LIVE
Thu, 29 September 2022
SC suggests idea of pvt jails built by corporates
Timeline Refresh
23:59 SC collegium recommends transfer of Orissa CJ Justice Muralidhar to Madras HC
The Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit is learnt to have recommended to the Centre the transfer of Chief Justice of Orissa high court, Justice S Muralidhar, as the CJ of the Madras high court, sources said on Thursday.
The collegium, which also comprised justices D Y Chandrachud and Sanjay Kishan Kaul, met on Wednesday to deliberate upon issues including the transfer of high court judges, the sources told PTI.
In the meeting, the collegium resolved to transfer Justice Muralidhar in the same capacity to the Madras high court.
The apex court collegium is likely to come up with a statement on it, they said.
Justice Muralidhar, born on August 8, 1961, was enrolled as an advocate on September 12, 1984, practiced law in courts in Chennai, and later shifted to Delhi.
Justice Muralidhar was initially appointed as a judge of the Delhi high court in May 2006.
He was transferred to the Punjab and Haryana high court on March 6, 2020. -- PTI
23:53 Modi attends Navratri event in Gujarat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the `Navratri Mahotsav' organised by the Gujarat government at the GMDC ground in Ahmedabad on Thursday night and performed aarti of Maa Amba.
The event has been organized on the occasion of the ongoing Navratri festival. Modi, who is on a two-day Gujarat visit, was accompanied by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Governor Acharya Devvrat.
He also watched the traditional garba dance at the venue, and spoke to some revelers and allowed them to click selfies with him. -- PTI
23:37 J-K former Panthers Party chief Balwant Singh joins BJP
Balwant Singh Mankotia, a former president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, joined the BJP in New Delhi on Thursday.
He joined the party in the presence of Union ministers Jitendra Singh and Rajeev Chandrasekhar. and BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh.
After leaving the JKNPP, Mankotia, a two-time MLA, had initially joined the Aam Aadmi Party but was recently removed.
Welcoming him in the BJP, Chugh said Mankotia is joining the party as he is inspired by the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Mankotia is one of the prominent leaders of the region, the BJP general secretary said. His joining came just a day before senior BJP leader and Union home minister Amit Shah's scheduled visit to the state.
Mankotia cited several reasons for joining the BJP saying the immediate push was the government decision to declare a public holiday on the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh. -- PTI
23:25 Queen Elizabeth II died of 'old age', death certificate reveals
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II died of 'old age' on September 8, according to her death certificate released by the national records office of Scotland on Thursday.
The certificate stated that Queen died at 3:10 pm (local time) and at Balmoral Castle. the cause of her death was listed as "old age."
Britain's longest-serving monarch died hours after the palace said that the Queen was under medical supervision at Balmoral after the doctors expressed their concern over her health.
The Queen, born on 21 April 1926 at 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair, London, was the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York -- who later became King George VI -- and Queen Elizabeth.
Her death was followed by 10 days of official mourning and a grand procession of events that were followed around the world, culminating in her state funeral in London and burial at Windsor.
President Draupadi Murmu was among many world leaders in attendance for the funeral, even as King Charles III and other members of the British royal family walked behind the queen's coffin during the procession.
Crowds watched as the state hearse passed through London, with some throwing flowers in the direction of the convoy.
Murmu was accompanied by foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra during the funeral ceremony. -- ANI
23:09 Air India halves discount on basic fares for senior citizens, students
Tata Group-owned full-service carrier Air India has reduced by half the discount offered on basic fares to senior citizens and students in the economy class on its flights, according to its website.
The revised discount on basic fares is effective from September 29.
Tata Group took control of the loss-making Air India from the government on January 27, this year. "... (under senior citizen and student concession) for tickets issued on/after 29th September 2022, 25 per cent (discount) of basic fare will be applicable on select booking classes in economy cabin," as per the website.
Air India earlier was offering 50 per cent discount on select booking classes in economy cabins of its aircraft to these two categories of travellers, according to the website.
Separately, in a circular dated September 28, the airline said "it has been decided to revise the concessionary fares with effect from 29th September 2022. The changes are applicable for tickets issued on/after 29th September 2022." -- PTI
22:46 SC suggests idea of pvt jails built by corporates
The Supreme Court Thursday expressed concern over the conditions of jails in the country and suggested the idea of building private jails involving big corporates.
The apex court said big corporate houses can build private prisons as part of their corporate social responsibility.
"In Europe, there is a concept of private jails. Then there is corporate social responsibility. If you give them sufficient inducement you can have jails built. Because you don't want the public exchequer to be used for that. There is an alarming number of under-trial prisoners.
"They will build it and give it to you and claim reduction under the Income Tax. A new concept will emerge. Then a new concept will evolve, from anticipatory bail to anticipatory jail," said a bench of Justices K M Joseph and Hrishikesh Roy.
The observation came after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for activist Gautam Navlakha, said there is over overcrowding in jails and only Ayurveda doctors are available for patients.
The top court said the study of prisons is the lowest priority for any government. -- PTI
22:29 Monsoon has withdrawn from Delhi: IMD
The southwest monsoon -- which gave highly uneven rainfall this year -- has withdrawn from Delhi.
The monsoon had rolled into Delhi on June 30 yielding the season's first spell of heavy rain (117.2 mm).
The normal date of arrival is June 27 and that of withdrawal is September 25.
Weather experts say a gap of three to five days is considered normal.
"The southwest monsoon has withdrawn from Punjab; some parts of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, west Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan and entire Delhi," India meteorological department said.
The Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi's primary weather station, recorded an overall deficit of 19 per cent this monsoon season -- 516.9 mm of rainfall against a normal of 653.6 mm.
Also, the capital gauged less than half of the precipitation received last year (1169.4 mm).
Up to 19 per cent of deficient and excess rain is considered 'normal', according to the IMD.
Delhi stared at a much larger rain deficit till September 20.
However, a late spell of incessant rains from September 21 to September 24 -- due to an interaction between a cyclonic circulation and a low-pressure system -- helped it cover the margin to a large extent.
The rainfall recorded at the Safdarjung Observatory swung from a 49 per cent deficit on September 21 to a surplus of 39 per cent on September 24. -- PTI
22:01 Pilot meets Sonia, says priority is to win Rajasthan in 2023
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Thursday night met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and said he discussed the events in the state in detail and expressed his sentiments on the situation.
Pilot spent around an hour at Gandhi's residence and also conveyed his feedback to her.
"I met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and we discussed the events in Rajasthan in detail," Pilot said after meeting the Congress chief.
Pilot met her hours after his bete noire Ashok Gehlot met Sonia Gandhi in the afternoon, after which the Rajasthan chief minister announced that he will opt out of the Congress president's race.
"I have conveyed my sentiments, given my feedback to Sonia Gandhi. Our priority is to win the 2023 assembly polls in Rajasthan for which we will have to work together," Pilot said after the meeting.
"Whatever positive decisions have to be taken with respect to Rajasthan, the Congress president will take," Pilot said when asked on the action to be taken by the party after the events in Rajasthan.
21:25 12 Cong MLAs to propose Digvijaya for Cong prez
A total of 12 Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh will be proposers for veteran leader Digvijaya Singh when he files nomination for the Congress president's election, a party leader said on Thursday.
Singh is likely to file his nomination on Friday, the last day of the nomination process.
He reached Delhi late Wednesday night leaving the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra and collected nomination papers on Thursday.
MLAs Hina Kanwre, Jitu Patwari, PC Sharma, Lakhan Singh Yadav, Alok Chaturvedi, Arif Masood, Kantilal Bhuria, Ramlal Malviya, Surendra Singh Baghel, Vipin Vankhede, Kamleshwar Patel and Dr Govind Singh will be reaching Delhi to be proposers for Singh's nomination.
Govind Singh confirmed to PTI en route to Delhi by Shatabdi Express train that he had sent the list of these MLAs to Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath.
Digvijaya Singh told reporters at the Congress headquarters in Delhi that he will most probably file his nomination on Friday.
He also met Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, his likely rival in the election, during the day.
Asked if he was contesting the election at the behest of the party leadership, Singh said, "I am responsible for myself."
"Wait till the date of withdrawal," said the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister when asked if he will remain in the fray. -- PTI
Representational image
21:12 IIFA Awards to be held in Abu Dhabi again
After a successful award weekend in Abu Dhabi this year, The International Indian Film Academy is going to be back with awards in 2023 -- again in Abu Dhabi!
"The International Indian Film Academy Weekend & Awards, which brings together the very best of the Indian film industry, is back by popular demand in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, in February 2023 to win our hearts all over again!"
IIFA 2023 will be held in collaboration with the department of culture and tourism - Abu Dhabi and Miral.
The comeback of the 22nd edition of IIFA this year at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, hosted by superstar Salman Khan, Riteish Deshmukh, and Maniesh Paul, featured electrifying performances by the finest talent from the Indian film fraternity, leaving us in awe with three memorable, star-studded days with packed venues filled by fans from all around the globe.
More than 350 media attended the three-day awards weekend from 17 countries across the globe as more than 20,000 people thronged the arena.
IIFA 2023 will be a grand celebration of the best talent in Indian cinema, bringing together global dignitaries, international media, fans, and film enthusiasts worldwide.
To present a greater opportunity for long-term impact in tourism, business & trade, and the film production business for the destination. -- ANI
20:48 Release of Samantha Ruth Prabhu-starrer 'Shaakuntalam' postponed
The makers of Shaakuntalam, the multilingual mythological drama starring Samantha Ruth Prabhu, on Thursday said they have decided to postpone the release of the film indefinitely.
The development comes a week after production house Sri Venkateswara Creations announced November 4 as the release date of the film.
In a statement shared on its official Twitter account, the Hyderabad-based banner said they have delayed the arrival of the film so that the audience is able to experience Shaakuntalam in the 3D format.
"We aim to give a bigger experience with Shaakuntalam and immerse you in the World of Shaakuntalam, for which we as a team felt 3D would be a brilliant way. To facilitate this, we would be taking some time to put forth and so, will be unable to meet the earlier announced date of release," Sri Venkateswara Creations said in the post.
The new release date will be announced soon. "We thank the support and love showered upon us, from around the world, hoping for your support in this too!" the banner added.
Based on Kalidasa's acclaimed Sanskrit play Abhijnana Shakuntalam, the film is written and directed by award-winning director Gunasekhar of Rudhramadevi fame.
Billed as a whimsical tale, Shaakuntalam revolves around the epic love story of Shakuntala and King Dushyant, portrayed by The Family Man star Samantha and Dev Mohan (Sufiyum Sujatayum), respectively.
Pushpa: The Rise star Allu Arjun's daughter Allu Arha portrays the role of Prince Bharata, son of Shakuntala and Dushyant. -- PTI
20:19 Sachin Pilot at Sonia's residence for meeting
Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot reached Congress president Sonia Gandhi's residence in New Delhi on Thursday for a meeting with her.
Pilot reached Gandhi's residence hours after his bete noire and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had met her and later announced that he would not contest the Congress presidential poll after taking moral responsibility for the political crisis in his state.
Gehlot also said the decision on whether he would remain CM would be taken by Gandhi.
The meetings come days after an open rebellion by Gehlot loyalists over a possible leadership change in the state.
The party's disciplinary committee has asked three Gehlot loyalists -- Rajasthan ministers Shanti Dhariwal and Mahesh Joshi, and Dharmendra Rathore -- to explain within 10 days why action should not be initiated against them.
This was after observers for Rajasthan, Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken, charged them with "gross indiscipline" in a report to party chief Sonia Gandhi.
Eighty-two MLAs participated in a parallel meeting at Dhariwal's residence in Jaipur, laying down conditions for the party.
They did not attend the official legislature party meeting convened for passing a resolution authorising the Congress chief to appoint a successor to Gehlot.
With the Rajasthan episode posing a significant challenge before the party, the Congress president has also been holding discussions with senior party leaders from across the country to resolve the crisis. -- PTI
NCP supremo Sharad Pawar
20:03 NCP to hold state-level meet in Shirdi on Nov 4-5
The Nationalist Congress Party on Thursday said its state-level meeting will be held on November 4 and 5 in Shirdi in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district.
The decision was taken after a meeting was held with NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, state unit chief Jayant Patil said.
The two-day meet will be attended by all major leaders from across the state, he added.
"Today's meeting discussed national issues and the party's preparations for upcoming civic and local governing body elections. We also discussed some internal issues of the party," Patil said. -- PTI
Rashmi Thackeray, wife of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, visits Tembhi Naka Navratri mandal in Thane, September 29, 2022/PTI
19:38 Uddhav wife visits Durga mandal linked to Shinde
Rashmi Thackeray, wife of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, on Thursday visited a Navratri event at Tembi Naka in Thane city and offered prayers to Goddess Durga.
Prior to this, she visited 'Anand Ashram', the party's Thane headquarters, and paid tribute to late Anand Dighe, a hugely popular leader from the region who is considered the mentor of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Incidentally, the event attended by Rashmi Thackeray is associated with Shinde and the latter was part of the procession when the goddess' idol was brought from Kalwa a few days ago.
Among those who were present when Rashmi Thackeray visited the Navratrotsav mandal were Thane Lok Sabha MP Rajan Vichare, Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi as well as hundreds of workers, mostly women, from the Uddhav Thackeray faction.
She did not speak to the media and left the venue after offering prayers. -- PTI
Representational image
19:10 Six workers injured in fire at ordnance factory in MP
Six workers were injured after a fire broke out at Ordnance Factory Khamaria near Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh on early Thursday morning, a senior official said.
The fire, which started in a building inside the factory during the melting of explosives around 2.30 am has been extinguished, OFK joint general manager and spokesperson Dinesh Kumar said.
Five of the injured persons were admitted to two private hospitals while another worker was discharged after treatment, he said.
One of the workers sustained 42-45 per cent burns while others had minor injuries, Kumar added.
OFK general manager Ashok Kumar has ordered a board of inquiry into the cause of the fire, he said. -- PTI
Representational image
18:46 Goa BJP leader seeks funds to restore churches
Goa BJP leader Savio Rodrigues has urged the Centre and the Goa government to set up a fund to restore heritage Catholic churches in the state.
In a letter to Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, the BJP spokesperson said the scheme by the government to restore temples destroyed by the Portuguese was a great move to preserve the Indic heritage and culture.
Similarly, he said, a fund should be set up to preserve the heritage Catholic churches as well.
"Catholic churches are a wonderful tourist attraction not only for people from the Christian community but also people from different religious communities that marvel at its history, its spiritual essence and its architectural prowess," he said.
He said some of the churches -- like The Velim Church, Church of Our Lady of Rosary, Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, Three Kings Chapel - are monumental wonders that must be preserved.
Rodrigues also suggested a study could be initiated before commissioning the funds.
"We must endeavour to work with our Christian sisters and brothers to preserve our state's historic catholic churches as they are an integral part of Goa's rich and collective identity," he said in the letter. -- PTI
Suspended headmaster Abdul Munafar Bijapur/ANI
18:14 Karnataka headmaster heckled for Prophet essay competition suspended
Karnataka school headmaster, who allegedly tried to facilitate the religious conversion -- has been suspended, a day after the state education department ordered an inquiry after the headmaster was heckled by right-wing outfit activists for organising an essay competition on Prophet for children of a government school in Gadag district on Wednesday.
Abdul Munafar Bijapur, the headmaster of the Government High School in Nagavi Village, had organised an essay competition on Prophet Mohammed.
Subsequently, the right-wing activists barged into the school premises and heckled the headmaster, leaving 172 students in a state of shock.
Earlier, an inquiry was set up pertaining to the matter.
After which Abdul Munafar, the headmaster, has been suspended.
"I'll get the complaint copy from Sri Ram Sene. I'll also get information from the headmaster of the school and students and provide them to the deputy director," block education officer Virupakshappa Naduvinamani said on Wednesday.
The activists of Ram Sene accused the headmaster of trying to facilitate religious conversion.
Sharanappa Gowda Haplad, a parent, said, "I came to know that the headmaster of the school was trying to impose Islam in the minds of students by conducting an essay writing competition and announcing Rs 5,000 prize money. The boys and girls in the hope of winning Rs 5,000 were made to write essays. His intention was to convert students. That's why I informed Sri Ram Sene activists. I want to know what's the intention of organizing an essay competition on Prophet Mohammad." -- ANI
17:58 Another blast in bus rocks Udhampur, 2nd in 9 hrs
Suspected terrorists triggered a blast in a parked bus in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur early Thursday, nine hours after a similar explosion took place in the city but there was no casualty, the police said.
Additional director general of police Jammu region Mukesh Singh visited both the sites and said high explosives might have been used in carrying out the blasts which were of the same pattern.
"Initial examination points towards use of high explosives," he said, adding probe is on to ascertain whether it was the handiwork of terror modules.
The roof and the backside of the bus were blown away by the blast that occurred around 5.30 am but no one was injured, the police said.
The explosions took place days ahead of the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah from October 4.
He was supposed to embark on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on September 30 and hold public meetings in Rajouri on October 1 and Baramulla on October 2.
However, the visit was rescheduled.
Speaking to reporters at the site of blast in Udhampur, ADGP Singh said the "first explosion took place on a parked bus around 10:30 pm on Wednesday near a petrol pump.
Two people sustained minor injuries but are now out of danger".
He said the other blast that took place in the old bus stand area.
Singh said the nature of the blasts was being ascertained, adding probe is being done on various angles. -- PTI
Representational image
17:46 China says person killed in Karachi by a gunman not its national
China said on Thursday that the person killed in Karachi on Wednesday was not its citizen, refuting reports that the incident could be yet another targeted attack against Chinese nationals in Pakistan.
"We express condolences for the victims of the relevant incident. To my understanding the relevant person is not a Chinese citizen," China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing in Beijing when asked whether it was a terrorist attack against Chinese nationals.
Pakistani officials on Wednesday said that a Chinese national was shot dead and two others injured when an unidentified gunman opened fire inside a dental clinic in Karachi.
The gunman entered the clinic area and opened fire, killing the assistant, Ronald Chow, on the spot and wounding dentist Dr Richard Hu Lee and his wife Margaret, SSP (South), Karachi, Syed Asad Raza said.
Recent reports said trouble is brewing between the all-weather friends with China increasingly getting critical of Pakistan's failure in protecting Chinese workers who came under periodic attacks from the militant groups. -- PTI
Representational image
17:28 Security beefed up in Kolkata for Durga Puja
Security has been beefed up across Kolkata from Thursday for the Durga Puja festivities as revellers have already started making a beeline for popular pandals, the police said.
A total of 17,000 police personnel, including 10,000 home guards, have been posted across the city and 400 pickets have been set up at various locations, while 58 PCR vans and 41 quick response teams have been deployed.
Kolkata police commissioner Vineet Goyal said the deployment will be in place till Vijaya Dashami and also during immersion of idols, including the carnival day, when colourful processions that are taken out by selected community pujas pass through the Red Road in the heart of the city.
"Full-fledged deployment has started from today, Chaturthi (fourth day) of the Durga Puja festivities, and this force will continuously be there till the end of the festival," Goyal told reporters.
He said additional resources will be put in place in case there is more crowding than expected at any particular area during the festive days.
"Contingency plans are made in advance to cope with situations, be it rain or overcrowding," he said. -- PTI
Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis
17:16 Fadnavis orders probe into MVA govt's RRV buy
Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday that a probe has been ordered into the purchase of 18 rapid response vehicles by the previous MVA government allegedly at an inflated price of Rs 3 crore each during the pandemic.
The vehicles, called "Devdoot", were purchased in 2020-21 fiscal by the relief and rehabilitation department, which was then headed by the Congress minister Vijay Wadettiwar.
The vehicles are said to be equipped to respond quickly in event of a natural calamity.
Fadnavis, who holds the finance and home portfolios in the current dispensation, told ANI that a probe has been ordered into the alleged scam after media reports said that the vehicles were purchased at a higher price than their actual cost.
The total cost of the vehicles was Rs 54 crore.
"The tender was issued by the relief and rehabilitation department. In July 2020, minister Vijay Wadettiwar had written that it was very necessary to provide RRVs to 16 municipal corporations, NDRF and the SDRF," one of the sources said. -- PTI
Hafiz Saeed
16:42 Pak court indicts 3 more in case related to blast outside Hafiz Saeed's house
An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan has indicted three more suspects in a car bomb blast outside the 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed's house in Lahore last year that killed three people, an official said on Thursday.
"The prosecutors of the counter terrorism department of Punjab police declared the suspects -- Samiul Haq (mastermind) Aziz Akbar and Naveed Akhtar (facilitators) -- guilty before the court," a CTD official said.
He said the suspects, who were brought amid tight security, pleaded not guilty before the court.
The official said the ATC Lahore directed the prosecution to present witnesses before it on October 4.
In January, the ATC had sentenced four suspects -- Eid Gul (activist of banned Tahreek-e-Taliban Pakistan), Peter Paul David, Sajjad Shah and Ziaullah -- to death on nine counts.
The court had also handed down five years imprisonment to a woman, identified as Ayesha Bibi, during the in-camera trial proceedings at the high-security Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore.
The prosecution had presented 56 witnesses against these five convicts. -- PTI
16:37 It's Tharoor vs Digvijaya after Gehlot bows out
Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Digvijaya Singh are scheduled to submit their nomination papers for the upcoming presidential elections of the All India Congress Committee on Friday.
As per the information, Tharoor will visit 24 Akbar Road at 12.15 pm tomorrow.
He will subsequently hold a press conference at 1.00 pm at his residence on 97 Lodhi Estate (opposite Airforce Bal Bharti Public School)
Meanwhile, party leader Digvijaya Singh, another contender for the topmost position in the party, will also file his nomination tomorrow between 11 am and 3 pm.
Tharoor welcomed Singh's candidacy and said that both of them have agreed to consider it a friendly contest.
"Received a visit from [?]@digvijaya_28 [?] this afternoon. I welcome his candidacy for the Presidency of our Party. We both agreed that ours is not a battle between rivals but a friendly contest among colleagues. All we both want is that whoever prevails, @incIndia will win!," Tharoor tweeted.
Notably, another prominent contender for the President post in the party, Ashok Gehlot recently announced that he will not contest the elections.
"I met Rahul Gandhi in Kochi and requested him to fight the polls (for Congress President). When he didn't accept, I said I'll contest but now with that incident (political crisis in Rajasthan), I have decided not to contest the elections," CM Gehlot said.
Gehlot's remarks came after the veteran leader met with the party's interim chief Sonia Gandhi at her residence at 10 Janpath in the national capital.
16:17 India rich country with poor population: Gadkari
Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said even as India has emerged as the world's fifth largest economy and although the country is rich, its population is poor, facing issues like starvation, unemployment, casteism, untouchability and inflation.
The gap between the rich and the poor has widened in the country, which needs to be bridged, he said.
He was addressing a programme organised by Bharat Vikas Parishad, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-inspired organisation.
"We are the fastest-growing economy in the world and are the fifth largest economy. We are a rich nation with a poor population. Our country is rich, but the population is poor facing starvation, unemployment, poverty, inflation, casteism, untouchability and other factors that are not good for the progress of the society," he said.
"There is a need to establish social and economic equality in the society. The gap between these two sections of the society has widened. Economic disparity has also increased like social disparity," the Minister for Road Transport and Highways noted.
Gadkari emphasised the need to work in the fields of education, health and services to bridge the rich-poor gap.
"The purpose of the Bharat Vikas Parishad is very clear, but the biggest challenge before us is how to work in various sectors with social responsibility and social consciousness to bring about a change in the society.
However, we are still very far from our objective and need to speed up our efforts to achieve it," he said. The minister called for working in a united way to develop 124 aspirational districts in the country. -- PTI
Gautam Adani with the PM
16:05 Adani subsidiaries get funding for Ganga Expressway Project in UP
Adani Enterprises Ltd on Thursday said it's three wholly-owned subsidiaries have achieved financial closure for the access-controlled six-lane greenfield Ganga Expressway Project in Uttar Pradesh under public-private partnership mode.
The company in a statement said it has secured finances of Rs 10,238 crore from lenders, and the concession period of the project shall be 30 years with traffic link extension provision of six years, including three years of construction period.
"Budaun Hardoi Road Private Ltd (BHRPL), Hardoi Unnao Road Private Ltd (HURPL) and Unnao Prayagraj Road Private Ltd (UPRPL) - wholly-owned subsidiaries of Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL) - have achieved financial closure for the access-controlled six-lane (expandable to eight lane) greenfield Ganga Expressway Project (Group-II, III & IV) in Uttar Pradesh (UP) respectively on DBFOT (toll) basis under PPP mode," it said.
The Ganga Expressway in Uttar Pradesh, which will connect Meerut with Prayagraj, will be India's longest expressway to be implemented on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model. -- PTI
15:54 'PFI had ties with Turkey group linked to Al Qaeda'
The Popular Front of India (PFI) has been maintaining close ties with a radical Turkish group accused of supplying arms to al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadists in Syria and even two top leaders of the just-banned outfit were hosted by the group, officials said on Thursday.
The Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (Insan Hak ve Hurriyetleri ve Insani Yardim Vakfi, commonly known as IHH) projects itself as a Turkish human rights organisation involved in constructive work benefiting the society.
However, investigators have found that it is an al-Qaeda-linked Turkish charity organisation which was accused of smuggling arms to al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadists in Syria in January 2014. Leaked emails of Berat Albayrak, a former finance minister of Turkey and the son-in-law of Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also reportedly implicated the IHH in arming Libyan groups.
The IHH has been identified as an organisation that closely works with Turkish intelligence service MIT. According to a Nordic Monitor report, E M Abdul Rahiman and Professor P Koya, members of the PFI's national executive council, were privately hosted in Istanbul by the IHH.
15:42 Monsoon has withdrawn from Delhi: IMD
The southwest monsoon -- which gave highly uneven rainfall this year -- has withdrawn from Delhi, the Met department said on Thursday. Usually, the monsoon starts retreating from northwest India by September 17 and withdraws from Delhi within a week.
"The southwest monsoon has withdrawn from Punjab; some parts of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, west Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan and entire Delhi," India Meteorological Department said.
The Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi's primary weather station, logged 516.9 mm of rainfall this monsoon season, less than half of the precipitation received last year (1169.4 mm).
The capital recorded an overall rain deficit of 19 percent this monsoon season. Up to 19 percent of deficient and excess rain is considered 'normal'. according to the IMD. Delhi stared at a much larger rain deficit till September 20.
However, a late spell of incessant rains from September 21 to September 24 -- due to an interaction between a cyclonic circulation and a low-pressure system -- helped it cover the margin to a large extent.
15:22 Air pollution may increase Covid severity
Exposure to air pollutants, in particular fine particles (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), increased the risk of hospitalisation in COVID-19 patients by up to 30 per cent, even for the fully vaccinated, according to a study.
A team, including researchers from University of Southern California (USC), US, analysed medical records from patients at Kaiser Permanente Southern California's (KPSC) Department of Research & Evaluation.
Across the health care network, 50,010 patients, aged 12 and above, were diagnosed with COVID-19 in July or August of 2021, when the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 was circulating and many people had been vaccinated.
"These findings are important because they show that, while COVID-19 vaccines are successful at reducing the risk of hospitalisation, people who are vaccinated and exposed to polluted air are still at increased risk for worse outcomes than vaccinated people not exposed to air pollution," said Anny Xiang, study author and a senior research scientist at KPSC.
The study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, estimated air pollution exposure levels for each participant based on their residential addresses. -- PTI
15:11 Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of T20 World Cup
India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was on Thursday ruled out of the T20 World Cup with a stress fracture, dealing a massive blow to the team's chances in the ICC event.
A BCCI official told PTI that Bumrah has a stress fracture and could be out of action for months.
"Bumrah is not going to play the World T20 for sure. He has a serious back condition. It's a stress fracture and he could be out for a period of six months," a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Bumrah, who played two T20s against Australia, didn't travel with the team to Thiruvananthapuram for the series opener against South Africa. Bumrah is the second senior star player to be ruled out after Ravindra Jadeja, who is recovering from a knee surgery.
14:58 Gehlot will not fight polls, apologises to Sonia
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot says he will not contest the Congress president elections.
"I had a conversation with Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi. Whatever happened two days ago shocked us. It gave a message that all of it happened as I wanted to be CM. I apologised to her.
"I met Rahul Gandhi in Kochi and requested him to fight in the polls (for Congress President). When he didn't accept, I said I'll contest but now with that incident (Rajasthan political crisis), I've decided not to contest the elections," Gehlot says.
14:50 Poll rivals Digvijaya, Tharoor share a hug in Delhi
Shashi Tharoor shares this picture with Congress colleague and his presidential poll rival, Digvijaya Singh. "Received a visit from @digvijaya_28 this afternoon. I welcome his candidacy for the Presidency of our Party. We both agreed that ours is not a battle between rivals but a friendly contest among colleagues. All we both want is that whoever prevails, @incIndia will win!," Tharoor tweeted.
Senior party leader Digvijaya Singh, who left the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra, said he will contest the election and collected his nomination papers today. The only other person who has declared his intention to contest is Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, who has said he will file his nomination papers tomorrow.
14:36 Govt defers 6-airbag mandate by a year
The Centre defers the proposal to make six airbags mandatory in cars by one year to October 1, 2023, says Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Gadkari on 6 September said that the government is trying to make it mandatory for carmakers to provide at least six airbags in eight-seater vehicles from October for enhanced safety of passengers.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in a statement said that in order to enhance the safety of occupants of the motor vehicle against lateral impact, it has been decided to enhance safety features by amending the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989.
14:16 Saffron flag is in my heart, says Uddhav
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday took a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party and the faction headed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde by stating the saffron flag needs to be in one's heart and not just in one's hands.
The BJP and Shinde faction have often accused Thackeray of compromising on the ideals of Hindutva by joining hands with the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party for the sake of power.
Speaking to his party workers at his residence, Thackeray said, "This is an opportunity given to us by God to save democracy in the country and preserve Hindutva. The saffron flag does not have to be just in one's hands, it has to be in one's heart. It is in my heart."
Thackeray asked his party workers to come in a disciplined way to the Dussehra rally, which he will address at Shivaji Park on October 5.
On the ongoing case in the Supreme Court and the Election Commission on which faction of the Sena is the original one, Thackeray said "we need to win this battle in court as well as before the EC". PTI
14:02 Sachin Pilot to meet Sonia later today
Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot will meet party chief Sonia Gadhi later Thursday, sources said.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who arrived in Delhi Wednesday night, met Gandhi around 1 pm.
The meetings come days after an open rebellion by Gehlot loyalists over a possible leadership change in the state, clouding Gehlot's chances of running for the presidency.
The party's disciplinary committee has asked three Gehlot loyalists -- Rajasthan ministers Shanti Dhariwal and Mahesh Joshi, and Dharmendra Rathore -- to explain within 10 days why action should not be initiated against them.
This was after observers for Rajasthan, Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken, charged them with "gross indiscipline" in a report to party chief Sonia Gandhi.
Eighty-two MLAs participated in a parallel meeting at Dhariwal's residence in Jaipur, laying down conditions for the party. They did not attend the official legislature party meeting convened for passing a resolution authorising the Congress chief to appoint a successor to Gehlot, who was to contest the Congress presidential election.
With the Rajasthan episode posing a significant challenge before the party, the Congress president has been holding discussions with senior party leaders from across the country to resolve the crisis. PTI
13:32 Ashok Gehlot meets Sonia amid Rajasthan crisis
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot arrived for a meeting with Sonia Gandhi this afternoon amid turmoil over the Congress president election and the Rajasthan rebel crisis.
Ashok Gehlot arrived in Delhi late last night for his meeting with the Congress president.
With Friday the last date for filing nominations, Congress leaders are in hectic discussions to solve the political conundrum that has everyone guessing - who all will contest the election for party president.
The discussions are mostly one-on-one, party insiders said on Thursday, a day of many meetings. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot met AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik in Jodhpur House.
K C Venugopal, also party general secretary, called on Sonia Gandhi at her residence. And senior leader A K Antony is learnt to have met Tariq Anwar at Kerala House.
Senior party leader Digvijaya Singh, who left the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra, said he will contest the election and collected his nomination papers.
The only other person who has declared his intention to contest is Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, who has said he will file his nomination papers on the last day Friday.
IAS officer Harjot Kaur Bhamra also asked the girl to go to Pakistan
13:09 NCW notice to IAS officer on condom taunt to girl
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has sought explanation from a senior IAS officer over her "inappropriate and highly objectionable" remark to a student who asked about affordable sanitary napkins.
According to media reports, when the girl student from Bihar asked why the government could not provide sanitary pads, Harjot Kaur Bhamra responded, "Tomorrow, you attain the age of family planning and you would expect the government to provide 'nirodh' (condoms) too."
"The government provides a lot of freebies. Cant they offer us sanitary pads that cost Rs 20-30?" the student asked.
To this question, IAS officer Harjot Kaur said, Is there any end to the demands? Youll say tomorrow that the government can provide jeans and nice shoes. Eventually, when it comes to family planning, youll want free condoms as well.
When the girl said that the votes of the people determine who rules, the officer replied, This is the height of stupidity. Then do not vote. Pakistan, Ban Jao (become like Pakistan). Do you vote for money and facilities?
To that barb, the student responded, I am an Indian. Why should I?
The NCW said it had observed that such "insensitive attitude" from a person at a responsible position was condemnable and extremely shameful. "NCW has taken cognizance of the matter. Chairperson Rekha Sharma has written to Harjot Kaur Bhamra, IAS, seeking explanation over her inappropriate and highly objectionable remarks," the women's panel said in a statement. PTI
Digvijaya Singh holds up his nomination papers
13:01 Hectic meets to resolve crisis ahead of Cong poll
With Friday the last date for filing nominations, Congress leaders are in hectic discussions to solve the political conundrum that has everyone guessing -- who all will contest the election for party president.
The discussions are mostly one-on-one, party insiders said on Thursday, a day of many meetings.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot met AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik in Jodhpur House. K C Venugopal, also party general secretary, called on Sonia Gandhi at her residence. And senior leader A K Antony is learnt to have met Tariq Anwar at Kerala House.
Senior party leader Digvijaya Singh, who left the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra, said he will contest the election and collected his nomination papers.
The only other person who has declared his intention to contest is Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, who has said he will file his nomination papers on the last day Friday.
Gehlot, who arrived in Delhi Wednesday night and is believed to have spearheaded a rebellion of MLAs backing him, is expected to meet Sonia Gandhi later in the day to clear the air on whether he will contest the poll.
Party sources said Venugopal is learnt to have discussed the political situation in the party after the Rajasthan crisis with Sonia Gandhi.
AICC general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan Ajay Maken also reached Sonia Gandhi's home for discussions.
As uncertainty mounted, Antony, chair of the party's Disciplinary Committee, met Anwar who has given a show cause notice to three Gehlot loyalists in Rajasthan.
Several names have cropped up for the party president's post.
These include Mallikarjun Kharge, Antony, Kamal Nath, Ambika Soni and Pawan Kumar Bansal, though most of them ruled themselves out of the race. Gehlot is not completely ruled out yet, according to sources.
Gehlot told reporters on Wednesday night that party discipline is foremost for all party workers and internal issues that have cropped up will be resolved soon. -- PTI
Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh Lidder
12:51 Missing you, writes Brig Lidder's daughter
Aashna Lidder shares her grief on missing her dad. "Missing you today Papa. As much as I try, my mind always takes me back to the thought of how you would have been somewhere else today. But I hope whatever you're watching right now and wherever that is from; you're content with it. Life was good to us, through you. Love you," she writes.
Aashna is the daughter of Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh Lidder, who died in the 8 December, 2021 in the IAF helicopter crash that also killed CDS General Bipin Rawat.
12:41 Digvijaya joins race for Cong prez polls
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh joins the race for party presidential polls, says, "I have come here to collect my nomination form and will likely file it tomorrow."
The name of Digvijay Singh has made the battle interesting as G23 leader Shashi Tharoor is likely to file the nomination on Friday.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was considered a top contender in the polls but the crisis in Rajasthan, for which show cause notice has been sent to three of his loyalists, has caused some uncertainty about his candidature.
12:35 PM at dandiya in Ahmedabad tonight
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a roadshow after he touched down in Surat on a two-day visit to his home state Gujarat.
A huge crowd gathered to welcome the Prime Minister as his cavalcade moved forward. During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will cover Surat, Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad and Ambaji for various developmental projects and will inaugurate projects worth Rs 29,000 crore including the launch of Ahmedabad Metro Phase I worth Rs 12,900 crore.
Modi will lay the foundation stone and dedicate various projects worth more than Rs 3,400 crores in Surat. Several events have been lined up for the Prime Minister during his visit to the poll-bound state. He will also participate in Navratri celebrations.
Modi will also lay the foundation stone of a biodiversity park, being built over 87 hectares, besides inaugurating the Khoj Museum at Science Centre in Surat.
He will also be present for a maha aarti for the ongoing Navratri festival in Ahmedabad. After the aarti at 9 pm, he will also be present for the garba performance.
EAM Dr S Jaishankar
12:07 2-yr wait for US visa: Will get better, says EAM
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has assured the Biden administration on Wednesday of all necessary cooperation to help it resolve the backlog of visa applications from Indians seeking to travel to the US.
He said that things will get better soon.
Visa applications from India require a wait-time of over two years just for getting an appointment, a US government website showed, while the timeframe is only two days for countries China.
There's an appointment wait-time of 833 days for applications from Delhi and 848 days from Mumbai for visitor visas, shows the US State Department's website.
This comes a day after Jaishankar in his meeting with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised the delay of visa applications to which the top American diplomat said he is sensitive to the matter and had a plan to address it.
"But I again, feel this is an issue where obviously it's mainly for the US but we will be supportive and collaborative," Jaishankar told ANI in response to a question asked about people facing visa issues.
He further added, "To the people who are concerned about the visa issues, I would like to give the message that I understand their anxiety and the urgency and which is precisely the reason why I took up the matter," and suggested Blinken that India will help the US to deal with the situation in a better way.
During the press briefing in Washington, the external affairs minister raised concerns about families not being able to meet and students waiting for a long time and underlined it as a 'genuinely serious' problem.
"In India, I mean, there are families who are not able to meet their relatives there and people who can't keep their business appointments. There are students who are waiting for a long time. So, it's a really it's a genuinely serious problem of some magnitude."
"But I'm very confident, with the sincerity that Secretary Blinken showed and the seriousness with which I hope they would address this and with any support that we can provide, we hope that things will improve," the EAM added as he addressed the efforts of governments of both the countries during the press briefing.
11:57 SC's mega order on abortion rights
The Supreme Court has held that all women are entitled to safe and legal abortion. The court says the marital status of a woman can't be grounds to deprive her of the right to abort an unwanted pregnancy.
"Single and unmarried women have the right to abort under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act & rules till 24 weeks of pregnancy.
"The meaning of rape must be held, including marital rape, for purpose of Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act," the court rules. The court says the distinction between married and unmarried women is "artificial and constitutionally unsustainable". It perpetuates the stereotype that only married women indulge in sexual activities, the court said.
A three-judge bench of justices D Y Chandrachud, J B Pardiwala and AS Bopanna had reserved its verdict last month on the issue of interpretation of the MTP Act and said it will allow 'unmarried' or 'single' woman the benefit of abortion up to 24 weeks.
The court had said last month that it would "fine-tune" the provisions listed under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act in a manner that there is no discrimination between 'married' and 'unmarried' women and allow them the benefit of abortion till up to 24 weeks of pregnancy.
11:33 KRK to join RSS
Actor Kamal R Khan tweets, "It's final and confirmed. Soon, I will go to Nagpur to join RSS officially."
PFI activists were rounded up across the country last week
10:58 12 offices of PFI, associates sealed in Mangaluru
With the Central government banning the Popular Front of India (PFI), Mangaluru city police sealed 12 of its offices and associate outfits within the city.
Police sources said 10 offices of the PFI, the office of the Campus Front of India (CFI) and an information and empowerment office of the organisation were sealed since Wednesday evening.
The PFI offices located at Kasaba Bengre, Chokkabettu, Katipalla, Adoor, Kinnipadav, K C Road, Inoli, Mallur, Nellikai road and Kudroli were sealed. The CFI office at Azizuddin road, Bunder and the information and empowerment office of the outfit at Rao and Rao circle have also been sealed, the sources said.
Madras High Court
10:39 TN govt refuses permission for RSS march
Tamil Nadu government denies permission for RSS march which was planned for October 2, citing law and order issues.
Allies the ruling DMK in the state have viewed march as an attempt to disturb peace and communal harmony, amid a massive political push by the BJP to make inroads.
The RSS knocked at the doors of the Madras High Court seeking permission which asked the state government to grant the nod on or before September 28.
The RSS has sought permission to hold the march on the occasion of its founding day which falls on Vijayadashami in 50 locations in all major cities and district headquarters in the state.
MacKenzie Scott with her second husband
10:28 Jeff Bezos' ex-wife MacKenzie Scott files for divorce from science teacher husband
Amazon owner Jeff Bezos' former wife MacKenzie Scott has filed for divorce from her second husband, Dan Jewett, two years after they got married.
On Monday, Scott, a billionaire philanthropist, filed for divorce in Washington State's King County Superior Court, per the New York Times, Page Six reported.
According to the report, Jewett, who works as a high school science teacher, did not contest the divorce and the division of property has already been determined in a prenuptial agreement. Scott and Jewett got married in March 2021.
The news about their marital problems first came out in pubic when the science teacher's name suddenly disappeared from Scott's philanthropic pledges. Scott's divorce comes three years after she and Jeff Bezos announced they were splitting following 25 years of marriage -- ANI
10:18 Kerala govt takes steps to implement ban on PFI
Close on the heels of the Central government declaring the Popular Front of India (PFI) as a banned organisation, the Kerala government has initiated steps to implement the order by empowering the district administration and police to take action against the outlawed outfit's activities.
The Home Department of the state government on Wednesday issued an order stating that since PFI, its associates, affiliates and fronts have been declared as unlawful associations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the powers which the state government can exercise have been delegated to the respective District Magistrates (DMs) and Police Superintendents (SPs).
The DMs and SPs, in their respective jurisdictions, would be exercising powers under Sections 7 (power to prohibit the use of funds of an unlawful association and 8 (power to notify places used for the purpose of an unlawful association) of UAPA, the state government order said. -- PTI
10:11 PFI's Twitter account withheld after govt ban
Popular Front of India's (PFI) official Twitter account has been withheld in India "in response to a legal demand."
The Central govt yesterday declared PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts as an unlawful association for 5 years.
The PFI-affiliated Campus Front of India calls the ban on them undemocratic and anti-constitutional and says it will be challenged in court.
After the Central Govt's notification, the Maharashtra govt issued an order declaring PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts as an unlawful association.
10:01 Internal politics will be resolved: Gehlot
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday sought to play down the political crisis in the state for which three of his loyalists have been issued show cause notice by the party's central leadership and said, "internal politics goes on, we'll resolve it".
Gehlot, who had emerged as the top contender for the post of Congress president, reached Delhi on Wednesday and is expected to meet interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday. Talking to reporters, Gehlot said the party works under the Congress president and decisions will be taken in the time to come.
He said Congress workers worry about the direction in which the country is heading and tackling the issue was more important.
"Be it inflation, unemployment or dictatorial tendency in the country, Rahul Gandhi worries about it. All of us in Congress worry about the direction in which the country is heading. Tackling that is more important for us. Internal politics goes on, we'll resolve it," he said.
"We work under Congress president. Decisions will be taken as per that in the time to come. Media should recognise the issues of the country. Authors, journalists are being called anti-nationals and jailed. We worry for them and Rahul Gandhi is on Yatra for them," he added. -- ANI
09:54 A moment of love
"I could walk a thousand miles for a moment like this (heart emoji)," tweets Rahul Gandhi.
The Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Kerala on September 10 evening and traversed through the state for 18 days. It will exit the state and enter Tamil Nadu this afternoon.
09:43 China will face increasing isolation, says Adani
China, which was once seen as the foremost champion of globalization could face serious obstacles in its path to reviving its economy and will likely have to face isolation with global investors seeking other avenues, according to business conglomerate Gautam Adani.
Adani listed out increasing nationalism, supply chain risk mitigation, and technology restrictions among the challenges that could impact the second largest economy in the world.
Adani made these remarks while delivering the keynote address at the 20th Forbes Global CEO Conference held in Singapore.
The Adani Group Chairman cited China's housing and credit risks ad compared it to what happened to Japan's economy in the "lost decade" of the 1990s.
He said that while he expects all these economies will readjust over time - and bounce back "but the friction of the bounce-back looks far harder" this time around for China.
"I anticipate that China - that was seen as the foremost champion of globalization - will feel increasingly isolated. Increasing nationalism, supply chain risk mitigation, and technology restrictions will have an impact. China's Belt and Road initiative was expected to be a demonstration of its global ambitions, but the resistance now makes it challenging," he said. -- ANI
09:16 EAM: We strive for a relationship with China but ...
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday that India will continue to maintain a relationship with China that is based on "mutual" sensitivity, respect and interest.
Jaishankar made the remarks while responding to a question on the consistent comments from Beijing about how things are "okay" between the two countries.
"The phase of emergency response since the Galwan Valley incident has basically come to an end, and the border situation is now switching to normalized management and control," China's Ambassador to India, Sun Weidong has said.
"What I have said, to my mind represents accurate policy assessment of where the state of our relations is. We continue to strive for a relationship with China, but one that is built on mutual sensitivity, mutual respect and mutual interest," Jaishankar strongly asserted during a media briefing.
Minister Jaishankar who is in the US to attend the recently concluded annual UN General Assembly, is now in Washington where he met his US counterpart, Antony Blinken and other top officials of the Biden Administration. -- ANI
09:09 Cong Yatra to exit Kerala, enter TN today
Accompanied by a huge crowd of supporters, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday morning began the last phase of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Kerala.
The foot march -- which resumed from Marthoma College Junction at Chungathara -- will take a break at CKHS Manimooly at Vazhikadavu after covering around 8.6 km.
According to the itinerary of the yatra, from Vazhikadavu, Gandhi will travel to Government Arts and Science College at Gudalur in Tamil Nadu by car. The march would resume from Government Arts and Science College at Gudalur around 5 pm and halt for the day at Gudalur Bus Stand after covering around 5.5 km.
The Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Kerala on September 10 evening and traversed through the state for 18 days. The 3,570 km and 150-day-long foot march started from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7 and will conclude in Jammu and Kashmir. PTI
08:55 Modi on 2-day Gujarat visit from today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to Gujarat from Thursday where he will inaugurate or lay foundation stones for various projects and inaugurate the 36th National Games which are being held for the first time in the state.
Gujarat, the home state of Modi, faces Assembly elections by the year-end and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is making all out efforts to retain power in the state, which it has ruled for nearly three decades now.
The PM will begin his visit from Surat by addressing a gathering in the Limbayat area of the city after launching various projects worth Rs 3,400 crore, including the inauguration of main entrance gate and phase-1 works of Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City.
He will then go to Bhavnagar to launch projects worth nearly Rs 6,000 crore, including the stone laying of world's first CNG terminal and a brownfield port in Bhavnagar, a state government release said.
Before addressing a gathering in Jawahar Chowk area of Bhavnagar city, the PM is also scheduled to lead a two-kilometre long road show in the city, the release said.
In the evening, the prime minister will declare open the 36th National Games at a gala ceremony in the Narendra Modi stadium in Motera area of Ahmedabad city. He is also scheduled to attend the Gujarat government's Navratri festival at GMDC ground in Ahmedabad. PTI
File pic
08:49 Another blast hits bus in J-K's Udhampur
Another blast hit a bus in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur. This is the second blast in the last 8 hours in the district. The second blast occurred at 10:45 pm in a bus at Domail chowk.
Earlier, two people were injured after a blast occurred in an empty bus parked at a petrol pump in Udhampur on Wednesday night.
The incident occurred around 10:30 pm near a petrol pump at Domail Chowk in the Udhampur district. Other vehicles parked nearby were also damaged in the blast. The injured were shifted to Udhampur District Hospital. Police and security personnel rushed to the spot soon after the incident. The investigation is underway.
"The blast occurred around 10:30 pm. Two people have been injured in the incident and vehicles parked nearby have also suffered damage. The reason for the blast is still not known. We are investigating the matter," said Suleman Choudhary, DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range. -- PTI
08:43 India-US relationship not narrowed to gains: EAM
India and the United States, the world's two largest democracies, do not share a narrow relationship only devoted to bilateral gains, but the one that impacts the rest of the world, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said.
He said both countries have recognised that this is a relationship of great capability and potential and there is still a lot of room for it to grow.
"If you look at the India-US relationship, it's not a narrow relationship only devoted to each other's gains. Our relationship today impacts the rest of the world, definitely does the Indo-Pacific," Jaishankar told a group of Indian reporters on Wednesday as he concluded his four-day official trip to the American capital.
Starting with an interaction with the diaspora on Sunday, Jaishankar over the next four days met his American counterpart Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan: and five lawmakers including Senator Mark Warner and Congressman Ami Bera. Jaishankar also had meetings with the American business community.
He described his visit as a very comfortable one during which he had good conversations.
"There are a lot of countries who look to us individually or bilaterally, some part of the betterment, which they hope for, the solutions which the world is searching for, in many respects," he said.
"Bilateral, a very solid, positive, productive bilateral conversation, but framed in the context of larger global challenges. There's a high degree of convergence on how we look at those challenges, we may articulate it a little bit differently," he said.
"It's natural our position's will not be identical, our priorities may sometimes be a little bit different. But again, the good part of the relationship is today, that we understand that we have to make space for each other, and that we can work with each other, even if we do not entirely agree on every aspect of every issue," said the minister.
Jaishankar said overall the India-US ties are in a good place.
08:30 Cong prez poll: Digvijaya likely to file nomination today
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Wednesday night left Kerala for Delhi and is likely to file his nomination for the election to the party president's post on Thursday, sources said.
All India Congress Committee general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal was also in the same flight from Kerala to Delhi.
Singh and Venugopal were participating in the party's Bharat Jodo Yatra which was currently in Kerala.
Nominations for the Congress president's election can be filed till September 30.
The former Madhya Pradesh chief minister is the latest entrant in the fray for the party chief's election, even as the fate of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot contesting the party chief's election is uncertain. -- PTI
00:05 Popular Front of India was like a 'silent killer': Fadnavis
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said there was enough evidence to prove that the Popular Front of India, banned by the Centre for five years, was sowing seeds of violence in society.
Talking to reporters in Mumbai, Fadnavis, who heads the Home department, said the main aim of the organisation, which he dubbed a "silent killer," was to spread rumours, trigger violence and disturb the social fabric of the country.
The central government on Wednesday banned PFI, alleged to be involved in several violent and terror incidents and having "links" with global terror groups like ISIS, along with its several associates for five years.
"There is enough evidence with the government and probe agencies that the PFI was sowing seeds of violence. Spreading rumours, raising funds and triggering violence was their aim," Fadnavis said.
"A fake video of a mosque being demolished in a north eastern state was circulated with an intention to trigger violence. We have seen such an incident in Amravati in the past. It later came to light that the video was from Bangladesh," he said.
Fadnavis said Kerala was the first state to demand a ban on PFI. Similar demands were later made by other states in the country also.
With the Union government banning PFI, like every other state Maharashtra will also issue a detailed order on the implementation of the ban, he said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party leader said "Some groups were working silently to disturb the social fabric of the country. PFI was ahead in such activities."
It was trying to build several narratives to create disturbances. PFI had started raising funds for their activities. Its strategy was to open multiple bank accounts and keep limited amounts in them to avoid any attention from probe agencies," he said.
All the proofs related to such nefarious activities by the radical outfit are with the state government, Fadnavis added.
"The Popular Front of India was like a silent killer. When they realised that the Army and intelligence agencies have become very strong, they changed their strategy. They came up with a human face, and started their activities behind it," he said.
After the Students Islamic Movement of India was banned by the central government more than a decade back, several of its members moved towards the PFI, which was founded in 2006, Fadnavis stated.
"They formed PFI-like organisations. Some people were on their hit list, they conspired to attack them," said the deputy chief minister.
TOP STORIES
© 2024 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances