LIVE! Rajnath on Brij Bhushan: Action to be taken when...

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Wed, 31 May 2023

Rajnath on Brij Bhushan: Action to be taken when...

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23:25 Rajnath on Brij Bhushan: Action to be taken when...

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday that women wrestlers' complaint against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Singh is being probed and action will be taken once the investigation is over.

Some of the country's top wrestlers have been protesting against Brij Bhushan Singh, a Bharatiya Janata Party MP, demanding his sacking from the federation and his arrest.

The Delhi Police has registered two FIRs against him and is probing the case.

"The matter is being investigated. The government will take action in the matter once the investigation is over," the defence minister told reporters.

He was in the district to attended a family function.

He also said all political parties should have attended the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

"The inauguration of new Lok Sabha Bhawan was a public event which should have been attended by all political parties. It was not a session of the House. It was a matter of pride for the country," the defence minister said.

The Congress and 20 other parties boycotted the inauguration of the building by the prime minister, saying it was an insult to President Droupadi Murmu, a tribal woman, that she was not invited by the government to do the honours.

Rajnath Singh said the nation has progressed under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi in recent years and there is a marked decline in unemployment.

He said the benefits of government schemes have reached everyone and the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) will again form the government with a majority in the 2024 general elections. -- PTI

The Union health ministry has deployed several teams of doctors to strife-torn Manipur with immediate effect on the direction of Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

Six teams, with four doctors each specialising in surgery, psychiatry, medicine, obs and gynaecology, paediatric, urology and emergency care, will support the state in providing health facilities that have been adversely impacted due to the ongoing strife, a ministry statement said on Wednesday.

The teams consist of doctors from AIIMS-Kalyani, AIIMS-Guwahati and NEIGRIHMS-Shillong, it said.

Ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur nearly a month ago after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

After a relative lull for over a fortnight, the state witnessed a sudden spurt in clashes, and gunfight between militants and security forces on Sunday. So far, over 80 people have been killed in the violence, according to officials. -- PTI

Seven more cheetahs, including two females, will be released into the wild in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park by the third week of June, the chairman of the high-level committee set up to monitor the progress of the much vaunted Cheetah reintroduction project said on Thursday.

Under the ambitious programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first batch of eight spotted felines from Namibia into a quarantine enclosure at Kuno in Madhya Pradesh on September 17 last year.

In a second such translocation, 12 cheetahs were flown in from South Africa and released into Kuno on February 18.

Three cheetahs died in March and April. Of the 17 remaining adult cheetahs, seven have already been released into the wild.

"The project is on track and there's no cause for worry. We have decided to release seven more cheetahs, including two females, by the third week of June," Rajesh Gopal, the panel's chairman and the secretary general of the Global Tiger Forum, told PTI.

"Of the 10 cheetahs still in the larger fenced acclimatisation camps, seven will be released. The three remaining ones are from Namibia's captive stock and more time is needed to rewild then," he said.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority had on May 8 decided to release five more cheetahs (apart from the three already in the wild then) before the onset of the monsoon.

Animals are generally not released into the wild during the monsoon season as harsh weather conditions make it difficult for them to find food and shelter and adapt to their new environment.

The 11-member cheetah project steering committee set up recently met for the first time on Thursday at Kuno. -- PTI

India and China on Wednesday held in-person diplomatic talks in New Delhi and discussed proposals for disengagement in the remaining friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh in a 'frank and open manner'.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said restoration of peace and tranquillity will create conditions for normalising bilateral relations and to this objective both sides agreed to hold the next round of military talks at an early date.

The meeting took place under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC).

'The two sides reviewed the situation along the LAC in Western Sector of India-China border areas and discussed proposals for disengagement in remaining areas in a frank and open manner,' the MEA said.

'Restoration of peace and tranquillity will create conditions for normalising bilateral relations,' it said.

'In order to achieve this objective, in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and protocols, they agreed to hold the next (19th) round of Senior Commander's meeting at an early date,' the MEA said in a statement.

It said the two sides agreed to continue discussions through military and diplomatic channels. -- PTI

Shloka and Anant. Pic: Pradeep Bandekar

21:53 It's a baby girl for Shloka-Akash Ambani

Akash Ambani, the elder son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, and his wife Shloka Mehta Ambani on Wednesday welcomed their second child on Wednesday, a baby girl.

The couple had their first child Prithvi in December 2020.

Dhanraj Nathwani, a friend of the Ambani children and son of family confidant and Rajya Sabha MP Parimal Nathwani, took to Twitter to announce the birth of the girl child.

"Heartiest congratulations to Akash and Shloka Ambani on the joyous arrival of their little princess! May this precious blessing bring immense happiness and love to your lives," he tweeted.

In November last year, Akash's twin sister Isha and her husband Anand Piramal became parents to twins who were named Krishna and Aadiya.

Mukesh Ambani has three children -- twins Akash and Isha and younger son Anant. All are now involved with his oil-to-telecom-to-retail conglomerate.

While Akash looks after the telecom business, Isha is involved with the retail venture. Anant is looking after the new energy vertical.

Anant is engaged to Radhika Merchant, daughter of Viren Merchant, the CEO of Encore Healthcare.

Representational image

21:11 Parts of Mumbai suburbs suffer power outage

Many pockets in the western suburbs of the financial capital suffered a power outage on Wednesday evening due to a technical fault in cabling, officials said.

Parts of Andheri, Malad and Goregaon suffered power outage for half an hour starting from about 1820 hrs, an official at Adani Electricity Mumbai said.

There was no disruption in supply to critical establishments, the official said.

Some reports said that traffic light functioning was impacted during the outage.

This is the second time in a month that pockets in the western suburbs have been impacted by an outage, after a May 10 incident which also led to outage of over half an hour.

