LIVE! Gehlot 'likens Pilot to coronavirus', video goes viral

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Thu, 19 January 2023

Gehlot 'likens Pilot to coronavirus', video goes viral

Timeline Refresh

23:43 DMK allots Erode east seat to Congress for byelection

Congress would seek re-election from the Erode East assembly constituency.

The re-poll is being held as Thirumahan Everaa, son of former Union minister EVKS Elangovan, died recently.

Ally DMK allotted the seat to the national party to seek a mandate in the February 27 byelection.

The DMK on Thursday officially announced allotting the constituency to Congress, which won the seat in the 2021 Assembly elections.

"A decision to give the Congress the seat was taken at a meeting of Secular Progressive Alliance leaders with DMK president M K Stalin this evening," said a release from the Dravidian party.

Thirumahan Everaa, 46, died of cardiac arrest at a hospital.

On Wednesday, the Election Commission announced that the bypoll would be held on February 27 and the counting of votes on March 2.

Filing of nominations begins on January 31 and the last date for filing is February 7.

After scrutiny on February 8, the last date for withdrawal of nominations is February 10.

Earlier, TNCC president K S Alagiri told reporters: "Congress will contest from Erode east because it is our constituency. We contested and won last time." -- PTI

Amid the power tussle between Ashok Gehlot and his bete noire Sachin Pilot in Rajasthan, a video has surfaced online in which the chief minister is purportedly saying that a "big corona" entered the party after the pandemic.

It is believed that Gehlot allegedly likened Pilot to coronavirus.

The video is of a pre-budget meeting Gehlot had with the representatives of employees' union on Wednesday.

Responding to one of the participants during the meeting, Gehlot without naming anyone said, "I have started meeting...earlier corona came...a big corona also entered our party."

He said that despite byelections or Rajya Sabha polls, the government has brought excellent schemes with the support of employees.

The comment by Gehlot is being seen as a counter to Pilot's repeated attack on his government. -- PTI

The Indian Navy will commission the fifth scorpene-class submarine Vagir on January 23, officials said on Thursday.

The commissioning of the submarine, built under the Project-75, is set to bolster the Navy's combat capability at a time when China has been increasing its presence in the Indian Ocean region.

Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar will grace the induction ceremony as the chief guest.

India has been working on bolstering its maritime capability with a focus on the Indian Ocean in the backdrop of concerns over China's growing forays into the region, considered the backyard of the Indian Navy.

The Project-75 includes indigenous construction of six submarines of Scorpene design.

The submarines are being constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai under a collaboration with the Naval Group of France.

Four of the Kalvari class of submarines have already been commissioned into the Indian Navy.

The erstwhile Vagir was commissioned on November 1, 1973 and undertook numerous operational missions including deterrent patrols.

The submarine was decommissioned in January 2001 after serving the nation for about three decades. -- PTI

The Delhi high court Thursday dismissed a plea by the banned outfit Dukhtaran-e-Millat challenging the Centre's decision to declare it a 'terrorist organisation' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Justice Anish Dayal said an alternative remedy prescribed under the statutes is available to the organisation by which the outfit led by Kashmiri separatist leader Asiya Andrabi could file an application and approach the central government to remove its name from the schedule declaring it a 'terrorist organisation'.

Andrabi was arrested in 2018 by the NIA for alleged commission of offences under the Indian Penal Code, including sedition, waging war against the country, and the stringent anti-terror law UAPA.

Dukhtaran-e-Millat (daughters of the nation) was declared a terrorist organisation in 2004 and the petition was filed in the high court challenging the decision in 2022.

The DeM said it got to know about the outfit having been declared a 'terrorist organisation' only in 2018 when charge sheets were filed in the court against its members.

The Centre's counsel contended it is the prerogative of the government to decide who is a terrorist and who is not and added that though DeM was declared a terrorist organisation in 2004 it chose to come to the court only in 2022. -- PTI

Amid frequent run-ins between the government and the judiciary over the Collegium system, Union Law minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said it is Centre's "bounden duty" to follow Supreme Court's 2016 order for restructuring the Memorandum of Procedure in appointment of apex court and high court judges.

Rijiju also said the Centre respects judiciary as its independence is "absolutely necessary" for a thriving democracy.

He made the remarks after laying the foundation stone for a building to come up at a cost of Rs 13 crore to house chambers for lawyers of Puducherry on the precincts of the integrated court complex in Puducherry.

"I have written to Chief Justice of India to have a very structured Collegium system to appoint judges of the Supreme Court and high courts in the country and this is very well guided by the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court," Rijiju said.

He said the Bench had given very clear observations and directions to the collegium and the government in 2016 to restructure the memorandum of process to appoint judges of the Supreme Court and high courts.

"This, however, got delayed."

"But it is my bounden duty to carry forward the order of the Constitution Bench of Supreme Court and as long as the collegium system prevails and as long as no alternative system is not in place and as far as Parliament does not bring new system, we will carry forward with the present system which needs some updation and restructuring as per directives of the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court," he said. -- PTI

Pakistan on Thursday announced that the UAE has rolled over its deposits of $2 billion, providing critical support to the cash-strapped country's depleting foreign exchange reserves.

The confirmation came days after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the oil-rich Gulf country seeking help to improve the balance of payments.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed on social media that the Dhabi Fund for Development had deposited $2 billion with the State Bank of Pakistan.

"Abu Dhabi Fund for Development has rolled over their deposit of $2 billion with the State Bank of Pakistan as discussed by PM Shehbaz Sharif with His Highness the President of UAE during last week's official visit. Long live Pak-UAE friendship!' he tweeted on Wednesday night.

The United Arab Emirates last week announced to provide a $3 billion lifeline to Pakistan in the shape of a rollover of the existing $2 billion debt and another $1 billion in new financing.

