LIVE! Kerala temple body says no to RSS activities

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Tue, 24 October 2023

Kerala temple body says no to RSS activities

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22:30 Kerala temple body says no to RSS activities

The Travancore Devaswom Board, the apex temple body which manages major shrines in Kerala's Travancore region, has issued a new circular banning the activities of the RSS on temple premises and its properties.

According to the circular issued by the Devaswom Commissioner, the 'namajapa protests' (protests by chanting mantras) have also been banned inside the premises of shrines managed by the temple body.

It said all the activities of the RSS and outfits with "extreme ideologies," without the permission of the TDB, have been prohibited.

The circular, dated October 20, directed the Devaswom Vigilance Wing to carry out surprise raids to find out whether the RSS or other outfits were running 'shakhas' (branches), mass drills, or arms training on temple properties.

It directed employees and priests of respective temples to inform the TDB management about the presence of such outfits and their operations, if any. Those who failed to inform the same would face disciplinary action, it said.

The circular also made it clear that photos, flags and flex boards of those who have no relation to the temples should not be kept on their premises.

Any failure to follow the directives would be treated as a violation of high court verdicts in this regard, it added.

Last month, the Kerala High Court had said that no mass drill or weapons training shall be permitted on the premises of Sarkara Devi Temple in Thiruvananthapuram district, which is under TDB's management.

The direction came while disposing of a plea filed by two devotees seeking an order to prevent "illegal use and unauthorised occupancy" of the temple premises by the RSS and its members. -- PTI

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), an organisation of the Kuki-Zo community, on Tuesday alleged that Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has "instigated" the ethnic strife in the northeastern state which began in early May.

Commenting on RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's remark that Meiteis and Kukis, the two warring communities in the state, were living together for a long time, the ITLF asked why no clashes had taken place between the two sides before the present government started ruling the state in March 2017.

Addressing the RSS Dussehra rally at Nagpur earlier in the day, Bhagwat said, "Who actually fuelled the conflict? It (violence) is not happening, it is being made to happen."

In a statement, the ITLF alleged that the answer to his question is Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

The tribal organisation also raised a series of questions on the Manipur situation such as why AFSPA was recently removed only in valley areas and not in hill districts.

While the Meitis live mainly in the Imphal Valley, Kukis are in majority in hills districts.

Another question raised by the ITLF is: "Why was the government notification of 1966 regarding reserved' and protected' forests under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 suddenly implemented in 2023?'

The strife in Manipur was preceded by protests by tribals against a drive by the state government to evict them from reserve forest areas. -- PTI

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19:55 Rs 244 cr cash seized in last 15 days in Rajasthan

Ahead of the Assembly elections in Rajasthan, enforcement agencies have seized Rs 244 crore cash in the last 15 days, officials said on Tuesday.

A strict vigil is being maintained by the police, excise, income tax and other enforcement agencies and a "new record" has been made in the seizure of illegal cash, liquor, drugs, gold, silver etc. The total seizure figure has crossed Rs 1,000 crore in 2023, officials said.

According to officials, this year there has been a three-fold increase in the total seizure, which was Rs 322 crore in 2021, Rs 347 crore in 2022 and Rs 1,021 crore so far in 2023.

Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said that since June, the election commission has been working in direct coordination with all the enforcement agencies, and cash and other material worth Rs 648 crore have been seized since then.

In the last 15 days (from October 9 till now), cash and other material worth Rs 244 crore have been seized, officials said.

Gupta said that during this period, Rs 39.30 crore cash was seized by police, Income Tax Department and other agencies. Similarly, over 10.60 lakh litre illicit liquor worth Rs 20.12 crore was seized by the Excise Department, police and other agencies. -- PTI

19:48 Now, China sacks missing defence minister

After keeping mum for nearly two months, China on Tuesday formally sacked its missing defence minister Gen. Li Shangfu who met the same fate as his former Cabinet colleague and foreign minister Qin Gang whose whereabouts are not yet known.

On Tuesday, China also removed Finance Minister Liu Kun and appointed Lan Fo'an in his place. Liu is the third senior Cabinet minister to be replaced without any explanation.

Before the promotion, Lan became the Communist Party chief of the finance ministry in late September.

Another official announcement said the National People's Congress removed minister of science and technology, Wang Zhigang and appointed Yin Hejun in his place.

Wang had served as the deputy minister of science and technology since July 2012 and became the minister of science and technology in March 2018. Again no reasons were given for his removal.

Gen Li, 65, was removed from the posts of State Councillor and national defence minister, and Qin Gang was removed from the post of State Councillor, according to a decision adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Tuesday, the official media here reported.

No successor for Li has been announced so far.

The NPC sacked Qin in July and re-appointed Wang Yi, currently a member of the Political Bureau of the ruling Communist Party of China, as Foreign Minister.

Earlier, Qin succeeded Wang as Foreign Minister.

Like Qin, Gen Li was abruptly removed without an explanation.

Significantly, both of them were close confidants of President Xi Jinping who picked them up for high posts overlooking several seniors both in foreign and defence ministries.

Li was formally removed days before a US military delegation was due to arrive in Beijing for a regional security forum of the Chinese military, paving the way for long-stalled high-level military dialogue between the two sides. -- PTI

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday hit back at Congress leader Digvijaya Singh for terming him a "dramatist" after he performed the 'kanya pujan' ritual as part of Navratri festival.

The chief minister also asked the Congress leadership to clear its stand on the "Sanatan sanskar" of worshipping girls in the form of Goddess, which is a tradition followed in many parts of the country to mark Navmi or the ninth day of Navratri.

Chouhan and his wife performed the ritual, which involves washing the feet of minor girls, at his official residence on Monday.

"This is painful. Worshipping daughters is Sanatan sanskar and the entire country was doing this yesterday. You (Digvijaya Singh) term it natak-nautanki. This is your sanskar Digvijaya Singh, Chouhan told reporters when asked for his reaction.

After Chouhan performed the ritual, Singh said the CM is a "big dramatist" who speaks lies.

"Only people with pure hurt can worship daughters and sisters. I want to ask Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi...Is worshipping daughters a natak-nautanki? What is the stand of Congress?

"Digvijay Singhji, while opposing Shivraj Singh and Sanatan Dharma, you have stooped so low that you are opposing the worship of daughters," Chouhan said.

The single-phase polling in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 17. -- PTI

19:00 Modi attends Dussehra celebrations in Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday attended the celebratory burning of Ravan's effigy on the occasion of 'Vijaya Dashmi' at Delhi's Ram Leela Maidan in Dwaraka Sector 10.

Modi is the chief guest at the 11th grand Ramleela of the Shri Ramleela Society. He also performed Ravana Dahan.

The PM was given a traditional welcome by organisers on the dais at the venue.

Modi was welcomed with a shawl and statue of Ram Durbar, and was also gifted a mace.

Dussehra celebrations mark the end of nine-day festivities of 'Navratra'. The tradition of burning of effigies signifies the triumph of good over evil.

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said if the conflict in the Middle East spread beyond Gaza, a large number of Indians working in the region will be affected.

"If the conflict drags on, we will definitely get affected. No other country has more nationals working in that region than we have. If the conflict spreads beyond Gaza, our people will be affected by it.

"That is why we want the war to stop, the bombings should stop. The United Nations (UN) and other countries will have to do justice. They cannot have different rules for different countries," Abdullah told reporters at the party headquarters in Srinagar.

Asked if the UN had maintained silence on the ongoing conflict, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said while the global body has spoken about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, it has not been taken as seriously as it should have been.

"The UN is not silent, but unfortunately not much attention is being paid to what it is saying. As far as I saw, the UN has spoken about the humanitarian crisis there, but Israel is getting so much support from the US, the UK and other countries that we do not see as much impact of the UN as we would have liked," he added.

Meanwhile, People's Democratic Party (PDP) accused the BJP-led central government of adopting double standards on the situation in the Middle East by sending aid material to the Palestinians, but not allowing peaceful protests in their support.

"Millions of people are coming out on the streets across the world, but we are not allowed to protest peacefully. I don't understand the double standards. The MEA spokesperson... expressed solidarity with the Palestinians and the Government of India also sent 42 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza Strip via Egypt.

"But we are not allowed to even hold protests here in support of the Palestinians," PDP president's media advisor, Iltija Mufti, told reporters.

Mufti alleged the PDP was being selectively targeted and was not allowed to hold any peaceful political activity. -- PTI

In a major relief to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, the caretaker government of Pakistan's Punjab province on Tuesday suspended his seven-year sentence in the Al-Azizia corruption case.

The Punjab caretaker government led by Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi is considered an extension of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz government.

The government's decision came at the time when 73-year-old Sharif was appearing before the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday to seek bail in the Al-Azizia case.

Before his arrival to Pakistan after ending his four-year self-imposed exile last Saturday, the IHC had granted him protective bail till October 24.

On Tuesday, the Punjab government issued a statement saying that it has suspended PML-N supremo Sharif's sentence in the Al-Azizia case on his request.

