The sexagenarian actor has been asked to appear at Taltala police station on December 12 for questioning in connection with the remarks made during a poll campaign in Gujarat. 

"We have summoned him to appear at Taltala police station on December 12. This is in connection with his 'cook fish for Bengalis' comment. He will be questioned," the officer said. 

The former BJP MP, speaking at a rally in Gujarat, had said, "Gas cylinders are expensive, but their price will come down. People will get employment too. But what will happen if Rohingya migrants and Bangladeshis start living around you, like in Delhi? What will you do with gas cylinders? Cook fish for the Bengalis?" He was booked under various sections of the IPC after CPI(M) leader and the party's state secretary Mohammed Salim lodged a complaint against him, alleging that the actor's speech could promote feelings of hatred against Bengalis. Rawal had apologised for his remark following a huge backlash on the social media. "Of course the fish is not the issue as Gujaratis do cook and eat fish. But let me clarify by Bengali I meant illegal Bangladeshi N Rohingya. But still if I have hurt your feelings and sentiments I do apologise," the 67-year-old actor had tweeted. -- PTI

Firearms, including an INSAS rifle with 11 rounds of ammunition and one IED, were found lying next to their bodies in Matakupa Reserve Forest, Director General of Police S K Bansal said.                 

Acting on intelligence inputs on the movement of Maoist cadres in the forest, personnel of Odisha's special operation group embarked on a search operation in the woods.                 

"A gun battle subsequently ensued between the Maoists and the security personnel inside the forest, leading to the death of two women cadres who were dressed in the banned outfit's uniform. Their bodies have been recovered and the process of identification is underway," the DGP said.                 

Search operation has been intensified with the deployment of additional teams of security personnel in the area, Bansal stated.                 

The DGP, in a statement, appealed to the Maoists to shun violence and join the mainstream.                 

The state government has a very beneficial surrender and rehabilitation policy, and all Maoists should avail this," he added.                 

Last month, at least four Maoist cadres were killed in two operations in Bolangir and Koraput districts. -- PTI

Gokhale was detained from Jaipur in Rajasthan in the early hours by officials of the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Cell and brought in the afternoon to Ahmedabad where he was formally placed under arrest, said assistant commissioner of police, Cyber Crime, Jitendra Yadav.

Later, the TMC member was produced before the court of additional chief metropolitan magistrate MV Chauhan, who sent him to police custody till December 8. 

"Based on a complaint we received from a citizen, an FIR (first information report) was lodged against Gokhale for spreading fake news about the PM's visit to Morbi after the bridge collapse tragedy. We detained him from Jaipur today morning and brought him here," Yadav said. 

The FIR was registered in Ahmedabad under Indian Penal Code sections 465, 469, 471 (all related to forgery) and 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory), the police said. 

The 35-year-old spokesperson of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC underwent a heart surgery recently and was on a private visit to Jaipur, sources said. Gokhale recently tweeted a purported news clipping which apparently appeared to have been published in a leading Gujarati newspaper. 

The purported news clipping claimed a query under the Right to Information revealed the Gujarat government had spent Rs 30 crore on PM Modi's visit to Morbi town after the collapse of a suspension bridge on October 30. -- ANI

Taking to Instagram, Aryan Khan, on Tuesday, shared a picture and captioned the post, "Wrapped with the writing...can't wait to say action." https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl1JVwjqwPX/ In the post, Aryan shared a picture of the screenplay of the project under the Red Chillies Entertainment clapboard kept on a blue pool table. 

Meanwhile, Aryan hid the title of his debut project written on the screenplay with his hand, and only gave a glimpse of the title which beings with the letter "A". 

Soon after Aryan shared the picture, users flooded the comment section with red hearts and fire emoticons. Shah Rukh Khan's wife Gauri Khan commented, "Can't wait to watch." 

"I m SCREAMING All the veryyyy best," a fan commented. Another fan wrote, "OMGGG LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE CHAMP." 

Further deets about the project are still under wraps. -- ANI

A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha told the petitioner that it should have moved a curative petition if he was aggrieved with the decision. 

Petitioner said that he does not believe in curative petitions. 

The court replied that then it cannot help them. 

The petitioner had alleged that a bench, led by former CJI Gogoi, had rejected his case in a dictatorial manner, only hearing it for 10 minutes and an order was passed to unduly favour a corporate body. 

The court noted that the labour court had passed an order against him. 

"You said the HC has been wrongly reversed. It was after the review petition (with HC) was dismissed that you filed a PIL," the court noted. -- ANI

Thanking "elder brother" Annamalai (BJP state chief), Suriya said "travelling in this party has been a pleasant experience" for him. 

"You (Annamalai) are the biggest treasure for Tamil Nadu BJP, which will definitely achieve the double digit figure in the upcoming elections," he said in a tweet. 

In another tweet tagging Annamalai, he said, "If that is to be achieved then state organisation general secretary @kesavavinayagam needs to be replaced. Otherwise, BJP will continue in Tamil Nadu like it was in the past. I hereby end my relationship with the BJP." 

Following the recent leak of the telephone conversation purportedly between Trichy Suriya Siva, son of DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, and BJP minority morcha leader Daisy Saran, the BJP stripped him of the post of OBC Morcha general secretary and suspended him for six months. 

He was barred from attending party events for six months, pending enquiry. 

In the private conversation that went viral on social media, Suriya was heard intimidating Saran and even made lewd remarks. 

Posting a letter on his twitter page, Suriya hailed Annamalai as a "precious gift" to Tamil Nadu BJP and said Annamalai would become Chief Minister in 2026. 

"Was blessed and happy to be under your leadership for past months. You are a capable candidate even to be the next projected Prime Minister of India. Love to see your growth," he said thanking the party president. -- PTI

The President said that the government of India is investing significantly in health and development through a range of flagship initiatives. 

The government is making special efforts to ensure an inclusive approach, so that the benefits reach the most vulnerable and disadvantaged sections of society, Murmu said. 

She expressed confidence that the foundation would also make efforts to reach those who are most in need -- whether they are women and girls, tribal communities, or those residing in remote parts of the country. 