Pakistan has been tethering on the edge of default with just about $4 billion of reserves while facing the daunting task to make $13 billion in debt repayments in six months.

Apart from the UAE, Saudi Arabia also provided support of USD 5 billion in critical times to Pakistan.

But it is not sufficient to meet the shortfall unless the country wins the support of the International Monetary Fund.

The fund last August revived a stalled $6 billion loan programme but has refused to release any more funds unless its tough conditions are fulfilled by Islamabad. -- PTI

MP panchayat minister Mahendra Singh Sisodia/ANI

21:09 Join BJP or else ...: MP min to Cong functionaries

A Madhya Pradesh minister has stirred a controversy by reportedly asking Congress functionaries in the state to join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party or face the threat of demolition by the chief minister's bulldozer.

A video of MP panchayat minister Mahendra Singh Sisodia making the remarks at a public meeting in Ruthiyai town in Guna on Wednesday has gone viral on social media.

Like some other BJP-ruled states, the administration has been bulldozing the illegal portions of homes of people accused of various offences, a practice that has often been hailed by CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, popularly called 'mama', as a symbol of his government's "zero tolerance" towards crime and criminals.

"Join the BJP. Move towards this side (ruling party) slowly. In 2023 (when assembly polls are scheduled in the state) too, the BJP will form government in MP. Mama's bulldozer is ready," Sisodia reportedly said at the gathering while canvassing for the Raghogarh Nagar civic polls scheduled for January 20.

Hitting back, Guna district Congress chief Harishankar Vijaywargiya said the minister's remarks have sullied the image of the BJP.

"He should exercise restraint in his language. The people of Raghogarh will give a befitting reply to him on January 20 in the polls," Vijaywargiya said.

Raghogarh is the home turf of senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh and his son Jaiwardhan Singh is local MLA. -- PTI

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi

20:28 India gets third consular access to 8 Indians detained in Qatar

India has got its third consular access to the eight former navy personnel detained in Qatar during which their well-being was ascertained, the ministry of external affairs said on Thursday.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi reiterated that the government continues to attach high priority to this matter.

The Indian nationals have been in detention in Qatar for about four months now.

Responding to a question, Bagchi said, "We continue to pursue the matter of their early release and repatriation. We are also facilitating visits and meetings of family members with the detained Indian nationals."

"This week the third round of consular access took place. One of the lawyers attended it also along with our embassy officials. During this third consular access, the well being of the Indian nationals was ascertained," he said. -- PTI

The government is indulging in mass pickpocketing by diverting the attention of people and then looting them, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Thursday after his Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a rally in Lakhanpur, the former president said he had walked from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and talked to thousands of people.

"The BJP and RSS have spread hatred. I earlier thought it ran deep but it does not and is mainly seen on television," Gandhi said in his first stop in the Union Territory, about 90 km from Jammu.

He listed hatred, violence, unemployment and price rise as the main issues confronting the country and blamed the media for not highlighting them. Criticising the media for not focusing on the right issues, he said it uses topics such as Bollywood stars Aishwarya Rai and Akshay Kumar to divert the attention of people.

Injecting a personal note, Gandhi said his ancestors belonged to this land and he felt he was returning home.

"I am going back to my roots, I know the suffering of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and come to you with a bowed head," he said.

Gandhi said he had been walking about seven hours a day, covering 25 km each day, but nobody was tired as some people had predicted.

"I later felt we are not feeling tired because people are pushing us forward."

"If someone falls, he is supported within seconds... nobody is asking anyone what is your religion," he said.

Gandhi started walking from Kanyakumari in September.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra is scheduled to conclude in Srinagar on January 30. -- PTI

The country's largest paramilitary force CRPF has issued a fresh set of social media guidelines for its personnel, asking them not to comment on controversial or political matters that may come back to "haunt" them later.

The two-page instructions were issued last week by the headquarters of the force in Delhi after it was noticed that the "force personnel were taking recourse to social media platforms to vent their personal grievances which is in violation of CCS conduct Rules 1964 and may attract disciplinary action".

A circular issued in this context has been accessed by PTI and it states that the new guidelines are being issued to make aware the personnel against "cyber bullying and harassment" and also to sensitise them.

The guidelines suggested some "don'ts", including not revealing the exact posting and nature of work if working in a sensitive ministry or organisation.

"Do nothing which on your Internet social networking may harm the reputation of the government or that of your own; do not make adverse comment on government policies or make political/religious statements in any public forum and do not comment on controversial, sensitive or political matters that may come back to haunt you," it said.

The guidelines state that personnel should not write or post anything out of anger, spite or under the influence of alcohol and they should also not be a bully or discriminate against anyone online.

"Do not share anything through a non-authorised platform even if it is unclassified or innocuous like manpower issues, promotions, local orders etc. which may give an opportunity to the adversaries in gathering intelligence," it said.

The guidelines also have some "do's" for the CRPF personnel like being "sure to know the difference between fact and opinion."

"Make sure to clarify (over social media platforms) that you are not representing the position of the government; always remember that you are personally responsible for the content you publish on blogs, wikis, or any other platform or in any form of user-generated content," it said.

The personnel have been asked to "protect the privacy" of their family and friends, as carefully as their own, and they should use "utmost discretion while commenting on sensitive issues, gender issues and controversial issues online".

18:41 Modi inaugurates two metro lines in Mumbai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated two new Mumbai metro lines 2A and 7, a 35-km long elevated corridor stretching from Andheri to Dahisar, constructed at a cost of around Rs 12,600 crore.

The prime minister also launched various development projects in Mumbai

According to the Prime Minister's Office, the metro line 2A connecting Dahisar E and DN Nagar (yellow line) is around 18.6 km long, while metro line 7 connecting Andheri E to Dahisar E (red line) is around 16.5 km long.

The foundation stone for these lines was also laid by the prime minister in 2015. These metro trains are made in India.

Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and others were present at the launch event.

PM Modi also launched the Mumbai 1 mobile app and National Common Mobility Card (Mumbai 1). The app will facilitate ease of travel, can be shown at the entry gates of metro stations and supports digital payment to buy tickets through UPI.

The National Common Mobility Card (Mumbai 1) will initially be used in metro corridors and can be extended to other modes of mass public transit including local trains and buses.

18:18 How Sensex fared on Thursday

The 30-share BSE Sensex on Thursday dropped 187.31 points or 0.31 per cent to settle at 60,858.43.

During the day, it tumbled 329.19 points or 0.53 per cent to 60,716.55.

The broader NSE Nifty dipped 57.50 points or 0.32 per cent to end at 18,107.85.

Asian Paints was the top loser in the Sensex pack, slipping 2.64 per cent after the company reported a 6.4 per cent rise in consolidated net profit at Rs 1,097.06 crore for the December quarter.

IndusInd Bank, Tata Motors, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Titan, Hindustan Unilever, UltraTech Cement, and Nestle India were among the other major laggards, shedding as much as 1.89 per cent.

The gainers included Tata Steel, Power Grid, Tech Mahindra, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank and Larsen & Toubro, which climbed up to 0.73 per cent.

Filmmaker S S Rajamouli's period action blockbuster RRR on Thursday failed to make the cut in the final nominations for the 2023 BAFTA awards.

The movie was in the longlist for the 'film not in English language' category but couldn't find a spot in the segment final five nominees list.

The final nominees of the category were All Quiet on the Western Front, Argentina, 1985, Corsage, Decision To Leave, and The Quiet Girl.

The BAFTA snub comes as a rare miss for the film which earlier this month bagged a Golden Globe for best original song for the Telugu track Naatu Naatu and Critics Choice Awards for best foreign language film and best song.

RRR, a pre-independence fictional story, follows two real-life Indian revolutionaries Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (Jr NTR) in the 1920s.

The 2023 BAFTA award ceremony will take place on February 19 at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall. The organisers on Thursday unveiled the final nominees for 24 categories, including best film, cinematography, casting, documentary, film not in English language and documentary feature film.

Shehbaz Sharif. Photo: Handout/Reuters

17:54 India responds to Pak PM's call for talks

India on Thursday said it always wanted normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan, but there should be an atmosphere free from terror and violence for such ties.

The comments by External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi came when asked at a media briefing about Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's offer last week to hold talks between the two countries to resolve outstanding issues such as Kashmir.

We always wanted normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan but there should be an atmosphere free from terror and violence for it, Bagchi said.

In an interview with UAE-based Al Arabiya news channel last week, Sharif said that Pakistan has learnt its lesson after three wars with India and now wants to live in peace with India, provided 'we are able to resolve our genuine problems'.

"My message to the Indian leadership and Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) is that let's sit down at the table and have serious and sincere talks to resolve our burning issues like Kashmir, where flagrant violations of human rights are taking place day in and day out," Sharif said.

Later, the Pakistan's Prime Minister's Office said negotiations are not possible without India revoking its 2019 actions on Kashmir. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday arrived at Mumbai airport, where he was received by Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule.

In the city PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for various projects and inaugurate two lines of the Mumbai Metro.

Pic: Charles Platiau/Reuters

17:02 SC refuses Google plea over Rs 1337 cr penalty

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain Google's plea against an NCLAT order refusing an interim stay on the Rs 1,337 crore penalty on it.

The SC asked NCLAT to decide the appeal of Google against the competition regulator's order on Rs 1337 cr penalty by March 31, and granted Google seven days to deposit 10 per cent of the Rs 1,337 crore penalty imposed by CCI.

The apex court also asked Google to approach the NCLAT within three working days for a decision on its plea against the Rs 1337 crore penalty.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

16:50 BBC docu on Guj riots a propaganda piece: Govt

Condemning the BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots, the ministry of external affairs said on Thursday, "We think it is a propaganda piece designed to push a particular discredited narrative."

"The bias, lack of objectivity and continuing colonial mindset are blatantly visible: MEA on BBC documentary on 2002 Gujarat riots," the MEA said, adding, "This documentary is a reflection on the agency and individuals that are peddling this narrative again: MEA on BBC documentary on 2002 Gujarat riots."

"It makes us wonder about purpose of this exercise and agenda behind it," the MEA said.

Air India passenger urinating passenger Shankar Mishra banned for four months by Air India.

Mishra allegedly relieved himself on a female passenger in a drunken state on an Air India New York-New Delhi flight on November 26 last year.

Delhi police registered an FIR against him on January 4 on the complaint of the woman.

However, last week, in a surprise U-turn, Mishra told a Delhi court that he did not commit the offensive act and that the alleged victim seems to have urinated on herself. The claim by his lawyer was made for the first time since the sordid event unfolded.

16:13 Class 8 students can't read Class 2 texts

The impact of Covid is palpable, given India recorded a sharp decline in children's basic ability to read and calculate, reveals data from the Annual Status of Education Report (Rural) 2022, or ASER 2022.

The proportion of children in standard VIII having the ability to read standard II level text declined from 76.5 per cent in 2012 to 69.6 per cent in 2022. Among students in government schools, the fall was from 73.4 per cent to 66.2 per cent in the same period.

Government schools, which historically have lower learning levels, witnessed a higher decline in learning ability during this period. The share of children in government and private schools in standard VIII possessing the ability to do division sums dropped from 48.1 per cent to 44.7 per cent between 2012 and 2022.

"Catch-up interventions are urgently needed. Learning losses incurred during the school closure period highlighted the need for remedial programmes in a way that was not as urgently felt before," said Rukmini Banerji, chief executive officer, Pratham Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that conducts the ASER survey.

However, the poor quality of education has not deterred parents from enrolling their children in government schools.

The ASER report said the proportion of children enrolled in government schools rose from 65.6 per cent in 2018 to 72.9 per cent in 2022. It was 64.9 per cent in 2014.

"The ASER 2022 figures show that the increase in out-of-school numbers during 2020-21 was a temporary phenomenon caused by uncertainty and possibly a lag in recording enrolments. The proportion of not currently enrolled six- to 14-year-olds is down to 1.6 per cent' the lowest we have seen in the decade since the Right to Education Act came into effect," said Wilima Wadhwa, director, ASER Centre.

The 2022 survey has covered around 700,000 children from 616 districts.

Even though government enrolments have increased, expenditure on education may not have declined as the incidence of taking private tuition is up.

In 2022, the proportion of children taking paid tuition classes from classes I-VIII increased to 30.5 per cent, from 26.4 per cent in 2018.

At the national level, school facilities have improved. However, a few states are still stragglers.

Of the 28 states analysed by ASER, nine states, including Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, and Maharashtra, reported a decline in the availability of drinking water in schools since 2010.Twelve states, including Haryana, Kerala, and Maharashtra, reported a decline in the availability of girls' toilets in schools since 2018.

-- Anoushka Sawhney & Raghav Aggarwal/Business Standard

Praveen Dahiya who coached 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ravi Dahiya, said that the sexual harassment allegations made by wrestler Vinesh Phogat are serious as no one says such things without reason.

Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshee Malikkh, Bajrang Punia and other wrestlers sit on a silent protest at Jantar Mantar for the second day against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and its chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh against whom sexual harassment allegations were made.

Notably, Vinesh Phogat on Wednesday alleged that coaches who are favourites of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) misbehave with women and harass them. She also accused the wrestling federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually harassing girls and calling her a 'khota sikka' after her defeat at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

"Sexual harassment allegations made by Vinesh (Phogat) are serious as no one says such things without a reason. Wrestlers want the truth to come out after a fair probe," Praveen Dahiya told ANI.

"All those wrestlers sitting are honoured with Arjuna Award and many models in all the competitions. Many times these players have made India proud in the whole world. I feel that if such big players are making such big allegations there must be some truth in it. This matter should be investigated and the truth should come in front of everyone and if anyone is guilty then he should be punished," said Dahiya.

"Yesterday, all the players have spoken openly...the players who live in the camp have more interaction with the Federation, they have shared their experiences there," he added.

On the sidelines of a sit-in protest against the WFI near Delhi's Jantar Mantar, Phogat had said, "Coaches are harassing women and some coaches, who are favourites of the Federation, misbehave with women coaches as well. They sexually harass girls. The WFI president has sexually harassed many girls."

"After my defeat in the Tokyo Olympics, the WFI president called me a 'khota sikka'. The Federation mentally tortured me. I would entertain thoughts of ending my life every day. If anything happens to any wrestler, the WFI president will be to blame," she added. -- ANI

Cold wave conditions abated in some parts of north India Thursday and another bout of intense cold is unlikely during the next five days, the India Meteorological Department said Thursday.

According to the weather department, cold wave conditions prevailed in pockets of south Haryana, east Rajasthan, north Madhya Pradesh and Bihar on Thursday.

Minimum temperatures settled in the range of 2 to 5 degrees Celsius in some parts of north Madhya Pradesh and isolated parts of Haryana and east Uttar Pradesh, it said.

"No cold wave conditions over north India during the next five days," the IMD said in a statement.

"Another active western disturbance... is very likely to affect the western Himalayan region from the night of January 20 till January 26 and the plains of northwest India from January 23 to January 25," the IMD said.

Under its influence, light to moderate rain and snowfall is likely over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on January 20 to 22.

The intensity and distribution are likely to increase between January 23 and January 26. Light to moderate rainfall and thundershower is likely over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, north Rajasthan and West Uttar Pradesh from January 23 to January 25 and 26.

When a western disturbance -- a weather system characterised by warm moist winds from the Middle East -- approaches a region, the wind direction changes. The chilly northwesterly winds from the mountains stop blowing, leading to an increase in temperatures. PTI

The central government is in the process of digitising immigration procedures using biometric technology at airports in India to ensure ease of travel for international passengers, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Wednesday.

The major airports in the country, such as those in Delhi and Bengaluru, were congested on several days during the last month, amid the peak travel season.

Currently, the immigration clearance procedure for international passengers is done manually at airports by officers of Bureau of Immigration, which works under the Union home ministry.

Airports across the world have started using biometrics to create automated lanes for immigration clearance at airports.

For example, at Singapore's Changi airport, the country's citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders use automated lanes to get their iris and facial biometrics cleared at the immigration checkpoint while entering or leaving the country.

Foreign visitors can use this facility only at the time of departure from Singapore. This facility is expected to be expanded to all passengers travelling through the Changi airport sometime this year.

Scindia, while speaking during an event organised by industry body Assocham, said: "One of the things that we are looking at doing, and this is in conjunction with the Union home ministry, is biometrics, and digitising immigration processes, and that process is on as we speak.

"Certainly, a data bank or a repository has to be created based on which the throughput capability of our international airports also becomes much more seamless. On the immigration side, that is something we are working on," he added.

Scindia urged GMR Group-owned Delhi International Airport Limited, which operates the Delhi airport, and the Fairfax-owned Bangalore International Airport Limited, which operates the Bengaluru airport, to improve the adoption rate of DigiYatra in their terminals to ensure ease of travel for passengers.

-- Deepak Patel/Business Standard

An accused should not be incarcerated for an indefinite period unless he is proven to be guilty of an offence, the Supreme Court said Thursday while hearing the bail plea of Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra's son, who is one of the accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.

The top court said the worst victims in the case are those farmers languishing in jail and if Ashish Mishra is not granted anything, then they are also likely to remain in jail.

Reserving its order on the bail plea, a bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice J K Maheshwari said it is a case of balancing the rights of the parties.

