Police apprehended a person from Nagda in Madhya Pradesh for threatening toassassinate Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he arrives in Indore as part of his ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'.

Nagda Police informed the Indore Crime Branch about the arrest made in connection with the threat.

Nagda SP Satyendra Kumar Shukla said, "The Indore Crime Branch had sent me a photograph, informing him about the appearance of the suspect behind the threat to kill Rahul Gandhi."

He said on the basis of photograph, the Nagda police conducted searches for the suspect before receiving information that he had been spotted on the bypass in Nagda.

"Police reached the spot, caught the person and brought him to the police station. The address on the Aadhaar card says that the person is from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh," Shukla said.

The SP added that the situation will be clear once the Indore police investigate the entire matter.Further details are awaited.   -- ANI

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday said Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured that he would act on his request for a probe by a central agency into the 'firing by Assam Police' along the states' border.

Talking to reporters in New Delhi, he said during his meeting with Shah, he also demanded justice for lives lost in the firing and sought action against those responsible.

He stressed that Assam Police personnel had fired upon 'innocent people' in Mukroh village of West Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya.

Six people, including a forest guard, were killed in violence along the Assam-Meghalaya border in the early hours of Tuesday, after a truck allegedly laden with illegally felled timber was intercepted by forest personnel of Assam.

Sangma said he also requested the Centre to intervene in the border dispute with Assam to improve dialogue and trust between the two states.

"Home Minister Amit Shah has assured he would act on our request for probe into the border firing today itself," he said.

The guilty will be punished but we should maintain peace at this hour, he added.

Sangma was accompanied by his Cabinet colleagues in his meeting with Shah.  -- PTI

India on Thursday said it has raised the issue of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik being a fugitive of law with authorities in Qatar, amid reports of his presence in the emirate during the ongoing FIFA World Cup.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India will make every effort to make Naik face the law and continue with its efforts for his extradition.

Bagchi said the issue was not raised by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar during his visit to Qatar to attend the inaugural ceremony of the FIFA World Cup, indicating that it was brought up through diplomatic channels.

He also made it clear that authorities in Qatar had conveyed to their Indian counterparts that no invitation was extended to Naik, who is wanted in India since 2016 for allegedly laundering money and inciting extremism through hate speeches.

Naik has taken refuge in Malaysia.

"Qatar did mention to us that no invitation was extended to Zakir Naik to attend the FIFA World Cup," Bagchi told reporters in New Delhi.

He said Naik is an accused in India and has been declared as an absconder.

"We will continue with our efforts to get him back separately," he said.

Bagchi said India has raised the issue of Naik's extradition with the Malaysian authorities and would continue to take every step to make him face the law here.

In March, the home ministry declared the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) founded by Naik as an unlawful association and banned it for five years.   -- PTI

An Aam Aadmi Party leader was found hanging at his residence in west Delhi's Rajouri Garden area on Thursday, police said.

Sandeep Bhardwaj, 55, AAP's trade wing secretary, was rushed to the Kukreja Hospital by his friend, they said.

The police received information from the Hospital that Bhardwaj, a resident of Rajouri Garden, was brought dead from his residence, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Ghanshyam Bansal said.

The crime team was called to the spot. Inquest proceedings under section 174 CrPC is being conducted as per law, police said.

The deceased was the owner of Bhardwaj Marbels and was a divorcee who lived with his two daughters and a son, police added.   -- PTI

The Delhi Police has seized five knives from the Chhatarpur flat of Aaftab Amin Poonawala who is accused of killing his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar and sawing her body into 35 pieces, sources said on Thursday.

However, police said, the saw used to cut her body is yet to be recovered.

The knives have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for examination to ascertain if these were used in commission of the crime, the sources in the police department said.

"If these knives were used during commission of the crime, will be ascertained only after forensic examination which takes time," said a source.  -- PTI

Hitting back at Rajashthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for his 'traitor' barb, senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Thursday said it was unbecoming of an experienced person like him to use such language and the priority should be to fight unitedly to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party as well as strengthen Rahul Gandhi's hand.

Pilot said Gehlot has been calling him 'nikamma, naakara, gaddar and so on' but it was not part of his upbringing to use such language.

The former Rajasthan deputy chief minister told PTI that the 'name-calling, mud-slinging and accusations that are going around are serving little purpose'.

Days before the Kanyakumari-to-Kashmir yatra led by Rahul Gandhi enters Rajasthan, Gehlot launched a scathing attack on Pilot dubbing him a gaddar (traitor) and said he can never be made the chief minister of the state.

Reacting to the remarks, Pilot told PTI, "I have seen Ashok Gehlot ji's statements today aimed against me. Someone who is so experienced, senior and whom party has given so much, it is unbecoming of someone with such experience to use this language, make such completely false and baseless allegations."

"It serves no purpose when we have to fight BJP unitedly....previously also Ashok Gehlot ji has been making such allegations against me for a long time," the former Union minister said.

The priority right now is to win the assembly elections in Gujarat where Ashok Gehlot is the senior observer of the party and it is also important to strengthen the hand of Rahul Gandhi, who has spent the last three months walking 2,000 km in the Bharat Jodo Yatra to challenge divisive forces, and that of the party.

"It is time for us to work together to defeat the BJP because only the Congress can defeat the BJP. I think this name-calling, mud-slinging and accusations that are going around are serving little purpose," he said.

Pilot walked alongside Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday.

In an interview to NDTV, Gehlot alleged that Union home minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Amit Shah was involved in Pilot's rebellion, when some Congress MLAs loyal to him were holed up in a Gurugram resort for more than a month and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited them often, claiming that he has proof that an amount of Rs 10 crore was paid to each of those legislators, including Pilot.

Gehlot and Pilot have been at loggerheads over chief ministership ever since the Congress won the Rajasthan polls in 2018.

While Gehlot has been maintaining that Pilot does not enjoy the support of a majority of the Congress MLAs, the Pilot camp has been claiming that the legislators want a change in the leadership.  -- PTI

Pradeep Mondawe (64), a resident of Mankapur area, had filed a complaint about a theft of jewellery and cash worth Rs 5 lakh from his house, said a police official. 

The police apprehended a minor suspect who disclosed Kshatriya's alleged involvement in the crime and the latter was arrested on Tuesday, the official said. He was produced before a court which remanded him in police custody till November 25. 

The stolen items were recovered from a pigeon box in Gaddigodam area, the official said. 

The area, incidentally, features in Nagraj Manjule-directed Jhund. 

The critically acclaimed Hindi-language film is inspired by the life of Vijay Barse, a former sports teacher who introduced slum children to football in order to keep them away from crime and addictions. 

Kshatriya had been earlier arrested for allegedly stealing mobile phones of train passengers, the police official said.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh alleged on Thursday that Patanjali founder Ramdev set up a business empire by using the name of Maharishi Patanjali, who is considered the father of modern yoga.

Singh demanded that Ramdev and Patanjali managing director Balakrishna should stop using the Patanjali name in their brand, alleging that they did nothing for the maharishi's birthplace in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda district.

"Stop using this name in your brand. Build your brand with your own name," the Kaiserganj MP told the media at Maharishi Patanjali's birthplace in the Kondar gram panchayat, around 140 km east of Lucknow.

Singh, who has hit headlines for his statements often, warned that he would start a mass movement and legal action would also be taken if the name was not changed.

The parliamentarian said Ramdev and Balakrishna built a 'huge business empire in the country and the world by following the path shown by Maharishi Patanjali'.

"I have no objection to their empire, but is it appropriate and relevant to do business of ghee, oil, soap, spices, underwear, pants in his name?" Singh asked, wondering who gave them this right.

Singh appealed to the people of the country and the world that whenever they come to Ayodhya, they must visit Kondar.

"We want to show the whole world the condition of his birthplace of Patanjali, on whose name they eat ghee," the MP said.   -- PTI

Alia and Ranbir, who were blessed with the joy of parenthood on November 6, have named their little angel 'Raha'. 

Alia took to Instagram to share a photo of herself and Ranbir holding the newborn with a small football jersey hanging on the wall that read "Raha". 

Alia shared the importance of the name and wrote, "The name Raha (chosen by her wise and wonderful Dadi) has so many beautiful meanings...Raha, in its purest form means divine path, in Swahili she is Joy, In Sanskrit, Raha is a clan, In Bangla - rest, comfort, relief, in Arabic peace, it also means happiness, freedom & bliss. And true to her name, from the first moment we held her - we felt it ALL!" 

"Thank you Raha, for bringing our family to life, it feels as though our lives have only just begun," added Alia.

Jama Masjid's Shahi Imam has agreed to withdraw the order restricting entry of women in the mosque, after Delhi LG V K Saxena spoke to him and requested him to take back the decree, Raj Niwas sources said on Thursday.

They added that Imam Bukhari agreed to revoke the order, on the condition that visitors respect and maintain the sanctity of the mosque.

The administration of Delhi's famed Jama Masjid had put up notices outside the main gates banning the entry of 'girls', whether alone or in groups.

As controversy escalated, the mosque's Shahi Imam on Thursday said the order is not applicable to those coming to offer prayers.

The issue led to an outrage in some quarters as women rights activists termed the mosque's decision regressive and unacceptable.

The notices, which have no date, came up a few days ago outside the three main entry gates, sources in the administration said.

However, it has come to attention only now.

'Jama Masjid mein ladki ya ladkiyon ka akele daakhla mana hai (The entry of a girl, or girls is not permitted in Jama Masjid),' reads the notice by the administration of the 17th century Mughal era monument that attracts thousands of devout as well as tourists.   -- PTI

"A proposal for the acquisition of advanced missiles developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation is with the defence ministry and a high-level meeting would soon be taking a call on it," defence officials told ANI. 

The next-generation anti-radiation missiles have already been tested by the Indian Air Force from its Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft fleet and can destroy enemy radar locations during conflicts, they said. 

The destruction of radar systems can help the Indian Air Force to strike targets without detection, the officials said. 

The NGARM can be fired from IAF fighters like the Sukhoi-30 and the Mirage-2000. It is accurate and has been developed with the capability to even track a radar system even if it is not operating. 

NGARM is India's first indigenously developed anti-radiation missile that has a speed of Mach 2 or twice the speed of sound.

According to the official statement from the hospital, the 68-year-old star is 'recovering well' and will soon be discharged. 

The official release stated, "Sri Kamala Haasan, was admitted on 23.11.2022 with mild fever, cough & cold. He is recovering well and will be discharged in a day or two." 

The actor-turned-politician met Telugu director K Viswanath on Wednesday at his house in Hyderabad. A few hours later, news of his hospitalisation emerged. 

Kamal posted a picture from his meeting on his official Instagram handle, where he can be seen receiving the director's blessing. 

In the photo's caption, he wrote, "Met the master K Viswanath sir at his home. Lots of nostalgia and respect!!" 

Meanwhile, coming to his work front, he is currently busy hosting the sixth season of Bigg Boss Tamil. He is currently shooting Shankar's Indian 2, after which there is Mani Ratnam's as-yet-untitled KH 234.

The remarks have further widened the fissures in the Congress party in Rajasthan, where Assembly polls are slated next year. 

The Bharat Jodo Yatra, led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, is also set to enter the desert state. Pilot, who walked alongside Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday, did not react to Gehlot's remarks. Gehlot also alleged that Union Home Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Shah was involved in Pilot's rebellion, when some Congress MLAs loyal to him were holed up in a Gurugram resort for more than a month and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited them often, claiming that he has proof that an amount of Rs 10 crore was paid to each of those legislators, including Pilot. 

 The veteran leader also said the Congress can replace him with any of its 102 MLAs in Rajasthan except Pilot if the top leadership feels that the prospects of the party would improve in next year's Assembly polls. 

 "The MLAs will never accept someone who has revolted and has been dubbed as a gaddar. How can he become the chief minister? How can the MLAs accept such a person as the chief minister? I have proof that Rs 10 crore each were distributed to the MLAs holed up in a Gurugram resort for toppling the Congress government in Rajasthan," Gehlot told NDTV. 

 He said one will never find an example where a party president "tries to topple his own government". 

 Rajasthan BJP chief Satish Punia has, however, denied the charge that the saffron party was involved in paying money to Congress legislators in 2020 to defect. Gehlot said if Pilot had apologised to the MLAs and won them over, things would have been different. 

 "Till now, he has not apologised. If he had apologised, I would not have had to apologise," the chief minister said, referring to his apology to former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi after more than 90 MLAs close to him did not allow a Congress Legislature Party meeting to take place. 

 Asked if Pilot can still replace him if the high-command decides so, Gehlot said it is a hypothetical question. "How will that happen? That cannot happen," he said. He said a recent meeting of the party MLAs after they did not allow the CLP meet to take place was not a rebellion but a "revolt against Pilot who tried to topple his own government". 

 Gehlot and Pilot have been at loggerheads over chief ministership ever since the Congress won the Rajasthan polls in 2018. While Gehlot has been saying that Pilot's 2020 rebellion cannot be ignored and that he does not enjoy the support of a majority of the Congress MLAs, the Pilot camp has been claiming that the legislators want a change in the leadership. 

 There have been murmurs in the Rajasthan Congress over a possible change in the leadership, but the same is being resisted by another section too. Gehlot has been saying that the 90 MLAs who had saved the government during Pilot's rebellion are loyal to the party high-command and not to him.

 Addressing an election rally in Modasa town of Aravalli district in north Gujarat, Modi said only he knows the art through which people will be able to earn money from electricity. 

 The PM also slammed the Congress, saying it believes in the formula of "divide and rule" and focusses only on how to be in power. AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been trying to woo voters with a promise that just like the national capital and Punjab, his party would provide free electricity up to 300 units per month if voted to power in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Gujarat. Kejriwal has on many occasions claimed he is the only politician in the country who has "mastered this magic of providing free electricity".

 The opposition Congress has also joined the bandwagon and mentioned in its election manifesto that the party will also provide free electricity up to 300 units if voted to power in Gujarat, where the Assembly polls are scheduled on December 1 and 5. 

 On Thursday, Modi said he wants to see people across Gujarat earning money from excess electricity generated from solar rooftop systems instead of just getting it for free. 

 "You must have seen how the entire Modhera village (in Mehsana district) is now running on rooftop solar power. They are using electricity as per their need and sell excess power (to the government). I want to replicate this system across Gujarat," he said. 

 "Under this system, you can earn money by selling excess electricity generated from solar panels. Only Modi knows this art wherein people will be able to earn from electricity," said the PM. 

 He told the audience that a woman from Modhera is now planning to buy a refrigerator and an air-conditioner as electricity has become affordable after the installation of rooftop solar power. 

 "She told me that though her family was able to afford the appliances earlier, they refrained because they could not bear the running cost. Now, they can afford it because electricity is free. I am working to bring this revolution at the doorstep of each and every household in Gujarat," the PM said. 

 He reminded the people of Aravalli that there was a time when farmers of this district were killed in police firing under the Congress rule for demanding affordable electricity for agricultural use. 

 The PM said now the farmers are themselves generating electricity through solar panels installed on unused corners of their farms. "They can also sell excess electricity and earn money. The era of demanding affordable electricity has gone. Today, you can generate income by selling electricity," he said.

They said that after her complaint, the local police should have recorded her statement, registered an offence against the accused and probed the matter. 

Some others, however, said that since Walkar had withdrawn her complaint later, the police cannot be blamed as they could not do much after that. 

 In May this year, Walkar, 27, was allegedly murdered by Poonawala in Delhi. He allegedly strangled Walkar and sawed her body into 35 pieces which he kept in a fridge for almost three weeks at his residence in South Delhi's Mehrauli area before dumping them across the city over several days past midnight. 

 On Wednesday, the police said that Walkar had submitted a complaint letter to Tulinj police station at Vasai in Palghar in November 2020, alleging that Poonawala was trying to kill her.

 They also said that when the local police approached Walkar, she withdrew the complaint, saying the issues between her and Poonawala were resolved. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, however, said the state government would probe why action was not taken by the police on Walkar's complaint. 

 Former Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Prem Krishan Jain said, "As the woman (Walkar) had approached the Tulinj police with a hand-written complaint, they could have recorded her statement and registered an FIR against her live-in partner Poonawala." 

 "It was the police's duty to register an offence and investigate it according to the law," he said. Walkar withdrew her complaint 20 days later, which itself indicates she was under pressure, he said adding, it should be investigated for what reasons the police did not act on her complaint initially.

 Former Maharashtra Director General of Police (DGP) D Sivanandhan said the safety of women must be the priority of the police. 

 "They should take serious cognisance of the complaints lodged by women and take appropriate action," he said. "In Walkar's complaint given to the Tulinj police station in 2020 against Poonawala, police could have summoned him and taken action against him," he said.

 But as it is reported that Walkar herself told the police that the issues between her and her partner were resolved and that she did not want to pursue the complaint, then it is not a mistake of the police, he said. 

 "If the complainant is not firm, then police can't do anything in such cases as Walkar and Poonawala were in a relationship," Sivanandhan said, adding that there was no legal provision to take action if the complaint is withdrawn. 

 "If any woman approaches the police with the complaint, then they should not send her back empty-handed. They should take serious cognisance of it and send a police personnel with her to enquire about the case," former state DGP Praveen Dixit said.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar says, "The governor has crossed all limits. The  President and PM should intervene in this matter. It is not right to give big posts to people who make irresponsible statements."

Pawar also said that the governor often makes controversial statements to humiliate and insult other icons as well, like Savitribai Phule, Mahatma Phule etc. It raises doubts whether he has been doing this intentionally to hurt sentiments, spread hatred and divide society, Pawar added. 

Maharashtra Governor B S Koshyari on Saturday said Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was an icon of 'olden days' even as he referred to B R Ambedkar and Union minister Nitin Gadkari while talking about 'icons' in the state.

The comment drew flak from the NCP and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction, which said Koshyari has 'insulted' the Maratha king and the state.

