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Tue, 22 March 2022
Farooq Abdullah terms 'Kashmir Files' as propaganda
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23:23 Farooq Abdullah terms 'Kashmir Files' as propaganda
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday broke his silence on The Kashmir Files movie, which is based on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley, saying the film was far from reality and nothing but ''propaganda'' to polarise the nation.
Abdullah, who has been targeted by the Bharatiya Janata Party over the migration of Kashmiri pandits, also suggested setting up of a 'Truth and Reconciliation Commission' headed by an ''honest'' person to find out what had happened at that time.
"Whatever happened in 1990 was a tragedy. My Kashmiri pandit brothers and sisters had to leave their homes. I would like everything to be investigated properly as to who were the 'parties' interested in ethnic cleansing at that part of the time," Abdullah said in an interview to the PTI.
To a pointed question that the movie had shown him at the helm of affairs, the veteran National Conference leader said, "I had tendered my resignation. It was Farooq Abdullah who had objected to the release of five terrorists in exchange of the daughter of the then Union Home Minister (Mufti Mohammed Sayeed).
"Did anyone listen to me? I had warned them that this will boost the morale of terrorists but unfortunately, there were no takers in the government in Delhi. Everyone knows whose government was at the Centre who had extended the outside support," Abdullah, who is the Lok Sabha member from Srinagar parliamentary constituency, said.
The former chief minister alleged the movie is ''pure propaganda'' and was being deliberately hyped by people with vested interests to polarise the nation. "The movie is far away from reality and it is only to polarise the nation and let me tell the nation today that it is not a healthy development," he said.
Abdullah said his son Omar Abdullah, who has also been the chief minister of the erstwhile state, had been advocating the setting up of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission from the day he took over the office.
"Let us have it now. Get an honest person to head the Commission and let us investigate each and everything and after that, if I am guilty, the law will take care. Farooq Abdullah does not believe in fooling people," an agitated Abdullah said.
He said that his party has been demonised by the filmmakers for failing to protect the Kashmiri pandits. "But unfortunately, the facts speak the other way round. It was my Lok Sabha MP Pyare Lal Handoo who raised the issue of Kashmiri pandits in Lok Sabha. The debate is very much preserved in the Parliament library.
23:01 Unemployment rate fell to 9.8% in July-Sept'21: NSO
Unemployment rate for persons of age 15 years and above in urban areas dipped to 9.8 per cent in July-September 2021 from 13.2 per cent in the same quarter of the previous year, showed a periodic labour force survey by the National Statistical Office.
Joblessness or unemployment rate (UR) is defined as the percentage of unemployed persons in the labour force.
The joblessness was high in July-September in 2020 mainly due to the staggered impact of lockdown restrictions in the country which were imposed to curb the spread of deadly coronavirus.
The unemployment rate for persons of age 15 years and above in April-June 2021 was 12.6 per cent in urban areas, the 12th Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) showed.
It also showed that unemployment rate among females (age 15 years and above) in urban areas also declined to 11.6 per cent in July-September 2021 from 15.8 per cent a year ago. It was 14.3 per cent in April-June 2021.
Among males, the UR in urban area also dipped to 9.3 per cent in July-September 2021 compared to 12.6 per cent a year ago. It was 12.2 per cent in April-June 2021.
Labour force participation rate in CWS (current weekly status) in urban areas for persons of 15 years of age and above was 46.9 per cent in the July-September quarter of 2021, down from from 47.2 per cent in the same period a year ago. It was 46.8 per cent in April-June 2021.
Labour force refers to the part of the population which supplies or offers to supply labour for pursuing economic activities for the production of goods and services and therefore, includes both employed and unemployed persons.
NSO launched PLFS in April 2017. On the basis of PLFS, a quarterly bulletin is brought out giving estimates of labour force indicators namely UR, Worker Population Ratio (WPR), Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), distribution of workers by broad status in employment and industry of work in Current Weekly Status (CWS).
22:39 Modi speaks to Boris Johnson on Ukraine situation, bilateral issues
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his United Kingdom counterpart Boris Johnson on Tuesday with the two leaders having a detailed discussion on the situation in the war-hit Ukraine.
In their telephonic talk, Modi reiterated India's consistent appeal for cessation of hostilities and a return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy to defuse the crisis following Russia's attack on Ukraine, according to the Prime Minister's Office.
He emphasised India's belief in respect for international law and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states as the basis of the contemporary world order, it said.
The two leaders also discussed issues of bilateral interests and agreed on the potential of further deepening cooperation in various areas, including trade, technology, investments, defence and security, and people-to-people relations, the PMO said.
Modi expressed his satisfaction at the positive momentum in the ongoing negotiations on the bilateral free trade agreement and also appreciated the progress in implementing the 'India-UK Roadmap 2030' adopted during the virtual summit between both leaders last year.
He also conveyed his desire to welcome Johnson in India at an early date, as per mutual convenience, the PMO said. -- PTI
21:55 UN chief calls Russia-Ukraine war 'unwinnable'
A month into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said this "absurd" war is "unwinnable" and inevitably it will have to move from the battlefield to the peace table as he voiced concern that reverberations from the conflict threaten to spiral into a global hunger crisis.
Voicing concern that 10 million Ukrainians have been forced from their homes and are on the move, Guterres said the world is seeing appalling human suffering and destruction in Ukraine's cities, towns and villages.
"One month ago, the Russian Federation launched a massive invasion of the sovereign territory of Ukraine in violation of the UN Charter. It was done after months of building up a military force of overwhelming proportion along the Ukrainian border," Guterres said in his remarks to the press.
"This war is unwinnable. Sooner or later, it will have to move from the battlefield to the peace table. That is inevitable," he said.
The systematic bombardments that terrorise civilians and shelling of hospitals, schools, apartment buildings and shelters is intensifying and getting more destructive and more unpredictable by the hour, he said.
Guterres said that the Ukrainian people are enduring a living hell - and the reverberations are being felt worldwide with skyrocketing food, energy and fertilizer prices threatening to spiral into a global hunger crisis.
Developing countries were already suffocating under the burden of COVID-19 and a lack of access to adequate financing, they are also paying a heavy price as a result of this war, he said.
The UN chief said that from his outreach with various actors, elements of diplomatic progress are coming into view on several key issues.
"There is enough on the table to cease hostilities - now and seriously negotiate -- now.
"By any measure, by even the shrewdest calculation, it is time to stop the fighting now and give peace a chance. It is time to end this absurd war," he said. -- PTI
21:26 I am slave of Nehru-Gandhi family, says Rajasthan MLA
Independent MLA Sanyam Lodha on Tuesday described himself as a "slave" of the Nehru-Gandhi family, saying he will remain so till his last breadth.
