LIVE! 'Scarcity of water could hurt India's prospects'

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Mon, 24 June 2019

'Scarcity of water could hurt India's prospects'

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23:00 'Scarcity of water could hurt India's prospects'

Union minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Monday said that from being a food deficient nation, India became a a food exporting country, but the scarcity of water could hurt its prospects.

Emphasising on judicious use of water, he said India is one of the most vulnerable countries in terms of water availability.

The minister said that the challenge of providing water to 17 per cent of the world's population, which lives in India, with just 4 per cent of water in the world available with to it, is the next big challenge for the country.

Speaking at the Chhath Ghat, ITO in New Delhi, Shekhawat said it has achieved the distinction of a food exporting country from being a food deficient nation, but scarcity of water in near future can hurt its prospects.

"India is one of the most vulnerable countries in terms of water availability and population explosion has added more to the problem. Every drop should be saved and conserved and all should make a combined effort for its judicious use on a continuous mode," he said.

Speaking at another event, Shekhawat stressed on the need to launch a huge 'jan andolan' for water conservation along lines of the Swachh Bharat Mission to address agricultural, industrial and domestic water issues.

The minister said, "Years before today, nobody would have believed that the sanitation coverage of India would reach 100 per cent mark by 2019. Today, in just four and a half years since the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission, this figure has increased from 39 per cent to 99 per cent," he said. -- PTI

NaMo TV is not on ministry of information and broadcasting's list of channels as it was a "platform service" offered by DTH operators to its subscribers, the government informed Rajya Sabha on Monday.

NaMo TV, a BJP-sponsored channel that publicised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rallies and other poll messages, had gone off air last month after the Lok Sabha polls.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar said, "The 'NaMo TV' is not listed in the list of channels of information and broadcasting as it was a 'platform service' offered by DTH operators to its subscribers."

The channel was mired in controversy ever since it went on air.

The chief electoral officer of Delhi had sent a notice to the BJP for "airing election-related content" on NaMo TV even after the silence period began, but the party had said they did not violate the Model Code of Conduct.

In April, after the Election Commission had directed that all recorded programmes displayed on NaMo TV be pre-certified, the Delhi poll body asked the BJP not to air any content on the platform without its certification.

The chief electoral office in Delhi had also said that since NaMo TV was sponsored by the BJP, all recorded programmes displayed on the platform be pre-certified by media certification and monitoring committee of Delhi and all political publicity contents displayed without pre-certification be removed immediately.

The commission had issued a notice seeking a report from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry on NaMo TV, launched just weeks ahead of the general election, after opposition parties, including the Congress, asked the poll body to direct the ministry to suspend the channel in violation of the poll code. -- PTI

United States President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order, which he said, will impose a "hard-hitting" sanction on Iran and it will deny the Iranian Supreme Leader and other officials access to financial instruments within US jurisdiction.

Trump's move to impose fresh set of sanctions on Iran comes days after Tehran said it shot down an American drone in the region on Thursday.

President Trump called off a planned retaliatory military strike Friday, saying the response would not have been "proportionate".

"We do not seek conflict with Iran or any other country," Trump said in a brief interaction with reporters at his Oval Office here.

"I can only tell you we cannot ever let Iran have a nuclear weapon," he said.

Trump said that the executive order signed by him will impose "hard hitting" sanction on Iran and it will deny the Iranian Supreme Leader and other officials access to financial instruments.

He signed the order in presence of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

"I think a lot of restraint has been shown by us but that doesn't mean we're going to show it in the future," Trump said.

"We will continue to increase pressure on Tehran," he said.

When asked if his executive order was in response to the Iranian attack on US drone, Trump replied "you could probably add that into this" but then said, "this was something that was going to happen anyway."

"I know many Iranians living in New York, and they're fantastic people," Trump said in response to a question. -- PTI

22:03 Rising inequality is a concern: Manmohan

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said rising inequality was a concern and the country cannot allow extreme poverty or economic disparity as it is a welfare state.

Speaking at the release of a social development report titled 'Rising Inequalities in India, 2018', Singh said some regions and social groups were extremely poor and vulnerable despite various anti-poverty programmes and affirmative policies being followed.

The former prime minister said India was one of the fastest-growing economies in the world today, but the high rate of economic growth had also been associated with rising inequality, including economic, social, regional and rural-urban inequalities.

"Rising inequalities concern us because adverse effects of economic, social and political inequalities can prove damaging to our march towards accelerated, inclusive and sustainable growth," he said in New Delhi.

Singh described the rising inequality as a global phenomenon, with the exception of countries like Sweden, Germany and others. "India is a welfare state and, therefore, we cannot allow either extreme poverty or inequality," he said.

The Congress leader highlighted several schemes initiated during the first term of the United Progressive Alliance government, such as the Right to Education Act, Right to Information Act, Forest Rights Act, Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. He said an effective implementation of these rights would address the issue.

According to the report, brought out by the Council of Social Development, India has seen a six-fold increase in the inequality of wealth between 2000-2017. It noted that the country's top one per cent of the population share nearly 22 per cent of the national income in 2015, an increase from six per cent in the early 1980s.

"India's richest 10 per cent own as much as 80.7 per cent of the country's total wealth, while 90 per cent own only 19.3 per cent of its total wealth," it said, adding that one per cent of the country's richest own 58.4 per cent of the total wealth.

The report, edited by professors T Haque and D N Reddy, comprises 22 chapters written by well-known economists and other social scientists on various aspects of inequality. -- PTI

The Rajya Sabha is likely to be adjourned on Tuesday after obituary reference as its sitting BJP member from Rajasthan, Madan Lal Saini, died here.

As per convention, the House is adjourned for the day after obituary references if any sitting member of the House dies during the session, the sources pointed out.

Saini, who was also the Rajasthan BJP president, died on Monday while undergoing treatment at AIIMS in Delhi.

He was 75.

He was diagnosed with an infection in lungs and was admitted at a private hospital in Jaipur. On Saturday, he was shifted to Delhi due to his deteriorating health and was being treated under the Hematology Department at AIIMS.

Saini was appointed the BJP state president last year. He was a former MLA and RSS volunteer who held various posts in the Bhartiya Kisan Morcha as well. -- PTI

21:55 Rajasthan BJP chief Madan Lal Saini dies

Rajasthan Bharatiya Janata Party president Madan Lal Saini died on Monday while undergoing treatment at AIIMS in Delhi, a party spokesperson said.

Saini, also a Rajya Sabha MP, was 75.

He was diagnosed with infection in lungs and was admitted at a private hospital in Jaipur. On Saturday, he was shifted to Delhi owing to his deteriorating health conditions and was being treated under the Hematology Department at AIIMS.

"He was later shifted to the ICU after his condition further deteriorated. He passed away today around 7.09 pm," a source at AIIMS said.

Saini was appointed BJP state president last year. He was a former MLA and RSS volunteer who held various posts in the Bhartiya Kisan Morcha as well.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief and said Saini's death was a major loss for the BJP.

"The passing away of Shri Madanlal Saini Ji is a major loss for the BJP family. He contributed to strengthening the Party in Rajasthan. He was widely respected for his congenial nature and community service efforts. My thoughts are with his family and supporters. Om Shanti," he tweeted.

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said, "Saddened by the sudden demise of Shri Madan Lal Saini, Member of Rajya Sabha. In his extensive public life as an MP, MLA and State BJP President in Rajasthan, he served with distinction. My profound condolences to bereaved family members and followers. May his soul rest in peace."

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also expressed grief over Saini's demise and said, "Shocked and saddened to hear about the passing away of Sh. Madan Lal Saini ji, President of BJP #Rajasthan. My thoughts and prayers are with his family members. May God give them strength to bear this loss. May his soul rest in peace." -- PTI

As many as 334 soldiers were killed from 2016 to 2018 in areas where the Armed Forces Special Powers Act is in force, defence minister Rajnath Singh told Parliament on Monday.

In a written response to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Singh said 113 soldiers were killed in 2016, 125 in 2017 and 96 in 2018 in areas where the AFSPA is in force.

The AFSPA, which gives special powers to the armed forces, is in place in Jammu and Kashmir and certain parts of the north-east.

Singh said 69 soldiers were killed in border skirmishes from 2016 to 2018.

Responding to another question, he said the Army suffered 31 casualties during tactical actions in the said period.

Replying to another question, the defence minister said 87 soldiers were killed in terrorist attacks in 2017 and 2018.

"The army carries out a periodical review of the security arrangements of all its camps, garrisons and installations, based on threat assessment and analysis of past incidents," Singh said.

On the basis of these reviews, suitable drills and procedure are adopted to counter such threats, he added. -- PTI

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury stoked a controversy on Monday with his "naali" (drain) remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha, with the Bharatiya Janata Party launching a scathing attack on him and his party, saying this "arrogance" will finish them.

Later, Chowdhury, the Congress leader in the LS, clarified that his intention was not to insult the Prime Minister and he regrets if Modi was hurt by his comment.

Speaking during the debate in the Lok Sabha on the 'Motion of Thanks' to the President's address, Chowdhury said he made the "naali" comment in response to some BJP leader's comparison of Modi with Swami Vivekananda which provoked and angered him.

However, Chowdhury had made the remark soon after BJP minister Prahlad Joshi had said that at least BJP members don't say "India is Indira and Indira is India".

Chowdhury's "nalli" remarks were later expunged by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, but BJP working president J P Nadda reacted strongly to these remarks, saying they were in "bad taste and highly condemnable".

Taking to the Twitter to condemn the Congress leader's remarks, Nadda said,"the Congress is consistently insulting the Prime Minister who has been elected by 125 crore people. The people of the country are giving their reply to Congress in every election. Their arrogance will finish them."

The Congress leader from West Bengal later told reporters that his Hindi was not good and he was misunderstood as he made the analogy after he got provoked and enraged by the BJP for comparing Modi with Swami Vivekananda.

He said he never intended to hurt or insult the Prime Minister and was sorry if his words hurt the Prime Minister.

"I think you are certainly misunderstanding me. I did not say 'gandi naali' (dirty drain), I said 'naali'. If the PM felt bad or hurt, I will be pained. I did not say this to cause him hurt. I was provoked to say this when BJP MP compared him with Swami Vivekananda, who is revered in Bengal. If PM is hurt, I will personally apologise to him.

"My Hindi is not good as I am not a Hindi-speaking (person). By 'naali', I meant a channel. I am ready to apologise to the Prime Minister...I got enraged when BJP member tried to humiliate Swami Vivekananda by comparing him with Narendra Modi. That was vehemently opposed by me. That's why I used that analogy," he told reporters outside Parliament.

He said he was trying to say that there was no comparison between "Ma Ganga" with a 'naali' (channel)."

"I never wanted to say 'gandi naali'. I never intended to say so," he said.

"I do not have any kind of remotest intention to dishonour my Prime Minister, to disrespect my Prime Minister, to humiliate my Prime Minister. He is my Prime Minister also," he also said.

Chowdhury was also trolled on the Twitter for his remarks. -- PTI

The Aam Aadmi Party said the Delhi government was committed to the values of B R Ambedkar and alleged that misinformation was being spread that they were trying to pull down a statue of the Dalit icon.

Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam said for the past 30-35 years, there had been a statue of Ambedkar on a piece of land in Deoli and an organisation by the name of Dr Ambedkar University used that land to run classes. In 2003, he said, the organisation was given a separate land to run classes, but the ownership of it remained with the Delhi government.

"It has now been allocated for building a hospital and school, but unfortunately the V-C (vice-chancellor) of Ambedkar University is spreading misinformation that the Delhi government is trying to pull down the Ambedkar statue," Gautam said.

The minister said until the land dispute was decided, no steps would be taken on the proposal to build a school or a hospital there. He said access to the land would also be given to the institution running the existing university, adding that the information had been communicated to all.

"Despite this, the V-C of the university is continuing to make false statements on the matter and is planning to gherao the Delhi Secretariat tomorrow (Tuesday)," he said. "It's his fundamental right to do that, but it is important to call out the falsehoods and state on record the facts in this matter."

An official of the Ambedkar University said they do not have a campus in Deoli. "We are trying to find out how our name was linked with this issue because we have only three campuses -- Kashmere Gate, Lodhi Road and Karampura," the official said.

Gautam said he had directed the education department and the sub-divisional magistrate to ensure no such statue is pulled down," "We will not allow the statue to be pulled down, we are believers in Ambedkar. We would rather step down from power than allow such a thing to happen," he added.

In another press conference, cabinet minister Satyendra Jain said some newspapers were reporting that sealing was being done in Amar Colony on the direction of the monitoring committee, but he said it cannot be done as the Special Provisions Act was applicable in Delhi. -- PTI

Funding will not come in the way of the country's defence preparedness and there will be no compromise on it, defence minister Rajnath Singh assured the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

Replying to queries during Question Hour, the minister said the government will not allow any compromise on the defence preparedness due to capital constraints.

"We have taken precaution that there is no shortcoming on the country's defence preparedness in any way by way of budget constraints. We will not compromise on India's defence preparedness.," the minister assured the members.

He said as far as country's defence preparedness is concerned, "we will not allow any adverse impact on it due to fund constraints".

In reply to another supplementary, Rajnath Singh said in absolute terms, the defence budget has increased in the last few years.

In 2019-20, he said, one-third (32.19 per cent) of the total capital expenditure of central government is being spent on defence which is the highest among all other central ministries.

The minister also said there is no under-utilisation of funds in the defence sector, but called for the need to further modernise the defence sector, steps for which are being taken.

He denied there were any procedural delays due to bureaucratic hurdles, saying, "There are no procedural delays as powers have been transferred to forces now."

There is no question of under-utilisation as more than 100 per cent utilisation of defence budget has been achieved, he said.

Meanwhile, in a written reply he said: During the period 2015-19, the government has taken steps to delegate substantial financial powers to the service headquarters for both normal and emergent procurements.

"This has resulted in faster decision making and ensured full and optimal utilisation of allocated budget". -- PTI

Pakistani Air Force side did not enter into Indian airspace after the Balakot airstrike, Air Marshal B S Dhanoa said on Monday while asserting that the IAF "achieved its military objective" in the operation while Pakistan did not.

He said this in response to a question at a press conference held during a day-long event at the Gwalior Air Base to mark 20 years of the Kargil War.

"They didn't come into our airspace. And what was our objective? Our objective was to strike the (terror) camp and we have done that. We have achieved our objective. Their (Pakistani) objective was to hit our army places. They could not and that is the bottom line," he said.

Dhanoa asserted that the IAF achieved its stated military objective but the Pakistani side did not.

"But none of them (PAF side) crossed the LoC into our side," he told reporters.

The IAF on Monday also organised a seminar on 'Air operations in Kargil war, lessons learnt and way forward' at the Gwalior Air Force Station.

The Air Force had struck a Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist training camp in Pakistan's Balakot area on February 26 in response to the February 14 Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.

The Pakistan Air Force retaliated the next day by unsuccessfully targeting various military installations in Jammu and Kashmir.

Asked about the airspace being closed from the Pakistani side, Dhanoa said, "They deciding to close the airspace is their problem."

"Our economy is vibrant and air traffic is a very important part and you have noticed that the Air Force has never stopped our civilian air traffic," he said.

"Only on February 27, we had stopped Srinagar airspace for two-three hours. We did not allow tension with Pakistan to dictate our civil aviation because our economy is much bigger and much stronger as compared to theirs," he added.

Praising the Mirage-2000, the IAF chief recalled how the use of the aircraft equipped with laser-guided bombs, coupled with the ground forces had turned the tide of the war. -- PTI

19:06 Won't allow G20 discussion on Hong Kong: China

China said on Monday it would not allow the G-20 nations to discuss the mass protests in Hong Kong during their summit this week, as United States President Donald Trump plans to raise the issue during his meeting with President Xi Jinping in Japan.

Hong Kong has been rocked by major protests over a bill that would allow people to be extradited to the mainland to face trial in courts controlled by the Communist party.

It triggered violence when police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds. The extradition bill and police reaction to the protests drew international criticism from rights groups.

Following historic protests, the Hong Kong government retracted plans to bring about the controversial law.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam also indefinitely suspended debate on the issue. But protesters are demanding that she formally withdraw the proposed changes to the extradition laws. Some also want Lam to resign.

China said it would oppose any attempt by the US or any other country to raise the current civil strife in Hong Kong during G-20 summit on June 27-28 in Osaka, Japan.

The issue is expected to be raised by Trump during his meeting with Xi as well as other G-20 members at the summit.

China's Assistant Foreign Minister Zhang Jun said China will not allow the issue to be raised at the meeting.

G-20 is a platform to discuss global economy issues. It focuses on the global trade finance and economic issues, he said.

"One thing I can tell you, Hong Kong will not be discussed as an issue at the G-20 summitwe will not allow that scenario to happen," he said.

Hong Kong is a special region of China and no foreign country has the right to interfere in Hong Kong's affairs, he said.

Asked what if Trump raises the issue, he said, "Hong Kong affairs are purely internal affairs of China we don't allow any country or any individual to interfere in Hong Kong in anyway". -- PTI

18:24 Return 'our old India' to us: Congress

Tearing into the Bharatiya Janata Party-led, government, Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi on Monday said under the 'New India', humans are afraid of humans, those glorifying killers of Mahatma Gandhi are in the ruling party and hatred and lynchings are at its peak.

Speaking on the motion of thanks to the President's address in Rajya Sabha, leader of the opposition, Azad, said unemployment is at all time high and henious crime like rape on minors are abnormally on the rise.

Launching a scathing attack on the government and its policies, Azad said a party could win elections on divisive policies but the "Nation stood defeated".

He demanded: "Keep your New India to yourself but return our old India where there was a culture of love and ...where there was no lynching and no hatred...Where Hindu and Muslims used to feel the pain of each other."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the House during Azad's address.

Referring to the President's speech on Mahatma Gandhi's 150th anniversary celebrations, Azad said unfortunately a candidate of the ruling party called the killer of the Father of the Nation a patriot and no action was taken and the candidate was a parliamentarian now.

"My tongue will burn...I cannot repeat the remarks...I have a complaint to the Prime Minister, why didn't you take action. Mahatma Gandhi may be Congress president but he was Father of the Nation...I would not have mentioned it here but President's speech mentions his birth anniversary celebrations...the BJP should take action...It still has time till October...," Azad said.

Azad while attacking BJP for defending 2008 Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Thankur, however did not mention her by name and said: "How is this possible and how someone can defend this? Though it doesn't make any difference to us, this is a blot on the face of the ruling party which cannot be wiped out."

He also referred to how former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on complaints about a Congress candidate in 1952 had instead urged people to vote for an Independent candidate who had a clean impage.

On New India, he said it was full of hatred where people were afraid of people and not afraid while being in jungle.

"In old India, there was no hatred, anger or lynching. New India is one where humans are enemies of each other. You won't be scared of animals in a jungle but you'll be scared of humans here. Give us India where Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians live for each other."

He added: "I request you to keep the 'New India' to yourself and give us our old India where there was a culture of love. Hindus used to feel the pain when Muslims and Dalits used to get hurt. When something used to get into the eyes of Hindus, Muslims and Dalits used to shed tears for them," he said. -- PTI

Cash-strapped Pakistan on Monday secured a bailout package of $3 billion from oil-rich Qatar, a day after Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad concluded his visit to Islamabad and agreed to cooperate in the fields of trade, anti-money laundering and curbing terror financing.

The Gulf state is the fourth nation that has come forward to rescue Pakistan from default during past 11 months as the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan tries to overcome a ballooning balance-of-payments crisis.

Earlier, China gave $4.6 billion in shape of deposits and commercial loans and Saudi Arabia provided $3 billion cash deposit and $3.2 billion oil facility on deferred payments. The United Arab Emirates also provided $2 billion cash deposit.

Qatar's financial assistance was announced by its foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

"Upon the directives of HH the Amir, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs announces of new investments in the form of deposits and direct investments worth a total of QR3 billion in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan," the official Qatar News Agency tweeted, quoted the minister as saying.

"The Qatari-Pakistani economic partnership will amount to $9 billion. Qatar affirms its aspiration for further development in the relations between the two countries at all political, economic, sports and cultural levels," he said.

Advisor to Pakistan Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh confirmed the Qatari financial help through his Twitter handle.

"I want to thank the Emir of Qatar HRH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani for announcing $3 billion in deposits and direct investments for Pakistan and for Qatar's affirmation to further develop relations between the two countries", Shaikh tweeted. -- PTI

17:39 EC refuses to disclose Lavasa's dissent notes

The Election Commission has refused to disclose under the RTI Act the dissent notes of its commissioner Ashok Lavasa on decisions pertaining to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speeches which were alleged to have violated model code, saying it was exempted information which may "endanger the life or physical safety" of an individual.

The poll body was responding to Pune-based RTI activist Vihar Durve who had demanded Lavasa's dissent notes, pertaining to speeches given by Modi in rallies at Wardha on April 1, Latur on April 9, Patan and Barmer on April 21 and Varanasi on April 25.

The Election Commission cited Section 8(1)(g) of the RTI Act exempting the disclosure of information which would endanger the life or physical safety of any person or identify the source of information or assistance given in confidence for law enforcement or security purposes.

Durve had also sought information about the procedure followed and the decision given by the commission with regards to these speeches.

This information was also denied citing the Section 8(1)(g) of the act.

Lavasa had reportedly dissented on a series of clean chits given by the commission to the prime minister and Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah on their speeches.

As his demand to record his dissent notes in the EC's orders was not met, Lavasa had recused himself from cases relating to relating to violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

The 'full commission' of the panel, comprising Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and members -- Lavasa and Sushil Chandra -- had deliberated on the contentious issue, after which the EC said dissent notes and minority views would remain part of records but would not be part of its order. -- PTI

The ruling Congress-Janata Dal Secular coalition coordination committee chief Siddaramaiah on Monday ruled out any possibility of mid-term polls to the Karnataka assembly.

"No, there won't be any mid term poll," he told reporters in Mysuru, days after former prime minister and JD-S supremo H D Deve Gowda had sent alarm bells ringing in the Congress after he spoke of such a possibility.

In a sign of growing tensions in the coalition, Gowda last Friday said he has no doubt that there would be mid-term polls to the state assembly, but had backtracked later, saying he had spoken about urban local bodies election.

Gowda had also said he did not know how long the government, headed by his son H D Kumaraswamy, would continue and it was in the hands of the Congress.

Hitting out at state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa, Siddaramaiah said the former chief minister was"dreaming" about the collapse of the coalition government and him forming a ministry in the state.

"No one can respond to his (Yeddyurappa's) dreams (of forming government and becoming CM). He has been saying it forseveral times now. Whatever Yeddyurappa has said has notturned out to be true," he said.

Reacting to Siddaramaiah's comments in Bengaluru, Yeddyurappa said he was not dreaming of becoming chief minister as he has been in the post in the past.

"It is you (Siddaramaiah) who is dreaming about becoming chief minister once again and roaming, not me," he said, pointing at the clamour in Congress recently with some leaders seeking Siddaramaiah's return as chief minister again.

The clamour had caused resentment within the ruling coalition, with alliance partner JD-S leaders and Kumaraswamy not happy about it.

Siddaramaiah and his supporters were forced to clarify that their demand was after the next assembly election.

Stating that the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee was dissolved to reorganize the party, Siddaramaiah, who is the Congress Legislature Party leader, said, "We will have new office bearers and it will be a mix of old, new, young and seniors." -- PTI

Bharatiya Janata Party working president J P Nadda on Monday sought cooperation of the Opposition to run the House smoothly, saying disruptions affect them the most.

Initiating a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address in Rajya Sabha, Nadda said the government wants not just 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas' (development and cooperation of all) but also 'Sabka Vishwas' (everybody's trust or faith).

Nadda said, "We should agree to disagree in the House. But we should not disagree just for the sake of disagreement. I appeal. I need all of yours support. There were many disruption in the House in the past. This (disruption affects) the opposition the most."

Outlining the direction of newly formed Modi 2.0, he told the House that this government would work toward improving ease of living in the next five years to further reach out to the commoners in the country.

During his address, Nadda said while in Opposition, he had got the award of best parliamentarian.

He said the government's focus would be on poor, women and youth in the next five years.

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi getting several international awards, he said: "These are all awards for India. Now India is not just a spectator but also a player in the international scene."

Seconding the motion, BJP member Sampatiya Uikey lauded the NDA government for working for women's progress and improving their lives through various social sector schemes and policies during the past five years. -- PTI

Maharashtra minister Tanaji Sawant on Monday admitted that there have been irregularities in as many as 1,300 works under the government's flagship 'Jalyukta Shivar' water conservation programme.

The water conservation minister was responding to a question raised by Nationalist Congress Party member Vidya Chavan in the state Legislative Council.

"Complaints have been filed with the water conservation department about irregularities in some 1,300 works under the Jalyukta Shivar scheme. Prima facie, there is truth in those complaints," Sawant said in the House.

"The water conservation department has sought an open inquiry in this matter, and it is being conducted by joint director for water and soil conservation," he added.

Leader of Opposition in the House Dhananjay Munde then demanded an inquiry by the anti-corruption bureau in these 1,300 works allotted under the scheme.

However, Sawant rejected the demand for an ACB probe, citing that the issue was "technically critical".

Munde then said two separate agencies can continue parallel probes without affecting the investigation's pace.

"The minister cannot reject the demand for probe when there has been an official complaint against such works," he said.

Council Chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar then intervened and cited some previous cases where parallel probes were conducted by different agencies.

Nimbalkar later asked the state government to submit its response in the House before the end of the ongoing monsoon session.

Notably, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last year also admitted that scams did take place in the execution of the 'Jalyukt Shivar' scheme, but said action was taken in such cases.

The government's ambitious scheme involves deepening and widening of streams, construction of cement and earthen stop dams, and digging of farm ponds, to make the state free of drought. -- PTI

16:07 Payal Tadvi case: Court rejects bail of 3 docs

A Sessions Court in Mumbai on Monday rejected the bail plea moved by three doctors, who are accused of abetting suicide of their junior Payal Tadvi at a government hospital, last month.

The bail plea, moved by Hema Ahuja, Bhakti Mehre and Ankita Khandelwal, was rejected by the District and Sessions Judge P Jadhav.

Tadvi, who belonged to the Scheduled Tribe community, ended her life in her hostel room at BYL Nair Hospital on May 22, allegedly after facing harassment from her seniors due to her caste.

Her family alleged that three of her seniors ragged and hurled casteist abuses at her, forcing her to take the extreme step.

The Crime Branch of Mumbai Police took over the investigation from Agripada Police station on May 30.

The post-mortem examination report of Tadavi's death released on June 5 revealed the evidence of a ligature mark on her neck.

The three doctors were earlier sent to the judicial custody till June 21.

-- ANI

15:32 Mehbooba welcomes Hurriyat's readiness to talk

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday welcomed the Hurriyat Conference willingness to hold talks with the Centre saying it was 'better late than never'.

"Dair aye durust aye (better late than never). The underlying purpose of the PDP-BJP alliance was to facilitate dialogue between the GoI & all stakeholders. Tried my best to make it happen in my tenure as CM but relieved that Hurriyat has finally softened their stand," former Chief Minister Mehbooba said in a tweet.

She was referring to Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq's call for a tripartite talk between the Kashmiri leadership, New Delhi and Islamabad for resolution of all issues, including Kashmir.

Besides touching on the need for a dialogue during his Friday sermons at Jamia Masjid, the Mirwaiz in his Eid-ul Fitr sermon earlier this month had sought confidence building measures between India and Pakistan that could facilitate the revival of talks between the two countries.

Governor Satya Pal Malik, while addressing a function on Saturday, had said the Hurriyat had softened its stand and were ready for talks after he took charge of the state in August last year.

"The Hurriyat Conference was not willing to talk. Ram Vilas Paswan was standing at their door (in 2016) but they were not ready to talk.

Today, they are ready for talks and want to hold dialogue. There is change in everyone," Malik had said.

The governor's statement has given rise to speculations that the Centre might be opening dialogue channels with the separatists in Kashmir in near future.

-- PTI

15:04 Owaisi blames BJP, RSS over lynchings

A day after a man was allegedly lynched in Jharkhand, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said such incidents are not going to stop as the BJP and RSS have increased hate against Muslims in the society.

"Incidents of mob lynching are not going to stop because BJP and RSS have increased a sense of hatred against Muslims," the Hyderabad MP said.

He said, "They have successfully created a mindset where Muslims are seen as terrorists, anti-nationals and cow slaughterers."

A 22-year-old man identified as Tabrez succumbed to his injuries on Sunday after being beaten up by locals in Saraikela Kharsawanand district in Jharkhand. He was later arrested on suspicion of theft.

Contrary to Owaisi's allegations, Jharkhand Minister C P Singh said that a trend of linking such incidents to the BJP and right-wing organisations is prevalent.

He said, "There is a trend prevalent these days to associate such incidents with BJP, RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal. It is a time of 'cut and paste'. The trend to politicise such incidents wrong."

The minister said that the state government would conduct an investigation in the case.

Tabrez's family, however, alleged that the attack was communal and that he was made to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Jai Hanuman'.

An FIR has been registered in the case.

-- ANI

The Congress on Monday wondered whether Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Viral Acharya's "abrupt decision" to resign could have anything to do with his stance on reaffirming the RBI's independence from the Modi government.

In a surprise move, Acharya has resigned from his position at the central bank merely six months ahead of the scheduled end of his three-year term, citing personal reasons.

This is the second high-profile exit from the Reserve Bank of India in the last seven months. Earlier in December 2018, Governor Urjit Patel had resigned nearly nine months before the end of his scheduled term.

"RBI Governor, Viral Acharya's resignation comes just six months before his tenure was due to end; could his abrupt decision have anything to do with his stance on reaffirming the RBI's independence from the current government," the Congress said on its official Twitter handle.

-- PTI

External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar formally joined BJP on Monday in presence of working president JP Nadda, at Parliament House.

Jaishankar was appointed as the new external affairs minister on May 31 this year, boosting the confidence on the international front that US-India strategic ties will be further enhanced under his watch.

Jaishankar, 64, known for his skillful diplomacy, tough negotiating tactics and strategic vision, has served as the Indian ambassador to the US from 2013-2015.

A 1977-batch IFS officer, Jaishankar played a key role in resolving the crisis following the incursion in Ladakhs Depsang and the Doklam stand-off, handling the tough negotiations with Beijing.

Jaishankar, considered an expert on China and the US, was a key member of the Indian team which negotiated the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal. The deal, initiated in 2005, took several years to craft, and was signed by the UPA government headed by Manmohan Singh in 2007.

13:54 RS Prasad tables Aadhaar amendment bill in LS

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad introduced the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in Lok Sabha on Monday. The Bill proposes the voluntary use of Aadhaar as an identity proof for opening bank accounts as well as procuring mobile phone connections.

Also, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will table the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019 which proposes to give reservation in government jobs and educational institutions to those living within 10 km of the International Border in Jammu on a par with people living along the Line of Control in Kashmir.

On the first day of the Lok Sabha session on June 21, the Modi government, in its second tenure, introduced the controversial triple talaq Bill, amidst stiff opposition from Congress and Muslim Majlis after a division was pressed opposing the tabling of the measure.

The Parliament's Budget Session, which began on June 17, will continue till July 26. The Economic Survey will be presented on July 4 followed by the Union Budget for 2019-20 on July 5.

-- ANI

Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on Monday said that Pakistan closing its airspace was a problem for them and the Indian Air Force never stopped the civil air traffic in the country.

"They (Pakistan) have closed their airspace that is their problem. Our economy is vibrant and air traffic is a very important part. You have noticed that the Air Force has never stopped our civil air traffic," he said at a press conference.

Pakistan extended the ban on its airspace for all Indian flights till June 28. The country had fully shut its airspace on the eastern border with India after the IAF carried out aerial airstrikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot on February 26.

The strikes were in response to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama, in which 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives on February 14.

In March, Pakistan partially opened its airspace for all flights but not for Indian flights. Since then, foreign carriers using the Indian airspace have been forced to take long detours because they cannot fly over Pakistan. The closure has mainly affected flights from Europe to Southeast Asia.

Dhanoa recalled: "Only on February 27 (this year) we had stopped Srinagar airspace for two-three hours. We did not allow tension with Pakistan to dictate our civil aviation because our economy is much bigger and much stronger as compared to theirs.

-- ANI

'Glaciers across the Himalayas experienced significant ice loss over the past 40 years, with the average rate of ice loss twice as rapid in the 21st century compared to the end of the 20th century,' write J M Maurer, J M Schaefer, S Rupper and A Corley in Science Advances.

'Because of the complex monsoon climate in the Himalayas, dominant causes of recent glacier changes remain controversial, although atmospheric warming, the albedo effect due to deposition of anthropogenic black carbon (BC) on snow and ice, and precipitation changes have been suggested as important drivers,' they write, here.

Image: Tourists on the Thajiwas glacier in Sonamarg, Kashmir. Photograph: Yawar Nazir/Getty Images.

12:50 Jharkhand hate crime: 4 arrested, 1 absconding

The Jharkhand police has arrested 4 people in connection to the death of a 22-year-old man in Jharkhand. The police added that 1 accused is still absconding.

Shams Tabrez, was caught by a mob on Tuesday evening, tied to a pole and beaten for more than seven hours. According to his family, he was also forced to chant 'Jai Sri Ram' and 'Jai Hanuman' by the mob.

He was then handed over to the police on Wednesday morning after he fell unconscious.

Tabrez was caught in Dhaktidih village while allegedly attempting to steal a motorcycle.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday met the grieving family of those killed and injured in an accident during a religious programme here.

At least 14 people were killed and about 50 injured after a 'pandal' fell on them due to strong winds and heavy rains during 'Ram Katha' programme in the district on Sunday.

Gehlot along with state Health Minister Raghu Sharma, Revenue Minister Harish Chaudhary, Energy Minister B D Kalla and others visited Jasol village and paid floral tributes to those who lost their lives in the incident.

"The incident is very unfortunate. An inquiry will be conducted," the chief minister told reporters.

He also directed officials to ensure that proper treatment is provided to the injured.

A 'Ram Katha' was organised at a school ground near Rani Bhatiyani temple in Jasol village of the district on Sunday. The pandal was uprooted by strong winds, trapping the people sitting under it, police said, adding that hundreds of devotees were attending the programme.

-- PTI

India has dismissed a $500-million deal with Israel for the purchase of spike anti-tank missiles from defence contractor Rafael Advanced Defense System.

The decision comes in after in-house developer Defense Research & Development Organisation said that it could deliver a cheaper alternative within two years.

According to government officials, Israel has been informed about the deal being scrapped to favour DRDO, that has claimed it was working on a similar missile at a much lower price in collaboration with VEM Technologies limited, reported The Indian Express.

A fast progress in DRDOs man-portable anti-tank guided missile, was a huge reason for India to sign DRDO on board for the deal. DRDO claimed it successfully test-fired the MPATGM at the Ahmednagar range last September.

In October 2014, India had struck a deal with Israel for the purchase of 321 Spike launchers and 8.356 missiles. But favouring DRDO, the deal was cancelled in December 2017.

However, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus visit to India in January 2018, the deal was re-authorised. The decision was also influenced by the setup of Rafaels production factory in India in August 2017, with local partner Kalyani Group.

11:32 Routed in LS polls, Mayawati dumps Akhilesh

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati has announced a break-up with the Samajwadi Party.

Announcing the split of the alliance, the BSP head said, "In the interest of the party and movement, the BSP will now contest all the elections going forward alone on its own."

On Sunday during her partys national executive meeting, she blamed SP president Akhilesh Yadav for the humiliating defeat of their alliance in Lok Sabha elections.

A BSP leader, who was present at the meeting, quoted Mayawati as saying that Yadav had neither visited nor talked to her over phone ever since the Lok Sabha election results were announced.

She also accused him of working "against non-Yadav backward communities" and even neglecting the Muslims while he was the Uttar Pradesh chief minister.

The Mayawati-Akhilesh Yadav combo failed to replicate the success of bypolls last year, managing only 15 of UP's 80 seats, far less than the BJP's rich haul of 62. Mayawati has blamed it on the Samajwadi Party's failure to transfer its vote base to her BSP. However, her party made more gains - from zero in 2014, the BSP rose to 10 seats.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president MK Stalin joins a protest in Chepak, against the Tamil Nadu government over acute water crisis in the city.

Chennai, India's fourth largest city, needs about 800 million litres of water daily, but the public water board has been able to supply 525 million litres.

The city has faced two consecutive monsoon failures following one of the biggest floods in southern India in 2015.

The city's four major sources of water are running dry and the government faces public ire for not ensuring alternative arrangements. The state government also received flak after it reportedly turned down an offer from Kerala on Thursday to supply water to Chennai's residents.

Trophies and personal souvenirs belonging to German tennis star Boris Becker will be auctioned online from Monday by British firm Wyles Hardy to partially clear the bankrupt champion's debts.

The youngest winner in Wimbledon's history, who claimed the first of three titles aged just 17, is auctioning off 82 items including medals, cups, watches and photographs.

The sale will end on July 11, Wyles Hardy said on its website.

Some of the trophies up for grabs include a replica of a Challenge Cup awarded to Becker following one of his Wimbledon wins, and the three-quarter size replica of the Renshaw Cup presented after he became the youngest ever Grand Slam singles champion.

His Wimbledon finalist medal from 1990, when he was beaten by Swede Stefan Edberg, and a replica of the US Open silver cup made by jeweller Tiffany for his 1989 victory over Ivan Lendl, will also be included in the sale.

The indebted 51-year-old champion was declared bankrupt in 2017.

10:01 SC to hear plea on encephalitis outbreak today

The Supreme Court will hear on Monday the Public Interest Litigation filed by two lawyers, in connection with the outbreak of the Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district in which hundreds of children have lost their lives.

The plea, filed by advocates Manohar Pratap and Sanpreet Singh Ajmani, seeks a direction to urgently constitute a team of medical experts for treatment of children suffering from encephalitis.

A vacation bench of Justices Deepak Gupta and Surya Kant is slated to take up the plea.

The petition sought a direction to the Centre and the Bihar government to immediately arrange a 500-bed ICU (intensive care unit) with required medical professionals to deal with the emergent situation, which has occurred due to the outbreak of AES.

The two lawyers have also pleaded a direction to the Bihar government to notify an "extraordinary government order" directing all private medical institutions in the affected area to admit and provide treatment free of cost to the patients.

The PIL said that the disease is completely curable and lives of children are being lost due to the "inaction" of the state machinery, which "failed" to take any steps to prevent the outbreak.

Despite the death of more than 100 children, the state government has shown "no prompt" steps to prevent the spread of the disease in adjoining districts, the plea contended.

-- ANI

More than half of India is reeling from drought-like conditions, the India Meteorological Department's latest data shows, with millions struggling for drinking water as lakes dry up and groundwater levels deplete amid a sluggish monsoon that, as per the agriculture ministry, has impacted the sowing of key summer crops over the past two weeks.

According to IMD, the monsoon was 39 per cent deficient till June 22 despite marginal improvement over the last week. In its Sunday bulletin, the national weather forecaster said the monsoon advanced into parts of central Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha, remaining areas of Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal and Bihar, most parts of Chhattisgarh, and some areas of eastern Uttar Pradesh.

But the weather system's poor intensity has stoked a severe water crisis in many states, as half the country, especially states such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telengana and Andhra Pradesh, battle a drought-like situation.

09:23 Fadnavis has unpaid water bill of Rs 7 lakh

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' bungalow 'Varsha' has been mentioned in the defaulter list by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

The bungalow situated in Malabar Hill area in Mumbai is the official residence of the Maharashtra chief minister. The BMC named Fadnaviss bungalow in the defaulter list as his water bill worth Rs 7,44,981 is pending, an RTI query revealed.

Names of 18 other Maharashtra ministers including Sudhir Mungantiwar, Pankaja Munde and Ramdas Kadam are also in the list of defaulters who did not pay the water bill.

As per the RTI query, the water charges have been pending since 2001.

The BMC has reportedly not taken any action against the ministers for unpaid water bill as yet.

The shocking revelation comes at a time when the state of Maharashtra is reeling under water scarcity and drought.

09:00

Powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake hits Indonesia's Tanimbar islands in Banda Sea. No tsunami potential from 7.2 magnitude quake in Banda Sea off Indonesia

08:46 2 more AES deaths in Muzaffarpur, toll rises to 152

Two more children died in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district on Sunday due to acute encephalitis syndrome even as officials asserted that afflictions and casualties had begun to dwindle with the onset of rains.

Both the deaths took place at the S K Medical College and Hospital, where 431 children, including two in the past 12 hours, have been admitted for AES treatment since June 1, according to figures released by the district administration. The total number of AES patients who have died at the SKMCH is 110.

"There is a perceptible decline in the number of children who are being admitted with brain fever as also the number of deaths," hospital superintendent Sunil Kumar Shahi said. "It has always been observed that AES strikes at the peak of summer and the outbreak halts with the onset of rains."

Two fresh cases have been registered, one on Saturday and another on Sunday, Shahi said.

Besides the SKMCH, the Kejriwal hospital in the Muzaffarpur town has so far registered 162 AES cases and 20 casualties.

The Health Department put the total number of AES casualties across 20 districts at 152. These include the 130 deaths reported at the two Muzaffarpur-based hospitals, which have been admitting AES patients from nearly half a dozen districts in its proximity.

It also suspended Bhimsen Kumar, a senior resident doctor posted at the Patna Medical College Hospital, for allegedly failing to comply with the direction to report for emergency duty at the SKMCH.

-- PTI

Viral Acharya, Reserve Bank of India's youngest deputy governor post-economic liberalisation, has resigned six months before the scheduled end of his term, reports Business Standard.

Acharya, who joined the RBI on January 23, 2017, for a three-year term, is returning to New York University Stern School of Business in August, instead of February 2020, as the CV Starr Professor of Economics.

Acharya has confirmed his resignation from RBI citing unavoidable personal reasons, the report added.

Citing people aware of the matter, the financial daily said he had put in his papers a few weeks before the last meeting of the RBI's monetary policy committee early this month.

However, RBI has clarified its stand on reports of RBI deputy governor Viral Acharya resigning six months before the scheduled end of his term saying, "We do not have any internal communication as of yet."

07:48 Amit Shah's 1st bill in Parliament: J-K quotas

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will table the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha today. This will be the first legislative business of the BJP president in Parliament after his election to the lower house and cabinet appointment following the party's decisive win in national polls last month.

After introducing the bill which had earlier been enforced as an ordinance, Amit Shah is also set to speak in the house about its importance.

On February 28, the union cabinet had approved 'The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019' and it was cleared by President Ram Nath Kovind.

It provides for amendments in the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004 to bringing people living in the areas along the border within the ambit of reservation at par with people living in areas near the Actual Line of Control.

The bill is aimed at replacing the ordinance to provide 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections in Jammu and Kashmir.

This would pave the way for reserving state government jobs to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir who are from economically weaker sections belonging to any religion or caste.

The 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections was introduced in rest of the country through the 103rd Constitution Amendment in January 2019.

Amit Shah's legislative agenda is expected to be closely followed and his decision to start out with a bill related to Jammu and Kashmir is significant.

While campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP leader had vowed to scrap Article 370 of the constitution that allows Jammu and Kashmir its own constitution, flag and the right to handle its own laws except on matters that impact national security.

In its election manifesto, the BJP had also repeated its intention of scrapping Article 35A, which defines permanent residents of the state and excludes outsiders from owning property and getting benefits including government jobs.

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