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Tue, 21 June 2022
ED quizzes Maha minister Parab for over 10 hours
Timeline Refresh
23:59 Will discharge my responsibility as BJP MP: Jayant Sinha
Bharatiya Janata Party MP Jayant Sinha, whose father Yashwant Sinha is the joint opposition candidate for the July 18 presidential polls, asserted on Tuesday that he will discharge his constitutional responsibilities as a BJP member and urged people not to look at him as a 'son' and make the contest a 'family issue.'
In a message posted on Twitter in Hindi, the MP from Hazaribagh in Jharkhand said he has been getting calls from many people and queries from the media as well.
"I will request all of you not to look at me as a son and make it a family issue. I am a BJP worker and the MP from Hazaribagh. I fully understand my constitutional responsibilities and will discharge those," he said.
All elected MPs and MLAs are members of the electoral college for the presidential poll. Yashwant Sinha (84) was a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and was given key responsibilities in the party before being sidelined.
He quit the saffron party in 2018. Jayant Sinha, who was not in politics then, was fielded by the BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Hazaribagh, a constituency his father then represented.
He was also made a Union minister.
Though Jayant Sinha was elected as an MP again in 2019, he was not made a minister. -- PTI
23:55 Kannada actor Diganth airlifted from Goa to Bengaluru after sports injury
Kannada film actor Diganth Manchale was airlifted to Bengaluru from Goa after sustaining sports injuries and has been admitted to a private hospital in Bengaluru where he is undergoing further evaluation, the hospital authorities said on Tuesday.
The 38-year old actor from Tirthahalli in Shivamogga who acted in Gaalipata, Pancharangi and Parijatha, sustained injuries in Goa, the hospital said.
"Mr Diganth has been airlifted from Manipal Goa to Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road. He is admitted under Dr Vidyadhara S, HOD and Consultant Spine Surgeon and is being evaluated...," the hospital said in a bulletin.
It said the actor had sustained a sports injury in Goa two days back and was being treated at Manipal Hospital, Goa.
"His investigations are being carried out and the results are awaited," the bulletin said.
Stating that a medical team is taking all care to ensure his speedy recovery, the hospital said it would release further updates on his clinical condition. -- PTI
23:41 ED quizzes Maha minister Parab for over 10 hours
The Enforcement Directorate questioned Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Anil Parab for over 10 hours on Tuesday in a money laundering case and summoned him for deposition again on Wednesday, officials said.
The 57-year-old legislator reached the federal agency's office in Ballard Estate around 11:20 am, following which his statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Officials said he has been asked to continue the exercise on Wednesday.
The minister is being questioned in a money laundering probe linked to alleged violation of coastal regulation zone provisions in the construction of a resort in Dapoli area of Ratnagiri district.
He was earlier summoned on June 15 but skipped the deposition citing official work. -- PTI
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23:22 Mumbai police's June 5 cycle rally enters record books
Mumbai police have received recognition from India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records for participation of maximum number of people in a cycle rally, an official said on Tuesday.
The rally was held on June 5 to mark World Environment Day as well as 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', which comprises a series of programmes to celebrate 75 years of Independence.
"A total of 5,225 persons participated and covered a distance of 95.65 km in four hours. The event showed people are on the same page as Mumbai police when it comes to saving the environment by choosing alternate modes of transport like cycling," the official added. -- PTI
22:55 Mumbai reports 1,781 new Covid cases, 1 death; active tally at 14,146
Mumbai on Tuesday reported 1,781 COVID-19 cases and one death, taking the tally to 10,97,735 and the toll to 19,586, a civic official said.
While the addition to the tally was 471 more than the 1,310 cases reported on Monday, the city witnessed less than 2,000 cases for the second consecutive day, he pointed out.
Mumbai, which has an active tally of 14,146, has been reporting COVID-19 cases in four digits since June 7.
Of the 1,781 new cases, only 87 needed hospitalization, of which 17 required oxygen support, he said.
Currently, a total of 83 patients in the city are on oxygen support.
As per Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation data, only 626 of the 24,751 hospital beds earmarked for COVID-19 treatment are currently occupied.
It also showed the growth of cases between June 14 and 20 was 0.183 per cent, the caseload doubling time was 369 days, while the positivity rate was 13.16 per cent.
The recovery rate stood at 97 per cent, and the overall number of coronavirus tests carried out was 1,74,08,312, including 10,546 in the last 24 hours, as per BMC data. -- PTI
22:36 BJP exploring options to form govt in Maha: Leader
A senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader from Maharashtra on Tuesday evening said his party was exploring the possibility of government formation in the state, amid a crisis in the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi due to the rebellion of Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde while party leaders held a series of meetings to firm up a strategy.
Speaking to PTI on the condition of anonymity, the leader, who had served as a minister in the erstwhile Devendra Fadnavis government, added that "our priority is for the smooth transition of power".
Several BJP leaders, including Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis, held marathon meetings during the day to discuss Constitutional provisions, the arithmetic required to stake a claim to form a government as well as possible legal objections to such a kind of power transition, BJP sources said.
Asked about the possibility of Shinde and his loyalist MLAs getting disqualified if he failed to muster enough numbers to circumvent the anti-defection law and the prospects of mid-term polls, the BJP leader said his party was not in favour of early elections at the moment, as it is a costly affair and may even backfire in some pockets (Assembly seats). -- PTI
22:33 DMDK chief Vijayakanth undergoes surgery, right toe amputated
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday wished Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam chief Vijayakanth, who underwent a surgery, a speedy recovery.
The DMDK leader, known to have diabetes, was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai and his right toe was amputated following doctor's advice.
"Only one toe was removed on Monday following doctor's advice as the blood circulation was restricted in his leg," an official statement from the DMDK said on Tuesday.
Providing an update on the leader's health status, the party said "he is doing fine under medical supervision. He will return home in one or two days."
The party appealed to the people not to believe rumours doing the rounds in the social media on Vijayakanth's health.
"Learnt that my friend 'Captain' Vijayakanth is undergoing treatment. I wish him speedy recovery and hope he returns home in good health," Stalin tweeted. Vijayakanth who is fondly called as "captain" by his supporters, has been restricted to his house of late.
Few days ago he was admitted to a private hospital here for a routine check-up when the problem was diagnosed. -- PTI
22:05 Draupadi Murmu will be a great President: Modi
Soon after BJP president JP Nadda announed Draupadi Murmu as the NDA's presidential candidate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to praise her.
'Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji has devoted her life to serving society and empowering the poor, downtrodden as well as the marginalised. She has rich administrative experience and had an outstanding gubernatorial tenure. I am confident she will be a great President of our nation,' he wrote, adding, 'Millions of people, especially those who have experienced poverty and faced hardships, derive great strength from the life of Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji. Her understanding of policy matters and compassionate nature will greatly benefit our country.'
21:59 India's vaccination drive against Covid
India has so far administered more than 196 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine to the people since it had launched the vaccination drive against coronavirus more than a year ago.
With this, nearly 66 per cent of India's population has been fully vaccinated in the vaccination drive.
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21:50 Boy killed in Ranchi violence scores 66.6% in Class 10 board exam
Modashir Alam, who was killed in the violence in Ranchi, scored 66.6 per cent marks in the class 10 board examinations, the results of which were declared on Tuesday.
Alam, 16, was among the two people who were killed as violent protests over the inflammatory remarks of now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma on Prophet Mohammed rocked the city on June 10.
Alam, who was a student of Little Angels' High School Charghrwa in Ranchi's Pundag, scored 333 out of 500 marks -- his best of five subjects, as per the results declared by the Jharkhand Academic Council.
He got 71 in English, 64 in Hindi, 70 in Urdu, 60 in Science, 68 in Social Studies and 53 in Mathematics.
Overall, 95.6 per cent students cleared the board examinations.
On getting to know about her son's result, Alam's mother Nikhat Perween broke down.
"My son passed in the first division, but he was killed," an inconsolable Perween said.
Alam's uncle Sahid Ayubi said he was good at his studies.
"We were hoping for a better future for him. He was the only son of the family," Ayubi said. -- PTI
21:47 Draupadi Murmu is BJP's presidential candidate
The BJP parliamentary board on Tuesday named Draupadi Murmu, the party's tribal leader from Odisha, as the ruling NDA's candidate for the presidential election.
BJP president J P Nadda announced her name at a press conference following a meeting of the party top brass.
Murmu (64), a former Jharkhand governor, will be the first tribal woman to occupy the top constitutional post if she is elected, a strong possibility as the numbers are stacked in favour of the BJP-led NDA.
The Opposition had, earlier in the day, announced Yashwant Sinha as its joint candidate for the post.
