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Wed, 06 September 2023
Akshay Kumar changes film's tagline to Bharat
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Akshay Kumar
23:52 Akshay Kumar changes film's tagline to Bharat
Amid the ongoing controversy around the word "Bharat" in President Droupadi Murmu's formal invite to foreign leaders to a G20 dinner, sparking buzz of the country's name change, the title of Akshay Kumar's new film Mission Raniganj: The Great Indian Rescue has been changed to Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue.
On Wednesday, Akshay took to Instagram and unveiled the motion poster of the film, which is inspired by the heroic act of Late Shri Jaswant Singh Gill, who led a daring rescue of trapped minors in a coal mine.
The motion poster offers a peek into the gripping rescue operation that unfolded when miners found themselves trapped in a coal mine, 350 feet deep.
Akshay portrays the character of the Late Jaswant Singh Gill, who saved the trapped minors in a hair-raising operation.
"Heroes don't wait for medals to do what's right! Watch the story of Bharat's true hero with #MissionRaniganj in cinemas on 6th October. Teaser out tomorrow," Akshay captioned the post.
Mission Raniganj is directed by Tinu Suresh Desai and produced by Vashu Bhagnani, Jackky Bhagnani, Deepshikha Deshmukh and Ajay Kapoor.
Parineeti Chopra will essay the role of the female lead in the film. -- ANI
23:26 Yesteryear Bollywood actor testifies before court in rape case against bizman
A yesteryear Bollywood actor on Wednesday deposed before a court in Mumbai in a rape case she has filed against a city-based businessman.
She was the first person to depose as a witness in the case which was registered in 2018, and her testimony was recorded `in camera' (where the public and media are now allowed).
Besides raping her, the accused also forged a `Nikahnama' (Muslim marriage certificate) to show that they were married and cheated her of Rs 15.40 crore during 2010 to 2015, she alleged.
Earlier this year, the court had rejected the businessman's discharge application.
The accused submitted that his marriage to the actor was legal and they had also done the Haj pilgrimage together.
The court, while rejecting his discharge plea, had observed that it appeared from the available record that there were monetary transactions between him and the woman, he forged documents to claim that he was married to her, and had sexual intercurse with her without her consent. -- PTI
23:06 NIA court issues proclamation notice against terrorist in J&K's Budgam
A National Investigation Agency court has issued a proclamation notice against a terrorist in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, the police said on Wednesday.
"On the request of district police Budgam, the court of additional sessions judge Budgam designated NIA court under Section 22 of NIA Act has issued a proclamation against one active terrorist namely Aaqib Ahmad Shergojri, resident of Khampora Sarai Chadoora Budgam," a police spokesperson said.
He said the accused is involved in a case registered under sections 20 and 38 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act at Chadoora Police Station in central Kashmir.
In this regard, notices were affixed at visible places, including on the main gate of the house of the said terrorist, by the police asking the proclaimed absconder to appear before the trial court by or before October 3, the spokesperson said. -- PTI
BJP leader Amit Malviya
22:51 Sanatan row: TN cops file FIR against Amit Malviya
An FIR has been registered against Amit Malviya, in-charge of Bharatiya Janata Party's IT department, for distorting Tamil Nadu youth welfare minister Udhaynidhi Stalin's remark on Sanatan Dharma, the police said in Thiruchirappalli on Wednesday.
Days after Malviya posted on X that the DMK leader had called for "genocide" of 80 per cent population who follow Sanatan Dharma, the city police said a case has been registered under IPC sections for deliberately misrepresenting Udhayanidhi's remark to cause disharmony and create enmity among different sections of people.
The FIR was registered following a complaint, they said and did not elaborate.
On September 2, DMK leader and state minister Udhayanidhi, who also holds the sports portfolio alleged that Sanatan Dharma is against social justice and equality and it should hence be "eradicated." -- PTI
22:26 Yogi Adityanath's popularity on X soars with 26 million followers
In a major accomplishment for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, his official 'X' handle crossed the 26 million (2.6 crore) followers mark according to a statement on Wednesday.
"The chief minister is the third politician after PM Modi and Amit Shah to reach this milestone. CM Yogi has a huge fan base on the social media platform 'X', surpassing many of his counterparts from other states, leaders of the opposition, and even the Heads of State of many countries," read the statement.
It is worth mentioning here that Yogi Adityanath is credited with changing the perception of the most populous state of the country from that of a sleepy, backward and lawless state to that of one that has a rule of law, is making rapid development on multiple fronts as well as empowering common people.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's popularity transcends borders.
Recently, the list of people, organisations and departments who got the most followers in 30 days was released by X, in which CM Yogi ranked the second most popular Indian politician after Modi with 2 lakh 67 thousand 419 new followers. -- ANI
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat
22:11 Reservations will continue as long as ...: RSS chief
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said that reservations should continue as long as there is discrimination in society.
Discrimination exists in society even though it is invisible, he said, speaking at an event in Nagpur.
"We kept our own fellow human beings behind in the social system. We did not care for them, and it continued for 2000 years. Until we provide them equality, some special remedies have to be there, and reservations is one of them. Hence, reservations have to continue till there is such discrimination. We at the RSS give all support to the reservations provided in the Constitution," he said.
It is about giving respect and not just about ensuring financial or political equality, the RSS chief further said.
If the sections of society which faced discrimination suffered for 2000 years, "why cannot we (those who did not face discrimination) accept some trouble for 200 more years," he added. -- PTI
Representational image. Pic: Beawiharta/Reuters
21:56 Fliers stuck in Thiruvananthapuram airport for 24 hours
Passengers of a Jeddah-bound flight of Indonesia-based Lion Air were stranded at the international airport in Thiruvananthapuram for around 24 hours after a technical issue was found in the aircraft when it stopped for refuelling on Tuesday, airport sources said.
An alternative aircraft of the airline arrived from Indonesia on Wednesday afternoon to take the passengers onward to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, the source said.
The Lion Air flight -- JT052 -- with 212 passengers landed at the Thiruvananthapuram International airport at 3 pm on Tuesday for refuelling and that is when the technical issue was spotted.
Subsequently, the passengers were deboarded and moved to the airport's security holding area where they had to stay till Wednesday 4 pm when an alternative aircraft arrived from Indonesia to take them onward to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, the source said.
The passengers were provided food and facilities to rest in the security holding area during this time, the source added.
The aircraft with the technical fault underwent temporary repairs and then was flown back empty to Indonesia, he said.
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21:34 His prayers not answered, man steals Shivling from UP temple
A man stole a Shivling from a temple in Kaushambi district in Uttar Pradesh apparently after his prayer for marrying the woman of his choice was not fulfilled.
The police have arrested the man and recovered the stolen Shivling.
According to locals, the accused, Chhotu (27), wanted to marry a woman but his family opposed the match.
Hoping that he will be able to persuade his family members with some divine intervention, Chhotu began offering prayers to Lord Shiva. Locals say that Chhotu used to visit the Shiva temple located in the village every morning.
He believed his devotion would help him sway the minds of his family members.
He offered prayers at the Shiva temple for a month, but it had no effect. Chhotu, according to the police, stole the shivling then.
Circle officer of the area Abhishesk Kumar said on Wednesday, "Chhotu stole the Shivling from the temple during the early hours of September 1 and hid it in the bushes."
When villagers found the shivling missing from the temple they informed the police.
A team of Mahewa Ghat Police station reached the village and began an investigation.
"We detained Chhotu on suspicion on September 3. He later confessed to his crime," said the officer.
The police team also recovered the shivling from the bushes. -- PTI
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21:13 Marathas with Nizam-era papers to get OBC tag
The Maharashtra cabinet on Wednesday decided that Kunbi caste certificates will be issued to those Marathas hailing from Marathwada region who possess revenue or education documents from the Nizam era that recognise them as Kunbis, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said.
Kunbis (the community associated with agriculture) are grouped under the Other Backward Classes category in Maharashtra.
Shinde told reporters a five-member panel headed by judge Sandeep Shinde (retired) will determine the standard operating procedure, including legal and administrative framework, for giving caste certificates to members of the Maratha community referred to as Kunbis in the Nizam-era documents.
The panel will submit its report in a month. additional chief secretary (revenue), principal secretary (law and justice), and collectors of concerned districts (in Marathwada) will be members of this committee.
The divisional commissioner, Aurangabad, will be the member secretary of the panel.
Quota protester Manoj Jarange, who has been on hunger strike for the last eight days in Jalna district, has been demanding that Marathas in Marathwada be recognised as Kunbis based on their old records from the Nizam era.
Marathwada region was part of the erstwhile Hyderabad kingdom before it became part of Maharashtra. -- PTI
21:10 6 held for Rs 1.74 crore jewellery heist in Gujarat, 2 accused still at large
Robbers armed with sharp weapons intercepted a car, threatened three salesmen of an Ahmedabad-based jewellery firm travelling in it and made off with gold ornaments worth nearly Rs 1.74 crore in Gujarat's Banaskantha district, said the police on Wednesday.
