LIVE
Wed, 17 November 2021
Justice Duraiswamy to be acting CJ of Madras HC
Timeline Refresh
23:43 Justice Duraiswamy to be acting CJ of Madras HC
Justice M Duraiswamy was on Wednesday appointed as the acting chief justice of the Madras high court.
Justice Sanjib Banerjee, who was heading the high court, was shifted as the head of the Meghalaya high court a couple of days ago.
A Law Ministry notification said Justice Duraiswamy, the senior-most judge of the Madras HC, will be the acting chief justice with effect from November 17.
When Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari, transferred from the Allahabad HC to the Madras HC, joins his new posting, he will become the acting chief justice, the notification said.
Once Justice Bhandari joins the Madras high court, he will be the senior-most judge of the Madras HC. -- PTI
23:40 2 held for trying to enter Rashtrapati Bhawan
Two people were arrested for allegedly trying to enter the Rashtrapati Bhawan, police said on Wednesday.
The incident took place around 11.30 pm on Monday, they said.
They were identified as Shivam Sharma and Kusum Rajput. They were under the influence of alcohol when they tried to force their way into Rashtrapati Bhawan, the police said, adding that an FIR was registered against the duo.
Both of them work at a salon, the police said.
The case was filed against them under sections of trespass, the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and the Motor Vehicles Act on the complaint of an ACP rank officer at the South Avenue police station, the FIR stated.
The accused were in a car and they forcefully entered the President's Estate without any authorisation, the FIR stated.
Sharma was sent to RML hospital for medical examination, it added.
The duo were sent to 14 days' judicial custody, the police said. -- PTI
22:54 ED summons Mehbooba's brother in PMLA case
Brother of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has been asked to appear before the Enforcement Directorate in New Delhi on Thursday for questioning in a money laundering case, officials said on Wednesday.
Tassaduq Hussain Mufti, who was a tourism minister in his sister's cabinet, has been asked to appear before the investigating officer of the case in New Delhi on Thursday and get his statement recorded under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The investigation, they said, pertains to some funds allegedly received by him in his accounts from some Kashmir-based businesses.
Reacting to this, Mehbooba Mufti told PTI that it was a political vendetta against her.
"The moment I raise my voice against any wrongdoing, there is a summon waiting for someone from my family. This time it was my brother," she told PTI.
Mehbooba Mufti, who has herself been questioned by the ED in the past in connection with another money laundering case, said that she has been protesting against the killing of innocent civilians in the outskirts of Srinagar city on Monday.
Four people were killed in the outskirts of the city on Monday by the Army and police, which dubbed them 'terrorists' and 'harbourers of terrorists'.
However, the families of these people have contested the claims, saying that they were innocent people.
Police's contradictory statements in the case have also raised eyebrows prompting political leaders, including Mehbooba Mufti, to stage protests against it. -- PTI
22:17 Actor-MP Nusrat Jahan's marriage invalid: Court
A Kolkata court has declared a purported marriage between actor turned Trinamool Congress MP Nusrat Jahan and city-based businessman Nikhil Jain in Turkey as legally invalid.
Jain had moved a suit before the Alipore Court here praying for a decree of declaration that no marriage took place between him and Nusrat.
'It is declared that the alleged marriage held on 19/06/2019 at Bodrum, Turkey in between the plaintiff and the defendant is not legally valid,' Civil Judge S Roy of 2nd court, Alipore, ordered on Tuesday.
The court noted in its order Jain's contention that he and Jahan celebrated a wedding party in presence of their close friends and relatives 'following both Western and Indian style and rituals of Hindu marriage'.
It noted that the marriage was never registered in Turkey.
The plaintiff, Jain, claimed that after returning to India, they started residing together, but the relation between them deteriorated subsequently and that she was not willing to continue the union.
It was further claimed that the parties to the suit, one being a Hindu and the other a Muslim, never got married under the Special Marriage Act, 'so their consensual union cannot be treated as a marriage'.
The court also noted that Jahan prayed for a judgment, admitting the contentions of Jain regarding the alleged marriage.
'Considering all aspects of the suit and in view of the admission made on part of the defendant, the court is of the opinion that the alleged marriage held between the parties to the suit is not legally valid,' the court directed, disposing of the suit. -- PTI
21:51 Pollution: Delhi restricts entry of trucks
Delhi government's Transport Department on Wednesday banned entry of trucks, barring those carrying essential items, with immediate effect in the national capital till November 21 or any further orders, Amid alarming levels of air pollution.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Tuesday issued directions to stop entry of trucks in Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities, till November 21, subject to further review of extension of this date.
'In pursuance of this direction, it is hereby ordered that entry of trucks in Delhi shall be barred with immediate effect till 21/11/2021 or till further orders,' said an order the Transport Department.
The ban will not apply to trucks carrying essential commodities like raw vegetables, fruits, grains, milk, eggs, ice that are to be used as food items, and tankers carrying petroleum products, stated the order.
