LIVE! Warmest June for south peninsular India since 1901

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Tue, 04 July 2023

Warmest June for south peninsular India since 1901

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23:42 RSS has never approved of violence: Bhagwat

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday said the Sangh's leaders have always opposed violence.

He was speaking at the release of a Marathi translation of a biography of RSS leader late Laxmanrao Inamdar, written in Gujarati by Narendra Modi (who was then a Sangh worker) and Rajabhai Nene decades ago.

Referring to the famous Baroda dynamite case during the Emergency in which socialist leader George Fernandes was arrested, Bhagwat said, I was around 25 years old then. After the Baroda dynamite case, we youth felt we can do some act of daring. The youth like conflict and daring, but Laxmanrao Inamdar dissuaded us, saying these were not the teachings of the RSS.

Inamdar further told them that while the government of prime minister Indira Gandhi had completely disrespected the Constitution, it was not the British Raj and the RSS did not approve of violence, Bhagwat added.

"The foundational thoughts of the RSS are positive and we are not here to oppose someone," he said.

Inamdar, who hailed from Satara in Maharashtra, is said to have had major influence on Prime Minister Modi's life.

The RSS chief also said that organising Hindus did not amount to opposition to Muslims and Christians.

"Sometimes there is a reaction to some action. Sometimes tit-for-tat type of reaction takes place, but in the true sense, peace and tolerance are the values of Hindutva, Bhagwat said. -- PTI

It was the warmest June in southern peninsular India since 1901 as the region recorded the average maximum temperature of 34.05 degrees Celsius, the weather office said on Tuesday.

The region also clocked the third highest average minimum temperature for June since 1901 at 26.04 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The average mean temperature for the month was 30.05 degrees Celsius, the highest since 1901, it added.

The monthly weather review released by the weather office on Tuesday evening also said the maximum temperature was above normal by 4.4 degrees Celsius mainly over most parts of East and Northeast India, South Peninsular India, and some parts of Northwest and Central India.

South Peninsular India received 88.6 mm of rainfall in June, the lowest since 1901.

The normal rainfall for June for the region is 161 mm. The previous lowest rainfall value was 90.7 mm observed in 1976, it said.

Over East and Northeast India during June, the average maximum temperature is the third highest (33.87 degrees Celsius with an anomaly of 1.73 degrees Celsius) after the years 1979 (34.47 degrees Celsius), 1958 (34.26 degrees Celsius) since 1901, the weather office said.

The average minimum temperature was the second highest (25.11 degrees Celsius with an anomaly of 1.00 degrees Celsius) after the year 1958 (25.14 deg Celsius) since 1901 for east and northeast India, it said.

The mean temperature is the third highest (29.49 degrees Celsius with an anomaly of 1.37 degrees Celsius) after the years 1958 (29.70 degrees Celsius), 1979 (29.53 degrees Celsius) since 1901 for east and northeast India, it said.

The eastern parts of the country also faced the brunt of heatwaves in June.

Heatwave to severe heatwave was observed on almost all dates from June 1 to 22 over Bihar, June 1 to 18 over West Bengal, and June 12 to 21 over East Uttar Pradesh. -- PTI

Hosts India clinched the SAFF Championships title for the ninth time after beating Kuwait 5-4 in a tense penalty shootout after both sides were deadlocked 1-1 in 120 minutes in the summit clash in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

After five rounds of penalty kicks the scoreline remained 4-4 and sudden death rule was applied. Mahesh Naorem scored but a diving India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu saved Khaled Hajiah's shot to hand victory to the home side.

In regulation time, Shabaib Al Khaldi had put Kuwait in the lead in the 14th minute before Lallianzuala Chhangte equalised in the 39th minute.

Defending champion India and Kuwait had also played out a 1-1 draw in their last group match.

Sharad Pawar

22:03 Sharad Pawar's NCP issues whip to MLAs for meet

A day ahead of the key meeting in Mumbai, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP on Tuesday issued a whip to all MLAs asking them to remain present.

The one-line whip issued by chief whip Jitendra Awhad said the meeting has been convened by Sharad Pawar at 1 pm at YB Chavan Centre on July 5 and the presence of all MLAs is mandatory.

Pawar had named Awhad as chief whip of the Nationalist Congress Party after Ajit Pawar joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government with eight MLAs on Sunday.

Notably, the Ajit Pawar group will also hold a separate meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday.

The Ajit Pawar camp had asked the Maharashtra assembly speaker to disqualify state NCP president Jayant Patil and Jitendra Awhad from membership of the house.

NCP working president Praful Patel, who is sacked from the party by Sharad Pawar, on Monday appointed Ajit Pawar as the leader of the NCP legislature party, while Anil Bhaidas Patil, who took oath as a minister on Sunday, will continue to be the party whip in the assembly.

The NCP led by Pawar had moved a petition before Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar seeking the disqualification of Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs who have taken oath as ministers in the Eknath Shinde-led government.

The NCP has 53 MLAs in the Maharashtra legislative assembly.

Former India pacer Ajit Agarkar has been appointed chairman of the senior men's selection committee.

Agarkar's appointment means that West Zone will have two selectors with Salil Ankola being the other one. The others are Subroto Banerjee from Central Zone, S Sharath from South and SS Das from East.

Agarkar has played 191 ODIs apart from 26 Tests and 4 T20Is. He was a part of the 1999, 2003 and 2007 ODI World Cup squad and also featured in the 2007 World T20 winning Indian team.

He has a Test hundred at Lord's and played a big part in India's Test victory in Australia, back in 2004, with a six-wicket haul in Adelaide game.

Agarkar will received a good paycheck as BCCI has promised to increase the annual salary of the chief selector.

Representational image

21:20 Haryana restaurants to remain open 24x7

Restaurants in Haryana will be allowed to operate round-the-clock, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala said on Tuesday.

The decision was taken in a meeting of various departments chaired by Chautala.

Labour and Food, and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Dhanak was also present in the meeting, an official statement said.

"In future, restaurants will remain open 24 hours in Haryana. There will be no restriction on them to close at night," Chautala said in the statement.

The office-bearers of restaurant unions from across the state had recently met Chautala and demanded that the state government allow them to keep their establishments open 24 hours so that people can get food at their convenience, it said.

