LIVE! Indore mayor warns malls over Ram mandir models

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Mon, 08 January 2024

Indore mayor warns malls over Ram mandir models

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23:57 Indore mayor warns malls over Ram mandir models

Irked at the non-cooperation from mall and shop owners to install a replica of the Ram temple in Ayodha to mark its inauguration on January 22, Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava on Monday said the public knows how to reply to such people.

He had written a letter last month requesting the installation of such replicas at malls, major markets and public places from January 15 to 22.

After the mayor's council meeting on Monday, Bhargava said, "Santa Claus statues and Christmas trees have been installed at many places in the city since December 25. If you have no objection to installing these, then there should be no objection in installing a replica of Ram Temple."

"If any person shows non-cooperation without any reason in this festivity filled with devotion for Ram, then the people of Indore know how to respond," he told reporters.

The idol consecration of the Ram temple was work towards 'Ram Rajya', he said, adding he did not think anyone would have an objection to it. -- PTI

SP leader Mukesh Siddharth/Courtesy Mukesh Siddharth on X

23:33 SP leader Mukesh Siddharth arrested from Delhi over call to 'burn' UP minister

Samajwadi Party leader Mukesh Siddharth, who recently made controversial remarks against Uttar Pradesh minister Somendra Tomar, has been arrested, the police said on Monday.

Siddharth was arrested late on Sunday night from Delhi for giving a call to "burn" minister Tomar and his house, they said.

On Monday, Siddharth was produced in a Meerut court which sent him to 14-day judicial custody, senior superintendent of police Rohit Singh Sajwan said.

A case was registered at Civil Lines police station here on Sunday against Siddharth under various IPC Sections, including 143 (unlawful assembly) and 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot).

Meanwhile, while talking to reporters after coming out of the court, Siddharth reiterated his point and said, "I stand by my words. I will not take back my words even if 100 cases are filed against me."

"I will continue to serve the Bahujan community, for this I am ready to bear any oppression," Siddharth, a former vice-chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, said. -- PTI

PM Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan./File image

23:20 Modi, UAE prez to lead roadshow on Jan 9 ahead of Vibrant Gujarat Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will lead a road show on Tuesday from outside the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad a day ahead of the inauguration of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, officials said.

The 3-km-long roadshow will start in the evening after the PM receives the UAE president at the airport, said deputy commissioner of police (traffic-east), Ahmedabad city, Safin Hasan.

"The roadshow will culminate at Indira Bridge, which connects Ahmedabad with Gandhinagar. From the bridge circle, both dignitaries will head to their respective destinations in Gandhinagar," Hasan told reporters on Monday.

The police officer said elaborate security arrangements are in place.

Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the 10th edition of VGGS at Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre in Gandhinagar on Wednesday. Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with world leaders, and CEOs of top global corporations during his three-day visit to Gujarat from January 8 to 10, the PMO had said in a release. -- PTI

23:00 French PM Elisabeth Borne resigns

Just In: French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has resigned over immigration issues, news agencies have reported.

Details soon.

Bollywood actor Taapsee Pannu in Maldives/Courtesy Instagram

22:42 Traders body calls for business boycott of Maldives

Amid the India-Maldives diplomatic row, traders' body Confederation of All India Traders on Monday called upon domestic traders and exporters to refrain from conducting business dealings with the island nation.

CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal observed that the offensive comments targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been deemed unacceptable by the business community, and this call to boycott aims to express solidarity and register disapproval against such disrespectful behaviour.

The CAIT stated it has "urged traders and exporters to refrain from conducting business dealings with the Maldives".

Khandelwal said the appeal "encourages traders to stand united in sending a strong message against such behaviour by temporarily abstaining from trade engagements with the Maldives".

Khandelwal stressed upon the need for mutual respect in diplomatic discourse and condemned any form of disrespect towards the leaders of friendly nations. -- PTI

The Supreme Court ruling cancelling the remission granted to the convicts in the 2002 Bilkis Bano case by the Gujarat government is "path-breaking and encouraging", said the Mumbai trial court judge, who had sentenced them to life imprisonment, in Mumbai on Monday.

Justice UD Salvi, now retired, had in 2008 convicted the 11 men in the gang-rape-cum-murder case of Gujarat, whose trial was held in Mumbai.

The 11 convicts sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Salvi were granted remission by the Gujarat government, leading to their premature release from a jail in the adjoining state on August 15, 2022.

This decision was challenged in the apex court by the victim, Bilkis Bano, and others.

On Monday, the SC quashed the Gujarat government's remission order and directed the convicts to surrender in two weeks. -- PTI

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22:08 National helpline launched for disability-related queries

In a first, a national toll-free helpline catering to all disability-related queries was launched on Monday.

Launched during the Purple Festival International by Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale and Disabilities Affairs Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal, the 24x7 helpline -- 1800 22 2014 -- aims to facilitate assistance for individuals with disabilities.

Aggarwal stressed the need for a disability information line to provide easy access to information on disabilities and local services, streamlining the rehabilitation process.

"This initiative stands out as the first IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System) helpline dedicated to addressing disability-related queries, covering 153 categories across 21 disabilities," he told reporters.

The helpline's services include information on disability prevention, management, educational opportunities in special schools, and details about central and state government schemes, Aggarwal said.

"Additionally, it offers insights into vocational training, job opportunities, and specifics about special employment exchanges," he said.

"By offering information on identification, intervention, education, assistive devices, and socio-economic rehabilitation, the helpline aims to reduce the need for families to incur unnecessary and expensive transportation costs," he added.

The Calcutta high court on Monday granted permission for filing a PIL on attacks on Enforcement Directorate officials on January 5 at Sandeshkhali and Bongaon in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district.

A division bench presided by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam said that the matter will be taken up on Thursday.

Lawyer Susmita Saha Dutta mentioned the matter before the court, seeking permission to file the PIL and an urgent hearing.

The bench, also comprising Justice Uday Kumar, asked Dutta to file the petition and serve notice to the opponent parties.

She later said that the petition was filed before the registry of the high court.

Dutta said that the petitioner was seeking the arrest of Sahajahan Sheikh, the prime accused in the case of assault on ED officials.