"The former prime minister's sentence has been suspended after the provincial cabinet's approval. The decision has been taken in the light of a higher court that allowed the Punjab government to suspend Nawaz's conviction in the Al-Azizia case on medical grounds," the government said.

Sharif was convicted in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case and sentenced to seven years in jail in December 2018. Delivering the verdict, the judge had said that there was concrete evidence against the former premier in the Al-Azizia case, and that he was unable to give the trail of the money used to set up the Al-Azizia steel mills in Saudi Arabia by his family in 2001 and later on the Hill Metal Establishment also in Saudi Arabia.

He was allowed to go to London in November 2019 on medical grounds and he returned about four years later on Saturday.

He was also convicted in the Avenfield case in 2018. In the Avenfield case, he was granted bail before his departure to London in November 2019 on medical grounds.

Punjab caretaker information minister Amir Mir said Sharif's sentence in the Al-Azizia case has been suspended by the Punjab government under Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. -- PTI

An-eight-year-old girl, who was bitten by a stray dog in Agra about two weeks ago, died on Saturday, an official said on Tuesday. The girl's mother allegedly used home remedies instead of anti-rabies vaccine(ARV).

Dr Jitendra Verma, head of the community health centre (CHC), Bah block, told PTI the girl was brought to the centre at the last time and the family initially ignored the advice to take her to SN Medical College in Agra for treatment. The girl died on the way while being taken to SN Medical College when her condition deteriorated.

"The girl was bitten by a stray dog about 10-15 days ago. She did not inform about the incident to anyone in her family except her mother. Her mother applied home remedies, but when the girl's condition deteriorated, they brought her to the CHC on Saturday," he added.

The girl was the resident of Bah block's Chausangi village. Her father Dharmendra Singh works as a labourer, and her mother is a housewife.

Dr Verma said, "After the dog-bite, the first dose of ARV should be given to the victim within 24 hours. After that, another dose should be given on the third day and thereafter on the seventh day. The last dose should be given on the 28th day."

"The symptoms of dog-bites are hydrophobia (fear of water), pain in the neck and vomiting," he added.

A 20-year-old student preparing for IIT in Rajasthan's Kota allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan at his native home here, police said on Tuesday.

Roshan Verma was sleeping with his family members in the verandah of his house in Devki Chhapra village on Monday night. At some point in the night, he went to his room and hanged himself from the fan using a towel, they said.

After completing his Class 12 exams, Roshan was preparing for IIT in Kota. He had come home on holiday, police said.

His family came to know about the incident the next morning, they said.

According to the family, Roshan had been suffering from a severe headache for the last few days and was getting his treatment. It is believed that he committed suicide because of it, SHO Dharam Veer Singh the

The body has been sent for post-mortem, the SHO said. -- PTI

16:35 Unelected judges have vital roles to play: CJI

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud has said judges, though not elected, have a very vital role to play because the judiciary has a "stabilising influence" in the evolution of societies which are rapidly changing with technology.

He was responding to the most common criticism that unelected judges should not venture into executive's domain. He made the observations while speaking in the 3rd Comparative Constitutional Law discussion co-hosted by the Georgetown University Law Center, Washington and the Society for Democratic Rights (SDR), New Delhi on the topic - 'Perspectives from the Supreme Courts of India and the United States'.

"I believe that judges have a very vital role to play though we are not elected. We don't go back to the people every five years to seek their votes. But, there's a reason for that... I do believe that the judiciary, in that sense, is a stabilising influence in the evolution of our societies, particularly in something like our age which is so rapidly changing with technology," the CJI said.

The judges are the voice of something which must subsist beyond "the vicissitudes of time" and the courts have the ability to provide stabilising influence in the societies.

"I do believe that we have a role to play in the overall stability of our own civilizations, our own cultures, particularly in the context of a plural society, such as India," he said.

As part of a cultural and social background, the CJI said that the courts have become focal points of engagement between civil society and the quest for social transformation.

"So, people approach the courts, not just for outcomes. Let's be very clear, people approach the courts also for a voice in the process of constitutional change...," he said.

This is a complex question and there are several reasons as to why people come to courts more often, he said.

"It is very important for courts... because we are as many institutions of governance... of course there is the principle of the separation of powers. We don't take upon ourselves the role of the legislature or we don't take upon ourselves the role of the executive," he said. -- PTI

Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman S Somanath on Tuesday expressed his wish for increased female representation in the nation's space missions.

He said this desire echoes the sentiments of the nation, including that of the Prime Minister.

During an event at the Pournami Kavu temple in Thiruvananthapuram, where Somanath initiated children into the world of letters as part of the Vidyarambam ceremony on Vijayadasami, he shared his expectation of seeing more female astronauts in ISRO's ambitious Gaganyaan mission.

