strategy," he had said.
The Parliament had passed Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Service Act, 2020 and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 in the recently concluded monsoon session. -- ANI
Relatives of the victim mourn her death. Pic: ANI
09:50 Cops cremate Hathras rape victim at 2:30 am
NDTV reports: The 20-year-old woman, who died on Tuesday in Delhi two weeks after she was gang-raped and tortured in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras, was cremated by policemen last night, allegedly as her family and relatives were locked up in their homes.
A disturbing sequence of events captured in overnight visuals shows the family arguing with cops, female relatives throwing themselves on the hood of the ambulance carrying the body and a mother weeping helplessly as cops insist on taking her daughter straight to cremation, without allowing a last look.
The woman died in Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital yesterday morning.
She had suffered multiple fractures, paralysis and a gash in her tongue in the horrific assault that drew parallels to the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape. But long after her death, her family had to endure a night of unending horror.
As protesters outside the Delhi hospital chanted "hang the rapists", the woman's brothers complained that her body had been whisked away by the UP police without their knowledge.
Her father and brothers sat on protest but they were taken away by the cops in a black Scorpio with UP plates.
The woman's body was taken to her village in Hathras, about 200 km from Delhi, after midnight. As her family and villagers suspected the UP police wanted to complete the last rites right then, in the middle of the night, they insisted that this was "against their tradition"; the woman's father pleaded with the police to be allowed to take her home and cremate her in the morning.
09:34 Kangana is her own queen of fashion
Kangana Ranaut shares this throwback picture of her sartorial tastes. "When I was a little girl I decorated myself with pearls, cut my own hair, wore thigh high socks and heels. People laughed at me. From being a village clown to attending front rows of London, Paris, New York Fashion weeks I realised fashion is nothing but freedom of expression."
The Bombay High Court, on Tuesday, resumed the hearing of the plea filed by Kangana Ranaut challenging the demolition of her property, on account of alleged illegal alterations by the Brinhanmumbai Municipal Corporation on 9 September.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has been made a respondent to the petition filed by Ranaut against the demolition.
"Even we don't agree with a word of what the petitioner (Ranaut) has said. But is this the way to address?" the court said.
"We are also Maharashtrians. We are all proud Maharashtrians. But we don't go and break someone's house. Is this the way to react? Don't you have any grace?" asked a division bench of Justices SJ Kathawalla and RI Chagla.
09:24 India's Covid tally crosses 62-lakh mark
India's Covid-19 tally crosses the 62-lakh mark with a spike of 80,472 new cases and 1,179 deaths reported in last 24 hours. Total case tally stands at 62,25,764 including 9,40,441 active cases, 51,87,826 cured/discharged/migrated and 97,497 deaths: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
US President Donald Trump has accused India of hiding the actual Covid figures. At the just-concluded presidential debate with Democrat nominee Joe Biden, Trump said, "When you talk about numbers you don't know how many people died in China, you don't know how many people died in Russia, you don't know how many people died in India."
08:51 General Atlantic to invest Rs 3,675 cr in Reliance Retail
US-based private equity firm General Atlantic will invest Rs 3,675 crore for a 0.84 per cent stake in Reliance Retail, the Indian firm said on Wednesday.
"This investment values Reliance Retail at a pre-money equity value of Rs 4.285 lakh crore. General Atlantic's investment will translate into a 0.84 per cent equity stake in Retail Retail Ventures Ltd on a fully diluted basis," the company said in a statement.
This is the second investment by General Atlantic in a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, following a Rs 6,598.38 crore investment in Jio Platforms announced earlier this year.
-- PTI
08:29 Babri case: Advani, Joshi, Bharti to skip court
A special CBI court will today deliver its verdict in the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case involving 32 accused, including BJP veterans LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti and Vinay Katiyar after 27 years.
But none of the four high-profile accused will be present in court.
Advani, 92, and Joshi, 86, are exempted from attending on health grounds.
Uma Bharti has contracted coronavirus and Kalyan Singh is recuperating from it.