Acting swiftly, the Patan district police nabbed six persons who were involved in the robbery within hours of the crime which took place in adjoining Banaskantha on Tuesday evening.
A former employee of the jewellery firm is suspected to be involved in the heist, but he remains at large.
Cops recovered the entire booty looted by the accused after abducting three salesmen of an Ahmedabad-based jewellery firm at knife-point, said a release by the Patan police.
While six persons involved in the robbery were apprehended on Tuesday night from different parts of Patan district, two other men wanted in the case -- Revabhai Rabari and Amrat Rabai -- were still at large, it said.
Probe conducted so far has revealed the robbery was planned on a tip provided by Revabhai Rabari about the movement of the three gold jewellery salesmen.
Since he had worked with the company earlier as a salesman, he also knew about the secret compartments created in the car by the Ahmedabad jeweller to transport gold items.
Revabhai Rabari was fired from the job two months ago, said the release. -- PTI
20:56 Hindustani classical vocalist Malini Rajurkar dies at 82
Hindustani classical vocalist Malini Rajurkar, an exponent of Gwalior gharana and a Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee, died in Hyderabad on Wednesday following age-related issues.
She was 82.
Rajurkar was admitted to a local hospital on Tuesday and she breathed her last on Wednesday at 4.15 pm, a close friend said.
"She had pledged her body for medical studies and accordingly, it will be donated to Osmania Medical College," author Vidya Deodhar, who had known Rajurkar for years, said.
One of the foremost proponents of 'khayal' and 'tappa' genre, the musician is survived by two daughters. Rajurkar was born in 1941 in Ajmer, Rajasthan, where she spent her formative years.
After graduating in mathematics, she taught it as a subject for three years at the Savitri Girl's High School & College in Ajmer.
She later won a three-year scholarship in the arts, leading her to pursue music further. -- PTI
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20:38 ISRO team visits JU in WB, takes stock of campus security after student's death
A team of the ISRO visited the Jadavpur University in Kolkata on Wednesday and took stock of the security measures on the campus.
The visit came after Governor CV Ananda Bose, who is also the chancellor of the university, wrote to the Indian Space Research Organisation to suggest security measures following the death of a first-year undergraduate student allegedly due to ragging.
The two members of the team visited different parts of the campus and the buildings, and discussed the security-related issues with varsity officials, JU's officiating vice-chancellor Buddhadeb Sau said.
"They deliberated on beefing up security with the use of remote sensing technology. They also discussed ways to prevent the entry of outsiders into the campus and monitor the movement of people so that narcotic substances are not consumed. They will give inputs to our security team," he said.
The ISRO team also discussed ways to prevent ragging in the hostels through surveillance but without intruding into the private space of students, Sau said.
"It is a data-based project in which experts from both ISRO and JU are participating. They will tell us about their observations and we will share ours with them. The university will take follow-up steps accordingly," he added.
The governor approached ISRO on August 24 to help the state-run university in curbing ragging cases by identifying an appropriate technological solution. -- PTI
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20:28 Elaborate vegetarian fare awaits G20 delegates
World leaders attending the G20 Summit over the weekend will be treated to an elaborate vegetarian spread representing India's rich culinary traditions, a senior official said.
The Mughlai cuisine of north India, the south Indian cooking traditions, and the "lip-smacking" chaat dishes from across the country will be served to the delegates over three days beginning Friday, he said.
While the Nigerian delegation reached New Delhi on Tuesday, other leaders will start arriving from Thursday evening onwards and the International Media Centre in the Pragati Maidan complex will start functioning from Friday.
A variety of street food and innovative recipes featuring millets will also be on the platter for the world leaders and the delegates attending the G20 Leaders Summit on September 9-10.
The global leaders and delegates will also get to taste the culinary delights of Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk, a renowned hub for Indian street food. Millets have been on the menu at G20 meetings under India's Presidency which began on December 1 last year. -- PTI
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20:13 Reliance Retail acquires majority stake in Alia Bhatt-promoted Ed-a-Mamma
Reliance Retail has entered into a joint venture with a 51 per cent stake in Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt-promoted clothing brand of kids and maternity wear Ed-a-Mamma.
Reliance Retail Vetures Ltd, the holding company for retail operation of billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd, in a statement said it aims to take the brand Ed-a-Mamma on a dynamic growth trajectory.
It will be "closely collaborating with founder Alia Bhatt and leveraging the management strength of its subsidiary Reliance Brands Limited to spearhead the business.
This partnership also marks a significant step forward in promoting sustainable fashion for the younger generation," said a joint statement.
"Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd signs a joint venture with Alia Bhatt's conscious clothing brand of kids and maternity-wear Ed-a-Mamma for a 51 per cent majority stake," it said.
Ed-a-Mamma was founded by Alia Bhatt in 2020 as an apparel brand for 2-12 year-olds.
From its online debut to its offline presence in department stores, Ed-a-Mamma quickly established itself as a favoured choice among discerning consumers, it said.
Last year, it had expanded its range to maternity wear.
RRVL director Isha Ambani said: "At Reliance, we have always admired brands that lead with a strong purpose and embody a unique design ethos exemplified perfectly by Ed-a-Mamma and its founder Alia Bhatt. -- PTI
20:06 Rupee falls 10 paise to close at all-time low of 83.14 against US dollar
The rupee depreciated by 10 paise and settled for the day at an all-time low of 83.14 (provisional) against the US dollar on Wednesday, weighed down by a surge in crude oil prices and strong American currency.
Forex traders said the Indian rupee depreciated on Wednesday as the US dollar rose to the highest levels in six months.
Moreover, elevated crude oil prices also weighed on rupee.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local unit opened at 83.08 against the US dollar and moved in a range of 83.02 to 83.18 in the day trade.
The rupee finally settled at 83.14 (provisional) against the US dollar, down 10 paise from its previous close.
The India currency earlier hit the lowest level of 83.13 on August 21 this year.
On Tuesday, the rupee plunged by 33 paise to close at 83.04 against the US dollar.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, fell marginally by 0.07 per cent to 104.73. -- PTI
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19:57 Infiltration bid foiled in J-K, 2 terrorists killed
Two terrorists were killed in a fierce gunfight with army soldiers on Wednesday as the troops foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said.
While the body of one terrorist has been recovered along with war-like stores, a search operation for the body of the second is underway, Jammu-based defence PRO Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said.
He said the operation was launched after two terrorists were observed crossing the LoC on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday in the Mandi sub-sector of Poonch.
"A joint operation was launched by the Indian Army and police immediately to intercept the terrorists. The hostile terrain, dense jungle and steep gradient were utilised by the terrorists to bring down a heavy volume of fire on the troops," the PRO said, adding both the terrorists were eliminated on Wednesday.
Officials said the terrorists were noticed moving towards the border fence in the Sawjian area of Mandi taking cover of the darkness shortly after the midnight.
Reinforcements were rushed to the area and a fierce gunbattle between the two sides started when the troops confronted the infiltrating terrorists, the officials said, adding the security forces suffered no casualty in the encounter. -- PTI
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19:38 Maratha quota activists protest police action in Jalna; two detained
Some Maratha community members burned tyres in Solapur district of Maharashtra on Wednesday to protest against the recent police lathi-charge on quota protesters in Jalna, following which two persons were detained, an official said.
This 'Rasta Roko' (road blockade) protest was held on a service road on the Solapur-Pune highway in the afternoon, he said.
The issue of Maratha reservation returned to the centre stage last week after the police baton-charged and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse a violent mob at Antarwali Sarathi village in Jalna district.
The police said protesters allegedly refused to let authorities shift an activist on hunger strike for Maratha quota to a hospital.
Ever since the incident, the state has been witnessing protests by the Maratha community, demanding reservations in government jobs and educational institutions.
"Today, some pro-Maratha quota protesters gathered on a service road at the Old Pune Naka on Solapur-Pune highway in the afternoon and burned tyres to protest the Jalna incident and to highlight their quota demand," the police official said.
After receiving information about it, a team of police rushed to the spot and removed the burning tyres.
The road was opened for vehicular movement after that, he said, adding that two persons were detained for inquiry in connection with the incident. -- PTI
19:07 Modi heads for Jakarta, has packed schedule ahead of G20
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a packed schedule ahead of the G20 summit to be held in Delhi, as he would attend the ASEAN-India meet and East Asia Summit on Thursday before returning home the same evening for key bilateral talks with the leaders of three countries on September 8, officials said.
The prime minister participated in the meeting of council of ministers as well as the cabinet on Wednesday. He had back-to-back meetings before he embarking for Jakarta.
Prime Minister Modi will spend around seven hours in the flight to arrive in Jakarta at 3am IST on September 7.