Chautala told officials that restaurants that want to remain open 24 hours can do so and no one should force them to shut.

However, these eateries will have to register with the labour department and follow other terms and conditions of the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Rajasthan on July 7 and 8 during which he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of about 50 projects worth around Rs 50,000 crore, official sources said Tuesday.

All these states, except Uttar Pradesh, are slated to go to polls later this year.

On Friday, Prime Minister Modi will first travel from Delhi to Raipur, where he will lay the foundation stone and dedicate multiple projects, including the six-lane sections of the Raipur-Vishakhapatnam corridor, to people. Thereafter, he will attend a public meeting.

The prime minister will then travel to Gorakhpur where will attend a programme at the Gita Press, the sources said.

Thereafter, he will flag off Vande Bharat trains on three routes and also lay the foundation stone for redevelopment of the Gorakhpur railway station.

From Gorakhpur, Modi will travel to his constituency, Varanasi, where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple key projects.

In Varanasi, the prime minister will inaugurate the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction to Son Nagar new section of the Dedicated Freight Corridor.

He will also dedicate to people the four-lane widened NH56 (Varanasi-Jaunpur).

PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone for the renovation of Manikarnika Ghat and Harishchandra Ghat, the sources said.

On July 8, he will travel from Varanasi to Warangal in Telangana.

In Warangal, he will lay the foundation stone of various projects, including for key sections of Nagpur-Vijayawada Corridor.

Modi will also lay the foundation stone of four-laning of Karimnagar-Warangal section of NH-563. Thereafter, he will attend a public meeting in Warangal.

The prime minister will then travel from Warangal to Bikaner, where he will lay the foundation stone and dedicate multiple projects.

Prime Minister Modi will dedicate various sections of Amritsar-Jamnagar Expressway and also dedicate the Inter-State Transmission Line for Green Energy Corridor Phase-I.

He will also lay the foundation stone for redevelopment of Bikaner railway station. Thereafter, he will attend a public meeting in Bikaner. -- PTI

Supporters of NCP leaders Ajit Pawar and Chhagan Bhujbal on Tuesday took possession of the party office in Maharashtra's Nashik city, leading to a vociferous protest by the local Sharad Pawar loyalists.

Bhujbal, MLA from Yeola in Nashik district, on Sunday joined the BJP-Shiv Sena government in the state along with Ajit Pawar and seven other legislators, leading to a split in the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party.

Bhujbal's supporters took over 'Rashtrawadi Bhavan', the NCP office in Mumbai Naka area, in the morning.

In the afternoon, supporters of Sharad Pawar tried to enter the office and there was a face-off between the two factions.

Police, however, stopped the Sharad Pawar supporters including district NCP chief Kondaji Awhad, former city unit president Gajanan Shelar and others from entering the office.

"This is Rashtrawadi Pratishthan's office. Bhujbal does not have anything to do with it. All are our leaders but Sharad Pawar has founded the NCP and it is his party. We will take possession of the office within a day," Shelar said.

Awhad claimed that he had the right to hold a meeting in the office as he is district NCP chief.

Bhujbal supporter Dilip Khaire said they would not allow the other group to enter the office. He accused Awhad of attending the swearing-in ceremony on Sunday but changing the stand later.

City NCP chief Ravindra Pagar said everybody was a Sharad Pawar supporter and he would attend a meeting called by Bhujbal. "Everyone should maintain peace," he added.

Sharad Pawar supporters also staged a sit-in outside the office before leaving the spot. -- PTI

Mizoram CM Zoramthanga

20:22 UCC is against ethnic minorities: BJP ally

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Tuesday wrote to the Law Commission of India that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is against the interest of the ethnic minorities in general and the Mizos in particular.

Zoramthanga, also the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) president, said that his party believes that UCC is in conflict with the religious and social practices of the Mizos and their customary laws that are protected by the Art 371(G) of the Constitution.

The MNF is a constituent of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), the regional version of the NDA.

Zoramthanga's statement came days after Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, whose party NPP is also a member of NEDA, asserted that the UCC "in its present form" is against the idea of India.

"Since the proposed implementation of UCC throughout the territory of India is in conflict with the religious and social practices of the Mizos and of their customary/personal law which is specifically protected by constitutional provision, the said proposal of the NDA government at the Centre as can be seen in the Law commission notice cannot be accepted," Zoramthanga said in his letter.

Last month, the Law Commission issued a public notice inviting views from various stakeholders on the UCC under the "Review of Personal Laws" subject.

The chief minister said that MNF supports the policies and programmes of the NDA government at the Centre as long as those are found to be beneficial for the public at large and particularly for the ethnic minorities in the country.

Zoramthanga also said that Article 371(G) of the Constitution states that no act of Parliament in respect of religious or social practices of the Mizos, Mizo customary law and procedure, ownership and transfer of land, shall apply to Mizoram unless the state legislature by a resolution so decides.

Zoramthanga informed the Law Commission that the Mizoram assembly had passed an official resolution on February 14 opposing any step towards enactment of the UCC in the country.

The said resolution was moved, discussed and thereafter unanimously adopted by the state assembly for the reasons that the UCC, if enacted, "would disintegrate the country as it was an attempt to terminate the religious or social practices, customary laws, culture and traditions of the religious minorities, including the Mizos," he said in the letter.

Meanwhile, the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee, a conglomerate of church leaders' bodies in the state, also wrote to the Union Law Commission that it strongly opposed implementation of UCC in the country. -- PTI

19:50 Rain effect: Tomato prices cross Rs 150 a kilo

Retail tomato prices have shot up to Rs 155 per kg across major cities in the country due to the supply disruption caused due to rain in the producing region, as per official data.

In metros, retail tomato prices were ruling in the range of Rs 58-148 per kg, with the highest in Kolkata at Rs 148 per kg and lowest in Mumbai at Rs 58 per kg.

In Delhi and Chennai, prices were ruling at Rs 110 per kg and 117 per kg, respectively.

As per the data maintained by the consumer affairs ministry, the average all-India retail price was Rs 83.29 per kg, with a modal price of Rs 100 per kg.

The highest Rs 155 per kg was in Siliguri, West Bengal, the data showed.

Meanwhile, in the national capital, the local vendors are selling tomato in the range of Rs 120-140 per kg depending on the quality and locality.

