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Wed, 28 September 2022
India-China ties have great bearing on world: Envoy
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23:26 India-China ties have great bearing on world: Envoy
China-India relations have significance not only for the two countries but also have a great bearing on the region and the world at large, Chinese ambassador Sun Weidong has said.
The envoy also made four proposals to improve bilateral ties.
The proposals outlined were promotion of mutual understanding and trust, win-win cooperation, proper handling of differences and strengthening coordination and collaboration.
The ambassador was speaking at a virtual event on Tuesday that was organised to celebrate the 73rd Anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China.
The "Asian Century" can only be fulfilled through joint development and mutually beneficial cooperation of China and India, as well as through strengthening solidarity and cooperation among China, India and other Asian countries, he said.
Following the eastern Ladakh standoff, India has been consistently maintaining that peace along the Line of Actual Control was key for the overall development of the ties and that the state of the border will determine the state of the relationship.
Last month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the relationship between India and China was going through an "extremely difficult phase" after what Beijing had done at the border and had also emphasised that the Asian Century would not happen if the two neighbours could not join hands.
"Next year, India will assume the presidency of SCO and G20, and China will support India in its related works together with other member states," the ambassador said. -- PTI
22:20 PFI collected Rs 55L for Khargone riot victims: Cops
The Popular Front of India had tried to instigate a particular community following the violence during a Ram Navami procession in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone earlier this year, and collected around Rs 55 lakh in the name of helping the riot-affected people, a senior police official said.
The central government on Wednesday banned the PFI and several of its associates for five years under a stringent anti-terror law, accusing them of having "links" with global terror groups like ISIS.
"Our investigation found that the PFI, which turned into action locally after the violence in Khargone, tried to instigate a particular community and collected about Rs 55 lakh donation from them in the name of helping the riot-hit people," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Intelligence wing) Rajat Saklecha told PTI.
Khargone city had witnessed communal clashes on April 10 during the Ram Navami celebrations, wherein stones were hurled, vehicles torched and some houses damaged, leading to the clamping of curfew in the entire city.
He said the PFI had started its activities in 2008, but the organisation came into the light after spearheading the agitations against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the National Register of Citizens and the National Population Register.
The police official said that the PFI started spreading its activities in the guise of different organisations and was trying to extend its base in entire western Madhya Pradesh, especially in the districts bordering Rajasthan.
The organisation also tried to instigate people on communal lines after a bangle seller from Uttar Pradesh, Tasleem Ali (25), was beaten up in a locality here on August 22, 2021, Saklecha said, adding that before the organisation was banned, 70 to 75 people were associated with it in Indore.
The PFI tried to get less educated people and daily wage earners associated with the outfit through social media, he said.
According to him, police forces have been deployed outside the local PFI office at Jawahar Marg after the National Investigation Agency seized objectionable material from here.
Following the ban, security has been beefed up around the PFI's sealed office, Saklecha said.
21:51 R Venkataramani named Attorney General of India
Senior advocate R Venkataramani was appointed as the Attorney General of India on Wednesday for a term of three years, according to a notification.
He will succeed K K Venugopal, whose term will end on September 30.
Venugopal, 91, was appointed to the post in July 2017.
He was reappointed as the top law officer of the country for three months on June 29.
21:33 2002 Gujarat riots: HC grants interim bail to ex-DGP RB Sreekumar
The Gujarat high court on Wednesday granted interim bail till November 15 to former state DGP RB Sreekumar, arrested along with activist Teesta Setalvad, for alleged fabrication of evidence in connection with the 2002 communal riots cases.
Justice Ilesh J Vora allowed Sreekumar, in custody since his arrest by the city crime branch on June 25, to be enlarged on the interim bail till November 15 on a personal bond of Rs 10,000.
Sreekumar's counsel submitted that he may be granted the relief in view of his age and considering that the charge sheet has been filed. He also told the high court that the applicant intends to file a fresh application before the trial court concerned.
The HC was also hearing the regular bail plea of Teesta Setalvad, another accused in the case of the alleged fabrication of evidence.
Hearing her bail plea, the HC directed the trial court to hand over the papers of the charge sheet filed by the Special Investigation Team on September 21 to Setalvad's lawyer and kept the matter for further hearing on November 15.
Setalvad was released on interim bail by the Supreme Court on September 2.
The single-judge bench directed Sreekumar to deposit his passport within a week of his release from jail. He was also given the liberty to file a fresh bail application before the concerned court.
Opposing the relief to Sreekumar, the public prosecutor said considering the role attributed to him in the alleged offence, no case is made out for granting interim bail.
A sessions court in Ahmedabad on July 30 rejected bail applications of Setalvad and Sreekumar, who were arrested on June 25.
The SIT on September 21 filed a charge sheet against Setalvad, Sreekumar and another accused in the case, former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt.
Bhatt continues to remain in jail at Palanpur in the Banaskantha district of Gujarat where he is serving a life sentence in a custodial death case.
A case was registered against Setalvad, Sreekumar, and Bhatt under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) related to forgery, besides sections 194 (fabricating false evidence to procure capital offence), 211 (to institute criminal proceeding while knowing there is no just ground for it), 218 (public servant framing incorrect record) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy).
The trio was accused of conspiracy "to abuse the process of law by fabricating false evidence to make several persons to having committed an offence that is punishable with capital punishment".
20:48 Bihar court issues arrest warrant against Ekta Kapoor
A court in Bihar's Begusarai on Wednesday issued arrest warrants against Ekta Kapoor, film producer and director, and her mother Shobha Kapoor on charges of insulting soldiers and hurting the sentiments of their family members in her web series XXX' (Season-2).
The court of judge Vikas Kumar issued the warrant on the basis of a complaint lodged by Shambhu Kumar, an ex-serviceman and a resident of Begusarai.
Kumar, in his complaint in 2020, had alleged that series XXX'(Season-2) featured several objectionable scenes related to a soldier's wife.
"The series was aired on ALTBalaji, an OTT platform owned by Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms Ltd. Shobha Kapoor is also associated with Balaji Telefilms," said Hrishikesh Pathak, advocate of Kumar.