In Jakarta, he will leave for the venue of ASEAN-India summit at 7am IST and participate in the meeting. At 8:45am IST, he will take part in the East Asia Summit, officials said.
Immediately after the meeting, he will emplane for Delhi at 11:45am IST and land around 6:45pm IST on Thursday.
The next day, PM Modi will hold important bilateral meetings with three countries, which includes a meeting with US President Joe Biden.
The G20 Summit is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on September 9 and 10.
US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, among others, will attend the meeting of developing and developed countries.
Aditya 'Dicky' Singh/Facebook
19:01 Conservationist Aditya 'Dicky' Singh, who left civil services to build forest, dies at 57
Prominent wildlife conservationist and photographer Aditya 'Dicky' Singh died at his home on the outskirts of Ranthambore tiger reserve in Rajasthan Wednesday morning.
He was 57.
"Aditya had a surgery after a minor heart attack a few weeks ago, after which he had come back and was recuperating well. It was a normal day yesterday, he was talking to everyone and was very jovial in his usual way. It appears that he died in his sleep early morning today (Wednesday)," family friend Dharmendra Khandal said.
A former officer in the Indian Civil Services, Singh quit his bureaucratic career and came to Ranthambore in 1998, where he leased a government property and continued to buy the adjacent farming land of nearly 40 acres to turn it into a reserve on the edge of the Ranthambore tiger reserve.
"Singh took up the rewilding project with great passion and rooting out invasive foreign plants and planting native trees, he turned it into a small forest. Through his conservation work he has motivated so many people. He developed the culture among conservationists of regularly following individual tigers," Khandal, a conservation biologist, said.
Apart from his conservation efforts that included guided safaris through the vast richness of Ranthambore National Park, Singh had also co-authored a book Noor: Queen of Ranthambore, covering different aspects of tigress Noor's life through a collection of photographs and stories. -- PTI
Chinese President Xi Jinping
18:43 Japan joins India, others in rejecting China's map
Japan has joined India, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan to lodge protests against China over its new "standard map" for including the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea as part of its territory.
Japan's chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told the media in Tokyo on Tuesday that Japan has lodged a strong protest to China through diplomatic channels over a new map released by Beijing last month.
Tokyo urged Beijing to rescind the map because it has a description based on China's unilateral claims on the Senkaku Islands in southern Japan's Okinawa Prefecture, Matsuno has been quoted by the Japanese media.
The map describes the Senkakus as the Diaoyu Islands, the Chinese name for the islands.
The Japanese-administered islands in the East China Sea are claimed by Beijing.
The islands are "indisputably an inherent part of Japanese territory, both historically and under international law," Matsuno said.
Japan "responds in a calm and resolute way, based on its policy to stand firm in protecting people's lives and properties, as well as the country's land, seas and airspace," he said.
Reacting to Japan's protest, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning rejected Tokyo's claim over the islands.
"Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands have all along been China's territory," Mao said.
"It is only natural that they are marked as Chinese territory on a map. China does not accept Japan's protest," she said. -- PTI
Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga
18:12 10 Manipur Kuki MLAs, civil society groups meet Mizoram CM
Ten Kuki MLAs of Manipur, Civil Society Organisations and Suspension of Operations groups from the hill areas of Manipur met Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga in Aizawl on Wednesday, officials said.
Zoramthanga said he was deeply hurt with the sufferings of people due to the violence in Manipur, they said.
Zoramthanga said people of Mizoram were ready to help their fellow brothers and sisters and that the future course of action should be carried out in consultation with various organisations and the public, they added.
Ministers, MLAs, representatives of Mizo People's Convention, Kuki Students' Organisation, Hmar Inpui, Committee on Tribal Unity, Zomi Council Student Organisation and other organisations were present at the meeting, officials said.
Kuki legislators from the hill districts of Manipur along with the SoO groups and Kuki CSOs have been demanding a separate administration since ethnic violence broke out in the northeastern state on May 3.
Manipur had plunged into a vortex of violence in May over a high court order directing the state government to consider including the non-tribal Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes.
This order led to rampant ethnic clashes.
More than 160 people have been killed and several hundred injured since ethnic violence first broke out in the state on May 3 when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in hill districts to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status. -- PTI
17:34 No extremism acceptable in UK: Sunak on Khalistanis
Allaying India's concerns over activities of pro-Khalistani elements in the UK, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak asserted on Wednesday that no form of extremism is acceptable, adding that the right to hold lawful protest does not extend to violent or threatening behaviour.
In an exclusive interview to PTI, Sunak said he takes the duty of the government to disrupt and counter violent, divisive ideologies, whatever they may be, very seriously.
He said the UK is working closely with its partners in the Indian government to tackle the threat from pro-Khalistan extremism. There have been increasing concerns in India about activities of pro-Khalistani elements in the UK, especially after an attack on the Indian High Commission in London in March.
Sunak's comments came days before he visits India to attend the G20 summit on September 9-10. The prime minister's responses to PTI's questions were sent by email.
"No form of extremism is acceptable in the UK, and I take the duty of the government to disrupt and counter violent, divisive ideologies, whatever they may be, very seriously," he said. "We are working closely with our partners in the Indian government to tackle the threat from pro-Khalistan extremism and the British police are fully empowered to deal with violent acts," he said, replying to a question on the issue.
There is a view in Delhi that the Khalistani issue is a stumbling block in deeper India-UK ties. Sunak also referred to a meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and UK's Security Minister Tom Tugendhat last month that was focused on addressing the threat of extremism and corruption.
"In August, the UK's Security Minister met Minister Jaishankar in New Delhi to develop our shared work addressing the threat of extremism and corruption," Sunak said.
KBK Infographics
17:17 Markets log 4th day of rally on buying in HDFC Bank
Equity benchmark indices ended in the positive territory on Wednesday on buying in HDFC Bank and a largely firm trend in Asian markets. Fag-end buying helped the BSE Sensex climb 100.26 points or 0.15 per cent to settle at 65,880.52. During the day, it had declined 292.23 points or 0.44 per cent to 65,488.03.
PM Modi and UK PM Sunak in Bali
17:10 I pay tribute to PM Modi's leadership: Sunak
India's diversity and its extraordinary successes means it is the "right country" at the "right time" to hold the G20 presidency, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday, as he hailed Narendra Modi's leadership over the last year, noting that India's presidency of the bloc came when the world is facing innumerable challenges.
In an exclusive interview to PTI just days ahead of the G20 summit in New Delhi on September 9-10, Sunak, the first Indian-origin prime minister of Britain, said the relationship between the UK and India will define the future of the two countries, even more than it is defining the present.
"This country's scale, diversity and its extraordinary successes means India is the right country at the right time to hold the G20 Presidency. I pay tribute to Prime Minister Modi's leadership over the last year and it's wonderful to see India showing such global leadership," he said.
The prime minister's responses to PTI's questions were sent by email.
"We will also work closely with India through their Presidency of the G20 to address the biggest challenges the world is facing, from stabilising the global economy to dealing with climate change," Sunak said.
The British prime minister also referred to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and asserted that if Russian President Vladimir Putin is allowed to invade a sovereign neighbour with impunity, then it will have "terrible consequences" for the entire world.
"As two major world democracies, our people define and drive us. That is why the UK is focused on supporting Ukraine to defend itself and defeat this illegal and unprovoked Russian invasion," he said.
"As a free and democratic country, Ukraine has the right to determine its own future. If Putin is allowed to invade a sovereign neighbour with impunity it will have terrible consequences for the entire world," he said.
"Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians, but it is Putin who has the power to end this war tomorrow by withdrawing his troops," Sunak added. -- PTI
17:02 Mamata to attend President's G20 dinner
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be travelling to New Delhi on Saturday for the President's G20 dinner, officials said on Wednesday. Banerjee will be flying to the national capital at the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu, they said.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, with whom Banerjee shares a cordial relationship, is also likely to be present at the event, the officials said. Banerjee, alluding to the controversy over a G20 dinner invite in the name of 'President of Bharat', had on Tuesday asserted that it's well known that India is Bharat.
"I heard that India's name is being changed. The G20 invite that went out in the name of the honourable president has Bharat written on it. In English, we say India and the Indian Constitution. In Hindi, we say 'Bharat ka Samvidhan'. We all say Bharat, what is new in this?
"The world knows us as India. What happened suddenly that the name of the country needs to be changed?" she said, addressing a function on Teacher's Day.
The G20 Summit is being held in Delhi on September 9 and September 10 under India's presidency and several heads of state from across the world, including US President Joe Biden, are attending the event. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had recently shared on X a G20 dinner invitation from President Murmu, which described her position as "President of Bharat". PTI
16:48 G20: PM spells out dos and don'ts for ministers
Ahead of the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spelt out a set of dos and don'ts to be observed by ministers during the two-day event to ensure that the visiting dignitaries are not put to any inconvenience, sources said.