The presidential election is slated for July 18.
Rahul gets a break from ED grilling
21:26 ED grills Rahul on Day 5 for more than 9 hours
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate for over nine hours on Tuesday on the fifth day of his deposition in the National Herald money laundering case.
Gandhi, 52, took a half-hour break around 8 pm and re-joined the session.
He left the ED headquarters on APJ Abdul Kalam Road in central Delhi along with his security escort to go to his home on Tughlaq Lane.
He reached the federal agency's office around 11.15 am and did not take any break post noon as he had done in his previous appearances.
The Congress MP from Wayanad has spent almost 50 hours at the ED office over five sittings with the investigators questioning him over multiple sessions and recording his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
He was questioned for three consecutive days last week, and after Monday's questioning, he was asked to rejoin the session and complete the recording of his statement.
Gandhi left the agency office after midnight on Monday.
Balasaheb Thorat (second from left) and Ashok Chavan (right)
20:59 Cong ministers Thorat, Chavan meet Uddhav
Amid the political crisis in Maharashtra's ruling alliance triggered by Shiv Sena strongman Eknath Shinde's rebellion, leaders of MVA constituents Congress and the NCP met Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai on Tuesday evening to take stock of the situation.
Cabinet ministers Balasaheb Thorat and Ashok Chavan of the Congress met Thackeray, who heads the Shiv Sena, at his official residence 'Varsha' in south Mumbai, where state NCP president and minister Jayant Patil was also present.
All eyes are on NCP president Sharad Pawar, the chief architect of the Shiv Sena-led ruling coalition Maha Vikas Aghadi who is likely to arrive in Mumbai soon from New Delhi, where earlier in the day he convened a crucial meeting of opposition parties to decide on a common candidate for the next month's presidential polls.
At the meeting, several major opposition parties, including the Congress, the NCP and the TMC, picked former Union minister Yashwant Sinha as their presidential candidate.
Meanwhile, AICC secretary in-charge of Maharashra HK Patil held one on one talks with each of the 44 party MLAs.
A Congress leader said Patil discussed the prevailing political situation in the state with the MLAs. -- PTI
Shiv Sena leaders Milind Narvekar and Ravi Pathak leave from hotel in Surat after meeting Shiv Sena leaders/ANI
20:36 Uddhav's representatives meet Shinde in Surat hotel, leave for Mumbai
Two leaders of Shiv Sena dispatched by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray met and held a detailed discussion with rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and other MLAs at a hotel in Surat on Tuesday to defuse the internecine crisis having the potential to threaten the survival of the MVA government in the neighbouring state.
The discussions were held between Thackeray's confidants Milind Narvekar and Ravindra Phatak and Shinde and other MLAs at the hotel where they have been camping since the late Monday night. Narvekar and Phatak left for Mumbai by road without responding to queries of the media after the meeting which lasted for nearly two hours.
Shinde and his loyalist MLAs reached the hotel in Surat late Monday night, hours after the results of the MLC polls in Maharashtra were declared.
In the elections held for the 10 seats up for grabs, the BJP won all the five seats it had contested despite having votes to win four candidates apparently on the back of cross-voting by some MLAs of the MVA constituents.
The NCP and Shiv Sena won two seats each contested by them.
Another MVA ally, Congress, suffered a jolt as the party lost one of its two candidates to BJP's fifth nominee in the MLC polls. -- PTI
20:23 Rupee drops 15 paise to 78.13 against US dollar
Snapping its three-day rising streak, the rupee declined 15 paise to close at 78.13 against the US dollar on Tuesday as persistent foreign fund outflows and a jump in crude oil prices weighed on investor sentiment.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local currency opened at 78.00 and traded in a narrow range.
It finally ended at 78.13, down 15 paise over its previous close of 77.98.
PM Narendra Modi arrives at BJP headquarters/ANI
20:10 BJP parliamentary board meets on Prez poll
The Bharatiya Janata Party parliamentary board, its top organisational body which includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi, met in New Delhi on Tuesday to deliberate on the party's candidate for the presidential poll, hours after the Opposition named Yashwant Sinha as its joint nominee.
Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari, BJP president JP Nadda and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, besides Modi, were part of the deliberations at the party headquarters.
Though there has been no official word from the ruling party about its likely candidate, Shah, Singh and Nadda met Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu earlier in the day, sparking buzz that he may be considered for the top constitutional position.
However, sources in the party insisted that not much should be read into the meeting as the parliamentary board will take a final call on the issue. -- PTI
19:51 Indranis ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna gets bail in Sheena Bora murder case
Sanjeev Khanna, Accused No 2 in the ongoing Sheena Bora Murder Trial, has been granted bail by Justice Bharati Dangre of the Bombay high court.
Khanna, who has been accused of helping Indrani Mukerjea murder her daughter Sheena Bora, was married to the accused at one point. They have a daughter, Vidhie, who has been adopted by Accused No 4, Peter Mukerjea, after he married Indrani.
The businessman, who was arrested in Kolkata in August 2015, is being defended by lawyers Niranjan Mundargi and Shreyansh Mithare.
Speaking to Rediff.com, Mithare said his client had been granted bail and would need to deposit Rs 1 lakh with the court. Khanna would also need someone to stand surety.
Which may not prove to be a challenging task.
Since the trail started in February 2017, Khanna's Mumbai-based cousin has been religiously attending every hearing and bringing his elder brother books that he could read in prison. He has also been bringing Khanna food, clothes and medicines.
At the hearing on June 17, when Peter's son, Rahul, testified, he was, when asked by Khanna's police escort, seen taking a bite of the hotdogs he had brought for Sanjeev Khanna.
Accused No 3, Shyamvar Rai -- the driver who turned approver, leading to Indrani and Sanjeev's arrest -- continues to remain in prison.
-- Savera Someshwar
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19:44 3 CRPF personnel killed in Maoist attack in Odisha's Nuapada
Three Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed in a Maoist attack in Odisha's Nuapada district on Tuesday, the police said.
The incident happened in Patadhara Reserve Forest in Bheden block when the CRPF personnel were going from one camp to another, they said.
"Unfortunately, three jawans have attended martyrdom in Nuapada. Our senior officers are on the way to the site," Odisha's director-general of police SK Bansal said.
It is suspected that the Maoists had prior information regarding the movement of the forces, another police officer said.
All of a sudden, they opened fire on the forces, he said.
According to a preliminary report, seven jawans were on the move when the incident took place, he added. -- PTI
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19:35 Indian mission's Yoga event attacked in Maldives
An International Yoga Day event organised by the Indian embassy in Male was disrupted after a mob stormed a stadium where over 150 people were celebrating the event, an American media outlet quoting the organiser reported on Tuesday.
The yoga session was organised on the 8th International Yoga Day.
According to Fox 5, the crowd stormed the stadium and attacked participants and vandalized property.
However, the police in the Maldives used pepper spray and tear gas to control the mob.
According to superintendent Fathmath Nashwa, the police responded by using anti-riot tactics and then used tear gas and pepper spray to manage the crowd.
Nashwa reported that six persons were detained in relation to the incident, as per Fox 5.
Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said a police investigation into the incident had begun, the media outlet said.
"An investigation has been launched by @PoliceMv into the incident that happened this morning at Galolhu stadium. This is being treated as a matter of serious concern and those responsible will be swiftly brought before the law," the President tweeted.
Maldives police also issued a statement on the Yoga Day attack and highlighted that an internal review will be conducted to identify the response of the police ahead of the attack,local media reported. -- ANI
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19:20 Consider plea for police protection for AIADMK meet: HC
The Madras high court on Tuesday directed the police authorities to consider the plea for police protection to the opposition AIADMK's general council and executive committee meeting, scheduled to be held at a marriage hall at Vanagaram in Chennai on June 23 and pass appropriate orders in an unbiased manner.
A direction to this effect was given by Justice N Satish Kumar, on the writ petition from P Benjamin, secretary of the Tiruvallur central district of the party.
The general council is the highest decision-making body of the AIADMK, which has been witnessing internal rumblings over the 'unitary leadership,' issue over the past few days, with the supporters divided between coordinator O Panneerselvam and joint coordinator K Palaniswami over the matter.
When the matter came up today, senior advocate Vijay Narayan, representing the petitioner told the judge that the party had applied for police protection to Thiruverkadu police inspector on June 8 and 15 but there was no reply.
When it was intimated that more than 2,500 members, including ex-MLAs, MPs and ministers would be attending the meeting on June 23, the authorities ought to have taken up the issue seriously and sent a reply granting police protection.
Their lackadaisical attitude in not considering the representations is highly arbitrary.
