LIVE
Thu, 25 April 2019
Vikhe Patil quits as Maha Oppn leader
Timeline Refresh
23:29 Vikhe Patil quits as Maha Oppn leader
Senior Maharashtra Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, whose son joined the Bharatiya Janata Party last month, has resigned as the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, the party said on Thursday.
Party chief Rahul Gandhi has accepted the resignation of the Congress leader, state Congress president Ashok Chavan told reporters in Ahmednagar district.
Vikhe Patil had sent his resignation letter to the top party leadership, offering to quit the post of LoP, after his son Sujay Vikhe Patil left Congress and joined the BJP.
"Vikhe Patil had offered to resign from the post and had also sent a letter to the Congress president. This letter of resignation has been accepted by the Congress president," Chavan said.
The development comes a day before Rahul Gandhi's rally in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar on Friday.
Chavan was in Shirdi on Thursday ahead of Gandhi's rally at Sangamner in the Shirdi Lok Sabha constituency.
Vikhe Patil was accused of giving tacit support to his son Sujay, who was the BJP contestant from Ahmednagar Lok Sabha seat and was blamed for working behind the scenes in his campaign.
Party sources said he was in touch with the supporters of his father late Balasaheb Vikhe Patil in Rahuri, Parner and other areas in Ahmednagar district, and exhorted them to support Sujay.
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, who has been a traditional opponent of the Vikhe Patils, had made the Ahmednagar contest a prestige battle.
Pawar had refused to vacate the constituency, which is with the NCP as per the seat-sharing deal with the Congress, for Sujay who eventually joined the BJP and contested the seat.
Ahmednagar, about 120 km from Pune, is considered to be the stronghold of the Vikhe Patil family and Sujay chose to contest from it, notwithstanding protests from supporters of BJPs sitting MP, Dilip Gandhi.
The monsoon session of Maharashtra Legislature will commence in July and will be the last session before the state goes to polls later this year. -- PTI
23:10 Giriraj Singh booked for violating poll code
Union minister Giriraj Singh was on Thursday booked for violating model code of conduct by making controversial remarks against the Muslim community at a rally in Begusarai a day ago where Bharatiya Janata Party national president Amit Shah, among others, was present.
According to District Magistrate, Begusarai, Rahul Kumar, the first information report was lodged at Town police station under relevant sections of the Representation of People Act and the Indian Penal Code taking suo motu cognisance of the 'controversial' remarks made by Singh at Wednesdays rally.
Besides Shah, the rally was attended by a number of other BJP leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi. Singh is contesting from Begusarai Lok Sabha as the National Democratic Alliance candidate and he is engaged in a three-cornered fight with Communist Party of India's Kanhaiya Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal's Tanveer Hassan.
Video footage of Singhs brief address at the rally was telecast on news channels wherein he can be heard saying, "I would like to say, Giriraj Singh's ancestors died and were cremated. You need a yard of land even after you die, for burial of your mortal remains. If you say you cannot chant Vande Mataram, this nation will never forget you."
"There are many people who are trying to spread communal passions. We will not allow that to happen anywhere in Bihar including Begusarai.
"The RJD candidate in Darbhanga recently said he had problems with reciting Vande Mataram," Singh said referring to Abdul Bari Siddiqui's comments on Sunday last.
"In Begusarai too, many can be seen spewing venom wearing bade bhai ka kurta and chhote bhai ka pyjama," he said referring to the long shirts and short trousers that are usually associated with devout Muslims.
The firebrand BJP leader has courted controversy on a number of occasions on account of his hyper-nationalistic outbursts which also underscore his Hindutva hardline.
His comment ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls that those opposed to Narendra Modi deserved to be deported to Pakistan has led to much lampooning.
His repeated assertions that Hindus are running out of patience because of the delay in the Supreme Court delivering its verdict on Ayodhya dispute has often left his own government embarrassed.
A few days ago he said while campaigning in his constituency that political parties in the country should be prohibited from having flags which were green in colour since these resembled the emblem of Pakistan.