"We have purchased best quality tomato at Rs 120 per kg from Azadpur wholesale market and selling at Rs 140 per kg in retail," local vendor Jyotish Kumar Jha in Paschim Vihar said.

The supply has been disrupted in the last two week from the producing states, where harvesting and transportation have been affected.

The government has maintained that the current spike in tomato prices is a seasonal phenomenon, and around this time, prices generally remain high.

The prices are expected to cool down in the next 15 days and normalise in a month.

The Nationalist Congress Party's units in Pune city and Nagpur on Tuesday passed resolutions announcing their support for Sharad Pawar amid a vertical split in the party led by Ajit Pawar.

The party's Pune city unit passed a resolution in a meeting held in Pune in the presence of the NCP's city unit president Prashant Jagtap, Pune spokesperson Ankush Kakade, Rajya Sabha MP Vandana Chavan, party leader Ravindra Malavadkar, and several party workers were present.

The party in the resolution condemned the BJP's "dirty political stand" and stated that the saffron party was aware that without finishing the NCP, it will not be able to achieve its "desired" objective.

On Sunday, senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar led a vertical split in the party to become a deputy chief minister in the one-year-old Shiv Sena-BJP government, shocking his uncle Sharad Pawar, who founded the party 24 years ago after quitting the Congress.

Apart from Ajit Pawar, eight other NCP MLAs, including Chhagan Bhujbal and Hasan Mushrif, were sworn in as ministers in the Eknath Shinde cabinet.

"Today, the NCP is going through a difficult situation. While the party founded by Sharadrao Pawar is entering its silver jubilee year, confusion has been created among people because of a different stand taken by some leaders," the resolution stated.

Sharad Pawar created several generations of leaders in politics and was instrumental in giving several posts and positions to them, but some remained "ungrateful", it said.

A "politics of vendetta" is being witnessed in the country since 2014 and the developments that took place two days ago are part of that politics, the resolution said.

"The BJP is doing all this knowing that without finishing the NCP their desired goal will not be achieved. We condemn their 'dirty political stand' in strong words," he said.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday said that the time has come for implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as envisaged by the founding fathers of the Constitution.

Article 44 of the Constitution clearly states that the State shall endeavour to secure the UCC for its citizens across the country, Dhankhar said while addressing the 25th convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati.

"This was the thought process of the founding fathers. The time has come for its implementation and there can be no rationale for impediment or further delay", he said.

The framers of the Constitution were certain that the Directive Principles were fundamental in the governance of the country which reflected in the duties of the state to apply these principles in framing laws, he said.

"Following this premise, I am stunned at the reaction of some people when there is an effort to implement the UCC. Political stakeholding cannot be at the cost of the nation and nationalism,' he said.

The UCC is aimed at replacing personal laws based on religions, customs, and traditions with one common law for everyone irrespective of religion, caste, creed, sexual orientation and gender. Personal laws and laws related to inheritance, adoption and succession are likely to be covered by a common code.

"The underlying sublimity of this has to be appreciated and understood as this will bind the nation more effectively. If there is further delay in UCC implementation, it will be corrosive to our values," the vice president said in his speech.

A court in Delhi on Tuesday sought a response from the "victim" and the complainant on the final report filed by Delhi Police seeking cancellation of a case against BJP MP and outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for alleged sexual harassment of the minor wrestler, the lawyer for the prosecution said.

Additional Sessions Judge Chhavi Kapoor issued notice to the victim and complainant during in-chamber proceedings and directed them to file their response to the police report by August 1, when the court will further hear the matter.

"The judge issued notice and adjourned the matter," special public prosecutor Atul Srivastava said.

Delhi police had on June 15 recommended dropping of POCSO charges against Singh but charged him with sexual harassment and stalking six women wrestlers.

The police had recommended the cancellation of the complaint filed by the minor wrestler against Singh, citing "no corroborative evidence".

The police submitted a report based upon the statements of the complainant, who is the father of the minor, and the girl herself, a statement issued by Delhi Police had said.

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) entails a minimum imprisonment of three years, depending on what section the crime falls in.

However, the court may take a call on whether to accept the police's closure report or direct further investigation.

The government had earlier assured the agitating wrestlers including Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik and fellow Olympian Vinesh Phogat that the charge sheet would be filed by June 15, following which they had suspended their stir.

A key aide of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday rejected demands for Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav's resignation, following a Central Bureau of Investigation chargesheet against the Rashtriya Janata Dal leader, and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of trying to repeat the Maharashtra episode in the state.

Bihar minister and senior Janata Dal-United leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary also taunted the BJP for having demanded the resignation of Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar, who has now been made a deputy chief minister in Maharashtra.

"Mere chargesheet does not amount to guilt being proved. Moreover, it (CBI) is an agency which faces criticisms for its functioning. The deputy CM had himself anticipated such action against himself and said the same in public, Chaudhary told reporters at the JD-U office.

"Don't forget that Ajit Pawar, too, was accused of corruption by the BJP, which also used to demand his resignation (as deputy CM of MVA government). Now, the party has made him a government in its own government, Chaudhary exclaimed.

Pawar had on Sunday pulled off a stunning revolt in the NCP, triggering a vertical split and joined hands with the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in Maharashtra to become deputy chief minister.

Chaudhary alleged that the BJP "hates Bihar" after having lost power in the state, which is "back in the centre-stage of national politics" since the opposition meeting hosted in Patna by Nitish Kumar.

"Therefore, they are trying to do a Maharashtra here. But, the Mahagathbandhan is too strong, said Choudhary, who also scoffed at the claim of a possible split in JD-U made by BJP leader and former deputy CM Sushil Modi.

Why would anybody wish to leave the party that has the credible leadership of Nitish Kumar? And, even if somebody wanted to, why would he or she let intentions known to a man who is in political wilderness?, he questioned.

"When people do jump ship, is it announced beforehand? Such developments are characterised by a secretiveness which we saw in Maharashtra, said the JD-U leader, whose party had stunned the BJP last year by walking over to the opposition camp. -- PTI

Political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor on Tuesday said the opposition unity drive would reap electoral benefits only if it came up with a "narrative" and did not rely solely on "arithmetic".

