The Congress on Monday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party over the violence at the Assam-Mizoram border that claimed lives of six police personnel, stating that it was a matter of disgrace that the tensions escalated within a day of Union Home Amit Shah chairing a meeting to resolve the dispute.

In a statement, the Congress said that it was a matter of great concern that chief ministers of the two states, both belonging to the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), were openly arguing on Twitter while the tensions escalated.

'Just yesterday (Sunday) the Home Minister himself had chaired a meeting with the Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries of the North Eastern States to discuss interstate border dispute issues. What transpired between them? What were the policies to mitigate the border disputes adopted?' the Congress sought to know.

'It has become a matter of great public concern as well as appalling humour that responsible persons like Chief Ministers both belonging to same NEDA alliance are openly arguing with each other on Twitter handles and they have also tagged the home minister and prime minister.'

Taking a dig, the Congress said that the BJP government seemed to be running the country through Twitter.

At least six Assam Police personnel were killed and around 50 others, including Cachar's superintendent of police, injured in firing as violence intensified along the border with Mizoram.

Condoling the deaths, the BJP's Assam unit tweeted, 'We offer our tributes to the six Assam Police jawans martyred in firing by miscreants in the Assam-Mizoram border. May their souls rest in eternal peace.'

Opposition All India United Democratic Front also aired its concern over the violence.

'Had the two CM's tried to solve the conflict through dialogue, this escalation could have been averted. Urge both the state Govt's to find an amicable solution at the earliest and relieve the suffering of people residing in the border areas,' AIUDF MLA Ashraful Hussain tweeted.

Condemning the violence, the Assam Jatiya Parishad said the incident assumes more importance as it happened just a day after a meeting of chief ministers of the Northeastern states.

The governments in both Assam and Mizoram are part of the NEDA, of which Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is the convener, the AJP pointed out.   -- PTI

The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)-Advanced will be conducted on October 3, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced on Monday.

The exam, earlier scheduled on July 3, was postponed in view of the COVID-19 situation.

'JEE (Advanced) 2021 examination for admission in #IITs will be held on the 3rd October, 2021. The examination will be conducted adhering to all Covid-protocols,' Pradhan tweeted.

This year, IIT-Kharagpur is conducting the exam, which is the qualifying test for admission to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

While the JEE-Mains is conducted for admission to engineering colleges across the country, it is considered as a qualifying test for the JEE-Advanced.   -- PTI

President Ram Nath Kovind was not able to visit the Kargil War Memorial at Dras as his 'chopper faced inclement weather en route', a Rashtrapati Bhavan release said on Monday evening.

'Instead, the President visited Baramulla and paid his tributes to soldiers who sacrificed their lives in defending the nation by laying a wreath at the Dagger War Memorial,' the release said.

'He also interacted with officers and jawans of Chinar Corps and visited High Altitude Warfare School at Gulmarg,' it said.

IMAGE: President Ram Nath Kovind lays a wreath at the Dagger War Memorial, Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir. Photograph: @rashtrapatibhvn/Twitter

Mumbai on Monday reported 299 fresh coronavirus positive cases, the lowest single-day addition after April 2020, and eight fatalities, the city civic body said.

With the new additions, Mumbai's overall tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 7,34,418 and the death toll to 15,784.

The count of recoveries in Mumbai jumped to 7,10,849 on Monday after 501 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.

At 299, the metropolis has logged less than 300 new infections in a day for the first time after April last year.

The city's count of COVID-19 cases went on rising rapidly after April 2020.

This year, Mumbai had reported the highest 11,163 daily cases on April 4 whereas the lowest 328 cases were reported on February 1.

Notably, the city has been logging less than 500 new COVID-19 cases for the last ten days in a row, though the daily count of fatalities remained in the range of eight to 14 in this period.

With 24,989 tests conducted in the last 24 hours, the number of samples tested so far in Mumbai has gone up to 79,90,319, as per the BMC.

The case growth rate in Mumbai between July 19 to July 25 dipped to 0.05 per cent whereas the average doubling rate of cases now stands at 1,324 days, the civic body said.

Mumbai is now left with only three containment zones spread in chawls and slums.

The number of sealed buildings stands at 60.   -- PTI

A Tanzanian woman has been apprehended by Central Industrial Security Force personnel at the Delhi international airport for allegedly carrying 70 remdesivir vials and some other medicines in an alleged unauthorised manner, officials said on Monday.

Remdesivir is a restricted drug that is used for treatment of Covid-infected patients and it cannot be exported without government permission or license.

Aiman Gulshanraza Syed was intercepted and detained at Terminal-3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday night just before she was to take an Ethiopian airlines flight to Dar es Salaam.

"On physical checking of her baggages, different types of medicines, including 70 vials of remdesivir injections were found. The approximate cost of the medicines cache is Rs 3.5 lakh," a CISF officer said.

As the woman could not furnish any documents for carrying the medicines, she was handed over to Customs authorities for further investigation.   -- PTI

Days after taking charge as the Punjab Congress chief, Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday held his first meeting with four working presidents and representatives of different fronts of the party's state unit.

Sidhu met representatives of the party's frontal organisations and cells including Youth Congress, National Students' Union of India, Scheduled Castes cell, Backward Castes cell and Legal cell and heard their views at the Punjab Congress Bhawan in Chandigarh.

Sidhu took the charge as Punjab Pradesh Congress chief on Friday last. He replaced Sunil Jakhar.

Besides, the party had appointed four working presidents -- Sangat Singh Gilzian, Sukhwinder Singh Danny, Pawan Goel and Kuljit Singh Nagra -- to assist Sidhu in the run-up to the next assembly elections.

Goel, while talking to reporters after the meeting, which lasted about four hours, said Sidhu first held the meeting with the four working presidents.

Thereafter, a meeting with representatives of frontal organisations and different cells was held, he added.

Another working president Danny said the agenda of the meeting was to further strengthen the party in the state.

However, Sidhu did not talk to the media.   -- PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday spoke to the chief ministers of Assam and Mizoram over the ongoing border row between the two states and asked them to ensure peaceful resolution of the dispute, sources said.

During his separate telephonic conversations with Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga, Shah asked them to maintain peace along the inter-state border where tension prevails, the sources said.

The home minister asked the chief ministers to resolve the border issue mutually.

Both chief ministers have assured the home minister that the needful will be done to ensure peace and resolve the border issue amicably.

Police forces from both states are expected to return from the disputed site, the sources said.

The Assam chief minister wrote on Twitter that six Assam Police personnel were killed in firing by miscreants from Mizoram along the inter-state border in Cachar district.

A tense situation prevailed along the disputed Assam-Mizoram border following clashes while chief ministers of the two states were locked in a war of words on Twitter on Monday.   -- PTI

IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Guwahati. Photograph: ANI Photo

Six Assam Police personnel killed in firing by miscreants from Mizoram along inter-state border in Cachar district, says Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

'I am deeply pained to inform that six brave jawans of @assampolice have sacrificed their lives while defending constitutional boundary of our state at the Assam-Mizoram border. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,' Sarma tweeted.

More details awaited.   -- ANI/PTI

A planned visit  by Afghan Army Chief Gen Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai to India this week has been cancelled amid increased Taliban offensive in Afghanistan, according to senior Afghan officials on Monday.

 

Gen Ahmadzai was scheduled to arrive here on Tuesday on a three-day visit to explore ways to deepen bilateral military ties in the backdrop of the Taliban carrying out offensive operations across Afghanistan following the withdrawal of foreign forces.

"The visit by our Army Chief has been postponed due to intensity of war and Taliban's increased assault and offensive," the Afghan embassy official said.

According to another official, the visit was likely to take place at a later stage.

Gen Ahmadzai was scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks with top Indian military brass including his counterpart Gen MM Naravane and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. 

Afghanistan has been reaching out to its key allies in seeking support to strengthen its security forces in the backdrop of the Taliban resorting to widespread violence to expand its influence across the country after the US began withdrawing troops from May 1.

In the last few years, India has provided at least five military helicopters to the war-ravaged country which has been trying to strengthen its air power.

Afghanistan has also been seeking India's assistance in making functional Soviet-era helicopters and transport aircraft that are not in flying condition.

The country has been struggling to get spare parts for aircraft and helicopters due to Western sanctions against Moscow.

Last month President Ashraf Ghani appointed Gen Ahmadzai as the new chief of army staff, replacing Gen Yasin Zia.

India is a major stakeholder in the peace and stability of Afghanistan. It has already invested nearly USD three billion in aid and reconstruction activities in the country.

India has been supporting a national peace and reconciliation process which is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled. -- PTI 

A team of Prashant Kishor's Indian Political Action Committee which has been camping in a hotel in Agartala since last week to assess the political situation and potential support base for Trinamool Congress is being questioned by the local police.

  

While Tripura unit of TMC described it as an "attack on democracy" and said they were confined to their hotel by the police, Manik Das, Superintendent of Police, West Tripura, claimed members of the 22-member I-Pac team are being questioned in a Agartala city-based hotel, as part of a routine check-up.

"The outsiders -- around 22 persons -- were roaming around in various places. Since Covid restrictions are in place, we are enquiring to verify the reasons behind their arrival and stay in the city. They all underwent Covid tests on Monday, the reports are awaited," Das told reporters.

President of the Tripura unit of Trinamool Congress, Ashish Lal Singha however termed it as an attack on democracy.

"It's an attack on democracy. Being a resident of Tripura, I am shocked. It's not Tripura's culture. The BJP has panicked following the overwhelming response and support to TMC due to the misrule of the BJP-led government in Tripura," he said.

"The I-PAC team has been under detention since Sunday night in a hotel. However, the police are saying it's a part of routine check-up," Singh told PTI.

He said the I-PAC team, comprising 23 members, had reached the state a week ago and also visited several places to conduct a survey at 'ground zero'.

They had discussions not only with Trinamool Congress but also with the other parties and the team is assessing the political situation and the prospect of TMC in the next assembly election in 2023, he said.

The district police chief, however, denied the allegation levelled by Singh that the I-PAC team was under detention and said it was a 'routine process'.

When contacted, officer-in-charge of East Agartala police station Saroj Bhattacharjee said, "They were not detained. We are now verifying their documents. They are all in the hotel."

Meanwhile, according to sources, the incident has been reported to TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and professional political campaigner I-PAC chief Prashant Kishore.

When contacted, President of BJP in the state Manik Saha said he is not aware of anything about this. -- PTI 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address an event on July 29 to mark one year of the new National Education Policy, according to sources.

 

"The prime minister will address the event on completion of one year of the NEP. He is likely talk about the progress made so far on implementation of the policy and will also share a roadmap for projects in the pipeline and their timelines," a source said.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will also address the online event.

The NEP approved by the Union Cabinet last year at a meeting presided by Prime Minister Modi replaced the National Policy on Education framed in 1986.

It is aimed at paving the way for transformational reforms in school and higher education systems to make India a global knowledge superpower. -- PTI 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with the chief ministers of Assam and Mizoram amid tension along the border after eight farmers' huts were set ablaze by unidentified miscreants.

Shah asked the CMs to resolve the border issue as early as possible.

According to sources, police forces from both states have returned from disputed site.

The incident happened a day after a meeting of chief ministers of northeastern states chaired by Shah in Shillong, during which the border issue was raised.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday arrived in Delhi on a five-day visit, where she is slated to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several front-ranking opposition leaders.

               

The Trinamool Congress supremo, who apparently seeks to take up a larger role in national politics prior to the 2024 Lok Sabha election, is visiting Delhi for the first time after leading her party to power in West Bengal for the third time in a row.

               

The BJP's West Bengal unit alleged that Banerjee wants to be away from the state for a few days as she is facing criticism over the fake Covid vaccination scandal, post-poll violence and other issues.

             

Her efforts to unite opposition parties will not succeed, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh claimed.

            

After attending a special state cabinet meeting, the chief minister left for the national capital. She did not talk to newspersons at the N S C Bose International Airport in Kolkata.

            

Banerjee told reporters earlier that the PM has given time to her for a meeting later this week while she would also like to call on President Ram Nath Kovind.