The Sirohi MLA, who is one of the advisers to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, made the statement in the state Assembly during a debate on the Haridev Joshi University of Journalism and Mass Communication (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
He was responding to the remarks made by a BJP legislator.
"The BJP legislator was expressing his views in the House and said we are slaves of the Gandhi-Nehru family. Yes, we are slaves till our last breath. We will keep doing slavery of the Gandhi-Nehru family as the family has led the development in the country," Lodha said.
Lodha's statement drew criticism from Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore.
"This is a new culture that has come up. Congratulations for slavery. What message will you give to society," Rathore said.
J P Chandelia, who was presiding over the Assembly proceedings at that time, urged the members to maintain order.
Amid noisy scenes, the BJP demanded division of votes on the Bill, which was rejected and the Bill was passed by voice vote.
Upset by it, BJP legislators staged a walkout.
Amendments have been made in the qualification to become the vice-chancellor of the university. -- PTI
20:57 Covid curbs for air travel relaxed; no PPE for kit crew
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has relaxed COVID-19-related regulations stating that cabin crew members need not wear PPE kit, airlines need not keep three seats vacant on international flights for medical emergencies and security personnel at airports can resume pat-down search of passengers.
The relaxation has been given to facilitate "smooth conduct of air operations", the ministry's order, dated March 21, stated.
The aviation market in India is currently recovering after the Omicron variant suppressed the demand in January. Around 76.96 lakh domestic passengers travelled by air in February, approximately 20 per cent more than in January.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation, in its order, said that the restriction of keeping three seats vacant on international flights for handling medical emergencies related to COVID-19 stands removed.
"Airlines may carry a few additional PPE protective gears, sanitiser and N-95 masks, to handle any respiratory infections related to cases on air, for passengers as well as the crew," the MoCA noted.
It said it had allowed full domestic flight operations from October 18, 2021, and has now decided to recommence scheduled international flight operations from March 27, 2022, "in view of the declining COVID-19 cases, high level of vaccinations and prevailing COVID-19 situation".
The requirement of complete PPE kit for crew member stands removed, the MoCA stated.
"However, use of face mask and maintenance of hand hygiene/sanitiser continue to be mandatory," it added.
The pat-down search by security personnel at airports is reintroduced, wherever needed, as per directions of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, the MoCA noted.
20:43 Punjab CM declares holiday on martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann declared a holiday on March 23, the martyrdom day of legendary freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev.
He made the announcement on the concluding day of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha session in Chandigarh on Tuesday.
The House also passed a resolution to install statues of Bhagat Singh, Dr B R Ambedkar and first Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the Vidhan Sabha complex.
Announcing the holiday on the martyrdom day of the freedom fighters, Mann said earlier it was declared only in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district to facilitate people from nearby areas to pay tributes at the martyr's memorial in Khatkar Kalan.
Now, the state government has decided to declare a holiday on this day across the state so as to enable the maximum number of people from across the state to pay their tributes to the great martyrs at Khatkar Kalan and Hussainiwala, said Mann.
To this, Congress MLA Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said rather than announcing a holiday, it would be good if students in schools, colleges and employees be told about the life and sacrifice of Bhagat Singh.
Reacting to it, Mann asked the former transport minister whether he knew when Bhagat Singh was born.
"You (Warring) do not know about it? It is September 28. There will be plays in schools and colleges depicting the life of the martyr on this day," Mann said.
Earlier, Mann proposed that statutes of Bhagat Singh and Dr B R Ambedkar be installed in the Vidhan Sabha. -- PTI
20:33 No relief for Kangana in defamation plaint by Javed Akhtar
A court in Mumbai on Tuesday refused to grant a permanent exemption from appearance to actor Kangana Ranaut in the defamation complaint filed by Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar.
The Andheri metropolitan magistrate rejected the application filed by Ranaut seeking permanent exemption from appearing in the court during the hearing of the complaint.
The court in its brief order said it "assures the accused (Ranaut) that she will be exempted on specific situations if needed".
The magistrate exempted Ranaut from appearing before the court on Tuesday and adjourned the hearing on Akhtar's complaint till April.
Akhtar had filed the complaint in court in November 2020, claiming that Ranaut had made defamatory statements against him in a television interview, which allegedly damaged his reputation.
He had claimed that Ranaut dragged his name during the interview while referring to a 'coterie' existing in Bollywood, following the alleged suicide by actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
Ranaut had later filed a counter-complaint in the same court against Akhtar for alleged "extortion and criminal intimidation".
The actor in her complaint against Akhtar said that following her public dispute with her co-star, the lyricist had called her and her sister Rangoli Chandel to his house with "malafide intentions and ulterior motives and then criminally intimidated and threatened" her. -- PTI
20:14 MHA seeks report from Bengal on killing of 8 people
The Union Home Ministry on Tuesday sought a report from the West Bengal government after eight people were found burnt to death in Birbhum district, officials said.
The move came after a nine-member delegation of BJP MPs from West Bengal met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and sought his intervention and action against the perpetrators of the crime.
In a communication, the ministry asked the West Bengal government to maintain law and order and ensure security of common people in view of the killings, officials said.
The state government has been asked to send a detailed factual report on the killings as early as possible, they said.
Eight persons, including two children, died in the early hours of Tuesday after their houses were gutted in a fire in Rampurhat in Birbhum district, police said.
The incident took place hours after the murder of a Trinamool Congress panchayat leader on Monday, DGP Manoj Malaviya told reporters in Kolkata.
Malaviya said seven charred bodies were recovered from one of the burnt houses, while one injured person died in hospital. -- PTI
19:58 ED attaches assets of Uddhav's brother-in-law
The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday said it has attached assets worth Rs 6.45 crore of a company owned by the brother-in-law of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in connection with a money laundering investigation.
In a statement, the Enforcement Directorate said it has issued a provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to attach 11 residential flats in Neelambari project, located in Thane near Mumbai, of Shree Saibaba Grihanirmiti Private Limited.
Shridhar Madhav Patankar, the brother of Thackeray's wife Rashmi, "owns and controls" Shree Saibaba Grihanirmiti Private Limited, it said.
The agency alleged funds that were allegedly siphoned off in a money laundering case being investigated against a company named Pushpak Bullion were "parked" in the real estate projects of Shree Saibaba Grihanirmiti Pvt. Ltd. -- PTI
19:31 No survivors found in plane crash: Chinese official
Over a day after a passenger aircraft with 132 people on board crashed in south China, a Chinese official announced on Tuesday that no survivors have been found, official media in Beijing reported.
