They also demanded an apology from the state government for demolishing the house of the parents of the accused, Pravesh Shukla, compensation for rebuilding it, and revocation of NSA. 

Local authorities had said an illegal portion of the house of Shukla's father was razed last week. 

The accused in the peeing incident was arrested on Wednesday based on a viral video clip. 

The Akhil Bhartiya Brahmin Samaj also threatened to launch protests across the country, especially in Madhya Pradesh, if their demands are not met. 

ABBS members staged a protest in front of the Sidhi district collectorate and handed over a memorandum to the district magistrate seeking a judicial probe into the urinating incident. 

"CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan should apologise to the parents of the accused for demolishing their house. The state government should give Rs 10 lakh to parents of the accused Pravesh Shukla to rebuild their house,' ABBS' Sidhi unit president Rakesh Dubey said on Monday. 

He demanded the revocation of the National Security Act invoked against Shukla. -- PTI

A bench of justices Vijay Bishnoi and Yogendra Kumar Purohit set aside the decision of the parole committee to reject Asaram's application and directed it to decide it afresh within six weeks. 

Asaram, 81, is currently in a jail in Jodhpur in a case of raping a minor girl at his ashram in Rajasthan in 2013. 

Asaram's application seeking parole for 20 days had earlier been rejected by the District Parole Advisory Committee stating he was not entitled for parole under the Rajasthan Prisoners Release on Parole Rules, 2021. 

Challenging this rejection, Asaram had later moved the high court. 

His counsel Kalu Ram Bhati argued that the petitioner was convicted and sentenced by the trial court on April 25, 2018 whereas the Rules of 2021 had come into force on June 30, 2021. -- PTI

Anurag Bhabhra, the assistant private secretary to the minister, said the fraudsters have been using Thakur's display picture on WhatsApp and introducing themselves as the minister of state for ports, shipping and waterways. 

"The office-bearers and workers of the ministry have informed us that for the past few months, they have been receiving fraud WhatsApp calls and messages from unknown numbers. The callers present themselves as the minster. These are ISD numbers and it looks like they are calling from abroad," Bhabhra said in his complaint to the deputy commissioner of police, New Delhi. 

Bhabhra has requested the Delhi police to take quick action in the matter so that such fraudulent activities can be stopped as it is also denting the minister's image. 

A police officer who is aware of the developments said, "We have received a complaint that has been converted into an FIR. Bhabhra has attached a copy of a WhatsApp message sent by a cyber criminal to an officer posted at the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata. The minister's photo is on the DP and it is an international number with +60 as the country code. We are investigating the case." -- PTI

Satish Suryavansham, a resident of Gwalior, complained of chest pain at Yatri Niwas Chanderkote and was attended by the doctors present there, the officials said. 

After first aid, the pilgrim was referred to district hospital Ramban for specialised treatment but was declared brought dead, they said, adding he is believed to have suffered a massive heart attack resulting in his death. 

More than 6,000 pilgrims are left stranded at Chanderkote Yatri Niwas since Friday due to inclement weather and closure of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway due to multiple landslides and washing away of road near Panthiyal tunnel and Seeri. 

Suryavansham was the third Amarnath pilgrim who died in Jammu region since the commencement of the yatra in south Kashmir Himalayas on July 1. 

Nine deaths, mostly of pilgrims, were also reported from Kashmir during the ongoing yatra which is likely to record one lakh footfall at the 3,880 metre holy cave by Monday evening. -- PTI

The SP worker Ajay Fauji -- who had portrayed himself as the shop owner -- is absconding, Ashwani Pandey, the SHO of Varanasi's Lanka police station, said on Monday. 

Jagnarayan Yadav and his son Vikas Yadav were arrested on Sunday for defamation, the police said. 

On video, the SP worker had claimed that he deployed two bouncers to deal with customers haggling over the price of tomatoes. 

The SP has been attacking the BJP government over the rising prices of the commodity. 

Fauzi had cut a tomato-shaped cake and distributed tomatoes to mark party president Akhilesh Yadav's birthday recently. 

The police said a case has been registered under sections 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot), 291 (continuance of nuisance after injunction to discontinue) and 505 (statements conducive to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code. 

On Sunday, Akhilesh Yadav tweeted about the detention of one of the vegetable sellers  who he said was merely drawing the attention of the government to an issue of public interest. 

In another tweet in Hindi on Monday, the SP chief said there was no space for satire and sarcasm in the country.

The order issued by the education department of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, however, mentioned that these schools shall be closed only for students. 

Department heads and teachers shall come to schools, and all offices will also be functional, it said. 

"In view of the heavy rainfall in Delhi and alert issued by the India meteorological department on adverse weather conditions, it has been decided that all MCD schools, MCD-aided and recognised schools will be closed on July 11," the order stated. -- PTI

The announcement comes amid the widespread havoc caused by incessant rains in the state. 

Earlier, the Kullu district administration had postponed the pilgrimage till July 11. 

Amar Moeda (33) from Madhya Pradesh trekking to Shrikhand Mahadev, considered to be the abode of Lord Shiva, died en route on July 7 -- the day the yatra was formally flagged off. 

Unofficially, people begin the yatra in June and the victims apparently include those during that month as well. 

The cause of these deaths was not immediately known. 

The Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra has been directed to halt for the rest of the season due to six deaths reported during the pilgrimage, the official statement said. 

According to officials, people have been known to suffer from hypoxemia (lack of oxygen) ahead of Parvati Bagh due to the high altitude. 

The 35-kilometre trek starts from Jahu in Nirmand. It is considered to be among the toughest pilgrimages in India. -- PTI

Moreover, Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj stated that the government is on alert mode and that is fully prepared to control the situation after the administration issued a flood alert following the release of a significant amount of water, totaling over one lakh cusecs, into the Yamuna River from the Hathnikund barrage by Haryana. 

Additionally, at 1 pm on Monday, 1,90,837 cusecs of water was released from the same barrage.   

Roads in several parts of the capital were submerged in knee-deep water as it was inundated with 153 millimetre of rain, the highest precipitation in a single day in July in 40 years.      

IMD further stated that Delhi witnessed 16 cm of rainfall over the national capital after 41 years.      

IMD Senior Scientist Dr Soma Sen Roy said, "There is a yellow alert for Delhi today and if necessary we will upgrade the alert level as well as the rainfall warning based on the main region of interaction. 

On warning, Roy said, "For Delhi, we are issuing alerts at subdivision level or state level. From our meteorological centres, district-level warnings are being issued for the districts which are likely to be affected by flash floods, landslides, heavy rain and thunderstorm."      

Speaking about if it's common to witness such heavy rainfall that Delhi has been experiencing during monsoon, Roy said, "Such rainfall may not have happened in Delhi, but it has happened in the past. It is not a very uncommon feature of monsoon whether easterly system or westerly system interact. Only this time it has happened after 41 years over Delhi. So, we are seeing this kind of intense spell over Delhi. If you remember, in 2013, the Uttarakhand episode, there was a low pressure system which moved from the Bay of Bengal and there was much deeper moisture coming in and that also interacted with westerly trough." -- ANI     

Singh is currently on a three-day visit to Malaysia where he held wide-ranging talks with his Malaysian counterpart Mohamad Hasan, focusing on expanding overall defence and strategic partnership in line with trust and shared values of democracy and the rule of law. 

"Honoured to unveil the bust of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in the presence of distinguished INA (Indian National Army) veterans in Kuala Lumpur today (Monday). Netaji and the INA have an important legacy in Malaysia. An icon of bravery, leadership, and patriotism, Netaji continues to inspire generations in India and Malaysia," Singh tweeted along with pictures. 

Singh also felicitated 99-year-old Second Lieutenant Sundaram, an INA veteran who fought alongside Bose at the Burma border. 

"Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh felicitating Second Lieutenant Sundaram, an INA veteran who fought alongside Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at the Burma border at an event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He is 99 years old," the official account of the defence minister tweeted. -- PTI 

In a video message shared by the state police on Twitter, Rao lauded the Uttar Pradesh police's cybercrime awareness campaign and appealed to people to be vigilant against online shopping frauds.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently announced plans to open cyber crime police stations in every district in the state.

In future, the state police will also invite other actors and sportspersons to join the cybercrime awareness campaign, a senior official said.

The Uttar Pradesh Police will make the public aware of cybercrime and its helpline in regional languages also.

"Think before you click. Don't let curiosity dent your cybersecurity wIth every keystroke, remain vigilant, guarding the dark forces that lurk on the cyber-highway. Your digital safety is worth the extra moment of caution," the Uttar Pradesh police said on its official Twitter handle with hashtags #MissionGraHAQ and #ConHaiVo. -- PTI

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday launched payment of cash in lieu of the additional 5 kilograms of rice to beneficiaries under the government's 'Anna Bhagya' scheme.

With the launch of the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) programme, the Congress government in the state is fulfilling one more of its five poll 'guarantees' (promises) announced in the run-up to the elections held in May.

Facing difficulty in procuring large quantities of rice required to implement the poll guarantee, the state government decided to pay cash to beneficiaries at the rate of Rs 34 per kg, for the additional 5 kg of rice under the free rice scheme, which is applicable to every member of a BPL household and 'Antyodaya' households.

According to the state government, Karnataka has 1.28 crore ration cards of 'Antyodaya Anna Yojana and Priority Households'.

As much as 99 per cent of these cards are seeded with an Aadhaar number, it said, adding that 82 per cent (1.06 crore) of these cards are linked with active bank accounts, and the cash transfer will start for these beneficiaries.

The remaining ration card holders will be intimated to open new accounts, it added.

As many as 1.27 crore ration cards have one member designated as head of households (HoH). Cash will be transferred to the bank accounts of these HoHs.