The Babri Masjid was demolished in December 1992 by "kar sevaks" who claimed that the mosque in Ayodhya was built on the site of an ancient Ram temple.
08:14 First US presidential debate concludes
And with that the first US presidential debate has come to an end.
08:12 Vote, vote, vote: Biden in final message
The final portion is on election integrity, and Biden focused his answer on encouraging Americans to vote.
Biden referenced Trumps attacks on voting by mail, which the president has claimed (without evidence) will be vulnerable to widespread fraud.
Biden noted Trump himself has voted by mail in recent years, saying, He sits behind the Resolute Desk and sends his ballot to Florida.
Trump reiterated that the widespread voting by mail in this years elections would represent a fraud, even though there is no evidence for that.
The US president claimed Americans may not know the results of the election for months, although election officials of both parties have not echoed that concern. Biden responded, Hes just afraid of counting the votes.
08:03 Trump and Biden take on each other over climate change
The debate has shifted toward climate change, with moderator Chris Wallace asking the two candidates about the recent devastating wildfires along the west coast.
Trump echoed past comments blaming the fires on poor forest management, even though climate experts say the fires are primarily driven by record levels of drought and heat, which have been attributed to climate change.
Trump attacked Biden for his climate policies, claiming his proposals would cause economic catastrophe.
07:53 US weaker, sicker & more divided: Biden to Trump
Making a general pitch for his candidacy, Biden argued the country had become weaker, sicker and more divided since Trump took office.
Biden also described the US president as Putins puppy, echoing a similar line from Hillary Clinton four years ago.
07:49 This debate is chaos and the moderator believes it too
Can't handle the interruptions between candidates?
Neither can the moderator.
After about an hour of debate -- featuring bickering, cross-talk and insults between candidates -- Chris Wallace pleaded with Trump and Biden to rein it in, breaking into a brief shout in the process.
"Gentleman! I hate to raise my voice, but why should I be different than the two of you?"The country will be better served with fewer interruptions, he says.
Cut off by Trump, Wallace tells the US president that he's a bigger offender than Biden.
07:44 Trump and Biden square off on race violence
Biden called on Trump to denounce white supremacist violence, weeks after two anti-racist protesters were shot and killed in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Trump responded by telling the far-right group Proud Boys to "stand back and stand by."
07:29 You're worst president US has ever had: Biden
Trump was pressed on the New York Times story about his tax returns, which showed he paid only $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017.
The US president claimed he had paid "millions' in income taxes.
Biden responded by repeatedly pressing Trump to release his tax returns, and the president claimed he would soon, which he has been saying since 2015.
"You are the worst president America has ever had,' Biden said
07:26 Trump again mocks Biden for wearing a mask
This has to be spoke of.. During the debate, Trump mocks Biden for wearing a mask.
More than 200,000 Americans have died from Covid-19 and US President Trump is still casting doubt about the effectiveness of wearing a mask -- and mocking Democratic nominee Joe Biden for doing so himself.
I don't wear a mask like (Biden), every time you see him, he's got a mask, Trump said. He could be speaking 200 feet away from it, and he shows up with the biggest mask I've seen.
Biden, when asked about the use of masks, again referenced the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention directors beseeching of Americans to put them on and reiterated how many lives could be saved in the coming months if people took his advice.
Trump jumped in to argue to that health officials have said the opposite a false claim that hes repeated when questioned on the matter.
No serious person has said the opposite, Biden shot back.
Trump again interrupted to say that Dr Anthony Fauci had said precisely that, before noting, almost in passing, that Fauci had changed his position from the very early days of the pandemic.
07:21 I paid millions: Trump on taxes during debate
Chris Wallace asks Trump directly: "Is it true that you paid $750 in federal income taxes those two years."
After going at each other over the handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the two candidates are now debating over the economy.
Obviously, the topic rounds off on Trump's taxes.
Trump responds: "I paid millions of dollars' I paid $38m one year, I paid $27m one year."
He adds, "It was the tax laws, I don't want to pay tax."
07:16 Here's who has talked the most so far
Believe it or not, Joe Biden is leading slightly in speaking time with more than 13 minutes.