No survivors have been found in the China plane crash, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted a Chinese official in a brief report.
The announcement came as hundreds of rescuers carried desperate search operations in the mountainous regions of China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region where the Boeing 737 on the way from the Chinese city of Kunming to Guangzhou plunged and crashed on Monday.
"People on-board the aircraft are still unaccounted for as the rescue work is underway at the mountainous site," state television CGTN reported on Tuesday over 24-hours after China's worst air disaster in a decade.
Aircraft debris and some personal belongings have been found at the air crash site in Tengxian County of Wuzhou City, but no survivors, state-run CGTN reported on Tuesday.
19:27 Bhagwant Mann to meet Modi on Mar 24
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Thursday, official sources said on Tuesday.
It is going to be Mann's first meeting with Modi after being sworn in as the chief minister of Punjab.
Mann will be meeting Modi at 11 am on Thursday, the sources said.
Mann in a tweet in Hindi said, After taking over as the chief minister of Punjab, I have sought time from prime minister and home minister for a courtesy call and to discuss issues related to Punjab.
Mann was administered oath as the chief minister on March 16 at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in Punjab's Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district.
Modi had congratulated him for becoming the Punjab chief minister. -- PTI
18:44 Pak again rakes up Kashmir issue at OIC meeting
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday again raked up the Kashmir issue at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation foreign ministers' meeting in Islamabad, saying the 57-member body has not been able to make any impact at all as it's a "divided house".
Khan's comments came at a time when he is facing the toughest political test since assuming office in 2018 as a no-confidence motion has been introduced by the opposition parties against his government.
"We have failed both the people of Palestine and Kashmir," Khan said in his keynote address at the 48th Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC at the Parliament House here as he sought to raise the issues of Palestine and Kashmir in the same breath.
"We are a divided house and they (Israel and India) know it, he said.
India has repeatedly told Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir "was, is and shall forever" remain an integral part of the country. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda.
India has told Pakistan that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence. India has said the onus is on Pakistan to create an environment free of terror and hostility.
Referring to India's move to abrogate Article 370 in August 2019, Khan said "nothing happened because they (India) felt no pressure."
Khan said he was not saying that Muslim countries alter their foreign policies but unless we have a united front (on core issues) these abuses will keep on happening.
Pakistan has been unsuccessfully trying to drum up international support against India for withdrawing Jammu and Kashmir's special status on August 5, 2019 and bifurcating it into two Union territories.
India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was its internal matter. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda. -- PTI
18:09 The IPL 2022 Schedule
The Indian Premier League 2022 to kick off from March 26 with a high-profile opening encounter between defending champions Chennai Super Kings and the Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai.
Check out the IPL 2022 Schedule.
18:06 NIA registered 103 terror financing cases since 2008: Govt tells LS
The National Investigation Agency registered 103 cases of terror financing since its inception in 2008 and arrested 786 accused, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said charge sheets were filed against 865 accused in 92 cases.
He said the federal anti-terror agency secured conviction of 97 accused in 16 cases.
"Since its inception, the National Investigation Agency has registered 103 cases of terror financing, in which 786 accused have been arrested. Charge sheets have been filed in 92 cases against 865 accused persons," he said replying to a question.
The minister said the manpower and infrastructure requirements of the NIA are reviewed from time to time and steps taken to enhance its capacity so that it is able to carry out its mandate effectively.
He said the NIA, with its headquarters in New Delhi, has 18 branch offices in the country. Of them, 10 branch offices at Chandigarh, Ranchi, Imphal, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Patna, Jaipur, Bhopal and Bhubaneswar, and 481 additional posts have been created since July 2019.
Besides, on the basis of requirements projected by the NIA, the government also sanctions, from time to time, the posts of specialists including, legal, scientific, information technology experts etc, Rai said. -- PTI
17:49 BJP turned Parl into Rome's Colosseum: Mahua Moitra
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Wednesday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party in Lok Sabha, saying its government has turned Parliament into Rome's Colosseum where Prime Minister Narendra Modi enters "like a gladiator" to the chants of 'Modi, Modi', an apparent reference to the rousing welcome he received from the ruling party members in the House after the victory in four state elections.
Participating in the discussion in Lok Sabha on the demands for grants for the Ministry of Civil Aviation, 2022-23, Moitra also listed the names of women who have etched their names in the annals of Indian civil aviation history, saying they are the ones who "truly deserve" applause.
The firebrand TMC leader cited former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's remarks in Parliament in 1972 when he said, "These days the atmosphere in New Delhi makes one choke. It is not easy to breathe freely. The chanting of a prime minister's name on All India Radio from morning to night, saturated propaganda on cinema screens, how can people sitting in the Opposition fight this."
Moitra said, "It is India's greatest tragedy perhaps that the very party Vajpayee ji led as prime minister, today leads a government that has turned this very same Parliament into the Colosseum in Rome in the 1st century where like a gladiator the honourable prime minister enters to chants of Modi, Modi."
"And sadly those entrusted with the decorum of this house - the 'garima' as they like to put it - smile smugly through it all," she added.
Her remarks came in an apparent reference to Prime Minister Modi being welcomed by thumping of desks and chanting of his name by the BJP members in Lok Sabha when the budget session resumed and the House met for the first time after the saffron party's victory in four states.
Moitra said as a woman parliamentarian she would like to "chant some names that truly deserve applause" both in this House and in the annals of the civil aviation history of India.
She went on to list the first Indian woman to get a pilot's licence Urmila Parekh, first woman commercial pilot Prem Mathur, first woman pilot of Indian airlines Durba Banerjee, the first woman IAF officer to fly in a combat zone Gunjan Saxena, captain of the first Boeing having all-women flight crew Saudamini Deshmukh and youngest pilot in civil aviation history to command a commercial jet aircraft Nivedita Bhasin. -- PTI
17:22 Top gainers today
From the 30-share pack, Tech Mahindra, Reliance Industries, Bajaj Finserv, ITC, TCS, Indusind Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Infosys and Power Grid were the biggest gainers. In contrast, Hindustan Unilever Limited, Nestle India, NTPC, and Sun Pharma were the laggards.
17:21 Cop killed in shootout in Kupwara
Jammu & Kashmir Police: "In a brief shootout in the Soura area of Srinagar, SgCT Amir Hussain Lone from Kupwara was injured and attained martyrdom. We pay rich tributes to the martyr and stand by his family at this critical juncture."
Pic: Umar Ganie
17:19 Ukraine retakes key Kyiv suburb; battle for Mariupol rages
Ukraine said it retook a strategically important suburb of Kyiv early Tuesday, as Russian forces squeezed other areas near the capital and their attack on the embattled southern port of Mariupol raged unabated.