On October 3, 2021, eight people were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri district's Tikunia in a violence that erupted when farmers were protesting then Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's visit to the area. According to Uttar Pradesh Police FIR, four farmers were mowed down by an SUV, in which Ashish Mishra was seated.

Following the incident, a driver and two BJP workers were allegedly lynched by angry farmers. A journalist also died in the violence. "The state has a right to ensure there is a fair trial uninfluenced by extraneous circumstances. The state has a right because society has a lot of stakes involved. The accused has a right that unless he is proven to be guilty of the offence, he should not be incarcerated for an indefinite period.

"To us, this is not one petitioner before us. My principle has been for the last 19 years that I never see the victim who is before me, I also see the victims who cannot come to court and they are the worst victims. You want us to open our mouths. The worst victims are those farmers who are also languishing in jail. Who is going to look after them? If this man is not granted anything, then nobody is going to grant them. They will remain in jail for times to come. The trial court has already rejected their bail," Justice Kant observed orally.

Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for those opposing the bail plea, said he was surprised and disappointed at this comparison by the court. The top court said this is a case which requires further monitoring by this court and it was inclined to do that.

"We will keep this case pending till the witnesses are examined. We cannot build pressure on the trial court and it will be unfair to order day-to-day trial also," the bench said.

The apex court heard submissions from Additional Advocate General for Uttar Pradesh Garima Prashad, and senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Dushyant Dave.

"We will pass orders," the bench said.

Opposing the bail plea, Prashad told the top court that the crime was grave. "It is a grave and heinous crime and (granting bail) will send a wrong signal to society," she said. Dave said granting bail will send a terrible message to society. -- PTI

Swati Maliwal (L) speaks to protesting wrestlers

14:34 DCW chief dragged in car by drunk driver

Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal was dragged by a car for 10-15 meters early this morning, says police. Delhi police said that around 3.11 am, opposite the AIIMS gate 2, Maliwal's hand got stuck in the car's window as the driver, Harish Chandra, suddenly pulled up the window, while she was talking to him.

According to the police, Maliwal was reprimanding the driver after he asked her to sit in the car.

"Accused, Harish Chandra, 47, was in an inebriated state and has been arrested and an FIR has been filed. Medical examination of the accused and the victim was done. The incident happened when Swati Maliwal was standing on the footpath with her team," the Delhi police said.

Muscled men wearing bow-ties and G-strings to entertain women in smoky clubs is not a legacy one usually associates with an Indian-American immigrant.

But Mumbai-born Steve Banerjee turned the conventional American Dream for a South Asian on its head when he founded the male strip club Chippendales in Los Angeles in 1979.

The rest is history: Banerjee made a fortune from what turned out to be a hugely successful franchise. Add sex, drugs and murder to the mix and Banerjee's story becomes the stuff of sensational legend.

In India, Banerjee -- and his work -- is hardly known. In the US, the Chippendales brand appears to have eclipsed the reputation of its controversial founder. That is now changing.

14:05 Sudarshan Pattnaik and the UN on plastics

The United Nations tweets a message on disastrous use of plastics with an image by Indian sand artiste Sudarshan Pattnaik. "Half of all plastic produced is designed for single-use purposes, which results in severe environmental, social & health consequences," the UN tweeted with this Pattnaik's work (alongside).

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat speaks to the media

13:57 Wrestlers' protest: BJP's Babita Phogat mediates

Champion wrestler and BJP leader Babita Phogat on Thursday arrived at the protest site at Jantar Mantar in Delhi where wrestlers continued their sit-in protest for the second day demanding action against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and other officials against alleged sexual exploitation of several athletes.

"I have assured them that the government is with them. I will try that their issues are resolved today," Babita Phogat said after addressing the gathering.

Babita who is a deputy director in the Haryana Sports and Youth Affairs Department and a former wrestler had earlier tweeted, "I stand with all my fellow players in this matter of wrestling. I assure all of you that I will work to raise this issue with the government at every level, and the future will be decided the way players feel right."

Olympian and 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medalist Bajrang Punia said, "Babita Phogat has come from the government's side for mediation. We will speak with her and then give more details."

He said that the wrestlers are fighting for their honour and right and added if they can fight for the country then they can also fight for their rights. Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshee Malikkh, Punia among others have been sitting on a silent protest at Jantar Mantar for the second day today.

"If we can fight for our country, then we can also fight for our rights. First of all, I thank all the players who have come. And the statement that was given yesterday that only three per cent players are sitting here, but according to me all the players are here. You can imagine how strong the players are. And we raised our voice for our rights and are not going to bow down when we do not win," Punia said.

Brinda Karat. File pic

13:50 No politics please, Brinda Karat told

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat asked to step down from the stage during wrestlers' protest against WFI at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

The Supreme Court Thursday reserved its order on the bail plea of Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra's son, who is one of the accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.

A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice J K Maheshwari heard submissions from Additional Advocate General for Uttar Pradesh Garima Prashad, and senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Dushyant Dave.

"We will pass orders," the bench said.

Opposing the bail plea, Prashad told the top court that the crime was grave. "It is a grave and heinous crime and (granting bail) will send a wrong signal to society," she said.

Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for those opposing the bail plea, said grant of bail will send a terrible message to society. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Mishra, strongly opposed Dave's submission and submitted that his client has been in custody for more than a year and the way the trial is going, it will take seven to eight years to complete it.

He said that Jagjeet Singh, who is the complainant in the case, is not an eyewitness and his complaint is just based on hearsay.

Following the incident, a driver and two BJP workers were allegedly lynched by angry farmers. A journalist also died in the violence. -- PTI

12:23 Police should act against my son: Bandi Sanjay

A day after Bandi Sanjay defended his son in the case of assaulting a fellow student, the Telangana BJP chief on Thursday claimed that Bandi Bhagirath Sai has surrendered before the police, adding that action should be taken against him "if he has done anything wrong".

