LIVE! Guv shouldn't have stepped out of car: Vijayan

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Sat, 27 January 2024

Guv shouldn't have stepped out of car: Vijayan

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21:16 Guv shouldn't have stepped out of car: Vijayan

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said Governor Arif Mohammed Khan stepping out of his vehicle was against security protocols and he should not have done that.

Vijayan also said that Governor Khan has been repeatedly taking a stand contrary to the democratic principles.

The CM, at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, also termed as 'strange' the handing over of the Governor's security to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and said that Khan now was part of a group that till now comprised some Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh workers who enjoy the special protection provided by the Centre.

Vijayan also pointed out that no position of authority was above law.

"Law is supreme," he said.

The CM was responding to reporters' queries regarding what transpired at Nilamel in Kollam district of the state in the morning.

High drama played out in this Kerala district on Saturday when State Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, facing SFI's black flag protest, got off his car, took on the agitating Left student wing members, sat on the roadside and hit out at the chief minister in what seemed to be yet another chapter in the Raj Bhavan vs the ruling Left Democratic Front face-off.

Thereafter, the Centre extended Z+ security cover to Khan, who lashed out at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for 'promoting lawlessness'.

After sitting there for over two hours, Khan left the place only after the police showed him a copy of the FIR registered against 17 SFI activists under non-bailable provisions of the law. -- PTI

20:41 Digi Yatra purely voluntary: Scindia

Digi Yatra is purely voluntary for air passengers and personnel at airports have been directed to collect data for the application only with the consent of passengers, according to Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.

There have been complaints that biometric data for Digi Yatra were being gathered from passengers without their consent and the issue was flagged to the minister by Rajya Sabha member Saket Gokhale.

Digi Yatra, which provides for contactless, seamless movement of passengers at various check points at airports based on Facial Recognition Technology (FRT), is currently available at a minimum 13 airports for domestic passengers.

In response to the member, Scindia has said that the issue was examined and 'airport operators have been advised to sensitise Digi buddies on consent taking process and keeping use of Digi Yatra completely voluntary'.

To support passengers with the use of Digi Yatra, services of individuals called Digi buddies have been made available at the airports.

The minister, in a letter dated January 24, told Gokhale that Digi Yatra is a voluntary process for seamless and hassle free air travel which is purely voluntary.

'Consent of passenger is pre-requisite for taking face biometric on kiosk based registration. Further, the data is automatically purged from the airport system after 24 hours of departure of the flight,' Scindia said in the letter, a copy of which has been shared by Gokhale on social media platform X.

The data shared by a passenger for Digi Yatra is stored in an encrypted format.

For availing the service, a passenger has to register his or her details on DigiYatra app using Aadhaar-based validation and a self image capture. In the next step, the boarding pass has to be scanned and the credentials are shared with the airport.

At the airport e-gate, the passenger has to first scan the bar-coded boarding pass and the facial recognition system installed at the e-gate will validate the passenger's identity and travel document. Once this process is done, the passenger can enter the airport through the e-gate.

The passenger will have to follow the normal procedure to clear the security and board the aircraft.

Digi Yatra Foundation, a not-for-profit company, is the nodal body for Digi Yatra. -- PTI

20:04 Cong's yatra to resume in Bengal on Sunday

The Congress's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' is set to resume on Sunday following a two-day hiatus, with Rahul Gandhi rejoining the programme in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district, a senior party leader said.

The yatra, spearheaded by Gandhi, commenced on January 14 from Manipur and traversed into the Coochbehar district of West Bengal from Assam on Thursday morning.

After holding a roadshow in Coochbehar on January 25, Gandhi departed for New Delhi as the yatra underwent a two-day recess.

During this interval, the yatra advanced to Falakata in Alipurduar for a temporary halt.

"Rahul Gandhi Ji will arrive at Bagdogra airport at 11.30 am. Subsequently, he will proceed to Jalpaiguri, where the yatra will recommence. This time, the yatra will proceed both by bus and on foot, with a night stopover planned near Siliguri on Sunday night," Suvankar Sarkar, a state Congress leader told PTI.

On January 29, the yatra is slated to head towards Islampur in Uttar Dinajpur district before transitioning into Bihar in the afternoon, Sarkar added.

The yatra is programmed to re-enter West Bengal on January 31 via Malda, traversing through Murshidabad, both renowned Congress bastions, before exiting the state on February 1.

