LIVE! 'Proud Marathas' wouldn't want Kunbi status: Rane

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Mon, 29 January 2024

'Proud Marathas' wouldn't want Kunbi status: Rane

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23:22 'Proud Marathas' wouldn't want to be counted among Kunbis: Rane

Union Minister Narayan Rane on Monday opposed the Maharashtra government's decision to issue Kunbi certificates to members of the Maratha community and said 'proud Marathas' would not want to be included in the Kunbi segment to avail reservation benefits.

'Proud Marathas would not get included in Kunbis and seek benefits of reservations. This could mean an encroachment over the existing OBCs,' Rane, a former chief minister and senior BJP leader, said in a post on social media platform X.

'It is my request to the Maharashtra government not to suppress the Maratha community that has a glorious history of wars and battles. It is a delicate matter that the state needs to study deeply,' he further said.

Marathas, at nearly four crore, comprise 32 per cent of the state's population, Rane said, adding that 'caste, religion and country is superior than any post'.

Rane, when he was in the Congress, headed a committee on Maratha quota, though granting such benefits on its recommendations did not pass the legal test.

On Sunday, Rane had also expressed disapproval of the state government's decision to give Kunbi certificates to kin based on caste certificates or old documents.

His opposition comes amid state minister Chhagan Bhujbal expressing similar views.

Bhujbal, a senior OBC leader, on Sunday said protests will be held outside the residences of MLAs, MPs and tehsildars on February 1 against the state government's decision regarding the Maratha quota.

Bhujbal's announcement came after Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange called off his stir on Saturday following the state government saying it had accepted his demands.

A draft notification issued by the government had accepted the demand of Jarange regarding the issuance of Kunbi caste (OBC) certificates to the 'sage soyre' (blood relatives) of Marathas. -- PTI

A fatwa has allegedly been issued against All India Imam Organization chief Dr Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi after he attended the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of Ram Lalla at Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22.

The Imam said the fatwa was issued on Sunday but that he had been receiving threat calls since the Ram Temple event.

"As a chief Imam, I received the invitation from Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra. I contemplated for two days and then decided to go to Ayodhya for harmony and for the country. The fatwa was issued yesterday but I had been receiving threat calls since the evening of January 22," Ilyasi told ANI on Monday.

The Islamic cleric also claimed that he has been facing protests and receiving threatening calls since he visited the Pran Pratishtha ceremony.

"I have recorded a few calls wherein the callers gave me life threats...Those who love me, love the nation will support me. Those who hate me for attending the ceremony should perhaps go to Pakistan. I have given a message of love; I did not do any crime," he added.

He further said that he would neither apologize nor resign and said, "They can do whatever they want."

Earlier on January 22, Dr Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi attended the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya and said that his job is to spread the message of love and harmony. -- ANI

22:14 Lalu Yadav grilled for over 9 hours by ED

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday questioned Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad for over nine hours in connection with the agency's money laundering probe into the alleged land-for-jobs scam, officials said.

Prasad, accompanied by his daughter Misa Bharti, arrived at the ED office in Patna for questioning around 11 am and left at 8.50 pm, sources said.

The investigating officer of the case recorded Prasad's statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said.

A team of ED officials from Delhi reached Patna on Sunday to question the RJD leader in connection with the alleged scam, the sources said.

The central agency had on January 19 issued fresh summons for questioning Prasad and his son Tejashwi Yadav.

The RJD chief appeared before the central agency a day after JD-U president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ditched the 'Mahagathbandhan' in which the RJD is the largest constituent, and the opposition bloc INDIA to form a new government in the state with support of the BJP.

Pic: NYCMayorsOffice/X

21:48 New Gandhi statue in NYC replaces vandalised one

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar unveiled a new statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside a temple in Queens, replacing a previous sculpture that was vandalised twice more than a year ago.

Last year, the statue of Gandhi that stood in South Richmond Hill was destroyed. But our solidarity and spirit to rebuild was not. Today, we stood with the community to say in one voice: Hate has no place in our city, Adams said in a post on X.

We embody the values of justice for which Gandhi gave his life, he said after the new statue outside the Shri Tulsi Mandir in South Richmond Hill was unveiled last week.

Rajkumar, Adams, and community leaders unveiled the brand new Mahatma statue, which replaced the one that was "infamously destroyed in a hate crime in August 2022", Rajkumar's office said.

The unveiling of the new statue sends the message that love will always triumph over hate, her office added.

In August 2022, unidentified persons destroyed the handcrafted statue of Mahatma Gandhi with a sledgehammer at the Hindu temple. The same Gandhi statue was vandalised two weeks before the August 2022 incident, investigating officials had said.

In a post on X, Rajkumar termed the unveiling as a historic moment for our Richmond Hill community as we came together to show that our love will conquer all hate. A year ago, I led the Richmond Hill community in an international movement for peace after vandals destroyed our Mahatma Gandhi statue in a hate crime. Today was a historic moment as @NYCMayor and I unveiled a brand new Gandhi statue at the site. Love will always conquer hate, she said.

The consulate general of India in New York had strongly condemned the vandalisation and had taken up the matter with US authorities to ensure those responsible for the despicable action are held accountable.

NYC council member Lynn Schulman said in a post on X that in 2022, a hate crime was committed not once, but twice, against the Hindu community in Richmond Hill, with the destruction of the Gandhi statue in front of the Shri Tulsi Mandir.

Many, including @JeniferRajkumar, @DavidWeprin and myself stood in solidarity against this hatred, she said, adding that she was proud to join with the community to unveil the new Gandhi statue.

CJI D Y Chandrachud

20:42 Not a railway platform: CJI ticks off lawyer

"This is not a railway platform where you can hop onto any train which comes," Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud admonished a young lawyer on Monday for mentioning for urgent hearing an unlisted plea at 12 noon.

The lawyer wanted the plea seeking judicial reforms to be heard urgently.

