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Mon, 16 May 2022
Priests body appeals to Hindus, Muslims for peace
Timeline Refresh
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23:57 One killed, over 10 injured in explosion in Karachi
An explosion ripped through the Bombay Bazar in Karachi's Kharadar area on Monday evening, injuring several people, local media reported.
The police and rescue officials quickly reached the spot to tend to the injured and take account of the cause of the explosion, Saama TV reported.
The area around the blast site is densely populated and a heavily frequented business hub of the city.
Traders here deal in plastic goods, textiles, and hardware items, the report said.
Karachi administrator Murtaza Wahab said that at least six people have been rushed to a nearby hospital in an injured condition.
However, he said that this number could increase.
Hospital officials later confirmed that they had received a body of a woman while 10 others had been brought in an injured condition.
While the exact cause of the blast is yet to be identified, locals suggested that the explosion could have been caused by an explosive device, Saama TV reported.
Earlier, Sindh information minister Sharjeel Memon said that they have dispatched police contingents to the spot.
"The police contingents have reached the spot. As soon as we know more, we will share information about it," he said, adding that he would not like to speculate on the nature of the blast. -- ANI
23:27 TCS fixes May 26 as record date for dividend payment
India's largest IT firm Tata Consultancy Services on Monday said it has fixed May 26 as the record date for determining entitlement of members to final dividend for the financial year ended March 31, 2022.
If the final dividend as recommended by the board of directors is approved at the annual general meeting, payment of such dividend, subject to deduction of tax at source, will be made on Monday, June 13, 2022, TCS said in a regulatory filing to the stock exchanges.
TCS said the dividend will be given to all "beneficial owners in respect of shares held in dematerialized form as per the data as may be made available by the National Securities Depository Limited and the Central Depository Services (India) Limited as of the close of business hours on Thursday, May 26, 2022".
It will also be paid to "all members in respect of shares held in physical form after giving effect to valid transmission or transposition requests lodged with the Company as of the close of business hours on Thursday, May 26, 2022," TCS said.
TCS board of directors at its meeting held on Monday, April 11, 2022 had recommended a final dividend of Rs 22 per equity share of Rs 1 each of the company for approval by the shareholders at the AGM scheduled to be held on Thursday, June 9, 2022. -- ANI
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23:21 Priests body appeals to Hindus, Muslims for peace
A body of temple priests has urged Hindu and Muslim groups not to give provocative statements, saying it would adversely hit the tourism sector in Mathura and Varanasi.
"After spoiling the atmosphere in Varanasi and Mathura, not only tirath purohits (priests) will suffer but traders and people engaged directly or indirectly in the tourist industry would also suffer," Mahesh Pathak, national president of the Akhil Bharatiya Tirath Purohit Mahasabha, said while talking to reporters in Mathura.
He said already the economy of both cities have been hit badly by the COVID pandemic.
He condemned alleged provocative statements by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi.
According to the priest body head, Hindus are also not lagging behind in making such statement.
As their statements may spoil the atmosphere, these should be stopped, he said. -- PTI
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22:46 Embark on Char Dham yatra only after consulting with doctors: CM Dhami
With 41 pilgrims dying en route to the Char Dham shrines since the start of the yatra on May 3, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday appealed to devotees to embark on the pilgrimage only after consulting their doctors.
Four pilgrims died of cardiac arrest on Monday -- each on their way to the Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath temples.
With these deaths, 14 pilgrims have died so far en route to Yamunotri, four on their journey to Gangotri, 15 to Kedarnath and eight on their way to Badrinath, according to official figures.
"Pilgrims who are not perfectly fit should not set out on the pilgrimage without doctor's permission," Dhami said at a programme in Almora.
The Char Dham Yatra, which was a low-key affair for the last two years due to COVID-19, began on a full scale this year and the number of pilgrims visiting the temples has increased manifold, Dhami said.
All efforts are being made to manage the yatra in a better way and make it absolutely safe and convenient for pilgrims, he added.
As of Sunday, 5,20,321 devotees visited the temples. -- PTI
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22:32 BJP to hold Chintan Shivir in Jaipur from May 19
The Bharatiya Janata Party is set to convene a high-level meeting of its office bearers from all across the country in Rajasthan's Jaipur from May 19 to May 21 to brainstorm over strengthening the organisation ahead of assembly polls in several states, informed party sources.
In this meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the gathering virtually on May 20.
On this day, the party's national executive meeting will be held.
BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda will reach Jaipur on May 19 to hold a meeting with all the general secretaries.
A senior source in party leadership told ANI on the condition of anonymity, "The agenda of the meeting will be primarily based on the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Rajasthan assembly elections slated to be held next year and grand celebration on the competition of 8 years of PM Modi government."
"The party will also plan a road map for the next year," the source said.
He further said that the agenda of the meeting includes the analysis of the party's performance in the last three months.
There will be a discussion on all the incidents that happened in the last three months including communal violence inside and outside the state, the party's source said.
Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana are scheduled to go to assembly polls next year. -- ANI
CH Pratap Reddy/Twitter
21:59 CH Pratap Reddy posted as new Bengaluru police commissioner
The Karnataka government on Monday transferred Bengaluru police commissioner Kamal Pant and appointed CH Pratap Reddy in his place.
Reddy, a 1991 batch IPS officer from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, has been serving as the additional director general of police (law and order).
During the recent communal violence in Hubballi where the police vehicles were torched, Reddy had supervised the investigation and the arrest of the accused.
Pant will serve as the director general of police of recruitment relieving R Hitendra from the concurrent charge.
Further, Alok Kumar, ADGP of Karnataka State Reserved Police, has been transferred to the post which Reddy held previously, while Hitendra will occupy the post Kumar had held.
S Anucheth, deputy commissioner of police of Bengaluru Central Division, has been transferred as the Superintendent of Police of the Criminal Investigation Department.
21:55 DNA testing of 26 Delhi fire victims to be done
The Delhi police on Monday said it has so far collected biological samples of a total of 26 people, whose family members are believed to be killed in the fire at a building in outer Delhi's Mundka, for DNA profiling.
At least 27 people were charred to death in the massive blaze that ripped through the four-storey building on Friday, according to the police.
"A total of 26 samples have been collected for DNA profiling, which will be carried out by forensic experts," a senior police officer said.
The Delhi police on Sunday had said it has collected biological samples of at least 20 people, whose family members are believed to be killed in the fire, for DNA profiling.
These members also include kin of the eight people whose identities have already been ascertained, officials had said.
21:50 Modi offers prayers at Buddhist temple in Kushinagar after returning from Nepal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday offered prayers at the Mahaparinirvana temple in Kushinagar district on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.
The prime minister, on his return from Lumbini in Nepal, reached the temple, said to be the final resting place of Gautama Buddha where he attained Mahaparinirvana and one of the most important pilgrim sites for Buddhists.
He offered a chivar (robe) at the reclining Lord Buddha statue in the presence of priests.
He was also presented with an idol of Lord Buddha. ''Prayed at the Mahaparinirvana Stupa in Kushinagar. Our government is making numerous efforts to boost infrastructure in Kushinagar so that more tourists and pilgrims can come here,'' the prime minister later tweeted.
Prime Minister Modi had inaugurated a new international airport at Kushinagar in October last year.
Built at an estimated cost of Rs 260 crore, it is part of the government's endeavour to connect Buddhist pilgrimage sites.
The prime minister is scheduled to attend a dinner at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's residence in Lucknow during which he will also meet all the ministers of the state government. -- PTI
21:34 Pooja Singhal, CA send to 4-day ED remand
A special PMLA court in Ranchi on Monday sent suspended Jharkhand mining secretary Pooja Singhal and her chartered accountant Suman Kumar to another four-day remand of the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money-laundering probe linked to the alleged embezzlement of MGNREGA funds and other charges.
According to ED lawyer BMP Singh, the four-day remand begins on Tuesday.
"Data has been collected from digital devices and they will be confronted with it. So, they have been taken under ED remand," Singh told reporters.
Singhal and her CA, Kumar, were produced before the count on Monday as their ED remand concluded today.
Singhal was the secretary of the department of mines and geology and the managing director of Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation Limited (JSMDC), who had served as the deputy commissioner of the state's Khunti district between 2009 and 2010.
She was arrested by the ED on May 11 and got suspended by the Jharkhand government on May 12.
After her arrest, a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ranchi sent Singhal to a five-day remand of the ED.
20:44 India slams OIC for J-K delimitation remarks
India on Monday slammed the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation for its 'unwarranted' comments on the delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir and asked the grouping to refrain from carrying out its 'communal agenda' at the behest of one country, in an oblique reference to Pakistan.
India's strong reaction came after the OIC criticised New Delhi over the delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir.
"We are dismayed that the OIC secretariat has once again made unwarranted comments on the internal affairs of India," external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.
"As in the past, the government of India categorically rejects the assertions made by the OIC secretariat on the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir which is an integral and inalienable part of India," he said.
Bagchi was responding to media queries on the OIC statement on the delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir.
"The OIC should refrain from carrying out its communal agenda vis-a-vis India at the behest of one country," Bagchi said.
The delimitation commission, tasked with redrawing parliamentary and assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, notified its final report earlier this month. -- PTI
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20:32 Fire in shelters for workers near Parliament House; no casualties
A fire broke out on Monday in three temporary shelters for workers engaged in the Central Vista project near Parliament House in central Delhi, officials said.
No casualties have been reported.
The fire department said that the information regarding the blaze in the high-security area was received at 4.16 pm, following which five fire tenders were rushed to the spot.
According to a senior police officer, the shelters were for workers involved in the Central Vista project.
Mattresses and household items were destroyed in the fire which was brought under control by 4.55 pm, the officials said.
Construction work under the Central Vista redevelopment project is on to build a new Parliament, central government offices and other buildings in Delhi's Lutyens zone. -- PTI
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20:07 Delhi's max temperature dips to 42.4 deg C
Partly cloudy sky led to a marginal dip in the maximum temperature in Delhi on Monday though it was still two to four notches above normal.
At the Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi's base station, the maximum temperature settled at 42.4 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal.
It was 45.6 degrees Celsius, the highest this year so far, on Sunday.
The automatic weather stations at Najafgarh, Mungeshpur, Sports Complex, Jafarpur, Ayanagar, Pitampura and Ridge recorded a maximum temperature of 44.7 degrees Celsius, 44.4 degrees Celsius, 44 degrees Celsius, 43.9 degrees Celsius, 43.4 degrees Celsius, 43.3 degrees Celsius and 43.1 degrees Celsius, respectively.
The India meteorological department said a thunderstorm or a dust storm may bring the mercury down by a few notches on Tuesday.
On Sunday, Delhi saw a tormenting heatwave pushing the mercury to 49.2 degrees Celsius at Mungeshpur in northwest Delhi and 49.1 degrees Celsius at Najafgarh in the southwest parts of the city.
Maximum temperatures had reached unbearable highs of 48.4 degrees Celsius at Sports Complex, 47.5 degrees Celsius at Jafarpur, 47.3 degrees Celsius at Pitampura and 47.2 degrees Celsius at Ridge.
The temperature will start rising again on Wednesday and may hit the 45-degree mark on Friday, the IMD said. -- PTI
20:03 IPL 2022: PBKS vs DC: Who Will Win?
PBKS has 6 of 12 games played.DC too has won 6 of 12 games played. So, who will win today? Take our poll, here.
19:28 Weather stops Vice-President from flying to Nilgiris
Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu would make a night-halt in Coimbatore on Monday, as he could not fly to Nilgiris district due to inclement weather there.
Naidu arrived at the airport in Coimbatore by a special flight from Abu Dhabi and was to leave for Udhagamandalam by a special flight.
But, inclement weather prevented him from doing so.
So, he drove to the government guest circuit house in Coimbatore, where he would stay in the night.
He would leave for Nilgiris on Tuesday either by flight or by road, but that depends on the weather, said official sources.
He was to address a programme in the Army College in Nilgiris district and participate in a school function.
He would stay in Udhagamandalam till May 19 and return to Coimbatore the next day to proceed to Delhi, they said. -- PTI
19:17 Govt puts Pawan Hans sale on hold
The government has put on hold the sale of Pawan Hans as it is legally examining an National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) order against Almas Global, which is part of the winning consortium, an official said on Monday.
"We will do a legal examination of the NCLT order before proceeding further. Letter of Award has not been issued," the official said.
Last month, the government selected M/s Star9 Mobility Pvt Ltd, a consortium of M/s Big Charter Private Limited, M/s Maharaja Aviation Private Limited and M/s Almas Global Opportunity Fund SPC, as the winning bidder for Pawan Hans.
Star9 Mobility had quoted Rs 211.14 crore for Pawan Hans, which was above the Reserve Price of Rs 199.92 crore fixed by the government on the basis of valuation carried out by the transaction adviser and asset valuer.
The NCLT had last month passed an order reportedly after Almas Global failed to make payments to creditors of a Kolkata-based company under an approved resolution plan. -- PTI
Sri Lanka PM Ranil Wickremesinghe
18:55 Have petrol stock for just 1 day, says Sri Lanka PM
PM of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe, in Colombo, talks about the country's economic crisis.
-- At present, the Sri Lankan economy is extremely precarious. Although the former governments budget projected revenue of SLR 2.3 trillion, SLR 1.6 trillion is the realistic projection of this years revenue.
-- We're faced with several grave concerns. To ease queues, we must obtain approximately USD 75 million within next couple of days. At the moment, we only have petrol stocks for a single day. Due to diesel shipment that arrived yesterday, lack of diesel will be resolved to some extent.
-- A quarter of electricity is generated through oil. Therefore, there's a possibility that daily power outages will increase to 15 hours a day. However, we've already obtained money to avert this crisis. We must also immediately obtain USD 20 million to provide gas to consumers.
-- I propose to privatise Sri Lankan Airlines which is incurring extensive losses. The loss for 2020-2021 alone amounts to SLR 45 billion. By 31st March 2021, total loss was at 372 billion. Even if we privatise Sri Lankan Airlines, this is a loss that we must bear
-- We have planned to present a new alternative budget to the development budget proposed for 2022. Intend to present it as a concessionary budget.
18:47 Monsoon's progress
Here is when you should receive the all-embracing, exuberant festival that is the Indian monsoon.
Covid figures as of today
18:23 Bodies floating on Ganga: NGT asks UP, Bihar govts for numbers
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Uttar Pradesh and Bihar governments to inform it about the number of human corpses found floating in the river Ganga besides bodies buried on the river bed in the two states before the onset of Covid-19 till March 31 this year.