Opposition parties have targeted Singh over the comment and asked what he thought of Chief Minister Nitish Kumars Janata Dal-United, a National Democratic Alliance member, which had a green flag. -- PTI
21:53 ISRO postpones Chandrayaan launch to July
Wary of failure after Israel's unsuccessful attempt to land on Moon, Chandrayaan-2 has been further postponed to July, an Indian Space Research Organisation official said.
There were also reports of the Moon Mission's lander facing minor damage, but the official did not comment on it.
"We saw Israel's example and we don't want to take any risk. Despite Israel being such a technologically advanced country, the mission failed. We want the mission to be a success," he said.
The launch of India's Moon mission was scheduled in April but it was postponed after Israel's Beresheet spacecraft crashed during moon landing early this month.
The ambitious mission was a first for a private effort.
"Landing on the Moon is a very complex mission and all the exigencies have to be factored in," the official added.
The next launch window is available in mid-July for 10 days, he said.
Chandrayaan-2 was scheduled to be launched in April last year, but it was postponed to October after ISRO lost contact with GSAT-6A in March 2018.
Following the setback, the ISRO grew cautious about its missions to ensure there was no failure.
The postponement of the ambitious mission was due to two setbacks it faced in two years.
In April last year, K Sivan informed the government about the postponement of the launch to October-November 2018.
A national-level committee to review Chandrayaan-2 recommended some additional tests before the mission could take off.
Last year, the ISRO also recalled the launch of GSAT-11 from from Kourou, French Guiana, for additional technical checks.
Chandrayaan-2 is one of the crucial launches for the space agency, particularly after Chandrayaan-1 and Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission).
It is also ISRO's first mission to land on any celestial body. -- PTI
21:32 Mumbai blasts convict dies in Nagpur prison
Abdul Gani Turk, a 1993 Mumbai serial blasts convict lodged at the Nagpur Central Jail, died in Nagpur on Thursday, an official said.
Turk, 68, was lodged in the Nagpur Central Jail since 2012.
Convicted for planting a bomb at Century Bazar, one of the 12 sites devastated by serial blasts in the country's financial capital on March 12, 1993, Turk was serving life imprisonment after his death sentence was commuted.
At least 257 people died in the blasts.
Jail superintendent Rani Bhosle told PTI that Turk was not keeping well for some time and was taken to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Nagpur on April 22.
Later he was brought back and being treated at the prison hospital. He fell unconscious on Thursday morning and was rushed to the GMCH where he was declared dead around 12.45 pm, she said.
He had suffered paralysis last year.
The cause of death will be known after autopsy report is available, the superintendent added. -- PTI
20:46
Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs Ganga Aarti and offers prayers at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi. -- ANI
20:42 India had shared actionable inputs with Lanka before blasts: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said Indian authorities shared 'actionable' intelligence with Sri Lanka before the serial blasts rocked the neighbouring country.
Nearly 360 people were killed in the Easter Sunday bombings in the island nation.
"Desired and actionable inputs were shared with the authorities in Sri Lanka prior to the blasts. But unfortunately, they (plotters) succeeded," Singh told PTI.
Asked if Sri Lanka failed to act on those inputs, he said it is not a question of blaming that country's government for it.
Nine suicide bombers, believed to be members of local Islamist extremist group named National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ), carried out the series of blasts that tore through three churches and three luxury hotels.
However, the NTJ has not claimed responsibility for the attacks.
According to officials, intelligence inputs about a possible terror attack in Sri Lanka, targeting the Indian High Commission, were shared by Indian agencies with their counterparts in the island nation earlier this month after the National Investigation Agency completed its probe into an ISIS-inspired module planning to kill prominent leaders in south India.
The inputs were sent through diplomatic channels to Sri Lanka after a thorough investigation pertaining to the ISIS case in Coimbatore was carried out by the NIA, which has filed a charge sheet against seven people.
During investigation, the probe team had stumbled upon videos of NTJ leader Zahran Hashim, which was indicative of a terror attack on the Indian High Commission in Colombo.
