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Thu, 04 May 2023
HC rejects pre-arrest bail plea of YC chief Srinivas
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23:58 Bank in Jaipur loses Rs 5.66 lakh in gunpoint robbery
Two armed suspects allegedly robbed Rs 5.66 lakh from a gramin bank on Thursday after taking its employees hostage at gunpoint in Jaipur on Thursday, the police said.
The incident took place in Jaisingh Pura Khor police station area of Jaipur, they said.
Assistant commissioner of police (Amer) Chand Singh Rawat said the robbery took place in Rajasthan Marudhara Gramin Bank located in Saipura.
Taking three bank employees hostage, the two suspects robbed Rs 5.66 lakh at knife and pistol point and fled away.
He said one of them was wearing a helmet and the other had covered his face with a muffler.
Efforts are being made to identify the suspects through CCTV footage, police said. -- PTI
23:44 Mumbai sees 96 Covid cases, no death; active tally now 629
Mumbai on Thursday reported 96 COVID-19 cases, which took the tally to 11,63,086, while the death toll stood unchanged at 19,766, a civic official said.
It was the fourth day in a row when the addition to the tally was below the 100-mark, with Wednesday seeing 67 cases and one death, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation official pointed out.
The recovery count increased by 135 in the last 24 hours to reach 11,42,691, leaving the city with an active caseload of 629.
As per civic data, the recovery rate is 98.2 per cent, the overall growth rate of cases between April 27 and May 3 was 0.0073 per cent, while the caseload doubling time was 8,732 days.
So far, 1,88,50,079 coronavirus tests have been conducted, including 1,610 in the last 24 hours, as per civic data. -- PTI
23:25 HC rejects pre-arrest bail plea of YC chief Srinivas
The Gauhati high court on Thursday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Indian Youth Congress president Srinivas BV in connection with a complaint filed by a now-expelled Congress leader.
Hearing the pre-arrest bail petition of Srinivas BV, Justice Ajit Borthakur in his order said, "..... consideration of the various pleas taken by the petitioner and the documents he filed, this Court is of the opinion that it is not a fit case to grant the privilege of pre-arrest bail to the petitioner. Accordingly, the pre-arrest bail application of the petitioner stands rejected."
Expelled Assam Youth Congress president Angkita Dutta had filed a complaint at the Dispur police station on April 19 alleging that Srinivas was ''persistently harassing and torturing her for the last six months by making sexist comments, using slang words and also threatening her of dire consequences if she keeps complaining against him to the senior party office bearers''. -- ANI
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22:52 Chhattisgarh DGP reviews anti-Maoist ops in Bastar post-Dantewada attack
More than a week after 10 police personnel and a civilian were killed in a Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, state director general of police Ashok Juneja reviewed anti-Maoist operations in Bastar division during special meetings, and directed the police and paramilitary officials to intensify action against Maoists.
The review meetings were held at three places in the state for two days starting Wednesday.
Security to development works, VIP security, setting up new camps and other issues were discussed during these meetings that concluded on Thursday, officials said.
The Bastar division comprises seven districts that have been struggling with Left-wing extremism for the last more than three decades.
The first meeting was held in Narayanpur district headquarter that covers Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Kanker districts, followed by Sukma district headquarter for Sukma district on Wednesday, while the meeting at Dantewada district headquarter covering Dantewada, Bijapur and Bastar districts on Thursday, they said.
During the meetings, Juneja directed the police and paramilitary officials posted in the division to intensify the anti-Maoist operations while maintaining caution during the ongoing Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign observed by Maoists during summer, a public relations official of the state police said. -- PTI
22:38 Amit Shah speaks to CMs of Manipur's neighbours
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday spoke to the chief ministers of the neighbouring states of Manipur and held two meetings with top central and state functionaries through video conference to review the situation there following violence between tribals and the majority Meitei community, sources said.
The home minister, who is closely monitoring the situation in Manipur, held telephonic conversation with Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio of Nagaland, Zoramthanga of Mizoram and Himanta Biswa Sarma of Assam), the sources said.
In the morning, Shah had a telephonic conversation with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh who briefed him about the prevailing situation in the state and steps being taken to restore normalcy.
The home minister also had two video conference meetings to review the situation.
They were attended by the Manipur chief minister, the state's chief secretary, police chief, the union home secretary and other top central government officials, the sources said. -- PTI
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22:06 Female journalist accuses Delhi police of manhandling her
Associations of media-persons on Thursday demanded a probe into the allegations that Delhi police personnel roughed up a female journalist covering the wrestlers' protests against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh.
In a joint statement, the Indian Women's Press Corps and the Press Club of India demanded a probe into the matter and said strict action should be taken against the erring police personnel for their treatment of journalist Sakshi Joshi.
Joshi has alleged she was "manhandled" by Delhi police personnel on Wednesday night at Jantar Mantar where she was covering the protests by the wrestlers demanding action against WFI chief Singh.
Mahila Congress chief Netta D'Souza, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate condemned the alleged roughing up of Joshi by Delhi police.
A scuffle broke out between the wrestlers and Delhi police personnel on Wednesday night when AAP leaders brought folding beds to the protest site.
In a video being circulated on social media platforms, some of the protesters can be heard accusing a police personnel of attacking two wrestlers under the influence of alcohol.
"Sufficient women officers were on duty during the night. On medical examination, no police personnel were found drunk. Five police personnel sustained injuries during the night scuffle," Delhi police said on Twitter giving an update on the incident at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday night.
21:48 'The Night Manager: Part 2' to debut on Disney+ Hotstar on June 30
The second part of popular series The Night Manager, starring Aditya Roy Kapur and Anil Kapoor, will be released on Disney+ Hotstar on June 30.
A high-octane thriller wrapped in lavish drama and picturesque sights, The Night Manager is the Hindi-language adaptation of John le Carre's novel of the same name.
The show is created and directed by Modi and produced by The Ink Factory and Banijay Asia.
The Night Manager follows Shaan Sengupta (Kapur), who goes undercover to bring down the empire of arms dealer Shaildendra 'Shelly' Rungta (Anil Kapoor).
Modi said the team was overwhelmed by the love the first part received after it released in February this year.
"The Night Manager: Part 2 is twice the action and thrill. The strong alliance between Shaan and Shelly will shake the crux of everything and spin a new web of conspiracies and deception. There is a lot more to see in the coming part and the audience will enjoy each bit of the series," the creator said in a statement. -- PTI
Eknath Shinde
21:36 Maharashtra CM Shinde meets Governor Bais
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is currently meeting Governor Ramesh Bais in Raj Bhavan, Mumbai.
The two have been in a meeting for more than 20 minutes.
Details soon.
Amritpal Singh's wife Kirandeep Kaur/PTI
21:19 Amritpal Singh's wife meets him at Assam jail
Wife of radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who is lodged in a jail in Assam's Dibrugarh, on Thursday met the pro-Khalistan accused, officials said.
Along with her, family members of other activists of 'Waris Punjab De' also met the inmates at Dibrugarh Central Jail, a senior official told PTI.
"Kirandeep Kaur, wife of Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh, has come to Dibrugarh to meet her husband inside the jail today," he added.
Neeru Kalsi, wife of another accused Daljit Singh Kalsi, and his son Simarjeet Kalsi also reached Dibrugarh Central Jail during the day, the official said.
"They entered the jail complex at around 1 pm and left the premises at 3.25 pm. They came by a flight and will be staying at Dibrugarh today," he added.
On April 27 also, 10 family members of arrested WPD activists, including its leader Amritpal Singh, had visited the Dibrugarh Central Jail to meet them.
Amritpal Singh was on April 23 lodged at Dibrugarh Central Jail after being flown in a special flight from Punjab following his arrest in the Northern state.
