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Thu, 04 January 2024
Cong leadership unhappy with crowdfunding pace
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23:49 Cong leadership unhappy with crowdfunding pace
The Congress top brass on Thursday expressed displeasure at the pace of the party's crowdfunding campaign and told the leaders to speed up efforts and get generous contributions for the party ahead of Lok Sabha elections, sources said.
During the over three-hour discussions at a meeting of general secretaries, in-charges and state unit chiefs and CLP leaders from all states, the leaders were also asked to focus with full strength on around 255 seats which are winnable, the sources said.
The party is likely to declare its first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections 'very soon' and has told the states to start the process immediately.
The party will also form the screening committees for each states as part of this exercise this week.
Sources said top Congress leadership including party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, besides also Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, told the leaders that the generation of Rs 11 crore in two weeks was not encouraging and asked them to intensify their efforts to collect more funds from the party leaders, workers and public.
The sources added that AICC treasurer Ajay Maken was told to speed up efforts and visit the states to step up the campaign and hold talks with state units to generate more funds for the party.
They added that the party leadership decided to separately generate funds for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which is beginning January 14.
The party had launched the crowdfunding campaign 'Donate for Desh' in December to generate funds for the party for the Lok Sabha elections.
The sources said Kharge told the meeting that the gains made through Bharat Jodo Yatra should be consolidated further through the second yatra from Manipur to Mumbai and rechristened it as Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
This happened after Rahul Gandhi sought the opinion of party leaders at the meeting on whether they wanted the 'Bharat Jodo' as part of this yatra which was earlier named as 'Bharat Nyay Yatra', the sources said.
While Kharge told the leaders not to speak out of turn on sensitive issues and not discuss internal matters in public through the media, Rahul Gandhi asked them to refrain from making unnecessary comments which would force the party to take stern action.
The Congress is also in the process of finalising coordinators for all Lok Sabha constituencies and has asked state units to give names of possible candidates.
The leaders were asked to focus on booth management at the micro level during elections to ensure victory of party candidates.
Rahul Gandhi, the sources said, also asked party leaders at the meeting to build the narrative that the INDIA bloc can win this Lok Sabha election in order to build public opinion in favour of the opposition alliance.
The Congress is contesting this election as INDIA bloc and would begin seat-sharing talks in the next week with other like-minded parties, after the seat sharing committee of the party held talks and gave their feedback to party chief after holding talks with state leaders. -- PTI
23:46 Jagan meets KCR
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday called on Bharat Rashtra Samiti president K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is recovering following a hip replacement surgery, in Hyderabad.
According to BRS sources, Reddy met the former Telangana Chief Minister at the latter's residence in Nandi Nagar in Hyderabad and enquired about his health.
Rao's son and BRS working president K T Rama Rao and other party leaders welcomed Reddy.
'Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Sri Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy met BRS President and former Chief Minister Sri K. Chandrashekar Rao in Hyderabad today,' the BRS said on X (formerly twitter).
BRS sources described it as a 'courtesy meeting'.
The AP CM was accompanied by YSR Congress MP Mithun Reddy and other party leaders.
Earlier, the Andhra Pradesh chief minister arrived at the Begumpet airport in Hyderabad from Vijayawada on a special flight.
Rao, also known as KCR, on December 8 last year underwent left Total Hip Replacement operation at a private super-specialty hospital in Hyderabad following a fracture due to a fall at his residence. -- PTI
22:45 Relationship with China not normal: MEA
India
on Thursday once again said that its relationship with China is 'not
normal' and that both sides are engaged in diplomatic and military talks
to resolve the pending issues in eastern Ladakh.
The Indian and
Chinese troops are locked in an over three-and-half-year confrontation
in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides
completed disengagement from several areas following extensive
diplomatic and military talks.
"Our position on China is very well
known. It is a relationship which is not normal but we have had
dialogues both on the military side as well as on the diplomatic side,"
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
His
comments at a media briefing came in response to a question on the
situation in eastern Ladakh.
Jaiswal also referred to the last rounds
of military and diplomatic talks between the two sides in October and
November respectively.
"The idea is that we engage so that we can have
some sort of resolution," he said.
In the military talks on October 9
and 10, the two sides exchanged views in an open and constructive manner
for an early and mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues
along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector.
The
government refers to eastern Ladakh as Western Sector.
On the
diplomatic talks that took place on November 30, Jaiswal said both sides
had an in-depth and constructive discussion and looked at proposals to
resolve remaining issues and achieve complete disengagement in eastern
Ladakh.
India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be
normal unless there is peace in the border areas.
The eastern Ladakh
border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the
Pangong lake area.
The relations between the two countries nosedived
significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June
2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two
sides in decades.
As a result of a series of military and diplomatic
talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in 2021 on the
north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area. -- PTI
Representational image
22:08 One killed, many injured in high school shootout in Iowa, US
At least one person was killed and others injured in a Thursday morning (US local time) shooting at Iowa's Perry High School, according to law enforcement officials briefed on the situation, ABC News reported.
