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Wed, 29 March 2023
AI Express flight for Kuwait departs without 20 flyers
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23:58 Delhi HC sets aside summons to 'The Wire' editor in defamation case
The Delhi high court on Wednesday set aside a summons issued to the editor and deputy editor of online news portal The Wire in a criminal defamation case over a publication on a dossier allegedly depicting the Jawaharlal Nehru University as a "den of organised sex racket".
The complaint was made by Amita Singh, professor and chairperson of the Centre for Study of Law and Governance at the JNU, against several people, including the editor and deputy editor of The Wire, for allegedly imputing in the April 2016 publication that she had prepared the dossier in question.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani said he was unable to discern how the article could be said to have defamed the complainant when it "nowhere says that the respondent (Singh) is involved in the wrongful activities, nor does it make any other derogatory reference to her in connection therewith".
The controversial dossier exposed wrongful activities that were stated to be going on in the JNU campus and that Singh was leading a team of people who compiled the document, the judge added.
The court also said the subject publication itself was not before the magisterial court in accordance with section 65B of the Evidence Act.
"On a plain reading of the extract of the subject publication, which is all that was contained in the complaint, there appears to be nothing 'defamatory' in it, as understood in law, since all it says is that the dossier calls out certain wrongdoing in the university. Since, on the point of law, there can be no oral evidence in substitution of a certificate under section 65B of the Evidence Act, there was no material before the learned magistrate based on which the summoning order could have been passed," the court said. -- PTI
screen grab taken from video of MP hotel fire/ANI
23:55 42 people evacuated, 10 of them hospitalised after fire breaks out in MP hotel
A fire broke out in a six-storey hotel in Indore city of Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday morning and 42 people trapped in the building were rescued, of whom 10 were admitted to a hospital, an official said.
The incident occurred in Papaya Tree Hotel located in Rajendra Nagar area, he said.
"Forty-two people staying in Papaya Tree Hotel were trapped in the fire and were rescued by the police and fire brigade. Ten people evacuated from the hotel were admitted to a hospital and most of whom complained of difficulty in breathing due to smoke," Rau police station in-charge Narendra Raghuvanshi said.
Superintendent of police (fire) RS Ningwal said the fire started from the roof of the hotel's ground floor, which resulted in smoke engulfing the building.
After a lot of hard work, the fire was brought under control as proper arrangements to tackle the incidents of fire were not in place there, he said.
"The hotel management has installed a hydrant that is powered by electricity connection. But during the fire, the hydrant did not run due to power failure," he added.
Ningwal said that had the hotel management connected the hydrant to a generator, the flames could have been controlled immediately as it would have operated during the fire.
He said he would write to the district administration and Indore Municipal Corporation to take action against the hotel management. -- PTI
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23:38 AI Express flight for Kuwait departs without 20 flyers
An Air India Express flight to Kuwait on Wednesday left around 20 passengers at Vijayawada airport and took off 4 hours before its scheduled departure.
Air India flight IX-695 was scheduled to depart for Kuwait from Vijayawada International Airport at 1:10 pm but it took off at 9:55 am.
According to an Air India official, the flight was rescheduled and passengers were informed on the matter.
"All the passengers were informed about the rescheduled flight one day in advance," an Air India official said.
Vijayawada Airport director Lakshmi Kanth Reddy said, "More than 15 Passengers were not able to take board the flight as flight timing was preponed to 9 am on Wednesday morning. The passengers were informed about the rescheduling of the flight but they are alleging that they did not have any information of the preponing of flight timings. Those people have booked tickets through agents and ticket agents did not inform them about the rescheduling of the flight." -- ANI
23:18 Southern Railway's FB page hacked, restored
Southern Railway on Wednesday said its official Facebook page was hacked by "unknown sources" who put up offensive posts but the social media account has been restored.
The page was hacked on Tuesday and "a few offensive posts were shared by the hacker," it said.
"Now, with the unstinted support from the ministry of railways, the ministry of electronics and IT and Facebook officials, the Southern Railway Facebook account has been successfully restored," it said.
A Southern Railway FB post said the "hacker's access has been completely removed." -- PTI
23:01 Assam extends AFSPA in 8 districts for 6 months
The Assam government has extended the 'disturbed area' notification under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act for another six months in eight districts of the state from April one next.
The disturbed area tag has been extended for Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, according to a notification, issued by the state home and political department, released to the media on Wednesday.
The 'disturbed area' tag will, however, be lifted from Lakhipur sub-division of Cachar district from April 1, following a review of the law and order and security scenario in the state.
The centre had earlier announced removal AFSPA from April 1, 2022 from the entire state of Assam barring nine districts and a sub-division of Cachar district.
The state was declared a 'disturbed area' under AFSPA during the intervening night of November 27-28, 1990 and this has been extended every six months since then.
It was last extended for six months on October, 2022 when the Act was withdrawn from West Karbi Anglong district. -- PTI
22:57 Tamannaah Bhatia to perform at IPL 2023 opening ceremony
Actor Tamannaah Bhatia is all set to perform at the opening ceremony of the Indian Premier League 2023 on March 31.
Taking to Twitter, Indian Premiere League announced the news and wrote, "Join @tamannaahspeaks in the incredible #TATAIPL Opening Ceremony as we celebrate the biggest cricket festival at the biggest cricket stadium in the world -- Narendra Modi Stadium! 31st March, 2023 - 6 PM IST on @StarSportsIndia & @JioCinema Make sure to tune in & join."
The opening ceremony will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Reportedly, actors Tiger Shroff, Katrina Kaif, Rashmika Mandanna and singer Arijit Singh will also be performing at this year's opening ceremony. IPL 2023 is set to begin on March 31 with a clash between heavyweights Chennai Super Kings and defending champions Gujarat Titans.
The T20 cricket extravaganza will be played across 12 venues with the Narendra Modi Stadium hosting the opener on March 31 and the final of the tournament will be played on May 28 at the same venue in Ahmedabad.
In total 12 venues -- Mohali, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Jaipur, Mumbai, Guwahati (Royals' second home) and Dharamsala (Kings' second home) will host the IPL 2023 matches. -- ANI
22:32 Student of govt medical college dies by 'suicide' in Pune
A 21-year-old student of the government-run BJ Medical College in Pune allegedly ended life by jumping from the terrace of the hospital attached to the college on Wednesday morning, the police said.
The young woman was disturbed for the past few days due to the stress of studies and examinations, said an official, adding that they have not recovered any suicide note.
The woman allegedly jumped from the terrace of the Sassoon General Hospital.
"She was a first-year medical student and was apparently under stress due to the pressure of studies. She had been crying often in the last three-four days. Her parents had advised her to appear for the exam even if she had not prepared well," said deputy commissioner of police Smartana Patil.
Her parents had even taken her to a psychiatrist for consultation and stayed by her side for the last three days, the official said.
"Today they accompanied her to the college, but she somehow went to the terrace of the hospital and jumped down. She was admitted to the ICU but succumbed during treatment," DCP Patil said, adding that further probe was on. -- PTI
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22:10 Delhi reports 300 Covid cases, for 1st time since September
Delhi's Covid-19 cases climbed to 300 on Wednesday for the first time since September last year, while the positivity rate climbed to 13.89 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department.
Two more Covid-related deaths were also reported, it said.
On Tuesday, Delhi logged 214 cases with a positivity rate of 11.82 per cent.
Delhi recorded 115 fresh coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 7.45 per cent on Monday.
The city logged 153 cases with a positivity rate of 9.13 per cent on Sunday and 139 cases with a positivity rate of 4.98 per cent on Saturday.
It saw 152 cases with a positivity rate of 6.66 per cent on Friday and 117 cases with a positivity rate of 4.95 per cent on Thursday.
Delhi has witnessed an increase in the number of fresh Covid cases over the last few days amid a sharp rise in the figure of H3N2 influenza cases in the country.
The number of fresh cases had seen a decline over the last few months in Delhi. It had dropped to zero on January 16, the first time since the pandemic broke out.
With the fresh cases, Delhi's Covid-19 tally has increased to 20,09,361, while the death toll due to the viral infection stands at 26,526.
The data also showed that 2,160 Covid tests were conducted on Tuesday.
Fifty-four of the 7,986 beds are occupied in the dedicated COVID-19 hospitals in the city, while 452 patients are in home isolation, the health department said.
The number of active cases of the infection currently stands at 806, it added.
Amid a gradual increase in the number of Covid cases in Delhi, medical experts say the new XBB.1.16 variant of the virus could be driving the surge.
However, they maintain that there is no need to panic and people should follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and get booster shots of the vaccines.
They also say this rise in the number of cases could be a result of more people getting themselves tested for Covid as a precaution when they actually get infected with the influenza virus and develop fever and related symptoms.
Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj had said there were not many influenza cases in the city hospitals and the situation was being monitored closely.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said the rise in the number of influenza cases is due to the Influenza A sub-type H3N2 virus.
The H3N2 virus is leading to more hospitalisations than the other sub-types. The symptoms include a runny nose, persistent cough and fever.
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21:54 Karnataka to have 40 ethnic polling stations for tribals
In a bid to ensure participative election in Karnataka, the Election Commission will set up 40 'ethnic polling stations' for particularly vulnerable tribal groups.
Polls in the state will be held in a single phase on May 10, while counting will take place on May 13.
"The venue, look and feel of these booths will be different. It would be more contextual to the tribals so that they feel at home. And the very fact that we are focusing on it is an invitation to them to come out and vote," Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar told a press conference on Wednesday.
PVTGs were formerly known as primitive tribal groups.
Photo: Courtesy, Wikimedia Commons
President Murmu hosted MPs from UP, Rajasthan and some NE states/President of India/Twitter
21:40 Congress MPs skip breakfast meeting with Murmu
The Congress on Wednesday skipped a breakfast meeting hosted by President Droupadi Murmu for MPs from various states where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present.
President Murmu hosted MPs from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and some northeastern states.
Sources said the President had invited MPs from states of Uttar Pradesh (only Lok Sabha), Rajasthan (both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha), Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim, but Congress MPs, including Sonia Gandhi, from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan were not present.
Senior party leaders KC Venugopal and Pramod Tiwari skipped the breakfast meeting and attended the meeting of opposition leaders instead.
While Sonia Gandhi is the lone Lok Sabha MP from the Congress from Uttar Pradesh, the opposition party has six Rajya Sabha MPs but none were present this morning at Rashtrapati Bhawan, the sources said.
"President Droupadi Murmu hosted Members of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim for breakfast at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was also present on the occasion," the Rashtrapati Bhawan tweeted along with pictures of the MPs with the President and the prime minister.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla who is from Rajasthan was also present at the meeting. -- PTI
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21:25 Nine flights diverted from Delhi airport due to bad weather
As many as nine flights were diverted from the Delhi airport to Jaipur on Wednesday evening due to bad weather in the national capital.
Light rain and thunderstorm lashed the national capital in the evening under the influence of a western disturbance affecting northwest India.
There were also winds gusting up to 40 km per hour.
A total of nine flights were diverted from the Indira Gandhi International Airport to Jaipur on account of bad weather in the evening, according to an airport official.
Earlier, the IMD predicted a spell of rain and cloudy weather starting Wednesday night under the influence of the fresh western disturbance. -- PTI
Atiq Ahmad after being brought back to Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat/ANI
21:12 Atiq Ahmad back in Gujarat's Sabarmati jail from UP
Gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad was brought back to the Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad amid tight security on Wednesday evening, a day after a court at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh sentenced him to life imprisonment in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case.
Ahmad, a former Uttar Pradesh MLA and Lok Sabha MP, was brought back to the high-security jail in Gujarat in a UP police van after a nearly 24-hour-long road journey from Prayagraj, an official said.
Video clips showed the UP police van ferrying the 60-year-old gangster-politician entering the jail premises.
The UP police had on Sunday taken Ahmad's custody from the Sabarmati Jail so that he could be taken to Prayagraj, his hometown, for production before a special MP-MLA court that conducted trial in the kidnapping case.
The special court on Tuesday held the former Lok Sabha MP and two others guilty in the 17-year-old criminal case and sentenced them to life imprisonment.
They were pronounced guilty under Indian Penal Code section 364-A (kidnapping or abduction in order to murder). -- PTI
Suresh Gopi/Twitter
20:55 Malayalam actor Suresh Gopi, director Jayaraaj reunite after 27 yrs for a new film
Ace Malayalam actor Suresh Gopi has teamed up with director Jayaraaj after almost 27 years for a new film.
The two have earlier worked together in the 1997 film Kaliyattam.
Excited to collaborate with Jayaraaj for Yoodlee Films' project, Suresh Gopi said, "With time, both Jayaraaj and I have amassed a lot of experience but memories of Kaliyattam have remained with us and even in the hearts of the audience. The desire to create another milestone has remained with us and we finally have a perfect script. I am looking forward to working with a very talented cast and crew."
Jayaraaj also expressed happiness.
"Both of us were looking for a good script to collaborate again and we are really happy we finally have one. We are glad that Yoodlee films saw merit in this project and are on board. The shoot has started and everyone is thrilled about how the story is shaping up. We are all doing our best to create what we hope will be a landmark film," he added. -- ANI
20:37 Kerala BJP chief booked for remarks against CPI-M women leaders
A case has been registered by the police against Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party president, K Surendran, in connection with his alleged derogatory remarks against women CPI-M leaders.
Surendran, however, said he did not make any derogatory remark against women and that he was only referring to the quantum of financial gain allegedly received by Left leaders through their corrupt activities.
"My remarks were not aimed at any person. It was a general remark or reference to corrupt persons. I did not name anyone. I did not make any comment aimed at dishonouring women," he said.
It is Congress leaders who raked up the issue and made it controversial as it suits their political interests, the BJP state president said.
The case was registered against him on the complaint by CPI-M leader and former MP CS Sujatha, the police said.
An FIR under sections 354 A (sexual harassment) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the IPC has been registered at Cantonment police station, they said.
While the offence under section 354 A carries a maximum punishment of one year jail term, the one under section 509 provides for a maximum of three years imprisonment. -- PTI
20:13 Malegaon blast: Yet another witness turns hostile
A witness who is related to an absconding accused turned hostile in the 2008 Malegaon blast trial here on Wednesday.
He became the 31st prosecution witness to be declared hostile in the case in which BJP MP from Bhopal, Pragya Singh Thakur, is one of the key accused.
The witness, in his statement to the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad, had allegedly said that this absconding accused had met Pragya Thakur on multiple occasions.
Crucially, he had allegedly also told the probe agency that he had seen the absconding accused riding a motorcycle which purportedly belonged to Thakur.
The probe agency had claimed that this motorbike was found at the blast site.
But during his deposition on Wednesday, the witness told the court that these statements were not true.
Following which, the court declared him as hostile.
The court has examined 306 witnesses until now.
Earlier, a retired IPS officer denied while deposing two days ago that he accorded sanction to prosecute the accused in the case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act to bolster the theory of "saffron terrorism" being behind such attacks.
The former officer who was then additional chief secretary (home) also denied, during cross-examination by the defence, that he gave the sanction "without application of mind' and on the instruction of then Maharashtra Home Minister Jayant Patil. He had, though, shown the sanction order to Patil and obtained his approval before issuing it, the witness said. -- PTI
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19:51 Over 19K SC, ST and OBC students dropped out of higher institutions: Govt
More than 19,000 students from OBC, SC and ST categories dropped out from central universities, IITs, and IIMs during 2018-2023, according to the ministry of education.
The data was shared by Union Minister of State for Education, Subhas Sarkar, in response to a written question in Rajya Sabha.
According to available records, the number of drop out students from 2018 to 2023 in central universities, Indian Institutes of Technology and Indian Institutes of Management in various courses is 19,256.
While 14,446 students from the three categories dropped out from central universities during the period, 4,444 students dropped out from IITs, and 366 from IIMs, the minister said .
"In the higher education sector students have multiple options and they choose to migrate across institutions and from one course or programme to another in the same institution. The migration or withdrawal, if any, is mainly on account of securing seats by the students in other departments or institutions of their choice or on any personal ground," Sarkar said.
"The government has taken various steps like fee reduction, establishment of more institutes, scholarship, priority access to national level scholarships to aid the students with poor financial backgrounds to pursue their education." -- PTI
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19:35 Makers of TV serial Puspha Impossible booked under SC/ST Act
Following an order of the Patiala House Court, the Delhi police has registered a case against the makers of TV serial Pushpa Impossible for allegedly using derogatory words about a community, officials said on Wednesday.
The police said the case was filed on Sunday.
According to the police, one Ravi Kumar had filed a complaint under section 156.3 of CrPC regarding allegations of utterances against the SC/ST community in the TV serial Pushpa Impossible which is aired on Sony SAB TV channel.
According to the complaint, in the 33rd episode, one character of the serial used defamatory and derogatory words about a community due to which sentiments of the community have been hurt, a senior police officer said.
On the basis of the complaint, the Patiala House Court had passed orders to register a case within 24 hrs after receipt of the copy of the order and file a compliance report within seven days in the court, the officer said.
Later, a case was registered on Sunday under section 3(1) (u) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against five people, police said, adding that investigation is underway. -- PTI
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19:18 No case of bias against SC/STs in IITs: Govt
No case of caste discrimination and alienation of SC and ST students have been reported from Indian Institutes of Technology in the past five years, the ministry of education said on Wednesday.
The information was shared by Union Minister of State for Education Subhas Sarkar in response to a written question in Rajya Sabha.
The minister informed that seven cases of suicides by SC and ST students have been reported in IITs while the same number of students from the two categories in Central Universities died by suicide since 2018.
"No cases of caste discrimination and alienation in SC and ST students have been reported from IITs in the last five years. With regard to central universities, no data of caste discrimination is maintained centrally."
"In cases of suicides, besides an internal inquiry by the institute, the district and police administration also enquire into the incident. The reasons behind such suicides were found to be academic stress, family reasons, personal reasons, mental health issues, etc," Sarkar said. -- PTI
18:53 'Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar' worldwide box office score breaches Rs 200-cr mark
Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor-starrer romantic-comedy Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar has crossed Rs 200 crore mark at the global box office, the makers said on Friday.
In a post on Twitter, Luv Films said the Luv Ranjan-directed movie has raised a total Rs 201 crore worldwide since its release on March 8. "#TuJhoothiMainMakkaar crosses a love worth more than 200 Crore! Thank you for your immense support," the studio tweeted.
In a press note, the makers said the film's nett domestic collection stood at Rs 161 crore.
Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar is produced by Luv Films and Ankur Garg and presented by Gulshan Kumar and Bhushan Kumar of T-Series.
The movie also features Dimple Kapadia, Boney Kapoor and stand-up artist Anubhav Singh Bassi. -- PTI
18:41 Cops to probe anthem case against Mamata
A magistrate's court here on Wednesday directed the Mumbai police to probe a complaint against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly showing disrespect to the national anthem at an event in Mumbai in 2021.
The direction came hours after the Bombay high court refused to grant any relief to Banerjee over the complaint seeking action against her.
Metropolitan Magistrate(Sewree court) P I Mokashi directed the Cuff Parade police station in south Mumbai to probe the matter and submit a report by April 28.
Mumbai Bharatiya Janata Party functionary Vivekanand Gupta had approached the magistrate's court with a complaint, alleging Banerjee did not stand up when the national anthem was played at an event during her visit to the metropolis in December 2021.
Gupta accused the Trinamool Congress leader of disrespecting the national anthem and demanded that an first information report be registered against her under provisions of the Prevention of Insults to the National Honour Act. -- PTI
18:09 Court slaps Raut with Rs 1000 fine for seeking adjournment
A magistrate's court in Mumbai on Wednesday imposed a cost of Rs 1,000 on Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut for seeking adjournment in a defamation complaint filed against him by Medha Somaiya, wife of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya.
The matter was listed for cross-examination of Medha Somaiya by Raut's lawyer.
But the lawyer sought adjournment for the day, stating that the defence was not ready for cross-examination.
Metropolitan magistrate (Sewree court) P I Mokashi allowed adjournment, but imposed a cost of Rs 1,000 on the Shiv Sena-UBT leader.
The next hearing will be on April 10.
Medha Somaiya moved the court claiming that Raut made baseless allegations that she and her husband were involved in a Rs 100 crore scam related to the construction and maintenance of public toilets in Mira Bhayander area near Mumbai. -- PTI
17:55 Amritpal video slamming Sikh youths' arrest surfaces
A video of fugitive radical preacher Amritpal Singh surfaced on social media on Wednesday in which he slammed the Punjab police for arresting Sikh youths during a crackdown against him.
Wearing a black turban and shawl, the Khalistan sympathiser further said if the state government had the intention of making an arrest, the police could have come to his house and he would have given up.
"The Almighty saved us from the attempt of 'lakhs of cops' who were sent to make an arrest," he further said.
The video appeared amid reports that the radical preacher might surrender.
The police has launched a major crackdown against Amritpal Singh and members of his outfit 'Waris Punjab De'.
The elusive preacher himself, however, gave the police a slip and escaped their dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted in Jalandhar district recently. -- PTI
17:18 Gainers and losers in the Sensex pack
The 30-share BSE Sensex on Wednesday advanced 346.37 points or 0.60 per cent to finish at 57,960.09.
During the day, it jumped 510.48 points or 0.88 per cent to 58,124.20. The broader NSE Nifty climbed 129 points or 0.76 per cent to end at 17,080.70.
Among the Sensex firms, HCL Technologies, Tata Motors, Hindustan Unilever, NTPC, IndusInd Bank, Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Finance and Mahindra & Mahindra were the major gainers.
Bharti Airtel, Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank and Asian Paints were the laggards.
17:16 Rajasthan HC acquits all accused in deadly 2008 Jaipur blasts
The Rajasthan high court on Wednesday acquitted all the accused in the 2008 serial Jaipur blast case which claimed 71 lives and left over 180 injured.
The accused were given capital punishment by a trial court which was challenged in the high court.
The division bench of justices Pankaj Bhandari and Sameer Jain pronounced the judgement on Wednesday.
Jaipur was rocked by a series of blasts on May 13, 2008 when bombs went off one after another at Manak Chawk Khanda, Chandpole Gate, Badi Chaupad, Chhoti Chaupad, Tripolia Gate, Johri Bazar and Sanganeri Gate.
The explosions in the evening left 71 people dead and 185 injured.
One live bomb was recovered near Ramchandra Temple which was defused by a bomb disposal squad. -- PTI
17:02 SC refuses to entertain pleas for gender-neutral laws
The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain pleas seeking a direction to the Centre to frame religion and gender-neutral uniform laws governing subjects like marriage, divorce, inheritance and alimony, saying it cannot direct Parliament to "enact the law".
A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala took note of the submissions of solicitor general that the issue fell under the domain of the legislature and hence the pleas cannot be entertained.
"This issue exclusively falls under the domain of the legislature and a writ of mandamus cannot be issued to Parliament (to enact laws)," said the bench while disposing of pleas including the PILs filed by lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay.
The bench was hearing petitions seeking a direction to the government for enacting uniform religion and gender-neutral laws on a wide variety of issues.
Upadhyay had filed five separate petitions seeking direction to the Centre to frame religion and gender-neutral uniform laws for divorce, adoption, guardianship, succession, inheritance, maintenance, marriage age, and alimony. -- PTI
16:32 Disqualify PM for comments against Mamata: TMC
Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday asked if Rahul Gandhi can be disqualified for his comments about a community, then why can't similar action be taken against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for hurting the sentiments of women by his taunts against Mamata Banerjee.
The TMC national general secretary was speaking at a rally at Shahid Minar Grounds in Kolkata. He also asked the party's legal cell to file a case against Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, seeking his disqualification from the House for "insulting" a woman minister from the tribal community.
16:25 India mother of democracy: Modi
Describing India as the mother of democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the country has become the fastest-growing major economy despite many global challenges and this proves that the democracy can deliver.
In a virtual address to the Summit for Democracy, 2023, Modi also said that every initiative of his government is powered by collective efforts of the citizens of India.
"India, despite the many global challenges, is the fastest growing major economy today. This itself is the best advertisement for the democracy and the world. This itself says that democracy can deliver," he said.
Modi was speaking at the second Summit for Democracy, co-hosted by US President Joe Biden, Costa Rica President Rodrigo Chaves Robles, Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema, the Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte and South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Speaking during the 'Leader-level Plenary on Democracy Delivering Economic Growth and Shared Prosperity' session hosted by President Yoon, he said the idea of elected leaders was a common feature in ancient India long before the rest of the world.
"Our epic Mahabharata describes the first duty of citizens as choosing their own leader. Our sacred vedas speak of political power being exercised by broad-based consultative bodies. There are also many historical evidences of republic states in ancient India where rulers were not hereditary," Modi said.
"India indeed is the mother of democracy. Democracy is not just a structure, it is also a spirit. It is based on the belief that the needs and aspirations of every human being are equally important. That is why in India, our guiding philosophy is 'Sabka saath, sabka vikas', meaning striving together for inclusive growth," he said.
"Whether it is our effort to fight climate change through lifestyle changes, to conserve water through distributed storage or provide clean cooking fuel to everyone, every initiative is powered by collective efforts of citizens of India. During Covid-19, India's response was people-driven," the prime minister added.
Modi said the country's 'vaccine maitri' initative was also guided by the mantra' of 'vasudeva kutumbakam', meaning 'one earth, one family and one future'. PTI
16:16 Six cops shifted after Amritpal's Jalandhar escape
The Punjab government on Wednesday shifted six police officials, including the senior superintendent of police Jalandhar (Rural), in Jalandhar district, where radical preacher Amritpal Singh escaped the police dragnet earlier this month.
Three officers posted in other districts were also transferred in the reshuffle. According to an official order, Punjab Police Services (PPS) officer Swarandeep Singh, who was the SSP Jalandhar (Rural), has been posted as deputy commissioner of police (investigation) in Amritsar. Mukhwinder Singh, who was DCP (Investigation), Amritsar, has been posted as SSP Jalandhar (Rural). PPS officer Manjit Kaur, who was Superintendent of Police (headquarters) Jalandhar Rural has been posted as superintendent (SP), Kapurthala, as per the order.
The Punjab Police had launched a crackdown against Amritpal and members of his pro-Khalistan 'Waris Punjab De' outfit on March 18. He, however, escaped the police dragnet in Jalandhar district, switching vehicles and changing appearances. The police operation began about three weeks after Amritpal and his supporters stormed into the Ajnala police station near Amritsar to secure the release of an arrested man. PTI
15:51 SC: Hate speeches can end if politicians...
The Supreme Court on Wednesday took serious exception to hate speeches and said the moment politics and religions are separated and politicians stop using religion in politics, such speeches will go away.
The top court said hate speeches are being made by fringe elements and people should restrain themselves.
A bench of justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna referred to speeches of former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, saying people from remote areas and nook and corner used to gather to hear them. Wondering against how many people can courts initiate contempt action, the bench said why cannot the people of India take a pledge to not vilify other citizens or communities.
"Every day fringe elements are making speeches to vilify others including on TV and public forums," the bench said while hearing a contempt petition against various state authorities for failing to register FIRs against those making hate speeches.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also pointed out a derogatory speech made in Kerala by a man against a particular community and questioned that petitioner Shaheen Abdullah has selectively pointed out the incidents of hate speeches in the country. PTI
15:41 Adani says $2.15 bn share-backed loans paid off
Billionaire Gautam Adani-led promoter group has paid off all of the USD 2.15 billion loans taken pledging their shares in the conglomerate, and only debt at operating company level remains, Adani Group said seeking to assure investors of its ability to repay debt.
Adani Group in a statement termed reports of the group not completing repayment of USD 2.15 billion share-backed debt "baseless and deliberately mischievous." "Adani has completed full prepayment of margin linked share-backed financing aggregating to USD 2.15 billion (as was announced on March 12) and all corresponding shares pledged for those facilities have been released," it said.
While "all share-backed facilities availed by the promoters have been paid off", residual pledges pertain to debt taken by operating companies, it said.
"After such repayment, pledge positions for Adani Green, Adani Ports, Adani Transmission and Adani Enterprises have reduced substantially, and only residual share pledges corresponding to Operating Company (OpCo) facilities remained outstanding," it said.
OpCo debts are availed by respective companies and are part of their existing debt structure, and no new OpCo facilities have been availed since the January 24 damning report of a US short-seller.
The statement came after reports cited exchange filings showing banks not releasing a large portion of the promoters' shares held as collateral to suggest that the debt hasn't been fully paid off. Adani said OpCo secured various facilities based on the security of project assets, project cash flow and other such collaterals.
"In addition to such security, listed shares have been provided as additional collateral for these OpCo liabilities for additional lender comfort. Such facilities do not have covenants like cash margin calls, share price linked put option, etc. which exist in share backed financing."
15:32 BJP ever-ready party: Bommai on K'taka polls
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday exuded confidence in winning the state Assembly polls slated to take place on May 10 and said that the BJP is an "ever-ready party" which is prepared for the elections.
The Election Commission of India announced the schedule for the Karnataka Assembly polls today. Chief Election Commissioner said that the polling will take place on May 10 and the counting of votes will be done on May 13.
Speaking to the reporters after the announcement of dates, Bommai said that the party will return to power on the basis of the work it has done for the public.
"The ECI has declared the election dates. Election Commission has announced the dates. Polls will take place on 10th May & results will be announced on 13th May. BJP is an ever-ready party with strong organisation and we are prepared for the polls. We have done a lot of Abhiyan (campaigns) where the response of the people was tremendous. The double-engine government has done a good job in terms of infrastructure and others. People cutting across all sections have shown a great deal of support. I am sure that on May 13, BJP will get an absolute majority," he said. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said that the BJP is ready for the elections.
"DK Shivakumar (Karnataka Congress President) is following big Congress leaders when it comes to corruption. BJP is ready for Karnataka elections and BJP will form a government with absolute majority once again in the state," he said. -- PTI
15:15 Cong must be elder brother of Oppn: Mehbooba
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday asked Congress to act like an "elder brother" and create space for opposition parties in their fight for democracy.
"Congress will have to behave like an elder brother. It should not choke space, it should create space for other opposition parties, which have been its alliance partners in the past, to save the democracy in the country," Mufti told reporters at PDP office in Srinagar.
The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said the current struggle was not only about disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha but for the very survival of democracy in the country. "The country is passing through a critical situation and it is a do to die situation. It is not just about the survival of Rahul Gandhi, it is about the survival of democracy, " she said.
"Be it judiciary, media or executive, all the pillars of democracy are shaken," she said. The PDP president said the assault on democracy started in 2018 when opposition parties -- NC, Peoples Democratic Party, and Congress -- were not allowed to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir despite having a majority. "That time the fax machine was made the scapegoat. But the other opposition parties did not react to it the way they should have," Mufti added. PTI
14:51 NCLAT upholds Rs 1,337-cr fine against Google
The NCLAT on Wednesday upheld the order of the fair trade regulator CCI imposing a penalty of Rs 1,337.76 crore on Internet giant Google. A two-member bench of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) directed Google to implement the direction and deposit the amount in 30 days.
The NCLAT bench comprising Chairperson Justice Ashok Bhushan and Member Alok Shrivastava also done some modifications to the CCI order. It also rejected Google's plea that there was a violation of natural justice by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in the probe.
On October 20 last year, the CCI slapped a penalty of Rs 1,337.76 crore on Google for anti-competitive practices in relation to Android mobile devices. The regulator also ordered the Internet major to cease and desist from various unfair business practices.
This ruling was challenged before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), which is an appellate authority over the orders passed by the CCI. -- PTI
14:43 Cuteness alert! Kuno cheetah gives birth to 4 cubs
Four cubs have been born to one of the cheetahs translocated to India from Namibia, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Wednesday. He termed it a momentous event in India's wildlife conservation history during 'Amrit Kaal'.
"I am delighted to share that four cubs have been born to one of the cheetahs translocated to India on 17th September 2022, under the visionary leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi ji (sic)," he tweeted.
The minister congratulated the entire team of Project Cheetah for their relentless efforts in bringing back the large carnivore to India and for their efforts in correcting an ecological wrong done in the past.
Under the ambitious Cheetah reintroduction programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had released the first batch of eight spotted felines -- five females and three males -- from Namibia into a quarantine enclosure at Kuno in Madhya Pradesh on his 72nd birthday on September 17 last year.
One of the Namibian cheetahs, Sasha, had died due to a kidney-related ailment on Monday, forest and wildlife officials in Madhya Pradesh said. In a second such translocation, 12 cheetahs were flown in from South Africa and released into Kuno on February 18.
Cheetah is the only large carnivore that got completely wiped out from India due to over-hunting and habitat loss. The last cheetah died in Koriya district of present-day Chhattisgarh in 1947 and the species was declared extinct in 1952. PTI
14:35 All is well, says Raut after meeting Sonia, Rahul
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday met former Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and said "everything is fine", signalling an end to the row over V D Savarkar.
The Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena was upset over Rahul Gandhi's strident attack of Savarkar, a revolutionary leader revered in Maharashtra, leading to friction in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi coalition with the Congress and NCP in the state.
NCP supremo Sharad Pawar had asked Rahul Gandhi to tone down the criticism of Savarkar and reminded the Congress leader that the real fight of the opposition parties was with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. "Met Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Many important issues were discussed. Everything is fine. There is nothing to worry," Raut said on Twitter.
Raut had spoken with Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday after the intervention by Pawar.
"The opposition is united in Maharashtra as well as in the country," Raut said to questions about opposition unity in Maharashtra. On Tuesday, Raut said he had raised the Savarkar issue in his talks with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi and MVA partners are on the same page on this matter.
"MVA alliance is intact. If anyone thinks the MVA will break apart, they are wrong," Raut said.
Gandhi is learnt to have assured Raut he would avoid any critical reference to Savarkar. Pawar raised the issue during a meeting of opposition leaders convened by Kharge on Monday and made it clear that targeting Savarkar would not help the MVA.
As the BJP stepped up attack on Rahul Gandhi and sought his apology for "maligning" India on his recent visit to the UK, the former Lok Sabha member from Wayanad said at a press conference on Saturday that he was not Savarkar and would not apologise.
Former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had slammed Gandhi for his attack on Savarkar and said his outfit will not tolerate any insult of the freedom fighter. The Thackeray faction had skipped the meeting convened by Kharge as a mark of protest against Gandhi's remarks targeting Savarkar. PTI
Several people across India have opened up their homes for Rahul Gandhi
14:00 Plea challenging Rahul Gandhi's conviction ready
A petition challenging Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's conviction and sentencing by a trial court in Surat in a defamation case is ready and is likely to be filed very soon, sources said on Wednesday.
The party's top legal advisors are working on the review petition which will be filed before the Surat sessions court in a day or two, they added. Gandhi was convicted and was given a two-year sentence in the 2019 defamation case over his remarks on Modi surname, following which he was disqualified as MP of Lok Sabha.
The Congress has said that it will fight the matter both politically and legally and will take the issue to the public.
Congress Whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore said the government has deliberately disqualified Rahul Gandhi under a well-planned conspiracy to not allow him to attend Parliament during this budget session.
"This is a totally false case and his disqualification has come to keep him away from Parliament. But, we will fight it both legally and politically," he told reporters outside Parliament. -- PTI
13:50 Rahul visits Cong's office in Parl House complex
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday visited the party's office in the Parliament House complex and met some members there. Gandhi spent around 20 minutes at the party office and met Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and others. He later left along with his mother and Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi for lunch.
Congress leaders K C Venugopal and Adhir Ranjan Chowdury were also present at the party's parliamentary office. Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha after his conviction and two-year sentence by a Surat court in a defamation case pertaining to his comments on Modi surname.
13:40 EC: Looking into AAP's national status issue
The Election Commission on Wednesday said it is looking into the issue of according the national status to the Aam Aadmi Party.
"It is under review... We will soon come back to you," Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar told a press conference when asked about the issue.
The Arvind Kejriwal-led party's electoral performances last year paved the way for it to be recognised by the Election Commission as a national party.
To earn a national party status, a political outfit needs to be recognised as state party in four states and have at least two members in the respective legislative assemblies, according to the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) order,1968. And in order become eligible to be recognised as the state party, a political outfit has to win two seats and secures a minimum six per cent votes in the state. There are other criteria also to earn the national party status.
The AAP has been recognised as a state party Delhi, Punjab, Goa and Gujarat. The AAP stormed to power in Punjab winning 92 of the 117 assembly seats, recording a stupendous victory in the state assembly polls last year. It was anyway already recognised as a state party in the state.
In Goa, it bagged two seats and secured an overall vote share of 6.77 per cent, leading to its recognition as a state party in the coastal state. By the end of the 2022, the AAP's national ambition got wings as it won five seats and secured an overall vote share of 13 percent in the Gujarat assembly polls, which was enough for the AAP to be recognised as the state party. PTI
Raj Bhavan, Kolkata
13:37 Bengal's Raj Bhavan decides to open doors to public
In a historic move, the Raj Bhavan has decided to open its doors to the common people, a senior official said on Wednesday. Governor C V Ananda Bose handed over a symbolic key of the Raj Bhavan to President Droupadi Murmu, who passed it on to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a dinner hosted on Monday evening, he said.
However, the date of opening of the governor's official residence for the common people and the daily timing is yet to be known.
The Raj Bhavan will soon start a 'heritage walk' on the premises, a statement issued by the governor's resident said.
"On Monday, Governor Bose hosted a dinner at the Raj Bhavan in honour of the President where the Chief Minister was also present. The President then handed over a symbolic key to her.
"The key signified the concept of Jan Raj Bhavan in place of Raj Bhavan being an exclusive seat of power as conceived by the colonialists," it said, adding Bose had earlier handed over the key to Murmu. The governor also presented a coffee table book -- '100 days & Beyond' -- to Murmu to mark her maiden visit to West Bengal as the President. -- PTI
13:27 Akhilesh, Arif not allowed to meet sarus at UP zoo
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Amethi man Arif Khan Gurjar, who cared for an injured sarus crane for a year before it was taken away by forest officials much to his dismay, were not allowed to see the bird at the Kanpur zoo with officials telling them it was under quarantine.
The crane lived with Gurjar in Amethi district's Mandkha village "like a family member" for months. But last Tuesday, forest officials shifted it to the Samaspur Bird Sanctuary in Rae Bareli so that it could live in its "natural environment". It was subsequently moved to the zoo here.
Yadav, during his Kanpur visit on Tuesday, went to the zoo with Arif to see the bird but they returned disappointed.
The Samajwadi Party chief was told that the bird is under 15-day quarantine and a team of doctors is keeping a close watch on its health, a senior forest department official said, requesting anonymity.
The official, however, added the two spent about an hour there and saw the sarus on CCTV screens.
The SP chief criticised the government for taking away the bird from Arif and sending a legal notice to him.
"I went to meet Irfan Solanki, he was shifted to Maharajganj jail. I went to meet sarus, and it was sent to Kanpur zoo," Yadav said. "Action is being taken against those whom I meet. Now, I am thinking of meeting high-profile people."
He also suggested Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath establish a safari for bulls instead of sarus or reindeers.
"If the bird is sent to Etawah from Kanpur, I would be happy as there are lots of sarus cranes there," Yadav told reporters. Etawah is his home town.
13:08 EC 'not in hurry' for Wayanad bypoll
The Election Commission on Wednesday said there was no hurry to declare byelection to the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat as the trial court has given Rahul Gandhi, who was disqualified as member, one month to file an appeal.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said the poll panel has taken decisions on vacancies that have occurred till February. Addressing a press conference here, the CEC said the trial court in Surat has given Rahul Gandhi 30 days too seek a judicial remedy the matter.
"There is no hurry, we will wait. There is not hurry to do it before exhausting that particular remedy which the trial court had accorded. We will take a call after that," Kumar said.
He said the vacancy in the Wayanad parliamentary party was notified on March 23 this year and as per the law, a bypoll has to be conducted within six months.
Kumar said the law also states that if the remainder of the term was less than one year, then the election will not be held. The CEC said that in the case of Wayanad, the remainder of the term is more than a year. PTI
12:53 Mamata begins 2-day dharna against Centre
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday started her two-day sit-in demonstration in Kolkata to protest the BJP-led Union government's alleged discriminatory attitude against the state.
Banerjee, accompanied by senior party leaders Firhad Hakim, Aroop Biswas, Subrata Bakshi and Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, reached the venue in front of Dr B R Ambedkar's statue on Red Road around noon and started her protest against the Centre's alleged stopping of funds to the state for MGNREGA and other schemes of the housing and road departments.
The sit-in demonstration will continue till Thursday evening.
"The Centre has stopped releasing funds for MGNREGA and Indira Awas Yojana (Grameen). Besides, it has also stopped scholarships for OBC students," she said on Tuesday, while launching a project to construct 12,000 km of rural roads. She alleged that the Centre has not released over Rs 7,000 crores pending under MGNREGA despite West Bengal topping the list of states in completing the work under the initiative. Earlier, she had alleged that West Bengal had not received its due from the Centre and even in this year's budget, there was nothing for the eastern state.
"Hence, in protest against the Centre's discrimination against West Bengal, I, as the chief minister, will stage a sit-in demonstration in front of the statue of Dr B R Ambedkar in Kolkata from March 29 and continue it till the evening of March 30," she had said. -- PTI
12:50 Average increments to drop to 9.1% in 2023: Study
Average increments are likely to drop to 9.1 per cent this year in almost all sectors following inflation, higher interest rates and a slowdown in the economy, according to a study.
The average increment in 2022 was 9.4 per cent, Deloitte India Talent Outlook 2023 stated on Wednesday. The study found that in 2023 increments are expected to be lower across almost all sectors, compared to 2022 actual increments.
While the Life Sciences sector is expected to witness the highest increments in 2023, the IT sector will likely witness a major drop in increments as compared to last year, the study said. Additionally, attrition in India reached 19.7 per cent in 2022, up from 19.4 per cent in 2021, it stated.
"The significant attrition levels across industries in late 2021 continued until early 2022. We saw Indian organisations budgeting the highest increment in 2022 over the last four years. What they also did was hire aggressively. This led to employee costs rising faster than revenue growth over the last 34 years in almost every other company.
"Stubborn inflation, higher interest rates, and a slowing economy are likely to make organisations more cautious this year. We expect increments and attrition to witness lower trends in 2023, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP (Deloitte India) Partner Anandorup Ghose said. -- PTI
12:26 On Shivakumar distributing money Bommai says...
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday slammed Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar saying that he is blatantly using all kinds of power to influence the upcoming elections in the state after the congress leader on Tuesday was seen throwing Rs 500 currency notes in Mandya district.
While speaking to the ANI, Chief Basavaraj Bommai said, "DK Shivakumar does everything and blatantly uses all kinds of power and then he blames us. This is his kind of thing".
He further stated that the public of Karnataka will reject him in the upcoming elections. "This act of DK Shivakumar shows that Congress thinks that the people of Karnataka are beggars but the people will teach them. People are the real owners," he said.
Earlier on Tuesday Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar was seen throwing Rs 500 currency notes on the artists from the top of the bus near Bevinahalli in Mandya district during the 'Praja Dhwani Yatra' organized by Congress in Srirangapatna.
Ahead of the announcement of the Karnataka Assembly elections schedule, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said that the BJP is ready for the polls and confident of returning to power with a huge majority.
"The party and the government are absolutely ready for the elections. Preparations are already underway. We are sure to come back to power with a huge majority," CM Bommai said. -- ANI
12:22 Karnataka votes on May 10, results on May 13
Update: Assembly elections in Karnataka will be held on May 10 and the results will be declared on May 13, the Election Commission announced on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference here, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said the notification for the elections to the 224-member assembly will be issued on April 13 and the last date for filing nomination papers will be April 20.
Kumar said the nomination papers will be scrutinised on April 21 and the last date for withdrawal of nominations will be April 24. Kumar said the elections have been scheduled on a Wednesday, and not on a Monday or Friday, to encourage greater participation of voters. The ruling BJP and Congress have already launched spirited campaigns for the elections. PTI
11:50 No relief to WB CM in disrespect of national anthem
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday refused to grant any relief to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in a complaint seeking action against her for allegedly disrespecting the national anthem at an event in Mumbai in 2022.
A single bench of Justice Amit Borkar dismissed the application filed by Banerjee challenging a sessions court's order of January 2023 remitting the matter back to the magistrate's court for inquiry and on the issue of issuance of summons.
Banerjee in her application said the sessions court, instead of quashing the summons and remitting the matter, ought to have quashed the entire complaint. Justice Borkar, however, noted there was illegality in the sessions court's order and hence the HC need not interfere.
A magistrate's court in March 2022 issued a summons to Banerjee on the complaint filed by activist Vivekanand Gupta alleging that during a public function at Yashwantrao Chavan Auditorium at Cuffe Parade in Mumbai, Banerjee had started singing the National Anthem in the sitting position, and later standing up and singing two verses before abruptly stopping and leaving the venue.
The West Bengal chief minister had challenged the summons before the special court. In January 2023, Special Judge R N Rokade set aside the summons issued by the magistrate on procedural grounds and asked the magistrate to consider the complaint afresh.
In her application in the HC, Banerjee challenged this order claiming that the summons ought to have been quashed instead of directing the magistrate to consider the same afresh.
Gupta in his complaint claimed that Banerjee's acts amounted to an insult and disrespect to the national anthem, and hence they are an offence under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act of 1971. He had lodged a complaint in the Cuffe Parade police station but moved the court of the metropolitan magistrate after the police failed to take any action. PTI
11:33 Report on repayment of loans vs shares fake: Adani
The Adani Group refuted the news report published by The Ken, a digital publication, which claimed that the conglomerate had not completed the repayment of USD 2.15 billion in share-backed debt.
According to the conglomerate, the claims in the media report were baseless and deliberately mischievous.
In a release on Tuesday evening, Adani reiterated that it had completed full prepayment of margin linked share backed financing, aggregating to USD 2.15 billion and all corresponding shares pledged have been released.
Adani Group also shared data on pledge positions for its various listed companies. From December 31, 2022, to March 27, 2023, data showed its pledge position in Adani Green, Adani Ports, Adani Transmission, and Adani Enterprises declined substantially.
In continuation of the promoters' commitment to repay the promoter leverage, the Adani Group earlier this month completed the full prepayment of margin linked share backed financing aggregating to USD 2.15 billion, well before its committed timeline.
Gautam Adani
11:18 Adani Enterprises jumps over 5%
All the ten listed Adani Group stocks were trading in the positive territory on Wednesday after two days of decline.
Shares of Adani Enterprises jumped 5.46 per cent, Adani Power climbed 4.98 per cent, Adani Ports (4.70 per cent), Adani Wilmar (4.22 per cent) and Adani Green Energy (4.15 per cent) on the BSE. The stock of NDTV advanced 3.73 per cent, Adani Transmission went up by 2 per cent, Adani Total Gas (2 per cent), Ambuja Cements (1.94 per cent) and ACC (1.92 per cent).
Shares of all the ten listed firms of Adani Group ended lower for the second day in a row on Tuesday, with Adani Enterprises tumbling 7 per cent.
The group stocks were down on Tuesday amid reports on debt payment not matching with pledged shares data. Adani Group CFO Jugeshinder Robbie Singh on Tuesday said stock exchanges update data on promoter share pledges at the end of the quarter, as he tried to clarify on present data not matching with the conglomerate's statement of repaying all the USD 2.15 billion of share-backed debt.
Singh termed reports suggesting that the company's March 7 and March 12 announcements did not match with the information available on stock exchanges "deliberate misrepresentation".
"...they know that relevant exchanges will update end of quarter," he said in a Twitter post. "The deliberate subterfuge will be clear to all once exchanges update the data post end of quarter."
On March 12, the conglomerate stated that it had repaid USD 2.15 billion of loans that were taken by pledging promoter shares. In a January 24 report, US short-seller Hindenburg Research flagged "substantial" debt levels at the group while alleging accounting fraud and the use of offshore shell companies to inflate stock prices. The group has denied all Hindenburg allegations, calling them "malicious", "baseless" and a "calculated attack on India". PTI
10:58 Wait for US visitor's visa interview falls by 60%
The wait time for a US visitor's visa interview in India has been reduced by 60 per cent this year, a senior official has said, attributing it to the slew of steps taken by the Biden administration, including opening more diplomatic missions in India and abroad to process these applications.
India was one of the very few countries where applications for US visas saw a major upswing after coronavirus-related travel restrictions were lifted.
There have been growing concerns in India over the long waiting period for first time visa applicants, especially for those applying under B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) categories. The waiting period of first time B1/B2 visa applicants in India was close to 1,000 days in October last year. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Services Julie Stufft told PTI that the goal of the State Department is to get to 1 million visas issued this year, which would be above the pre-pandemic number.
"We have increased the number of officers going to India. We have set up arrangements, which is unprecedented, with other embassies in the world like Bangkok to take Indians who are seeking visas. We are opening a new consulate in Hyderabad... and we're just focused on making sure that we can bring the wait time down in India," she said.
Stufft noted that Frankfurt, London and Abu Dhabi have taken a lot of Indian citizens who are seeking visas. "We have asked these missions to take Indians as if they were from their own host country. Especially in places like Bangkok where there is no visa required for Indians and it is a relatively short flight. Obviously this is not ideal. We want Indians to be able to apply in India, and that's where we'll get to," she said.
More than 100 US diplomatic missions have been issuing visas to Indians.
"As a result of all of these efforts, the visitor visa interview wait time has decreased by 60 per cent just in the last couple of months. This is a result of all the work that we've put into making sure that Indians who wish to travel to the US can do so," she explained.
The US Embassy in India has said that with the lifting of Covid-related travel restrictions, the mission has made it a priority to facilitate legitimate travel and adjudicated over 8,00,000 non-immigrant visas in 2022, including record numbers of both student and employment visas.
"In every other visa category, interview wait times in India are at pre-pandemic levels or lower," the embassy said in a statement in January this year. Stufft said that currently "visa production in India is 40 per cent higher than what it was before the pandemic", asserting that the State Department was working hard to bring down the wait time.
In February, the US had the highest on-record production of visas in India. "Our team there is working very hard and they're well on their way to accomplishing the 1 million visa goal," Stufft said.
In addition to the visitor's visa, the State Department official said they are working on other types of visas including student visas. "Because we have been able to expand interview waivers, meaning fewer Indians need to come to the embassy or consulate for an interview, we can process that without seeing the applicant. That has helped us tremendously because we have had consular officers in dozens of countries who are actually remotely processing these Indian visas," Stufft said.
This has made it possible for people who don't need an interview and those who have travelled to the US before to get their visa in a record time of less than two weeks, she said. -- PTI
10:54 Another house offer for Rahul Gandhi
NN Ojha, a retired civil servant, offers his house in the hills to Rahul Gandhi. "I know @RahulGandhi has millions of offers if he has to vacate 12 Tughlaq lane. Still I wish to add my humble offer. My Mirik cottage in the serene #Darjeeling hills has all basic comforts and nature's bounty. Is self contained. You are welcome to stay as long as you wish."
Mirik is near Darjeeling.
10:47 Covid daily positivity rate 1.51%
Update: India recorded a single-day rise of 2,151 new coronavirus cases, the highest in five months, while the active cases increased to 11,903, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Wednesday.
A total of 2,208 cases were recorded on October 28 last year. The COVID-19 death toll has increased to 5,30,848 with seven latest fatalities -- three reported by Maharashtra, one by Karnataka and three reconciled by Kerala. According to the data updated at 8 am, the daily positivity was recorded at 1.51 per cent, while the weekly positivity was pegged at 1.53 per cent.
The total tally of Covid cases was recorded at 4.47 crore (4,47,09,676) The active cases now comprises 0.03 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.78 per cent, according to the ministry website.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,66,925, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.65 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive. -- PTI
10:33 Now, Digvijaya Singh offers his home to Rahul
Senior Congress leader from Madhya Pradesh Digvijaya Singh on Wednesday said Rahul Gandhi, who was served a notice to vacate the government bungalow in Delhi post his disqualification as a Lok Sabha MP, can stay in his residence.
Singh, a Rajya Sabha MP, said the entire country is like a family for Gandhi who has a "liberal heart". "For people like you having a liberal heart, the entire country is your family. The feeling of Vasudhaiva kutumubakam (universe as a family) is the basic character of our country," Singh tweeted with hashtag #MeraGharApkaGhar. "Rahulji my house is your house and I welcome you. I will consider myself lucky if you come and stay," he said.
Singh has an official residence in New Delhi. Gandhi was on Monday asked to vacate the government bungalow allotted to him by April 22 following his disqualification as the Wayanad MP after his conviction in a criminal defamation case by a court last week.
The Housing Committee of the Lok Sabha took this decision following which the secretariat of the House wrote to the former Congress president, a Z-plus protectee who has been living in the 12, Tughlaq Lane bungalow since 2005. PTI
10:29 The attack on the Center for Policy Research
"This is what is happening with the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi which I had the privilege of visiting in the autumn of 2022.When I arrived in Delhi it had just been raided by the tax authorities. Researchers had had their laptops and phones impounded."
Read the column here.
10:24 India's Covid cases highest in five months!
India sees single day rise of 2,151 fresh COVID-19 cases, highest in five months: Health ministry. With the Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.16 causing yet another spurt in new Covid cases, Maharashtra health authorities have appealed to the public to take precautionary doses. As many as 17.5 crore Covid vaccine doses have been administered across Maharashtra. However, to date, less than a crore have taken booster shots.
10:10 Amit Shah to visit Mizoram on April 1
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will undertake a day-long visit to Mizoram on April 1 during which he will inaugurate and lay foundation stone of development projects worth Rs 2,414 crore, officials said.
Shah will inaugurate the Assam Rifles battalion headquarters complex at Zokhawsang and the integrated command and control centre under the smart city limited.
The home minister will lay the foundation stone for construction of Zorinpui- Longmasu section of the National Highway 502A, sources said. Shah will also lay the foundation stone of the construction of two sections of the Aizawl bypass (package 1 and package 2) and the construction of Laldenga centre.
10:00 Varanasi Cong leader opens his home to Rahul Gandhi
Senior Uttar Pradesh Congress leader Ajay Rai has symbolically dedicated his home here to former party chief Rahul Gandhi who has been asked to vacate his official bungalow in Delhi following his disqualification as Lok Sabha member.
The former MLA and his wife have put up a board at their home in the Lahurabir locality of the city which reads, "Mera ghar Shri Rahul Gandhi ka ghar (my home is Shri Rahul Gandhi's home)".
This comes after Gandhi on Tuesday replied to the Lok Sabha Secretariat's notice to vacate his official bungalow, and said he will abide by the notice.
"The dictators of the country want to snatch the residence of our leader Rahul Gandhi. But, they do not know that the houses of of crores of party workers across the country are that of Rahul Gandhi. In the city of Baba Vishwanath, we have dedicated our house in Lahurabir locality to Rahul Gandhi," Rai said.
He said that this campaign in support of Gandhi has been started in the entire Prayagraj region including Kashi.
"The Gandhi family dedicated to the nation the entire Anand Bhavan (in Prayagraj) worth crores. Sending an eviction notice (to Rahul Gandhi) is an act of cowardice on the part of the BJP," said Rai, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 and 2014 Lok Sabha polls against Modi. State Congress spokesperson Ashok Singh said Rahul Gandhi has made "a home in people's heart".
"For him, every house has opened its doors. Because Rahul Gandhi has pledged to start a shop of love in the market of hatred. My leader, my inspiration, my brother Rahul ji -- 'Mera Ghar Aapka Ghar'."
Gandhi was on Monday served a notice to vacate the government bungalow by April 22 following his disqualification as a member of Lok Sabha after his conviction in a criminal defamation case last week.
In his communication to the LS Secretariat's officer who had signed the notice, Gandhi said, "Thank you for your letter of March 27, 2023, regarding the cancellation of my accommodation at 12 Tughlak Lane. As an elected member of the Lok Sabha over the last four terms, it is the mandate of the people to which I owe the happy memories of my time spent here. "Without prejudice to my rights, I will, of course, abide by the details contained in your letter," he said in his letter to the MS branch of the LS Secretariat which had sent him the notice.
09:56 How Tharoor and Sitharaman saved a girl's life
A heartwarming story of how two MPs across party lines came together to save the life of a young girl. Especially relevant in these times where political rhetoric is at its nadir.
They are Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and BJP MP and Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Shashi Tharoor has even called the story 'A Good News Story.'
Click on the image alongside for details.
09:41 Rahul thinks it's his birthright to rule India: BJP
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as an MP. "Rahul Gandhi thinks no court can give a judgement against him. He thinks it is his birthright to rule this country," says Vaishnaw.
"Rahul Gandhi does the politics of entitlement. He thinks since he was born in a certain family, he is above the constitution, court and parliament. He also thinks that he is above the Constitution of India. insulted the OBC community and when the Court convicted him, he said that the court itself is wrong."
09:31 Congress calls meeting of MPs in Parliament
The Congress party has called a meeting of its MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Wednesday at 10:30 am in Congress parliamentary party office Parliament House to chalk out the strategy for the day.
The TMC, which backed Congress over the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as MP from Lok Sabha, will also stage a protest at Ambedkar Statue in the Parliament over the issue of 'Save Democracy'.
Congress has been demanding the constitution of a Joint Parliamentary Committee over the Adani Group issue and has also been leading the charge of the protest against Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as MP from Lok Sabha.
Meanwhile, Congress and other Opposition parties are contemplating moving a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla next week on the ground that opposition members are not being allowed to speak, the sources said on Tuesday.
As per the sources, the proposal was kept in a meeting of Congress MPs.
"Opposition parties may bring a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday. The proposal was kept in a meeting of Congress MPs. Congress is talking to other Opposition parties in this regard," the sources told ANI.
09:06 Door-to-door search for Amritpal in Hoshiarpur
The Punjab Police has launched a massive door-to-door search operation in a Hoshiarpur village following inputs that radical preacher Amritpal Singh and his aides could be in the area.
There was heavy police deployment in and around the Marnaian village here as police began the operation late on Tuesday night after some suspects abandoned their vehicle following a chase.
A team of the counterintelligence wing of the Punjab Police Tuesday evening had chased a car from Phagwara after it suspected that fugitive Amritpal and his aide could be in that vehicle, police sources said. Suspects, who are believed to be three to four, abandoned their vehicle near Gurdwara Bhai Chanchal Singh in Marnaian village in Hoshiarpur and fled, police sources said.
A cordon and search operation was launched on Tuesday night in and around the village while checkposts and barricades were raised on the roads to nab the suspects. Police late on Tuesday night had also conducted a door-to-door search operation to nab the suspects.
The Punjab Police has been on high alert after the pro-Khalistan radical preacher escaped its dragnet. Amritpal Singh remains untraceable since a police crackdown against him and members of his pro-Khalistan 'Waris Punjab De' outfit on March 18, about three weeks after he and his supporters stormed into the Ajnala police station near Amritsar to secure the release of an arrested man.
The preacher escaped the police dragnet in Jalandhar district on March 18, switching vehicles and changing appearances.
He and his associates have been booked under several criminal cases related to spreading disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, attack on police personnel and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.
A new video of Amritpal Singh with his key aide Papalpreet Singh surfaced on social media on Tuesday, showing the pro-Khalistan preacher without a turban and wearing a mask.
The undated CCTV footage, said to be from a market in Delhi, showed the fugitive walking down a street wearing dark glasses. Behind him, Papalpreet Singh could be seen walking with a bag. There is no official word from Punjab Police on the fresh footage. A senior Delhi Police official said they are probing whether the persons seen in the video are Amritpal Singh and his aide. PTI
08:56 18% hike in Mum-Pune Expressway toll from April 1
Toll for vehicles on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the first access-controlled road of the country, will increase by 18 per cent from April 1, officials of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) said.
A senior MSRDC official said on Tuesday that though the toll increases by six per cent annually, it is implemented cumulatively at 18 per cent after every three years, as laid down in a government notification of August 9, 2004.
The new toll will be Rs 320 for four-wheelers like cars and jeeps instead of the current Rs 270, and Rs 495 for vehicles like mini-bus and tempos instead of the current Rs 420, another official said.
Toll for two-axle trucks will increase to Rs 685 from the current Rs 585. For buses, it will increase to Rs 940 from Rs 797. Three-axle trucks will be charged Rs 1,630 instead of Rs 1,380 and multi-axle trucks and machinery-vehicles will have to pay Rs 2,165 instead of current Rs 1,835.
Toll would remain the same till 2030 as there would not be any revision after three years in 2026, officials said.
About 95 km long, the six-lane Mumbai-Pune Expressway was fully operationalized in 2002. Toll is collected at five toll plazas, of which ones at Khalapur and Talegaon are the main ones. Around 1.5 lakh vehicles use the Expressway everyday. PTI
08:12 EC to announce K'taka assembly poll schedule today
The Election Commission will announce the schedule for the Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections on Wednesday.
The poll panel has issued an invite to announce the election schedule at 11.30 am.
The term of the 224-member Karnataka Assembly ends on May 24
01:17 Earthmoving machine operator killed in avalanche in J-K's Kishtwar
A man was killed in an avalanche in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Tuesday, officials said.
"The man has been identified as an earchmoving machine operator, who was engaged in the clearance of snow over Sinthan Top, a popular mountain pass located between Breng Valley in Kokernag in the Anantnag district and Kishtwar district of Chenab Valley," officials added.
Earlier in February, Indian Army and J-K police, in a joint operation, rescued a man who was buried under a pile of snow after an avalanche in Kupwara.
"The man was buried under a pile of snow, and after hours of joint operation, he was rescued," officials had said.
Earlier that month, two foreign nationals were killed in an avalanche in Jammu and Kashmir's Gulmarg.
However, 19 foreign nationals and 2 local guides were rescued later.
Baramulla police informed through a statement that three teams comprising twenty-one Foreign nationals and two local guides went to Affarwat Gulmarg for skiing. -- PTI
Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com
01:12 Microsoft-owned GitHub sacks 142 staffers in India
Microsoft-owned GitHub has laid off 142 people in India, including the entire staff in its engineering division, people aware of the development said on Tuesday.
Those affected by the decision were deployed across the company's offices in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi.
When contacted, a GitHub spokesperson said the decision was part of the company's reorganisation plan.
"As part of the reorganisation plan shared in February, workforce reductions were made on Tuesday as part of difficult but necessary decisions and realignments to both protect the health of our business in the short term and grant us the capacity to invest in our long-term strategy moving forward," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that the company's focus is to ensure that GitHub is a fully-integrated platform powered by artificial intelligence for developers and customers.
"With this focus, we are consolidating certain business operations, some of which happen to be based in India, and it has resulted in role eliminations. We remain committed to serving the Indian market and these changes will not impact our customers and the 10 million (one crore) developers in India who use GitHub daily," the spokesperson said. -- PTI
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