Murmu also highlighted the role of women in the overall development of the country, and called on the foundation to continue its efforts towards gender equality and women's empowerment. 

The President appreciated the pioneering work of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in public health, infectious disease control and malaria and TB prevention. 

She encouraged the foundation to also give attention to other serious ailments, such as sickle cell anemia, which particularly afflicts tribal communities. 

The President also appreciated the good work of the foundation in the area of agricultural development, and urged the Foundation to consider starting cooperative marketing initiatives for minor forest produce in tribal areas.

The Bandra metropolitan court granted bail to the duo on a cash bond of Rs 15,000 each and directed them to cooperate with the investigation, their lawyer Zamir Khan said. 

The detailed order was not available yet. 

The accused have been booked under Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code. 

The duo were arrested hours after a video surfaced on social media last week showing the woman being sexually harassed in Khar area of Mumbai. It showed a youth coming close to the vlogger and trying to pull her by holding her hand even when she protested. 

As the woman started walking away from the spot, the man again appeared on a motorcycle with a friend, offering her a lift, which she refused. -- PTI

The servers of the premier hospital here essentially remained down most of the time during the day, they said. 

"Outpatient department registration and admission processes were brought online in the eHospital system yesterday (Monday). The integration of the smart lab is being worked on for samples collected from all wards and collection areas for automated analysis and reporting. Additionally, agencies such as CERT, BEL, DRDO are on the ground helping with the rollout," an official source said. 

According to sources, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi allegedly faced a cyber attack on November 23, paralysing its servers. 

A case of extortion and cyber terrorism was registered by the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations unit of the Delhi police on November 25. 

The internet services were blocked as per the recommendations of the investigating agencies, the sources said. CERT-In, Delhi cybercrime special cell, Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre, Intelligence Bureau, Central Bureau of Investigation, National Investigation Agency, etc, are investigating the incident. 

The AIIMS authorities had said last week that the e-hospital data had been restored on the servers. 

They said the network was being sanitised before the services could be restored. -- PTI

The over 130-day-long protest by fisherfolk against the under-construction Vizhinjam sea port was on Tuesday called off for now.

          

The calling off of the agitation was announced by Vicar General Eugene Pereira, who has been seen at the forefront of the protests.

        

He, however, said the protest was not being called off because they were satisfied with the steps taken or promises made by the state government.

        

It was being called off as the protest has reached a certain stage and if required, they will take it up again, Pereira told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.

        

A day ago, leaders of various religious groups in Kerala had met with the fisherfolk protesting against the under-construction Vizhinjam sea port in Thiruvananthapuram as part of the ongoing efforts to bring peace in the area which witnessed violent agitations recently.

         

A large number of people have been staging demonstrations outside the main entrance of the multi-purpose seaport at nearby Mulloor for the last few months.

        

They have been pressing their seven-point charter of demands that include stopping the construction work and to conduct a coastal impact study in connection with the multi-crore project.

        

The agitators have been alleging that the unscientific construction of groynes, the artificial sea walls as part of the upcoming port, was one of the reasons for the increasing coastal erosion. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called up Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav to enquire about the well-being of RJD president Lalu Prasad who underwent a kidney transplant in Singapore on the previous day, the party said.

   

On its official Twitter handle, the Rashtriya Janata Dal also shared photographs of Indian envoys in Singapore who met Yadav to wish Prasad a speedy recovery.

 

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Tejashwi Yadav over phone in the morning and enquired about the health of RJD president Lalu Prasad after a kidney transplant," the party tweeted.

 

"Officials at the Indian embassy in Singapore met Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, presented him with a bouquet of flowers and wished for the speedy recovery of ex-Union minister Lalu Prasad," the party added in another tweet.

 

Prasad, a former chief minister of Bihar, had also served as the railway minister in the UPA-1 government.

 

Serving sentences in many fodder scam cases, he has been granted bail and allowed to travel abroad on medical grounds.

 

Meanwhile, Yadav, who is Prasad's younger son, also shared photographs of elder sister Rohini Acharya who is winning accolades for donating a kidney to their septuagenarian father.

 

"After the surgery, my dear sister's self-confidence has been out of this world, like never before and fantastic," tweeted Yadav who can be seen, in the pictures, alongside his sister's hospital bed.

 

"The example set by my dear sister Rohini Acharya, in an age defined by crumbling relationships, is of family values, unshakable love, limitless sacrifice and indomitable courage, and is beyond description and unforgettable," the doting little brother added. -- PTI 

The Centre has taken back a sum of Rs 1,000 crore it granted under different heads in recent days to the cash-starved Andhra Pradesh government, a state Finance department official indicated on Tuesday. 

         

On November 25, the Centre released Rs 682 crore to AP as GST compensation, out of Rs 17,000 crore to all states, but the amount has not reached the state coffers.

        

Over Rs 300 crore was released this week under some other heads but that money too was not credited.

        

"In effect, the Centre has taken back about Rs 1,000 crore, adjusting it against some old liabilities dated back to the (state) bifurcation," a top finance department official said.

        

Half the IAS officers in the state were not paid salaries till date this month, bureaucrats, who did not receive their pay, told PTI.

        

"They are making staggered payments in which some have received salary and many have not. We hope it will be cleared this week," a senior IAS officer said.

        

Staff of at least five departments in the state Secretariat were yet to get their salary for November.

        

"Pension has been completely stopped so far this month. Teachers working in model schools and Kasturba Gandhi schools also did not get their pay," official sources said.

        

With the state government exhausting its annual borrowing limit of Rs 48,000 crore even before the third quarter, no scope was left for open market borrowing.

        

"We will take up the issue with the Union Finance Ministry as the dispute over pending liabilities has to be resolved by the Centre itself," the state Finance department official said. 

Alagh (83) was an emeritus professor at the Sardar Patel Institute of Economic and Social Research here and was not keeping well for some time, his son Munish Alagh said. 

Y K Alagh was born in Chakwal in present-day Pakistan in 1939 and studied at the University of Rajasthan. He had a doctorate degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania. 