A bench of Justices Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Dr.Afroz Ahmad directed the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary (Health), Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar respectively to submit factual verification reports on the issue.
"How many dead bodies were documented/found to have been floating in river Ganga and (b) to have been buried on the river bed in the States of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar before COVID-19 in the years 2018 and 2019 and after Covid 19 in the years 2020, 2021 and till 31.03.2022?
"In how many cases financial support was extended by the Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar respectively for cremation, funeral, or burial of the dead bodies? What steps were taken for creating public awareness and promoting public participation for preventing floating of dead bodies in river Ganga or their burial in or near the river bed,?" the bench asked.
The tribunal sought to know whether any criminal case was registered and any prosecution was launched against any person for violation of the guidelines for the management of dead bodies covid infected or otherwise.
18:10 Child boarding incident: DGCA finds IndiGo guilty
Aviation regulator DGCA Monday said it has issued a showcause notice to IndiGo after a fact-finding committee found the airline staff prima facie violated regulations in denying boarding to a specially-abled child at the Ranchi airport on May 7.
The airline had on May 9 said the boy was denied boarding as he was "visibly in panic".
As the boy was prohibited from boarding the Ranchi-Hyderabad flight, his parents -- who were accompanying him -- also decided not to enter the plane. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation had constituted a fact-finding committee to probe the matter.
"The committee has submitted its report," the DGCA said in a statement on Monday. The proceedings of the committee were partly held in the open and partly in-camera as per the request of the affected family, it said.
"The findings of the committee prima facie indicate inappropriate handling of passengers by the Indigo staff thereby resulting in certain non-conformances with the applicable regulations, it mentioned.
In view of this, it has been decided to issue a showcause notice to the airline through its authorised representative to explain as to why suitable enforcement action should not be taken against them for the non-conformances, it said.
"To meet the ends of justice, the airline has been provided an opportunity for personal hearing as well as for making written submissions in next ten days from today i.e. till May 26, 2022. After hearing their submissions, appropriate action as per law would be taken," it added. PTI
17:52 5,000 wheat-laden trucks stuck due to export ban
Criticizing the Centre's decision to ban export of wheat, an outfit representing agriculture-based businesses said on Monday that about 5,000 trucks laden with the commodity and sent by Madhya Pradesh traders for overseas shipments are stuck at two major ports of the country due to the move.
The government's penchant for sudden, badly implemented decisions continues, the draconian and brutal lockdown in 2020, a case in point.
The organisation - Madhya Pradesh Sakal Anaj Dalhan Tilhan Vyapari Mahasangh Samiti - a federation of wheat, pulses and oilseeds traders, announced to close their business in 270 agricultural produce markets of the state on Tuesday and Wednesday in protest against the ban on wheat export.
The outfit, which has demanded lifting of the ban, said large consignments of wheat were transported from the state through these trucks to ports for export.
Due to the sudden ban on wheat export by the central government, about 5,000 trucks loaded with the grain, sent by the state's traders, are standing at Kandla (Gujarat) and Mumbai ports, Gopaldas Agrawal, Mahasangh president, told PTI.
He said the state government had encouraged traders to boost export of wheat, following which they had bought the commodity from farmers at higher than the minimum support price (MSP). But export deals of traders are now in jeopardy due to the Centre's ban, he said.
To protest against the ban on export of wheat, traders in all 270 agricultural produce markets (mandis) of the state will suspend their work on Tuesday and Wednesday, Agrawal said.
He demanded that the central government immediately lift the export ban in the interest of traders and farmers. Last week, the Commerce Ministry imposed a ban on wheat export with immediate effect amid concerns over impact on production due to scorching heat and to control the domestic prices of the foodgrain.
The Centre has said apart from meeting the foodgrain requirements of neighboring and vulnerable countries, the decision will help in controlling the retail prices of wheat and flour which have risen by an average of 14 to 20 per cent in the last one year. PTI
PM Modi with Nepal PM Sher Bahadur Deuba
17:23 PM leaves for home after day-long visit to Nepal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday left for home after concluding his day-long visit to Nepal's Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, during which he held bilateral talks with his Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba and offered prayers at the sacred Maya Devi temple on the occasion of Budhha Purnima. Modi, who was in the Himalayan nation at the invitation of Deuba, visited Lumbini for the first time.
This was his fifth visit to Nepal since 2014. He began his Nepal visit with prayers at the sacred Maya Devi Temple, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. Modi was accompanied by his Nepalese counterpart Deuba and his spouse Dr Arzu Rana Deuba during his visit to the historic temple.
The leaders paid their respects at the Marker Stone inside the temple premises, which pinpoints the exact birth spot of Lord Buddha. They also attended the pooja conducted as per Buddhist rituals.
The two leaders watered the Bodhi tree sapling from Bodh Gaya which was gifted by Modi to Lumbini in 2014 and also signed the temple's visitor's book.
They laid the foundation stone for the India International Centre for Buddhist Culture and Heritage in the Lumbini Monastic Zone here. Prime Minister Modi then held bilateral talks with his Nepalese counterpart Deuba in Lumbini during which they discussed ways to strengthen ongoing cooperation and develop new areas in the multifaceted bilateral partnership. After their talks, the two sides signed six memorandum of understandings on cooperation in cultural and educational sectors.
Deuba also hosted a lunch in honour of Modi and his delegation. Prime Minister Modi delivered a special address at the Buddha Jayanti celebrations organised by the Lumbini Development Trust. Lumbini, located in the Terai plains of southern Nepal, is one of the holiest places of Buddhism, as Lord Buddha was born there. -- PTI
17:15 Downton Abbey, back once more
As Downton Abbey: A New Era readies for its worldwide release -- the film premiered at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York on May 15 -- the cast were there to celebrate.
Recognise her? She plays a pivotal role in the series and helps Lady Mary skirt disaster.
17:08 Killings of KPs aimed to keep terrorism alive: Army
Northern Army commander Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday said the targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits and non-local labourers by militants was to keep terrorism alive in Kashmir.
He also said Pakistan created a facade of proxy tanzeems' (outfits) to give an indigenous colour to the insurgency in the Valley after the country faced pressure internationally to stop sponsoring terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
Terror organsations like The Resistance Front (TRF), Peoples' Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), Gaznavi Force, United Liberation Front, Geelani Force, Lashkar-e-Mustafa, Lashar-e-Islam and Jammu and Kashmir Freedom Fighter have been claiming responsibility for terror attacks, particularly selective killings of Hindus in the valley, during the last one-and-a-half-year, as per the reports.
"Due to active diplomacy, there has been tremendous international pressure on Pakistan to put a stop to sponsoring terror in J-K. Consequently, a facade of proxy tanzeems was created to give an indigenous hue (to militancy in Kashmir)," Lt Gen Dwivedi, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command, said in an interview to PTI.
He said in the recent past, militants have targeted non-local labourers, Kashmiri Pandits and other contributors of peace, prosperity and well-being of Kashmir, which goes to show that frustration is setting in among the orchestrators of violence and "they are getting desperate".
"Their actions are causing grave human right violations and degrading Kashmiriyat," Lt Gen Dwivedi said.
He said notwithstanding a few aberrations, people are aware and they have awakened and developed the courage to negate the nefarious designs of anti-national elements.