After further investigation which included cyber trailing of some of the accounts associated with the ISIS, the central security agencies shared an input with their Lankan counterparts about the churches being the likely target of the ISIS module, the officials said. -- PTI
19:52 Modi performs Ganga Aarti after roadshow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives to perform Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah and UP BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey also present. -- ANI
19:27
Visuals from Dashashwamedh Ghat.
PM Narendra Modi to arrive shortly. -- ANI
19:10 Former Army chief Dalbir Suhag appointed Indian envoy to Seychelles
Former Army chief Dalbir Singh Suhag has been appointed as India's next high commissioner to Seychelles, a country which is of strategic importance to India in the Indian Ocean region.
"He is expected to take up the assignment shortly," the ministry of External Affairs said while making the announcement.
General Suhag (retired) was the Army chief from July 31, 2014, to December 31, 2016.
He was also part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka in 1987.
His appointment as Indian High Commissioner to Seychelles comes amid deepening military ties between India and the island nation.
India is developing Assumption Island in Seychelles as a naval base to expand its footprint in the strategically-key region where China has been trying to enhance its military presence.
An agreement to develop the island was inked in 2015 between India and Seychelles.
In June last year, Seychelles President Danny Faure visited India during which both countries agreed to work together on the Assumption Island project.
Before his visit to India, there were reports from the island nation that it was cancelling the pact with New Delhi to develop the naval base in Assumption island. -- PTI
18:30 PM holds mega roadshow in Varanasi ahead of nomination
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow in Varanasi proceeds.
He will perform Ganga Aarti at the Dhashawamedh Ghat later in the evening.
The PM is scheduled for file his nomination tomorrow.
18:22 3 suspects arrested with 21 hand grenades in Lanka
Sri Lankan police on Thursday arrested three suspects and seized 21 hand grenades and six swords during a raid in Colombo following the Easter Sunday bombings that left nearly 360 people dead.
The Colombo Crime Division and the Special Task Force personnel carried out the raid in Modara area of the city and arrested three suspects, the Daily Mirror reported.
They also seized a van, 21 locally made low powerful hand grenades and six swords.
The CCD officials are conducting further investigations.
The Lankan authorities Thursday intensified their raids with the help of the army and arrested 16 more suspects in connection with the Easter suicide attacks, taking the total number of suspects under police custody to over 70.
Sri Lanka's government has blamed the attacks on three Catholic churches and three luxury hotels on an Islamist extremist group National Tawheed Jamath (NTJ).
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but the government has blamed the NTJ. -- PTI
18:03
Visuals from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow in Varanasi. -- ANI
17:28 PM begins mega roadshow in Varanasi
PM Narendra Modi begins his roadshow in Varanasi with this tweet: "Live from Kashi...Grateful for the warmth and affection!"
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding a mega roadshow in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi, a show of strength that will include union ministers, state chief minister and other senior leaders of the BJP.
Modi, who will file his nomination papers for the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat on Friday, began the roadshow by first garlanding the statue of Banaras Hindu University founder Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya.
The roadshow will stretch over six kilometres, going from the Lanka area to Dashashwamedh Ghat via Godoliya, party insiders said.
Top Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including Union ministers Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal and Nirmala Sitharaman, as well as BJP president Amit Shah and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states are expected to accompany him.
Tomorrow, JD(U) president Nitish Kumar and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will accompany Modi as he files his nomination around 11.30 am. Shiromani Akali Dal's Parkash Singh Badal and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan will also be in attendance, the BJP said.
The party on Wednesday said the prime minister will participate in the Ganga arti at Dashashwamedh Ghat after the roadshow.
At 8 pm, he will have a conversation with eminent personalities of Varanasi at Hotel De Paris. -- PTI
17:02 News updates
1993 Mumbai serial blast convict Abdul Gani Turk dies in GMC Hospital, Nagpur. He was lodged in Nagpur Central Jail.
Agustawestland Case: A CBI court reserves order on the application by Christian Michel on leaking of content of the chargesheet to media houses. Order on the plea to be pronounced on May 3.
Former US Vice President Joe Biden announces his candidacy for President of the United States.