The petitioner was also seeking an NIA probe into the attacks on the ED officials by a mob when they went to conduct a raid at Sahajahan's house at Sandeshkhali in connection with their investigation into the alleged ration distribution scam in the state.

Claiming that another ED team was also attacked by some people at Bongaon the same day after a few hours when they went to raid the house of Sankar Adhya in connection with the same matter, the petitioner demanded an NIA investigation into it. -- PTI

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21:27 Idols 'vandalised' inside Ranchi temple, locals stage protest

Idols of deities inside a temple were allegedly vandalised by unidentified people in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi, leading to protests by locals, an official said on Monday.

The incident took place in Bariatu area on Sunday night, he said.

"Around three to four idols were found vandalised inside the temple," sub-divisional officer Utkarsh Kumar said.

He said locals blocked a stretch of Bariatu Road, demanding arrest of the culprits.

Ranchi SP (city) Raj Kumar Mehta said, "The blockade was cleared within two hours after the agitators were convinced that the culprits would be arrested soon."

Mehta promised to reinstall the idols that were damaged.

"Actually, I have some sentiment with the temple where my father visited in his last days. Reinstalling the idols there is my own call," he said.

The SP said five teams have been formed to track the culprits.

CCTV footage are being looked into as part of police investigation, he added. -- PTI

Aam Aadmi Party MPs Sanjay Singh and ND Gupta, and former Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal filed their nominations for the January 19 Rajya Sabha elections in New Delhi on Monday, officials said.

The AAP had on Friday nominated Maliwal as its Rajya Sabha candidate, and renominated Singh and ND Gupta for a second term in the Upper House of Parliament.

The six-year term of Singh, ND Gupta and Sushil Kumar Gupta ends on January 27.

Maliwal's name has been nominated by the party to replace Sushil Gupta. Maliwal, ND Gupta and Singh filed their nominations at the Delhi transport department's office in Civil Lines, the officials said.

Singh, who is in jail in connection with a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, arrived at the transport department office amid tight security to file his nomination papers.

Escorted by police personnel, Singh waved at mediapersons as he alighted from a prison van.

The AAP leader's supporters raised slogans like "Sanjay Singh Zindabad" and "Jail ke taale tootenge, Sanjay Singh chhutenge". -- PTI

TMC ex-MP Mahua Moitra

20:42 Notice to Mahua Moitra for not vacating bungalow

Former Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra was issued a notice on Monday by the directorate of estates for not vacating her government bungalow, a source in the Union housing and urban affairs ministry said.

The Trinamool Congress leader, who was expelled from Lok Sabha on December 8 last year, was earlier asked to vacate the house by January 7 after her allotment was cancelled.

The DoE has now asked her to submit her reply to the notice within three days.

"A show cause notice has been issued to Mahua Moitra, seeking her reply within three days as to why she has still not vacated her government accommodation," the source said.

On January 4, the Delhi high court asked the TMC leader to approach the DoE with a request for allowing her to continue to occupy the government accommodation allotted to her.

Justice Subramoniun Prasad, while dealing with the TMC leader's challenge to an official intimation asking her to vacate the government bungalow by January 7 on account of cancellation of the allotment following her expulsion, noted that the rules permitted the authorities to allow a resident to overstay for up to six months on payment of certain charges in exceptional circumstances. -- PTI

20:34 Rupee settles almost flat against US dollar

The rupee pared all its initial gains to settle just 1 paisa higher at 83.14 (provisional) against the US dollar on Monday, as the downward movement in crude oil prices in international markets supported the local unit.

However, a strong American currency overseas and negative domestic equities dented overall sentiment, forex dealers said.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local unit opened strong at 83.09 and oscillated between the peak of 83.04 and the lowest level of 83.16 against the greenback during the session.

The domestic currency finally settled at 83.14 (provisional), up 1 paisa from its previous close. On Friday, the domestic currency settled with a gain of 9 paise at 83.15 against the dollar. -- PTI

Three men were electrocuted while putting up a cutout to celebrate the birthday of Kannada film star Yash in Gadag district on Monday, the police said.

While tying up a banner to an electric pole, Naveen Gaji (19), Hanumantha (21) and Murali Nadavinamani (20) of Soorangi village in Lakshmeshwar taluka of the district, came in contact with a live wire and lost their life, the police said.

The deceased were fans of actor Yash, whose real name is Naveen Kumar Gowda.

Three others sustained serious injuries in this incident and were rushed to a nearby hospital.

The Karnataka government has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 each for the three injured. -- PTI

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19:43 First oil extracted....30 km off Andhra coast: Puri

State-owned oil company Oil and Natural Gas Corporation has commenced "first oil" production from Krishna Godavari Deep-Water Block 98/2 in the Bay of Bengal, marking new crude discovery in the country.

The place where the oil is extracted is 30 kilometres off the coast of Kakinada in the Krishna Godavari basin.

"I am delighted to inform all my fellow countrymen that the first oil was extracted yesterday (by ONGC). Work has started on this in 2016-2017, and there were some delays on account of Covid," Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri told reporters on Monday.

He said four of 26 wells are already operational and the production is expected to touch 45,000 barrels per day by May or June, which will be 7 percent of our total crude oil production.

"I am sure that out of the 26 wells there, four wells are already operational. We will not only have gas also in a short period of time, but by May or June we will hope to able to produce 45,000 barrels per day, which will be 7 per cent of our total crude oil production and 7 per cent of our gas production," he added.

Phase 3, leading to peak oil and gas production from the basin, is already underway and likely to be over in June 2024.

The 98/2 project is likely to increase ONGC's total Oil and Gas production by 11 per cent and 15 per cent respectively. -- PTI

The fate of the $10 billion merger between Zee Entertainment Enterprises and Culver Max Entertainment, formerly Sony Pictures Networks India, is hanging by a thread, with the two parties unable to finalise an agreement as the end of the one-month grace period looms.

The two parties are yet to come to an agreement over Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd MD and CEO Punit Goenka leading the merged entity after Sony expressed concerns after market regulator Sebi barred him from holding managerial posts in Zee and any of the entities in a fund-diversion case.

Though the Securities and Exchange Board of India order was stayed by the Securities Appellate Tribunal, Sony is not comfortable with Goenka leading the merged entity due to the stringent corporate governance policy in Japan.