How can you mention like this at 12 noon? asked the CJI, who along with justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was hearing regular listed cases.

"Yeh koi platform nahi hai ki bas chadh gaye jo bhi train aa gayi (this is not a railway platform where you can hop onto any train which comes)," the CJI told the lawyer curtly.

The CJI's bench hears mentioning of cases for urgent listing before SC benches at the start of day's proceedings at 10:30 am.

When the lawyer persisted with his request, Justice Chandrachud rapped him, saying, How can you mention something like this? Do you practise in the Supreme Court? You just stand up and mention it! We will impose costs....

The lawyer said he practises at the Delhi high court.

"Is this the practice in the Delhi high court that a lawyer stands up and mentions a case any time?" Justice Chandrachud exclaimed and advised him to consult a lawyer to understand the procedure followed in the apex court.

As speculation is doing the rounds about Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's whereabouts in the wake of Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons to him and agency sleuths visiting his Delhi residence, a family member of his termed the narratives 'designed' to delegitimise the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader's position.

The family member, who did not wish his identity to be revealed, told PTI that a false narrative was being set despite repeated communication to ED and compliance to the summons including willingness to 'record his statement on January 31, 2024 at 1 pm at his residence'.

An ED team on Monday visited the residence of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in Delhi in connection with a money laundering investigation in an alleged land fraud case.

The ED had questioned him at his official residence in Ranchi for over seven hours on January 20 and had issued a fresh summons to him for this week.

"It is a political vendetta. Not being in the house is not equivalent to fleeing. If a person is not in his residence, he can be anywhere. This is not a warrant that he has to be available. He is in Delhi and will reach Ranchi tonight or on Tuesday," the family member told PTI.

"In spite of sending repeated communications and compliance to the summons on his (CM) side, they are acting in haste. It is designed to malign his image and build a media narrative that is being played to delegitimise his position," the family member said.

The person said Soren is well and doing fine and was throughout in Delhi busy with his own work. -- PTI

Pic: Amy Jackson/Instagram

19:44 Amy Jackson, Ed Westwick announce engagement

Actor couple Amy Jackson and Ed Westwick on Monday announced their engagement after dating for almost two years.

According to the pictures posted by Jackson, 31, on social media, Westwick, 36, proposed to her on a bridge in Gstaad, Switzerland.

The couple shared the news with fans and followers in a joint Instagram post.

Hell YES," Jackson captioned the photos.

"I hit a jackpot," Westwick wrote on his Instagram Story.

Jackson is best known for films such as Ekk Deewana Tha and Theri, whereas Westwick is most popular for his work in the American teen drama series Gossip Girl.

Jackson was previously engaged to London-based entrepreneur George Panayiotou, with whom she shares four-year-old son Andreas.

19:23 Waited for 8 months, Cong did nothing: TMC

Senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee on Monday attributed the differences in opposition's Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) in West Bengal to Congress party's failure to finalise seat-sharing arrangements.

Banerjee highlighted that despite repeated reminders over the last eight months, the Congress remained inactive in sealing the seat-sharing agreement.

The TMC national general secretary slammed West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for playing into the hands of the saffron camp and repeatedly attacking the TMC government in West Bengal, despite being an ally at the national level.

"According to alliance norms, the first thing you do is seal the seat-sharing. We had waited for eight months to seal the seat-sharing issue. But the Congress was sitting idle and nothing moved forward," he told reporters in Diamond Harbour.

TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee had last week announced that the party would go alone in the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal. The Diamond Harbour MP, who is also the nephew of Mamata Banerjee, slammed Chowdhury for 'demanding President's Rule in the state', echoing the demands of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

"By demanding President's Rule, whose interest is the state Congress president trying to serve the TMC, the Congress or the BJP? There is a limit to our patience," he said.

The TMC leader, however, iterated that the 'party continues to be a part of the opposition bloc INDIA at the national level'. -- PTI

Superstar Rajinikanth on Monday said his daughter Aishwarya did not term 'Sanghi' a 'bad word' and only expressed her point of view that he was a spiritual person.

She had said "Dad is a spiritual person who loves all religions and when that is the case why father should be described so (as a Sanghi)," the top star said.

Asked about allegations that Aishwarya spoke on the matter to promote the movie Lal Salaam, he rejected the accusation saying "nothing like that."

The film Lal Salaam is an Aishwarya directorial and set for release on February 9. The cast of the movie includes Rajinikanth.

'Sanghi' is a colloquial term used to describe a supporter or activist of the Right wing.

Aishwarya's certain reported remarks on the word and it being directed at her father had been keenly debated in many circles.

The Delhi Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have won the best marching contingents in the Republic Day parade of 2024, an official document from the Ministry of Defence said on Monday.

While the Delhi Police wins the best women contingent trophy in 'judges choice category', the CRPF in 'popular choice category', the document said.

Expressing delight, Delhi Police PRO and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Suman Nalwa in a post on her 'X' account said, "A moment of immense pride...Delhi Police marching contingent in Republic Day parade has been declared the 'Best Marching Contingent' among the CAPF and other auxiliary forces in Judges Choice category."

"Thanks to everyone who voted for Delhi Police's Nari Shakti at Kartavya Path," Nalwa said.

A trophy representation ceremony will be organised at RR Camp in Delhi Cantonment at 12.30 pm on January 30 The Raksha Rajya Mantri will confer the trophies to the best marching contingents and tableaux participated in the Republic Day parade.

In a first, Delhi Police's all women contingents with all women pipe band participated the Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path on January 26.

The Delhi Police contingents had one female gazetted officer, three women sub-inspectors, 44 women head-constables, and 100 women constables.

Delhi Police Brass and Pipe Band had four women sub inspectors and 81 women constables who played the 'Delhi Police Song' at Kartavya Path. The CRPF, which has the distinction of raising one of the first women band contingents, had 100 women personnel who played the tune 'Desk Ke Hum Hai Rakshak'.