This is probably the first time in years that Banerjee is attending a meeting called by the PM. The West Bengal CM and the PM have been at loggerheads during the Bengal elections last year with a lot of name-calling on both sides. 

 The Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Alok Kumar said the police are verifying the genuineness of the organisation. 

 "We the Islamic Resistance Council (IRC) would like to convey the message: One of our Mujahid brother Mohammed Shariq attempted to attack the Hindutva Temple in Kadri (in Dakshina Kannada district), a bastion of the Saffron terrorists in Mangaluru," the message which has gone viral in social media said. 

 It further said, "Although this operation didn't meet its objectives, we still consider it a success from a tradecraft and tactics point of view as the brother in spite of being wanted and being pursued by the state and central intelligence agencies, was not only able to successfully evade them but even prepared and mounted an attack." 

 For the 'premature explosion' which led to Shariq's arrest, the outfit said such possibilities exist with 'all military and subversive operations.' The outfit even warned the ADGP Alok Kumar.

 "As for those rejoicing at the arrest of the brother, especially the likes of ADGP Alok Kumar, we say 'Your joy will be short-lived and you shall reap the fruits of your oppression soon. We have you in our sights and it is just a matter of what and not if we will get to you." 

 Regarding the attack, the IRC said they are forced into this war and the path of resistance by the fascists and "We are only responding to the worst forms of state terrorism." 

 "We are only retaliating because an open war has been declared upon us, because mob lynching has become a norm, because oppressive laws and legislations are passed to suppress us and interfere in our religion, because our innocents are languishing in prisons, because public spaces today reverberate with call of our genocide," the outfit said. 

 Reacting to the viral post, Alok Kumar said, "We are verifying the genuineness of the avowed organisation and veracity of the contents of the post."

 On November 19, Mohammed Shariq, who was at large, was travelling in an autorickshaw with a cooker which exploded in Mangaluru injuring him and the driver. Police called the blast an act of terror. PTI 

Iranian Dy FM Bagheri Kani on the death of Mahsa Amini, who triggered the ongoing protests in the country with women burning their hijabs.

"Mahsa Amin was not killed but passed away. Atmosphere has been created by western media, it is baseless and fallacious. Rights of Iranian nation are violated by these powers. The western regime has been responsible for the killing of Iranian daughters," Kani says.

"These powers gave chemical weapons to Saddam Hussein's regime which killed tens of thousands of Iranian and Iraqi Sunni populations. But you do not see the reflection of any such news in western media.

"Women in Afghanistan have been killed by US-made bombs. Girls and women in Palestine have been killed at the hands of dynast regime. Yemeni daughters during the past years have been killed mercilessly as a result of the imposed famine, but it's not reflected in news. They don't denounce or condemn this," the minister said. 

He added, "Women's entry not banned. When women come alone-improper acts done, videos shot. Ban is to stop this. No restrictions on families/married couples. Making this place a meeting point is wrong for religious places. 

Divya Mahipal Maderna, a Congress MLA from Osian, Rajasthan, shuts down a troll, Arun Yadav (who calls himself a proud BJP worker), who asked people to caption this picture alongside. Maderna joined Rahul Gandhi at the Bharat Jodo Yatra and Rahul is seen giving her an affectionate kiss on the head.

Maderna tweets some captions: "Shame on you . You might also have a daughter, wife, mother."

and another, "Guardian (the protector of a fatherless child). 

The troll is yet to react. 

 Though the two leaders have had conversations over the telephone, this is their first meeting in person. "We've been in touch with each other but could not meet due to covid," said Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray while interacting with the media after the meeting. "Hum dono lambi race ke ghode hain," Thackeray told the media. 

 Aaditya Thackeray exuded confidence in the friendship between the two and said, "We discussed various topics but did not discuss politics. Sure this friendship will continue."

 The test could not be conducted on Wednesday as the 28-year-old was down with a fever and cold, they said. 

 An official from FSL said, "He has been brought by the police here and the process of polygraph test has started." 

 The delay in the completion of the test has also put off Poonawala's narco test. The Polygraph test records physiological phenomena such as blood pressure, pulse rate and respiration, and the data is used to determine whether the person is speaking the truth. 

 The narco analysis, on the other hand, involves administering the individual medication which reduces their self-consciousness and allows them to speak freely. 

 Poonawala allegedly strangled his live-in partner Walkar (27) and sawed her body into 35 pieces which he kept in a 300-litre fridge for almost three weeks at his residence in South Delhi's Mehrauli before dumping them across the city over several days past midnight. The murder took place in May. 