He was also a former vice-chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. He was Union minister of state for planning and programme implementation, science and technology and power during 1996-98.

Addressing the party's office-bearers from across the country, he said all state units will launch the exercise and said it should not be limited to handing over some party literature to people. 

Party members should discuss issues with people, understand their problems and help them in addressing their concerns, he said, according to a party statement. 

In the meeting, intensive discussions were also held on a number of assembly elections in 2023, including in Tripura, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and presentations were made, it said. 

The highlight of Nadda's address on the last day of the two-day meeting was his emphasis on connecting with people. 

"BJP workers should build direct contact with every home through the 'house to house' campaign so that they are seen as members of the households, standing with them in most difficult times," he said. 

India's G-20 presidency also came in for discussion with leaders stressing that people should be informed about this "global achievement" of the country. 

Nadda also noted that various welfare measures of the Modi government has uplifted the living standards of over 60 crore people and said the BJP should reach out to them.

It is learnt that the Indian Navy is keeping an eye on the movement of the Chinese ballistic missile and satellite tracking ship. 

The docking of the ship at Hambantota port in August had triggered a diplomatic row between India and Sri Lanka. 

Open source intelligence expert Damien Symon on Monday tweeted that "Yuan Wang 5, #China's missile and satellite tracking vessel has entered the #IndianOcean region." 

There is no official comment on the reports of the presence of the spy ship in the Indian Ocean Region. 

As per laid down protocol, India recently issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen/Notice to Air Missions) about a missile test. It is not clear whether India will go ahead with the plan for the missile test in view of the presence of the Chinese spy ship. 

According to experts, the Chinese vessel was last spotted in the Sunda Strait of Indonesia. 

The visit of the Chinese ship to the Indian Ocean comes amid increasing concerns over growing forays into the region by Chinese military and research vessels. 

India is bolstering defence and security ties in the Indian Ocean with like-minded countries against the backdrop of concerns over China's growing forays into the region, considered the backyard of the Indian Navy.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday congratulated the people of Delhi after exit polls showed a clean sweep by the Aam Aadmi Patyu in the municipal elections and also said the prediction for the party in Gujarat is a "positive sign".

But the Aam Aadmi Party will wait for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi election results to be declared before thanking the people of the national capital, he said.

Three exit polls on Monday predicted a clear win for the AAP in the MCD polls, with the BJP emerging a distant second. The counting of votes for the elections to the 250-ward civic body will be taken up on Wednesday.

"I would like to congratulate the citizens of Delhi. I was also following these exit polls and it looks like it is a good result for the Aam Aadmi Party in the MCD. But we will wait for the final results to come in tomorrow before thanking the people.

"We hope that the results tomorrow will be in line with the exit poll predictions and that the people of Delhi and the country go on to support the AAP in the future as well," Kejriwal said.

Exit polls predicted that the BJP will return for a seventh consecutive term in Gujarat. The party is expected to get a big mandate in the range of 117-151 seats in the 182-member assembly, the Congress 16-51 seats and the AAP 2-13 seats, according to the exit polls. The majority mark in the Gujarat assembly is 92.

The Indian Railways has decided to enhance the maximum permissible speed of trains to 75 km per hour from the present 60 km per hour to combat delays during the foggy winter months, the national transporter said on Tuesday.

 

This, it said, would be possible due to the presence of fog devices that would be provided to loco pilots in all locomotives running in fog-affected areas.

"It has been decided that with the use of fog devices in locomotives, the maximum permissible speed during foggy/inclement weather conditions can be enhanced from 60 kmph (km per hour) to 75 kmph," the Indian Railways said.

The national transporter has also asked railway zones to keep adequate supply of detonators -- appliances fixed on rails that explode with a loud report when an engine passes so as to attract the driver's attention.

It also said lime marking across the track at sighting boards (or at distant signals in case of double-distant signals) must be done.

"All signal sighting boards, whistle boards, fog signal posts and busy vulnerable level crossing gates, which are accident prone, should either be painted or provided with yellow/black luminous strips. The work of repainting for their proper visibility should be completed before onset of the foggy season. Lifting barriers at busy level crossings, where necessary, to be provided with yellow/black luminous indication strips.

"The new existing Seating Cum Luggage Rakes (SLRs) are already being fitted with LED-based flasher tail lights, therefore, the existing SLRs with fixed red lights should be modified and fixed with LED lights. This will be a very important step to ensure safety in foggy weather," the Railways said.

It has also asked the railways to ensure that retro reflective strips in 'sigma' shape for identification of stop signals were provided as per existing instructions.

The Railways may also create infrastructure at new/additional crew changing locations. 

"During fog, when the loco pilot in his judgement feels that visibility is restricted due to fog, he shall run at a speed at which he can control the train so as to be prepared to stop short of any obstruction; this speed shall in any case not be more than 75 kmph (km per hour).

It has also directed loco pilots to whistle frequently to warn the gatemen and road users of an approaching train at level crossings. -- PTI 

Visitors planning to witness the daily national flag lowering and retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah front along the India-Pakistan international border in Punjab can book their seats online from the next year.

   

The Border Security Force, that guards the frontier and conducts the event, has launched a web portal for this purpose -- http://attari.bsf.gov.in.

"Welcome to JCP Attari website Bookings to view the Joint Retreat Ceremony can now be made online. Bookings Open from 1st January 2023," the BSF said in a public message on its Twitter handle.

 

At per the present system, people reach the retreat area without a prior booking and the BSF allows them to take seats in the gallery on production of an ID card.

The new facility is not chargeable and visitors will be initially allowed to book 12 persons in one group, 48 hours prior to the desired day, after furnishing photo ID card details online, a senior BSF officer said.

The booking details will be sent through an SMS on the mobile number of the group leader or the first visitor listed, he said.

The Attari border front, also called the joint check post or JCP, is located about 26 kms from Amritsar city and hundreds of domestic visitors, foreign tourists and locals go everyday to watch the daily flag lowering and retreat ceremony conducted in a synchronised fashion by smartly-dressed BSF personnel along with their counterparts Pakistan Rangers, on their side known as Wagah.