Talking to reporters in Bihar's Samastipur district, he refused to attach much political importance to the split in the Nationalist Congress Party in Maharashtra and the CBI chargesheet against Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav.

"A combined opposition can work only if it succeeds in creating a narrative against the regime. The Janata Party experiment came on the back of the Emergency and Jayaprakash Narayan's mass movement. During VP Singh's rule, the Bofors scandal had caught public imagination," said the IPAC founder.

Kishor said, "Mere political arithmetic, devoid of a rational narrative, is unlikely to strike a chord with people."

Kishor, who has given up political consultancy, recently revived his "Jan Suraaj" campaign in Bihar after a gap of more than a month during which he nursed a ligament injury.

Asked about the development in Maharashtra, Kishor said, "It is for the people of that state to decide whether what has happened is appropriate or not. But normally a party does not lose its support base just because of some MLAs jumping ship. I don't see any serious impact on the NCP."

He also scoffed at reports in a section of the media speculating that the Bihar CM had grown wary of a fate, similar to that of the NCP, being met by his JD-U.

"Politicians are far too hardnosed to be swept away by the cycle of breaking news. Maharashtra's development will have no impact outside that state, just like the upheaval in Bihar last year did not affect politics elsewhere".

He, however, added, "I repeat that the Mahagathbandhan will not retain its current composition by the time the state faces its next assembly polls. Former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi's exit points in that direction. But any major shift is unlikely before Lok Sabha elections." -- PTI

A man was arrested for allegedly kidnapping, raping and trying to forcibly convert a minor girl to Islam, police said on Tuesday.

The accused has been arrested and was produced before a court on Monday where the magistrate sent him to judicial custody, Sub Inspector of Mansarovar Police Station Rakesh Meena said.

According to the complaint filed on Saturday, a man accused Sohail Khan of abducting his 16-year-old daughter some days back to Sawai Madhopur and raping her.

He also alleged the accused tried to convert his daughter's religion, the SI said. "The man alleges that after his daughter returned, she called herself a Muslim," he said. -- PTI

17:11 No other leader like Modi, says Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday said there is no leader like PM Narendra Modi.

"The country is marching ahead under his (Modi's) leadership. We have joined the government to support him," Ajit Pawar said, after inaugurating his NCP faction's new office in south Mumbai. "There is no leader like Modi. There is no alternative to him," he said.

Ajit Pawar indicated that the allocation of portfolios in the state ministry may not be announced immediately. He attributed the delay to CM Eknath Shinde and Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis leaving for Nagpur to welcome President Murmu who is reaching there later in the evening.

"We all have decided to work together. There is no question of disgruntlement," he said, when asked if some members in the Shinde group are unhappy over his inclusion in the ministry. PTI

NCP president Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said those who "betrayed" his ideology should not use his photograph. "Only the party of which I am the national president and Jayant Patil the state president can use my photograph," he told reporters in Mumbai.

In his lifetime, it was his prerogative to decide who should use his photograph, he said. "Those who betrayed my ideology and with whom I have ideological differences cannot use my photograph," the veteran leader added.

Pawar's statement came two days after his nephew Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs of the Nationalist Congress Party joined the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra. The Ajit Pawar faction also removed Jayant Patil as state NCP president. Patil, on the other hand, has submitted a petition to the Assembly Speaker seeking to disqualify Ajit and his associates. PTI

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar is seeking legal opinion to tackle the crisis in the party caused by his nephew Ajit Pawar joining the Shiv Sena-BJP government and claiming the support of the bulk of MLAs, party sources said on Tuesday.

Sharad Pawar, who returned from Satara on Monday night, is holding discussions with legal experts on how to handle the ongoing developments, said NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto. "Taking a legal opinion is necessary as this issue concerns Schedule 10 of the constitution," he said.

The 10th Schedule, which talks about the anti-defection law, is designed to prevent political defections prompted by the lure of office, material benefits or similar considerations.

It also deals with the issue of disqualification on the ground of defection and the role of the speaker or the chairman of the House. According to Crasto, the Ajit Pawar-led group doesn't enjoy the support of more than 13 MLAs and can attract the provisions of the Anti-Defection Law.

"A clear picture of the support of Sharad Pawar will emerge tomorrow (Wednesday) at the meeting convened by Sharad Pawar at 1 pm," Crasto said.

The Ajit Pawar camp had claimed the support of at least 40 (out of 53) MLAs of NCP. Notably, when asked by reporters if he would take legal recourse after Ajit Pawar took oath as deputy chief minister on Sunday, Sharad Pawar had said he would not get into all this but will go among people.

The NCP had moved a petition before Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar seeking the disqualification of Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs who have taken oath as ministers in the Eknath Shinde-led government.

Salaries of Municipal Corporation of Delhi's sanitation workers for the month of June were credited on July 1, Mayor Shelly Oberoi said on Tuesday and claimed this never happened during the BJP's 15-year rule in the agency.

Addressing a press conference at the Civic Centre in New Delhi, Oberoi said there are around 30,500 full-time sanitation workers in the MCD and about 16,000 daily wagers.

"Our dream is to make Delhi clean and beautiful. It is also the dream of the AAP and our Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Sanitation workers are the backbone of the MCD. We want to congratulate our sanitation workers as their salaries for the month of June were credited on the first day of July," the mayor said. Terming it a "big achievement", Oberoi claimed this is the "first time" that the salaries of sanitation workers in Delhi have been credited on the first day of the month.

"Controlling India was a much bigger prize for Britain than controlling portions of North America. British colonizers coveted its resources, like silk, cotton, textiles, spices, tea, opium and precious stones. Historians point out that the British plundering of Indian wealth during the colonial years turned India's economy from a near peer of Europe to something exponentially smaller.

"India's strategic location meant it was a base from where Britain could protect its trade routes to the Asia-Pacific.

"Britain and, to a lesser extent, France were well established with colonies in India when the American Revolution began and had already brought their hostilities from Europe to the subcontinent.

"When France entered the war in 1778 as an American ally, the British East India Company immediately moved to attack France's Indian colonies, drawing both countries' Indian allies into the fight."

16:21 BJP Maha minister dares Pawar on MLA numbers

Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar on Tuesday dared the Sharad Pawar-led NCP to parade the number of MLAs supporting them. Ajit Pawar joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government on Sunday as deputy chief minister while eight other NCP MLAs took oath as ministers.