According to ABC News, there appeared to be at least two people injured at the scene as well. The scene is now "secured," according to Dallas County, Iowa, officials.
The FBI's resident agent at its Des Moines office responded to the scene to assist the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the FBI said. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is also on the scene, according to ABC News.
Perry is located in the suburbs northwest of Des Moines. Further details are awaited.
21:57 Cong still mum on Kharge, Sonia going to Ayodhya
The speculation on whether Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Sonia Gandhi will attend the Ram temple consecration ceremony continued with the party on Thursday saying that their decision would be conveyed at the 'right time'.
Asked whether Kharge and Gandhi will attend the ceremony, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh, at a media briefing after a meeting of general secretaries, state in-charges, state unit chiefs and Congress Legislature Party leaders at the All India Congress Committee headquarters in New Delhi, said, "Don't try to divert, this is about 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra'. There was no discussion on this topic (at the meeting)."
"There was discussion about the 2024 (Lok Sabha) elections and about 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra'. You asked about the invitation, I have said it again and again, I will say it once again... Kharge ji has received the invitation, Sonia ji has received the invitation. At the right time, I will tell you their decision," Ramesh said.
Besides Kharge and Gandhi, Congress' leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has also been invited to the ceremony.
The consecration ceremony will be held on January 22 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and more than 6,000 people are expected to attend it. -- PTI
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara
21:52 Cong leader's 'Godhra-like incident' remark: K'taka minister to gather more info
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday said the state government will gather information following senior party leader B K Hariprasad's claim that a 'Godhra like incident' was likely in the state.
On the other hand, the state unit of BJP mounted attack on the ruling Congress over the issue and demanded the immediate arrest of Hariprasad.
MLC Hariprasad had on Wednesday claimed that there is a possibility of Godhra-like incident in Karnataka in the run up to the consecration ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22.
The Karnataka government should be alert because in Gujarat during the same occasion, the kar sevaks were set on fire at Godhra, he cautioned.
The 2002 Godhra train burning case had plunged Gujarat into one of the worst communal riots.
Reacting to Hariprasad's statement, Parameshwara said, "We don't have any information. If a situation like that rises then our department (police) is capable of handling it. We will not let such things happen."
Responding to a reporter's query on summoning the MLC to get details, he said it can be considered because he is a senior leader and he must have the information.
The minister, however, said there was no need to issue notice to Hariprasad as of now.
"When there is a sensitive matter we will first gather information. We will handle the case the way it should be," Parameshwara explained.
Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai charged the Congress MLC with 'instigating' people to commit such incidents.
"The home minister says he as no information while the MLC says he has inputs. This means there is intelligence failure. The police would have registered an FIR if an ordinary person would have given a similar statement," Bommai told media persons.
Accusing the government of using different yardstick, he demanded that Hariprasad be summoned to the police station for inquiry.
Former minister K S Eshwarappa said the statement gives an impression that Hariprasad has information. Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel also demanded the arrest of the Congress MLC saying he has all the information about the incident. -- PTI
21:20 Enough evidence to put Brij Bhushan on trial: Cops
The Delhi Police on Thursday started afresh its argument on whether to frame charges against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh before a local court in an alleged sexual harassment case lodged against him by women wrestlers.
The police made the submissions before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot, who recently started hearing the matter after the judge trying the case earlier was transferred.
During the arguments, the police told the court that there is sufficient 'prima facie' evidence to put Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar, the former assistant secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), on trial.
The judge also granted an exemption from personal appearance to Singh, also a BJP MP, for the day on an application moved by his lawyer.
"Counsel for the accused persons has moved an application seeking exemption on behalf of accused Brij Bhushan Sharan. Heard. Perused. In view of averments made in the application, accused Brij Bhushan Sharan is exempted from personal appearance for today only," the judge said.
The court will further hear the matter on Saturday.
The Delhi police filed a charge sheet in the case against Singh, a six-time MP, on June 15 under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
The police have also charged Tomar in the case. -- PTI
20:53 Autorickshaw driver arrested for murder of Punjab DSP
Four days after a Punjab Armed Police (PAP) deputy superintendent was found dead in Jalandhar, the police have arrested an autorickshaw driver for his murder, officials said on Thursday.
The accused allegedly killed Dalbir Singh (54), who was an Arjuna awardee and a weightlifter, with the officer's service pistol after a scuffle, the police said.
Singh's body bore injury marks and was found lying on a road on Monday in Basti Bawa Khel in Jalandhar, where he was posted, the police had said earlier.
The incident took place on December 31 night on New Year's eve after the DSP asked the auto driver Vijay Kumar to drop him to his village Khojewal in Kapurthala, Jalandhar Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma told reporters.
Kumar, an alleged drug addict, refused to go that far, following which they got into an altercation, Sharma said.
As the argument escalated, the accused allegedly got hold of the DSP's service pistol and shot the officer, he added.