 Poonawala has to undergo a set of tests to ascertain his emotional, mental, physiological and psychological well-being. The narco analysis cannot be conducted if he is found to be "disturbed" in the preliminary tests. On Tuesday, Poonawala had undergone the first session of the polygraph test, also known as the lie detector test, at FSL, Rohini. PTI 

The Bharatiya Janata Party is committed to bring the Uniform Civil Code after all democratic debates and discussions are concluded, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday.

   

When asked about the UCC, Shah said it is the BJP's promise to the people of this country from the Jan Sangh days.

 

"Not only the BJP, the Constituent Assembly had also advised the Parliament and states to bring UCC at an opportune time, because for any secular country, laws should not be on the basis of religion. If nation and state are secular, how can laws be based on religion? For every believer, there should be one law passed by Parliament or the state Assemblies," Shah said during Times Summit.

 

Over a period of time, this commitment of the Constituent Assembly was forgotten, the home minister claimed.

 

"Except the BJP, no other party is in favour of the Uniform Civil Code. In a democracy, healthy debate is a necessity. There is a need for open and healthy debate on the issue," he said.

 

The Home Ministry said in three BJP ruled states, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Gujarat, a panel under the chairmanship of retired Supreme Court and High Court chief justices has been formed where people of different faith are putting forth their views.

 

"We will take action on the basis of recommendations coming after this exercise. The BJP is committed to bring UCC once all democratic discussions are over," he said. -- PTI 

Actor Richa Chadha apologises and deletes her tweet on Galwan after severe backlash from the BJP. See her apology tweet alongside. 

 Speaking to ANI, Ram Kadam said, "To come in the news and get publicity, will she (Richa Chadha) disrespect the soldiers of our country. What has happened to her? Our soldiers are day and night guarding our country by leaving their families behind. They should be honoured with our heads bowed down. 

 He added, "Sitting in an air-conditioned room, how will this actress who has this mindset will understand their dedication." 

Kadam continued, "The whole nation wants her to apologize to the soldiers of our country." 

 On Wednesday, Richa had reacted to Northern Army Commander Lt General Upendra Dwivedi's statement that the Indian Army is ready to execute orders like taking back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. 

 Sharing a post on the statement, Richa took to her Twitter handle and wrote, "Galwan says hi."

 As soon as she tweeted this, all hell broke loose on social media and people started to slam her for allegedly insulting the army by talking about the 2020 clash between India and China.

 The Deputy Chief Minister further said that she could have been saved had action been taken on time. 

 The victim Shhradha Walkar in the year 2020, had made a complaint at the Tulinj Police Station in Maharashtra's Palghar, in which she stated that Aaftab Poonawala, had beaten her and threatened to kill her. 

 "I saw the letter (Shraddha's complaint to Police in 2020) and it has very serious allegations. We will have to investigate why was no action taken. I don't want to accuse anyone of anything but if action is not taken on such a letter, such incidents happen," said Fadnavis. 

 "It will be investigated. Maybe she could have been saved had action been taken," he added. However, the Maharashtra Police said that based on a complaint by Shraddha Walkar in 2020, they had begun an investigation but the case was closed after she gave a written statement to withdraw the case. 

 DCP of Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar (MBVV) Commissionerate, Suhas Bavache said that Shraddha in her written statement had stated that "the dispute between herself and Aaftab Poonawala was resolved." 

 "Whatever necessary action had to be taken in that matter was done by police at that time. The application that was given by the complainant was also investigated. After the investigation, the complainant herself gave a written statement that there is no dispute. Her friend's parents also cajoled her to resolve the dispute. She gave the written statement and after that the case was closed," said Bawche. -- ANI

 Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said Anwar will be sworn in later on Thurday. Anwar's Alliance of Hope led Saturday's election with 82 seats, short of the 112 needed for a majority.

 Former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's right-leaning National Alliance won 73 seats, with its ally Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party emerging as the biggest single party with 49 seats.

 As the apex court observed that the file pertaining to Goel's appointment was cleared with "lightning speed", the Centre through Attorney General R Venkataramani asked the court to "hold its mouth" and requested it to look into the matter in its entirety. 

 "What kind of evaluation is this? Although, we are not questioning the merits of Arun Goel's credentials but the process," a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice K M Joseph said. 

 The top-most law officer told the bench, which was making a volley a comments on the issue, "Please hold your mouth for a while. I request to look into the issue in entirety".

 It perused the original file of Goel's appointment as an EC, which was placed before the bench by the Centre in pursuance of Wednesday's direction given by the top court. 

 The bench said 1985-batch IAS officer Goel got voluntary retirement from service in a single day, his file was cleared by the Law Ministry in a single day, a panel of four names were put up before the prime minister and Goel's name got the nod from the President within 24 hours. The bench is hearing a batch of pleas seeking a collegium-like system for the appointment of ECs and the Chief Election Commissioner. PTI

Vrushali Gokhale, Vikram Gokhale's wife gives an health update on the actor. "Vikram Gokhale is critical since the last 24 hours. Doctors are trying their best. He is not responding to the treatment as expected. He has multiple organ failure."

A family friend, Rajesh Damle added, "He is fighting since the last 24 hours. He has suffered multiple organ failure. Doctors are trying their level best. 

Vikram Gokhale, during his extensive career, featured in Marathi as well as Hindi films, including Amitabh Bachchan's iconic Agneepath and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, co-starring Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. In the recent years, he starred in films like Mission Mangal, Hichki, Aiyaari, Bang Bang!, De Dana Dan and Bhool Bhulaiyaa, among others. Over a career spanning more than 40 years, he also starred in several TV shows.

Air India issued a circular of over 40 pages regarding the revised image and uniform guidelines, which clearly mentions criterions for both male and female crew members. 

Men: "For the male crew, black uniform jackets must be worn throughout the flight in all cabins. (During boarding, service and deplaning). Personal tie pins are not allowed. Crew can wear a tie without the tie pin if not issued. Only black calf-length socks without logos are to be worn with the uniform. Men must maintain neat short haircut with side parting (without volume)," Air India circular read.

Air India asked the male crew members to shave daily and apply hair gel mandatorily."Use of hair gel is mandatory. Male crew with deep receding hairlines and male balding patches must keep a clean shaved head or bald look. The Head must be shaved daily. A crew cut is not permitted. Grey hair is not permitted. Grey hair must be regularly coloured in a natural shade. Fashion colours and heena are not permitted. Rings- Only one ring in wedding band design is allowed for men. Only one Sikh Kada with a maximum width of 0.5 cm thickness in gold or silver without any design, logos or stones may be worn. (No bracelets)," the guidelines read.

Women: According to its latest circular female crew members should follow the following uniform guidelines, "Apron is discontinued and not to be worn. Black blazer with Indo-western uniform is also discontinued and not to be worn on board. Calf-length stockings (sheer ones and matching the skin tone) are mandatory for flight duties with both a saree and Indo western uniform. 

The company-issued black cardigan can be worn for boarding and deplaning (during winter months only) and inflight for lull periods on LH and ULH flights throughout the year. Cardigan and waistcoat must never be worn together. Cardigan is not permitted during service.

It further said that foundation and concealers matching the skin tone are mandatory."The crew must wear complete make-up as per the new uniform guidelines for all flight duties using the company shade card only. Eyeshadow, lipsticks, nail paint and hair shade cards are to be strictly followed as per uniform. Personal shades in these four products are not permitted.

Sharing a picture of the Gandhi siblings, the Congress' official handle tweeted in Hindi, "Our steps will be stronger when we walk together." 

Top Madhya Pradesh Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh also joined the yatra. 

 On the second day of the yatra's Madhya Pradesh leg, Rahul Gandhi started the foot march from Borgaon in Khandwa district. Priyanka Gandhi, her husband Robert Vadra and son Rehan were seen matching steps with Rahul Gandhi. 

 Congress workers raised slogans in support of Rahul Gandhi and his sister and tried to come close to them, but police were seen making hectic efforts to prevent them from doing so. Police personnel on both sides of the road held ropes as part of the security to Rahul Gandhi.

The shooting took place on Wednesday, allegedly because the woman married a person from a different faith. 

The arrests were made within hours of the incident, police said adding that one more accused in the shooting is absconding and a search has been launched for him.

The survivor has been identified as Anjali Verma and she was allegedly shot after her brother-in-law Abdul Aziz conspired to kill her for the inter-religion wedding.

"A case has been registered against brother-in-law Abdul Aziz and his friends on the statement of the injured girl, Anjali Verma, wife of Abdul Latif. The girl's brother-in-law Aziz, his friends Mohammad Raja and Raju and the shooter Kalim, a resident of Bihar, have been arrested by Jaipur police late on Wednesday night," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Jaipur Commissionerate) Vandita Rana.

Police have also recovered a pistol from the accused.

"Kalim had shot Anjali with this pistol. At the same time, the search for another accused Abid is going on," added DCP Vandita Rana. -- ANI

 According to the survey document issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, China encroached on 36 hectares of Nepal's land at 10 places on the northern border. Similarly, the study conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs has concluded that it is necessary to include border issues in the "state policy" of Nepal, reported Meta Khabar. 

 However, the world community and the Nepalis themselves are probably unaware of the magnitude of the problem. China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) built a veterinary centre for animal husbandry in 2016, located in a Nepal district, but Nepal has not responded to this. 

 In a February 2022 report by the UK-based media, China accused Nepal of encroaching on shared borders. According to the publication, based on official documents, China has started efforts to build canals and roads around the border post in the far western Humla district of Nepal. China was also accused of "surveillance activities in the Lalungzong border area, the Chinese border next to Nepal," reported Media Dabali.

Mumbai has recorded 13 new cases of measles and one death related to the disease, taking the infection tally this year so far to 233 and the fatality toll to 12, according to the city civic body.

As many as 30 new measles patients were admitted to civic or state-run hospitals in the city on Wednesday while 22 patients were discharged, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said in a release.

        

Also, 156 suspected measles cases were found during the BMC's surveys, the release said on Wednesday.

        

The viral disease is more common among children.

        

An eight-month-old boy from neighbouring Bhiwandi, suffering from measles, died in a city hospital on Tuesday evening, taking the toll in the city this year so far to 12, the civic body said.

        

The child developed rashes all over the body on November 20 and was admitted to a BMC hospital on Tuesday evening but died within a few hours, the official statement said, adding the cause of death will be ascertained after an autopsy.

        

The number of suspected measles cases detected so far this year also rose to 3,534 with 156 new suspected cases with synonyms like fever and rash coming to light, it said.

        

Civic officials screened more than 3.04 lakh households in 24 hours.

        

Measles outbreak had been reported in 22 locations in 11 of the 24 civic wards. But the 13 new confirmed cases were from seven different wards, including A ward in South Mumbai, the BMC said.

        

"All cases of fever with rash are administered two doses of Vitamin-A," the BMC release said, adding the second dose is given after 24 hours.

        

Presently, measles patients are admitted in eight city hospitals: Kasturba Hospital, Shivaji Nagar Maternity Home, Bharatratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital, Rajawadi Hospital, Shatabdi Hospital, Kurla Bhabha Hospital, Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule hospital, Borivali, and Seven Hills Hospital.

        

Of the 370 beds including oxygen and ICU beds earmarked for measles patients in these hospitals, 113 beds are occupied, according to the BMC. -- PTI

A resident of Kalyan town in Maharashtra's Thane district celebrated his birthday in a crematorium to convey a message against blind beliefs and superstitions prevailing in the society.

        

Gautam Ratan More, who turned 54 on November 19, hosted a birthday party on Saturday night at the Mohane crematorium where guests were served biryani besides cake.

A video of the birthday celebration with a big banner in the background and cake cutting surfaced on social media on Wednesday. 

        

Talking to mediapersons during the event, More said he got inspiration for the event from renowned social worker Sindhutai Sapkal and noted rationalist late Narendra Dabholkar, who campaigned against blind beliefs, black magic and superstitions.

                

More said he also wanted to send out a message to people that ghosts, generally associated with crematoriums and other such places, do not exist. 

More than 100 guests, including 40 women and children, attended his birthday celebration, he said. -- PTI 

Congress general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and her husband Robert Vadra joined Rahul Gandhi in his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Madhya Pradesh today.

The Yatra, which started on September 7, completed its Maharashtra leg and entered the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh yesterday.

The strike comes amid the ongoing attacks from Russia targeting critical energy infrastructure across the country.   The infrastructure facility in Kyiv was hit in the afternoon, according to the mayor of the city.      

"One of the infrastructure facilities of the capital was hit," Vitalii Klitschko said on Telegram, warning residents to stay in air raid shelters, reported CNN.      

Ukrainian air defense systems were "working in the region," according to Oleksii Kuleba, the governor of the wider Kyiv region.      

Earlier on Wednesday, various missiles hit Ukrainian cities after which air raid warning was issued.      

"There are a lot of missiles. From the south and from the east," Vitalii Kim, head of the Mykolaiv region military administration, said on Telegram. 

"The air defense is working."      

The conflict has escalated in southern and eastern regions of Ukraine in recent days, with local officials citing "massive shelling" in towns and villages on the eastern front line of the Donetsk region, according to CNN.      

After the missile hit Kyiv, water supply has been suspended after shelling in the region, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a post on Telegram.      

Klitschko asked residents to "stock up on water" while experts tried to "return water to the homes of Kyiv residents."      

Engineers were also working to restore power supply, Klitschko said. 

Parts of the city are without power after Moscow reportedly targeted infrastructure facilities in the region, the country's biggest energy supplier, Yasno, said in a statement, as per CNN report. -- ANI