The Congress alleged that posters of Gandhi and the Yatra were ripped apart in Jalpaiguri.

On Friday, West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury voiced concerns over encountering obstacles in securing permission to host certain public gatherings during the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in the state.

The ruling Trinamool Congress rejected the allegations, terming them as unfounded, while accusing Chowdhury of echoing the Bharatiya Janata Party's rhetoric.

The yatra in West Bengal began in the state after Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee's announcement that the party will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections independently, and not as part of the opposition bloc INDIA.

The TMC pointed an accusing finger at the Congress for the impasse over seat-sharing.

This marks Gandhi's first visit to the state since the 2021 assembly elections.

The yatra is anticipated to span 6,713 kilometres over 67 days, traversing 110 districts across 15 states before concluding in Mumbai on March 20 or 21. -- PTI

19:56 Army gets first woman Subedar

Havildar Preeti Rajak, who is a champion trap shooter, has become the first woman to hold the rank of Subedar in the Indian Army after she was promoted on Sunday.

Subedar Rajak joined the Army in the Corps of Military Police in December 2022.

"In a proud moment for the Indian Army as well as women of the country, today Havildar Preeti Rajak, trap shooter, was promoted to the rank of Subedar," the Army said.

"Subedar Preeti Rajak is now the first woman Subedar of the Indian Army. Her achievement is an extraordinary display of Nari Shakti," it said.

Subedar Preeti Rajak joined the Army in the Corps of Military Police on December 22, 2022.

She was the first meritorious sportswomen in the shooting discipline enrolled in the Army as a Havildar.

During the 19th Asian Games, held at Hangzhou in China, Rajak won a silver medal in the trap women team event.

Based on her extraordinary performance, she was awarded the first out of turn promotion to Subedar, the Army said in a statement.

Subedar Rajak is currently ranked sixth in India (trap women event) and is training at the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) in preparation for the Paris Olympic Games 2024.

"Her great achievement will motivate generations of young women to come forward to join the Indian Army as well as carve a niche for themselves in professional shooting," the Army said.

Today, Padma Shri and Arjuna awardee Subedar Major and Honorary Lieutenant Jitu Rai was promoted to the rank of Subedar Major and Honorary Captain for his meritorious service, the Army added. -- PTI

IMAGE: Subedar Preeti Rajak, Trap Shooter, creates history as she becomes the First woman Subedar of the Indian Army, on Saturday. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Saturday claimed that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was not trustworthy, and that the Janata Dal-United chief 'himself doesn't know which party he belongs to'.

JMM general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya, talking to PTI on the political turmoil in Bihar, also said Kumar was not made the convener of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) due to the lack of trust in him by the opposition grouping.

"Nitish Kumar is himself not aware which party he belongs to. He neither belongs to his party nor to any other," said Bhattacharya, amid strong indications that the Bihar CM may do yet another volte-face and return to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.

"There was no trust in him. So, he was not made the convener (of INDIA bloc)," he alleged.

Bhattacharya also said that people of Bihar are 'politically aware' and there is 'anger' among them.

"They will not tolerate such practice (of changing sides) every time," he added.

An NDA ally since the 1990s, Kumar had quit the coalition in August 2022, suspecting the BJP of trying to engineer a split in the JD-U, and having conspired to bring down his party's tally in the 2020 assembly polls. -- PTI

The Trinamool Congress on Saturday asserted that its leader, Mamata Banerjee, has never indicated a departure from the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) at the national level, despite recent announcements of the party's decision to contest the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal alone.

On the ongoing speculation surrounding TMC's stance within the opposition front, spokesperson Kunal Ghosh emphasised that Banerjee only advocated the party's solo participation in the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal owing to 'unreasonable demands' from the Congress.

"Mamata Banerjee has never said that we are not part of the opposition bloc in India. The name 'INDIA' for the opposition front was coined by our party supremo herself. We have only stated our intention to contest alone in Bengal due to unjustified demands from the Congress and utterances of its state president Adhir Chowdhury," Ghosh stated.

This clarification comes amid the backdrop of an impasse over seat-sharing between TMC and Congress, with Banerjee's recent announcement of TMC's decision to go solo in Bengal.