Its women contingent consisted of 148 female personnel drawn from units deployed in various parts of the country for anti-insurgency, anti-naxal and law and order duties, and depicts a mini India as it consists of Mahila personnel from all parts of the country at Kartavya Path. -- PTI

BJP MLA Nitesh Rane

18:31 Fadnavis with us, don't fear: Rane at Hindu rally

BJP MLA Nitesh Rane told a Hindu Jan Aakrosh gathering in Solapur that he would back their aggression to the hilt and to not fear the police since his "boss" stays in "Sagar Bungalow", the official residence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Fadnavis, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader, holds the home portfolio in the Eknath Shinde government.

At the rally in temple town Pandharpur on Sunday, Rane told the gathering he had come to stand by the Hindu community and that they must work without any fear of police action.

"We have not come here to interfere in anyone's work. I want to tell all 'jihadis' to stay where you are and not confront us because we have been taught in our religion how to wipe you out," Rane said.

"If any policeman messes with you just because you are a Hindu, then slap him across the face. I am assuring you we are with you. The government is with you," the Kankavli MLA said.

"I can give you this confidence in front of the police that no can mess with me as our boss is sitting in Sagar Bungalow," Rane said referring to Fadnavis.

Amid strains of soulful music, the Beating Retreat ceremony, which marks the culmination of Republic Day celebrations, got underway at the Vijay Chowk in New Delhi on Monday.

The Raisina Hill in the heart of the national capital reverberated with the sound of captivating and foot-tapping Indian tunes played by military and paramilitary bands.

President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Droupadi Murmu arrived at the venue in the traditional 'buggy' adding to the old-world charm of the event that traces its origins to the early 1950s.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and several union ministers, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, the three service chiefs, senior officials, besides the general public are attending the mega event.

The Delhi Police has made elaborate traffic arrangements for the ceremony.

In an advisory issued on Friday, police had said that traffic restrictions will be 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.

The Raisina Hill 'will witness all-Indian tunes' which will be played during the Beating Retreat ceremony, the defence ministry had said in a statement on Sunday.

"The music bands of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will play 31 captivating and foot-tapping Indian tunes before a distinguished audience," it had said.

The Beating Retreat ceremony traces its origins to the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army indigenously developed the unique ceremony of display by the massed bands.

It marks a centuries-old military tradition, when the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms, withdrew from the battlefield and returned to the camps at sunset at the sounding of the retreat.

Colours and Standards are cased and flags are lowered. The ceremony creates nostalgia for the times gone by, it said. -- PTI

FS Vinay Mohan Kwatra

17:26 Foreign secretary on 3-day visit to Bhutan

Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra embarked on a three-day visit to Bhutan on Monday, a day after newly-elected Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay assumed office in the Himalayan kingdom.

Kwatra will receive an audience with Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. He will also call on Prime Minister Tobgay and Bhutan's Foreign Minister Dinanath Dhungyel and meet Foreign Secretary Pema Choden.

Kwatra will meet other senior officials of the Royal Government as well.

"The visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between Bhutan and India," a statement from the external affairs ministry said.

The US Consular Team in India processed a record 1.4 million US visas in 2023, which is higher than ever, and has brought down the visitor visa appointment wait times by 75 per cent.

The US Embassy and Consulates in India said that Indians now represent one out of every 10 US visa applicants around the world.

"In 2023, the US Embassy and Consulates in India processed a record-smashing 1.4 million US visas. Demand across all visa classes was unprecedented, with a 60 per cent increase in applications compared to 2022. Indians now represent one out of every ten US visa applicants around the world," the statement read.

Visitor visas (B1/B2) have rebounded to represent the second-highest number of applications in the US Mission's history -- over 7,00,000.

Representational image

16:49 Teen made to lick friends' shoes, perform sex

A 14-year-old boy was made to lick shoes and perform "unnatural sex" on three of his friends, who also recorded the act and put its video on social media, in south Delhi's Hauz Khas area, police said on Monday.

The incident came to the fore Sunday night, when one of the three juvenile assailants sent the video to the mother of the boy and she approached the local police, they said.

The video, also posted on Instagram, showed the boy being made to crouch at knife point, while his "friends" first made him lick their shoes and then forced him to perform an "unnatural act," police said.

Responding to a PCR call Sunday night, the "local police rushed to the spot where the caller said some boys had committed an unnatural act with her 14 year-old son and sent the video clip to her on her mobile phone," an officer said. They took the boy for a medical exam and then to counselling.

The officer said, according to the victim, he was on his way home on Saturday around 6.30 pm after playing at Central Park in Hauz Khas, when three of his friends, aged between 12 and 14 years, forced him to go with them to an isolated place.

"One of the accused pointed a vegetable knife and put his private part in his mouth. The trio also captured that act on their mobile phone," another officer said. The accused also threatened him of dire consequences if he told anyone about the act, the officer said.

Out of fear, the boy hid his ordeal from his parents.

On the basis of the boy's statement, a case under sections 377 (unnatural sex) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC and 12 of POCSO Act has been registered at Hauz Khas Police Station. The three accused have been apprehended and are being questioned, police said. PTI

16:42 Centre extends ban on terror outfit SIMI

The government extends the ban on terror group SIMI, says Home Minister Amit Shah. Bolstering PM Modi's vision of zero tolerance against terror, SIMI has been declared 'Unlawful Association' for 5 years under UAPA, says the home minister.

The Central Government had filed a counter-affidavit in the Supreme Court justifying the ban imposed on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). Extensively referring to the Constitution of SIMI, which speaks of objectives like "establishment of Islamic system in my country", the Centre said that such a Constitution "must be seen as in direct conflict with the democratic sovereign.