The NCP has 53 MLAs in the 288-member Assembly. The Ajit Pawar camp has claimed the support of more than 40 MLAs.

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Mungantiwar said, "I challenge them (Sharad Pawar-led NCP) to show the number of MLAs supporting them. The MLAs are behind Ajit Pawar. He has chosen to go with development and truth. They (Sharad Pawar-led NCP) can organise a meeting and parade the number of MLAs that are supporting them. They should show their strength," he said.

Asked about Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and other ministers (after the revolt in June last year) claiming Ajit Pawar, as finance minister (in the previous MVA government), was biased in the disbursement of funds, Mungantiwar said the comments were "hyped".

"Now, Shinde is the chief minister and no work file can be stopped if he signs on it," he said.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, comprising the Shiv Sena (then undivided), NCP and Congress, collapsed in June last year after a revolt led by Shinde. The revolt also led to a split in the Shiv Sena. -- PTI

15:54 Team UBT votes to stay on with MVA

So, what happened at the Shiv Sena meeting at Matoshree.

News agency ANI says that during the meeting of the Uddhav Thackeray faction leaders Mumbai today, opinions were sought from all leaders on whether Thackeray and other leaders want to continue to be a part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). All the leaders and public representatives expressed their opinion to stay in MVA, by a show of hands.

Many of its leaders including Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut was there at the Matoshree meeting which discussed current political developments, the future of the MVA, and how the three allies will go to the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

15:48 Manish Sisodia's wife hospitalised again

Former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia's wife Seema Sisodia, who is suffering from an autoimmune disorder, was admitted to a hospital here on Tuesday, party sources said. She was hospitalised after her condition deteriorated, they said.

This is the third time in the past few weeks that Seema Sisodia, 49, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, has been hospitalised. She was admitted to the neurology department of Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in late April.

"She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a severe autoimmune disease, in 2000. She has been undergoing treatment for the same at the private hospital for the past 23 years," a source had said earlier. It is generally agreed that the impact of the disease accelerates with time and other factors such as increased physical and emotional stress.

Manish Sisodia, who is currently in jail in connection with the Delhi excise policy case, had earlier sought bail from court citing his wife's ill health and his son being abroad. -- PTI

A court here on Tuesday sought a response from the "victim" and complainant on a cancellation report filed by Delhi Police in a case against outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh for alleged sexual harassment of a minor wrestler, the lawyer for the prosecution said.

Additional Sessions Judge Chhavi Kapoor issued notice to the victim/complainant during in-chamber proceedings and directed them to file their response to the police report by August 1, when the court will further hear the matter. Delhi police had on June 15 filed a report before the court seeking cancellation of the case. PTI

15:33 Maha Cong chief meets Sharad Pawar

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole and other party leaders met NCP chief Sharad Pawar at Mumbai's YB Chavan Auditorium.

The Maharashtra Congress had convened a meeting of its legislators on Tuesday where the issue of staking claim to the post of Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly was likely to have been discussed.

The post of Leader of Opposition (LoP) fell vacant after Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar resigned on Friday. He joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government on Sunday as deputy chief minister while eight other NCP MLAs took oath as ministers.

Notably, the NCP, led by Sharad Pawar, has appointed MLA Jitendra Awhad as the LoP. Sharad Pawar on Monday said the Congress, a constituent of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, was justified in claiming the post of LoP.

Sunil Jakhar

15:17 BJP begins 2024 poll appointments

G Kishan Reddy has been appointed as BJP state president of Telangana, D Purandeshwari appointed as the state president of Andhra Pradesh BJP, former CM Babulal Marandi becomes the state president of Jharkhand, Sunil Jakhar becomes the party's state president of Punjab. Eatala Rajender appointed as the chairman of Election Management Committee for Telangana BJP.

Maha Dy CM Ajit Pawar

14:57 Pawar vs Pawar: Both call NCP meet tomorrow!

Amid the NCP crisis in Maharashtra, newly-appointed Deputy CM Ajit Pawar calls all NCP MPs, MLAs, MLCs, District heads and State delegates, asking them to be present for a meeting on 5th July at MET Bandra.

At the same time, Sharad Pawar calls all NCP leaders on the same day at YB Chavan Auditorium.

Maharashtra NCP president Jayant Patil on Tuesday said the group led by Ajit Pawar has no right to remove him from the post. He also claimed that all MLAs of NCP (total 53) are with the party chief Sharad Pawar.

A day earlier, the Ajit Pawar camp appointed Sunil Tatkare as the Maharashtra NCP president in place of Jayant Patil.

It also asked the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker to disqualify Jayant Patil and Jitendra Awhad from membership of the House.

Hours before Jayant Patil was replaced by the Ajit Pawar camp, NCP chief Sharad Pawar had removed the party's working president Praful Patel and general secretary Tatkare for engaging in "anti-party activities.

The action was taken against Patel and Tatkare after they attended the swearing-in ceremony of Ajit Pawar who took oath as deputy chief minister in the Shiv Sena-BJP cabinet on Sunday, while eight NCP MLAs joined as ministers.

"The faction led by (Ajit Pawar) is a 'Notionalist' Party. They have no right to remove me from the post (of NCP state unit president)," Jayant Patil told reporters.

He also said he had taken action against the nine MLAs who have joined the government. The Sharad Pawar-led NCP had moved a petition before Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar seeking the disqualification of Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs.

"All MLAs are with us and you will know tomorrow," Jayant Patil claimed. The Ajit Pawar camp in a letter submitted to Raj Bhavan had claimed that they have the support of 40 MLAs of NCP. -- PTI

Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu

14:04 Arunachal govt gave faulty, old laptops to students

A nine-member technical expert committee constituted by the Tirap district administration in Arunachal Pradesh to probe into alleged defective laptops given to toppers of CBSE exams in the district has confirmed that the machines were faulty and old.

As many as 18 meritorious students who performed well in Class X and XII exams conducted by CBSE this year were given free laptops by the education department in the district during a programme on June 20.

The laptops were given as part of the District Academic Toppers Award 2021-22 being implemented by the Directorate of Secondary Education (DSE).