A senior officer said the website will start accepting the bookings from January 1 and an individual would be initially able to book for a group of total 12 people, 48 hours prior to the event, that starts between 3:30 pm-4 pm every evening. 

The BSF has now numbered the seats in the viewing gallery so that it can hold about 20,000-25,000 visitors daily.

"While the Attari stadia can hold about 25,000 people daily, the rush of visitors on weekends and days of national festivals like Independence Day and Republic Day swells upto as much as 40,000 persons.  

"A number of people had to be turned away from the security barrier and hence it was decided by the BSF Punjab frontier that if the seats are numbered and bookings are made online, everyone will get a sure seat and a desired view," the officer said. 

 

"We will bring changes in the booking procedure after getting the feedback and response of the first few days," he said.

India and Pakistan have been traditionally hosting the evening flag-lowering ceremonies at the Attari-Wagah border since 1959 and the event is attended by a huge number of people from both the countries on their respective sides. The ceremony lasts between 60-120 minutes.

 

The BSF conducts the synchronised ceremony in coordination with their counterparts Pakistan Rangers and it involves lowering of the flags of the two countries along with foot stomping manoeuvres of the troops with patriotic songs playing in the background on the either side. 

The online booking will also allow the tourists to visit the BSF museum and border pillar no 102 that is erected next to the Attari border gate. --PTI 

The Central Bureau of Investigation has issued a fresh notice to Telangana Rashtra Samithi MLC K Kavitha to appear for questioning on December 11 at Hyderabad in connection with Delhi Excise Policy scam case, officials said Tuesday.

 

The agency is understood to have agreed to the request of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter to postpone her questioning from Tuesday to any date between December 11-15.

In her response to the first notice issued on December 2, Kavitha had said she had gone through the contents of the FIR copy as well as the complaint available on the website in connection with the case and her name did not figure anywhere in any manner whatsoever.

A video surfaced on social media showing some people throwing stones at vehicles entering Karnataka from Maharashtra, prompting  Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to take up the matter with Karnataka Chief 

Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday and extract an assurance on protection of vehicles.

  

Amid a raging border row between the two states, the video showed some people throwing stones at vehicles entering Karnataka from the Maharashtra side near a toll booth at Hirebaugwadi in Belagavi district of the adjoining state.

Sources close to the Maharashtra Deputy CM said, Fadnavis made a phone call to Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and expressed his disappointment over the Hirebaugwadi incident."

"The Karnataka Chief Minister assured Fadnavis of strong action against the perpetrators. He also assured Fadnavis that vehicles entering Karnataka from Maharashtra will be given proper protection," the sources said. 

The decades-old Karnataka-Maharashtra border row has flared up in the last few days, leading to a war of words between politicians of the two states. 

The Bharatiya Janata Party rules Karnataka and it is also a part of the ruling coalition in Maharashtra.

The border issue dates back to 1957 after the reorganisation of states on linguistic lines.

Maharashtra laid claim to Belagavi, which was part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency as it has a sizable Marathi-speaking population. It also laid claim to 814 Marathi-speaking villages which are currently part of the southern state.

Karnataka, however, considers the demarcation done on linguistic lines as per the States Reorganisation Act and the 1967 Mahajan Commission Report as final. -- PTI 

In the last three months since the accident, changes and repairs have been undertaken on the stretch of Charote bridge for the safety of motorists and locals, superintendent of Police (SP) Palghar Balasaheb Patil told PTI. 

"Earlier, we decided in a meeting that ambulances would be available at four different places on the highway so that persons injured in accidents can be rushed to hospitals. Apart from this, we have converted the three-lane stretch into a two-lane one and placed boards about the speed limit," the official said. 

Unauthorised road cutting has been stopped in the area, he said. 

"We have placed rambler strips to reduce the speed of vehicles, placed new delineators and blinkers and repaired potholes on the highway," Patil said, adding that many more changes are likely in the coming days. 

Mistry (54) and his friend Jahangir Pandole were killed after the car hit the railing of Charote bridge on September 4. Gynaecologist Dr Anahita Pandole (55), who was at the wheel, and her husband Darius suffered serious injuries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on December 11 dedicate to the nation three national Ayush institutes -- All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Goa; National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM), Ghaziabad; and National Institute of Homoeopathy (NIH), Delhi.

   

These institutes will further strengthen research, international collaborations and facilitate affordable Ayush services for larger community, Union Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Tuesday.

While addressing the media, Sonowal also gave details of the 9th World Ayurveda Congress (WAC) in Goa's Panjim, which will showcase the scientificity, efficacy, and the strength of Ayush System of Medicines at Global level.

The establishment of these institutes is in line with the prime minister's vision of expansion of infrastructure and human resources, and promotion of research in the traditional medical systems, he said.

 

These three institutes will create 400 additional seats for students in UG, PG and doctoral courses, he said, adding 550 additional beds in these three streams will also be added.

The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Goa, will provide the highest quality facilities for UG, PG and post-doctoral streams in education and patient care services through Ayurveda system of medicine. 

It will be developed into a wellness hub of Ayurveda promoting Medical Value Travel (MVT) and will function as a model centre for international and national collaboration for academic and research purposes, Sonowal said.

Hackers allegedly tried to breach the website of the apex health research body ICMR but their attempts have been foiled, according to a government official.

   

The official said that hackers apparently from Hong Kong tried to attack the website of the Indian Council of Medical Research around 6000 times in a span of 24 hours on November 30.

 

The attacks come close to the heels of the alleged ransomware attack that had paralysed AIIMS online services in Delhi.

 

"The contents of the ICMR website are safe. The site is hosted at NIC Data Centre, hence the firewall is from NIC which they regularly update. The attack has been prevented successfully," the official said. -- PTI

Fake social media narratives potentially affecting free and fair polls is fast emerging as a common challenge for most election management bodies, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said on Tuesday.

 

Addressing a delegation led by Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, he said the idea of democracy is deeply rooted in India's historical context and traditions.

The German delegation was at the Nirvachan Sadan here to meet the Commission.

Giving an overview on the magnitude of Indian elections, Kumar informed the German delegation of the humongous exercise the poll panel carries out involving more than 95 crore voters across 11 lakh polling stations. 

Over one crore polling personnel are deployed to ensure a robust electoral processes for holding free, fair, inclusive elections, he said, adding the EC ensures participation of political parties at every stage.

 

According to an EC statement, Kumar said that apart from the logistical challenges, the disruptive impact of fake social media narratives in potentially affecting free and fair elections is fast emerging as a common challenge for most elections management bodies.

The German foreign minister, while interacting with the Commission, appreciated the vast exercise of electoral management by EC in the largest democracy in the world given the challenges of diverse geography, culture and electorate.

 

The delegation was briefed about the extensive use of technology by the EC in the conduct of elections broadly under three verticals of voters' participation, political parties and candidates and election machinery logistics. 

 

She personally cast a vote through an Electronic Voting Machine during a demonstration organised by the EC for the delegation. 

She, along with the visiting MPs, keenly observed the strong security features of standalone EVMs along with rigorous administrative protocols for handling, movement, storage and operation of the machines, the EC said. -- PTI

Amid a simmering border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka, activists of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction on Tuesday sprayed black and orange paints on at least three Karnataka state transport buses in Swargate area of Pune city. 

                 

They also wrote "Jai Maharashtra" on these buses.   

        

A local leader of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)  faction confirmed they painted the buses. 

       

Workers of the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction sprayed at least two-three buses of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) with black paint. They also used an orange spray to write "Jai Maharashtra" on these buses. 

                

"We have detained four to five people who painted the buses," a police officer said. 

                

The border issue dates back to 1957 after the reorganisation of states on linguistic lines.

        

Maharashtra laid claim to Belagavi, which was part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency as it has a sizable Marathi-speaking population. It also laid claim to 814 Marathi-speaking villages which are currently part of Karnataka.

                

Belagavi district administration in Karnataka on Monday issued orders barring entry of the two Maharashtra ministers and leaders to the city. Prohibitory orders were issued under section 144 of CrPC, barring their entry, besides that of an MP, who are members of the Maharashtra High Power Committee on the Border Dispute. 

                

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai recently sought a merger of "Kannada-speaking" areas in Maharashtra's Akkalkot and Solapur and had also said some villages in Jat taluka in Sangli district wanted to join the southern state. -- PTI 

Unted States-based The Trump Organization Executive Vice President Donald Trump Jr, son of former US President Donald J Trump, is expected to visit India this month and may announce its expansion in Indian real estate market.

   

New York-based The Trump Organization entered into Indian real estate market through a partnership with Mumbai-based Tribeca Developers.

 

The US firm and Tribeca have tied up with local developers, including the Lodha group, to build luxury projects under 'Trump' brand. So far, four luxury projects have been announced, of which one in Pune is already complete.

 

"Donald Trump Jr. is expected to come to India this month on the occasion of Tribeca Developers' 10th-anniversary celebration," Tribeca Developers said in a statement.

 

During this visit, Donal Trump Jr. and Kalpesh Mehta, founder of Tribeca Developers, are both likely to announce their business expansion plans in the country, it added.

 

"Tribeca's business association with the Trump Organization dates back 10 years and has grown stronger over the years. Our 10-year celebration wouldn't have been complete without Donald Trump Jr. and I'm delighted he will be joining us," Mehta said.

 

"During this visit, we also plan to announce our business expansion plans with the Trump Organization and other significant developments," he added.

 

At present, there are four Trump projects in India -- Trump Tower Delhi-NCR, Trump Tower Kolkata, Trump Tower Pune and Trump Tower Mumbai.

 

In India, The Trump Organization has already completed a luxury project in Pune partnering with Panchshil Realty.

 

It tied up with Lodha group in 2014 for a housing project in Mumbai, which is currently under construction.

 

In November 2017, Trump Tower was launched in Kolkata comprising 140 ultra-luxury apartments and being developed by Unimark Group, RDB Group and Tribeca Developers.

 

The fourth housing project at Gurugram, Haryana, launched in 2018, is being developed by realty firm M3M.

 Besides Trump Towers, Tribeca is independently developing few projects in partnership with other builders. -- PTI

Maharashtra ministers Chandrakant Patil and Shambhuraj Desai, appointed for coordinating the state's border dispute with Karnataka, were earlier scheduled to meet activists of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti at Belagavi in the southern state on Tuesday and hold talks with them on the decades-old border issue. 

 Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said he will ask his Maharashtra counterpart Eknath Shinde not to send his cabinet colleagues to Belagavi as their visit may disrupt the law and order situation in the border district. 

 Asserting the border dispute with Maharashtra is settled, the CM said he has already instructed the officials concerned regarding the measures to be taken in case the ministers go ahead with the visit, and that the government will not hesitate to take any legal action. 

 Talking to reporters on Tuesday, Pawar claimed that since the last few weeks, conscious attempts were being made by the Karnataka CM to take the situation in a different direction.

"Time has come to take a stand after seeing what is happening in border areas. The situation there is worrisome," said former Union minister Pawar, whose party was part of the previous Uddhav Thackeray-led led Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra. 

 Last week, Chandrakant Patil said there was a demand from the Madhyavarti Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti, an organisation fighting for the merger of Belagavi and some other border areas with Maharashtra, to hold discussions with the volunteers on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border issue. 

 Maharashtra, since its inception in 1960, has been entangled in a dispute with Karnataka over the status of Belagavi district and 80 other Marathi speaking villages, which are in the control of the southern state. The dispute is pending before the Supreme Court. PTI

Sri Lanka is going through its worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948, triggered by a severe paucity of foreign exchange reserves. In mid-April, Sri Lanka declared its international debt default due to the forex crisis. 

 Addressing the inaugural session of the Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2022 on Monday, Wickremesinghe said the country's beleaguered economy cannot be set right through outdated economic systems. 

 As Sri Lanka's economy went into a perpetual tailspin in recent times, Wickremesinghe acknowledged that economic reforms were not the antidote for the current malaise. 

"What is the plan for reform? Frankly, I have no plan for it. What reforms when we don't have an economy," the Daily Lanka Mirror newspaper quoted Wickremesinghe as saying. 