After the first half hour of a contentious debate, Biden has spoken for 13.10 minutes, while US President Donald Trump has spoken to 12.52 minute
07:06 There's nothing smart about you, Joe: Trump
After Biden criticised Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic, the US president replied by insulting his opponent's intelligence.
"There's nothing smart about you, Joe,' Trump said.
07:01 Trump hits back at Biden over COVID handling with swine flu pandemic
Trump once again tried to equate the coronavirus pandemic to the 2009 swine flu pandemic, accusing the Obama administration of mishandling the response to that pandemic.
Biden replied by noting the death toll from swing flu was about 14,000, while more than 200,000 Americans have already died of coronavirus.
07:00 How the public is responding to the US presidential debate
So far the debate has been pretty rough around the edges, with Trump, Biden and Wallace often taking turns to talk over each other.
"Trump is behaving like a child. Biden, however, cannot let him continue controlling this debate. He needs to make HIS case, despite Trump's antics."
-- @marclamonthill
"Trump's strategy is obviously just to constantly interject and try to throw Biden off his game and it's just obnoxious as hell."
-- @krystalball
06:57 US presidential debate moves to COVID-19
The debate has shifted to coronavirus after a largely unproductive segment on the supreme court that was defined by crosstalk and insults.
Biden criticised Trumps response to the coronavirus pandemic, noting the country is still recording roughly 40,000 new cases a day.
Referencing Trumps comments to Bob Woodward that he downplayed the seriousness of the virus to avoid creating a panic, Biden told America, You dont panic, he panicked.
06:52 When Biden lost his cool
It seems Donald Trump is getting under Biden's skin.
He told the US president, "JUST SHUT UP, MAN."
06:49 Trump, Biden spar over US SC nominee -- Amy Coney Barrett
Biden takes issue with Amy Coney Barretts past writings about the Affordable Care Act, but he avoided launching any personal attacks against the supreme court nominee.
Im not opposed to the justice. She seems like a very fine person, Biden said.
Trump justified advancing the nomination of Barrett before the election by saying, Im not elected for three years. Im elected for four years.
When Trump claimed Biden wanted to push the country toward socialist medicine, the Democrat emphasised that he is not a socialist.
Biden replied to Trumps broader attacks against Democrats by saying, I am the Democratic party right now.
06:42 US presidential debate: First topic is SC
The first question of the night goes to Trump, and moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News asked about the supreme court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett.
Wallace noted Republicans have been criticized for trying to get Barrett confirmed before the election.
Trump justified advancing the nomination by saying elections have consequences, referring to his White House victory in 2016, and by pledging Barrett would be as good as anybody that has served on that court.
We won the election, and therefore we have the right to choose her, Trump said.
Biden responded by saying the results of the upcoming election should determine who nominates the justice to fill the seat of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
We should wait and see what the outcome of this election is, Biden said.
06:36 Trump, Biden lock horns in presidential debatev
Here we go!
US President Donald Trump and former US vice president Joe Biden go up against one another in Cleveland, Ohio, for their first face-off of this election cycle.
The Supreme Court, coronavirus, the economy, race and violence, their records and the integrity of the election will be the topics discussed.
06:33 Trump's family arrive for US presidential debate
Trump family members, including Ivanka Trump, and Jill Biden have now taken their seats in the Samson Pavilion, with the first question just moments away.
Image: Ivanka Trump at the US presidential debate. Photograph: Scott Olson/Getty Images
06:24 Debate host and Fox News anchor unloved by Trump
The host of the US presidential debate is Chris Wallace, and the 72-year-old is not just any Fox News anchor.
He's made a name for himself for being precisely not the Trump-cheerleader that some of his other high-profile colleagues are often accused of being.
Instead, he's seen as a serious, interrogative and even-handed journalist, with a measured delivery that at times seems to hark back to the TV news anchors of the 1960s and 1970s.
And this won't be his first debate.
Wallace, who had a long career at other broadcasters before joining Fox, burnished his long-standing reputation for fair treatment of both sides of the US political aisle in 2016, when he became the first Fox News anchor to host a presidential debate.