The contentious issue is not just over Goenka leading the merged entity, but the completion of the deal also depends on how the Indian firm is able to meet the other closing conditions, said an industry source. -- PTI

PM Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi counterpart, Sheikh Hasina./File image

19:24 Modi speaks to Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, congratulates on poll win

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated his Bangladeshi counterpart, Sheikh Hasina, on Monday for securing a record fourth straight term in office and said India is committed to further strengthening its enduring and people-centric partnership with the neighbouring country.

Hasina secured a record fourth straight term as the prime minister of Bangladesh as her Awami League party won two-thirds of the seats in the general election marred by sporadic violence and a boycott by the main opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and its allies.

In a post on X, Modi said: "Spoke to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and congratulated her on her victory for a historic fourth consecutive term in the Parliamentary elections."

"I also congratulate the people of Bangladesh for the successful conduct of elections. We are committed to further strengthen our enduring and people-centric partnership with Bangladesh," the prime minister said. -- PTI

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19:13 Fresh firing between police, militants in Manipur's Moreh, no injuries

There was a fresh exchange of fire between the Manipur police and militants at Moreh border town along the Indo-Myanmar border on Monday morning, officials said.

According to officials, militants targeted security forces when they were moving through certain pockets of Moreh town.

"Mortar shells were used by the militants during the attack on security forces," they said, adding no casualties were reported on either side.

On Sunday night, firing was reported at Ward 7 and Moreh Bazar. Militants also used bombs to target security forces, they added. -- PTI

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18:52 Flight crews' weekly rest time increased to 48 hours

The revised flight duty time limitations of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has extended weekly rest periods for flight crew, increasing it from 36 hours to 48 hours for flight crew.

These additional leisure hours are expected to ensure sufficient time for recovery from fatigue.

India has made significant changes in the regulations about flight duty time limitations for flight crew, in line with international best practices.

The DGCA said these regulations have been instrumental in managing fatigue-related aviation safety risks for more than a decade now.

To address and mitigate concerns about pilot fatigue through a data-driven approach, DGCA collected and analysed extensive numbers of pilot rosters along with pilot fatigue reports submitted by airline operators.

Based on the study and analysis, some of the key areas inducing fatigue such as maximum flight duty period, night duty, weekly rest period, and flight duty period extension were identified.

The worldwide best practices (FAA - USA and EASA - EU) have also been taken into consideration in amending the regulations while keeping in mind the specific operating environment in India. -- ANI

Equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty surrendered early gains to close with deep losses on Monday, snapping their two-day winning streak as investors pared exposure to banking, metal and FMCG stocks amid a weak trend in global markets.

The 30-share BSE Sensex tanked 670.93 points or 0.93 percent to settle at 71,355.22.

During the day, it fell 725.11 points or 1 percent to 71,301.04.

The Kerala high court on Monday granted anticipatory bail to actor and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Suresh Gopi in connection with a case registered against him for allegedly misbehaving with a woman journalist during a media interaction in October last year.

Justice Sophy Thomas directed the police to grant him bail in case he was arrested.

The anticipatory bail was granted after the state government submitted before the court that there were no circumstances for arrest as of now.

Earlier, Nadakkavu police had questioned the actor-turned politician in the case and recorded his statement.

The woman journalist had lodged a complaint along with a video of the incident with the Kozhikode city police commissioner, who, in turn, handed it over to the local police station for further action.

The former BJP Rajya Sabha member landed in trouble after a video surfaced online in which he is seen placing his hand on the shoulder of the journalist, who pushed it away twice, during an interaction with various reporters. -- PTI

Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar

17:59 Maha speaker's ruling on Sena split on Jan 10

Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar will on January 10 deliver his verdict on the disqualification petitions against Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and several MLAs whose rebellion had split the Shiv Sena in June 2022, Vidhan Bhavan officials said on Monday.

The deadline set by the Supreme Court for delivering the verdict was December 31, 2023 but some days before that, on December 15, the apex court gave a 10-day extension and set January 10 as the new date for a decision.

In June 2022, Shinde and several MLAs had rebelled against then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, leading to a split in the Sena and fall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which also comprised the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress.

Cross petitions were filed by the Shinde and Thackeray factions seeking action against the other under anti-defection laws.

"The verdict is expected to be out after 4pm on January 10. The Speaker's office is finalising the verdict," Vidhan Bhavan officials said.

"The operative part of the verdict is likely to be announced on that day, while the detailed order will be given to both groups later," they added. -- PTI

In December 2023, the overall domestic automobile retail sales increased by 21 percent to 19,90,915 units as compared to 16,43,514 units in December 2022.

Passenger vehicle retails rose to 2,93,005 units last month, 3 percent higher than that of December 2022 when the figure stood at 2,85,429 units.

Two-wheeler sales rose by 28 percent to 14,49,693 units in December 2023 as compared to 11,36,465 units sold in the year-ago period.

The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations stated that it has collated the sales data from 1,355 out of 1,442 regional transport offices across the country. -- PTI

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17:15 Land acquisition completed for bullet train project

The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited on Monday said it has completed 100 percent land acquisition for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Rail Corridor, popularly known as the bullet train project, across Gujarat, Maharashtra and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also shared the status of land acquisition on X, saying the entire 1389.49 hectares of land required for the project has been acquired.

The high-speed rail line is being built between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

The NHSRCL, in a release, said that all civil contracts for the project were awarded for Gujarat and Maharashtra, while 120.4 km of girders had been launched and 271 km of pier casting completed.

"The laying of the first reinforced concrete track bed for the MAHSR corridor track system, as used in Japanese Shinkansen, has started in Surat and Anand. This is for the first time the J-slab ballastless track system is being used in India," the release stated.

The NHSRCL said it has achieved a remarkable milestone with the completion of the first mountain tunnel 350 metres long and 12.6 metres in diameter located near Zaroli village in the Valsad district of Gujarat in just 10 months. -- PTI

BJP legislator T Raja Singh

16:52 Controversial Raja Singh gets Hyderabad as Telangana BJP picks LS poll in-charges

The Bharatiya Janata Party in Telangana on Monday appointed key party leaders as 'political in-charges' for all 17 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state, putting MLA T Raja Singh, whose suspension from the party was revoked last year, in charge of Hyderabad where All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi is the MP.