In view of high pollution levels in Delhi, the city's Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday said his government has decided to shut schools, colleges and other educational institutions till further orders and extend the ban on construction and demolition activities till November 21. -- PTI
21:13 Armed cops deployed at actor Suriya's home
Armed security personnel have been deployed at the residence of Tamil Actor Suriya at his T Nagar residence in Chennai, on Wednesday, following a threat call by Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) Mayiladuthurai district secretary Palanisamy for allegedly 'tarnishing' the reputation of Vanniyar community in Jai Bhim movie.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu police also booked Paatali Makkal Katchi (PMK) functionary Palanisamy who allegedly announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for attacking the actor.
As per the police, Palanisamy is booked under sections 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 269 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) and 506 (1) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
On Monday, the Vanniyar Sangam had issued a legal notice to Actor Suriya and Director T J Gnanavel, demanding an unconditional apology from the makers of the film Jai Bhim for portraying the community in a bad light.
The notice sought damages in Rs 5 crore.
The notice issued by PMK Advocate Balu said that the Sangam would file criminal defamation against the makers of the movie if they fail to comply with the demands within seven days from the time and date of receipt of this notice.
Vanniyar is a Most Backward Community which is the predominant community in northern districts of Tamil Nadu. -- ANI
20:36 Man goes missing from Asaram's ashram in Gujarat
A 27-year-old man from Hyderabad has gone missing from jailed godman Asaram Bapu's ashram in Motera area of Gujarat's Ahmedabad city after attending a 'shivir' (camp) between November 3 and 11, police said on Wednesday.
A missing person's complaint was registered during the day at Chandkheda police station in this regard, inspector R S Thakar said.
Vijay Yadav last spoke to his parents on November 9, after which he went untraceable, as his phone has been switched off, said the missing man's brother Sanjay Yadav, who has come to the city from Hyderabad with other relatives.
Ashram authorities have informed the police that Vijay had sent an email on Tuesday stating that he is alright and will return after some days, said Thakar, adding that the email was sent from Vijay's ID to the ashram's email ID.
"In the email, Vijay had purportedly said that he has gone to a place voluntarily and will come back soon. We are trying to get the exact location using the IP address of the computer from which the mail was sent. We have also sought call records of his phone number," the official said.
Vijay had come to the ashram from Hyderabad with nine other men to attend a shivir between November 3 and 11, he said.
While his friends returned to their homes after the camp, Vijay stayed back saying he wanted to take part in some ritual to attain inner peace, and cancelled his train ticket, the official said.
"When his relatives reached the ashram to inquire about Vijay on Tuesday, they were told that he was not in the ashram. When the police went to the ashram for preliminary investigation, they did not find any record of Vijay's entry into the premises," Thakar said.
According to Sanjay Yadav, his brother last spoke to his mother on November 9 and his phone got switched off a day after.
The family was unhappy as Vijay had started visiting the Asaram ashram in Hyderabad more frequently in the recent times, he said. -- PTI
19:43 Love triangle behind Bihar scribe's murder: Cops
Bihar Police on Wednesday claimed to have cracked the kidnap and murder case of Madhubani-based journalist and RTI activist Avinash Jha alias Buddhinath, insisting he was killed due to a 'love triangle'.
Police have so far arrested six people, including a woman Purna Kala Devi. Others arrested have been identified as Roshan Kumar, Bittu Kumar, Deepak Kumar, Pawan Kumar and Manish Kumar.
However, the deceased's family refused to accept the police's theory.
The police have planted the story. They have not arrested the real culprits involved in the crime just to save the medical mafia' that killed Buddhinath, said a family member.
Talking to reporters, Benipatti Dy SP Arun Kumar Singh said, "During interrogation, Purna Kala Devi confessed she was in love with Buddhinath Jha. A man named Pawan Kumar was in love with her. Pawan, who has also been arrested, did not want Buddhinath and Purna Kala Devi to talk to each other. He often pressured Purna Kala for that."
He claimed the investigation revealed Pawan and Roshan Kumar killed Buddhinath.
However, police are also investigating the allegations levelled by Buddhinath Jha's family that he was killed by those operating illegal nursing homes and pathological laboratories in the area.
The slain journalist often wrote about the illegal activities of such establishments.
Using the Bihar Public Grievance Redressal Act and the Right to Information Act, Jha had got 19 pathology labs in Benipatti and Dhakjari closed in February this year over 'illegal practices'.
Jha, who worked for a local website, was last seen on November 9 and his half burnt body was found by the roadside on Friday. -- PTI
IMAGE: Family members mourn the death of journalist and RTI activist Buddhinath Jha whose body was found burnt after being kidnapped four days ago, in Madhubani on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Photo
19:28 AAP functionary sends legal notice to Kangana
A
functionary of the Mumbai unit of the Aam Aadmi Party has sent a
legal notice to actor Kangana Ranaut over her recent remarks in which
she described India's Independence as 'bheekh'.
Kashinath
Kalmandarga, who is the joint secretary of AAP's Mumbai unit and son of
a freedom fighter, on Wednesday said he has sent the notice to Ranaut.
In a statement, he said, 'My father Vitthalrao Kalmandarga was a
freedom fighter, who dedicated his whole life to the freedom struggle
in order to uproot the oppression of the British rule. This abominable
statement (by Ranaut) insults and discredits the Indian freedom struggle
and its revered leaders.'
'The AAP has sent a letter to
Maharashtra chief minister (Uddhav Thackeray), requesting him to apply
to the Union government for the withdrawal of her civilian award,' he
said.
