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Wed, 29 July 2020
National Education Policy evokes mixed reactions
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23:40 National Education Policy evokes mixed reactions
The new National Education Policy evoked mixed reactions among academicians on Wednesday with some hailing it as a "groundbreaking" action plan that promotes holistic and multi-disciplinary learning and others arguing that it will pave the way for privatisation of education.
A single regulator for higher education institutions, multiple entry and exit options in degree courses, discontinuation of M.Phil programmes, low stakes board exams, common entrance exams for universities are among the highlights of the National Education Policy 2020 approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday.
Former Delhi University vice-chancellor Dinesh Singh, who was an official reviewer of the document when it was being formulated, said the policy lays down the road map pretty nicely.
The policy has a good vision for school education, which is the foundation for higher education, he said.
"They have talked about experiential learning which is so useful. Unless you improve school education, you cannot improve higher education. The concept of transciplinarity, hands on experience, breaking down of barriers between subjects and connecting them to society are some of the key points in the policy. This is the best chance of universities to create curricula around the challenges of society, he said.
Elaborating with an example, he said there is a discipline in Mathematics called fluid dynamics but not one student in this country has any idea how to use fluid dynamics and computer science to create fighter jets and they are imported all the time.
"At last, we have found a document which at least gives us a chance, he added.
Singh also said that he has not been extremely enthused about regulators and feel they "are disabling you all the time".
"They make you do silly things. They are talking about having a single regulator because otherwise things are not working well. I believe it's good. They will need a lot of good people. I am hoping that it will restore the autonomy of the varsities. Hopefully they will not prescribe too much, he said.
Jamia Millia Islamia vice-chancellor Najma Akhtar called the NEP "groundbreaking" and said the higher education in India will now be holistic and multi-disciplinary with a shared focus on Science, Arts and Humanities.
"A single regulator for all higher educational institutions is a great idea as it will bring coherence of approach and purpose. It will realise the vision of education in India, she added.
The approval of new National Education Policy by the government is a positive step forward, said Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) VC M Jagadesh Kumar.
"NEP is the outcome of an extensive, highly participatory and inclusive consultation process. NEP aims at meeting the existing challenges in education and build the foundation of India''s promising future.We look forward to its implementation, he added.
Delhi University professor Rahul Yadav welcomed the policy, and said it talks about multiple entry and exit options and provides choices to students, and does not put any burden on them. He was also enthused about the fact that the policy seeks to promote a multi-disciplinary approach and does not seek to restrict students to just humanities or science.
Delhi University professor Naveen Gaur, however, said the policy has just "jazzier things" to say and even though it says that the Higher Education Commission of India will be a single regulator, it will have four verticals, which means that one vertical will be responsible for policy formulation and another for funding which is dangerous.
He also said that the policy paves the way for entry of foreign universities in India, without any regulations, which can be dangerous for the education sector. The professor argued that the policy will take away the autonomy of institutions rather than making them more autonomous.
Jamia Teachers' Association secretary Majid Jamil questioned the timing of bringing the policy.
"At a time when there is coronavirus pandemic, what was the need to hurry? The policy talks about online learning and virtual labs but there is no substitute to face-to-face learning. It also talks about four-year undergraduate programme, something which was implemented in Delhi University, but was met with opposition and was subsequently withdrawn. We do not agree with it," Jamil added.
Delhi University's Academics for Action and Development, a teachers' body, called the NEP a policy of "tall ends with little means''.
For instance, Indian has presently 18 per cent Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) and NEP sets the goal of 50 per cent GER by 2035, it said.
"How can this be achieved -- more than double of GER in next 15 years? NEP is also talking of internationalisation in the same vein and will only facilitate the entry of the foreign universities to tap the Indian educational market for their own benefits. This is a "return of Macaulay" -- building an education system in the interest of foreigners and wealthy ones," it said, referring to British officer Thomas Babington Macaulay. -- PTI
23:07 Malls, shopping complex to open in Maharashtra
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday extended the lockdown in the state till August 31 in view of rising coronavirus cases.
A notification issued by Chief Secretary Sanjay Kumar said the decision has been taken as an "emergency step to prevent and contain" the spread of COVID-19.
As part of the Mission Begin Again initiative, malls and market complexes without theatres, food courts and restaurants will be operational between 9 am and 7 pm from August 5, the notification said.
The government had last month extended the lockdown till July 31 amid a steady growth in the COVID-19 cases in the state.
With 9,211 new patients being detected, the number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra on Wednesday crossed the four lakh-mark.
While the case count in the state reached 4,00,651, death toll due to the pandemic went up to 14,463 with 298 patients dying, 60 of them in Mumbai, during the day, said health minister Rajesh Tope.
7,478 patients were discharged from hospitals, taking the number of recovered cases in the state to 2,39,755.
Maharashtra has now 1,46,129 active cases. -- PTI
22:37 Raj assembly to start from Aug 14, orders Guv
Rajasthan governor Kalraj Mishra has issued orders to convene the assembly session from August 14.
The Governor, in his order, has also directed that all measures should be taken during the conduct of Assembly Session, as per the guidelines issued to prevent spread of COVID19.
22:29 Maharashtra's Covid tally crosses 4 lakh mark
With 9,211 new patients being detected, the number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra on Wednesday crossed the four lakh-mark.
While the case count in the state reached 4,00,651, death toll due to the pandemic went up to 14,463 with 298 patients dying, 60 of them in Mumbai, during the day, said health minister Rajesh Tope.
7,478 patients were discharged from hospitals, taking the number of recovered cases in the state to 2,39,755.
Maharashtra has now 1,46,129 active cases.
A total of 20,16,234 people have been tested so far in the state, the health department said in a statement.
The Mumbai city and suburban areas reported 1,109 and 3,324 fresh cases of COVID-19, respectively.
The case count in the state's capital, thus, is 1,11,991 and death toll 6,247.
The larger Mumbai Metropolitan Region has reported 2,32,923 COVID-19 cases and 9,414 deaths.
The number of cases in Pune city went up by 1,458 while neighbouring Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation added 839 coronavirus cases during the day.
Pune city reported 40 deaths and PCMC area reported ten fatalities.
Pune division's case count is 94,961 and death toll 2,559.