The Patiala House Court on Monday extended the judicial custody of Prabir Purkayastha, founder and editor-in-chief and Amit Chakravarty, HR Head of news portal in the case registered by Delhi Police under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, following allegations that news portal NewsClick received huge money for pro-China propaganda.

The Additional Sessions Judge Dr Hardeep Kaur on Monday extended their judicial custody till February 17, 2024.

Recently the court allowed Amit Chakravarty to turn approver in the case.

Prabir was represented by Advocate Arshdeep Singh Khurana and Amit Chakravarty was represented by Advocate Lalit Kumar during the hearing.

The approver, an accomplice who decides to testify against the co-accused in exchange for a pardon, is subject to examination and treatment under the CrPC. Safeguards are in place to prevent coerced or deceitful confessions, and the approver's testimony must be supported by corroborative evidence as per the law.

Earlier, the same court granted the Delhi Police Special Cell grants 2 months more time to complete the investigation. Police had sought an extension of time to complete the investigation in the case.

The court earlier had dismissed Newsclick's founder and Editor-in-Chief Prabir Purkayastha's application, which sought directions to release his electronic devices seized by Delhi Police.

In October last year, the Delhi Police arrested Purkayastha and Newsclick HR Head Amit Chakraborty under the provisions of UAPA. -- ANI

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath arrived in Ayodhya on Monday where he visited the Ram Temple and Hanuman Garhi to offer his prayers as well as wish for prosperity and well-being of Uttar Pradesh and its people.

He also assessed the arrangements for devotees at the Ram Temple. The Chief Minister, having paid homage to his mentors in Gorakhpur earlier in the day, arrived in Ayodhya in the afternoon, marking his sixth visit to the city in January alone.

Earlier, he visited Ayodhya on January 9, 14, 19, 21, 22, and 23, underlining his commitment to the spiritual and infrastructural development of the revered city.

Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded sharply on Monday, surging nearly 2 per cent, on heavy buying in Reliance Industries and a rally in Asian markets.

The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 1,240.90 points or 1.76 per cent to settle at 71,941.57. During the day, it soared 1,309.55 points or 1.85 per cent to 72,010.22.

The Nifty climbed 385 points or 1.80 per cent to 21,737.60. Among the Sensex firms, Reliance Industries jumped nearly 7 per cent, contributing the most to the rally in markets. Tata Motors, Power Grid, Larsen and Toubro, Kotak Mahindra Bank, NTPC, Titan and UltraTech Cement were the other major gainers.

File pic

15:37 Elections for 56 Rajya Sabha seats on...

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced elections for 56 Rajya Sabha seats in 15 States, the polls for which will be held on February 27.

The ECI conveyed the information in a Press Note with the subject "Biennial Elections to the Council of States to fill the seats of members retiring in April 2024.

"As per the official note, the term of office of 56 members of the Council of States elected from 15 states is due to expire on their retirement in April 2024.The highest number of members, i.e. 10, will be retiring from the state of Uttar Pradesh on April 2, 2024," said the press note.

Both Maharashtra and Bihar have 6 members retiring on April 2, 2024. Meanwhile, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh will each have 5 members retiring on the same date.

Both Karnataka and Gujarat will witness the retirement of 4 members on April 2, 2024.According to the press note, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and Rajasthan, each have three members retiring.

While members from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are retiring on April 2, 2024, the members from Odisha and Rajasthan are retiring on April 3, 2024.Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand will each witness the retirement of one member on April 2, 2024.

Get tested if you have symptoms

15:33 2083 cases of COVID JN.1 variant in India so far

The INSACOG on Monday said 2,083 cases of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 and its lineages have been detected in the country so far. There are 814 SARS-CoV-2 sequences of JN.1 across 18 states and UTs while its sub-lineage JN.1.1 has been detected in 943 cases, according to the data compiled by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). JN.1.11 has been detected in 244 cases while the rest of the cases were detected in the sub-lineages of JN.1.

Last month, the Centre asked the states and Union Territories to maintain a constant vigil amid detection of new variants in the country.

The World Health Organisation has classified JN.1 as a separate "variant of interest" given its rapidly-increasing spread, but said it poses a "low" global public health risk.

The JN.1 sub-variant of the coronavirus was previously classified as a variant of interest (VOI) as part of the BA.2.86 sub-lineages, the parent lineage that is classified as a VOI, the world body said. PTI

The fishing boat

15:13 Indian warship rescues fishermen from pirates

Indian Navy warship INS Sumitra has safely rescued the fishing vessel Iman from Somali pirates. The pirates have been disarmed and asked to move towards Somalia. The INS Sumitra has now moved out from the area. The ALH Dhruv choppers on board the warship had encircled the hijacked vessel to issue warnings to the pirates on board it: Indian Defence officials.

Indian Navy warship INS Sumitra was sent to rescue the fishermen hijacked by Somali pirates around 700 nautical miles west of Kochi in the Arabian Sea. According to officials, the Iranian fishing vessel MV Iman was hijacked by Somali pirates. The vessel has around 17 crew members on board.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday accused the BJP of threatening people to send central probe agencies to their homes if they do not vote for the saffron party in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The TMC supremo advised locals in Cooch Behar, particularly Rajbanshis, to ensure that their names are on the voters' list to "protect themselves" from the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA.

"The BJP is using central agencies for elections... it is threatening people over the phone to send Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths to their homes if they do not vote for the saffron party," Banerjee said at a public distribution programme in Cooch Behar.

The West Bengal chief minister also asserted that she will not follow any diktat of the BJP to worship any particular god.

I follow Ramayana, Quran, Bible and Guru Granth Sahib... I do not do drama by visiting poor people's homes to eat food brought from outside," she said.

Banerjee alleged that the Centre is bringing up the issue of CAA to do politics before the Lok Sabha polls. Earlier in the day, Union minister and BJP leader Shantanu Thakur claimed that the CAA will be implemented across India within the next seven days. PTI

14:24 BJP again crying CAA CAA for votes: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday saying that the party has again started crying "CAA CAA" for the sake of votes as Lok Sabha elections are approaching.