The ministers have been asked to ditch their official vehicles and use the shuttle service to reach the Bharat Mandapam and other venues of various meetings.
At a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers, the prime minister also asked them to download the G20 India mobile app and make best use of its translation and other features while conversing with foreign dignitaries, officials said.
The G20 mobile app has an instant translation feature incorporating all Indian languages and that of G20 nations.
With nearly 40 world leaders, including those from international organisations, set to attend the summit on September 9-10, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra briefed the ministers in detail about the protocol and related matters.
Some of the ministers are expected to be ministers in waiting for the world leaders who have started arriving for the summit. Union Minister of State for Health S P S Singh Baghel received President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his arrival in Delhi on Tuesday.
During an informal interaction before the meeting of the Union Cabinet which lasted for nearly one hour, the ministers were informed how important the summit was for India and its global image. PTI
16:39 Pakistan treated us well: BCCI president Binny
BCCI President Roger Binny could not stop gushing over the warm and friendly treatment they received in Pakistan on their short visit to the neighbouring nation while Board Vice President Rajeev Shukla asserted that cricket could be the bridge between the two countries that share a tense diplomatic relation.
Binny and Shukla returned to India via the the Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday after watching Asia Cup matches on Pakistan Cricket Board's invitation.
It was first instance in 17 years that the two BCCI office bearers travelled to Pakistan. They had crossed the border on Monday. "We had a very good meeting in Pakistan. We received very good hospitality. They took care of us very well. The main agenda was to watch cricket and to sit and discuss things with them. Overall, it was a very good trip," Binny told PTI after their arrival.
"Pakistan treated us very well, they went out of the way to make us comfortable."
The two countries compete against each other only in ICC or ACC events as bilateral cricket ties have been suspended due to diplomatic tension between the two nations.
The last time an Indian cricket team travelled to Pakistan was back in 2008 for the Asia Cup. Pakistan last hosted India for a bilateral series in 2006. Pakistan last visited India in 2012 for a white-ball tour.
Asked about the possibility of resumption of bilateral cricket with Pakistan, Binny reiterated that they can't take a call on that. "BCCI can't say. It is a government issue, and they will have to take a call. We need to wait and see. And hopefully, it will happen because the (ODI) World Cup is coming up, Pakistan team will be in India to play."
Chandra Bose
16:29 Was promised... Netaji's grandnephew quits BJP
Chandra Bose, the grandnephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, resigned from BJP on Wednesday saying that the promises of propagating the nationalist leader's vision was not fulfilled by the saffron camp.
Chandra Bose had joined BJP in 2016 and had twice contested on BJP ticket - in the 2016 assembly and the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
"When I joined BJP I was promised that I would be allowed to propagate the inclusive ideology of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Sarat Chandra Bose. But nothing of that sort happened," he said. Bose, who was appointed the West Bengal BJP vice-president in 2016, was dropped from it during the 2020 organisational rejig.
"My discussions (with BJP) then centered on the inclusive ideology of the Bose Brothers (Netaji and his elder brother Sarat Chandra Bose, also a freedom fighter). My understanding, both then and later, had been that I would propagate this ideology across the country on the BJP Platform. It was also decided to form an Azad Hind Morcha within the framework of BJP with the primary objective to propagate Netaj's ideology of uniting all communities as Bharatiyas, irrespective of religion, caste and creed," he said in his resignation letter to BJP national president J P Nadda. "This was essential to keep the country united," he said.
"My ardent promotional efforts to achieve these laudable objectives have not received any support from the BJP, either at the Centre or at the state level in West Bengal. I had put forward a detailed proposal suggesting a Bengal Strategy to reach out to the people of the state. My proposals were ignored," he added.
Bose had time and again hit out at the state leadership over several issues and also opposed the CAA in 2019, going against the party line,
16:13 UK to ban Russia's Wagner mercenary group as terrorist organisation
The UK government will table a draft proscription order in the House of Commons on Wednesday which will impose a ban on Russia's mercenary Wagner Group as a terrorist organisation.
The proscription order will make it illegal to be a member of or support the Russian group in the UK, the Home Office said.
Certain offences related to banned terror organisations can result in 14 years imprisonment in the country. As part of the Home Office draft order, Wagner's assets can also be categorised as terrorist property and seized.
"Wagner is a violent and destructive organisation which has acted as a military tool of [President] Vladimir Putin's Russia overseas," said UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman.
While Putin's regime decides what to do with the monster it created, Wagner's continuing destabilising activities only continue to serve the Kremlin's political goals. "They are terrorists, plain and simple and this proscription order makes that clear in UK law," she said. The Indian-origin Home Secretary claimed that Wagner has been involved in looting, torture and barbarous murders.
16:07 Sunak's relatives plan bhangra night, party for him
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will land in India later this week for the G20 World Leaders' Summit and can expect a grand welcome from his relatives in New Delhi, according to a UK media report.
The Daily Telegraph' reported over the weekend that Sunak's relatives will host a feast with flower bouquets and non-stop dancing to Punjabi music. Dr Gautam Dev Sood, 65, a maternal uncle of the UK Prime Minister of Punjabi heritage, said all relatives have been asked to come to the Indian capital to mark his arrival.
"It is a great honour for us that he is visiting his ancestral land," Sood told the newspaper. Subhash Berry, Sunak's paternal uncle, added: "We can't divulge exact details but a plan is in place to welcome the (British) prime minister. We are gearing up for a night of non-stop dancing, mostly to the lively beats of the traditional Punjabi music, although I imagine we might also groove to a few English tunes along the way."
The newspaper notes that Sunak is unlikely to attend the event because of an intense work schedule between Friday and Sunday for the G20 summit and bilateral talks on its sidelines.
Sunak, 43, was born in Southampton to parents Yashvir and Usha who have their roots in India. He will be accompanied on his first visit to India as Prime Minister by his Indian wife, Akshata Murty the daughter of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy and author Sudha Murty. While Sunak has extended family in northern India, Murty's relatives mostly live in Karnataka.
15:54 All prep for G20 Summit complete: Delhi govt
Delhi government on Wednesday said the national capital is ready to welcome foreign delegates and said all the preparations for the G20 Summit are complete.
Addressing a press conference, cabinet ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj shared details of the preparations done by the Delhi government for the event.
"It is a matter of great pride that our country is hosting the G20 Summit. I congratulate the Centre for coming up with a grand convention centre at Pragati Maidan where the G20 Summit will be held. Ten roads have been refurbished for the G20 Summit and extensive beautification work has been undertaken," Atishi said.
Bharadwaj also echoed similar views as his cabinet counterpart on the renovation and beautification work carried out for the summit.
However, when asked about traffic congestion seen on Tuesday, Bharadwaj said, "There should have been better planning by the LG on this. Carcade rehearsals should have been carried out on Saturday and Sunday." PTI
15:39 Siddhartha Mukherjee on UK non-fiction prize longlist
Indian-American physician-author Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee's The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human' has been longlisted for the prestigious Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction in London on Wednesday.
The New York-based cancer physician and researcher, an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Columbia University, will go up against 12 other authors from around the world for the annual GBP 50,000 prize, which aims to recognise and reward the best of non-fiction and is open to authors of any nationality.
Mukherjee's longlisted work has been described as at once panoramic and intimate and the author's most spectacular book yet".
The cell is the foundational unit of life. Its discovery reshaped our understanding of our bodies and brains as never before, note the judges with reference to the 53-year-old's latest work. This revolutionised medical practice in the past and, centuries on, holds ever-greater clinical promise for the future.
Mukherjee provides the definitive account of this remarkable cellular story, authoritative yet at the same time personal. He has that rarest of scientific gifts the ability to pull back the magical curtain of complexities to reveal, like cells themselves, the foundations of life, they said.
15:37 Harris says Trump cant be spared accountability for Capitol Hill violence
Vice President Kamala Harris said Wednesday that those responsible for the effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and the ensuing violence at the U.S Capitol must be held accountable -- even if that means Donald Trump. Read the report here.
15:29 Rahul's EU itinerary: Brussels, Paris, Leiden, Oslo
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will hold extensive interactions with EU parliamentarians, students and the Indian diaspora during his almost week-long visit to Europe, which began on Tuesday.
Sources said Gandhi will meet and hold consultations with EU MPs on September 7 in Brussels, the first of his interactions during his visit. This will be followed by a dinner with some non-resident Indians.
The next day, after a meeting with some Indian industrialists over breakfast, he would address a press conference in Brussels at 1.30 pm.
The former Congress chief would then leave for Paris. He will hold a press conference also in the French capital on September 8. On September 9, he will hold a meeting with French parliamentarians and interact with students at the Sciences Po University.
The sources said on September 10, Gandhi would leave for the Netherlands. There he will visit the 400-year-old Leiden University and interact with students.
On September 11, the Congress leader would head to Norway where he will meet the country's parliamentarians in Oslo. He would also meet non-resident Indians and attend a meeting at the University of Oslo.