"The court had issued summons to them (Kapoors) and asked them to appear before it in connection with the matter. They (Kapoors), however, informed the court that certain scenes in the series were removed after the objection. But they did not appear before the court following which the warrant was issued against them," Pathak added. -- PTI
20:36 Park in Canada's Brampton renamed as Shri Bhagavad Gita Park
A park in Brampton in Canada was renamed as Shri Bhagavad Gita Park on Wednesday, according to a Haryana government statement.
The park, spread over 3.75 acres, will have sculptures of Lord Krishna and Arjuna on a chariot and some other Hindu deities, it said.
Lauding the initiative, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the park will help spread the Bhagavad Gita's eternal message of universal brotherhood, love and harmony.
In a tweet, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said, "Today, the @CityBrampton unveiled the renaming of Brampton's Troyers Park to Shri Bhagavad Gita Park. Brampton is a Mosaic, and this renaming commemorates the Hindu community and all they contribute to our City. We celebrate all cultures and all faiths in our City."
According to the Haryana government statement, the park is probably the only one outside of India to be named after the Bhagavad Gita. PTI
19:51 PFI involved in 'disturbing' India's secular fabric: Officials
The Popular Front of India, banned on Wednesday, was indulging in "disturbing" the country's communal and secular fabric and "posing a grave threat" to national security by advancing its radical ideology and seeking to establish "political Islam" in India besides targeting Hindu activists, officials said.
According to officials monitoring activities of the PFI and its members, a secret 'service team' was formed, similar to the 'hit squads' whose main task was to provide security to senior PFI leaders and also kept track of Hindu leaders in their areas and plan action against them.
They alleged the PFI covertly organises training exercises, military-like drills, where participants are trained to use force and violence against certain religious groups, which are perceived as enemy of Islam.
They further alleged that since its inception, the PFI has been against Hindu organisations and its leaders and the group has a secret hit squad that engages in targeted killings of Hindu activists and those allegedly indulging in blasphemy.
The PFI is alleged to have been continuously involved in anti-government propaganda and spreading the narrative that Muslims were being persecuted in India.
It had allegedly taken a lead in organising anti-CAA protests during December 2019-March 2020 and many cases were registered against them which included 51 in Uttar Pradesh alone where the PFI-led platform, Samvidhan Suraksha Andolan, was among those which coordinated the anti-CAA agitations.
Through active involvement in the protests, the PFI was able to project itself as a prominent Muslim organisation capable of safeguarding interests of the community.
By projecting itself as champion of Muslim causes, the PFI had been successful in attracting new members over the years. Its role in Delhi riots was also investigated by the ED.
In recent years, the peaceful atmosphere of the country was threatened by PFI, which has presence in 17 states, officials said.
The murder of Praveen Nettaru in Bellare town on July 26 was one of the cases that exposed the violent character of PFI. Nettaru, a member of Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha and a local businessman, was hacked to death in typical ISIS style by bike-borne assailants and most of the accused in the case had affiliation with the PFI, the officials alleged.
Investigation by local police claimed a chilling tale of cold-blooded murder by PFI cadres and SDPI members in retaliation to killing of 19-year-old Masood, a Muslim migrant labourer.
A list of RSS and Bajrang Dal members of the town was prepared and few were selected to avenge Masood's death and Nettaru was chosen as he had commented on the halal issue, officials said.
Disputing the claims of the PFI of being a social organisation working for the uplift of Muslims, the officials said on the contrary, the ground actions of PFI tell a totally different story with several of its cadres having a violent history.
Over 1400 criminal cases had been registered against PFI cadres and its affiliates across the country including the UAPA, the Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act and other sections of the IPC.
The officials claimed that interrogation of the accused in various cases showed that the PFI would identify Muslim youths, from poor or middle class background, for physical training during which they were also inculcated with anti-Hindutva ideology.
Akash Ambani (right)
19:20 Akash Ambani on Time's 100 emerging leaders' list
Akash Ambani, son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani and head of India's largest telecom firm Jio, has been named in the Time100 Next -- the magazine's list of world's rising stars.
He is the only Indian on the list.
There is, however, another Indian-born American business leader, Amrapali Gan, also on the list.
"The scion of Indian industrialist royalty, Akash Ambani was always expected to rise in business. But he has been putting in hard work," Time said about him.
The junior Ambani, 30, was promoted in June to the chairman of Jio, India's largest telecom company, with over 426 million subscribers, after being handed a board seat at just 22.
"He's since played a key role landing multibillion-dollar investments from Google and Facebook," it added. -- PTI
19:09 Lt General Anil Chauhan (retd) is new CDS
Lt General Anil Chauhan (retd) was on Wednesday appointed as the new Chief of Defence Staff, more than nine months after the post fell vacant following the death of Gen Bipin Rawat.
The defence ministry issued a statement announcing the appointment of Lt Gen Chauhan.
"The government has decided to appoint Lt General Anil Chauhan (retired) as the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) who shall also function as secretary to Government of India, department of military affairs, with effect from the date of his assumption of charge and until further orders," it said.
In a career spanning over nearly 40 years, Lt Gen Anil Chauhan had held several command, staff and instrumental appointments and had extensive experience in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and North-East India.
18:57 Lt Gen Anil Chauhan is new CDS: We said it on June 8, 2022!
The Modi government on Wednesday appointed Lt Gen Anil Chauhan (retd) as India's second chief of defence staff.
Rediff.com had predicted this nearly four months ago, you can read the link here.
Representational image
18:42 App-based taxi services will be available in Goa soon: CM Sawant
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said his government was firm on introducing app-based cab services in the coastal state.
"I want to give you an assurance that in a few days app-based taxis will be available," Sawant told reporters in Chandigarh.
Two months ago, Goa transport minister Mauvin Godinho had said the state government was firm on introducing app-based cab services and would not bow down to pressure from the private taxi lobby which was against it.
Private taxi operators have been opposing app-based cab services, claiming it will destabilise their business.
On private taxi operators opposing app-based cab services, Sawant said, "In a few days the taxi issue will be resolved and you will get app-based taxi in Goa."
Responding to a question on Haryana BJP leader Sonali Phogat's mysterious death in Goa last month, Sawant said, "On demand of her family, we have handed over the investigation to the CBI."
"Any assistance which CBI may require from the Goa Police will be given. A CBI team has already visited Goa and it is carrying out investigation in the state," he said.
With Phogat's family earlier expressing dissatisfaction with the initial probe by the state police, Sawant said, "Goa Police conducted investigation in a very good manner." -- PTI
18:19 Lalu Yadav elected unopposed as RJD chief for 12th time
Former chief minister of Bihar and founder president of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Lalu Prasad Yadav was re-elected unopposed as the party president for the record 12th time on Wednesday.
Earlier today, Lalu filed his nomination papers at the party office in the national capital.
Speaking to ANI, Uday Narayan Choudhary, returning officer of the RJD's election process, said that only Lalu had filed the nomination for the post of party president and thus was elected unopposed as the party chief.
"Today on 28th September 2022, for the post of national president of Rashtriya Janata Dal the only nomination for the post was filed by Lalu Prasad. After verification, all the copies of the nomination were found to be correct and valid," he said.
"Today from 3 to 4 pm, the date and time for withdrawal of nomination papers were fixed during which the only filed nomination paper was not withdrawn. Lalu Prasad Yadav is the only candidate for the post of national president of RJD and so is declared elected unopposed," he added.
However, the formal announcement of Lalu Yadav becoming the party president will be made on October 10 during the party's national convention at Talkatora Stadium in Delhi.
Representational image
18:05 Kerala actors allege molestation at mall
In a shocking revelation made through an Instagram post, a popular Malayalam actor has said she experienced sexual misconduct during a film promotion event at a mall in north Kerala's Kozhikode.
The state women's panel strongly condemned the incident and police launched an immediate probe into the matter.
Expressing her anguish and concern over the "sexual frustration" of people, she said another woman actor also had a similar experience during the event held late on Tuesday night at the busy mall.
A purported video of the incident went viral on social media platforms soon which were also aired by local TV channels.
"Kozhikode is a place I loved a lot. But, tonight while returning after a programme, a person from the crowd grabbed me. It disgusts me to say where! Are people around us so frustrated? We had been to several places as part of the promotion. But, I never had such a pathetic experience anywhere else. My colleague also had a similar experience. She reacted...but I couldn't in that situation as I was dumbstruck for a moment..," the actor said in the social media post.
The other actress, who had been subjected to misbehaviour from the crowd, also shared the harrowing experience through her Instagram page.
She said the mall was overcrowded and security personnel were struggling to manage the rush.
A person had misbehaved with one of her co-stars but she could not react. -- PTI
17:51 Three killed, 8 hurt after massive fire at factory near Mumbai
A total of three people died and eight others were seriously injured in the fire due to a boiler explosion at a factory in the Vasai area of Palghar district in Maharashtra on Wednesday, informed the fire department.
The injured have been sent to the nearest hospital for treatment.
Fire brigade personnel reached the spot to douse the fire.
The boiler was exploded at Vasai Cos Power Engineering Limited Company.
The incident took place today at around 2:30 pm and the sound of the explosion was heard from 1 to 2 km.
This company is located in the Vasai area of Palghar district and 50 employees were working in the company when the boiler exploded. -- PTI
PFI members being rounded up last week
17:28 PFI dissolves itself after govt ban
Kerala State General Secretary of PFI Abdul Sattar dissolves the body.
"All PFI members and public are informed that the Popular Front of India has been dissolved. MHA has issued a notification banning PFI. As law-abiding citizens of our great country, the organization accepts the decision, Sattar said.
The PFI, which has allegedly been involved in a series of violent incidents and has "links" with global terror groups like ISIS, was on Wednesday banned by the Centre along with its several associates for five years following a crackdown against its leaders.
US veep Kamla Harris
17:08 N Korea fires ballistic missile ahead Harris visit
North Korea fired an apparent ballistic missile on Wednesday evening, just a day ahead of US Vice President Kamla Harris' visit to Demilitarized Zone dividing South and North Korea.
Notably, this is the second launch from nuclear-armed North Korea in four days, The Japan Times reported.
South Korea's military also confirmed the launch of an unidentified ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan.
After the missile launch by North Korea, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida issued an instruction where it stated that one needs to dedicate maximum effort to gather and analyze the information and provide the public with speedy and adequate information.
The second one was to ensure the safety of aircraft, vessels, and other assets. Lastly, "Take all possible measures for precaution, including readiness for contingencies."
16:58 Biplab Kumar Deb sworn in as RS MP
Former Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb takes oath as an MP of Rajya Sabha, in the presence of Vice President and RS Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.
"My priority would be to speed up state's development that began in 2018 under PM Modi's leadership. He himself brings to the table demands for northeast & asks what is needed. I'd like to tell Tripura, I'd follow up on development works for Tripura, to speed them up," Deb said.
16:39 BJP arresting AAP leaders ahead of polls: Kejriwal
Anyone from the AAP could be jailed on false charges as the BJP is making all out efforts to "crush" the party fearing defeat in the upcoming Gujarat assembly polls, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday.
Kejriwal's comments come a day after the CBI arrested AAP's communications in-charge Vijay Nair in connection with the Delhi excise policy case in which Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia is also an accused. In a digital address, Kejriwal claimed that Nair was arrested by the CBI following several rounds of questioning after he refused to buckle under the agency's pressure to give a false statement against Sisodia to implicate him in the excise policy "scam".
Nair was arrested for his alleged role in "cartelisation" and "conspiracy" related to alleged irregularities in the allocation of liquor licenses in the capital, according to sources.
Slamming the BJP-led Centre over Nair's arrest, Kejriwal charged, "They are extremely rattled and have gone crazy as the (popularity) graph of the Aam Aadmi Party in Gujarat is rising each day at a very fast pace. People of Gujarat are coming out in the streets and openly criticising them (BJP)."
The AAP national convenor claimed that Nair had nothing to do with the alleged liquor policy scam but was arrested by the CBI as he refused to give in to their pressure to give a false statement against Sisodia in order to implicate him in the case.
"First, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain was arrested, then AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan and now Nair on "completely false" charges, Kejriwal said. "Next week, they are going to arrest Sisodia. If they can arrest a small party worker like Nair, they can arrest anybody," he said.
Kejriwal accused the BJP-led Centre of "hatching a conspiracy 24X7" to frame AAP leaders in false cases, fearing their defeat in the upcoming Gujarat assembly elections.