"I see Jammu and Kashmir regaining its past glory and sustaining the hard-earned peace through sacrifices of the security forces and people," the Army commander said. He said the successes on the anti-terrorist front are reflections of higher standards of professionalism and jointness among the security forces.
"This has led to frustration among the perpetrators of proxy war and desperation to prove that terrorism is alive (in Kashmir)," he added. -- PTI
17:04 Mumbai police register over 12,000 cases for wrong-side driving in 2 months
The Mumbai police have in last two months registered 12,390 cases for wrong-side driving and also removed 13,430 abandoned vehicles from streets, an official said on Monday.
Also, there were 18 cases of gutka seizure worth over Rs 80 lakh last week, while drugs worth over Rs 30 lakh were also seized in 21 cases in a drive conducted last week, Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey, said in a Twitter post.
Pandey, who was appointed as the city police chief in February, also informed that there have been 4,214 cases of riding two-wheelers without helmet in the last couple of months. -- PTI
16:39 Three reasons why Ambedkar embraced Buddhism
The most popular view among scholars is the fact that Buddhism was seen as the most modern and rational religion by Ambedkar. Read the column here.
16:34 LIC to list on bourses tomorrow
The country's largest insurer LIC will list its shares on the stock exchanges on Tuesday after witnessing a good response from domestic investors in the initial share sale, which fetched Rs 20,557 crore to the government.
The government had fixed the issue price of LIC shares at Rs 949 apiece for allotment to investors. LIC policyholders and retail investors have got the shares at a price of Rs 889 and Rs 904 apiece, respectively, after taking into account the discount offered.
The Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) closed on May 9 and shares were allocated to bidders on May 12.
The government sold over 22.13 crore shares or a 3.5 per cent stake in LIC through the IPO. The price band of the issue was Rs 902-949 a share. However, shares were allocated to investors on May 12 at the upper end of the price band. The shares will list on the BSE and NSE on May 17.
The LIC IPO -- India's largest to date -- closed with nearly 3 times subscription, predominately lapped up by retail and institutional buyers, but foreign investor participation remained muted.
So far, the amount mobilised from the Paytm IPO in 2021 was the largest ever at Rs 18,300 crore, followed by Coal India (2010) at nearly Rs 15,500 crore and Reliance Power (2008) at Rs 11,700 crore.
LIC had last month reduced its IPO size to 3.5 per cent from 5 per cent decided earlier due to the prevailing choppy market conditions. Even after the reduced size of over Rs 20,557 crore, the LIC IPO is the biggest initial public offering ever in the country. -- PTI
16:31 Sensex, Nifty end six-day fall
Benchmark BSE Sensex rebounded by 180 points at close after a see-saw trade on Monday, ending its six-day falling streak on the back of gains in banking, financials, power and auto counters. The 30-share BSE benchmark gained 180.22 points or 0.34 per cent to settle at 52,973.84. During the day, it zoomed 634.66 points or 1.20 per cent to 53,428.28
16:19 Lord Ram is incomplete without Nepal: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that in the ongoing situation in the world, the friendship between India and Nepal is set to benefit the entire humanity.
PM Modi made the remarks while addressing the Buddha Purnima celebrations in Kathmandu during his day-long visit to Nepal's Lumbini.
"Given the situation throughout the world, our deepening friendship will benefit the entire humanity, and the devotion and faith of both our countries in Lord Buddha bind us in one thread, makes us members of the same family," PM Modi said.
In his speech, PM Modi emphasized the need to further deepen the relationships between the two countries. "We have to give our relations the height of Nepal. Festivals, rituals, and even familial relations, the kinds of relationships we have lived in for thousands of years, we have to link them with science, infrastructure and technology as well," PM Modi said.
During his speech, PM Modi made a number of references to Lord Buddha and highlighted that the message of Buddhism needs to be spread to the entire world "Buddha is above geopolitical boundaries, he is for everyone, he belongs to everyone," PM Modi said.
"Even our Lord Ram is incomplete without Nepal," PM Modi said.
PM Modi arrived in Lumbini this morning on an official visit. On arrival at Lumbini, Prime Minister was received by the Nepal PM and his spouse Arzu Deuba. Both the leaders participated in the foundation stone laying ceremony for the construction of a Centre of Buddhist Culture and Heritage in Lumbini, on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti.
During the visit, India and Nepal signed a slew of agreements, including cooperation among the higher educational institutions of the two countries and the state power authorities. -- ANI
15:57 Ukraine war ups Inflation, RBI may hike rates: SBI
At least 59 per cent of the accelerated inflation is attributable to the impact of the geopolitical conflict triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, economists at SBI said on Monday.
In the face of the heightened inflation situation the headline number touched nearly 7.8 per cent for April, and the RBI is set to hike rates by another 0.75 per cent to get the repo rate back to the pre-pandemic level of 5.15 per cent, they added.
The economists said they did a study of the Russian invasion's impact on inflation, which revealed that 59 per cent of the jump in prices is due to geopolitical events.
Using February as the base case, the study revealed that because of war alone, food and beverages, fuel, light and transport contributed 52 per cent of the increase, while another 7 per cent impact came from the jump in input prices for the FMCG sector.
Stating that the inflation is unlikely to correct anytime soon, the note said there is a difference between rural and urban areas when it comes to price rises.
The former are impacted more by higher food price pressures, while the latter are showing more impact because of the fuel price hikes.
"Against the continued increase in inflation, it is now almost certain that RBI will raise rates in forthcoming June and August policy and will take it to the pre-pandemic level of 5.15 per cent by August," it said, adding that the biggest question for the central bank to ponder is whether inflation will tread down meaningfully because of such rate hikes if war-related disruptions do not subside quickly.
It also needs to check if growth could be a large casualty in case of large and persistent rate increases, even as inflation prints will continue to be of serious concern, the note added. -- PTI
Image: Grave diggers lower a coffin in the settlement of Staryi Krym outside Mariupol. Pic: Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters
An awareness programme for Covid-19
15:48 Price of Corbevax vaccine for 12-14 yrs slashed
Hyderabad based pharmaceuticals firm Biological E. Ltd (BE) today said it has reduced the price of its Covid-19 vaccine Corbevax to Rs 250 from Rs 840 a dose, inclusive of GST, for private vaccination centres.
The company in a statement said that the reduction in price will result in end users paying a price of 400 a dose which will include the taxes and administration charges.
Previously, in private vaccination centres the overall cost to end users of the vaccine was 990 a dose, including taxes and administration charges, it added.
Currently, over 3 crore doses of Corbevax have been administered in children between 12-15 years of age.
In March this year when the inoculation of children in the age group of 12 to 14 years against Covid-19 commenced in the country, Corbevax vaccine was used and its price was fixed at 145 for government vaccination programme.
15:33 Britain's Queen attends first Platinum Jubilee event
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II was all smiles as she attended the first of a series of events planned to commemorate 70 years of her reign for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations over the coming weeks.
The 96-year-old monarch, who has recently skipped some ceremonial events over age-related mobility issues, was greeted with a standing ovation as she arrived in the arena close to her Windsor Castle residence for the Royal Windsor Horse Show on Sunday.
A show entitled A Gallop Through History an equestrian extravaganza had a celebrity line-up including Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and Helen Mirren. What she has accomplished is historic," Cruise told the ITV channel.
"She has met presidents, world leaders, people from all walks of life. Not just Americans, but the world knows the dignity, devotion and kindness that is what I have always felt about her. Someone that understands her position and has held it through a history that's just been extraordinary the past 70 years," he said.