The case tally in Nashik division reached 31,169 with 1,182 deaths, while Kolhapur division has so far reported 8,038 cases and 210 deaths.
The case count and fatalities in Aurangabad division stood at 16,234 and 578, respectively, while Latur division has reported 4,684 cases and 198 deaths, the health department said.
Maharashtra's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 4,00,651, new cases 9,211, total deaths 14,463, recoveries 2,39,755, active cases 1,46,129 and people tested so far 20,16,234. -- PTI
22:05 Maharashtra's Covid tally crosses 4 lakh mark
With 9,211 new patients being detected, the number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra on Wednesday crossed the four lakh-mark.
While the case count in the state reached 4,00,651, death toll due to the pandemic went up to 14,463 with 298 patients dying, 60 of them in Mumbai, during the day, said health minister Rajesh Tope.
7,478 patients were discharged from hospitals, taking the number of recovered cases in the state to 2,39,755.
Maharashtra has now 1,46,129 active cases.
A total of 20,16,234 people have been tested so far in the state, the health department said in a statement.
The Mumbai city and suburban areas reported 1,109 and 3,324 fresh cases of COVID-19, respectively.
The case count in the state's capital, thus, is 1,11,991 and death toll 6,247.
The larger Mumbai Metropolitan Region has reported 2,32,923 COVID-19 cases and 9,414 deaths.
The number of cases in Pune city went up by 1,458 while neighbouring Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation added 839 coronavirus cases during the day.
Pune city reported 40 deaths and PCMC area reported ten fatalities.
Pune division's case count is 94,961 and death toll 2,559.
The case tally in Nashik division reached 31,169 with 1,182 deaths, while Kolhapur division has so far reported 8,038 cases and 210 deaths.
The case count and fatalities in Aurangabad division stood at 16,234 and 578, respectively, while Latur division has reported 4,684 cases and 198 deaths, the health department said.
Maharashtra's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 4,00,651, new cases 9,211, total deaths 14,463, recoveries 2,39,755, active cases 1,46,129 and people tested so far 20,16,234. -- PTI
21:48 'Baahubali' director SS Rajamouli tests Covid +ve
Filmmaker SS Rajamouli on Wednesday said he and his family members have tested positive for coronavirus and are currently quarantined at home.
The director, best known for his epic fantasy hit Baahubali series, said they got tested after they developed mild fever recently which subsided by itself.
"My family members and I developed a slight fever few days ago. It subsided by itself but we got tested nevertheless. The result has shown a mild COVID positive today. We have home quarantined as prescribed by the doctors (sic)" he said.
In a subsequent tweet, Rajamouli said he and his kin are asymptomatic and "feeling better".
They are, however, following all the precautions and instructions.
"Just waiting to develop antibodies so that we can donate our plasma," he added.
Before the coronavirus-induced nationwide lockdown was announced in March, the filmmaker was working on his upcoming period action drama Rise Roar Revolt.
The Telugu film, featuring top stars Ram Charan and NTR Jr in the lead, is a fictional tale based on the lives of two freedom fighters in early 20th century.
21:12 Sushant case: Bihar police team in Mumbai for probe
A team of Bihar Police arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday to probe an 'abetment to suicide' case registered against actor Rhea Chakraborty and others in connection with the death of Sushant Singh Rajput.
Krishna Kumar Singh (74), Sushant Singh's father, lodged a complaint against Chakraborty, the deceased actor's friend, and six others in Patna on Tuesday.
A four-member team of the Patna police arrived at the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection-I) of Mumbai crime branch, a police official said.
"Mumbai police are providing assistance to us. We can not talk about the investigation," an officer from the Bihar police team said.
The team also met Rajput's sister in suburban Versova and recorded her statement, said a city police source. Before that, the team visited Rajput's apartment in Bandra, he added.
The Bihar police may also examine Rajput's financial transactions and bank records, he said.
The Mumbai police who are already investigating the alleged suicide have questioned several people from the film industry.
But in a surprising twist, the actor's father Krishna Kumar Singh (74), who had so far maintained silence about his son's death, on Tuesday lodged an FIR against Chakraborty and six others including her family members for alleged abetment to suicide.
The case was registered under various IPC sections including 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 380 (theft in dwelling house), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 306 (abetment of suicide).
Singh accused Chakraborty, a budding TV and film actor, of having befriended his son in May 2019 with the intention of furthering her own career. -- PTI
20:47 Call assembly session from Aug 14: Raj Cabinet
The Ashok Gehlot Cabinet on Wednesday cleared another proposal to be sent to the Governor for summoning the assembly, saying the session should begin on August 14.
Government sources argued that this meets the 21-day notice requirement on which Governor Kalraj Mishra was insisting.
The Cabinet is counting the days from July 23, when it made its first proposal.
Earlier, the government wanted the session from July 31. -- PTI
20:32 Somebody in Mumbai police helping Rhea: Lawyer
Senior advocate Vikas Singh, who is the family lawyer of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, Wednesday said that bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty's plea in the Supreme Court seeking transfer of an FIR from Patna indicates that "somebody in Mumbai police was helping her."
Singh said Rhea, who was seeking transfer of Sushant's case to CBI until now, has now chosen to move top court seeking stay on investigation.
"If she (Rhea) has moved the apex court, she should have filed a petition seeking CBI investigation," he said.
"FIR is registered in Patna, now she (Rhea) has filed a petition in Supreme Court seeking stay and transfer of investigation to Mumbai. Isse jyada kya proof chahiye ki (what more proof is needed that) somebody in Mumbai Police is helping her," Singh told PTI.
Rhea moved the Supreme Court seeking transfer of an FIR from Patna to Mumbai and the stay on the investigation by the Bihar police on the allegations of Sushant Singh Rajput's father that she abetted "suicide" of his actor son.
Rajput, aged 34, was found hanging from the ceiling of his apartment in suburban Bandra in Mumbai on June 14 and since then the Mumbai police has been probing the case keeping in mind various angles.
The move of Rhea to rush to the top court assumes significance in view of the fact that a four-member probe team of Bihar police is already in Mumbai and may seek to interrogate the actress as the FIR lodged at Patna by Rajput's father, K K Singh, contained allegations of severe criminal offences such as abetment of suicide and criminal breach of trust under the IPC.