"What we want to do is to build a new economy," he explained. 

"The current economy is not worth reforming because it is so fragile that it will crumble again, the report quoted him as saying. Our trade balance is not in our favour. So are we going to rebuild the same structure and come down again much faster? Therefore I thought it's not worth reforming it," Wickremesinghe said.

 Chowdhury alleged that the government did not "properly" inform the Opposition about the stand-off at the Sino-India border. 

"In the House, we demand a discussion on it and also on the killings of Kashmiri Pandits," he added. 

 Congress leader Naseer Hussain demanded discussions on the appointment of Election Commissioner in just one day and Economically Weaker Section quota. 

 Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay said he, along with party colleague and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien, sought discussions on price rise, unemployment, alleged misuse of agencies and economic blockade of states. 

 O'Brien also told the government that the Opposition should be allowed to raise issues of importance. The Winter Session will last till December 29, with 17 sittings over 23 days.

Leaders from more than 30 parties attended the meeting convened by the central government to discuss the legislative agenda and the issues likely to be taken up during the Winter Session of Parliament that begins on December 7.

Court frames charges against Ashish Mishra, 13 others in Lakhimpur Kheri violence case in which four farmers were killed, says government counsel.

More details awaited.  -- PTI

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri on Tuesday apologised to Delhi high court for criticising Justice S Murlidhar for granting bail to activist Gautam Navlakha.

Vivek Agnihotri, who directed the movie Kashmir Files, tendered his unconditional apology for the tweets he posted in 2018 about Justice S Murlidhar after he quashed the transit remand of Gautam Navlakha -- accused in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon case.

The apology was tendered before the division bench comprising justices Sidharth Mridul and Talwant Singh on Tuesday, and the bench asked Agnihotri to be present before the court in the next hearing.

The court had initiated suo moto contempt proceedings in the matter against Agnihotri.

The counsel for Agnihotri submitted through an affidavit that the tweets were deleted by his client.

On the other hand, amicus curiae opposed the submission saying that the tweets were deleted by the social platform Twitter, not by him.

The bench on Tuesday directed Agnihotri to be present before the court on the next date of hearing on March 16, 2023.

"We are asking him to remain present because he is contemnor. Does he have any difficulty if he has to express remorse in person? The remorse cannot always be expressed by way of an affidavit," the bench said.

70-year-old Navlakha, one of the several civil liberties activists in the Bhima Koregaon case, has been booked under stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for an alleged conspiracy to topple the government.   -- ANI

 Delhi recorded a voter turnout of 50.48 per cent in the keenly-watched polls held on December 4, results of which may have ramifications beyond the national capital. 

 The election was largely touted as a three-way contest among a spirited AAP, a confident BJP and a hopeful Congress. 

 There are 250 wards in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and 1,349 candidates are in the fray in this election. 

 "We are all set for the counting of votes tomorrow for which 42 centres have been set up. Counting will take place amid tight security arrangements," a senior official of the State Election Commission told PTI.

 The centres are located in areas, including, Shastri Park, Yamuna Vihar, Mayur Vihar, Nand Nagari, Dwarka, Okhla, Mangolpuri, Pitampura, Alipur and Model Town. Tight security arrangements have been made at all the centres with with 20 companies of Central Armed Police Forces and more than 10,000 police personnel deployed for the day at the centres, police officials said.

 Both AAP and the BJP have exuded confidence that they will emerge victorious in the polls while the Congress is seeking to regain lost turf. In the 2017 civic election, the BJP had won 181 of the 270 wards. Polling could not be held on two seats due to the death of candidates. 

The AAP had won 48 wards and the Congress 27. The voting percentage that year was around 53. This year, the highest polling percentage (65.72) has been recorded in ward no. 5 (Bakhtawarpur), while the lowest (33.74 per cent) was registered in ward no.145 (Andrews Ganj).

 Most exit polls have predicted a huge victory for the BJP in Gujarat, the home turf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while the party has been shown to have a slight edge over the Congress in Himachal Pradesh. 

"Janata Malik hai (the people are our master)," said Kumar, trying to ward off the queries of journalists. When pressed further, he quipped, "Do I ever say anything in such matters?" He insisted that one should wait for the final results to be announced on Thursday. 

 The JD(U) leader was talking to reporters after paying tributes to Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar at a statue installed near the Patna High Court. 

 He also expressed deep reverence for the Father of the Indian Constitution, especially for the thrust on the uplift of underdogs. 

Replying to another query, Kumar expressed happiness that his rival turned alliance partner Lalu Prasad, the RJD president, was doing fine after a successful kidney transplant operation on Monday in Singapore. "I spoke to people there over the phone. I am very happy that Laluji is in good shape", said Kumar. PTI

In a tweet, TMC national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien detailed the circumstances under which the arrest was made.

 Gokhale took a flight at 9 pm from New Delhi to Jaipur on Monday. 

When he landed, the Gujarat Police was at the airport in Rajasthan waiting for him and picked him up. 

At 2 am on Tuesday, Gokhale called his mother and told her that the police were taking him to Ahmedabad and he would reach that city by noon, O'Brien claimed.

 "The police let him make that two-minute phone call and then confiscated his phone and all his belongings," the TMC leader said on Twitter.

 "The cooked up case is filed with the Ahmedabad cyber cell about Saket's tweet on the Morbi bridge collapse. All this cannot silence the All India Trinamool Congress and the Opposition. BJP taking political vendetta to another level," he alleged.

 When contacted, Jaipur airport police station SHO Digpal Singh said he had no such information. "I have no information. Nobody informed us," he said. PTI

Leaders from all major parties attended the meeting convened by the central government to discuss the legislative agenda and the issues likely to be discussed during the the Winter Session of Parliament that begins on December 7. 

 The government was represented by Union minister and deputy leader of the BJP in Lok Sabha Rajnath Singh and Leader of House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi was also present. 

 During the meeting, Congress leaders Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Naseer Hussain demanded discussions on the appointment of election commissioner in just one day, EWS quota and unemployment. 

 TMC leader Derek O'Brien sought discussions on price rise, unemployment, alleged misuse of agencies and economic blockade of states, sources said. 

 O'Brien also told the government that the Opposition should be allowed to raise issues of importance. The Winter Session will last till December 29, with 17 sittings over 23 days. PTI

The minister, however, made it clear that the Left government was moving ahead with a "clear road map" and financial discipline to overcome the crisis and resolve the issues. 

He was replying to a question during the Question Hour session in the state Assembly. 

"It is true that the state is facing an unprecedented financial crisis. However, the reasons contributing to the crisis are beyond the control of the state...that is the fact," Balagopal said. 

Compared to the previous financial year, there was a dip of Rs 6716 crore in the revenue deficit grant (released to the state by the Centre) during the ongoing financial year, he informed the House. 

However, the minister replied in negative to a question whether it was found that the wrong financial management by the state was the reason for the present financial crisis. 

Natural disasters, Covid-19 pandemic, distorted policies of the Centre, the implementation of the GST without much contemplation, delayed distribution of GST compensation and imposition of cuts in the borrowing limit of the state by the union government were among those reasons that triggered the present financial crisis in the southern state, he explained. 

The Left government was trying to overcome the crisis through a strict financial discipline by strengthening the tax collection, avoiding the unwanted expenses and keeping its to the minimum, the minister added. PTI

BJP leader Giriraj Singh, easily a fierce critic of Lalu Prasad Yadav, has praised his daughter Rohini Acharya for donating her kidney. 

"Rohini Acharya is the ideal daughter. I'm proud of you. You have set an example for future generations," Singh tweeted.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal president had a kidney transplant in Singapore yesterday and is said to be doing well.

Lalu Yadav's daughter Misa Bharati had tweeted a picture (see alongside) with Rohini after the operation, writing that both her father and sister were doing well and were in the ICU at the hospital recuperating. 

 Acharya, who is in her early 40s, has been winning praise for donating her kidney to the 74-year-old veteran politician.

 At 8:56 pm on Monday, the troop heard the sound of a drone from the Pakistan side when it was hovering over Kalia village. 

 The personnel fired in that direction, and during the search, they recovered 2.47 kg heroin wrapped in a yellow polythene, the officials said. 

 "A metal ring meant for the release of the consignment from the drone was also found attached with it," an official said. 

 The personnel carried out another round of search operation on Tuesday morning during which they found the broken drone lying the field. The BSF troops once again foiled a smuggling attempt, the official said.

Addressing the inaugural meeting of "National Security Advisers/Secretaries of Security Councils" with his counterparts from from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Doval said, "Afghanistan is an important issue concerning us all."

 "India's concerns and objectives ...and immediate priority and the way forward, are similar to many of those around the table," Doval said.

Turkmenistan was represented by its ambassador to India.

 It however saw the government meeting the fiscal deficit target of 6.4 per cent of the GDP in 2022-23. World Bank expects the inflation at 7.1 per cent in current fiscal year. PTI

 The high-level security review meeting will take place this noon at the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi. 

 According to official sources, the high-level security meeting will be held in a hybrid mode. Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla will chair the meeting, and discuss internal security as well as the current security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, sources said. -- ANI

 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, DMK MP TR Baalu, Harsimrat Kaur Badal (SAD), and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Congress) among several leaders are present in the meeting. 

 The Winter Session will begin on December 7 and will last until December 29. 

The session also had to be delayed by a month due to the Gujarat election schedule. 

 The Rajya Sabha Secretariat has released a Code of Conduct for its members, a day before the Winter Session of the Parliament that is scheduled to commence on Wednesday. 

 The winter session will go on till December 29, 2022, and there will be a total of 17 working days.

 The Lok Sabha will pay tributes to the members who passed away during the inter-session period on the first day. Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav passed away in October. 

 This will be the first session when Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar will chair as Chairman of Rajya Sabha. The monsoon session of Parliament was held between July 18 and August 8.

As per the new announcement, negative nucleic acid test results are no longer required to enter shopping malls, supermarkets, commercial buildings and residential compounds. 

 However, Beijing residents will still require a negative Covid-19 test taken within 48 hours to enter restaurants, schools, bars, internet cafes, indoor gaming stadiums, nursing homes, welfare facilities, hospitals and medical institutions. 

 The announcement was made ahead of the memorial meeting held here by the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) for former President of the country Jiang Zemin who passed away on November 30. Beijing continues to report a high number of Covid-19 cases. 

On Monday, the city reported 2,260 Covid infections. 

 The Chinese mainland on Monday reported 4,988 locally transmitted confirmed Covid-19 cases and 22,859 local asymptomatic infections, China's National Health Commission said on Tuesday. 

 Many Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, witnessed public protests against the government's zero-Covid policy leading to periodic lockdowns of the cities and the apartment complexes, confining people indoors for days on end. 

 Last week, China said it will take steps to minimise the impact of its draconian coronavirus lockdowns, amidst the public protests against the zero-Covid policy that evoked strong support from the UN, the US and other nations. 

 China's zero-Covid policy involves mass lockdowns, constant testing and quarantines even for people who are not infected. China is the only major country still trying to stamp out transmission while other nations have relaxed restrictions and try to live with the coronavirus that has killed at least 6.6 million people and infected almost 650 million. PTI

Police barricading has been placed at various places in Mathura this morning and vehicle checking is being done. 

Amid the ABHM's call, the Mathura district administration has directed Police forces and security personnel to remain on high alert.

Earlier on Saturday, the ABHM sought permission from the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to perform Laddu Gopal's 'Jalabhishek' and recital of the 'Hanuman Chalisa' at the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Idgah on December 6.

ABHM's request came after the district administration imposed restrictions on December 1 in the wake of the 30th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition. The restrictions will remain in effect till January 28.

District Magistrate Pulkit Khare imposed the prohibitory order. It has been stated in the order that any political, social, or religious organisation, or any other gathering of five or more people, any kind of gathering, picketing, demonstration, etc. will not be allowed without permission. 

In the event of a violation, strict action will be taken against the person or organisation in question under Section 188 of the Code of Police Criminal Procedure. -- ANI

He along with President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar paid floral tributes to him at Parliament complex. 

 "On Mahaparinirvan Diwas, I pay homage to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and recall his exemplary service to our nation. His struggles gave hope to millions and his efforts to give India such an extensive Constitution can never be forgotten," he said in a tweet. PTI

 This comes a day after he targeted the saffron party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, asking why they were not chanting 'Jai Siyaram' and 'He Ram'. 

 The yatra resumed from Khel Sankul, where Gandhi had stopped on Monday night, and crossed Jhalawar city in the morning. 

 Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Pradesh Congress Committee chief Govind Singh Dotasra, former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, several ministers and MLAs are accompanying Gandhi. 

 After covering approximately 12 km, the yatra is scheduled to reach Devarighata at around 10 am. After lunch, it will resume from Suket at 3.30 pm. The night stay has been planned at Moru Kalan Khel Maidan in Jhalawar. 

 Even as Gandhi is taking out his yatra in Rajasthan, the party high command appointed senior Punjab Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa the state's in-charge after Ajay Maken tendered his resignation from the post.

Jiang was an outstanding leader enjoying high prestige acknowledged by the whole Communist Party of China (CPC), the entire military and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups.

He was hailed as a great Marxist and a great proletarian revolutionary, statesman, military strategist, and diplomat. Jiang was a long-tested communist fighter and an outstanding leader of the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. He was the core of the third generation of the Party's central collective leadership and the principal founder of the Theory of Three Represents. Read more 

A 21-year-old Sikh woman was shot dead in Canada in a shooting incident outside a gas station in Mississauga.

The Peel Regional Police identified the victim as Pawanpreet Kaur on Monday and said that she was an employee of the gas station, CBC reported.

The Peel Regional Police provide policing services for Peel Region in Ontario, Canada.

It is the second largest municipal police service in Ontario after the Toronto Police Service.

CBC News is Canada's publicly owned news and information service.

The police revealed that the victim was from Brampton and added that when officials arrived at the shooting site, they saw the woman with gunshot wounds.

Life-saving measures were attempted but the woman died.

Police said that they believe it was a targeted incident.

The homicide unit has taken over the investigation.

Officers are looking for a male suspect, according to CBC News.

According to CBC citing a news release, police said that the suspect was in a three-quarter-length dark winter jacket with a hood, dark winter boots, dark pants, a dark winter toque and white gloves.

It appears that he was smoking a cigarette.

Police said he did not pull the hood up over his head until shortly before shooting the victim at close range.

After canvassing the area for video and interviewing witnesses, police have determined that the suspect was on foot in the area three hours before the shooting.

Earlier, he was seen crossing over Britannia Road, east of the intersection, and crossing Creditview Road, north of the intersection, CBC reported.

After the shooting, he was seen running westbound across Creditview Road, then westbound on Britannia Road, and then westbound onto Camgreen Circle.   -- ANI

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Monday met Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi chief Prakash Ambedkar in Mumbai and said the alliance will be decided after fixing certain small issues. 

                 

Reacting to Thackeray's remarks, Ambedkar said the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction will take a call on whether to induct the VBA into the Maha Vikas Aghadi or forge a separate alliance. 

               

He also said the expression "positive discussion" used by Thackeray while speaking to reporters about the meeting has no meaning but is akin to postponing (a decision on alliance).

               

Earlier in the day, Thackeray and Ambedkar held a meeting in Mumbai. 

               

"The meeting with Ambedkar was a positive one. We will soon resolve the small issues and make an announcement regarding the alliance," Thackeray told reporters.

               

Reacting to Thackeray's remarks, Ambedkar said the outcome of the meeting is perceived to be positive.

               

"But I don't understand the meaning of the phrase 'positive discussion'. It is Shiv Sena (UBT) which has to take a call whether it will induct us (VBA) in MVA or will it go separate with us," Ambedkar told a Marathi news channel.

                

He said the VBA was told a decision will be taken but it seems more meetings will take place. 

                

"It is Shiv Sena (UBT) that has to decide on the alliance. From our side, it is clear we are ready to do compromise (alliance) with Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction)," he said.

                

Asked if VBA is ready to join MVA as an ally of Nationalist Congress Party and Congress or it wants to have a truck only with the Thackeray faction, Ambedkar said, "until the NCP and Congress accept VBA as an alliance partner, any discussion (on VBA joining MVA) is absurd".

               

The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction, NCP, and Congress are the members of the MVA, which was formed after the 2019 Assembly elections to deny BJP another term in power. 

               

Ambedkar said this is the right time to take a decisive stand and Thackeray should take a decision. 

                

"With civic elections round the corner, this is the golden hour to take take the decision (on alliance)," said Ambedkar, a former MP and grandson of B R Ambedkar. 

               

The VBA, founded by Ambedkar in 2018, has no MLA or MP. 

Security has been beefed up in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh following the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha's call for reciting Hanuman Chalisa inside Shahi Masjid Idgah on Tuesday, with the district police chief asserting that "no new tradition or ritual" would be allowed.

 

Nearly 1,500 police, armed constabulary and paramilitary force personnel were being deployed and traffic restrictions enforced near Shri Krishna Janmasthan temple and Shahi Masjid Idgah in the temple town, officials said on Monday.

 

Only school vehicles and ambulances have been given exemption, they said.

 

"No new tradition or ritual would be allowed to be performed," Senior Superintendent of Police Shailesh Pandey said.

 

The orders of the Supreme Court would be followed and the implementation of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in letter and spirit would be ensured, he said.

 

Nobody will be allowed to take the law into his own hands and spoil peace of this pilgrim city, officials stated.

 

Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha national treasurer Dinesh Kaushik said they would go ahead with the programme. 

 

"In case the administration does not allow us to proceed, we will recite Hanuman Chalisa at the place where we will be stopped," he said.

 

He threatened to commit suicide if they were stopped by the administration. He also claimed that many workers of the organisation were put under house arrest.

 

The organisation had given a similar call last year but their plan was scuttled by the district administration. -- PTI