16:38 World's 2nd largest emperor penguin colony disappeared overnight
The world's second largest emperor penguin colony is believed to have been effectively wiped out overnight, with thousands of chicks drowning when an ice shelf in Antarctica collapsed.
Since the catastrophic collapse of the ice sheet at Halley Bay in 2016, no breeding has been detected in the area, scientists say.
Usually 15,000 to 24,000 breeding pairs of emperor penguins flock each year to the breeding site -- around 5-9 per cent of the entire global emperor penguin population.
The bay in the Weddell Sea was previously considered a refuge for penguins in one of the coldest parts of the continent and which was expected to remain suitable for penguins this century despite climate change affecting Antarctic sea ice.
But almost no emperor penguins have been there since 2016, according to a team from the British Antarctic Survey, who used high-resolution satellite photographs of the birds' guano over time, to reveal the findings.
Read the report here.
16:15 Don't feel like voting: Nirbhaya's parents
As campaigning picks up steam in Delhi with leaders motivating people to exercise their franchise, Asha Devi and Badri Nath Singh, the parents of the woman who was gangraped and killed and came to be known as Nirbhaya, say they might not vote this time at all.
The couple, the face of courage in the face of impossible odds, said they are tired of parties promising them justice and doing nothing about it.
The sympathy expressed by the parties and their promises have been just a "political gimmick" as the culprits are still alive, said the parents of the paramedic student who was gangraped on the night of December 16, 2012, and died of her grievous injuries 11 days later in a Singapore hospital.
The streets, the couple added, continue to be unsafe for the city's women and children.
Successive governments have not done enough to implement measures for the safety of women and children who continue to be "victims of bestiality", they alleged.
"CCTV cameras are yet to be installed... the country is still unsafe, mothers still worry till their daughters return home.
"People have no faith in the system. All the governments have failed us. I don't feel like voting for any party this time," Asha Devi told PTI.
It has been seven years since her daughter was raped and murdered brutally but the judgement of the death sentence is yet to be implemented, she said.
"Nothing has changed. This time I don't even feel like going to cast my ballot. My faith in the system has been shaken," said her husband.
"All parties talk about women's dignity and empowerment but have no road map and they lack the will to do what they promise. At the end of the day, it remains only our pain, our struggle, our battle and our helplessness," he added.
Dispirited and cynical, Nath said elections give political parties the opportunity to come up with "hollow" promises. They mislead people for their own interests and put the promises in cold storage, the still grieving father added.
15:47 TMC MP Moon Moon on 'friend' Imran Khan
Expressing disgust over the issue of nationalism and Pakistan being played up in election campaign, yesteryear actress and Trinamool Congress candidate from Asansol, Moon Moon Sen, said if needed, she would again talk to her old "friend" Imran Khan, the Pakistan prime minister.
Sen, however, declined to speak to Khan on bilateral issues, saying with "several astute politicians" in the country, she would never be given the responsibility. "Imran is a friend of mine. We are not involved in any way. But the kind of divisive politics that is going on (over nationalism with reference to Pakistan) is very dangerous," Sen told PTI in an interview.
Asked if she needed, will she again talk to him given the atmosphere of animosity between the two nations, she said, "Why not? After all, he is a friend."
During the late 80s and 90s, when Khan was a cricketing hero leading the Pakistan team, Sen was considered to be his good friend, and their friendship was a regular fodder for newspapers, gossip magazines and tabloids.
Asked if she would act as an emissary if the government asks her to be, the daughter of legendary Bengali film actress Suchitra Sen said she would never be assigned such a job.
"No, I would never go on my own to talk to him and I am sure I would never be asked to do so. There are several astute politicians. Mamata Banerjee is a very astute politician and she would never exploit my friendship with Imran. He has a lot of friends in Kolkata, my husband is also his friend, I am not the only person," Sen said, adding that she had last met Khan several years ago when he was in the city for an India-Pakistan cricket match.
