LIVE! Sena-UBT seeks early decision on disqualification

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Thu, 25 May 2023

Sena-UBT seeks early decision on disqualification

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23:58 Sena-UBT seeks early decision on disqualification

A delegation of Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray legislators on Thursday met Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar seeking an early decision on the disqualification of MLAs who rebelled against the party.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi government under Uddhav Thackeray fell in June last year after MLAs led by Eknath Shinde rebelled and split the Shiv Sena.

Shinde then went on to become chief minister of Maharashtra with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

"We made a request as well as demand take the decision on the Supreme Court order (to expedite the hearings on disqualification of rebel MLAs). There was positive discussion and we hope there will be a hearing soon," Ambadas Danve, the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, told reporters.

The delegation led by Danve also comprised Shiv Sena-UBT MLCs Anil Parab, Vilas Potnis, MLAs Ravindra Waikar and Ramesh Korgaonkar.

In its verdict on the chain of events that led to the fall of MVA government, the Supreme Court on May 11 said it can't reinstate then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray as he chose to resign without facing the floor test.

Refusing to disqualify the 16 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, including CM Shinde, the apex court said it cannot ordinarily adjudicate disqualification petitions under the anti-defection law and directed Speaker Narwekar to take a decision on the pending matter within a reasonable period. -- PTI

The Chinese authorities are rushing to push out vaccines to combat an ongoing new wave of the coronavirus that is expected to peak in June and infect as many as 65 million people a week since the new XBB variants of the virus are evolving to overcome the immunity developed after China's abrupt departure from its 'zero Covid' policy last year, reported The Washington Post.

According to official media sources, quoted by The Washington Post, leading Chinese epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan on Monday said that two new vaccinations for the XBB omicron subvariants (including XBB. 1.9.1, XBB. 1.5, and XBB. 1.16) have been given preliminary approval.

Speaking at a biotech symposium in Guangzhou, Zhong said that three to four other vaccines will soon receive approval, but he gave no further information.

The new outbreak may be the greatest wave of illnesses ever recorded since China's stringent zero-Covid programme was abandoned last winter, which resulted in up to 85 per cent of the population being sick at the time.

Although there was an increase in infections in the United States as a result of the new variations, the public health emergency was nevertheless proclaimed to be over on May 11 even though specialists have not ruled out the possibility of new variants causing another wave of illnesses in the years to come, according to The Washington Post.

Officials in China claim that the current wave will be less severe, but public health experts believe that to avoid another surge in mortality among the massive elderly population of the nation, a vigorous vaccination booster programme and a ready supply of antivirals in hospitals are essential.

Another epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kong's School of Public Health, "The number of infections will be less. The severe cases will certainly be less, and deaths will be less, but that could still be a large number," adding, "Even when we think this is a milder wave, it could still be quite a substantial health impact on the community."

According to the Beijing Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the variations have increased the number of cases since last month, with Covid surpassing the flu as the most prevalent infectious disease over the final two weeks of April.

The public has been reassured by health experts that reinfections have milder symptoms and that hospitals won't be overloaded as they were during the previous winter.

Some medical facilities have recommended residents wearing masks and stay away from busy areas if they are old or immunocompromised, as per The Washington Post.

Even still, restrictions similar to those that existed during the zero-Covid era, when China tried to stop any illnesses, have not been reinstated, and the majority of citizens seem to be going about their daily lives as usual.

Olivia Zhang, 33, who works at an amusement park in Beijing said that he feel like the impact of has not been that big, adding, "But they will only be out for a short time before coming back to work. No one is scared of being around them."

Several online complaints have surfaced of a university in Nanjing forcing students testing positive to quarantine in dorms. Other students posted online that they were self-quarantined at school so as to not infect their family members at home, The Washington Post reported. -- ANI

22:22 'Kerala Story' screened in lone Bengal theatre

The Kerala Story movie is being screened in only one theatre in West Bengal but it is evoking a good response from the audience, an official of the Eastern India Motion Picture Association (EIMPA) said on Thursday.

The Supreme Court on May 18 set aside the West Bengal government's ban on screening of the controversial movie in the state.

The Mamata Banerjee administration, while imposing the ban on May 8, had cited fears that the movie, if screened in theatres, could fan communal passions.

While theatre owners in other halls have not shown the willingness to show the movie, a cinema hall in Bongaon town in North 24 Parganas district near the India-Bangladesh border is screening the movie since May 20, with a disclaimer that the 'narratives are based on fictional accounts'.

"Sreema Cinema Hall on Ramnagar Road in Bongaon, around 75 km from Kolkata, is screening the movie but we do not have knowledge whether any other theatre in the state is showing the film," the office-bearer of EIMPA, the apex body of cinema hall owners and distributors of the eastern region, told PTI.

After the state government imposed the ban on the film's screening, around 60 halls showing it started allotting its slots to other Bengali, Hindi and English movies and now, barring one, all cite the inability to resume screening, he said.

"We offered them several time slots but they did not show any inclination to screen the film," he said.

Satadip Saha, on behalf of the film's distributors SSR Cinema, said, "The movie is being screened in only one theatre despite us assuring the hall owners that they would not face any legal hurdle if they screen the movie after May 18."

Ratan Saha, chairman of the exhibition section of EIMPA, in an earlier letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, wrote, 'Currently cinema halls are struggling as audiences are not coming to theatres in large numbers. However, The Kerala Story had a successful three-day run giving some relief to the hall owners. So, I request you to make arrangements to facilitate the screening of the film in the state for the interest of cinema.'

Ratan Saha, who is also a co-owner of Ajanta Cinema in South Kolkata, said, 'It is up to the respective hall owner to take the decision (to screen the movie), the EIPMA cannot ask them to. As far as I know, the distributors are ready if any other hall owner shows interest.'

The movie's director Sudipto Sen, in a press conference in Kolkata on May 19, had claimed that many hall owners have informed him that they were threatened and asked not to screen the film.

He had said that the movie will certainly be released on OTT platforms later but it was 'meant for viewing on the large screen'. -- PTI

Ashish Vidyarthi

22:03 Ashish Vidyarthi weds entrepreneur Rupali Barua

Veteran actor Ashish Vidyarthi, 60, recently tied the knot for the second time with Rupali Barua.

Reportedly, the marriage took place on Thursday in Kolkata and was an intimate ceremony.

A few pictures of the newly married couple have gone viral on social media in which the actor could be seen dressed up as a groom in an off-white.

Complementing him, Rupali opted for a white and golden traditional sari completed with some gold jewellery.

Rupali hails from Guwahati and is an entrepreneur. She is known for her upscale fashion store in Kolkata, as per several reports.

Ashish was previously married to Rajoshi Barua who is the daughter of actor Shakuntala Barua.

Soon after the pictures of the newly married couple surfaced online several social media users swamped the comment section and dropped congratulatory messages.

Meanwhile, Ashish, who is popularly known for his villainous roles in several hit Bollywood films like Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, Bichhoo, Haseena Maan Jayegi, Bhai, Baazi and many more.

He was recently seen in Arjun Kapoor and Tabu's film Kuttey and in the web series Trial by Fire which premiered on Netflix.