However, eight students returned their laptops alleging that the machines were old and could not be used due to technical malfunctions. They also alleged that the laptops showed severe signs of wear and tear, scratches besides indecent videos stored in it with names of previous users.

Tirap Deputy Commissioner Hento Karga constituted an expert committee headed by a circle officer to probe into the matter. -- PTI

Food, fuel and fertiliser crisis is a big challenge for all the countries in the world surrounded by controversies, tensions and epidemics and there must be united efforts to deal with it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday.

In his opening remarks at the virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Modi also said that some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of their policy and the grouping must not hesitate to criticise them.

With Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif listening, Modi said there is a need for decisive action to deal with terrorism.

The summit was joined by Chinese President Xi Jinping, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Sharif and other leaders of the SCO nations.

Terrorism has become a threat to regional and global peace, Modi said, calling for expanding mutual cooperation to deal with terror financing as well.

"We have to fight together against terrorism that may be in any form and any manifestation," Modi said.

India's concerns and expectations regarding Afghanistan are similar to those of most SCO countries, he said.

The prime minister said the SCO has emerged as a key platform for peace, prosperity and development for Eurasia.

India's thousands of years old cultural and people-to-people ties with this region (Eurasia) are living testimony to our shared heritage, he said.

As chair of the SCO, India has made sustained efforts to take our multifaceted cooperation to new heights, he added.

He also said that India supports the proposal of reform and modernisation of the SCO.

"I am happy that Iran is going to join the SCO family as a new member," he added. -- PTI

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and his colleagues from the NCP attended the cabinet meeting for the first time after taking oath as ministers.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and his colleagues from NCP have reached Mantralaya in Mumbai for the cabinet meeting.

It will be their first cabinet meeting after taking oath as ministers in the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra. Ajit Pawar inaugurated a new Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) party office near Mantralaya in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Ajit Pawar had claimed that the entire NCP was on his side.

Praful Patel on Monday in a joint conference announced that Lok Sabha MP Sunil Tatkare has been appointed as the new State President of the party in Maharashtra.

During a joint conference, the NCP leader Patel announced, "We are relieving Jayant Patil of his responsibilities and in his place, I am appointing Sunil Tatkare as Maharashtra President of Nationalist Congress Party. Sunil Tatkare will have the authority to make organizational changes in the party."

He further said that Ajit Pawar has been unanimously elected as the leader of the legislature party.

"Ajit Pawar has been unanimously elected as the leader of the legislature party. We have informed Maharashtra Assembly Speaker about our decision. Anil Bhaidas Patil has been appointed as the chief whip of NCP in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. We request him (Sharad Pawar) with folded hands to give us his blessings as he is our guru," Patel had said.

During the press briefing, the newly elected party state president Sunil Tatkare said he will strengthen the party in Maharashtra.

"I have taken over as the State president of the Nationalist Congress Party. I will strengthen the party in Maharashtra. I have taken into confidence all leaders of the party. I have also called a meeting of all the legislators and zila parishad leaders," Sunil Tatkare had said. -- ANI

12:32 Maha: Team Uddhav meets, CLP calls meeting

In Mumbai: Uddhav Thackeray faction leaders begin arriving at Matoshree, the Thackeray residence, for a meeting. The current political developments in Maharashtra, the future of the Maha Vikas Aghadi and how the three allies will go to the election are expected to be taken up for discussion.

Also, the Congress Legislative Party meeting has begun at Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha.

Nationalist Congress Party Chief Sharad Pawar on Monday said that if Congress wants to appoint their leader of Opposition then it would be a valid demand as the party with the maximum number of MLAs gets to appoint the LoP, likely on the Leader of Opposition.

In a big relief to Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday declared the Toshakhana case lodged against him inadmissible, ARY News reported.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq announced the verdict reserved earlier on a petition filed by the former premier against the decision of a trial court that had declared the criminal case, filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), admissible.

Earlier, the Chief Justice had reserved the verdict on June 23, saying that he would look into the matter after Eid ul Adha, according to ARY News.

On May 10, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman was indicted in the Toshakhana case by Additional Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar, who rejected objections about the admissibility of the case.

The case pertains to the allegations that the former PM "deliberately concealed" details of the gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana -- a repository where presents handed to government officials from foreign officials are kept -- during his time as the prime minister, and proceeds from their reported sales. The PTI chief then approached the IHC, which had stayed criminal proceedings on the case till June 8. -- ANI

India has summoned Canadian High Commissioner in New Delhi over propaganda material, including posters, containing threats to Indian diplomats being circulated in Canada and has served a demarche to the Justin Trudeau government.

According to sources, India on Monday raised concerns over threats to its diplomats in posters being circulated in Canada with information on a pro-Khalistan rally to be held on July 8.

The posters contained threats to the Indian ambassador to Canada and the consulate general in Toronto.

The posters purportedly circulated by Sikh extremists have named Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma and the Consulate General of India, Toronto, Apoorva Srivastava accusing them of playing a role in the June killing of Khalistan Tiger Force chief and designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

The rally is being held in the name of Harjit Singh Nijjar aka Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist who was killed in a targeted shooting in Canada's Surrey on June 18.

Earlier today, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that her country is in close contact with Indian officials in light of some "unacceptable" posters that have appeared in Canada, regarding a protest planned for July 8, which bears the names and photos of some top Indian diplomats. -- ANI

The TN CM had met Senthil Balaji in hospital last month

11:37 HC bench pronounces split verdict in Senthil's wife's plea

A division bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday delivered a split verdict on the habeas corpus petition of arrested Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji.

Justices J Nisha Banu and D BharathaChakravarthy gave the ruling on the HCP filed by Balaji's wife against her husband's "illegal detention".

While Justice Nisha Banu set Balaji at liberty, the other judge disagreed with it. The bench then directed the registry to place the matter before the Chief Justice for it to be referred to another bench. Balaji was arrested on June 14 by the ED in connection with a cash-for jobs-scam when he was the Transport Minister in the earlier AIADMK regime. PTI

Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel has claimed 51 out of the 53 party MLAs had told NCP chief Sharad Pawar that a possibility of joining hands with the BJP should be explored after the MVA government in Maharashtra collapsed last year.