In response, the Congress adopted a conciliatory tone, acknowledging Banerjee's significance within the opposition alliance INDIA, and expressing optimism about resolving the seat-sharing deadlock.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, on Thursday, expressed hope for a solution to the impasse.

Banerjee, while affirming TMC's commitment to the opposition alliance on Wednesday, clarified that the party would remain a part of the 'INDIA' bloc at the national level, indicating that strategic decisions would follow post-elections. -- PTI

Congress president M Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said his party expects that those who have the desire to protect the country's Constitution and democracy, will definitely not take any hasty steps, amid indications that Janata Dal-United was planning to revert to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.

He said the Congress will make all efforts to keep the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) united, while maintaining that he has no clarity as to what is in the JD-U leadership's mind.

Responding to a question on the possibility of JD-U going out of the INDIA alliance, Kharge said, "Are they (JD-U) going out? I have not got any information about it so far. I have written a letter to them (JD-U leadership) and have tried to talk to them. I don't know clearly what is in their minds."

Speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi, the Congress president said, "I'm going to Dehradun tomorrow and from there to Delhi. Once I go there, I will gather complete information about it and talk to you, otherwise it may lead to confusion.....Let's see what happens."

Asked about the possibility of the JD-U joining hands with BJP to form a new government in Bihar, Kharge said, "We don't have that information. Whether they have gone to the Governor or whether they are going, they have not informed us. If the INDIA alliance had information about it, I could say authentically, or else it would add to speculations. Let's see what happens."

Stating that the Congress' effort is to the unity of the INDIA alliance should not break, he said, "It's my appeal, I have made this appeal. I have spoken to Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal CM and Trinamool Congress Chief), him (Bihar CM and JD-U chief Nitish Kumar), Lalu Prasad Yadav (RJD chief), Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M general secretary), and others."

"I have told them that we have to stay united, only then we can give a good fight, and the INDIA alliance can be successful in fulfilling the intentions with which it was formed. We expect that those who have the desire to protect this country's Constitution and democracy, will definitely not take any hasty steps. This is my feeling, we will make all efforts," he added. -- PTI

17:58 Nitish to resign by tomorrow morning: Source

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who heads the 'Mahagathbandhan' government, is likely to tender his resignation by Sunday morning, a source close to the CM said on Saturday.

Talking to PTI, the source, who requested anonymity, said though the possibility of resignation by late Saturday evening could not be ruled out, 'it would definitely take place by Sunday morning'.

He also said prior to putting in his papers, Kumar, the Janata Dal-United president, will hold a customary meeting of the legislature party.

The source said government offices like the secretariat have been asked to remain open on Sunday 'in view of hectic activity expected during the day', which may see a new government with the Bharatiya Janata Party's support.

Meanwhile, at a party meeting, state BJP leaders stopped short of making a formal announcement of support to the JD-U chief in the event of his pulling out of the 'Mahagathbandhan'.

Requesting anonymity, BJP sources said instructions have been received from the top leadership to put on hold 'any formal announcement' till Kumar, who had dumped the National Democratic Alliance less than three years ago, resigns. -- PTI

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17:53 Agniveer booked for submitting fake documents

A first information report (FIR) was registered against an Agniveer undergoing training at the Jat Regiment Centre in Bareilly for allegedly submitting fake documents, police said on Saturday.

Mangal Singh, a resident of Fazilka in Punjab, undergoing training at the Jat Regiment Centre, submitted fake documents, including a forged Aadhaar card, according to a complaint lodged by an army officer.

Based on the complaint, the FIR was registered at the Cantt police station, police said in a statement.

The army has handed over Singh to police and the matter is under investigation, police officials said. -- PTI

17:46 BJP meet underway in Patna

Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar gathered in Patna on Saturday to discuss the political situation in the state, amid indications that former ally, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, was planning yet another volte face.

"We have come here to deliberate on the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The current situation in Bihar will also be taken up for discussion," state BJP president Samrat Choudhary told reporters ahead of the party meeting at its Veerchand Patel Marg office.

The meeting is also being attended by the party's MPs.

The BJP has the largest number of 17 MPs in Bihar, where the total number of Lok Sabha members is 40.

The Janata Dal-United, headed by Kumar, has 16 while another Natinoal Democratic Alliance member Lok Janshakti Party, now split up between the uncle-nephew duo of Pashupati Kumar Paras and Chirag Paswan, has six.