Ashish is quite active on his YouTube channel, 'Ashish Vidyarthi Actor Vlogs', with 1.39 million subscribers.

Pic: Hannah McKay/Reuters

21:54 Car crashes into gate of British PM's residence

One person was arrested on Thursday after a car crashed into the gates of 10 Downing Street in London, the office-residence of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the Metropolitan Police said.

"At around 16:20hrs [local time] a car collided with the gates of Downing Street on Whitehall, the Met Police said in a statement.

"Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. There are no reports of any injuries. Enquiries are ongoing," the police said.

Officers could soon be seen winding down their operation even as most of Whitehall, the main political hub of London between Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square, was cordoned off.

Officials inside Downing Street have reportedly been asked to stay indoors and it remains uncertain whether Sunak was in his office at the time of the incident.

Meanwhile, images on social media showed a white passenger car with its boot open slammed into the gates of Downing Street, which is significantly protected with barriers and a solid double-barrel black iron gate at all times.

The ceremony to inaugurate the new Parliament building will begin with an early morning havan and a multi-religion prayer on Sunday followed by a formal opening in the Lok Sabha chamber by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Officials said the havan will be held in the Parliament premises outside the new building around 7 am, where the ceremonial sceptre Sengol will be handed over to Modi by the high priests of the Shaivite order.

The Sengol will be installed near the chair of the Speaker in the new Parliament building.

The main function of inauguration of the new Parliament building is likely to begin on Sunday noon in the presence of the prime minister, former vice president M Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh among others.

Invitations have also been extended to former prime minister Manmohan Singh, former Lok Sabha Speaker Shivraj Patil, Congress president and leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and leaders of opposition parties.

At least 21 opposition parties have announced a boycott of the inauguration function, while 25 parties -- 18 NDA constituents and seven non-NDA parties will be present at Sunday's event.

The triangular-shaped four-storey Parliament building has a built-up area of 64,500 sq m.

The building has three main gates -- Gyan Dwar, Shakti Dwar, and Karma Dwar.

The present building of the Parliament was completed in 1927, and is now 96 years old.

Over the years, the old building was found to be inadequate for present day requirements.

The new Parliament building, constructed by Tata Projects Ltd, will have a grand constitution hall to showcase India's democratic heritage, a lounge for members of Parliament, a library, multiple committee rooms, dining areas and ample parking space.

The existing building served as independent India's first Parliament and witnessed the adoption of the Constitution.

Originally called the Council House, the building housed the Imperial Legislative Council.

The Parliament building witnessed the addition of two floors in 1956 to address the demand for more space.

In 2006, the Parliament Museum was added to showcase the 2,500 years of rich democratic heritage of India.

Officials said the present building was never designed to accommodate a bicameral legislature and the seating arrangements were cramped and cumbersome, with no desks beyond the second row.

The Central Hall has seating capacity only for 440 persons and the need for more space was acutely felt during Joint sittings of both the Houses. -- PTI

20:48 Govt issues fresh rules for SPG

The Special Protection Group (SPG), the force that handles the security of the prime minister, will now be handled by an officer not less than the rank of an additional director general belonging to the Indian Police Service while junior officers will be appointed on deputation for an initial period of six years.

These parameters were fixed through a new set of rules released by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday under the Special Protection Group Act, 1988 (34 of 1988) through a gazette notification.

According to the notification, the officers of All India Services will be appointed to the SPG on deputation by the central government on the same terms and conditions as applicable to the officers of the corresponding ranks in the central government.

The SPG, as earlier, will have its headquarters in New Delhi and the director shall be appointed by the central government at a level of not less than the additional director general of police from the Indian Police Service, the notification said.

So far, it was headed by an officer of the rank of inspector general while on occasions in the past, the post was elevated to the rank of additional director general.

However, there were no fixed rules issued in this effect so far, it said.

Other members of the SPG, except the All India services officers, shall be appointed on deputation for an initial period of six years, according to the notification.

The appointment for the second tenure may be done with the prior approval of the central government for reasons to be recorded, it said.

The general superintendence, direction, command and control, supervision, training, discipline, and administration of the SPG will be vested in the director.

The director of the SPG shall be the functional head and responsible for the implementation of the duties assigned in the Act besides any other duties, orders, and instructions assigned on this behalf by the central government, the notification said.

The manner of providing assistance to the director or member of SPG in terms of provisions contained in the Act shall be specified by the central government through standard operating procedures, it said. -- PTI

Janata Dal-Secular supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on Thursday said he will be attending the inauguration of the new Parliament building in New Delhi on May 28, saying it is a property of the country and built from taxpayers' money.

The JD-S patriarch questioned whether it was the office of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for boycotting its inauguration.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to inaugurate the building on Sunday.

"I am attending the inauguration of the new Parliament building. It is the property of the country. It is not anyone's personal matter," Gowda said.

Speaking at the JD-S introspection meeting following Karnataka Assembly poll results in Bengaluru, he said it is not anyone's personal programme, it is a country's programme.

"That magnificent building was built with the tax money of the people of the country. It belongs to the country. It is not a BJP or RSS office," he said, adding he is participating in the inauguration of the new Parliament building as a former prime minister and a citizen of the country.

As of now 21 opposition parties have said they will not be attending the inauguration ceremony, primarily taking exception to Modi doing the honours rather than President Droupadi Murmu.

Stating that he has many reasons to oppose BJP politically, Gowda, according to an official release said, "I do not like to bring politics in the matter of opening the Parliament building."

"I have been elected to both houses of Parliament. I have performed duty there in the constitutional framework, and I still am a member (of the Rajya Sabya)," he said.

"I have worked to protect the values of the Constitution. Therefore, I cannot bring politics into the matter of the Constitution," he added.

Noting that many parties have boycotted the inauguration of the Parliament building and many have asked him whether he will attend it or not, being a former PM, Gowda said, "I want to tell them that I am committed to the Constitution and will go to the inauguration of the Parliament building." -- PTI

Asserting that Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term after the general elections next year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday claimed that the opposition Congress will not be able to even secure its present tally in the Lok Sabha.

Addressing a public meeting in Guwahati after ceremoniously distributing 44,703 appointment letters to successful candidates for Assam government jobs, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader alleged that the Congress has a 'negative attitude' and charged it with doing politics by boycotting the scheduled inauguration of the new Parliament building.

"Narendra Modi will become the PM again next year with over 300 seats. The Congress has lost the opposition party status and will not be able to even secure the number of seats it has presently in the Lok Sabha," he said.

"The Congress has a negative attitude. The PM will inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28 but the Congress is doing politics by boycotting it, giving an excuse that the President should inaugurate it," he said.

He claimed that there have been instances in Congress and opposition-ruled states where foundation stone of new assembly buildings were laid by respective chief ministers and Congress leaders such as Sonia and Rahul Gandhi instead of the respective governors.

"The Congress does not allow the PM to speak inside the Parliament. Indian people have given Modi the mandate to speak. Not respecting the PM is like insulting the people's mandate," he said.

Shah said that the BJP had promised to provide one lakh government jobs in Assam before the 2021 assembly polls and within two-and-half-years, 86,000 jobs have been given and the rest will be given within the next six months. -- PTI

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla

19:24 Lift Covid curbs on covering Parliament, Press Club tells Speaker

The Press Club of India on Thursday urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to lift the restrictions on media covering parliamentary proceedings that were imposed during the Covid pandemic.

In a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Press Club of India (PCI) said a large number of journalists were still being denied the opportunity to cover Parliament proceedings despite having permanent press gallery passes.

The PCI said the "superfluous" restrictions on media have "no logical basis or rationale" as the Covid situation had eased and even the World Health Organization had announced that it was no longer a global health emergency.

"...we strongly feel that these curbs are part of a wider agenda aimed at controlling the media and restricting freedom of press in order to impede free flow of independent news stories and information to the people of the largest democracy of the world," the PCI said in the letter, which came days ahead of the inauguration of the new Parliament Building on May 28.

It said the restrictions have not only impeded the media's ability to report on parliamentary proceedings but have also severed the vital line of communication between the government, media, and parliamentarians.

"...as the Covid-19 situation has substantially eased and stabilised and is getting tapered down by each passing day we earnestly appeal to you to take immediate action and restore the pre-Covid-19 situation as regards the entry of media persons into the press gallery of the new Parliament House building," the PCI said.

In line with the Budget announcement, the finance ministry on Thursday hiked the tax exemption limit for leave encashment upon retirement for private sector salaried employees to Rs 25 lakh.

So far, the tax exemption on leave encashment for non-government employees was Rs 3 lakh which was fixed in 2002, when the highest basic pay in the government was Rs 30,000 per month.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), in a statement, said the aggregate amount exempt from income tax under section 10(10AA)(ii) shall not exceed the limit of Rs 25 lakh, where any such payments are received by a non-government employee from more than one employer.

The increased limit for tax exemption on leave encashment on retirement or otherwise of non-government salaried employees to Rs 25 lakh with effect from April 1, 2023.

'In pursuance to the proposal in the Budget speech, 2023,... the central government has notified the increased limit for tax exemption on leave encashment on retirement or otherwise of non-government salaried employees to Rs 25 lakh w.e.f. 01.04.2023,' the CBDT said.

In 2023-24 Budget, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had increased the tax exemption on leave encashment on retirement of non-government salaried employees to Rs 25 lakh, from Rs 3 lakh. -- PTI

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday alleged that the opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi just because it has been built at his initiative.

Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the new building is a symbol of India's pride and appealed to the opposition parties to attend the 'historic day' of its inauguration on May 28 by showing a 'big heart'.

"We all respect the President, I don't want to drag the post of the President into any controversy today by recalling what Congress said about her. But India's prime minister is also an important part of Parliament. The prime minister also holds constitutional responsibility," he told reporters.

Prasad urged the opposition leaders not to use the boycott of the event as a platform to forge opposition unity, saying they will have more opportunities to do so.

"Mughals built Lal Quila, Jama Masjid and Humayun's Tomb. Qutab-ud-din Aibak built Qutab Minar, they claim. The British built North Block, South Block, President House which was called Viceroy House, and a Sansad Bhavan," Prasad said, and asked 'What did we built in 75 years of Independence?'

'After 75 five years of independence, why India should not get a Parliament built by Indians,' he added.

Prasad said the new Parliament building is an 'exemplary model' of Indian Vaastu Kala (architecture) and it has been built according to Indian 'sanskar'.

"I would say to the Congress leaders and other opposition leaders that you come and attend the programme. Sansad (Parliament) is the crown of the country's democracy," he said.

"Your leader, who was the first prime minister of India, was also associated with the tradition of (handing over of) the Sengol... I ask my friends in Congress to come to witness this history, historic heritage," he added.

Prasad alleged that the opposition leaders have decided to boycott the inauguration of the new parliament building as it has been built at the initiative of Prime Minister Modi.

"This is the problem," he said, adding the opposition parties had boycotted the event organised for laying the foundation of the new building.

"Have they gone to see Sardar Patel's statue of unity, where lakhs of tourists visit every week? Have they visited the world class war memorial built near India Gate to do pranam (offer tribute) to Paramveer Chakra awardees?" he asked, adding, "No, they haven't because it's built by Modi ji."

Prasad asked the opposition parties to show 'a big heart and attend the inauguration of new Parliament building, saying Prime Minister Modi has shown respect for all of his predecessors on various occasions'.

"I want to tell this country that there have been only four prime ministers in the country who were elected by the people -- first Nehru ji, second Indira Gandhi, third Atal Bihari Vajpayee and fourth Narendra Modi," he claimed.

"Rest of the PMs, I don't mean to disrespect them, but people did not elect them. Morarji Desai was also not elected by people as they had voted for Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan. In Rajiv Gandhi's time, there was a sympathy wave due to Indira Gandhi's assassination. No need for us to tell how P V Narasimha Rao, Deve Gowda, I K Gujral, Chandrashekhar, V P Singh became PM," he added. -- PTI

Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati on Thursday called the opposition parties' boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'unfair' as she welcomed the forthcoming opening.

The BSP chief said she will not be attending the inauguration on May 28 due to some other commitments, even though she has received an invitation.

Nineteen opposition parties, including the Congress, the Left, the Trinamool Congress, the Samajwadi Party, and the Aam Aadmi Party, on Wednesday announced their boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Narendra Modi, saying they find no value in the new building when the 'soul of democracy has been sucked out'.

In a series of tweets Thursday, the BSP supremo said, 'Be it the government of Congress party or now the BJP at the centre, the BSP has always supported them on issues related to the country and public interest. Rising above party politics and looking at it in this context, the party also supported the inauguration of the new building of the parliament on May 28, it is welcomed.'

She also said the opposition parties' insistence that the new building be inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu was 'unfair'.

'The government has made it, so it has the right to inaugurate it. It is also unfair to link this with the respect of a tribal woman. They should have thought of this while fielding a candidate against her instead of electing her unopposed,' she said.

'I have received the invitation for the programme dedicated to the country, that is, the inauguration ceremony of the new parliament building for which I thank and extend my best wishes. But due to my pre-scheduled engagement regarding the continuous review meetings of the party, I will not be able to attend the function,' she said.

The opposition parties in a joint statement on Wednesday had said that Modi's decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building himself was a 'grave insult' and 'direct assault' on Indian democracy. -- PTI

Representational image

18:15 26 kidnapped children rescued, traffickers arrested in Hyderabad

As many as 26 children hailing from West Bengal and Jharkhand, who were being brought to Hyderabad allegedly to work as labourers were rescued and eight "traffickers" were arrested at the Secunderabad Railway Station, the Telangana police said on Thursday.

On information that children aged between 13 and 18, with the "traffickers", were travelling on the East Coast Express en route from Vijayawada to Secunderabad, the rescue operation was carried out by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of Women Safety Wing on Wednesday, in which teams from GRP and RPF Secunderabad along with an NGO --Bachpan Bachao Andolan -- participated, an official release said.

The accused, belonging to West Bengal and Jharkhand, confessed that they were bringing the children to Hyderabad to work as labourers.

A case under IPC section 374 (unlawfully compelling any person to labour against will) was registered at the GRP Police Station in Secunderabad and further investigation is under progress, it said.

The children were produced before the Child Welfare Committee, who directed the police to provide them shelter at the Government Home for Boys, the release added.

17:49 Praveen Sood takes over as CBI director

Senior IPS officer Praveen Sood took over as the new CBI director on Thursday and he will be in the post for two years, officials said.

On his last working day, the outgoing director, Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, handed Sood the charge of the agency at its headquarters, they said.

Sood is a 1986-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Karnataka cadre and was the state's director general of police. He is the senior-most IPS officer in the country after Jaiswal.

Sood's name was cleared in a meeting of a high-powered committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

Chowdhury, a Congress leader, had reportedly given a dissent note on the selection of Sood as the next CBI director In an order, the department of personnel and training had said.

"Approval of the competent authority is hereby conveyed to the appointment of Praveen Sood, IPS (KN:86) as Director, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a period of two years from the date of assumption of charge of the office vice Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, IPS (MH:85) consequent upon completion of his tenure."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday appealed to people in Manipur to maintain peace and promised that justice will be ensured to all sections of society.

Shah while laying the foundation stone of the tenth national campus of the National Forensic Sciences University to be set Changsari area of Kamrup district, said he will travel to the northeastern state to help resolve disputes.

"I will go to Manipur soon and stay there for three days but before that, both groups should remove mistrust and suspicion among themselves and ensure that peace is restored in the state," he said.

The Centre will ensure that justice is given to all who suffered in the clashes which broke out in the state, but 'people must hold a dialogue to ensure peace in the state', Shah said.

Referring to the setting up of the NFSU campus in Guwahati, the home minister said that this will guarantee employment opportunities for all students passing these courses.

"The Centre was planning to bring legal changes to make site visits by forensic experts compulsory for crimes which attract more than six years of imprisonment," he added.

The first phase of the NFSU campus was expected to be completed by 2026 and the second by 2030 while classes will start this year at the temporary campus in Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH).

Shah also launched an interactive web portal the 'Seva Setu' of the Assam police, developed jointly with the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), which will enable people to lodge FIRs, missing persons complaints, as well as fill up online forms for tenant, paying guests and domestic help verifications, without visiting any police station. -- PTI

16:57 NCP will support Kejriwal: Sharad Pawar

"There is a crisis in the country and it's not an issue limited to Delhi. NCP and the people of Maharashtra will support Kejriwal. We will also talk to other leaders to support Kejriwal. We must focus on bringing all non-BJP parties together," says NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday called on Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar at Yashwantrao Chavan Centre in Mumbai to seek NCP's support against the Centre's ordinance on control of administrative services in the national capital.

Kejriwal was accompanied by Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, AAP MP Raghav Chadha, Delhi Minister Atishi and other leaders. The Delhi CM also met Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday.

More cheetah deaths. Two cheetah cubs have died at the Kuno National Park.

JS Chouhan, Chief Conservator of Forest Department says, "Cheetah Jwala had four cubs. Her first cub died on May 23. Today when the monitoring team visited the park, the cub looked weak, so the team called veterinary doctors and took the cub to the hospital, but after 5-10 minutes, the cub died. The cause of death is due to immense weakness. Further details of the cause can be given after post-mortem will be done."

The third cub of Cheetah Jwala also died today during monitoring while being in weak condition amid sweltering heat at Kuno National Park. She had four cubs out of which only one is alive now.

This is the sixth cheetah death in two months in Kuno.

Also read: Cheetah deaths: Worst still to come, says S African expert

The Congress on Thursday said the SEBI has asked for details of financial institutions owning certain foreign funds and asked whether the market regulator can enforce this now or it was another gesture to exonerate the Adani group.

Congress general secretary communications Jairam Ramesh, quoting a media report, also asked on Twitter whether the move is a belated PR exercise to say "we tried but failed..." and how the SEBI would complete its investigation into the Adani issue before deadline fixed by the Supreme Court.

The apex court on Wednesday granted the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) time till August 14 to complete its investigation into the allegations of stock price manipulation by the Adani group and asked the market regulator to place on record an updated status report of the probe.

"Zara Chronology Samjhiye: First, SEBI suddenly loosens ownership regulations for Foreign Portfolio Investors so as to make them opaque. Then, the Adani Group takes full advantage of this opacity tailor-made for it by its Patron Minister. Then, the 'Modani Saga' gets unravelled. Congress and other parties hammer away at need for JPC. Modi government instead settles for Supreme Court expert committee," Ramesh tweeted tagging the media report.

The Congress has been demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the Adani issue.

"The SC expert committee holds SEBI accountable for making ownership regulations non-transparent. So, SEBI in response to Congress party's persistence and expert committee's finding gets into damage control mode, asking for detail of financial institutions behind certain funds," he alleged.

The Congress leader asked, "Whether SEBI can enforce this now without getting entangled in court cases. Is it a belated PR exercise to say later -- we tried but failed, what can we do?". "And if the information is required by September, how is it expected to arrive before the Supreme Court's August 14 deadline to SEBI? Or is this is yet another token gesture at the end of which Modani gets exonerated and legitimised," Ramesh asked.

The Congress has been alleging that the Adani group has indulged in "financial malpractices" as reported by US-based short seller Hindenburg Research.

The short-seller had made a litany of allegations, including fraudulent transactions and share-price manipulation, which led to stock crash of Adani group shares.

The Adani group has, however, denied all the allegations and said there has been no wrongdoing on its part. The Congress had earlier come out with a set of 100 questions on the Adani issue and had sought answers from the prime minister, asking him to break his silence on the matter. PTI

Aviation watchdog DGCA has asked crisis-hit Go First to submit a comprehensive plan for the revival of its operations, a source said on Thursday. The budget carrier, which is undergoing a voluntary insolvency resolution process, stopped flying on May 3.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) advised the airline on May 24 to submit within a period of 30 days a comprehensive restructuring plan for a sustainable revival of operations, the source at the regulator said. Further, the watchdog has asked the airline to furnish the status of availability of operational aircraft, pilots and other personnel, maintenance arrangements and funding, among other details, the source added.

The source said the revival plan, once submitted by Go First, will be reviewed by DGCA for further appropriate action. PTI

A judge of the Delhi High Court Thursday recused herself from hearing a batch of pleas by aircraft lessors of Go First seeking directions to the authorities to release their planes leased to the crisis-hit airline.

Justice Prathiba M Singh recused herself from hearing the four petitions without assigning any reason. "Let it be listed on Friday before another judge, subject to the orders of the Chief Justice," she said.

The lessors who have approached the high court are Accipiter Investments Aircraft 2 Limited, EOS Aviation 12 (Ireland) Limited, Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 11 Limited and SMBC Aviation Capital Limited. The lessors have urged the high court to order the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to deregister their aircraft which are currently leased to Go First.

With a moratorium in force on financial obligations and transfer of assets of Go First in the wake of the insolvency resolution proceedings, the lessors are unable to deregister and take back the aircraft leased to the carrier. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had on May 10 allowed the voluntary insolvency resolution plea by Go First.

15:54 Arvind Kejriwal meets Sharad Pawar in Mumbai

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday met Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar.

Kejriwal, who is on a two-day visit to Mumbai, was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during his meeting with Pawar at Y B Chavan Centre in south Mumbai.

The top Aam Aadmi Party leader on Wednesday met former Maharashtra CM and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at the latter's Bandra home to seek support for AAP's fight against the BJP-ruled Centre's ordinance on control of services in Delhi.

On Tuesday, Kejriwal and Mann met their West Bengal peer Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata as part of their nationwide tour to garner support for the AAP's fight against the Centre's ordinance.

The Centre last Friday promulgated an ordinance to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, with the AAP government calling the move a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.

The ordinance, which comes a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre.

Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor before the May 11 verdict of the apex court.

Karnataka Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday said no discussions have taken place till now regarding banning organisations like Bajrang Dal, after the Congress government came to power in the State, and any views expressed in this regard may be personal in response to media queries.

He was responding to a question on a reported statement by his cabinet colleague Priyank Kharge that the government will ban RSS and Bajrang Dal, if the peace is disturbed by them.

"We have had no discussions regarding this, in the manifesto we had said regarding Bajrang Dal and PFI -- that in case they disturb peace, we will take action against them, even going to the extent of banning them if the need arises. Other than that the issue has not been discussed," Parameshwara said.

Speaking to reporters, he said, "Several people might have shared their personal opinion when the media asked them, but all this has to be discussed. When the situation comes, the government will discuss and decide."

Parameshwara is among the eight ministers inducted into the Siddaramaiah-led cabinet on May 20 To a query on withdrawing anti-conversion and cow slaughter laws, the minister said, all that is against the society, that disturbs peace in the society, and that is anti-people, whether it is legislations or rules, they will be reviewed.

"We have said we will give a pro-people government and we will take decisions that will provide such an administration. For that if a situation comes for us to withdraw a legislation, we will do it -- to provide a pro-people administration," he noted.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday lashed out at the Congress for objecting to the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that with such actions the opposition party will surely "fade into oblivion."

"...I find it very difficult to have an intelligent conversation with them (Congress) on that...They say something else when they meet us and something entirely different for public consumption. I think they are slowly but surely ensuring they will fade into oblivion...." Hardeep Puri told ANI.

"Agar unhone Parliament banaya hota toh innagurate kar sakte the na? (If they had built the Parliament they could have innagurated it)," Puri said.

The union minister had a day earlier in a press briefing in the national capital pointed out that In August 1975, then PM Indira Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Annexe, and later in 1987 PM Rajiv Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Library.

"If your (Congress) head of government can inaugurate them, why can't our head of government do the same?," Puri asked.

He said that the boycott of the inaugural of the Parliament building stems from "both gross and misrepresentation of the nature of the occasion."

Rakbar Khan

14:49 Four get 7 yrs jail for lynching man to death

A court in Rajasthan's Alwar on Thursday sentenced four people to seven years imprisonment for lynching Rakbar Khan on the suspicion of cow smuggling in 2018. The fifth accused in the case was acquitted due to lack of evidence.

Hearing the matter, the additional district judge court-1 held Paramjit Singh, Dharmendra Yadav, Naresh Sharma and Vijay Kumar guilty under Indian Penal Code sections 341 (wrongful restraint) and 304(1) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder, Public Prosecutor Ashok Sharma said. The court sentenced them to seven years imprisonment, he said and added that Naval Kishor was acquitted due to lack of sufficient evidence.

"IPC section 304 (1) is a part of section 302 (murder) only where there is knowledge but there is no intention to kill," Ashok Sharma said.

Lynching has been considered in the case, the public prosecutor said. Police had filed a charge sheet against Paramjeet Singh, Naresh Sharma, Vijay Kumar and Dharmendra Yadav in 2019.

Rakbar Khan and his friend Aslam were beaten up severely by a group of people on suspicion of cow smuggling in an area under the Ramgarh police station area in Alwar district on July 20, 2018. They had allegedly purchased the cows from Ladpura village and were taking them to their village in Haryana through a forested area near Lalawandi village when they were attacked by the accused. Aslam had managed to escape but Khan succumbed to injuries at a hospital. PTI

14:35 Drawing parallels with Harsh Shingla

An IFS officer, a career diplomat lays bare his opinion on Harsh Vardhan Shingla's book, Not an Accidental Rise. Shingla is Chief Coordinator for India's G20 Presidency in 2023 and has previously served as Foreign Secretary of India. Read the blog here.

14:19 K'taka Cabinet decisions done? CM leaves meet

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah leaves the war room at 15 GRG after having a meeting with Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, Congress in-charge for Karnataka -- Randeep Surjewala, and the party's general secretary KC Venugopal over the formation of the state cabinet.

The grand old party won 135 seats in the May 10 Assembly elections for the 224-member legislature. Some of the senior Congress leaders called for decisions on ministers to be based on the communities that strongly supported the party in polls.

Hence, the grand old party's decision to appoint Shivakumar as the sole deputy CM of Karnataka has brought disappointment to several community leaders. DK Shivakumar belongs to the Vokkaliga community.

13:44 Cong called sacred Sengol 'gift to Nehru': BJP

The BJP on Thursday alleged that the Congress displayed disregard for Hindu traditions by calling the sacred 'Sengol' a "golden stick gifted" to former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and tucking it away in a museum.

The ceremonial sceptre, which will be installed in the new Parliament building, was given to Nehru to symbolise the transfer of power from the British to India in August 1947. It was kept in the Nehru Gallery of the Allahabad Museum.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will now install the 'Sengol' "in the Lok Sabha, prominently close to the Speaker's podium", BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya said, asserting that it has been given its rightful place.

His remarks come a day after 20 Opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, Samajwadi Party and AAP, announced to boycott the inauguration of the building on May 28 by Modi. They said the prime minister's decision to inaugurate it by himself, "completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response".

The vesting of the "sacred 'Sengol'" with Nehru, on the eve of India's Independence, was the exact moment of transfer of power from the British to India, Malviya said. "But instead of being given the pride of its place, it was tucked away in Anand Bhavan, and called the golden stick gifted to Nehru," he said in a tweet, adding, "Such is the disdain for Hindu rituals in the Congress".

Malviya said Prime Minister Modi will now install the 'Sengol' from 1947, "in the Lok Sabha, prominently close to the Speaker's podium". It will be displayed for the nation to see, and it will be also "taken out on special occasions", he said. "It is now Sengol vs Opposition," the BJP leader added.

Made of silver with a coat of gold, the historical sceptre will be installed near the Chair of the Lok Sabha Speaker on the same day the new Parliament building is dedicated to the nation. Following the announcement of boycott by the Opposition parties, the BJP-led National Democratic alliance on Wednesday launched a sharp counterattack on the Opposition parties for their decision to boycott the new Parliament building's inauguration, slamming their stand as a "blatant affront to democratic ethos and constitutional values of our great nation".

Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday likened Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders with "loose cannons" and warned that they could not make irresponsible comments and get away with it.

Speaking on a possible rollback on the hijab ban in Karnataka, Priyank Kharge, who has been inducted into Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's cabinet as a Minister but is yet to be allocated a portfolio, today said that the party will review and if necessary reject any bill that is not in favour of the people or is unconstitutional.

"BJP has become loose cannons. They have lost the connect between their tongue and their brain. They don't think before they speak...They think they can get away with it. That is not going to happen anymore in Karnataka," Kharge, who is also the son of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said.

The Congress leader who is in Delhi today was responding to BJP leader and former State minister C N Ashwath Narayan's remarks this February ahead of the Assembly elections in the State in which he had purportedly said that Karanataka chief minister Siddaramaiah should be "finished off" like the erstwhile Mysuru Tipu Sultan.

A 13-year-old girl allegedly killed her younger sister with the help of her boyfriend and aunt and burnt the deceased's face with acid and chopped off fingers to conceal the identity in Bihar's Vaishali district, a senior police officer said on Thursday.

Police have arrested all three accused, including the minor, involved in the incident. While the 13-year-old girl has been sent to Balika Sudhar Grah' (correction home) in the district, her 18-year-old boyfriend and aunt are in judicial custody, an officer said.

Talking to reporters on Thursday, Vaishali SP Ravi Ranjan Kumar, said the incident took place on May 15 at Harprasad village when the parents of the girls had gone to a relative's village to participate in a wedding ceremony.

When the parents returned home they found their younger nine-year-old-daughter missing, Kumar said, adding the parents lodged a complaint at Jandaha police station. The local police constituted a special investigation team (SIT) and lodged a missing report which was later converted into a murder case after the recovery of the body from a field behind her home on May 19, the SP said.

During investigation, police seized the mobile phones of the accused.

"During interrogation, the girl and her boyfriend confessed to have committed the crime. The duo revealed to police that they killed the nine-year-old girl mainly because the deceased saw them in an awkward position and they feared the younger one might reveal their love affairs to her parents," the SP said.

"After murdering the younger sister with a blunt object, the accused concealed her body in a box inside the home but after three days when the body began emitting a foul smell, they dumped it into a nearby field. They also burnt the deceased's face with acid and chopped fingers to conceal her identity", said the SP. Based on technical surveillance and scientific investigation, including analysis of their call detail records, police picked up the elder sister and her boyfriend and also cross-examined them. Their interrogation revealed the mystery behind the incident.

The girl's 32-year old aunt was also arrested on the charge of helping the duo in the crime. Further investigation is on, the SP added. PTI

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said 20 "aadeenams" from Tamil Nadu have been invited for the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28, where the 'Sengol' will be installed, as did in 1947 to symbolise the power transformation from the British.

Addressing reporters in Chennai along with the Governors of Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Nagaland, she said TN has a "big proud part" to the episode of handing over of the Sengol (sceptre) to the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, symbolising the power transfer from the British to the people of India in 1947. This was done on the advice of the Tiruvavduthurai adheenam after the late CR Rajagopalachary discussed it with the Shaivite pontiff following Nehru's consultations with him.

"With the Sengol to be installed in the new Parliament building on May 28 during its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 20 'aadeenams' from Tamil Nadu, including Tiruvavaduthurai, Perur and Madurai have been invited for the event," she said.

In Tamil, the word 'Aadeenam' refers to both a Shaivite monastery and the head of such a math.

"The pontiffs will attend the event, there will be Oduvars (scholars in Shaivite scriptures and hymns) who will recite the Thevaram. In 1947 also the Sengol was handed over to Nehru when othuvargal recited Kolaru Pathigam," she said.

The same Sengol will be installed in Lok Sabha near the chair of the Lok Sabha Speaker with much reverence and it will symbolise "governance with justice and without any bias," she added. TN Governor RN Ravi, his Telangana and Nagaland counterparts, Tamilsai Soundararajan and La Ganesan, respectively, Union Minister L Murugan and TN Minister PK Sekar Babu were present. PTI

12:43 PIL in SC seeks President should open new Parl

A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction that the new Parliament building should be inaugurated by the President of India.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman urged the Opposition to attend. "It's a temple of democracy; even the PM entered the Parliament by bowing on its steps. I humbly request and appeal (to the Opposition), kindly re-think, change your stand and participate in the ceremony.

Congress and 18 other opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament Building, saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to inaugurate the building without President Droupadi Murmu "insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution".

In a joint statement, the like-minded opposition parties said that Prime Minister's decision to inaugurate the building by himself is "a direct assault on our democracy, which demands a commensurate response." The new Parliament building will be inaugurated on May 28.

Four people and 150 sheep were killed after a truck carrying the animals hit a tiles-laden truck in Maharashtra's Hingoli district early Thursday morning, a police official said.

The accident took place at Malegaon phata on Nanded-Kalamnuri road at around 4 am, he said, adding that traffic movement on the route was disrupted for some time. The truck carrying the sheep hit the other vehicle loaded with tiles from behind, Kalamnuri police inspector Vaijanath Munde told PTI.

Four people and 150 sheep were killed, the official said. The deceased persons were travelling in the truck carrying the animals, he said.

Another person travelling in the same truck received injuries and was sent to a hospital in neighbouring Nanded district for treatment, the official said. The police with the help of locals later removed the trucks from the road and it was cleared for traffic movement, he said. PTI

12:01 Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi moves jail

Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was early Thursday morning brought to Delhi from a Gujarat jail and lodged in the national capital's Mandoli prison, officials said today.Bishoi has been sent to the Mandoli jail, due to security reasons, an official said.

This comes in the wake of killing of Tillu Tajpuria in Tihar Jail earlier this month and the jail administration took the decision to keep Bishoni in a separate prison to prevent any possibility of a gang war, officials said.

Tajpuriya, an accused in Delhi's Rohini court shootout case was stabbed to death by rival gang members in Tihar jail on May 2.According to sources, Lawrence Bishnoi has been kept in cell number 15 of the jail.

The notorious gangster was brought from Gujarat to Delhi airport amidst tight security at around 12.30 am.

Last month the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) got the custody of Bishnoi in connection with a case of cross-border smuggling of drugs.

The magistrate's court in Nalia, Kutch granted the Gujarat ATS a 14-day custody of Bishnoi.

Previously, Bishnoi was also in the custody of NIA and Punjab Police.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Delhi Police Special Cell had arrested an alleged member of the Lawrence Bishnoi-Jitendra Gogi syndicate after an encounter in the national capital. The arrested had been absconding after jumping bail in an attempt to murder case in Delhi.

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11:44 LIC shares climb nearly 4% after...

Shares of LIC on Thursday climbed nearly 4 per cent after the company posted more than five-fold jump in consolidated net profit at Rs 13,191 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 2023.

The stock gained 3.72 per cent to Rs 615.65 on the BSE. At the NSE, it jumped 3.63 per cent to Rs 615.50. The insurer had earned a profit of Rs 2,409 crore in the same quarter a year earlier.

However, total income during the March quarter declined to Rs 2,01,022 crore from Rs 2,15,487 crore in the same period a year ago, LIC said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday.

For entire financial year 2022-23, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) registered a multi-fold rise in net profit to Rs 35,997 crore from Rs 4,125 crore in 2021-22. The surge in annual profit in FY23 was helped by a jump in the second quarter bottom line to Rs 15,952 crore.

It was due to a transfer of Rs 15.03 lakh crore to shareholders' accounts at the end of September. Last year, the government raised Rs 20,557 crore by diluting its 3.5 per cent stake in LIC through initial public offering (IPO), the country's biggest ever. PTI

After the opposition parties announced that they would refrain from attending the inauguration of the new Parliament building, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday said that in times to come the nation will boycott Congress and its allies.

"In the upcoming time the nation will boycott Congress and its allies," said Dhami while talking to ANI. A total of 20 opposition parties, including the Congress have announced a boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building. They have said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to inaugurate the building without President Droupadi Murmu "insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution".

Dhami thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Uttarakhand's Vande Bharat Express."I thank PM for Vande Bharat Express. All the devotees and tourists coming to the state will be benefited from this," added Dhami ahead of the inauguration of the Delhi-Dehradun Vande Bharat Express.

11:11 Sensex opens in the red in morning trade

Key indices of the domestic equities market opened in the red today continuing with the losses from Wednesday, tracking weak global cues. Metal Index is dragging the key index and is one of the biggest laggards on BSE. Hindalco, JSW Steel and Tata Steel are trading in the negative territory. BSE 30-share Sensex went down 51 points to 61,722.74 and NSE Nifty 50 lost 2 points to 18,284.20 in the morning trade on Thursday.

Former US President Barack Obama pays tribute to Tina Turner. "Tina Turner was raw. She was powerful. She was unstoppable. And she was unapologetically herself -- speaking and singing her truth through joy and pain; triumph and tragedy. Today we join fans around the world in honoring the Queen of Rock and Roll, and a star whose light will never fade."

Known as the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll for her blistering performances and powerfully gritty vocals, Tina died on May 24 after a long illness.

She breathed her last at her home in Kusnacht near Zurich, Switzerland.

The news of her demise was shared by her publicist Bernard Doherty via a statement, People reported.

"Tina Turner, the 'Queen of Rock'n Roll' has died peacefully today at the age of 83 after a long illness in her home in Kusnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model," the statement read.

"There will be a private funeral ceremony attended by close friends and family. Please respect the privacy of her family at this difficult time," the statement further read.

PM Modi at the site of the new Parl building in 2021

10:42 Cong leader: If not Modi, should Pak PM open Parl?

Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnan has appealed to the Opposition to reconsider its decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building.

This comes in the wake of the announcement by 20 Opposition parties, including the Congress to boycott the ceremony to unveil the new Parliament building.

Acharya Krishnan appeared to take a different approach from his party by stating that the Opposition has the right to dissent and oppose the policies of PM Modi but it is not right to oppose the whole country as the Parliament is for the entire country not of any specific political party.

"If the Parliament of India is not inaugurated by the PM of India, then will it be inaugurated by the PM of Pakistan? We have the right to oppose Modi but it is not right to oppose the country. I appeal to the opposition to reconsider its decision," the Congress leader told ANI.

He also said that the Opposition must not question the position of the Prime Minster because he is the Prime Minister of the entire country and not just of one party.PM Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla are slated to dedicate to the nation the new Parliament building on May 28.

10:19 Satyendar Jain falls in bathroom, hospitalised

Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain has been admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital after he fell in the bathroom in Tihar Jail last night. This is the second time within a week that Jain has been taken to hospital. Just a few days ago, he was taken to the Safdarjung hospital for a spinal problem. He was examined by doctors for a second opinion after he was taken to the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital on Saturday.

Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on May 31, 2022, in connection with a money laundering case. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal while wishing his former cabinet colleague a speedy recovery, attacked the Modi government for its "arrogance and atrocities" on his former cabinet colleague.

10:04 Akbar the Great, Modi the Inaugurate: Cong

The Congress on Thursday stepped up its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the inauguration of the new Parliament building, saying "one man's ego and desire for self-promotion" has denied the first tribal woman president her constitutional privilege to inaugurate the complex.

The Congress' attack comes a day after as many as 20 opposition parties announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Modi.

Nineteen Opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, SP and AAP, came together to jointly announce the boycott, saying they find no value in a new building when the "soul of democracy has been sucked out". Separately, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said if Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla does not inaugurate the new Parliament building, his party would not attend.

In a tweet, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Yesterday, President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the country's largest judicial campus at the Jharkhand High Court complex in Ranchi. It is one man's ego and desire for self-promotion that has denied the first Adivasi woman President her Constitutional privilege to inaugurate the new Parliament building in New Delhi on May 28th."

"Ashoka the Great, Akbar the Great, Modi the Inaugurate," Ramesh said. After the Opposition boycott call, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance had also launched a sharp counterattack, calling the opposition stand a "blatant affront to democratic ethos and constitutional values of our great nation".

The 19 Opposition parties in their joint statement said Prime Minister Modi's decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, "completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response". PTI

Naveen Patnaik's BJD and the Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), will be among two Opposition parties to attend the inauguration of the new Parliament building on Sunday. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Telugu Desam Party (TDP) have also confirmed their attendance, apart from the Bahujan Samaj Part (BSP) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

Announcing the decision, BJD national spokesperson Sasmit Patra said, "BJD believes that these Constitutional institutions should be above any issue which can always be debated later. Hence, the BJD shall be a part of this momentous occasion."

The YSRCP also confirmed it will attend the event. The Centre only recently had approved the biggest-ever tranche of funds to Andhra Pradesh since the state's bifurcation in June 2014. Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has also largely remained in subtle support of the Centre's policies, joining the opposition only in select cases.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik's party confirmation has come after 19 Opposition parties announced in a joint statement to boycott the inauguration function. CM Naveen Patnaik is said to have a good personal relationship with PM Modi.

09:36 They showed India to the world

Hugh and Colleen Gantzer began travel writing in the 1970s -- one of their first journeys was on a Vespa scooter from Cochin to Kanyakumari. The Gantzers have visited every state and Union Territory of India -- and were the first to write regular travel columns for newspapers. The duo travelled the world, wrote a dozen books, and thousands of articles about places far and near. Archana Masih/Rediff.com meet the first couple of travel writing in Mussoorie. Read the interview here.

09:22 Pilot has not given ultimatum to party: Cong

Congress MLA and Punjab's state chief Harish Chaudhary on Wednesday made it clear that Sachin Pilot has not given any ultimatum to the party but wanted to speak to the party and prefers to build a bridge between the people and the state government.

"Sachin Pilot has not given any ultimatum to the party but he has tried to speak to the government. Any leader who is talking to the government or anybody else, it needs to be heard and resolved on the basis of merit. I am hopeful that government will come up with a solution," Chaudhary said.

His statement comes referring to the former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader Sachin Pilot's ultimatum to his own party's government in Rajasthan to probe the alleged paper leak scam. He warned the Gehlot government that if his demands were not met by this month, he would agitate across the state.

When asked about the paper leak case in the state, Harish Chaudhary said that he always had a very clear stand on the issue both in the assembly and outside the assembly that there should not be any injustice to the students at any cost.

"No injustice should be done to the youths of Rajasthan. Currently, the biggest problem in the country is unemployment.... We should raise our voice against it," said Chaudhary who also favoured the decision of putting academicians in the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC).

Chowdhary also claimed that Rajasthan Government and the Congress party have zero tolerance for corruption and whosoever is involved in the corruption, action is been taken against them

09:09 World wants to know what India thinks: Modi

Concluding his three-nation visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday morning arrived in Delhi and said, today the world wants to know what India is thinking.

While addressing the public gathered to welcome him, PM Modi said, "The people here asked me why I gave the vaccines to the world. I want to say that this is the land of Buddha, Gandhi. We care even for our enemies... Today the world wants to know what India is thinking."

"When I talk about the culture of my country, I look into the eyes of the world. This confidence has come because you have formed a government with an absolute majority in the country. Those who have come here are people who love India, not PM Modi," he said.

PM Modi further talked about the release of the Tok Pisin translation of the book 'Thirukkural' in Papua New Guinea and said, "Tamil language is our language. It is the language of every Indian. It is the oldest language in the world. I had the opportunity to release the Tok Pisin translation of the book 'Thirukkural' in Papua New Guinea."

Earlier in the morning, PM Modi arrived at Palam airport in Delhi after concluding his three-nation visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal will meet Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on Thursday.

Kejriwal and his party comrade and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday evening.

The two CMs on Wednesday met Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray at the latter's residence here to seek support for the AAP's fight against the Union government's ordinance for the control of services in Delhi.

After meeting Thackeray, Kejriwal claimed the ordinance means the Narendra Modi government does not believe in the Supreme Court.

He also said state governments were being toppled by using the CBI and the ED.

The Centre last Friday promulgated an ordinance to create an authority for transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, with the AAP government calling the move a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.

The ordinance, which came a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre.

Backing Kejriwal, Thackeray said the Supreme Court's order was important for democracy.

"We have come together to defeat those against democracy. If we miss the train this time, then there will be no democracy in the country. We have come together to save the country and the Constitution," Thackeray said.

On Tuesday, Kejriwal and Mann met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata as part of their nationwide tour to garner support for the AAP's fight against the Centre's ordinance. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a warm welcome by BJP workers and supporters on Thursday as he returned from the three-nation tour.

"All the leaders I met and all the personalities I spoke to have been so mesmerised and appreciative of India holding the G20 presidency so excellently. This is a matter of great pride for all Indians," Modi said.

The prime minister had visited Japan's Hiroshima to attend the Group of Seven or G7 Summit.

He then travelled to Papua New Guinea, which was his first tour, as well as the first-ever visit by any Indian prime minister to the Indo-Pacific country.

Modi also travelled to Sydney at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

He said that he used every available time in the best possible way for the good of the country.

Taking a swipe at critics, he said they questioned the decision to give away vaccines to other countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Remember, it is the land of Buddha, it is the land of Gandhi. We care even for our enemies, we are the people inspired by compassion," the prime minister underlined.

He also asserted that the world is keen to listen to India's story and said Indians should never suffer from "slave mentality" while speaking about their great culture and traditions and instead speak with courage.

Modi added that the world agrees with him when he says any attack on the country's pilgrimage site is not acceptable. -- PTI

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01:41 Legendary singer Tina Turner dies at 83

Tina Turner, the US-born singer and stage performer who left a hardscrabble farming community and abusive marriage to become one of the top artists of all time, died in Switzerland on Wednesday, reported Reuters.

She was 83.

Turner died following prolonged illness in her home near Zurich, Switzerland, said the report quoting her representative.

She started her career in the 1950s during the early years of rock and roll and evolved into an MTV phenomenon.

Turner was one of the world's most popular entertainers, known for a core of pop, rock and rhythm and blues favourites: Proud Mary, Nutbush City Limits, River Deep, Mountain High.

The hits she had in the '80s, included What's Love Got to Do with It, We Don't Need Another Hero and a cover of Al Green's Let's Stay Together.

In yet another historic event in the maritime calendar of India, INSV Tarini touched the Indian shores as it entered Goa harbour and secured alongside the INS Mandovi jetty on successful completion of a 17000nm trans-ocean inter-continental voyage, after 188 days.

According to an official statement, the 'Flag In' ceremony commenced with a magnificent display of yachting skills by young and promising yachtsman of the Navy Boys Sports Company.

This was followed by a marvellous flypast by versatile naval aviation platforms such as the Chetak, Kamov 31, Hawks, IL 38, Dornier and MiG 29K aircraft, the statement said.

Speaking on the occasion, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant complimented the exemplary display of valour, courage and perseverance by the crew and highlighted the Indian Navy's role as a pioneer in the country in ocean sailing, as exemplified by the international accolades received by Captain Dilip Donde (Retd), Cdr Abhilash Tomy (Retd) and the Navika Sagar Parikrama team of six women naval officers, a true display of Nari Shakti.

Appreciating the arduous expedition of the Tarini crew, more so by two women officers, Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A who were part of the entire 188 days and 17000nm of sailing, Smriti Irani stated that such achievements should be recorded for posterity and shared with the entire nation to encourage and motivate young boys and girls to not only join the armed forces but also serve the nation with pride and honour. -- ANI

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00:34 MP to display on boards names of people who bail out drug peddlers: Minister

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Wednesday announced that the government would disclose the identity of those persons, who bail out drug peddlers, by displaying their names on boards in their localities.

The exercise will begin from Indore, he said.

Talking to reporters in Indore, Mishra said, "During a meeting of police officers with public representatives, it was decided that the names of people who deposit the surety (bail out) for the drug peddlers, will be made public by putting up boards in their localities. The first phase will start from Indore."

In the next phase of this campaign, displaying the names of the associates of the drug peddlers on such boards will be considered, he said.

Mishra is the minister in-charge of Indore district, where cases of drug-related crimes are being reported. -- PTI

In an incident similar to Shraddha Walkar murder, the Hyderabad police arrested a man for killing a woman on Wednesday.

The accused has been identified as B Chandra Mohan (48).

The police said that the accused Chandra Mohan had killed the deceased Anuradha Reddy by stabbing her and later cutting her body into several pieces for disposal.

"On May 17, we received a complaint from a GHMC worker informing that at a garbage dumping place opposite Afzal Nagar Community Hall, near Musi river, beside Theegalguda road he found one head of an unidentified woman in a black cover," DCP South East zone CH Rupesh said.

"We (the police) had formed a total of eight teams to investigate the matter. After analysing the matter over a week we got one accused. After interrogation of the accused, the deceased has been identified as Y Anuradha Reddy aged 55 years," he said.

The accused was having a relationship with the deceased, . Out of their relationship, the accused accommodated the deceased in one of the parts of his house on the ground floor. Since 2018 the accused took a huge amount nearly Rs. 7 lakhs from the deceased but did not return the amount in spite of repeated requests by the deceased. The deceased was pressurizing the accused for the money, due to which the accused felt disgusted with the attitude of the deceased and hatched a plan to get rid of the deceased," he added.

Police said that the accused killed the woman on May 12 in a pre-planned event. "As per the plan, on May 12, in the afternoon the accused picked up a quarrel with the deceased on the issue of paying her amount and attacked her with a knife and inflicted stab injuries over her chest and stomach, as a result of which she died on the spot," the police official said.

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