There had been concerns for the monarch's health after she missed the State Opening of Parliament earlier this month, an event she has missed in the past only when she was pregnant.
But she seemed in good spirits as she walked to her seat in the royal box on Sunday, past a guard of honour featuring the Coldstream Guards, RAF Regiment and Royal Navy, as the national anthem was played.
She sat with a blanket over her knees and a shawl over her shoulders. Buckingham Palace has elaborate plans for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, which are scheduled over a four-day bank holiday weekend in the first week of June starting on June 2.
Among the events include a 15 million pounds carnival featuring a huge puppet dragon and a Platinum Jubilee Pageant, which will see performances by some of the world's well-known stars including singers Ed Sheeran and Sir Cliff Richard. -- PTI
15:30 Farooq Abdullah wants 'Kashmir Files' banned
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Monday called for a ban on Vivek Agnihotri-directed film 'The Kashmir Files', alleging that it has created an atmosphere of "hatred in the country".
He also called the film "baseless", citing the incidents portrayed in the movie as fake.
The remarks came a day after the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration leaders, including Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, met LG Manoj Sinha to discuss the recent incidents of violence in the Valley. "We met LG Manoj Sinha. The purpose of it was that the law and order situation is bad here. While tourists are visiting the Valley, people are being killed on a daily basis," he said while speaking to the reporters.
"If we have to come closer to each other, this hatred has to end. 'The Kashmir Files' shows a Muslim killing a Hindu and rinsing the rice in his blood and telling his wife to eat it? This is a baseless film that has not only created hatred in the country but also among the youth of the valley that how they are being looked at," Abdullah added.
Assuring the cooperation of the leaders of the Union Territory, the National Conference chief said that they would "stand with everything that helps maintain peace and law and order".
"We don't want to disrupt the law and order. He assured us that the government is doing everything possible," he said. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday said that the security would be beefed up in the residential areas of the government Kashmiri Pandit employees in the Valley, while also announcing an enquiry into the tear gas shelling incident against them during the protest.
The killing of Rahul Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit and government employee on Thursday, triggered street protest by the locals wherein teargases were used to disperse the protesters. Following the protest, the J-K government constituted an SIT to probe the murder. -- ANI
15:18 Not long before wheels start moving on caste census: Nitish
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday asserted that "it will not take long" before work began on a state-level caste-based census, which he has agreed to after inability expressed by the Centre to conduct the same on a national level.
Talking to reporters here, the chief minister said he had also made this known to leader of the opposition Tejashwi Yadav who met him last week to discuss the issue. "Zyada der nahin lagega (it will not take long).. We will convene an all-party meeting where representatives can give their suggestions. It will be followed by a cabinet approval. Modalities like how many officials to deploy etc will also be worked out," said Kumar.
The JD(U) leader said the proposed all-party meeting could have taken place earlier but for "other engagements like elections which kept all busy". "Humne unko bata diya hai (I have told him)," said Kumar when asked about the meeting he had with Yadav, his former deputy, who had been alleging procrastination on the issue.
The Centre has made it clear that it will not be able to conduct a headcount of castes other than Dalits and tribals as part of the census, notwithstanding strong demand for the same from political parties in Bihar where resolutions have been twice passed, unanimously, by the state legislature.
The state's politics has been dominated by the OBCs, the numerically powerful social group to which both Kumar and Yadav belong and they are of the view that a fresh estimate of population was necessary to ensure a more effective delivery of targeted welfare.
Notably, Kumar had also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to press the demand last year, heading an all-party delegation of which Yadav, who belongs to the RJD, was also a part. PTI
14:46 India, Nepal sign 6 MoUs
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba have signed a six MoUs/Agreements in Lumbini, Nepal. PM Modi arrived in Lumbini this morning on an official visit.
On arrival at Lumbini, Prime Minister was warmly received by the Nepal PM, his spouse Arzu Deuba, and several Ministers from the Government of Nepal. Both the leaders participated in the foundation stone laying ceremony for the construction of a Centre of Buddhist Culture and Heritage in Lumbini, on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Jayanti.
14:39 Chinese nationals teaching Mandarin in Pak called back
Chinese nationals teaching Mandarin in different parts of Pakistan have left for home after being called back by Beijing following the recent deadly attacks targeting them, an official of the Karachi University said on Monday.
Their departure came weeks after a burqa-clad Baloch woman suicide bomber struck a van inside Pakistan's prestigious University of Karachi, killing three Chinese teachers, including the head of the department, and their local driver, in the latest targeted attack against Chinese citizens in the country's financial capital.
The banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) linked Majeed Brigade claimed responsibility for the attack on the teachers that took place on April 26 near China-built Confucius Institute - a non-profit institute teaching Chinese language to local pupils - in the university.
An official at the University of Karachi said that the Chinese teachers who were teaching at the Confucius Institute on the campus left for home on Sunday.
There were other Chinese teachers working at different campuses in the country and they left yesterday, he said. Director of the Confucius Institute at the Karachi University, Dr Nasiruddin, said that the departure of the Chinese teachers was a big setback for the students learning Mandarin.
"We have around 500 students enrolled at the institute and we are now considering having online classes for them so that their term is completed," he said. He said that the teachers at the different Confucius Institutes in the country have been called back by their government. -- PTI
14:35 Kashmir Files triggered terrorism in J-K: Mehbooba
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on terrorism in J-K and the Gyanvapi mosque issue. "We created a safe atmosphere for Kashmiri pandits. In 2010, 2016 during peak unrest, no killing happened.
"The movie Kashmir Files has also triggered it. They're creating Hindu-Muslim issues to distract from real topics and are after Gyanvapi mosque now.
"They are after all our mosques. Give us a list of all mosques you are eyeing... They are after Gyanvapi mosque now. Would everything be okay when they take all of it?"
The BJP's Jammu and Kashmir unit chief Ravinder Raina on Sunday visited the Sheikhpora camp of the Kashmiri Pandit employees protesting the killing of Rahul Bhat to express solidarity with them and said the mistakes of the 1990s will not be repeated.
Bhat, who had got the job of a clerk under the special employment package for migrants in 2010-11, was gunned down by terrorists inside the tehsil office in Chadoora town of central Kashmir's Budgam district on Thursday.
Protests were held at several places in the Union Territory over the killing as well as the "failure" of the administration to provide security to Kashmiri Pandit employees. Police used batons and tear smoke shells at Sheikhpora in Budgam on Friday to quell the protest.
14:23 Mapped: Monsoon across India
Monsoon predictions: RK Jenamani, IMD on the arrival of the monsoon: "Today it has already arrived over Andaman Sea & adjoining SE Bay of Bengal. We've given the prediction for Kerala, that it will come around 27th May. So, as per the progress and all monitoring, it shows that our prediction will be correct for monsoon."
Lal salaam
14:20 Left parties call for protests from May 25 to 31
The Left parties have called for a nationwide protest against inflation and unemployment, starting May 25 to 31 while also rolling out a list of demands in front of the Centre.
The parties have also directed their units across the country to carry out a coordinated nationwide struggle during the stated period. Rolling back of surcharges/cess on petroleum products, restoration of the wheat supplies through the Public Distribution System (PDS), strengthening the PDS by the distribution of essential commodities including pulses and edible oil feature in their list of demands.