16:36 Sonia calls Antony, Shinde for consultations
Several names have cropped up for the probable presidential candidate including Mallikarjun Kharge, A K Antony, Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh, Ambika Soni and Pawan Kumar Bansal, though most of them ruled themselves out of the race.
The name of Ashok Gehlot for the top party post is, however, not completely ruled out yet.
Among various senior leaders, Gandhi is learnt to have called Congress veterans A K Antony and Sushilkumar Shinde for consultations.
There is also a likelihood that fresh observers may be sent to Rajasthan and Shinde may be one of them.
Sonia Gandhi is considering resolving the matter after consultations with top party leaders who are keeping their fingers crossed on the situation.
After the developments in Jaipur, sources said Gehlot reached out to Sonia Gandhi and is learnt to have explained his position, while his arch-rival Sachin Pilot rushed to Delhi ahead of any decision on Rajasthan.
Gehlot is learnt to have told Gandhi that he was not behind the parallel meet of MLAs and it was organised without his knowledge.
The Rajasthan chief minister is also understood to have told Gandhi that he would abide by any decision taken by her and the party, the sources said.
Gehlot also held a closed-door meeting with party MLAs in Jaipur on Tuesday and is learnt to have apprised them of the latest developments.
Professor TJ Joseph whose hand was chopped off by PFI thugs
16:33 Silence is better sometimes: Prof assaulted by PFI
Professor TJ Joseph, whose hand was chopped off by the activists of Popular Front of India for alleged blasphemy 12 years ago, on Wednesday declined to respond to the Centre's ban on the radical Islamic outfit, saying observing silence was better at times than always talking.
Asked for his reaction by the media, a visibly calm and composed professor said he, as a citizen of the country, has a clear opinion about the union government's move, but he does not want to respond now as he was a "victim" in the case.
The banning of PFI was a political decision and something related to national security and let the political leaders, organizational representatives and other such neutral people respond to the development, he said.
Observing silence was better at times than always talking, Joseph said, adding that he felt that it was better not to react at the moment.
"So I am not reacting. Many of the victims of the PFI's attacks are no longer alive. I would like to observe silence in solidarity with those victims," he added.
A former lecturer of Malayalam literature at Newman College in Thodupuzha, Joseph was attacked and his right hand was chopped off allegedly by activists of the Popular Front of India in July 2010 while he, along with his mother and sister, was returning home from church.
The attackers told him that he was being punished for the alleged sacrilegious undertones of one of the questions he had framed in an exam. -- PTI
16:09 That's what Ahmedabad railway station will look like
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya shared this image among others of the proposed revamp of the Ahmedabad rail station.
15:43 4% DA hike for Central govt staff, pensioners
Ahead of Diwali festival, the Cabinet on Wednesday approved 4 per cent additional instalment of Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief to central government employees and pensioners with effect from July 1, 2022.
There are about 50 lakh central government employees and over 61 lakh pensioners.
The central government employees and pensioners will become entitled to higher amount of Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) respectively, with effect from July 1, 2022, said I&B Minister Anurag Thakur at a press briefing here. The additional financial implications on account of the increase of DA to employees are estimated at Rs 6,591.36 crore per annum, and Rs 4,394.24 crore in the financial year 2022-23 (8 months from July, 2022 to February, 2023).
The additional financial implications in case of pensioners are estimated at Rs 6,261.20 crore per annum, and Rs 4,174.12 crore in the financial year 2022-23.
The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be of the order of Rs 12,852.56 crore per annum and Rs 8,568.36 crore in the current financial year, the minister informed. -- PTI
15:24 Guj polls: Govt extends free ration scheme by till Dec
The government on Wednesday extended by three months its programme to provide free rations to the poor at a cost of over Rs 44,700 crore, as it looked to ease pain from high inflation and make political gains in the upcoming Gujarat election.
The scheme to provide 5 kg of wheat and rice free of cost to 80 crore poor every month, which was ending on Friday, will now run through December 31, 2022, I&B Minister Anurag Thakur said.
The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) was started in April 2020 to help the poor whose livelihoods were shuttered by a nationwide lockdown aimed at containing the spread of the Coronavirus. PTI
Courtesy: @Frontex
15:06 66,000 Russians fled Russia in a week
From the Russia borders:
-- 66,000 Russian citizens have entered the EU over the past week, a 30% increase in comparison to the preceding week.
-- Most of the Russian citizens are entering the EU through Finnish and Estonian border crossing points.
-- Since the beginning of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, more than 1,303,000 Russian citizens have entered the European Union through its land borders.
-- At the same time, more than 1,273,000 Russian citizens have returned to Russia via its land borders with the EU.
File pic
14:59 K'taka warns of action against pro-PFI protestors
Following the Union government imposing a ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI) and several of its associates for their alleged terror activities, Karnataka police chief Praveen Sood on Wednesday warned strict action on any protests or activities against the decision and in favour of the banned organisations.
The state's Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG and IGP) said the police and district authorities will be taking necessary action to implement the ban, as per the government orders.
"Following the Centre's ban, the action to be taken by the state government has been delegated through a notification, and an order has been issued. Now, the state government will be issuing an order shortly on action to be taken by the District Magistrates and Commissioner of Police on the ground," Sood said.
Speaking to reporters, he said the police department and deputy commissioners of various districts will accordingly be taking actions against the banned organisation.
Suggesting that considerable information and evidence gathered by the Centre led to the PFI being outlawed, the DGP said the state police is keeping a strict vigil and is gathering information to take strict action against those who oppose the ban.
"If anyone protests against the government decision on the ban and in favour of the banned organisation, they will have to face the consequences, because they too can be considered legally as part of the banned outfit," he added. Sood said the police will be taking action against the banned organisation and its affiliates that are active in the state, as per law, and some of which have already been initiated.
Ankita's funeral
14:37 Dhami offers Rs 25 lakh financial aid to Ankita's family
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday announced a financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh to the family of Ankita Bhandari, the receptionist whose killing, allegedly by her employer, sparked public outrage in the state.
He also assured her family that the case would be heard in a fast track court.
"The state government is with Ankita's family. We will extend all help to them. The case is being probed by an SIT (Special Investigation Team). The investigation will be conducted impartially and completed as soon as possible," the chief minister said.
It will be ensured that the killers get the harshest punishment so that it serves as a deterrent for criminals in the future, he added.
Bhandari (19) worked as a receptionist at a resort in Yamkeshwar of Pauri district. She was allegedly killed by resort owner Pulkit Arya and his two accomplices near Rishikesh for refusing to provide "special services" to the guests.
Arya is the son of former minister Vinod Arya, who was expelled from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after his son's name cropped up in the case.
The money is being paid to Bhandari's father Virendra Singh Bhandari from the Chief Minister's Discretionary Fund, said additional secretary Navneet Pandey.
14:19 Kharge willing to be Cong prez if Sonia asks
Senior Congress leader M Mallikarjun Kharge is not averse to running for AICC president polls if party chief Sonia Gandhi asks him to contest, sources close to the veteran leader said on Wednesday.
Names of leaders like Kharge, a former Union minister and a Nehru-Gandhi family loyalist, are doing the rounds for the October 17 AICC presidential election for which the nomination process would continue till September 30.
"Kharge has told Sonia Gandhi that whatever the party decides, he will adhere to it," a close associate of the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha said, adding: "Ultimately, he will do what the party (Sonia Gandhi) suggests him to do".
A Congress leader said Kharge has "good connect and rapport" with opposition leaders like NCP chief Sharad Pawar and CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury which would be an "added advantage" and "he is sharp as ever".
"In the Hindi heartland also, he has got a sort of fan following for his Hindi," another leader said.
Sources close to 80-year-old Kharge, however, also said he believes only the Nehru-Gandhi family has the "enigma and charisma" and no one else has that kind of clout throughout the country.
Kharge, who has pitched for the return of Rahul Gandhi as Congress president, believes that with Lok Sabha elections just two years away, touring the country and taking the party forward is a "very humongous task", sources said.
"He (Kharge) has never declined anything that the party has asked him to do," the close aide said. "The party took care of him. Whatever the party decides, he will do."
14:14 PFI hoarding removed in Navi Mumbai
A PFI hoarding at its Navi Mumbai office removed by authorities amid tightened police security. The central govt today banned the PFI for 5 years.
13:59 Tharoor quotes Majrooh Sultanpuri on prez polls
Congress-president hopeful and MP Shashi Tharoor tweets a message reinforcing what he had said earlier about his candidature.
Quoting lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri, Tharoor tweeted:
"Main akela hi chala tha janab-e-manzil magar
Log saath aate gaye aur karvaan banta gaya."
I was walking alone towards my goal but
People joined in and they formed a caravan.
Tharoor on Monday claimed he has the support of party workers from across the country for his bid to fight the AICC president polls.
"You will see the support I enjoy when I submit my nomination paper. I will be in the fray if I get support from party workers from the majority of the states. So many people from different parts of the country have requested me to be in the fray," Tharoor said.
13:43 Ban right-wing groups too: Owaisi on PFI ban
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi says he does not support the Centre's ban on Popular Front of India (PFI).
"While I have always opposed PFI's approach and supported democratic approach, this ban on PFI cannot be supported. How come PFI is banned but organisations associated with convicts of Khaja Ajmeri bomb blasts aren't? Why has govt not banned right wing majoritarian organisations?
"We should remember that Congress amended UAPA to make it stringent and when BJP amended the law to make it even more draconian, Congress supported it.
"This case will follow the timeline of (Siddique) Kappan (journalist), where any activist or journalist is randomly arrested and takes two years to even get bail," Owaisi said.
The government on Wednesday banned Popular Front of India, alleged to be involved in several violent and terror incidents and having "links" with global terror groups like ISIS, along with its several associates for five years following the second round of crackdown against its leaders.
Besides PFI, the organisations which were also declared banned under the stringent anti-terror law UAPA include Rehab India Foundation, Campus Front of India, All India Imams Council, National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation, National Women's Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala.
13:15 Nepal: Missing US mountain skier Hilaree Nelson found dead
US mountain skier Hilaree Nelson, who went missing below the summit of Mt. Manaslu in Nepal, has been found dead, government officials said on Wednesday.
The body of the 49-year-old ski mountaineer is being retrieved, they said.Nelson, a mother of two, had been reported missing below the summit of the world's eighth-highest mountain after an avalanche on Monday. Nepal Police on Tuesday said that seven people were rescued from the avalanche-hit area of Mt. Manaslu. -- ANI
13:12 IRCTC scam: Tejashwi asked to appear before court
A Delhi court on Wednesday directed Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav to personally appear before it on the CBI's plea seeking cancellation of his bail in the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) scam.
Granting time to Yadav's counsel to file response, Special Judge (CBI) Geetanjali Goel directed personal appearance of the RJD leader on October 18. Earlier on September 17, the court had issued a notice to Yadav on the application moved by the probe agency and sought his reply.
The court had in October 2018 granted bail to Yadav after he appeared before it in pursuance to summons issued against him in the matter related to alleged irregularities in granting operational contract of two IRCTC hotels to a private firm. -- PTI
12:36 Gehlot may meet Sonia today after Raj revolt
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot will meet the Congress high command in New Delhi today amid suspense over whether he will file nomination for the post of party president.
Gehlot's visit comes a day after the Congress issued show-cause notices to three of his loyalists - Rajasthan ministers Shanti Dhariwal and Mahesh Joshi, and Dharmendra Rathore - for their "grave indiscipline".
The party's disciplinary committee has asked the three to explain within 10 days why action should not be initiated against them after the observers for Rajasthan - Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken - in their report to party chief Sonia Gandhi charged them with "gross indiscipline".
The action came after 82 MLAs participated in a parallel meeting at Dhariwal's residence in Jaipur laying down conditions to the party and did not attend the official legislature party meeting convened for passing a resolution authorising the Congress chief to appoint a successor to Gehlot, who was to contest the Congress presidential election.
With the Rajasthan episode posing a significant challenge before the party, the Congress president has initiated discussions with senior party leaders from across the country to resolve the crisis even as the fate of Gehlot who was considered frontrunner for the top party post remained uncertain.
Several names have cropped up for the probable presidential candidate including Kharge, A K Antony, Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh, Ambika Soni and Pawan Kumar Bansal, though most of them ruled themselves out of the race.