"We have fought against the NRC. Rajbanshis are citizens of India. They have again started shouting CAA, CAA for the sake of votes," Mamata Banerjee said at a public distribution program in West Bengal's Cooch Behar on Monday.

Banerjee's remarks came after Union Minister Shantanu Thakur said on Sunday that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented across the country in a week.

The West Bengal Chief Minister said that her government has acknowledged all colonies as "permanent addresses," and all residents who get the benefit of various state government benefits are citizens of the country.

"All of you are citizens. We have given permanent addresses to all colonies. They get ration, go to school, get scholarships, get Kisan Bandhu, Shikhashree, Oikoshree, Laxmir Bhandar. How could they get these benefits if they had not been citizens? Had they been able to cast votes if they were not citizens?" Banerjee questioned.

Hitting out at the central government for misusing central agencies, Banerjee said, "Do you remember the Sitalkuchi case? The CISF has earlier shot four people to death. They shoot people as if they are zamindars. If anyone oppresses you in your village, fire an FIR first. They instill fear and conduct elections through agencies."

Various reports have claimed that four people were killed in West Bengal's Sitalkuchi after being fired by CISF during the assembly elections in 2021.

The 'Modi' script

14:11 There is an ancient script called 'Modi'

Experts in the "Modi" script of Marathi are transliterating Nizam-era documents from various offices and departments to find records of Kunbis in Marathwada to provide reservation for the Maratha community.

Talking to PTI, experts said papers from the land records department, documents from tehsil and other offices, and school records before 1967 are being examined to find records of Kunbi.

The Maharashtra government has issued a draft notification following negotiations with activist Manoj Jarange, stating that blood relatives of a Maratha person, who has records to show that he belongs to the agrarian Kunbi community, would also be recognised as Kunbi. The Kunbi community falls in the OBC category, and Jarange has been demanding Kunbi certificates for all Marathas.

"We are examining documents. If we find the mention of Kunbi in these papers, we transliterate the information to Devnagri and hand it over to the district authorities who upload the record on their official website," said Kamaji Dak Patil, who teaches a certificate course on the "Modi" script at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University.

Earlier, it was assumed that these Nizam-era documents were in Hyderabad, but several records in the "Modi" script were also found in government offices in Marathwada, he said.

"We are examining land records and documents from various offices from 1881 to 1900. We are also combing through school records till 1967," Patil said.

"Modi" is a script used to write the Marathi language currently written in Devnagri.

"In some papers, the information written in the Modi' script is also translated to Urdu or Kannda. Such papers were found in the areas bordering Karnataka and Telangana. Modi' was earlier limited to history scholars and archives department. But now, common people are approaching us with papers they have and are trying to understand the script," he said.

"Modi" script expert Shailendra Wagh said, "The ink on these old documents is in good condition. We can easily read and identify words. Some of the land records are slightly delicate, but documents found at the tehsil office are in good condition as they have not been handled much. They can be preserved for the next 100 years." PTI

Expressing regrets for referring to President Droupadi Murmu in the singular, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while admitting it as a gaffe on his part, said he has immense respect for her as she also comes from oppressed classes like him.

He was referring to his remark at a state-level convention of the oppressed communities organised by the Federation of Associations of Oppressed Communities and Federation of Karnataka Backward Classes' on Sunday, which had come under sharp criticism by the opposition BJP and JD(S). JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, demanded Siddaramaiah's dismissal from the Chief Minister's post for addressing the President in the singular.

Union Minister and senior BJP leader Pralhad Joshi said Siddaramaiah has again proven that he has utmost disregard for the Constitution and those who represent it, holding supreme positions.

Siddaramaiah, in a post on 'X', said he was deeply hurt and angered as the President was not invited for the inaugural ceremony of the new Parliament building by the BJP leaders, "only because she belongs to Dalit community". "While speaking at the convention, I became a bit emotional and while expressing outrage, I addressed her in the singular as a slip of the tongue," he clarified.

Further noting that it is a practice to address parents and elders in the singular, in rural areas, from where he also comes, the Chief Minister said, "I have immense respect for the honourable President, as she also comes from oppressed classes like me. She should not have been addressed in the singular. I express my regrets for this gaffe."

Hitting out at the CM in a series of posts on 'X', along with the clipping of his speech addressing the President in the singular, Kumaraswamy said Siddaramaiah does not deserve to be in the Chief Minister's post even for a moment. He should immediately resign taking moral responsibility or the Governor should remove him from the post.

Joshi said on 'X': "Dear Siddaramaiah, I seriously don't understand what's gotten into you and your party! You have time and again proven that you have utmost disregard for the Constitution and those who represent it, holding supreme positions," addressing the President and that too a woman in the singular is extremely disgraceful," he said.

"This coming from a law student like you is even more shocking and disappointing. Either education has escaped you or you are becoming senile. I wonder which it is! Neither age nor experience are reflected in your words and actions!'". PTI

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13:56 PM mastermind behind Nitish betrayal: Congress

A day after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ditched the 'Mahagathbandhan' to return to the BJP-led NDA, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday claimed that the JD(U) supremo's exit will have "absolutely no impact" on the opposition bloc INDIA.

Interacting with reporters in Kishanganj during the Congress' 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra', Ramesh mocked Kumar, saying, 'Aaya Kumar, Gaya Kumar'.

Speaking on Kumar allying with the BJP-led NDA, he said, "It will not have any impact on INDIA allianceabsolutely no impact. This is typical of Nitish Kumar. It is not 'Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram', it is 'Aaya Kumar, Gaya Kumar' ".

The Congress leader also alleged that "Kumar's betrayal" was "masterminded by the prime minister".

He claimed that the Congress got a tremendous response from the people of Kishanganj after the 'Bharat Jodo Nayay Yatra' reached the district this morning.

