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Thu, 11 April 2024
Original vs outsider: Pawar on Ajit's appeal for wife
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23:55 Swiggy introduces 'Paw-ternity' policy to support employees on pet care
Online food delivery platform Swiggy on Thursday said it will support employees on pet care and adoption with the introduction of a 'Paw-ternity' policy.
Girish Menon, Chief Human Resource Officer, Swiggy said: "Building on our gender-neutral parental policy introduced in 2020, which provides substantial paid leave for primary and secondary caregivers, in addition to bonding leaves, and time off for adoption, surrogacy, miscarriage and IVF, we are now expanding our definition of parenthood to include pet parents as well.
And that's why, starting today, we're announcing the Swiggy Paw-ternity Policy for all full-time employees".
Under the policy, employees will receive an additional paid day off (in addition to their annual leave entitlement) to welcome their new pet companions home.
The policy was introduced on National Pet Day, which falls on April 11.
"Pet parents may opt for work-from-home during the settling-in period to provide comfort and support to their new family member," Menon said in a blog post. -- PTI
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann
23:37 Parampal Kaur's resignation as IAS officer yet to be accepted: Mann
Shortly after Akali Dal leader Sikandar Singh Maluka's daughter-in-law Parampal Kaur Sidhu joined the BJP in New Delhi, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday said the state government has not accepted her resignation as an IAS officer.
Sidhu and her husband joined the BJP in the presence of Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri and its national general secretary Vinod Tawde in the national capital earlier in the day.
After Sidhu resigned, her resignation was sent to chief minister by the chief secretary for his approval.
Sidhu was posted as managing director of the Punjab State Industrial Corporation.
"Parampal Kaur ji's resignation as IAS officer has not been accepted by the Punjab government...Biba ji (Sidhu) was in such a hurry to become an IAS... but there is some procedure to leave. Please understand the procedure for resigning. Otherwise, your entire earnings may be at risk," Mann said in a post on X. -- PTI
Sharad Pawar, right, with nephew Ajit Pawar/File image
22:59 Original vs outsider: Pawar on Ajit's appeal for wife
Nationalist Congress Party-Sharad Pawar supremo Sharad Pawar on Thursday countered Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's appeal to Baramati voters to elect the "daughter-in-law of the Pawars" with an "original" versus "outsider" comment.
The deputy CM had recently asked people to vote for his wife Sunetra Pawar in the Lok Sabha polls as they had "voted for the father (Sharad Pawar), son (himself) and daughter (sitting MP Supriya Sule)".
"This time elect the daughter-in-law (Sunetra Pawar)," the NCP leader had said at a workers' convention. Sunetra Pawar is pitted against Sule in Baramati.
Asked about the statement, Sharad Pawar said, "One is the original Pawar (referring to daughter Sule) and the other Pawar is coming from outside."
On Ajit Pawar claiming that his cousins never campaigned for him all these years, the NCP-SP supremo said, "It is not true. Be it my election or that of Supriya or Ajit, members of the family have gone to the public and aired their views to get support."
Brushing aside the deputy CM's threat that kin would not be able to show their faces if he opened his mouth, Sharad Pawar said "we are not worried about it" as the world knows about this person's political stand and education. -- PTI
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22:31 SC to hear July 23 plea against Lyngdoh panel report on student union polls
The Supreme Court will hear on July 23 a plea challenging a recommendation by the Lyngdoh Committee which stipulates that a candidate cannot contest more than once for the post of an office bearer of a students' union.
The plea came up for hearing on Wednesday before a bench of Justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan.
"Counsel for the respondent(s) seeks and is granted four weeks' time to file the counter affidavit, if so required. Post the matter on July 23," the bench said in its April 10 order.
Following an order of the apex court, the Union ministry of human resource development had constituted a committee under JM Lyngdoh, a former chief election commissioner, to make recommendations on issues related to student bodies and student union elections conducted in universities, colleges and other higher education institutions across India.
The committee had submitted its report on May 26, 2006.
The top court is hearing a plea filed by Uttarakhand resident Naveen Prakash Nautiyal and others against recommendation 6.5.6 of the Lyngdoh Committee.
The recommendation states, "The candidate shall have one opportunity to contest for the post of office bearer, and two opportunities to contest for the post of an executive member."
The apex court had on February 12 sought responses from the Centre and others on the plea. -- PTI
Pic: Kacper Pempel/Reuters
22:07 Mumbai police recover loot in 'man in the middle' cyber heist
The Mumbai police has managed to recover Rs 82.55 lakh a prominent south Mumbai-based international school lost in a 'man in the middle' online attack, an official said on Friday.
A 'man in the middle' (MITM) attack is one in which the attacker secretly intercepts and relays messages between two parties who believe they are communicating with each other.
"The online fraud took place between February 23 and March 16 when the school started the process to procure material to build a cafeteria. The school gave the contract to a UAE-based firm, which sent its bank details as part of the deal," the cyber cell official said.
"An unidentified person created a similar ID and provided details of a US-based bank. Assuming the email was sent from the UAE-based firm, the school transferred Rs 87.26 lakh. Soon the school realised something was amiss and lodged a complaint with the Central Region Cyber police station," he said.
A case was registered against an unidentified person under Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act and the nodal officer of the bank was contacted, which led to the recovery of Rs 82.55 lakh, the official said.
"Citizens and entities must upgrade their systems for time to time to avoid such attacks. Email IDs etc must be checked and re-checked before such deals are transacted," he added.
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21:38 Tata Steel UK plant workers to strike against job cuts
Around 1,500 Tata Steel workers based at two plants in Wales voted in favour of industrial action on Thursday over the company's plan to close its blast furnaces and shed 2,800 jobs.
The Mumbai-headquartered steel major said it was "disappointed' over the move while consultation continues and pointed to "significant irregularities' in the ballot process in favour of strikes.
While the company says its restructuring plans were important to sustain the business as it transforms to new electric technology, Unite the Union said its workers from the Port Talbot and Newport Llanwern plants had voted against the "disastrous' plans because they did not agree with the approach.
"We are naturally disappointed that while consultation continues, Unite Union members at Port Talbot and Llanwern have indicated that they would be prepared to take industrial action up to and including strike action if an agreement cannot be reached on a way forward for the business and its employees," a Tata Steel spokesperson said.
"We have written to Unite the Union twice during the ballot process to notify them of significant irregularities in the ballot process they have undertaken," the spokesperson said.
The company said that since its announcement in January of the company's plans to invest GBP 1.25 billion and to restructure the UK business, it started a formal information sharing and consultation process with the trade unions, which continues in an "open, collaborative and constructive fashion." -- PTI
21:31 Techie loses Rs 2.24 cr to cyber fraudsters posing as Customs, NCB officials
A 52-year-old software engineer has lost Rs 2.24 crore to the cyber fraudsters who swindled him by posing as Delhi Customs and Narcotics Control Bureau officials, the police said on Thursday.
This incident comes close on the heels of a 29-year-old woman lawyer from Bengaluru losing Rs 14.57 lakh who ended up stripping on Skype video conference before the fraudsters.
The mode of operation adopted by the fraudsters to dupe Kumarasamy Sivakkumar from Jakkur was similar to the one faced by the woman lawyer.
The swindlers called the software engineer between March 18 to March 27 saying that they were from Customs Department and that an air parcel from Delhi to Malaysia in his name has been held back at Delhi Airport since it carried 16 passports, 58 bank ATM cards, and 140 gram Ecstasy drug tablets (also known as MDMA, a banned narcotic), police said.
The call was then supposedly transferred to the 'Narcotics Control Bureau' where the 'officer' forced him to download Skype, come online, the police said, adding that later, the fraudsters told him that if he wanted to get rid of the case then he should transfer them money. -- PTI
Pic: Steve Marcus-Pool/Getty Images/Rediff archives
21:05 Fallen US football hero O J Simpson is dead
American football legend O J Simpson, who was acquitted in the sensational double murder case of his ex-wife and her friend, has died. He was 76.
News of Simpson's death was confirmed to TMZ by his attorney.
Simpson's official account on X (formerly Twitter) too confirmed the news.
'On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace,' The Simpson Family posted on X.
From the dizzying heights of fame Simpson came hurtling down after being accused in the knifing of Nicole Brown Simpson, his ex-wife, and her friend Ronald Goldman in Los Angeles in June 1994.
After court proceedings that came to be billed as the 'trial of the century', Simpson was acquitted of the murder charges, although he was found in a subsequent, civil trial, reported AP.
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20:49 LS polls: Son of Indira Gandhi's assassin to contest from Faridkot seat
The son of one of the assassins of late prime minister Indira Gandhi on Thursday said he will fight the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from Faridkot seat in Punjab.
Sarabjit Singh, 45, said many people from Faridkot asked him to fight the elections, adding that he will contest the poll as an independent.
Singh is the son of Beant Singh, one of the two assassins.
Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, who were the then-prime minister's bodyguards, killed Gandhi on October 31, 1984 at her residence.
Singh had unsuccessfully fought the 2004 Lok Sabha polls from Bathinda seat and had polled 1.13 lakh votes.
He had also unsuccessfully contested the 2007 Punjab assembly polls from Bhadaur seat in Barnala.
Singh had again tried his luck in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Fatehgarh Sahib seat but lost again.
His mother Bimal Kaur was elected an MP from Ropar seat in 1989. Polling for 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will be held on June 1.
The AAP has fielded actor Karamjit Anmol from Faridkot Lok Sabha seat while the BJP has named singer Hans Raj Hans for the polls.
The Faridkot seat is currently represented by Congress MP Mohammad Sadique. -- PTI
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20:29 Indians happy with govt, pick strong leader: Study
The majority of the population in India favours a "strong" leader and is satisfied with the performance of the national government, according to a study of voters in 19 countries, including in three of the world's largest democracies, released on Thursday.
The report titled Perceptions of Democracy: A Survey about How People Assess Democracy around the World was released by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), which was founded in 1995 with a mandate to support sustainable democracy worldwide.
Nineteen countries, including India, the US, Denmark, Italy, Brazil, Pakistan and Iraq, were surveyed. Surveys were also carried out in Taiwan, Chile, Colombia, The Gambia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, the Solomon Islands, South Korea and Tanzania.
The study noted that people are generally more dissatisfied than satisfied with their governments in the countries surveyed.
However, "India and Tanzania stand out for high levels of confidence in institutions and satisfaction with governments," it said.
In 17 of the 19 countries, less than half of the people are satisfied with their governments, and this pattern holds for self-identified minorities and low-income groups, including in countries experts consider high-performing.
"India and Tanzania stand out," the study said, "with 59 per cent and 79 per cent, respectively, expressing satisfaction or complete satisfaction with their national governments." -- PTI
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20:08 CBI creates e-mail ID for land-grab victims in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali
The Central Bureau of Investigation has created a dedicated e-mail ID -- sandeshkhali@cbi.gov.in -- on which victims of land grab in Sandeshkhali, a village in West Bengal, can get their complaints lodged, officials said on Thursday.
The agency has created the e-mail ID in compliance with the orders of the Calcutta high court passed on Wednesday.
"The district magistrate, North 24 Parganas has also been requested to give adequate publicity of the said e-mail ID in the locality and also issue a public notice in the vernacular dailies having a wide circulation in the areas as per the Hon'ble high court's order," a CBI spokesperson said in a statement.
The Central Bureau of Investigation will start registering cases on the basis of the complaints received by it, sources said.
The high court on Wednesday ordered a court-monitored CBI probe into allegations of crimes against women and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali, saying an "impartial inquiry" is required in the interest of justice and fair play.
The court also directed the CBI to file a comprehensive report on the alleged illegal conversion of agricultural land into water bodies for pisciculture, after conducting a thorough inspection of the revenue records and a physical inspection of the land alleged to have been converted. -- PTI
19:35 K'taka ex-deputy CM Eshwarappa to file nomination for Shivamogga tomorrow
Former Karnataka deputy Chief Minister and rebel BJP leader KS Eshwarappa on Thursday said he would file his nomination for Shivamogga Lok Sabha seat tomorrow.
Eshwarappa asserted he would file his nomination in the wake of speculation that he would back off from contesting the polls and said a large number of people would turn up.
"Tomorrow, a large number of people from across the constituency will come as I will be filing my nomination papers. I was not sure that I will get such an overwhelming response during my election campaign," the veteran leader said.
He claimed people were backing him because they were realising that the dream of a 'Hindutva' supporter winning the election is going to be fulfilled.
Several Hindutva activists have come out in his support across the eight assembly segments under Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency, he added. -- PTI
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau/File image
19:18 Trudeau raises Nijjar issue in Canadian polls hearing
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has raised the issue of the killing of a Khalistani Sikh separatist on the country's soil last year and asserted that his government stood up to defend the rights and freedoms of all Canadians.
Trudeau, who was testifying at a high-profile public inquiry looking into foreign interference in Canada's electoral process on Wednesday, also alleged that the previous government was "cosy" with the Indian government.
He made these remarks when he was asked about what his government did after receiving intelligence information on foreign information during the 2019 and 2021 elections, according to the live-streaming videos being shared by local media.
The ties between India and Canada were strained last year after Trudeau's allegations in September of a "potential' involvement of Indian agents in Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing outside a gurdwara in Surrey city on June 18 last year.
India, which had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020, has strongly rejected Trudeau's allegations as "absurd' and "motivated.'
During his testimony, Trudeau spoke about the role of the National Security and Intelligence Advisor, the manner in which he received intelligence inputs and how he acted on it, including what was done about the inputs regarding the role of Chinese influence vis-a-vis Chinese Canadians.
Speaking about an intelligence report three months after the 2019 election, Trudeau said, "The principle that anyone who comes to Canada from anywhere in the world has all the rights of a Canadian to be free from extortion, coercion, interference from a country that they left behind." -- PTI
18:57 'Democracy Wall' banner at Pune institute found 'vandalised'
A city-based research institute has initiated an inquiry after a 'Democracy Wall' banner put up on its premises to spread awareness and promote participation in the electoral process ahead of Lok Sabha polls, was found "vandalised" by some miscreants, the authorities said on Thursday.
The incident came to light at the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics located in Deccan Gymkhana area of Pune city on Wednesday evening, they said.
Using graffiti spray paint, the miscreants defaced the banner as they struck out the word 'Democracy' from the banner and wrote 'NOTA 2024' and inquilab zindabad (long live the revolution) on it.
The institute, in its statement, said it has established a vibrant Electoral Literacy Club under the aegis of the Election Commission of India and the Maharashtra government to spread awareness and promote participation in the electoral process.
"The club undertakes various activities, such as voter enrolment camp, awareness march, pledge ceremony etc. As part of the ongoing campaign, the institute created a 'Democracy Wall' to encourage students to express their thoughts," it said. -- PTI
18:31 Karnataka BJP legislator's son joins Congress
Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Arabail Shivaram Hebbar's son Vivek Hebbar on Thursday joined the Congress party along with his supporters at Banavasi in Uttara Kannada district.
After quitting the BJP, Vivek Hebbar joined the party in the presence of state Congress vice president and former MLC Ivan D'Souza and other local party leaders.
Speculations have been rife about his father Shivaram Hebbar, an MLA from Yellapur assembly segment, also planning to join the Congress, ever since he did not turn up for voting during the polls to four seats of the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka held on February 27.
The senior Hebbar's absence from voting, despite a party whip, had caused embarrassment to the BJP.
He had, however, later attributed his absence to poor health.
The BJP had also issued notice to him, which he responded to.
Shivaram Hebbar had recently met deputy chief minister and state Congress chief DK Shivakumar, but claimed that the meeting was about water issues in his assembly segment.
The senior BJP leader was earlier with the Congress.
He was among 17 Congress-JD-S legislators, who had quit from their parties, which ultimately led to the collapse of the then HD Kumaraswamy-led coalition government in July 2019. -- PTI
18:16 Cops lathicharge crowd gathered outside Salman Khan's residence on Eid
On the special occasion of Eid, Salman Khan's fans gathered in large numbers outside his Galaxy residence to catch the superstar's glimpse. Unfortunately, the crowd got so unmanageable that the police had to resort to lathicharge to control it.
Starstruck fans from various cities queued at his Mumbai residence to extend Eid greetings.
Waiting for a while to see him, officers struggled to control the crowd despite the extensive security.
They even performed a lathicharge to control the crowd.
Salman Khan never misses a chance to make Eid special for his fans.
Earlier on Thursday, Salman announced his new film Sikandar, which is directed by AR Murugadoss.
Revealing the film's title on Instagram, Salman wrote, Iss Eid 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan' aur 'Maidaan' ko dekho aur agli Eid Sikandar se aa kar Milo (Watch Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Maidaan on this Eid, next Eid, meet Sikandar). Wish u all Eid Mubarak!" -- ANI
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17:57 1st time ever Eid namaz not on roads: Delhi LG
Lt Governor VK Saxena said this year's Eid was perhaps for the first time in the history of Delhi that 'namaz' was offered inside mosques and not on the roads, and added that it was an excellent example of harmony and co-existence.
Saxena greeted people on the occasion of Eid on Thursday and said this showed that all the issues could be solved with mutual discussions and goodwill.
In a series of posts on X, Saxena said nowhere in Delhi namaz was offered on the road and that there was no "untoward incident" anywhere.
"Reiterating the greetings of Eid-ul-Fitr, I heartily thank the Imams of all the mosques and Eidgahs of Delhi and all our Muslim brothers for offering prayers inside the mosque premises," L-G Saxena wrote on X in Hindi.
He said that by organising and offering prayers inside the mosque premises, albeit at staggered timings, the 'imams' and members of the Muslim community "ensured that traffic on the roads was not affected, and no untoward incident took place and the common people did not face any problem.
"This is perhaps the first time in the history of Delhi that people offered 'namaz' entirely inside the mosques and Eidgahs and not on the roads. By doing this today, Delhi has set a great example of harmony and cooperation for the country," he said.
The L-G said that on April 4, he had discussed and appealed in this regard in a meeting with several 'imams' of Delhi. The community welcomed his suggestion of staggered timings of 'namaz' and assured him that it will be implemented.
17:27 Lies! Sharad Pawar bloc slams '50% ready' comment
The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) on Thursday dismissed as "blatant lie," the claim made by Praful Patel, a leader of the rival NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar on Sharad Pawar being '50 per cent' ready to join hands with the BJP last year.
The chief spokesperson for NCP (SP) Mahesh Tapase said that Patel's remarks were a "deliberate attempt to sow confusion amongst the electorate."
"Sharad Pawar firmly rejected any notion of supporting BJP, both in principle and action. This unequivocal dismissal stands as a testament to Pawar's unwavering commitment to his political convictions," Tapase said.
The NCP (SP) spokesperson said that the rejection of their proposal "is a clear source of frustration" for leaders like Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, and others "who recognize their dependence on Sharad Pawar's leadership to maintain relevance in Maharashtra politics."
On Wednesday, speaking with ANI, Praful Patel had claimed that Sharad Pawar was "50 per cent" ready to go with the BJP when his nephew Ajit Pawar took oath as the deputy chief minister in the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra.
"On 2nd July 2023, when Ajit Pawar and our ministers took oath with Maharashtra government, we met Sharad Pawar on 15th-16th July and requested him to join us. Later, Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar met in Pune. He was also 50 per cent ready...Sharad Pawar always hesitates at the last minute," Patel told ANI.
"In 1996, if Pawar saheb had agreed to the suggestions of HD Devegowda, then he could have been the PM. Sharad Pawar could have been PM in 1996 itself if he was not hesitant," Praful Patel said.
NCP (SP) chief spokesperson pointed out that the recent closure of cases exposes the true motives behind Ajit Pawar group's alignment with BJP, dispelling any notion of genuine developmental intent.
Tapase said that Ajit Pawar lacks the moral authority to represent NCP, as he has acquired the party name and the 'clock' symbol by backstabbing Sharad Pawar.
"Maharashtra's allegiance remains firmly with Sharad Pawar and his vision for the state's future. As Maharashtra prepares for upcoming elections, we remain steadfast in our commitment to the people's welfare, guided by Sharad Pawar's unwavering leadership," said Tapase.
17:00 Faltering Delhi Capitals eye improvement
Delhi Capitals' bowling unit will have to punch above its weight against an in-form Lucknow Super Giants, who will start as overwhelming favourites in an Indian Premier League match in Lucknow on Friday.
LSG, who sit on the third spot on the points table, seem to have all their bases covered even though rookie pacer Mayank Yadav, who bowls thunderbolts in excess of 150 kmph, is likely to miss the match because of an abdominal niggle. The 21-year-old bowled just one over against Gujarat Titans before walking off the field, complaining of soreness last week.
16:57 Modi wasn't born to rest or have fun: PM tells India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted that the corrupt will have to go to jail and that he would not be deterred by any threats. Addressing a rally in Rajasthan's Karauli ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Modi said strict action is being taken against the corrupt not only in the state but across the country.
"This is why the opposition has formed the "INDI alliance" against him," he said.
"On one side there is Modi, who says remove corruption. On the other side are those who say save the corrupt. All these people who have set out to save the corrupt listen carefully, no matter how many threats you give to Modi, the corrupt will have to go to jail. This is Modi's guarantee," he said.
Modi said the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are not about who will become an MP and who will not. "This election is about giving a new energy to the resolve of 'Viksit Bharat'," he said.
Hitting out at the Congress, Modi said the party raised the slogan of 'Gareebi Hatao' for decades but it was he who worked to bring 25 crore people out of poverty. The Congress, which is steeped in nepotism and corruption, seeks profit in people's compulsions. It found opportunities to loot even in jobs for the youth and a paper leak industry flourished under the patronage of its erstwhile government in Rajasthan, the PM said.
Modi said every moment of his life is dedicated to the country. "Every moment in your name, every moment in the name of the country and that is why I say, 24X7 for 2047," he said.
"Modi was not born to rest or have fun. Modi works hard because Modi has very big goals connected to the people of the country," he said. PTI
16:27 Stop daydreaming: BJP tells Misa on 'jailing PM'
Former Bihar Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter stirred a fresh controversy on Thursday and said that if the opposition-led INDIA Alliance comes to power, all BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would be put behind bars.
Hitting out at the BJP-led central government, Bharti said, "We are talking about the implementation of MSP and he (PM Modi) sees appeasement in that. He always accuses our family of corruption whenever he arrives here (Bihar). If the people of this country give the INDIA Alliance a chance (to form the government), then from PM Modi to BJP leaders, they will be behind bars."
The RJD leader's statement, which was made on Sunday, became a political flashpoint between the BJP and the RJD, as BJP leaders said that with her statement, Misa Bharti is making her father's 'pratigya' laughable.
"With this statement, she is making her father's 'pratigya' laughable," BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said.
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad warned her not to make such statements, alleging that her family is completely immersed in corruption.
"What has happened to Misa Bharti?. The woman's father (Lalu Yadav) has been convicted in the fodder scam. I warn her not to make such statements. Your family is immersed in corruption. You need to stop daydreaming," he said.
BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawade said that the opposition's has stooped low.
"The level of the opposition's campaign has stooped so low that they are talking about "Modi ji marega." RJD's Misa ji, daughter of Lalu ji, has said that Modi ji will be put in jail. The country wants to hear if the corrupt will sent to jail or not. The opposition's campaign is at a level where someone is talking about sending leaders to jail and someone is talking of death," Tawade said.
Misa Bharti will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Pataliputra constituency against BJP candidate Ram Kripal Yadav, who defeated her in the last elections.
16:00 'BJP doesn't discriminate between Hindus, Muslims'
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that the BJP does not discriminate between Hindus and Muslims and that the respect of women is of paramount importance to it, citing the ban on triple talaq.
He was addressing a public meeting in Rewa Lok Sabha seat, where his party has fielded sitting MP Janardhan Mishra against Congress' Neelam Mishra. Singh also batted for the one nation, one election' idea and called the track record of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government remarkable.
"People say the BJP always talks of Hindus and Muslims. I want to say that we do not discriminate between Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Jews," Singh asserted.
The defence minister said his party takes along with it all. "We believe all born in Bharat are the children of Bharat Mata. We don't discriminate," he said.
The allegations of bias against the BJP grew sharper after it declared its intention to ban triple talaq.
"We did not end it (instant triple talaq) by fooling people. It was our resolve and word, he said. Be it Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jews or Parsis, BJP treats its sisters equally. Our ancient practice and that of the BJP is to respect women," said the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister.
"After marrying someone, if anybody leaves her saying talaq, talaq and talaq', the BJP won't tolerate it even if it loses the government. We won't allow women to be disrespected on our soil," he said.
The 29 Lok Sabha seats in MP will go to polls in four phases between April 19 and May 13 and votes will be counted on June 4.
15:33 MSP, jobs, inflation... biggest issues: Rahul
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at the BJP-led Centre on Thursday, saying farmers are asking for a minimum support price (MSP) for their crops, youngsters are seeking employment, women want relief from inflation, but no one is listening.
The upcoming Lok Sabha polls are about protecting the country's Constitution and democracy, the former Congress chief said.
"It is an election of the backwards, Dalits, tribals and poor people in the general category," he said, addressing a rally in Rajasthan's Bikaner.
Gandhi said the bank accounts of the Congress have been frozen. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre has taken money from big industrialists through electoral bonds, he claimed, adding that the upcoming election is a battle between the country's poor people and 22-25 billionaires.
"Farmers are saying give us MSP, youngsters are saying give us employment, women are saying save us from inflation, but no one is listening," Gandhi said at the rally organised in support of Congress candidates Govind Ram Meghwal from Bikaner and Kuldeep Indora from Ganganagar in the Lok Sabha polls.
He said the two biggest issues in the country right now are unemployment and inflation, but these are not being raised by the media. Gandhi highlighted the promises made by the Congress in its Lok Sabha poll manifesto and said all of those will be honoured as soon as the party comes to power.
He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has waived the loans of 15-20 industrialists. "That money could have been used to pay MGNREGA wages for 24 years," Gandhi said. He also said farmers are paying taxes for the first time in India's history. PTI
The Congress party's performance in the LS polls over the years
15:23 Modi govt hoodwinked farmers with promises: Cong
The BJP-led Union government deceived farmers with false promises such as doubling their income, Congress leader Shailesh Agrawal claimed in Panaji on Thursday.
Speaking at a press conference, Agrawal, national coordinator of the party's Kisan (farmer) cell, accused the government of being insensitive towards farmers.
"Be it the promise of doubling farmers' income or providing them insurance cover, the Narendra Modi government failed to fulfill its assurances," he said. "It forced farmers to agitate for Minimum Support Price," Agrawal said. The crop insurance scheme brought in by the government benefitted insurance companies and not farmers," he alleged.
"Had the BJP government paid heed to the problems of farmers, they would not have agitated....During the agitation, they were lathicharged and (the government) caused them tremendous pain. This is unacceptable," he said.
Farmers are also suffering due to the rising rates of fertilisers and farm equipment, and GST too has become a "headache" for them, the Congress leader said. PTI
Varsha Gaikwad
15:19 Mumbai Congress prez upset at MVA seat sharing
Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad on Thursday said the party's Maharashtra leadership should have pursued equal seat-sharing among the three Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies for the Lok Sabha polls to ensure a better deal in the metropolis.
There are six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai - Mumbai North, Mumbai North-Central, which have been allotted to the Congress in the seat sharing deal, while four others - Mumbai South, Mumbai South-Central, Mumbai North-East and Mumbai North-West went to the Shiv Sena (UBT).
The MVA coalition in Maharashtra announced its seat-sharing arrangement for the Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday with the Shiv Sena (UBT) securing a substantial portion with 21 seats, while the Congress will contest 17 seats, and the NCP (SP) 10 seats.
Talking to reporters in Mumbai, Gaikwad said, "Earlier, Congress used to contest five seats in Mumbai, leaving only Mumbai North-East to the undivided Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). So we were demanding equal seat-sharing this time."
When asked whether she was upset due to the seat-sharing, she declined to comment. "We are answerable to our cadre. I have been consistently conveying the sentiments of the cadre in Mumbai to the state and central leadership of the party to ensure the party gets equal seat sharing. But since the decision has been taken now, as a loyal worker myself and my colleagues in Mumbai will work or the party," the former Maharashtra minister said.
Gaikwad said she had told the party leadership that as its base was strong in Mumbai South-Central, Mumbai North-West and Mumbai North-Central constituencies, the party should get these seats. If victory and candidate with merit were the criteria, then Congress fulfilled both these requirements in the three seats, she said.
"Even if some leaders have quit, the party organisation in Mumbai is strong. The state leadership could have given a better deal for the party. It should have pursued equal seat-sharing among the MVA allies," she said, adding that she conveyed this sentiment to the party's state and central leadership orally as well as in writing. -- PTI
14:45 Ready to shed blood, won't accept CAA: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday that she will not allow the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC), and Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state.
"We are ready to shed blood for the country but will not tolerate torture for the country. A uniform civil code is not acceptable. I want harmony among all religions. Your safety. Your life. No NRC, no CAA," the West Bengal CM said while addressing a gathering in Kolkata on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Launching a scathing attack on the BJP government over the misuse of central agencies, the TMC supremo said, "If there is a blast, they (BJP) send NIA to arrest everyone. By arresting everyone, your country will become desolate. We want a beautiful sky for which everyone must stay together. If anyone comes to riot, you should keep quiet, keep your head cool."
The West Bengal CM also extended her greetings for Eid during her address in Kolkata. "Eid Mubarak. It is the Eid of happiness. It is the Eid of giving strength. It is a big thing to observe this Eid by fasting for a month without drinking water," she said.
A post on the official X handle of CM Mamata Banerjee read, "My heartiest greetings to all on this joyous occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. May this Eid bring happiness, peace and prosperity to all."
Meanwhile, several top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, also extended their wishes for Eid-al-Fitr.
14:26 Lindy Cameron to be new British envoy to India
The UK has appointed Lindy Cameron as its new high commissioner to India. Cameron will succeed incumbent Alex Ellis.
"Lindy Cameron CB OBE has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of India in succession to Alex Ellis CMG who will be transferring to another diplomatic service appointment," a British readout said on Thursday.
The readout released by the United Kingdom High Commission in New Delhi said Cameron will take up her appointment this month. Cameron has been serving as the Chief Executive of the UK's National Cyber Security Centre since 2020.
She also had a stint as the director general of the UK's Northern Ireland Office. Her appointment comes as the UK and India are engaged in negotiations for a long-pending free trade agreement. PTI
14:15 Spyware alert on iPhones in India, 90 nations
iPhone maker Apple has issued a series of fresh notifications to users in 91 other countries, including India, cautioning them of 'mercenary spyware' including Pegasus malware that has stirred up significant controversy in recent times.
These new alerts, also received by users in India, are part of cautionary measures warning owners about potential risks to their privacy and data security.
In October 2023, Apple had sent a similar notification to political leaders across various parties in the country, including Congress's Shashi Tharoor, Aam Aadmi Party's Raghav Chadha, and Trinamool Congress' Mahua Moitra.
The alert warned of a "potential state-sponsored spyware attack" targeting their iPhones.In 2021, the Supreme Court had formed a committee of technical experts to look into allegations of unauthorised surveillance using the Pegasus software developed by Israeli firm NSO Group.In August 2022, the Supreme Court-appointed committee concluded that the spyware was not found in the 29 mobile phones examined by it, but malware was found in five mobile phones.
Apple noted that according to public reporting and research by civil society organisations, technology firms and journalists, individually targeted attacks of such exceptional cost and complexity have historically been associated with state actors, including private companies developing mercenary spyware on their behalf, such as Pegasus from the NSO Group.
It said, though deployed against a very small number of individuals - often journalists, activists, politicians and diplomats - mercenary spyware attacks are ongoing and global.
Since 2021, Apple said that it has sent out threat notifications multiple times a year as it has detected these attacks, and to date the company has notified users in over 150 countries in total.
"The extreme cost, sophistication and worldwide nature of mercenary spyware attacks makes them some of the most advanced digital threats in existence today. As a result, Apple does not attribute the attacks or resulting threat notifications to any specific attackers or geographical regions," it said.
The phone maker in its notification provides additional steps that users can take to help protect their devices, including enabling Lockdown Mode.
Apple advised its users to update their devices with the latest security patches and exercise caution while interacting with suspicious links or messages. -- ANI
Performance of BJP charted. KBK Infographics
14:06 Modi's ghar pe ghuske reminder to terrorists...
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said under the "strong" BJP-led government at the Centre, the country's security forces are eliminating terrorists on their own turf.
Addressing an election rally in Rishikesh, Modi said the echoes of 'Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar' were being heard across the country as people have seen the benefits of having a stable government.
"Enemies took advantage and terrorism spread whenever there were weak and unstable governments in the country. But under a strong Modi government, our forces are killing terrorists on their own turf," Modi said.
The prime minister said he stopped the corrupt from looting the country and their anger against him was at its height. He also asked the people of Uttarakhand to give a befitting reply to the Congress for talking about eliminating "Shakti" which is symbolised by the revered goddesses of Uttarakhand -- Maa Dhari Devi and Jwalpa Devi.
He also said the "weak" Congress governments in the past could not strengthen the border infrastructure. Now roads and tunnels are being built along the borders, Modi said. PTI
14:04 CBI arrests BRS leader K Kavitha
CBI arrests BRS leader K Kavitha in connection with Delhi excise policy 'scam'. The CBI on Wednesday told a Delhi court that it has already questioned K Kavitha, who is presently in judicial custody in a money laundering probe related to the Delhi liquor policy case.
The submission was made while Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court was hearing a plea by K Kavitha against CBI's application to question her while she is in judicial custody.
Image of another hit-and-drag incident in Delhi last year
13:50 Woman critical in hit-and-drag incident, man held
A 21-year-old woman was critically injured after allegedly being hit and dragged by a car in northeast Delhi's Nand Nagri area, police said on Thursday.
A purported CCTV footage of the incident shows the woman riding pillion on a bike. She falls off the bike after a car hits it from behind. The car is then seen dragging the woman for a few metres before speeding away. The accused, Sunny Rawal (21), has been arrested, police said. A case under section 279 (rash driving) and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the IPC has been registered at the Nand Nagri police station, Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast) Joy Tirkey said.
The victim is employed at a private company and was riding pillion with her colleague, the DCP said. After the incident, the local people rushed the woman to the GTB Hospital, where she is in critical condition, an officer said.
The accused is a resident of Ghaziabad and runs a general store with his father near their house, the police said. The car involved in the incident has been seized by the police and further investigations are underway, Tirkey said. PTI
13:01 Bade Miyan Chote Miyan Review: BAD!
Forget comic chops, you'll not find an ounce of camaraderie between Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff as they go about firing ammo and flexing abs at a zombie-like army for nearly three excruciating hours of this noisy drivel, observes Sukanya Verma.
Read the preview review here.
PM Modi with K Annamalai
12:59 K Annamalai, the man steering BJP into Tamil Nadu
Often considered a fringe player in Tamil Nadu's electoral arena dominated by the Dravidian heavyweights, a resurgent BJP in Tamil Nadu has seen it's stock rising much beyond its expectations this time, thanks to an assertive and aggressive K Annamalai who is steering the party.
The BJP has made no bones about its intentions to make good electoral inroads in the Dravidian heartland and is hopeful of turning the positive wave into votes for the April 19 general election.
It is heading a non-DMK, non-AIADMK bloc and is contesting directly from 19 seats, including Coimbatore from where Annamalai has been fielded.
Much of the party's newfound confidence stems from Annamalai's "En Mann, En Makkal" (My Land, My People) padayatra, a crucial political journey that made many heads turn towards the Tamil Nadu BJP and the former IPS officer.
In fact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the culmination of the nearly seven month-long yatra.
Though how much of the frenzied crowd that swarmed the rallies would translate into votes for the saffron party remains to be seen, the padayatra ended up projecting Annamalai as a tall leader battling against corruption and dynastic politics, which was the very purpose of the foot march.
He repeatedly targeted the DMK over corruption and irregularities, such as in the state-run milk cooperative Aavin.
He released what he termed as "DMK files," alleging graft by senior leaders, accusationss which were dismissed by the ruling party.
However, these episodes made him people take note of Annamalai. Political observers feel his vehement criticism of the ruling party on many public issues, his assertive and aggressive nature, and cordial approach to the people have endeared him to more people, especially the ones looking at an alternative to the DMK and AIADMK.
Unlike the AIADMK or the DMK, which alternately come to power in the state banking on their iconic leaders, the BJP lacks traditional vote banks either from the minorities, fishers, women or other sections. So, the party is left with hardly any option but to raise issues of corruption and dynastic politics in Tamil Nadu. And most invariably, the BJP invokes the names of its central leaders in the state where the people identify themselves with sons of the soil - in other words regional identity.
Throughout its electoral history in the state, the BJP had gained only when it aligned with either of the Dravidian majors which have regional identity, a senior AIADMK leader said. Claiming aligning with political parties at the time of elections was a decision of the party high command, BJP state vice president M Chakravarthy says his party expanded and made inroads into new areas after Annamalai took over as president.
"Not only youngsters but also all those in varying age groups are supporting us and want the corrupt (DMK) government dislodged," he said. More than the Vel yatra of former president L Murugan in 2021, Annamalai's En Mann, En Makkal padayatra has made the BJP's stock go up, he asserts.
12:47 BJP wants Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad renamed to...
The BJP said on Thursday that the name of Sulthan Bathery town, associated with Tipu Sultan in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, should be changed, as the place was originally known as Ganapathivattom before the Mysore ruler's invasion of the Malabar region of Kerala two centuries ago.
The issue was raised by the BJP state president, K Surendran, who is contesting against the sitting MP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, as well as CPI leader and ruling LDF candidate Annie Raja in the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat.
"Ganapathivattom is the true name of Sulthan Bathery. Its name change is necessary," Surendran told reporters in Thamarassery near here. Raking up the issue of Tipu Sultan's Malabar invasion during his election campaign, the BJP leader alleged that the Congress and LDF prefer to refer to it as Sulthan Bathery.
"Why should such a place in Kerala be named after an aggressor?" he asked. "In reality, the place is Ganapathivattom. How many years ago did the Sultan's invasion occur? Who is Sultan? What is the significance of Tipu Sultan regarding Wayanad and its people?
"That place was known as Ganapathivattom. People are aware of this. Congress and the LDF are allied with Tipu Sultan, who converted lakhs of people in Kerala, especially in Wayanad and Malabar," Surendran alleged.
He also claimed that the issue was first raised by late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan in 1984. According to Kerala Tourism, Sulthan Bathery was earlier known as Ganapathivattom.
"The place owes its new name to the erstwhile ruler of Mysore, Tipu Sultan, who during his invasion of the Malabar region dumped his ammunition and parked his artillery battering in an old Jain temple in Kozhikode.
"The place was hence known as Sulthan Bathery which is a corrupted form of Sultan's battery. Tipu Sultan also built a fort here, which is in ruins now and a police station stands on the mounds of the fort now," a Kerala Tourism website said.
The Congress mocked Surendran for raising the controversy of changing the name of Sultan Bathery. Congress leader and MLA T Siddique said that Surendran can say anything. "He is not going to win; it is just an attempt to grab public attention. It is not going to happen, and there is no value attached to his statement," he told a news channel. PTI
12:07 Bengaluru lost 74% of its water bodies: Study
Bengaluru's summer of 2024 is just a sneak peek into the future, if you go by what the experts predict. The city, which lost its green cover by 66 per cent, water bodies by 74 per cent, and witnessed a growth of 584 per cent in built-up area as per Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES) of Indian Institute of Science buckled under the El Nino's assault this summer.
Things will get worse if the trend continues: By 2038, CES predicts that forests will be reduced to 0.65 per cent (as per last census in 2022, it is 3.32 per cent). Bengaluru city will be choked with paved surfaces (more than 98 per cent) and 69.90 per cent (from 55.71 per cent in 2022) in Bengaluru Urban will be paved areas by 2038, said a study by the CES.
"The increase in paved surfaces and reduction in green spaces have contributed to the urban heat island effect in Bengaluru. For instance, it increased land surface temperature (LST) from 33.04 degree Celsius (1992) to 41.4 degree Celsius (2017) from March to May," said professor T V Ramachandra, coordinator of energy and wetlands research group at CES.
According to him, decline in heat sinks (water bodies and green cover) has a negative impact on the local microclimate, evident from the reduced cooling effect and increase in land surface temperature.
"The urban heat island effect would enhance the ambient temperature and humidity levels, resulting in heat stress and heat-related illnesses," added Ramachandra.
Bengaluru's famed mild weather is not just nature's gift but also the prescience of its early settlers, who understood the pulse of nature, said Harini Nagendra, professor of ecology at Azim Premji University. Nagendra's book, Nature in the City: Bengaluru in the Past, Present and Future' compares the past and the present of the IT hub to give solutions to its future. The inscription stones left behind by early settlers, said Nagendra, tell us that they had a three-dimensional sense' of the landscape.
"For instance, when constructing a new lake, the plan' would include the wells below and the trees above," Nagendra told PTI. So along with water bodies the reason why Bengaluru used to be riddled with lakes, like Swiss cheese with holes the early settlers also put in place what is called gundathope', said Nagendra.
"Gundathopes are orchards or wood lots. Locals say rulers Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan started the trend, which was later adopted by the British. Around every village there were three to four of these gundathopes where people would plant trees they could be jackfruit or mango or other shade trees. They became gathering places for people. They were also ecological resources, making the climate cool, offsetting the heat effects.
"The open wells and lakes that were part of these gundathopes provided water to people, especially during summer because Bengaluru has always been this unusual semi-arid city, which doesn't get a lot of rainfalls that it needed to harvest every drop of water that it gets," added Nagendra. Science only proved what our ancestors already knew. -- PTI
11:47 Salman Khan's next movie is titled 'Sikander'
Superstar Salman Khan on Thursday announced that his next film has been titled "Sikander" and will be released in theatres across the country on Eid 2025. Salman will play the titular role in the movie, which will be directed by AR Murugadoss.
The project will be produced by Sajid Nadiadwala's banner Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment.
In a message posted on his official social media handles, the superstar sent his best wishes to his fans for the festival of Eid and asked them to watch Akshay Kumar-Tiger Shroff starrer "Bade Miyan Chote Miyan" as well as Ajay Devgn's "Maidaan" in theatres. "Iss Eid Bade Miyan Chote Miyan' aur Maidaan' ko dekho aur agli Eid 'Sikandar' se aa kar milo... Wish u all Eid Mubarak! #SajidNadiadwala Presents #Sikandar."
Directed by @a.r.murugadoss, Salman, 58, posted along with an announcement poster. Murugadoss is best known for directing Tamil and Hindi films such as Ghajini, Thuppakki, Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty and Sarkar.
He had earlier penned the script of Salman's 2014 movie Jai Ho, which was a remake of Murugadoss' Telugu hit Stalin. Salman was most recently seen in Tiger 3, the third part of his Tiger series. PTI
11:31 6 students dead, 20 injured as school bus overturns
Six school children were killed and around 20 sustained injuries after a bus carrying them met with an accident in Haryana's Mahendragarh on Thursday, police said.
Preliminary reports suggest that the bus overturned while overtaking a vehicle in Kanina town.
Superintendent of Police, Mahendragarh, Arsh Verma told PTI over the phone that the driver of the bus has been arrested. Asked about reports suggesting that the driver was drunk, he said, "We have apprehended him and his medical examination is being conducted after which we will be able to properly establish whether he was actually drunk or not".
Some reports are also suggesting that the driver indulged in rash driving, the SP added. The injured children were rushed to a hospital, he said. Haryana's Education Minister Seema Trikha has left for Mahendragarh, officials said. PTI
11:09 Ensure votes don't go to other parties in WB: CM
Update: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she will not allow implementation of the CAA, NRC and the Uniform Civil Code in the state.
Addressing a gathering here on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, she claimed that some people will try to "engineer riots" during elections and urged those who participated in the programme "not to fall prey to the plot". Eid-ul-Fitr marks the culmination of the fasting month of Ramzan.
"We will not accept the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, National Register of Citizens and Uniform Civil Code. If we will live unitedly, nobody will be able to cause harm to us," Banerjee said while addressing the gathering at the Red Road.
She asserted that her party TMC's fight is against the BJP. "We will decide about the INDIA bloc later. But in Bengal, please see that no vote goes to any other party," the TMC supremo said. She also slammed the BJP government at the Centre for "using the central probe agencies against the opposition parties".
TMC national general secretary and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee accompanied her at the Eid meet. -- PTI
10:41 Mamata on Eid: If rioters come you should...
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says, "Eid Mubarak. It is the Eid of happiness. It is the Eid of giving strength. It is a big thing to observe this Eid by fasting for a month... We are ready to shed blood for the country but will not tolerate torture for the country. A uniform civil code is not acceptable. I want harmony of all religions. Your safety. Your life. No NRC, no CAA..."
Banerjee adds, "...If anyone comes to riot, you should keep quiet, keep your head cool...If there is a blast, they (BJP) send NIA to arrest everyone. By arresting everyone, your country will become desolate...We want a beautiful sky for which everyone must stay together... "
10:12 Kharge writes to President Murmu against 'privatisation' of Sainik schools
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday wrote to President Droupadi Murmu, demanding a complete rollback of the policy and the annulment of MoUs signed by the Centre to "privatise" Sainik schools.
Kharge, in his letter to the President, referred to an investigative report based on an RTI reply, which claimed that Sainik Schools are being privatised using a new PPP model introduced by the government, and "now 62 per cent of these schools are said to be owned by the BJP-RSS leaders".
The Congress President said that there are 33 Sainik schools in the country and they were fully government-funded institutions operated under the aegis of the Sainik Schools Society (SSS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Indian democracy has conventionally kept armed forces away from any partisan politics, but the central government has "broken" this well-enshrined convention, Kharge added.
Kalpana Soren
10:05 'Hemant Soren wants his wife to replace Champai'
In a sensational claim, BJP Lok Sabha MP Nishikant Dubey said former chief minister and JMM leader Hemant Soren has asked his successor Champai Soren to vacate the chair for his wife, Kalpana Soren.
Taking to his official handle on X, Dubey posted, "Over the last couple of days, Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren has not been seen in any government or party event. I have information that former CM Hemant Soren has issued orders for him to step down (as CM) for Kalpana Soren. Seeta Soren (Hemant's sister-in-law), (JMM MLAs) Lobin (Hembrom) and Chamra Linda are ready. Let the game begin."
The wife of the jailed former CM, Kalpana recently attended the INDIA bloc rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan in support of jailed chief minister and AAP convenor, Arvind Kejriwal.
Dubey is seeking a fresh term from the Godda Lok Sabha constituency, which he currently represents in the Lower House.
Earlier, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Ranchi filed a Prosecution Complaint against the former CM under PMLA, 2002 for acquiring, possessing, and concealing proceeds of crime in the form of an 8.8-acre immovable property at Bariyatu, Ranchi.
"Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Ranchi has filed a Prosecution Complaint (PC) against Hemant Soren & four others in one of the cases of land scam being investigated under the provisions of PMLA, 2002, for acquiring, possessing and concealing the proceeds of crime in the nature of an immovable property admeasuring 8.8 acres at Bariyatu, Ranchi," an official release from the central agency read.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which leads the ruling coalition in the state, announced on April 4 the first list of the two candidates for the Lok Sabha elections.The party has fielded Nalin Soren from the Dumka constituency and Mathura Prasad Mahato from Giridih. There was speculation that Hemant could contest from Dumka against his sister-in-law and BJP candidate Sita Soren.
The party is expected to announce the remaining candidates soon.
While the ruling alliance in the state is yet to arrive at a seat-sharing pact for the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress might contest anywhere between 7 and 14 seats, the JMM 5, and the RJD and the CPI(M) one each. -- ANI
09:27 Modi right choice for chancellor of corruption university: Stalin
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accusing his party DMK of being corrupt and said Modi would be the right person to become "chancellor of the university of corruption".
Responding to the prime minister's charge about dynastic politics and corruption in the state, Stalin, the DMK president, said, "If a university for corruption is to be established, then Modi will be the right person to become its chancellor."
"One may ask why. The answer is from electoral bonds, to PM Cares Fund and the BJP 'washing machine' of saffronising tainted leaders, the BJP is corrupt," he said, while addressing an election rally here on Wednesday.
On the prime minister's charge that the DMK was against Tamil culture, Stalin shot back saying, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi avargale, please don't study in Whatsapp university. Our Tamil culture is Yaadhum oore, yaavarum kelir (For us all towns are one, all are our kin)."
It was the prime minister who practiced divisive politics, Stalin charged, and claimed that there won't be democracy in India if Modi became Prime Minister for the third consecutive term and called upon the people to send "Vendam (No more) Modi" message across the nation.
The return of the BJP government at the Centre would only mean the installation of a dictatorial government.
"There won't be any discussions in the Parliament, no elections, and no state assemblies. There will be only one language, one faith, and one culture. He (Prime Minister) will bury social justice," Stalin claimed.
He said Modi's Chennai roadshow on Tuesday was a "flop show" as the areas where the roadshow was held was the "DMK's fort".
"At the Vellore meeting, Modi spoke in Hindi and the audience applauded. Doubts were expressed by many that people from north India were brought for the meeting," the DMK president said, while canvassing votes for his party's candidate for Theni constituency Thanga Tamilselvan and CPI-M candidate for Dindigul Lok Sabha constituency R Sachidanandam.
The prime minister gave his guarantees in Hindi and said he would develop Tamil Nadu, Stalin said. "I wish to say Prime Minister Narendra Modi avargale, Tamil Nadu is developing and it will prosper further under the Dravadian model of governance. Any number of Modis can't stop the state's progress," he added. -- PTI
08:48 3 sons of Hamas leader killed in Israeli strike
Three sons of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh were killed in an air strike carried out by the Israeli Air Force on Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) informed.
The three sons of the Hamas leader, who were confirmed dead by the Israeli forces, were identified as Amir Haniyeh, a cell commander in the Hamas military wing and Mohammad and Hazem Haniyeh.
"IAF aircraft struck Amir Haniyeh, a cell commander in the Hamas military wing, and Mohammad and Hazem Haniyeh, both Hamas military operatives, in central Gaza today. The IDF confirms that the 3 operatives are the sons of Ismail Haniyeh, the chairman of Hamas' political bureau," IDF posted on its official X handle.
Four of Haniyeh's grandchildren are also reported to have been killed in the strike on the Shati refugee camp on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, Al Jazeera reported.
Haniyeh, meanwhile, told Al Jazeera that Palestinian leaders will not back down if their families are targeted by the Israeli army, and that the killings will not affect Hamas's demands in the negotiations for a ceasefire.
In an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic, Haniyeh confirmed the killing of his children Hazem, Amir and Mohammad along with a number of his grandchildren on Wednesday.
Haniyeh said they were targeted as they were his visiting relatives for Eid at the Shati refugee camp.
"Through the blood of the martyrs and the pain of the injured, we create hope, we create the future, we create independence and freedom for our people and our nation," Haniyeh said, adding that around 60 members of his family, including nieces and nephews, have been killed since the start of the war.
File image
01:00 Cops prohibit transgender individuals from demanding money at Pune traffic junctions
The police have issued orders prohibiting transgender individuals from congregating at traffic junctions and forcibly demanding money from commuters in Pune, a top officer said on Wednesday.
Speaking to PTI, Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar stated that the order, under section 144 of the CrPC, was issued in response to numerous complaints received by the police.
"We have issued a notification under Section 144 of CrPC prohibiting transgender individuals from congregating at traffic junctions and forcibly demanding money from motorists and commuters. Moreover, it has also been observed that transgenders and others visit houses and establishments during festivities, births, and deaths, and forcefully demand money beyond what people voluntarily offer," he said.
He added that the notification prohibits any such uninvited visits to houses, and any violation of this order shall be dealt with under section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code and other relevant sections. -- PTI
Samajwadi Party national general secretary Shivpal Yadav/File image
00:32 LS polls: Shivpal Yadav names his son SP candidate from Budaun in UP
Samajwadi Party national general secretary Shivpal Yadav, who is the party's official candidate from the Budaun Lok Sabha seat, on Wednesday announced that his son Aditya Yadav will be contesting from this seat in his place on demand of people.
Addressing a meeting in Badaun in UP, Yadav said that Aditya would contest from this seat on demand of youths and will file his nomination in Navratri.
"I am here to appeal for vote. I was named the candidate earlier, but Aditya will be contesting from here on demand of the youths and he will be filing nominations in Navratri" he said.
Budaun is going to polls on May 7 in the third phase for which the nominations are starting from April 12 with issuance of notification. -- PTI
Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra/File image
00:06 Rahul or Priyanka will contest from UP: Antony
Congress veteran AK Antony hinted on Wednesday that either Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka would contest from a Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh.
"You wait for the decision of Amethi and Raebareili. Don't speculate. A member of the Nehru family will contest from Uttar Pradesh," Antony told the Asianet News channel in an interview.
When asked whether Robert Vadra would be the candidate, he also hinted that would not be the case.
The former defence minister said that the secular parties in the country have full faith in the Gandhi family.
His statement came amid the delay from the Congress in announcing candidates for Raebareli and Amethi, once considered the bastions of the Gandhi family. -- PTI
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