There was a genuine apprehension of disruptions at the meeting, he added. -- PTI
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut
19:05 Shinde pressured, 2 MLAs beaten in Surat: Raut
In a veiled attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday claimed Eknath Shinde was pressured to go against the Uddhav Thackeray-led party and also alleged that at least two MLAs accompanying the minister in Surat were beaten up by the police and goons under the "Operational Kamal".
Speaking on the political turmoil in view of Shinde going incommunicado and camping in Surat with some MLAs of Sena, Raut hinted at pressure from Central agencies and said he was aware of the 'compulsions' of Shinde that might have prompted him to rebel against the party.
Raut also claimed that some of the MLAs were misled and 'kidnapped' to Gujarat.
"Two of the MLAs (with Shinde), including Nitin Deshmukh, were beaten up last night. Deshmukh tried to run away but he was beaten up by the police and goondas under 'Operational Kamal' and suffered a heart attack. Some of the MLAs have told us that they were misled and taken to Gujarat,'' he claimed.
Raut alleged that MLAs of Sena had received at least four to five calls from their colleagues who told them over the phone that they were misled and requested their rescue.
"At least four to five calls have been received by some MLAs of Sena. The caller MLAs said that they were being misled and kidnapped. They said that they were called for dinner in Thane (on Monday) and then taken away. Their family members have lodged police complaints about their husbands and fathers going missing,'' Raut said. -- PTI
18:54 Hansal Mehta to direct SonyLIV series on R&AW founder Rameshwar Nath Kao
Filmmaker Hansal Mehta has come on board as the creator and showrunner of an upcoming SonyLIV series which will chronicle the untold story of Rameshwar Nath Kao, the founder of Research and Analysis Wing.
Based on RK Yadav's book Mission R&AW, the show will trace the journey and exploits of Kao, the first chief of R&AW, "in the wake of escalating turmoil with the country's neighbours".
According to the streamer, the series is produced by Almighty Motion Pictures (producer Prabhleen Kaur Sandhu) and has been adapted for the screen by writer Karan Vyas.
"The show will also showcase covert intelligence operations and how several of these strategies and actions have shaped the geopolitics of our region," the makers said in the note.
Danish Khan, head -- SonyLIV, Sony Entertainment Television & StudioNext said the team is excited to team up with Mehta again after the Scam series.
"We are delighted to have India's favorite storyteller, Hansal Mehta, to tell the story of Rameshwar Nath Kao, the founder of the Research and Analysis Wing. Mission R&AW by RK Yadav is one of the most comprehensive books on our intelligence team and their operations.
"This series will be a compelling discovery of what it takes in the background to keep India safe and some real heroes of our nation who deserve to be celebrated," Khan said in a statement.
Mehta said his endeavour as a storyteller has been to "explore ordinary people and their extraordinary actions" and the new series will only further that. -- PTI
18:46 Moosewala murder arms came from across border
Delhi police's special cell on Tuesday received information from the accused that the weapons used in the murder of Sidhu Moosewala were supplied to them from across the border, said sources.
On Monday, the Delhi police arrested three persons, including two main shooters in the Punjabi singer Moosewala killing case.
A Delhi court on Monday granted 14 days of custody of Priyavrat alias Fauji, Kashish alias Kuldeep and Keshav Kumar to special cell of Delhi police till July 4.
The arrests were made in Kutch, Gujarat on June 19.
A huge cache of arms including pistols 50 rounds, eight high explosive grenades and grenade launchers, and nine electric detonators were recovered by the police.
According to information, the accused persons include Priyavrat (26) who was the module head and was in direct touch with Canada-based Goldy Brar and led the team at the time of the incident.
Priyavrat has been previously involved in two murder cases.
He was arrested in 2015 in a murder case of Sonipat and wanted in another murder case of Sonipat in 2021.
He was seen in CCTV footage at a petrol pump at Fatehgarh before the murder.
The second arrested person has been identified as Kashish (24) who is also a designated shooter and was also identified from the CCTV footage of petrol pump Fatehgarh.
The third arrested accused Keshav Kumar (29) was a facilitator who received the shooters in a four-wheeler just after the shootout and also accompanied the shooters till Mansa on the day of the incident, during reconnaissance and previous attempts. -- ANI
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18:22 Services delayed on section of Delhi Metro's Yellow Line due to tech snag
Services were delayed for an hour on a section of the Delhi Metro's Yellow Line due to a technical issue, officials said.
There was some issue with the overhead equipment, they said.
Yellow Line connects Samaypur Badli in Delhi and HUDA City Centre in Gurugram.
The DMRC also tweeted to alert commuters.
"Yellow Line Update Delay in services between Samaypur Badli and Vishwavidyalaya. Normal service on all other lines," it tweeted around 1 pm.
Around 2 pm, it again tweeted that normal services have resumed.
Later in a statement, the DMRC said, "Train services between Vishwavidyalaya and Jahangirpuri section of the Yellow Line were affected from 12.55 pm to 2 pm today (Tuesday) due to a minor fault in OHE at Adarsh Nagar station on the Up line (going towards Samaypur Badli). During the affected period, short loop service was provided between Vishwavidyalaya to HUDA City Centre".
It said, "Single line train movement was also provided between Vishwavidyalala to Jahangirpuri section and the same train performed on a normal path till Samaypur Badli beyond Jahangirpuri station." -- PTI
17:47 Ben Stiller embraces Ukraine
The Ukraine govt says it is grateful to Hollywood stars who, despite the danger, have visited the country. "@SeanPenn,@LievSchreiber, Angelina Jolie,@BenStiller you are more than just an inspiration to all of us. Millions around the world have heard the truth from you about the struggle of the people," @DefenceU tweeted.
Ruchira Kamboj
17:40 Ruchira Kamboj gets UN post
Senior diplomat Ruchira Kamboj appointed India's Permanent Representative to United Nations in New York, says the MEA.
Kamboj, a 1987-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, is presently serving as India's envoy to Bhutan.
She will succeed T S Tirumurti as the Indian ambassador to the UN. Kamboj is expected to take up the assignment shortly, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a brief statement.
17:11 BJP won't be able to form govt in Maha: Harish Rawat
Congress's Harish Rawat on the brewing political trouble in Maharashtra after Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde and some others went to Surat and remained incommunicado with the the party.
"The way attempts are being made to topple the govt in Maharashtra shows that the BJP is power-hungry. Our alliance is with Shiv Sena, what's happening in their house is Shiv Sena's responsibility and Uddhav Thackeray will look into it.
"Our govt (in Maharashtra) will continue... BJP can't form govt; they can buy some people to create instability but they won't succeed."
17:07 Sena's emissaries reach Shinde in Surat
Shiv Sena leaders Milind Narvekar and Ravi Pathak reach Le Meridien hotel in Surat where some Shiv Sena leaders are staying.
As Maharashtra's ruling coalition battles for survival in Mumbai, some 280km away in Surat in BJP-ruled Gujarat, a luxury hotel has become the focus of all attention as it is currently hosting dissident Shiv Sena Minister Eknath Shinde and some rebel party MLAs, and the property has been turned into a virtual fortress with nearly 400 policemen guarding it since early Tuesday morning.
While guests who had arrived earlier are leaving one by one, sources revealed that the hotel, situated on Dumas Road of the diamond city, has stopped accepting new bookings for an indefinite period.
Meanwhile, BJP MLA from Jalgaon in North Maharashtra Sanjay Kute arrived at the hotel in his car in the afternoon and he was subsequently allowed to go inside to meet the Shiv Sena leaders camping there.
After the arrival of Shinde, a key Sena leader, and other Sena MLAs from Maharashtra on Monday night, 300 to 400 policemen took positions inside and outside the hotel premises and put barricades on both entry and exit points to prevent any "unauthorised" person from entering the property from the main road.
Apart from the outer campus of the hotel, policemen are also deployed inside the hotel, especially on the floor where these 'rebel leaders' are staying. Since morning, DCP-level officers were seen visiting the premises at regular intervals and giving necessary instructions to on-duty police personnel.
While no outsider or visitor is permitted to enter the hotel premises, staffers are allowed inside only after checking their IDs and taking permission from authorities concerned.
16:46 Pak sends 20 Indian fishermen home
Pakistan released 20 Indian fishermen at the Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar today.
"We're returning after 4 years. Indians held in Pakistan should be released. There is acute shortage of food there. If they don't come back in time, their bodies will come to India", said a fisherman.
16:42 This storm too shall pass: Bhujbal on Maha crisis
Maharashtra minister & NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal on the political situation in the state: "There's a sort of storm that has come up in Maharashtra's politics. If a storm comes, then it'll calm down and will recede as well. In the coming days, the situation will become normal again," Bhujbal says.