Asked to comment on Khan's statement that he believed there was a better chance of peace talks with India and settling the Kashmir issue if the BJP wins the general election, Sen declined to comment. "I won't make a comment on this. It's just a pure political talk and they are changing statements every next day," she said. -- PTI
14:51 SC reserves order on 'conspiracy against CJI'
The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its order on the issue of setting up an inquiry committee to probe an advocate's claim that there was a "conspiracy" to frame Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi in a sexual harassment case.
A special bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra, Rohinton Nariman and Deepak Gupta will pronounce its order later in the day.
During the course of the hearing, advocate Utsav Bains, who made the claim about a conspiracy to frame Justice Gogoi, submitted an additional affidavit on the direction of the court.
In his affidavit, Bains submitted that he cannot share the names of the "fixers" as "privileged communication under the Advocates Act" cannot be disclosed.
Attorney General KK Venugopal said the claim of privilege under Section 126 of the Indian Evidence Act is not applicable to any communication between Bains and the alleged fixers.
Venugopal said that a court can ask for any document relevant to a case.
Supporting the Attorney General's argument, Supreme Court Bar Association president Rakesh Khanna submitted that there is "no sacrosanct right" to withhold any document.
The court has the power to seek production of documents over which privilege is claimed, Khanna said."Whatever he (Bains) divulged to us, in any case, our power to inspect the documents is there," Justice Nariman observed.
"There is systematic attempt/game, so many things have not come out. The truth has not come out. These things are in the air for a long time and people of the country must know the truth. There has been a systemic attack against the Supreme Court," Justice Mishra said.
"We are in anguish the way this institution is being treated for the last 3-4 years is as if this institution will die. This is the court made by the likes of Fali Nariman, Nani Palkhiwala, K Parasaran. This is your institution and not ours. We, judges, come and go," he said.
"This country must know the truth. The Supreme Court cannot be run by money power or political power. The powerful think they can run this country? When somebody tries to clean up the system, he is killed or maligned. This will stop," Justice Mishra observed.
"Every day we hear about bench-fixing, every day we hear of wrong practices in this court. This has to go. The day has come when we have to rise to the occasion and tell the rich and powerful that they cannot run the Supreme Court," he said.
"Don't provoke us anymore. We want to tell the rich and the powerful that they are playing with fire. This is not the way a country can run," Justice Mishra said.
Senior advocate Indira Jaising told the court that the inquiry headed by Justice S A Bobde into the sexual harassment charge and the case before the court should be conducted together.
"We again clarify that the outcome of this inquiry (into the conspiracy charge) will not affect that inquiry (into the sexual harassment charge)," Justice Mishra said.
On Tuesday, a three-member committee of the apex court led by Justice Bobde, the senior-most judge after the Chief Justice, was formed to look into the allegation of sexual harassment made by a dismissed employee against Justice Gogoi.
The other two members of the committee are Justices NV Ramana and Indira Banerjee. Justice Ramana is the third in the seniority list in the apex court and will the Chief Justice after the retirement of Justice Bobde. --ANI
14:09
BJP's Kirron Kher files her nomination from the Chandigarh constituency. To her left is her husband and actor Anupam Kher.
14:04
Congress General Secretary for UP (East) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra holds a roadshow in Jhansi.
13:34 Release PM Modi film after voting ends: EC
Just in: The Election Commission is of the view that the movie 'PM Narendra Modi' should not be released till May 19. Poll body officials say delaying the release will be in the interest of free and fair Lok Sabha elections.
13:33 PM did injustice with people for 5 years: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of doing "injustice" to the people of the country in the last five years, saying the 'acche din ayenge' slogan has now been replaced by 'chowkidar chor hai'.
Gandhi was addressing an election rally at Jalore in Rajasthan.
"Demonetisation and GST were ways to rob poor, labourers, small traders, the Congress' NYAY scheme will benefit them," he said.
"Five years ago there was a slogan 'acche din ayenge'. Now people say 'chowkidaar chor hai' everywhere in the country," Gandhi said while addressing the rally.
The Congress president said if his party is voted to power, GST will be simplified, 22 lakh government jobs will be given in one year and no permission will be required for three years for start-ups.