"If the NCP can form government with the Shiv Sena, why not with the BJP," Patel, who has switched over to Ajit Pawar's side, said in an interview to Marathi news channel Zee 24 Taas.

On Sunday, senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar led a vertical split in the party to become deputy chief minister in the one-year-old Shiv Sena-BJP government, shocking his uncle Sharad Pawar, who founded the outfit 24 years ago after quitting the Congress.

Besides Ajit Pawar, eight other NCP MLAs, including Chhagan Bhujbal and Hasan Mushrif, were sworn in as ministers in the Eknath Shinde cabinet.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, comprising the Shiv Sena (then undivided), NCP and Congress, collapsed in June last year after a revolt led by Shinde. Later, Shinde became the chief minister with BJP's support.

Patel said last year, internal discussions took place over joining the BJP alliance. "There were discussions on this issue, but no decision was arrived at. Now a shape has been given. The decision has been taken as a party, not by me or Ajit Pawar individually," the Rajya Sabha member said.

He also claimed Jayant Patil was among the 51 MLAs, who wanted Sharad Pawar to explore the possibility of joining the government. Only Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Malik were not present, he added. -- PTI

Tina Ambani. File pic

10:58 Tina Ambani appears before ED in FEMA case

Tina Ambani, wife of Reliance ADA Group Chairman Anil Ambani, appears before ED in Mumbai for questioning in FEMA case.

Anil Ambani had appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in Mumbai yesterday and recorded his statement in connection with an investigation linked to the alleged contravention of the foreign exchange law, official sources said.

Ambani's statement was recorded as part of a fresh case filed under various sections of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), the sources said without elaborating.

The industrialist had appeared before the ED in 2020 in a money laundering case against Yes Bank promoter Rana Kapoor and others.

In August last year, the income-tax department issued a notice to Ambani under the anti-black money law for allegedly evading Rs 420 crore in taxes on undisclosed funds of more than Rs 814 crore held in two Swiss bank accounts.

The Bombay high court, in March, ordered an interim stay on this I-T show-cause notice and penalty demand.

10:43 'Ajit Pawar rebelled because of Supriya Sule'

"Yes, Supriya Sule is the main reason for Ajit Pawar's rebellion. The cousins do not have a good rapport with each other in politics, though they may be having a good rapport with each other as a family."

Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com spoke to political analyst Ravikiran Deshmukh for an insight into what is happening in the state.

Read the interview here.

The Indian consulate in San Fransisco

10:38 Khalistani threat: Canada says Indians will be safe

Canada has assured India of the safety of its diplomats following the circulation of Khalistani posters online which named Indian officials and termed the promotional material circulating ahead of a Khalistan rally "unacceptable".

The statement by Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly came a day after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India has asked its partner countries such as Canada, the UK and the US not to give space to "extremist Khalistani ideology" as it is "not good" for relations.

Stressing Canada's commitment to the safety of diplomats, Minister Joly highlighted the country's adherence to the Vienna Conventions.

"Canada takes its obligations under the Vienna Conventions regarding the safety of diplomats very seriously," she said in the statement on her Twitter account on Tuesday.

"Canada remains in close contact with Indian officials in light of some of the promotional material circulating online regarding a protest planned for July 8, which are unacceptable," Joly said.

Joly also emphasised that the actions of a few individuals "do not speak for an entire community or Canada." Jaishankar, when asked about reports of Khalistani posters in Canada naming Indian diplomats, said the issue will be raised with the government of that country.

The "radical, extremist Khalistani ideology" is not good for India or its partner countries such as the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, he told reporters on the sidelines of a BJP outreach campaign in New Delhi on Monday. -- PTI

The Indian consulate in San Fransisco

10:38 Khalistani threat: Canada says Indians will be safe

Stressing Canada's commitment to the safety of diplomats, Minister Joly highlighted the country's adherence to the Vienna Conventions.

"Canada takes its obligations under the Vienna Conventions regarding the safety of diplomats very seriously," she said in the statement on her Twitter account on Tuesday.

"Canada remains in close contact with Indian officials in light of some of the promotional material circulating online regarding a protest planned for July 8, which are unacceptable," Joly said.

The Indian consulate in San Fransisco

10:38 Khalistani threat: Canada says Indians will be safe

Stressing Canada's commitment to the safety of diplomats, Minister Joly highlighted the country's adherence to the Vienna Conventions.

"Canada takes its obligations under the Vienna Conventions regarding the safety of diplomats very seriously," she said in the statement on her Twitter account on Tuesday.

"Canada remains in close contact with Indian officials in light of some of the promotional material circulating online regarding a protest planned for July 8, which are unacceptable," Joly said.

Subways in Mumbai flood even if there is little rain

10:23 'Very heavy rain' alert for Mumbai for next 3 days

After a one-day break, Mumbai witnessed moderate to heavy rains on Tuesday with continuous showers in some parts of the city. The India Meteorological Department's regional centre for Mumbai has issued a 'yellow alert' for next three days, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places.

Local trains were running normally on Tuesday on both the Central Railway and Western Railway corridors, as per officials. However, some commuters claimed the train services were running late by 10 to 15 minutes.

Rains slowed down vehicular movement on roads at some places, but overall there was no major traffic snarl anywhere, authorities said. There was no report of any major water-logging in the city, officials said.

Most parts of the city and suburbs including Sion, Matunga Kurla, Chembur, Andheri and Parel received moderate to heavy showers since Monday night.

An official from the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport said their bus services were normal and there was no diversion. A civic official said the island city, eastern and western suburbs received an average rainfall of 33 mm, 13.21 mm and 18.62 mm, respectively, in the 24-hour period ending at 8 am on Tuesday.

The Regional Meteorological Centre has issued a 'yellow alert' for Mumbai from Wednesday to Friday. Heavy rainfall is very likely at isolated places on Wednesday, it said. Besides, heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely at isolated places on Thursday and heavy to very heavy showers at a few places on Friday, it added. -- PTI

Barbie's house at the film set

10:14 'Barbie' movie banned in Vietnam over scene including disputed map

Warner Bros.' highly anticipated movie "Barbie" has been banned in Vietnam, New York Post reported. The film, directed by Greta Gerwig, was set to hit theatres in Vietnam on July 21, aligning with its big-screen release in most countries around the world.