The bullet hit the DSP's right eye and pierced through back of his skull, Sharma said, adding that Singh's post-mortem report had revealed a gunshot wound.
The police said they zeroed in on the accused based on a CCTV footage.
"The auto driver has been arrested and is resident of Jalandhar," the SP said, adding that the police have recovered the weapon and bullets from the accused.
Singh's family has lodged a complaint in the matter, the police had said earlier. -- PTI
20:32 Police probes Chinese man's death after NY eve party
A Chinese national was found dead in Noida under mysterious circumstances after a New Year Eve party, police officials said on Thursday.
The foreigner, who lived and worked in Noida, had partied with his friends and colleagues on December 31 but was found dead on January 1, the officials said.
The police identified the dead man as 48-year-old Chinese national Tanxioahua.
"After due legal proceedings, the body was sent for post-mortem on January 3. A detailed investigation into the case is underway," a police spokesperson said.
Tanxioahua lived in a shared rented house in Sector 92 and worked as an engineer in Sector 85-located company which makes screens for mobile phones, according to a local policeman.
"After the party on December 31, the Chinese national collapsed and was admitted to a private hospital by his friends. The cause of the death would be known once the post-mortem report is received," the official told PTI.
On the delay in the post-mortem, the police official said the matter was reported to the Chinese embassy in Delhi after which the family of Tanxioahua was contacted to take their consent for autopsy and other legal proceedings.
20:06 Govt worried as Indo-Canadians get extortion calls
The government has expressed concern over reports that some members of the Indian community in Canada had received 'extortion calls'.
"People getting extortion calls, especially Indian nationals, is a matter of serious concern," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said answering queries at the regular media briefing.
"We (India and Canada) have several issues to discuss. There was an issue about a temple which was attacked. The Canadian police then thereafter went into the investigation of the temple premises, and the person who had intruded it later turned out, and they issued a statement that the person was of unsound mind. So there are these issues that keep happening...," Jaiswal said.
It was Jaiswal's maiden press conference as MEA spokesperson.
He was asked about the growing concern in the Indo-Canadian community living in Canada's British Colombia about getting extortion calls and threat calls in the last two months and if the Indian government was monitoring the situation.
Media reports said that law enforcement in Canada has established a task force to probe reports of extortion targeting some businesses of members of the Indo-Canadian community.
The reports citing police in Canada said that nine incidents were being investigated.
Ties between India and Canada have seen a downslide in the recent past with the MEA spokesperson earlier noting that the core issue is 'space that is given to extremists and terrorists and, anti-India elements' in Canada. -- ANI
19:30 Rs 250 toll on country's longest sea bridge in Mumbai
The Maharashtra government on Thursday cleared a proposal to charge Rs 250 as one-way toll for cars on the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), the country's longest sea bridge that will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 12.
Only half the amount, as per existing rules of toll collection is being charged, an official said on the decision taken by the Eknath Shinde cabinet during the day.
A passenger car will be charged Rs 250 one-way toll, while charges for return journey as well as for daily and frequent travellers will be different, the official said.
The 21.8 km long bridge, officially the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, has been built at a cost of Rs 21,200 crore, of which Rs 15,000 crore is by way of loans.
The cabinet proposal mentioned that the distance between Panvel in Raigad district and Sewri in south-central Mumbai will be reduced by 15 kilometres, while travel time will come down from around two hours to 15 to 20 minutes.
The saving in fuel cost would be around Rs 500 per journey, the official said.
The rates will be revised after one year from commencement of operations, as per the cabinet decision.
The MTHL is a 6-lane sea link, with 16.50 kilometres of the stretch on sea and 5.50 km on land.
19:01 Verdict on making Gyanvapi survey public tomorrow
A Varanasi court would decide Friday whether to open the sealed ASI survey report on the Gyanvapi mosque complex and provide copies to the Hindu and Muslim sides.
The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) had on Wednesday urged the court not to make its report public for at least four more weeks, according to the lawyer for the Hindu side, Madan Mohan Yadav.
Varanasi district court judge A K Vishvesh then adjourned the matter till Thursday.
However, on Thursday, he could not take up the matter as he was engaged at an event, his office said and added that the matter was then posted for Friday. -- PTI
18:14 Hizbul terrorist wanted for J-K terror arrested in Delhi
The Delhi Police's Special Cell has arrested a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist, an official said on Thursday.
Javaid Matoo was wanted in multiple terrorism-related cases in Jammu and Kashmir, according to the police.
Further details are awaited.
17:55 Jailed Indians get 60 days to appeal Qatar ruling
The legal team of eight jailed former Indian Navy personnel was given 60 days to appeal against the ruling by Qatar's court of appeal, the ministry of external affairs said on Thursday.
Last month, the court of appeal in Qatar commuted the death sentence handed down to the Indians and sentenced them to prison for varying durations.
The verdict came weeks after the family members of the Indians filed an appeal against the earlier order by another court.
The Navy veterans were on October 26 given death sentences by Qatar's court of first instance.
Sixty days' time has been given to file an appeal against the order at Qatar's highest court, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing on Thursday.
17:28 Cong renames Rahul Gandhi-led yatra as Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra
The Congress on Thursday renamed the Rahul Gandhi-led Manipur-Mumbai yatra starting on January 14 as 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' which will travel through 15 states, including Arunachal Pradesh.
This was announced by Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh after a meeting of party general secretaries, state in-charges, state unit chiefs and Congress Legislature Party leaders chaired by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi.
Earlier it was named Bharat Nyay Yatra. Ramesh said the Congress invites all Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) leaders to participate in this yatra and pointed out that invitations were being sent out for it.
He said the yatra of over 6,713 km will be covered in buses and on foot. It will cover 110 districts, about 100 Lok Sabha seats and 337 assembly segments. Ramesh claimed the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra would prove to be as transformative for politics as the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir did. -- PTI
NSA Ajit Doval with Rashmi Shukla. File pic
16:58 Maha appoints woman IPS as DGP, she is...
Rashmi Shukla appointed as Maharashtra's Director General of Police. Shukla is one of the most senior IPS officers in the state, having joined the service in 1988. She has a reputation of being a dynamic and proactive officer, who launched several initiatives like 'buddy cop' to enhance the safety and security of women and senior citizens in Pune, where she served as the Police Commissioner.
She also headed the State Intelligence Department (SID), where she was responsible for gathering and analyzing intelligence inputs. She was shunted out from her SID post to a non-executive post of Civil Defence by the MVA government. She then opted for central deputation as ADG Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and was posted in Hyderabad till now.
Kalyan Banerjee (standing in dark glasses) reacts to Rahul Gandhi (white T-shirt)
16:25 VP wishes 'mimic' MP on birthday, calls him to dine
In a gracious move, India's Vice President and Rajya Sabha chair, Jagdeep Dhankar wished TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee on his birthday today.
"I thank Hon'ble @VPIndia for his warm greetings on my Birthday. I'm overwhelmed that he personally had a telephone conversation with my wife and conveyed his blessings to my entire family. He also invited my wife and me to have dinner at his residence in Delhi with his family," Banerjee tweeted.
Kalyan Banerjee is the MP who mimicked Dhankar during the winter session of Parliament last month in the Parliament complex. Banerjee had said that mimicry is a form of expression and a fundamental right. The TMC MP, who was suspended from the Lok Sabha along with several others from both Houses, said that the right to dissent and protest is also a fundamental right.
Dhankar had said he won't tolerate any insult to Parliament and the post of vice president which he holds and expressed deep anguish over Banerjee mimicking him and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi videographing the act.
Artist's image of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya
16:02 Jan 22 invites have info on Ram Mandir movement
The invitation cards for the consecration ceremony at the Ram mandir in Ayodhya on January 22 is in sync with the grandeur of the temple being built. It has an imposing image of the structure and also of a very young Lord Ram.
Besides the large-size aesthetically designed cards, the invitation also includes a booklet carrying brief profiles of some of the key people who were involved in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
Ayodhya is getting decked up for the "Pran Pratishtha" at the temple on January 22 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend it. Over 7,000 people are on the invitee list of the temple trust -- Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra -- and they include cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, and billionaire industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, according to official sources.
The invitation cards are being delivered to guests. A top official in the trust told PTI here that "invitation cards have been printed in both Hindi and English".
The guest list also includes a large number of sadhus and seers, and some foreign invitees. Each invitation set carries the main invitation card, the "Pran Pratishtha" programme card and a booklet on the journey of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and people who played a part in it, directly or indirectly.
A silhouetted image of the upcoming Ram temple is on the cover of the main invitation card and below it is printed 'Shree Ram Dham', and further below it 'Ayodhya'.
"Invitation Extraordinaire" or "Apoorva Anadik Nimantran" (Hindi) is also printed on the cover of the main invite. -- PTI
15:22 PM as you've never seen him before, he went...
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried snorkeling during his recent stay in India's smallest Union Territory of Lakshadweep. Sharing pictures of corals and fish, Modi advised adventure lovers to definitely add the spot on their bucket list.
"For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list. During my stay, I also tried snorkelling -- what an exhilarating experience it was," the prime minister posted on X on Thursday.
He further said that in addition to the scenic beauty, Lakshadweep's tranquility is also mesmerising. The PM added that the serene environment gave him an opportunity to reflect on how to work even harder for the welfare of 140 crore Indians.
Modi also shared pictures from his morning walks along the 'pristine beaches'.
Suspended WFI chief Sanjay Singh
14:54 WFI to challenge suspension next week
A defiant Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) will challenge its suspension by the Sports Ministry in court next week and has also called for an Executive Committee meeting in New Delhi on January 16 to discuss the way forward.
Citing violation of the National Sports Code and the WFI constitution, the government had suspended the newly-elected body on December 24, three days after the Federation conducted its election.
The WFI has maintained that it neither accepts the suspension nor does it recognise the ad-hoc panel that has been constituted by the IOA to manage the day-to-day affairs of the sport.
"We need a properly functioning Federation. We are taking the matter to the court next week. This suspension is not acceptable to us because we were elected democratically. We have also called the Executive Committee meeting on January 16," WFI President Sanjay Singh told PTI. Singh, who hails from Varanasi, reasoned how the ad-hoc panel was not equipped to deliver in crunch time.
"You have seen how the team for the Zagreb Open was announced. Five weight categories will go unrepresented. This will happen in the absence of a proper Federation. If certain wrestlers were unavailable in their respective categories, then why were their replacements not sought? "Never ever in a tournament, when the federation was in place, we let India go unrepresented in any weight category. And what was the logic in picking the same team that competed in the Asian Games. There are other contenders as well.
"I have been getting calls from wrestlers who thought they were worthy of a place in the Indian team. They said they could have made the team if they were given a fair chance to prove themselves through trials. That is why you need a proper federation in place," he said. -- PTI
14:34 BJP launches 'I'm a karsevak, arrest me' in K'taka
The BJP in Karnataka on Thursday launched a campaign, 'I'm also a Karsevak, Arrest Me Too' as it stepped up its protests in several parts of the State over the recent arrest of a Hindu activist in connection with a 31-year-old case related to the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation.
Leading the campaign in Bengaluru, MLA and former minister V Sunil Kumar staged a sit-in demonstration near the Sadashivanagar police station, amid chants of "Jai Sri Ram" by BJP workers.
Holding a placard with a message 'I'm also a Karsevak, Arrest Me Too', Kumar said he too took part in the Rama temple agitation in 1992, for which he should also be arrested.
Later, the police took him into preventive custody. Senior BJP leaders K S Eshwarappa and C T Ravi lead the protests in the district headquarters town of Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru, respectively. Srikanth Poojari, a Karsevak, was arrested by police in the north Karnataka city of Hubballi last week in connection with a case of rioting registered in December, 1992.
The BJP has accused the Congress government of being harsh on Hindus, and also indulging in minority appeasement. The Congress has charged the BJP with politicising the issue.
The Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has described Poojari as a "social miscreant" and "criminal suspect" and said he is facing allegations of involvement in 16 anti-social activities, including illegal liquor sales, gambling and matka.
Talking to reporters, Kumar said, "The campaign 'I'm also a Karsevak, Arrest Me Too' has been launched to condemn the "anti-Ram and anti-Hindu policies" of the Congress government. -- ANI
13:53 Ram Mandir chief priest says Lord Ram ate...
In response to Nationalist Congress Party-Sharad Pawar faction leader Jitendra Awhad's recent statements on Lord Ram, Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teerth Kshetra chief priest, Acharya Satyendra Das, strongly refuted the claims, calling them "completely false."
Awhad had earlier sparked controversy by asserting that Lord Ram, during his exile, was a non-vegetarian.
Chief Priest Acharya Satyendra Das asserted, "What NCP leader Jitendra Awhad is speaking is completely false. It isn't written anywhere in our scriptures that Lord Ram had non-vegetarian food during his exile. It's written that he used to have fruits.
"Such a liar has no right to insult our Lord Ram. Our God was always vegetarian. He is speaking demeaning words to insult our Lord Ram," Acharya Satyendra Das stated expressing his disapproval.
Awhad on Wednesday claimed that Lord Ram belonged to the 'Bahujans' (people in majority) and was a non-vegetarian, contrary to common belief.
"Ram is ours. Ram belongs to the Bahujans. Ram who hunts and eats is ours, we belong to the Bahujans. When you people go to make us all vegetarian, we follow the ideals of Ram and today we eat mutton. This is the ideal of Ram," Awhad said while addressing an event in Maharashtra's Shirdi on Wednesday.
"Ram was not a vegetarian, he was a non-vegetarian," he added.
13:28 A meeting of parties
YS Sharmila meets Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi after she merges YSR Telangana Party with Congress.
13:20 'Kejriwal will cooperate if ED sends legal summons'
AAP leaders on Thursday said the alleged Delhi liquor scam was bogus and asserted that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will cooperate with the ED if it sends "legal" summons to him.
Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), refused to appear before the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Delhi excise policy case on Wednesday, calling the summons "illegal" and "politically motivated".
AAP leader Jasmine Shah said the investigation into the alleged liquor scam has been going on for the last two years but so far, no recovery has been made as evidence by the ED.
"The so-called liquor scam investigation is fake. The inquiry in this case has been going on for the last two years and the ED has called more than 500 witnesses and conducted over 1,000 raids but so far, not even Rs 1 has been recovered as evidence," Shah said.
It is a conspiracy to target the top leaders of the INDIA bloc and also arrest Kejriwal ahead of the Lok Sabha elections to stop them from campaigning, he added.
"The AAP and Arvind Kejriwal are ready to cooperate in any investigation on the condition that the summons is legal," he said.
Highlighting an alleged pattern in the arrest of AAP leaders by the ED, Shah said the BJP leaders reveal the action to be taken even before the ED takes a step.
In the previous two incidents of Manish Sisodiya and Sanjay Singh's arrest in the alleged liquor scam case, a similar pattern was observed, he claimed.
12:33 Honesty is my asset, BJP's aim is...: Kejriwal
Delhi CM and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal on ED summons. "The truth is that there was no corruption. BJP wants to arrest me. My biggest asset is my honesty and they want to dent it. My lawyers have told me that summons sent to me are illegal. BJP's aim is not to probe me, but not to let me campaign for Lok Sabha elections. They want to call me on the pretext of investigation and then arrest me."
The 55-year-old Aam Aadmi Party national convenor and Delhi CM refused to depose for the third time today to depose before the Enforcement Directorate.
12:26 Mahua's eviction plea: HC says she should...
The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked expelled Lok Sabha member and TMC leader Mahua Moitra to approach the Directorate of Estates for permission to continue occupation of the government allotted accommodation.
Justice Subramoniun Prasad noted that the rules permitted the authorities to permit overstay of a resident for a certain time period in exceptional circumstances.
"Move a representation before the Directorate of Estates and there action will be taken in accordance with the law," the judge said.
The court allowed Moitra to withdraw the present petition, while observing that the law mandated providing notice to a resident before her eviction from a premises. "Needless to say that the government will take steps to evict the petitioner in accordance with law," added the court.
In her petition, Moitra urged that the Directorate of Estates' December 11 order be set aside or, in the alternative, she be allowed to retain possession of the accommodation till the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are declared.
Moitra was held guilty of "unethical conduct" and expelled from the Lok Sabha on December 8, 2023 for allegedly accepting gifts from businessman Darshan Hiranandani and sharing her user ID and password of the Parliament website with him. She has already challenged her expulsion in the Supreme Court after the Lok Sabha adopted the report of its ethics committee recommending her ouster. PTI
12:07 392 pillars, 44 doors... Ram Mandir deets unveiled
Ahead of the grand consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust shared the key features of the temple.
-- The mandir is in the traditional Nagara style and has a length (east-west) of 380 feet, a width of 250 feet, and a height of 161 feet. Nagara architecture is a style of temple architecture originating in North India.
-- The temples have tall pyramidal towers called Shikharas that have a Kalash at the top. Pillars of the temples are carved with intricate designs and the walls decorated with sculptures and reliefs.
-- According to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth, The Ram Mandir is three-storied, with each floor being 20 feet tall. It has a total of 392 pillars and 44 doors.
-- The Garbhagriha is the innermost sanctum of the temple, where the deity is enshrined. In the main sanctum sanctorum, there is the childhood form of Bhagwan Shri Ram (the idol of Shri Ram Lalla) and on the first floor, there will be a Shri Ram Darbar.
-- The temple consists of five Mandaps (Hall) namely Nritya Mandap, Rang Mandap, Sabha Mandap, Prarthna and Kirtan Mandaps.Statues of deities, gods, and goddesses adorn the pillars and walls.
-- Entry for the mandir is from the east, ascending 32 stairs through the Singh Dwar along with provision of ramps and lifts for the convenience of the differently-abled and elderly.
-- The parkota (rectangular compound wall) with a length of 732 meters and a width of 14 feet, surrounds the mandir.
-- At the four corners of the compound, there are four mandirs -- dedicated to Surya Dev, Devi Bhagwati, Ganesh Bhagwan and Bhagwan Shiv. In the northern arm is a Mandir of Maa Annapurna and in the southern arm is a Mandir of Hanuman ji.
-- Near the Mandir is a historic well (Sita koop), dating back to the ancient era.
-- In the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir complex, there are proposed mandirs dedicated to Maharshi Valmiki, Maharshi Vashishtha, Maharshi Vishwamitra, Maharshi Agastya, Nishad Raj, Mata Shabri, and the revered consort of the Devi Ahilya.
-- In the southwestern part of the complex, at Kuber Tila, the ancient Mandir of Bhagwan Shiv has been restored, along with the installation of Jatayu. No iron is used anywhere in the Mandir and for protection against ground moisture, a 21-foot-high plinth has been constructed using granite.
-- The foundation of the Mandir has been constructed with a 14-meter- thick layer of roller-compacted concrete (RCC), giving it the appearance of artificial rock.
-- The mandir complex has a sewage treatment plant, water treatment plant, water supply for fire safety and an independent power station.
-- Apart from this, A Pilgrims Facility Centre (PFC) with a capacity of 25,000 people is being constructed, which will provide medical facilities & locker facility to the pilgrims. The complex will also have a separate block with bathing area, washrooms, washbasin, open taps, etc.
-- The mandir is being constructed entirely using Bharat's traditional and indigenous technology. It is being constructed with particular emphasis on environmental-water conservation with 70% of the 70-acre area being left green. -- ANI
Modi in Ayodhya in 2020
11:50 'If Rajiv had listened to Arun Nehru, Ayodhya politics would be different'
"Arun Nehru, who sought to be Court Chamberlain in the Rajiv Gandhi-era, argued to continue with Indira Gandhi's policy of playing the Hindu card in a subtle way that did not alienate Muslims," writes Vir Sanghvi. Read the column here.
Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun
11:47 Pannun plot: SC rejects consular access to Gupta
The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a plea for consular access moved by a family member of Indian national Nikhil Gupta, who has been accused of plotting an assassination attempt on Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.
A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said, "There is nothing much we can do. You are entitled for consular access under the Vienna convention, which you have already got."
The bench told senior advocate CA Sundaram, appearing for kin of Gupta, that this court should respect the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the foreign court and law of that land and, therefore, it cannot go into the merit of the matter.
"We will not allow you to speak anything about the foreign court," the bench told Sundaram, when he tried to submit that Gupta has been placed under solitary confinement and was not granted any consular access post his indictment.
The bench noted that on September 17, 2023, Gupta has received consular access in the matter and he has also moved the Delhi High Court, where certain orders have been passed. Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic on June 30
11:16 Andhra CM's sister joins Congress
YSRTP chief and Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy's sister YS Sharmila joins the Congress in the presence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. YSRTP is now merged with the Congress.
10:57 Choron ki baraat: BJP calls AAP over ED probe
The Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachedva launched an attack on the AAM Admi Party and the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after the AAP claimed that the Enforcement Directorate was going to arrest Arvind Kejriwal.
Sachedva dubbed the AAP as "Choro ki Baraat" (procession of thieves) who were making noise and mourning for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as he is running away from the investigation agency.
Speaking to ANI, the Delhi BJP chief said, "Since morning I have been watching the 'Choro ki Baraat' (procession of thieves) making noise and mourning for Kejriwal. When you did corruption what happened that time? You (Kejriwal) are running away from the investigation agency. You have been called three times by ED but you did not go there. Now you are mourning that you can be arrested. Delhi CM it's your responsibility to follow the rules but you are not following that."
He further said that since Delhi CM claims to be an honest man, he should go with evidence to the ED. -- ANI
10:52 New Jersey Imam shot dead outside mosque
An Imam, Hassan Sharif, was shot dead outside a Masjid Muhammad mosque in New Jersey on Wednesday, The New York Times reported quoting the authorities.
The imam, Hassan Sharif, was shot outside the Masjid Muhammad mosque in Newark. The police arrived at the scene of the shooting shortly after 6 am, according to Fritz Frage, Newark's public safety director.
It reported that the killer has been on the run and the motive for the killing is still unknown. As the Islamic call to prayer rang out across South Orange Avenue outside the mosque, hundreds of mourners gathered for a vigil in honour of Sharif. -- ANI
10:23 Kejriwal to leave for Gujarat on Jan 6 unless...
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will leave for a three-day tour of Gujarat on Saturday in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, AAP sources said.
The Delhi CM will address public meetings and party workers during his election tour, they said on Thursday.
He is also likely to meet jailed AAP leader Chaitar Vasava during his three-day tour, they added. The development comes amid AAP leaders alleging that the Enforcement Directorate is likely to arrest Kejriwal in connection with the excise policy-linked money laundering case. PTI
10:03 ED may issue its 4th summons to Kejriwal today
The Enforcement Directorate is examining the reply sent by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal explaining his refusal to appear before the agency. The ED may issue its fourth summons to him to join the investigation in the alleged excise policy case, official sources said Thursday.
The 55-year-old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor had refused to depose before the ED for the third time on Wednesday, saying the "non-disclosure and non-response approach" of the agency cannot sustain the test of law, equity or justice and this "obstinacy" of the ED is tantamount to assuming the role of judge, jury and executioner.
The sources said the ED is currently examining Kejriwal's five-page reply sent to the investigating officer of the case on Wednesday and may reject his charges of calling the summons illegal.
The agency may issue its fourth summons to Kejriwal as per provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said. He was earlier asked to depose on November 2 and December 21 in 2023 and January 3 this year.
AAP leader Atishi and some other party leaders had on Wednesday night posted on 'X' that the ED might raid Kejriwal's residence and arrest him.
It is alleged that the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge repeatedly refuted by the AAP. -- PTI
09:33 Will ED arrest Kejriwal today? The signs are...
AAP sources on Thursday claimed that the roads leading to Arvind Kejriwal's residence in New Delhi were blocked and police personnel deployed at all gates as the ED was "gearing up" to raid and arrest the Delhi chief minister.
The Delhi Police, however, said the security around the CM house was beefed up to "manage" mediapersons who have gathered there since Wednesday after party leaders claimed that Kejriwal would be raided and arrested.
"The roads leading to the CM house have been shut and police personnel are deployed at all the entry/exit gates. Event the staff deployed at the CM house has been stopped from entering," an Aam Aadmi Party source said.
"The ED is gearing up to raid and arrest Kejriwal," another source from the party said.
Delhi cabinet minister and AAP leader Atishi on Wednesday night said on X, "News coming in that ED is going to raid Arvind Kejriwal's residence tmrw morning. Arrest likely."
A senior Delhi Police officer, however, said the "security was increased to manage the media personnel" after the AAP's claim of a possible raid at the CM's house.
"No one from the CM staff has been stopped," another police officer said, terming the increase in the number of police personnel as "general deployment". Kejriwal on Wednesday skipped the third summons by the ED in connection with the Delhi excise policy case and cited Rajya Sabha polls, Republic Day preparations and the probe agency's "non-disclosure and non-response approach" as reasons for not appearing before it.
In a letter addressed to the Enforcement Directorate, the AAP leader also said that he would be "happy to answer" any questionnaire sent by it. The AAP claimed that the summonses were sent to arrest Kejriwal as the BJP-led Centre wanted to stop him from campaigning for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. PTI
09:15 College girl jumps to death from Mumbai building
A 19-year-old college student died allegedly after she jumped from the 14th floor of the building where she lived in Mumbai on Wednesday, police said. The student identified as Vidhi Kumar Singh was living in the building as a paying guest for the last few years.
"A college student committed suicide by jumping from the 14th floor of the Millionaire Heritage building in Andheri in Mumbai. As soon as information about the incident was received, DN Nagar police reached the spot, took the body in their custody and sent it for post-mortem," a DN Nagar police station official said.
A case has been registered and is conducting an investigation, the official said. DN Nagar police station official said that the student had left behind a one-page note.
"The girl was worried about something and that is why she took this step," the police said. The girl was a student of Mithibai College located in the Vile Parle area of Mumbai.
The watchman of the building saw the blood-soaked body on the ground and informed the society members who in turn called the police. The police have started an investigation into the incident to probe into the cause of the teenager's death. -- ANI
08:49 Y S Sharmila likely to join Congress today
Y S Sharmila, founder of YSR Telangana Party, is likely to join the Congress in New Delhi on Thursday, sources said.
Sharmila arrived in the national capital on Wednesday night.
A "very eminent personality" will join the party at 10.30 am on Thursday at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi, the Congress said on Wednesday.
Upon her arrival at the Delhi airport, when Sharmila was asked whether she was joining the Congress, she told reporters, "Yes, looks like it".
After chairing her party meeting on Tuesday in Hyderabad, Sharmila had said she and other leaders will meet the top leadership of the Congress, including AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, and make a "crucial" announcement in Delhi.
Sharmila is the daughter of the former chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, the late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, and the younger sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
She could be given a post in the Congress at the national level after the merger of YSRTP with the Congress.
Sharmila had announced her support to the Congress during the recent assembly polls in Telangana, to end the alleged corrupt and anti-people rule of the BRS led by K Chandrasekhar Rao. -- PTI
08:33 2 arrested for bomb threat to Ram temple, Adityanath
Two people were arrested on Wednesday for a social media post which threatened to bomb Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and blow up Ayodhya's Ram temple in a blast, officials said.
A team of Uttar Pradesh's Special Task Force arrested Tahar Singh and Omprakash Mishra from Vibhuti Khand area of Gomti Nagar in Lucknow, according to a statement.
The two had threatened Adityanath, STF chief Amitabh Yash and Ayodhya's Ram temple in a post on 'X' in November using the handle '@iDevendraOffice', the statement said.
Investigation initially revealed that email IDs 'alamansarikhan608@gmail.com' and 'zubairkhanisi199@gmail.com' were used to send the threat posts, it said.
After technical analysis of the email IDs, it was found that Tahar Singh created the email accounts and Omprakash Mishra sent the threat messages, it added.
Singh and Mishra are both residents of Gonda and work in a paramedical institute, the statement said. The STF is probing the matter further, it added. -- PTI
00:05 Influenza subtype rapidly spreading across Pak
A subtype H3N2 Influenza, a virus causing severe respiratory illness, has been reported in people across Pakistan, ARY News reported on Wednesday, citing the National Institute of Health (NIH) report.
ARY News is a Pakistani news channel.
In its recent report, the NIH stated that thousands of severe respiratory illness cases are being reported every week across Pakistan.
The health experts revealed that the Influenza virus can be dangerous for the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, ARY News reported.
The report further added that the real cause of severe respiratory illness is the subtype H3N2 Influenza-A virus, not COVID-19, as the rate of coronavirus cases in Pakistan is less than one per cent.
The NIH in its report further added that the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is causing illness among children across the country.
The health experts warned the patients not to consume antibiotics if they have influenza symptoms and suggested using a mask and washing hands frequently to prevent the disease. -- ANI
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