LIVE! Uddhav Thackeray submits resignation as Maha CM

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Wed, 29 June 2022

Uddhav Thackeray submits resignation as Maha CM

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23:59 Uddhav Thackeray submits resignation as Maha CM

Uddhav Thackeray has submitted his resignation as Maharashtra CM to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

NDA nominee Droupadi Murmu

23:50 115 nominations filed for presidential poll, 28 rejected ahead of scrutiny

As many as 115 nominations were filed till Wednesday, the last day of filing of papers for the July 18 presidential election, and 87 of them remain for scrutiny, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat said.

The scrutiny of the nominations would be done on Thursday.

Sources said 28 of the total 115 nominations were rejected due to non furnishing of voter list with the names of candidates.

The 87 nominations remaining are of 72 candidates which will be scrutinised Thursday.

Those who filed their papers include NDA nominee Droupadi Murmu and joint Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha, who are the main contestants.

Besides them, a host of commoners have also filed their papers for the top constitutional post in the country, which include a slum dweller from Mumbai, a namesake of RJD founder Lalu Prasad Yadav, a social activist from Tamil Nadu and a professor from Delhi.

The Election Commission has made it mandatory for nominees to have at least 50 members of the electoral college as proposers and another 50 as seconders.

The number of proposers and seconders was increased from 10 to 50 in 1997, ahead of the 11th presidential election, when the security deposit was hiked to Rs 15,000. -- PTI

Uddhav Thackeray leaves from his residence Matoshree as he heads towards Raj Bhavan to submit his resignation as Maharashtra CM to governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari

23:17 Celebrations erupt in BJP camp as Uddhav quits

Several BJP legislators and senior leaders gathered at the residence of former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai following the resignation of Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Many leaders of the BJP, including state unit president Chandrakant Patil, congratulated each other on the collapse of the Shiv Sena-led MVA government.

Many of them said that Fadnavis will soon helm the state.

Former minister and BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule said, "the truth prevailed, finally".

"Fadnavis always used to say that he will return to the House. Now, it's time. He will come back as the chief minister of Maharashtra," BJP MLA Nitesh Rane said.

Sena MLAs Bharat Gogawale

23:03 Not happy with Uddhav's decision: Rebel Sena MLA

One of the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, Bharat Gogawale, on Wednesday night said they will hold meetings at a five-star hotel in Goa where they are staying for the night and discuss their next steps in the wake of the resignation of Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.

A chartered flight carrying the breakaway MLAs of Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde landed at the Dabolim airport in Goa on Wednesday night from Guwahati.

From the airport, they headed to the hotel in Dona Paula in special buses.

"It is not like we are very happy with the decision of Uddhav Thackeray stepping down as the CM. We are heading towards our hotel. Once we reach there, we will discuss the issue and decide our next steps. He (Thackeray) tried to convince us," Gogawale said. -- PTI

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will not run in the upcoming Knesset (Parliament) elections, his office announced on Wednesday.

Bennett, 50, told members of his Yamina party on Wednesday that he will not run for the Knesset in the next election.

He, however, will stay on as alternate Prime Minister once Foreign Minister Yair Lapid replaces him as premier, which could take place as soon as Thursday if the Knesset finishes passing legislation to disperse itself.

Bennett will address the nation at 8 PM local time.

The announcement came as the Knesset prepared to dissolve on Wednesday evening, with elections expected to take place in late October or early November.

Israel would witness its fifth parliamentary elections in less than three-and-a-half years.

Bennett, whose government had been reduced to a minority in the 120-member Knesset, faced constant threats and ultimatums from lawmakers, mostly from his own Yamina party. -- PTI

Bharatiya Janata Party leaders invoked 'karma' and the legacy of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray as they took a swipe at outgoing Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray who resigned Wednesday night after the Supreme Court cleared the decks for a floor test following a rebellion by a big chunk of his party MLAs.

"Karma does not spare anyone," BJP general secretary C T Ravi, who is in charge of his party's affairs in the state, said.

"Balasaheb Thackeray was a man who could control governments, despite not being in power. On the other hand, his son couldn't even control his party, despite being in power. What a fall from grace," BJP's IT department in-charge Amit Malviya tweeted.

Thackeray's announcement to step down as chief minister came minutes after the Supreme Court refused to stay the Maharashtra governor's direction to the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by the Sena chief to take a floor test in the assembly on Thursday.

The BJP is set to form the next government in the state with the support from Sena rebels led by Eknath Shinde and several independents who had earlier backed the government of Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance.

22:30 Rebel Sena MLAs land at Goa airport,

Rebel Maharashtra Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde on Wednesday evening landed at Dabolim airport in Goa from Guwahati en route to Mumbai.

The MLAs arrived at the Dabolim airport by a chartered flight and headed towards a five-star hotel at Dona Paula near Panaji in special buses.

Airport sources stated that the chartered flight landed at the airport at 9.45 PM.

The security around the airport and the hotel beefed up since this evening expecting the arrival of these rebel MLAs.

The hotel has been converted into a high-security zone with vehicles and people entering there being checked thoroughly at the entry gate.

Earlier in the day, the MLAs led by senior Sena leader Eknath Shinde took darshan at the famous temple of goddess Kamakhya before leaving Guwahati, where they were camping for a week.

A close aide of Shinde had said the group will be staying in a Goa-based hotel and reach Mumbai by 9.30 am on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, the Maharashtra governor had directed to hold a floor test on Thursday.

On Wednesday night, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray resigned from the post. -- PTI

Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday resigned as the chief minister of Maharashtra soon after the Supreme Court cleared the deck for a trust vote in the Assembly on Thursday.

Here are some of quotes from Uddhav Thackeray's speech:

- In a democracy, heads are counted to show numbers. I am not interested in that. I don't want to play these games. Tomorrow, they will say that they have brought down Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray's son," he said.

- I am resigning as the Chief Minister. I don't want the blood of Shiv Sainiks to spill.

- I had come (to power) in an unexpected manner and I am going out in a similar fashion. I am not going away forever, I will be here, and I will once again sit in Shiv Sena Bhawan. I will gather all my people.

21:52 Uddhav quits from his MLC seat too

With resignation of the chief Minister's post, Uddhav Thackeray has also resigned from his MLC seat.

21:52 Uddhav Thackeray quits ahead of trust vote

BREAKING: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, whose government has been rocked by instability for more than a week following a rebellion by former confidant Eknath Shinde, today announced his resignation.

He made the announcement on Facebook Live on Wednesday evening.

His resignation comes soon after the Supreme Court, in a late night sitting on Wednesday, refused to stay Thursday's confidence motion ordered by Governor BS Koshiyari.

I am satisfied that we have officially renamed Aurangabad to Sambhaji Nagar and Osmanabad to Dharashiv - the cities named by Balasaheb Thackeray, said Maharashtra CM and Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to address at 9.30 pm after SC setback.

The Supreme Court allows jailed NCP leaders Nawab Malik and Anil Deshmukh to participate in the proceedings of the floor test in the Maharashtra Assembly tomorrow.

21:14 SC allows Maharashtra floor test tomorrow

The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday night upheld the Maharashtra governor's decision to ask the Uddhav Thackeray government to face a confidence motion in the state assembly tomorrow.

Details soon.

Senior IPS officer Vivek Phansalkar has been appointed as the new Mumbai police commissioner.

A 1989-batch IPS officer, Phansalkar was serving as the DG and MD of the Police Housing and Welfare Corporation, before his appointment as the Mumbai CP.

He will succeed incumbent commissioner of police Sanjay Pandey who is retiring on Thursday.

Earlier, Phansalkar had served the Maharashtra police in various key capacities including Thane commissioner of police and Maharashtra ATS chief.

The Supreme Court to pronounce its order at 9 pm on Shiv Sena chief whip Sunil Prabhu's plea against Governor's direction for floor test in the Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday.

Police on Wednesday stepped up security at the Dabolim airport in Goa and a five-star hotel near Panaji ahead of the arrival of rebel Maharashtra Shiv Sena MLAs from Guwahati.

A posse of policemen led by the district superintendent of police Shekhar Prabhudessai has been deployed at the airport in the evening.

The MLAs are expected to land in the night and will head to the five-star hotel in Dona Paula village by road, a distance of 30 km from the airport.

Security is also tightened at the hotel and unnecessary movement of the people on its premises has been restricted, sources said.

Media persons are also not allowed to go beyond the main entrance of the hotel.

The hotel management remains tight-lipped about the bookings but sources said at least 70 rooms have been booked for the MLAs.

Earlier in the day, the MLAs led by senior Sena leader Eknath Shinde took darshan at the famous temple of goddess Kamakhya before leaving Guwahati, where they were camping for a week.

A close aide of Shinde had said the group will be staying in a Goa-based hotel and reach Mumbai by 9.30 am on Thursday to participate in the floor test ordered by the Maharashtra governor. -- PTI

20:10 We are the Shiv Sena: Rebel MLAs tell SC

Eknath Shinde camp tells Supreme Court: "We are not leaving the Shiv Sena, we are the actual Shiv Sena now"

Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, appearing for Eknath Shinde, says, "There are 9 independent MLAs who have also given us support. It is the hopeless minority of 14 who are opposing us."

Kaul said the CM's reluctance to face floor test will be prima facie construed that he lost the majority in House.

"The underlying objective of the floor test is to uphold political accountability and political morality," he added.

Senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for rebel Shiv Sena MLAs group, said whenever the Supreme Court has sat this late, it is never to stop a floor test, it is to conduct a floor test. This is the first time a request is made to stop a floor test.

The Supreme Court is still hearing Shiv Sena chief whip Sunil Prabhu's plea against Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's direction to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government to take a floor test in the Assembly on Thursday.

Shiv Sena rebel MLA Eknath Shinde told the Supreme Court that a floor test in the Assembly is the best way to stop horse-trading.

Shinde's counsel told a vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and J B Pardiwala that any delay in the floor test would cause more damage to the democratic polity.

Senior advocate N K Kaul, appearing for Shinde, argued that the pendency of disqualification proceedings before the speaker is no ground to delay the floor test.

Dance of democracy takes place on the floor of the House and that is what is being sought to be done, Kaul told the bench.

With uncertainty looming over his government's fate, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday thanked his cabinet colleagues for the cooperation they extended in the last two and a half years.

Congress minister Sunil Kedar spoke to reporters after the meeting here in the evening.

Thackeray had always been respectful to others, he said.

"He thanked the cabinet for their cooperation and said the cooperation would continue, " the minister added.

To a question whether the MVA government would survive the rebellion by Sena minister Eknath Shinde and majority of Sena MLAs, Kedar said, "Every MLA in the house would vote as per his conscience, considering the manner in which Thackeray has led the state's battle against COVID-19 despite having no administrative experience.

"Uddhav Thackeray will not stop nor he be defeated, " the Congress leader said.

Kedar appealed to people to consider that a conspiracy was hatched against Thackeray who led the state efficiently during the pandemic despite undergoing a critical spine surgery. -- PTI

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday, an official said.

The CM has isolated himself at his official residence in Gandhinagar, said the PRO at the Chief Minister's Office.

"The CM is having very mild symptoms, such as mild fever. His test result has confirmed that he is infected with the coronavirus. He has isolated himself at his official residence under the observation of doctors," he said.

Gujarat is seeing a steady rise in coronavirus cases since the beginning of this month.

On Tuesday, 475 new cases were recorded, raising the active tally to 2,793. -- PTI

18:56 Uddhav in hopeless minority: Shinde camp to SC

Senior Advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, who argued for the Shinde faction, said disqualification proceedings or resignation of MLAs cannot be a ground to delay a floor test.

"A body of SC judgments has laid down that floor test mustn't brook any delay," he added.

Kaul said, "They (Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena) are in a hopeless minority in the party itself, let alone the House. They want to somehow cling onto power despite being in hopeless minority. I have seen parties rushing to this court for getting the floor tesr conducted as soon as possible and here we have a party trying to delay it. Everyone knows why."

The Maharashtra state cabinet has approved the renaming of Aurangabad to Sambhaji Nagar and Osmanabad to Dharashiv.

The cabinet also approved to name Navi Mumbai Airport after DB Patil.

A swab is taken for testing for Covid

18:25 Gennova Biopharmaceuticals ready with 70 lakh vaccine dosages

Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd on Wednesday said it is ready with 70 lakh dosages of its Gemcovac-19 vaccine, the first indigenously developed mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 to be approved for restricted emergency use in adults.

The company, which is a subsidiary of Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd, has an annual capacity of producing 200 million dosages of the vaccine and is awaiting the government's nod to roll it out in the market.

Gemcovac-19 had received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Tuesday.

Addressing a virtual press conference, Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd, Chief Operating Officer Samit Mehta said Gemcovac-19 is the first mRNA vaccine developed in India and only third mRNA vaccine to be approved for COVID-19 in the world.

In contrast to other mRNA vaccines that require to be stored at sub-zero temperatures, Gemcovac-19 can be stored at 2-8 degrees. That makes it "unique in its deployability in countries like India" and other similar nations, Mehta said, highlighting the advantages of Gemcovac-19 in terms of logistics and transportation. -- PTI

Russian President Vladimir Putin would not have embarked on a crazy, macho war against Ukraine if he were a woman, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.

In an interview with the German media at the end of the G7 Summit in Schloss Elmau this week, Johnson pointed to Putin's machismo as a contributory factor in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

He also called for more women in positions of power as one of the measures towards global peace.

"If Putin was a woman, which he obviously isn't, if he were, I really don't think he would have embarked on a crazy, macho war of invasion and violence in the way that he has," Johnson told broadcaster ZDF.

"If you want a perfect example of toxic masculinity, it's what he is doing," he said, referring to the 69-year-old Russian president.

During the recent G7 Summit in Germany, leaders of the powerful bloc mocked Putin over his infamous bare-chested picture atop a horse. Asked about Johnson's remarks, the prime minister's official spokesman said that "there is not a deliberate policy", adding: "The British public would expect leaders to be robust with someone killing innocent civilians on a daily basis."

Johnson's comments come ahead of a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) meeting in Madrid where western allies will discuss how to respond to future threats. At the summit, Johnson is set to call on fellow members of the defensive alliance to ramp up defence spending -- PTI

Police on Wednesday arrested a 40-year-old man who had allegedly rented out his flats in the ill-fated building in suburban Kurla which collapsed and claimed the lives of 19 persons.

A case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder was registered earlier in the day against some flat owners and others at Nehru Nagar police station in connection with the Monday midnight's incident.

Most of those who died in the incident were tenants. Dilip Vishwas, the arrested man, was a contractor by profession, and named in the First Information Report, said a police official. He had allegedly rented out his flats in the building, located in Naik Nagar Housing Society, he said.

As per the FIR, flat owners including Rajni Rathod, Kishore Chavan, Balkrishna Rathod and Vishwas rented out their flats even though the building had been declared as dilapidated by the civic body BMC. A case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 304 (2) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 34 (common intention) has been registered against them. Senior BMC officials had claimed that residents of the building, constructed in 1973, had undertaken to carry out repairs, but apparently no repairs were carried out. -- PTI

18:07 With Shivaji maharaj's blessings...

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray pays his respects before a portrait of Chhatrapati Shivaji maharaj. He held a Cabinet Meeting at Mantralaya today.

Update: Shiv Sena chief whip Sunil Prabhu Wednesday challenged in the Supreme Court the Maharashtra Governor's direction to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to take a floor test in the Assembly on Thursday, saying the order to conduct a floor test in a supersonic speed amounts to putting the cart before the horse.

Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for Prabhu, told a vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and J B Pardiwala that two MLAs of the NCP are down with COVID-19 while two MLAs of the Congress are abroad and they are asked to participate in the floor test on Thursday.

Singhvi argued that allowing floor tests would mean making Tenth Schedule a dead letter. The bench observed that the Tenth schedule is one of the robust provisions and the court should strengthen it. The hearing in the matter is underway.

The court said, "Our understanding is that floor of the house is the only way to settle these issues of democracy."

Uddhav Thackeray

17:55 Sena to SC: Rebels can't represent will of people

At the Supreme Court: Shiv Sena chief whip Sunil Prabhu's lawyer submitted that the court is considering the validity of the disqualification proceedings and has kept the matter for hearing on July 11. The issue of disqualification is directly connected/interlinked with the issue of Floor Test.

The SC asks advocate Abhishek Singhvi appearing for Sunil Prabhu, "Are you disputing that 34 members of your party haven't signed letter?"

Singhvi replies, "There's no verification. Governor kept the letter for a week and acted only when Leader of Opposition (Devendra Fadnavis) met him. Every action of the governor is subject to judicial review."

Advocate AM Singhvi adds, "The hon'ble Governor could not or did not attempt any verification. He recovered from Covid just two days ago. We wish him good health. The resolution sent to the Speaker was rejected as the authenticity is not verified and it was sent from unverified email."

Justice Kant: "Suppose, in a hypothetical situation, a government knows it has lost majority, and it has used the Speaker to issue disqualification notices, what should the governor do? Can he exercise his discretion?"

Singhvi to Supreme Court: "The people who have changed sides and defected cannot represent the will of the people. Can't the Governor trust the Court to not call a Floor Test tomorrow? Will heavens fall if there is no Floor Test tomorrow?"

17:45 Maha CM chairs cabinet meeting

Meanwhile, this is what is happening at Mantralaya.
A cabinet meeting chaired by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is underway at Mantralaya here while the Supreme Court is hearing a plea challenging the state Governor's direction for a floor test on Thursday.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal are attending the meeting virtually as they have tested positive for coronavirus.

After reaching Mantralaya or the state secretariat, the CM paid his respect to the portraits of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and B R Ambedkar. PTI

Eknath Shinde and his men are at Guwahati airport and will shortly board the flight to Goa. "We are not rebels. We are Shiv Sena. We are carrying forward the agenda and ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sena. We will work for the Hindutva ideology and development of the state.

"We will reach Mumbai tomorrow and participate in the Trust Vote. After that, a meeting of the Legislative Party will be held, following this the further course of action will be decided."

SC hearing on Sena PIL on floor test:

Shiv Sena chief whip Sunil Prabhu's lawyer tells Supreme Court that the letter which tells us about the Floor Test says that on June 28th Opposition leader met Governor and this morning we received intimation about Floor Test tomorrow. Two NCP members are down with COVID and one Congress MLA is out of the country.

"There is supersonic speed for the Floor Test. The Floor Test determines which govt represents the will of the people. A Floor Test is supposed to find out the true majority. True majority will include those eligible to be included.

"It's akin to saying Election Commission holding election saying that the electorate will include dead people or people who have moved out. If the Floor Test is done without determining if A,B,C,D are disqualified, pool in which Floor Test will be held, will change.

"The voting (in Floor Test) should not take place before the Speaker's decision. After his decision, the number of members of the House will change."

