LIVE! Army to deploy Drishti-10 drones near IB in Punjab

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Sun, 14 January 2024

Army to deploy Drishti-10 drones near IB in Punjab

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23:02 Modi to visit Andhra Pradesh, Kerala on Jan 16 and 17

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day trip to Andhra Pradesh and Kerala from Tuesday to launch a number of development projects, including the New Dry Dock and the International Ship Repair Facility at the Cochin Shipyard Limited.

The PMO said Modi will visit Sri Sathya Sai District in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday and inaugurate the new campus of the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics.

He will interact with officer trainees of the 74th and 75th batches of the Indian Revenue Service (Custom & Indirect Taxes) as well as officer trainees of the Royal Civil Service of Bhutan.

On Wednesday, Modi will offer prayers at Guruvayur and Thriprayar Shree Ramaswami temples in Kerala before inaugurating important infrastructure projects related to the ports, shipping, and waterways sector, the PMO aid.

In what will be a major boost to the sector, he will inaugurate three projects -- the New Dry Dock, the International Ship Repair Facility and the LPG Import Terminal of Indian Oil Corporation Limited -- worth over Rs 4,000 crore. -- PTI

The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 12 Indian fishermen and seized their trawlers for allegedly poaching in the island nation's waters, an official statement said on Sunday.

The fishermen were arrested, and their three trawlers seized on Saturday off the coast of Karainagar in the northern Jaffna peninsula, the Navy said in a release.

They were escorted to the Kankesanthurai harbour for further action, it said.

The fishermen issue is a contentious one in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with Lankan Navy personnel even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats in several alleged incidents of illegally entering Sri Lankan territorial waters.

The Palk Strait, a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries.

There have been periodic instances of Indian fishermen being arrested by Sri Lankan authorities for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

In 2023, the island nation's Navy arrested 240 Indian fishermen along with 35 trawlers for poaching in Sri Lankan waters. -- PTI

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22:28 AI passengers stranded for 8 hrs inside plane due to adverse weather

Passengers aboard two Air India flights experienced over eight hours and another two and a half hours of delay due to adverse weather conditions at Delhi airport.

Air India Flight AI 185 from Delhi to Vancouver was grounded in Delhi after 8 hours, as the weather at the Delhi airport was unsuitable for takeoff.

The Air India flight was on schedule to depart from Delhi to Vancouver but the weather forced the cancellation.

"Flight was ready for takeoff at 5:15 in the morning and all the passengers were boarded but due to low visibility, the flight was cancelled after eight hours of waiting," an Air India official said.

Several passengers raised concerns about not being allowed to deboard and wait inside the terminal.

The airline later clarified and said, "The decision was based on the time-consuming process of rechecking and security clearance post-de-boarding, leading them to opt for passengers to wait inside the plane."

The cancellation of the flight was also attributed to Flight Duty Time Limitation restrictions affecting the crew members.

Subsequently, the affected flight was cancelled, prompting Air India to provide accommodation options for all passengers.

The rescheduled departure is set for tonight at approximately 11:15 pm. -- ANI

Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, Lt Gen AK Suri, Adani Enterprises VP Jeet Adani, Adani Defence president Ashish Rajvanshi at unveiling of Drishti-10 drones in Hyderabad/ANI Photo

22:20 Army to deploy Drishti-10 drones near IB in Punjab

The Indian Army's surveillance capability along the border with Punjab is all set to get a boost as the force is set to deploy its Drishti-10 medium-altitude, long-endurance drones at a forward base in the Punjab sector.

The drones are expected to be inducted into the force in the next two to three months by the Indian firm Adani Defence.

The Indian Army has placed orders for two of these drones from the firm under emergency provisions that mandate that the systems supplied by vendors should be more than 60 percent indigenous and should be under the 'Make in India' in Defence.

The Indian Army has plans to deploy these drones in the Punjab sector, where it can keep an eye on a large area, including the desert sector as well as the areas north to the Punjab, military officials said.

The Indian Army is already operating the Heron Mark 1 and Mark 2 drones and has also placed orders for the Drishti-10 or the Hermes-900 drones under the last tranche of the emergency procurements approved by the government for the forces.

Adani Defence had signed a deal with the Israeli firm Elbit for the transfer of technology for the drones and stated that it has indigenized 70 percent of the birds and will work to increase it further.

The Indian Army has also inducted more satellite communication-enabled birds from Israel, as it has a few Heron Mark 2 birds in direct deals with Israeli Aircraft Industries. -- ANI

Union minister Piyush Goyal celebrates Lohri with US trade representative ambassador Katherine Tai and her delegations, in New Delhi/ANI Photo

22:12 Lohri celebrated across country, devotees take dip in Amritsar Golden temple Sarovar

As the country celebrates the festival of Lohri with great fervour this year, devotees in Punjab took a dip at the holy Sarovar at the Golden temple in Amritsar.

Bhupinder Sabharwal, a devotee at the Golden Temple said, "It is an auspicious day today, a large number of people are coming here. I pray that everyone is blessed. Holy dip on the occasion of Makar Sankranti is considered very significant. Everything gets well by donating today."

Notably, the harvest festival- celebrated across the country and known by different names- is just around the corner. Sankranti, Lohri, Pongal, Magh Bihu, and Uttarayan- all signify gratitude for a good harvest and celebrate it with traditional and regional feasts.

In addition to celebrating the crop harvest, Lohri marks the end of the winter season.

The nation as a whole, but especially Punjab and Northern India, celebrate Lohri with great joy and happiness.

One of the happiest and most widely celebrated festivities in India, Lohri also includes the warmth of bonfires, delicious foods, and the sounds of old-fashioned folk melodies.

It is celebrated on the eve of Makar Sankranti to mark the conclusion of the winter solstice and the beginning of longer days. -- ANI

The chief executive officer officer of a private company has been booked for allegedly raping an non-resident Indian woman who worked at his office in New Delhi, the police said on Sunday.

According to the police, the incident took place on September 14, 2023 at a five-star hotel in the Chanakyapuri area of New Delhi district.

Based on a complaint from the Indian-origin US citizen on Saturday night, an FIR has been registered against the accused under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code at the Chanakyapuri police station, they added.

The complainant alleged that she was working as an assistant general manager at the company where the accused was the CEO, the police said.

She said the man was known to her uncle and had helped her in getting a job, the complaint added.

A senior police officer said further probe is underway in the matter. -- PTI

A four-year-old boy died after his throat was slit by the sharp string of a kite in Gujarat's Mahisagar district on the occasion of Uttarayan on Sunday, with several others sustaining injuries in kite-related incidents across the state, officials said.

The Uttarayan festival, also known as Makar Sankranti, is traditionally associated with kite flying.

The child, Tarun Machhi, was on his way home on his father's motorcycle when a kite string slashed his throat near Boradi village on Sunday afternoon, an official from Kothamba police station in the district said.

The child was sitting at the front of the motorcycle's seat.

He suffered a deep gash on his neck and died after bleeding profusely even before he could be given treatment, the official said.

Meanwhile, at least 66 persons sustained kite thread-related injuries in Gujarat on Uttarayan, said the EMRI Green Health Sevices, which operates the 108 ambulance service in the state.

Of these, 27 kite-related injuries were reported from Ahmedabad, EMRI said.

Vadodara saw seven such cases, followed by Surat (6), Rajkot (4) and Bhavnagar (4), it said. -- PTI

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20:54 Punjab schools up to Class 5 to remain closed till Jan 21 due to cold

The Punjab government on Sunday extended the winter holidays for students up to Class 5 at all schools till January 21 in the wake of severe cold conditions prevailing across the state.

Making the announcement on X, education minister Harjot Singh Bains said regular classes would be conducted for students of grades 6 to 12 from 10 am to 3 pm.

On January 7, the state government had ordered the closure of all the government, government-aided and private schools up to Class 10 till January 14.

However, the schools were open for Classes 11 and 12.

Cold wave has been sweeping many parts of Punjab and Haryana.

On Sunday, minimum temperatures at many places in both states hovered 2-4 degrees Celsius below normal, the meteorological department said. -- PTI

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20:32 At 3.5 degree C, Delhi records season's lowest temp

Delhi's minimum temperature dropped to 3.5 degrees Celsius -- this winter's lowest -- on Sunday even as the India meteorological department said dense to very dense fog conditions are likely in the next two days.

The maximum temperature settled at 20.6 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season's average.

On Saturday, the city's minimum temperature was recorded at 3.6 degrees Celsius.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board data, the overall Air Quality Index at 4 pm stood at 447, which falls in the "severe" category.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".

The IMD said the national capital has been in the grip of severe cold for the last three days and Sunday's was the lowest minimum temperature of this winter season.

The India meteorological department has forecast mainly clear skies with dense to very dense fog for Monday morning.

According to the prediction, the national capital is likely to experience dense fog and cold waves from January 14 to January 20. -- PTI

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath participates in a cleanliness drive ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram temple, in Ayodhya./ANI Photo

20:25 UP govt launches cleanliness drive, Adityanath joins it in Ayodhya

The Uttar Pradesh government and several organisations on Sunday launched a statewide cleanliness drive, which will continue till January 22, the day of the consecration ceremony at the Ayodhya Ram temple.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took part in the campaign in Ayodhya, while other ministers and public representatives joined the drive elsewhere.

"On the call of respected Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, major cleanliness campaign was started from Shri Ayodhya Dham today. On this occasion, vehicles related to garbage disposal and cleanliness were also flagged off. We are dedicated to keeping the divinity and sanctity of Navya Ayodhya intact," the chief minister posted on X.

Addressing the public in Ayodhya on December 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to them to take a pledge to make Ayodhya the cleanest city of India.

"This is the responsibility of the residents of Ayodhya."

He had also requested people to run a cleanliness drive at all religious sites and temples across the country from January 14 to January 22.

As part of the campaign, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya cleaned the Balkeshwar Hanuman Temple in Nirala Nagar in Lucknow.

Maurya swept the floor, picked up garbage and put it in a cart. He appealed to people to participate in this cleanliness campaign. -- PTI

A 44-year-old man was arrested in Kottayam for sexually harassing a young woman onboard the Amritha Express in the wee hours of Sunday, Railway police said.

An officer of Kottayam Railway Police, within whose jurisdiction the incident occurred, said that the man was booked for the offence under Section 354A (sexual harassment) of the IPC and then released on station bail later in the day.

The incident occurred after the train left Kottayam station and based on the 26-year-old woman's complaint, the man was deboarded at Kayamkulam by the police around 7 am and taken to Kottayam where his arrest was recorded, the officer said.

The woman was travelling from Aluva to Varkala and the man, a native of Kozhikode, was going from Ernakulam to Thiruvalla, the officer said.

According to the woman's complaint, the man touched her and misbehaved with her. -- PTI

President Droupadi Murmu will visit Meghalaya and Assam from January 15 to 17, an official statement issued on Sunday by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

The president will inaugurate the Meghalaya Games at the P A Sangma Stadium in Tura on Monday, it said.

This is her first visit to Meghalaya after assuming the office of the president.

On January 16, she will address the members of self-help groups at the Baljek Airport, Tura, and virtually lay the foundation stone for the new integrated administration complex, the statement said.

On the same day, President Murmu will address a gathering at Mawphlang and virtually inaugurate upgraded Rongjeng Mangsang Adokgre Road and Mairang Ranigodown Azra Road as well as lay the foundation stones for Shillong Peak Ropeway and tourist accommodations in the villages of Kongthong, Mawlyngot and Kudengrim.

"In the evening, the president will attend a civic reception to be hosted in her honour by the government of Meghalaya at the Raj Bhavan, Shillong," it added. -- PTI

Investors have signed various agreements for big investments in the hospitality sector in Ayodhya, as the upcoming Ram Temple provides immense potential for religious tourism.

Famous hotel brands are establishing their branches in Ayodhya, and approximately 50 major hotel construction projects are currently underway in the city, official sources said.

With several small hotels, resorts, and homestays investing in the region, Ayodhya is emerging as a new hotspot in the hotel industry.

In addition, good highways and roads, wall paintings depicting the life of Lord Ram, facade lighting, and a grand entrance adorned with Victorian lamps add to the attraction of Ayodhya.

According to divisional commissioner of Ayodhya Gaurav Dayal, 102 intent agreements worth about Rs 18,000 crore were signed for tourism in Ayodhya during the Global Investment Summit.

Even after the GIS, many entrepreneurs have submitted their proposals to the government and district administration for the investment in the tourism sector in Ayodhya, he added.

Currently, there are 126 ready-to-be-implemented projects related to tourism in Ayodhya.

Of the 126 projects, 46 have signed MOUs, while 80 are non-MOU related.

The total cost of all these 126 projects is around Rs 4,000 crore.

Dayal said that around 50 renowned hotels have invested in Ayodhya for large-scale projects, and the construction of their buildings is underway.

These hotels include Taj, Marriott, Ginger, Oberoi, Trident, and Radisson, and they will soon be completed and operational. -- PTI

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19:15 Bodies of 2 newborns found in vacant plot in UP's Shamli

Bodies of two newborn children were found in a vacant plot in the Shamli district's Jalalabad town on Sunday, the police said.

The bodies were found in the Thana Bhawan police station area.

"Two bodies of newborn children have been found. It appears that they are premature. We have sent the bodies for postmortem," circle officer Shreshtha told reporters.

She said that an investigating is going on into the matter. Police is trying to identify those who left the bodies there, she added. -- PTI

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19:01 Actor Surbhi Chandna claims airline 'offloaded' her bag, carrier promises to address issue

Actor Surbhi Chandna accused a commercial airline of allegedly "offloading" her luggage and "mentally torturing" her amid delays by the carrier.

Later, the airline assured the actor that her issue will be addressed at the earliest.

Chandna, known for TV shows Naagin 5 and Qubool Hai, shared her ordeal on X on Saturday tagging Vistara.

"The WORST AIRLINE award goes to @airvistara. A priority bag was offloaded for reasons best known to them. they have wasted the entire day and I still have not been assured if the bag has reached the mum apt (Mumbai apartment) or no.. false promises by the incompetent staff horrible delays by airline (sic)," the actor wrote on the microblogging site.

In another post, Chandna said: "THEY ARE NOT SURE IF THEY CAN EVEN ARRANGE A VENDOR TO SEND THE BAG INCASE THEY LOCATE IT ALL THIS AFTER THEY HAVE MENTALLY TORTURED ME.. (sic) @airvistara".

Vistara soon replied to the actor's post and promised to address the issue.

"Hi Ms. Chandna, we are concerned to learn of your dissatisfaction. Please assist us with your booking details and a convenient time to connect via DM and we will have this addressed at the earliest. Thanks - Gauri," the airline said in its response.

On her Instagram Story, Chandna had also claimed that a ground staff personnel at the Mumbai airport was "extremely unprofessional & undertrained and was unapologetic of the situation". -- PTI

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18:48 Forest fire erupts in J-K's Poonch, Army launches operation

A massive fire broke out in the forest area in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, prompting the Army to launch an operation to bring the fire under control with the help of other security agencies.

A major forest fire broke out near the Dera Ki Gali area of the district, threatening the lives of scores of people and infrastructure in the early hours of Sunday, officials said.

The local Army unit swiftly rushed to the area and launched an operation to bring the fire under control with the help of other security agencies, they said.

"Prompt and speedy response of the Indian Army saved many lives and infrastructure, when a massive forest fire broke near Dera Ki Gali and endangered civil and Army infrastructure. With coordinated and synergistic efforts of civil agencies and security forces, the fire was brought under control," Defence PRO, Jammu, said in a post on X.

The troops were seen engaged in dousing the flames in a short video posted by the Army on X.

Officials will assess the damage caused to the forest infrastructure due to the fire. -- PTI

Rajasthan government has declared a dry day on January 22 in view of the pran pratishtha ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

The joint secretary of the finance department (excise) issued an order to this effect on Sunday.

This comes after last week's order by Jaipur Municipal Corporation Heritage Mayor Munesh Gurjar to keep all meat shops in the heritage area in the city closed on January 22.

A few days later, Jaipur Municipal Corporation Greater Mayor Soumya Gurjar also issued orders to keep meat shops closed. -- PTI

An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.1 on the Richter Scale hit Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh on Sunday, said the National Centre for Seismology.

According to NCS, the earthquake occurred at 2:18 pm.

Earlier on Friday, an earthquake of magnitude 4.3 on the Richter Scale jolted Afghanistan.

The earthquake had occurred at 4:41 am, as per the NCS.

The NCS posted from its X handle, "Earthquake of Magnitude:4.3, Occurred on 12-01-2024, 04:51:02 IST, Lat: 36.54 & Long: 71.60, Depth: 17 KM, Location: Afghanistan." -- ANI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday embarked on the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Thoubal in Manipur with a promise to bring peace and harmony in the ethnic violence-hit state.

The violence that broke out in the northeastern state in May last year has claimed more than 180 lives and rendered thousands homeless.

Addressing a public meeting in Thoubal, which is south of Manipur capital Imphal, Gandhi also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying perhaps for the BJP and the RSS, Manipur was not a part of India.

"Lakhs of people faced losses, but the prime minister has not come here to wipe your tears, hold your hand or embrace you. Maybe for Narendra Modi, the BJP and the RSS, Manipur is not a part of India. Your pain is not their pain," Gandhi said.

"We understand the pain that the people of Manipur have been through, we understand the hurt, the sadness. We will bring back harmony, peace and affection for which this state was known," he said.

The yatra will cover a distance of 6,713 km, straddling 100 Lok Sabha constituencies and 337 assembly segments and covering 110 districts.

It will conclude in Mumbai on March 20 after 67 days. -- PTI

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17:49 Odisha: Crew member of detained Vietnamese ship with drugs hurt after falling into sea

A crew member of the Vietnamese cargo ship, which was detained following the seizure of cocaine worth Rs 220 crore at the Paradip port in Odisha, was injured after he fell into the sea on Sunday, police said.

Twenty-one Vietnamese crew members have been detained on the ship, which is anchored 4-5 km away from the port under the supervision of the customs department.

Around 3 am, the crew member fell into the sea from the ship. However, it was not clear immediately whether he accidentally fell into the sea, attempted suicide or tried to escape, the police said.

"After getting information about the incident, we rushed to the spot and rescued him. He was first admitted to the port hospital and later shifted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar," said Santosh Kumar Jena, the sub-divisional police officer of Paradip.

He sustained injuries on his face and hand, the SDPO said, adding that his condition was stated to be stable.

"An investigation was underway," he said.

In the biggest drug haul in Odisha, 22 kg of cocaine was seized from the ship on December 1.

The ship, MV Debi, reached here from Indonesia on the way to Denmark. -- PTI

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday turned down the invitation to the pran pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, joining the list of Opposition leaders to have snubbed the temple invite.

However, Akhilesh did say that he will visit the temple with his family at a later date.

CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury and a host of Congress bigwigs -- national president Mallikarjun Kharge, former president Sonia Gandhi and the party's Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury--have already turned down the invitation to the pran pratishtha ceremony.

The SP chief and the former UP chief minister, on Friday, wrote to Champat Rai, the general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust entrusted with the construction of the Ram Temple, informing him of his decision to skip the event.

"Thank you for the invitation to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple and congratulations on its successful completion," read the letter written by the SP chief.

"I will surely visit Ayodhya with my family after the Pran Pratishtha ceremony," he added. -- ANI

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16:54 Bad weather: 44 flights from Bengaluru delayed

The departure of 44 flights from Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru was delayed on Sunday due to bad weather in several cities, an official here said.

According to the Airport official, a thick layer of mist at KIA Bengaluru, delayed the landing of some flights at the city airport.

Consequently, the departure of 44 flights was delayed, the official said, attributing it to bad weather in many cities including Bengaluru.

Of these 44, seven were flights to Delhi, while one was diverted from Chennai to Bengaluru. -- PTI

NCP leader Supriya Sule

16:46 Deora quits Cong: Does BJP have no talent of its own, asks Supriya Sule

Supriya Sule of the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party on Sunday mocked the Bharatiya Janata Party and asked if it had no talent of its own, her statement coming in the backdrop of former Union minister Milind Deora quitting the Congress.

There is speculation Deora will join the Shiv Sena of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, which is allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Asked about the development, Sule said the BJP and its allies were becoming the Congress, an apparent reference to leaders from the grand old party switching allegiance to the ruling side.

"I wonder if there is no talent in the BJP. What about those BJP workers who have toiled tirelessly for the party," she asked. -- PTI

A truck driver was arrested for allegedly offering namaaz (prayers) on the side of a busy road without permission in Gujarat's Banaskantha district, the police said Sunday.

A case was registered against Bachal Khan (37) after a video surfaced on social media, in which he was seen offering prayers in front of his truck parked on the side of a busy crossroad near Palanpur city, an official from Palanpur (west) police station said.

The accused offered namaaz after stopping his truck at a busy crossroad on a highway on Friday, he said, adding that someone shot a video which went viral on social media, prompting police action.

A first information report was registered against Khan under Sections 283 (danger in public way), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharging duties) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), he said.

The accused was placed under arrest on Saturday, the official said. -- PTI

PM Narendra Modi meets Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu/File image

16:25 Maldives, India start talks to withdraw troops: Report

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has asked India to withdraw its military personnel from his country by March 15, a senior official here said on Sunday, nearly two months after Male sought their removal.

According to the latest government figures, there are 88 Indian military personnel in the Maldives.

In a press briefing, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the public policy secretary at the President's Office, said that President Muizzu has formally asked India to withdraw its military personnel by March 15, the SunOnline newspaper reported.

"Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration," he said.

Maldives and India have set up a high-level core group to negotiate the withdrawal of troops.

The group held its first meeting at the Foreign Ministry Headquarters in Male' on Sunday morning.

The meeting was also attended by Indian high commissioner Munu Mahawar, the report said.

Nazim confirmed the meeting and said the agenda for the meeting was the request to withdraw troops by March 15.

The Indian government did not immediately confirm the media report or comment on it. -- PTI

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16:08 Two more persons arrested in connection with attack on ED officials: Police

Two more persons were arrested on Sunday in connection with an attack on Enforcement Directorate officials at Sandeshkhali on January 5, taking the number of arrests in the case to four, a senior police officer said.

The ED has stated that three of its officers were injured and their belongings were snatched in an attack on them at Sandeshkhali in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district when they went to search the premises of Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh in connection with its probe into the money trail in an alleged ration distribution scam in the state.

While one of the accused was arrested from a fishery at Nazat, the other was rounded up from Minakha, both in North 24 Parganas district, the police officer said.

Altogether four persons have so far been arrested in connection with the mob attack on the ED officials, he said. -- PTI

Former Union minister Milind Deora on Sunday joined the Shiv Sena in the presence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde after quitting the Congress earlier in the day.

After joining Shiv Sena, Deora said, "This is a very emotional day for me. I had never thought that I would quit Congress. Today, I joined Shiv Sena."

The former South Mumbai Lok Sabha MP joined the ruling party in a function in Varsha, the official residence of the chief minister, in the afternoon. In a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Deora had earlier announced his resignation from the Congress.

"Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, ending my family's 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," he said.

Deora was upset over the past few days after Shiv Sena-UBT laid claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat, which he had represented earlier.

However, in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls he was defeated from the seat by the undivided Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant, now with the Thackeray faction, which is allied with the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party as part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. -- PTI with ANI inputs

Hema Malini/File image

15:37 Ayodhya: Hema Malini's dance drama on Ramayan on Wed

Bharatiya Janata Party MP Hema Malini will be presenting a dance drama based on the Hindu epic Ramayan in Ayodhya ahead of the pran pratishtha ceremony.

The pran pratishtha ceremony is scheduled to take place on January 22, 2024.

Hema Malini said in a video message, "..I am coming to Ayodhya for the first time at the time of the pranpratishtha of Ram temple for which people were waiting for years...On January 17, I'll be presenting a dance drama based on Ramayana in Ayodhya Dham..."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the ceremony at the Ram temple on January 22.

The event has garnered significant attention, with several VVIP guests from India and abroad receiving invitations to participate in the auspicious occasion in Ayodhya.

Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony.

A priest from Varanasi, Lakshmi Kant Dixit, will perform the main rituals of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22. -- ANI

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15:27 India logs 375 new Covid cases, two die; active tally declines

India recorded 375 new cases of coronavirus, while the number of active infections has declined to 3,075, the health ministry said on Sunday.

Two deaths have been reported from Karnataka 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, but cases began to increase after emergence of a new variant and cold weather conditions.

After December 5, a maximum of a single-day rise of 841 new cases were reported on December 31, 2023 which is 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 the hospitalisation and mortality," the official source 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. -- PTI

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14:42 About 1,800 saltwater crocodiles counted in Odisha's Bhitarkanika

A total of 1,811 saltwater crocodiles have been counted at Bhitankanika National Park in Odisha's Kendrapara district in a recent census, a forest official said on Sunday.

The number of estuarine crocodiles in water bodies of the Bhitarkanika river system and Mahanadi deltaic region was 1,793 last year, said Sudarshan Gopinath Yadav, divisional forest officer of Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) forest division.

The growth in numbers has been mainly reported in hatchlings but other size segments have also reported slight growth compared to last year, he said.

As per the census, of the 1,811 crocodiles, 582 (32 per cent) are in the hatchling group, while 387 (21 per cent) are yearlings, 327 (19 per cent) are juveniles, 167 (9 per cent) are sub-adults and 348 (19 per cent) are adults.

The annual crocodile estimation exercise was conducted by 22 teams in Bhitarkanika National Park, Gahirmatha Sanctuary and Mahanadi deltaic areas from January 10 to 12.

The census was conducted both during the day and at night.

Favourable weather conditions this year resulted in better sightings of crocodiles in rivers and creeks, he said. -- PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with BSP's Kunwar Danish Ali/ANI file image

14:38 Suspended BSP MP Danish Ali to join Rahul's yatra

Lok Sabha MP Danish Ali, who remains suspended by the Bahujan Samaj Party, on Sunday announced his decision to join Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, saying he would be failing in his duty as a politician if he did not join biggest drive for unity and justice.

The BSP had suspended Ali last month for "anti-party" activities.

Ali had been actively joining opposition ranks in attacking the BJP and its policies even though the Mayawati-led BSP has maintained a distance from the ruling alliance as well as the opposition bloc INDIA.

In a post on X, Ali announced after landing in Imphal that he has decided to join the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

"This is a very important moment for me. I have arrived here after much soul-searching. I had two options either to accept the status quo and ignore the exploitation of Dalits, backwards, tribals, minorities and other marginalised and poor sections, or to launch an all-out campaign against this atmosphere of fear, hate, exploitation and the deepening divide in the country," he said.

"My conscience pushed me to take the second option. Taking this decision came naturally to me as I was myself at the receiving end of a similar attack in Parliament, where swear words were used by a member of the ruling party against me and my religion," the BSP leader said. -- PTI

Chhattisgarh's autopsy assistant Santoshi Durga gets invitation/ANI Photo

14:03 Woman autopsy assistant who conducted 700 PMs invited for Ram temple event

A 35-year-old woman autopsy assistant, who has conducted more than 700 postmortems, received an invitation from the Ram Mandir Trust for the Pran Pratistha program of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on January 22.

Speaking to ANI, Santoshi Durga shared that she had served as a sanitation worker for the Jeevan Deep Committee at Narharpur Primary Health for nearly 18 years.

Throughout this time, she conducted over 700 postmortems and received recognition from various societies for her contributions.

Stunned by the invitation, Santoshi said, "Even in my whole life, I never thought that I would be called from Ayodhya, but Lord Ram has called me by sending an invitation letter."

She revealed that when she received the letter, she was astonished, and tears of joy came out of her eyes.

Santoshi Durga conveyed her thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the invitation letter.

She mentioned that she plans to depart from Narharpur on January 18, attend the Pran Pratishtha program in Ayodhya, and pray for the happiness, peace, and progress of the people of Narharpur.

Narharpur BMO Prashant Kumar Singh also congratulated Santoshi and said that it is a matter of pride for us that she has received the invitation letter from Ayodhya. -- ANI

Former Kerala minister TH Mustafa

13:26 Congress leader and Kerala ex-ministerTH Mustafa dies at 82

Senior Congress leader and former Kerala minister TH Mustafa died on Sunday at a private hospital in Kochi due to multiple age-related ailments.

He was 82 and is survived by wife and eight children, family sources said. Mustafa was a former food minister in the K Karunakaran cabinet and a five-time legislator.

He was undergoing treatment for various ailments at the private hospital where he breathed his last at 5.43 am, hospital sources said.

Leaders cutting across party lines condoled Mustafa's demise.

Kerala Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Mustafa had left his mark on the public life of Kerala as a minister, a legislator and a Congress leader.

Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, VD Satheesan, said Mustafa strengthened the Congress and led it well in Ernakulam district.

KPCC chief K Sudhakaran termed Mustafa's demise as a 'great loss' to the party. -- PTI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday was evasive on former Union minister Milind Deora, who quit the Congress earlier in the day, joining the Shiv Sena but said his party will welcome him if he chooses to do so.

"I have heard about his move. If he is joining the party, I will welcome him," Shinde said.

In a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, earlier in the day Deora said, "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, ending my family's 55 year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years."

Speculation is rife in political circles over the past few days that he is likely to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. -- PTI

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12:40 Tight security in place at Bengal's Gangasagar Mela for Makar Sankranti

Tight security measures have been put in place at Gangasagar Mela for Makar Sankranti, a senior minister said.

State power and sports minister Aroop Biswas said 45 lakh pilgrims have taken a holy dip at Gangsagar from January 8 to 13 and the number is likely to swell on the occasion of Makar Sankranti on Monday.

He said 14,000 policemen have been deployed, 45 watch towers built, over 1,100 CCTVs installed and pilgrims are being ferried to Sagar Island through 36 vessels, 100 launches and six barges across 22 jetties, while 300 fog lights have been installed on Muriganga River.

The senior minister reiterated the state government's demand for according national fair tag for Gangasagar Mela akin to Kumbh Mela.

"It is very difficult for the state government alone to bear the huge expenses of organising the annual fair. Due to an increase in footfall as a result of improved communication, over Rs 265 crore is expected to be incurred during this year's fair."

"If the central government recognises Gangasagar Mela as a national fair, more developmental works could be taken up. Massive sea erosion is taking place near Kapil Muni Ashram. To stop it, financial assistance and cooperation from the Centre is needed," the ministers told reporters on Saturday. -- PTI

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12:26 Kerala police book Muslim youth leader over 'hand chopping' remark

A case has been registered against a Muslim youth wing leader here over his recent controversial 'hand chopping' remark.

A case under section 153 (wantonly giving provocation, with intent to cause riot) of the IPC was lodged on Saturday against Sathar Panthaloor, a leader of the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama's students wing Samastha Kerala Sunni Students Federation in connection with his controversial statement, the police said on Sunday.

The Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama is an association of eminent Sunni scholars with the highest support base among Kerala Muslims.

The action was taken based on a complaint sent to the Malappuram superintendent of police by an individual, they said.

According to the complaint, the Sunni youth wing leader's statement could lead to incitement of violence between different groups.

Panthaloor, speaking at a recent programme in Malappuram, had warned of chopping off hands of those who criticise and cause difficulties to the Samastha's scholars. -- PTI

Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Ashok Gehlot, Digvijaya Singh and Salman Khurshid in the special flight at Delhi airport./ANI on X

12:07 Nyay yatra: Rahul special flight to Manipur delayed

A special IndiGo flight, through which Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, were going to travel to Manipur's Imphal for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, was delayed due to fog and poor visibility conditions at Delhi Airport on Sunday morning.

The Congress leaders have not yet boarded the flight and are waiting at the airport lounge.

Earlier on Sunday, Rahul was spotted leaving his residence in Delhi for the airport.

The 'Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra' is scheduled to start at noon with a floral tribute at the Khongjom War Memorial, followed by its launch at Myay Maidan, Khongjom in Manipur's Thoubai.

The evening break was scheduled at 5:30 pm at Koirengei Bazar in Imphal. The night halt will be at Koujengleima Sports Association Football Ground in Imphal's Sekmai.

Rahul Gandhi will cover over 6,700 kilometres over 67 days, going through 110 districts throughout the Yatra.

Ahead of their departure from Delhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Sunday that the party aims to reach every house till people get the right to justice.

"We will reach every house, till we get the right to justice! Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra will begin from Thoubal, Manipur today. People's beloved Shri @RahulGandhiji will lead this national mass movement of the Congress Party, covering a distance of 6700 KM from 15 states," Kharge said in a post on 'X'. -- ANI

A massive fire broke out in Delhi's Bawana industrial area late Saturday night, officials said.

No casualties or injuries have been reported.

The Delhi Fire Service received a call about the fire at 10.15 pm.

"A total of 29 fire engines were pressed into service. The fire was completely doused after more than 3 hours operation," an official of DFS said. -- PTI

Vishva Hindu Parishad on Sunday said that senior Congress leader and former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar has been formally invited to attend the consecration ceremony at Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22.

An invitation to attend the consecration ceremony has also been extended to former deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha Kariya Munda, it added.

"RSS Akhil Bharatiya Sampark Pramukh Ramlal has given an invitation to Smt. Meira Kumar, former Speaker of the Lok Sabha and daughter of Babu Jagjivan Ram ji," VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal said in post on X.

Former deputy speaker of the (15th) Lok Sabha, Kariya Munda has also been invited to attend the ceremony, he added.

The VHP spokesperson also shared pictures of Kumar and Munda receiving the invitation from a delegation representing Ram temple trust in his post on X. -- PTI

Sanjay Raut

11:32 No compromise on South Mumbai LS seat: Raut

Against the backdrop of former Union minister Milind Deora quitting the Congress, Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said there would be no compromise on the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat.

Deora had recently expressed disapproval at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-UBT laying claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat.

The undivided Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant, now with the Thackeray faction, had defeated Deora from the constituency in the 2014 and 2019 general elections.

"Sawant is a two-time MP. What is wrong with him contesting again? There will be no compromise on this," Raut asserted.

Queried on Deora quitting the Congress, Raut said, "We knew Murli Deora well and what it is to work for the party and sacrifice for it. If people change loyalties to contest elections, it shows a new trend has started in the state."

Deora was also the head of the Mumbai Congress at one time.

He is the son of party stalwart late Murli Deora. -- PTI

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan/Courtesy Facebook

11:26 Kerala Guv Arif Mohammed Khan extends greetings on Makar Sankranti

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Sunday extended greetings to Malayalees in the state and across the world on the occasion of 'Makar Sankranti'.

Khan, in a Facebook post, wished happiness and prosperity to everyone in the days ahead.

"Heartiest wishes to the people of Kerala and other Keralites the world over, on the occasion of #MakarSankranti. May the days ahead be happier and more prosperous for all of us," he said in his post on the eve of the festival.

This year Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on January 15. -- PTI

11:12 Divine blessings before new innings?

Milind Deora, who resigned from the Congress, with his wife filmmaker Pooja Shetty, offers prayers at the Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said the Navi Mumbai international airport will be commercially operational by March 2025.

The upcoming airport is not just an important infrastructure project for Mumbai or Maharashtra but is a project of pride for the entire nation, he told reporters on Saturday.

He inspected the progress of the work connected to the airport, which is being built in five phases.

"The physical and financial completion is 55 to 60 per cent. The project began in 2018 and commercial operationalisation is expected by March 31, 2025. In the first and second phase that will commence together, one runway, one terminal and passenger capacity of two crore will be created," he told reporters.

The second runway, four terminals with an increased passenger capacity of 9 crore will be created in phases three, four and five, the Union minister added.

Incidentally, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devebdra Fadnavis have been earlier quoted as saying that the airport will begin commercial operations by the second half of 2024.

Referring to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to create multimodal connectivity under the Gati Shakti Yojana, Scindia said the upcoming airport will have road, rail and metro connectivity with future plans of water connectivity as well.

The airport will be connected to national highway 4B (348), the Sion-Panvel highway and the Atal Setu, the country's longest seabridge between Sewri in Mumbai and Nhava Sheva in Raigad, which was inaugurated by the PM on Friday.

The airport will be connected to Targhar railway station and to metro lines 2D (DN Nagar to Mandale in Mankhurd), 8 (Mumbai Airport to Navi Mumbai Airport) and Pendhar-Belapur-Taloja line, he said.

In future, there are plans to connect it through hovercraft from Colaba in south Mumbai and cargo liners from Raigad in phase 2. -- PTI

10:55 I am walking on the path of development: Deora

After submitted his resignation from the Congress on Sunday, former Lok Sabha MP Milind Deora said that he is "walking on the path of development".

Speculation is rife in political circles over the past few days that he is likely to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Deora, who was recently appointed the joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee, had expressed disapproval at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) laying claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat.

The undivided Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant, now with the Thackeray faction, had defeated Deora in the 2014 and 2019 general elections.

A blinding layer of fog shrouded the Indo-Gangetic plains in North India on Sunday, with visibility levels plunging to zero metres at several places.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has advised people to avoid unnecessary travel and to take precautions while driving.

A spokesperson for the Railways said fog impacted the schedules of "22 trains arriving in Delhi."

Satellite imagery showed a layer of dense fog extending from Punjab and north Rajasthan to the northeast. Patches of fog were also visible along the east coast.

An IMD official said dense fog engulfed Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, North Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh starting at 10 pm on Saturday.

"This is the first time this winter season that zero-metre visibility was reported from Amritsar to Dibrugarh across Ganganagar, Patiala, Ambala, Chandigarh, Delhi, Bareilly, Lucknow, Bahraich, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Tezpur (Assam)," the scientist said.

"It has been the longest duration of dense fog this season. Also, it is the most intense so far," he added.

Commuters should be extremely careful while driving on highways and use fog lights, the IMD said. -- PTI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde handed over cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to kin of three persons, including two sadhus, lynched by a mob in Palghar district in 2020.

He handed over the cheques while attending a function in Virar here on Saturday.

Sadhus Kalpavriksha Giri Maharaj (70), Sushil Giri Maharaj (35) and their driver Nilesh Telgade (30) were killed by a mob while their vehicle was passing through Gadchinchale village late night on April 16 that year in the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown.

The case had made national headlines at the time and several persons who were allegedly part of the 500-strong mob were arrested and are facing trial.

Speaking on the occasion, Shinde said then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has never bothered to meet the kin of these three persons.

Shinde said his Shiv Sena has now given them assistance from its own funds. -- PTI

With its senior leader Milind Deora resigning just before the start of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the Congress on Sunday alleged that the timing of the announcement of his departure from the party was determined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh told PTI that Deora had spoken with him over phone this Friday and requested that he wanted to speak with Rahul Gandhi over his concerns over the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) laying claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat.

Both Milind Deora and his father Murli Deora had served as MPs from Mumbai South.

"He messaged me on Friday at 8:52 AM and then at 2:47 PM I replied, 'Are you planning a switch?'. At 2:48 he sent a message, 'is speaking to you not possible?' I said I will call you and at 3:40, I spoke to him," Ramesh said.

"He (Deora) said he is concerned that it is a sitting Shiv Sena seat, he wanted to meet Rahul Gandhi and explain to him about the seat and also wanted me to talk to Mr. Gandhi about it," the Congress general secretary said.

"Obviously all this was a farce and he had made up his mind to leave. The timing of the announcement of his departure was clearly determined by the PM," Ramesh alleged.

In a post on X, Ramesh recalled his long years of association with seven-time Congress MP Murli Deora with great fondness.

"He (Murli Deora) had close friends in all political parties, but was a stalwart Congressman who ALWAYS stood by the Congress party through thick and thin. Tathastu!" he said.

Maharashtra cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Saturday reiterated his stand that the Maratha community should not be given reservation in the existing quota for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

The senior NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) leader was speaking at the `OBC Elgar' rally in Beed.

"We are not opposed to reservation for the Maratha community, but don't give that reservation from the OBC quota. Give a separate reservation to the Marathas," he added.

New commissions were being set up to study the issue even though the Supreme Court has rejected the Maratha community's claim to quota, he said.

Bhujbal also criticised Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange for his planned agitation in Mumbai.

"They have been saying that we will come to Mumbai with three crore people. The government is trying to give a separate reservation for the Maratha community, then why the agitation is moving to Mumbai?" he asked. PTI

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday thanked the Ram Mandir trust for inviting him to the 'Pran Pratishtha' on January 22 and said he would visit the temple with his family after the event.

Yadav on Friday had claimed that he had not received any invitation to the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya either in person or by courier, and had also demanded proof in case it was sent by post.

In a letter to Ram Janmabhoomi Theerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai, the SP chief thanked him for the invitation received on Saturday morning.

Posting the letter thanking Rai on X, Yadav extended best wishes for the programme.

However, he said that he would visit the Ram Mandir with his family after the consecration ceremony. -- PTI

Union Minister Narayan Rane has said the Shankaracharyas should bless the Ram Temple instead of criticising some aspects and accused them of looking at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP through a "political prism".

Speaking to reporters in Palghar on Saturday, he also said the Shankaracharyas must spell out their own contribution to Hinduism.

"No one could do it until now. Modi, BJP took it up and a temple is being built. Should they bless the temple or criticise it? It means Shankaracharyas look at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP through a political prism. This temple is not built on politics but on religion. Ram is our God," Rane said.

"Shankaracharyas should tell what is their contribution to the Hindu religion," he added.

Asked about Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray stating that President Droupadi Murmu must inaugurate the Ram Temple, Rane said he would not comment on someone "who has no job and sits at home."

Rane claimed Thackeray's faction would take a further hit as "eight out of 16 MLAs with him are approaching us (BJP-led ruling alliance) and would join soon".

The Shiv Sena split in June 2022 after a majority of MLAs sided with Eknath Shinde, who went on to become chief minister with the support of the BJP.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe accused Rane of insulting the Hindu religion and its spiritual heads.

Rane doesn't know enough about Hinduism, he said, and sought the BJP's response on the minister's remarks.

08:54 Milind Deora resigns from Congress

BREAKING: Congress leader Milind Deora resigns from the primary membership of the party.

"Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of @INCIndia, ending my family's 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," Deora said on X.

08:54 Rahul to begin BJY 2.0 from Manipur today

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will on Sunday embark on his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from violence-hit Manipur as the party looks to set the narrative in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls by putting the spotlight on issues such as unemployment, price rise and social justice.

A day before the yatra, the Congress asserted that the yatra is an ideological yatra and not an electoral one, and it was being taken out against the "anyay kaal" (period of injustice) of 10 years of the Narendra Modi government.

The yatra will be flagged off from a private ground in Thoubal district, instead of Imphal, the party's initial choice.

The state government had given the Congress conditional approval to flag off the yatra from the Palace Grounds in the state capital, restricting the number of participants. Therefore, the Congress decided to opt for another venue.

The Thoubal district administration has also imposed some restrictions such as the duration should not exceed an hour and the number of participants should not cross 3,000.

The yatra will pass through 100 Lok Sabha constituencies in 15 states and the party believes it will prove to be as "transformative" as Rahul Gandhi's earlier cross-country march.

The Congress has said it is taking out the yatra as the government did not give it a chance to raise people's issues in Parliament and the initiative is aimed at re-establishing the principles of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity enshrined in the Constitution.

The yatra will traverse 6,713 km, mostly in buses but also on foot. It will cover 110 districts in 67 days, before culminating in Mumbai on March 20 or 21.

Though the Congress has repeatedly stressed that this is not an electoral yatra, it comes at a crucial juncture as the party seeks to revive its fortunes after a poor showing in the last round of assembly elections.

With the BJP focusing on the January 22 Ram temple consecration ceremony, the Congress wants to put the spotlight on bread-and-butter issues through this yatra. -- PTI

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