Explosions and bursts of gunfire shook Kyiv, and black smoke rose from a spot in the north. Intensified artillery fire could be heard from the northwest, where Russia has sought to encircle and capture several suburban areas of the capital, a crucial target.
Residents sheltered at home or underground under a 35-hour curfew imposed by authorities in the capital that runs to Wednesday morning.
Image: Bombed buildings in the east Kyiv region. Oleksandr Lapshyn/Reuters
16:58 India's Covid vaccination coverage surpasses 181.56 crore
India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 181.56 crore (1,81,56,01,944) as per provisional reports till 7 am on Tuesday.
"This has been achieved through 2,14,38,677 sessions," said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Meanwhile, more than 34 lakh vaccine doses were administered to people aged between 12-14 years.
India's active caseload declines to 23,913 today while the positivity rate stands at 0.06%.
16:56 J-K Cong leader Dr Karan Singh's son quits party
Vikramaditya Singh, the son of senior Congress leader Dr Karan Singh, tenders his resignation from the Congress. He tweets "My position on critical issues vis--vis J&K which reflect national interests do not align with that of Congress. The party remains disconnected from ground realities."
16:47 Sensodyne toothpaste slapped with Rs 10L fine for misleading ads
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has ordered discontinuation of certain misleading advertisements of Sensodyne toothpaste within seven days and imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on the manufacturer.
An official release on Tuesday stated that advertisements of Sensodyne products which make the claims 'Recommended by dentists worldwide' and 'World's No.1 sensitivity toothpaste' have been ordered to be discontinued within seven days.
The authority also directed payment of penalty of Rs 10 lakh. Advertisements which show endorsements by foreign dentists have been ordered to be discontinued as per the earlier order passed by CCPA. The CCPA, headed by Nidhi Khare, "recently passed order against misleading advertisements of Sensodyne products which make the claims 'Recommended by dentists worldwide' and 'World's No 1 sensitivity toothpaste," the statement said.
Previously on February 9, 2022, the CCPA had passed an order directing discontinuation of advertisement of Sensodyne products which show endorsement by foreign dentists.
The CCPA had initiated suo-moto action against advertisement of Sensodyne products on various platforms including television, Youtube, Facebook and Twitter.
The ads show dentists practising outside India (UK) endorsing the use of Sensodyne products namely Sensodyne Rapid Relief and Sensodyne Fresh Gel for protection against teeth sensitivity. These advertisements make claims that Sensodyne is 'Recommended by dentists worldwide', 'World's No. 1 sensitivity toothpaste' and 'clinically proven relief, works in 60 seconds', the statement said.
"After examination of the response submitted by the company, CCPA observed that the two market surveys submitted by the company in support of its claims 'Recommended by dentists worldwide' and 'World's No.1 sensitivity toothpaste' made in the advertisements were conducted only with dentists in India.
"No cogent study or material were submitted by the company to substantiate the claims made in the advertisements or indicate any worldwide prominence of Sensodyne products. Thus, the claims were observed to be bereft of any reason or justification," the ministry said.
With respect to the claim of 'clinically proven relief, works in 60 seconds', the CCPA had written to the Drugs Controller General of India, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to furnish its comments on the correctness of the claims made by the company.
The CDSCO has directed The Assistant Drug Controller, Licensing Authority, Silvassa to investigate the claims made by the company since the product in question is manufactured under cosmetic license granted by State Licensing Authority, Silvassa. -- PTI
Kejriwal and Mann will hold a road show in Ahmedabad
16:25 AAP plans roadshow in Gujarat on April 2
Delhi and Punjab chief ministers and top Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann will hold a roadshow in Ahmedabad on April 2 in what is likely to be the party's first major event in the run up to the Gujarat Assembly polls scheduled for later this year.
A senior AAP leader said the roadshow will take place in Bapunagar locality between 3pm and 8pm, with Kejriwal and Mann covering areas like Thakkarnagar, Jeevanwadi, Nikol.
"Kejriwal and Mann will hold a road show in Ahmedabad on April 2. They will hold another programme in Saurashtra region a few weeks later. Kejriwal will be visiting the state frequently in the run up to the 2022 elections," senior party leader Isudan Gadhvi told PTI on Tuesday.
Gadhvi said the AAP will contest the Gujarat Assembly polls in a full-fledged manner, adding that "I believe the state will witness a tsunami in Gujarat like we did in Punjab".
"The BJP gets seats in the urban areas in the name of Hindutva and also because people do not like the Congress. We believe we have a good chance in the state," Gadhvi said.
He said Kejriwal is also likely to visit a temple during his visit to the state, though the programme is not yet finalised. Another leader said the complete schedule of the visit of the two leaders will be released a few days after it is finalised, even though formalities for the roadshow are almost complete.
The AAP is upbeat after decimating the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal in the Punjab Assembly polls, with top leaders of both the traditional parties of the state biting the dust. PTI
16:21 All my bags are packed...
Virat Kohli shares this picture, tweeting, "IPL around the corner and the excitement is in the air."
Kohli joined the Royal Challengers Bangalore's squad on Monday for preparations ahead of the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League beginning March 26.
16:15 15,300 Russian troops killed in Ukraine
These are the indicative estimates of Russia's losses as of March 22, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
RIL was one of the top gainers
16:01 Sensex, Nifty bounce back to close 1% higher
Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded from early lows to close over 1 per cent higher on Tuesday, helped by heavy buying in index heavyweight Reliance Industries, Infosys and TCS amid gains in global equities.
The 30-share BSE Sensex closed up by 696.81 points or 1.22 per cent at 57,989.30. It touched a high of 58,052.87 and a low of 56,930.30 in intra-day trade.
It rallied 760.38 points or 1.32 per cent during the day. The broader NSE Nifty climbed 197.90 points or 1.16 per cent to finish at 17,315.50.
From the 30-share pack, Tech Mahindra, Reliance Industries, Bajaj Finserv, ITC, TCS, Indusind Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Infosys and Power Grid were the biggest gainers.
In contrast, Hindustan Unilever Limited, Nestle India, NTPC, and Sun Pharma were the laggards.
15:43 Muslim nations liable for Islamophobia: Imran
Claiming to understand western civilisation better than others, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said Islamophobia grew after the 9/11 terror attacks and went on unchecked because the Muslim countries did nothing to check the wrong narrative that Islam was equated with terrorism.
Addressing the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Islamabad, Imran Khan said that there is not any difference between types of Islam, and added that the faith has nothing to do with terrorism.
He asked how the western world can differentiate between moderate and radical Muslims when they equate Islam with terrorism.
"I have spent a lot of my life in England, touring all over the world as an international sportsman. I understand western civilisation probably much better than most people. ...I saw this growing (Islamophobia) after 9/11," Imran Khan said.
"This Islamaphobia kept growing and the reason was -- I am sorry to say -- we the Muslim countries did not do anything to check this wrong narrative. How can any religion have anything to do with terrorism? How was Islam equated with terrorism? And once that happens, how does a man in the western country differentiate between a moderate Muslim and a radical Muslim. How can he differentiate? Hence this man walks into a mosque and shoots everyone," the Pakistan Prime Minister said while referring to New Zealand's Christchurch Mosque shooting incident 2019.
"Unfortunately, what should have been done, but wasn't... the head of Muslim countries should have taken a stand on this. But a lot of heads of states said that they were moderates," he added.
Although Imran Khan projects himself as the advocate of Muslims internationally but has failed to speak against the human rights violation of the Uyghurs community in China. -- ANI
15:31 Recovery of charred bodies: Bengal BJP MLAs demand CM's statement
BJP legislators walked out of the West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday at the end of the first half of the day's session demanding Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee make a statement on the floor of the House on the death of eight people allegedly after their houses were set on fire at Rampurhat in Birbhum district.
BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh wanted to raise the issue in Zero Hour but was not allowed by Speaker Biman Banerjee who said it was not listed in the questions.
Shouting Vande Mataram' and Dhikkar Dhikkar'(condemn) , Ghosh and 40 members of the saffron party walked out of the House.
He later told reporters in the assembly compound that political killings are taking place in the state after the announcement of the assembly poll results last year. Even ruling party representatives are being killed, and the chief minister who also looks after the law and order department is silent, Ghosh said.
"Today we did not disrupt the session in the first half. We took part in discussions related to education and irrigation and health. But once we got the news about the death of the ten people in an act of arson by ruling party activists, we wanted to list the issue for Zero Hour. The Speaker did not allow. We demanded the statement of the chief minister. But when our demands are not heard, we are left with no other option but to walk out," he said. -- PTI
File pic
15:26 Lalu's health worsens, admitted to AIIMS Delhi
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav is being taken to the AIIMS Delhi from Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here on Tuesday after his health condition worsened.
"It was found that he has issues in his heart and kidney. He is being sent to AIIMS Delhi for better treatment. The jail officials will decide (the date)," said Kameshwar Prasad, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Director.
The Jharkhand High Court on March 11 differed the hearing on the bail plea of Yadav till April 1 in connection with a fodder scam case.
Earlier in February, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court had sentenced Yadav to five years imprisonment in the fifth fodder scam case and imposed a fine of Rs 60 lakh on him.
15:12 3.5 mn people fled Ukraine in a month: UN
The UN refugee agency says more than 3.5 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia's invasion, passing another milestone in an exodus that has led to Europe's worst refugee crisis since World War II.
UNHCR reported Tuesday that 3.53 million people have left Ukraine, with Poland taking in the lion's share - more than 2.1 million - followed by Romania with more than 540,000 and Moldova with more than 367,000.
Shortly after the invasion on Feb. 24, UNHCR predicted that some 4 million refugees might leave Ukraine, though it has been re-assessing that prediction.
The International Organization for Migration estimates that nearly 6.5 million people are internally displaced within Ukraine, suggesting that some if not most of them might to flee abroad if the war continues.
Image: A man picks up a baby's shoe from the debris of a residential house destroyed by shelling in Derhachi. Oleksandr Lapshyn/Reuters
14:49 Rs 62k cr being spent to boost road infra, reduce pollution in Delhi: Gadkari
Road projects worth Rs 62,000 crore have been undertaken in the national capital to ease traffic congestions, and tackle the problem of pollution, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday.
Replying to a debate on the Demands for Grants for Road Transport and Highways Ministry, 2022-23, in the Lok Sabha, Gadkari recalled how he used to get stuck for an hour in Dhaula Kuan traffic every time he used to travel to and from the airport.
In 2019, Gadkari had inaugurated a three-lane underpass at Parade Road junction near Dhaula Kuan in Delhi to ease the traffic moving from Delhi to the airport and Gurugram.
"We are trying to lessen pollution. My department is spending Rs 62,000 crore only for tackling Delhi pollution. We made Ring Road and other roads so that pollution comes down," Gadkari said.
The minister further said it is his endeavour to make the road infrastructure in India at par with the United States by 2040.
In this context, he referred to a famous quote by former US President John F Kennedy that "American roads are not good because America is rich, but America is rich because American roads are good".
Highlighting the improvement in highway connectivity and road infrastructure, Gadkari said that it now takes only 40 minutes to travel to Meerut from Delhi, as against four hours earlier.
"Our aim is to reduce the cost of construction and improve the quality," he said, adding the milestone of 38 km/day road construction, which is a world record, was achieved by India last year. On the progress in the building of infrastructure, the minister said that road travel between Delhi to Jaipur; and Delhi to Haridwar now takes 2 hours. Similarly, the travel time from Delhi to Amritsar is now four hours. Gadkari said that connectivity between Delhi to Mumbai will be improved such that the travel time is reduced to 12 hours and added that "we will complete within this year".
"From Ladakh, Leh to Srinagar we will go to Mumbai.... before the end of this year, we will try that from Srinagar you are able to reach Mumbai in 20 hours," the minister said. Work is on in full swing for the Zojila tunnel in Kashmir and is expected to be completed by 2024, much before the scheduled target of 2026, he said.
14:44 Mapped: Covid figures across states
Kerala, Maharashtra in the lead as always. Karnataka overtakes Mizoram for third spot.
14:40 Delhi most polluted capital city in world in 2021
Delhi was found to be the most polluted capital in the world for the fourth consecutive year in 2021 and 35 of the 50 cities with the worst air quality were in India, according to a new report.
In 2021, none of the cities in India met the prescribed World Health Organization air quality standards of 5 micrograms per cubic meter, stated the World Air Quality Report 2021, prepared by Swiss organization IQAir and released globally on Tuesday.
The report, presenting an overview of the state of global air quality in 2021, is based on PM2.5 air quality data from 6,475 cities in 117 countries.
The report mentioned that among the most polluted capital cities, Dhaka ranked second after Delhi, followed by N'Djamena in Chad, Dushanbe in Tajikistan and Muscat in Oman. New Delhi saw a 14.6 per cent increase in PM2.5 concentrations in 2021 with the levels rising to 96.4 micrograms per cubic meter from 84 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020, the report said.