There is crisis Uddhav Thackeray-led government in Maharashtra appears to be in crisis after Shiv Sena minister Eknath Shinde and some MLAs of his party went incommunicado and camped in Surat, a day after suspected cross-voting in MLC polls.
As Shinde is yet to spell out his stand, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil ruled out any link of his party to the ongoing political developments but also said the BJP would "definitely consider" a proposal if it comes from Shinde to form a government.
16:30 1,333 bodies of Ukrainians found in Kyiv Oblast
The Kyiv Independent: 1,333 bodies of Kyiv Oblast residents killed during Russian occupation found as of June 21. Kyiv Oblast Police Chief Andriy Nebytov reported on TV that 213 of the bodies found have not yet been identified, while another 300 are missing.
Russia says it has begun broadcasting Kremlin propaganda TV channels in occupied Kherson Oblast.
Moscows Defense Ministry claimed that its forces have reconfigured the last of the seven TV towers in the entire region, allowing Russia to broadcast 24 of its channels.
Image: A picture of Russian President Vladimir Putin etched into a granite slab with a derogatory inscription. Pic: Scott Olson/Getty Images
16:24 Oppn Prez nominee Yashwant Sinha to get Z+ security
Yashawant Sinha, the Opposition nominee for the Presidential elections, will get Z+ security from today onwards, till the end of July. His security begins today since he was nominated for the post this afternoon.
This direction by the union home ministry has been conveyed to Sinha.
Z+ security is provided to all candidates of President polls so that the candidate's life is not under threat.
16:20 Agniveers will have secure future: Doval
Training, discipline during four years of service and an Army career will result in Agniveers having high stature in the society, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said on Tuesday.
He noted that government and several ministries have made announcements for the absorption of youth who will be discharged after service in the Agnipath recruitment scheme for defence forces.
In an exclusive with ANI, Doval said Agniveers will have age as an asset, they have their future secured and do not need to worry about anything. He said there will be plethora of opportunities for Agniveers in a rapidly growing economy, including in higher education.
"We must have a fit, agile, young and well trained Army. Those Aginiveers who will be regularised will go through more training and become experienced over time. So Indian Army at any point of time will have large number of people who though recruited as Agniveers but are specially selected for their suitability, fitness, agility motivation and aptitude," he said.
Doval said Agniveers will have discipline, team-work capability, skills, confidence, an all-India perspective and will be "much more equipped for society".
"Every recruit is fresh in Armed Forces. The biggest misunderstanding has been created deliberately. This maybe because of lack of full understanding. Say, an angiveer of 22-23 years old and has done a four-year service and now he is in the market. Compare him with any other 21-122 years old youth who is not an agniveer. This person is disciplined and has the capability to work as a team. He learned skills. He developed confidence and an all-India perspective. He is trainable. So he is much more equipped for society," Doval said.
He noted that no avenue is closed or debarred from Agniveers and they will have second career.
"Plus, Agniveers will have around Rs 11 lakh cash, they can join any course of their choice. They can go to University. They can acquire technical skills. So they will have a second career. Earlier people talk about one life and two careers. But now its one life and three careers," he said.
Police bandobast at Kashi railway station
16:16 Varanasi authorities will ask Agnipath protesters to pay damages
The administration here is in the process of identifying those involved in the violent protests over the Agnipath military recruitment scheme and will recover from them the loss caused by damage to public property, an official said on Tuesday.
District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said 36 buses were damaged and a loss of Rs 12.97 lakh was incurred in the protests on June 17. He said 27 people have so far been held in this connection, adding that more people have been identified for their alleged role in the stir.
"The authorities will recover from them the loss caused by damage to public property during the protest," the official said.
He also said that more information about those involved in such acts is being collected from government employees, 'secret' sources in rural areas of Varanasi and from officers in other districts.
Appealing to the youth, Sharma said they should not be "misled" and indulge in any such chaotic work which may spoil their future.
"If they indulge in any kind of illegal activity and are caught, they will be deprived of government jobs and will also have to compensate for the loss of public property," he said. The district magistrate further said three FIRs have been registered at Sigra police station, two at Jaitpura police station and one in Cantt Varanasi in connection with the protests.
Titan was among the gainers today
16:03 Markets climb for 2nd day; Sensex, Nifty rally nearly 2 pc
Benchmark indices advanced for the second straight session on Tuesday, with the Sensex and Nifty jumping nearly 2 per cent each, mirroring a rally in global equity markets. Buying in index majors Reliance Industries and IT stocks buoyed the benchmarks.
The BSE Sensex zoomed 934.23 points or 1.81 per cent to settle at 52,532.07. During the day, it rallied 1,201.56 points or 2.32 per cent to 52,799.40. The NSE Nifty climbed 288.65 points or 1.88 per cent to finish at 15,638.80.
From the Sensex pack, Titan, SBI, TCS, HCL Technologies, Dr Reddy's, Tata Steel, Wipro, Infosys, ITC and Tech Mahindra were the major gainers. Only Nestle India ended marginally lower. -- PTI
Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee
15:57 Learn from Mumbai's dabbawala's, author tells BA
While on prizes, Pulitzer Prize winning author Siddhartha Mukherjee on the travails of flying with British Airways. Read his tweet on travelling with BA.
@British_Airways Arrived in Delhi from LHR. Flight delayed by 2 hours and 200 bags (!!!) not loaded and missing. Umm ..what were you doing for the 2 extra hours? Mothers with babies stranded. Elderly parents scrambling. And not an ounce of sympathy.
"What was shocking was the entire lack of empathy or sense of responsibility or pride. I had a bag missing from an Indian airline company years ago. The manager apologized profusely, took care of the elderly and moms with babies. Just human kindness.
"But a bus service might be a good place to start. Clearly cant handle being an international airlines. In Mumbai, tens of thousands of tiffins reach their destinations on time. Maybe learn a little? To be global, think local?"
15:50 Nobel sold for Ukrainian kids shatters record at $103.5m
The Nobel Peace Prize auctioned off by Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov to raise money for Ukrainian child refugees sold Monday night for $103.5 million, shattering the old record for a Nobel. The winning bid was made by proxy. The $103.5 million sale translates to $100 million Swiss francs, hinting that the buyer is from overseas.
Previously, the most ever paid for a Nobel Prize medal was $4.76 million in 2014, when James Watson, whose co-discovery of the structure of DNA earned him a Nobel Prize in 1962, sold his. Three years later, the family of his co-recipient, Francis Crick, received $2.27 million in bidding.
15:39 Yashwant Sinha is Oppn candidate for President
Consensus on former union minister Yashwant Sinha as joint opposition candidate for presidential election. The TMC leader on Tuesday said that he will "step aside" from the party to work for the larger national cause of greater Opposition unity.
Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil
15:29 Shinde hasn't reached out to us, says Maha BJP
Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil on the political upheavals in the state and government formation.
"It's too early to say anything, we're currently waiting and keeping an eye on the situation. Neither has Eknath Shinde sent a proposal to the BJP for govt formation neither has the BJP sent a proposal to him, but anything can happen in politics at any time."
Patil on Tuesday said his party has got nothing to do with political developments in the ruling Shiv Sena, whose minister Eknath Shinde has gone incommunicado along with some MLAs.
But, Patil also said if the BJP receives any proposal from Eknath Shinde to form government, they would "definitely consider it".
Shinde along with some Shiv Sena MLAs had gone incommunicado, a party leader said earlier on Tuesday, a day after the ruling Maha Vikas Agahdi (MVA-comprising the Sena, NCP and Congress) suffered a setback in the Maharashtra Legislative Council polls by losing one out of the six seats it contested.
15:14 No question of rolling back Agnipath: Doval
Ruling out rollback of Agnipath scheme for recruitment in armed forces, National Security Advisor of India Ajit Doval said on Tuesday that the government's move was "not a knee-jerk reaction that has come overnight" but has been debated and discussed for over decades.
In an exclusive interview with ANI on Tuesday, NSA Doval said several committees over the decades have suggested brining down average age of armed forces.
"There is no question of any rollback (of the Agnipath scheme). Let me tell you one thing. This is not a knee-jerk reaction that has come overnight. This has been debated and discussed for over decades," he said.
"In 1970s, we had committees that talked about reorganisation and reforming the army including the usage of manpower, technology and others," he added.
Several opposition parties have slammed the Agnipath scheme and demanded its withdrawal.
Doval said under Agnipath scheme, every youth of this country who has got the desire and motivation and feels a sense of commitment to defend the country gets an opportunity. "His energy and talent are used to make this country strong," the NSA said.
15:08 Won't betray Balasaheb for power, tweets Shinde
Shiv Sena minister who is camping in Surat with several other party MLAs tweets a telling message: "We are Balasaheb's staunch Shiv Sainiks. Balasaheb has taught us Hindutva. We will not betray the ideals of Balasaheb and teachings of Dharmveer Anand Dighe for the sake of power."
The late Anand Dighe was Shinde's political mentor.
Shinde along with some Shiv Sena MLAs had gone incommunicado, a party leader said earlier today, a day after the ruling Maha Vikas Agahdi (MVA-comprising the Sena, NCP and Congress) suffered a setback in the Maharashtra Legislative Council polls by losing one out of the six seats it contested.
Shinde will be holding a presser this afternoon.
14:52 Sena sacks Shinde as its leader of assembly
Shiv Sena sacks Eknath Shinde as its Legislative party leader. Sewri MLA Ajay Chaudhary will be the new Shiv Sena Legislative Party leader.
The Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA- also comprising the NCP and Congress) suffered a setback on Monday when it lost out of six seats it contested in the Maharashtra Legislative Council polls.
Subsequently, Shinde along with some Shiv Sena MLAs went incommunicado. They were camping at a hotel in Gujarat's Surat city, according to sources.
The chiefs of staff explain the Agnipath scheme
14:47 Congress opposition to Agnipath politically motivated, says V K Singh
Union Minister and former Army Chief General V K Singh (retd) on Tuesday attacked the Congress over its opposition to the Centre's Agnipath Defence recruitment scheme calling it 'politically motivated' and 'misguiding' the youth.
Speaking on the sidelines of the International Yoga Day Celebrations in Kochi, Singh said the opposition parties try to pull down all reform measures brought in the country. He recalled that the idea of reformation of the armed forces was on since the Kargil Review Committee and the tooth-to-tail ratio of India was higher than many nations.
"It's all politically motivated. You look at the type of statements that had been issued by the Congress. When I speak like this, and you (media) posted it on twitter, I am trolled by Congress. I know who the trolls are. They will put all kinds of funny names and things which have got no relevance whatsoever. This opposition (to the scheme) is only by the political opposers of the system," he said.
The former Army chief pointed out that the scheme was developed by people in service after debating on various transformational studies.
"...Whenever we want to bring any reform measures, people start trying to pull it down. Because they have not been able to do any reforms whenever they were in power. We have been toying with the idea to reform the armed forces, because our tooth-to-tail-ratio has been higher. The tail-ratio has been much higher than my countries and this work has been on since the Kargil review committee," Singh said.
Tooth to tail ratio is a military term that refers to the amount of military personnel it takes to supply and support (tail) each combat soldier (tooth). "We have got no apprehension. Rest all political opposers will keep having apprehension and will keep giving it out and misguide the youth," Singh added. He said the Kargil Review Committee had also looked to have a younger profile for officers and jawans. "In a war, you require people who are young, who can take risks, which is an ability of young people," he said.
14:37 Cong appoints Kamal Nath to firefight in Maharashtra
Congress appoints Kamal Nath as the party's Observer to Maharashtra "in wake of recent political developments in the state."
Eknath Shinde (right) with Aaditya Thackeray
14:35 'Eknath Shinde has not taken this decision suddenly'
After more than two years in power, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government is facing its first serious setback.
One of its leading lights, Urban Development Minister and senior Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde appears to have revolted against Sena President and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and walked out of the party with 11 MLAs.
Shinde has been a core member of the Shiv Sena and his mutiny comes as a shock to old-timers in the party.
Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com spoke to political commentator Abhay Deshpande to understand what went wrong between Eknath Shinde and Uddhav's Shiv Sena. Read the interview here.
14:23 Shinde never mentioned his CM ambitions: Pawar
NCP chief Sharad Pawar on the pull and push in the MVA government in Maharashtra.
"There is an attempt to pull down the government in Maharashtra. This is happening for the third time. Eknath Shinde never told us about his CM ambitions; I am sure Uddhav Thackeray will handle situation," Pawar whose party is part of the MVA said.
When asked if he had spoken to Eknath Shinde, Pawar said he hadn't. He also said there was "no question of going with BJP in case the government falls in Maharashtra.
On Maharashtra Legislative Council poll results, Pawar said, "Cross voting happens in such polls, nothing new in that; will find a solution."
The Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress had nominated two candidates each for 10 seats up for grabs, but Congress's Dalit leader Chandrakant Handore lost the poll. The BJP won all the five seats it contested.
Shiv Sena minister Eknath Shinde
14:13 15 Shiv Sena MLAs 'unreachable'
Troubles in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra has intensified as over 15 Shiv Sena MLAs have become "unreachable" on Tuesday.
According to sources, a day after suspected cross-voting in Maharashtra MLC polls, prominent Shiv Sena leader and state cabinet minister Eknath Shinde has reportedly gone inaccessible with several party MLAs.
Sources said the MLAs moved to a hotel in Surat in Gujarat.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut also confirmed the developments and said, "Some MLAs of Shiv Sena and Eknath Shinde are currently not reachable. Efforts are being made to topple the MVA government but BJP has to remember that Maharashtra is very different from Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh." "I know Eknath Shinde Ji, he is a true Shiv Sainik. He will return without any conditions. I have heard that our MLAs are in Surat, Gujarat and they are not being allowed to leave. But they will certainly return as all of them are dedicated to Shiv Sena. I trust that all our MLAs will return and everything will be fine," stated Raut.
Raut said that the party is in touch with the inaccessible MLAs. Discussions are also underway with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar.
"We are in touch with our MLAs who are in Surat now. We are discussing the situation with Uddhav Thackeraji and Pawar Sahib. Those working with the thought that they are kingmakers will be unsuccessful," he added.
Shinde is a big shot in Shiv Sena and has been instrumental in strengthening the organisation in the Thane region.
A Bal Thackeray loyalist Eknath Shinde, who is reportedly upset with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government will be addressing a press conference in Surat today, sources said.
The developments may certainly add a web of worries to the Uddhav Thackeray-led government. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held an urgent meeting of all Shiv Sena MLAs on Tuesday.
Shinde was made the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 2014 after the Shiv Sena parted ways with the BJP. He was appointed as a cabinet minister in the MVA government. However, sources said Shinde has been feeling sidelined since the formation of the MVA government. His son Shrikant Shinde represents the Kalyan Lok Sabha seat. -- ANI
Will Uddhav Thackeray be able to hold on to his chair
14:00 No threat to MVA, assures Maha Cong leader
Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Tuesday said there was no threat to the state Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and his party leaders would discuss the current political developments in the state during a meeting in Mumbai.
Patole's comments came in the wake of Maharashtra minister Eknath Shinde along with some Sena MLAs apparently camping in Gujarat's Surat city, a day after the Sena-led MVA, which also comprises the NCP and Congress, suffered a setback in the Maharashtra Legislative Council polls by losing one out of the six seats it contested.
The Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress had nominated two candidates each for 10 seats up for grabs, but Congress's Dalit leader Chandrakant Handore lost the poll.
The BJP won all the five seats it contested.
Talking to reporters in Nagpur on Tuesday on the political 'crisis' in Maharashtra, Patole claimed this was a part of BJP's politics going on in the country.
"The BJP is misusing power it has at the Centre, which is now not hidden from anyone. A money-power circle is going on. They are pursuing the path of lies, but truth will win. This phase shall pass," the Congress leader said.
Patole also said state Congress leaders will meet in Mumbai later in the day wherein "we will be taking a stand on what is happening".
He also asserted that there was no threat to the MVA government and claimed that getting the majority figure (in the 288-member state Assembly) was a distant dream for the BJP. To a query on Congress MLAs cross-voting in the MLC elections on Monday, Patole said, "Cross-voting has been done, we will examine it and convey to the high command about it." -- PTI
13:28 Uddhav meets Sena leaders amid MVA wobble
A meeting was underway on Tuesday between Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Shiv Sena top leaders and MLAs, even as state minister Eknath Shinde was camping along with some party legislators in Gujarat.
The Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA- also comprising the NCP and Congress) suffered a setback on Monday when it lost out of six seats it contested in the Maharashtra Legislative Council polls. Subsequently, Shinde along with some Shiv Sena MLAs went incommunicado.
They were camping at a hotel in Gujarat's Surat city, according to sources. On Tuesday, CM Thackeray, who is also the Shiv Sena president, held a meeting where party MLAs Sunil Kadam, Dada Bhuse, Neelam Gorhe, MPs Arvind Sawant and Vinayak Raut, MLC Manisha Kayande and other leaders were present. Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said Shinde is not in Mumbai, but a communication has been established with him.
Raut asserted that the Sena is a party of loyalists and attempts by the BJP, like in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, to topple the MVA government would not succeed. He also said Shinde was a trusted Shiv Sainik, and that the 'missing' MLAs will be back after the party is able to reach out the them. -- PTI
13:22 VP Naidu as next president? Meeting sparks buzz
Union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh and BJP president J P Nadda on Tuesday met Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu ahead of a crucial party meeting on the presidential elections, sparking buzz about Naidu being considered by the ruling combine for the top constitutional post.
Singh and Nadda have also been authorised by the party to speak to various parties, including those from the opposition, on the presidential poll.
The meeting with Naidu is significant as the BJP parliamentary board is meeting later on Tuesday to discuss the BJP-led NDA's choices for the new president. The ruling combine has over 48 per cent vote share in the electoral college to pick the new president, and its candidate has a clear advantage over the opposition. PTI
13:04 13 people held for abetting suicide of 9 members of family in Sangli
Police have arrested 13 people on charges of abetment of suicide of nine members of a family of two brothers in Maharashtra's Sangli district, an official said on Tuesday.
The two brothers - one of them a teacher and the other a veterinarian - and seven of their other family members were found dead on Monday at two separate homes of the siblings in Mhaisal village of Sangli district, police had said.
Suicide notes were found at the homes, located 1.5 km apart in the village, over 350 km from the state capital Mumbai, they had said. A preliminary probe suggested the two brothers had heavily borrowed money from various people, police said.
Addressing a press conference, Sangli Superintendent of Police Dikshit Gedam said, "The contents of the suicide notes indicate the family had borrowed money from some people and they were finding it difficult to repay it."
"As they were humiliated for it, they took the extreme step," the official said. Prima facie, it looks like they had taken the loan for some business, he said.
"We have already registered a case against 25 people from whom the family had taken money. The family was harassed and humiliated by these people, who forced them to take the extreme step," he said.
Out of these 25 people, the police have so far arrested 13 people under Indian Penal Code Sections 306 (abetment of suicide), 341 (wrongful restraint), and relevant sections of the Maharashtra Money Lending (Regulation ) Act and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the official said. Some of the arrested accused already have cases related to money lending against them, he said.
Police teams have been formed to trace the other accused in the case, he added. Asked if all the family members consumed a poisonous substance together, the official said they were still conducting a probe into what and how they consumed.
"The cause of the death is still reserved and what substance was used is under investigation," he said. When asked if there are any superstition angle to the case, the official said so far debt is the prima facie reason behind the incident, but the case will be probed from all angles. PTI
The Statue of Unity
12:56 3.1 magnitude tremor near Statue of Unity in Gujarat
A tremor of 3.1 magnitude was recorded near Kevadia village in Gujarat's Narmada district, but there was no report of any casualty or property damage, officials said on Tuesday. The 182-meter tall Statue of Unity is located near the Kevadia village.
The tremor was recorded on Monday night. There was no damage to the Statue of Unity, which is built in such a way that it can withstand powerful earthquakes and cyclones, the monument's public relations officer Rahul Patel said.
The epicentre of the tremor was 12 km east-southeast of Kevadia, the Gandhinagar-based Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) said in a statement. A 3.1 magnitude tremor was recorded at 10.07 pm on Monday with its epicentre 12 km east-southeast (ESE) of Kevadia in south Gujarat. It was recorded at a depth of 12.7 km, the ISR said.
Maha CM Uddhav Thackeray with former CM Devendra Fadnavis
12:51 BJP leader: Easier to stake claim than form govt
Congress leader and former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan on the Eknath Shinde episode.
"I will not comment on what is happening with any other party but we will discuss it in the right place if it is needed. This is not something to be discussed in public," Chavan said.
On Chandrakant Handore's defeat:
"I don't know what strategy was decided but we know he (Chandrakant Handore) had received several first preference votes. Still, he received very few votes. It's a matter of concern and sends out the wrong message."
The Maharashtra Congress suffered a major loss of face on Monday after it failed to ensure the victory of its candidate Chandrakant Handore, who interestingly was deemed as the partys first choice candidate, and the most likely to get elected in view of the numbers that the party has in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
The Congress legislative party has called a meeting today.
Senior BJP leader and former state minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said his party has been consistently raising objections over the Shiv Sena-led government's style of functioning. "There was no secret that several Sena leaders were unhappy with the government as well," he said.
Asked if the BJP would try to form government with the support of Shiv Sena 'rebel' MLAs, Mungantiwar said he would not comment on it as he has not spoken to his party colleagues about these developments.
"In the MLC elections on Monday, the BJP managed to secure 134 votes, which technically means we are short of 11 votes (in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly) to stake claim to form government. But, it easier to say it than actually make it happen," Mungantiwar said.
12:41 Ghulam Nabi Azad tests positive for COVID-19
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has tested positive for COVID-19.
Confirming the development, Azad wrote on his Twitter handle today, "I have tested covid positive today and am under home quarantine." Meanwhile, India has seen a marginal decline in infections in the country in the last 24 hours.
The country on Tuesday recorded 9,923 fresh cases of Coronavirus infection and 17 deaths due to COVID-19 in the country.India had on Monday recorded 12,781 new COVID-19 cases and 18 deaths.
12:24 Maha Cong leaders meet
Maharashtra Congress leaders meet at party leader Balasaheb Thorat's official residence, Royal Stone bungalow in Mumbai. Party leader Ashok Chavan arrives for the meeting.
Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil
12:09 Watching situation in Maharashtra keenly: BJP
Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil on the political turmoil in the state: "We are minutely observing the turn of events. It's a little premature to say that it will lead to any changes. It's a handle-with-care situation. We have to see it very keenly. We are observing the situation.
"Problems have cropped up in their party (Shiv Sena) only due to instigating statements of Sanjay Raut. People won't tolerate it. Eknath Shinde's rebellion is an example. Sanjay Raut should speak politely. He doesn't need to speak harshly on every matter.
"It is our tradition that we need to go to our national leaders with sweets, after winning an election. Devendra Fadnavis has gone to distribute sweets among our party leaders in Delhi."
Maharashtra minister and senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde is not in Mumbai, but a communication has been established with him, party MP Sanjay Raut said on Tuesday. Shinde along with some Shiv Sena MLAs had gone incommunicado, a party leader said earlier on Tuesday, a day after the ruling Maha Vikas Agahdi (MVA-comprising the Sena, NCP and Congress) suffered a setback in the Maharashtra Legislative Council polls by losing one out of the six seats it contested.
11:57 Staff cut off newborn's head during delivery, leave it inside mother's womb
In a case of gross medical negligence, inexperienced staff of a rural health centre in Pakistan's Sindh province decapitated an unborn baby inside the mother's womb during delivery, leaving the 32-year-old Hindu woman in a life-threatening situation.
A horror story in every sense of the word.
The tragedy prompted the Sindh government to form a medical inquiry board to probe the incident and trace the culprits.
The Bheel Hindu woman, who belongs to a far-flung village in Tharparkar district, had first gone to a Rural Health Centre (RHC) in her area but with no female gynaecologist available, the inexperienced staff caused her immense trauma, said Professor Raheel Sikander, who heads the gynaecology unit of the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) in Jamshoro.
He said that the RHC staff cut off the newborn baby's head in the mother's womb and left it inside her in a botched-up surgery conducted on Sunday. When the woman faced a life-threatening situation, she was rushed to a nearby hospital in Mithi where there were no facilities to treat her.
Eventually, her family brought her to the LUMHS where the rest of the body of the newborn was taken out of the mother's womb, saving her life, he said.
Sikandar said the baby's head was entrapped inside and the mother's uterus had been ruptured and they had to open up her abdomen surgically and take out the head to save her life.
The horrifying blunder prompted the Director-General of Sindh Health Services Dr Juman Bahoto to order separate inquiries into the case. He said the inquiry committees will find out what happened, especially the absence of a gynaecologist and female staffers at the RHC in Chachro.
The inquiry committees will also look into reports that the woman had to undergo the trauma of having her video taken while lying on a stretcher. Apparently, some members of the staff took her photos on a mobile phone in the gynaecology ward and shared those pictures with different WhatsApp groups, Juman added. -- PTI
11:46 Raut: Communication established with Shinde
Finally, a breakthrough. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut says communication has been established with party minister Eknath Shinde.
Shinde has gone incommunicado, a party leader said on Tuesday, a day after the ruling Maha Vikas Agahdi (MVA) suffered a setback in the state Legislative Council polls by losing one out of the six seats it contested.
The development could rattle the MVA, comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, as some Sena MLAs are believed to be in touch with Shinde. However, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut asserted that the Sena is a party of loyalists and attempts by the BJP, like in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, to topple the MVA government would not succeed. He also said Shinde was a trusted Shiv Sainik, and that the 'missing' MLAs will be back after the party is able to reach out the them.
11:43 ED questions Rahul Gandhi for fifth day
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate for the fifth day of questioning in the National Herald money laundering case.
Gandhi, 52, arrived at the ED headquarters on APJ Abdul Kalam Road in central Delhi at 11.15 am along with his security escort.
A strong contingent of police and paramilitary personnel was deployed around the federal agency's office even as Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) has been imposed in the area.
The Congress MP from Wayanad has spent about 42 hours at the ED office over the last four sittings with the investigators, where he was questioned over multiple sessions and his statement recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
He was questioned for three consecutive days last week, and after Monday's questioning, he was asked to rejoin the session and complete the recording of his statement. Gandhi left the agency office after midnight on Monday. The probe pertains to alleged financial irregularities in the Congress-promoted Young Indian Private Limited, which owns the National Herald newspaper.
Uddhav Thackeray taking oath as Maharashtra CM in 2019
11:20 Raut: BJP trying to topple MVA but remember...
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Eknath Shinde being 'unreachable' and camping Surat with some Sena MLAs,
"Some MLAs of Shiv Sena and Eknath Shinde are currently not reachable. Efforts are being made to topple the MVA government but BJP has to remember that Maharashtra is very different from Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh. At the time of the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, a similar effort was made by BJP, but that experiment was not successful. So now, the same effort is being made again," Raut said.
"I know Eknath Shindeji, he is a true Shiv Sainik. He will return without any conditions," Raut added.
Mamata Banerjee with Sharad Pawar in Delhi last week
11:19 Shiv Sena likely to skip opposition meet to decide Prez candidate
Battling a crisis in the Maharashtra government, the Shiv Sena leaders are likely to skip the opposition parties meeting on Tuesday to finalise their joint candidate for the Presidential election.
Senior party leader Sanjay Raut was scheduled to attend the meeting convened by Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, but "he has cancelled his visit to Delhi," a party functionary said.
The Maharashtra government is facing a crisis after senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde went incommunicado with 10 party MLAs in tow. Shinde is learnt to be in Gujarat's Surat, apparently upset with being sidelined by the party. PTI
11:08 Mysore pak, masala dosa on breakfast menu for PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday had breakfast with the erstwhile royal family of Mysuru at the palace here, where the famous 'Mysore pak' and 'Mysore masala dosa" were part of the menu.
The PM, who led the Yoga Day celebrations on the premises of the 'Amba Vilas Palace' here, drove back to the palace for breakfast on the invitation from the royal family after inaugurating the 'Innovative Digital Yoga Exhibition' at Dasara Exhibition Grounds.
Mysuru royal scion Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar and "Rajmata" Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, earlier in the day had shared the stage with Modi at the Yoga Day event. Pramoda Devi Wadiyar said she had written a letter to the Prime Minister, inviting him for breakfast.
"I had invited to come to our house -- it may be a palace for others -- for breakfast, when he comes to Mysuru for Yoga Day. I had written a letter to him and he has accepted it, and we are happy," she said.
Being in Mysuru the menu will naturally be South Indian, along with PM's preferences if any, she said, adding that "Mysore Pak which has origins in Mysuru is certainly part of the menu, also Mysuru masala dosa...." PTI
11:06 Yashwant Sinha quits TMC, says time to work for greater Oppn unity
TMC leader Yashwant Sinha on Tuesday said that he will "step aside" from the party to work for the larger national cause of greater Opposition unity. The former Union minister's announcement came amid speculation that his name will be pitched by TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the joint opposition candidate for the upcoming presidential elections.
"I am grateful to Mamataji for the honour and prestige she bestowed on me in the TMC. Now a time has come when for a larger national cause I must step aside from the party to work for greater opposition unity. I am sure she approves of the step," Sinha said in a tweet.
Opposition parties are set to meet in Delhi on Tuesday to decide on their joint candidate for the presidential polls scheduled on July 18. PTI
Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray
10:52 Turmoil in Sena since a week: Maha Cong leader
In view of Maharashtra Shiv Sena minister Eknath Shinde going incommunicado and apparently camping in Gujarat along with some party MLAs after the state Legislative Council polls, a Maharashtra Congress minister on Tuesday claimed there was unrest in the Sena since about a week.
However, state NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal said he does not feel that there is a threat to the Maharashtra Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress.
Shinde, who holds the department of urban development, wants to become the deputy chief minister, the Congress minister told PTI on condition of anonymity.
"An upheaval was going on in the Shiv Sena for nearly a week", the leader said. Source said reports were doing the rounds since Monday evening that Shinde along with 21 MLAs had gone "missing". Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray has called a meeting of the Sena MLAs on Tuesday precisely for this purpose, the sources said.
The Shiv Sena and its MVA allies NCP and Congress had contested two seats each in the Legislative Council polls on Monday. However, Congress's Dalit leader Chandrakant Handore lost the polls.
The opposition BJP in the state won all the five seats it contested. A Congress minister said Handore's loss has come as a shock for the party. This is a "failure" of the Maharashtra Congress leadership, he claimed, adding that the Council poll results have exposed the "divide" in the state party unit.
"All leaders need to sit together and analyse what went wrong," he said, adding that the Congress is monitoring the developments in the Shiv Sena. He said Congress leaders are expected to meet Chief Minister Thackeray later in the day. -- PTI
10:39 Security upped outside Eknath Shinde's home
Security heightened outside the residence of Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, in Thane. Shinde is reportedly "unreachable" after suspected cross-voting in MLC elections. CM Uddhav Thackeray has called an urgent meeting of all Shiv Sena MLAs today at noon today.
10:26 Eknath Shinde, Sena MLAs camping in Gujarat hotel
Maharashtra minister Eknath Shinde and some other Shiv Sena MLAs from the state are camping at a hotel in Gujarat's Surat city, sources said on Tuesday, a day after the Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi faced a setback in the Maharashtra Legislative Council polls.
The MLAs, who are seemingly unhappy with their leadership, arrived in Surat on Monday night and are camping at the Le Meridian Hotel in Surat, they said.
"Some Shiv Sena MLAs, including Maharashtra minister Eknath Shinde, are in Surat," a source said. A large number of police personnel have been deployed outside the hotel. The opposition BJP on Monday won all five seats it contested in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections for 10 seats, while Congress candidate and Dalit leader Chandrakant Handore lost, in another setback for the MVA, comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, after the Rajya Sabha polls earlier this month.
Two candidates each of the Shiv Sena and NCP won, while the Congress managed to bag just one seat. Ten Council seats were up for grabs and 11 candidates were in the fray for the elections, which came days after the Rajya Sabha polls, which saw the BJP handing an embarrassing defeat to the Shiv Sena-led ruling coalition. PTI
Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray
10:19 Uddhav calls emergency meeting of all Sena MLAs
After suspected cross-voting in Maharashtra MLC elections, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has called an urgent meeting of all Shiv Sena MLAs today.
According to sources, all MLAs have been strictly asked to remain present in the meeting.
Bal Thackeray loyalist Eknath Shinde, who is 'unreachable', will be addressing a press conference in Surat today noon.
Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate from Congress Chandrakant Handore had lost in the MLS polls.The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bagged five seats, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena won two each while Congress was able to clinch one seat out of the total 10 seats in Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) that went to polls on Monday.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya tweeted, "Maharashtra Vidhan Parishad election results - Shiv Sena (Mafia Sena) got 52 votes. 12 MLA's revolted (55 Shiv Sena + 9 supporters = 64) Uddhav Thackeray's Mafia Sarkar's count down started."
As many as 11 candidates were in the fray for the elections to the ten seats in the MLC. All the five candidates of the BJP -- Pravin Darekar, Ram Shinde, Shrikant Bharatiya, Uma Khapre and Prasad Lad emerged victorious.
NCP candidates-- Ramraje Nimbalkar and Eknath Khadse-- and the Shiv Sena nominees- Aamshya Padavi and Sachin Ahir also secured their seats. Of the two candidates fielded by Congress, Bhai Jagtap secured the win while Chandrakant Handore lost.BJP's winning candidate claimed that cross-voting happened among members of Shiv Sena and Congress. -- ANI
10:15 Narayan Rane on Eknath Shinde
Union Minister and BJP leader Narayan Rane on Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde being unreachable. "No comments should be made on such things, else what is the point of being unreachable."
Eknath Shinde
10:05 MVA jittery after Sena leader Eknath Shinde MIA
Maharashtra minister and senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has gone incommunicado, a party leader said on Tuesday, a day after the ruling Maha Vikas Agahdi (MVA) suffered a setback in the state Legislative Council polls by losing one out of the six seats it contested.