It said 94 per cent of HoH are women and 5 per cent are men. The government has already implemented the first poll guarantee, 'Shakti' by providing free services for women in public transport buses last month.

While the 'Gruha Jyothi' scheme to provide 200 units of free electricity to households has already come into effect from the beginning of this month, the electricity bill for the same for power consumption this month will come in the beginning of August.

The remaining two guarantees that the government is taking steps to implement soon are -- Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi); and Rs 3,000 every month for unemployed graduate youth and Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders (Yuva Nidhi).  -- PTI

She appeared at the court of senior division judge D N Shukla and has pleaded not guilty in the case.

The case dates back to 2018 when Jharkhand-based film producer Ajay Kumar Singh registered a case of fraud and cheque bounce against Ameesha.

According to the petitioner, Singh had transferred Rs 2.5 crore to the actor's bank account for the production of a film titled Desi Magic.

Patel, however, did not proceed with the film and later sent a cheque of Rs 2.5 crore. But it had allegedly bounced.

The complainant's advocate Smita Pathak said the actress had been asked to appear before the court on June 21. But she did not, citing her pre-planned engagements.

"We have urged for mediation in the case," Pathak added.

Retail price of tomato has touched up to Rs 200 per kilogramme in some parts of the country including Delhi as incessant rains disrupted supplies, traders said and added that the rates of other vegetables have also firmed up.

Heavy rainfall in producing areas has led to waterlogging leading to the damage of tomato crop and other perishable vegetables grown below the soil especially onion, and ginger, they said.

As per the data maintained by the Consumer Affairs Ministry, the all-India average retail price of tomato was ruling at 104.38 per kg on Monday, with maximum price quoted was Rs 200 per kg in Swai Madhopur and minimum was Rs 31 per kg in Churu in Rajasthan.

Among metros, retail price of tomato was quoted highest at Rs 149 per kg in Kolkata, followed by Rs 135 per kg in Mumbai, Rs 123 per kg in Chennai and Rs 100 per kg in Delhi, the data showed.

The retail price of tomato and other vegetables varies depending on the quality and the location where they are sold.

"There has been further disruption in the supply of tomato in Delhi because of the heavy rains in the last two days. If heavy rains continue, it looks unlikely the prices will ease soon," Azadpur Tomato Association President and member of Azadpur Mandi Ashok Kaushik told PTI.

The wholesale price of tomato was ruling at Rs 100-160 per kg at Azadpur mandi on Monday.

The current demand is being met from Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, he added.

Kaushik also mentioned that every year prices of most vegetables firm up during the monsoon season because some crops get damaged due to waterlogging.

"I purchased at Rs 160 per kg at Azadpur wholesale market and retailing at Rs 170 per kg. Some other vendors are selling at even up to Rs 200 per kg in Delhi," said Jyotish Jha, local retail vendor in Pashchim Vihar.

There has been some increase in retail price of onion and potato besides other vegetables like french beans, cauliflower, cabbage and ginger, he added.

Most vegetables are sold not below Rs 60 per kg. For instance, retail price of lady finger is sold at Rs 80 per kg, while bitter gourd, bottle gourd and cucumber at Rs 60 per kg each, cauliflower is sold as high as Rs 180 per kg, trade data showed.

Ginger prices have increased from Rs 240 per kg to Rs 300 per kg in the last fortnight. There has been heavy rainfall in many parts of the country including Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.  -- PTI

The river breached the danger mark earlier than expected. It was earlier predicted that it would cross the danger mark by Tuesday afternoon. 

According to the Central Water Commission's (CWC) flood-monitoring portal, the water level at the Old Railway Bridge had risen to 205.4 metres by 5 pm as Haryana released more water into the river from the Hathnikund barrage in Yamunanagar. 

The water level is anticipated to rise to 206.65 metres on Tuesday before it starts receding.

The new logo was unveiled at the foundation day celebrations held at BSE International Convention Hall today, which began with the traditional bell ringing ceremony. 

On the occasion, as a precursor to its 150th Foundation Day, BSE unveiled its new logo which was launched by S S Mundra, chairman of BSE, in the presence of the board and committee members of BSE and ICCL. 

Sundararaman Ramamurthy, MD & CEO, BSE, said the new logo reflects vibrance and the connection between colours used and panchabhutas, the five elements of Nature.

Foxconn said it is "working to remove the Foxconn name from what now is a fully-owned entity of Vedanta". 

"Foxconn has no connection to the entity and efforts to keep its original name will cause confusion for future stakeholders," Hon Hai Technology group (Foxconn) said. 

Foxconn, the global contract electronics maker, and Vedanta had inked an agreement last year to build semiconductor and display production plants in Gujarat entailing an investment of about Rs 1.5 lakh crore. 

In a statement on Monday Foxconn said: "In order to explore more diverse development opportunities, according to mutual agreement, Foxconn has determined it will not move forward on the joint venture with Vedanta." 

The statement said that for over a year Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) and Vedanta have worked hard to bring a great semiconductor idea to reality. It has been a fruitful experience that can position both companies strongly going forward. 

"Foxconn is confident about the direction of India's semiconductor development. We will continue to strongly support the government's 'Make In India' ambitions and establish a diversity of local partnerships that meet the needs of stakeholders," it said.

Dharmesh Patel was charged in May with three counts of first-degree attempted murder after allegedly driving himself, his wife, and their two children -- the 4-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl -- off the Devil's Slide near California Highway 1 in his Tesla, KRON-TV reported on Saturday. They all survived the crash on January 3 this year. 

 Patel's wife maintains that her husband told his family he would drive off the cliff before the incident. The suspect claimed his Tesla Model Y was having tire issues when he drove off the 250-foot cliff in California.

"He drove off. He's depressed," Neha Patel said in an affidavit obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper. 

 "He's a doctor. He said he was going to drive off the cliff. He purposely drove off." 

 Patel pleaded not guilty and instead asked for a mental health diversion because of his major depressive disorder diagnosis, the report said. To be eligible for the programme, a suspect's mental disorder needs to be a "significant factor" in the criminal act, California law says.

 While 14 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are working in Punjab, a dozen are deployed in Himachal Pradesh, eight in Uttarakhand and five in Haryana, he said. 

 "The rescue operations are being undertaken as per the situation on ground and in coordination with the state authorities," an NDRF spokesperson said. 

 The teams, with about 30-35 rescuers in each, are equipped with inflatable boats, ropes, tree cutters and other essential tools to launch rescue and relief operations, another officer said. 

 Torrential rains continued to wreak havoc in north India on Monday even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with senior ministers and officials to take stock of the situation. PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with senior ministers and officials to take stock of the situation. Several rivers, including the Yamuna in Delhi, in north India are in spate. 

In cities and towns across the region, many roads and residential areas were submerged in knee-deep water with the civic system unable to hold on in the face of record rains on Sunday. 

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday asked the Centre to make available additional relief from the PM CARES Fund for states affected by the torrential rain. 

 The prime minister spoke with senior ministers and officials and took stock of the situation in the wake of excessive rainfall in parts of the country, his office said. 

Local administrations, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams are working to ensure the well-being of those affected, the Prime Minister's Office said. Landslides claimed four more lives in Shimla and the Shimla-Kalka highway was blocked Monday morning as heavy rains wreaked havoc in the hill state for the third day, police said. 

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said 16 or 17 people were killed in rain-related incidents in the state in the last two days. Twenty people stranded in tourist town of Manali were rescued but more than 200 others were stuck across various parts of the hill state, officials said. -- PTI

 While the Kukis, in response to the Centre's call, have lifted a blockade along National Highway 2, which serves as the "lifeline" for those living in the Imphal valley, the Meiteis have steadfastly maintained their blockade, preventing any supply from reaching Churachandpur, the largest district in the state with a significant Kuki population. 

 Churachandpur is home to around four lakh people. Another 10,000 displaced people are living in the relief camps set up in the district. The shortage of doctors, particularly surgeons, has reached critical levels. The consequences are dire as essential medical treatments, including dialysis, and medicines for cancer and anti-AIDS drugs remain out of reach for those in desperate need. 

 "We really need doctors during this prevailing situation. We still need more senior doctors, senior surgeons and cardiothoracic surgeons, and of course, if possible, we would be really grateful if the government could send us a heart surgeon, a cardiologist, to deal with all these bullet injuries and tackle the complicated cases of blood injuries," Dr Tinglonlei, Medical Superintendent, Churachandpur District Hospital, told PTI. 

 The hospital, the lone big facility for a population of about four lakh, had treated 288 bullet injuries till Saturday since ethnic clashes broke out in the region. In the absence of a facility for dialysis, the well-off have already shifted to Aizwal, while the poor have no such option. 

 The Centre sent six teams of doctors to Manipur after Home Minister Amit Shah visited the violence-hit state in May. 

 "We are really grateful that two doctors were sent to Churachandpur from the AIIMS, Guwahati last month. But we need specialists for chronic diseases," Dr Tinglonlei said. He added that the hospital needs medicines and surgical items as well. -- PTI

"I first met him over 20 years ago at the Sloan School of Management at MIT, when I was a student, and he was visiting his alma mater on leave from his Professorial role at the University of Chicago. I've followed his work with great admiration: through his roles at the IMF, as Chief Economic Adviser to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, and then as Governor of the RBI. 

"His thought-provoking books -- Saving Capitalism from the Capitalists (2004), co-authored with fellow Chicago Booth professor Luigi Zingales; I Do What I Do (2017), a compilation of his op-eds and talks delivered during his stint as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India; and The Third Pillar: How the State and Markets are leaving Communities Behind (2019) -- resonate with my understanding of the world and the major issues at stake, developed through my own varied career in Banking and the Global Financial Markets. 

"It was therefore a great privilege for me to work directly with him for two years, when he immediately accepted my invitation to join the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Council of Economic Advisors back in 2021. Beyond his great erudition and wisdom, I found him to be a true patriot and a deeply compassionate individual -- he was the strongest advocate for what was to become our post-pandemic remedial education program "Illam Thedi Kalvi', and our support programs for MSMEs. 

"Though we will not be working together after my Ministerial portfolio change, he remains an inspiration to me, and now a dear friend as well. During our recent discussion he touched upon the book he is currently writing. I think it will provide unique clarity about India's best path for growth, and I can't wait for it to be published. Our chat also inspired me to work on a book of my own, on the lessons learnt during my two years as Finance Minister and a member of the GST Council, as well as some of its Group(s) of Ministers (sub-committees). 

"And I look forward very much to his next visit when he has promised to bring his tennis racket along so we can enjoy another shared interest!"

 A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha dismissed the appeal filed by lawyer Ashwini Updhyay in his personal capacity. 

 This is the matter of executive policy decision, the bench said while dismissing the appeal.

 On May 29, the Delhi High Court dismissed the PIL challenging the notifications enabling the exchange of Rs 2,000 denomination currency notes without any requisition slip and ID proof. The high court had said the decision was taken to avoid inconvenience to citizens, and that it cannot sit as an appellate authority on a policy decision. 

 The high court had maintained it cannot be said that the government's decision is perverse or arbitrary or it encourages black money, money laundering, profiteering or abets corruption. 

 The appeal was filed against the decision. Updhyay said the Rs 2,000 banknotes are being exchanged without any requisition slip and ID proof like Aadhaar card by criminals and terrorists also. PTI

He also urged all political parties to refrain from blame games stating that it was not the time to "point fingers" at each other. 

"A flood-like situation unlikely to arise in Delhi. Government is prepared to deal with any situation," he said addressing a press conference here after a meeting to review the city's handling of the heavy rainfall.

Kejriwal said, "It is not the time to point fingers and single out anybody." He added that evacuation of people from low-lying areas around Yamuna will commence once the river breaches 206-metre mark.

 According to a flood bulletin, the water level at the Old Railway Bridge increased 204.63 metres at 1 pm on Monday. The water level is anticipated to rise to 205.5 metres between 10 am and 12 noon on Tuesday, crossing the danger mark of 205.33 metres.

 Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said flood-like situation is unlikely in Delhi but the government is prepared to tackle any eventualities. 

 The irrigation and flood control department said the flow rate at the Hathnikund barrage gradually increased to 3,05,768 cusecs at 5 am on Monday. 

It dropped to 1,90,837 cusecs at 1 am. Normally, the flow rate at the barrage is 352 cusecs, but heavy rainfall in the catchment areas increases the discharge. 

The water from the barrage takes around two to three days to reach Delhi. The Delhi government issued a flood warning on Sunday and is creating awareness among people living close to the river banks. -- PTI

Saima Mohsin was left disabled after an accident while reporting from Jerusalem on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Her cameraman ran over her foot in a car, causing severe tissue damage that has left the British-Pakistani journalist struggling to sit, stand and walk or return to work full-time.

Read the report here. 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will hold a meeting on Monday to discuss waterlogging caused by torrential rains in the city and Yamuna's rising water levels, officials said. The meeting will be held at the Delhi Secretariat.

 It will be attended by senior officials of the Irrigation and Flood Control department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Delhi recorded 153 mm of rain in a 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Sunday, the highest in a single day in July since 1982, the India Meteorological Department said.

 According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) report, the IMD Mumbai has recorded 1,043.8 mm rainfall at its Santacruz observatory (representative of suburbs) and 658.7 mm rainfall at the Colaba observatory (representative of the island city) in the last 15 days. The downpour recorded at the Santacruz observatory is 37.49 per cent of the average annual rainfall of 2,784 mm and the figure at the Colaba observatory is 28.52 per cent of the average rainfall of 2,310 mm, according to the report. 

 During the same period last year, the Santacruz and Colaba observatories recorded 1,106.6 mm and 1,015.1 mm rainfall, respectively. 

 The IMD Mumbai has predicted moderate rain in the city and suburbs in the next 24 hours, the report said. The island city, eastern and western suburbs received 13.12 mm, 13.59 mm and 19.77 mm rainfall, respectively, in the 24-hour period ending at 8 am on Monday, as per the BMC's report. PTI

The Election Commission has announced the schedule for the election on 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Goa, Gujarat and West Bengal -- which will be held on July 24.

The Commission said 10 members from Goa, Gujarat and West Bengal are scheduled to retire in July and August.

The seats which are to be vacated in Rajya Sabha due to the retirement of members include Derek O'Brien from West Bengal and S Jaishankar from Gujarat.

The meteorological department issued a red alert for extremely heavy rain in the state on Monday. In a late-night operation on Sunday, personnel of the National Disaster Response Force rescued six people stranded in Nagwayin village in Mandi due to the rise in the water level of Beas River, they said. 

 Officials said rail operations on the Shimla-Kalka route, a UNESCO world heritage site, have been suspended till Tuesday as landslides blocked the track at several places while educational institutions across the state were ordered to remain shut on Monday and Tuesday. 

 Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, in a video released on Monday morning, appealed to the people to avoid venturing out in heavy rains, especially near rivers and nullahs, and remain vigilant for the next 24 hours as the Met department has warned of heavy rains. 

 He also asked all the MLAs to stay in their respective constituencies and help the people in this hour of distress. He said that the state government has released three numbers - 1100, 1070 and 1077 -- to help people in distress. 

 The Chandigarh-Manali National Highway is blocked due to landslides and flooding at several places and Shimla-Kinnaur road is also closed for vehicular traffic due to slides and falling of rocks. 

 Using anchored rope, harness and crane, a team of the 14th battalion of the NDRF rescued six people stranded in Nagwayin village on Sunday while the Home Guards rescued 20 more from Manali on Monday.

 The newcomers on the list were Bangla Sanskriti Mancha president Samirul Islam, TMC's Alipurduar district president Prakash Chik Baraik, and RTI activist and TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale. Besides O'Brien, Ray and Sen, the tenures of Congress MP Pradip Bhattacharya, TMC's Assam leader Sushmita Dev and its Darjeeling leader Shanta Chhetri's ended, following which these six seats fell vacant. 

 A seventh Rajya Sabha seat from West Bengal is also vacant after former Goa chief minister Luizinho Faleiro resigned as a TMC MP in April. 

A bypoll will be held in that seat along with the elections to these six seats on July 24. "We take great pleasure in announcing the candidatures of Derek O'Brien, Dola Sen, Sukhendu Sekhar, Samirul Islam, Prakash Chik Baraik and Saket Gokhale for the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections," the TMC said in a tweet.

 A day after 19 people were killed in landslides and other rain-related incidents, the Congress president also spoke to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to express his concern. 

 "The death of several people in north India due to heavy rains is sad and painful. Have talked to the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh. Relief efforts in the state have picked up and every effort is being made despite bad weather, to take people affected by heavy rains to safer places," Kharge said in a tweet in Hindi. 

 He said teams of the State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force teams are doing this work. Adequate compensation will be given to the victims and all possible help will be given to compensate for the loss of life and property, the Congress chief said. 

 "The Central government is also urged to make available additional relief funds from the PM Cares Fund to Himachal Pradesh and other states" he said. In this difficult time, thoughts are with those affected, Kharge said.

"We have instructed all Congress MLAs to help the affected people in their areas in every way. All Congress workers are requested to contribute to the relief efforts," the party chief added. 

 Several rivers, including the Yamuna in Delhi, in north India are in spate. In cities and towns across the region, many roads and residential areas were submerged in knee-deep water with the civic system unable to hold on in the face of record rains on Sunday.

 In Himachal Pradesh, 765 roads, including Chandigarh-Manali National Highway were closed following the heavy rain. Hundreds of people are stranded in different parts of the state, including in Chandratal in Lahaul and Spiti and near Sadhupul in Solan district. -- PTI 

 Speaking to reporters in Amaravati district during a tour of Maharashtra's Vidarbha region, the former state chief minister also said the name 'Shiv Sena' was given by his grandfather (Keshav Thackeray) and he will not let anyone "steal" it.

 In February this year, the Election Commission allotted the name Shiv Sena' and its poll symbol bow and arrow' to the group led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. 

 The EC allowed the Uddhav Thackeray faction to retain the name Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the flaming torch' poll symbol, given to it in an interim order last year. 

 After the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls, Uddhav Thackeray broke ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government with the help of the NCP and Congress. 

 In June last year, Shinde broke ranks with Thackeray and formed government in alliance with the BJP. Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said, "The Election Commission has no powers to change the name of a party. It can allot an electoral symbol to a party. The name Shiv Sena was given by my grandfather, how can the EC change the name? I will not allow anyone to steal the name of the party," he said. 

 To a question on some opposition parties trying to come together to take on the BJP-led central government ahead of the Lok Sabha polls due next year, he said, "I will not call it as the unity of the opposition parties, but we all are patriots and we are doing it for the sake of democracy." 

 It is the unity of the people who love their country, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader added. Uddhav Thackeray also said that despite the imposition of Emergency (1975-77) in the country, the then government allowed the opposition parties to campaign for the general elections. --PTI

The count of active cases was 1,431 while the death toll was recorded as 5,31,913, the data updated at 8 am stated. The Covid case tally has been recorded at 4.49 crore (4,49,94,599). 

 The national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.81 per cent, according to the health ministry website. 

 The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,44,61,255 and the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.18 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.66 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. PTI

The former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, who is currently in jail for his alleged role in the now-scrapped excise policy case, had approached the Supreme Court seeking bail last week. 

Sisodia, who has been booked in cases registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation as well as the Enforcement Directorate was denied bail by the Delhi High Court in the ED case on July 3.

Read the column by MK Bhadrakumar here. 

 More than 6,000 pilgrims are stranded in Jammu, particularly at the Bhagwatinagar base camp while over 5,000 are stranded at the Chanderkot base camp in Ramban district. 

 "The yatra remains suspended from Jammu due to bad condition of the highway. No fresh batch has been allowed to move towards Kashmir from Jammu base camp today," a senior officer told PTI. 

 "More pilgrims are arriving in Jammu on their onward journey to Amarnath. But most of them are being accommodated in various lodging centres," he added. 

 Some of the pilgrims have been accommodated at the camps in Lakhanpur and Chichi Mata in Kathua and Samba districts to avoid the rush in Jammu, they said. More than 90,000 pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine of Amarnath, while over 40,000 devotees left Jammu for Kashmir in seven batches before the suspension of the yatra on Saturday.

HP minister Jagat Singh Negi says, "There has been unprecedented heavy rainfall in the past 3 days... This has caused massive damage, especially to the infrastructure, roads, drinking water facilities, fields of farmers as well as houses... Nine people died in 3 days; around 250 houses damaged. Several roads affected and numerous landslides reported..."

 "Moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms is very likely to continue in the districts of Bilaspur, Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Una, Hamirpur, Mandi and Kullu in most places and very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places," the IMD said.

The IMD further stated that few locations in the remaining districts are likely to see light to moderate rainfall. 

"Light to moderate rainfall is likely to occur at a few places in the rest of the districts," said the IMD. 

Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh (HP) Traffic, Tourist and Railways Police on Monday took to its Twitter handle and said that the IMD has issued a red alert for various parts of the state and laid down instructions by the local administration. 

"The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for most districts of the state today, which means there is a "very high risk of heavy to very heavy rainfall". So you avoid unnecessary travel. Stay away from rivers and landslide areas. Please follow the instructions issued by the local administration," tweeted the HP Traffic, Tourist and Railways Police. 

 On Sunday, six people were stranded in the Nagwain village of Mandi due to the rise in the water level of the Beas River, an official statement said. A rescue operation was underway to rescue the stranded people.

"A rescue operation is underway to rescue six people stranded in Nagwain due to the rise in water level of the Beas River following incessant rainfall in the state," an official said.

He writes: "DESOLATION ROW 

 I don't know if this has ever happened to you. But it has certainly happened to me. I have entirely lost my appetite. I cannot eat more than two or three mouthfuls of melon, or of pain aux raisins. Sometimes I have some chocolate or a protein drink and all day a little bit of water. But otherwise my appetite is dead. 

"I have felt nauseous most of the time and have vomited. When I see my sons tucking into a massive salmon and cream cheese sandwich I am shocked by how much they manage to consume. Friends bring me the most delicious food they can think of to try and tempt me, but there is not a particular taste I am looking for. All food repulses me. But because I have been living in a hospital since Christmas, it wouldn't be surprising that I have become disillusioned, and no longer read the papers or watch the news.

"I have no desire to watch movies or comedy shows. In the evenings, before Isabella leaves me, she always reads to me from my friend David of Bromley's blog, and then several delicious pages from Elton John's autobiography, which always cheers me up before the long fear and desolation of the night, that I have to go through alone. It isn't surprising, since I am so depressed and ill, that my libido has died. At least one more discouraging thing.   

"I found out in Rome that the doctors there have been giving me a small amount of anti-depressant. I didn't ask for them, and I didn't particularly want them, but I discovered they were on my pharmaceutical agenda. 

"Here, in this new hospital, they have doubled the dose, since I didn't much notice I was taking them anyway. Asking around my friends, it turns out that at least 50% of them have been, or currently are on, some kind of anti-depressants. Some have been running major institutions on them. 

"One friend has been taking them for twenty years, because he has reproachful thoughts after midnight, and has no intention of giving the meds up. Other friends have been off and on them for most of their lives. They all ask me what particular variety I am taking but I can never remember the name or pronounce it. I never wanted to take them since I have my own cure in psychoanalysis twice a week. One friend said "anti-depressants get you to the party and psychoanalysis enables you to enjoy the party once you get there'. 

"I avoided them because I didn't want to mess with my brain, which I require in order to be a writer. But I am beyond that now. I am suffering more than I deserve.   

"I cannot believe that I have been living on a dementia ward for three weeks, because that is where they have been able to find a room for me. It is worse than a bad joke. The cries and howls are very disturbing.  Previously I had led a lucky life; I had all the luck in the world. Now it has run down. I spend as much of the day as I can with friends. People are still keen to visit me. I have given up writing for conversation. I can no longer make things up for a living - it seems too artificial in the face of this absurdity - and I have to say that the conversation has been a lot of fun. I like listening to others. People's generosity and kindness has overwhelmed me.

"In circumstances like this you really find out who your friends are, and how loving people can be. I wish I had been kinder; and if I get another chance, I will be."

He signs off writing, 'Hanif xx'

 The meeting will be held at the Delhi Secretariat. It will be attended by senior officials of the Irrigation and Flood Control department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. 

 Delhi recorded 153 mm of rain in a 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Sunday, the highest in a single day in July since 1982, the India Meteorological Department said. 

 The Delhi government issued a flood warning on Sunday as Haryana released more than one lakh cusecs of water into the Yamuna river from the Hathnikund barrage. 

 The irrigation and flood control department said this was the first warning, with 1,05,453 cusecs of water discharged at 4 pm. The Central Water Commission (CWC) said the water level in the river in Delhi is rising and is expected to surpass the danger mark of 205.33 metres on Tuesday.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday slammed the Congress for creating fear among Muslims on various issues and trying to create a rift between them and Hindus.

He was speaking at the Shiv Sena's first meeting of minorities in the state in Shanmukhananda Hall in Mumbai.

"Those Muslims who respect this state and country are ours. However, it was the Congress that always ensured a rift between the two communities (Hindus and Muslims). Keeping both the communities away from each other, creating a rift and indulging in votebank politics are something the Congress has done for years," he alleged.

"During communal tensions in Mumbai and Thane, Shiv Sena workers have not only protected temples but also mosques. If we were against the minority community, we would not have made Abdul Sattar (agriculture) minister. We respect all communities," he added. -- PTI

The four persons, belonging to Garhapurva in Jabalpur town, arrived at the spot for fishing on Sunday afternoon, Bhedaghat police station in-charge Shafiq Khan said. They got stuck on the rock following a sudden rise in the Narmada river level due to heavy rainfall in the upstream areas, Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) Shivesh Singh Baghel said. 

 The stranded persons were provided food and life jackets through a drone in the night, he said. The rescue operation was launched at around 5 pm on Sunday and ended by 6.30 am on Monday, Khan said. A team of the National Disaster Response Force rescued the four persons, Baghel added. PTI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has arrived in Ahmedabad to file his nomination papers on Monday for the Rajya Sabha elections from Gujarat, a Bharatiya Janata Party official said.

Gujarat BJP general secretary Pradeepsinh Vaghela on Sunday said Jaishankar, whose term ends on August 18 along with two other Rajya Sabha members from the state, is scheduled to file his nomination form at around noon on Monday.

Jaishankar landed at the Ahmedabad airport on Sunday and was received by Gujarat minister Raghavji Patel, Ahmedabad Mayor Kirit Parmar and other BJP functionaries.

While the BJP has not officially declared the names of candidates for the three Rajya Sabha seats for which the elections are scheduled to be held on July 24, Jaishankar's nomination was certain.

The Congress on Friday said it would not field candidates for polls to the three Rajya Sabha seats from Gujarat as it did not have enough MLAs in the 182-member state Assembly.

The BJP won a record 156 seats in the Gujarat Assembly polls held late last year, while the Congress saw its worst performance since the state was formed by managing to get just 17 seats.

Out of the 11 Rajya Sabha seats from Gujarat, eight are currently held by the BJP and rest by the Congress.

Of the eight seats held by the BJP, the terms of S Jaishankar, Jugalji Thakor and Dinesh Anavadiya will end on August 18. Polls will be held for these three seats.

The last date for filing nominations is July 13 and the deadline for withdrawal of nominations is July 17. Polling will be held on July 24 if required. -- PTI  

Repolling began at 7 am on Monday in 696 booths across 19 districts of West Bengal where voting for the panchayat elections was declared void amid allegations of tampering with ballot boxes and the violence that left 15 people dead, officials said.

 

The repolling will be held till 5 pm amid tight security with four central forces personnel deployed in each of those booths, besides state police, they said.

Among the districts where repolling was being held, violence-hit Murshidabad has the highest number of booths at 175, followed by Malda with 109, they added.

Repolling was also being held at 89 booths in Nadia, followed by Cooch Behar (53), North 24 Parganas (46), Uttar Dinajpur (42), South 24 Parganas (36), Purba Medinipur (31) and Hooghly (29), officials said.

No repolling was ordered in Darjeeling, Jhargram and Kalimpong districts, they said. 

The decision for repolling in these 696 booths was announced by the State Election Commission (SEC) on Sunday evening after reviewing reports of violence and tampering with ballot boxes and ballot papers, they said.

Polling was held on Saturday in over 61,000 booths for the three-tier panchayat elections. In several places, ballot boxes were looted, set on fire and thrown in ponds, leading to violence.

A total 5.67 crore people living in the state's rural areas were eligible to decide the fate of 2.06 lakh candidates in 73,887 seats of the panchayat system. -- PTI