The name of Gehlot for the top party post is, however, not completely ruled out yet, according to informed sources.
Among various senior leaders, Gandhi is learnt to have called Congress veterans A K Antony and Sushilkumar Shinde for consultations.
There is also a likelihood that fresh observers may be sent to Rajasthan and Shinde may be one of them. Gandhi is considering resolving the matter after consultations with top party leaders who are keeping their fingers crossed on the situation. -- PTI
Canada PM Justin Trudeau
12:16 Canada issues land mine advisory for India travel
In what appears to be a bizarre travel advisory, Canada has advised its citizens to avoid all travel to areas in states of Gujarat, Punjab and Rajasthan, which share a border with Pakistan due to the "presence of landmines" and "unpredictable security situation."
"Avoid all travel to areas within 10 km of the border with Pakistan in the following states due to the unpredictable security situation and presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance: Gujarat, Punjab Rajasthan," the advisory states.
The travel advisory put out by Canadian government on its website that was last updated on September 27, also asks its citizens to exercise a high degree of caution in India due to "threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country."
This advisory excludes travelling to or within the Union Territory of Ladakh. It also urges people to avoid non-essential travel to Assam and Manipur "due to the risk of terrorism and insurgency."
Incidentally, India had on September 23 issued an advisory for Indian nationals and students in Canada to remain vigilant amid increasing incidents of crimes and anti-India activities in the country. -- PTI
11:47 PFI was planning something serious in Maha: Shinde
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday welcomed the Union government's decision to ban the Popular Front of India, which has allegedly been involved in a series of violence, and said it has come to light that the organisation was planning "something serious" in the state.
The organisation members had also tried to disturb peace in Pune, but swift police action foiled their bid, Shinde told reporters in Nashik and thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the step to ban PFI and its several associates for five years.
"The PFI and its allied organisations were found to be involved in serious crimes. The organisation recently became active in terror funding, murders, insulting the Constitution, disturbing the social harmony and unity of the country. It has also surfaced that the organisation was planning something serious in Maharashtra as well," the CM said.
"The plans of anti-social elements to undertake anti-national activities and divide the society will never succeed, he added.
More than 150 people allegedly linked to the PFI were detained or arrested in raids across seven states on Tuesday, five days after a similar pan-India crackdown against the 16-year-old group had led to the arrest of more than a hundred of its activities and seizure of several dozen properties. PTI
11:39 Jaishankar meets US NSA
FM Dr S Jaishankar meets US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. "Discussed the Ukraine conflict and its repercussions, the Indo-Pacific situation, South Asia and the Gulf. Exchanged views on addressing the current global economic volatility," Jaishankar writes.
11:24 NSE scam: Chitra Ramkrishna gets bail
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted bail to former National Stock Exchange (NSE) head Chitra Ramkrishna and ex group operating officer Anand Subramanian in the co-location scam case being probed by the CBI.
Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain said he was granting "statutory bail" to the two former officials of the NSE.
A detailed copy of the order is awaited. An FIR was registered in the case in May 2018, amid fresh revelations about irregularities at the country's largest stock exchange.
The CBI is probing the alleged improper dissemination of information from the computer servers of the market exchanges to stock brokers. Subramanian was arrested by the CBI on February 24.
The CBI had arrested Ramkrishna on March 6, a day after her anticipatory bail application was dismissed by a trial court. -- PTI
11:11 Cong Yatra enters Rahul's constituency Wayanad
The Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra began its 18th day of march in Kerala on Wednesday with hundreds of party workers and followers accompanying Rahul Gandhi set to enter his Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency during the day.
The march started from Pandikkad School Padi here and is scheduled to halt for a break at Wandoor junction around 10.30 am. It will enter the Wayanad constituency during the day, AICC general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said.
People have died waiting in mile-long queues during demo
11:07 SC to hear pleas against 2016 demo move
Supreme Court Constitution Bench says it will hear on October 12 pleas challenging the Centre's 2016 decision to demonetize currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000.
11:01 Cong, IUML laud PFI ban, but want RSS ban too
The opposition Congress in Kerala and its coalition partner Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Wednesday welcomed the Centre's decision to ban the Popular Front of India (PFI) for its alleged terror activities, but said that the RSS should also be similarly outlawed.
Strongly condemning the activities of the PFI, senior IUML leader M K Muneer said the radical outfit had misinterpreted the Quran and persuaded the community members to adopt the path of violence.
"The PFI not only tried to mislead the young generation but also tried to create division and hatred in the society," he said in Kozhikode.
"All Islamic scholars in the state have strongly condemned the extremist ideologies. But, outfits like PFI have made even tiny children raise contemptuous slogans. Which Islam has persuaded them to do so?" the legislator asked.
Stating that IUML has always opposed the deeds of both RSS and PFI-SDPI, Muneer said the respective communities should reject the communal ideologies of such outfits. Sharing similar views, senior Congress leader and former state home minister Ramesh Chennithala said the Centre's decision to ban PFI was a "good thing".
"RSS should also be banned like this. In Kerala, both majority communalism and minority communalism should be equally opposed. Both the outfits have flared up communal hatred and thus tried to create division in the society," he said.
Chennithala said Congress is a party which has taken a strong stand against communalism spread by both the majority and minority communities. The recent dawn-to-dusk hartal called by the PFI turned violent, affecting normal life in many parts of Kerala as agitated activists pelted stones at public transport buses, destroyed shops and vehicles and threatened the general public.
The hartal was called by the PFI to protest against the raids in offices and residences of its leaders and their subsequent arrests on September 22 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other agencies for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country. -- PTI
10:47 Women of substance
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson of Biocon Ltd, shares this picture with President Draupadi Murmu and writes, "I had the proud privilege of Felicitating our honourable President Smt Draupadi Murmu on her visit to Karnataka - her story of grit & courage is a true inspiration to us all."
Asif Ali Zardari was married to Benazir Bhutoo
10:42 Ex-Pak president Zardari's health deteriorates
Former Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari was admitted to Karachi hospital on Tuesday after his health deteriorated, according to media reports.
Zardari, the co-chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), was said to be ill for several weeks now. He was finally admitted to the hospital on Tuesday. He will undergo a medical procedure related to his lungs, The Express Tribune newspaper reported citing insiders.