06:12 Trump, Biden gear up for US presidential debate
There will be no handshake, but venom to spare when US President Donald Trump and challenger Joe Biden meet in Cleveland for the first of three televised debates that could shake up an already volatile race for the White House.
Covid-19 restrictions will give the debate moderated by Fox News star Chris Wallace a streamlined look with a smaller audience. Naturally, there won't be the once standard -- even if occasionally forced -- show of goodwill in shaking hands as the rivals go on stage.
What the 90-minute clash will have is a chance for Americans finally to see Trump, 74, and Biden, 77, go head to head.
With Trump claiming Biden is virtually brain dead -- "Biden doesn't know he's alive" -- and Biden branding the president "a toxic presence," it won't be for the faint hearted.
Significantly behind in the polls, Trump is in fighting mode, embarking on an endurance-testing schedule of rallies in key battlegrounds several times a week.
Biden, though, comes hoping to press his advantage.
00:34 Hathras gangrape: Cong questions 'silence' of PM
Hitting out at the Bharatiya Janata Party over the Hathras gangrape incident, the Congress on Tuesday questioned the "silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and women leaders of his party and alleged that Uttar Pradesh under the Yogi Adityanath government has become the country's "crime capital".
The Opposition party's attack on the Centre and the state government came after a 19-year-old Dalit woman from Hathras in UP died at Delhi's Safdarjung hospital Tuesday morning, days after she was allegedly raped by four men.
Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev wrote to Chief Minister Adityanath over the incident and demanded his resignation, saying he should quit taking moral responsibility for the "deteriorating" law and order situation in the state and that president's rule be imposed.
At a press conference, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate alleged that for eight days no gangrape charges were pressed in the matter and that the UP chief minister's information advisor and Agra Police kept calling the incident "fake news.
She demanded a probe into the incident by a committee headed by a sitting high court judge.
Shrinate also attacked Union Women and Child Development minister Smriti Irani, an MP from the state, asking her to break her "conspicuous silence" on the issue.
UP Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu also demanded Adityanath's resignation from the CM's post and asked why UP Governor Anandiben Patel was silent over the incident.
The Congress also protested over the incident at Vijay Chowk in Delhi, demanding justice for the victim. The party said its leaders PL Punia, Udit Raj, Amrita Dhawan along with others were detained at Mandir Marg police station for protesting.
Party leaders and workers also carried out a candle march at Safdarjung hospital and in several places in UP.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the government over the incident, saying the "class-specific jungle raj" of UP has killed another young woman.
"The government said this is fake news and left the victim to die. Neither was this unfortunate incident fake, nor was the death of the victim and the mercilessness of the government," he said in a tweet in Hindi.
Congress general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also hit out at the state government, alleging that there is "no semblance of security" for women in UP.
She said incidents of rape one after the other in Hathras, Shahjahanpur and Gorakhpur have shaken the state.
"Law and order in UP has deteriorated beyond limits. There is no semblance of safety for women. Criminals are committing crimes in the open, Priyanka Gandhi said, demanding that the woman's killers be punished severely.
In her letter to the UP CM, Dev said being the chief minister, he was "accountable" for the brutality committed against the "daughter of Hathras".
She demanded strict action against the culprits through a fast track court and all possible assistance to the victim's family.
"The terrible state of Uttar Pradesh in violence against women is a matter of shame. You should take moral responsibility for the deteriorating law and order situation and resign, and President's rule should be imposed in Uttar Pradesh," Dev said in the letter.
Shrinate alleged that for eight days no gangrape charges were pressed in the matter and only after the media reported it, the police registered a case. She also alleged that the UP chief minister's information advisor and Agra Police, till September 24, kept calling the incident "fake news".
"Why did it take eight days for the UP police to register a gangrape case on her complaint, why was she immediately not transferred to a premier institute like AIIMS, and instead was left to die in UP? Why is it that these men who brutally assaulted, raped and murdered her, do not face NSA (National Security Act) charges and why is it that the UP chief minister is absolutely quiet on this?" Shrinate asked. -- PTI
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