             

She had, however, refused to disclose details of her proposed meeting with Modi.

             

TMC sources said that during her visit from July 26-30, she may also go to Parliament where the monsoon session is in progress. 

                 

The BJP state president told reporters that Banerjee is currently facing criticism from various quarters over issues such as the dubious vaccination scandal, fake IAS-IPS officers and post-poll violence.

              

"The state government is bankrupt and she doesn't know how to foot the bills. She wants to get some relief from all these pressures for some days. She also wants to meet the PM to seek financial help," Ghosh told reporters.

              

He claimed that any effort by Banerjee to stitch a unified front of opposition parties will not succeed.

              

"In 2019, she had invited several opposition leaders to Kolkata but Modi came back to power with a thumping majority in the Lok Sabha polls," Ghosh said. -- PTI 

 In its report titled 'APAC Economic Outlook: The Delta Roadblock', Moody's Analytics said social distancing is weighing on the current quarter, but economic recovery will resume by the year-end. 

 The Delta variant of COVID-19 is among factors now adversely affecting economies of the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, but the economic hit from the current round of movement restrictions in the region will not be as severe as the recessions in the second quarter of last year.

 In India, where exports make up relatively small shares of the economy, high commodity prices have boosted the value of exports. This is one factor that helped reinvigorate India after its first devastating wave of COVID-19. "While its second wave, which is now coming to an end, may have more lasting damage to the economy as the pandemic's one-two punch hit small enterprises very hard, exports will once again be the foundation for recovery," it said.

 With regard to vaccination, Moody's Analytics, which is a financial intelligence company, said India is struggling to accelerate its pace of inoculation. The global economic recovery is continuing at a solid pace, but parts of Asia will not reflect this in the near term given heightened social distancing restrictions now in place, particularly in Southeast Asia as the Delta variant of COVID-19 spreads across the region, it said. -- PTI

Assam and Mizoram CMs had a verbal spat on Twitter.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted his Mizoram counterpart  saying, " Honble @ZoramthangaCM ji , Kolasib ( Mizoram) SP is asking us to withdraw from our post until then their civilians won't listen nor stop violence. How can we run government in such circumstances? Hope you will intervene at earliest @AmitShah @PMOIndia."

Sarma uploaded a video of the violence and tagged Home Minister Amit Shah and the PM's office in the tweet.

Mizoram CM Zoramthanga responded tweeting, "Dear Himantaji, after cordial meeting of CMs by Hon'ble Shri @amitshah ji, surprisingly 2 companies of Assam Police with civilians lathicharged & tear gassed civilians at Vairengte Auto Rickshaw stand inside Mizoram today. They even overrun CRPF personnel /Mizoram Police."

In another tweet Zoramthanga sought Shah's intervention on the violence at the border "Shri  @AmitShah

 ji.kindly look into the matter. This needs to be stopped right now.

#MizoramAssamBorderTension 

@PMOIndia  

@HMOIndia

 @himantabiswa

 @dccachar

 @cacharpolice."

 He alleged that it appears that the government used public money for snooping for its "selfish political interests". 

 Last week, an international media consortium reported that over 300 verified mobile phone numbers, including those of two ministers, over 40 journalists, three opposition leaders besides scores of businesspersons and activists in India, could have been targeted for snooping through the Pegasus spyware of the Israeli firm NSO Group, which only sells the hacking software to "vetted" governments and government agencies. 

 The government has been denying all opposition allegations in the matter. Speaking to reporters in the Parliament complex after the Lok Sabha was adjourned, Tharoor said, "We want the government to agree to a debate on the issue, but it is not ready. What we are saying is that if you (government) do not agree to this and answer our questions, then why we should allow you to transact your business."

 He said other issues like price rise and contentious farm laws are also important for the opposition but the Pegasus row is a priority. Both Houses of Parliament have transacted little business since the Monsoon session began on July 19 as opposition parties have forced adjournments with their protests over a number of issues with the Pegasus row being the main one.

 Tharoor also made light of IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's statement on the issue in both Houses, saying he just shared his "Mann Ki Baat" without listening to the opposition. Vaishnaw had termed the snooping stories a bid to malign India, claiming that there is "no substance" to this sensationalism.

Read the report here.

 "We've just received confirmation that flights from India are suspended till the 2nd August, and we are not entirely sure if this will be extended as it depends on the authorities," Etihad Airways Guest Relations said in a tweet.

Last month, the Canadian government also announced that it is extending the ban on incoming passenger flights from India for another month due to the Delta variant of COVID-19. -- ANI

"Trucks stranded on highway for 3 days have been cleared. We hope passenger movement will resume. Water level is receding in city areas. Over 42,000 people evacuated in Kolhapur district. No casualties during rescue. 3 persons died due to drowning during rain," Shailesh Balkawade, SP, Kolhapur said.

Heavy rainfall activity is expected over north and east India during the next three-four days, the India Meteorological Department said on Monday.

  

The low pressure area over northwest Madhya Pradesh has become less marked.

However, the associated cyclonic circulation over northwest Madhya Pradesh and neighbourhood persists. 

Another cyclonic circulation lies over North Bay of Bengal. Under its influence, a low pressure area is likely to form over North Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood around July 28.

Due to the influence of these two systems, widespread rainfall activity with isolated heavy to very heavy falls is very likely over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh till July 29 and its intensity will reduce thereafter. 

Isolated extremely heavy rainfall is also likely over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on July 27 and 28 and over northwest Uttar Pradesh on July 27.

Fairly widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy falls are likely to continue over east Rajasthan and west Madhya Pradesh till July 26 and reduce thereafter.

There will be an enhanced rainfall activity with fairly widespread to widespread rainfall and isolated heavy to very heavy falls likely over east and adjoining central India including Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal and Jharkhand from July 27.

Fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls are very likely over Konkan, Goa, the ghat areas of central Maharashtra during the next three days and increase to isolated heavy to very heavy falls over the region from July 29.

Scores of lives have been lost due to landslides and floods in Maharashtra in the last two weeks. 

 Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala charged that it is Delhi's autocracy that decides chief ministers and not the will of BJP's MLA's. He also alleged that the BJP government in Karnataka is an "illegitimate" one as it is born out of "defection and corruption". 

 The Congress has been alleging that the BJP used the Pegasus spyware to oust the Congress-JDS government in the state.

 "The ignominy, torment and insult being heaped upon Sh. B.S.Yediyurappa by Modi ji, dictating him to tender his resignation, makes him PM's latest victim and member of the 'forced retirement club'," Surjewala charged on Twitter. "We now know that Delhi's autocracy decides CM's and not the will of BJP's MLAs," he further charged. 

 "The stark reality is that Modiji habitually insults and compulsorily throws senior BJP Leaders in dustbin of history," the Congress leader alleged. Yediyurappa has, however, claimed that there is no pressure on him from the party leadership to resign and he has tendered his resignation of his own. "Modiji's record is replete with painful and forcible retirements of Advaniji, M.M.Joshiji, Keshubhai Patelji, Shanta Kumarji, Yashwant Sinhaji and many others. The list of Modiji's victims in BJP doesn't end here," Surjewala said. 

 He also cited the names of Sumitra Mahajan, Sushma Swaraj, Uma Bharti, C.P.Thakur, A.K.Patel, Haren Pandya, Harin Pathak, Kalyan Singh as those leaders who have been retired by the top brass of the BJP. He said the latest "victims" are Harsh Vardhan, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Sushil Modi. Congress leader Mallikarujun Kharge, however, termed the resignation of Yediyurappa as an internal matter of the BJP. -- PTI

 While Lokhandwala was speaking on the bill, opposition members asked Nagar to allow the Leader of Opposition (LoP) to speak. However, Nagar said the members should first return to their seats. He also said that he will allow the LoP to speak after the first speaker on the bill completes his submission.

 But the opposition members refused to relent and started rasing slogans against the government and demanded that the LoP be allowed to speak. Amid the din, Nagar adjourned the House till 3 pm.

 It said till now, 71 people have died in Raigad district, 41 in Satara, 21 in Ratnagiri, 12 in Thane, seven in Kolhapur, four in Mumbai and two each in Sindhudurg, Pune, Wardha and Akola. Besides, 56 people have been injured in rain-related incidents, while 100 people are still missing, it said. In Raigad, 53 people were reported missing, in Satara-27, Ratnagiri-14, Thane-four, and Sindhudurg and Kolhapur-one each. The release further said 34 people were so far injured in Raigad, seven each in Mumbai and Ratnagiri, six in Thane and two in Sindhudurg. 

 Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar toured various rain-hit villages in Sangli district on Monday and used a rescue boat to reach out to flood victims in some areas. 

 Pawar also interacted with the flood-affected people and assured them of rehabilitation and all help from the state government. On Sunday, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray visited Chiplun, the site of severe flooding in Ratnagiri district in the Konkan region, and interacted with residents, businessmen and shopkeepers. He promised them all help from the state government to restore normalcy in the area. -- PTI

Image: NDRF rescues stranded villagers after a landslide at Mirjoli, Chiplun.

Mamata Banerjee has set up a panel - consisting of retired judges Justice Jyotirmay Bhattacharya and Justice MB Lokur - to probe the Pegasus phone-hacking scandal. 

The state government on Sunday said it has provided an emergency financial aid of Rs 2 crore each to Raigad and Ratnagiri districts. Satara, Sangli, Pune, Kolhapur, Thane and Sindhudurg, also affected by rains, were provided with a financial aid of Rs 50 lakh each.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will visit some of the rain-affected areas in Patan tehsil of Satara district on Monday.

 A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh issued notices and sought responses of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Delhi government, New Delhi Municipal Corporation, Municipal Corporations of East, South and North Delhi on the petition which submitted that absence of gender-neutral toilets goes against the directions of the Supreme Court.

 The counsel for the authorities sought time to seek instructions and file their replies after which the court listed the matter for further hearing on September 13. The petition filed by final year law student Jasmine Kaur Chhabra said the central government has released funds but no separate toilets have been made for the transgender or third gender community in Delhi. It further said Mysore, Bhopal and Ludhiana have already built separate public washrooms for them but the national capital is still seen nowhere taking such an initiative. 

 There are no separate toilet facilities for transgenders, they have to use male toilets where they are prone to sexual assault and harassment. Discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation or gender identity, therefore, impairs equality before law and equal protection of law and violates Article 14 of the Constitution, said the petition, filed through advocate Rupinder Pal Singh -- PTI

The company has also earmarked an additional USD 400 million of investment in the professional and higher education segment to accelerate Great Learning's growth, a statement said. 

 "The acquisition marks BYJU'S strong push into the professional upskilling and life-long learning space globally with a total commitment of USD 1 billion, expanding its offerings beyond the K12 and test prep segments, and further accelerating the company's growth plans," it added.

 Great Learning will continue to operate as an independent unit under Byju's group under the leadership of its founder and CEO Mohan Lakhamraju and co-founders, Hari Nair and Arjun Nair. PTI

Ending months of speculation, BS Yediyurappa on Monday announced his decision of stepping down from the position.

"I am grateful to PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda for giving me the opportunity to serve Karnataka for two years. I also thank the people of Karnataka & my constituency. I decided to resign 2 days back. The Governor has accepted my resignation," Yediyurappa added.

His announcement came at a special event organised to present the government's report card on the occasion of the completion of two years of the BJP-led state government in the current term, at Vidhana Soudha."I have decided to resign. I will meet the Governor after lunch," said Yediyurappa today.

"I have decided to resign. I will meet the Governor after lunch," said Yediyurappa today.

Meanwhile, the names of several leaders have been doing the rounds for the key post.

The Panchamasali Lingayat community has been demanding the chief ministerial post for several months. BJP leaders from the community including Basangouda Ramangouda Patil Yatnal, Arvind Bellad and Murugesh Nirani are believed to be the front runners in the race. Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai's name is also being mentioned.

Former union minister DV Sadananda Gowda and BJP general secretary CT Ravi could also be the next chief minister if the party high command gives priority to the Gowda community. Also, R Ashok and CN Ashwathnarayan are the other popular figures from the community.

Several conventions and meetings are being held in Bengaluru and other places of Karnataka in different mutts to ensure Yediyurappa stays as the chief minister.

On Sunday, seers of different Lingayat mutts held a convention in Bengaluru's Palace Grounds and extended their support to Yediyurappa.--  ANI

Pawar also interacted with the flood-affected people and assured them of rehabilitation and all help from the state government. State Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Wadettiwar and Minister of State Vishwajeet Kadam accompanied Pawar during his visit to the flood-battered Bhilwadi and other areas of the district. They used a boat to reach out to people affected by the monsoon mayhem in Bhilwadi. 

 According to the district administration, Pawar will hold a review meeting after taking stock of the situation. Meanwhile, the water level of the Krishna river at Irwin bridge was at 52.11 feet at 11 am, as against the danger mark of 45 feet, an official said. -- PTI

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa broke down today in the Karnataka assembly before announcing that he would resign after lunch. He was seaking as his government marked its two-year anniversary.

"I will resign after lunch," he announced in a tearful speech in which he talked about being tested constantly in the past two years.

"When (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) was prime minister he asked me to be a minister at the Centre. But I said I will be in Karnataka," said Yediyurappa.

The BJP had grown in Karnataka, the 78-year-old said, adding: "It has always been an agnipariksha (trial by fire) for me. These last two years it was Covid."

Yediyurappa dropped big hints on Sunday that his future as chief minister was uncertain.

 Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said members are being prevented from raising issues of public importance. 

 "We are becoming helpless day by day," he said before adjourning the proceedings till 12 noon. Soon after the House paid glowing tributes to the martyrs of the Kargil war and congratulated Mirabai Chanu for winning a silver medal in Tokyo Olympics, slogan-shouting opposition members trooped into the well of the House. Amid a din, Naidu said he has not allowed notices under rule 267 by opposition leaders including from Mallikarjun Kharge and K C Venugopal (both Congress), Tiruchi Siva (DMK), TMC's Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Elamaram Kareen (CPI) and others as the issues they want to raise are being discussed in the normal course of time. Rule 267 provides for setting aside of the business of the day to take up discussion on the issue being sought to be raised. 

 Naidu did not mention the issues the MPs wanted to raise under rule 267. He said important public interest issues have been allowed to be raised through zero hour and special mention but "the house is not able to perform its duty... members they are denied an opportunity." "We are becoming helpless day by day," he said. -- PTI

 He cited a media report which claimed that in Demchok in Eastern Ladakh, China's tents are still on the Indian side and there is no date yet for talks between core commanders of the two countries. 

 "GOI is clueless on how to handle China. Ignoring their actions now will cause huge problems in the future," Gandhi said on Twitter. India and China are involved in a stand-off in Eastern Ladakh since May last year and two countries have been holding talks for de-escalation and disengagement. Congress general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also took a swipe at the prime minister over the matter. "Show red eyes, Saheb, blow your 56" saheb," he said in a tweet in Hindi using the hashtag #RemoveChinaFromOurLand. -- PTI

 After slipping over 192.17 points lower, the 30-share BSE index pared some of its losses to trade 54.98 points or 0.10 per cent lower at 52,920.82 in initial deals, while the broader NSE Nifty fell 11.55 points or 0.07 per cent to 15,844.50. 

 Axis Bank was the top loser in the Sensex pack, shedding more than 1 per cent, followed by Maruti, SBI, HDFC and ICICI Bank. Reliance was trading 0.41 per cent lower. On the other hand, ITC, Titan, Infosys, Sun Pharma, NTPC and Tata Steel were among the gainers.

Presently, the active caseload of India is 4,11,189.416 deaths were also reported in the last 24 hours. The death toll of India now stands at 4,20,967.As per the Union Ministry of Health, 35,968 patients recovered during the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative recoveries in India to 3,05,79,106.Presently, the recovery rate is at 97.35 per cent.

 The tribunal's presiding officer and Bhiwandi sub-divisional officer Dr Mohan Nadalkar passed the order on July 14 and a copy of it was made available on Saturday. 

 The elderly woman (age not mentioned in the order), a resident of Bhiwandi town in Thane district, had filed a petition before the tribunal against her daughter and son-in-law.

 In her plea, the petitioner said her husband was mentally unstable and she had been working as a domestic help to sustain their livelihood. The woman also said she bought a house in 2016 for Rs 5.30 lakh. But, her daughter, taking advantage that the petitioner was illiterate, allegedly got the house transferred in her name by forging documents. 

 The daughter and her husband later allegedly threatened the old parents and also tried to throw them out of the house, the petitioner said.

 An offence was then registered against them with the Nizampura police in Bhiwandi and the elderly woman later approached the tribunal. 

 The tribunal, in keeping with directions of the Supreme Court and provisions of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, ordered payment of a monthly maintenance to the petitioner and her husband. It also said there is a need to seek justice from civil court regarding the dispute on house purchase documents. 

 The tribunal directed the petitioner's daughter and son-in-law not to evict the parents from the house till the matter is decided by a civil court. PTI

 The three athletes and seven Games-concerned personnel have been put under the mandatory 14-day quarantine. The total number of Games-concerned personnel to have tested positive so far stood at 83 after the addition of 8 new cases. The contingents that have been hit by COVID-19 after landing in Tokyo include Czech republic, the USA, Chile, South Africa and the Netherlands among others. Of these, the Czech Republic is inquiring into possible health safety protocol violations by its contingent after four athletes tested positive for the virus, forcing withdrawals from beach volleyball and road cycling events. 

 On Monday, the organisers urged the media covering the Games to adhere to COVID-19 protocols, saying that they have been "made aware of incidents of alleged non-compliance". They warned of "disciplinary consequences" for violating laid down rules on health safety precautions. PTI

Similar queues were observed at most other metro stations as well. 

Possibly the only good takeaway from the pandemic is that we Indians now stand a pace away in a queue. The norm used to the person in the queue breathing down your neck. Literally.   

The IMD has issued a yellow alert for the national capital on Monday and forecast a generally cloudy sky with moderate rain/thundershowers towards the evening. 

Delhiites experienced a sultry Sunday with the maximum temperature settling at 37.3 degrees Celsius, three notches above the season's average. The minimum temperature was recorded at 27.6 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year.

President Ram Nath Kovind is scheduled to visit Drass on Monday to pay tributes at the Kargil memorial located on the foothills of Tololing. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat will also participate at the Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations.

India celebrates Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26 every year to mark the anniversary of the Armys victory against Pakistan on this day in 1999, after more than 60 days of armed conflict on the highlands of Kargil in Ladakh.

President Kovind, who arrived in Srinagar on Sunday, is on a four-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. On July 26, 2021, the President will pay homage to the indomitable courage and sacrifice of the Indian Armed Forces during the Kargil conflict in 1999 at the Kargil War Memorial Drass (Ladakh) on the 22nd anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Divas, read a statement from the Presidents office.

In 2019, bad weather had prevented the president from visiting Drass to participate in the Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations. Instead, he had paid his tributes by laying a wreath at a war memorial at the Armys 15 Corps headquarters in Badamibagh in Srinagar.

In a tweet on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, We remember their sacrifices. We remember their valour. Today, on Kargil Vijay Diwas we pay homage to all those who lost their lives in Kargil protecting our nation. Their bravery motivates us every single day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid a tribute to the martyrs of the Kargil war, which India fought with Pakistan in 1999 and won, on Kargil Vijay Diwas and said the bravery of those who sacrificed their lives motivates Indians every single day. 

The PM also shared an excerpt from his last year's monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat.

"We remember their sacrifices. We remember their valour. Today, on Kargil Vijay Diwas we pay homage to all those who lost their lives in Kargil protecting our nation. Their bravery motivates us every single day. Also sharing an excerpt from last years Mann Ki Baat.," PM Modi said in a tweet.

The Indian Armed Forces defeated Pakistan on July 26, 1999. Since then, the day is celebrated as Kargil Vijay Diwas to rekindle the pride and valour of the soldiers who took part in Operation Vijay.