Somanath clarified that as astronauts had already been selected and trained, participation of women won't be feasible in Gaganyaan's inaugural mission, which aims to send humans to space and bring them back safely to Earth.

However, he expressed optimism of greater female involvement in future Gaganyaan missions.

"More women astronauts in space missions is part of my wish list, and I only echoed the voice of the nation, including that of the Prime Minister," he told PTI.

On Sunday, the ISRO chairman had said the space agency prefers woman fighter test pilots or female scientists for its much-awaited human space flight programme-Gaganyaan- and it is possible to send them in future.

He had also said ISRO would send a female humanoid - a robot that resembles a human - on its unmanned Gaganyaan spacecraft next year.

The ambitious mission aims to send humans into space on a Low Earth Orbit of 400 km for three days and bring them safely back to Earth.

"No doubt about it...but we have to find out such possible (women) candidates in the future," Somanath told PTI over phone in response to a query.

Acknowledging his spiritual inclination, the ISRO Chairman engaged in prayers on Vijayadasami day.

After completing his prayers at the temple on Tuesday, Somanath sat down for more than 30 minutes to help toddlers write their first letters to mark the beginning of their education.

The Sri Lankan Cabinet has approved the policy to issue free tourist visas to travellers from India and six other countries, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said on Tuesday, amidst efforts to rebuild the debt-trapped island nation's tourism sector.

Foreign Minister Sabry in a statement said that this would be carried out as a pilot project effective until March 31, 2024.

The Cabinet approved free entry to travellers from India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand with immediate effect.

Tourists from these countries will be able to obtain visas when visiting Sri Lanka, without a fee.

India is traditionally Sri Lanka's top inbound tourism market.

In the September arrival figures, India topped with over 30,000 arrivals or 26 per cent with Chinese tourists trailing at over 8,000 arrivals as the second largest group.

Tourist arrivals to the island had slumped since the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that left 270 persons, including 11 Indians, dead and over 500 injured.

China has asked Bhutan to establish diplomatic ties with it and resolve the boundary issue "as soon as possible" to transform the relations between the two neighbours into "legal form".

Bhutanese Foreign Minister Dr Tandi Dorji who is currently visiting Beijing to take part in the boundary talks between the two countries met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday during which Wang said restoration of diplomatic ties will serve the long-term interests of both countries, a Foreign Ministry press release here said.

"The conclusion of boundary negotiations and the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bhutan fully serve the long-term and fundamental interests of the country and nation of Bhutan," Wang said.

"China is ready to work with Bhutan in the same direction, seize the historic opportunity, complete this important process as soon as possible, and fix and develop China-Bhutan friendly relations in legal form," Wang, also a member of the powerful Political Bureau of the ruling Communist Party, told Dorji.

The Bhutanese Foreign Minister is in Beijing to hold the China-Bhutan boundary talks, the release said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry press release quoted Dorji as saying that Bhutan and China have enjoyed a traditional friendship.

He thanked China for its strong support and assistance to Bhutan.

Bhutan firmly abides by the one-China principle meaning Taiwan and Tibet are part of China and stands ready to work with China for an early settlement of the boundary issue and advance the political process of establishing diplomatic relations, it said.

China and Bhutan do not have diplomatic relations but maintain contact through periodic visits by officials.

While Beijing resolved the boundary disputes with the 12 other neighbours, India and Bhutan are the only two countries China has yet to sign the border agreements.

China in recent years stepped up efforts to establish full-fledged diplomatic ties with Bhutan and to expedite negotiations to reach a settlement for the vexed border dispute which was complicated by Beijing's attempts to claim Doklam despite Thimphu's assertions that the area belonged to it.

China's attempts to build a road in the Doklam plateau in 2017 resulted in an India-China stand-off triggering tensions between the two neighbours.

India strongly opposed the construction of the road by the Chinese military at the Doklam tri-junction as it would have impacted its overall security interests since it runs close to the narrow Siliguri Corridor also known as the Chicken Neck connecting India with its north-east.

The standoff ended after Beijing dropped its plan to build the road.

Also in 2020, China made a surprising claim on Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary in Bhutan at the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council by opposing funding for the project.

Bhutan has lodged a demarche to the Chinese Embassy in India over China's claim over the sanctuary made at the GEF meeting. -- PTI

Amid its ongoing conflict with Hamas, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Tuesday said it carried out strikes at more than 400 terrorist targets in the past 24 hours. The IDF asserted that it will continue operating to ensure the safety of innocent civilians.