The development could rattle the MVA, comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, as some Sena MLAs are believed to be in touch with Shinde.
A party leader said Shinde may be in Gujarat along with some MLAs.
The leader did not divulge the number of MLAs who could be with Shinde and their details. Shinde wields influence in some of the satellite cities of Mumbai.
"He (Shinde) was at the Shiv Sena office in the Legislative Assembly premises on Monday when Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was present there. But, no one knows about him after that. He was not present during the counting (for MLC polls)," the leader said.
The opposition BJP on Monday won all five seats it contested in the state Legislative Council elections for 10 seats, while Congress candidate and Dalit leader Chandrakant Handore lost, in another setback for the MVA after the Rajya Sabha polls earlier this month.
Two candidates each of the Shiv Sena and NCP won, while the Congress managed to bag just one seat.
Ten Council seats were up for grabs and 11 candidates were in the fray for the elections, which came days after the Rajya Sabha polls, which saw the BJP handing an embarrassing defeat to the Shiv Sena-led ruling coalition. PTI
10:02 Yoga in the lap of the Himalayas
Troops deployed at an altitude of 13000 ft, including at Amarnath holy cave, Brarimarg, Sangam, Baltal and Domel performed Yoga on International Day of Yoga. It was attended by around 450 soldiers at these locations.
09:59 Yoga on a warship
The easternmost deployed Indian Naval Warship, INS Satpura, operating near the International Dateline in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, kick-started the Indian Navy's International Day of Yoga activities by conducting the Common Yoga Protocol at sea.
09:56 Yoga inspiration for good health: Modi
On the occasion of International Day of Yoga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that yoga is becoming a way of life and has become a source of inspiration for health, balance and cooperation.
The Prime Minister remarked that India is celebrating Yoga Day at a time when the country is celebrating its 75th year of independence, "the Amrit Mahotsav."
This widespread acceptance of Yoga Day, is the acceptance of that "Amrit spirit of India which gave energy to India's freedom struggle." Mass Yoga demonstrations are being organised at 75 iconic locations across the country which have been witness to the glorious history of India and have been the center of cultural energy.
"The experience of collective yoga at the historical sites of India is like tying together India's past, India's diversity, and India's expansion", he elaborated.
He also informed about the novel programme 'Guardian Yoga Ring' which is a collaborative exercise between 79 countries and United Nations organisations along with Indian Missions abroad to illustrate Yoga's unifying power that surpasses national boundaries.
As the sun apparently moves from the east to the west across the world, the Mass Yoga Demonstrations in the participating countries, if seen from any one point on Earth, will seem to be happening one after the other, almost in tandem, thus underlining the concept of 'One Sun, One Earth'.
"These practices of yoga are giving wonderful inspiration for health, balance and cooperation", he added. Prime Minister on Tuesday performed yoga at the main event of the eighth edition of the International Day of Yoga in the heritage city of Mysuru in Karnataka. More than 15,000 people participated in the Yoga celebrations along with the Prime Minister at the Mysore Palace grounds.
The Prime Minister said the yogic energy, which has been nurtured for centuries by the spiritual centers of India like Mysuru, is today giving direction to global health. Today yoga is becoming a basis for global cooperation and is providing a belief of a healthy life to mankind, he added.
"Yoga has now become a global festival. Yoga is not only for any individual, but for the entire humanity. Therefore, this time the theme of International Day of Yoga is - Yoga for humanity", PM Modi said. He thanked the United Nation and all the countries for taking this theme globally.
09:50 India logs 9,923 fresh Covid cases in a day
India's Covid-19 tally climbed to 4,33,19,396 on Tuesday with 9,923 fresh cases, while the number of active cases increased to 79,313, according to Union health ministry data.
The death toll climbed to 5,24,890 with 17 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. The active cases comprise 0.18 per cent of the total infections. The national Covid-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.61 per cent, the ministry said.
An increase of 2,613 cases has been recorded in the active Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.55 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 2.67 per cent, the ministry said. -- PTI
09:06 15k cheques donated to Ram temple trust 'bounced'
Even as devotees from across the country have donated liberally for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, 15,000 cheques worth more than Rs 22 crore received by the temple trust bounced, officials said here on Monday.
According to a report released by Vishva Hindu Parishad on the behalf of its district units across the country, so far a sum of Rs 3,400 crore has been received by the of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in donation.
The report also gave information about the bounced cheques, but did not elaborate on the reasons they could not be honoured.
"A second report is also being prepared separating such cheques, so that we can get the exact information about cheques that have bounced due to various reasons," Prakash Gupta, office manager of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya, told PTI.
"Many cheques might have bounced due to spelling mistakes or signature mismatch or any other technical reasons. Cheques which bounced due to petty technical reasons would be presented again with the bank," he said.
The report revealed that the donors from Ayodhya district have the maximum number of bounced cheques, exceeding 2,000.
Insufficient balance in the account has also emerged to be one of the main reasons for bouncing of cheques, Gupta said.
The number of people donating from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for the construction of Ram temple is 31,663, he said.
The number of people donating from Rs 5 lakh to 10 lakh is 1,428.
A total of 123 people donated between Rs 25 lakh and 50 lakh, and 127 donated between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore, Gupta said.
The number of people donating more than Rs 1 crore is 74, he added. -- PTI
09:05 No entry fee at Taj Mahal, Agra Fort on Yoga Day
The Archaeological Survey of India will not charge any entry fee at the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and other monuments on the occasion of International Day of Yoga on June 21, an official said.
Superintending Archaeologist of ASI (Agra Circle) Rajkumar Patel told PTI, "On the occasion of International Yoga Day, there will be free entry tickets for tourists at Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri and other ASI-protected monuments in Agra Circle and across India. The entry will be free for the entire day for all tourists, Indians and foreigners."
Meanwhile, district officials said Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will perform yoga with a large number of people from all sections of the society at 'Panch Mahal' in Uttar Pradesh's Fatehpur Sikri on the occasion of International Day of Yoga.
08:34 Yoga India's gift to humanity: Prez Kovind
Yoga is India's gift to humantiy and it is a holistic approach to health and well-being, balancing mind, body and soul, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Tuesday, greeting people on the International Yoga Day.
He also asked everyone to make Yoga a part of their daily life & experience its benefits.
The International Yoga Day is celebrated every year on June 21.
"Greetings on #InternationalDayofYoga! Yoga is a part of our ancient Indian heritage. India's gift to humanity, it is a holistic approach to health and well-being, balancing our mind, body and soul. I urge everyone to make Yoga a part of your daily life & experience its benefits," Kovind tweeted. -- PTI
08:10 Army dogs perform yoga on International Yoga Day
Indian Army jawans and canine warriors participate in International Day of Yoga celebrations, in Poonch.
07:59 Yoga brings peace to our universe: Modi
Yoga brings peace to our universe, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, as he led the main event of the International Day of Yoga in the backdrop of the iconic Mysuru Palace on Tuesday.
Thousands of people joined the Prime Minister in the mass Yoga demonstration in Mysuru.
"This whole universe starts from our own body and soul. The universe starts from us", Modi said. "And, Yoga makes us conscious of everything within us and builds a sense of awareness".
"Yoga brings peace for us. The peace from yoga is not merely for individuals. Yoga brings peace to our society. Yoga brings peace to our nations and the world. And, Yoga brings peace to our universe", the Prime Minister said.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Union AYUSH Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Mysuru royal scion Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar and "Rajmata" Pramoda Devi, were among those present.
Since 2015, the International Day of Yoga is celebrated worldwide on 21st June every year. The theme for this year's Yoga day is "Yoga for Humanity". -- PTI
00:29 Three service chiefs likely to call on PM today
The three service chiefs are likely to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi separately on Tuesday to brief him about the Agnipath scheme as well as their plan for its implementation.
The meetings are being planned amid widespread protests in several states against the new military recruitment scheme.
It is learnt that the chiefs would apprise the prime minister about various aspects of implementation of the scheme.
There was no official word about the meetings between the prime minister and the service chiefs.
Several parts of the country witnessed violent protests after the new military recruitment model was announced on June 14.
The Agnipath scheme provides for recruitment of youths between the age bracket of 17-and-half years to 21 for only four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years.
Days later, the government extended the upper age limit to 23 years for recruitment in 2022.
The personnel to be recruited under the new scheme will be known as 'Agniveers'.
Several opposition parties as well as military veterans criticised the scheme questioning the four-year-tenure for 75 per cent of the recruits.
The government has been strongly defending the scheme, saying the "transformative reform" measure for recruitment into the armed forces will provide an opportunity to the youth to serve the nation. -- PTI
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