"Not a single farmer of the country will be jailed for not paying off bank loans if the Congress voted to power," he said.
Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary for UP (East) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is holding a roadshow in Jhansi.
13:23 Two Hizbul militants killed in encounter
Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including one pursuing Bachelor of Physiotherapy, were killed Thursday in an encounter with security forces in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.
"On a credible input, a cordon and search operation was launched at Bagender Mohalla in Bijbehara area in district Anantnag by police and security forces," a police spokesman said.
The spokesman said during searches, the militants fired upon the search party which was retaliated, leading to an encounter.
The spokesman said incriminating material like arms and ammunition -- including one AK rifle and one SLR rifle -- were recovered from the site of encounter. -- PTI
13:00 Bhaagti Janata Party'(BJP) runs away from pressers: Akhilesh
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav coined a new term for the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday, saying the "Bhaagti Janata Party" runs away from press conferences and whenever journalists asks questions.
"Vikas (development) is asking if you have also heard anything new? Have heard that people have found a new meaning of the BJP -- 'Bhaagti Janata Party' -- as pradhanji is running away from press conferences, his leaders run away from questions of journalists and his party workers are demanding Rs 15 lakh and employment from the people," Yadav tweeted.
In another tweet, the SP chief hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi by tagging a picture of Khazanchi, a child born during demonetisation.
"Vikas wants to know if you know this child Pradhan Saab?" Yadav asked. "His name's #Khazanchi. He was born in a bank during notebandi. Now he wants to vote out the party who caused his mother pain. But we said you're too young and just because you were wronged doesn't mean you wrong others!" the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister added. -- PTI
12:42 It's Ajai Rai vs Modi in Varanasi, not Priyanka
So, it's the Congress party's Ajai Rai who will take on the PM Narendra Modi from Varanasi. Rumours of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra being fielded from there have finally been put to rest.
This is the second time Rai is being fielded from Varanasi -- he took the BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi in 2014 as well. In 2009, as a Congress candidate, Rai finished third behind BJP's Murli Manohar Joshi and Mukhtar Ansari, then with BSP.
Rai has been a five-time MLA from Uttar Pradesh and is a a local strongman in the Varanasi area, but ironically began his political career as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party's student wing, the ABVP.
Image: Ajai Rai. Courtesy: @kashikirai
12:32 All NDA allies will be in attendance at PM's rally
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Modi, who will file his nomination papers for the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat on Friday, is expected to start his roadshow by first garlanding the statue of Banaras Hindu University founder Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya.
The roadshow will stretch over six kilometres, going from the Lanka area to Dashashwamedh Ghat via Godoliya, party insiders said.
Top BJP leaders, including Union ministers Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal and Nirmala Sitharaman, as well as BJP president Amit Shah and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states are expected to accompany him.
JD(U) president Nitish Kumar and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will accompany Modi as he files his nomination around 11.30 am on Friday.
Shiromani Akali Dal's Parkash Singh Badal and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan will also be in attendance, the BJP said. The party on Wednesday said the prime minister will participate in the Ganga arti at Dashashwamedh Ghat after the roadshow.
At 8 pm, he will have a conversation with eminent personalities of Varanasi at Hotel De Paris.
12:17 AAP releases manifesto
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia release the Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi manifesto.
12:12 SC order at 2 pm on 'conspiracy against CJI'
The Supreme Court Thursday expressed anguish over the "systematic attack" on the judiciary and said time has come to tell the rich and powerful of this country that they are "playing with fire" and this must stop. The SC said it will pass orders at 2 pm on the future course of action on the lawyer's claim of conspiracy against CJI Ranjan Gogoi.
The apex court was hearing claims made by an advocate that there was a larger conspiracy to frame Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogi on allegations of sexual harassment. The court said it will pass an order at 2 pm.
"We are anguished with the way this institution is being treated... we will not survive if this happens. There is a systematic attack and systematic game to malign this institution," the SC said on the lawyer's claims of conspiracy against the CJI.
"Do rich and powerful people in the country think they can remote control the Supreme Court," asks the apex court. "The day has come when we rise and tell the country's rich and powerful people that they can't do it.