Taking to X, the IDF stated, "In a wide-scale operation to dismantle Hamas' terrorist capabilities, the IDF struck over 400 terrorist targets in the past 24hrs: Hamas gunmen setting up to fire rockets toward Israel. A Hamas operational tunnel shaft allowing terrorists to infiltrate Israel through the sea. Hamas command centers used by operatives and staging armaments in Mosques. The IDF will continue operating in order to ensure the safety of innocent civilians."

In another post shared on X, IDF wrote, "Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, Saleh al-Arouri, Ismail Haniyeh and others have the blood of thousands on their hands. We will never forget the Hamas massacre on October 7."

Meanwhile, the IDF Chief of Staff, Lt General Herzi Halevi said that Israel wants to bring Hamas to a state of "full dismantling." He asserted that Israel is well prepared for the ground operations in the south.

Lt General Halevi, "We want to bring Hamas to a state of full dismantling - its leaders, its military branch and its working mechanisms. That is why we are striking and eliminating high ranking commanders and members, destroying infrastructure and acting with great determination. The path is a path of unrelenting attacks damaging Hamas everywhere and in every way. We are well prepared for the ground preparations in the south. The Southern Command has quality operational plans."

Meanwhile, Israel's Air Force said that it targeted infrastructures of the Hezbollah, including a military compound and an observation post used by the organization. -- ANI

A 25-year-old teacher of a madrasa in Gujarat's Junagadh district has been arrested for allegedly sodomising at least 10 of his minor students, police said.

Apart from the maulana (teacher), the police have also arrested a 55-year-old trustee of the madrasa for allegedly not taking any action on complaints of the students against the teacher, Junagadh district police said in a statement on Monday.

While the teacher was nabbed from his hideout in Surat, the madrasa trustee, who had also managed to escape, was caught from a place in Junagadh on Sunday, said the statement.

Based on a complaint given by a 17-year-old boy, the Mangrol police registered an FIR on Sunday against the two accused under Indian Penal Code sections 377 (unnatural intercourse), 323 (assault), 506-2 (criminal intimidation) and relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The offence came to light after one of the students of the residential school, situated on Mangrol-Veraval bypass, called his mother using the mobile phone of another maulana a few days back and complained about the teacher's sexual gestures and acts with students, the police statement said.

The woman then approached the police and told them that the madrasa teacher was allegedly involved in sodomising and sexually assaulting students residing and studying in the school, it said.

When the police reached the premises on October 21 and took students into confidence with the help of some Muslim leaders, 10 boys studying in the madrasa came forward and alleged that they were "sodomised" by the accused teacher, who had also threatened to kill them if any student complained to their parents or an outsider. -- PTI

Pakistan on Tuesday successfully conducted a training launch of the Ghauri Weapon System, according to a statement by the army, a week after holding the flight test of the ballistic missile Ababeel Weapon System.

The purpose of the launch is "aimed at testing the operational and technical readiness of Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC)," the statement said.

The launch was witnessed by Commander ASFC, senior officers from the strategic forces, scientists, and engineers of the strategic organisation.

The Commander of the ASFC also appreciated the scientists and engineers for their contributions towards the enhancement of Pakistan's strategic capability, the statement said.

Tuesday's training launch of the Ghauri Weapon System took place days after the US imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies for supplying missile-applicable items for Pakistan's ballistic missile programme.

China, an all-weather ally of Pakistan, has been the main supplier of arms and defence equipment to Islamabad's military modernisation programme.

President Arif Alvi, Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and Services Chiefs congratulated the participating troops, scientists, and engineers on the successful conduct of the training launch.

Earlier on October 18, Pakistan had successfully conducted the flight test of the Ababeel Weapon System to further strengthen its deterrence. That test of the ballistic missile system, a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the army had said, was aimed at "re-validating various design, technical parameters, and performance evaluation of different sub-systems." -- PTI

13:30 Rajnath Singh visits Tawang in Arunachal

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday celebrated Dussehra with Army soldiers at a forward base in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang.

The defence minister also performed "Shastra Puja" (worship of weapons) on the occasion, officials said.

Singh's celebration of Dussehra with the soldiers at the strategically important location close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) comes at a time India and China have been engaged in a bitter standoff in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh for over three years.

Singh has been performing 'Shastra Puja' during Dussehra for last several years, including during his tenure as the Union Home Minister in the previous NDA government.

Indian and Chinese troops are locked in an over three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.

India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.

The Army has significantly bolstered deployment of troops and weaponry along the nearly 3,500 km-long LAC, including in the Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh sectors following the eastern Ladakh standoff. -- PTI

Bishen Singh Bedi has bowled them over with the ultimate spin ball. His family did not see it coming.

This is how the Indian cricketing great's family is feeling a day after his death as they paid tribute to the legend who left for his celestial abode after living an inspiring life.

The family felt that the left-arm spinner foxed the batters throughout his career and he kept the character till the end.

"Isn't it completely in Dad's character to bowl us over with the ultimate spin ball, one that even we never saw coming," the family said in a statement in the honour of Bedi, one of the greatest left-arm spinners of all time.

"Every day of his life was spent in devotion to his family and faith, and in service to his Waheguru. He epitomised living a life that was Nirbhau-Nirvair and we are comforted in knowing that he is with His Beloved now.

"Dad, we were blessed to have you as our fearless leader. We will strive to live by your motto - to observe and absorb. Keep guiding us from the great beyond."

The family described Bedi as a "fearless leader" and one who has inspired many generations through his life.

Former India captain Bedi, who played 67 Tests between 1967 to 1979 and took 266 wickets, died at his home in New Delhi on Monday after a prolonged illness.

He was 77 and is survived by his wife Anju, son Angad and daughter Neha.

"While we are in shock and overcome with grief, we find solace in knowing that he lived a rich, fearless and full life that inspired many. We are moved by each and every message of love we have received, publicly and personally," the statement read.

"Thank you to everyone for celebrating his grit, humour and giant heart. It is heartwarming to see how many generations Dad inspired through his life," said the statement sent by Anju, Angad, Neha and others, including Bedi's daughter-in-law Neha Dhupia.

Born in Amritsar in 1946, Bedi was the part of Indian cricket's golden quartet of spinners that also had Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chadrasekhar and Srinivas Venkataraghavan. They formed the core of India's bowling unit for more than a decade between 1966 and 1978.

Bedi was briefly the manager of the Indian cricket team in 1990 during tours of New Zealand and England.

He was also a national selector and mentor to many talented spinners like Maninder Singh, Sunil Joshi and Murali Kartik, who all swore by his technical insight. -- PTI

12:16 Odisha CM's close aide gets new role after VRS

V K Pandian, the former aide to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has been appointed Chairman 5T (Transformational Initiatives) with the rank of a cabinet minister, an official notification said on Tuesday.

The development comes less than 24 hours after Pandian took voluntary retirement from government service.

"Shri V K Pandian is hereby appointed as Chairman 5T (Transformational Initiatives) and Nabin Odisha in the rank of Cabinet Minister. Pandian shall work directly under the Chief Minister," the General Administration and Public Grievance Department said.

Pandian joined the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) in 2011, and since then, he has been Patnaik's private secretary.

After Patnaik became the chief minister for the fifth time in 2019, Pandian was given additional responsibility of '5T secretary' to implement some transformational initiatives in government departments.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday said cultural Marxists and woke elements are using their influence in media and academia to spoil the country's education and culture.

Addressing the RSS Dussehra rally in Nagpur, Bhagwat described cultural Marxists and woke as selfish, discriminatory and deceitful forces using their influence in media and academia to spoil the country's education and culture.

These destructive forces call themselves "woke" and claim to be working for some lofty goals, but their real goals are to disrupt orderliness in the world, he said.

"These selfish, discriminatory and deceitful forces seeking their sectarian interests are making efforts to disrupt social cohesion and promote conflict. They wear various cloaks. Some of them call themselves cultural Marxists or woke," he said.

Bhagwat said cultural Marxists reward, promote and spread anarchy.

They take control of the media and academia, and plunge education, culture, politics and social environment into confusion, chaos, and corruption," he said. -- PTI

A 15-year-old boy was allegedly stabbed to death by his friends in a village in Amethi, the police said on Tuesday.

The body of Meraj was retrieved from a forest in Mohabbatpur village in Jagdishpur town on Monday night, they said.

Meraj's father Riyaz told the police that his son had gone to a wedding in the village with his friends Ghulam and Parikal Ali on Sunday night but did not return home.

When the family approached the duo to enquire about Meraj, they could not give a satisfactory answer, police said.

Station house officer of Jagdishpur police station Rakesh Singh said Meraj's friends, who are also minors, have been detained and the police are questioning them. -- PTI

10:41 Byju's CFO Ajay Goel quits

Educational technology company Byju's chief financial officer Ajay Goel has quit after completing the audit process for the financial year 2022 and will return to Vedanta, the company said in a statement.

The edtech major has roped in industry veteran Pradip Kanakia as the senior advisor, and president (finance) Nitin Golani has been given additional responsibility as India chief finance officer to handle the finance function of the company.