Kumar on Sunday took oath as the chief minister of Bihar for a record ninth time after a dramatic volte-face, ditching the 'Mahagathbandhan' and the opposition bloc INDIA and forming a new government with the BJP, which he had dumped less than 18 months ago.

Kumar's latest crossover, his fifth in a little over a decade, capped days of high political drama and blame game. It is also seen as a big setback for the opposition unity ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. PTI

13:34 Look who MK Stalin bumped into!

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin had a chance encounter with 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic while enroute to Spain.

Stalin took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the photo from their "surprise" in-flight moment.

"Surprise in the skies. Met tennis legend Novak Djokovic en route to Spain," MK Stalin wrote in a post.

The tennis superstar spent the past few weeks in Australia for the Australian Open and the United Cup. On Friday, the Serb fell to eventual champion Jannik Sinner in the men's singles semifinals of the season's opening major tournament in Melbourne.

Djokovic was the favourite to win the men's singles title following a 33-match winning streak at the Australian Open. However, Djokovic's four-year winning streak came to an end as Sinner defeated the World No. 1 in four-set clash.

Recently the 24-time Grand Slam champion reflected on his previous visit to Indi, which was 10 years ago. Djokovic plans to visit India soon to see its beauty, history, culture, and spirituality.

"I have been to India only once so far in my life. It was, I think, 10 or 11 years ago. I came to play an exhibition event in New Delhi for two days. It was a very short stay. So, I really hope that I will be able to come back in the near future, too, because I have a great desire, great wish to explore your beautiful country that has so much history, so much culture to offer to the world and spirituality as well. It's amazing," the 36-year-old told Sony Sports. -- ANI

Union Minister Shantanu Thakur on Monday said the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) would be implemented in the country within a week.

During an interview with a news channel, Thakur, a BJP MP from Bongaon, an area with the majority of people belonging to the Matua community in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, said that swift implementation of the contentious legislation would be made within seven days.

The CAA, enacted by the BJP-led government at the Centre in 2019, aims at granting Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians, from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014.

"The CAA will be implemented very soon. It will be implemented within seven days. This is my guarantee," said Thakur, also a leader of the Matua community.

Thakur, the union minister of state for ports, shipping and waterways, has made a similar comment on Sunday. He has been claiming that the CAA would be implemented in the country ahead of the Lok Sabha polls this year.

Matuas, who constitute a large chunk of the state's Scheduled Caste population, had been migrating to West Bengal since the 1950s, primarily due to religious persecution in erstwhile East Pakistan which later became Bangladesh.

Since the nineties, political parties in West Bengal have actively sought to secure the support of the Matuas, who, due to their significant population and tendency to vote together, are considered a valuable voting bloc akin to the minorities.

The Matua community is believed to benefit the most from the implementation of the CAA. Thakur's assertion on the CAA's implementation comes amidst reports this month, suggesting that the rules for the legislation would be notified "much before" the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections.

His remarks elicited strong reactions from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the state, which has vehemently opposed the CAA, labelling it "divisive".

Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam, taking a dig at Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, has said that while all other political parties are gearing up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, it seems Congress is preparing for the 2029 elections.

"Congress has some very great and intelligent leaders. On one hand, all political parties are gearing up for the 2024 elections, while on the other hand, the whole Congress party is doing political tourism; they are travelling. Actually, we will figure out how to win the 2024 elections after 2024. It seems we are preparing ourselves for the 2029 elections. Had we been preparing for 2024, this would not have happened," said Acharya Pramod.

On being asked about no final decision being taken regarding seat sharing with Mamata Banerjee despite the Yatra in West Bengal, Acharya Pramod said, "What seat sharing and which seats? Who is giving seats to Congress? Will anyone give seats in such circumstances? Seats are given to one who has something on his side. This is a game of politics and the winner can be the only one who knows to make the right move."

Meanwhile, the Congress on Monday resumed its Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from West Bengal's North Dinajpur. As per information from Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, the Yatra will be entering the state of Bihar today.

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12:22 Govt convenes all-party meeting on Tuesday for...

The government has called a meeting of floor leaders of different parties in Parliament on Tuesday ahead of the Budget session. It is a customary practice ahead of every session as leaders of different parties highlight the issues they want to raise in Parliament, and the government offers them a glimpse into its agenda and seeks their cooperation.

It will be a short session this time, between January 31 and February 9, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman set to table an interim budget ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The new government will present the full-fledged budget. The session will begin with President Droupadi Murmu's address. PTI

An idol of Lord Hanuman dressed up in the tricolour

12:20 Hanuman flag removal: K'taka village still tense

The situation remained tense in Keragodu village near Mandya in Karnataka, but under control on Monday, a day after it witnessed strong protests and police action, following the removal of a saffron flag bearing Lord Hanuman's picture hoisted on a 108-ft tall flag post by the authorities.

A large contingent of police force has been deployed as a precautionary measure, as people in and around the village, along with BJP, JD(S) and Bajrang Dal workers and activists from other organisations continued to protest the removal of the 'Hanumana dwaja' flag and demanded that it be hoisted once again.

The protesters began their protest march to the Deputy Commissioner's office in the district headquarters of Mandya city holding saffron flags as a mark of protest.

According to reports, they are likely to be joined by JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy. Police on Sunday had resorted to mild lathi charge to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control.

The police and administration had hoisted the Tricolour on the flag pole from which the 'Hanumana dwaja' was removed. Police have also erected barricades around the flagpole and CCTV cameras have been installed in the area to secure the place and to ensure that no untoward incident occurs, official sources said.

Most shops and establishments have remained shut in the village, they said, as protesting activists and villagers had given a call for a voluntary shutdown.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders and workers are holding protests at all the district headquarters of the state today, condemning the "anti-Hindu policy" of the Congress state government and accusing it of "insulting" the national flag.