BJP leaders have so far refrained from making categorical statements about extending support to Kumar, who is expected to resign as the chief minister before returning to the NDA.

An NDA ally since the 1990s, Kumar had quit the coalition in August 2022, suspecting the BJP of trying to engineer a split in the JD-U, and having conspired to bring down his party's tally in the 2020 assembly polls.

Sniffing power, which the party got robbed off as a result of the development less than three years ago, a senior BJP leader said on condition of anonymity that at the meeting 'a decision is also likely on distribution of portfolios'.

Till its ouster from power, the BJP held a lion's share of cabinet portfolios, by virtue of its superior numerical strength, and two of its leaders Tarkishor Prasad and Renu Devi, were deputy CMs. -- PTI

Police have so far arrested 19 persons in connection with a clash over a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district, and the situation is peaceful in the area amid heavy presence of cops, an official said on Saturday.

Members of two communities had clashed and pelted stones at each other after the statue was pulled down by unidentified persons in Makdone tehsil on Thursday morning.

A total of 19 persons have been arrested so far in connection with the clash, said Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP-Rural) Nitesh Bhargava. They have been booked for rioting and using criminal force to deter a public servant from performing their duty.

He said markets are open in Makdone, and the situation is normal in the town.

There is peace between both groups, but the police are keeping an eye on the situation, he said, and added that the status quo remains intact at the disputed site.

No injuries were reported in Thursday's clash. However, it prompted authorities to deploy police personnel in large numbers in the Makdone area, located about 50 km from the district headquarters.

In a video of the incident, which went viral on social media, a group of people was seen pulling down the statue with a tractor. They wanted a statue of social reformer and the Constitution's chief architect Dr B R Ambedkar be installed at the site, instead of Patel's, police sources had said.

The statue of Patel was installed at a site close to the Makdone bus stand on Wednesday night, they said. Bhargava said on Friday that they were still trying to find out when the statue was installed. -- PTI

16:42 Trying to connect, Nitish not reachable: Cong

The Congress on Saturday asserted that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) is not imploding even though the Bharatiya Janata Party is trying its best to do 'mini-implosions' in the opposition alliance.

The remarks came amid reports that Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar may return to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told a press conference in New Delhi that party chief Mallikarjun Kharge is trying to get in touch with Kumar but the two are have not been able to connect yet.

He said Kharge has been trying to speak with Kumar and his office has responded. But the two are unable to connect due to their pre-occupations, the Congress general secretary said.

Ramesh also said that Kharge has already established contact with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and has also written to her.

"I am hopeful that Mamata Banerjee and Nitish Kumar, being co-architects of the opposition alliance, will continue to be part of the INDIA bloc," Ramesh said. -- PTI

Janata Dal-United's political adviser and spokesperson K C Tyagi on Saturday made it all but clear that the grand alliance government in Bihar is on the verge of collapse and accused a section of the Congress leadership of repeatedly 'insulting' Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

"The INDIA bloc is on the verge of collapse. The alliance of INDIA bloc parties is almost over in Punjab, West Bengal and Bihar," he told reporters.

The goal and intentions with which Kumar, the JD-U president, succeeded in bringing non-Congress parties with the Congress have come unstuck, Tyagi said, asserting that their leader was 'misunderstood'.

Kumar never hankered after a position in the alliance but a section of the Congress leadership repeatedly insulted him, he said.

Tyagi said he could not see as to how the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) parties could fight the 'all-powerful' Bharatiya Janata Party.

The Bihar chief minister succeeded in bringing together several parties in Patna but the entire process became so limp that the INDIA bloc has had no joint meetings on leadership and agenda even though the Lok Sabha elections are now round the corner. -- PTI

15:41 JD-U leaders rush to Nitish's residence

Top leaders of the Janata Dal-United on Saturday rushed to the residence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the party president, amid strong indications that he was planning to quit the ruling 'Mahagathbandhan' and revert to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.

Leaders like former national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh, 'Lalan', minister and national general secretary Sanjay Kumar Jha and state legislative council chairman Devesh Chandra Thakur reached 1, Anney Marg, the CM's official residence in Patna, around the same time when a meeting of legislators of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the JD-U's current ally, was underway.

The meeting of RJD legislators was going on at party supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's residence.

A meeting of the BJP's legislators and Parliamentarians in the state is also scheduled at the party office later in the day though leaders have so far maintained that it has been called to discuss upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Kumar has so far maintained a deafening silence over the political turmoil.