A case was registered against Sanjay's son Bandi Bhagirath Sai based on a complaint filed by the Mahindra University, where both study - after the videos of the alleged assault went viral.

"My son has surrendered before the police. If my son has done anything wrong, police should take action against him," Sanjay said.

Sanjay on Wednesday said that the issue between both of them had been resolved and both are "good friends" now.

Earlier, alleging that the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi government "leaked" the video at the behest of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, in a bid to settle political scores, Bandi Sanjay said, "The IT cell of BRS Party has leaked it on social media purely for political gains and with a sole intention to tarnish my image.

"The cowardly chief minister of Telangana Mr KCR and his prodigal son is unable to face me politically and resort to cheap politics. KCR is stooping too low and he is dragging my son with the intention of spoiling his career."

He further claimed that the incident took place two months ago.

12:10 Lakhimpur: UP govt opposes Mishra's bail plea

The Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday opposed in the Supreme Court the bail plea of Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra's son, who is one of the accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.

Additional Advocate General for Uttar Pradesh Garima Prashad told a bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice J K Maheshwari that the crime is grave.

"It is a grave and heinous crime and will send a wrong signal to society," she said.

Hearing in the matter is underway. On October 3, 2021, eight people were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri district's Tikunia in a violence that erupted when farmers were protesting then Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's visit to the area.

According to Uttar Pradesh Police FIR, four farmers were mowed down by an SUV, in which Ashish Mishra was seated. Following the incident, a driver and two BJP workers were allegedly lynched by angry farmers. A journalist also died in the violence. PTI

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has said that Congress should see the recent track records of the leaders joining the Bharat Jodo Yatra as some "might use" it to "whitewash themselves".

Abdullah was responding to a question about whether Congress should allow leaders like former minister Chaudhary Lal Singh, who allegedly tried to "save the rapists" in the Kathua rape case, to join the Yatra which is scheduled to enter Jammu and Kashmir on January 19.

"Congress will have to see that some people might use the yatra to whitewash themselves (their past). We should not forget the role of those leaders who tried to save the rapist and played with the sentiments of the people. It is not hidden. These leaders will use the yatra to present themselves as secular. This is wrong. Congress leaders should see who is joining the yatra and what the recent track records have been of those leaders," Abdullah said.

Earlier on Wednesday, People Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti reacted on the issue and said that the "motive" behind the yatra is more important than who is joining it.

Mufti's reaction came after Congress "allowed" former BJP leader and minister Choudhary Lal Singh to join Bharat Jodo Yatra.

"Rahul Gandhi is out on the streets, thousands of people are joining him and trying to stitch back the fabric of the country. It doesn't matter to me who is joining him, what matters is the motive," Mufti told ANI.

11:08 Rahul not Pappu, he's smart: Raghuram Rajan

"Rahul Gandhi is not a 'pappu'," former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, who recently participated in Bharat Jodo Yatra, told a TV channel on Wednesday.

"Pappu" is perceived as a social media slur coined to target Rahul Gandhi.

In an interview given to India Today, Rajan said: "The image is unfortunate. I have spent many years, say close to a decade, interacting with him on various fronts. He is no way a pappu. That would be the last word I would use to describe him."

On being asked how he would describe Gandhi, Rajan said: "He is smart, young, and a curious man."

"I think the image is unfortunate. I have spent close to a decade interacting with them on many fronts. He (Rahul Gandhi]) is in no way a pappu He is a smart, young, curious man," Rajan, who had joined the Wayanad MP during the Congress's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' in Rajasthan in December, told India Today on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has ordered a probe into how a Singapore-bound flight took off hours ahead of schedule, leaving behind 35 passengers at the Amritsar airport.

The probe was initiated by the aviation regulatory authority after a Scoot Airline flight which was originally scheduled to depart at 7.55 pm on Wednesday from the Amritsar Airport took off at 3 pm, hours ahead of its departure time. This triggered chaos at the airport with angry passengers who were left behind staging a protest.

They registered their complaint with authorities concerned at the airport. After Airport authorities contacted the airline officials they were informed that the passengers were informed about the change in flight time via e-mail.

"Around 280 passengers were to travel to Singapore but 253 passengers were rescheduled, leaving behind over 30 passengers behind," Amritsar airport Director told ANI.

The DGCA has sought details from both Scoot Airlines which is a Singaporean low-cost airline and a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines and the Amritsar Airport authority.

According to the airline, all the passengers were informed about the change in timing via email

An airport official told ANI that the travel agent, who booked the tickets for 30 people in a group, had not informed the passengers about the change in flight timings due to which the airline flew with the passengers who had reported on time. -- ANI

What the WFI chief and BJP MP Brijbhushan Saran Singh, said

"The age for delivering the best performance in wrestling is between 22 and 28 years. These wrestlers who are protesting can't win an Olympic medal. This is turning into anger and that is why they are protesting," Singh said.

He added that a few days ago, the wrestling body in Haryana was changed and an elected body came up. "Some people formed a local federation under sports minister and wrestler Babita Phogat and they wanted their selected candidates to be chosen for national tournaments, but the sports ministry rejected it," the WFI chief.

The protesting wrestlers say they will continue their protest against the sitting BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan.

Olympic champion Bajrang Punia told the media at Delhis Jantar Mantar. We dont have orders from the high court to protest all night otherwise we wouldve, Punia said.

"97 per cent of players are with the WFI. I am hurt by the sexual harassment allegations. Not a single player can bring such charges against me or the chief coach. Some wrestlers were pressured to sit on a dharna," Singh said yesterday.

10:12 Nadda, Shah to hold 12 rallies in Bengal

BJP president J P Nadda, who is on a two-day visit to West Bengal, will hold organisational and public meetings in Nadia district on Thursday, a party leader said.

Nadda arrived in Kolkata on Wednesday night.

"On Thursday, he will first visit the ISKCON temple at Mayapur and offer puja. He will then address a public meeting at Bethuadahari, after which he will hold an organisational meeting with leaders of Nadia north organisational district and assess the party's performance in the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha seat," BJP state general secretary Jagannath Chattopadhyay said.

The BJP lost the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha seat to the Trinamool Congress in the 2019 elections.

Nadda's visit is a part of the central leadership's 'Pravas' campaign to strengthen its organisation in 144 Lok Sabha constituencies across the country that the party had lost by a slender margin in the 2019 elections.

Over the next few months, Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are scheduled to address 12 rallies each, covering 24 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

The BJP had won 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state in the 2019 polls. Earlier this week, Nadda's term was extended till June next year at the party's national executive meeting.

The Trinamool Congress, however, refused to attach much importance to Nadda's visit. "We have seen how the BJP's central leaders had camped in West Bengal before the 2021 assembly polls. But, the party had to face defeat," TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said. PTI

A data entry operator working at the Ministry of Finance was arrested by the Delhi Police yesterday on charges of spying, our Delhi correspondent reports.

Police identified the man by his first name, Sumit (30), who was a contractual employee in the ministry.

Sumit was told to access details about the draft Union Budget and send it to his handlers in Pakistan and other countries via WhatsApp.

Sumit was arrested after a tip-off by the Intelligence Bureau, which was monitoring his activities. The crime branch has filed a case under sections 3/9 of the Official Secrets Act.

A police officer, who asked not to be named, said Sumit recently started sharing official secrets and documents with his handlers.

We are checking the timeline of his activity. He received money for each file that he sent to his handlers via WhatsApp. We are checking his bank accounts and finding out if more people are involved in this crime, the officer said.

Investigations so far have revealed that Sumit was first approached by his handlers on social media websites.

Police are likely to question other employees in the office where Sumit worked.

09:57 Tata makes Nexon cheaper after M&M launch

As major automotive manufacturers line up electric cars for the Indian market, segment leader Tata Motors has decided to significantly slash the prices of its popular Nexon EV by Rs 31,000-Rs 85,000 amid intensifying competition.

This move by Tata Motors comes a day after Mahindra & Mahindra launched its much-awaited compact electric sport utility vehicle -- the XUV400 -- at a competitive price point. At Rs 18.99 lakh, the Nexon's top variant is equivalent to M&M's XUV400's top trim.

Tata Motors has also reduced the price of its low-end variant by Rs 50,000 to Rs 14.49 lakh (ex-showroom), making it cheaper by Rs 1.5 lakh than the XUV400's low-end variant.

Tata Motors says the move was taken after the company received benefits from additional locations, government initiatives, and production efficiency in the past few months.

"Our strategy has been to make our products more attractive to customers and build a range from the Tiago right up to the Nexon in a cohesive manner. Our smart engineering and government incentives have allowed us to achieve this disruption. We are just passing it on to customers," Vivek Srivatsa, head-marketing, sales and service strategy, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, told Business Standard.

Tata Motors has three electric cars in the Indian market, against one each from MG Motor India and M&M. MG Motor's ZS EV starts at a price range of Rs 22.98 lakh and goes up to Rs 27 lakh. M&M's e-Verito starts from Rs 9.13 lakh and goes up to Rs 9.46 lakh. In December, Tata Motors became the only manufacturer to sell 50,000 electric vehicles in the Indian market.

According to VAHAN data, Tata Motors has over 80 per cent market share in the Indian EV segment. It is followed by MG Motor, which has about 10 per cent in the segment. According to industry analysts, Tata Motors' move is aimed at keeping prices competitive.

"Since Tata Motors is the largest EV player in the Indian market, it wants to be price-competitive in every segment. With this move, it has shown it does not want to cede ground to other players," said Puneet Gupta, director, S&P Global Mobility.

At present, Tata Motors has three EVs in its portfolio -- the Tiago, the Tigor, and the Nexon -- catering to customers wanting a car priced between Rs 8.49 lakh and Rs 18.99 lakh.

Its entry-level Tiago EV arrives at an introductory price of Rs 8.49 lakh and goes up to Rs 11.79 lakh. The Tigor EV starts from Rs 12.49 lakh and goes up to Rs 13.75 lakh. "The price reduction came not just because of competition from the XUV400, but other automakers eyeing to launch products in the same price range.

But Tata Motors will benefit from its leadership position in the EV space, along with upcoming launches,' said Mansi Lall, research analyst, Prabhudas Lilladher. Tata Motors has also unveiled the electric version of the Harrier, the Sierra, and the Avinya, which will compete with cars from MG, Kia, and BYD.

-- Nitin Kumar/Business Standard reports

09:53 Siberia records -62.7C, lowest in 20 years!

Siberia records temperature of -62.7C the lowest in 20 years. The Siberian city known as the coldest region on earth is witnessing severe cold this winter. In the city of Yakutsk, the temperature had plummeted to minus 50 degrees Celsius earlier this week.

Residents in the mining town of Yakutsk, which is located around 5,000 kilometers east of Moscow in the Russian Far East, are suffering from extreme cold this winter. The temperatures in this city in Siberia regularly plummet to below minus 40 degrees centigrade during the winter months.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh Thursday hailed New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who has announced that she is stepping down as her country's leader, and said that "Indian politics needs more like her".

Ardern told reporters in Napier that February 7 will be her last day in office. She will hold her seat as a lawmaker until the general election, which she said would be held on October 14.

"Legendary cricket commentator, Vijay Merchant once said about retiring at the peak of his career: Go when people ask why is he going instead of why isn't he going. Kiwi PM, Jacinda Ardern has just said she is quitting following Merchant's maxim," Congress general secretary Ramesh said on Twitter.

"Indian politics needs more like her," he added. Ardern's empathetic handling of the nation's worst mass-shooting and health-driven response to the coronavirus pandemic led her to become an international icon but she has faced mounting criticism at home. PTI

The Delhi Commission for Women has issued notices to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the city police after wrestler Vinesh Phogat accused BJP MP and Wresting Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually exploiting women wrestlers.

DCW chief Swati Maliwal also met the protesting wrestlers at the Jantar Mantar.

The DCW said it has taken suo moto cognisance of media reports about allegations of sexual harassment made against the president of Wrestling Federation of India and some wrestling coaches, the panel said.

Image: Wrestler Vinesh Phogat gets emotional while speaking to the media accusing the WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment. To her left is wrestler Bajrang Punia and on the right is DCW chief Swati Mahiwal

At least nine people were killed and a child was injured when a speeding truck collided with their van on Mumbai-Goa highway in Maharashtra's Raigad district on Thursday morning, police said.

The accident took place at 4.45 am at Repoli village in Raigad, located more than 130 km from Mumbai. The victims, all relatives, were going in the van to Guhagar in Ratnagiri district, Superintendent of Police Somnath Gharge said. The truck was going towards Mumbai, he said.

"Nine people were killed. The deceased included a girl child, three women and five men," the official said. After being alerted, police rushed to the spot and started the rescue operation," he said.

A four-year-old girl injured in the accident was taken to a hospital in Mangaon, the official said. The bodies were sent to a government hospital for post-mortem, he said. The cause of the accident was yet to be ascertained, the police said. PTI

08:13 New Zealand PM Ardern to step down in February

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Thursday announced that she will step down from the top job no later than February 7.

"Jacinda Ardern says she will not be seeking re-election this year and her last day as prime minister is 7 February. The 2023 general election will take place on 14 October," tweeted RNZ, New Zealand's public broadcaster.

The shocking decision from Ardern comes after five and a half years of tenure leading New Zealand through the coronavirus pandemic.

Ardern said she knew what the prime minister's job took and believed she "no longer had enough in the tank to do it justice" but there were colleagues who could.

She said her government had achieved a lot and she was not standing down because she did not believe Labour could win the next election, but because she thought it could.

Speaking to the media, Ardern said there was no special "angle" or "real reason" why she wanted to resign, only that she was "human".

"To Neve, mum is looking forward to being there when you start school next year. To Clarke, let's finally get married."

"This has been the most fulfilling five and a half years of my life," Ardern said in a televised press conference.

"I am leaving because with such a privileged job comes a big responsibility. The responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead - and also when you're not," she said.

Ardern's Labour Party will begin looking for a successor with a caucus vote on Saturday.

At only 37 years old at the time of her election to power in 2017, Ardern is one of the world's youngest female state leaders. She is also one of the few to give birth while in office.

Representational image

00:43 Cong rally attacked in Tripura, 15 injured

Hours after the announcement of the Tripura assembly poll schedule, the Congress on Wednesday claimed that 15 party workers and functionaries, including AICC general secretary Ajay Kumar, were injured after a group of "BJP-backed goons" allegedly attacked them at a bike rally at four locations in Majlishpur constituency.

The police, however, said the Congress rally was attacked by some unknown people in West Tripura district, and "10 party workers were injured".

The elections to the 60-member Tripura assembly will be held on February 16 and the counting of votes will take place on March 2.

The Congress claimed that "15 leaders and workers were injured after BJP goons attacked them at a bike rally, and they were admitted to GB Pant Hospital in Agartala".

"A Congress bike rally came under attack by a group of unknown people at four places under the Ranir Bazar police station limits. Ten workers were injured and of them, two were admitted to GB Pant Hospital," assistant inspector general (law & order) Jyotishman Das Chowdhury said.

The situation is "under control" with para-military forces maintaining strict vigil in the trouble-torn areas, he said, adding that "no FIR has been lodged with the police yet".

"The BJP-backed goons attacked our rally at four locations in presence of CRPF jawans. The police did not act against the culprits," Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman said at a press conference in Agartala. -- PTI

The Republic Day celebrations this year will take place on the revamped Central Vista avenue, and the government has put 32,000 tickets on sale online for the masses, defence ministry officials said on Wednesday.

For the first time, all official invites for the ceremonial event will be sent online, they said. This will be the first Republic Day celebrations hosted at the ceremonial boulevard after Rajpath was renamed to 'Kartavya Path' last year.

A presentation on the celebrations to be held from January 23-31 as part of the Republic Day celebrations was made on Wednesday after a press briefing by defence secretary Giridhar Aramane at the South Block in New Delhi.

The Republic Day celebrations will be held in a spirit of greater 'janbhagdari' (public participation) and workers of Central Vista project and their family members, maintenance workers of Kartavya Path, vegetable vendors, milk booth workers, grocery shopkeepers and rickshaw-pullers will be "special invitees", the officials shared during the presentation.

"Before COVID-19, over a lakh people used to attend the Republic Day celebrations, which was drastically cut in the immediate years following the outbreak of the pandemic in India (in early 2020). This year about 42,000 people are expected to attend it and 32,000 tickets for seats at the event have been put online, and the response from people have been good," the senior official said. -- PTI

BJP MP and WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

00:35 DCW notice to sports min after Phogat's allegations

The Delhi Commission for Women has issued notices to the ministry of youth affairs and sports and the city police after wrestler Vinesh Phogat accused BJP MP and Wresting Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually exploiting women wrestlers.

DCW chief Swati Maliwal also met the protesting wrestlers at the Jantar Mantar.

The panel has also asked police to register an FIR in the matter.

"As per the reports, renowned women Olympian wrestlers of India have accused the WFI president and some coaches of sexually harassing women wrestlers. This is a very a serious matter," the panel said.

It has sought a copy of complaints made by women wrestlers against coaches and WFI president alongwith details of action taken thereon by January 21. -- PTI

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