In Bengaluru, BJP staged a protest at Mysuru Bank circle under the leadership of Jayanagara MLA C K Ramamurthy. They were detained and taken away by the police. Police said no permission was granted to stage a protest at the site. PTI

Devotees outside the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya

11:48 Don't carry luggage to Ram Mandir: Ayodhya police

Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Lucknow Zone Piyush Modia appealed to devotees coming to Ayodhya not to bring their suitcases and bags while coming for darshan of Lord Ram Lalla.

"I would like to request devotees not to bring their suitcases and bags while coming for darshan and keep them at their own places. This will ensure that no inconvenience is faced at the temple. It is also important from the security point of view," the ADG said on Monday.

Modia added that if it is not at all possible to keep their belongings at any other place they can submit them at the citizen help centres and also use the locker facility.

"If it is at all not possible, then citizen help centres have been set up at the temple premises where they can keep their luggage and use the locker facility," he said.

Modi said that the 'darshan' is going on peacefully with devotees coming from different states in buses, trains and cars. A crossing has also been set up for proper traffic management, he informed.

"Several devotees are coming from different states in buses, trains, cars for Lord Ram Lalla's darshan. The darshan is going on peacefully without any inconvenience to others. A crossing has been put in place for devotees coming for darshan," he said.

Speaking on the upcoming Chief Minister's visit to Ayodhya, the ADG said, "The Chief Minister will come to inspect all facilities here and will give us directions." The ADG said that the police have a detailed crowd management plan in place to control excess crowds coming for darshan in Ayodhya. -- ANI

NBFC major Shriram Finance is likely to dislodge agro-chemical firm UPL in the Nifty50 during the March 2024 rebalancing exercise.

The move may lead to $245 million worth of passive buying in Shriram Finance and $107 million worth of selling in UPL, according to a report by Nuvama Alternative & Quantitative Research.

The cutoff date for calculating the changes to various Nifty indices is January 31.

The index provider typically announces the outcome of the rebalancing exercise in the second half of February and the changes become effective from March 31.

Nuvama also expects Canara Bank to replace Bandhan Bank in the Nifty Bank.It expects as much as seven changes in the Nifty Next 50 index, which along with the Nifty50, makes up for the Nifty 100 index.

Stocks in the Next 50 index are considered for inclusion in the Nifty50 index. Four PSU stocks are seen getting added to the Next 50 index. These are IRFC, PFC, REC and Union Bank. Meanwhile, the notable exclusions from the index are Colgate-Palmolive and Info Edge.

-- Samie Modak/Business Standard

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11:33 Speeding car kills tiger in Karnataka

A male tiger was killed after being hit by a speeding car while crossing a road in a forest area in Mysuru, a forest official said on Monday. According to the Conservator of Forest, Malathi Priya, the accident occurred near Mandakalli Airport on the Mysuru-Nanjangud road on Sunday at around 11pm.

The one-and-half-year-old tiger died on the spot, she said. Forest department registered a case and seized the car as part of the investigation, Priya said. The 2023 census pegged the number of tigers in Karnataka at 563. PTI

A 25-year-old Indian student who recently earned an MBA degree in the US was hammered to death by a homeless drug addict whom he had been helping for the past couple of days in Georgia state's Lithonia city.

The horrifying incident was caught on camera when assailant Julian Faulkner mercilessly struck Vivek Saini nearly 50 times on the head with a hammer.

Saini, a part-time clerk at a store that sheltered Faulkner, had shown kindness to the accused for almost two days and provided him with chips, a coke, water, and even a jacket for warmth, M9 News Channel reported on Sunday.

However, Saini was struck on January 16 while going home as he, concerned for safety, requested Faulkner to depart or face police intervention.

Police, arriving at the scene, found Faulkner standing over Saini's lifeless body. The young student, who had migrated to the US two years ago after completing his B Tech, had recently earned a Master's in Business Administration.

Saini's family in Haryana mourns the loss of the promising young man, describing him as a brilliant student striving for a decent job. His parents, Gurjeet Singh and Lalita Saini are devastated and currently unable to discuss the tragic incident. PTI

Congress' Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi enters Bihar through Kishanganj.

This comes just as the Congress today took a swipe at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with another chameleon barb and 'aaya Kumar, gaya Kumar' jibe at him.

Yesterday the JD(U) chief resigned as the Chief Minister of Bihar, saying "things were not working well" for him in the Mahagathbandhan or the grand alliance and the opposition bloc INDIA, and formed a new government with the BJP, which he had dumped less than 18 months ago.

enchmark equity indices rebounded in early trade on Monday in-tandem with a rally in Asian markets along with buying in blue chip firms HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries.

The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 503.47 points to 71,204.14 points in the early trade. Nifty climbed 178.55 points to 21,531.15 points.

Among the Sensex firms, Sun Pharma, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Power Grid, Larsen and Toubro, NTPC, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries were the major gainers. JSW Steel, Infosys, ITC and Mahindra And Mahindra were among the laggards.

10:28 Aaya Kumar, gaya Kumar: Cong slams Nitish

The Congress on Monday took a swipe at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with another chameleon barb and 'aaya Kumar, gaya Kumar' jibe at him, a day after the JD(U) leader's latest volte-face in Bihar.

Kumar on Sunday resigned as the Chief Minister of Bihar, saying "things were not working well" for him in the Mahagathbandhan or the grand alliance and the opposition bloc INDIA, and formed a new government with the BJP, which he had dumped less than 18 months ago.

In a post in Hindi on 'X', Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Girgit ko bhi karni padi naye rang ki khoj, ye shoorveer badalte hain itne rang roz (Even the chameleon had to search for a new colour as these 'warriors' change so many colours everyday)."

Speaking with reporters in Uttar Dinajpur in West Bengal during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Ramesh said, "What can I say? I said yesterday 'aaya Kumar, gaya Kumar'. Nitish Kumar gives a tough competition to a chameleon."