With him, altogether 10 of his pro-Khalistan group are presently lodged at this Assam jail. The nine others are -- Daljeet Singh Kalsi, Papalpreet Singh, Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal, Varinder Singh Johal, Gurmeet Singh Bukkanwala, Harjit Singh, Bhagwant Singh, Basant Singh and Gurinderpal Singh Aujla.
Security in and around the jail premises have been beefed up since March 19, when four members of the Waris Punjab De were brought here in the first batch. -- PTI
21:06 DRDO scientist held for providing info to Pak agents
A scientist working for the Defence Research and Development Organisation in Pune has been arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad for providing confidential information to a Pakistani agent, officials said on Thursday.
The scientist was allegedly in touch with an agent of a "Pakistan intelligence operative" through WhatsApp and video calls, an ATS official said.
It was a case of honeytrap, he added.
The accused, who held a senior position in the premier defence research institute, was arrested on Wednesday.
"The scientist, by misusing his position, despite knowing that the officials secrets in his possession if obtained by the enemy country can pose a threat to the security of the country, provided the details to the enemy country," an ATS release said.
An offense under relevant sections of the Official Secrets Act has been registered with Kalachowki unit of the ATS in Mumbai and further probe is on, it added. -- PTI
21:04 Pakistan's former premier Imran Khan's leg fractured again
Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan's leg has been 'fractured' again after he was pushed by the people present at the Lahore high court, leaders from his party have said.
In November last year, Khan, 70, was wounded in his lower leg after a gunman opened fire on a convoy carrying the chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.
He was leading a march on Islamabad to demand snap general elections after he was ousted from power in April last year.
Khan recently recovered and started appearing before courts.
"Imran Khan's leg was yet again injured and fractured during his appearance in the LHC (on Tuesday) due to lack of security provided by the government. The doctors have advised him to rest for 10 days," PTI Senator Shibli Fraz said on Wednesday.
However, cricketer-turned-politician Khan appeared before the Islamabad high court on Thursday in a wheelchair to secure an extension to his pre-arrest bail in several cases registered against him.
His bail pleas in nine cases were extended after he appeared in person following a warning by the court.
Another PTI senior leader Dr Iftikhar Durrani shared a picture of the X-ray of Khan's leg, showing a fracture. Durrani said his party has continuously raised security concerns with the government but still the ousted premier was pushed by 'the people' during his LHC appearance, which re-opened his leg wound.
"All conspiracies are clear that aim at inflicting injuries and eliminate Mr Khan, who is exposing misdeeds of the rulers and their facilitators," Duranni said in a tweet. -- PTI
Karaikudi R Rani/Facebook
20:26 Legendary mridangam maestro Karaikudi Mani dies in Chennai
Legendary mridangam 'vidwan' Karaikudi R Rani died on Thursday in Chennai due to age-related issues.
He was 77 and a bachelor.
He was not keeping good health of late and his last public appearance was in December 2022 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Chennai.
Mani had dominated Carnatic music for half a century and enthralled the audience. Born on September 11, 1945, in Karaikudi in the state to T Ramanath Iyer and Pattammal, Mani shifted from vocal training to learning mridangam.
He was greatly inspired by mridangam vidwan Palghat Mani Iyer.
Mani studied under Harihara Sharma, after he moved to Chennai and received his first national award at a young age of 18 from the then President S Radhakrishnan.
He was considered as one among the all-time greatest mridangam vidwans and had played alongside Carnatic giants like M S Subbulakshmi and D K Pattammal.
He presented his first Thani Avarthanam concert, which showcased two percussion instruments performing solo, along with late Kanjira player G Harishankar in 1993, and revolutionised the way music concerts could be performed.
He collaborated with V S Narasimhan in 1990 on Melodyssey, featuring 40 artists, and received accolades. -- PTI
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20:00 Meat sale banned in Bengaluru on Buddha Purnima
In the view of Buddha Purnima, the Bengaluru civic body issued an order prohibiting the slaughter and sale of meat in the city on the day of Buddha Purnima, which will be celebrated on Friday.
"Due to the Buddha Purnima celebrations on May 5, animal slaughter and sale of meat in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike limit stands completely prohibited," the notice issued on Wednesday read.
Devotees celebrate the festival to mark the birth anniversary of Buddha.
According to the civic body's estimates, 3,000 licensed meat shops and three authorised slaughterhouses are in the city.
The BBMP ordered a similar ban in March this year during the Rama Navami celebrations. A ban was also imposed during the Maha Shivaratri in February. -- ANI
19:42 Sushant Singh's 'M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story' to re-release on May 12
M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, featuring the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput as the cricket icon MS Dhoni, will be re-released in theaters on May 12, the makers said on Thursday.
Also starring Kiara Advani and Disha Patani, the film will be released in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
"M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story has not only been an incredibly special film for Star Studios, but also for Indians all over the world, showcasing the inspiring journey of our most successful cricket captain.
"The re-release aims to give his fans across the country another chance to relive cricket's most magical moments on the big screen," said Bikram Duggal, head - Studios, Disney Star.
Directed by Neeraj Pandey, the movie also features Bhumika Chawla and Anupam Kher in pivotal roles.
M.S. Dhoni was one of the most commercially successful films of Rajput's career.
The actor, who made his film debut with 2013's Kai Po Che! and later starred in movies such as Shuddh Desi Romance, Kedarnath, Sonchiriya and Chhichhore, died in June 2020. -- PTI
19:17 Karnataka's voting pattern over the years
Seats won and votes polled by both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress in the Karnataka assembly elections in the past.
18:53 ED files fresh chargesheet against Sisodia
The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday field a fresh chargesheet in the Delhi excise policy linked money laundering case naming Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, sources said.
Sisodia was arrested by the ED in this case on March 9 from Tihar Jail and he is currently in judicial custody.
The 51-year-old Aam Aadmi Party leader was first arrested by the CBI, which is also probing this case.
This is the fifth charge sheet or prosecution complaint filed in the case by the ED before a designated special Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in Delhi.
The agency has called Sisodia a "key conspirator" in this case.
The federal agency has arrested 12 people including Sisodia in this case till now, in which it has said, the probe is continuing. -- PTI
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18:44 50 Hindus convert to Islam in Pakistan's Sindh province
At least 50 members from ten Hindu families converted to Islam in the southern Sindh province of Pakistan, troubling Hindu activists who alleged the involvement of the state in the mass conversion.
The people were from different areas of the Mirpurkhas region of the province and were converted in a ceremony organised at the Baitul Iman New Muslim Colony seminary of the city, The Express Tribune newspaper reported on Thursday.
Qari Taimur Rajput, one of the caretakers of the seminary, confirmed that a total of 50 people from 10 families converted to Islam, including 23 females and a one-year-old girl. Mohammad Shamroz Khan, the son of minister for religious affairs senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood, also attended the conversion ceremony, the report said.
"They all willingly converted to Islam. No one has forced them," Rajput said, quoting Khan.
During the conversion ceremony attended by several residents, Rajput reportedly inquired the new converts if they had taken the step willingly. Hindu activists, on the other hand, were troubled over the mass conversions and expressed their anger and disappointment.
Faqir Shiva Kucchi, a Hindu activist who often raises his voice against the practice, said, "It seems the state itself is involved in these conversions."
He added that demands to initiate legislation against conversions had been made to the government by local community members for several years. -- PTI
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18:18 Over 1,300 samples of Omicron sub-variant XBB2.3 found in India: INSACOG
More than 1,300 samples of Omicron sub-variant XBB2.3 have been detected in India, while XBB.1.16 has become the dominant strain in the country, according to INSACOG data.
The samples of XBB2.3 have been found across 24 states and union territories.
At 307, the highest number of samples was found in Gujarat, followed by 183 in Delhi, 178 in Karnataka and 164 in Maharashtra, the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium data stated.
XBB1.16 sub-variant has been found in 91.7 per cent of samples in central India, 100 per cent in northeast India, 52.8 per cent in north India, 50 per cent in east India, 75 per cent in south India and 67.1 per cent in west India, it showed.