They are playing with fire and this must stop," the apex court said.
A special bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra said that it was anguished with the way the judiciary has been treated for the past 3-4 years.
"The way this institution is treated in last few years we must say that we will not survive if this will happen," a bench also comprising Justices R F Nariman and Deepak Gupta said.
"There is a systematic attack, systematic game to malign this institution", the bench said. "4-5% lawyers are bringing bad name to this great institution," the court said. -- PTI
11:09 Army begins recruitment of women jawans
Opening up a new avenue for females, the Indian Army on Thursday kicked off the process of inducting women as jawans by starting their online registration for recruitment in the corps of military police.
This is being seen as a major breakthrough for women in armed forces as so far, they were being inducted only as officers.
This is the first time they would be taken in as soldiers.
"Online registration will start today for the recruitment of women as jawans and the last date for it is June 8. The project was first mooted by Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat soon after he took charge of the force," Army officials said.
The decks for the induction were cleared in January this year after defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the government has taken a "historic" decision to induct women in the military police with an aim to enhance their representation in the three services.
Women will be inducted in a graded manner to eventually comprise 20 per cent of total Corps of Military Police and their role would range from probing crime cases to assisting the Army in field operations wherever required.
10:54 Former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn granted bail
A Tokyo court on Thursday granted bail to former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn for the second time since his arrest last year on financial misconduct charges.
His bail has been set at USD 4.5 million, reported The Japan Times.
Ghosn was arrested on April 4 for the fourth time over allegations of misusing the company's funds for personal purposes.
Prosecutors alleged that Ghosn had transferred some of Nissan's funds to his personal bank account, causing the automaker a loss of USD five million.
The former Nissan chief was earlier released on bail on April 5 following 108 consecutive days in detention, during which he was indicted on charges of an aggravated bench of trust and underreporting his remunerations for Nissan Motors.
Ghosn has also been removed from the board of directors of the company, along with partners Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, during the prolonged detention initiated by his initial arrest in November. -- ANI
09:47 Withdraw Pragya's candidature: Ex-bureaucrats
A group of 71 retired civil servants have taken strong objection to Bharatiya Janata Party's Bhopal Lok Sabha seat candidate Pragya Singh Thakur's statement that her "curse" killed decorated IPS officer Hemant Karkare, and demanded withdrawal of her candidature.
In an open letter, the former officers said that Thakur, who is an accused in the Malegaon blast case and is out on bail on medical grounds, has used the political platform not just to propound her "brand of bigotry", but also to "insult" the memory of Karkare, who died fighting terrorists during the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai.
Last week, Thakur said she cursed Karkare, the former Anti-Terrorist Squad chief of Maharashtra, for treating her "very badly" while she was in custody in connection with the 2008 blast case, that killed six and injured over a 100.
Her statement evoked condemnation from several quarters and the BJP too distanced itself from the comments.
"...this dishonouring of a former colleague, an officer known for his professionalism, has come as the ultimate shock and saddened us beyond words. The country needs to honour the sacrifice of Karkare and not allow deviant individuals to denigrate him and his memory.
"Every officer who has worked with or supervised the work of Karkare has testified that he was a person of impeccable integrity and an inspiration to all who came in touch with him," said the letter.
The letter has been signed by ex-civil servants including former Punjab Director General of Police Julio Riberio, ex-Pune Police Commissioner Meeran Borwankar and former Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar.
The officers also said, "This decision could have been dismissed as yet another example of political expediency but for the enthusiastic endorsement by no less a person than the Prime Minister of India (Narendra Modi), who has termed her candidature as a symbol of our civilisational heritage," the letter said.
They listed demands like, "condemning unequivocally, the statement of Pragya Thakur, demanding that the BJP withdraw her candidature and reminding the Prime Minister...to take the lead in putting an end to the climate of fear and intimidation and communal viciousness that seems to be percolating into the entire electoral process". -- PTI
09:37 Trump renews threat to close Mexico border
United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday again threatened to shut southern border with Mexico and send more "armed soldiers" to the region if the latter did not block a new caravan of migrants soon.