The Indian Overseas Congress is organising the events for Gandhi, a senior leader said. He is scheduled to return on September 12 night, a day after the conclusion of the G20 Summit.
The G20 Leaders Summit will be held from September 9 to 10 in Delhi. India is hosting the summit in its capacity as the current president of the G20 and it is likely to be attended by more than 30 heads of state, top officials from the European Union and invited guest countries, and 14 heads of international organisations. PTI
15:04 G20: Delegates to get hands-on UPI experience
Taking India's G20 Presidency as an opportunity to showcase the country's digital public goods to the world and its 'Digital India' initiative, the central government has decided to provide hands-on experiences to around 1,000 visiting foreign delegates with UPI wallets technology, besides explaining them about ease of making payments through the indigenous solution.
"Foreign delegates or participants will be given Rs 500-1,000 in their UPI wallets for doing UPI transactions," a government official told ANI, adding it has earmarked around Rs 10 lakhs for it.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is India's mobile-based fast payment system, which facilitates customers to make round-the-clock payments instantly, using a Virtual Payment Address (VPA) created by the customer.
UPI payment system has become hugely popular for retail digital payments in India, and its adoption is increasing at a rapid pace. -- ANI
14:59 1 biscuit less in pack, ITC to pay Rs 1 L damages
The district consumer forum in Tiruvallur has directed ITC Ltd Food Division to pay a sum of Rs 1 lakh to a consumer for alleged unfair trade practice after he complained that packets of the corporate's biscuit brand Sunfeast Marie Light had one biscuit lesser than that advertised on the wrapper.
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, in a recent order, also directed the company to "discontinue the selling of the disputed biscuits 'Sunfeast Marie Light' in Batch No.0502C36 with the specific endorsement."
It dismissed the company's submission that the challenge made with regard to weight of biscuits would not apply. Complainant P Dillibabu of Chennai alleged there were only 15 biscuits inside the packets as against the advertised 16.
"It is argued by the learned counsel for the 1st opposite party (the company) that the product was sold only based on the weight and not on number of biscuits. Such arguments could not be accepted as the wrapper clearly provides the information to the buyers/consumers to purchase the product only based on the number of biscuits. The potential consumer would only see the wrapper to decide the purchase of the product as the product information available on the packing influences the consumer's buying behavior and that the product information available on the wrapper or label plays a significant role in customer satisfaction," the order said.
In the present case, the paramount allegation is only with regard to lesser number of biscuits.
Bharat Mandapam: The venue of the G20 meet
14:37 G20: No walking, cycling at India Gate, Rajpath
The Delhi Police on Wednesday urged people not to visit India Gate and Kartavya Path (formerly called Rajpath) for activities such as walking, cycling and picnicking in view of the G20 Summit.
The mega event is slated to be held from September 9 to 10 at the newly built international convention and exhibition centre -- Bharat Mandapam -- at Pragati Maidan.
In a media briefing, Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) SS Yadav said that as India Gate Kartavya Path have been "designated in the controlled zone", the Delhi Police appeals to people not to visit the area for "walking, cycling or picnicking" during the G20 Summit.
"We have also requested the DMRC (Delhi Metro Rail Corporation) to operate trains from 4 am in the morning to avoid inconvenience to people," he said.
In a letter to the DMRC, Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora had requested it to start train services from 4 am on September 8, 9 and 10 so that security personnel can reach their duty posts in time.
On Wednesday, Delhi Metro officials said that services will start from 4 am from terminal stations on all lines of the network on September 8, 9 and 10 in view of the summit. Special Commissioner of Police Yadav also said online delivery of essential commodities will be allowed but food delivery services won't be in the New Delhi district.
"Media personnel with G20 passes will gather at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and they will be shuttled to the venue. Media vehicles will not be allowed to enter New Delhi," he said. In view of traffic and security arrangements, Yadav said people are advised to use navigation app 'mapmyindia' for reaching their destinations. PTI
14:24 Kotak Mahindra AMC chief not quitting
Nilesh Shah, MD & CEO at Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company will not be moving to another AMC, says the company quashing rumours of his move.
14:22 SC asks Manipur govt: Illegal arms recovered?
The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Manipur government and the law enforcement agencies to file a status report on the recovery of arms made from all sources in the ethnic-violence hit state.
A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra also took note of the affidavit of the Manipur chief secretary that there was no short supply of basic commodities like food and medicines for people facing economic blockade.
The top state officer said there was no outbreak of chicken pox and measles in relief camps as alleged by lawyers representing petitioners. The chief secretary of Manipur has filed an affidavit dealing with availability of rations and essential commodities, including in Moreh, and the alleged outbreak of measles and chickenpox in Moreh.
The chief secretary has furnished steps taken to distribute rations in nine camps. If any further grievance subsists in regard to specific instances, this should be brought to notice of district administration.
Any such grievance should be dealt with expeditiously, the bench said. On the issue of recovery of arms, it said, let a status report be furnished to this court by the government.
The report shall be made available only to this court. Issuing a slew of fresh directions, the bench directed the Union home secretary to communicate with Justice (retd) Gita Mittal, the chairperson of the apex court-appointed three member panel to oversee relief and rehabilitation work in Manipur, for finalising names of the experts for helping the committee in its functioning.
It also directed the state government to nominate an officer with whom the committee can interact for carrying out its work. It also directed the Manipur government to file a status report giving details about the steps taken to upgrade the state victims compensation scheme to bring it at par with the NALSA (National Legal Services Authority) scheme.
The Mumbai meeting of INDIA bloc
14:18 Tharoor: If INDIA bloc changes name to Bharat...
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday took a swipe at the government over the India-Bharat naming row, saying the opposition bloc could call itself the "Alliance for Betterment, Harmony And Responsible Advancement for Tomorrow (BHARAT)" and then perhaps the ruling party might stop the "fatuous game of changing names".
His remarks came after invitations for a G20 dinner sent out by President Droupadi Murmu, describing her position as 'President of Bharat' instead of the customary 'President of India', triggered a massive furore on Tuesday with the opposition alleging that the Modi government is planning to drop India and stay with just Bharat as the country's name.
In a post on X, Tharoor said, "We could of course call ourselves the Alliance for Betterment, Harmony And Responsible Advancement for Tomorrow (BHARAT). Then perhaps the ruling party might stop this fatuous game of changing names."
The Congress is a constituent of the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). On Tuesday, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had on X said, "Mr. Modi can continue to distort history and divide India, that is Bharat, that is a Union of States. But we will not be deterred. After all, what is the objective of INDIA (alliance) parties? It is BHARATBring Harmony, Amity, Reconciliation And Trust. Judega BHARAT. Jeetega INDIA!"
Tharoor on Tuesday had said while there is no constitutional objection to calling India 'Bharat', he hopes the government will not be so "foolish" to completely dispense with 'India' which has "incalculable brand value".
The Congress MP had also claimed it was Pakistan's founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah who had objected to the name 'India' since it implied that "our country was the successor state to the British Raj and Pakistan a seceding state". PTI
14:06 SC protects four members of Editors Guild against action from FIRs
The Supreme Court on Wednesday protected four members of the Editors Guild of India against any coercive action till Monday in connection with two FIRs lodged against them in Manipur for offences, including promoting enmity between two communities.
A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra also sought response of the state government on the plea filed by the Editors Guild and fixed the matter on September 11.
Earlier, the top court agreed to hear the plea during the day itself. On September 4, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had said that a police case has been filed on the basis of a complaint against the president and three members of the Editors Guild of India and accused them of trying to "provoke clashes" in the state.
A second FIR was also registered against the four members of the Guild, with additional charge of defamation.
The Guild, in a report published on Saturday, had slammed the internet ban in the state as being detrimental to media reportage, criticised what it termed as one-sided reporting by some media outlets and claimed there were indications that the state leadership "had turned partisan" during the conflict period. PTI
13:49 Sp session to straddle old and new Parl buildings
The Special Session of Parliament will start in the old building on 18th September and will be later moved to the new building on 19th September on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.
Ahead of the special Parliament Session beginning September 18, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a discussion and debate on several issues including the current economic situation of the country.
In her letter to the PM, Sonia Gandhi said that the Opposition most certainly wants to participate in the special session as it will give an opportunity to raise matters of public concern and importance. She further said that the session is being held without any consultation with other political parties and none of them have any idea on the agenda for the session.
"You have convened a special five-day session of the Parliament beginning 18 September 2023. I must point out that this Special Session has been convened without any consultation with other political parties. None of us have any idea of its agenda,' she said in her letter.
"All we have been communicated is that all five days have been allocated for Government Business. We most certainly want to participate in the Special Session because it will give us an opportunity to raise matters of public concern and importance,' Sonia Gandhi said.
12:59 Sonia writes to PM: Agenda for Sp Parl meet?