"Unabated galloping price rise is imposing unprecedented burdens on the people. Crores are suffering and are pushed into deeper poverty with growing hunger pangs. Coming on top of unprecedented and growing levels of unemployment, this is compounding people's miseries," said a joint statement by the Left parties.
"Over the last year, the prices of petroleum products have increased by 70 per cent, vegetables by 20 per cent, cooking oil by 23 per cent and cereals by 8 per cent. Wheat, the staple diet of crores of Indians, is seeing a price rise of over 14 per cent, making it unaffordable. Wheat procurement has declined," added the statement enumerating the instances of inflation in the country. -- ANI
14:07 US has made Pakistan a slave: Imran Khan
The US has made Pakistan a slave without invading it, ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan claimed, asserting that the people will never accept an "imported government."
Khan, the 69-year-old cricketer-turned-politician, was voted out of power last month through a no-confidence motion, which he alleges was plotted by the US with the help of local players over his pursuance of an independent foreign policy.
After his ouster, Khan has held several public rallies in different cities, labelling the new government headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as traitors and corrupt rulers allegedly imposed at the behest of the US. Following his ouster, he has blamed the US for conspiring against his government an allegation the US and the incumbent government here have refuted.
"The US has made Pakistan a slave without having to invade it. The people of Pakistan will never accept the imported government," he said while addressing a rally in Faisalabad in Pakistan's Punjab province on Sunday.
The former premier accused the US of being a self-centred country that does not help others without seeing its own interest.
Khan on Sunday said that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will "beg" for money from the US Secretary Antony Blinken so that he (Khan) cannot come back to power. -- PTI
13:51 BJP govt has created two Hindustans: Rahul
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of destroying the country's economy, which was "strengthened" by the former UPA government.
At a rally in Rajasthan's Banswara district, he also charged that the BJP and Prime Minister Modi want to create two Hindustans, with one for the rich and select two-three industrialists and the other of Dalits, farmers, the poor and underprivileged.
The Congress, he said, wants only one Hindustan.
The Congress leader, who has been targeting the government over the state of the economy and issue of unemployment, said, "The BJP government has attacked our economy. PM did demonetisation, wrongly implemented GST due to which the economy got destroyed. UPA worked to strengthen the economy but Narendra Modi caused harm to our economy".
Slamming the ruling party at the Centre, he charged that the BJP wants to create two Hindustans and we want one Hindustan. This is the fight in the country". PTI
13:20 When your house is bombed but you get a lake
War reporter Nolan Peterson tweets: "Valeriy, a territorial defense soldier who lives on the outskirts of Kyiv, shows me where a Russian bomb fell on his property. The rest of his home was destroyed. Yet, he had a glass-half-full attitude: 'Thanks to the rashists, I now have a custom lake in my backyard,' he said."
13:16 Gyanvapi mosque: Area of Shivling to be sealed
Gyanvapi mosque survey: Varanasi court orders DM Varanasi "to seal the area where a 'Shivling' has been found and prohibit the entry of any person to the area. DM, police commissioner, police commissionerate, & CRPF commandant Varanasi responsible for security of the sealed area," the court said.
A court-mandated videography survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid complex, which was carried out for the third consecutive day, concluded on Monday amid tight security, officials said.
The survey of the mosque complex, which started at 8 am, concluded at around 10:15 am. The mosque is located close to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath temple and the local court is hearing a plea by a group of women seeking permission for daily prayers before the idols on its outer walls.
"After working for over two hours, the court commission concluded its work on Monday at around 10.15 am. All parties were satisfied with the work," Varanasi District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma told reporters here.
The survey was stalled last week amid objections by the mosque committee, which claimed that the advocate commissioner appointed by the court for the survey did not have the mandate to film inside the premises. -- PTI
12:53 Be ready to go to jail: Kejriwal tells AAP MLAs
Slamming the anti-encroachment drive being carried out in various parts of the city, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said if bulldozers raze shops and houses of 63 lakh people in Delhi, which are considered illegal, it will be the "biggest destruction" in independent India.
At a meeting with Aam Aadmi Party MLAs on the matter, Kejriwal told them that they should be ready to go to jail for opposing the anti-encroachment drive being carried out by the BJP-led municipal corporations in various parts of Delhi.
"They are reaching colonies with bulldozers and razing any shop and house. Even if people show them papers to prove that the structure is not illegal, they do not check them," he said.
"Delhi has not been made in a planned way. More than 80 per cent of Delhi can be called illegal and encroached. Does that mean you will destroy 80 per cent of Delhi?" he said in an online briefing.
The party is against the way the anti-encroachment drive is being carried out, he said, adding nearly 50 lakh people stay in unauthorised colonies, 10 lakh in 'jhuggis' and there are lakhs of people who have modified balconies or done something that does not conform to original maps.
"That means homes and shops of 63 lakh people will be bulldozed. This will be the biggest destruction happening in independent India," he said.
While noting that the Aam Aadmi Party is against encroachment and wants Delhi to look beautiful, he said razing homes and shops of 63 lakh people will not be tolerated.
"In the last 15 years, the BJP was in power in MCD and took money. Their tenure will be ending on May 18. Do you have constitutional power to take such a big decisions. Let elections happen and let that party take the decision. Everyone knows that the AAP will come to power in MCD," he said.
He assured people that the AAP will solve the problem of encroachment and people residing in unauthorised colonies will get ownership rights. PTI
Kedarnath temple
12:36 Chardham Yatra: 39 deaths in 2 weeks
As many as 39 pilgrims have lost their lives en route since the commencement of the Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand, as per an official on Monday.
The official has presented high blood pressure, heart attack and mountain sickness as the reasons for the demise of the pilgrims.
"Most of the deaths of all the pilgrims have taken place on the travel routes. The cause of death of all has been high blood pressure, heart attack, and mountain sickness," Uttarakhand Director-General Health Dr Shailja Bhatt told ANI.
The health official informed that the health check-up of the pilgrims are being done at various places on the travel routes besides Rishikesh. "Pilgrims who are not medically fit are being advised not to travel," she said.
Earlier last week, the DG informed that the health screening of the pilgrims now is being done at the points created on the travel routes.
Dr Shailja Bhatt informed, "Health screening of passengers has been started at Rishikesh ISBT registration site. A health screening camp has been set up at Pandukeshwar for the pilgrims of Dobata and Hina and Badrinath Dham on the Yatra route of Yamanotri and Gangotri respectively."
After the health screening, the passengers who are found to have any physical illness, are being advised to rest or go on the journey only after becoming fit for health, she said.
The yatra began with the opening of Gangotri and Yamunotri portals for devotees on May 3, on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya in the presence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. While Kedarnath re-opened on May 6, the doors of Badrinath opened on May 8.
12:29 Modi lays foundation stone of Buddhist centre in Lumbini
PM Modi and Nepal PM Sher Bahadur Deuba participate in the foundation stone laying ceremony for construction of a centre for Buddhist culture and heritage, in a plot belonging to the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), Delhi within the Lumbini Monastic Zone.
The Centre will be constructed by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), New Delhi, on a plot allocated to IBC by the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT), under an agreement between IBC and LDT signed in March 2022, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.
After the shilanyaas ceremony, which was performed by monks belonging to three major Buddhist traditions, Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana, the two Prime Ministers also unveiled a model of the Centre, he said.