Mumbai has had a chequered past when it comes to power outages and has suffered multiple incidents in the recent past including one in October 2020 which lasted for over 12 hours.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Wednesday said that he will not compromise on the issue of corruption and with the future of youth adding that the state government must take action in this regard.

While addressing the media in Tonk, Sachin Pilot said, "It is not possible for me to make any kind of compromise on corruption and with the future of the youth. I made a promise to the youth in my meeting in Jaipur on May 15 and what I had said at that time, I have put in front of the party leaders in Delhi and now everything is in the notice of the top leaders of the party."

He further mentioned that an investigation should also begin which should examine the corruption of the previous state government led by Vasundhara Raje and stated that changes should be brought in the functioning of Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC).

"The corruption and loot that took place during the tenure of the previous Vasundhara government should be effectively investigated, while the youth who were wronged should also get justice. Radical changes should be brought in RPSC also. I am waiting for the state government to take action on all these," Pilot said.

Sachin Pilot also pointed out that he has done nothing wrong by putting the grievances of the youth in front of top Congress leaders in Delhi as the party has suggested on multiple occasions that it stands against corruption.

"Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has also reiterated many times that our party is against corruption and works on the policy of zero tolerance, as well as our party will not tolerate any atrocities against the youth So there is nothing wrong in what I said," he said. -- ANI

The Delhi high court has restrained over 100 "rogue" websites from unauthorisedly streaming animation films SpiderMan: Across The Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse on their platforms.

The court's order came on a lawsuit by Sony Pictures Animation Inc which stated it was the copyright holder of the upcoming release SpiderMan: Across The Spider-Verse and has not licensed the right to broadcast it to any website.

The court was told that the animation film, which is a sequel to 2018 blockbuster Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, was available for viewing on various websites in violation of its copyright and sought directions from the court to prevent the streaming.

SpiderMan: Across The Spider-Verse is scheduled to release in theatres across the country on June 1.

Justice C Hari Shankar issued summonses on the lawsuit and ordered, "Defendants 1 to 101, as well as all others acting on their behalf, are restrained from posting, streaming, reproducing.. to the public, on their websites, or through the internet, in any manner whatsoever, any cinematograph work/content/program in which the plaintiff has copyright, including the films Spider-Man: Across The Spider Verse and Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse."

In the ex-parte interim order passed on May 29, the judge noted that the facts indicated the plaintiff's copyright of both the films are "in the process of being infringed and violated by the Defendants 1 to 101" which qualify as rogue websites.

The court also directed internet service providers to block access to these websites.

It asked the department of telecommunications and ministry of electronics and information technology to issue a notification asking all internet and telecom service providers to block access to these websites.

The 'shell-shocked' protesting wrestlers, except Sakshi Malik, have returned to their homes in Haryana, and did not speak with the waiting media in Haridwar due to a silence vow, a member of the protest group said on Wednesday.

The grapplers had resumed their agitation against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on April 23 at Jantar Mantar and stayed there till May 28, the day they were detained by the Delhi Police during their march towards the new Parliament building.

Immediately after their detention, the police cleared the protest site and made it clear that wrestlers will not be allowed back to the Jantar Mantar.

The police action against the wrestlers drew criticism from different quarters.

On Tuesday, they threatened to immerse their medals into the holy river Ganga but the farmer leaders stopped them from taking the extreme step.

"They were crying since morning. It is not easy to throw away even a medal won at district level and they were ready to throw away those big international medals. They were shell-shocked, not a word was coming out of their mouths," said a member of the protesting group.

"They had taken a silence vow for Tuesday and that's why they did not speak with anyone in Haridwar. All have returned to their respective homes but Sakshi is still in Delhi," he added.

While the wrestlers did not address the media, they were seen having discussions among themselves, whispering in each other's ears.

The mood was sombre when the wrestlers arrived at the famous Har ki Pauri with their medals as they wept and were being consoled by their family members.

They did not carry out their threat and returned with their medals after farmer leaders sought five days to sort out their issues.

The wrestlers have been demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan, who they have accused of sexual exploitation.

Two FIRs were filed against him, including one in POCSO act, but it is now being claimed that the 'minor' who has filed a complaint against the WFI chief is actually not a minor.

The oversight panel, which was formed by the government to probe the allegations, did not make its findings public but sources had claimed that the six-member committee did not find any incriminating evidence against Brij Bhushan.

The WFI chief has denied all the charges and said that even if one allegation is proved, he will 'hang himself'.

Brij Bhushan has alleged political conspiracy behind the protest. -- PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday took to the streets in Kolkata to protest against the alleged manhandling of wrestlers at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar after they tried to march towards the new Parliament building following its inauguration three days ago.

Holding a placard with the message, "We Want Justice", written on it, Banerjee participated in a rally which started at Hazra Road crossing in the southern part of the city and culminated at Rabindra Sadan, the cultural hub of the eastern metropolis.

Banerjee joined the 2.8-km rally at Bhabanipur, her own constituency.

She was flanked by former women footballers Kuntala Ghosh Dastidar and Shanti Mallick, ex-soccer players Alvito D'Cunha, Rahim Nabi, and Dipendu Biswas and several other sports personalities and common people.

State minister Arup Biswas and cricketer-turned-minister Manoj Tiwary spearheaded the rally organised by the sports department to show solidarity towards the protesting wrestlers.

The wrestlers are demanding the arrest of the Wrestling Federation of India's former chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who is accused of sexually harassing several women grapplers.

The rally was organised a day after the country's top wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, along with hundreds of their supporters, reached Har ki Pauri to immerse their medals in the river Ganga but were persuaded by Khap and farmer leaders not to do so.

The wrestlers, who were protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi since April 23 demanding the arrest of Singh, were removed from the site by the police on May 28 after they tried to march towards the new Parliament building.

They were detained, before being released later.

18:47 Cops take Shahbad Dairy accused to crime scene

The Delhi Police on Wednesday recreated the scene of crime at the same by-lane in northwest Delhi's Shahbad Dairy where 20-year-old Sahil killed a minor girl, officials said.

Sixteen-year-old Sakshi was stabbed over 20 times and then bludgeoned with a cement slab, killing her on the spot.

She was found to have 34 injury marks on her body and her skull was smashed in.

Sahil was arrested from Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh on Monday.

He was taken to the spot in the early hours of Wednesday, the police said.

"Due to security concerns, Sahil was taken to the spot in the early hours of Wednesday morning. We recreated the scene of the crime to understand and establish the sequence of events and how he executed the crime and what he did thereafter," a senior police officer.

Sahil allegedly threw away the knife used to kill Sakshi into the bushes in Rithala. It is yet to be recovered, he said.

The police had earlier said Sahil got drunk on Sunday afternoon and in the evening confronted Sakshi, who was on her way to the birthday party of her friend's child after changing clothes in a public convenience.

After killing her, Sahil went to a nearby park and sat there for a while.

Later, he went to the metro station at Rithala where he claimed to have thrown the knife in the nearby bushes.

He then took a bus to Bulandshahr from the Anand Vihar ISBT, the police said.

A call to his home led to his arrest.

On Tuesday, Sahil was produced at a Delhi court here which sent him in police remand for two days. -- PTI

Pic: Reuters

17:53 India's economy grew 7.2% in FY22-23, shows data

India's economy grew 6.1 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2022-23, pushing up the annual growth rate to 7.2 per cent, official data showed on Wednesday.

Growth in the January-March period was higher than the 4.5 per cent expansion in the previous October-December quarter of 2022-23.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had expanded by 4 per cent in the January-March period of 2021-22, according to data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO).

As per the data, the economy expanded 7.2 per cent in 2022-23 against a 9.1 per cent growth in 2021-22.

The NSO in its second advance estimate of national accounts had pegged the country's growth at 7 per cent for 2022-23.

China has registered an economic growth of 4.5 per cent in the first three months of 2023.

American rock star Bruce Springsteen took a fall during his concert at Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The 73-year-old musician slipped while climbing the stairs during his performance at Johan Cruyff Arena over the weekend.

According to videos circulating on social media, Springsteen was about to perform his 2020 hit track Ghosts when the incident happened.

With his guitar around his neck, Springsteen tumbled and fell flat on his back as his bandmates rushed to help him.

The singer didn't sustain any injuries as he got back to his feet quickly. "Goodnight, everybody!" he said to the crowd.

Springsteen and his E Street Band are currently on their 2023 worldwide tour, which started in America in February and launched its European leg in April.

The band will return to the United States in August before finally wrapping up the massive tour in December.

The Allahabad high court on Wednesday dismissed the Muslim side's plea challenging the maintainability of five Hindu women worshippers' suit filed in Varanasi court seeking the right to worship inside the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, ANI reported.

"It is a historic verdict. The court clearly has said that Anjuman Intezamia Mosque Committee's petition is not maintainable and dismissed it," said Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side in the Gyanvapi mosque case, as per a tweet by ANI.

"We welcome the decision of the court to dismiss Order 7 Rule of the CPC plea filed by Anjuman Intazamia Mosque Committee which challenged the maintainability of the suit of five Hindu women worshippers seeking the right to worship inside the Gyanvapi mosque," Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, another lawyer representing the Hindu side, in Varanasi, ANI tweeted.

Kickstarting his four-day India visit, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Upon arrival, he received a warm welcome from Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi.

"PM @cmprachanda of Nepal arrives in New Delhi on his first overseas visit after assumption of office. Warmly welcomed by MoS @M_Lekhi at the airport. The visit will impart renewed momentum to the close and unique India-Nepal relationship," the official spokesperson of MEA, Arindam Bagchi, tweeted.

The Nepal prime Minister will also call on President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar during his visit.

In addition to the official engagements, he will also visit Ujjain and Indore as part of his visit.

Sri Lanka has invited superstar Rajinikanth to visit the country in an effort to boost tourism.

Dr D Venkateshwaran, the deputy high commissioner (DHC) of Sri Lanka, met the superstar on Monday at his residence in Chennai and extended an invite to Rajinikanth.

In a statement posted on Instagram, the DHC said Rajinikanth's visit to the island nation will boost "cinema induced tourism as well as spiritual and wellness tourism".

"As an iconic personality, Mr Rajinikanth's charisma will enrich historical relations and reinforce the bridge between both the destinations. DHC also personally invited him to explore the 'Ramayana Trail' as it is exclusive to Sri Lanka and other prime Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka," read the statement.

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur asks protesting wrestlers to be patient and trust the probe into allegations against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh. Thakur urges wrestlers not to take any step that will undermine sports. "We all are in favour of the sport and sportspersons," he says.

Some of India's best wrestlers accompanied by hundreds of supporters gathered in Haridwar on the banks of the Ganga yesterday, threatening to immerse their Olympics, Asian Games and World Championship medals in the holy river but refrained after being convinced by Khap and farmer leaders who sought five days to address their grievances.

Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat arrived at Har ki Pauri in Haridwar to protest the inaction against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has allegedly sexually harassed several women grapplers.

Sakshi, Vinesh and her cousin Sangeeta were seen sobbing as their husbands tried to console them, even as scores of their supporters formed a cordon around them.

The wrestlers stood for about 20 minutes in silence after reaching Har ki Pauri. They then sat on the banks of the river holding their medals and looking distressed.

Bajrang joined them after 40 minutes. Sombir Rathi, husband of Vinesh, was holding the Asian Games medals won by her wife. Sakshi was holding tightly the framed Olympic bronze medal she had won in 2016 in Rio.

15:50 Deloitte flags Adani Ports transactions

Auditor Deloitte flagged three transactions, including recoveries from a contractor identified in the Hindenburg report, as it issued a qualified opinion on the accounts of Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone.