There are strong rumours that he may resign and form a new government, armed with the BJP's support. -- PTI

14:42 Baghel to look after Cong activities in Bihar

The Congress on Saturday appointed former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel as its senior observer to coordinate the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' and other party activities in Bihar with immediate effect.

The appointment comes at a time when power politics in Bihar has intensified amid strong indications that Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United president Nitish Kumar may do yet another volte-face and return to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has appointed Baghel as senior observer to coordinate the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' and other party activities in Bihar, a statement issued by the party's general secretary organisation K C Venugopal said.

The Rahul Gandhi-led yatra is on a two-day break from January 26 to 27 and will restart from West Bengal's Jalpaiguri.

It is expected to enter Bihar on January 29 and return to West Bengal again on January 31 via Malda.

Gandhi is undertaking the over 6,700-km Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Manipur to Mumbai. -- PTI

Rashtriya Janata Dal leaders in Bihar on Saturday gathered at party president Lalu Prasad Yadav's home in Patna amid fears that the party might be ditched by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Besides Prasad, his son Tejashwi Yadav, who is the Deputy CM, and wife Rabri Devi, a former chief minister, were present at the meeting attended by senior leaders, including members of the state legislature.

Incidentally, the RJD is the largest alliance partner in the Mahagathbandhan which includes Congress and three Left parties and falls eight members short of majority in the assembly in the event of Kumar's Janata Dal-United pulling out.

The ruling Mahagathbandhan in Bihar appeared to be on tenterhooks amid strong indications that chief minister Nitish Kumar, the JD-U president, may do yet another volte-face and return to the BJP-led NDA. -- PTI

13:08 ED issues fresh summons to Jharkhand CM Soren

The Enforcement Directorate has issued a fresh communication to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, asking him to again join the investigation in a money laundering case next week, official sources said on Saturday.

Soren has been asked to confirm his availability for questioning on either January 29 or January 31, they said.

The central agency had earlier asked the Jharkhand chief minister to join the probe on any date between January 27 and 31 but since there was no official response, it has issued a fresh letter-cum-summons to the 48-year-old politician, who is also the executive president of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).

The ED recorded Soren's statement for the first time in the case on January 20 after its investigators went to his official residence in Ranchi.

The statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) during the nearly seven hours the investigators spent at his home.

It has been learnt that the fresh summons was issued as the questioning had not completed that day.

The investigation pertains to a 'huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia' in Jharkhand, according to the agency.

The ED has so far arrested 14 people in the case, including 2011-batch IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan who served as the director of the state's Social Welfare Department and deputy commissioner of Ranchi. -- PTI

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Saturday got out of his vehicle and sat in front of a wayside shop demanding the arrest of Student Federation of India activists who protested against him in Nilamel in this district.

He took a chair from the shop on the busy MC Road here and sat demanding action against the agitators.

In the visuals aired on TV channels, a visibly angry Khan could be seen talking tough to the police personnel.

Besides police, his officials and local people gathered in large numbers at the spot.

A number of activists of the ruling Comunist Party of India-Marxist's students' wing SFI staged a black flag protest against the Governor when he was on his way to nearby Kottarakkara for a function.

Khan and the Left government have been at loggerheads over several issues, primarily about the functioning of universities in the state and his non-signing of certain bills passed by the assembly.

Amid the face-off, on Thursday, the Governor had finished his customary policy address to the Kerala Assembly within two minutes, reading out only the last paragraph. -- PTI

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12:24 Tiger caged in Kerala's Wayanad; visuals of bear on prowl triggers panic

Amidst repeated incidents of wild animals straying into habited areas in Wayanad, a male tiger was found trapped in a cage on an estate in this high-range district on Saturday.

Wildlife officials confirmed that the caged big cat was the one which had attacked and killed several domestic animals in the area and nearby places in recent times.

Officials said they fixed the cage inside Beenachi Estate, situated near Sulthan Bathery, in the wake of a cow calf killed in a suspected tiger attack on Friday.

"The caged tiger is approximately 11 years old. We have identified the big cat as 'WYS 9' which has killed several domestic animals in the area in recent times," a senior wildlife official told PTI.

'WYS 9' is among a series of numbers given to the animals for identification during the time of its recent census, he said.

The animal was later shifted to a nearby hospital-cum-welfare centre under the department, he added.

"The veterinarian is examining the big cat...If it needs any special care or treatment, we will provide it," the official added.

Meanwhile, a CCTV visual of a bear, purportedly walking along a road in Bathery town on Friday night, triggered panic among local people in Wayanad.

The visuals went viral on social media platforms and telecast by television channels.

There were reports about an adult sloth bear which has been on the loose in this district for the past few days.

The officials said they were yet to confirm whether the bear seen in the visuals and the sloth bear on prowl which recently entered a home to steal sugar were the same. -- PTI

11:31 BJP offering Rs 25 cr to 7 AAP MLAs: Kejriwal

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party has offered Rs 25 crore each to seven of its MLAs in Delhi to quit the party while also threatening to topple the Kejriwal government.

The Delhi BJP, however, rubbished the allegation and challenged AAP to name the MLAs and the people who contacted them with the offer.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal posted on 'X' that seven of his party MLAs had been contacted by 'them' and warned that the AAP convener would be arrested soon.

According to Kejriwal, the callers claimed they were in contact with 21 AAP MLAs.

The MLAs were promised Rs 25 crore and a BJP ticket each to contest the elections after the toppling of the Delhi government, the AAP leader charged.

Kejriwal added that all the seven AAP MLAs refused to quit the party.

He also claimed that attempts were being made to get him arrested in connection with the alleged liquor scam to bring down the AAP government in Delhi.

Several conspiracies were hatched in the past nine years to topple the AAP government in Delhi, but they all failed, Kejriwal said.

Refuting the allegation, Delhi BJP secretary Harish Khurana challenged AAP to name the MLAs and also those who contacted them.

He said AAP was trying to shift focus from Kejriwal skipping ED summons for questioning in the liquor scam. -- PTI

Amid the turmoil in Bihar, alliance partner Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Saturday claimed that "all is well" in the grand alliance government in the state.

Talking to PTI, RJD spokesperson (state unit), Mrityunjay Tiwary said, "All is well in the grand alliance government in the state... things are normal as of now".

He, however, made it clear that the RJD is ready to face the situation if something unprecedented happens tomorrow.

"If something unprecedented happens tomorrow, we are ready to face the consequences", he said.

Tiwary said, "As far as the current political situation in the state is concerned, as reported in a section of media, it becomes the responsibility of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to clear the picture. Since he is heading the Mahagathbandhan government in the state, he must clarify the situation".

People have seen works done by the Mahagathbandhan government in the state, he added.

Meanwhile, amid the turmoil in Bihar's ruling Mahagathbandhan, the opposition BJP has called a meeting of its MPs and MLAs on Saturday apparently to discuss the Lok Sabha polls.

Bihar BJP chief Samrat Choudhary told reporters on Friday, that the meeting is scheduled to deliberate on the party's strategy for the general elections, the dates for which are yet to be announced. -- PTI

The Kerala high court has suspended two of its officials from service for allegedly showing derogatory content and criticising the Central government in a stage show performed on Republic Day.

The Registrar General of the high court said that both the officials -- one an Assistant Registrar (higher grade) and the other a Court Keeper (higher grade) -- shall be on suspension, with immediate effect, pending an enquiry into the incident and resultant disciplinary action.

"They (the two officials) shall return all government properties held by them, if any, including the identity card issued to them," the Registrar General said in the order issued on Friday.

The order also stated that the Chief Justice has directed the Registrar (Vigilance) to carry out a detailed enquiry about the incident and submit a report at the earliest.

"The Registrar (Administration) is directed to furnish a detailed explanation as to the circumstances in which the above said incident took place," it said.

During the period of suspension, the two shall be paid the subsistence allowance and other allowances admissible as per the relevant rules in practice, the order said.

The stage show was performed on Republic Day in the high court auditorium in Kochi. -- PTI

10:15 Rahul Gandhi will contest from...: Congress MP

Congress MP K Muraleedharan on Friday said that former party president Rahul Gandhi will be contesting in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the Wayanad constituency.

Muraleedharan said that all sitting MPs from Kerala are expected to contest from the same seats, except in Kannur.

"That is the arrangement as of now, I believe. Rahul Gandhi will be contesting from Wayanad. There is no change to that," he told reporters in Kozhikode.

Gandhi was elected from the Wayanad constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Muraleedharan also downplayed the ongoing issues in the INDIA alliance with regard to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

"There are no problems in the INDIA alliance. When they all come to the Centre, everyone will be together against the BJP," he said.

The Congress MP said that as far as the Bihar CM was concerned, he may stay or leave the alliance as per his wish, but the party will not push him out.

Regarding the differences with Banerjee over sharing of seats in that state, Muraleedharan said that talks were still going on.

He further said that there would be contests between members of the alliance in some states like Kerala and Punjab, but any splitting of votes would not benefit the BJP in any way in those places. -- PTI

France has raised with India the issue of Indian authorities serving a notice to New Delhi-based French journalist Vanessa Dougnac, allegedly over violation of certain rules.

The matter was taken up with New Delhi during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, officials said.

India conveyed to the French side that the issue is about "compliance with the rules and regulations of the country", indicating that it is not related to her journalism.

"This has been brought to our attention by the French side both prior to the visit (of President Macron) and during the visit," Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said at a media briefing while replying to a question on the issue.

He said the matter is being handled by the relevant government department.

The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) that operates under the Union Home Ministry issued a notice to Dougnac, asking her to explain why her Overseas Citizen of India card should not be withdrawn, citing certain violations of rules.

"We are aware of the matter and it is being dealt with by the relevant department," Kwatra said, adding the frame of reference to look at the matter is the "compliance with the rules and regulations of the country."

"I do not think this has got anything else to do with other aspects of journalism etc. The principal issue is whether the person is compliant with the rules and regulations of the state under which they come," he said.

Kwatra said the Indian side shared its position on the matter with the French side and it appreciated the "frame of reference in which we are looking at this".

Dougnac has been based in New Delhi since 2001 and works for French newspaper La Croix.

It is learnt that the notice was issued to her on January 18 and she has been given 15 days time to respond to it. -- PTI

09:25 Shinde to meet Maratha quota activist Jarange

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will meet Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Saturday at Vashi in neighbouring Navi Mumbai, where the latter has been camping with thousands of protesters over the demand for reservation to his community, officials said.

CM Shinde's meeting with Jarange assumes significance after the state government on Friday night came out with a draft ordinance regarding the reservation demands of Marathas.

The government came out with the ordinance as per Jarange's demand, and a team of government officials visited him last night at the camp site.

During his speech on Friday, Jarange had warned that he and his supporters would enter Mumbai on Saturday for their planned protest at Azad Maidan ground if their demands were not met by Friday night.

He also made a fresh demand that the government amend its free education policy to include all Marathas until the benefit of reservation becomes available for the entire community.

He has sought data of the 37 lakh Kunbi certificates issued by the state government. Kunbi, an agrarian community, falls in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, and Jarange has been demanding Kunbi certificates for all Marathas.

The activist suddenly emerged into limelight in September 2023 when police used force to break up the gathering at his indefinite fast at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district. He launched another round of fast later, forcing the government to initiate talks with him.

The Maharashtra government had earlier enacted a law to provide reservation in government jobs and admissions to educational institutes to the politically as well as numerically dominant Maratha community, but it was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2021.

The Bihar government on Friday transferred 22 IAS, 79 IPS and 45 Bihar Administrative Service (BAS) officers.

The transferred officers included five district magistrates (DMs) and 17 SPs.

According to a notification by the general administration department, Patna DM Chandrasekhar Singh, a 2010-batch IAS officer, has been made special secretary in the chief minister's secretariat.

Singh was recently in the news for his war of letters with the state education department over closure of schools in Patna in view of cold wave conditions. He has been replaced by 2011-batch IAS officer Shirsat Kapil Ashok, who is currently the IG (prisons).

Naval Kishor Choudhary (2013-batch IAS officer), currently Gopalganj DM, will take over as the new Bhagalpur DM.

Bhagalpur DM Subrat Kumar Sen (a 2013-batch IAS officer) has been appointed as Muzaffarpur DM.

Arvind Kumar Choudhary (1995-batch IAS officer), presently posted as principal secretary (finance), has been given additional charge of principal secretary (rural development department).

Senthil K Kumar (1996-batch IAS officer), principal secretary, home department, is the new principal secretary of the planning department.

Safeena AN (1997-batch IAS officer), principal secretary, minorities welfare department, has been appointed as member, revenue board.

Meanwhile, according to a notification by the home department, 79 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, including 17 SPs posted in different districts, were also transferred on Friday.

Sushil Mansingh Khopde (1995-batch IPS), currently posted as additional director general (operations), Special Task Force (STF), has been appointed as ADG (prohibition). Amrit Raj (1998-batch IPS), currently posted as ADG (prohibition), has been appointed as ADG (operations), the notification said.

Deepak Ranjan (2012-batch IPS), currently posted as SP Jehanabad, has been transferred as commandant (Bihar Special Armed Police, Bodh Gaya).

SP Naugachia Sushant Kumar Saroj has been appointed as SP Bagaha.

SP Araria Ashok Kumar Singh has been made commandant (Bihar Special Armed Police, Sasaram), SP Siwan Shailesh Kumar Sinha has been made commandant (Bihar Special Armed Police, Patna), SP Saharasha Upendra Nath Verma is the new Purnea SP, Amitesh Kumar (SP Khagaria) will take charge as Siwan SP.

Similarly, 45 officers of Bihar Administrative Service (BAS) have also been assigned new postings.

On January 23, 29 senior IAS officers were assigned new postings in a major bureaucratic rejig.

"Transfers and postings made in the last few days were part of routine exercise," a senior GAD official said. -- PTI

Pinarayi Vijayan

07:43 Kerala CM, ministers boycott governor's R-Day reception

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and cabinet ministers boycotted the "at home" reception organised by Governor Arif Muhammad Khan at Raj Bhavan on the occasion of Republic Day.

Principal Secretary of the General Administration Department, KR Jyothilal, was the only official who attended the "at home" at Raj Bhavan on Friday evening.

The chief secretary and state director general of police (DGP) also did not attend the programme.

This comes after Governor Khan on Thursday cut short his budget session speech in the Kerala assembly, completing the address in just one minute, reading only the last paragraph of the text.

He said: "It is my honour to address this august body of the representatives of the people of Kerala, marking the beginning of the 10th session of the 15th Kerala legislative assembly. And now I will read the last paragraph."

However, both the chief minister and governor attended the Republic Day celebrations at Central Stadium on Friday morning.

Manoj Jarange Patil

07:30 Jarange ends quota stir as govt accepts demands

Stating that the Maharashtra government has "accepted our request," Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who started his hunger strike on Friday, said the protest is over now.

"Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has done a good job. Our protest is now over. Our request has been accepted. We will accept the letter from him. I will drink juice by the hands of the chief minister today," Patil said while addressing a press conference on Friday night.

Referring to the demand of giving a Kunbi certificate to all 54 lakh people whose proof of being Kunabi has been found till now, Patil said that they will be given the certificates soon.

"54 lakh entries were found for our fight. They will be given the certificate soon," he said.

-- ANI

Pic: Altaf Hussain/Reuters

07:26 Traffic curbs in Delhi for Monday's Beating Retreat ceremony

The Delhi police has made elaborate traffic arrangements for the Beating Retreat ceremony to be held at Vijay Chowk on Monday, officials said.

The Beating Retreat ceremony marks the formal end of the Republic Day celebrations.

In an advisory issued on Friday, the police said traffic restrictions will be put in place from 2 pm to 9.30 pm on Monday and Vijay Chowk will remain closed to traffic.

Traffic will not be allowed on Rafi Marg between Sunehri Masjid roundabout and Krishi Bhawan roundabout, Raisina Road from Krishi Bhawan roundabout towards Vijay Chowk, beyond Dara Shikoh roundabout, Krishna Menon Marg roundabout and Sunehri Masjid towards Vijay Chowk, the advisory said.

Traffic will be restricted on Kartavya Path between Vijay Chowk and 'C' hexagon, it said.

Commuters are advised to take alternative routes like Ring Road, Ridge Road, Aurobindo Marg, Madrasa T-Point, Lodhi Road, Safdarjung Road, Kamal Ataturk Marg, Rani Jhansi Road, and Minto Road, it said.

Buses will be diverted from their normal routes from 2 pm to 9.30 pm on Monday to facilitate the vehicles of invitees and spectators and to avoid traffic congestion on roads around the venues of the ceremony and India Gate, the advisory said.

Parking will be available for those coming to see the illumination at Vijay Chowk between Rafi Marg and 'C' Hexagon after 7 pm, it said.

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