Once completed, the Centre will be a world-class facility welcoming pilgrims and tourists from all over the world to enjoy the essence of spiritual aspects of Buddhism.
It will be a modern building, NetZero compliant in terms of energy, water and waste handling, and will house prayer halls, meditation centers, library, exhibition hall, cafeteria, offices and other amenities, the MEA added.
12:18 Pakistan attends SCO's anti-terror meet in Delhi
A four-day meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization's (SCO's) Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure or RATS started in New Delhi on Monday amid the presence of a three-member Pakistani delegation among other foreign dignitaries from seven other countries.
Headed by a Director-level official of the Pakistani Foreign Affairs Ministry, this is the first delegation from the neighbouring country to visit India since a new government took charge in Islamabad recently under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The participants of all nine members of the SCO grouping took part in the meeting scheduled between May 16-19. The SCO grouping comprises Russia, China and India. Besides this, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, are also part of the grouping.
11:54 Always thought Biki Oberoi would go on forever
"A month ago, I was in Mumbai for an event. The event was in Parel, in the crowded midtown area of the city. Though it was not the most convenient option, I opted to stay some distance away at The Oberoi, at the tip of Nariman Point. Though this involved more time waiting in traffic jams than I would have liked, I did not once regret that decision during the four days that I was in Mumbai. The reason was simple enough. The Oberoi is, quite simply, the best hotel in Mumbai."
Vir Sanghvi on Biki Oberoi retiring as chairman after having created some of the worlds best hotels over the last few years.
Read the column here.
11:50 Among the lotuses in Lumbini
@PMOIndia shares this picture: "A timeless bond of friendship' Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @SherBDeuba at the Maya Devi Temple in Lumbini."
Lumbini, located in the Terai plains of southern Nepal, is one of the holiest places of Buddhism, as Lord Buddha was born there.
During the visit, PM Narendra Modi will deliver an address at the Buddha Jayanti celebrations organised by the Lumbini Development Trust.
The visiting Prime Minister will also participate in the foundation laying ceremony for the construction of a centre for Buddhist Culture and heritage within the Lumbini Monastic Zone.
11:49 Kejriwal meets AAP MLAs on 'bulldozer' politics
A meeting of AAP MLAs with Delhi chief minister and party's national convener Arvind Kejriwal over the BJP's "bulldozer politics" began in Delhi on Monday morning.
The meeting being held at chief minister's residence was attended by almost all the ruling Aam Aadmi Party MLAs in Delhi, the party sources said.
The three civic bodies have been carrying out demolitions in several parts of Delhi, including Shaheen Bagh, Madanpur Khadar, New Friends Colony, Mangolpuri, Karol Bagh, Khyala, and Lodhi Colony.
The anti-encroachment drives by BJP ruled municipal corporations started in the national capital after party president Adesh Gupta wrote letters to the mayors for removing encroachments by Rohingyas and Bangladeshis living illegally in the city.
Earlier, the meeting of AAP MLAs was scheduled for Saturday but was cancelled following the massive fire in a building in Mundka in which at least 27 people have died.
On Friday, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and urged him to stop the "destruction" in the name of anti-encroachment drive.
The deputy chief minister had also slammed the "bulldozer politics" of the BJP and claimed that the civic bodies were planning to raze 63 lakh dwellings in the national capital. PTI
11:28 Modi at Lumbini
PMs India and Nepal at the Mayadevi temple in Lumbini, the birth place of Gautam Buddha.
11:26 Rahul prays at Shiva temple
A day of temple visits. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot also offered prayers at Lord Shiva temple in Beneshwar Dham, Dungarpur. They also visited the Valmiki temple earlier.
11:18 Modi offers prayers at Lumbini temple
PM Narendra Modi offers prayers at the Mahamayadevi Temple in Lumbini, Nepal on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti.
PM Modi is paying an official visit to Lumbini on the occasion of Buddha Purnima at the invitation of the Sher Bahadur Deuba, Prime Minister of Nepal. This is Prime Minister's fifth visit to Nepal since 2014.
At Lumbini, the Prime Minister visited the sacred Mayadevi temple to offer prayers.
Prime Minister will also deliver an address at a Buddha Jayanti event organized by the Lumbini Development Trust under the aegis of the Government of Nepal.
Separately, Prime Minister will participate in the "Shilanyas" ceremony for the construction of a centre for Buddhist culture and heritage, in a plot belonging to the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), New Delhi within the Lumbini Monastic Zone. Both Prime Ministers will hold a bilateral meeting.
11:08 5 Union Ministers to campaign for BJP candidate in Odisha assembly bypoll
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has released a list of 40 star campaigners including five Union Ministers who will campaign for the party candidate in the byelection to the Brajrajnagar Assembly seat.
The list submitted to the Election Commission of India by the Odisha BJP unit included names of Union Ministers - Piyush Goel, Dharmendra Pradhan, Pralhad Joshi, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Biseswar Tudu.
The other prominent leaders in the list are Odisha BJP president Samir Mohanty, state in-charge D Purandeswari, national vice-president Baijayant Panda, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, former Union minister Pratap Sarangi, MP Suresh Pujari and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh.
The saffron party has fielded its former MLA Radharani Panda for the May 31 by-poll to Brajrajnagar assembly segment. Panda had won the seat in the 2014 general elections.
The ruling Biju Janata Dal has fielded former Brajrajnagar MLA Kishore Mohanty's wife Alaka Mohanty after the death of her husband in December last year while the Congress candidate is veteran leader and former Assembly Speaker Kishore Patel.
The Congress was also planning to invite Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and youth leader Kanhaiya Kumar to campaign for its candidate. The ruling BJD is yet to announce its prominent campaigners.
As per the notification the byelection will be held on May 31. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is May 17. The counting of votes has been scheduled for June 3.
A total of 2,14,261 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the Brajrajnagar bypoll. There will be 279 polling booths for the bypoll.
The byelection has been necessitated due to the death of Biju Janata Dal's Brajarajnagar MLA Kishore Kumar Mohanty on December 30 last year.
10:46 PM Modi arrives in Lumbini for Buddha Jayanti
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday arrived in Nepal for a brief visit to Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, and also hold comprehensive talks with his Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba to expand bilateral cooperation in multiple areas, including in hydropower, development and connectivity.
Modi, who is in the Himalayan nation at the invitation of Deuba, is paying a day-long visit to Lumbini on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.
It is the prime minister's fifth visit to Nepal since 2014.
Modi and his entourage arrived in Lumbini on a special Indian Air Force helicopter from Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh.
Lumbini, located in the Terai plains of southern Nepal, is one of the holiest places of Buddhism, as Lord Buddha was born there.
During his visit, Modi will visit the sacred Maya Devi temple and deliver an address at the Buddha Jayanti celebrations organised by the Lumbini Development Trust.
The visiting prime minister will also participate in the foundation laying ceremony for the construction of a centre for Buddhist Culture and heritage within the Lumbini Monastic Zone.
Prime Minister Modi and his Nepalese counterpart Deuba will also hold a bilateral meeting in Lumbini.
"During the meeting, they will exchange views on Nepal-India cooperation and matters of mutual interests," said a statement issued by Nepal's ministry of foreign affairs.
10:26 Truth about Gyanvapi mosque, Taj Mahal, Krishna Janmabhoomi should come out: RSS leader
Truth about Gyanvapi mosque, Taj Mahal and Krishna Janmabhoomi in Uttar Pradesh and all other disputed places in the country should come out before the people, senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar said on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in New Delhi, he said the people want to know the truth about these places as they feel that it will help the country get "a right direction".