Union Tourism Minister and state BJP president G Kishan Reddy made these appointments, a BJP release said.

K Laxman, the party's Rajya Sabha MP, is the incharge for Secunderabad Lok Sabha consituency, which Reddy currently represents.

Raja Singh, who was suspended from the party in 2022 following derogatory remarks about Prophet Mohammed, has been given the responsibility of managing the BJP's poll-related tasks in the politically sensitive constituency of Hyderabad, which is represented in Parliament by the old-Hyderabad-based AIMIM.

The saffron party has also appointed all eight newly-elected BJP MLAs in the state as in-charges for different constituencies.

BJP sources said the 'political in-charges' would manage tasks like coordination and campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls.

BJP had won four of the 17 seats in Telangana in the 2019 general elections. -- PTI

Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh./ANI Photo

16:29 Himachal minister Vikramaditya Singh to attend Ram temple consecration

Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh on Monday said he will attend the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, making his stand clear even as top leaders of the party are yet to take a call on the January 22 event.

The public works department minister, who is the son of former chief minister Virbhadra Singh and state party chief Pratibha Singh, thanked the RSS and the Vishva Hindu Parishad, for the invitation to attend Ram Lalla's pran partishtha ceremony.

"This is not a political issue and I consider myself fortunate to be among the few invitees from Himachal Pradesh and thanked the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Vishva Hindu Parishad for giving this honour to me and my family," Singh told the media in Shimla.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of this historic day and as a Hindu having faith in dev samaj, it is my responsibility to be present on the occasion and witness the pran pratishtha of Lord Ram," he added.

On Saturday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had said he will take a decision very soon on whether he will attend the ceremony in Ayodhya.

Kharge, former party chief Sonia Gandhi and Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have been invited for it.

The PWD minister had earlier on January 4 said that he would visit the Ram Mandir as per his "convenience".

Informing that he has received an invitation, Singh then said that he has already appraised Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu about his plans. -- PTI

Congress candidate Rupinder Singh Koonar on Monday won the Karanpur assembly election, defeating BJP minister Surendra Pal Singh by 11,283 votes.

According to the chief electoral office, Koonar bagged 94,950 votes while Singh got 83,667. There were 18 rounds of counting.

"I am thankful to the people of Karanpur who voted for me... even central ministers had come for campaigning (but) people rejected them and made democracy win," Koonar, whose late father Gurmeet Singh earlier held the seat, told reporters after winning the election.

Voting for the seat was held on January 5.

Singh was inducted into the Rajasthan ministry after the BJP won the assembly polls, bagging 115 of the 199 seats.

According to the rules, he has six months to get elected to the assembly after being inducted as a minister.

The election for Karanpur seat was postponed due to the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar.

The Congress then fielded his son from the seat. -- PTI

15:38 MakeMyTrip sees rise in Lakshadweep searches

MakeMyTrip on Monday said it has observed a 3,400 per cent increase in on-platform searches for Lakshadweep ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the islands.

"We have observed a 3400 per cent increase in on-platform searches for Lakshadweep ever since Honorable PM's visit. This interest in Indian beaches has inspired us to launch a 'Beaches of India' campaign on the platform with offers and discounts to encourage Indian travellers to explore country's stunning beaches. Keep watching this space!," MakeMyTrip said in a post on social media platform X.

Lakshadweep has emerged as a preferred tourist destination after Modi's visit. A number of people started comparing the Indian island with globally sought-after beach destinations like Maldives and Seychelles. This came close on the heels of comments by Maldivian ministers against the Indian prime minister on social media, triggering a diplomatic row between the two nations.

Meanwhile, the Maldivian envoy to India was on Monday summoned to the external affairs ministry and was conveyed strong concern over remarks posted on social media against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by a number of ministers of the Maldives, sources said.

The government of the Maldives on Sunday suspended three deputy ministers for derogatory social media posts against Modi.

The three deputy ministers criticised Modi for his post on 'X' following his visit to Lakshadweep, inferring that it was an attempt to project the Union Territory as an alternative tourist destination to the Maldives.

According to Maldivian media reports, deputy ministers in the youth ministry, Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, have been suspended over their posts.

In New Delhi, official sources said the Indian high commission in Male strongly raised the matter with the Maldivian foreign ministry on Sunday.

The disparaging remarks by the ministers have drawn flak in India, with many celebrities urging people on X to explore domestic tourist destinations instead of going to the Maldives. -- PTI

15:26 4 fresh Covid deaths recorded in India

India has logged 605 new cases of Covid, while the number of active cases of the infection stood at 4,002, the health ministry said on Monday.

Four deaths -- two from Kerala and one each from Karnataka and Tripura -- have been reported in a span of 24 hours, according to the ministry's data updated at 8 am.

The number of daily cases had dropped to double-digits till December 5, 2023 but cases began to increase after emergence of a new variant and cold weather conditions.

After December 5, 841 new cases were reported on December 31, 2023 which was 0.2 per cent of the peak cases reported in May 2021, official sources said.

Of the total active cases, a large majority of these (around 92 per cent) are recovering under home isolation.

"The currently available data suggests that the JN.1 variant is neither leading to an exponential rise in the new cases nor a surge in hospitalisation and mortality," the sources stated.

India has witnessed three waves of COVID-19 in the past with the peak incidence of daily new cases and deaths being reported during the Delta wave during April-June 2021. At its peak, 414,188 new cases and 3,915 deaths were reported on May 7, 2021.

Since the pandemic began in early 2020, more than 4.5 crore people have got infected and over 5.3 lakh deaths have died in about four years since then across the country. -- PTI

15:16 Shop on Tata CLiQ with Rediff.com

Tata CLiQ, India's leading e-commerce platform, is partnering with Rediff.com, the pioneering news, entertainment, and shopping portal, for an exclusive collaboration allowing Rediff users easy access to shopping on Tata CLiQ starting January 5, 2024.

With this strategic move, Tata CLiQ aims to target a much wider and newer cohort of consumers, thus strengthening its reach further.