Advocate Satish Maneshinde, who is representing Chakraborty, said he has filed a petition in the apex court seeking transfer of the case from Patna to Mumbai where the probe in the death case of actor Sushant Singh Rajput is going on.
In her plea, Chakraborty has also sought stay on probe by Bihar Police on the FIR lodged by Rajput''s father till disposal of her plea in top court, Maneshinde said.
The move came, four days after Rajput''s father K K Singh lodged an FIR at Rajiv Nagar police station in Patna against Chakraborty and six others, including her family members, accusing them of abetting the actor''s suicide. -- PTI
Professsor G N Saibaba with wife Vasantha Kumari.
19:43 Release all political prisoners, says Prof Saibabas wife
Following the bail application of Prof GN Saibaba being rejected again on July 28 by the Mumbai high court bench at Nagpur, his wife, Vasantha Kumari, has issued a press note to 'condemn the impunity towards political prisoners'.
In it, she states, 'The court's decision to reject Dr Saibaba's bail in this condition is an extremely apathetic decision. On his phone call, he told us that if he does get COVID-19 they will not help him at all. No one in the barrack will come close to him and he cannot survive on his own, without the helping hand of inmates. He said that they will leave him to die in that scenario.
'The politicians and ardent supporters of the ruling dispensation like Swami Aseemanand, Sadhvi Pragya Thakur etc were not only granted bail but Sadhvi Pragya was granted bail specifically on health grounds, though she was found perfectly fit for election campaigns and later function as a full time parliamentarian. Comparatively herein is a case of an already 90 percent disabled, wheelchair bound person, whose condition has so worsened in the solitary confinement that a dozen ailments has circumscribed his being, and still in the threat of COVID 19 Pandemic.
'Under these severe health conditions and based on the merits of the case of Prof G N Saibaba, I request to everyone national and internationally to raise your voice for the release of GN Saibaba to appeal to the central and Maharashtra governments.
'I request to all kindly help him to secure his life as per the Nelson Mandela Prison Rights and Disability Rights.
'Release all political prisoners.'
19:40 What Einstein told Nehru
Alongside is the letter that Albert Einstein wrote to Jawaharlal Nehru after reading The Discovery of India.
19:29 Unlock 3: Gyms to reopen, no night curfew
Restrictions on the movement of individuals during night have been removed, as the government issued guidelines for the month-long 'Unlock 3' beginning August 1.
Under 'Unlock 3', yoga institutes and gymnasiums will be allowed to open from August 5.
The lockdown will continue to be implemented strictly in the containment zones till 31 August.
Schools, colleges and educational institutions, however, will remain shut till the end of August, the government said in the fresh guidelines.
Metro rail operations and large gatherings still remain banned.
19:02 36 Rafale fleet will be a game-changer: Experts
The Rafale jets, known globally as one the most potent strategic platforms with unmatched capability in carrying out a variety of roles, will significantly bolster India's air combat capabilities when it is facing hostile neighbours like Pakistan and China, defence experts said on Wednesday.
The timing of induction of the 4.5 generation combat jets assumed significance as it came in the midst of India's tense border row with China, they said.
They said the Rafales could be a game-changer for India after all the 36 jets join the Indian Air Force as no aircraft in possession of any country in the neighbourhood will be able to match their superior kinematic performance and powerful electronic warfare systems.
The Rafale jet, which is often compared with the United States' stealth F-35 aircraft and F-22, is able to carry out all combat aviation missions like air superiority and air defence, close air support, in-depth strikes, reconnaissance, anti-ship strikes and nuclear deterrence at varied speed limits of up to 1.8 Mach.
The aircraft proved its unmatched capabilities in air combat missions in Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq and Syria in the last few years.
India is the fourth country to have the strategic platform after France, Egypt and Qatar.
The Rafale, manufactured by French defence giant Dassault Aviation, entered service with the French Navy in 2004 and with the French Air Force in 2006.
According to Dassault Aviation, the aircraft has a whopping 30,000 flight hours in operations.
In comparison to F-35, experts said the Rafale jet is more agile as it has long-endurance to fly at a higher speed while carrying a range of weapons for a longer period of time.
However, the F-35 scores much ahead of Rafales in terms of on board avionics and electronic warfare systems.
"It is one of the finest combat aircraft available in the global market. It is much more advanced and lethal then the current fighter aircraft available with China. It is definitely a boost to India's defence preparedness. The timing of the arrival of the jets is perfect," said defence expert De Laxman Behera.
When asked about China's fighter jet J-20, he said it cannot be compared with Rafale as the French manufactured jet is much more potent than the Chinese aircraft.
Former Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal (retd) Fali Homi Major too echoed Dr Behera's observations.
"There was no comparison between Rafale and the J-20s. The world does not know about the J-20s. The Rafale jets will give the IAF superior air dominance capability," the former IAF chief told PTI.
European missile maker MBDA's Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile, Scalp cruise missile and MICA weapons system will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets.
The Indian Air Force is also in the process of procuring a new generation medium-range modular air-to-ground weapon system Hammer to integrate with the Rafale jets.
The Hammer (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) is a precision-guided missile developed by French defence major Safran. The missile was originally designed and manufactured for the French Air Force and Navy.
"India will have unmatched air power in the region when it has all the 36 Rafale aircraft. It will be a game-changer for India" said Dr Behera, who is a leading expert at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses.
He said both Pakistan and China must have taken note of induction of the fighter jets. -- PTI
18:44 Complaint against Kangana, sister over social media posts
A Mumbai-based lawyer on Wednesday filed a complaint in a magistrate's court against Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut and her sister Rangoli Chandel for allegedly promoting enmity between two religious groups through their social media posts.
Recently Twitter had suspended Chandel's account for an objectionable tweet.
The first hearing on his application at Andheri metropolitan magistrate's court here is scheduled for August 14, said advocate Ali Kaashif Khan Deshmukh, the complainan
Dhannipur village in Ayodhya's Sohaval tehsil
18:24 UP Waqf Board sets up trust for Ayodhya mosque
The Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board president Zufar Ahmad Farooqui announced on Wednesday the formation of a trust for the construction of a mosque on a five-acre land in Ayodhya.
He said the trust will have 15 members, of who nine have been declared. They will "co-opt six other members," Farooqui said.
The Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board president said that he will be the chief trustee and chairman of the trust.
"We named the trust Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation. It will oversee the construction of a mosque, Indo-Islamic research centre, library and hospital in the five-acre land allotted to the board in Ayodhya's Dhannipur village," Farooqui told PTI.
The Supreme Court had in November last year paved the way for the construction of a Ram temple by a trust at the disputed site at Ayodhya, and directed the Centre to allot an alternative 5-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a new mosque at a "prominent" place in the holy town in Uttar Pradesh.
The state government then allotted a five-acre land in Dhannipur village in Sohaval Tehsil of Ayodhya.
-- PTI
17:33 Maha CM to visit Pune on Thursday to review COVID-19 situation
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will visit Pune on Thursday to take stock of the coronavirus situation in the district, officials said. This will be Thackeray's first visit to Pune ever since the coronavirus outbreak began. "The chief minister will visit Pune and take a review of the district's COVID-19 response," an official from the district administration said on Wednesday. Pune district so far has reported over 74,000 COVID-19 cases and 1,792 deaths, officials said. PTI
17:29 Rs 450 cr loss for Ajanta-Ellora sites due to Covid
The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted tourism in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, with local businessmen claiming losses running into crores and no normal resumption of tourist activities till late next year. Home to Ajanta and Ellora Caves, two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, among other monuments, Aurangabad sees heavy footfall of tourists throughout the year and many locals depend on the industry for their livelihood.
"There are at least 15,000 people in the entire district who are connected to the tourism industry and the closure of monuments during the coronavirus-induced lockdown has resulted in losses of over Rs 450 crore," said Jaswant Singh, president of Aurangabad Tourism Development Foundation.
"Even if the pandemic gradually abates, the fear in minds of travellers will remain for some time," he said. With no tour bookings coming in for winter holidays this year, the situation is likely to normalise only by September 2021, Singh said.
17:21 No virtue like protecting nation: PM on Rafales
There is no virtue like protecting the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday as welcomed the first batch of five Rafale jets which landed in Ambala with a tweet in Sanskrit. He also shared a brief video of a Rafale fighter aircraft landing at the Ambala Air Force station.
Broadly translated, the prime minister said in his tweet that there is no virtue like protecting the nation, there is no vow like defence of the nation. "Swagatam" (welcome), he said with the hash tag "RafaleInIndia".
The Rafales were escorted by two Sukhoi 30 MKIs after they entered the Indian air space and were given a water salute when they landed in Ambala. PTI
17:10 SC allows filing of plea against environmental clearance to Central Vista project
The Supreme Court Wednesday allowed filing of a fresh plea challenging the June 17 environmental clearance (EC) granted to the ambitious Central Vista project, covering 3-km stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate in Lutyens' Delhi, for constructing a new Parliament House and other government buildings.
A bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheswari and Sanjiv Khanna allowed senior advocate Shyam Divan to file within a week a fresh plea challenging the EC by the Central Vista Committee' to the project. The central government will respond to the petition a week after it is filed.
The top court, which posted the petition to be filed for hearing in the week commencing August 17, said however that it was not sure whether physical hearing would commence by then. It has been holding hearing via video conferencing since the COVID-19 lockdown in March.
"We permit a week to Divan to file the petition and a week to Centre to reply within a week of receiving the plea... Matter to be posted after two weeks," the bench ordered.
The bench was hearing as many as seven pleas, including two transfer petitions from the Delhi High Court, on the issue and they have been filed by persons like activist Rajeev Suri and retired Lt Col. Anuj Srivastava against various permissions given to the project by the authorities including the nod to change the land use. -- PTI
16:53 Sushant: Rhea moves SC seeking transfer of case
Actress Rhea Chakraborty moves Supreme Court seeking transfer of Patna FIR to Mumbai where a probe is on in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. A FIR was registered against Chakraborty at a police station in Patna under various sections including abetment of suicide on the complaint of Sushant Singh Rajput's father Krishna Kishor Singh, the police said on Tuesday.
It said that a four-member team has been sent to Mumbai following registration of FIR."A four-member team has been sent to Mumbai. The team will collect case diary and other important documents from Mumbai Police," Sanjay Singh, Inspector General, Patna Central Zone said.
In the complaint made to Rajeev Nagar police station in-charge, KK Singh alleged that Rhea Chakraborty and her relatives "committed fraud" and "pressurised the actor for financial gains".Sushant's father alleged that Chakraborty "got in touch with the actor with a motive to establish herself in the film industry using his contacts and she and her relatives started interfering in his affairs".
"They asked my son to leave his residence saying there were ghosts which impacted Sushant's mind. Later Sushant stayed at a resort along with Rhea's family. They kept saying that Sushant needs medical treatment as he has some mental issues," the complaint alleged.Singh said that Sushant's sister wanted to bring him back to Bihar but "Rhea and her relatives pressurised him to stay in Mumbai".
16:47 We must be global laughing stock...
Founder of The Print, Shekhar Gupta, tweets: Fighter planes can make adult enthusiasts act like juveniles. But, while it's great that the Rafales have arrived, we must be the global laughing stock tracking each take-off, landing, transit stop, refuelling as if it's Charles Lindbergh making the first trans-Atlantic flight..
16:21 Gold, silver, books, trees in Jayalalithaa's assets
In other news: Nearly 4 kg gold, 601 kg silver, over 8,300 books, 10,438 dress material and other cloth and puja items are among the numerous things that figure in the exhaustive list of movable and immovable properties in late Chief Minister J Jayalalitha's Poes Garden residence in Chennai.
The late AIADMK supremo had lived at 'Veda Nilayam,' a three-storeyed building, before she breathed her last in December 2016, and the state government had in 2017 announced converting the posh property into a memorial.
The state government will transfer the movable and immovable properties to the Puratchi Thalaivi Dr J Jayalalithaa Memorial Foundation, which is to be formed for making arrangements to convert Veda Nilayam into a memorial. It will be headed by chief minister K Palaniswami.
The list of properties inside Jayalalithaa's bungalow also includes two Mango trees, a Jack Fruit tree and five coconut and banana trees each, as per the state government ordinance issued in May. There were a total of 32,721 movable properties.
Governor Banwarilal Purohit had promulgated the ordinance in May to facilitate the temporary possession of Jayalalithaa's residence to convert it into a memorial. The building of Veda Nilayam, including movable items such as furniture, books, jewels, etc. are in a state of disuse for more than three years, the ordinance said. So the government decided to transfer all the immovable and movable properties to the government for its upkeep until the acquisition process is complete. -- PTI
A water salute was given to the Rafale jets on touchdown
16:03 Rajnath flexes Rafale muscle after jets touchdown
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reacts to the the arrival of the first batch of Rafale fighter jets in India. "Touchdown of Rafale jets in India marks the beginning of a new era in our military history. I am extremely happy that IAF's combat capability has got a timely boost. If anyone should be worried about our new capability it should be those who want to threaten our territorial integrity. Rafale jets were purchased when they fully met operational requirements of IAF."
Nearly four years ago, India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to purchase 36 Rafale jets under a Rs 59,000-crore deal to boost the IAF's combat capabilities. The jets will be inducted into the IAF as part of its No 17 Squadron, also known as the 'Golden Arrows'. The aircraft is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons.
15:29 Five Rafale jets land at Ambala air force base
The five Rafale jets arrive at Ambala air force station. In historic moments for the Indian Air Force, the first batch of five Rafale combat jets on Wednesday landed at the Ambala airbase from France.
"The Birds have landed safely in Ambala. The touchdown of Rafale combat aircraft in India marks the beginning of a new era in our Military History. These multirole aircraft will revolutionise the capabilities of the Indian Air Force," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted.
The fleet landed at Al Dhafra airbase on Monday in the UAE after flying for over seven hours from the Merignac airbase. It was the only stopover by the jets while flying from France to India.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's office said the Rafales are escorted by two Sukhoi 30 MKIs after they entered the Indian air space. The jets were also refuelled mid-air from a French tanker at a height of 30,000 feet.
15:02 The Birds have entered Indian airspace: Rajnath
"The Birds have entered the Indian airspace..Happy Landing in Ambala!" tweeted the Defence Minister's Office. The five Rafales escorted by 02 SU30 MKIs as they enter the Indian air space," read another tweet from the Defence Minister's Office. Water salute will be given to the five Rafale fighter aircraft after their landing at Ambala airbase in Haryana on Wednesday.
14:42 Five Rafale jets enter Indian airspace
The five Rafale jets enter Indian airspace, flanked by two Su-30MKIs. This first batch of Rafale jets are scheduled to land at the Ambala air base this afternoon with police tightening the security around the air force station. The squadron of Rafale jets will be stationed at the Ambala air base in Haryana.
The fleet landed at Al Dhafra airbase on Monday in the UAE after flying for over seven hours from the Merignac airbase. It was the only stopover by the jets while flying from France to India. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's office said the Rafales are escorted by two Sukhoi 30 MKIs after they entered the Indian air space. The jets were also re-fulled mid-air from a French tanker at a height of 30,000 feet.
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria will receive the fleet at Ambala.
The jets took off from the Merignac airbase in French port city of Bordeaux on Monday and will arrive in Ambala after covering a distance of 7,000 km with air-to-air refuelling and a single stop in the United Arab Emirates.
The fleet of five jets comprises three single-seater and two twin-seater aircraft.
Authorities have imposed prohibitory orders near the Ambala Air Force Station, banning shooting of videos and photography.
14:22 India's Covid recovery rate improves to 64.51 per cent
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday said that the national recovery rate of coronavirus has improved to 64.51 per cent. He further stated that out of the total cases, so far 9,88,029 people have been cured.The Union Minister informed that the total number of active cases in the country stands at 5,09,447 and "we are fighting and winning!" he added.This information was shared by the Minister on Twitter today. -- ANI
INS Kolkata
14:10 Indian warship cheers Rafales on the way home
The Indian Rafale contingent establishes contact with Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata deployed in the Western Arabian Sea. A transcript of the 'conversation' follows:
INS Kolkata Delta63: Arrow leader (flying #Rafale),welcome to Indian Ocean
Rafale leader: Many thanks. Most reassuring to have an Indian warship guarding seas
INS Kolkata: May you touch the sky with glory. Happy landings
Rafale leader: Wish you fair winds. Happy hunting. Over&out.
Soon after taking off from the UAE, Indian Rafale contingent established contact with Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata, deployed in the Western Arabian Sea.
13:54 HRD ministry renamed as Education Ministry
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the new National Education Policy and renamed the Human Resource Development Ministry as Education Ministry, officials said.
A panel led by former Indian Space Research Organisation chief K Kasturirangan had submitted the draft of the new NEP to Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' when he took charge last year.
The draft was then put in public domain to seek feedback from various stakeholders and over two lakh suggestions were received by the HRD Ministry about the same.
"The policy draft has been approved. The ministry has been renamed as Education Ministry," a senior HRD Ministry official said.
The existing NEP was framed in 1986 and revised in 1992. A new education policy was part of the Bharatiya Janata Party's manifesto ahead of the 2014 general election.
The drafting experts also took into account the report of a panel headed by former cabinet secretary T S R Subramanian and formed by the HRD Ministry when it was being headed by Union Minister Smriti Irani.
-- PTI
13:36 Moderna's vaccine shows protection from COVID-19 in monkey study
US biotechnology company Moderna's experimental vaccine to prevent COVID-19 induced robust immune responses and rapidly controlled the novel coronavirus in the upper and lower airways of monkeys exposed to SARS-CoV-2, according to a study.
The candidate vaccine, mRNA-1273, has been co-developed by scientists at Moderna and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the US.
The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, complements recently reported interim results from an NIAID-sponsored Phase 1 clinical trial of mRNA-1273.
In the study, three groups of eight rhesus macaques received two injections of 10 or 100 microgrammes of mRNA-1273 or a placebo. Injections were spaced 28 days apart.
Vaccinated macaques produced high levels of neutralising antibodies directed at the surface spike protein used by SARS-CoV-2 to attach to and enter cells, the researchers said.
-- PTI
13:19 Arundhati Roy slams govt for jailing activists
Writer Arundhati Roy on Wednesday slammed the government for the relentless and ongoing incarceration of activists, academics and lawyers, a day after an associate professor of the Delhi University was arrested by the NIA in the Bhima Koregaon Elgar Parishad case.
Roy said people representing secular, anti-caste and anti-capitalist politics posed a threat to the government's disastrous Hindu Nationalist politics.
The NIA accused Hany Babu Musaliyarveettil Tharayil (54), an associate professor in the Department of English, of propagating Naxal activities and Maoist ideology and being a "co-conspirator" in the case.
"The relentless and ongoing incarceration of activists, academics and lawyers in this case is a manifestation of this Government's understanding that this nascent, emerging secular, anti-caste and anti-capitalist politics that these people represent, provides an alternative narrative to Hindu fascism and poses the clearest threat -- culturally, economically as well as politically -- to its own disastrous Hindu Nationalist politics that has led this country into a crisis that has blighted the lives of hundreds of millions of people which ironically includes its own supporters," Roy said in a statement.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union also condemned the arrest of Babu. -- PTI
One of the five Rafale jets being refuelled mid-air
13:16 Water salutes for Rafale jets when the reach India
Water salutes to be given to the five Rafale fighter aircraft after they land at the Ambala airbase in Haryana today. Air Force Chief RKS Bhadauria to be present at the airbase at that time.
After almost two decades, India will induct a new multirole foreign fighter aircraft.
The last foreign fighters inducted into the Air Force were the Sukhoi-30s from Russia which have now become the mainstay of the Air Force after multiple orders in view of delays in placing orders for new western aircraft.
"As per plans, five Rafale fighters would be taking off from Al Dhafra air bade in UAE shortly and reaching Ambala around 2 pm today," IAF sources said.
The aircraft would be received by IAF chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria who played a crucial role in the acquisition of these aircraft as in-charge of the Indian negotiating team for the Rs 60,000 crore defence deal which is the biggest ever to have been signed by India.
He would also be probably the first Chief to receive fighter aircraft from abroad with his initials on the tail number of the plane as the two trainer Rafale aircraft coming today have RB written on their tails, sources said.
The Indian Rafales are expected to take off from Al Dhafra in UAE at around 11 AM IST and reach Ambala by 2 PM, they said.The weather and other conditions are at the moment looking good and it is expected to reach the Ambala airbase on time.
The backup base for the arrival of the aircraft, in case there is a weather issue in and around Ambala, would be the Jodhpur airbase.
File pic
13:14 Maharashtra SSC results: Girls (as usual) better boys
Over 95 per cent students passed the Maharashtra Secondary School Certificate (SSC- Class 10) examination, the results of which were announced on Wednesday. Total 95.30 per cent students passed the SSC exam, in which girls outshone boys, chairman of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, Shakuntala Kale, said.
The pass percentage of girls was 96.91, while that of boys was 93.90 per cent, she said. As many as 15,84,264 students had registered for the examination. Of them, 15,75,103 had appeared and 15,01,105 cleared the exam held in March this year. Among various state divisions, Konkan secured the highest pass percentage of 98.77 per cent, while Aurangabad division recorded the lowest pass percentage of 92 per cent, Kale said. PTI
13:04 Gehlot meets Raj guv to 'know what he wants'
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot meets Governor Kalraj Mishra at Raj Bhavan, Jaipur. The meeting comes after the governor returned the proposal for calling the assembly session for the third time. "I am going to meet him to know what he wants," the CM said. "Whether Rajasthan governor seeks a notice of 21 days or 31 days to call assembly session, we will be victorious," he added.
Sushant Singh Rajput with Rhea Chakraborty
12:46 Sushant: Patna police will probe all in dad's FIR
All those named by the father of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, in connection with his death, have been booked and investigations have begun, said Superintendent of Police (SP), Patna (Central) City, Vinay Tiwari on Wednesday.
"An FIR has been registered. Preliminary investigation has begun," Tiwari told ANI.
He, however, said that it was too early in the investigation phase to predict who all would be questioned in connection with the case.
"It is not correct to say at this point of time that who will be questioned. All those who were named by Sushant Singh Rajput's father in the FIR, have been booked," he added.
Earlier today, former Additional Solicitor General (ASG) and lawyer of the father of the late actor, Vikas Singh, had said that the Patna police should investigate the case of actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death, and the FIR was registered there as part of the cause of action lies in the place where his family lived.
"The only FIR in connection with the case has been lodged at Patna, so we want the Patna police to investigate the whole matter. The family has not demanded a CBI investigation yet," Singh said.
The lawyer further explained that the FIR was registered in Patna, Rajput's hometown as the complainant lives in Patna.
An FIR had been registered against actor Rhea Chakraborty at a police station in Patna under various sections including abetment of suicide on the complaint of Sushant Singh Rajput's father Krishna Kishor Singh, the police had said on Tuesday.
It said that a four-member team has been sent to Mumbai following registration of FIR.
In the complaint made to Rajeev Nagar police station in-charge, KK Singh alleged that Rhea Chakraborty and her relatives "committed fraud" and "pressurised the actor for financial gains". Sushant's father alleged that Chakraborty "got in touch with the actor with a motive to establish herself in the film industry using his contacts and she and her relatives started interfering in his affairs".
12:33 Hetero launches generic Favipiravir in India
Hetero Labs, part of Hetero group on Wednesday announced the launch of generic Favipiravir in India under the brand name 'Favivir.' According to a press release issued by the city-based drug maker, Hetero has been granted the manufacturing and marketing approval for Favipiravir from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).
Favivir is the second drug developed by Hetero after Covifor (Remdesivir) used in the treatment of COVID-19. It is an oral antiviral medication that has demonstrated positive clinical outcomes. Favivir improves treatment accessibility to a significant amount of COVID-19 patient population, which usually sustains mild to moderate symptoms.
Hetero's Favivir is priced at Rs 59 per tablet and is marketed and distributed by Hetero Healthcare Ltd. The product is available from July 29 at all retail medical outlets and hospital pharmacies across the country and will be sold only on prescription, it said. -- PTI
12:12 BSP moves HC against merger with Cong in Raj
The Bahujan Samaj Party on Wednesday approached the Rajasthan High Court against the merger of six of its MLAs in the state with the Congress party amid the ongoing political crisis.
Advocate Dinesh Garg moved a petition, on behalf of BSP' national general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra, challenging the merger of the MLAs.
Notably, BJP MLA Madan Dilawar had yesterday moved two petitions in the High Court against the merger, however, a single-judge bench of Justice Mahendra Goyal had refused to grant urgent listing on the matter.
The High Court, in relief for Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot-led government, had on Tuesday dismissed Dilawar's earlier plea seeking directions to quash the merger.
The development comes as Rajasthan Congress is reeling in a political crisis after simmering differences between Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot came out in the open. Pilot, along with 18 other MLAs supporting him, is staying at a Haryana hotel.
Congress leaders have alleged that Pilot camp is staying in the Haryana hotel in BJP's hospitality. They have also accused the BJP of attempting to topple the Gehlot-led Rajasthan government. -- ANI
11:49 Amazon CEO Jeff Bezo's ex-wife donates USD 1.7 billion for social causes
MacKenzie Scott, former wife of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, announced on Tuesday (local time) that she has donated around USD 1.7 billion to groups involved in philanthropic causes such as healthcare, LGBT rights and racial justice.
Scott, who said she changed her surname after her divorce from Bezos last year, wrote in a post shared on Medium -- an online publishing platform -- said she pledged to give a majority of her wealth "back to the society that helped generate it", The Hill reported.
The 50-year-old's net worth is USD 60.4 billion, making her the 13th wealthiest person on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. "Like many, I watched the first half of 2020 with a mixture of heartbreak and horror. Life will never stop finding fresh ways to expose inequities in our systems or waking us up to the fact that a civilisation this imbalanced is not only unjust but also unstable. What fills me with hope is the thought of what will come if each of us reflects on what we can offer," she said.
"Opportunities that flowed from the mere chance of skin colour, sexual orientation, gender or zip code may have yielded resources that can be powerful levers for change," she added.
11:27 Jet Airways loss widens to Rs 5,536 cr in 2018-19
Jet Airways, which is undergoing insolvency resolution process, has reported widening of loss to Rs 5,535.75 crore in the year ended March 2019 as surge in expenses took a toll. The full service carrier, which shuttered operations in April last year, had a loss of Rs 766.13 crore. These figures are for standalone comprehensive losses.
In 2018-19, the airline's total income declined to Rs 23,314.11 crore from Rs 23,958.37 crore in the year-ago fiscal, according to a regulatory filing. Pushed by higher fuel costs, the total expenses surged to Rs 28,141.61 crore in 2018-19. After stopping operations on April 18, the airline went into Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) in June 2019. -- PTI
11:23 China fears 2nd Covid wave after 100-case spike
China's COVID-19 cases in a single day have crossed the 100-mark for the first time in over three months, sparking the fear of a rebound after Beijing contained it in Wuhan where the contagion first emerged in December last year.
The National Health Commission on Wednesday said that 101 new confirmed coronavirus cases including 98 locally-transmitted and three imported ones were reported in the country on Tuesday. Eighty-nine of the 98 locally-transmitted cases were reported in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, eight in Liaoning province and one in Beijing Municipality, the commission said in its daily report.
No deaths related to the disease or new suspected COVID-19 cases were reported Tuesday. Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region reported 89 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the regional health commission said.
The 89 patients were all in the regional capital Urumqi, 43 of whom were previously asymptomatic cases, according to the commission. The region also saw 15 new asymptomatic cases in Urumqi. By Tuesday, Xinjiang, which is Uygur Muslim majority province, had 322 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 133 asymptomatic cases, and 9,121 people were still under medical observation.
10:59 15.31L Covid cases, 34,193 deaths in India so far
India's Covid tally update is here: The total number of Covid-19 cases in India is now 15.31 lakh. The single-day spike was 48,513. There have been 768 deaths in the last 24 hours. The total number of Covid-19 active cases in India is 5,09,447, discharged/migrated cases 9,88,030 and 34,193 death.
10:52 I'm grateful! Aishwarya tells fans after Covid recovery
Two days after Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and her daughter Aaradhya Bachchan were discharged from hospital after recovering from COVID-19, the actor on Wednesday extended gratitude towards her fans for their "prayers, concern, wishes and love".
The 46-year-old actor took to Instagram to share a picture where the mother-daughter duo is seen thanking their fans.
While Aishwarya is seen forming a heart with her hands, Aaradhya is seen joining her hands as a mark of gratitude.
"THANK YOU SO SO MUCH for ALL your Prayers, Concern, Wishes, and Love for my darling Angel Aaradhya and for Pa, Ab ...and me. TRULY OVERWHELMED and forever indebted...GOD BLESS YOU ALL," she wrote in the caption.
"ALL MY LOVE ALWAYS and Prayers for the well-being of you ALL and all yours... Truly, Deeply and Heartfelt... Be Well and Be Safe GOD BLESS. LOVE YOU All too," she added.
Aishwarya and Aaradhya were tested negative for coronavirus earlier on July 27 following which they were discharged from Mumbai's Nanavati Hospital.
The 'Guru' actor's husband Abhishek Bachchan and his star father Amitabh Bachchan are still being treated for the infection at the hospital. -- ANI
10:16 1.77 cr samples tested for Covid in India so far
A total of 1,77,43,740 samples for COVID-19 were tested across the country as of Tuesday, said the Indian Council of Medical Research. "The total number of COVID-19 samples tested up to July 28 is 1,77,43,740 including 4,08,855 samples tested yesterday," said the ICMR in a bulletin shared on Twitter.
India on Tuesday reported 47,704 more COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the country's count of coronavirus cases to 14,83,157, informed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. At present, there are 4,96,988 active cases in the country while the number of patients cured/discharged and migrated stands at 9,52,744. -- ANI
10:02 Sensex rises over 100 pts, but markets still red
Domestic equity benchmark Sensex jumped over 100 points in opening session on Wednesday tracking positive cues from Asian peers. The BSE Sensex was trading 114.99 points or 0.30 per cent higher at 38,607.94; while the NSE Nifty was up 32.45 points or 0.29 per cent at 11,333.
In the previous session, the 30-share Sensex had settled at 38,492.95, up 558.22 points or 1.47 per cent, and the Nifty climbed 168.75 points or 1.52 per cent to end at 11,300.55.
Exchange data showed that foreign institutional investors bought equities worth Rs 245.95 crore on a net basis on Tuesday. IndusInd Bank was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising around 4 per cent, followed by UltraTech Cement, Tata Steel, Sun Pharma, L&T and ICICI Bank.
On the other hand, Infosys, HCL Tech, Nestle India, M&M, Reliance Industries and Tech Mahindra were among the laggards. According to traders, domestic stocks opened on a positive note tracking global equities ahead of US Federal Reserve's policy outcome, scheduled to be announced later in the day.
Bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul were also trading higher, while Tokyo was in red. Stock exchanges on Wall Street ended on a negative note in overnight trade. Global oil benchmark Brent crude was trading 0.11 per cent higher at USD 43.66 per barrel. -- PTI
09:53 MP minister Tulsi Silawat, his wife test COVID-19 positive
Madhya Pradesh Water Resources Minister Tulsi Silawat and his wife have tested coronavirus positive. The information was shared by the minister himself on his Twitter handle on Tuesday. In the tweet, he appealed to those who had come in his contact to get themselves tested. Senior BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia wished the couple a speedy recovery. -- PTI
09:48 Kolkata braces for another lockdown
Police check commuters travelling during the Covid-19 lockdown in Kolkata. The state government has extended the bi-weekly lockdown till August 31.
09:43 First 5 Rafales to arrive in Ambala today
The first batch of five Rafale aircraft, would be arriving in Ambala today to join the Indian Air Force fleet.
Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria would be visiting Ambala today to receive the first batch of five Rafale combat aircraft arriving from France. The Indian Rafales are expected to take off from Al Dhafra in UAE at around 11 am IST and reach Ambala by 2 pm, sources said.
The backup base for the arrival of the aircraft in case there is a weather issue in and around Ambala would be the Jodhpur airbase.
In view of Rafale fighter jets landing in the city, Section 144 has been imposed in four villages close to Ambala airbase.
Munish Sehgal, DSP Traffic, Ambala, said the administration is on a high alert and the gathering of people on roofs and photography during landing has been strictly prohibited.
The administration has prohibited pictures of Air Force Station from places such as Dhulkot, Baldev Nagar, Garnala and Panjokhara.
Ram Kumar, DSP Ambala, said that the Ambala Cantt area has been made a 'no-drone area' as it is a sensitive zone. Action will be taken against those violating "no-photography orders".
-- ANI
09:07 US records close to 1,600 Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours
US recorded its highest Covid-19 deaths in a single day in the last two and half months as 1,592 people succumbed to Covid-19.
Montana and Florida reported record number of Covid-19 deaths.
08:48 Union Cabinet Meeting to be held today
A meeting of the Union Cabinet will meet today and certain key decisions are expected to be taken.
The meeting will be held at the prime minister's residence in New Delhi. The Union Cabinet last met on July 8.
In the last meeting, the Cabinet approved the extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana for further five months under which 203 lakh tons of grains will be distributed among 81 crore people.
It also approved the development of affordable rental housing complexes for urban migrants or poor as a sub-scheme under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban.
Among other decisions it also approved the extension of Employees' Provident Fund contribution for three more months, from June to August 2020.
-- ANI
08:33 China under Xi has become very aggressive, bullish: Nikki Haley
China under President Xi Jinping has become more aggressive and bullish, former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said, asserting that such a behavior is unlikely to last long.
Indian-American Haley, in an interview to Fox News, said the Chinese were quiet and strategic during her tenure at the UN. They moved and made sure that they were trying to get positions in certain areas, and trying to get things done behind closed doors, she said.
"Then once President Xi kind of named himself king, they got very aggressive. They got very bullish. They started to kind of point their fingers in countries' faces saying, you'd better vote with us. They started to be very aggressive at the UN in wanting positions and wanting to have leadership roles. And they started talking down to everyone," Haley alleged.
With their Belt and Road initiative, the Chinese started really trying to buy up these infrastructures or partnering with smaller countries on infrastructure projects, she said.
"But yet they go in, they wouldn't assimilate with the countries. The countries didn't like their attitude when they were coming in. Now we look at it, it's getting more aggressive in tone," said Haley, who resigned as UN ambassador in 2018 after nearly two years in the post.
"But this can't last. You know, any country that is not letting its people be free, there will be a time when the people rebel. So right now they're continuing to push, they're continuing to put pressure on Hong Kong, as we've seen. We're starting to see the pressure go to Taiwan, the South China Sea, in India. All of this is them playing kind of a king of the mountain scenario," Haley said.
She said the US needs to "let them know we're on to them, we need to actually follow through on the intellectual property measures that were in that trade deal that we had and hold them accountable".
-- PTI
00:02 Raj audio tape case: Rebel Cong MLA moves HC
Rebel Congress MLA Bhanwarlal Sharma on Tuesday moved the Rajasthan high court for quashing of an FIR lodged against him after the surfacing of some audio tapes in one of which he is allegedly heard talking to a Union minister for toppling the Gehlot government through horse-trading.
The MLA, who is in Sachin Pilot camp, moved the court, alternatively demanding the transfer of the investigation into the case to the National Investigation Agency from the Special Operation Group of the Rajasthan police.
The SOG had registered the FIR against Sharma on July 17 charges of sedition (124 A) and criminal conspiracy (120 B) under the Indian Penal Code.
The case had been registered on a complaint by Congress Chief Whip Mahesh Joshi after surfacing of three audio tapes in one of which Sharma is allegedly talking to Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for toppling the Ashok Gehlot government through horse-trading.
In another tape, he is allegedly heard talking to one Sanjay Jain over the same issue.
Sharma pleaded to the court to quash the FIR terming the case against him as politically motivated.
Alternatively, he demanded transfer of the investigation into the case to the NIA arguing that he does not fair probe into the case by the state investigative agency as the Rajasthan chief minister has given public statements against him.
The SOG has already arrested Sanjay Jain, who was allegedly acting as a middle man and issued notice to Shekhawat.
Congress has alleged that Sanjay Jain is a BJP leader while the saffron party has rejected the allegation saying he has no connection with it.
A team of SOG is looking for Bhanwarlal Sharma who along with another MLA Vishvendra Singh has been suspended from the Congress party's membership for alleged involvement in the conspiracy to topple the government. -- PTI
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