Vietnam state media, however, announced that the movie will not be released due to a scene that includes a map using the "nine-dash line", a set of line segments that represent China's territorial claims in the South China Sea, which Vietnam claims violates its sovereignty.

"We do not grant license for the American movie 'Barbie' to release in Vietnam because it contains the offending image of the nine-dash line," said Vietnam state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper citing the head Department of Cinema Vi Kien Thanh.

Vi Kien Thanh said the decision was decided by Vietnam's National Film Evaluation Council. The U-shaped line, which was first seen on maps in 1947, includes parts that Vietnam sees as its continental shelf, where it has awarded oil concessions.

Kapil Sibal

10:01 Sibal: BJP toppled 5 govts, does law permit it?

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Tuesday accused the BJP of toppling Opposition governments in states such as Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra in the last few years, and said it was "over to the Supreme Court" to act on the trend.

The remarks by Sibal, a noted advocate, came after NCP leader Ajit Pawar and eight others were inducted into the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government.

Ajit Pawar pulled off a stunning revolt in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Sunday, triggering a vertical split, and joined hands with the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in Maharashtra to become the deputy chief minister.

In a tweet, Sibal said, "The BJP: Toppled by inducement of office and otherwise the following elected opposition governments: Uttarakhand (2016); Arunachal Pradesh (2016); Karnataka (2019); Madhya Pradesh (2020); Maharashtra (2022)."

"The law now permits it? Over to the Supreme Court!" the independent Rajya Sabha MP said.

Sibal on Monday had also taken a swipe at the BJP over Ajit Pawar joining the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government, saying "first attack the corrupt and then embrace" them. -- PTI

09:43 Cong demand for LoP valid: Sharad Pawar

"The party which has the maximum number of MLAs can demand the LoP post. As per my information, Congress has the maximum number currently and if they ask for it then it's valid demand," NCP Chief Sharad Pawar said on Monday while speaking to reporters.

"Many from there (Ajit Pawar's side) called me and said most of them are still with the original ideology/policies of the NCP and they will declare their stand at the right time," Pawar said.

"I have not called anyone to show any strength here. Sometimes your strength goes up and sometimes, it goes down. I had faced this earlier also in 1980 where out of my 59 MLAs only 5 were left but I campaigned for my party and those who left the party lost in the next election," Sharad Pawar said during the press conference.

Maharashtra Congress has convened a meeting of its legislators on Tuesday where the issue of staking claim to the post of Leader of Opposition in the state assembly may come up for discussion, a party leader said.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary H K Patil will attend the meeting.

The post of Leader of Opposition (LoP) fell vacant after Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar resigned on Friday.

He joined the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party government on Sunday as deputy chief minister while eight other Nationalist Congress Party MLAs took oath as ministers.

Notably, the NCP, led by Sharad Pawar, has appointed MLA Jitendra Awhad as the LoP.

Sharad Pawar on Monday said the Congress, a constituent of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, was justified in claiming the post of LoP.

"The Congress has convened a meeting of its legislators on Tuesday where deliberations are likely to be held on staking claim to the position of Leader of Opposition," Congress Legislature Party leader Balasaheb Thorat said on Monday.

Thorat claimed the NCP can only appoint their group leader in the Legislative Assembly.

Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan said there will be no problem in appointing the new LoP after ascertaining how many MLAs are with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, following the split in its legislature party.

In the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, the Congress has 45 MLAs, while the NCP has 53 legislators.

State unit Congress president Nana Patole described Sunday's political developments as a 'black spot on the state's political culture'.

"On one hand, there was rejoicing at Raj Bhavan after the swearing-in ceremony (of Ajit Pawar and other NCP MLAs on Sunday) and on the other hand, charred bodies of victims of the Buldhana bus accident were being cremated," he said.

Twenty five people were charred to death after a private bus they were travelling in hit a road divider on the Samruddhi Expressway in Buldhana district on Saturday, fell on its left side, and burst into flames, according to police. -- PTI

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar has said he is yet to ascertain whether the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is a part of the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party government or is still in the Opposition.

Besides Ajit Pawar, eight other NCP MLAs, including Chhagan Bhujbal and Hasan Mushrif, were sworn in as ministers in the Shinde cabinet.

Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Narwekar said his office has not yet received any petition mentioning about a split in the party.

"I am yet to ascertain whether the NCP is a part of the state government or is still in the Opposition bloc. I will go through the details available before me and take a call on it," he said.

Ajit Pawar was the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly before he took oath as deputy CM.

Narwekar said, "I have received only one petition from NCP MLA Jayant Patil seeking disqualification of nine MLAs (Ajit Pawar and eight others who took oath as ministers along with him). There is no written communication from any other leader of the NCP."

"I have not received any petition mentioning about a split in the party," he stated.

Asked how many NCP MLAs have expressed their support to Ajit Pawar, Narwekar said, "I do not have any information on it because there is no written communication from his side. The party-wise strength in the Legislative Assembly still remains unchanged."

The Sharad Pawar-led party has 53 MLAs in the 288-member assembly.

The Speaker said his office has received several representations from legislators related to recent developments in the NCP.

"We will look into them, study their legality and then only take a decision," he said without elaborating on the nature of representations received by his office. -- PTI

IMAGE: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a conversation with NCP leader Praful Patel during a press conference, at Sahyadri State Guest House, in Mumbai on Monday. NCP chief Sharad Pawar has expelled Praful Patel from his post as the working president of the party. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar factions of the Nationalist Congress Party will hold their meetings in Yashwantrao Chavan Centre in south Mumbai and in Bhujbal Knowledge City in suburban Bandra, respectively, on Wednesday.

NCP national president Sharad Pawar has called a meeting at 1pm while the Ajit Pawar faction, which has aligned with the ruling Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis dispensation, will have its meet at 11am, functionaries from both sides said.

This will be the first meeting involving all functionaries for both factions since the party split on Sunday after Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs, including Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil and Hasan Mushrif, joined the Eknath Shinde government.

Both factions have claimed maximum number of MLAs are with them.

Incidentally, Amol Kolhe, Lok Sabha MP from Shirur, who attended the swearing-in ceremony on Sunday, a day later tweeted that he continued to be loyal to party supremo Sharad Pawar. -- PTI

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