"India also continues to feature prominently among the most polluted cities with 35 of the top 50 most polluted cities being in this country. India's annual average PM2.5 levels reached 58.1 g/m3 in 2021, ending a three-year trend of improving air quality."
It stated, "India's annual PM2.5 averages have returned to pre-quarantine concentrations as measured in 2019. Alarmingly, in 2021, none of the Indian cities met the prescribed WHO standards of 5 g/m3." The report also revealed that 48 per cent of Indian cities exceeded 50 g/m3 air quality level which is well over 10 times the WHO guidelines. -- PTI
14:17 Akhilesh resigns as Lok Sabha MP
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav hands over his resignation to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from his membership of the House. In the recently held Uttar Pradesh elections, he was elected as an MLA from the Karhal seat. He was the MP from Azamgarh.
SP leader Azam Khan also resigns from his membership of the Lok Sabha. He won from the Rampur assembly seat.
13:44 Delhi riots: Fresh notices to Gandhis, BJP leaders
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued fresh notices to several prominent political leaders, activists and others while hearing a batch of petitions in connection with North East Delhi violence and alleged hate speeches of political leaders.
The court on Tuesday issued fresh notices after noting that the processed fees did not file by the petitioner while filed amended petitions with impleadment of the new name of proposed respondents.
It also showed displeasure with the petitioners for not filing process fees till now in the matter.
The High Court issued notice on the impleadment application moved by the petitioners seeking registration of FIRs against several politicians for their alleged hate speeches.
The Division Bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar on Tuesday issued fresh notices to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rahul Gandhi and BJP leaders Anurag Thakur, Pravesh Sahib Verma, Kapil Mishra and others.
The Court also showed displeasure with the counsel for calling these newly amended parties as accused. It said these are just proposed respondents, they are not accused.
"We are seeking their responses as you have made allegations against them."
The High Court also advised a counsel appeared for one of the petitioners to give the addresses of several activists and others who have made the parties or drop their names if he can't even find their addresses till now.
13:37 Deep depression over north Andaman Sea unlikely to intensity into cyclonic storm: IMD
The deep depression over north Andaman Sea is unlikely to intensify into a cyclonic storm and is expected to cross the south Myanmar coast at Thandwe with relatively less ferocity than expected earlier, the IMD said on Tuesday.
The weather office had earlier said the deep depression was likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm after skirting the Andaman Islands and heading towards the south Myanmar coast.
"It would continue to move nearly northwards away from Andaman Islands and cross Myanmar coast as a deep depression between latitude 16N & 18N around afternoon of March 22," the India Meteorological Department said.
The weather office said light to moderate rainfall was expected over the Andaman Islands and heavy showers were not expected in the region.
"Squally winds speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph prevail over north Andaman Sea & adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal and along & off Myanmar coast," the IMD bulletin said. -- PTI
13:28 Zomato founder clarifies 10-minute food delivery plan
Online food delivery platform Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal on Tuesday clarified the 10-minute food delivery plan stating that the service "will be for specific nearby locations, popular and standardised items only."
Taking to Twitter, Goyal said, "Hello Twitter, good morning. I just want to tell you more about how 10-minute delivery works, and how it is as safe for our delivery partners as 30-minute delivery. This time, please take 2 minutes to read through this (before the outrage)," Goyal said this morning.
"Zomato Instant will only be for items that are popular, standardised and can therefore be dispatched within 2 minutes. Ten-minute deliveries will lead to lesser to time spent on the road per order. We continue to educate our delivery partners on road safety and proved accidental/life insurance as well," he added.
"Delivery partners are not informed about promised delivery time for both 10 and 30 minutes deliveries. No penalties for late deliveries. No incentives for on-time deliveries for both 10- and 30-minute deliveries," Goyal said.
"10-minutes delivery will be for specific nearby locations, popular and standardised items only," he added.
On a question about what items could customers expect in 10 minutes, Goyal replied, "Bread Omelette, Poha, Coffee, Chai, Biryani, Momos, etc."
The CEO's explanation came after people on social media criticized the company's plan terming it unnecessary and potentially dangerous for delivery partners. -- ANI
13:25 Sonia's meeting with Anand Sharma, Tewari ends
Senior Congress leaders Anand Sharma (pictured alongside) and Manish Tewari leave from the residence of party chief Sonia Gandhi in Delhi.
13:25 No data on mob lynching deaths: Govt tells Parl
MoS Home Nityanand Rai to Lok Sabha on the number of mob lynching cases in the country: No separate data for mob lynching is maintained by NCRB. NCRB publishes crime data from all the States/UTs under various crime heads which are defined under the IPC and Special & Local Laws.
This government has been nicknamed No Data Available on social media.
Earlier, the government had said that it had:
No data on oxygen deaths during the 2nd wave.
No data on farmer deaths during the year-long protests.
12:58 9,861 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine
Yaroslav Trofimov, Chief Foreign-Affairs Correspondent of The Wall Street Journal, tweets, "Komsomolskaya Pravda, the pro-Kremlin tabloid, says that according to Russian ministry of defense numbers, 9,861 Russian soldiers died in Ukraine and 16,153 were injured. The last official Russian KIA figure, on March 2, was 498. Fascinating that someone posted the leaked number."
Image: Police officers walk past a bombed shopping center in Kyiv. Thomas Peter/Reuters
Smoldering remains of a victim's home
12:54 7 burnt to death after murder of TMC leader in WB
The charred bodies of seven persons were on Tuesday recovered from a few burnt houses at Rampurhat in Birbhum district of West Bengal, a senior police officer said.
The incident took place following the alleged murder of a Trinamool Congress panchayat leader on Monday.
The officer said that seven bodies have so far been recovered from the houses in Bogtui village situated on the outskirts of Rampurhat town.
A fire brigade official, however, claimed that 10 charred bodies were recovered.
The body of Bhadu Sheikh, the TMC panchayat deputy chief of Barshal village, was found in the area on Monday, police said.
Investigations are on. -- PTI
12:44 Pramod Sawant to be sworn-in as Goa CM on 28th
Goa CM-designate Pramod Sawant to take oath on March 28. PM Modi is also likely to attend the oath ceremony.
Invites have also been sent to BJP chief JP Nadda, union ministers, chief ministers of party-ruled states and party presidents of state units.
The BJP won 20 out of the 40 Assembly seats in the recent polls. Although the party is just one MLA short of majority, it has received five letters of support from three independent MLAs and from the two-member Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party.
12:42 House where a rape accused lived
Madhya Pradesh: The District Administration demolishes the residence of the main accused in a rape case in Shahdol.