XBB.2.3 seems to be growing across the world, with the earliest samples found in mid-December in Karnataka and Delaware in the US.
So, the origin is somewhat unclear, a senior scientist said.
Also, the domination of the XBB recombinant variant and its sub-lineages is almost complete in India, with XBB1.16 becoming the dominant strain in most of the country, he said. -- PTI
File image/Courtesy MC Mary Kom/Twitter
17:49 Manipur violence: Govt issues shoot at sight orders
Manipur government on Thursday issued shoot at sight order in "extreme cases" to contain spiralling violence in the state between tribals and the majority Meitei community which has displaced over 9,000 people from their villages.
The order issued on behalf of the governor said 'shoot at sight' could be resorted to when persuasion, warning and reasonable force "have been exhausted and the situation could not be controlled".
The notification signed by the commissioner (home) of the state government was issued under provisions of the criminal procedure code 1973.
Fifty-five columns of the Army and Assam Rifles had to be deployed to contain widespread rioting that broke out across Manipur between tribals and the majority Meitei community, displacing over 9,000 people.
The Army also kept some 14 columns on standby for deployment in case the situation flared up once again, a defence spokesperson said.
The Centre, which is monitoring the situation in Manipur, also dispatched teams of the Rapid Action Force, a specialised force to handle riots, for deployment in violence-hit areas of the Northeastern state. -- PTI
AR Rahman
17:41 Rahman shares video of Hindu wedding in mosque amid 'The Kerala Story' row
"Love for humanity has to be unconditional and healing," said AR Rahman on Thursday as the eminent composer shared a video on social media showing a Hindu couple tying the knot in a Kerala mosque.
The Oscar winner had retweeted the video, captioned as "Here is another #KeralaStory", shared by a page on the microblogging site.
"Bravo... love for humanity has to be unconditional and healing," Rahman wrote as he shared the video with his over 24 million Twitter followers.
The almost two-minute clip, reported by independent digital platform The News Minute, shows a Hindu couple tying the knot in a mosque in Kerala's Alappuzha city.
According to the video, the bride's mother who was struggling financially had approached the mosque's committee for help with her daughter's wedding.
The Kerala Story, a controversial new film, is based on alleged radicalisation and conversion of young Hindu women to Islam in Kerala, before inducting them into terrorist outfit Islamic State.
Starring Adah Sharma, the film is written and directed by Sudipto Sen, and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah.
The film releases Friday. -- PTI
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17:17 Jaishankar discusses border with Chinese FM in Goa
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday held bilateral talks with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang with the border row along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh believed to be in focus.
The talks took place in a beach resort in Benaulim on the sidelines of a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
The three-year border row in eastern Ladakh will be a focus area of the talks, people familiar with the matter said ahead of the meeting.
The Jaishankar-Gang meeting was their second one in the last two months.
The Chinese foreign minister visited India in March to attend a meeting of the G20 foreign ministers.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Jaishankar held talks with Qin during which he conveyed to his Chinese counterpart that the state of India-China relations is "abnormal" because of the lingering border row in eastern Ladakh.
Last week, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu at a meeting that China's violation of existing border agreements "eroded" the entire basis of ties between the two countries and that all issues relating to the frontier must be resolved in accordance with the existing pacts. -- PTI
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16:58 Maoist, wanted in 145 cases in Jharkhand, Bihar, surrenders
A Maoist 'regional commander', who was wanted in 145 cases lodged across Jharkhand and Bihar, surrendered before the police in Ranchi on Thursday, officials said.
Indal Ganjhu, also known as Lalan Ganjhu or Uma, had a bounty of Rs 15 lakh on him, they said.
He was wanted in 145 cases registered in different police stations of Chatra, Hazaribagh and Palamu districts of Jharkhand, and Gaya and Aurangabad districts of neighbouring Bihar, inspector-general (operations) Amol V Homkar said.
"The Jharkhand police has achieved major success in anti-Maoist operations, and the surrender of 'regional commander' Indal Ganjhu is another milestone," he said.
CRPF's Jharkhand sector IG VK Birdi said that recently in an operation in Chatra, Gautam Paswan and his squad were "neutralised" by the forces, which led to the surrender of Ganjhu.
At least five Maoists were killed in a gunfight with the security forces in Chatra district last month.
The encounter had taken place along the Chatra-Palamu border in the Lawalong police station area. A huge cache of arms and ammunition was also seized from the spot. -- PTI
Wrestler Dushyant Phogat was injured during the scuffle with Delhi police
16:38 Police torturing protesting wrestlers: Gehlot
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday condemned the scuffle between police personnel and wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, alleging the police was "torturing" them.
Gehlot urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to take cognisance of the incident.
"When Rahul Gandhi spoke about the harassment of women during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Delhi Police reached (his residence) to seek information about the women. Now that the champion daughters, who made the country proud, are demanding justice for many days at Jantar Mantar after complaining about their harassment, the Delhi Police is torturing them instead of taking action on their complaint," Gehlot said in a tweet in Hindi.
"The Union Home Minister should take cognizance of the incident," he added.
Several wrestlers have been protesting at Jantar Mantar since April 23, levelling allegations of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Uttar Pradesh. The protesters have been demanding criminal action against Singh for alleged sexual harassment and intimidation of seven female wrestlers, one of whom is a minor.
Delhi Police filed two FIRs against the WFI president on April 28. The wrestlers, however, demand that he be arrested. On Wednesday night, a scuffle broke out between the wrestlers staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar and some police personnel, leading to head injuries to a couple of protesters.
The wrestlers alleged they were manhandled by the police personnel, but Delhi Police denied they used force against the grapplers. PTI
BKU Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait with wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik
16:18 Farmers heading to wrestlers' protest stopped
A group of farmers coming to Delhi to express solidarity with wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar was stopped by the Delhi at the Singhu border, with officials saying 24 of them have been detained.
The farmers were headed to the protest site in the national capital to join the agitating wrestlers who alleged last night that they were manhandled by Delhi Police personnel at Jantar Mantar, and appealed to people to arrive there for support.
After the ruckus, the Delhi Police intensified patrolling, increased the number of police pickets, and put heavy barricading in the border areas. They said the borders have not been sealed yet, but strict vigil is being kept to check the movement of farmers.
A police official said Thursday they have inputs a large number of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are trying to enter Delhi with their tractors.
"We have detained 24 farmers at the Singhu border. They have come from different cities of Haryana. Their vehicles have been kept at the police stations," said a senior police officer.
Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar alleged he was arrested by the police at Singhu Border. "The Delhi Police has arrested us from the Singhu border and assaulted elderly farmers. We are now kept in the Bawana Section 1 police station. People with conscience, now come out of your houses for the honour of our sisters and daughters," he tweeted in Hindi.
The heads of the 15 police districts in the national capital have been instructed to be on alert in their jurisdictions, especially in the border areas, in the aftermath of the last night ruckus.
The direction was given to the DCPs after over inputs that a large number of people may come to Jantar Mantar, where wrestlers have been on a sit-in demanding action against wrestling federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh allegedly for sexually harassing a number of female wrestlers. He has denied all allegations. -- PTI
16:18 Bastar villagers allege aerial bombing by security forces. What is the truth?
Scroll travelled deep inside a forest in southern Chhattisgarh to investigate the allegations. Read the report here.
KBK Graphics
16:15 Passenger vehicle, two-wheeler retail sales dip in April
Passenger vehicle and two-wheeler retail sales witnessed a drop in April while three-wheelers, tractors and commercial vehicles witnessed an increase in registrations last month, automobile dealers' body FADA said on Thursday. Passenger vehicle retail sales in India slipped 1 per cent year-on-year to 2,82,674 units last month, as buyers advanced purchases to March in order to avoid enhanced prices on account of stricter emission norms kicking in from April 1.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar
16:01 Patna HC stays Bihar's caste-based census
The Patna High Court on Thursday put an interim stay on the enumeration of castes and economic survey in Bihar. On Wednesday, the Patna HC completed the hearing and reserved its judgement on a petition challenging and seeking an interim stay on the enumeration of castes and economic survey in Bihar.