Ranaut, who was recently given the Padma Shri award,
kicked off a firestorm last week for declaring that India attained 'real
freedom' in 2014, when the Modi-led government came to power, and
describing the country's Independence in 1947 as 'bheekh' or alms.
Last week, AAP leader Preeti Sharma Menon had submitted an application
to the Mumbai police, requesting action against Ranaut for her 'seditious and inflammatory statements'. -- PTI
18:54 2 terrorists killed in J-K, another encounter on
Two terrorists were killed on Wednesday in an encounter between security forces and the ultras in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district, where another gunfight was also underway, the police said.
The gunfights broke out in Pombay and Goplapora areas of the South Kashmir district, they said.
Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in Gopalpora area following inputs about the presence of terrorists, a police official said.
He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the terrorists fired upon a party of security forces, which retaliated. In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were killed, the official said.
He said their identity and group affiliation was being ascertained.
Another gunfight broke out in Pombay area of the district after security forces received inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area, the official said.
He said an exchange of fire is going on and further details were awaited.
18:30 Akbaruddin Owaisi acquitted in 2004 hate speech case
A special court in Hyderabad has acquitted AIMIM leader and MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi in a "hate" speech case registered against him in 2004.
The special sessions court for trial of MPs/MLAs on Tuesday found Owaisi not guilty of the offences/allegations against him and acquitted him.
A case was registered under relevant IPC sections against him on a complaint from a police official, who alleged that the Chandrayangutta legislator made an inflammatory speech at a public meeting in Hyderabad during election campaigning in March 2004 and tried to instigate the public.
Subsequently a charge-sheet was filed by police after getting the government's nod to prosecute Owaisi.
After hearing arguments and counter arguments, the court acquitted Owaisi for lack of evidence as no independent witness supported the case.
18:10 Param Bir Singh declared proclaimed offender
Mumbai's Esplanade court has allowed Mumbai Police's application to declare former police commissioner Param Bir Singh as a proclaimed offender. Now, police can designate him a wanted accused and initiate process to declare him absconder, Special Public Prosecutor Shekhar Jagtap. said.
Mumbai Police had on Saturday approached the magistrate court seeking to declare its former commissioner Param Bir Singh a proclaimed absconding offender in connection with an extortion case registered by the Goregaon police, along with two other accused Vinay Singh and Riyaz Bhati stating that they are absconding and could not be traced.
The city police will now paste the notice on their known addresses and publish it in newspapers directing them to appear before it within 30 days. If they fail to appear, police will initiate the process for attachment of their properties.
18:00 Four terrorists killed in encounter in Kulgam
Update: As many as four terrorists were killed in Pombai and Gopalpora villages of Kulgam district in encounters with security forces on Wednesday, the police said.
Separate encounters between terrorists and security forces are underway in Pombai and Gopalpora villages of Kulgam.
"Four terrorists were killed in Pombai and Gopalpora villages of Kulgam district. At both these places, encounters are going on," Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar said. -- ANI
17:48 FM asks industry to start taking risks
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said there are clear signs of an uptick in the economy and the industry should now start taking risks and invest in capacity creation that will help cut reliance on imports.
"I appeal to industry not to further delay increasing capacity, not to further delay looking at areas to partner in technology," she said while addressing the CII Global Economic Policy Summit 2021.
She also asked the industry to offer jobs to reduce income disparity and cut down on importing finished goods reduce and instead ramp up investment in manufacturing.
"At a time when India is looking at impetus to growth, I want Indian industry to be a lot more risk-taking and understand what India wants," she said. PTI
File pic
17:29 Encounter underway in Kulgam
An encounter is underway between security forces and terrorists in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said Wednesday evening.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Pombay area of Kulgam in south Kashmir on receiving specific inputs about the presence of terrorists there, a police official said.
He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the terrorists fired upon the security forces. The exchange of fire is still going on and further details are awaited, the official said. PTI
IITs were established by Pt Nehru
17:26 What has Congress done for 70 years, asks Nadda
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President JP Nadda on Wednesday took a dig at Congress and asked what it has done in the past 70 years.
Speaking at an event organised on the first death anniversary of a party worker, Bholanath Vij in Delhi, Nadda said, "Congress always asks "where is the changing India?". I must say that it will not be able to see it. What has the party (Congress) done in 70 years?"
"If it would have worked for the people's welfare at that time, then PM Modi would not need to do it," he added.
Nadda described the work done by his party and said more than 10 crores toilets have been constructed since BJP has come to power.
"Before BJP come to power, there were a total of 18,000 villages with no electricity. But now, electricity has been provided to all the villages. Ayushman cards have also been given to more than 12 crore families of the country," he added. -- ANI
17:03 Cong seeks legal opinion on Kangana's remarks
The Congress is seeking a legal opinion on recent comments made by Kangana Ranaut and a party leader had already requested the police to register a complaint against her, Maharashtra party unit president Nana Patole said on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters here, Patole said Congress will take a firm stand against such "coordinated" attacks.
Days after her India's independence in 1947 was "bheek" remarks triggered a row, Ranaut on Tuesday claimed Subhas Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh got no support from Mahatma Gandhi and went on to mock his mantra of ahimsa by saying that offering another cheek gets you "bheek" not freedom.