Supreme Court Bench asks him, "The disqualification case is pending before us, we will decide whether the notice is valid or not? But how is this affecting the Floor Test?"

Lawyer replies, "On one hand, court has stayed disqualification proceedings, on the other hand, MLAs are going to vote tomorrow, it's a direct contradiction."

17:17 Maha Cabinet meet begins

Maharashtra state cabinet meeting begins at Mantralaya in Mumbai.

17:14 SC begins hearing Sena PIL on floor test

Supreme Court starts hearing plea filed by Shiv Sena chief whip Sunil Prabhu challenging Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's direction to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to prove his majority support on the floor of the House on June 30th.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and state minister Aaditya Thackeray along with other ministers arrive at Mantrayala in Mumbai for a cabinet meeting

Eknath Shinde and his men speak to the media in Guwahati

17:11 Shinde, rebel Sena MLAs our guests: Assam govt

The Assam government on Wednesday said rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and other Maharashtra dissidents who are camping in Guwahati for a week are "guests" of the state .

Assam Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika said that the dissident MLAs of the western state are being treated as guests and assistance is being provided to them.

Hazarika, who is also the government spokesperson, BJP MP from Assam Pallab Lochan Das, MLA Diganta Kalita and Guwahati Police Joint Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta on Wednesday accompanied the rebel legislators in the bus journey from their upscale hotel in the city to Kamakhya temple.

"They (the dissident Maharashtra MLAs) told the administration that they would like to visit Maa Kamakhya temple. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma then assigned me to assist them because they are our guests," Hazarika told reporters.

"It is the duty of the state government to help any guest coming to the state," he added.

To questions on the number of lawmakers camping in the hotel and when they are likely to leave, Hazarika said "I do not know how many MLAs are there. I am not aware of their plans."

Dissident legislators of Shiv Sena, which heads the ruling coalition in Maharashtra, along with several Independents have been camping in Guwahati, around 2,700 km away from Mumbai, since June 22.

Sarma had claimed earlier that the dissidents came as tourists on their own to Assam, which he said, needs funds to deal with the devastating floods.

However, the entire Assam BJP and the state machinery have been seen to be busy with the Maharashtra MLAs, drawing sharp criticism from the entire opposition.

The opposition alleged that the political drama is a game plan of the saffron party to topple the Uddhav Thackeray-led governwto Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport in Guwahati on June 22 to receive the legislators. Hazarika is seen visiting Radisson Blu hotel, where the dissidents are staying, almost daily.

Assam Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Ashok Singhal had come too and met the dissidents a number of days. Personnel from reserve battalions and commando units of the Assam Police, besides those from nearby Jalukbari police station and paramilitary forces are keeping a tight vigil on the hotel, which is around 15 km from Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport. -- PTI

The accused

17:01 Raj tailor's killer had visited Pak in 2014: Police

Preliminary investigation into the gruesome killing of a tailor in Udaipur revealed that one of the two prime accused had links with the Pakistan-based Dawat-e-Islami organisation and had visited Karachi in 2014, the Rajasthan Police chief said on Wednesday.

The police have detained three more people in connection with the killing so far, Director General of Police (DGP) M L Lather said at a press conference.

Two men, identified as Riaz Akhtari and Ghouse Mohammad, hacked Kanhaiya Lal to death with a cleaver at his shop in Udaipur on Tuesday and posted videos online saying they are avenging an insult to Islam.

The duo were taken into custody on Tuesday and booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the IPC, the police chief said. "One of the accused, Ghouse Mohammad, has links with the Karachi-based Ismalist organisation Dawat-e-Islami. He had visited Karachi in 2014. So far, we have detained five people, including the two prime accused," Lather said. PTI

Rajasthan DGP holds a presser on the incident

16:44 Gehlot govt aware of 'raj dharma': Cong backs CM

Hitting back at the BJP over its charge of appeasement, the Congress on Wednesday asserted the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan was aware of its "raj dharma" and said action in the brutal killing of a tailor would be taken in accordance with law, unaffected by the religion or caste of those involved.

Two men with a cleaver murdered a tailor in Udaipur and posted videos online, claiming that they are avenging an insult to Islam.

The BJP has said the killing of Kanhaiya Lal was not merely a murder but a "terror attack", and held the Congress government in Rajasthan responsible for the grisly crime.

Responding to questions over the killing, Congress' media department head Pawan Khera told a press conference that the party condemns the incident and said the Gehlot government had acted swiftly in the matter.

"The Ashok Gehlot government got the accused arrested within six hours. An all-party meeting has been called in the evening. This whole matter has been fast-tracked. On the basis of what came up during the probe, Ashok Gehlot has assured all help to the NIA," Khera said.

"With the atmosphere being vitiated in the entire country for the last two months, Ashok Gehlot has been urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah that they address the country, take steps to stop the spread of hatred in the society, and appeal for maintaining peace," he said.

Khera alleged that polarisation is evident in every nook and corner of the country, and asked why this was not the case earlier. The Congress spokesperson asserted that whoever is found guilty in the probe, strictest action will be taken against that person "There should be no doubt regarding that. The Ashok Gehlot government is fully aware of its raj dharma."

The rupee depreciated 18 paise to close at a record low of 79.03 (provisional) against the US dollar on Wednesday, weighed down by persistent foreign capital outflows, a strong dollar overseas and surge in crude oil prices.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened lower at 78.86 against the greenback and finally settled at 79.03, down 18 paise over its previous close. During the session, the rupee touched an all-time low of 79.05 against the American currency.

16:35 Vice Prez polls, counting on August 6

Election for post of vice president to be held on August 6, says the Election Commission. Counting of votes will be held on the same day.

Members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, including nominated members, form the electoral college for the vice presidential election. Naidu's term as vice president ends on August 10.

The schedule for the vice presidential election was finalised at a meeting of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey.

The mayor has been at the forefront of Mumbai's Covid battle

16:29 Former Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar receives threat letter

Former Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar on Wednesday said she has received a letter threatening to kill her and her family. She lodged a complaint with Byculla police station after receiving the letter at her Lower Parel address, the Shiv Sena leader told PTI.

The letter was replete with vulgar language, and warned her that she, along with her son and husband, would be killed once "a new government" comes to power, she said.

The sender identified himself as `Vijendra Mhatre' from Uran, and she had received a similar threat letter sent in the same name in December 2021, Pednekar said. -- PTI

Days before he was killed by two persons for allegedly insulting Islam, Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Lal had told police in a written complaint he faced a threat to life by some people who were conducting a "recce" of his shop, officials said Monday.

On June 11, Kanhaiya Lal's neighbour Nazim had filed a case against him over a controversial social media post and he was arrested.

After he was released on bail, he told the police in a written complaint on June 15 he was receiving threat calls from Nazim and others and sought police protection.

However, the officials said, the police mediated between Nazim and Kanhaiya and the matter was settled with Kanhaiya giving in writing that he does not want any further action.

However, within two weeks two men pretending to be customers entered his shop Monday and "beheaded" him with cleavers, with one of them recording the act and posting it on social media, drawing widespread condemnation.

They were arrested soon after their confession video went viral. In his June 15 complaint filed at the Dhan Mandi police station against Nazim and five others, the tailor had alleged they circulated his photo in their community groups on social media with a message that he should be killed if seen anywhere or if he opens the shop.

In the complaint, Kanhaiya had said he was being pressured to not open his shop.

"Nazim and five other persons are conducting recce of my shop and not allowing me to open the shop. Five-seven people are doing rounds of my shop in the morning and evening and I have come to know that they will try to kill me as soon as I open the shop," he had said in the complaint.

"Since Nazim and other 4-5 persons have circulated my name and photo in their community group and asked all that this man, if seen anywhere or come to shop, should be killed because he has made a controversial post," he had written in the complaint. He also mentioned that the controversial post was shared on Facebook inadvertently by his son who was playing a game on his mobile phone and that he was not aware of this. He also said he did not know how to operate a phone. PTI

16:07 Raj Thackeray agreed: Fadnavis on floor test

BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis speaks with MNS chief Raj Thackeray over the phone, asking for help in the Floor Test scheduled for tomorrow. "Thackeray agreed," Fadnavis said, "that the party will vote". MNS has one MLA in the Maharashtra Assembly.

Maharashtra BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar on Wednesday met state legislature secretariat's principal secretary Rajendra Bhagwat and urged him to ensure protection to the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, who are scheduled to arrive in the state for floor test on June 30.

Majority of the legislators of the Shiv Sena, which heads the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, have been camping in Guwahati along with some independents since June 22.

The Sena rebels are demanding that the party snap ties with the NCP and Congress, allies in the government, accusing these parties of trying to eliminate their party. Maharashtra Governor B S Koshyari has directed the Uddhav Thackeray-led government to face the floor test at 11 am on Thursday.

The arrested accused, Gaus Mohammed and Riyaz

15:26 Udaipur beheading: NIA registers UAPA case

The National Investigation Agency Wednesday registered a case under the anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the "heinous murder" of a tailor in Rajasthan's Udaipur by two people who, the agency said, wanted to "strike terror among the masses across the country".

A spokesperson for the agency said NIA teams have already reached Udaipur and requisite action for expeditious investigation of the case has been initiated.

"The accused persons had also circulated a video of the criminal act in the social media claiming responsibility for the murder in order to trigger panic and strike terror among the masses across the country," he said.

He said the case has been registered under various section of the Indian Penal Code and the UA(P)A.

The case was initially registered at Dhanmandi police station in Udaipur. "NIA has re-registered a case under sections 452, 302, 153(A), 153(B), 295(A) & 34 of IPC and sections 16, 18 & 20 of UA(P) Act, 1967 against accused who have conspired, planned and committed the heinous murder of Shri Kanhaiya Lal Telli on 28.6.2022 in Udaipur, Rajasthan," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the two accused had inflicted multiple injuries to the victim with sharp weapons. PTI

"We demand those people who murdered him (Kanhaiya Lal) should be hanged to death. We demand their death sentence, " says wife of Kanhaiya Lal who was beheaded, yesterday, by two men for allegedly posting content in support of suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma.

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot announces an out-of-turn promotion to five policemen, namely Tejpal, Narendra, Shaukat, Vikas and Gautam, who made quick arrests of the accused involved in the Udaipur incident.

The body of Kanhaiya Lal, the tailor who was brutally murdered by two men in Udaipur, was handed over to family members after postmortem on Wednesday, officials said.

Lal's funeral procession started from his house amid tight security arrangements in the presence of hundreds of locals. Leader of opposition Gulab Chand Kataria also visited Lal's house.

Lal was on Tuesday beheaded by two men who had posted videos online that said they were avenging an insult to Islam.

The Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Delhi, issues a statement condemning the act. He calls it "not only an act of cowardice but an act against Islam."

Balasaheb Thorat

15:02 Maha Cong leaders meet ahead of floor test

Ahead of the floor test tomorrow, a meeting of Maharashtra leaders underway in Mumbai to discuss their strategy. Party leaders including Ashok Chavan, Nana Patole, Balasaheb Thorat, Sunil Kedar, Charan Singh Sapra and Nitin Raut, present.

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has asked the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to take a floor test on Thursday, although the Sena approached the Supreme Court challenging the direction.

The letter was issued by Koshyari to Maharashtra Legislature's Principal Secretary Rajendra Bhagwat on Tuesday night, after a group of BJP leaders, including former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, met him at the Raj Bhavan and urged him to direct the government to prove its majority in the wake of the Sena MLAs' rebellion.

With the addition of 629 new cases of coronavirus, the tally of infections in Maharashtra's Thane district has reached 7,26,682, a health official said on Wednesday. The latest infections reported on Tuesday have pushed the number of active cases to 5,966, he said. The toll stood at 11,904 after one patient died of the infection, while the count of recoveries has risen to 7,07,984, the official added. PTI

14:31 Not worried about floor test: Eknath Shinde

Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde says in a democracy, majority matters and we have that. "We will reach Mumbai tomorrow. We are not worried about any floor test. We will pass all things and no one can stop us," Shinde says. The MLAs will stay the night in Goa and arrive directly for the floor test in Mumbai.

"Tomorrow after the floor test, we will sit and decide our future course of action," Shinde said when asked if the dissidents will support the BJP in formation of an alternative government to the existing one led by Uddhav Thackeray.

Visiting the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati for the second time in the day, Shinde asserted: "We have 50 MLAs with us, more than two-third of the legislators. We are not worried about the floor test and we will pass the test."

Mumbai police have registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against some flat owners and others in connection with the collapse of a building in suburban Kurla that killed 19 persons and injured 15 others, an official said on Wednesday.

The incident had occurred around Monday midnight in the ground-plus three-storey building at Naik Nagar Co-operative Housing Society, he said. Although the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had declared the building as dangerous to live, some flat owners, including Rajni Rathod, Kishore Chavan, Balkrishna Rathod and Dilip Vishwas rented the flats to tenants, he said adding that they were booked.

Accordingly, an offence under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 304 (2) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 34 (common intention) was registered against these flat owners and others at Nehrunagar police station, he said.

Senior BMC officials had said that the residents of the building, constructed in 1973, had undertaken to carry out repairs, but apparently no repairs were carried out. PTI

AGI K K Venugopal

14:01 Venugopal agrees to continue as A-G for three more months

Senior advocate K K Venugopal has agreed to continue as the Attorney General for India for three more months following a request by the central government, government sources said on Wednesday.

His present tenure was to end on June 30. Venugopal, the sources said, was not willing to continue in the constitutional post due to "personal reasons". But following a request by the central government, he has agreed to continue as the top law officer of the Union of India for three more months. Venugopal, 91, was appointed by the President of India as Attorney General for India in July 2017.

He was subsequently reappointed to the post. He had replaced Mukul Rohatgi. An eminent advocate of Supreme Court, Venugopal has appeared in a large number of cases involving important issues of Constitutional and corporate law. He was an additional solicitor general of India between 1979 and 1980. He has been awarded Padma Bhushan in 2002 and Padma Vibhushan in 2015. PTI

13:58 Uddhav can leave 52 MLAs, but not Pawar: Rebel

Rebel Shiv Sena minister Gulabrao Patil on Wednesday said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has left his 52 MLAs, but is not ready to leave Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, in a direct attack on the Sena president.

Patil said the rebel MLAs were not opportunist and did everything for the party and their leader when they were not even in a position to do so.

Patil is part of the rebellion launched by senior leader Eknath Shinde last week against the Sena.

These legislators have been urging the Sena leadership to snap ties with the NCP and Congress that share power with their party in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

"He left 'Varsha' (chief minister's official residence), he left 52 MLAs, he left everyone, but he is not ready to leave Sharad Pawar," Patil told his fellow rebel legislators in an address which was released by the dissident camp from Guwahati.

With 52, Patil was referring to 39 MLAs and independent legislators.

"Whatever we have got is also due to the sacrifices we made. We have sacrificed our household. We are not opportunist," he said.

Thackeray on Tuesday appealed to the MLAs to come back and talk to him in the wake of the rebellion that has pushed the party into its worst ever crisis and threatening the existence of his government.

Hitting back at party leader Sanjay Raut for his comment that Patil will be sent back to his pan shop, the rebel minister said, "When the time comes, I will apply chuna (limestone)." -- PTI

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has received over 1.83 lakh applications under the Agnipath recruitment scheme within six days of the registration process, an official communication said.

The registration process that began on June 24 had seen filing of 94,281 applications by Monday, and 56,960 applications till Sunday.

After the scheme was unveiled on June 14, violent protests against it rocked several states for nearly a week, and several opposition parties demanded its rollback.

'So far, 1,83,634 future Agniveers have applied on the registration website ...Registration closes on July 5, 2022,' the IAF said on Twitter.

Under the scheme, the government had said youths between the ages of 17-and-a-half and 21 years would be inducted for a four-year-tenure, while 25 per cent of them will be subsequently inducted for regular service.

The government had on June 16 increased the upper age limit for recruitment under the scheme to 23 years from 21 for the year 2022, and subsequently announced a slew of placatory steps, such as a preference for Agniveers in central paramilitary forces and defence public sector undertakings upon their retirement.

Many Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states also declared the 'Agniveers' -- as the soldiers inducted under the Agnipath scheme will be known -- will be accorded priority in induction into state police forces.

The armed forces have, however, made it clear those who had indulged in violent protests and arson against the new recruitment scheme will not be inducted. -- PTI

13:22 SC to hear Malik, Deshmukh's plea today

NCP leaders Nawab Malik and Anil Deshmukh, who are lodged in jail, move Supreme Court seeking permission to attend the floor test in Maharashtra tomorrow. Supreme Court agrees to hear their plea this evening. The two leaders were not given bail to attend the Rajya Sabha elections.

The Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan issues the notification for a special assembly session scheduled on June 30 and asks its all members to be present for this session.

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has asked the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government to take a floor test on Thursday, although the Sena has approached the Supreme Court challenging the direction.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan will chair a meeting with states on the COVID-19 situation and vaccination, through video conference today, informed sources on Tuesday.

Last week on June 23, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya reviewed the COVID and vaccination situation in the country.

The Union Minister chaired a meeting with key experts and officials. In a high-level meeting, Mandaviya advised strictly to monitor the Covid situation in the country focusing on vaccination of the elderly population, school-going children and surveillance and genome sequencing.

India has been witnessing a high number of COVID-19 cases over the last couple of weeks. States like Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Haryana, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Gujarat are reporting more than 1,000 cases daily.

The Union Minister stressed on the need to focus on districts reporting high case positivity and undertake adequate testing (with a higher proportion of RTPCR) and effective Covid-19 surveillance to assess and control the spread of infection in a timely manner.

Update from Guwahati: Dissident Maharashtra MLAs visit the famous Kamakhya temple before going to Guwahati airport. Assam Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika and other state BJP leaders are accompanying Eknath Shinde and the rebels. They will be travelling to Goa and staying at the Taj Hotel there. Tomorrow, they will directly come to the State Assembly in Mumbai.

People join the funeral procession of tailor Kanhaiya Lal, who was killed yesterday in Udaipur. The tailor, was on Tuesday, murdered by two men who had posted videos online that said they were avenging an insult to Islam. The incident triggered stray cases of violence in Udaipur and curfew was clamped in seven police station areas of the city.

The Rajasthan Police had announced a special investigation team (SIT) soon after the arrest of the two men, identified as Riaz Akhtari and Ghouse Mohammad, in connection with the murder.

In a video clip, Akhtari declared that they had beheaded the man and went on to threaten Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Indirectly, the assailants also referred to Nupur Sharma, the BJP leader suspended from the party over a remark on Prophet Mohammad. Lal was recently arrested by the local police over a post on social media. On June 15, while he was on bail, he told police that he was receiving threat calls.

12:39 Prayers before big day in Mumbai tomorrow

Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde along with other MLAs reach Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday termed the Maharashtra Governor's order asking the Uddhav Thackeray-led government to prove majority in the House as 'unlawful', saying that the Supreme Court is yet to decide on the disqualification of 16 rebel MLAs.

Raut also took a dig at Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, saying that he acted swiftly after a group of Bharatiya Janata Party leaders met him and urged him to ask the government to prove its majority in the assembly in view of the rebellion in the ruling Shiv Sena.

The Governor sent a letter to the Maharashtra Legislature Secretary late on Tuesday night, directing him to hold a floor test of the Shiv Sena-led government at 11 am on June 30.

'This (floor test order) is an unlawful activity as pleas of disqualification of 16 MLAs are pending before the Supreme Court. If such unlawful activities take place, and if the governor and the BJP trample upon the Constitution, then the SC has to interfere,' Raut told reporters in the morning.

'We will go to the Supreme Court and seek justice. We are confident that if the floor test is carried out in accordance with the law, then we will definitely win,' he added.

Later in the day, the Shiv Sena approached the Supreme Court, challenging the governor's direction to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to prove majority.

The apex court agreed to hear at 5 pm on Wednesday the plea filed by Sena's chief whip Sunil Prabhu.

The Governor's order came hours after BJP leaders, including former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, met him on Tuesday night and urged to ask the Thackeray-led government to prove its majority in the assembly, claiming that the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress coalition dispensation seemed to be in minority as 39 Sena MLAs who belong to the Shinde faction have said they do not support it.

Raut said according to the Shiv Sena, the 16 rebel MLAs stand disqualified.

'If the BJP tries to snatch power with such unlawful activities on the floor of the House, then will people keep quiet, he asked. Taking a dig at the governor,' Raut said the Raj Bhavan has acted at a 'jet speed even faster than Rafale' after BJP leaders met him.

He reminded the governor that the file pertaining to the nomination of 12 members to the Upper House of the state legislature from his quota has been pending with him for a long time.

Hitting out at Fadnavis, Raut said the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, since the day the MVA government was formed two-and-a-half years ago, he has been working to destabilise it.

Fadnavis, tipped to make a comeback as the chief minister, had met the governor at the Raj Bhavan Tuesday night and urged him to call for a floor test after a rebellion by majority of Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde.

Raut claimed he has been holding talks on the governor's order with several leaders, including the chief ministers of West Bengal and Telangana, and everyone feels the Governor's order for a floor test is 'extra-constitutional'. -- PTI

The arrested accused, Gaus Mohammed and Riyaz

11:55 Rajasthan govt taking tailor murder case very seriously: CM

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said his government has taken a serious view of the gruesome murder of a tailor in Udaipur, asserting such incidents cannot take place without involvement of radical elements at national and international levels.

Kanhaiya Lal, the tailor, was on Tuesday murdered by two men who had posted videos online that said they were avenging an insult to Islam. The incident triggered stray cases of violence in Udaipur and curfew was clamped in seven police station areas of the city.

Mobile Internet services were suspended across all 33 districts of Rajasthan.

"We are taking the incident very seriously. This is not a ordinary issue and it cannot happen until there is a link with radical elements at the national and international levels. This is what experience says," Gehlot told reporters in Jodhpur before leaving for Jaipur to chair a law and order review meeting.

He said the plans, conspiracy of the accused and their links with national or international agencies will be disclosed. Terming it as a gruesome incident, the chief minister said the murder of the tailor is highly condemnable.

He said the SIT has started its work and the government will be sharing its feedback after a law and order review meeting.

The Rajasthan Police had announced a special investigation team (SIT) soon after the arrest of the two men, identified as Riaz Akhtari and Ghouse Mohammad, in connection with the murder.

On June 15, while he was on bail, he told police that he was receiving threat calls. The local SHO summoned both sides to the police station and settled the matter, an official said. After the murder, police suspended an assistant sub inspector for negligence at that time.

The assailants entered Lal's shop in Dhan Mandi posing as customers. As the tailor took measurements Akhtari attacked him with a cleaver, nearly severing his neck. The other man shot the brutal murder with his mobile phone. The men fled from the scene and later uploaded this clip on social media.

In another video, the alleged assailant said they beheaded the tailor and threatened the prime minister for lighting this fire. PTI

11:37 Fadnavis calls meet of BJP leaders at his home

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis has called a meeting of BJP leaders at his residence in Mumbai this afternoon.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear at 5 pm the plea of Shiv Sena chief whip Sunil Prabhu challenging the Maharashtra Governor's direction to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to take floor test in the Assembly on Thursday.

The rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, who have been camping in Guwahati for last one week, are likely to leave for Goa this afternoon, en route Mumbai.

"Shiv Sena MLAs and allies have decided to contribute Rs 51 lakh to the Assam CM's relief fund to help the flood-affected people," tweets Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde For the last few days, Shinde along with other MLAs are camping at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati.

The Home Ministry has directed the National Investigation Agency to take over the investigation of the brutal murder of Kanhaiya Lal Teli in Udaipur. The involvement of any organisation and international links will be thoroughly investigated, the home ministry said.

Curfew remained clamped in seven police station areas of the city on Wednesday and mobile Internet services suspended across all 33 districts of Rajasthan after a tailor was brutally murdered here by two men, triggering stray cases of violence.

Heavy deployment of police has been made in the city, a day after the gruesome murder of Kanhaiya Lal, the tailor, by two men who had posted videos online that said they were avenging an insult to Islam.

Postmortem of the body is underway at the mortuary of the district government hospital, police said.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who was in Jodhpur, returned to Jaipur and will hold a meeting with officers to review the situation, official sources said.

11:24 No need to worry, say rebels

Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Gulabrao Patil at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati says, "People are with us and we will win the floor test tomorrow and will form the government. There is no need to worry."

Seated next to Patil is Eknath Shinde. The poster at the back shows Shivaji Maharaj and Bal Thackeray. The rebel faction says they are the inheritors of the legacy of the Shiv Sena founder and not Uddhav Thackeray who diluted his Hindutva legacy.

11:18 BJP leaders arrive at Fadnavis' home

BJP leaders including Girish Mahajan and Shrikant Bhartiya arrive at the residence of LoP and former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai

Update: A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and J B Pardiwala in the Supreme Court took note of submissions of senior advocate A M Singhvi that an urgent hearing was needed in view of the decision taken by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari asking the MVA government to prove majority at 11 am on Thursday.

"We will keep at 5 pm. Please make sure that paper books are supplied by 3 pm to parties concerned," the bench said. Singhvi said the floor test cannot include names which are "stigmatised".

Earlier, the apex court on June 27 had kept in abeyance the disqualification proceedings against rebel Shiv Sena MLAs before the Deputy Speaker of the state Assembly till July 11, and also sought responses from the state government and others on their pleas questioning the legality of notices seeking their disqualification.

Maha update: A SpiceJet flight is en route to Guwahati to fly all rebel Shiv Sena MLAs from Guwahati to Goa today. Earlier SpiceJet had flown them from Surat to Guwahati by a special charter flight.

11:01 SC to hear Sena plea on floor test at 5 pm

The Supreme Court agrees to hear at 5 pm, the plea of Shiv Sena chief whip Sunil Prabhu challenging Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's direction to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to prove his majority support on the floor of the House at 11 am tomorrow.

"Floor test cannot include names which are 'stigmatised'," says senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi representing the Shiv Sena in the SC.

Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi with Uddhav Thackeray

10:57 The question that needs answering

Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi asks, "How can a floor test be asked for when the disqualification of 16 MLA has deferred by the Supreme Court till 11th July? How can these MLAs participate in the floor test till their disqualification status not decided and the other matters for which notice sent is subjudice?"

Shiv Sena approaches the Supreme Court.

Shiv Sena Chief Whip Sunil Prabhu moves the Apex Court challenging Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's direction to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray to prove his majority support on the floor of the House on June 30.

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshayari writes to secretary of Vidhan Bhavan to call the special session on June 30 to prove the majority of the Uddhav Thackeray government in the floor of the house.

Eknath Shinde at Kamakhya temple

10:13 Maha rebel MLAs to go to Goa today

Maharashtra political situation update:
-- Rebel Maharashtra MLAs will be heading to Goa today. At least 70 rooms have been booked at the Taj Resort & Convention Centre, Goa. They will then fly to Mumbai tomorrow and go directly to the Maharashtra Assembly, says ANI.

-- Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut says they will approach the Supreme Court against the Maharashtra Governor's decision to call for a floor test. "This is an unlawful activity as the matter of disqualification of our 16 MLAs is pending in the Court. The Governor was waiting for this moment only."

-- BJP directs its MLAs to assemble at Taj President hotel in Mumbai this evening.

Devendra Fadnavis with Governor Koshyari

10:04 Challenge Guv's letter in SC: Chavan to MVA govt

Congress veteran Prithviraj Chavan has said that the Maharashtra government will have to move Supreme Court against Governor B S Koshyari's letter mandating Uddhav Thackeray-led dispensation to face floor test on Thursday.

Koshyari has asked the Maharashtra Legislature Secretary to hold a floor test of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government at 11 am on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said that conducting a floor test will be contempt of court as the Supreme Court has deferred the matter of disqualification of 16 MLAs to July 11.

'How can a floor test be asked for when the disqualification of 16 MLA has deferred by the Supreme Court till 11th July?

'How can these MLAs participate in the floor test till their disqualification status not decided and the other matters for which notice sent is sub judice?

'This would be contempt of court proceedings if floor test conducted despite the matter not getting final hearing in the SC,' Chaturvedi said in a series of tweets. -- with PTI inputs

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has written to state assembly secretary to convene a special session of the house on June 30, with the only agenda of a trust vote against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Mode details awaited. -- ANI

Dissident Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on Wednesday stepped out of the Guwahati hotel and visited the Kamakhya temple.

He said he will be in Mumbai on Thursday for floor test in the assembly.

"I'm here to pray for the peace and happiness of Maharashtra. Will go to Mumbai tomorrow for the floor test and follow all the process," Shinde said in Guwahati.

More details awaited. -- PTI/ANI

After the horrific murder of a tailor in Udaipur sparked outrage in the entire state, the Rajasthan government on Tuesday announced the imposition of Section 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in all the districts for the next one month.

The state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.

The SIT includes the Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Special Operation Group Ashok Kumar Rathore, Inspector General of Police (IG), Anti Terror Squad (ATS), Prafulla Kumar and a Superintendant of Police (SP) rank officer and an Additional SP rank officer.

Internet services have been suspended in the entire state on Tuesday.

Udaipur Divisional Commissioner Rajendra Bhatt appealed to the people to maintain peace.

"We appeal to the people of Udaipur to maintain peace. The (victim Kanhaiya Lal's) dependents have been assured of recruitment through placement service in UIT, and the family will be given compensation of Rs 5 lakhs," said Bhatt.

Police are on high alert in every district of Rajasthan.

"In view of the prevailing situation, Section 144 has been imposed in the entire district as well as the state. Shanti March has been cancelled by the organizers. We appeal to the people to maintain peace. Leaves of police personnel have been cancelled and they have been asked to report back. They are being deployed in law and order duty. We will ensure peace is maintained and take strict action against those attempting to disrupt it," Ajmer SP Vikas Sharma told ANI.

The NIA team includes a Deputy Inspector General (DIG)-rank officer, a source told ANI on anonymity, adding the move comes following an order issued from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

As per government sources, the NIA team is likely to file a case under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after visiting the crime spot.

The incident took place in Udaipur's Maldas area.

Soon after committing the crime, the two accused posted a video on social media boasting about the beheading and threatened Prime Minister Narendra Modi's life as well, police said.

The two accused were arrested within hours of the incident.

One of the assailants, who was identified as Riyaz Akhtar, attacked Kanhaiya Lal with a sharp-edged weapon while the other, Ghos Mohammad, recorded the crime on his mobile phone, police said.

The victim, a tailor, reportedly had recently shared a social media post in support of Nupur Sharma-- former Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson who had made controversial remarks against Prophet Muhammad.

Following the murder, local markets in the area were shut as the traders demanded justice for the victim.

"Both the accused have been detained and the law and order situation is under control. Some people were attempting to come out of the bylanes but were controlled. Curfew imposed in the nearby areas," Manoj Kumar, SP, Udaipur said.

A statewide alert has also been issued to all Superintendents of Police and Inspector Generals to increase the mobility of forces and to maintain officers on the ground. -- ANI

IMAGE: Locals protest after a man was beheaded in Udaipur's Maldas on Tuesday. Photograph: ANI Photo

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