12:09 Govt can't blame fuel hike on Ukraine war: Kharge
Congress leader and LoP in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge protesting outside Parliament House: "By increasing fuel prices Modi govt is making money worth Rs 10,000 crore by plundering the poor. Many say prices are rising due to Ukraine-Russia crisis, but as per Petroleum Ministry, we didn't buy 1% of crude oil from Russia."
Cong leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury: "We said that there'll be an exorbitant rise in fuel prices post the Assembly elections, we've been proven right. Modi govt is not at all reluctant to loot the poor. We'll stand against this for common people both outside and inside the Lok sabha."
Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan on increase in fuel prices: "Akhilesh Yadav has repeatedly said in his campaign that you people should be alert, the price is going to increase after the elections. Don't know who brought them to power."
Petrol and diesel prices were on Tuesday hiked by 80 paise a litre each while domestic cooking gas LPG rates were increased by Rs 50 per cylinder as state oil firms ended an over four and half month election-related hiatus in rate revision, fanning inflation fears.
11:47 UNGA vote on Ukraine tomorrow
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) will vote Wednesday on a draft resolution on Ukraine, the second such resolution since the start of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, a spokesperson said Monday.
The 11th Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly will be held after a letter requesting the resumption was received by UNGA President Abdulla Shahid, his spokesperson Paulina Kubiak told reporters in an email.
"A draft resolution sponsored by Ukraine and other member states has been submitted and is being processed," she said.
According to diplomatic sources, the new UNGA draft resolution focuses on the humanitarian situation, calling for the protection of civilians, medical personnel, aid workers, journalists, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure. -- ANI
Image: A warehouse damaged by shelling in Sievierodonetsk, Ukraine.
11:37 Rajya Sabha adjourned till noon as opposition protest fuel price hike
Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for a little less than an hour on Tuesday as opposition parties, including the Congress and TMC, voiced their protest against the hike in petrol, diesel and cooking gas LPG prices.
While TMC members stormed into the well of the House carrying placards on the issue, Congress, Left, Samajwadi Party and Shiv Sena MPs were up on their feet, some shouting slogans.
This came after Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he has not accepted notices given by Shaktisinh Gohil (Congress), Dola Sen (TMC), V Sivadasan, Elamaram Kareem and John Brittas (CPM) under rule 267, requiring setting aside of the listed agenda to take up a discussion.
Naidu said the issue can be discussed during demands for grants of concerned ministries.
Petrol and diesel prices were on Tuesday hiked by 80 paise a litre each while domestic cooking gas LPG rates were increased by Rs 50 per cylinder as state oil firms ended an over four and half month election-related hiatus in rate revision, fanning inflation fears. -- PTI
11:22 Strolling down the street ...
... and I learn more about economic trends than from books, observes Ajit Balakrishnan. Read the column here.
11:18 PM holds meeting with FM, HM, Rajnath, Gadkari
PM Narendra Modi is holding a meeting with Union ministers including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman and Nitin Gadkari in Parliament, to discuss various issues and government strategy for the ongoing Budget Session.
10:51 Dhami, U'khand cabinet to take oath tomorrow
BJP leader Pushkar Singh Dhami, who was elected leader of the legislature party in Uttarakhand on Monday, will take oath as Chief Minister of the state for a second term on Wednesday at 3:30 pm.
The swearing-in ceremony will be held at Parade Ground in Dehradun. Along with Dhami, the cabinet will also be administered the oath.
Dhami was elected leader of the BJP legislature party in Uttarakhand on Monday, paving the way for his taking over the reins of the state for a second time.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
10:47 News updates
-- Israel Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will pay his first official visit to India from April 3 to April 5, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Ministry of External Affairs.
-- Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to address a press conference on the issue of education at noon today.
-- BJP MLA's continue to stage a protest outside Maharashtra Assembly demanding the resignation of state minister Nawab Malik, in connection with Dawood Ibrahim money laundering case
10:26 Equity indices open in red
Equity indices opened in red on Tuesday with Sensex plunged by 164.59 points and Nifty down by 42.30 points. The 30-scrip BSE Sensex was down by 164.59 points or 0.29 per cent at 57127.90 at 9.45 am. The 50-scrip NSE Nifty was trading at 17075.30 at 9.45 am, down by 42.30 points or 0.25 per cent.
10:07 1,581 Covid cases in 24 hours in India
India reported a single-day rise of 1,581 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the infection tally to 4,30,10,971, while the active cases further declined to 23,913, the Union health ministry said on Tuesday.
The death toll has climbed to 5,16,543, with 33 daily fatalities, the ministry data updated at 8 am stated. The active cases comprise 0.06 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.74 per cent, it said.
A reduction of 1,193 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.28 per cent and the weekly positivity rate was also recorded at 0.39 per cent, according to the health ministry.
The last 24 hours saw a total of 5,68,471 COVID-19 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 78.36 crore cumulative tests.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,24,70,515, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.20 per cent.
The cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive has exceeded 181.56 crore.
India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20 lakh-mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one crore-mark on December 19.
09:49 Russia bombs humanitarian corridor in Ukraine
Russian forces shelled along a humanitarian corridor on Monday, wounding four children who were among the civilians being evacuated, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nighttime video address to the nation.
He said the shelling took place in the Zaporizhzhia region, the initial destination of those fleeing Mariupol.
The Ukrainian government said that about 3,000 people from Mariupol were evacuated on Monday.
Zelenskyy said he spoke with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and French President Emmanual Macron to coordinate their positions before Western leaders meet on Thursday. "Our position will be expressed and will be expressed strongly, believe me," Zelenskyy said.
Image: Tetiana Chornovol, former member of the Ukrainian Parliament, service member and operator of an anti-tank guided missile weapon system is pictured at a position on the front line. Gleb Garanich/Reuters
09:31 Russia bans Instagram, Facebook under 'extremism' law
A Russian court on Monday ruled to ban Instagram and Facebook in the country, labelling its parent company Meta as extremist, according to a media report.
Specifying that the ban on Meta's activities will not apply to the WhatsApp messenger, the Tverskoy district court of Moscow said that the decision will be enforced immediately, Sputnik reported.
Earlier, the Kremlin had threatened to ban Facebook and Instagram after its posts called for violence against Russia.
The Kremlin said that it's "necessary" to ban Facebook and Instagram if they allowed calls for violence against Russia, reported Sputnik. -- ANI
09:30 Sec 144 in Kota over 'The Kashmir Files'
Authorities here on Monday ordered imposing of section 144 across district from March 22 to April 21 exercising caution ahead of several festivals as the movie The Kashmir Files is screened in cinema halls.
The order signed by district collector and district magistrate (acting) Raj Kumar Singh proscribed assembly of crowd, demonstration, protest, processions, and road march till the order lasts.
The period will see festivals of Chetichand, Mahaveer Jayanti, Good Friday, Baisakhi, Juma - tul - vida, and a few others.
The order will not be applicable to government functions, Covid vaccination and police programmes, the official order stated.
As it happens, the Bharatiya Janata Party's woman wing is scheduled to take out Chandi March in Kota city on Tuesday to lodge protest against Urban Development and Housing Minister Shanti Dhariwal for his allegedly saying that Rajasthan holds the first position in rape cases.
Former BJP MLA Phralad Gunjal said the state government intended to bully the party's woman workers with Section 144. -- PTI
09:26 Tharoor turns down CPM invite on Sonia's order
Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday turned down the invitation from the Communist Party of India-Marxist to attend a seminar of CPI-M, on the orders of All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi.
According to sources, CPI-M has invited Tharoor and K V Thomas to attend a seminar on Centre-State relations during a party event being organised in Kerala's Kannur from April 6 till April 10.
Declining the invitation, Tharoor in his official statement said, 'I have discussed with AICC President (Sonia Gandhi) the matter of my participation in the seminar on centre-state relations on the sidelines of the CPI-M National Party Congress.'
'I respect her views in this matter and have conveyed to the organisers my inability to participate,' he added.
Tharoor also quoted the reasons for welcoming the invitation in the first place.
'No difference of opinion on the issue of 'centre-state' relation between the two parties and intellectual exchange on policy issue among anti-BJP parties,' are some of the reasons Congress leader quoted in his official statement.
However, he also pointed out that issues related to engaging invitations of other political parties and Congress relation with CPI-M at the national level should be addressed separately.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Congres president has said that central leadership has given clear instructions to all its leaders against participating in the seminars against the sentiments of Congress party workers. -- ANI
08:41 Myanmar: US recognises genocide against Rohingya
The United States has formally determined that the Myanmar military committed genocide and crimes against humanity against ethnic Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State.
"I have determined that members of the Burmese military committed genocide and crimes against humanity against Rohingya," announced US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a speech at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.
"Only seven times since the Holocaust has the US concluded that genocide was committed. Today, at the Holocaust Museum, marks the eighth, as I have determined that members of the Burmese military committed genocide and crimes against humanity against Rohingya," Blinken said.
Since the coup, security forces have killed at least 1,600 people and detained more than 12,000.
Over 500,000 people have been internally displaced and the junta is deliberately blocking aid to populations in need, as a form of collective punishment.
The Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that Rohingya remaining in the country have faced even greater movement restrictions and harsher treatment, abuses that amount to the crimes against humanity of persecution, apartheid, and severe deprivation of liberty.
John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at HRW, said the US government should couple its condemnations of Myanmar's military with action.
"For too long, the US and other countries have allowed Myanmar's generals to commit atrocities with few real consequences."
According to HRW, the US government should coordinate the long overdue action with other countries to pursue justice, both for mass crimes committed against the Rohingya and for those committed against other ethnic minorities and pro-democracy protesters since the military coup in February 2021.
The same military leaders responsible for crimes against the Rohingya carried out the February 1, 2021 coup against the country's elected civilian government.
According to the rights group, the junta then systematically attacked those who protested against the coup, subjecting them to mass killings, torture, and arbitrary detention, amounting to crimes against humanity.
The US and other governments should seek justice for the military's crimes against the Rohingya as well as abuses against protesters and ethnic groups, and impose stronger economic measures against the military leadership, HRW said. -- ANI
08:22 Petrol, diesel up by 80 paise; Rs 50 hike in LPG
Petrol and diesel prices on Tuesday were hiked by 80 paise a litre each while domestic cooking gas prices were increased by Rs 50 per cylinder, ending a over four and half month election-related hiatus in rate revision, sources said.
Petrol in Delhi will now cost Rs 96.21 per litre as against Rs 95.41 previously while diesel rates have gone up from Rs 86.67 per litre to Rs 87.47.
A 14.2-kg non-subsidised LPG cylinder will now cost Rs 949.50 in the national capital.
While LPG rates were last revised on October 6, petrol and diesel prices had been on a freeze since November 4 ahead of the assembly elections in states like Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
Prices have been on a freeze since then despite the cost of raw material spiralling. International oil prices were around $81-82 a barrel in early November as against $114 now.
Sources said a 5 KG LPG cylinder will now cost Rs 349 while the 10 kg composite bottle will come for Rs 669.
The 19-kg commercial cylinder now costs Rs 2003.50. -- PTI
00:15 Nagaland set to get first woman Rajya Sabha MP
BJP's S Phangnon Konyak is all set to become the first woman Rajya Sabha member from Nagaland as no other candidate filed nomination for the March 31 election to the lone seat from the state on Monday, which was the last day.
Konyak, the consensus candidate of the ruling United Democratic Alliance, will also be the first BJP member from Nagaland to be sent to Parliament.
Naga People's Front, which had expressed "strong determination" to field a candidate despite being a part of the UDA -- which runs an opposition-less government in the state, backed out at the last moment.
In the 60-member assembly, NDPP has 21 MLAs, NPF 25, BJP 12 and there are two Independent MLAs, all of whom joined hands in September 2021 to form UDA for facilitating an early solution to the vexed Naga political dialogue.
On Saturday, NPF president Shurhozelie Liezietsu had written to its legislature party to consider nominating its working president and former home minister Thenucho Tunyi for the election.
However, the working committee and the legislative wing of the NPF failed to come to a conclusion till Sunday, party sources said.
On the letter by Liezietsu, NPF's legislature party secretary Chumben Murry said, "The UDA government was formed on the understanding of pursuing Naga political issue for a negotiated solution at the earliest. Consequent upon which one of the NPF MLA was inducted in the Cabinet along with chairman UDA.
"Under the given situation, the NPF cannot file nomination to the Rajya Sabha election which will tantamount to withdrawal from the coalition government of UDA."
As NPF refrained from filing nomination, Konyak -- the BJP women's wing's state president -- was the only candidate to have filed nomination, thus securing her seat without a contest.
She will also be the second Naga woman parliamentarian.
Since statehood in 1963, Nagaland got only one woman parliamentarian, Rano M Shaiza, who was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1977.
The state never had a woman MLA.
The tenure of the incumbent Rajya Sabha member from Nagaland, KG Kenye of NPF, ends on April 2.
Speaking to reporters, an elated Konyak expressed gratitude to the BJP for nominating her. "BJP is a party which believes in women empowerment and there is a lot of hope in the party," she said.
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