As part of this partnership, the shopping icon on Rediff's homepage will lead users to a Rediff shopping site powered by Tata CLiQ. Users can browse and shop from a wide range of curated and trendiest products from leading brands across fashion and lifestyle, unlocking the magical shopping experience.

Gopal Asthana, chief executive officer, Tata CLiQ, said, "We are thrilled to embark on this exciting partnership with Rediff. Our objective in joining forces with them goes beyond collaboration; it is about creating a symbiotic relationship that benefits the end consumer.

"In expanding Tata CLiQ's reach through this tie-up by targeting new customers in India and abroad, we are also offering shoppers a fresh, immersive way to discover and access our diverse range of products. The partnership with Rediff validates the brand's commitment to delivering a magical shopping experience through innovative collaborations for our consumers. We are looking forward to this partnership and making it a fruitful one."

Ajit Balakrishnan, chairman & CEO, Rediff.com India Ltd, added, "With this partnership, we are excited to offer our users, across geographies, a delightful shopping experience and discovery of the latest trends in fashion and lifestyle from two of the most trusted names in the media and digital commerce space in India.

"The shared commitment to brand-safety, innovation, customer-centricity, and elevating the online shopping experience makes this partnership a significant step forward in the ever-evolving e-commerce landscape."

To celebrate this partnership, users shopping on Tata CLiQ for the first time can avail a flat Rs 200 off on their purchase. (T&C apply).

To shop on Rediff please click here.

The Maldivian government on Monday informed India's high commissioner Munu Muhawar that the derogatory remarks made by three now-suspended deputy ministers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi do not represent its views.

The Indian high commissioner had a pre-arranged meeting Dr Ali Naseer Mohamed, the Ambassador-at-Large at the Foreign Ministry.

"High Commissioner Munu Mahawar had a pre-arranged meeting with H.E. Dr Ali Naseer Mohamed, Ambassador at Large, at MoFA, Maldives, today to discuss bilateral issues," the Indian high commission posted on X.

A top Maldivian government official said that during the meeting, Naseer made it clear that the remarks do not reflect the views of the Maldivian government, and reaffirmed Maldives' continued support for its neighbour, the Sun Online reported.

The Maldivian foreign ministry said the government is aware of "derogatory remarks" on social media platforms against foreign leaders and that the personal views do not represent its position.

The meeting came after India summoned Maldivian envoy Ibrahim Shaheeb on Monday to the external affairs ministry and conveyed strong concern over remarks posted on social media against the Prime Minister by a number of ministers of the Maldives.

Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid -- three deputy ministers at the Youth Ministry -- had made derogatory remarks against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media platform X, in response to a video promoting tourism in Lakshadweep.

The three ministers were suspended on Sunday after the remarks sparked an uproar on Indian social media.

In New Delhi, official sources said the Indian high commission in Male strongly raised the matter with the Maldivian foreign ministry on Sunday. -- PTI

There was an uptick in the filing of draft red herring prospectus (DRHPs) in December amid market buoyancy.

In December, 10 firms filed their offer documents with the markets regulator against two in November. Those that filed their DRHP include Ola Electric, Brainbees Solutions, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, and Gretex Share Broking.

The stellar returns in the midcap and smallcap space and the returns by the newly listed stocks last year are giving IPO-bound firms the confidence to try their luck.

Compared to the Nifty's 20 per cent gain in 2023, the Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 rose by 46.6 per cent and 55.6 per cent, respectively.

"The average listing-day gain for the 59 IPOs last year was 26.3 per cent. It's good to have new papers coming in when the flows are strong, the index has peaked, and valuations are rich across sectors. There is strong demand from investors, especially domestic investors, for good quality companies," said a banker.

Khushboo Tiwari & Sundar Sethuraman/Business Standard

Lakshadweep and the Andamans are "astonishingly beautiful locations", said Amitabh Bachchan on Monday as the megastar hailed India's self-reliance amid a row over disparaging remarks by Maldivian ministers after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lakshadweep.

The 81-year-old is the latest prominent personality to express his opinion in the matter after actors Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, Shraddha Kapoor, and veteran cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatesh Prasad and Virender Sehwag appealed to people to explore domestic islands instead of going to the Maldives.

Bachchan quoted Sehwag's X post in which the former cricketer termed the "dig at our country and our Prime Minister by Maldives ministers" as an opportunity for India to create necessary infrastructure to attract tourists and boost the economy.

In his post, Bachchan said Sehwag's comments were relevant and in "the right spirit of our land".

".. our own are the very best .. I have been to Lakshadweep and Andamans and they are such astonishingly beautiful locations .. stunning waters, beaches and the underwater experience is simply unbelievable..

"Hum Bharat hain, hum aatma-nirbhar hain, humari aatma-nirbharta par aanch mat daaliye. Jai Hind (We are India, we are self-reliant, don't test our self reliance. Jai Hind)" the star wrote on the microblogging site.

The government of Maldives on Sunday suspended its three deputy ministers after they criticised Modi for his post on X following his visit to Lakshadweep, inferring that it was an attempt to project the Union Territory as an alternative tourist destination to the Maldives.

Comic-actor Vir Das, however, had a light-hearted take on the controversy.

"Firstly, happy Lakshadweep is getting some love! Secondly, Somewhere in the Maldives, right now, is an Indian celebrity/influencer, who didn't eat carbs for two weeks, took the best vacation photos ever, and is TERRIFIED to post them," Das wrote. -- PTI

14:14 SAT awaits new presiding officer

The Securities and Appellate Tribunal (SAT) is waiting for the appointment of a new judicial member as presiding officer.

Justice Tarun Agarwala, who was appointed to the SAT in December 2018, bid farewell last month.

In August 2023, the ministry of finance invited applications for filling up the position of presiding officer.

During his tenure, Justice Agarwala delivered crucial orders on NSE colocation matters, Karvy Stockbroking, and several other corporations. However, several other appeals from big firms are pending before the tribunal.

The SAT is a statutory body which hears and disposes of appeals against the orders of the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India, and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority.

The SAT only has one Bench in Mumbai.

For the position of presiding officer, the person must have been a judge in the Supreme Court or a chief justice at a high court.

-- Khushboo Tiwari & Sundar Sethuraman/Business Standard

The Congress on Monday hailed the Supreme Court judgment quashing the Gujarat government's decision to grant remission to 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case, saying it has removed the veil over the BJP's anti-women policies.

Earlier in the day, accusing the Gujarat government of abusing its power, the apex court quashed the remission to the men convicted of gang-raping Bilkis Bano and murdering seven of her family members during the 2002 riots and ordered that they be sent back to jail within two weeks.

A bench of justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan directed the convicts to surrender before jail authorities within two weeks.

Reacting to the ruling, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said justice has ultimately prevailed.

"With this order, the veil over the anti-women policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party has been removed. After this, public confidence in the justice system will be further strengthened. Congratulations to Bilkis Bano for continuing her fight bravely," she said in a post in Hindi on 'X'.

The Congress' media and publicity head Pawan Khera said the Supreme Court judgment quashing the release of the 11 rapists by the Gujarat government "exposes the BJP's callous disregard for women".

"It is a slap on the face of those who facilitated the illegal release of these criminals and also those who garlanded the convicts and fed sweets to them...," Khera said.

"India will not allow the administration of justice to be incumbent on the religion or the caste of the victim or the perpetrator of a crime," he added.

In a post on 'X', the Congress said Bilkis Bano's rapists would go to jail again. The BJP government had got these rapists released, it said.

"This decision of the Supreme Court in the Bilkis Bano case is historic. This decision exposes the anti-women act of the BJP government of Gujarat in releasing the rapists of Bilkis Bano. This shows how disgusting the BJP's thinking is towards women," the party said in Hindi.

Representational image

13:33 Pakistan: 6 cops with polio vax team killed in blast

A bomb explosion targeted policemen going to provide security for polio vaccination workers in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, killing six of them and injuring 22 others.

The incident occurred in the Mamund tehsil of Bajaur district in the province bordering Afghanistan.

The police personnel had just boarded a van to join security duty with polio vaccination teams when the explosion occurred.

The injured have been shifted to a nearby hospital, where an emergency was declared.

Six policemen were killed and 22 others injured in the explosion.

The police spokesperson said all the casualties were of police personnel.

Caretaker Chief Minister KPK Arshad Hussain condemned the attack and said the war against terrorism would go on till the elimination of the last terrorist.

Polio teams are often targeted by militants in Pakistan due to opposition to the vaccine.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack but Islamist militants, including the Pakistan Taliban, have killed scores of polio vaccination workers and policemen guarding them in the past.

Fall in onion and tomato prices in December led to a month-on-month decrease in the cost of a vegetarian and non-vegetarian thali or a meal by 3 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively, a report said on Monday.

Rates of home-cooked veg and non-veg thalis fell 3 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively, in December, according to Crisil Market Intelligence and Analytics (MI&A) Research 'Rice Roti Rate' estimates.

Easing of veg and non-veg thali costs was due to a 14 per cent and 3 per cent month-on-month decrease in prices of onion and tomato, respectively, with the festive season coming to an end, said the report.

The cost of a non-veg thali declined faster due to a 5-7 per cent month-on-month decline in the price of broilers, which account for 50 per cent of the cost, it added.

The average cost of preparing a thali at home is calculated based on input prices prevailing in north, south, east and west India. The data also reveals the ingredients (cereals, pulses, broilers, vegetables, spices, edible oil and cooking gas) driving the change in the cost of the thali.

The report further revealed that on a year-on-year basis, the cost of the veg thali rose 12 per cent, while that of a non-veg meal declined 4 per cent.

The rise in veg thali cost was led by a substantial increase of 82 per cent and 42 per cent in prices of onion and tomato, respectively, the report said. -- PTI

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu arrived in Beijing on Monday on a five-day state visit during which he is due to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and sign several agreements to bolster the bilateral ties.

Muizzu, who is regarded as "pro-China", is accompanied by his wife Sajidha Mohamed and a high-level delegation.

The President and the First Lady were greeted by senior Chinese officials upon their arrival.

Muizzu's maiden visit to China, however, has been marred by a huge diplomatic row triggered by the derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by some Maldivian ministers after he posted a video of him on a pristine beach during his visit to Lakshadweep.

The Maldivian envoy to India was on Monday summoned to the external affairs ministry and conveyed strong concern over remarks.

Muizzu is due to hold talks with Chinese President Xi and sign several agreements to bolster the bilateral ties, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin.

"The relations between China and the Maldives now stand at a new historical starting point. We believe that through this visit, the two heads of state will provide strategic guidance for the bilateral relations to reach a new height," Wang told the media on January 5.

During President Muizzu's visit, the Maldives and China will hold official talks and sign key agreements to enhance trade, professional development, and socioeconomic cooperation, the Maldivian President's Office said in a press release.

The visit will also pave the way for collaborations in technology and other areas between the two countries, it said.

Muizzu will also attend the Invest Maldives Forum in the southeastern Chinese city of Fuzhou, China and meet with senior Chinese business leaders to explore avenues for strengthening socioeconomic relations between the Maldives and China, it said.

Muizzu's predecessors in the recent past visited India first, considering the wide-ranging bilateral ties and the Maldives' proximity to India, followed by China which has expanded its influence in the island nation by investing in major infrastructure projects there.

Surprisingly Muizzu, who was sworn in as President in November, chose Turkiye as his first destination for a foreign visit soon after his election followed by the UAE where he met Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) on December 1 and discussed the progress of the wide-ranging bilateral ties.

During the meeting, both leaders agreed to set up a core group to discuss the multi-dimensional relations and further deepen ties.

The meeting took place after Muizzu requested New Delhi to withdraw 77 Indian military personnel from the Maldives and decided to review more than 100 bilateral agreements between the two countries.

Earlier, Muizzu's government announced its plans to drop a hydrographic survey agreement with India. -- PTI

The Delhi high court on Monday sought response of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a bail plea by AAP MP Sanjay Singh, arrested in a money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy 'scam'.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued notice to the investigating agency and listed the matter for further hearing on January 29.

The Rajya Sabha member, arrested by the ED on October 4 last year, has challenged a trial court's December 22 order dismissing his bail plea in the money laundering case.

Senior advocate Mohit Mathur, appearing for Singh, submitted that the senior AAP leader has been in custody for last three months and no role has been attributed to him in the predicate offence.

The ED has alleged that Singh played a key role in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped excise policy, which benefited certain liquor manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, for monetary consideration. -- PTI

India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and conveyed, on behalf of the Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, warm greetings and congratulations to her on her general election victory.

The envoy expressed hope that during the new term of her government, there will be even stronger momentum and growth in the bilateral partnership in support of each other's national development.

The Enforcement Directorate's unit in West Bengal has submitted a report to its headquarters about the attack on its team during a raid in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district last week, officials said on Monday.

Three ED officers were injured and several of their vehicles vandalised as hundreds of supporters of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh attacked them on Friday. The attack happened when the ED team went to Sheikh's house in Sandeshkhali for a raid in connection with alleged irregularities in the state's ration system.

An NIA investigation into the attack is likely to be sought by the ED headquarters on the basis of the report, an officer of the agency told PTI.

"A two-page report on the attack was sent on Sunday. We have mentioned minute details of the incident and along with that sent videos of the attack. Media reports have also also been sent," he said.

"The role of the Basirhat Police on that day has also been mentioned in the report -- how they fled the scene on unmarked two-wheelers as the attack began," he added.

The ED has already lodged a complaint at the Nazat police station in connection with the attack. The family of the accused TMC leader, and state police have also registered separate complaints against the central agency.

Incidentally, on the same night, the ED faced a similar situation while arresting another TMC leader, Shankar Adhya, in the alleged ration scam.

No bypoll since MP Girish Bapat's death

12:25 SC stays Bombay HC order to hold Pune LS bypoll

The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Bombay high court order asking the Election Commission to immediately hold the bypoll for the Pune Lok Sabha seat, which is vacant since March 29, 2023, after the death of MP Girish Bapat.

A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took note of the submission of the poll panel that the tenure of the present Lok Sabha is ending on June 16 this year and the bypoll will be a futile exercise at this point in time.

The top court, however, questioned the delay on the part of the poll panel in holding the bypoll for the seat.

Pic: Bipasha Basu on Instagram

12:09 Bipasha Basu spends birthday in Maldives

Travel plans, we know, are usually made weeks, if not months, in advance. And still, sometimes things don't go the way expect them to.

Like with actress Bipasha Basu and her adorable family, who are currently taking in the beauty of Maldives on her 45th birthday.

Unfortunately for her, between the time they made their travel plans and the big day, relations between the island nation and India have plummeted, leading to vocal boycott calls, including from Bipasha's own fraternity, of Maldives.

Bad timing for Bipasha, but her Insta post from a popular resort there has been flooded with love, only interspersed with some angry outbursts as well. Naturally.

Bilkis Bano

11:49 SC orders Bilkis Bano case convicts to surrender

Just In: The Supreme Court, which on Monday quashed the Gujarat government's remission granted to 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case, ordered them to surrender before jail authorities within two weeks.

Akasa Air on Monday said it has completed a thorough inspection of its entire fleet of in-service Boeing 737 Max planes and that there are no adverse findings.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on January 5, directed domestic airlines to immediately carry out inspection of emergency exits of all Boeing 737-8 Max planes in their fleets as an "abundant precautionary measure" in the wake of the Alaska Airlines incident.

On January 4, an Alaska Airlines plane's outer section, including a window, fell off mid-air and the aircraft involved was Boeing 737-9 Max.

In a statement on Monday, Akasa Air said subsequent to the guideline issued by DGCA, it has completed a thorough inspection of its entire fleet of in-service Boeing 737 Max aircraft.

"We can confirm that there are no adverse findings. We can also confirm that there was no disruption to our operations during this time," it said.

Akasa Air has 22 Max planes in its fleet. Currently, there are more than 40 Boeing 737-8 Max planes that are operated by three domestic carriers -- Akasa Air, SpiceJet and Air India Express. -- PTI

The Supreme Court, while striking down the remission granted to 11 gangrape-murder convicts in the Bilkis Bano case on Monday, held as 'nullity' its May 13, 2022, order of another bench asking the Gujarat government to consider the remission plea of convicts.

The May 13, 2022, order was obtained by playing 'fraud on court', the SC held.

Maldivian Member of Parliament and former deputy speaker, Eva Abdulla, on Sunday said it was 'important' that the Maldivian government issue a formal apology to the Indian people for the derogatory remarks by a section of MPs' against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Lakshadweep.

The Maldivian MP said it was also important for the government to distance itself from the comments made by the minister.

"It is absolutely critical that the Government of Maldives distanced itself from the comments by the minister. I know that the government has suspended the ministers, but I think it is important that the Government of Maldives issue a formal apology to the Indian people," she told ANI.

In a post that has now been deleted, the Maldivian Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Mariyam Shiuna, made a mocking and disrespectful reference to Modi over his visit to the Indian island cluster.

The Maldives former Deputy Speaker Abdulla said the remarks by the minister are "simply shameful, racist and intolerable."

She said the minister's words are in no way a reflection of the opinion of the people of Maldives and that the Maldivian people are very aware of how dependent "we have been on India, and that India has always been the first responder whenever we are in need. We've been dependent on India for economic relations, social relations, health, education, trade, tourism and the Maldives people are very grateful for this and very aware of this."

Abdulla said she wants to apologise for the remarks and that "across the political spectrum, political parties and politicians, we've all condemned these derogatory remarks by the minister."

She then urged Indians to keep coming to the Maldives.

"We appreciate and value your presence here in the Maldives. We value the doctors you send, the teachers you send, the tourists you send. So please do keep coming back. I do hope that these remarks by the minister will be a one-off, and it won't be a reflection of either the Maldives people or even the government," she said. -- ANI

The Supreme Court on Monday quashed the Gujarat government's decision to grant remission to 11 convicts in the case of gangrape of Bilkis Bano and murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 riots in the state.

Holding the PIL challenging the remission as maintainable, a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan said the Gujarat government was not the appropriate government to pass the remission order.

Bilkis Bano was 21-years-old and five months pregnant when she was raped while fleeing the horror of the communal riots that broke out after the Godhra train-burning incident. Her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members killed in the riots.

All 11 convicts were granted remission by the Gujarat government and released on August 15, 2022.

Maldivian envoy Ibrahim Shaheeb

10:33 India-Maldives row: Maldivian envoy summoned

The Maldivian envoy to India was on Monday summoned to the external affairs ministry and was conveyed strong concern over remarks posted on social media against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by a number of ministers of the Maldives, sources said.

The government of the Maldives on Sunday suspended three deputy ministers for derogatory social media posts against Modi.

According to Maldivian media reports, deputy ministers in the youth ministry, Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, have been suspended over their posts.

In New Delhi, official sources said the Indian high commission in Male strongly raised the matter with the Maldivian foreign ministry on Sunday.

The disparaging remarks by the ministers have drawn flak in India, with many celebrities urging people on X to explore domestic tourist destinations instead of going to the Maldives.

There were also posts on social media claiming that some Indians are cancelling their scheduled trip to the Maldives in view of the row. -- PTI

Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's father Nand Kumar Baghel died at a hospital in Raipur on Monday morning, a Congress leader said.

He was 89.

The former CM's father breathed his last at around 6 am at a private hospital in Raipur, where he was admitted for the last few days, state Congress communication wing head Sushil Anand Shukla said without elaborating on the cause of the death.

Bhupesh Baghel will reach Raipur from Delhi in the afternoon, he said.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed grief over the demise of Nand Kumar Baghel.

In a post on X, Bhupesh Baghel said, "Babuji Shri Nand Kumar Baghel ji passed away this morning. His mortal remains have been kept at Patan Sadan (in Raipur). His last rites will be held on January 10 in our home village Kuruddih (Durg district), after my younger sister returns from abroad."

He also shared a picture with his father.

In 2021, Nand Kumar Baghel was arrested during his son's government for allegedly making controversial remarks against a community.

After the formation of Chhattisgarh in 2000, a row had erupted over Nand Kumar Baghel's book, titled Brahmin Kumar Ravan Ko Mat Maro, following which the then Ajit Jogi-led Congress government banned the book.

Senior TMC leader Chandrima Bhattacharya has filed a police complaint against BJP leader Amit Malviya for allegedly making defamatory remarks against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Bhattacharya's complaint was in response to Malviya's post on X where he claimed that absconding TMC leader Sahajahan Sheikh, the main accused in the assault case on Enforcement Directorate sleuths, has managed to escape the clutches of law enforcement agencies because of "patronage of Mamata Banerjee."

"Shahjahan, who claimed to be a don of Sandeshkhali, is absconding. This would not have been possible without the patronage of Mamata Banerjee, who is also the Home Minister of West Bengal," read a portion of Malviya's post on X.

"We have filed a complaint and urged the police to take immediate action against Malviya for his defamatory remarks against the chief minister," Bhattacharya, also a state minister, told reporters on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal BJP criticised the TMC for trying to 'use' the police to silence the truth.

"Whatever Amit Malviya has said is completely true. It is the TMC government which has been shielding the criminals, and this tendency has led to lawlessness in the state," BJP leader Rahul Sinha said.

Union minister Parshottam Rupala

09:38 Boat carrying Union minister gets stuck in lake for 2 hrs

A boat carrying Union minister Parshottam Rupala got stuck in Odisha's Chilika Lake for around two hours on Sunday evening.

While earlier it was suspected that the boat might have gotten stuck in a net laid by fishermen, the Union minister later clarified that they lost their way in the blue lagoon.

The administration sent another vessel which rescued the Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and took him to his destination.

He was accompanied by BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra and a few other local party leaders while being stranded on the boat.

The incident took place when the minister started his journey from Barkul in Khurda district and was on his way to Satapada in Puri district through the blue lagoon.

In the middle of the lake, near Nalabana bird sanctuary, the motorised boat got stuck for around two hours, a security official deployed in the minister's convoy duty said.

"It got dark and the man steering the boat was new to the route and we lost our way. It took us two more hours to reach Satapada," the minister later told reporters.

The administration quickly sent another vessel from Satapada, and the minister and his associates boarded it to reach the destination.

Rupala was scheduled to attend a programme near Krushnaprasad area in Puri district. However, it was cancelled at the last moment due to this incident. Rupala reached Puri around 10.30 pm, the official said. -- PTI

Representative image

09:17 EaseMyTrip suspends Maldives bookings amid row

Amid the ongoing boycott Maldives campaign online, Indian travel agency firm EaseMyTrip has suspended all flight bookings to Maldives on its website.

Showcasing his support of the #ChaloLakshwadeep campaign, Nishant Pitti, co-founder and chief executive officer of EaseMyTrip took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, "In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings."

The move came after the Maldivian government on Sunday reportedly suspended three deputy ministers for derogatory social media posts against Prime Minister Narendra Modi following a backlash with New Delhi strongly raising the matter with Male and the island nation's top opposition leaders slamming the ruling establishment over the row.

Amid the row between India and the Maldives, hashtag #BoycottMaldives gained traction on social media, with many Indian tourists reportedly started cancelling their scheduled vacations to the island nation.

Several cine stars like Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar and cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar were among the celebrities who appealed to people to visit "Indian islands" and coastal destinations.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce on Monday its verdict on the petitions challenging the remission granted to 11 convicts in the case of gangrape of Bilkis Bano and murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan had on October 12 last year reserved its verdict after an 11-day hearing on the petitions, including the one filed by Bano.

While reserving the judgement, the apex court had directed the Centre and the Gujarat government to submit by October 16 the original records related to the remission of sentence of the 11 convicts.

While hearing the matter in September last year, the top court had asked whether convicts have a fundamental right to seek remission.

During the earlier arguments, the apex court had observed that state governments should not be selective in granting remission to convicts and the opportunity to reform and reintegrate with society should extend to every prisoner.

Besides the petition filed by Bano contesting the remission granted to them by the Gujarat government, several other PILs, including one by CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali, independent journalist Revati Laul and former vice-chancellor of Lucknow University Roop Rekha Verma, have challenged the relief.

TMC leader Mahua Moitra has also filed a PIL against the remission and their premature release.

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