She had described India's Independence as "bheek", or alms, and declared that freedom came in 2014 when the Narendra Modi-led government came to power.
In a series of posts on Instagram, Ranaut this time targeted Mahatma Gandhi and said "choose your heroes wisely".
"There are some Hindi film actors who are given some awards and being used to distort the historical facts. We are seeking a legal opinion on the matter. Once we arrive at a decision, the party will take its next firm stand regarding such coordinated attacks," Patole said when asked about comments made by Ranaut.
He said Congress leader Naseem Khan, a former minister, has already requested the police to file a complaint against Ranaut. -- PTI
16:44 Mapped: Top losers today
Axis Bank, Reliance Industries and Kotak Bank, the top three losers in the markets today. The other scrips on a losing spree are in image alongside.
16:22 Madhya Pradesh lifts all Covid-related bans
Madhya Pradesh removes all Covid-related restrictions with immediate effect.
MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that since the COVID-19 situation was is in control in the state, which had only 78 active cases, the government has decided to remove all the restrictions imposed during the pandemic.
"Night curfew will be lifted tonight. Cinema halls, malls, swimming pools, gyms, yoga centers, restaurants, clubs, schools, colleges, hostels, coaching classes will operate with 100 per cent capacity," the CM announced.
"However, every activity should be conducted following COVID-appropriate behaviour. Masks and social distancing are mandatory. All shop owners, hostel students above 18 years of age, teachers and cinema hall staff need to be fully vaccinated."
Axis Bank was the top loser
15:54 Sensex sheds 314 pts, Nifty ends below 17,900
Equity benchmark Sensex dropped 314 points on Wednesday tracking losses in index majors Reliance Industries, HDFC twins and Kotak Bank.
The 30-share index ended 314.04 points or 0.52 per cent lower at 60,008.33, extending losses for the second straight day.
Similarly, the Nifty fell by 100.55 points or 0.56 per cent to 17,898.65.
Axis Bank was the top loser in the Sensex pack, shedding around 2 per cent, followed by Reliance Industries, Kotak Bank, Bharti Airtel, Titan, Dr Reddy's and M&M. On the other hand, Maruti, Asian Paints, PowerGrid and NTPC were among the gainers.
15:45 Priyanka woos women voters from a boat in UP
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will launch the party's 100 days action plan for the "Adhi Abadi", an outreach programme for women voters in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.
Priyanka Gandhi arrived in Chitrakoot's Ram Ghat today to launch the programme.
The Congress general secretary had announced that 40 per cent tickets will be given to women in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.
The Congress leader has also made big promises to woo women voters and for which a separate manifesto has been prepared.
Some of the key promises include smartphone and two-wheelers for college-going girls, three cylinders for free for housewives, free travel for women in government buses, an honorarium of Rs 10,000 per month to ASHA and Anganwadi workers, and old age-widow pension of Rs 1000 per month.
To give an edge to this mission, the Uttar Pradesh Congress has prepared an action plan for the next 100 days.
There are about 7 crore women voters in the state and Priyanka Gandhi's banking on this significant portion of the electorate.
According to sources, the Congress is also going to commence a big public relations campaign to reach out to four crore women voters in the next 100 days.
A brigade of around 8,000 woman volunteers has been assigned for the task with the slogan "Mahila hoon lad sakti hoon".
15:26 THE HAQQANI NETWORK: the new kingmakers of Kabul
"Throughout the course of the Afghan War, the Haqqani Network was often responsible for the deadliest and highest-profile terrorist attacks on U.S. forces. It may be no coincidence that Khalil ur-Rahman Haqqani, a terrorist with a $5 million U.S. bounty on his head, was appointed to serve as the head of security in the Afghan capital one week before an August 2021 suicide bombing at the Kabul airport killed 13 U.S. soldiers and over 160 Afghan civilians. The fox was finally guarding the henhouse."
Read the column here.
15:13 Kangana calls Vir Das' monologue 'soft terrorism'
Actor Kangana Ranaut is the latest celebrity to slam comedian Vir Das for his duality of India monologue, 'I come from two Indias', a part of his recent show at the John F Kennedy Center in Washington.
In the six-minute-long video that Vir uploaded on his YouTube channel on Monday, he contrasts the different aspects of India by taking up issues like its battle against COVID-19, gang rapes, farmers' protest and more.
Several social media users including politicians have slammed Vir for insulting India in a foreign country.
Kangana Ranaut also took to her Instagram story and slammed Vir's monologue and asked for strict action to be taken against him.
Kangana wrote, "When you generalise that all Indian men are gang-rapists it gives rise and encouragement to racism and bullying against Indians all over the world... After the Bengal Famine Churchill famously said 'these Indians breed like rabbits they are bound to die like this...' he blamed Indians' sex drive/fertility for the death of millions because of hunger... Such creative work targeting an entire race is soft terrorism... strict actions must be taken against such criminals @virdas."
Vir Das during his show in US
14:52 Sibal, Tharoor back Vir Das; Singhvi slams him
Under attack for his monologue I come from two India's, stand-up comic Vir Das has found backing in Congress leaders Kapil Sibal and Shashi Tharoor but criticism from their party colleague Abhishek Manu Singhvi for "vilifying the nation".
As the issue gathered steam, senior Congress leader Sibal on Wednesday tweeted that none can doubt that there are two Indias. "Just that we don't want an Indian to tell the world about it. We are intolerant and hypocritical," he tweeted.
In a tweet Tuesday night, Tharoor praised Das as a stand-up comedian who knows that the real meaning of the term "stand up" is not physical but moral.
Das spoke for millions in the six-minute take on the 'Two Indias' he hails from and stands up for, he said.
Tagging a tweet by a person who said he has filed a complaint against Das with Mumbai police, Tharoor tweeted, "We know which India this comes from."
However, Singhvi hit out at Das, saying that "generalising the evils of a few individuals and vilifying the nation as a whole in front of the world is just not done".
"The people who painted India in front of the west as a nation of saperas and luteras during the colonial rule have not ceased to exist," the Rajya Sabha MP said on Twitter using the hashtag VirDas.
Das, who is currently in the US, on Monday uploaded a video on YouTube. The six-minute video titled I come from two India's is part of his recent performance at the John F Kennedy Centre in Washington DC.
The well-known artiste, who has also dabbled in cinema, touched on various topics in the clip, including the farm protests, the battle against Covid, the duality in response to women, particularly rape, and the crackdown on comedians.
14:44 2 held for trying to enter Rashtrapati Bhavan
Two people were arrested for allegedly trying to enter the Rashtrapati Bhavan, police said on Wednesday.
The incident took place around 9.30 pm on Monday, they said.
A man and his female friend under the influence of alcohol forcibly tried to enter the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
They were arrested after registration of an FIR, the police said. Both of them work in a salon, they added. -- PTI
14:17 BJP objects to Salman as Maha's Covid vax envoy
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ram Kadam on Wednesday raised objection to the Maharashtra government's plan to rope in actor Salman Khan to raise awareness on COVID-19 vaccination.
Kadam said that it is a "polarisation stunt" of the state government to attract a specific community.
"Is the MVA and Congress bringing Salman Khan for polarising people as there are elections in several states?" Kadam questioned.
"Although people across the country took part in the massive COVID-19 vaccination drive and most of them have been vaccinated and cooperated well, so is it a polarisation stunt by MVA and its partner Congress to polarise people and attract a specific community," he reiterated.
The BJP leader added that while the party does not have a problem with Salman Khan, it objects to the way in which he is being brought in.
Earlier today, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that the state government is in talks with religious leaders and celebrities like Salman Khan to raise awareness on COVID-19 vaccination.
13:55 GDP may grow at 10% in FY22: Bibek Debroy
India's economy is moving towards a higher growth trajectory and is likely to grow at around 10 per cent in 2021-22, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) Chairman Bibek Debroy said on Wednesday.
"I am confident that we are on a path towards a higher growth trajectory, higher poverty reduction, higher employment, and a prosperous, more developed and better governed India. I think it is, more or less, agreed that the real rate of growth this year (FY2022) is going to be around 10 per cent," Debroy said at an SBI event.
At the beginning of FY2021-22, the forecasts for real growth were in the 8.5-12.5 per cent range, he noted. However, all kinds of high-frequency indicators, including GST revenue, e-way bill, power consumption, vehicle registrations, railway freight, corporate profitability, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and steel consumption now instill confidence about the fact that the real rate of growth will be at around 10 per cent this financial year, Debroy said.
For the 2022-23 fiscal, he expects growth likely to be in the 6-7.5 per cent range. According to him, growth and income growth has four drivers - consumption, investment, government expenditure and exports. Of those, three and a little bit of investment are showing fairly robust and broad-based growth. -- PTI
13:36 Lakhimpur: SC appoints ex-judge to head probe
The Supreme Court Wednesday appointed Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain, a former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, to supervise the Uttar Pradesh SIT's probe on day-to-day basis into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
Eight people including four farmers were killed on October 3.
A bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli also took note of the names of the IPS officers provided by the state government, and appointed three officials as part of the state SIT.
The CJI said that a detailed order will be passed shortly. The top court said it would hear the case again after the SIT concludes its probe and files the status report and the charge sheet in the case.
The Uttar Pradesh government on November 15 had agreed to the apex court's suggestion that a former judge of its choice may be appointed to supervise the state SIT's probe. PTI
13:16 Ganguly replaces Kumble as ICC Cricket's Committee chairman
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has been appointed as the Chairman of the ICC men's Cricket Committee, the game's governing body said on Wednesday.
Ganguly will replace fellow Indian Anil Kumble, who stepped down after serving a maximum of three, three-year terms.
"I am delighted to welcome Sourav to the position of Chair of the ICC Men's Cricket Committee," ICC Chair Greg Barclay said in a release.
"His experience as one of the world's best players and latterly as an administrator will help us shape our cricketing decisions moving forward. "I would also like to thank Anil for his outstanding leadership over the last nine years which has included improving the international game through more regular and consistent application of DRS and a robust process for addressing suspect bowling actions."
The Board also approved that first-class status and list A classification will be applied to women's cricket to align with the men's game and applied retrospectively.
Vir Das at the JFK Center in Washington
13:05 Complaint filed against comedian Vir Das
A police complaint has been filed against actor-comedian Vir Das at Tilak Marg Police Station in the national capital for allegedly using derogatory language against India during an event held in the US, Delhi Police said on Wednesday.
A Delhi resident Aditya Jha has filed a complaint against the stand-up comedian in connection with a video titled 'I come from two Indias' from his performance at the John F Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, which the actor-comedian had uploaded on YouTube on Monday.
In a written complaint, Jha said that in a video the comedian has said making indecent remarks against the country at the event organized in America.
Following social media criticism over his video, Vir Das issued a statement through his Twitter handle, stating that his intention was not to insult the country. "The video is a satire about the duality of two very separate India's that do different things. Like any nation has light and dark, good and evil within it. None of this is a secret. The video appeals for us to never forget that we are great. To never stop focusing on what makes us great."
MA Jinnah with Mahatma Gandhi
12:57 Sindh HC constitutes commission to locate assets of Jinnah, sister
A Pakistani court has constituted a one-man commission to probe and locate assets and belongings left by Pakistan's founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah and his sister Fatima Jinnah.
The commission headed by retired Justice Faheem Ahmed Siddiqui was constituted on Tuesday on the order of the Sindh High Court (SHC) during a hearing of a 50-year-old suit relating to the properties, including shares, jewellery, cars and bank balances, of Jinnah and his sister.
While Jinnah passed away in September 1948, a year after the creation of Pakistan, Fatima passed away in 1967 in Karachi.
The SHC bench headed by Justice Zulfiqar Ahmad Khan at the hearing noted that as per the suit filed by Hussain Waliji, a relative of Fatima, all the listed valuables and assets of the brother-sister duo have not been discovered as yet and apparently disappeared, while many other items, which appeared in earlier reports, were also missing in the latest inventory prepared by an official assignee in the wake of an earlier order by the high court.
In its October 13 order, the SHC bench had resolved that it would pursue recovery of all the listed assets left by Jinnah and Fatima and use all force available with it to bring these assets to surface.
12:41 Dengue cases spike in Delhi
Dengue cases are on a rise in the national capital with around 20-25 new patients being admitted daily at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital with cases of vector-borne disease, said LNJP Director Suresh Kumar on Tuesday.
However, no death has been reported in the hospital so far.
While speaking to ANI, Kumar said, "20-25 new patients with dengue are coming every day. 40-50 suspected cases with fever admitted here. We test them. Many patients are waiting for platelets and when platelets counts are normal, then we discharge them in 3-4 days. No death has been reported yet in our hospital. Daily, we are discharging 15-20 patients including suspected and dengue cases."
12:36 The Manipur Ambush
Along borders, a complex weave of militant and ethnic rivalries, a history of Myanmar links and an attack that has led to a lot of speculation in mainland India on the possible Chinese role.
Read the column here.
The last of autumn's gorgeous colours in Srinagar
12:13 Srinagar records coldest night of season at -1.5C
Kashmir reeled under cold conditions as the minimum temperature settled below the freezing point across the valley even as Srinagar recorded the coldest night of the season at minus 1.5 degrees Celsius, officials said on Wednesday.
The minimum temperature across the valley stayed below the freezing point on Tuesday night, MET officials said. They said the temperature was several degrees below the normal for this part of the season.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 1.5 degrees Celsius on Tuesday night, down from minus 1.2 degrees Celsius the previous night, they said. The officials said Pahalgam, which serves as the base camp for annual Amarnath yatra, recorded a low of minus 4.7 degrees Celsius. Pahalgam was the coldest recorded place in Kashmir. Gulmarg resort in north Kashmir's Baramulla district recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2 degrees Celsius, down from minus 1.2 degrees Celsius the previous night.
The temperature in Kupwara in north Kashmir settled at a low of minus 2 degrees Celsius. Qazigund, the gateway town to the valley, recorded minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, while as Kokernag, also in south, registered a low of minus 1 degrees Celsius.
The wintry conditions in Kashmir have set in much ahead of the beginning of extreme harsh weather conditions which usually start around the third week of December.
11:53 Democracy is India's nature: PM
Underlining the fundamental role of States in the federal system of the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said, democracy is not just a system but a natural tendency of India.
Prime Minister attended the inaugural session of the 82nd All India Presiding Officers' Conference via video conferencing on Wednesday. Addressing the event, the Prime Minister said, "Democracy is not just a system in India. Democracy is India's nature and natural tendency. We have to take the country to new heights in the coming years. These resolutions will be fulfilled only by 'Sabka Prayas' (everyone's effort). And in democracy and the federal system of India, when we talk about 'Sabka Prayas' then the states play a key role."
He emphasized that with the efforts of everyone the nation achieved new heights.
"Be it the solution to long-pending issues of Northeast or completion of big development projects halted for decades - there are numerous works like these that have been completed by the nation in the last few years. The biggest example is the nation's fight against COVID," he said.
"The nation fought this big battle in unity by bringing all the states together, this is historic in itself. Today India has crossed the milestone of 110 crore vaccine doses. Something that seemed impossible once is now becoming possible," he added.
11:23 Not WFH, favour carpool, Centre to SC on Delhi AQI
The Central government on Wednesday expressed its unwillingness before the Supreme Court to ask its employees to work from home.
Instead it has advised its employees in the national capital to resort to carpooling to reduce the number of vehicles used by them for commuting.
The Centre through an affidavit told the Apex Court that the number of vehicles used by the Central government is a minuscule fraction of the total vehicles in the national capital and stopping their plying would not make much impact towards improving the air quality of Delhi.
The Centre in its affidavit point outs directives issued by the Commission for air quality management for Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas that included a ban on entry of trucks in Delhi till November 21 except trucks carrying essential commodities, closure of thermal plants, ban on construction and demolition activities, deployed anti-smog guns and water sprinklers etc.
The Central Government has also considered the possibility of functioning under online mode i.e. "work from home".
In this regard, it is submitted that in the recent past, several governmental functions were impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic for substantially a long period of time which entailed pan India ramifications. -- ANI
11:12 MP: 'Deserter' jawan of Army shoots at his parents for asking him to rejoin, arrested
Irked over continuous prodding by his parents to rejoin duty, a 'deserter' jawan of the Army shot at his parents and injured them in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa district, police said on Wednesday, adding that the accused was arrested.
The incident occurred at Pidariya village under the limits of the Laur police station, about 55 km from the Rewa district headquarters, around 7 pm on Tuesday, said Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shivkumar Verma.
The accused, identified as Abhishek Pandey, was arrested and the gun used in the incident seized, he said.
As per the preliminary investigation, the licensed gun belonged to the father of the accused. Both the injured were admitted to the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, said Chief Medical Officer Alakh Prakash.
He said both the victims suffered injuries on their legs but are out of danger. Ambika Pandey, an ex-serviceman and the father of the accused, told reporters that he and his wife were shot at by their son as they were continuously asking him to rejoin the service.
The US advised against travel in J-K except Ladakh
10:51 US advisory on India warns of rape, terrorism
The United States has issued a "level 2" advisory for India, urging its citizens to reconsider travel to India and exercise increased caution in the wake of COVID-19, crime and terrorism.
An advisory was issued by US State Department on Monday for India, which urged Americans not to travel to Jammu and Kashmir due to terrorism and civil unrest, and also within 10 kilometres of the India-Pakistan border due to the potential for armed conflict.
"Do not travel to: The state of Jammu and Kashmir (except the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh) due to terrorism and civil unrest. Within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border due to the potential for armed conflict," it stated.
"Indian authorities report rape is one of the fastest-growing crimes in India. Violent crimes, such as sexual assault, has occurred at tourist sites and in other locations," it added.
Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and government facilities, it added.
According to the advisory, the US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in rural areas from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal as US government employees must obtain special authorisation to travel to these areas. -- ANI
10:29 Air quality in Delhi-NCR unlikely to improve till Sunday
Delhi-NCR recorded its air quality in the very poor category on Wednesday morning and no major improvement is likely until Sunday, authorities said.
The minimum temperature in the capital dropped to 9.6 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal and the lowest this season so far.
The maximum is likely to settle around 27 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department said.
The city recorded its air quality index at 389 at 9 am. It had slipped into the severe zone on Tuesday and was recorded at 403 at 4 pm.
Faridabad (350), Ghaziabad (368), Greater Noida (358), Gurugram (354) and Noida (369) also recorded their air quality in very poor category.
V K Soni of the IMD on Tuesday told the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) that lower ventilation index due to low temperatures and calm wind conditions is predicted between Wednesday and Sunday, which is unfavourable for dispersion of pollutants.
The air quality is likely to improve Sunday onwards due to relatively strong winds, he said.
10:21 Judge hearing Anil Deshmukh's case transferred
Special judge HS Satbhai, who was hearing the applications of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for remand of former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh in a money laundering case has been transferred to Yavatmal district by the Bombay High Court with immediate effect.
He had been hearing cases pertaining to MPs and MLAs since July this year at the sessions court here.
On Monday, judge Satbhai had remanded Deshmukh in 14-day judicial custody.
Besides Deshmukh's case, judge Satbhai was also hearing a case against Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal in connection with the alleged Maharashtra Sadan scam and discharged the latter.
Deshmukh was arrested on November 1 by the ED under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
In a notification issued on Monday, the Bombay High Court said it was pleased to transfer and post H S Satbhai, Judge, City Civil Court and Additional Sessions Judge, Mumbai as District Judge 2 and Additional Sessions Judge, Kelapur, district Yavatmal with immediate effect.
Yavatmal district in east Maharashtra is located 685 km away from Mumbai. Judge Satbhai recently discharged Bhujbal and others in the Maharashtra Sadan case, observing that there was no "substantial material" to suggest that he and his kin received any kind of "illegal gratification" in the contract for constructing new Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi.
Judge Satbhai was also hearing the pre-arrest bail plea of former Shiv Sena MP Anand Adsul in a case pertaining to an alleged scam in a cooperative bank. He was also hearing the alleged Pune land deal case involving former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse, an NCP leader. PTI
09:26 Air crisis: Schools, colleges in NCR to remain closed
The Commission for Air Quality Management late night Tuesday directed that schools, colleges and educational institutions in the National Capital Region will remain closed until further orders, allowing only online mode of education.
It also said that only five of the 11 thermal power plants located within 300 km radius of Delhi -- NTPC, Jhajjar; Mahatma Gandhi TPS, CLP Jhajjar; Panipat TPS, HPGCL; Nabha Power Ltd. TPS, Rajpura and Talwandi Sabo TPS, Mansa -- will remain operational till November 30.
In a bid to contain the spiralling air pollution levels, the commission directed Delhi and the NCR states to stop construction and demolition activities in the region till November 21, barring railway services/railway stations, metro rail corporation services, including stations, airports and inter-state bus terminals and national security/defence-related activities/ projects of national importance subject to strict compliance of the C&D Waste Management Rules and dust control norms.
Trucks carrying non-essential items have been banned from entering Delhi till Sunday.
The commission had held a meeting on Tuesday with senior officials of Delhi and NCR states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan in connection with the severe air pollution in the region ahead of a Supreme Court hearing on the matter.
09:22 Vacate illegally occupied areas of JK: India to Pak at UN
Underlining that Pakistan has misused platforms provided by the United Nations to propagate falls and malicious propaganda against New Delhi, India at United Nations Security Council slammed Islamabad for raking up the Kashmir issue and called upon Pakistan to immediately vacate all areas of Jammu and Kashmir under its illegal occupation.
"I would like to categorical about India's position, the entire Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were, are and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. This includes the areas that are under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. We call upon Pakistan to immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation," Dr Kajal Bhat, Counsellor at India's Permanent Mission to the UN, said on Tuesday (local time).
"I am constrained to take the floor once again to respond to some frivolous remarks made by the representative of Pakistan earlier today," Bhat said before beginning her response at UNSC.
Stressing that this is not the first time that the representative of Pakistan has misused platforms provided by the UN to propagate falls and malicious propaganda against India, Bhat said that Pakistan's representatives "sought in vain to divert the world's attention from the sad state of his country, where the terrorist enjoy free pass by the lives of ordinary people especially those belonging to the minority communities are turned upside down."
She also emphasised that member states are aware that Pakistan has an established history and policy of harbouring, aiding and actively supporting terrorists.
"This is the country that has been globally recognised as one openly supporting, training, financing and arming terrorists as a matter of state policy," Bhat said.
India's Counsellor also underlined that Pakistan "holds the ignoble record of hosting the largest number of terrorists proscribed by the UNSC".
08:19 China engaged in 'border war' with India: US Senator
China is engaged in a "border war" with India and is posing a grave threat to its neighbours, top Republican lawmaker John Cornyn has told the United States Senate, giving details of his visit to New Delhi and Southeast Asia to understand the challenges faced by countries in the region.
Senator John Cornyn, who is also the India Caucus Co-Chair, and his Congressional colleagues have just returned from a visit to India and Southeast Asia to get firsthand experience of the challenges being posed by China.
"The most urgent and grave threats are against countries closer to China's borders," Cornyn told members of the Senate on Tuesday.
"Last week, I had the chance to lead a congressional delegation visiting Southeast Asia to gain a better understanding of the threats and challenges in the region," he said.
"It (China) threatens freedom of navigation in international waters, and it's guilty of gross human rights abuses against its own people, namely the Muslim minority Uyghurs. It's engaged in a border war with India and it threatens to invade the Republic of China, otherwise known as Taiwan," Cornyn said.
Cornyn said that they travelled to India where "we met with Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and Cabinet officials to discuss threats posed by China as well as other shared priorities."
The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 last year following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.
As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in the Gogra area in August and in the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in February.
However, India and China failed to make any headway at their 13th round of military talks on October 10 in resolving the standoff in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh.
In the Philippines, he said, they caught a ride on a navy aircraft in disputed waters.
Within minutes of leaving Philippine airspace, they spotted a Chinese spy ship engaged in intelligence-gathering operations off the Philippine coast.
Cornyn said that during the visit, "one of the main topics was the timetable for a Chinese invasion of Taiwan."
"In every way possible, Taiwan is a stark contrast to the People's Republic of China. It's a true democracy, with elections whose results are not predetermined. It's a free-market economy that adheres to the rule of law, and it shares the same basic values we embrace in the United States -- freedom of speech, freedom of press, religion, and assembly," he said. -- PTI
01:47 China never took an inch of others' land: Xi
At his virtual summit with United States counterpart Joe Biden on Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping projected China as a peace-loving nation and said it never started a war nor claimed an inch of land of others as he played down the criticism that Beijing is increasingly getting aggressive over its territorial claims.
ZH
ZH
"Chinese people have always loved and valued peace. Aggression or hegemony is not in the blood of the Chinese nation," Xi told Biden.
"Since the founding of the People's Republic, China has never started a single war or conflict, and has never taken one inch of land from other countries," he claimed, in an apparent attempt to play down criticism that Beijing is aggressively asserting territorial claims in the disputed areas, be that along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India, the South China Sea or the maritime dispute with Japan.
In the disputed South China Sea, which is claimed by Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan, China has built artificial islands to assert its claims.
China too was involved in a maritime dispute with Japan over the Senkaku islands in the East China Sea which the Chinese refer to as Diaoyu islands. -- PTI
ZH
ZH
TOP STORIES
© 2024 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances