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Wed, 17 January 2024
ED nabs Uddhav Sena man in Covid 'khichdi' scam
Timeline Refresh
23:38 Princess of Wales Kate Middleton undergoes abdominal surgery
Princess of Wales Kate Middleton underwent abdominal surgery in London and will remain in hospital for up to two weeks.
On Wednesday, Kensington Palace issued an official statement, sharing a health update about Kate Middleton.
"Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to The London Clinic yesterday for planned abdominal surgery. The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery," the statement read.
The palace said that it will "only provide updates on Her Royal Highness' progress when there is significant new information to share."
"She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private. Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness' progress when there is significant new information to share. The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements. She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible," the statement concluded.
Reportedly, The Prince of Wales will not undertake official duties while his wife is in hospital and during the immediate period following her return home. -- ANI
23:36 ED nabs Uddhav Sena man in Covid 'khichdi' scam
The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday arrested Suraj Chavan, a Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray functionary, in a money laundering case linked to the alleged irregularities in the distribution of 'khichdi' to migrants during the COVID-19 period, official sources said.
Chavan was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act late evening after he was questioned at the agency's office here.
He is expected to be produced before a local court here on Thursday. Chavan is alleged to be an associate of Aditya Thackeray, son of former Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) head Uddhav Thackeray.
The money laundering case stems from an FIR of the Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing.
According to police, alleged irregularities took place while giving contracts by he Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for providing 'khichdi' to migrants during the COVID-19. -- PTI
23:05 Understand actions that countries take in self defence: MEA on Iranian strike on Pak
In a carefully crafted reaction on Iran's deadly missile strike targeting terror bases in Pakistan, India on Wednesday said it understands actions that countries take in their self defence.
At the same time, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it is a matter between Iran and Pakistan, and asserted that India has "an uncompromising" position of "zero tolerance" towards terrorism.
"This is a matter between Iran and Pakistan," he said.
The spokesperson was responding to media queries on the Iranian missile strike in Pakistan.
"So far as India is concerned, we have an uncompromising position of zero tolerance towards terrorism. We understand actions that countries take in their self defence," Jaiswal said.
Tehran launched an unprecedented missile and drone strikes on what it said were directed at the bases of a terrorist group in the restive Balochistan province.
Two bases of the Sunni Baloch militant group 'Jaish al-Adl' in Pakistan's unruly Balochistan province were targeted by missiles and drones on Tuesday, Iranian state media reported. -- PTI
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22:54 11-year-old boy among 2 gored to death at bull taming event venue in TN
Two persons, including a 11-year old boy, were gored to death at the venue of a bull taming event held at Siravayal near in Sivaganga on Wednesday.
According to the police, two spectators, the boy and a youth in his thirties, were seriously wounded when they were attacked by bulls at the venue of 'Manjuvirattu'.
They eventually succumbed to their injuries.
'Manjuvirattu' is a kind of bull taming sport like 'Jallikattu.'
It is held in several parts of Tamil Nadu. A senior police official told PTI, "These were accidental deaths. Both of them died on the spot."
The boy and the youth were injured after being mauled by the bulls near a spot designated for the 'collection' of animals, he added. -- PTI
BRS leader K Kavitha
22:34 Hackers target T'gana governor, BRS's Kavitha
The account of Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on social media platform 'X', was allegedly hacked, police said on Wednesday.
The 'X' account of the Governor was "hacked" three days ago and some messages were posted on it, after which Raj Bhavan officials lodged a complaint with the cyber crime unit of Hyderabad police.
"Based on the complaint, a case was registered and the matter is being investigated," a senior police official told PTI.
Meanwhile, BRS MLC K Kavitha today said her social media account experienced a "brief unauthorised access" and that she will lodge a complaint with the Cyber Police in this regard.
In a post on 'X', she said: "My social media account experienced a brief unauthorised access.
The suspicious activities and contents during this time do not reflect our values.
Security measures have been reinforced, and we will observe a downtime to ensure security and we appreciate your understanding as my office addresses this issue promptly. We will be officially lodging a complaint with the Cyber Police in this regard." -- PTI
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud
22:30 Ram Mandir opening: Bar Council urges CJI to grant holiday on Jan 22
The Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra on Wednesday wrote a letter to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and requested him for Grant of Holiday in all courts of the country on the occasion of Ram Mandir's inauguration on January 22.
Senior advocate Mishra stated, "I am writing to bring to your esteemed attention a matter of significant national and cultural importance for your due consideration."
"As you are aware, the inauguration of the Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is scheduled for January 22, 2024. This event holds immense religious, historical, and cultural significance for millions of people across the country, marking the realization of a long-awaited dream and the culmination of legal proceedings that have been pivotal in defining the nation's structure," the letter stated.
"The construction of the Grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya has been a matter of great faith and has evoked profound sentiments among the citizens. The Supreme Court's historic verdict on 9th November 2019, which affirmed the birthplace of Lord Rama and allocated the disputed land for the construction of the temple, resonated with the truth and beliefs of the Hindu community," said the letter.
"The inauguration ceremony, scheduled between 14th and 22nd January 2024, includes a 7-day agenda of rituals and events, leading up to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony on 22nd January, 2024. This sacred occasion, marked by the presence of dignitaries and religious leaders, including Prime Minister Shri Narenda Modi ji, signifies the victory of truth and the fulfillment of a deeply cherished dream," it added. -- ANI
21:54 Suryakumar Yadav undergoes surgery in Germany
India batter Suryakumar Yadav on Wednesday said he has undergone a surgery after suffering from sports hernia.
The world's leading T20 batter got injured during the tour of South Africa last month. He underwent the operation in Germany and his full recovery will take at least a month.
"Surgery done. I want to thank everyone for their concerns and well wishes for my health, and I am happy to tell you all that I will be back very soon," he said.
Surya is likely to make a comeback during the IPL which will precede the T20 World Cup in the Americas. He holds key to India's plans as the team looks to end the ICC title drought in the mega event in June.
21:35 Google Pay signs pact with NPCI to expand UPI payments outside India
Google India Digital Services and NPCI International Payments Ltd have signed an agreement that will help expand UPI payments to countries outside India.
The memorandum of understanding will enable Indian travellers to make payments in other countries via Google Pay (also known as GPay), eliminating the need to carry cash or resort to international payment gateways.
"The MoU has three key objectives. First, it seeks to broaden the use of UPI payments for travellers outside of India, enabling them to conveniently make transactions abroad. Second, the MoU intends to assist in establishing UPI-like digital payment systems in other countries, providing a model for seamless financial transactions. Lastly, it focuses on easing the process of remittances between countries by utilizing the UPI infrastructure, thereby simplifying cross-border financial exchanges," Google Pay said in a statement.
The deal focuses on easing the process of remittances between countries by utilising the UPI infrastructure, thereby simplifying cross-border financial exchanges.
"This strategic partnership will not only simplify foreign transactions for Indian travellers but will also allow us to extend our knowledge and expertise of operating a successful digital payments ecosystem to other countries," said Ritesh Shukla, CEO, NIPL. -- PTI
21:16 Flyers eating on tarmac: IndiGo, MIAL fined Rs 1.8cr
Aviation security regulator Bureau of Civil Aviation Security on Wednesday slapped fines totalling Rs 1.80 crore on IndiGo and Mumbai airport operator MIAL over the incident of passengers having food on the airport tarmac.
A penalty of Rs 1.20 crore has been imposed on IndiGo while the fine on MIAL is Rs 60 lakh, according to orders issued by the BCAS.
Many passengers rushed out of an IndiGo aircraft at the Mumbai airport, sat on the tarmac, and some were also seen having food there as soon as their diverted Goa-Delhi flight landed after a long delay on Sunday.
The regulator had issued show cause notices to IndiGo and MIAL saying that they were not proactive in anticipating the situation and making the appropriate facilitation arrangements for passengers at the airport.
Besides, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh on Mumbai International Airport Ltd over the incident. -- PTI
20:50 Odisha ex-CM Giridhar Gamang rejoins Congress along with wife, son
Former Odisha chief minister Giridhar Gamang on Wednesday returned to the Congress along with his wife and son almost nine years after he quit the party.
Congress is the only party in the country that does principled politics, said the former nine-time MP from Koraput who had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2015 and switched to the BRS in January 2023.
Gamang asserted that he never left the Congress party's thoughts and ideology.
He along with his wife Hema Gamang and son Shishir Gamang and another BJP leader Sanjay Bhoi, also a former MP, formally joined the party at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi in the presence of party treasurer Ajay Maken along with AICC in-charge for Odisha Ajoy Kumar.
Giridhar Gamang was elected for the first time to the fifth Lok Sabha from Koraput in 1972 and he subsequently was re-elected to the Lok Sabha in 1977, 1980, 1984, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998 and 2004.
He was the Chief Minister of Odisha from February 17, 1999 to December 6, 1999.
His wife Hema Gamang won from Koraput constituency in the 1999 elections to the 13th Lok Sabha, while he was serving as the Chief Minister of Odisha.
Sanjay Bhoi was a former MP from the Bargarh Lok Sabha constituency in Odisha on the Congress ticket in 2009. -- PTI
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah
20:26 Don't enter Karnataka, CM Sidda tells Maha officials
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said Maharashtra government officials have been told not to enter the state amid reports that they have decided to implement the health insurance scheme in 865 Marathi-dominated villages bordering Maharashtra.
"Our Chief Secretary has spoken (to his Maharashtra counterpart) asking them (government officials) not to enter Karnataka," the chief minister told reporters in Belagavi before leaving for the inauguration of Sainik School in Bailahongala Taluk in Belagavi district.
The move comes amid a border row over Belagavi between Karnataka and Maharashtra which flares up from time to time.
The row dates back to 1957 when states were reorganised on linguistic lines.
Maharashtra laid claim to Belagavi, which was part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency, as it has a sizable Marathi-speaking population.
It also staked claim to over 800 Marathi-speaking villages which are currently a part of Karnataka.
Karnataka maintains that the demarcation done on linguistic lines as per the States Reorganisation Act and the 1967 Mahajan Commission Report is final. -- PTI
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19:53 Joint forum of trade unions, farmers bodies to go on strike on Feb 16
A joint forum of trade unions and farmers bodies has given a call for a nationwide general strike and Grameen Bandh (rural close down) on February 16, to protest 'against the anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national policies' of the central government.
The forum is pressing for their demands which include higher minimum (crop MSP) support price, minimum wage of Rs 26,000 per month for workers, repeal of four labour codes, repeal amendments made to IPC/CrPC, guaranteed employment as fundamental right etc.
"We appeal to all the like-minded movements of students, youth, teachers, women, the social movements and those in the field of art, culture, literature to extend support to the joint campaigns and culminating actions of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the platform of Central Trade Unions, Federations/Associations on 16th February," a joint statement said.
It further stated that SKM and CTUs/Federations/Associations call for a countrywide massive mobilisations at different levels along with the Industrial/Sectoral Strike and Grameen Bandh on February 16, 2024 "against the anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national policies of the central government."
"The sectoral movements and agitations are going on including strikes. We request them to synchronize their agitations with the February 16 nation-wide programme adopted unitedly by the SKM and CTUs," it stated.
They are demanding MSP@C2+50 per cent for all crops with guaranteed procurement, dismissal of Ajay Mishra Teni and registration of case on him, comprehensive loan waiver to small and middle farm households for freedom from indebtedness and minimum wage of Rs 26,000 per month for workers. -- PTI
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19:19 Maha Oppn flays Filmfare awards going to Gujarat
The Opposition on Wednesday alleged the scheduled hosting of the Filmfare Awards event in Gujarat instead of Mumbai, which is the traditional venue, is an attempt to reduce the importance of the state capital and move out the film industry.
The 69th edition of the awards gala will be held in Gandhinagar on January 27 and 28 in association with Gujarat tourism.
Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, said Bollywood and Mumbai share an unbreakable bond.
The decision to host the Filmfare awards outside Mumbai is "an attempt to reduce the importance of Mumbai and take the film industry out of the city", he alleged.
"This decision will hurt the businesses of cine workers," the Congress leader said in his post on X.
He alleged industries from Maharashtra were first taken out of Mumbai and now the "evil eye" of the Mahayuti government has fallen on Mumbai's film industry.
The Filmfare Awards are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in Bollywood and are one of the most famous film events in the country. -- PTI
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
19:01 Regular part of India, US conversation is about democracy, rights: Blinken
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday said that the US-India relations reached a new high with efforts from both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden.
Speaking in Davos at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024, he said that at the same time, a regular part of the conversation between the two countries has been about democracy and rights.
"It's part of a very sustained, very real conversation and a conversation we hope produces positive change and that's the case with India," he said.
"We also see the relationship between our two countries that has reached a new place and a new level and that I think has been a very deliberate effort on part of both Prime Minister Modi and President Biden to position it so," he added.
The US Secretary of State further said, "At the same time, a constant regular part of our conversation is the conversation about democracy, about rights."
"When the President took office, we wanted to make sure that we put back into our foreign policy these fundamental concerns about democracy and about human rights and we have done that. We do it in different ways in different places. Maybe because of the relationship we may have with a country, with a government," he added. -- PTI
18:46 Telangana Guv's X account hacked, case registered
The official account of Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on X, formerly known as Twitter, has been allegedly hacked, the police said on Wednesday.
The X account was "hacked" three days ago and some messages were posted on it, after which Raj Bhavan officials lodged a complaint with cyber crime unit of Hyderabad police.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered and investigation is on, they said. -- PTI
18:26 Akhilesh Yadav unlikely to join Congress' Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in UP
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said he is 'unlikely' to join Congress' 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' led by Rahul Gandhi.
When asked about this at a press conference at the party office here, Yadav said, "Neither the Congress nor the BJP invites us to their programmes."
Yadav, who flagged off "Samvidhan Bachao, Desh Bachao Samajwadi PDA Yatra" from the party office here, said that the yatra will spread the ideologies of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia and Mulayam Singh Yadav down to the villages.
PDA stands for Pichada, Dalit, and Alpsankhyak-Muslims (backward, Dalits and minorities, especially Muslims).
"We have taken a pledge to fulfil dreams of old socialists and the yatra will cover many districts of the state. It will attempt to unite backwards, Dalits, minorities and also upper castes," he said, adding that SP was the only party which was fighting to save constitutional values and the constitution.
Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Rai said that Rahul Gandhi's yatra is expected to come to Uttar Pradesh on February 14.
It will spend 11 days in the state and pass through Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency Varanasi, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi's constituency Rae Bareli, and Rahul's former constituency Amethi, currently represented by Union Minister Smriti Irani, among others. -- PTI
18:05 Ram temple is complete: Construction panel chief
Amid the allegations that the pran pratishtha ceremony is being done when the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya is unfinished, chairman of the Ram Mandir construction committee Nripendra Mishra on Wednesday said that the temple of Ram Lalla is complete.
The construction committee chairperson said that the temple of Ram Lalla has a sanctum sanctorum--garbhagriha--and it is complete.
"Mandir toh ban gaya hai. The temple of Ram Lalla will have garbhagriha, five mandaps and that temple will be on the ground floor. That temple is complete. The first floor, which is under construction, will have Ram Darbar...The second floor is just for 'Anushthan', the different types of yagyas and anushthan will take place there," he said.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, Mishra said that the shubh muhurt or auspicious time for the pran pratishtha of Ram Lalla at the temple in Ayodhya is 12.30 pm on January 22.
"The muhurt on January 22 is around 12.30 pm. The prayers and rituals have already begun. The Ram Lalla will probably be brought inside the sanctum sanctorum tomorrow morning. Different types of rituals, like the Abhishek (bath) of the idol, among others, will be performed. Finally, when the auspicious time comes at 12.30 pm on the 22nd of this month, the Pran Pratishtha will be done," he said. -- ANI
A view of Calcutta high court./ANI Photo
18:01 CCTV cameras installed around TMC leader's house post HC order
The West Bengal government on Wednesday informed the Calcutta high court that it installed 10 CCTV cameras in surrounding areas of the residence of absconding Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh, an accused in an alleged ration distribution scam.
The court had on Tuesday asked the state to ensure that CCTV cameras are installed immediately around the house of Sheikh.
A lookout notice has also been issued against him by the ED.
Advocate General Kishore Dutta informed the court of Justice Jay Sengupta that 10 CCTV cameras have been installed in the areas surrounding the premises of Sheikh at Sandeshkhali, which is a few kilometres from the Bangladesh border.
Earlier in the day, Sheikh's brother told reporters he came to know about the installation of CCTV cameras when the police approached him for help about power connection to run the devices.
"I have also installed such cameras in my home for security reasons," his brother, who lives close by, said.
On a query by the high court, it was told that the Trinamool Congress leader is yet to be traced.
On January 5, three Enforcement Department officers were assaulted and their vehicles damaged allegedly by supporters of Sheikh, when they tried to raid his residence in North 24 Parganas district. -- PTI
KBK Infographics
17:27 HDFC Bank takes a hit of Rs 1L cr in market bleed
Benchmark Sensex nosedived 1,628 points or 2.23 per cent on Wednesday, marking its biggest single-day slide in more than one-and-a-half years following an intense sell-off in banking, metal and oil shares triggered by weak global trends.
The 30-share BSE Sensex plunged 1,628.01 points or 2.23 per cent to settle at 71,500.76 with 24 of its constituents ending in the red.
During the day, it plummeted 1,699.47 points or 2.32 per cent to a low of 71,429.30. The Nifty tanked 460.35 points or 2.09 per cent to settle at 21,571.95, falling for the second day in a row.
Key stock indices suffered their worst single-day losses in percentage terms since June 13, 2022.
HDFC Bank was the major drag, falling more than 8 per cent to emerge as biggest loser after its third quarter financial results failed to meet market expectations. Its market valuation took a hit of more than Rs 1 lakh crore.
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17:07 Drone strikes: Pakistan recalls envoy from Iran
Pakistan recalls its ambassador from Iran following the "unprovoked violation of its airspace" by Tehran: Foreign Office.
Earlier today, Pakistan warned Iran of "serious consequences" after Tehran launched unprecedented missile and drone strikes on terrorist bases of a Sunni militant group in the Balochistan province, which killed two children and injured three others.
Two bases of Balochi militant group Jaish al Adl in Pakistan were targeted by missiles on Tuesday, Iranian state media reported, a day after Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards attacked targets in Iraq and Syria with missiles.
Islamabad also summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires to the foreign ministry and issued a strongly-worded condemnation of Iran's "violation of its airspace", the Foreign Office said.
Iran's attack could potentially raise tensions in the Middle East, already roiled by Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
16:59 25% in 14-18 yrs can't read Std 2 text: Survey
More than 86.8 per cent youngsters in the age group of 14-18 years are enrolled in educational institutions but 25 per cent of them cannot read a Class-2 level text fluently in their regional languages, according to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) released on Wednesday.
The report also said that more than 32 per cent of those aged 18 or above are not enrolled in educational institutions, while more than half of Class 11 and 12 students opt for humanities stream.
The report also asserted that the fear that several older students dropped out of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic due to a loss of livelihood was unfounded.
While the report noted small gender gaps in enrolment, it flagged notable differences between age groups. The ASER 2023 'Beyond Basics' report puts the spotlight on youths aged 14 to 18 years in rural India, an age group that was also the focus of ASER 2017.
"There are small gender gaps in enrollment, but notable differences are visible by age. Older youth are more likely to be not enrolled. The percentage of youth not enrolled is 3.9 pc for 14-year-old youth and is 32.6 pc for 18-year-olds," the report said. "Overall, 86.8 per cent of 14-18-year-olds are enrolled in an educational institution," the 2023 report said.
It, however, underlined that 25 per cent of them cannot read a Class-2 level text fluently in their regional languages. The report said more than 55 per cent students of Classes 11-12 opt for humanities, followed by science and commerce. It also pointed out that females are less likely to be enrolled in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) streams than males.
"Most of the young people in this age group were enrolled in the arts and humanities stream. In class 11 or higher, more than half are enrolled in the Arts and Humanities stream (55.7 pc) Females are less likely to be enrolled in the STEM stream (28.1 pc) than males (36.3 pc), it added.
Last year's report showed that the enrolment levels of children in the age bracket of six to 14 years had gone up marginally from 96.6 per cent in 2010 to 96.7 per cent in 2014 and from 97.2 per cent in 2018 to 98.4 per cent in 2022. According to the report, only 5.6 per cent youngsters in the country are currently undergoing vocational training or have been enrolled in other related courses.
"Only 5.6 pc of surveyed youth report taking vocational training or other related courses currently. Youth at the college level are the most likely to be taking vocational training (16.2 pc). "Most youth are taking short duration courses (of 6 months or less). A higher percentage of males (40.3 per cent) than females (28 per cent) report doing work other than household work for at least 15 days during the preceding month," it added.
The report pointed out that among both males and females, most youth who are working in activities other than household work tend to be working on family farms. ASER is a nationwide citizen-led household survey that provides a snapshot of the status of children's schooling and learning in rural India. -- PTI
16:27 Why did you lie to Naga people, Rahul asks Modi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of doing nothing to bring about a solution to the Naga political issue for nine years after the Framework Agreement was signed in 2015.
Addressing a public rally during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by him at Nagaland's Mokokchung town, Gandhi said a solution to the problem cannot be brought without having the trust of the Naga people, and without a discussion with them.
Attacking the prime minister, he said, "If you don't have a solution, you should not lie and say you have a solution. You can say that we have to work towards the solution and we will work towards the solution but you must not lie to the Naga people."
He said that the Congress understands that the issue is serious and a solution is required. Referring to the Framework Agreement, the former Congress president said, "What the Prime Minister promised nine years ago is an empty vow to the Naga people."
During a press conference at Chiephobozou on Tuesday, Gandhi asserted his party is committed to a solution to the decades-old Naga Political Issue. The Naga insurgency began in 1947.
To find a solution to the decades-old problem, the Centre has been holding separate negotiations with NSCN-IM since 1997 and the Working Committee of Naga National Political Group (NNPG), comprising at least seven groups, since 2017. The Modi government inked a Framework Agreement with NSCN-IM in 2015 and Agreed Position withPGs in 2017. However, the final solution is yet to be attained with NSCN-IM remaining adamant on its demand for a separate flag and constitution for the Nagas.
After travelling almost 180 km from Khuzama village in Kohima district to Mokokchung by road, Gandhi said he observed the bumpy road condition and the erratic power supply. He said, "How can young Nagas compete with the rest of the young people in the country who have better facilities? It is a betrayal to the people of Nagaland. How can we expect to bring a positive future to the people of Nagaland with these roads?"
Claiming that an ideological war is going on in India, the Congress leader alleged that the RSS and BJP are attacking various cultures and religions in the country.
As Indians, everyone should respect each other's tradition, culture, food habits and religious practices, but the RSS and BJP are attacking them and disrespecting them, he claimed.
Gandhi also attacked the Prime Minister for not visiting Manipur despite months of ethnic strife in the state.
"As an Indian, I am ashamed that the Prime Minister has not been to Manipur yet after what happened there," he said.
Gandhi visited Manipur for two days in June last year, weeks after the violence broke out in the state, and met the affected people lodged in relief camps in several districts. He asserted that the idea of the Yatra is to bring the attention of the entire country to the people of Manipur, Nagaland and other northeastern states. -- PTI
KBK Infographics
16:19 IndiGo has a 61% market share
With the recent reports of IndiGo passengers facing a harrowing time with flights delayed and no provisions made for them by the airline, actor Richa Chadha, whose flight was also delayed, called out monopolistic practices. Here's the market share of airlines in the domestic sector.
16:09 Ram temple pre-consecration: Kalash Pujan held on banks of Saryu
A "Kalash Pujan" was held on Wednesday as part of the rituals being performed in the run-up to the January 22 consecration ceremony at the Ram temple here, a member of the temple's trust said.
The rituals started on Tuesday, and trust general secretary Champat Rai had said that these will continue till January 21.
On the day of the consecration, minimum essential rituals needed for the "Pran Pratishtha" of the idol of Ram Lalla will be conducted, he had said.
The "Kalash Pujan" was done by Sri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust member Anil Mishra, his wife and others on the banks of the Saryu river. Following this ritual, pots filled with water of the Saryu will be taken to the place (Ram temple complex) where the pre-consecration rituals are being held, according to Mishra.
Mishra who is the "yajman" for the "puja" has to attend all the rituals, including those which will be performed on January 22. There are 121 "acharyas" who are conducting the rituals, and Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid is overseeing, coordinating and directing all proceedings of the "anushthan". The principal "acharya" will be Laxmikant Dixit of Kashi.
The Ram temple "Pran Pratishtha" will begin at 12.20 pm on January 22 and is expected to end by 1 pm. -- PTI
The President in Shillong
15:59 Prez Murmu stuck for over 4 hours in Meghalaya due to bad weather
President Droupadi Murmu was reportedly stuck in Shillong for over four hours on Wednesday, as her helicopter could not take off due to bad weather, officials said. Murmu was scheduled to depart from Shillong for Diphu in Assam at 10 am, they said.
"The president is due to leave the Raj Bhavan in another 10 minutes... She was delayed owing to bad weather," a senior official told PTI around 2:35 pm. Murmu is slated to attend a programme organised by the Karbi Anglong administration in Diphu. The president was on a two-day maiden visit to Meghalaya. PTI
15:42 Pakistani told me 'wish we had Modi': Shekhar Kapur
Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur on X: "I don't take British media reporting on India seriously anymore @sanjeevsanyal It's almost as if they cannot comprehend the pace of development of a former colony. Yesterday a Pakistani taxi driver said to me 'I wish we had Modi, Sir' @narendramodi."
His comment was in response to economist Sanjeev Sanyal's post where he said, "So FT thinks that PM Modi must not even promote domestic tourism. The neighbouring country was not even mentioned by him. For some time now, @FT has lost all semblance of objectivity."
And this is what Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri said at Davos: "Under PM Modi's leadership, India's ascent to a USD 4 trillion economy is fueled by a robust growth rate of 7.2-7.3%. Our energy consumption is surging three times faster than the global average and 25% of the global energy demand growth in the next 20 years will come from India, as it's powers ahead towards a Viksit Bharat."
15:30 Israeli President to attend Davos WEF
President of Israel Isaac Herzog together with First Lady Michal Herzog will depart Wednesday for a day-long visit to the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland.
His office said that the trip is part of Israel's continued efforts to secure the release of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
To that end, he will hold meetings to promote the issue and to increase political pressure to see the swift and safe return home of all the hostages held by Hamas.
The President will continue his work by telling various world leaders in a "clear and in-depth manner" details of the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists on October 7. During the visit, the President will be joined by representatives of the hostages' families and will address the Forum and hold a series of diplomatic meetings.
Hardeep Puri and Smriti Irani in Davos
15:23 Smriti Irani@Davos: Ram bhakts told me...
Ram Temple in Ayodhya has created a buzz in the Swiss ski resort town of Davos during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting with devotees planning to hold Ram Bhajans and light diyas on the consecration day this coming Monday.
Besides, many global business leaders have been inquiring from the Indian delegation, including those from the government and private sector, about the business and infrastructure opportunities created by development of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh as a major religious and tourism centre.
Speaking to PTI on the sidelines of the WEF Annual Meeting 2024, Union Minister Smriti Irani said she met a group of devotees who asked her if they can also celebrate Ram Temple consecration ceremony on January 24.
"Some Ram Bhakts here asked me to record a message imploring the community here to do Ram Bhajan and to lighten diyas here on 22nd January.
"They came to the lounge and saw me here, walked up and they made that request," said Irani who is leading a strong Indian delegation to the WEF.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several leaders are scheduled to be present at the ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22, which is likely to be attended by over 8,000 people.
Besides, the prime minister has urged people across the country to celebrate the day like Diwali at their respective places. Besides the temple, an international airport has also been set up in Ayodhya while a large number of infrastructure projects are being built there to develop the city into a major religious tourism centre.
"I think we as a community have shown... I always say in Hindi that 'Dharma ke liye dhairya dikhayen' (show patience when it comes to religion), and the fact that we have been patient and waited for a judicial pronouncement with regards to our beliefs and rights, that speaks volumes about the strength of our democracy and the prime minister of India," Irani said.
"Respecting every religion, we waited for a long time that Bhagwan Ghar Aayenge (God will come home)," said Irani, who is minister for women and child development as well as minority affairs." -- PTI
14:32 Scindia vs Tharoor: 'Read facts arm-chair critic'
Aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia smarts at Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's criticism of flight delays and the closure of runways at Delhi airport.
Scindia retorted to Tharoor's 6-part message on X with another 6-part message.
Tharoor had said: "Delhi Airport has been in chaos recently. The young professional wanting to go home for Makar Sankranti. The Army officer excited to visit his ancestral village for Lohri. The anxious son trying to get home to take care of an unwell parent. Thousands of peoples lives and schedules have been disrupted by a regular, predictable, foggy winter day. Its a ModiGovt-made disaster, a result of the Ministry of Civil Aviations neglect and incompetence."
Scindia replied saying, "It is for someone who is lost in his esoteric world of thesaurus that data mining of selective press articles from the internet qualifies as research. Here are some actual facts for arm-chair critic
@ShashiTharoor and the Cong IT Cell that might help tackle their lack of depth in understanding of technical sectors like civil aviation.
"Runway maintenance work is a critical safety element for aviation operations, and any compromise with runway conditions directly jeopardizes passenger safety.
"As a result, the maintenance was taken on top priority to be completed by 15th December before the onset of the fog season. However, due to pollution incidents and enforcement of GRAP-IV in Delhi, the recarpeting got delayed, resulting in a delay of one month in its commissioning. The revamped RWY is getting operational this week.
"The crane was being used for the construction of another critical infrastructure project - the Dwarka Expressway. However, in view of its impact on the runway, it has now been decided that the crane operation shall be allowed only on non-fog days. Thus, RWY 11R/29L is operational as CAT III as of yesterday.
"On sufficiently trained pilots, your claim is incorrect and baseless, as usual! As compared to only 2416 CAT II/CAT III trained pilots in 2014, today we have 6191 CAT II/CAT III trained pilots which is a jump of 2.5 times in the last 9 years. Further, in preparation for the fog season of 2023-24, due to our efforts, the number of CAT II/CAT III trained pilots have grown by 16% in the last three months alone from 5332 to 6191.
"Also, the DGCA mandates airlines to deploy CAT IIIB compliant aircraft only with qualified crew during the winter season. Any violations are strictly dealt with by the regulator, DGCA. For instance, show cause notices were issued to Spicejet and Air India.
"It would be prudent to know about the 3 dependent factors for CAT III Landings viz. Runway Capability, Aircraft Capability and Pilot Accreditation. And thus, CAT III operations are decided by the Highest Common Factor among the three variables.
"The two CAT III runways at Delhi Airport are equipped for aircraft to land with minimum visibility of up to 50 meters. However, the majority of the aircraft fleet in India viz. Airbus 320 (75 mtrs) and Boeing 737 Max (175 mtrs) have visibility minima greater than the runway threshold. Thus, even if the runway is capable and sufficiently trained CAT III pilots are made available, these aircraft are not designed for Zero Visibility operations.
"Further to give you a perspective, JFK ( New York ) airport in the USA has 4 runways, but the airport only has 1 runway capable of CAT III landing which is also with a restricted minima up to 182 mtrs (600 feet) 3.5 times of Indias 50 mtrs!
Go figure it out yourself - Enlightened, Mr Tharoor!
"The treatment meted out to the passengers in the instant case was unacceptable, and we have acted immediately in the form of a show cause notice to the concerned operators. Further, SOPs for better communication to passengers were also issued. Implementation is being monitored thrice daily.
B) CARs implemented during the UPA rule in 2010 were, as expected, inadequate for enforcing passenger rights and had to be amended multiple times by the DGCA to incorporate provisions for safeguarding passenger rights!
C) Further, the DGCA keeps a strict watch on the passenger complaints regarding mistreatment and penalizes operators if found guilty. For instance, since 2022, airlines have been imposed with fines for not providing passenger amenities as per the DGCA guidelines.
This is just baseless rhetoric.
- Airlines that shut shop/were brought to failure during the UPA rule = Kingfisher, Jet Airways, Air India.
Under the NDA govt, along with Akasa, 5 new regional airlines have taken birth under the PMs UDAN vision.
- Fleet size has increased from 400 in 2014 to 730 today, and will reach 1,500 - 2,000 by 2030.
- Airports have doubled from 74 in the last 65 years to 149 today. This will reach 220 in the next 3-4 years.
Hope you are better informed now, Mr
@ShashiTharoor !"
14:17 Rahul meets bikers in Nagaland talks about his...
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi met some bikers on his way during his party's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Nagaland's Mokokchung on Wednesday. Rahul Gandhi was seen interacting with the bikers and taking note of the tool kit attached to one of the bikes.
Speaking about his conversation with Rahul Gandhi, one of the bikers who is from Assam said that the Congress leader shared his experience about his Ladakh trip on his bike.
"We only talked about motorcycles...He also rides. He is a rider. He has got a bike. We were talking about his bikes. He has got some good ones...We were also talking about his Ladakh trip," Shahwar Hussain, one of the bikers said speaking to ANI.
Hussain added that Rahul Gandhi chose not to come on a bike to Nagaland though it would have been nice had he done the same. "He (Rahul Gandhi) said that it would have been nice if he had come on a bike. But he said it is too dusty and he is going to attend rallies," the biker said.
The Congress leader had earlier embarked on a bike ride to Pangong Lake in Ladakh last year to celebrate his father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's birthday on August 20. -- ANI
Richa Chadha
14:06 Monopoly = No accountability: Actor slams IndiGo
Calling out IndiGo Airlines for repeated delays, actor Richa Chadha on Wednesday said citizens continue to suffer with no recourse when "monopoly creates lack of accountability".
Chadha is the latest cinema personality to narrate her air travel ordeal on social media.
In the last few days, actors Radhika Apte, Surbhi Chandna and Ranvir Shorey criticised separate air carriers due to different issues.
In an X post, Chadha said in the last three days, she took three flights with IndiGo, out of which two of them were delayed. There was no immediate from the airline.
"On my 3rd flight in 3 days... Day 1, @IndiGo6E delayed by over 4 hours. Day 2, @IndiGo6E delayed by 4 hours. But the only direct flights on some routes are often Indigo. Day 3, international flight, no problem," she wrote.
According to the "Fukrey 3" star, be it airlines, airport ownership or leadership, "monopoly creates lack of accountability". "Common citizens suffer, with no recourse. Till we don't recognise it, we will be at a disadvantage while paying through our noses. And if we don't wake up, we deserve it, haina?" she wrote.
Chadha also said there is a possibility that fog in Delhi and a recent air show in Mumbai may have added to the troubles of the airline.
"On the 14th of Jan, there was an air show in Mumbai, because of which the runway was closed in the morning. And then fog/smog in North India - Delhi runway closed. Ripple effect? Flights delayed all over the country, staff overextended," she added.
Earlier this week, a purported video of a passenger hitting an IndiGo pilot when he was making an announcement regarding a delay in takeoff at the Delhi airport went viral on social media.
The passenger was later arrested by the Delhi Police. Reacting to the incident, Chadha in her post said: "I am surprised only one person got physically assaulted because tempers were running very high".
She, however, said that she doesn't "condone violence". A significant number of flights were impacted at the Delhi and Mumbai airports in the last few days due to dense fog and low visibility conditions. -- PTI
Yamini Aiyar, President, CPR
13:45 MHA cancels FCRA registration of Centre for Policy Research
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has cancelled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration of New Delhi's leading public policy research institute, Centre for Policy Research (CPR) for allegedly violating certain foreign funding norms.
"The FCRA has been cancelled via order received on January 10" and the institution will weigh its options to seek justice," Yamini Aiyar, President, CPR said while speaking to ANI.
The MHA cited reports published by CPR on "current affairs programmes" as one of the reasons for the cancellation. The MHA's action comes almost a year after CPR's FCRA registration was suspended for 180 days and then the suspension was extended for another 180 days. The MHA suspended the FCRA licence of CPR in February last year. The CPR has been a leading policy think-tank since 1973, which conducts advanced and in-depth research on a wide range of policy-relevant issues, with a focus on India's 21st-century challenges.
Earlier in September 2022, the Income Tax department conducted a 'survey' operation against CPR, and two other organisations-- Oxfam India and a Bengaluru-based Independent and Public-Spirited Media Foundation (IPSMF) -- as part of a probe to look into their foreign funding.
13:34 SpiceJet pax stuck in loo: DGCA launches probe
Aviation watchdog DGCA is looking into the incident of a SpiceJet passenger getting stuck in the lavatory of an aircraft that was flying from Mumbai to Bengaluru, an official said on Wednesday.
The incident happened on Tuesday due to the malfunctioning of the lavatory door lock. The passenger came out of the lavatory after an engineer opened the lock once the aircraft landed at the Bengaluru airport. The official told PTI that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is looking into the matter.
According to the official, the incident could have happened due to a maintenance issue or some other reason. The regulator is looking into all possibilities, the official added.
"On 16 January, a passenger unfortunately got stuck inside the lavatory for about an hour on SpiceJet flight operating from Mumbai to Bengaluru, while the aircraft was airborne due to a malfunction in the door lock," a SpiceJet spokesperson said on Wednesday.
The passenger is being provided a full refund, the spokesperson said. PTI
13:32 Adani raises stake in IANS to take full control
Billionaire Gautam Adani's group has raised its stake in IANS India Pvt Ltd to take full control of the news agency as it consolidates its media presence. Adani Group had last month picked up a 50.50 per cent stake in IANS and now it has raised the shareholding to 76 per cent with voting rights and to 99.26 per cent without voting rights, according to a regulatory filing.
The cash outgo is Rs 5 crore, it said.
"In continuation to our earlier intimation dated December 15, 2023, we would like to inform that AMG Media Networks Ltd (AMNL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company has increased its stake in IANS India Private Limited, by subscribing to fresh shares issued by IANS," Adani Enterprises Ltd - the group's flagship firm - said in the filing. The allotment of the shares was approved by the board of IANS at its meeting held on January 16, 2024, it said. -- PTI
13:30 Adani group inks Rs 12,400 cr deal with Telangana govt
The Adani group and the Telangana Government on Wednesday signed four memorandums of understanding (MoU) for investments of over Rs 12,400 crore in the state.
The MoUs were signed, in the presence of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and the Chairman of the Adani Group, Gautam Adani, at the World Economic Forum 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, a press release from the Adani group said. As part of the MoU, Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) will invest over Rs 5,000 crore in a 100 MW data centre, which would be powered by renewable energy, over the next five to seven years.
AEL will work closely with local MSMEs and startups to develop a globally competent supplier base for the project. It would provide employment, both direct and indirect, to 600 people, the release said. Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) will also invest over Rs 5,000 crore to set up two pump storage projects 850 MW at Koyabestagudem and 500 MW at Nacharam, while Ambuja Cements will invest Rs 1,400 crore to set up a 6 MTPA cement plant in the next five years. It will provide employment to over 4,000 people, both directly and indirectly, the release said. -- PTI
The girl was found hanging in the house
12:49 Parents kill daughter for refusing to give FD money
A couple was arrested in Jharkhand's Ramgarh district for allegedly killing their teenage daughter after she refused to give them money from her fixed bank account, a police officer said.
The girl Khushi Kumari (17) was found hanging in her room on January 13. The brother of Khushi Kumari lodged an FIR at Bhadaninagar police station alleging that his father and stepmother killed his sister and hanged her body after she refused to give them money from her fixed deposit, police said on Tuesday.
Khushi had Rs 6 lakh fixed deposit in a bank which was about to mature. Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Birendra Kumar Chaudhary said police arrested Sunil Mahto and his wife Punam Devi in connection with the suspicious death of their daughter after the victim's brother lodged an FIR on Monday, accusing them of killing her.
Earlier on Monday, hundreds of local villagers demonstrated outside the police station demanding the immediate arrest of the couple. PTI
Snatched Arms recovered in Manipur in June
12:46 CBI files chargesheet in Manipur arms-looting case
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a chargesheet against five people on Wednesday in a case of looting of arms and ammunition from Manipur Police personnel in May 2023.
The chargesheet was filed before the court of chief judicial magistrate, Kamrup (Metro) in Assam's Guwahati, a CBI spokesperson said.
The federal agency had taken over the case from the Manipur Police (Heingang police station in Imphal East) in June last year. The case pertain to a mob storming into the Manipur Police Training College's (MPTC) Pangei complex on May 4, 2023 and allegedly looting a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the armoury during an ethnic conflict in the northeastern state, the CBI spokesperson said. PTI
12:40 SpiceJet passenger stuck in loo: Airline to refund ticket
Update: In an unfortunate mid-air incident on Tuesday, a SpiceJet passenger was stuck inside an aircraft lavatory for around an hour due to malfunctioning of the door lock.
The incident occurred onboard the flight from Mumbai to Bengaluru on Tuesday, and the airline is providing a full refund to the passenger, according to a SpiceJet spokesperson.
The airline has also apologised for the inconvenience caused to the passenger. Soon after landing at the Bengaluru airport, an engineer opened the lavatory door and the passenger came out. Details about the passenger could not be immediately ascertained.
"On 16 January, a passenger unfortunately got stuck inside the lavatory for about an hour on SpiceJet flight operating from Mumbai to Bengaluru, while the aircraft was airborne due to a malfunction in the door lock.
"Throughout the journey, our crew provided assistance and guidance to the passenger. Upon arrival, an engineer opened the lavatory door, and the passenger received immediate medical support," the spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday.
The spokesperson also said the passenger is being provided a full refund. PTI
Arun Govil and Deepika Chikhalia as Ram and Laxman
12:38 'Ram', 'Laxman', 'Sita' to attend consecration
Actors Arun Govil, Sunil Lahiri, and Deepika Chikhalia, known for Ramand Sagar's 'Ramayan', visited Ayodhya to shoot their album 'Hamare Ram Aayenge'.
While talking to mediapersons at an event in Ayodhya, Arun, who played the character of Lord Ram shared his thoughts regarding the Pran Pratistha Mahotsav of Lord Ram.
Arun Govil said, "Ayodhya's Ram temple will prove to be our 'Rashtra Mandir.' The culture that had faded in the last few years across the world, this temple will again send a message that will strengthen our culture. It is a heritage that will be known to the whole world, this temple will be a source of inspiration, it is the centre of our faith, it will be our pride, it will become our identity. Our morals should be adopted by all."
He added, "I had no idea that the consecration of Lord Ram would happen in this way, that it would be such a big event, this is the biggest event of my life. There is so much emotion and energy, the whole country is taking only Ram's name, wherever Lord Ram is present. Those who believe in Ram, there is an atmosphere of happiness there, it was not imagined, hence the feeling of it is very pleasant that we are going to witness such a moment."
Sunil Lahiri, who played the role of Laxman, said, "I am very fortunate to be attending the Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav, I am getting a chance to know what I did not know, the atmosphere created in the country is very religious and is very positive and it will give a very positive feeling to the world."
Sunil Lahiri added, "Those who have been denying Ram, they do not know what Ram is unless someone reads Ramayana. God is Maryada Purushottam, Ramayana also teaches us that we should live with dignity, this teaching is not known to those who deny Ram."
Deepika Chikhalia, who played the role of Goddess Sita, said, "Our image has settled in the hearts of the people, even after the construction of Ram temple, I do not think there will be any change in it, Ram Lala's life is being consecrated, people have given a lot of love. The characters of Ramayana will continue to receive similar love." -- ANI
12:22 'Can you trust Spicejet engineers on engines?'
Senior journalist Vir Sanghvi on the Spicejet passenger getting locked in the loo. "If the engineering department of an airline can't be bothered to check the toilet door, then do you trust the same engineers to check the engines, the door bolts etc? It's a symptom of a much greater failure & reflects on the attitude to safety," he tweeted.
Pic courtesy: @shukla_tarun
12:16 Spicejet pax gets locked inside plane loo for 1hr
After the horror of flying IndiGo and sitting on a tarmac, a passenger on Spicejet was locked in the plane's lavatory. The crew found that the door lock had malfunctioned, and their repeated attempts to rescue the passenger yielded nothing.
The crew wrote a note on a piece of paper and slipped it under the toilet door, which has gone viral.
"Sir, we tried our best to open the door. However, we could not open. Do not panic, we are landing in a few minutes. So please close the commode lid and sit on it and secure yourself. As soon as the main door is open, engineer will come. Do not panic," said the note.
The passenger remained locked inside the loo for over an hour till an engineer managed to unlock the door after the plane landed in Bengaluru. SpiceJet said in a statement that the passenger was provided medical attention soon after rescue.
Rahul Gandhi in Nagaland. Pic:@INCIndia
11:53 Minister's warning to Cong: People will boycott you
Union minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday took a dig at the Congress and the other constituents of the INDIA opposition bloc that are keeping away from the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, saying people might boycott them again for this decision.
Accompanied by Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva, Thakur took part in cleaning the Valmiki temple premises here, ahead of the "pran pratishtha" ceremony at Ayodhya on January 22, under the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) "Swachhata Sewa" programme.
"They boycotted the new Parliament building and the prime minister's address and people boycotted them. Now, they think they can boycott the pran pratishtha ceremony, but people might boycott them again," the senior BJP leader told reporters.
"The Congress and its alliance partners have never missed an opportunity to deny the existence of Lord Ram and hurt the sentiments of Hindus," he alleged.
Opposition leaders are making statements and trying to maintain a distance from the temple consecration ceremony, but they will have to ultimately surrender before Lord Ram, the minister said.
He also said many Congress leaders are not paying any heed to former party chief Rahul Gandhi and joining the "pran pratishtha" ceremony in Ayodhya. PTI
File pic. Army personnel hunt for militants
11:27 Kuki militants attack police vehicle, 1 cop killed
One state police personnel was killed when suspected Kuki militants attacked a security forces vehicle in the border town of Moreh in Manipur's Tengnoupal district on Wednesday, police said.
The deceased was identified as Wangkhem Somorjit an IRB personnel attached to state police commando in Moreh. Somorjit hails from Malom in Imphal West district, they said.
The security forces also exchanged fire with suspected Kuki militants in three different locations in Moreh town on Wednesday morning, police said.
The militants hurled bombs and fired at a post of security forces near SBI Moreh, police said, adding that the security forces retaliated the fire. The militants had also fired RPG shells at the temporary commando post damaging several vehicles parked in the vicinity.
The suspected Kuki militants fired at the security forces post, 48 hours after two suspects in the killing of a police officer were arrested by state forces in the border town, police said.
Earlier, following inputs of "likelihood of breach of peace, disturbance of public tranquillity and grave danger to human lives and property within the revenue jurisdiction of Tengnoupal" the Manipur government imposed a total curfew from 12 am on January 16.
The order by District Magistrate Tengnoupal stated that the curfew shall, however, not apply to "agencies of the government employed in the enforcement of law and order and maintenance of essential services".
Police had arrested Phillip Khongsai and Hemokholal Mate, the two main suspects in the killing of SDPO Ch Anand in October last year.
The two had fired at the vehicles of the security personnel following which police chased and overpowered them. The two were later produced before the Judicial Magistrate Moreh and have been remanded to nine days police custody, police said.
11:10 R Praggnanandhaa beats Liren, becomes #1 Indian chess player
Chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa clinched the number one spot among India's chess players following his victory over World Champion Ding Liren.
The 18-year-old defeated China's Liren with the black pieces at the 2024 Tata Steel Chess Tournament on Wednesday and surpassed the legendary Viswanathan Anand to take the number one spot.
Praggnanandhaa said he was surprised with the outcome as he didn't expect the world champion to get ousted in such a fashion.
"I felt I equalized very easily and then somehow things started to go wrong for him. Even after I won the pawn I felt it should be holdable," Praggnanandhaa was quoted as saying by Chess.com.
"I think any day, if you beat such a strong player, it's always special because it's not very easy to beat them. The first time winning against a world champion in classical chess feels good," he added.
Praggnanandhaa, who started playing at the tender age of 5, went on to become India's youngest and the then world's second-youngest Grandmaster at age 12 in 2018.
He is the fifth-youngest person ever to achieve the title of Grandmaster after Abhimanyu Mishra, Sergey Karjakin, Gukesh D and Javokhir Sindarov. Incidentally, his elder sister R Vaishali is also a Grandmaster, which makes the siblings the world's first-ever brother-sister GM duo.
11:03 Mahua receives 3rd notice to vacate govt house
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra has received fresh notice to vacate her government-allotted accommodation in New Delhi on Wednesday.
This is the third notice served to Moitra by the Directorate of Estate, under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, asking her to vacate her official bungalow and comes shortly after she was expelled from the Lok Sabha in connection with the 'cash-for-query' case.
"The Applicant vide Letter dated 08.01.2024 requested to initiate eviction proceedings against, you under the provisions of Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971," the notice of Office of the Estate Officer and Assistant Director of Estates (Litigation), Directorate of Estates read.
The Ministry of Urban Development served the second notice to Mahua on January 11.
The TMC leader had approached the Delhi High Court, seeking the quashing of the notice issued by the Directorate of Estate cancelling her government accommodation in the national capital.
The plea stated that a notice had been issued to her on December 11, 2023, which directed her to vacate the house by 7.01.2024, failing which proceedings under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants Act) 1971 ('PP Act 1971') will be caused to be initiated.The plea prayed to allow her to retain possession of her government accommodation till results of the 2024 General Elections. -- ANI
10:57 Sensex plunges 1,371 points in early trade
Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty plunged in early trade on Wednesday, dragged down by bank stocks and weak trends from Asian markets.
Extending its previous day's decline, the 30-share BSE Sensex plunged 1,371.23 points to 71,757.54 after a weak beginning. The Nifty tanked 395.35 points to 21,636.95.
Among the Sensex firms, HDFC Bank fell nearly 6 per cent after its December quarter earnings. HDFC Bank on Tuesday reported a 2.65 per cent rise in consolidated net profit of Rs 17,258 crore for the October-December period against Rs 16,811 crore in the preceding September quarter.
Axis Bank, Tata Steel, Kotak Mahindra Bank, ICICI Bank, Tata Motors, and Bajaj Finance were among the other major laggards. Tata Consultancy Services, Reliance Industries, UltraTech Cement, Infosys, HCL Technologies, and Tech Mahindra were among the gainers.
10:40 Tharoor remembers late wife
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor pays homage to his wife Sunanda Pushkar who passed away in 2013. "Ten years. A beautiful soul lives forever. Om Shanti," Tharoor tweeted.
10:30 Being Ram bhakt not sin: Cong leader accepts invite
Days after top leaders in the Congress turned down the invitation to attend the Ram Mandir event in Ayodhya, its former Uttar Pradesh party chief Nirmal Khatri said that he has accepted the invite for the January 22 event saying that being a Ram Bhakt (devotee of Lord Ram) is not a sin.
"...in connection with the program of Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha on 22nd in Ayodhya, I will participate in this program in honour of the personal invitation of respected Champat Rai ji, General Secretary of Ram Janmabhoomi Trust," Khatri said in a post on 'X'.
"Being a devotee of Ram is not a sin, I am proud of this devotion," he reasoned.
The former Faizabad MP further said that there is no instruction from the Congress party prohibiting its leaders from visiting the temple and only the top leaders in the party have turned down the invitation.
Khatri also reasoned that even the Uttar Pradesh Congress unit has asked its workers to visit the Ayodhya temple and take a dip in the Saryu river to mark the Pran Pratishtha event.
"There is no instruction from the Congress Party that no Congressman should participate in this program on 22nd. Only our top leaders have expressed their inability to attend the event on 22nd. Hence I accept the invitation on 22nd and will participate in it. And now the state Congress unit has also inspired the state Congress unit to accept the invitation of 22nd by doing Ayodhya Yatra and take a dip in Saryu at all costs," Khatri said.
The former Uttar Pradesh Congress chief said that the fight against the ideology of any party or organization can be done only by strengthening its organization on an ideological basis and not by any reaction.
"We will not be able to compete with our opponent in the battle of events. Only by strengthening our organization on an ideological basis will we be able to fight our opponent, to which no attention is being paid," he complained.
10:09 Sharad Pawar will visit Ram Mandir on...
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar turned down the invitation to the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on January 22 and said that he will visit for darshan after the event and once the construction is complete.
Pawar conveyed his appreciation on the invite in a letter addressed to Champat Rai, the General Secretary of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra on Wednesday.
"I'm very happy on receiving the invitation for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony to held in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024," Pawar stated in his letter.
In the letter, Pawar acknowledged the devotion of crores of devotees across the country and said, "'Maryada Purushottam Sri Ram' is a symbol of worship and devotion of crores of devotees in and across India. The devotees across the country are excited about the ceremony and are reaching the temple in large numbers. The joy of the historic celebrations will reach me through them."
The NCP supremo said that he will visit the temple during his scheduled visit to Ayodhya after January 22 adding that by then the construction of the temple will also be completed.
"The darshan of Shri Ram Lalla can be done peacefully and with devotion after the ceremonies are over on January 22. I have a scheduled visit to Ayodhya, and at that time I will have the darshan of Shri Ram Lalla, by then the construction of the temple will also be completed," Pawar said.
"I once again express my gratitude for the invitation and convey my best wishes for the success of the ceremony," he added.
Pawar had earlier expressed his disappointment on not receiving the invite and alleged BJP of politics in the name of Ram Mandir. -- ANI
10:00 Beloved Lata didi will be missed on Jan 22: PM
Ahead of the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at Ayodhya Ram Temple on January 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the country will miss the beloved legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar.
PM Modi took to social media platform X to state "As the nation awaits January 22 with great enthusiasm, one of the people who will be missed is our beloved Lata Didi. Sharing a shloka sung by her," PM Modi said it was the last recording by Lata Mangeshkar.
She passed away at the age of 92 on February 6, 2022.
"As the nation awaits 22nd January with great enthusiasm, one of the people who will be missed is our beloved Lata Didi. Here is a Shlok she sung. Her family told me that it was the last Shlok she recorded. #ShriRamBhajan." He also shared the link of the shlok, 'Shree Ramarpan, Mata Ramo Matpita Ramchandrah.'
Born on September 28, 1929, the contribution of the 'Nightingale of India' to music is unforgettable. Her voice echoed in every corner of the country and continues to create the same magic, even after she is no more.
The legendary singer ruled the music industry for decades.
09:25 Over 170 flights affected due to fog in Delhi
The national capital continues to grapple with biting cold and fog, impacting visibility and causing delays and cancellations in flight and train operations on Wednesday morning.
Flight movement to and from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport remained affected with around 120 flights including international ones getting delayed by several hours. 53 flights were also announced cancelled on Wednesday due to fog and other operational issues.
According to the Delhi Airport Flight Information Display System (FIDS) data, the 120 affected flights included 21 international departures, 23 international arrivals, 33 domestic departures, and 43 domestic arrivals.
Apart from the 120 flights affected, a total of 53 flights have been cancelled citing fog and other operational reasons, as per the FIDS data recorded till 8 am on Wednesday. This includes 21 domestic arrivals, 16 domestic departures, 13 international departures, and 3 international arrivals.
Meanwhile, around 20 passenger trains to Delhi were running behind schedule on Wednesday.
According to the Northern Railways, two trains namely Puri-Nizamuddin Purushottam Express and Hyderabad-New Delhi were delayed by around 6-6.30 hours.
Similarly, Azamgarh-Delhi Junction Kaifiyat Express and Ambedkarnagar-Katra were also running behind schedule and are likely to arrive late by around five hours.
A four-and-a-half-hour delay is expected on the arrival of the Katihar-Amritsar Express, the railways' data mentioned.
Six trains namely, Rewa-Anand Vihar Express, Vasco-Nizamuddin Express, Bhopal-Nizamuddin Express, Khajarao-Kurukshetra, Amritsar-Mumbai and Manikpru-Nizamuddin are likely to arrive late by around 2-2.45 hours.
In addition to these, eight long-distance trains are delayed by around 1-1.30 hours, as per the railways. This included Howrah-Kalka Mail, Saharsa-New Delhi Vaishali Express, Prayagraj-New Delhi Express, Muzaffarpur-Anand Vihar, Chennai-New Delhi and Jammutawi-Ajmer, the railways said. -- ANI
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09:03 Train engine hits dead end of platform at Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur station
A train engine hit the dead end of a platform and damaged a portion of it at Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur station on Tuesday night, a railway official has said.
No one was injured in the accident that occurred on platform number 8 during "shunting", he said. Also, the incident did not affect rail traffic, the official said.
The train engine was attached to the Amritsar-Bilaspur Chhattisgarh Express when it hit the platform and damaged a part of it, he said.
The express train arrived on platform number 8 of Bilaspur railway station at 7 pm and subsequently all passengers got down.
Around 8.15 pm the coaches were to be sent to the yard for inspection. However, due to the mistake of the loco pilot, the engine moved forward instead of backward and hit the dead end of the platform, said the official.
"No one was injured. The portion of the platform that was hit by the engine got damaged. What effect the incident has had on the engine is being investigated. No traffic was affected due to this," he said.
Further investigation into the matter is underway, the official said. -- PTI
08:46 Pak warns Iran of serious consequences after attacks
Pakistan on Wednesday issued a strongly worded condemnation of Iran's "violation of its airspace", during which Tehran claimed to have targeted two bases belonging to the Jaish al-Adl militant group.
It also warned the neighbouring country that such actions can have "serious consequences".
Iran on Tuesday launched attacks in Pakistan, targeting what it described as bases for the militant group, the country's state media reported, potentially raising tensions in a Middle East already roiled by Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The attack took place a day after similar Iranian strikes in Iraq and Syria.
Pakistan also summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey its "strongest condemnation of this blatant violation" of its sovereignty.
The Foreign Office of Pakistan also described Iran's act as "unprovoked violation of its airspace" in its statement.
According to reports, Iran hit the bases of the militant group with missiles and drones.
The Foreign Office of Pakistan did not mention the location where the casualties took place. However, it is suspected that the bases were in Balochistan.
Islamabad said the attack resulted in the deaths of two children and injuries to three others.
"Pakistan vehemently protest the violation of its sovereignty. It is completely unacceptable and it may have serious consequences," the Foreign Office of Pakistan said and expressed concern that the "illegal act took place despite the existence of several established channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran".
"A strong protest has already been lodged with the senior official concerned in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran. Additionally, the Iranian charge d'affaires has been called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey our strongest condemnation of this blatant violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and that the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran," it added. -- PTI
Chief Minister Hemant Soren
01:27 JMM calls for Sahebganj bandh today against ED summons to CM Soren
The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has called for a nine-hour strike in Sahebganj district on Wednesday, to protest against the ED summons to Chief Minister Hemant Soren in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.
The Sahebganj unit of JMM also took out a torchlight procession on Tuesday from the railway general institute, around 480 km from Jharkhand capital Ranchi, opposing the Enforcement Directorate's action, a party official said.
The ED had on January 13 sent a letter to the chief minister, asking him to be available for questioning in the case between January 16 and January 20, sources said.
In reply, Soren told the ED it can record his statement on January 20.
The investigation pertains to a "huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia" in Jharkhand, according to the ED. -- PTI
President Droupadi Murmu
01:15 In Meghalaya, posters put up to welcome Prez Murmu bear photos of CM, Guv
Posters were put up to welcome President Droupadi Murmu to Meghalaya on Tuesday, but strangely, they do not bear her photo but of Governor Phagu Chauhan and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
The posters, also depicting photographs of deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, were found on lamp posts, pillars and trees at various places in the state capital Shillong and Tura town in West Garo Hills district.
During her visit to the northeastern state, Murmu attended several programmes.
The posters bear the state emblem -- the Lion capital of Ashoka.
At least one of them also has Government of Meghalaya' written on it.
The posters depicting local leaders instead of the President did not go down well with the BJP Yuva Morcha which slammed the state government for it.
BJYM state president Mewaker Lyngdoh posted on social media: "This ignorance is not just an insult to our Hon'ble President of India but also an insult to the Constitution. The office of the President is a constitutional post. We cannot accept such an insult to the constitutional head of the State i.e. Bharat Shame! Shame! Shame!" This also indicates how casually work is carried out in the state, he said. -- PTI
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01:11 7-year-old girl receives 15 injuries in attack by American Bully dog in Delhi: Cops
A seven-year-old girl received over 15 injuries after she was allegedly attacked by a neighbour's dog in Rohini's Sector-25 area, the police said on Tuesday.
The incident occurred on January 9 when an American Bully dog allegedly attacked the child when she was playing with her friends inside her housing society, they said.
Several members of the society held a protest against dog menace in their area.
Speaking to PTI, the girl's father said she received multiple serious injuries on her hand, back, behind her ear, leg, and under her eyes.
"On January 9, my seven-year-old daughter was playing with her friends around 5 pm. An American Bully pet dog of my neighbour suddenly attacked her," Shrikant Bhagat said over the phone.
"I thank god that she fought back and started screaming, due to which we reached the spot on time and were able to save her life," Bhagat said.
He said that her daughter is in trauma and has not been able to sleep for more than three days.
"As the dog owner is adamant, we have decided to register an FIR against him as his pet was not on a leash," Bhagat, who runs a coaching centre in Mukherjee Nagar, said.
They have decided to take their daughter for a vacation to get over the traumatic experience, he added.
Meanwhile, residents of the society where the victim lived took out a torch march in protest against dog menace in their area.
Protesters raised slogans such as "dog feeding band karo" (stop feeding stray dogs), "dog lovers saavdhaan, khatron me hai bachchon ki jaan" (dog lovers be aware, the lives of children are in danger). -- PTI
00:45 Mumbai cops arrest 2, seize eight pistols and 15 cartridges
The police have arrested two persons from different places and recovered eight pistols and 15 'live' cartridges from their possession, an official said in Mumbai on Tuesday.
The accused, identified as Chetan Sanjay Mali (26) and Seenu Narsaya Padigela (48), were nabbed from Trombay, a suburb of Mumbai, and Kalyan in adjoining Thane district, respectively, he said.
Acting on reliable information, the police laid a trap on Saturday and nabbed Mali, from whom they recovered four pistols and eight 'live' cartridges, said the Trombay police station official.
Later, three more pistols and five 'live' cartridges were recovered from a location in Kalyan about which information was provided by Mali, who has a criminal record, he said.
During probe, Mali revealed Padigela's name and the police seized a pistol and two 'live' cartridges from the latter, said the official.
The duo was arrested under relevant sections of the Arms Act and produced before a local court which remanded them to police custody till Wednesday. -- PTI
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy/File image
00:43 Peace must win: Ukrainian Prez Zelenskyy at WEF
"Peace must win", Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum as he called for support from the international community to defeat the Russian President Vladimir Putin and make him realise that the world unity is stronger than one man's hatred.
Zelenskyy, who also met a number of world leaders here, said everyone wants to know when will the war end or will the world see the third world war.
"Is negotiation with Putin possible," he asked and said, "Putin actually embodies war".
"The war should end with a just peace and that would happen after Putin is defeated and the lives of Ukrainian people are restored," he said in a special address at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos.
Referring to wars in Syria and Crimea among others, the president of the war-hit country said one man has stolen at least 13 years of peace.
"Putin actually embodies war. All efforts have failed and it has been proven that this man will not change. His answer to calls for peace is getting more and more weapons from North Korea and Iran. His answer to efforts for restoring peace is support to terrorists," he said.
Zelenskyy said if anyone thinks it's only about Ukraine, they are fundamentally mistaken.
"We were alone when we were attacked but the good part is the world has now stopped believing in Russia and no one believes in his future," he said. -- PTI
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