Earlier in July, the former Pakistan President had contracted Covid-19 during his visit to Dubai.
Last year, 67-year-old Zardari was admitted to a private hospital in Karachi on the advice of his doctors.
10:34 Rupee falls to all-time low of 81.93 against USD
The rupee depreciated 40 paise to an all-time low of 81.93 against the US dollar in early trade on Wednesday as the strengthening of the American currency and risk-averse sentiment among investors weighed on the local unit.
Moreover, a negative trend in domestic equities and significant foreign fund outflows sapped investor appetite, forex traders said.
At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 81.90 against the greenback, then fell to 81.93, registering a fall of 40 paise over its previous closing. On Tuesday, the rupee consolidated in a narrow range and settled 14 paise higher at 81.53 against the dollar. -- PTI
10:30 Sensex tumbles 609 points in early trade amid weak Asian markets
Benchmark indices began the trade on a bearish note on Wednesday with the Sensex tumbling 609 points in early trade, amid a weak trend in Asian markets.
The 30-share BSE Sensex fell 608.8 points to 56,498.72 in initial trade.
Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty declined 182 points to 16,825.40. Among the 30-share Sensex pack, NTPC, IndusInd Bank, HDFC, Axis Bank, Reliance Industries, ITC, HDFC Bank and Asian Paints were the major laggards. Sun Pharma, Mahindra & Mahindra, Dr Reddy's and Power Grid were among the winners. -- PTI
10:01 PFI ban a message to anti-national groups: Bommai
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday welcomed the Union government's decision to ban the Popular Front of India (PFI) for its alleged terror activities, and said the move sends a message to all "anti-national groups" that they will not survive in this country.
He said all that is necessary would be done to stop PFI's activities in the state.
"For a long time, it has been a demand by the people of this country, by all political parties including the opposition CPI, CPI(M) and the Congress. PFI is the avatar (incarnation) of SIMI (banned Students' Islamic Movement of India), and KFD (Karnataka Forum for Dignity). They were involved in anti-national activities and violence," Bommai said.
He said they had their command outside the country and some of their important office-bearers had even gone across the border for the training. The PFI was involved in all sorts of anti-social activities and time had come to ban this organisation, Bommai added.
"With a lot of background work, information, and cases, the Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah has taken the right decision. This is the message for all anti-national groups that they will not survive in this country. I also urge people not to associate with such organisations," he added.
To a question that PFI was strong in coastal Karnataka and the task before the state government to remove them, the Chief Minister said, "Whatever necessary, will be done."
In a notification issued late Tuesday night, the Union Home Ministry banned the PFI saying the central government is of the opinion that the Islamist outfit and its affiliates have been involved in subversive activities, thereby disturbing public order and undermining constitutional set up of the country and encouraging and enforcing a terror-based regressive regime. -- PTI
File pic
09:56 Xi makes first public appearance after coup rumours
Chinese President Xi Jinping visited an exhibition in Beijing on Tuesday, in his first public appearance since returning from an official trip to Central Asia this month, state media reported.
Xi's absence from the public view, since his return from the Uzbekistan summit, had led to rumours that he was under house arrest. His absence also gave rise to speculations of military coups in Beijing.
These reports emerged ahead of the 20th National Congress next month where Xi is likely to secure a third term in power despite a moribund economy, the COVID-19 pandemic and rising tensions with the West over Taiwan.
Chairman Xi Jinping will extend his term in power for another five years, as the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) conducts its all-important 20th Party Congress.
Xi remains firmly in charge of the one-party state, despite swirling rumours - propagated it seems by the Falun Gong and some Indian media - that a coup had occurred in Beijing. Military columns approaching Beijing and mass cancellations of flights were cited as "evidence" of Xi being put under house arrest.
This is not the case, however, as rumour mills ramp up ahead of such important CCP events.
A total of 2,296 delegates have been appointed to the 20th Party Congress, including just over 200 full members and approximately 170 alternate members. They will rubber stamp Xi's third five-year term in office, something unprecedented since the excesses of Mao Zedong's reign. -- ANI
09:45 New franking begins in UK
The first letters have been franked with the new cypher of King Charles III in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace today. The cypher is the monarch's monogram, consisting of the initial of their name combined with an 'R' for Rex (Latin for King) or Regina (Latin for Queen).
09:36 Modi reaches Delhi after attending Shinzo Abe funeral
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday arrived in New Delhi after attending the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who was attacked on July 8 in the city of Nara during a campaign speech and died later that day.
The Prime Minister landed in Japan on Tuesday morning to attend Abe's state funeral, noting the contributions of the late Japanese PM in strengthening the India-Japan partnership and conceptualizing the vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida on Tuesday and conveyed his deepest condolences on the demise of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. -- ANI
09:35 3-day RBI meet begins today, rate hike likely
The monetary policy committee of the Reserve Bank of India is all set for its bi-monthly review meeting starting today.
Like several other central banks, the main focus of the RBI during the three-day-long meet will again remain on containing high inflation. The MPC is a six-member body that is mandated to determine the policy interest rates required to achieve the inflation target while keeping in mind the objective of economic growth.
As of now, this committee meets at least six times in a financial year, i.e every two months.
In its previous review meeting in early August, the monetary policy committee had unanimously decided to raise the repo rate by 50 basis points to 5.40 per cent in order to contain the persistently high inflation.
The hike took the repo rate above pre-pandemic levels of 5.15 per cent.
Raising interest typically suppresses demand in the economy, thereby helping inflation to decline. -- ANI
09:30 Don't believe in rumours of child kidnapping: Goa Police
The Goa Police have appealed to people in the state not to believe in rumours about attempts to kidnap children from schools, saying no such incidents have been reported.
The police made the appeal on Tuesday after a mob thrashed a man in Vasco town suspecting him to be involved in kidnapping a minor boy.
Director General of Police Jaspal Singh in a tweet said, "Some schools are issuing advisories on the basis of incidents of attempted kidnappings. It is clarified that no such incidents have been reported and there is no such trend."
"While it is important to take precaution we advise all to not believe in rumours as they might cause panic, he added. The Vasco police said a mob attacked a man suspecting him to be involved in kidnapping a boy.
"Apparently, the man is mentally unstable and he would be admitted to the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (near Panaji) after getting proper court orders, a police official said. PTI
09:20 Yogi to inaugurate Lata Mangeshkar chowk today
Visuals from an intersection in Ayodhya which will be inaugurated today as 'Lata Mangeshkar Chowk' by CM Yogi Adityanath, on the late singing maestro's birth anniversary. A veena weighing 14 tonnes has been installed at the intersection.
09:05 Ban on PFI necessary to keep India intact: BJP
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary Arun Singh on Wednesday said that the ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI) was necessary to keep the country intact.
"At the time when riots took place in many districts in Rajasthan, we had said that PFI was involved. Even here (in Karnataka), when Siddaramaiah was in power, more than 23 people were killed. To keep the country intact (PFI) ban was necessary," Arun Singh told media-persons in Bengaluru.
The ministry of home affairs (MHA) through a notification issued late on Tuesday night, declared "the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts as an unlawful association with immediate effect" and banned them for a period of five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
The notification had said that PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country and have the potential to disturb public peace and communal harmony of the country and support militancy in the country.
Mohammed bin Salman with Modi
08:55 In Saudi Arabia MBS gets a leg up as prime minister
Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has appointed his son Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as the kingdom's prime minister, the State-run news agency SPA reported citing a royal decree.
The 37-year-old crown prince, widely known by the acronym MBS will replace the king as prime minister while Prince Khalid bin Salman will become defence minister, Gulf News reported on Tuesday.
The cabinet reshuffle saw the appointment of Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahad bin Abdul Aziz as minister of state, and Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal as minister of sports.
The decree also saw the appointment of Yousef Al Benyan as the minister of education.
Pic: Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
08:37 Modi greets Italy's Giorgia Meloni on election win
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Giorgia Meloni for her leading her party to victory in the Italian polls and said he looked forward to working together to strengthen the ties between the two countries.
Meloni, who heads Brothers of Italy, has led a coalition of right-wing parties to victory and is set to be the first woman prime minister of the country.
Congratulating her, Modi tweeted, "We look forward to working together to strengthen our ties."
Representational image
08:22 E-rickshaws allowed in Matheran on trial basis
The transport authority has granted permission on an experimental basis for conducting trials of e-rickshaws at Matheran hill station located in Maharashtra's Raigad district, a Regional Transport Office (RTO) officer said on Tuesday.
He said the Supreme Court had earlier this year given a directive to conduct trials of e-rickshaws at the hill station to check their feasibility.
"The one-time permission was granted by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) for conducting trials on an experimental basis as a special case. Badge-holder auto drivers will run these seven e-rickshaws," he said.
Presently, no other motorised vehicles, except ambulances, are allowed to ply at Matheran, located 100 km from Mumbai, beyond the Dasturi point, the entry point on the hill station's plateau.
Beyond the Dasturi Point, tourists and locals have to rely on horses or dolis, apart from the famous narrow-gauge mini toy train between Neral and Matheran stations.
Because of the extensive damage to the train tracks at several locations in the monsoon of 2019, the mini train service is available only between Aman Lodge (Near Dasturi) and Matheran.
08:10 Government bans PFI for terror activities
The government has imposed a ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI) for its alleged terror activities.
In a notification issued late Tuesday night, the Union home ministry said the central government is of the opinion that the PFI and its affiliates have been involved in subversive activities, thereby disturbing public order and undermining constitutional set up of the country and encouraging and enforcing a terror-based regressive regime.
It continues "propagating anti-national sentiments and radicalising a particular section of society" with the intention to create disaffection against the country, it said.
"And whereas, the central government for the above-mentioned reasons is firmly of the opinion that having regard to the activities of the PFI, it is necessary to declare the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts to be unlawful association with immediate effect," the home ministry notification read.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy offers prayers/Twitter
01:20 Tirumala Brahmotsavam begins with religious pomp and gaiety
The nine-day annual Brahmotsavam festival of Lord Venkateswara at the ancient hill shrine at Tirumala in Tirupati began on Tuesday with religious pomp and gaiety.
Marking the commencement of the mega festivities also called Navaratri Brahmotsavam, the high priest, amid chanting Vedic hymns, hoisted the traditional Garuda flag atop the sacred golden Dwajasthambham at the shrine.
Later, observing the age-old practice on the advent of the sacred spectacles, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, on behalf of the state government, offered a set of new silk cloths to the hill shrine.
Earlier, Reddy, before visiting Tirumala, also flagged off APSRTC-run state-of-the-art eco-friendly electric buses, first of their kind, to transport visiting devotees from Tirupati to the sacred Seven Hills back in Tirupati. -- PTI
00:40 Hate speech: HC reserves order on plea against Uttar Pradesh CM
The Allahabad high court on Tuesday reserved its judgment on a petition seeking direction for registering a case against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for an alleged objectionable speech during an election campaign in Rajasthan's Alwar in 2018.
Hearing a petition filed by Naval Kishor Sharma of Mau district, the order was reserved by Justice Samit Gopal.
According to the petitioner, the UP chief minister had delivered a speech during the election campaign in Alwar district of Rajasthan on November 23, 2018, which according to the petitioner had hurt his religious sentiments.
Earlier, the petitioner had filed a complaint in this connection before the district court of Mau, which was rejected.
Then he filed a revision petition before a higher court, which too was dismissed on the ground of territorial jurisdiction. -- PTI
00:27 Maha to restore guv's powers to appoint VCs
The Maharashtra government on Tuesday decided to withdraw a bill moved by the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi administration that curtailed powers of the governor in the appointment of vice-chancellors in state universities.
The bill, passed by the legislature last year, empowered the Maharashtra government to recommend to the governor the names for appointment as vice-chancellors in state universities.
The decision to rollback the bill, that amended the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, was taken at a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The Act was amended by the previous Shiv Sena-led MVA government.
The amendment was aimed at curbing the powers of the governor with whom the then-Uddhav Thackeray-led government shared an uneasy relationship.
In December 2021, the state legislature passed the bill during the winter session.
The bill was, however, not given an assent on the grounds it was against the provisions of the University Grants Commission.
"Considering this background, it was decided to take back the bill," said an official statement issued after the cabinet meeting.
The governor is the chancellor of universities in the state. -- PTI
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