In the auditors' report on the audit of the fourth quarter and 2022-23 financials, Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP highlighted transactions with three entities, which the company said were unrelated parties.

Deloitte however said it could not attest to the company's statement as no independent external examination has been done to prove the claims. Hindenburg Research in its January 24 report that levelled allegations of fraud, stock manipulation, and money laundering against the Adani group, had also flagged inadequate disclosures of related party transactions.

While the group has denied all allegations, the Supreme Court constituted an expert committee for assessment of the extant regulatory framework and asked stock market regulator SEBI to complete its probe into allegations. Deloitte said the Adani group did not consider it necessary to have an independent external examination of these allegations because of their evaluation and the ongoing investigation by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

"The evaluation performed by the group does not constitute sufficient appropriate audit evidence for the purposes of our audit," Deloitte said in notes to APSEZ financial statement. In the absence of the independent external examination and the pending completion of investigation by SEBI, the auditor said it cannot comment if the company was fully compliant with the law and if the transactions flagged may result in possible adjustments and/or disclosures in the financial statement in respect of related parties.

The six-member expert panel appointed by the Supreme Court this month found no regulatory failure or signs of price manipulation in the Adani Group stocks in its interim report.

The transactions flagged by Deloitte included engineering, procurement and construction (PEC) purchase contracts with a subsidiary of a party identified in the Hindenburg report.

Zaheera Sheikh

15:47 Best Bakery case: Mumbai Court to pronounce verdict on June 2

A special court in Mumbai has deferred the Best Bakery case and said that it will pronounce its judgement on June 2.

The case pertains to a bakery in Vadodara that was torched by a mob during the 2002 Gujarat riots, which led to the death of 14 people. Following the incident bakery owner's daughter, Zaheera Sheikh had lodged a police complaint against 21 people.

In June 2003, when the fast-track court acquitted all the accused, it pointed to a lack of evidence as key witnesses, including Sheikh, had turned hostile.

15:21 Report on WFI chief wrong: Delhi police

The investigation into the sexual harassment case against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is under progress and reports claiming that the Delhi Police has not found sufficient evidence are "wrong", officials said on Wednesday.

The police had earlier said that they had not found sufficient evidence to arrest Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Singh, who is accused of sexually harassing seven female wrestlers, including a minor.

Later, taking to Twitter, the Delhi Police said, "Several media channels are running a story that the Delhi Police hasn't found sufficient evidence in the cases registered against the ex-president of WFI and a final report in the matter is due to be submitted before the concerned court.

"It is to clarify that this news is 'wrong' and the investigation into this sensitive case is under progress with all sensitivity," it tweeted.

The wrestlers, who had been protesting at Jantar Mantar since April 23 seeking the arrest of Singh, were removed from the site by the police on Sunday after they tried to march to the new Parliament building following its inauguration. They were detained before being released later. PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was heckled by a group of Khalistani supporters who raised slogans against him and briefly interrupted his speech during an event here in the US state of California.

Gandhi was speaking at the 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' event organised by Indian Overseas Congress USA in Santa Clara on Tuesday when some people from the audience started raising slogans against him and the Gandhi family in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

An unperturbed Gandhi smiled in response to sloganeering and said: "Welcome, welcome ... nafrat ke bazaar mein mohabbat ki dukan".

The 52-year-old former Congress president then joined his supporters in the audience and responded with 'Bharat Jodo' slogans.

"The interesting thing about us, about the Congress party is that we have affection towards everybody. If someone wants to come and say something regardless of what they are saying, we are happy to listen to them.

"We are not going to get angry, we are not going to get aggressive. We will nicely listen to it. In fact, we will be affectionate to them, will be loving to them. Because that's our nature," he said.

Sharing a clip of the incident on Twitter, BJP leader Amit Malviya wrote: "Rahul Gandhi heckled for the 1984 Sikh genocide (unleashed by the Congress), in America...aisi nafrat ki aag lagayi thi, jo ab tak nahi buji (the fire of hatred you ignited is still burning strong)."

Reacting to Malviya's jibe, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate asked him why he was supporting the pro-Khalistan elements to oppose Gandhi. "If you had listened further, you would have found out how the people raised Bharat Jodo slogan to give a reply to those Khalistani slogans. You also take the Tiranga and say 'Bharat Jodo'. Believe me, a traitor like you will also feel good," she tweeted.

Gandhi leader arrived in the US on Tuesday on a three-city US tour during which he will interact with the Indian diaspora and meet American lawmakers. PTI

"If a single allegation against me is proven, I will hang myself. If you (wrestlers) have any evidence, present it to the Court and I am ready to accept any punishment," says WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Delhi Police sources on Wednesday said that till now no supportive evidence has been found to arrest the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, in connection with the allegations levelled by wrestlers against him.

According to top sources, Delhi police will be filing its final report on the matter within 15 days. "Within 15 days we will be filing our report in the court. It could be in the form of a charge sheet or final report," Delhi police sources said. Delhi police sources further said that there is no supportive evidence to prove the wrestlers' claim.

"The sections of POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012) added in FIR has less than seven years' OF imprisonment, so investigating officer (IO) cannot proceed with arrest as demand by the accused," they pointed out. "Neither he is influencing the witness nor he is destroying the evidence," they added.

Targeting the BJP-led government in India, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said, "what is happening to Muslims in India today, happened to Dalits in the 1980s" and it has "to be fought with affection".

Speaking at the 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' event in San Francisco in the United States, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the impact of some actions of the BJP-led government was being felt by minorities and people from the Dalit and tribal community.

"It is being felt by the Muslims most directly because it is done most directly to them. But in fact, it is done to all communities. The way you (Muslims) are feeling attacked, I can guarantee Sikhs, Christians, Dalits, and tribals are feeling the same. You can't cut hatred with hatred., but only with love and affection," Gandhi said.

"Also, this is a periodical thing. What is happening to Muslims in India today happened to Dalits in the 1980s. If you went to UP in the 1980s, this was happening with Dalits...We have to challenge it, fight it and do it with love and affection and not with hatred and we will do that," he added.

The Congress leader was responding to a question concerning Muslims in India from 'Bay Area Muslim community' and the steps Congress will take to tackle the issues faced by them.

13:52 Al Pacino set to be dad at 83

The Godfather duo, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, two of the greatest actors of all time, have joined a group of entertainment industry stars welcoming children with much-younger partners well into their twilight years.

Academy Award winner Al Pacino is expecting his fourth child with his 29-year-old girlfriend Noor Alfallah. According to Page Six, a US-based media house, Alfallah is already eight months pregnant.

Al Pacino already has three adult children, 22-year-old twins with his ex-girlfriend Beverly D'Angelo and a 33-year-old daughter, Julie Marie, with his ex-girlfriend Jan Tarrant.

Alfallah, who is expecting her first child with the Scarface actor is already eight months pregnant, reported TMZ. She had previously romanced Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger. Reports of a romance between Alfallah and Al Pacino came in April 2022 when both of them were seen dining together and as per sources they had been secretly dating since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Page Six revealed, Al Pacino and Alfallah started seeing each other during the pandemic. She mainly dates very rich older men ... She has been with Al for some time and they get on very well," our source revealed. "The age gap doesn't seem to be a problem, even though he is older than her father. She moves with the wealthy jet-set crowd, and she comes from a family with money.

Prior to her marriage to Pacino, Alfallah was linked to both the 60-year-old billionaire Nicolas Berggruen and the 74-year-old rock star Mick Jagger.

The 83-year-old actor will be the father of a fourth child.

Sources in Delhi Police tell news agency ANI that it has not found sufficient evidence to arrest Brij Bhushan Singh, the WFI chief.

"Within 15 days we will be filing our report in court. It could be in the form of chargesheet or final report. There is no supportive evidence to prove the wrestlers' claim. The sections of POCSO added in FIR has less than seven years imprisonment, so Investigating Officer cannot proceed with arrest as demanded by the accused. He is not influencing the witness nor is he destroying the evidence," the sources in the police said.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur reacts to Rahul Gandhi's comments that PM Modi thinks he knows more than God. Thakur accused the Congress leader of insulting India during his visits abroad.

"During his foreign visits, Rahul Gandhi insults India. PM Modi met almost 24 PMs and Presidents of the world and held over 50 meetings during his foreign visit recently. When the Australian PM said that 'PM Modi is the Boss', Rahul Gandhi could not digest this," Thakur said.

Speaking at the 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' event organised by Indian Overseas Congress USA in Santa Clara in the US state of California on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi said, "There are people in India who think they know more than God and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "one such specimen"."

He added, "These people are "absolutely convinced" that they know everything and can explain history to historians, science to scientists and warfare to the army.

"The world is too big and complicated for any person to know everything. That is the disease.

"There is a group of people in India who are absolutely convinced they know everything. They think they know even more than God.

"They can sit with God and explain to him what's going on. And of course, our prime minister is one such specimen. If you sat Modiji with God, he will explain to God how the universe works and God will get confused about what have I created," he said, evoking peals of laughter from hundreds of his Indian American supporters.

"They think they can explain history to historians, science to scientists and warfare to the army. But at the core of it is mediocrity. They're not ready to listen!" he said.

12:34 When Rahul queued up like a 'common man'

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived in the US yesterday for a three-city tour during which he will interact with the Indian expatriates and meet American lawmakers.

He was received at the airport by Indian Overseas Congress chairperson Sam Pitroda and other members of the IOC.

Rahul Gandhi had to wait for two hours at the airport for the immigration clearance, party sources said.

While he was waiting in the queue, several people who were travelling with him in the same flight clicked selfies with him.

When people asked him why he was standing in the queue, Rahul Gandhi replied, "I am a common man. I like it. I am no longer an MP."

Starting with San Francisco where he is scheduled to interact with students at the prestigious Stanford University, Rahul Gandhi will address a press conference and have meetings with lawmakers and think tanks in Washington DC.

12:28 Army nabs three terrorists at LoC in Poonch

The Indian Army on Wednesday foiled a major infiltration bid by terrorists on the Line of Control (LoC) in the Karmarha sector in Poonch, three terrorists were injured in their attempt to cross the border, officials said.

"Three terrorists with narcotics and weapons in their possession were injured along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Karmarha sector by Indian Army troops when they were trying to infiltrate. The search operation is going on in the area," Army officials said.

According to Dr Ishfaq of District Hospital, Poonch, "Mohd Farooq (28) sustained a bullet injury in his left thigh but he is stable. He was brought by police in the morning at 7:15."

The identity of the other two injured terrorists is yet to be ascertained. The search operation is going on in the area, they added. Further details are awaited.

Rahul Gandhi at Santa Cruz, USA

11:49 Rahul@US: BJP can be defeated if...

The ruling BJP can be defeated if the Opposition is "aligned properly" and the Congress party is working towards it and it is "coming along very nicely", Rahul Gandhi has told Indian Americans here, citing his party's emphatic victory in the recent assembly elections in Karnataka.

Responding to questions from the moderator and the audiences at an event at the Silicon Valley Campus of the University of California in Santa Cruz on Tuesday, Gandhi said he can clearly see "vulnerabilities" in the BJP.

"As a political entrepreneur, I can clearly see vulnerabilities in the BJP... The BJP can be defeated if the Opposition is aligned properly," he said. "If you look at the Karnataka elections, the general sense is that the Congress Party fought the BJP and defeated the BJP. But what is not well understood is the mechanics that we used," he said.

"The Congress party used a completely different approach to fighting an election and building a narrative," Gandhi said, adding that elements of what happened in Karnataka came out of the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'.

In the May 10 elections to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly, the Congress won 135 seats, while incumbent BJP and the former prime minister H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) got 66 and 19, respectively. Gandhi said in the Karnataka elections, the BJP spent 10 times more money than the Congress party.

He said the country needed an alternative vision to defeat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, in addition to having a united Opposition in the 2024 general elections.

"On the matter of opposition unity, we are working towards it and it is coming along very nicely. But I think in order to defeat the BJP, you need more than just opposition unity. Just opposition unity, in my opinion, is not going to be enough to do the job. I think you need an alternative vision to the BJP," he said. "Part of Bharat Jodo Yatra was the first step in proposing such a vision. It's the vision that all opposition parties are aligned with. No opposition party would disagree with the idea of the Bharat Jodo Yatra," he said.

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Wednesday slammed the government over the issue of allegations of sexual harassment levelled by women wrestlers against WFI president Brij Bhushan Singh, and asked whether POCSO and immediate arrest apply to all accused other than Singh because he belongs to the BJP.

The attack by Sibal, a senior advocate who represented the protesting wrestlers in the Supreme Court, came a day after the matter escalated as the wrestlers reached Haridwar on the banks of the Ganga, threatening to immerse their World and Olympic medals in the holy river but stopped short of doing so after being convinced by farmer leaders who sought five days to address their grievances.

Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat arrived at Har ki Pauri to protest the inaction against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Singh, who has allegedly sexually harassed several women grapplers.

In a tweet, Sibal said, "Brij Bhushan Singh: Does application of POCSO and immediate arrest after 164 statements apply to all accused other than Brij Bhushan because he: 1) Belongs to BJP 2) iconic women wrestlers don't matter; votes matter! 3) Government doesn't care. Is this my new India," Sibal asked.

Sibal, who was a Union minister during the UPA 1 and UPA 2 governments, quit the Congress in May last year and was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an Independent member with the Samajwadi Party's support. He recently floated the non-electoral platform 'Insaaf', aimed at fighting injustice. Last month, the Delhi Police registered two FIRs against Singh.

Launching a scathing attack at the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in the Centre, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that he had to launch 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' because all instruments of doing politics (connecting with people) were "being controlled" and the "whole India" walked with him during the mega foot march.

The Congress leader, who is on a 10-day tour to the US, was addressing the Indian diaspora at an event titled 'Mohabbat ki Dukaan' in San Francisco on Wednesday.

Addressing a gathering there, Rahul Gandhi said, "Some months ago, we started a walk from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. While walking we realised that normal instruments for doing politics (connecting with people) were not working anymore. They were controlled by the BJP and RSS. People are threatened and agencies are used against them. In some way, it had become quite difficult to act politically. That is why we decided to walk from the southernmost tip of India to Srinagar."

Making a jibe at PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi said that some groups in India have the "disease" of being under the impression that they know everything.

"In India, we grew up with people of different languages, different religions. And that is what is being attacked. The tradition in India, of people like Gandhi Ji and Guru Nanak Ji, has been that you should not be under the impression of knowing everything. It is a 'disease' that some groups of India think that they know everything. Even if they have a conversation with God, they might explain to him," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally in Rajasthan's Ajmer district on Wednesday, the first major event in a month-long outreach campaign by the BJP to mark its nine years in power at the Centre.

He will also offer prayers at the famous Brahma temple in the holy town of Pushkar, nearly 15 km from Ajmer city, before addressing the public rally. The prime minister is scheduled to reach Kishangarh airport at 3 pm.

Rajasthan, where the ruling Congress is caught in a leadership tussle between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, goes to the polls this year-end.

Modi will travel by helicopter from Kishangarh airport to Pushkar, where he will offer prayers at the Brahma temple from 3.40 pm to 4 pm. He will then travel by helicopter to a helipad near the rally venue - Kayad Vishram Sthali - on Jaipur road at 4.45 pm, police sources said.

Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and Kailash Chaudhary, and other BJP leaders from Rajasthan will attend the meeting. Ajmer North MLA Vasudev Devnani said BJP workers from 45 assembly and eight Lok Sabha constituencies are being mobilised for the rally. The constituencies fall in the districts of Ajmer, Nagaur, Tonk, Bhilwara, Rajsamand, Jaipur and Pali. Over the past few weeks, Modi had also visited Rajsamand and Sirohi.

BJP leaders have already held press conferences in several states to mark Modi's nine years as prime minister. The PM's rally will flag the beginning of a series of party meetings as part of a major outreach campaign. PTI

Bappi Lahiri with Bappa

10:15 Dad has come back: Bappa Lahiri on the birth of his son

Good tidings from the Lahiri family.

A little over a year after Bappi Lahiri's death, his son, Bappa, has been blessed with a son.

Speaking from Los Angeles where he lives, Bappa could barely contain his joy. "We have been blessed with a baby boy. This is our second son. Krishh was born in 2017. Now it is Shivay. We feel dad has come back," Bappa said.

"The celebrations are on hold as Bappa intends to have the baby's anna-praashan (first rice) ceremony on Bappi Lahiri's birth anniversary on November 27.

-- Subhash K Jha

Rahul Gandhi interacts with activists, academics and civil society at University of California, Santa Cruz.

Gandhi landed in San Francisco where he was received by Sam Pitroda, who handles the party's overseas affairs. Pitroda is credited to be the father of India's telecom revolution.

Rahul Gandhi is on a 10 days visit to the US.

Speaking to the gathering, Rahul said, "A few people in India are absolutely convinced that they know everything. They think they can explain history to historians, science to scientists and warfare to the army.

"The BJP is threatening people and misusing government agencies.

"The Bharat Jodo Yatra started because all the instruments that we needed to connect with the people were controlled by the BJP-RSS. But at the core of it is mediocrity. They're not ready to listen!

"The Bharat Jodo Yatra carried the spirit of affection, respect and humility.

"If one studies history, it can be seen that all spiritual leadersincluding Guru Nanak Dev ji, Guru Basavanna ji, Narayana Guru jiunited the nation in a similar way."

Gandhi is scheduled to interact with students at the prestigious Stanford University in San Francisco. He will address a press conference and have meetings with lawmakers and think tanks in Washington DC. He is also likely to address Indian Americans and interact with Wall Street executives and university students during his week-long tour of the USA. He is slated to conclude his trip with a public gathering in New York on June 4. The interaction would take place at the Javits Center in New York.

The amount of money Indian companies raised from the stock market has fallen faster than their global peers in 2023.Indian companies raised $294 million in the first four months of 2023 (January through April) via initial public offerings (IPOs), according to data from tracker Refinitiv, a part of London Stock Exchange Group.

An IPO is when companies raise money from the public for the first time and list their shares on the stock exchange for trading.

India's IPO mop-up so far in 2023 is 80 per cent lower than the $1.5 billion raised in the corresponding period last year. By comparison, global markets have seen a 36 per cent decline.

Experts attribute global uncertainty and a drop in valuations to the sharp drop in fundraising activity this calendar year.

"Markets are uncertain due to global factors and rise in inflation. Not many wanted to launch their IPOs as they were not getting the right valuations promoters were looking for. While many offer documents got filed, not many issues got launched," says Pranjal Srivastava, partner-equity capital markets (ECM), Centrum Capital.

"Our primary markets don't have the same level of depth or maturity as some of the developed markets. The IPO outlook will improve after the positive reception of some issues," Srivastava adds.

India's share in the amount raised globally has fallen to 0.9 per cent this year. It has averaged close to 2.9 per cent in the previous five years. The share was 5.2 per cent in 2022 -- the highest since 2017's 6.1 per cent.

Some believe ECM activity will bounce back as companies prepare to launch their IPOs.

"India is a bright spot in the global economic landscape. While the IPO activity has remained subdued, companies are using this period to be better prepared for launching their IPO early next year (before or after the general elections)," says Adarsh Ranka, financial accounting advisory services leader, partner, with Indian member firm of EY Global.

-- Anoushka Sawhney and Sundar Sethuraman/Business Standard

Delhiites woke up to another rainy morning on Wednesday as the weather department issued a 'yellow' alert and warned of traffic disruptions and inundation of low-lying areas due to rains.

Partly cloudy sky with light rain or thundershowers are expected during the day. The minimum temperature on Wednesday settled at 20.5 degrees Celsius, six notches below season's average, whereas the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 35 degrees Celsius, according to a bulletin of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

With spells of light to moderate rainfall, waterlogging was also reported in several parts of the city. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 9 am stood at 99 (satisfactory). An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. The relative humidity at 8.30 am was 98 per cent, the IMD bulletin said.

The wrestlers at Har Ki Pauri yesterday

09:29 Sports body slams wrestlers' detention, threatens...

Amid the continuing protest by the country's top grapplers against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who they have accused of sexual harassment, the United World Wrestling (UWW) on Tuesday issued a statement condemning the detention of the wrestlers during a march to the new Parliament building on Sunday.

UWW has also expressed 'disappointment over the lack of results of the investigations" against the WFI chief and threatened to suspend the federation if WFI elections are not held within 45 days.

"UWW firmly condemns the treatment and detention of the wrestlers. It expresses its disappointment over the lack of results of the investigations so far. UWW urges the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations," the world wrestling body said in a statement

."UWW will request further information about the next elective general assembly from the 10A and the Ad-hoc Committee of the WFI. The 45-day deadline that was initially set to hold this elective assembly shall be respected. Failing to do so may lead UWW to suspend the federation, thereby forcing the athletes to compete under a neutral flag. It is reminded that UWW already took a measure in this situation by reallocating the Asian Championship planned in New Delhi earlier this year," it added.

After Delhi University's Academic Council dropped a chapter on renowned Urdu poet Muhammad Iqbal from its political science syllabus, Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh on Tuesday said the poet is remembered for his composition 'Sare Jahan Se Achha...' but he never believed in those words.

The VC's remark followed shortly after the national poet of Pakistan, Allama Iqbal alias Muhammad Iqbal, was dropped from the Political Science syllabus during a discussion on the undergraduate course in the 1014th Academic Council meeting of Delhi University.

Speaking to ANI, the vice-chancellor said, "I don't know why we were teaching his (Muhammad Iqbal's) part in the syllabus for the past 75 years. I agree that he served India by composing the popular song 'Sare Jahan Se Acha' but never believed in that."

Earlier, on Friday, Vice Chancellor Singh presided over the meeting of the Academic Council, saying that those who laid the foundation to break India should not be included in the varsity's syllabus.

"Iqbal wrote songs supporting the 'Muslim League' and the 'Pakistan Movement'. He was the first to raise the idea of the partition of India and the establishment of Pakistan. Instead of teaching our students about such people, we should impart lessons on our national heroes," the VC said. -- ANI

09:03 Child safeguards likely in Digital India Bill

The draft Digital India Bill, which seeks to replace the Information Technology Act, 2000, to address the challenges posed by the Internet and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, will have special provisions for safeguarding children, says Rajeev Chandrasekhar, minister of state for electronics and IT.

The draft of the Bill will be released by the first week of June for public consultation.

"In the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, special restrictions were imposed on the platforms processing children's data. Based on the same principle, there will be specific measures in the DIA [Digital India Act] to protect children and give them a safer and more trusted Internet than an adult," Chandrasekhar tells Business Standard.

The ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) on May 23, 2023 conducted a second round of consultations with big techs, start-ups, industry bodies, policy advocates, and law experts on the broad principles of the Digital India Bill. The proposed legislation aims to review the definition and classification of Internet intermediaries and the need for safe harbour for them.

However, the government has ruled out the previously anticipated provision of creating a new regulator for the Internet. "Just like the IT Act does not have any additional regulator, there is no need for a digital regulator in the new Act. There are sectoral regulators and various institutions created in other laws," the minister said.

-- Sourabh Lele/Business Standard

08:43 Modi to launch BJP's pan-India campaign today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday will launch Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) month-long pan-India campaign, 'Maha Jansampark', in poll-bound Rajasthan's Ajmer today covering all 543 Lok Sabha constituencies. PM Modi will launch "Maha Jansampark" by addressing a public meeting in Ajmer, Rajasthan.

Under this Maha Jan Sampark, scheduled to be held from May 31 (today) to June 30, extensive public programmes will be done across the country after the completion of 9 yrs at the Centre. Over 51 huge rallies, public meetings at more than 500 places, and over 600 press conferences in over 500 Lok Sabha and 4000 Vidhan Sabha constituencies will be conducted along with over 5 lakh distinguished families will be contacted.

Sharing details of the programme, which is the largest outreach in BJP's history, party national general secretary Tarun Chugh, coordinator for the programme, said, "A total of 288 top BJP leaders and 16 lakh party workers will interact with voters at ten lakh booths and 144 clusters covering all Lok Sabha seats to deliver the message of achievements in nine years of the party's rule at the Centre."

All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the BJP over its state chief Bandi Sanjay's claim that it will conduct a "surgical strike in Telangana's Old City", saying it should mount a surgical strike on China instead.

Addressing a public meeting in 2020, Bandi Sanjay had said the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and AIMIM Chief Owaisi were trying to win GHMC polls with the help of Rohingya, Pakistani and Afghanistani voters.

"GHMC polls should be conducted without voters from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Rohingyas. We will conduct a surgical strike in Old City once we win the polls," Kumar said while campaigning for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation polls.

Invoking that remark at a public meeting in Sangareddy on Tuesday, the AIMIM chief said, "They say a surgical strike will be done in the old city. Do a surgical strike on China if you have guts."

Owaisi also hit out at Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his claim of a covert understanding between AIMIM chief Asadusddin Owaisi and KCR, saying, "Why do you (Amit Shah) feel the pain, if the steering is in my hand?"

He said, "Crores of rupees were approved for temples and he (Amit Shah) says the steering is in my hand. If the steering is in my hand, then why do you feel the pain?"

File pic

08:16 Army opens fire after suspicious movement near LoC

The Army on Wednesday opened fire after noticing suspicious movements near the border fence along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

The firing was reported from forward Karmara village in Gulpur sector around 4 am but there was no immediate report of any casualty, the officials said.

They said the Army troops engaged in firing by small arms following suspicious movements of some people who were trying to sneak into this side from across the border. The whole area was cordoned off and a search operation was underway when last reports were received, the officials said. PTI

08:13 North Korea's spy satellite 'crashes into sea'

A military spy satellite launched by North Korea earlier in the day crashed into the Yellow Sea owing to an engine problem and it plans to carry out its second launch "as soon as possible," reported Yonhap News Agency.

According to Korea Central News Agency, North Korea launched "Malligyong-1," the military reconnaissance satellite mounted on a new-type rocket named "Chollima-1," at its rocket launching station on the west coast at 6:27 am (local time).

The carrier rocket fell in the Yellow Sea "after losing thrust due to the abnormal starting of the second-stage engine after the separation of the first stage during the normal flight," said KCNA in an English-language dispatch.

The failure was due to "the low reliability and stability of the new-type engine system and unstable character of the fuel used," read the KCNA report, citing a spokesperson of the state-run space development agency.

North Korea also said that it would thoroughly investigate the serious defects that emerged in the latest satellite launch and take necessary measures to overcome them, pledging to "conduct the second launch as soon as possible through various part tests."

Both South Korea and Japan issued emergency warnings advising the residents to take cover indoors if they were outside.

Japan termed North Korea's projectile a "possible ballistic missile," reported Kyodo News quoting the Japanese Defence Ministry.

According to the official Korean Central News Agency, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un directed his country's space agency to finalise preparations for the launch of Pyongyang's first military reconnaissance satellite.

Pyongyang alerted the Japan Coast Guard of three maritime hazard zones where objects may fall beginning Wednesday, two to the west of the Korean Peninsula and one to the east of the Philippines. All of these areas are not within Japan's exclusive economic zone, according to Kyodo News.

File image

00:50 Fire erupts in multi-storey building in Mumbai's Ghatkopar

A fire erupted in a multi-storey building in suburban Ghatkopar on Tuesday evening, a civic official said.

Nobody has been reported injured in the incident, he said.

The fire started inside a flat on the 15th floor of a 29-storey building in Wadhvan Compound on LBS Road around 7.45 pm, the official said.

At least four fire engines, water tankers and other equipment of the Mumbai fire brigade was at the spot and dousing was on, he added.

The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained. -- PTI

A group of seers here has announced a rally next week in support of Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who is accused of sexually harassing women grapplers.

The seers said they will also protest against the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences Act, which they claim "has many loopholes and defective clauses".

The country's top wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, have accused Singh, a BJP MP who heads the Wrestling Federation of India, of sexual harassment and are demanding his arrest.

The seers said that they will hold the rally at Ram Katha Park in Ayodhya on June 5.

"We the seers of Ayodhya and those from other religious places of the country will hold the rally in favour of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh," said Mahant Satyendra Das.

"We will also oppose the POCSO Act as it has got many loopholes and defective clauses," he said.

Subhash Singh, a close associate and personal assistant of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said, "The rally is being organised on the call given by senior saints and seers of the country." -- PTI

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