It's not out of any grudge against anybody or due to some politics that people want to know the truth of these places, he added.
"A discussion is going on about the Gyanvapi, Taj Mahal, Krishna Janmabhoomi and various other places in the country. Everyone wants to know the truth (about them). It's is not out of any grudge against anyone or due to some politics," the RSS leader told the reporters in response to their queries.
Common people feel that the more truth about these places comes out the more it will help the country get a right direction.
Kumar, who is RSS national executive member, appealed to the people to rise above their caste, community, region, religion, and party, and help the court bring out truth about "such disputes".
A court-mandated videography survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid complex in Varanasi was carried out peacefully for the second consecutive day on Sunday, with the major part of the exercise said to have been completed.
The survey, which was stalled last week amid objections by the mosque management committee, which claimed that the advocate commissioner appointed by the court for the survey did not have the mandate to film inside the premises, will continue on Monday.
The mosque is located close to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath temple and the local court is hearing a plea by a group of women seeking permission for daily prayers before the idols on its outer walls.
Earlier this week, however, the Allahabad High Court dismissed a plea seeking a ''fact-finding inquiry'' into the history of the Taj Mahal and the "opening of 22 rooms'' on the monument's premises, saying the petitioner failed to point out which of his legal or constitutional rights were being infringed.
The High Court recently directed expeditious hearing in the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Masjid dispute. Two applications were filed last week in a Mathura court for an early appointment of a senior advocate commissioner for "verifying the presence of signs of a Hindu temple" at the mosque site so that they are not tampered with while the cases are decided legally.
The Lucknow bench of justices D K Upadhyay and Subhash Vidyarthi pulled up the lawyer of petitioner Rajneesh Singh, who is the media in-charge of the BJP's Ayodhya unit, for filing the PIL in a "casual" manner and said it cannot pass an order under Article 226 of the Constitution in the matter.
The article empowers a high court to issue to any person or authority in the area under its jurisdiction orders or writs to enforce the fundamental rights.
The bench said that it was a non-justiciable issue that cannot be decided or gone into by the court.
10:17 India's active Covid cases tally dips to 17,317
With 2,202 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India's tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,31,23,801 while the active cases dipped to 17,317, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Monday.
The death toll climbed to 5,24,241 with 27 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The active cases comprised 0.04 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.74 per cent, the ministry said.
A decrease of 375 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.74 per cent and weekly positivity rate was recorded at 0.59 per cent, according to the health ministry.
09:41 Survey underway at Gyanvapi masjid for 3rd day
A court-mandated videography survey of the Gyanvapi masjid complex here began for the third consecutive day on Monday amid tight security, officials said.
Till Sunday, around 65 per cent of the survey was completed.
"The survey at the Gyanvapi masjid complex has started," Varanasi District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma and Police Commissioner A Satish Ganesh told PTI.
The mosque is located close to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath temple and the local court is hearing a plea by a group of women seeking permission for daily prayers before the idols on its outer walls.
Yesterday, the DM had said that the survey work on Monday will begin at 8 am and all the parties have been directed to remain present.
"About 65 per cent of the survey work has been completed. The survey will continue on Monday as well. This is completely an archaeological survey work, since the advocates were not familiar with the survey work, the work took some time," Madan Mohan Yadav, the counsel for the Hindu side in the case, had said on Sunday.
The survey was stalled last week amid objections by the mosque committee, which claimed that the advocate commissioner appointed by the court for the survey did not have the mandate to film inside the premises.
In his order on Thursday last, District Civil Judge (Senior Division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar had turned down a plea by the mosque committee to replace Ajay Kumar Mishra, who was appointed advocate commissioner by the court to survey the Gyanvapi-Gauri Shringar complex.
The judge also appointed two more advocates to help the court commissioner with the survey and said it should be completed by Tuesday.
09:28 11 MLAs in Tripura to take oath as ministers today
Altogether eleven MLAs -- nine from the Bharatiya Janata Party and two from the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura -- will take oath as the cabinet ministers of Tripura on Monday.
All the ministers of the Biplab Kumar Deb cabinet, barring Mevar Kumar Jamatia of IPFT, found a place in the new cabinet, an official said.
Notably, a rift between Jamatia, the minister for Tribal Welfare in the Biplab Kumar Deb government, and Indigenous People's Front of Tripura supremo NC Debbarma came to the fore recently.
Governor SN Arya will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the cabinet ministers at a programme in Raj Bhavan in the presence of Chief Minister Manik Saha, former chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb and other dignitaries.
"Jishnu Dev Varma, NC Debbarma (IPFT), Ratan Lal Nath, Pranajit Singha Roy, Manoj Kanti Deb, Santana Chakma, Ram Prasad Paul, Bhagaban Das, Sushanta Chowdhury, Rampada Jamatia and Prem Kumar Reang (IPFT) will take oath as the cabinet ministers of the state tomorrow," said the new CM in a letter to the governor on Sunday night.
Saha was sworn in as the chief minister of Tripura during the day.
Former chief minister Biplab Deb, whose sudden resignation on Saturday evening got Saha the top job, was present at the ceremony along with BJP MLAs and state ministers.
Rampada Jamatia, a veteran tribal leader of the BJP, was included in the list of cabinet ministers.
IPFT MLA Prem Kumar Reang has also been inducted into the new cabinet. -- PTI
08:55 Pak to attend SCO anti-terror meet in Delhi today
India is set to host a Regional Anti-Terror Structure (RATS) talks under the auspices of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in New Delhi on Monday.
The key anti-terror meet will begin in New Delhi at 9 am today.
All members of the SCO will be attending the meeting which will include a three-member delegation from Pakistan.
An inter-ministerial delegation of Pakistan reached India via the Wagah border crossing on Saturday.
The Pakistani delegation would stay in India till May 20, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.
Last month, Deputy Foreign Ministers of SCO member countries held consultations in Moscow where they highlighted the need for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan as soon as possible.
These key meetings are taking at a time when Afghanistan is facing a dire situation following the Taliban's takeover of the country in August last year. The Taliban's swift ascension to power resulted in economic disorder and food shortages that pushed the country to the brink of a humanitarian crisis.
Earlier in November, the third Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan was held in New Delhi in an expanded format.
08:14 1 killed, 5 injured in California church shooting
One person was killed, and five others were injured in a shooting on Sunday at a church in the western US state of California, the Orange County Sheriff's Department said.
The shooting was reported at the church on the 24000 block of El Toro Road in the City of Laguna Woods in Southern California's Orange County on Sunday afternoon, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
The sheriff's department tweeted about 2:00 pm local time that deputies were responding to reports of the shooting.
It added later that "dispatch received calls of a shooting inside Geneva Presbyterian Church at 1:26 pm. Four victims have been critically wounded, one with minor injuries."
"All victims are adults and are en route to the hospital. One victim is deceased at the scene," said the department.
The sheriff's department noted that it had detained a suspect at the scene and had recovered a weapon that may be involved.
California Governor Gavin Newsom's office tweeted,"We are actively monitoring the shooting at a church in Laguna Woods and working closely with local law enforcement. No one should have to fear going to their place of worship. Our thoughts are with the victims, community, and all those impacted by this tragic event."
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