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pointing out that no agenda has been listed for the special Parliament session and raising nine issues, including violence in Manipur, for discussion.
The issues listed by Gandhi included Centre-state relations, rise in cases of communal tension and border transgressions by China.
"I must point out that this special session has been convened without any consultation with other political parties. None of us have any idea of its agenda. All we have been communicated is that all five days have been allocated for government business," Gandhi said in her letter.
"I earnestly hope that in a spirit of constructive cooperation, these issues will be taken up in the forthcoming special session," she said.
Addressing the media at the AICC headquarters, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said this is the first time that no agenda has been discussed or listed in the business of the House.
"We want that the upcoming session is constructive and this was decided at the meeting of the strategy group and during the meeting of INDIA parties," Ramesh said. "If there is no 'shehnai' of democracy in the mother of democracy, then what kind of democracy is this," Ramesh asked.
He said the rules under which the discussion can take place can be discussed mutually. Ramesh also alleged that the prime minister is in "panic" and "tired". The special session of Parliament will be held from September 18 to 22. PTI
12:31 1 nation, 1 poll meeting at Kovind's home today
The first official meeting of the 'One Nation One Election' committee that was formed to examine the policy, is likely to take place on Wednesday under the chairmanship of former President Ram Nath Kovind at his residence in the national capital, the sources said.
The Union Law Ministry on Saturday named eight members to the committee, headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, that will examine the issue of simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, Assemblies, municipalities and panchayats.
Apart from the Chairperson, the committee will include Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, former Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Finance Commission chairperson NK Singh, senior advocate Harish Salve, former Lok Sabha Secretary General Subhash C Kashyap, and former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari.
However, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury who was named a member of the High-Level Committee (HLC) constituted by the Centre has declined to serve on the panel, saying its "terms of reference have been prepared in a manner to guarantee its conclusions'. Government sources said that he had given his consent to be part of the committee before notification with names came out.
12:09 Jawan may surpass Pathaan, eyes Rs 70 cr opening
With a 5 am show in Kolkata, a 6 am one in Jaipur and tickets flying off the proverbial shelf, Shah Rukh Khan's latest Jawan is set to break the opening day figures of his own film "Pathaan" with insiders pegging day one earnings at Rs 65-70 crore.
"Jawan", a pan-India thriller that releases on Thursday, is off to a great start with 7.5 lakh tickets already being booked, online ticket booking platform BookMyShow said.
"Out of the 10 lakh capacity on opening day, we've sold about 25 per cent of the tickets, which is like 2.5 lakh tickets sold for Thursday across PVR INOX (screens). It is a very big number and early estimates suggest that it can be bigger than 'Pathaan'," PVR-INOX Ltd Executive Director Sanjeev Kumar Bijli told PTI.
"People are saying that this will be an opening day of Rs 65 to 70 crore, which is bigger than 'Pathaan'. The opening day figure for 'Pathaan' was Rs 55 crore. So hopefully it will be bigger than 'Pathaan'," he added.
Pathaan was a blockbuster, with reported earnings of Rs 1,050 crore. Jawan, described by makers as a high-octane thriller outlining "the emotional journey of a man who is set to rectify the wrongs in the society", could outdo that.
Also starring Vijay Sethupathi and Nayanthara, the film, releasing in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, premieres at a time Bollywood theatrical releases -- most recent being "Gadar 2" and "OMG 2" -- are raking it in.
Mumbai-based trade expert Komal Nahta agreed with Biji's estimate.
"The situation is crazy across single-screen theatres and multiplexes both. It is difficult to predict the business. It will at least do Rs 70 crore on day one (in India)," Nahta told PTI.
In Delhi, the film releases ahead of the G20 Summit on September 9-10 with several heads of state, including US President Joe Biden, set to attend the event. While the city will remain open during the weekend, restrictions will be imposed on a small part of the NDMC area. -- PTI
12:00 SC dismisses PIL to stop religious conversions
The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a petition seeking a direction to the Centre to take steps to curb fraudulent religious conversions in the country.
"Why should the court enter into this thicket? How can the court issue a writ of mandamus to the government," said a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.
The lawyer, appearing for Karnataka-based PIL petitioner Jerome Anto, said Hindus and minors are being targeted and they are being converted "fraudulently".
"If there is a live challenge and someone is prosecuted then we can entertain, the bench said while dismissing the PIL. What kind of PIL is this? PIL has become a tool and everyone is coming up with petitions like these," it said. On being argued where the petitioner should go with this kind of grievance, the bench said, "We are not in advisory jurisdiction. (The plea is) Dismissed." -- PTI
The INDIA Bloc meet in Mumbai
11:34 INDIA Bloc to hold 1st committee meet on Sept 13
The first meeting of the Coordination Committee of the INDIA alliance will be held on September 13, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said on Wednesday.
Raut, while speaking to media persons in Mumbai confirmed that the meeting will be held at Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar's residence in the national capital.
"The first meeting of the Coordination Committee of the INDIA alliance will be held on September 13 at Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar's residence in New Delhi," Raut said.
Opposition bloc INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) in its third meeting in Mumbai on September 1 announced a 14-member coordination committee.
The names of 13 members have been announced; however, the name of one person is yet to be revealed. The Opposition has yet to choose a convener.
The 14-member committee includes KC Venugopal (Congress), Sharad Pawar (NCP), TR Baalu (DMK), Hemant Soren (JMM), Sanjay Raut (SS), Tejasvi Yadav (RJD), Abhishek Banerjee (TMC), Raghav Chaddha (AAP), Javed Ali Khan (SP), Lallan Singh (JD(U)), D Raja (CPI), Omar Abdullah (NC), Mehbooba Mufti (PDP) and one leader is from the CPI(M) that will give the name later. -- ANI
11:31 Confusing and unnecessary?
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh points out just one of the many hiccups the government will face if India undergoes a name change. "Look at how confused the Modi government is! The Prime Minister of Bharat at the 20th ASEAN-India summit. All this drama just because the Opposition got together and called itself INDIA," Ramesh tweets.
Priyanka Chopra with Nick, Joe, Sophie
11:13 Joe Jonas, Sophie Turner file for divorce
Joe Jonas, the renowned singer and member of the Jonas Brothers, has officially filed for divorce from his wife, Sophie Turner, the acclaimed actress known for her role in "Game of Thrones".
The petition was filed in Miami Dade County, Florida, citing that their four-year marriage is "irretrievably broken", CNN reported.
The couple, who began dating in 2016 and got engaged in 2017, are parents to two daughters born in 2020 and 2022. Jonas is seeking joint custody of their children. The divorce filing also revealed that the couple had a prenuptial agreement in place.
11:09 SC to hear Editors Guild plea against FIRs today
The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear during the day a plea by the Editors Guild of India seeking protection from coercive action in two FIRs lodged in Manipur against some of its members.
The matter was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud.
"We will take it up after admission (matters) are over," the CJI told senior advocate Shyam Divan, who mentioned the matter for the Guild. Divan said two FIRs have been lodged against the Guild members in Manipur and they are seeking protection from coercive action in these cases.
On September 4, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had said that a police case has been filed on the basis of a complaint against the president and three members of the Editors Guild of India and accused them of trying to "provoke clashes" in the state.
A second FIR was also registered against the four members of the Guild, with additional charge of defamation. The Guild, in a report published on Saturday, had slammed the internet ban in the state as being detrimental to media reportage, criticised what it termed as one-sided reporting by some media outlets and claimed there were indications that the state leadership "had turned partisan" during the conflict period. PTI
10:54 Different world, different India, different PM: EAM
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India's changed attitude at international for a, a reason for India finding its place at the high table of diplomacy.
In an interview with ANI, Jaishankar said, "It is a different world, a different India. It is a different Prime Minister. It is a different government. And that is why you have all that you haven't seen in the past."
Speaking on India taking up the voice of the Global South to G20, the minister said that no other presidency had aimed at getting developing countries together. "No other G-20 presidency has tried to get together developing countries who are not on the table and say -- please come, sit with us, tell us what are your concerns. And we will distil those concerns and place them before the G-20. That is a unique exercise," the foreign affairs minister said. Jaishankar said that India has a special responsibility in this changing world scenario.
"I see it more for India as a responsibility, that we have the responsibility today in a very difficult world. How do you bring people together? How do you make everybody understand that we all have a bigger responsibility and therefore please, can we kind of get our act together here and do what is right by the world," he said. The External Affairs minister said he hoped that the G20 nations would understand their responsibilities to other countries.
Asked about the possibility of the G20 summit being overshadowed by the presence of the American President, the minister assured that everything would go smoothly. We are India. We know how to handle the world. Believe me, especially in the last ten years we have shown how we can handle the world, Jaishankar said.
File pic. Bajrang Dal members
10:38 Siblings beaten in MP thinking they were lovers
A case has been registered by the police in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district, where a brother and sister were brutally beaten by the locals, mistaking them for lovers.