During yesterday's hearing, a division bench of Chief Justice KV Chandran heard the petitions filed by Akhilesh Kumar and others. Advocates Dinu Kumar, Ritu Raj and Abhinav Srivastava on behalf of the petitioners and advocate General PK Shahi on behalf of the State presented the parties before the court.
Dinu Kumar told the court that the State government is conducting caste and economic surveys. He said that this right to conduct surveys is beyond the jurisdiction of the State government. Advocate General PK Shahi during the hearing on Wednesday said that, the survey is being conducted to make plans for public welfare and to improve the social level. The Bihar government launched the caste survey exercise on January 7. (ANI)
15:52 Adani Enterprises' Q4 net profit doubles
Adani Enterprise Ltd, the flagship company of billionaire Gautam Adani's ports-to-energy group, on Thursday reported more than doubling of net profit in the March quarter on the back of growth in airports and road businesses.
Net profit in January-March at Rs 722.48 crore compared with Rs 304.32 crore in the same period last year, according to a stock exchange filing by the company. Revenue soared to Rs 31,716.40 crore in the fourth quarter of 2022-23 from Rs 25,141.56 crore a year back. PTI
15:29 Wrestlers claim cops took away generator, mattress
Protesting wrestlers on Thursday claimed that Delhi Police have taken away their generator set and the mattresses they had kept for drying, even as heavy police deployment continued near the protest site.
The protestors had to make their speeches without a microphone as there was no generator set.
"Delhi Police have taken away our mattresses which we have kept for drying. They have taken away our generator set," one of the wrestlers said.
There was heavy police bandobast at the roads leading to the protest site, which could be in anticipation that supporters may try to reach the spot after Bajrang Punia's call on Wednesday night to the farmers and general public to reach Jantar Mantar in support of them.
Around 11 pm on Wednesday, a scuffle broke out with Delhi police personnel when the wrestlers were trying to get extra mattresses and wooden benches to the protest site for their night stay since rain had left old mattresses wet and soggy.
The on-duty police personnel began enquiring about the sleeping materials as rules do not permit bringing in such things at the protest site. PTI
15:15 Uddhav: Rules different for Modi and my father?
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday said his father Bal Thackeray was disenfranchised for seeking votes in the name of religion, but PM Narendra Modi is using the Jai Bajrang bali' slogan to seek votes in Karnataka. "May be election law provisions have changed now," Uddhav told reporters in Mumbai.
Modi on Wednesday urged the people of Karnataka to say 'Jai Bajrang Bali' when they cast their vote to "punish" the Congress, as BJP leaders stepped up attack on the opposition party over its election manifesto promise of banning the Bajrang Dal.
Bal Thackeray was banned from exercising his franchise in the late nineties for six years after he was found indulging in "corrupt practice by seeking votes in the name of religion" at a public rally. "If Modi is saying Jai Bajrang bali, then I am also appealing to Marathi-speaking people in Karnataka to chant Jai Bhavani Jai Shivaji and vote," Uddhav said. PTI
14:39 Wrestlers were not attacked: Delhi police
Jantar Mantar scuffle: The Delhi police issues a statement saying denying they had 'attacked' the protesting wrestlers. "No police personnel was found drunk and sufficient women personnel were on the spot on Wednesday night," says the Delhi Police. "No force was used against protesting wrestlers; five police personnel injured," says Delhi Police.
Wrestlers sitting on a protest in the national capital on Thursday urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to urgently look into their demands and also take immediate action against the Delhi Police officials in connection with the Wednesday late-night ruckus at Jantar Mantar.
In a May 4 letter to Amit Shah, ace grapplers Bajrang Punia, Sakshee Mallikh and Vinesh Phogat alleged that the Delhi Police personnel "attacked" protestors on May 3 late evening and said that "insulting" those who represent the country amounts to "tarnishing the nation's goodwill".
They claimed that several protestors had sustained injuries in the alleged police action and sought action against the officials responsible for last night's incident at Jantar Mantar.
14:11 SC closes proceedings by women wrestlers
The Supreme Court on Thursday closed the proceedings on a plea by three women wrestlers, who have levelled sexual harassment allegations against the Wrestling Federation of India chief, after noting that FIRs have been registered and seven complainants have been provided adequate security.
A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud refused to entertain an oral plea by the counsel representing the wrestlers that the ongoing probe be monitored by a retired or a serving high court judge.
"You came here with specific prayers for registration of FIR and security for the complainants. Now both of your prayers have been addressed. If you have any further grievances, you can very well approach the high court or the jurisdictional magistrate," the bench, also comprising Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala, said, adding that it is closing the proceedings for now.
It granted liberty to the petitioner to move the high court or the jurisdictional magistrate for further relief. At the outset, the bench was informed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was representing the Delhi Police, that as per the apex court's April 28 order, assessment of threat perception to the complainants was carried out by the police.
He told the bench that adequate security arrangements have been made for the minor complainant as well as the six other women wrestlers. Mehta said statements of four complainants, including the minor, has been recorded under section 161 of the CrPC in the case.
Several wrestlers who have won awards at international competitions have been protesting at Jantar Mantar, demanding that the government make public the findings of an oversight panel that investigated the sexual harassment charges against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The Delhi Police has filed two FIRs against Singh on allegations of sexual harassment levelled against the BJP MP by seven women wrestlers. The wrestlers have asserted that they would not leave the protest site until Singh is arrested. PTI
DCW chief Swati Maliwal at the protest site
14:02 BJP: Credibility of protesting wrestlers eroded...
Union Minister and BJP leader Meenakashi Lekhi on Thursday said the credibility of the wrestlers' protest at Jantar Mantar eroded after "discredited" politicians joined it.
Wrestlers, have levelled sexual harassment charges against Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Saran Singh and sat on a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi demanding his arrest as well as ouster from the WFI post. Various political parties, including the Congress and AAP, have lent their support to the wrestlers.
Hours after a scuffle allegedly broke out between the wrestlers and some police personnel late on Thursday night, Lekhi in a press conference said the Centre was "very sensitively" dealing with the wrestlers' issue and pointed out that the matter was in court.
"When political people facing cases of ED and corruption charges reach the dharna site, the credibility of the protest is decreased," she said.
Alleging that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal committed "moral and legal" wrongs in arranging "seven-star facilities" for himself by spending Rs 45 crore on the renovation of his residence, Lekhi said AAP leaders were resorting to "diversionary" tactics by raising the wrestlers' issue. She also alleged that several AAP leaders held a meeting recently and planned to join the wrestlers' protest. PTI
13:54 Army ALH Dhruv crashes in J-K's Kishtwar region, three injured
An Army helicopter crashed in a forested, hilly area in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Thursday, injuring three people, including its pilot and co-pilot, officials said. "The advanced light helicopter (ALH) Dhruv crashed on the banks of a stream in Machina area of Marwah, cut off from the district headquarters due to heavy snow," said Senior Superintendent of Police, Kishtwar, Khalil Ahmad Poswal.
The crash took place around 10.35 am. The wreckage was found on the banks of the stream, he said.
Three Army personnel on board the helicopter, including the pilot and co-pilot, were rescued in an injured condition and airlifted to hospital. For people in the area, helicopters are the only mode of transport during winter. Helicopters are also the only source of supplies, including rations. There was some confusion earlier in the day over how many people were on board.
13:49 NCP: Pawar will be persuaded, no move to BJP
Nationalist Congress Party on Thursday said that the committee set up by Sharad Pawar to deliberate on his successor will urge him to take back his resignation as party chief and denied the claim in a Saamana' editorial that some NCP leaders were inclined towards the BJP. NCP chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase told reporters that the party workers do not want Pawar to step down.
Pawar (82) left his party leaders and workers shellshocked on Tuesday when he announced during the launch of his revised autobiography Lok Majhe Sangati' that he would be stepping down. He also set up a party committee to decide on his successor.
The committee set up by Pawar saheb will meet tomorrow to deliberate on the issue and request him to take back his resignation, Tapase said. To a question about an editorial in Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana' which claimed that most of the NCP leaders who "cried" over Pawar's decision have their one foot in the BJP, Tapase said, "The entire NCP is united and will put up candidates against the BJP to ensure the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) wins maximum seats in the (2024) Assembly polls."
The tripartite MVA, comprising NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, was in power in the state for over 30 months when it collapsed last June following a rebellion in the undivided Sena led by Eknath Shinde, who then joined hands with the BJP to become the chief minister. Pawar was the architect of MVA.
Senior NCP leader Praful Patel on Wednesday said there was no question of picking Sharad Pawar's successor as party chief until there was a final decision on his announcement to quit the post. Pawar has not relented despite repeated appeals from NCP leaders and supporters that he withdraw his decision to step down, Patel told reporters. PTI
13:41 Go First flights cancelled till Tuesday
DGCA says it has examined the response of Go First and has issued an order under the prevailing regulations directing them to process the refunds to passengers as per the timelines specifically stipulated in the relevant regulation. Passengers booked on Go First flights will either get a refund or they will be accommodated on other flights. Go First has suspended sale of tickets till May 15. Go First flights until 9th May 2023 are cancelled.
Crisis-hit Go First has sought various interim directions from the National Company Law Tribunal, including restraining lessors from taking back aircraft and regulator DGCA from taking any adverse action against the airline. The Wadia group-owned airline, which has liabilities worth Rs 11,463 crore, has sought voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings and the plea is set to be heard by the Delhi bench of the NCLT on Thursday.
Go First has cancelled all its flights for three days starting from May 3.
13:30 India produced 3320 lakh tonnes of foodgrain in 2023-24
The Union agriculture ministry has set a target of a record 3,320 lakh tonnes (332 million tonnes) production of foodgrains for the year 2023-24 as against the latest estimate of 3,235 lakh tonnes produced the previous year.
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign 2023-24 on Wednesday. The objective of this conference was to review and assess the crop performance during the preceding crop seasons and fix crop-wise targets for the Kharif season.
Target for the production of pulses has been fixed at 292.5 lakh tonnes compared to 278.1 lakh tonnes this year and oilseeds production will be increased from 400 lakh tonnes to 440 lakh tonnes in 2023-24. The target for millet production for 2023-24 has been set at 170 lakh tonnes from 159.1 lakh tonnes in 2022-23.
The government said its strategy would be to increase crop area through inter-cropping, crop diversification, and productivity enhancement by introducing higher-yield seeds and adopting suitable agronomic practices in low-yielding regions. Going back to the 2022-23 season, record production of rice, maize, gram, pulses, rapeseed and mustard, oilseeds and sugarcane was estimated.
13:24 Calcutta HC stays move to take part of Amartya Sen's Shantiniketan land
Calcutta High Court on Thursday gave an interim stay against a move by Visva Bharati to take away a part of Nobel laureate Amartya Sen's property Pratichi at Shantiniketan.
Nobel laureate Amartya Sen moved the Calcutta High Court, seeking relief as the university had passed an order directing the petitioner to vacate 0.13 acres (5,500 sq ft) of land at his ancestral Santiniketan residence by May 6, even as an appeal for a stay on possible eviction was fixed for hearing on May 15, 2023 at a court in Suri in Birbhum district of West Bengal.
The central varsity, which claimed that the land is under the "illegal occupation" of Sen, had said that it would evict the economist if he failed to vacate it within the deadline. The matter was heard by a bench of Justice Bibhas Ranjan De at the High Court. It gave an interim stay in the matter till it is heard before a lower court in Birbhum district.
Adani Ports
13:08 Adani sells Myanmar port for $30million
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) on Thursday said it has concluded the Myanmar Port sale for a total consideration of USD 30 million.
In May 2022, APSEZ had announced signing of a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) for the sale of its Myanmar Port. The SPA had certain Condition Precedents (CPs), including completion of the project and relevant approvals for smooth conduct of business by the buyer. APSEZ in a statement said given the continuous delay in the approval process and challenges in meeting certain CPs, APSEZ has obtained an independent valuation on "as is where is" basis.
Thereby the buyer and seller have renegotiated the sale consideration to USD 30 million, it added. According to the statement, the buyer will pay the said amount to the seller within 3 business days on completing all the necessary compliance by the seller.
On receipt of the total transaction value, APSEZ shall transfer the equity to the buyer and its exit will stand concluded, it said. APSEZ chief executive officer and whole-time director Karan Adani said, "This exit is in line with the guidance provided by the APSEZ Board based on the recommendations made by the risk committee in October 2021." PTI
Bilawal Bhutto tweets en route to the airport
12:25 Bilawal Bhutto leaves for India to attend SCO meet
Pakistan's foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari left for India on Thursday to attend a key multilateral meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation scheduled to take place in Goa on May 4 and 5.
Bhutto Zardari, who would be the first foreign minister to visit India since 2011, is leading the Pakistan delegation to the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Beijing-based Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
The Foreign Office (FO) has said that the invitation to the Pakistan Foreign Minister to attend the SCO-CFM was extended by India's Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar, as the current chair of the SCO. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the spokesperson for FO, said that Bilawal had departed for Goa from Karachi. "FM @BBhuttoZardari departs from #Karachi to participate in the #SCO Council of Foreign Ministers," the spokesperson tweeted with a picture of his departure.
Upon Pakistan's request, Bhutto Zardari was granted special permission by the Indian civil aviation authority to use the Indian airspace, Duniya TV reported. "On my way to Goa, India. Will be leading the Pakistan delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization CFM. My decision to attend this meeting illustrates Pakistan's strong commitment to the charter of the SCO," Bhutto Zardari tweeted before his departure.
"During my visit, which is focused exclusively on the SCO, I look forward to constructive discussions with my counterparts from friendly countries," he said.
The Foreign Minister of Pakistan Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will also meet with his counterparts of friendly countries on the sidelines of the CFM, the FO said recently. Pakistan has said that the Pakistani foreign minister would not hold any meeting with his Indian counterpart. The visit is highly symbolic as it is the first by any Pakistani Foreign Minister since Hina Rabbani Khar travelled to India in July 2011 for peace talks.
11:59 Air India may open doors for Go First crew
Air India may hire Go First cabin and cockpit crew as part of its mega expansion plans after the news of Go First going into bankruptcy, according to sources.
Air India had placed a historic order for about 500 aircraft recently, and it will need crew for the operations. Recently, Air India had advertised that the airline will hire more than 1,000 pilots for its fleet with the tagline "Let's fly to new heights, together."
"Fly into the future with Air India, With Air India, you get a chance to be part of the most exciting aviation story in the world. With 500+ aircraft joining our fleet, you can become part of history in the making as you script your own success story. We are offering multiple opportunities and accelerated growth across our A320, B777, B787 and B737 fleet for Captains and First Officers, as well as Trainers," the Air India advertisement read.
Last month, Air India had to reduce its flights, especially for Middle East regions due to a shortage of crew members. Go First currently has around 50 aircraft in its fleet, with 50 per cent grounded due to engine outages. However, GoFirst has about 800 cockpit crew and about 2,000 cabin crew. Now their future is in jeopardy.
11:45 Sonia to address rally in Karnataka on Saturday
Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi would address an election rally in Hubballi on Saturday, her first campaign meeting for the May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka.
The Congress candidate in Hubballi-Dharwad Central is former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who joined the party after being denied ticket to contest the elections by the BJP. The BJP has fielded Mahesh Tenginkai in this segment.
The fight between Shettar and Tenginkai has become a prestigious battle of sorts for the ruling BJP and the Congress, which are putting all their might behind their candidates.
"Sonia Gandhi will arrive at around 12.30 pm on May 6, and after addressing an election rally, she is slated to return from there at around 3.30 pm. This is her only public meeting," party sources told PTI on Thursday. AICC President M Mallikarjun Kharge, who hails from the State, and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have been campaigning extensively in Karnataka, where the party is seeking to wrest power from the BJP.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi would hold a 36.6 km road-show in Bengaluru. The road-show would pass through the city's 17 Assembly constituencies. The Prime Minister would cover a distance of 10.1 km from 11 am to 1 pm, and 26.5 km from 4 pm to 10 pm, BJP leaders said.
11:28 NCP to decide Sharad Pawar's successor tomorrow
A committee formed by Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar to decide on his successor will meet on Friday, a senior NCP leader said on Thursday.
The meeting will take place at 11 am at the party office in south Mumbai, the leader said. The committee members include Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule, his nephew Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, among others.
Pawar on Tuesday dropped a bombshell by saying he is stepping down as chief of the NCP which he founded and helmed since 1999, but not retiring from public life. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin spoke to Sule over phone to enquire about developments in the NCP after Sharad Pawar's announcement to quit as its chief, according to party sources.
Political circles are abuzz with speculation on whether the next NCP president will be from the Pawar family - daughter Supriya Sule or nephew Ajit Pawar - or any other party leader.
NCP workers and party leaders have demanded that Sharad Pawar reconsider his decision. Ajit Pawar on Tuesday said his uncle will need two to three days to "think over" his decision. NCP's national vice president Praful Patel on Wednesday said Sharad Pawar has not relented despite repeated appeals from party leaders and supporters that he withdraw his decision to step down.
11:26 Amartya Sen moves HC against Visva-Bharati's eviction order
Nobel laureate Amartya Sen moved the Calcutta High Court, appealing against a notice of the Visva-Bharati university that asked him to vacate 13 decimal of land at his Santiniketan residence by May 6.
The central varsity, which claimed that the 13 decimal of land is under the "illegal occupation" of Sen, said that it would evict the economist if he fails to vacate it within the deadline. The matter will be heard by a bench of Justice Bibhas Ranjan De. In his petition, the economist argued that in October 1943, the then Visva-Bharati general secretary Rathindranath Tagore had given 1.38 acre of land for a lease of 99 years to his father Ashutosh Sen, who later built 'Pratichi'. Sen had earlier moved a court in Suri against the eviction notice, but the court set May 15 as the date of hearing, well after the university's deadline to vacate the land.
Meanwhile, Visva-Bharati has written to the Birbhum district administration to take steps to prevent protests over the issue around the varsity campus.
On Tuesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had asked state ministers to begin a sit-in demonstration outside Sen's house to protest against the eviction order. Banerjee asked MSME Minister Chandranath Sinha, the local MLA, to lead the protest, which will be joined by Education Minister Bratya Basu and Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim.
Sharad Pawar with his wife, Pratibha on May 2
11:04 Pawar meets NCP workers for 2nd day
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday came to the Y B Chavan Centre to meet NCP functionaries for the second consecutive day after announcing his decision to step down as the party chief. He will meet party workers and leaders during the day.
On Wednesday also, Pawar was at the YB Chavan Centre where he met party workers from different parts of the state.
The 82-year-old leader on Tuesday said he is stepping down as chief of the NCP which he founded and helmed since 1999, but not retiring from public life.
The announcement, made at an event, had stumped leaders and workers of the 24-year-old party, and many were seen crying and pleading with the Maratha strongman to reconsider his decision.
Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar later on Tuesday announced that his uncle will need two to three days to "think over" his decision. NCP's national vice president Praful Patel on Wednesday said there is no question of picking Sharad Pawar's successor as the party chief until there is a final decision on his announcement to quit the post. He said Sharad Pawar has not relented despite repeated appeals from NCP leaders and supporters that he withdraw his decision to step down.
The party committee, which Sharad Pawar himself set up on Tuesday to decide on his successor, did not meet on Wednesday, he said.
"If the situation arises, the committee will decide on Pawar's successor and the decision will be unanimous. He sought time to think over his decision after the party asked him to reconsider it, and till the final decision is arrived at, there is no question of deliberating on his successor," Patel said.
On speculation about Sharad Pawar's daughter and Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule emerging as the choice for national president and Ajit Pawar as the Maharashtra unit chief, Patel said, "There is no vacancy. Whether Pawar remains president or not, he is the party's identity and soul." PTI
10:55 Active Covid cases in country dip to 36,244
India has logged 3,962 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases have decreased to 36,244 from 40,177, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.
The death toll has increased to 5,31,606 with 22 deaths, which includes seven reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.49 crore (4,49,60,678) The active cases now comprise 0.08 per cent of the total infections and the national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.73 per cent, the ministry said. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,43,92,828 while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.18 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.66 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. PTI
10:29 Meet Gama, Sharad Pawar's Man Friday
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has in his book fondly mentioned his driver 'Gama', who has been taking him to various parts of Maharashtra for the last 43 years.
In his revised autobiography 'Lok Majhe Sangati' launched on Tuesday, Pawar lauded Gama for never causing any accident and never speaking about the leader's interactions with prominent personalities and politicians while travelling in his vehicle.
"I have found some very close colleagues in my successful public life including my personal driver Gama, who has been with me for the last 43 years. He has taken me to all the corners of the state, but we never met with an accident. It underscores how seriously he has taken his responsibility, he wrote. Pawar said to save time and its better utilisation, he takes senior politicians, industrialists, reputed personalities and party officials along with him during his journeys.
"I have openly discussed many sensitive issues with them, but Gama has earned my trust that not a single word will go out," he said.
Gama is at times my guardian as well. He takes all the necessary care, including about my clothes, travel items, medicines and diet. He has even scolded officials if I somehow miss my lunch or medicines," the 82-year-old NCP leader said.
Describing how he got the driver, Pawar said Gama was earlier the driver of Dr M R Shah from Baramati (in Pune district).
"When my then party gave me a vehicle for party works, I had no driver for it. One day, I casually mentioned to Dr Shah about my requirement and he immediately asked Gama to start working for me. Since then, he has been relentlessly working for me, he said. Pawar said Gama takes care of the vehicles in which he travels. If the vehicle has some issues, he upfront refuses to use it for driving and I have always listened to him, he said.
Pawar said as he has been travelling across the state for so many years, Gama knows the locations and houses of various personalities and takes him there without any hassle.
Springing a surprise, Pawar on Tuesday said at the book event that he is stepping down as chief of the NCP, the political outfit he founded and helmed since 1999. -- PTI
10:29 Meet Gama, Sharad Pawar's Man Friday
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has in his book fondly mentioned his driver 'Gama', who has been taking him to various parts of Maharashtra for the last 43 years.
In his revised autobiography 'Lok Majhe Sangati' launched on Tuesday, Pawar lauded Gama for never causing any accident and never speaking about the leader's interactions with prominent personalities and politicians while travelling in his vehicle.
"I have found some very close colleagues in my successful public life including my personal driver Gama, who has been with me for the last 43 years. He has taken me to all the corners of the state, but we never met with an accident. It underscores how seriously he has taken his responsibility, he wrote. Pawar said to save time and its better utilisation, he takes senior politicians, industrialists, reputed personalities and party officials along with him during his journeys.
"I have openly discussed many sensitive issues with them, but Gama has earned my trust that not a single word will go out," he said.
Gama is at times my guardian as well. He takes all the necessary care, including about my clothes, travel items, medicines and diet. He has even scolded officials if I somehow miss my lunch or medicines," the 82-year-old NCP leader said.
Describing how he got the driver, Pawar said Gama was earlier the driver of Dr M R Shah from Baramati (in Pune district).
"When my then party gave me a vehicle for party works, I had no driver for it. One day, I casually mentioned to Dr Shah about my requirement and he immediately asked Gama to start working for me. Since then, he has been relentlessly working for me, he said. Pawar said Gama takes care of the vehicles in which he travels. If the vehicle has some issues, he upfront refuses to use it for driving and I have always listened to him, he said.
Pawar said as he has been travelling across the state for so many years, Gama knows the locations and houses of various personalities and takes him there without any hassle.
Springing a surprise, Pawar on Tuesday said at the book event that he is stepping down as chief of the NCP, the political outfit he founded and helmed since 1999. -- PTI
Grounded
09:58 Go First asks DGCA not to cancel flights
Crisis-hit Go First has sought various interim directions from the National Company Law Tribunal, including restraining lessors from taking back aircraft and regulator DGCA from taking any adverse action against the airline.
The Wadia group-owned airline, which has liabilities worth Rs 11,463 crore, has sought voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings and the plea is set to be heard by the Delhi bench of the NCLT on Thursday.
Go First has cancelled all its flights for three days starting from May 3.
In its petition filed before NCLT, the budget airline has sought directions to restrain aircraft lessors from taking any recovery action as well as restrain the DGCA and suppliers of essential goods and services from initiating adverse actions. Another plea is that the DGCA, Airports Authority of India (AAI), and private airport operators should not cancel any departure and parking slots allotted to the company. The airline also wants fuel suppliers to continue supply for aircraft operations and not terminate the present contractual arrangements.
Go First, which started flying more than 17 years ago, has said the non-supply of engines by Pratt & Whitney resulting in the grounding of more than half of its fleet has led to the current situation. The carrier has total liabilities of Rs 11,463 crore to all creditors, including a default of Rs 3,856 crore towards operational creditors.
The dues towards aircraft lessors is Rs 2,600 crore, according to the plea filed before NCLT. As on April 30, the debt exposure towards financial creditors stood at Rs 6,521 crore. The airline's net loss rose to Rs 3,600 crore last fiscal from Rs 1,807.8 crore in 2021-22. The net loss was at Rs 1,346.72 crore in 2020-21.
Deepender Hooda at the protest site
09:20 Shah's police misbehaving with wrestlers: Cong
The Congress on Thursday hit out at Union Minister Amit Shah and the Delhi Police under him over a scuffle between police and the wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar here.
The Opposition party said that party MP Deepender Hooda was detained by police when he went to the spot after hearing about the "atrocities" of Delhi Police.
A scuffle broke out late Wednesday night between wrestlers and some policemen at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi, leading to head injuries to a couple of protesters. The wrestlers have alleged that they were beaten up by the police.
In the early hours Thursday, Hooda tweeted in Hindi, "When I reached Jantar Mantar to enquire about the condition of our daughters, the Delhi Police took me into custody outside the protest site and has now brought me to the Vasant Vihar Police Station."
Tagging a video of Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik breaking down and her colleague Vinesh Phogat consoling her, the Congress said in a tweet in Hindi, "These are the daughters of our country, safeguarded the country's honour and won us many medals. Today the police of Home Minister Amit Shah are misbehaving with them." Their only crime is that they are raising their voice against exploitation, the Congress said. "Narendra Modi ji, why are you doing this injustice?" the party said.
In another tweet in Hindi, the Congress said, "Congress MP Deepender Hooda ji reached the spot as soon as he came to know about the atrocities of Delhi Police on the daughters of the country." Congress stands firmly with the daughters of the country, the party said, and added, "the clear message is don't be afraid, we are together with you."
According to protestors, two wrestlers Rahul Yadav and Dushyant Phogat were injured. Phogat too has received head injuries. Several wrestlers who have won awards at international competitions have been protesting at Jantar Mantar, demanding that the government make public the findings of an oversight panel that investigated the sexual harassment charges against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The Delhi Police has filed two FIRs against Singh on allegations of sexual harassment levelled against the BJP MP by seven women wrestlers.
09:12 Strange smell in room turns out to be body under bed!
After a complaint was received about a "strange smell" in Tibet's hotel room, the police authorities found the body, leading to a murder investigation and a suspect's arrest, Shanghai Daily reported.
On a Chinese social media platform, a netizen wrote that he noticed a "strong" smell when he checked into his hotel in Lhasa on April 21. Notably, the Chinese tourist arrived in Lhasa on April 20 along with his friends for a visit. Later, on the evening of April 21, the netizen wrote that he left the hotel to go out for dinner and came back to his room around 10:30 pm. He noticed the smell was much stronger, and contacted the inn staff to request a room change to the fourth floor.
In the early hours of April 22, the police arrived and took the netizen to the police station for the statement where he was informed that the murder took place in his previous room, and a body was found under the bed, according to Shanghai Daily.
The police took DNA samples from the netizen before releasing him. On April 22, at around 4:50 am, the command centre of the police support team of the Lanzhou railway public security bureau received a report from the criminal investigation division of the Lhasa public security bureau, according to an announcement issued by the Lanzhou Railway. The report stated that on April 21, the body of a victim named Wang was found at an inn in Lhasa. A suspect had apparently fled in the direction of Lanzhou.
The suspect was found on the K306 train. Taking into account the violent nature of the alleged crime, the Lanzhou police coordinated with the Xi'an police to dispatch five additional police officers to assist in his capture. With careful planning and implementation of the arrest plan, the police successfully appreciated the suspect. The victim's ID card, mobile phone, and bank cards were found on the suspect, reported Shanghai Daily.
09:07 Russia FM reaches Goa for SCO
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reaches Goa to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's (SCO) foreign ministers' meeting. He is scheduled to hold a bilateral with EAM Dr S Jaishankar today.
09:03 Kills us, but don't disrespect us: Vinesh Phogat
Shocked and appalled by the boorish behaviour by the Delhi Police towards protesting wrestlers late Thursday evening, an emotionally distraught Vinesh Phogat said they were not criminals and did not deserve such disrespect.
The wrestlers are sitting on protest from April 23, demanding arrest of WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh alleging that he has sexually harassed seven female grapplers, including one minor.
Around 11 pm, a scuffle broke out at Jantar Mantar between the protesting wrestlers when they were bringing in folding beds for their night stay and the on-duty police personnel allegedly began enquiring about that.
According to the wrestlers, the police officers started behaving badly with them and even abused the women wrestlers. "If you want to kill us, then kill us," a crying Vinesh said during a late night media interaction. "Did we win medals for the country to see this day? We have not even eaten our food. Does every man have a right to abuse women? These police men are holding guns, they can kill us," an emotionally drained Vinesh said. "Where were female police officers? How can the male officers push us like that. We are not criminals. We do not deserve such treatment. The police officer who was drunk hit my brother," the World Championship medallist said.
Bajrang Punia exhorted the farmers and the general public to reach Jantar Mantar in their support. "I request everyone to reach Delhi by morning. This is the time. If not now, then when. This is question of dignity of our daughters. People like Brij Bhushan (WFI President) are roaming free despite being a criminal and all this is happening to us," Bajrang said.
Asked to give more details, Bajrang said, "CCTV cameras must be here. Footage will make it clear." Asked specifically if AAP leader Somnath Bharti had brought the folding beds, as being claimed by the Delhi Police, Bajrang said," CCTV footage can show he was not there when it happened. We had ordered the beds, we were bringing the beds inside."
A video grab of the boy who abused Baghel
08:57 Baghel tweets video of boy abusing him, calls him Bajrang Dal member
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has posted a video on Twitter which shows a boy purportedly using abusive words against him, and claimed the minor was a Bajrang Dal member.