"I thank the founders and colleagues at Byju's for helping me assemble the FY'22 audit in three months. I appreciate the support received during a short but impactful stint at Byju's," Goel said.

He will transition after completing the formalities of the financial year (FY) 2022 audit, the statement said.

The company is awaiting certain approvals to file its long-pending financial results for FY2022. -- PTI

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh members organised path sanchalan (route march) on the occasion of RSS Vijayadashami Utsav on Tuesday.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Padma Shri Shankar Mahadevan, who has been invited as the chief guest, were also present on the occasion.

On the occasion, while speaking to ANI, Shankar Mahadevan extended Vijayadashami greetings to everyone and said that he was privileged to be welcomed as a chief guest at the RSS Vijayadashami Utsav.

"I want to extend my greetings to everyone on the occasion of Vijayadashami. I am very honoured and privileged that I have been welcomed as a chief guest at this function. I want to thank the RSS chief, Mohan Bhagwat and the entire Swayamsevak Sangh family...I am very excited to attend this program..." he said.

The Vijayadashmi Utsav will also be addressed by the RSS chief. -- ANI

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan helps a child write his first letters on Vijayadashmi/ANI on X

09:43 Tiny tots step into world of knowledge in Kerala on Vijayadasami Day

Thousands of tiny tots were entered into the world of letters and knowledge in Kerala on the auspicious Vijayadasami day on Tuesday, marking the culmination of the nine-day-long annual Navratri festival.

According to Hindu tradition, Vijayadasami is observed as the day of Vidyarambham, the beginning of learning, in the southern state.

Besides temples, schools, cultural institutions, local libraries, and media houses made elaborate arrangements for ezhuthiniruthu - the initiation ceremony.

Children and their parents thronged these places in huge numbers from early morning to take part in the ritualistic ceremony.

As per the custom, scholars, writers, teachers, priests and other prominent figures in society make children write their first letters of learning on the occasion.

They help the tots, usually aged two to three years, write HariSree on platters filled with rice, or it is scribbled on a child's tongue with a golden ring.

Though predominantly a Hindu custom, the Vidyarambham ceremony has assumed a secular dimension in Kerala over the years, with people belonging to other religions also initiating their wards into the world of letters on the same day.

Temples, especially those dedicated to Saraswathi, the goddess of learning and art, like Panachikkadu Saraswathi Temple in Kottayam district, witnessed a heavy rush in the early morning.

Besides this, well-known shrines like Sri Padmanabha Swami Temple and Guruvayur Sree Krishna Swamy Temple also saw a heavy rush of devotees. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended his greetings to the people on the occasion of Vijayadashami.

Taking to social media platform, X, the Prime Minister said, "Best wishes to my family members across the country on Vijayadashami. This holy festival brings the message of ending negative forces as well as adopting goodness in life. Wishing you all a Happy Vijaya Dashami!" -- ANI

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09:15 Air quality in Delhi continues to remain 'very poor'

The overall air quality in the national capital continued to remain in the 'very poor' category on Tuesday morning, as per SAFAR-India.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research, the Air Quality Index in the overall Delhi region was in the 'very poor' category at 303.

In the Delhi University area and Pusa, the quality of air was recorded as 'very poor' and 'poor' with AQI at 335 and 242, respectively.

IIT Delhi breached the very poor category with an AQI of 306.

The quality of air at the Airport (T3) was also in the very poor category, with an AQI of 313.

Mathura Road recorded 173 AQI, coming under the moderate category.

Meanwhile, Noida recorded an AQI of 308 (very poor) and Gurugram 249 (poor). -- ANI

Tom Cruise's next Mission: Impossible won't be hitting the theatres as per the originally planned release date.

The makers will now release the film on May 23, 2025, instead of June 28, 2024, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Also, the film will most probably not be released under its previously-announced title of Mission: Impossible -- Dead Reckoning Part Two, and a new title is set to be announced at a later date.

The delay is a result of the production shutdown caused by the ongoing strikes in Hollywood.

The previous instalment, Dead Reckoning Part 1 was released in July 2023 and garnered great reviews.

The movie stars Cruise as IMF agent Ethan Hunt, with Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames and Vanessa Kirby among those expected to return.

The Mission franchise dates back to 1996's original film, based on the 1960s TV show.

It is known for filming in locales across the globe and for at least one signature Cruise stunt that often becomes the centerpiece of its marketing campaign. -- ANI

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit the US on Thursday for a three-day visit and hold talks with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, a part of the Biden administration's efforts to maintain an open channel of communications with Beijing.

Blinken will host his Chinese counterpart in Washington from October 26-28, the state department said in a press release on Monday.

The two will discuss a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues as part of ongoing efforts to manage the US-China relationship responsibly and maintain open channels of communication, the state department said.

Ties between Washington and Beijing have become increasingly fraught lately. -- PTI

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08:14 Four empty coaches of EMU derail near Chennai, none hurt

Four empty coaches of an Electric Multiple Unit derailed near suburban Avadi in Chennai early on Tuesday, a Southern Railway official said.

There was no immediate report of any injuries.

"It was an empty rake from the Avadi maintenance car shed," a senior official said without divulging further details. EMUs are used as local passenger services. -- PTI

A screengrab of Hamas releasing Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper/Al-Qassam Brigades, military wing of Hamas/Handout/Reuters

08:13 Hamas frees 2 more hostages from captivity in Gaza

Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the terrorist group on Tuesday released two more hostages, The Times of Israel reported, adding that they were identified as Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz.

According to the report, a military helicopter ferrying the two freed hostages landed on the roof of Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv.

Citing a nurse at the Ichilov Hospital, The Times of Israel reported that Cooper and Lifshitz appeared to be in good health after arriving at the Israeli Medical Centre, directly upon their release from Hamas captivity in Gaza.

The two elderly hostages had an emotional reunion with their families, the nurse told The Times of Israel.

Both the freed hostages were on medication that they may not have received during their two weeks of captivity.

The nurse said the hospital authorities will come to a better understanding of their condition in the morning, The Times of Israel reported. -- ANI

The Congress on Monday night declared its candidate for the last remaining assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh, Amla in Betul district, but with a bureaucrat who was tipped to be the party nominee not getting government's nod in time to quit service, the ticket has gone to someone else for the next month's polls.

The opposition party fielded its member Manoj Malve from Amla and with this, it has completed the process of putting up nominees on all the 230 assembly seats for the November 17 elections.

The Congress, in two separate lists, had declared 229 candidates with only the Amla seat left out.

Earlier, Betul deputy collector Nisha Bangre, whose resignation is awaiting the state government's approval, was tipped to be the Congress candidate from the constituency.

However, after the announcement of Malve's candidature, suspense over Bangre's entry into poll fray has ended. Bangre has approached the Madhya Pradesh high court seeking direction to the government for speedy acceptance of her resignation, which she tendered on June 22. -- PTI

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01:18 WR to cancel 2,500 local trains in Mumbai till Nov 6

As many as 2,525 suburban services will remain cancelled till November 6 due to a block undertaken for works that began on October 7 in connection with the construction of 6th line between Khar and Goregaon stations, Western Railway said on Monday.

At least 230 to 316 Up (towards Churchgate) and Down (towards Virar/Dahanu) suburban trains will remain cancelled everyday, while 93 locals will be cancelled on November 4 and 110 on November 5, a WR release said.

Due to non-interlocking work in connection with construction of 6th line between Khar and Goregaon stations, these 2,525 suburban services will remain cancelled, the release said.

Sumit Thakur, WR chief public relations officer, said the block was meticulously planned to ensure minimum disruption to rail traffic and least inconvenience to passengers.

Western Railway has undertaken the work of fast-tracking sixth line project between Khar and Goregaon stations, an 8.8 kilometre stretch, from October 7 and the work is progressing at a rapid pace, the release said. -- PTI

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00:51 Burglars break open ATM in Delhi's Palam, decamp with Rs 21 lakh

A group of burglars stole at least Rs 21 lakh after cutting a Punjab National Bank ATM in southwest Delhi's Palam, the police said on Monday.

They said they received a PCR call around 4.40 am about tampering with the PNB's ATM installed at Manglapuri.

On inquiry, it was found that the burglars came in a vehicle and cut the ATM and stole about Rs 21 lakh.

The Delhi police has registered a case under section 380 (theft in a building) and 457 (house trespass) of the Indian Penal Code at the Palam Village police station. Further investigation is underway, the police said. -- PTI

A five-year-old boy and two women were killed, while several others received injuries in a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Bihar's Gopalganj district on Monday, the police said.

The incident happened at a crowded pandal in the Raja Dal locality of the town, superintendent of police Swarna Prabhat said.

He said devotees had lined up to receive "prasad" when the child fell down and two elderly women bent down to protect him from getting crushed.

"The ensuing commotion left 13 women and the child injured. They were rushed to the Sadar hospital. The boy and the two elderly women died. The rest were said to be out of danger," said the SP.

Meanwhile, the area around the site of the incident has been sealed with a view to keep the situation under control, he added. -- PTI

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