The incident took place on the day of Raksha Bandhan (August 31). The boy identified as Atul Chaudhary, along with his sister, went to the police station and registered a case under the IPC and SC/ST Act against the three accused.
The video of the incident has gone viral on social media, with many claiming that the accused belongs to the right-wing Hindu organization, Bajrang Dal.
The city's superintendent, however, has clarified that there is no concrete evidence to prove that the accused have any link with the Bajrang Dal and the complaint filed with the police has no mention of their association with any organisation. The police said that the investigation into the matter is underway and action will be taken accordingly.
Speaking to ANI, the City Superintendent of Police said, "Those accused are lined up with the Bajrang Dal on social media, but it is completely wrong. Till now, there has been no information about their any connection with Bajrang Dal."
He further said that the complaint filed with the police has no mention of the involvement of Bajrang Dal. The victim, Atul Chowdhary, and the girl were standing at a chaat-tikiya shop near the temple located on Satai Road; they were assaulted there by the accused, on which the police have registered a case," he said, adding, "The video of the incident is circulating on social media, but I want to clarify that it has nothing to do with any political party or organization. The matter is being investigated." -- ANI
10:38 Will only agree to India trade deal that works for UK: Sunak
The free trade agreement (FTA) talks with India are progressing and Britain will only agree to a pact that works for the whole of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told his ministers.
Ahead of his first visit to India as UK Prime Minister to attend the G20 World Leaders' Summit in New Delhi later this week, Sunak updated his top team on the ongoing trade talks, which have completed 12 rounds of negotiations, during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
The British Indian leader described India as an indispensable partner of the UK across all spheres of bilateral cooperation, which he is keen to strengthen further.
He said negotiations around a free trade deal were progressing and that he would only agree to an approach which worked for the whole of the UK, notes a Downing Street readout of the Cabinet meeting.
The Prime Minister said India was an indispensable partner of the UK, both economically and in addressing the global challenges all democracies are facing. He said we must now strengthen the UK-India relationship, it said.
File pic
10:24 US: If China wants to play spoiler at G20 it's...
White House official Jake Sullivan, on Tuesday, said that China has the option to "come in and play the role of a spoiler" at the upcoming G20 Summit, scheduled to take place on September 9 and 10 in Delhi.
Responding to a query on the India and China tension affecting the G20 Summit, the National Security Advisor of the US said that G20 Chair India, the US, and other members will also encourage China to set aside geopolitical questions and play a constructive role.
"As far as the question of tensions between India and China affecting the summit, really, that's up to China. If China wants to come in and play the role of spoiler, of course, that option is available to them. What I think the chair of India will encourage them to do. What we, the United States and every other member, virtually every other member of the G 20 will do is encourage them to come in in a constructive way on climate, on multilateral development, bank reform, debt relief, on technology, and set aside the geopolitical questions and really focus on problem-solving and delivering," Sullivan said.
This came a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping decided to skip the G20 Summit in Delhi. -- ANI
10:09 G20 guests will dine on bespoke silverware
Heads of State and other world leaders attending the G20 Summit in New Delhi will be served grand meals on bespoke silverware bearing intricately engraved motifs inspired from the cultural heritage of India, a Jaipur-based metalware firm has said.
Iris Jaipur on Tuesday held a preview of some of its silverware in New Delhi and said it was asked by various luxury hotels to commission made-to-order tableware and silverware which will be used by foreign guests while staying at hotels and for lavish dinners and luncheons, which will be hosted for them.
Most tableware have steel or brass base or a mix of both with an elegant coating of silver, while some wares like plates that will carry glasses to be used for serving welcome drinks have gold plating, Laksh Pabuwal of the silverware firm told PTI.
About 15,000 pieces of silverware crafted by 200 artisans have been made on the occasion of the G20 Summit, he said. The metalware firm is run by him and his father Rajeev Pabuwal. Iris Jaipur said 50,000 man-hours have been spent on crafting these on which craftsmen from Jaipur, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and other parts of the country worked.
"Designs are characterised by meticulous detailing, beaded borders, and a fusion of semi-machined hand craftsmanship with contemporary casting techniques. The electroplated silver finish adds a touch of sophistication, aligning seamlessly with the grandeur of the event," said Rajeev Pabuwal.
"Meticulously curated tableware merchandise bridges tradition and modern aesthetics, becoming the crown jewel of the G20 Summit, said the company. The tableware and silverware designs are a nod to India's rich heritage and its global prominence," Rajeev Pabuwal said.
"The tableware and silverware depict the glorious cultural heritage of India, motifs of flowers, peacock, our national animal grace the plates, and other items. And, the silverware will dazzle the Heads of State with their cultural sparkle, and they will see it and exclaim wow," he told PTI.
10:01 'India that is Bharat' is in Constitution: EAM
Taking a veiled dig at Opposition parties over their comments following Rashtrapati Bhawan sending out invitations for a G20 dinner on September 9 on behalf of 'President of Bharat', External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India that is Bharat is mentioned in the Constitution.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, the minister said that the connotation of the word 'Bharat' is also reflected in the Constitution.
"India that is Bharat, it is there in the Constitution. Please, I would invite everybody to read it," Jaishankar said.
The minister was asked about the opposition parties' reaction and if the government is going to reposition India as Bharat coinciding with the G20 summit.
"Look when you say Bharat in a sense, a meaning and understanding and a connotation that comes with it and that is reflected in our Constitution as well," Jaishankar said. -- ANI
09:46 Violence continues in Manipur, but for govt...: Cong
The Congress on Wednesday attacked the Centre over strife in Manipur, saying the cycle of violence continues even after four months, but for the Modi government the situation is "normal" in the state.
The opposition party's attack came after a full curfew was clamped in all five valley districts of Manipur Tuesday evening.
In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "G20 is happening in New Delhi while all 5 districts of Imphal Valley will be under full curfew for the next 5 days."
"The cycle of violence continues even after 4 months, but for Modi Sarkar's double engine Sarkar the situation is 'normal' in Manipur," he said.
The cancellation of curfew relaxation hours in Bishnupur, Kakching, Thoubal, Imphal West and Imphal East comes in the wake of the call by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and its women wing requesting people from all parts of the valley districts to remove an army barricade at Phougakchao Ikhai in Bishnupur district, a few kilometres away from Churachandpur, on Wednesday, officials said.
More than 160 people lost their lives and several hundreds have been injured since the ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur in early May after a Tribal Solidarity March was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Nagas and Kukis constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts. -- PTI
09:17 Sanatana Dharma remark: Stalin Jr, Kharge Jr booked
An FIR was registered in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur against DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's son Priyank Kharge for allegedly outraging religious feelings, police said on Wednesday.
Stalin was booked for his call to eradicate Sanatan Dharma and Kharge for backing his remark, they said.
The two were booked under sections 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts to outrage religious feelings) and 153 A (promoting enmity between different religious groups) of the IPC at Civil Lines Police Station here on Tuesday.
The FIR came at the complaint of lawyers Harsh Gupta and Ram Singh Lodhi who highlighted media reports on Stalin's statement alleging that the politician's comments had hurt their feelings.
Stalin had on Saturday during an event in Tamil Nadu compared the Sanatan Dharma with diseases like dengue and malaria.
His comments sparked a backlash from political parties, with BJP insisting on the Congress to condemn his remarks. -- PTI
08:52 UP boy dies of rabies over a month after dog bite
A 14-year-old boy who was bitten by a dog over a month ago and hid the incident from his parents died of rabies in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, police said on Tuesday.
Shahvaz, a student of class 8, died on Monday evening when he was being brought back to Ghaziabad from Bulandshahr, where he was taken for treatment after his condition deteriorated, they said.
Shahvaz, a resident of Charan Singh colony under the Vijay Nagar police station area, was bitten by his neighbour's dog one-and-a-half months ago but hid it from his parents out of fear, police said.
He contracted rabies and started behaving abnormally and stopped eating on September 1. On being asked, he told his family members that he had been bitten by their neighbour's dog, they said.
Shahvaz's family took him to government hospitals in Delhi but he was not admitted there for treatment. At last, they took him to an Ayurvedic doctor in Bulandshahr for treatment, the family told the police.
The boy died when he was being brought back to Ghaziabad in an ambulance. A complaint has been lodged in the matter and action will be taken against the dog owner, said Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kotwali zone, Nimish Patil. -- PTI
08:50 Family system on decline in world but Bharat protected as truth is its foundation: RSS chief
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has said family system is on the decline across the world, but Bharat has survived this crisis because "truth" is its foundation.
Addressing a gathering of senior citizens in Maharashtra's Nagpur city on Tuesday, Bhagwat said the roots of our culture are based on "satya" (truth) though efforts were being made to uproot this culture.
He described the growing tendency towards fulfilling worldly pleasures and efforts by some people justifying it through their selfish philosophies as "cultural Marxism".
"This leaning towards worldly pleasures has crossed the limit. Some people try to justify as right this tendency to fulfil worldly pleasures due to their selfish motives. This is called cultural Marxism today," the RSS chief said.
"These people support such immorality by giving it a good name. They do this because such chaos in society helps them, and they can establish their supremacy," he said.
Bhagwat further said some people, by talking about various philosophies and ideologies, want to destroy what is good.
"Due to such philosophy, this crisis is prevalent in our country and also in the rest of the world. As a result of this, the family system is on the decline. But Bharat is able to survive because satya (truth) is the basis of Bharat. The roots of our culture are firm and based on this truth," he said.
Many efforts were made to uproot our culture which were "asmani and Sultani", he said in Marathi. -- PTI
08:30 If China wants to be a spoiler at G20, then...: US
It is for China to decide what role it plays at the G20 Summit in New Delhi, a top US official has said, asserting that if Beijing wants to come in and be a "spoiler", that option is available to it.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was responding to a question at a White House news conference on Tuesday on the impact of India-China border tensions on the G20 Summit.
"As far as the question of tensions between India and China affecting the (G20) summit - really that's up to China. If China wants to come in and play the role of spoiler, of course, that option is available to them," he said.
"What I think the Chair, India, will encourage them to do what we, the United States and every other member, virtually every other member of the G20 will do, is encourage them to come in, in a constructive way on climate, on multilateral development, bank reform, on debt relief, on technology and set aside the geopolitical questions and really focus on problem-solving and delivering for the developing countries," Sullivan said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend the G20 Summit in New Delhi this week and the delegation will be led by Premier Li Qiang, China's foreign ministry announced on Monday as it expressed Beijing's readiness to work with all parties to make the high-profile meeting a success.
At the invitation of the Government of India, Premier of the State Council Li will attend the 18th G20 Summit to be held in New Delhi, India on September 9 and 10, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said in a brief statement.
India is hosting the annual G20 Summit in New Delhi on September 9 and 10.
At the G-20 Summit, Sullivan said President Joe Biden will be clear that the United States expects real progress.
"He will be clear that we need all G20 members to be constructive and at the table, with no exceptions. We'll also be making progress on other key priorities, from climate to health to digital technology, including commitments, with respect to a more inclusive digital transformation and a responsible path and approach to AI development," he noted.
"In addition, we'll spotlight the progress that we've been making on the Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment, or what we call PGI. We'll have some announcements that we're excited about. Now, we know that there will be continued focus on how the G20 deals with Russia's illegal and ongoing war in Ukraine," he said. -- PTI
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01:54 Higher reaches of Himachal receive season's first spell of snowfall
Higher reaches of the Dhauladhar in Kangra and Baralacha connecting Lahaul and Ladhak experienced this season's first spell of snowfall on Tuesday, reports reaching Shimla said.
The snowfall caused a slight drop in temperature in the picturesque hill stations of Dharamshala and Manali and the day temperatures decreased by 1 to 2 degrees and stayed at 29 degrees and 26.3 degrees Celsius respectively, the MeT said.
A Western Disturbance is currently prevailing in Kangra and Lahaul areas, it added.
Both tourists and residents of Mcleodganj and Dharamsala breathed a sigh of relief from the long, hot, and humid weather that had persisted.
Meanwhile, monsoon remained subdued in Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday and light showers were witnessed at some places, the MeT said.
However, the weather department predicted light to moderate rains at isolated places in low and middle hills till September 11.
From June 1 to September 5, Himachal Pradesh received 828 mm of rainfall against the normal rainfall of 643.3 mm, an excess of 29 per cent.
The monsoon normally withdraws from the state around September 24. -- PTI
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01:47 Army launches 'Project Naman' for welfare of veterans, kin of deceased personnel
The Army on Tuesday launched 'Project Naman' that will entail establishing facilitation and grievance redressal centres for veterans and the next of kin of personnel who have lost their lives, officials said.
The first such centre will be established in Delhi Cantonment soon, they said.
The Directorate of Indian Army Veterans (Adjutant General Branch) of the Indian Army signed an MoU with HDFC Bank Limited and CSE e-Governance India Limited for Project 'NAMAN'- an ode to the veterans.
The project entails establishing facilitation and grievance redressal centres for army veterans and the next of kin, the ministry said in a statement. 'Naman' will house a Common Service Centre which shall facilitate the veterans and their relatives.
It will offer all government-to-customer services and also facilitate the updating of pensioners' accounts on the SPARSH Portal of veterans, next of kin and dependents.
In Phase II of the Project, 13 more centres will be established at various military stations across India, officials said. -- PTI
01:39 Rahul Gandhi leaves for Europe tour: Sources
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday left for an almost week-long Europe tour during which he will hold meetings with European Union lawyers, students and the Indian diaspora, sources said.
Gandhi will meet a group of EU lawyers in Brussels on September 7 and also hold a similar meeting in The Hague, they said.
According to the sources, the former Congress president will address students at a university in Paris on September 8.
He is also slated to participate in a meeting of the Labour Union of France in Paris on September 9.
Thereafter, he will visit Norway, where he will address a diaspora event in Oslo on September 10, they said.
Gandhi is likely to return by September 11, a day after the G20 summit concludes.
The G20 Leaders Summit will be held from September 9-10 in Delhi. India is hosting the G20 summit in its capacity as the current president of the grouping and it is likely to be attended by more than 30 heads of state, top officials from the European Union and invited guest countries, and 14 heads of international organisations. -- PTI
00:49 Female lawyer accused of abetting Sena-UBT ex-corporator's suicide seeks pre-arrest bail
A Mumbai-based female advocate accused of abetting the suicide of Shiv Sena-UBT leader and former corporator Sudhir Sayaji More has moved an anticipatory bail application before a sessions court in Mumbai, calling charges against her as "extremely vague'.
The plea is likely to be heard on September 6.
The body of the 62-year-old Shiv Sena-UBT leader was found on rail tracks on September 1 near suburban Ghatkopar station.
The former Mumbai corporator had been seen jumping in front of a local train heading for the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.
Based on a complaint filed by More's son, an offence under section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (abetment of suicide) has been registered against Nilima Chavan, an advocate by profession, at Kurla Railway police station.
The complainant has alleged Chavan had caused a lot of harassment and mental agony by calling his father repeatedly over phone, leading to his suicide.
In her pre-arrest bail plea, the accused has claimed she has been falsely implicated in the case.
The allegations in the FIR are "extremely vague' and there was no specific incident or reason mentioned to justify any abetment of suicide on part of Chavan, it added.
The former corporator, who was Ratnagiri district communication chief of the Uddhav Thackeray-led party, lived in the Parksite area of suburban Vikhroli. -- PTI
00:43 UP boy dies of rabies over a month after dog bite, hid incident from parents
A 14-year-old boy who was bitten by a dog over a month ago and hid the incident from his parents died of rabies in Ghaziabad, the police said on Tuesday.
Shahvaz, a student of class 8, died on Monday evening when he was being brought back to Ghaziabad from Bulandshahr, where he was taken for treatment after his condition deteriorated, they said.
Shahvaz, a resident of Charan Singh colony under the Vijay Nagar police station area, was bitten by his neighbour's dog one-and-a-half months ago but hid it from his parents out of fear, the police said.
He contracted rabies and started behaving abnormally and stopped eating on September 1.
On being asked, he told his family members that he had been bitten by their neighbour's dog, they said. Shahvaz's family took him to government hospitals in Delhi but he was not admitted there for treatment.
At last, they took him to an Ayurvedic doctor in Bulandshahr for treatment, the family told the police.
The boy died when he was being brought back to Ghaziabad in an ambulance.
A complaint has been lodged in the matter and action will be taken against the dog owner, said Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kotwali zone, Nimish Patil. -- PTI
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor
00:26 It was Jinnah who objected to name India: Tharoor
With G20 dinner invites being sent out in the name of 'President of Bharat', Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday said while there is no constitutional objection to calling India 'Bharat', he hopes the government will not be so "foolish" to completely dispense with 'India' which has "incalculable brand value".
The Congress MP also claimed it was Pakistan's founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah who had objected to the name 'India' since it implied that "our country was the successor state to the British Raj and Pakistan a seceding state".
Invitations for a G20 dinner have been sent out by President Droupadi Murmu describing her position as 'President of Bharat' instead of the customary 'President of India', triggering a massive furore with the opposition alleging that the Modi government is planning to drop India and stay with just Bharat as the country's name.
In a post on X, Tharoor said 'Bharat' is one of the country's two official names.
"While there is no constitutional objection to calling India 'Bharat', which is one of the country's two official names, I hope the government will not be so foolish as to completely dispense with 'India', which has incalculable brand value built up over centuries," the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram said.
"We should continue to use both words rather than relinquish our claim to a name redolent of history, a name that is recognised around the world," he said. -- PTI
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