Baghel posted the video on his Twitter handle on Wednesday hours after he said the Chhattisgarh government will think about banning the Bajrang Dal if the need arises. On Tuesday, the Congress in its manifesto for the upcoming Karnataka polls promised to take action as per law, including banning organisations like this right-wing Hindu outfit and the PFI, accusing them of spreading hatred.
The manifesto sparked a strong protest from the Sangh Parivar. While posting the video, CM Baghel wrote, "This child, who refrains from taking the name of Lord Ram, is cursing me. He is a member of the Bajrang Dal. Look at what these people have turned our children into in the name of religion."
"I wish this child a bright future. May God make all children knowledgeable and strong like Hanuman Ji," he added in the tweet.
Earlier in the day, while responding to a question from reporters on whether the Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh will consider banning the outfit, the CM said, Bajrangis did create some disturbances here, but we controlled them. If required we will think about it (banning it)."
08:53 Halakki Vokkaligas felt proud... Padma awardees after meeting PM
The Halakki Vokkaliga community is happy after the PM Narendra Modi government awarded two people with the Padma Shri award belonging to the community, Sukri Bommagowda, an awardee said on Wednesday after the Prime Minister met her in Karnataka's Ankola.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met Padma Shri recipients Tulsi Gowda and Sukri Bommagowda in Ankola. The Padma Shri recipients Tulsi Gowda and Sukri Bommagowda expressed their delight and joy on meeting PM Modi.
"I am very happy that PM Modi came here in Ankola. This is for the first time any Prime Minister came here. We all are very happy. Our children were very excited to see him. I gave my love and blessing to him," said Sukri Bommagowda popularly called the nightingale of the Halakki Vokkaliga tribes.
When asked how she felt as the world recognises her community after winning the ward, she said that it is a proud moment for all and everyone in her community is elated. "I felt very happy after getting the Padma Shri award, not only me my Halaki Vokaliga community felt very proud. My one simple request to the government is that they should include us under the ST category which will be beneficial to our community and secure our children's future," she said while talking to ANI.
08:45 Ahead of Karnataka polls, sale of electoral bonds up nearly 9 times from 2018
A total of 1,470 electoral bonds worth Rs 970.50 crore were sold from April 3 to April 12 in the 26th tranche of sales under the Electoral Bond Scheme, 2018, the SBI said in its RTI reply to transparency campaigner Commodore Lokesh Batra (retd.) Tuesday. Read the report here.
08:44 Delhi college hostel warden strips students over theft suspicion
Two students of a nursing college were allegedly harassed and stripped by the hostel warden over suspicion of theft, according to authorities. On Tuesday around 1 pm, a PCR call was received regarding an incident of alleged harassment and stripping of nursing students at Ahilyabai College of Nursing of LNJP hospital, a senior police officer said Wednesday.
During inquiry, it was found that two BSC nursing final year students, residing in a college hostel, had, along with other students and the warden, gone for a community programme in the Mandi House area.
The warden found that Rs 8,000 was missing from her bag and she suspected these two students of theft, the officer said. It was alleged that the warden strip-searched them with the help of other students, but no money was found in their possession, he said.
After the incident, the parents of the students arrived at the hostel and filed a complaint with the college administration. They also filed a complaint at the IP Estate police station, alleging that the girls were stripped, police said. After initial enquiry, a zero FIR under section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code was registered at IP Estate police station, they said, adding the case will be transferred to Tilak Marg police station.
It is being learnt that a fact-finding committee, comprising the principal and other senior faculty, has been constituted by the college administration, police said, adding the warden has been shifted from the hostel. PTI
08:40 Fog engulfs Delhi in hottest month of year
Delhi experienced an unusual spell of shallow fog on Thursday morning, leaving residents surprised.
Such weather conditions are not typical for May which is the hottest month of the year in the city with a mean maximum temperature of 39.5 degrees Celsius.
Weather department officials said high moisture content in the air and a significant difference between the daytime and nighttime temperatures create conditions that are favourable for the formation of fog.
According to the IMD, shallow fog is when visibility is between 501 and 1,000 metres.
The Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi's primary weather station, recorded 20.9 mm of rainfall between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm on Wednesday, and a maximum temperature of 30.6 degrees Celsius, nine notches below normal.
The city logged a minimum temperature of 16.9 degrees Celsius at 6 am on Thursday.
Palam, Lodhi Road, Ridge, Ayanagar, Mungeshpur, Narela, Pitampura and Pusa logged 11.8 mm, 24.6 mm, 14.6 mm, 13.8 mm, 31.5 mm, 9.5 mm, 55.5 mm and 15.5 mm of precipitation, respectively, on Wednesday. -- PTI
Such weather conditions are not typical for May which is the hottest month of the year in the city with a mean maximum temperature of 39.5 degrees Celsius.
Weather department officials said high moisture content in the air and a significant difference between the daytime and nighttime temperatures create conditions that are favourable for the formation of fog.
According to the IMD, shallow fog is when visibility is between 501 and 1,000 metres.
The Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi's primary weather station, recorded 20.9 mm of rainfall between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm on Wednesday, and a maximum temperature of 30.6 degrees Celsius, nine notches below normal.
The city logged a minimum temperature of 16.9 degrees Celsius at 6 am on Thursday.
Palam, Lodhi Road, Ridge, Ayanagar, Mungeshpur, Narela, Pitampura and Pusa logged 11.8 mm, 24.6 mm, 14.6 mm, 13.8 mm, 31.5 mm, 9.5 mm, 55.5 mm and 15.5 mm of precipitation, respectively, on Wednesday. -- PTI
08:36 Cops blame AAP leader for face-off with wrestlers
After a late-night scuffle between wrestlers and the Delhi Police in Jantar Mantar, the wrestlers claimed that they were manhandled and abused by the police personnel at the protest site.
Reacting to this, the Delhi Police on Thursday said that the supporters of wrestlers became aggressive after they were stopped from taking folding beds at the protest site which they were not allowed, leading to the chaos.
"Folding beds were brought to the protest site in Jantar Mantar. Since there was no permission, we didn't allow it, so some of the supporters of the protesting wrestlers tried to take out the beds from the truck and this led to an altercation," DCP Pranav Tayal said.
DCP Tayal further said that the wrestlers have been asked to file a complaint and the medical check-up of the policeman would be conducted on whom 'drunk' allegations were raised.
"We have told the wrestlers to give complaint on their grievances and will take appropriate action...medical check-up of the Policeman on whom they've raised allegations, being conducted...," the DCP said.
Wrestlers have alleged that drunk Delhi Police personnel manhandled them when they wanted to bring in mattresses to sleep at night after daylong rain.
"We were bringing the beds since we were facing trouble sleeping due to rain. Sakshi is crying. This is the respect they are giving to our daughters, abusing them," said the Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia to ANI.
The World Championships and Commonwealth Games medalist Vinesh Phogat also accused the policemen of being drunk, pushing, and abusing women protestors.
"He is drunk. He hit someone on his head. He abused me and pushed several women protestors," claimed Vinesh.
Commissioner of Police, Pranav Tayal said that Aam Aadmi Party leader Somnath Bharti came to the protest site along with folding beds without permission.
"During the wrestler's protest at Jantar Mantar, AAP leader Somnath Bharti came to the protest site along with folding beds without permission. When we intervened, the supporters became aggressive and tried to get the beds out of the truck," he said.
Pranav Tayal said that a minor altercation took place and Somnath Bharti, along with two others, was detained. -- ANI
00:23 MVA has become weak with Pawar's resignation: Athawale
Union minister and RPI leader Ramdas Athawale on Wednesday said here that the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance of the NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena has become weak with Sharad Pawar stepping down as NCP president.
Many people want to pull down the Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra but it has majority in the House, said Athawale, whose party is a member of the BJP-led NDA at the centre.
He had forewarned Uddhav Thackeray against joining hands with the Congress and NCP, but the Shiv Sena leader did not listen and now he has lost even his party symbol (bow and arrow) to the Eknath Shinde faction, Athawale said. -- PTI
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