"Mexico must apprehend the remainder or we will be forced to close that section of the Border & call up the Military," Trump tweeted.
"Mexico's Soldiers recently pulled guns on our National Guard Soldiers, probably as a diversionary tactic for drug smugglers on the Border. Better not happen again! We are now sending ARMED SOLDIERS to the Border. Mexico is not doing nearly enough in apprehending & returning!" he added.
The remarks by the US President came in the wake of April 13 incident in which two US soldiers were questioned by Mexican troops while conducting a surveillance operation on the US side of the southern border, CNN confirmed after quoting US Defence officials.
During the incident, the Mexican soldiers pointed their weapons at the US troops, removing a soldier's sidearm and returning it to the unmarked US vehicle, the officials said.
The Mexican troops were armed with what appeared to be assault rifles, the officials noted.
Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that his government would analyse the incident, take into account Trump's comments, and act "in keeping with the law within the framework of our sovereignty", Channel NewsAsia reported.
"We are not going to fall for any provocation," he told reporters in Mexico City.
"The most important thing is to tell (Trump) we are not going to fight with the government of the United States. The most important thing is to say we want a relationship of mutual respect and cooperation for the sake of development," the President was quoted as saying. -- ANI
08:55 2 terrorists killed in encounter in J-K's Anantnag
Two terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Bagender Mohalla of Bijbehara in South Kashmir's Anantnag district on Thursday.
The encounter broke out between militants and security forces early this morning.
A search operation is underway.
Further details are awaited.
08:31 Before filing nomination, PM to hold roadshow in Varanasi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a road show and take part in the Ganga 'aarti' today, before filing his nomination papers from this Uttar Pradesh constituency on Friday, a party functionary said.
The nomination will also see a show of strength with several BJP allies, including Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray and Janata Dal-United's Nitish Kumar, expected to accompany Modi when he files the papers.
The road show will begin at around 3 pm after the prime minister garlands the statue of Banaras Hindu University founder Madan Mohan Malaviya, according to the schedule available now.
The procession will end at about 7 pm at the Dashashwamedh Ghat, the most prominent of Varanasi's ghats, where Modi will take part in the evening prayers.
On Friday, the prime minister will hold a meeting at 9 am with Bharatiya Janata Party workers at a hotel in the cantonment area.
He will then offer prayers at the Kaal Bhairav temple before leaving for the collectorate to file his papers, seeking re-election from the Lok Sabha seat.
Senior leaders from the BJP and other parties in the National Democratic Alliance will accompany Modi to the collectorate. -- PTI
00:31 NDA plans show of strength at Modi's nomination
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will file his nomination papers for the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat on Friday, April 26, in the presence of senior National Democratic Alliance leaders including Janata Dal-United president Nitish Kumar and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.
Shiromani Akali Dal's Parkash Singh Badal and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan will also be in attendance when the PM files his nominations at 11.30 am on Friday, the Bharatiya Janata Party said.
A day before filing his nomination, the PM will hold a 'major roadshow' in Varanasi that will start from the Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya's statue and end at Dashashwamedh Ghat, according to a party press release issued on Wednesday.
"After the roadshow, the Prime Minister will participate in the Ganga Arti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. After that, at 8 pm, he will have a conversation with eminent personalities of Varanasi at Hotel De Paris," the BJP said.
The BJP press release listed the two-day program of PM in complete detail.
On Friday, the PM would be addressing booth heads and party workers at 9.30 am.
"After this program, around 11 am, the PM will go and worship the city god Kal Bhairav. At 11.30 am, PM will file his nomination for Varanasi Lok Sabha seat," said the release.
"In this (nomination) program, Akali Dal's senior leader and former chief minister (Punjab) Shri Parkash Singh Badal ji, Bihar chief minister and JDU chief Shri Nitish Kumar ji, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray ji, central minister and president of Lok Janshakti Party Ram Vilas Paswanji will be present," the press release said.
The release added that leaders of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Apna Dal and North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) will also be present. -- PTI
TOP STORIES
© 2024 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances