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Mon, 01 July 2019
Nitish breaks silence over Encephalitis deaths
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23:35 Nitish breaks silence over Encephalitis deaths
Under attack for the virulent spread of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Monday expressed dismay over the inability of medical experts to pin-point the nature of the brain fever that grips the state's northern districts every year and claimed the lives of more than 150 children last month.
Intervening during a debate on the floor of the state assembly that followed acceptance of an adjournment motion on the AES outbreak, Kumar, whose government has been under attack for its failure to contain the outbreak of the disease, said, "We were lucky for couple of years as the disease did not strike with the same virulence. But this time, it resulted in a mammoth tragedy".
The chief minister recalled that in 2015, a year after the state witnessed the worst ever outbreak of AES, he had convened a meeting of experts at AIIMS, Patna, to look into the nature of this disease.
"Please note, it is still called a syndrome (a group of symptoms). Each expert appeared to have a different opinion. So I requested that people from the medical field set up a committee which could arrive at a conclusion.
"This is important as in cases where the exact nature of disease is known we are able to act much more effectively," he said.
Kumar said Japanese Encephalitis, for which Gorakhpur in neighbouring UP is most notorious, has been reported in Gaya.
"We have instructed officials to carry out intensive immunisation drive. The vaccines are obtained from the Centre. Officials have been instructed that even seemingly less vulnerable districts must be covered lest the virus strikes there," he said.
However, he added, that does not mean his government has watched haplessly following the AES outbreak.
He said the state government will focus on prevention until a cure is available to deal with this disease. The preventive methods will include creating better awareness about the syndrome among people.
"It is the reason why I have ordered a socio-economic profiling of families which have reported AES cases," Kumar said.
"I also visited the SKMCH hospital in Muzaffarpur (government-controlled, which alone counts for more than 100 casualties). I regretted why I never visited the hospital earlier in my tenure. The principal secretary of the health department had accompanied me and I pointed out that the pediatric ICU was woefully short of expectations," he said.
The chief minister said he ordered for upgrading the facility and subsequently, a separate ward which was reserved for jail inmates needing medical attention was converted, temporarily, into a pediatric ICU.
"Nonetheless, the hospital will see a huge upgrade... Facilities available there will be made on par with super-specialty hospitals in Patna," he assured.
Asserting that availability of funds would not come in the way, the chief minister said healthcare will not be compromised for want of money.
"If need be, we will move a second supplementary budget".
Kumar spoke in detail on the deadly disease that has claimed 154 lives so far.
"It's a very very unfortunate incident. We just cannot express our regret (towards the incident)," he said in the assembly.
"It's a very serious issue.... It was quite evident after meeting the attendants of patients and victims during my visit to the SKMCH that most of the victims belonged to poor families."
Kumar, who had visited the Shri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) in Muzaffarpur when the AES death counts had mounted last month, had faced protests and avoided the volley of questions from the media.
The adjournment motion, which according to assembly sources was the first to be accepted and put to debate in the current Vidhan Sabha, which was elected in November 2015, was moved by Sadanand Singh and Vijay Shankar Dubey of the Congress, Lalit Yadav and Nematullah of the RJD and Mahboob Alam of the CPI(ML) among others.
Earlier, senior Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui said he was thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for having expressed serious concern in Parliament over the AES outbreak.
"However, we are still wondering as to what has to be the way out. Will the Centre will be allocating any special assistance to the state on this count?" Siddiqui said.
Intervening during a debate on the floor of the state assembly that followed acceptance of an adjournment motion on the AES outbreak, Kumar, whose government has been under attack for its failure to contain the outbreak of the disease, said, "We were lucky for couple of years as the disease did not strike with the same virulence. But this time, it resulted in a mammoth tragedy".
The chief minister recalled that in 2015, a year after the state witnessed the worst ever outbreak of AES, he had convened a meeting of experts at AIIMS, Patna, to look into the nature of this disease.
"Please note, it is still called a syndrome (a group of symptoms). Each expert appeared to have a different opinion. So I requested that people from the medical field set up a committee which could arrive at a conclusion.
"This is important as in cases where the exact nature of disease is known we are able to act much more effectively," he said.
Kumar said Japanese Encephalitis, for which Gorakhpur in neighbouring UP is most notorious, has been reported in Gaya.
"We have instructed officials to carry out intensive immunisation drive. The vaccines are obtained from the Centre. Officials have been instructed that even seemingly less vulnerable districts must be covered lest the virus strikes there," he said.
However, he added, that does not mean his government has watched haplessly following the AES outbreak.
He said the state government will focus on prevention until a cure is available to deal with this disease. The preventive methods will include creating better awareness about the syndrome among people.
"It is the reason why I have ordered a socio-economic profiling of families which have reported AES cases," Kumar said.
"I also visited the SKMCH hospital in Muzaffarpur (government-controlled, which alone counts for more than 100 casualties). I regretted why I never visited the hospital earlier in my tenure. The principal secretary of the health department had accompanied me and I pointed out that the pediatric ICU was woefully short of expectations," he said.
The chief minister said he ordered for upgrading the facility and subsequently, a separate ward which was reserved for jail inmates needing medical attention was converted, temporarily, into a pediatric ICU.
"Nonetheless, the hospital will see a huge upgrade... Facilities available there will be made on par with super-specialty hospitals in Patna," he assured.
Asserting that availability of funds would not come in the way, the chief minister said healthcare will not be compromised for want of money.
"If need be, we will move a second supplementary budget".
Kumar spoke in detail on the deadly disease that has claimed 154 lives so far.
"It's a very very unfortunate incident. We just cannot express our regret (towards the incident)," he said in the assembly.
"It's a very serious issue.... It was quite evident after meeting the attendants of patients and victims during my visit to the SKMCH that most of the victims belonged to poor families."
Kumar, who had visited the Shri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) in Muzaffarpur when the AES death counts had mounted last month, had faced protests and avoided the volley of questions from the media.
The adjournment motion, which according to assembly sources was the first to be accepted and put to debate in the current Vidhan Sabha, which was elected in November 2015, was moved by Sadanand Singh and Vijay Shankar Dubey of the Congress, Lalit Yadav and Nematullah of the RJD and Mahboob Alam of the CPI(ML) among others.
Earlier, senior Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui said he was thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for having expressed serious concern in Parliament over the AES outbreak.
"However, we are still wondering as to what has to be the way out. Will the Centre will be allocating any special assistance to the state on this count?" Siddiqui said.
23:15 Mumbai records highest rainfall in 10 years
This season Mumbai received heaviest rainfall in the last decade, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) claimed on Monday.
The BMC requested citizens to stay cautious and show patience in the wake of heavy rainfall in the Metropolitan.
In a tweet, BMC stated, 'Mumbai, we understand it's not been an easy Monday, but it's also been a rain spell like never before -- it's the highest in a decade. 550 mm average of entire month of June has been exceeded in just last 48 hrs. We are truly trying our best. We request a bit of caution & patience.'
The city has been witnessing heavy downpours since last four days.
Heavy rainfall in Thane's Bhiwandi has led to waterlogging and flooding on the Bhiwandi-Gujarat road breaking links between several villages today.
Due to improper cleaning of the drains in the municipal area, drainage water was logged in places like Mandai, Three-Bhatti Bhaji Market, Nizampura, Padmanagar Bhaji Market, Olive Pura, Kamala Hotel, Bala Compound, and Idgah. -- ANI
23:12 IndiGo faces server issues at Bengaluru airport; 29 flights delayed
IndiGo passengers had a difficult time on Monday after 29 flights were delayed for more than half-an-hour at the Bengaluru airport due to a server glitch.
The reservation system, which conked out at 4.29 am, could be restored only at 5.07 am, IndiGo said in a statement.
"A technical glitch was observed for about half an hour early this morning from 4.29 am to 5.07 am. This affected just 29 flights with an average delay of less than 30 minutes approximately," IndiGo said in a late evening statement.
Earlier, an airline spokesperson said 63 flights were affected due to the conking out of the server.
As the IndiGo staff moved to manual bookings due to the server glitch, it resulted in long queues at the airline's check-in counters across the airport, according to sources.
"The server was fully restored and functioned smoothly afterwards. We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers," IndiGo said in the statement. -- PTI
22:25 Ram Rahim withdraws parole plea
Jailed Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Monday withdrew his parole application which applied for farming at his fields in Haryana's Sirsa.
"He withdrew his parole application on Monday," a senior official of Haryana Prisons Department said, refusing to divulge further details.
Ram Rahim, behind bars at Sunaria jail in Haryana's Rohtak district after being convicted in two rape cases and murder case of a journalist, had sought 42 days of parole to look after his fields in Sirsa district.
Following his application for the parole, the jail superintendent had written to the Sirsa district administration.
In a letter dated June 18, the official had sought a report whether releasing Ram Rahim on parole would be feasible or not.
In the communique, the jail superintendent had mentioned that Dera Sacha Sauda chief's conduct in the jail had been good and he had not violated any rule.
The Sirsa district administration had been asked to submit a report to the Rohtak division commissioner with a copy marked to the jail superintendent.
On receiving the letter, the Sirsa Police had approached the Revenue Department to ascertain how much land the Dera chief owns.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had last month said a decision on the parole application of Dera Sacha Sauda chief would be taken keeping in view the interests of the state.
"Anyone who is entitled for parole can seek one. We cannot stop anyone," Khattar had said.
A parole application is filed before a jail superintendent who forwards it to the deputy commissioner concerned.
Then a report is sought from the superintendent of police and, in the end, a recommendation is made by the divisional commissioner.
In August 2017, the Dera chief was sentenced to 20 years in jail for raping two women.
A special Central Bureau of Investigation court in Panchkula had in January this year also sentenced him and three others to life imprisonment for the murder of a journalist over 16 years ago. -- PTI
22:12 Ex-Pak Prez Zardari arrested in money laundering case
Former Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari was on Monday arrested in a multi-million dollar money laundering case by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).Asif Ali Zardari was allegedly running a fake front company by the name of Parathon as a shareholder in Park Lane properties, ARY News has reported.
The charges entail that the former President took out a loan worth Rs 1.5 billion from the National Bank of Pakistan in the name of Parathon and transferred to the company account in a private bank.
Zardari, who is already in the custody of the anti-corruption watchdog, is set to appear in front of the Accountability Court on Tuesday with regards to the allegations on him.
The investigating officer in the money laundering case will request for an extension in his remand, while another officer will request his remand in the Park Lane case.
If the court approves his physical remand in both cases then the investigating officers will have the right to question him in their respective cases, Samaa news agency reported.
Warrants for the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) co-chairman's arrest were issued after bail pleas of the accused were withdrawn earlier.
The Park Lane Estate company is a Karachi-based real estate firm.
The anti-graft watchdog had initiated an inquiry against him and his son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, on charges that they illegally transferred forest land to the firm in collusion with some government officials.
Bilawal was given a clean chit in the case on June 12.
The money laundering case, on the other hand, refers to the embezzlement of Rs 4.4 billion.
NAB has accused Zardari and his sister, Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) from Faryal Talpur, of owning shares of the Zardari Group, a company that received some of the embezzled funds. -- ANI
21:40 Osaka crashes out of Wimbledon
World number 2 Naomi Osaka has lost her first round at Wimbledon.
Osaka lost 6-7, 2-6 to Kazakhstan's Yulia Putinetseva.
21:25 Seer says Hindu actresses should follow Zaira
Hindu Mahasabha president Swami Chakrapani Maharaj on Monday said that Hindu actresses should also quit acting in the film industry like Zaira Wasim.
'Actress Zaira's decision to withdraw herself from Bollywood is praiseworthy. Hindu actresses should also take inspiration from Zaira,' said Chakrapani in a tweet.
Talking to ANI, Chakrapani too said that he wanted 'Hindu actresses' to quit working in the movies.
"I want the whole world to become religious. Someone who is religious will never walk on any kind of immoral path. I support the decision of Zaira. I urge the Hindu actresses to take inspiration from her," he added.
"Movies in which Brahmins are disrespected, communities and castes are targeted, actresses should reject these movies. The onus falls more on women because without them movies can never really be made," he said.
He also urged the women to start a 'MeToo' like movement which will change the way the industry treats Hindu religion.
"During the 'MeToo' movement, the actresses came out in the open and pointed out the criminals. Similarly, they should simply reject the roles which are not in line with the religion," he said.
Zaira on Sunday posted a lengthy statement, giving the reasons behind her decision to quit Bollywood. -- ANI
20:16 All Kashmir problems due to Nehru: Shah in RS
Union Home Minister Amit Shah replies to debate on resolution to extend President's Rule in Jammu and Kashmir in the Rajya Sabha.
"Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and no one can separate it from us. The Narendra Modi government has zero tolerance on terrorism; committed to development of Jammu and Kashmir," Shah said.
Shah asks why panchayat, municipal elections were not held before in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and no one can separate it from us. The Narendra Modi government has zero tolerance on terrorism; committed to development of Jammu and Kashmir," Shah said.
Shah asks why panchayat, municipal elections were not held before in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Democracy in Jammu and Kashmir should not be restricted to three families. Who threw out Kashmiri pandits, Sufi traditions? Were they not part of 'Kashmiriyat'?" he asked.
Shah said that Modi government's policy is to protect Kashmiri tradition.
"We reopened schools, provided cooking gas, built toilets, provided electricity during President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir. Our approach is clear, those who talk of breaking India we will respond to them in same language," Shah said, replying to questions about what the ogvernment has done during the President's Rule.
"We reopened schools, provided cooking gas, built toilets, provided electricity during President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir. Our approach is clear, those who talk of breaking India we will respond to them in same language," Shah said, replying to questions about what the ogvernment has done during the President's Rule.
Shah also pulled up Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad over 'misuse' of Article 356, saying, "Use of Article 356 should be minimum, we agree with that spirit. The Congress misused Article 356; invoked constitutional provision to dismiss opposition governments in states."
Responding to questions as to why the assembly polls in the state were not held along with the Lok Sabha polls, Shah said, "Lok Sabha and assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir could not be held together because it was not possible to give security to all candidates. Security agencies had expressed inability to provide security to candidates for holding Lok Sabha, assembly polls together."
"The government will not delay elections in Jammu and Kashmir even for a day the moment Election Commission agrees to hold polls," Shah said.
He said that the Bharatiya Janata Party snapped ties with the People's Democratic Party when realised separatism was being encouraged.
Responding to questions as to why the assembly polls in the state were not held along with the Lok Sabha polls, Shah said, "Lok Sabha and assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir could not be held together because it was not possible to give security to all candidates. Security agencies had expressed inability to provide security to candidates for holding Lok Sabha, assembly polls together."
"The government will not delay elections in Jammu and Kashmir even for a day the moment Election Commission agrees to hold polls," Shah said.
He said that the Bharatiya Janata Party snapped ties with the People's Democratic Party when realised separatism was being encouraged.
Over being criticised for trying to malign the name of first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Shah said, "We do not want to mislead people on Nehru but lessons have to be learnt from historical blunders. All Kashmir problems due to Nehru declaring ceasefire when one-third of Kashmir was with Pakistan."
20:04 RS approves extension of Prez Rule in J&K
JUST IN: Rajya Sabha approves extension of President's Rule in Jammu and Kashmir for six months.
The Upper House also passed the Reservation Amendment Bill.
More details awaited.
19:14 No scribe held captive during Yogi's visit: DM
No journalist was held captive in a hospital during Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's visit on Sunday, a senior official said, reacting to reports about restriction on the media on the occasion.
According to a report, some media persons were locked up in the emergency ward of a district hospital in Moradabad during Adityanath's routine visit there.
In his clarification on Monday, District Magistrate of Moradabad, Rakesh Singh said there is no rule to stop the press persons to cover any programme but that they are bound to follow the rules and some persons were stopped from entering the ward, not held captive by the administration.
Singh said while some journalists were allowed inside the ward, over 35 persons were 'detained' in the hospital as part of safety measures and security considerations.
He also asked the concerned information officer to prepare an 'accurate' list of government accredited journalists to prevent problems of coverage during VVIP visits.
In a tweet on Sunday, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Uttar Pradesh government of muzzling the media.
'Journalists are being held captive, questions are being curtailed, problems are being ignored. The full majority BJP government in Uttar Pradesh is turning away from people's questions. The public knows it all. It will ask questions and demand answers too,' she wrote on Twitter.
The Congress general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh East also tagged to her tweet a media report, which alleged that cameras of journalists were being shut during Adityanath's visit to Moradabad. -- PTI
19:00 China welcomes Trump-Kim meeting; describes it as 'constructive'
China on Monday welcomed the meeting between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the demilitarised zone (DMZ) dividing the Korean peninsula, saying their 'constructive' interaction yielded positive outcomes.
Trump stepped onto North Korean soil on Sunday and met Kim in the DMZ. The two leaders agreed to set up teams to resume stalled nuclear talks.
This was their third encounter. Their previous meetings at Singapore and Hanoi failed to bring about a breakthrough to end North Korea's nuclear programme which lead to the imposition of heavy sanctions by the United Nations.
Asked for comments on Trump-Kim meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told the media that China welcomed the meeting.
"The two leaders had a friendly meeting which should be welcomed. Their constructive meeting yielded positive outcomes," he said.
Both leaders walked past the DMZ line between the South and North Korea, Geng said.
"The meeting is important specifically for the US and both Koreas to discuss re-starting working-level consultations in the near future," he said, adding that China welcomes and supports that move.
Trump's meeting with Kim followed last month's surprise visit of President Xi Jinping to North Korea, the first by a Chinese leader in 14 years. Trump had accused Xi in the past of influencing Kim in the finalisation of the deal for de-nuclearisation of Korean Peninsula.
Geng said Xi's recent visit to North Korea has injected 'new political impetus' for the political settlement of the Peninsula issue.
This round of interactions between US, North and South Koreas serves the common interests of all parties and meets the common aspiration of international community, he said.
"We hope the two countries seize this opportunity, meet each other halfway, explore effective ways to resolve each other's concerns and work for more progress for de-nuclearisation and political settlement of the Peninsula," he said. -- PTI
18:17 Cong CMs meet Rahul, request him not to resign
Chief ministers of Congress-ruled states met Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi today and requested him to continue as party chief.
Addressing the media after the meet, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said that Rahul 'heard us patiently and we expect him to agree to our request to continue as Congress chief'.
"It was a good meeting. We talked for around two hours. We conveyed to him the feelings of our party workers and leaders. We hope that he will pay heed to our views and do the right thing," Gehlot said.
Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Rajasthan CM said, "The other side misled the country in the name of patriotism. Modi ji did politics hiding behind the Army, misled people in the name of religion. He didn't talk about development, economy, and employment."
On reports that he and Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath offered to resign in meeting with Gandhi, Gehlot said, "Resignations are put in the day results come out, Chief Ministers have to offer their resignations, then high command takes the decision on what to do next." -- ANI/PTI
Addressing the media after the meet, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said that Rahul 'heard us patiently and we expect him to agree to our request to continue as Congress chief'.
"It was a good meeting. We talked for around two hours. We conveyed to him the feelings of our party workers and leaders. We hope that he will pay heed to our views and do the right thing," Gehlot said.
Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Rajasthan CM said, "The other side misled the country in the name of patriotism. Modi ji did politics hiding behind the Army, misled people in the name of religion. He didn't talk about development, economy, and employment."
On reports that he and Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath offered to resign in meeting with Gandhi, Gehlot said, "Resignations are put in the day results come out, Chief Ministers have to offer their resignations, then high command takes the decision on what to do next." -- ANI/PTI
17:57 Account not hacked, says Zaira Wasim
Zaira Wasim's sudden 'dissociation' from films made many Internet users wonder whether the young artiste's social media accounts were hacked, but the Dangal star on Monday rejected the claims, reiterating her decision to quit acting.
Wasim also requested people to not make assumptions as she personally handles her social media accounts.
"This to clarify that none of my social media accounts were or are hacked and are being handled by me personally. Kindly refrain from believing or sharing claims that state otherwise. Thanks," the 18-year-old Kashmiri-born actor wrote on Twitter.
The National Award-winning actor on Sunday had announced her 'disassociation' from the field of acting, saying she was not happy with the line of work as it interfered with her faith and religion.
Wasim said in her post she felt like she had struggled to become someone else for a very long time.
The actor, who was in her early teens when she appeared in Dangal opposite Aamir Khan, also worked in his 2017 production venture Secret Superstar.
'As I had just started to explore and make sense of the things to which I dedicated my time, efforts and emotions and tried to grab hold of a new lifestyle, it was only for me to realise that though I may fit here perfectly, I do not belong here,' she wrote. -- PTI
17:46 GST revenue collections for June total Rs 99,939 crore
Gross revenue on account of Goods and Services Tax totalled Rs 99,939 crore in June, up 4.52 per cent from Rs 95,610 crore in the corresponding period of last year, the Central government said on Monday.
Of the GST collection in June, the central GST was Rs 18,366 crore, state GST Rs 25,343 crore, integrated GST Rs 47,772 crore (including Rs 21,980 crore collected on imports) and cess Rs 8,457 crore (including Rs 876 crore collected on imports).
The total number of GSTR 3B returns filed for May up to June 30 was 74.38 lakh.
The government settled Rs 18,169 crore to CGST and Rs 13,613 crore to SGST from IGST as regular settlement. The total revenue earned by the Centre and state governments after regular settlement in June is Rs 36,535 crore for CGST and Rs 38,956 crore for the SGST.
The revenue in June 2019 is 1.86 per cent higher than the monthly average of GST revenue in FY 2018-19 which was Rs 98,114 crore, according to an official statement. -- ANI
17:40 1248 ceasefire violations by Pakn in last 6 months: Rajnath
Pakistan violated the ceasefire 1248 times along the Line of Control (LoC) in the last six months, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in a reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on Monday.
The Minister in his reply to a question by BJP leader Vijay Pal Singh Tomar also informed that four Army jawans were killed in these ceasefire violations by Pakistan.
Appropriate retaliation to the ceasefire violations, as required has been carried out by Indian Army, the Defence Minister said.
"All violations of ceasefire and infiltration are taken up with Pakistan authorities at the appropriate level through the established mechanism of hotlines, flag meeting, Directorate Generals of Military Operations talks as well as diplomatic channels between the two countries," he added.
In the month of March, 267 ceasefire violations took place. In the same month, a total of three Army jawans were killed. Another jawan was killed in the month of January.
The first three months of the year saw a spike in ceasefire violations. However, during the next three months, the number of ceasefire violations dropped.
Giving details of the CFVs, the minister said - 203 ceasefire violations took place in January, 215 in February, 267 in March, 234 in April, 221 in May and 108 in June. -- ANI
Representational image.
17:35 Debt-laden Anil Ambani plans to lease out group HQ
High debt pile has forced embattled Anil Ambani to offer his group headquarters in suburban Santacruz on a long-term lease and move back operations to a south Mumbai building.
The group's flagship infra arm Reliance Infrastructure, which is sitting on a debt of over Rs 6,000 crore, Monday said it has put Reliance Centre on the block for a long-term lease.
"Reliance Infrastructure plans to monetise its headquarters -- Reliance Center -- in Santacruz (East) by way of long-term lease," the company said in a statement. The company will utilise the proceeds from the lease for debt reduction, it added and has appointed property consultant Jones Lang LaSalle for assisting it in the deal.
Apart from RInfra, the group's bankrupt telecom arm RCom has so far received claims over Rs 57,500 crore at the NCLT of which over Rs 7,000 crore are from its own group entities.
The Reliance Centre is spread around 0.7 million sqft and has covered parking space for 425 cars.
The move to relocate his headquarters to the suburbs was a big change, as the both groups were operating from south Mumbai.
The RInfra statement said staff operating from Reliance Center will be relocated to multiple properties owned by the group across the city, including Ballard Estate. RInfra, however, did not divulge more details on the deal, even as media reports stated that the company is in talks with some global private equity firms, including Blackstone and another US-based fund.
According to an industry expert, the property is likely to garner good interest as the commercial real estate in the megapolis is going through low vacancy levels now.
Recently the company announced sale of its Delhi Agra toll road to Cube Highways & Infrastructure, which it hopes to complete by the end-August and expects to receive an enterprise value of Rs 3,600 crore including equity of up to Rs 1,700 crore.
17:26 Mumbai crawls, very heavy rains in Thane tomorrow
Mumbai residents woke up to heavy rains Monday, with the downpour resulting in water logging in several areas of the city and leading to traffic congestion on roads and delays in train movement.
The Meteorological Department warned of "extremely heavy" rainfall in adjoining areas of Thane and Palghar on July 2, 4 and 5. A few places in Mumbai could get heavy to very heavy rainfall Monday and Tuesday, it added.
Though there was a respite from the heavy showers in the afternoon, trains were running late on all the lines. In a few areas like Chembur, water entered houses, prompting citizens to blame the BMC.
"The civic administration has not done enough to avoid such a mess during rains," said P Krishnakumar, a Chembur resident, as he surveyed water in his house.
Areas like Hindmata, Parel, Lalbaug, Senapati Bapat road were water-logged. Water-logging was also witnessed in a few buildings in Wadala. Wall collapse incidents were reported from 12 places in the city.
A retaining wall collapsed in Ashwa Garden in Sewri, but nobody was injured, police said. Municipal Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi said 540 mm of rain fell in two days in the city, the highest over a two-day period in a decade. Pardeshi also blamed climate change and geographical conditions for flooding at several places in Mumbai.
The inundation is due to high amount of built-up area in Mumbai and the low proportion of water seepage into the ground in the last 50 years, he said.
Railway tracks between Sion and Matunga stations were submerged and movement of local trains was slowed down considerably.
Children swam knee-deep waters of what otherwise is a busy road in Hindmata area of Dadar. "We request all citizens to not drive into water logged areas till the water is pumped out. We understand you may get slightly delayed but lets not compromise on safety," the BMC tweeted.
"In view of #MumbaiRains ie incessant heavy rains & high tide in & around Mumbai, Minster of Railways Shri Piyush Goyal is keeping close watch, specially on services & arrangements for safety of commuters, etc. He is in constant touch with the senior railway officials," the Western Railway said in a tweet.
A huge crowd was seen at the Thane station as heavy rains delayed train services on the Central Railway line.
Heavy rains during the night and on Monday morning in Mumbai and its outskirts inundated low-lying areas, delayed trains and slowed down vehicular movement on roads.
Several local train services, considered the lifeline of Mumbai, were cancelled or short-terminated as a temporary bamboo structure erected for civil work fell on an overhead wire near the Marine Lines station on the Western line, an official said.
The vehicular movement from suburbs towards south Mumbai and the Bandra-Kurla Complex, where several corporate houses and private companies are located, was slow due to the incessant showers.
Image: The low-lying area of Hindmata in Dadar was waterlogged, which is normally the case when there is heavy rains. Pic: Sahil Salvi.
17:03 And the heatwave in Delhi continues
Meanwhile, in Delhi, heatwave conditions prevailed with the mercury soaring up to 42 degree Celsius.
Relief from blistering heat is expected in the coming days as the IMD has predicted 'generally cloudy sky with light rain' for July 2 to 5 and 'rain or thundershowers for July 6 and 7.'
"Heatwave conditions in isolated pockets are very likely over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.While the maximum temperature in the national capital skyrocketed, the minimum temperature was at 31 degree Celsius, which is two degrees above the normal.
Owing to the heatwave, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Sunday announced that the summer holidays would be extended till July 8 for the city-state schools for students up to Class 8 in view of the rising temperature. -- ANI
17:01 Water-logging, traffic jams in Navi Mumbai
Water-logging in Navi Mumbai disrupts traffic and leads to massive traffic jams due to heavy rains during the night and on Monday morning in Mumbai and its outskirts.
Low-lying areas were inundates, trains delayed and vehicular movement on roads slowed down across Mumbai and its suburbs.
Several local train services, considered the lifeline of Mumbai, were cancelled or short-terminated as a temporary bamboo structure erected for civil work fell on an overhead wire near the Marine Lines station on the Western line, an official said.
The weather station in Santacruz recorded 91 mm of rainfall in 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Monday, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said, predicting more showers in the city and in the parched Marathwada and Vidarbha regions of Maharashtra.
The vehicular movement from suburbs towards south Mumbai and the Bandra-Kurla Complex, where several corporate houses and private companies are located, was slow due to the incessant showers.
16:47 It's a traffic mess in Navi Mumbai
Traffic jam in Navi Mumbai following heavy rains in the city.
16:37 Saddened by Zaira's decision: Anupam Kher
Veteran actor Anupam Kher on Zaira Wasim's decision to quit films because it interfered with her religion: "If she took this decision in the name of religion then maybe it wasn't her decision, maybe she was forced to do it but that is her life, if she wants to take that decision I respect her, we should leave her alone but I was saddened by it."
16:21 Account not hacked, post shared by Zaira, clarifies manager
Putting all rumours to rest, Zaira Wasim's manager on Monday clarified that the actor's social media accounts were not hacked and the posts about quitting acting as it interfered in her religion were, in fact, shared by her.
A day after the 'Dangal' fame announced her "disassociation" from acting in Bollywood stating that her current line of work is silently and unconsciously transitioned her "out of imaan (faith)", certain media outlets quoted the actor's manager as claiming that her social media accounts were hacked.
In an exclusive interaction with ANI, the manager stated that the reports claiming that the accounts were hacked are false.
"No, we never said that. The post has been put up by Zaira, that's it. We have never said anything like that," Tuhin Mishra, Zaira's manager told ANI over the phone.
The actor shared a detailed post on her social media pages, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, on Sunday.
Read what Zaira said in her post here.
16:05 Mumbai deluge between July 3-5: Skymet
Mumbai is at serious risk of flooding between July 3 and July 5, predicts private weather bureau, Skymet.
Close to 200 mm or more rain a day is going to batter the city during this period, which could hamper normal life in the city, says Skymet.
Mumbai finally clocked its first spell of three-digit rainfall on Friday to the tune of 235 mm. With heavy rains for the third consecutive day on Sunday, Mumbai surpassed its required June rainfall by recording 515.1 mm of rain -- 10.1 mm above the normal.
Besides, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted "heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over Odisha"
"Heavy rainfall at a few places with very heavy rainfall at isolated places over Konkan and Goa," it stated in its All India Weather Warning Bulletin.The IMD has also issued a warning of thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds (30-40 kmph) at isolated places very likely over East Rajasthan and East Uttar Pradesh. The duststorm (30-40 kmph) at isolated places is very likely over Haryana and West Uttar Pradesh.
Rough to very rough sea conditions (with wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph) is likely to prevail over west-central and adjoining southwest Arabian Sea, south and adjoining central Bay of Bengal; the North Bay of Bengal and along and off south Gujarat-Maharashtra-Goa coasts. The organisation has advised fishermen not to venture into these areas.
15:56 Entire Nagaland declared 'disturbed' for six more months under AFSPA
The entire state of Nagaland has been declared a "disturbed area" for six more months, till December-end, under the controversial AFSPA which empowers security forces to conduct operations anywhere and arrest anyone without prior notice.
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act has been in force in Nagaland for several decades. In a notification, the Ministry of Home Affairs said the central government is of the opinion that the area comprising the whole state of Nagaland is in such a "disturbed and dangerous condition" that the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary.
"Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (No. 28 of 1958) the central government hereby declares that whole of the said State to be a 'disturbed area' for a period of six months with effect from June 30, 2019 for the purpose of that Act," the notification issued Sunday said.
The decision to continue the declaration of Nagaland as "disturbed area" has been taken as killings, loot and extortion have been going on in various parts of the state which necessitated the action for the convenience of the security forces operating there, an MHA official said.
There have been demands from various organisations in the Northeast as well as in Jammu and Kashmir for repealing the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), which, they say, gives "sweeping powers" to security forces.
The AFSPA has been in force in Nagaland for several decades. It has not been withdrawn even after a framework agreement was signed on August 3, 2015 by Naga insurgent group NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah and government interlocutor R N Ravi in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The framework agreement came after over 80 rounds of negotiations spanning 18 years with the first breakthrough in 1997 when the ceasefire agreement was sealed after decades of insurgency in Nagaland. -- PTI
15:49 Fissures in Delhi Cong widen
Amid a tug of war over the dissolution of block committees of the party, the cracks in Delhi Pradesh Congress seem to have widened. Delhi Congress president Sheila Dikshit had on June 28 dissolved all 280 block Congress committees in Delhi with immediate effect, a decision which was later stayed by All India Congress Committee in-charge of Delhi unit, PC Chacko.
Chacko stayed the decision two days later after a faction of Congress leaders met him. He had also sent copies of his letter to Dikshit and Congress President Rahul Gandhi.
Leaders of Delhi Congress had met president Rahul Gandhi on June 28, however, the differences among leaders still prevail.Delhi Congress working president Haroon Yusuf on Monday said he was unaware of Dikshit's decision about the dissolution of all 280 block Congress committees in Delhi with immediate effect."When I asked Sheila Dikshit she said no such decision has been taken, I came to know later that the block committee is dissolved. I was not part of this," he had said.A senior Congress leader, siding with Yusuf, said, "Sheila Dikshit did not consult working presidents Haroon Yusuf and Devendra Yadav. The job of a working president is similarly significant in decision making. But Dikshit dissolved the block Congress committee without consulting them," the leader added.
Sources said that Chacko has asked Dikshit and the three working presidents - Harun Yusuf, Devendra Yadav, and Rajesh Lilothia - to meet and resolve the ongoing issue. -- ANI
15:35 'Mayawati is no more the undisputed leader of Dalits'
Mayawati has broken the Grand Alliance between the two parties, blaming SP President Akhilesh Yadav for the alliance's poor performance in the Lok Sabha election.
The two parties, that once governed India's most electorally important state, are now vying for the number 2 position in Uttar Pradesh.Mayawati, who has been out of power in UP for 7 years, would like to consolidate her position in the state after winning 10 seats in Parliament, compared to the SP's 5.
With by-elections to 11 assembly seats in UP coming up, all the parties that constituted the Mahagatbandhan will battle the Bharatiya Janata Party on their own.
"It is a survival game in competitive politics," Dr Manzoor Ali, assistant professor at the Lucknow-based Giri Institute of Development Studies, tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih.
Read the interview here.
15:27 Pvt schools mandated to admit 15% students from weaker sections
All private and special category schools are mandated to admit in Class 1 or below at least 25 per cent students belonging to weaker sections and disadvantaged groups, Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal said in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
Pokhriyal said the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act came into effect from April 1, 2010 and the Act makes elementary education a fundamental right of all children in the age group of 6-14 years.
"Section 12 of the Act mandates all private aided, Special Category schools and private unaided schools to admit in Class 1 or below to the extent of at least 25 per cent of the strength of that class, children belonging to weaker sections and disadvantaged groups and provide free and compulsory education till its completion," he said during Question Hour.
The minister said the RTE Act under section 12 (2) also makes provision of reimbursement of expenditure to schools providing free and compulsory elementary education as specified in Section 12(1)(c).
"The school shall be reimbursed expenditure so incurred by it to the extent of per-child expenditure incurred by the state, or the actual amount charged from the child; whichever is less, in such manner as may be prescribed," the minister said. -- PTI
15:20 Banks can't employ bouncers: Govt
No bank has the power to appoint musclemen for recovery of loans, and recovery agents have to be appointed according to the prescribed norms, Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur said on Monday.
Replying to queries of members in the Lok Sabha during the Question Hour, Thakur said there is a process of police verification in the appointment of recovery agents and they have to clear a module prepared by the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance.
He said the circular issued by the Reserve Bank of India advises banks to ensure that their contracts with recovery agents do not induce "adoption of uncivilised, unlawful and questionable behaviour in the recovery process".
"No one has a right to appoint musclemen," he said.
Thakur was asked if bouncers can be deployed by banks for recovery of loans, to which he said the recovery process proceeds after giving due notice.
The minister said that of the nearly 250 complaints about non-observance of RBI guidelines in 2018-19, 31 have been settled and 58 rejected.
He said ombudsmen have been appointed by the states to look at grievances including those against the banks. -- ANI.
15:09 'Even today, the Gandhi family is the only fulcrum of the Congress'
Vivek Tankha, Rajya Sabha MP and senior office-bearer of the All India Congress Committee, resigned from all party positions last week.
Tankha, a Supreme Court advocate and AICC deputy chairman, tweeted that all party office-bearers should resign and give Rahul Gandhi a free hand to choose a new team.
In the last couple of days, a string of mid-level Congress office-bearers have tendered their resignation. (Scroll down for those who quit today).
As the party plunges deeper into crisis, Tankha tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih that if the Congress has to take on the challenge of Narendra Modi, it has to become a new party but cannot continue its struggle against the BJP without Rahul Gandhi.
Read the interview here
14:52 Attack on uniform, says forest officer; MLA held
The government on Monday said in the Rajya Sabha that it has taken a serious note of the assault on a forest department official in Telangana and will do whatever possible as a regulator. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said during the Question Hour that such incidents cannot be tolerated.
The Telangana Police on Sunday arrested ruling Telangana Rasthra Samithi's MLA Koneru Kannapa's brother Krishna Rao for assaulting Forest Range officer C Anitha in Komaram Bheem in Asifabad district over a land issue. "We are taking it very seriously because this cannot be tolerated. We, as a regulator, will do whatever possible," Javadekar said.
C Anitha, the victim said, "We are public servants, we were doing our duty. The party should take action against the MLA. This attack wasn't an attack on me, it is an attack on the uniform."
Condemning the attack, TRS working president K T Rama Rao had said no one was above the law even as Opposition Congress and BJP slammed the K Chandrasekhar Rao government.-- PTI
Image: The Telangana Police arrested ruling Telangana Rasthra Samithi's MLA Koneru Kannapa's brother Krishna Rao for assaulting Forest Range officer C Anitha (pictured).
14:43 Jayalalithaa death probe: SC allows TN govt more time to file reply
The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Tamil Nadu government's plea seeking more time to file a reply in a case related to the probe into the death of former chief minister and AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi allowed the state government's request.
The apex court had on April 26 stayed the Justice A Arumughaswamy Commission probe into the death of Jayalalithaa on an appeal by Apollo Hospitals against an order of the Madras High Court.
The case will now be heard by the Supreme Court after four weeks.
Popularly known as 'Amma', Jayalalithaa was taken to Chennai's Apollo hospital on September 22, 2016, where she was treated for 75 days before she breathed her last on December 5.
In September 2017, Justice Arumughaswamy was appointed to head the probe into the death of the former chief minister.
Over a year later, the hospital had demanded the constitution of a medical board comprising doctors and medical professionals to examine Jayalalithaa's medical records.
In an affidavit filed before the Arumughaswamy Commission, the hospital had raised the demand citing that errors crept in due to the inability of a typist to comprehend and type correct medical terms.It had said that words like 'intubation' were recorded as 'incubation' besides other errors. -- ANI
14:38 Kishtwar bus accident: Injured airlifted to Jammu
Jammu & Kashmir: Injured in Kishtwar road accident airlifted to government hospital, Jammu. The death toll is 35 with 17 people injured. The accident occurred when a mini bus rolled down a hilly road and fell into a deep gorge in Kishtwar district in the morning.
14:19
Home Minister Amit Shah introduces The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in Rajya Sabha
14:15 Mehbooba calls saffron jersey tweet a joke
As a political war broke out over Team India's uniform, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has said she was joking when she blamed the new Orange-blue jersey for the country's loss against England in the cricket World Cup.
"Are such appalling statements intentionally being brushed under the rug? An innocuous tweet evokes strong reactions but why no outrage against this," Mehbooba Mufti said on Twitter.
Quote tweeting a report of the expulsion of a Bharatiya Janata Party leader for her "Hindus should gangrape Muslim women" remark, Mehbooba Mufti highlighted how her tweet on the orange jersey got more traction than the statement made by the expelled BJP leader.
"My tweet about India's performance (all in good humour) got more traction than a BJP leader asking Hindus to gangrape Muslim women," Mehbooba Mufti said on Twitter.
Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday took a dig at the Indian cricket team's saffron jersey. On Twitter, Mehbooba Mufti said that it was the new jersey of the Indian cricket team which ended the country's winning streak in the ICC World Cup match.
"Call me superstitious but I would say it's the jersey that ended India's winning streak in the #ICCWorldCup2019," Mehbooba Mufti had said.
Soon after Mehbooba Mufti's tweets, several politicians lashed out at her. BJP chief of Jammu and Kashmir, Ravinder Raina said Mehbooba Mufti's heart bleeds for Pakistan and that's why she spoke against team India's jersey.
13:57 Sena wants Mehbooba sent to asylum for jersey comment
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Monday lashed out at former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, saying she should be sent to a mental asylum for blaming the Indian cricket team's jersey for their defeat in the World Cup match against England.
"Why did Pakistan lose even after wearing their green jersey? Mehbooba Mufti should be sent to a mental asylum for drawing such conclusion" Raut told ANI.
On Sunday, Mufti had said India's new jersey was the reason behind the team conceding a 31-run defeat to hosts England."Call me superstitious but I'd say it's the jersey that ended India's winning streak in the #ICCWorldCup2019" Mufti tweeted.
The comment drew sharp criticism from politicos, who said Mufti was creating an unnecessary controversy."An unnecessary controversy has been created around the orange cricket jersey. Orange is also a part of our culture and one of the colours in our national flag. I am sure that India will bring back the world cup" said Congress MP Praful Patel.
"It is astounding that a former chief minister and senior political leader is looking at the victory or defeat of the Indian team based on the colour of their jerseys. Why politicize the colour orange which is part of our national flag?" BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli added.
Another BJP leader, Ramchander Rao, termed Mufti's comment "foolish and divisive in nature.""Mehbooba Mufti's comment that India lost the World Cup match against England is a foolish remark. It reflects her communal tone and hatred towards the country and its culture. Saffron, though it is not a religious symbol, is linked with India's culture. Mufti is behaving like a secessionist leader by linking India's jersey colour with a defeat," he said.
The orange jersey controversy began four days ago when the Indian cricket team unveiled their purple and orange jersey. Many people lambasted the new jersey in bizarre tweets, stating the jersey is 'unlucky' for team India.
-- ANI
13:53
Supreme Court judge Justice Indu Malhotra recuses from hearing the Maharashtra beef ban case, as she had represented a party earlier as a lawyer.
13:51 India did not try hard enough to win: Harsha Bhogle
After India's 31-run defeat against England in the ongoing ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle said the team did not try 'hard enough' at the end to win the game.
"I thought India were trying to win it till the time when Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant were batting and then all of a sudden everyone is looking at everyone else because I do not think India tried hard enough to win at the end," Bhogle said in a video posted on the official Cricket World Cup website.
India needed 112 runs from 11 overs, which looked doable for the Indian batsmen as they had seven wickets in hands. However, Rishabh Pant was sent back to the pavilion in the 40th over after scoring 32 runs, followed shortly by Hardik Pandya (45).
MS Dhoni and Kedar Jhadav then took charge, but due to lack of aggressive batting, India faced their first defeat in this edition of the premier tournament.
Despite the loss, Bhogle praised Rohit Sharma and skipper Virat Kohli who scored 102 and 66 runs, respectively.
"I do hope that the finish did not overshadow what came before because I think Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli batted really well after a very slow start," he said.
India will face Bangladesh on July 2. -- ANI
13:48
Another one bites the dust: Ajay Saraswat 'Soni', Secretary of UP Congress Committee, submits his resignation from the post.
13:46 Another Congress leader resigns
Back-to-back losses for Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Now, Nitin Raut, chairman of Scheduled Castes department of All India Congress Committee (AICC), has resigned from the post. Earlier this morning, Karnataka Congress legislator Anand Singh on Monday resigned from the Karnataka Assembly. As many as five MLAs may resign in the coming days, including Congress' Ramesh Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumathalli, Pratap Gowda Patil and BC Patil.
13:38 Vijay Shankar ousted from World Cup
Indian all-rounder Vijay Shankar ousted from World Cup due to toe injury, Mayank Agarwal to be his likely replacement. Shankar was hit on his toe on June 20, during a rain-hit training session when Jasprit Bumrah's yorker hit Shankar flush on his toes.
India have already been dealt with a serious blow when Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out of the World Cup with a thumb injury.
13:12 K'taka Cong 'shocked' at MLA's resignation
Congress legislator Anand Singh on Monday resigned from the Karnataka Assembly. The Vijayanagar MLA said he submitted his resignation to Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar. However, Kumar said he was not aware of any such resignation, adding that no leader contacted him.
"Nobody has contacted or met me. I have got nothing to do with political developments and I will accept resignations even if 20 members resign. I'm not aware of any such resignation. I haven't met any leader, not even Anand Singh," Kumar told reporters in Kolar.
Karnataka Minister and Congress leader D K Shivakumar said he was shocked at the news. "Definitely, it is a bit shocking to me, I'm trying to trace him, I couldn't trace him. I have to check with the speaker whether it is true or not."
Sources said as many as five MLAs may resign in the coming days, including Congress' Ramesh Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumathalli, Pratap Gowda Patil and BC Patil.
Earlier this year, a scuffle had taken place between Singh and his party colleague JN Ganesh.
An MLA from Kampli, Ganesh had allegedly assaulted Singh on January 19 following a heated argument at a resort near Bengaluru.Singh was later admitted to a hospital, while Ganesh was suspended on the directions of state Congress president Dinesh Gundu Rao.
Singh's resignation comes at a time when cracks are seeming to appear in the Janata Dal (Secular) and Congress coalition in the state.
However, the two parties have repeatedly said there is no threat to the alliance and the government would complete its full term.
Image: Karnataka Minister and Congress leader D K Shivakumar
13:04 AI Express suffers 'tail tip'
Air India Express IX 382 from Dammam to Kozhikode flight suffered a 'tail tip' at Kozhikode Airpor today after its tail touched down on the runway during landing. All 180 passengers on board are safe and no damage to aircraft has been reported.
12:51 J-K bus accident: Rs 5 lakh payout for kin
Jammu & Kashmir Governor, Satya Pal Malik has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of the kin of the deceased and directed the administration to provide best medical treatment to the injured in the Kishtwar road accident. 35 have died in the accident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the loss of lives in a Jammu and Kashmir bus accident on Monday, saying the incident was "heart-wrenching".
The accident occurred when a mini bus rolled down a hilly road and fell into a deep gorge in Kishtwar district in the morning, police said. "The accident in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar is heart-wrenching. We mourn all those who lost their lives and express condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest," Modi tweeted.
The bus, which way on its way to Kishtwar from Keshwan, skidded off the road at Sirgwari and rolled down into the gorge around 7.30 am. Bodies of 35 assengers have been recovered so far. -- PTI
12:24 UP govt's move to include 17 castes in SC category unconstitutional: Mayai
BSP chief Mayawati on Monday slammed the Uttar Pradesh government for its decision to put 17 castes into Scheduled Caste category and called the move "unconstitutional" and politically motivated.
"It is reported in a section of media that 17 cases have been removed from OBC category and put in SC category. The Yogi Adityanath government has deceived them. They will not get the benefit from any of the categories," Mayawati told ANI.
"...Because no government can either put or remove any caste from SC category. Article 341 of the constitution bars a government from doing so," she added.The BSP supremo said that only the President and Parliament have powers to make any changes in the list.
12:11
Heavy traffic jam in the Bhakti Park area, Wadala, Eastern Freeway, this morning.
12:06 Explain delay in releasing activist: SC to Mamata
The Supreme Court Monday issued a show cause notice to the West Bengal government on a contempt plea over the delay in releasing the BJP activist who was arrested for allegedly posting a meme on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on social media.
In the petition, it has been alleged that there was a delay in releasing activist Priyanka Sharma (pictured), despite the apex court's order granting bail to her.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi issued notices to the state government and others on the contempt plea filed by the activist's brother Rajib Sharma.
Priyanka Sharma, a BJP Yuva Morcha leader, was arrested on May 10 by the West Bengal Police under section 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code and under provisions of the Information Technology Act.
The arrest was made on a complaint by a local Trinamool Congress leader.
On May 14, a vacation bench of the Supreme Court had granted bail to Priyanka Sharma. Rajib Sharma has approached the apex court alleging that there was a delay of over 24 hours in releasing his sister from jail, despite the court's May 14 order. -- PTI
Read what happened to Priyanka Sharma here.
11:59 Traffic snarls at Sion
Bumper to bumper traffic on the flyover at Sion station this morning. There was waterlogging at low-lying areas like King's Circle, Hindmata, Kurla station, Sion station, Andheri subway, this morning.
11:57 Sion station this morning
Heavy rains lashed Mumbai and its neighbouring areas for the fourth consecutive day today, leaving the city with waterlogged roads, traffic jams, and cancellations and delays in trains.
The western railway cancelled the Mumbai-Valsad-Surat section due to water logging in Palghar. Western Railway later confirmed that water levels had receded and train movement had been re-started at 8.05 am. However, train speeds were restricted to 30 km/h to ensure safety.
There was water logging at Sion Railway Station and a massive traffic jam at Sion after waterlogging on the roads as well.
11:42 SC dismisses PIL to earmark PoK and Gilgit as LS seats
The Supreme Court Monday dismissed a PIL seeking a direction to the Centre to earmark and declare Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit as parliamentary seats.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on former RAW official Ram Kumar Yadav for filing the petition and termed it "legally untenable".
The plea said as many as 24 Assembly seats have been carved out by the government from PoK and Gilgit as these territories are Indian territories which are under the occupation of Pakistan. The petition said on the lines of Assembly seats, the central government be directed to earmark two Lok Sabha seats in PoK and Gilgit, respectively. -- PTI
11:40 Kishtwar bus accident death toll rises to 35
Update: Death toll in the Kishtwar bus accident rises to 35. The number of injured are 17, of whom 3 have been airlifted to Jammu. Another helicopter has flown to Kishtwar to airlift more injured.
11:13 HM condoles 33 deaths in J-K bus accident
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said he was extremely saddened to learn about the loss of lives in a road accident in Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir. "My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones. I pray of the speedy recovery of those injured."
At least 33 passengers were killed when a mini bus rolled down a hilly road and fell into deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Monday, a senior police officer said.
Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar, Angrez Singh Rana confirmed that 33 people were dead and 22 injured in the accident.
The bus, which way on its way to Kishtwar from Keshwan, skid off the road at Sirgwari and rolled down into the gorge around 7:30 am.
Bodies of 33 passengers have been recovered so far, IGP, Jammu, M K Sinha, told PTI.
Earlier, police officials had said that 24 people have been killed in the accident. Rescue operation is on.
11:07 WR limps back to normal
On the Western Railway, restoration work on the slow lines is in full swing after the bamboo scaffolding from ongoing construction work fell on an Over Head Equipment at Marine Lines, due to heavy winds. Trains on both the fast lines are now working between Churchgate-Mumbai Central.
11:01 Matunga this morning looked like this
The sun pushes its way out of from behind the clouds and the rain finally stops in Mumbai. This is the image outside Matunga Police Station following heavy rainfall all through the night. Matunga is a low-lying area and gets water-logged easily.
10:53 2nd batch of pilgrims leave for Amarnath shrine
A batch of 4,417 Amarnath pilgrims left a base camp in Jammu on Monday for the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine in south Kashmir. Over 1.5 lakh pilgrims from across the country have so far registered themselves for the 46-day long pilgrimage, which takes place from the 36-km Pahalgam track in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district and 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district.
The second batch comprising 4,417 pilgrims -- including 3,543 males, 843 females and 31 children -- left in a fleet of 142 vehicles from Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu for Pahalgam and Baltal.
For the Pahalgam route, 2,800 pilgrims left the base camp, while 1,617 pilgrims for Baltal left in buses and light motor vehicles, which were escorted by the Central Reserve Police Force, officials said.
Multi-tier security arrangements have been made for smooth and successful conduct of the yatra concluding on August 15. As many as 2.85 lakh pilgrims had paid obeisance at the cave last year, while the number of pilgrims was 3.52 lakh in 2015, 3,20 lakh in 2016 and 2.60 lakh in 2017.
The CRPF inspector general of Jammu, A V Chauhan, had said on Sunday that all the necessary security arrangements had been put in place along the yatra route, base camps and halting stations for the safety of the pilgrims.
-- PTI
10:34 Bunching of trains will cause delays: CR
Monday morning blues continue for commuters in Mumbai as the much delayed rains which began in earnest on Friday, continued over the weekend.
Local trains in Mumbai are running late after waterlogging on railway tracks due to heavy overnight rain in the city. Several short and long-distance trains have also been delayed or cancelled. At least 100 mm of rainfall was recorded between 4 am and 5 am today, with more than 360 mm recorded overnight.
The Central Railway CPRO said all lines on the Central Railway main line are operational now. "However, due to bunching of trains, the bunched locals are being gradually cleared. Please don't panic. Inconvenience is deeply regretted," the CRPO's office said.
According to news agency ANI, which quoted the Meteorological Department, heavy rainfall is likely to continue over Mumbai, Thane, Raigad and Palghar. In multiple tweets, the Western Railway said that some trains in the Mumbai-Valsad-Surat section have been cancelled due to water-logging in Palghar section.
According to private weather forecaster Skymet, levels of rainfall are likely to increase from the night of July 3, following a weather system forming in the Bay of Bengal that is moving towards the western coast of the country.
Adding to the woes, a goods train derailed between Karjat and Lonavala in Maharashtra on Monday, affecting Mumbai-Pune intercity and long distance services, a railway official said.
Image: Waterlogging on railway tracks delayed services on all the three lines of Mumbai's suburban train servcices. Photograph: Mahipal Soni/Rediff.com
10:13 Trump-Xi meet haul Rupee to 68.86 to the dollar
The rupee opened on a strong note and rose 17 paise to 68.86 against the US dollar in early trade Monday tracking gains in domestic equities, even as crude oil prices firmed up.
Forex traders said, rupee appreciated on reports that Chinese President Xi Jinping and his American counterpart Donald Trump at the G20 summit have agreed to re-launch the stalled negotiations to end the trade war.
At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened on strong at 68.96, then gathered momentum and rose to a high of 68.86 against the US dollar, showing 17 paise gain over its previous closing.
The local unit, however, pared some gains and was quoted at 68.89 against the American currency at 0947 hrs. The rupee had settled at 69.03 against the US dollar Friday.
Forex dealers said, the current account deficit data also supported the rupee. According to Reserve Bank of India, the March 2019 quarter current account deficit more than halved to USD 4.6 billion or 0.7 per cent from 1.8 per cent in March 2018. -- PTI
09:58 SC to reopen today after 6-week vacation, will hear cases including Rafale, Ayodhya
After a six-week summer vacation, the Supreme Court will reopen on Monday and will hear many important and sensitive cases including Congress president Rahul Gandhi contempt case, Ayodhya Babri Masjid land dispute and Rafale review petitions among others.
The court was closed for the annual summer vacation from May 13 to June 30.
The apex court will work, after a full sanctioned strength of 31 judges -- after a long time -- with the recent appointment of two judges including Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant.
The court will also pronounce the judgment on a slew of review petitions pending before it.
It had reserved its verdict after hearing from former ministers, Arun Shourie, Yashwant Sinha, Prashant Bhushan, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh. They wanted a direction to review the court's last year verdict, which had rejected their petitions for directing a probe into the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France
The top court will also pronounce the order on review petitions filed in the entry of women of all ages into the popular Sabarimala temple in Kerala.
The Ayodhya Babri Masjid land dispute matter, the most sensitive and important case, would also be heard, as the court, in its last hearing, had granted more time and asked the panel of mediators to amicably resolve the case through dialogues by August 15.
-- ANI
09:31 Congress CMs to meet Rahul today as party makes last-ditch effort to end crisis
Rahul Gandhi will meet the chief ministers of the Congress-ruled states on Monday, for the first time since he offered to resign as the party chief last month.
The meeting will come in the backdrop of continuing suspense over Gandhi's future role in the party and a spate of resignations by Congress leaders at various levels.
Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy will be present at the meeting with Gandhi on Monday.
Karnataka deputy chief minister G Parameshwara is also likely to come for the meet. The chief ministers had been planning to meet the Congress chief for long to request him to continue as the party chief. The chief ministers are also likely to discuss the mass resignations taking place in the party.
While the agenda of the meeting is not known, it is expected that there will be brainstorming over the dismal performance of the grand old party in the recently concluded Lok Sabha election, especially in the Hindi heartland states where it won three assembly elections in December last.
Gandhi, who became the party president in 2017, had on May 25 offered to step down from his post at the Congress Working Committee (CWC), taking moral responsibility for the partys abysmal performance in the Lok Sabha elections. He had also lamented that Nath and Gehlot had kept their sons over the party.
08:50 Trains stopped between Mumbai's Churchgate and Marine Lines
Here's an update from Mumbai's Western Railway PRO: Due to heavy winds, the material -- bamboos at the ongoing construction work fell on Over Head Equipment at Marine Lines due to which trains have been stopped between Churchgate-Marine Lines. Restoration work in full swing, traffic expected to start in 30 minutes.
08:46 Amarnath pilgrims leave for cave shrine
Amid high security, the first batch of pilgrims for the Amarnath Yatra left for the cave shrine early this morning. More than 40,000 security forces personnel have been deployed for the pilgrimage season.
1.6 lakh people from across the country have registered for the yatra that begins today
The first batch of pilgrims had left Jammu for the Kashmir Valley on Sunday. The pilgrimage season that officially opened today, will see people starting their journey from the Pahalgam and the Baltal base camps in the valley.
Ahead of the Amarnath Yatra, Jammu and Kashmir police chief Dilbag Singh took stock of the security and traffic arrangements on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on Sunday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah too had reviewed the security arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir last week.
"It will be a peaceful yatra. From the next year onwards, we will not have to worry about the security situation at all," said Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh who was in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.
08:36 Mob beats up two youths for theft bid in Chhattisgarh
Two youths have been thrashed by a mob in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district for allegedly trying to steal pigs, police said on Sunday.
The video of theincident, which took place on Thursday, went viral on social media Sunday.
Abhishek Mongre and Subham were caught by locals when
they were allegedly trying to steal domestic pigs from a house
in Sarkanda police station area on Thursday morning, said
Bilaspur superintendent of police Prashant Agrawal.
In the video of the incident, a group of people is seen thrashing the duo, whose hands were tied with a piece of cloth and a wire, notwithstanding their pleas for forgiveness.
Agrawal said when police had arrested Mongre and Shubham on charge of theft, no major injury was found on their bodies during medical examination.
The duo were then provided primary medical treatment and sent to jail.
He said they have cases of theft against them and had gone to jail in past.
-- PTI
08:12 Mehbooba blames orange jersey for India's loss
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti blamed the Indian cricket team's new orange jersey for their loss against England in a World Cup match on Sunday.
"Call me superstitious but I'd say it's the jersey that ended India's winning streak in the #ICCWorldCup2019," Mehbooba wrote on Twitter.
The Indian team sported a second choice jersey for the World Cup match against England, following International Cricket Council's home and away rule.
There has been some debate in political circles with regard to the choice of orange as the dominating colour for the second jersey.
Earlier, Mehbooba said for a change both Indian and Pakistani fans were on the same page, rooting for India's.
"Pakistani cricket fans are rooting for India to win the match against England. Chalo kum say kum cricket ke bahaane (at least in cricket), for a change both countries are on the same page," Mehbooba said in a tweet.
-- PTI
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