Ramesh swipe was a word play on the expression 'aaya Ram gaya Ram', which was used widely in politics in the 1990s referring to the frequent floor-crossing and switching of parties.

Ramesh said Kumar keeps resigning repeatedly and keeps changing his "political colours". The Congress leader said Kumar participated in three meetings of the INDIA bloc but gave no indication that he was going to "betray" the opposition.

"He (Kumar) has betrayed us. At the right time, people of Bihar will give a befitting response to him and the one who makes him dance to his tunes, the prime minister," Ramesh said.

Lashing out at Kumar, Ramesh had said on Sunday that it is clear that a "political drama" is being staged in order to divert attention from the party's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. PTI

With Congress' Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra set to enter Bihar from West Bengal on Monday, party leader Jairam Ramesh has said that the Congress party workers are not happy with the clash with TMC at ground level.

"Our workers are not happy. Our workers are angry but Mamata Banerjee is a very important part of the INDIA alliance. She has reiterated that she will fight as a part of the INDIA alliance and that she will strengthen the alliance. But even I was bothered to some extent by the fight that is taking place at the grassroots level between TMC workers and Congress workers," said Jairam Ramesh.

"I explained to them that this alliance is a national-level alliance. In the states, we can fight, like in Kerala, where we fight with the leftists. We keep fighting with each other, but if we do not fight at the national level, we will have to find some similar formula," he said.

The Congress leader, while speaking to ANI at Siliguri, said, "From here we are going to Kishanganj and there will be a flag handover at the Ashafakullah Khan Stadium in Kishanganj. We will be staying in Araria tonight. From Kishanganj, we will be going to Purnia and then to Araria."

"The day after tomorrow, i.e., on January 31, we will be entering Jharkhand. We will be holding a public rally in Jharkhand on February 5 or 6 where the Congress President (Mallikarjun Kharge) is also expected to join us," he said.The Congress leader also expressed his astonishment at the turnout witnessed by the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jalpaiguri and Siliguri.

"The 'padyatra' that took place in Jalpaiguri was 2 km and 2 km in Siliguri. We did not expect that such a huge number of women, young, elderly and children would come out on the streets and stand on rooftops and balconies, welcoming the Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra. I am not saying that all these people will vote for us, but the response had so much energy. There was so much excitement," said Jairam Ramesh.

The Congress leader said that he is happy to see Congress' position in Jalpaiguri and Siliguri.

"This has been our Congress stronghold for years, but we have become somewhat weak. There is also a Hamro Party from Darjeeling; they have said that they will support Congress and the INDIA alliance, so this is a positive trend for us," said the Congress leader.

Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra commenced from Manipur's Thoubal on January 14. -- ANI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' will on Monday reach Bihar through Kishanganj, a district with a heavy Muslim population which is also a party stronghold.

Gandhi's Bihar tour comes a day after the Congress was left high and dry with former ally Nitish Kumar, the Bihar chief minister, making a return to the BJP-led NDA.

This is Gandhi's first visit to Bihar since the assembly poll campaign of 2020.

Gandhi is scheduled to address a public meeting in Kishanganj, followed by a big rally in the adjoining district of Purnea on Tuesday and another one in Katihar a day later, according to Congress legislature party leader Shakil Ahmed Khan.

He will be leaving for West Bengal on Thursday via Araria district and will return to Bihar a few days later via Jharkhand, said state Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh.

According to leaders of the state Congress, the party's alliance partners in Bihar like RJD president Lalu Prasad and CPI-ML-L general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya have been invited to the rally at Purnea.

Nitish Kumar, the JD-U president with whom the Congress had shared power till he did a volte face, was also extended an invitation which had been accepted by the veteran leader. -- PTI

09:37 Important cases listed in Supreme Court today

- SC to hear a plea of Shahi Masjid Idgah management committee in the Shri Krishna Janambhoomi dispute case.

- SC to hear a plea of NCP leader Jayant Patil of Sharad Pawar faction seeking a direction to the assembly speaker to decide on disqualification petitions of MLAs of Ajit Pawar group.

- A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud to hear a suo motu case related to conflicting orders passed by the Calcutta high court benches in alleged irregularities in MBBS admissions.

- SC to hear a plea of Andhra Pradesh government challenging relief granted to TDP leader and former CM Chandrababu Naidu in a corruption case.

- SC to hear a plea seeking directions for a uniform standard of healthcare for citizens.

- SC to hear an appeal of Rajasthan government against acquittal of accused in the 2008 Jaipur serial blasts' case.

- SC to hear a plea of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav seeking to transfer of criminal defamation complaint filed against him in Ahmedabad for his alleged remarks against Gujaratis.

- SC to hear a suo motu plea related to framing policy guidelines for grant of bail.

- SC to hear a bail plea of TMC MLA Manik Bhattacharya in connection with alleged irregularities in the teachers' recruitment 'scam' case.

- SC to hear a suo motu case titled as 'Remediation of Polluted Rivers' for cleaning Ganga and Yamuna. -- PTI

09:08 People will teach Nitish Kumar a lesson: Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Sunday said people will give a befitting reply to the politics of "frequently shifting loyalties" being played by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

In a video statement, Pawar said it was Kumar who initiated the process to bring the Opposition parties together and had invited them to Patna.

"He was working for the unity of Opposition parties till 15 days ago. It is not known what happened suddenly," he said.

In a swipe, Pawar said Nitish Kumar had made a record of sorts in changing loyalties.

"This has never happened before. Earlier the phrase Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram became famous in Haryana," he said.

Kumar on Sunday took oath as Chief Minister of Bihar for a record ninth time after a dramatic volte-face, ditching the Mahagathbandhan and the opposition bloc INDIA and forming a new government with the BJP, which he had dumped less than 18 months ago. -- PTI

A man scaled the perimeter wall of the Delhi airport and reached the runway before being apprehended, in a serious security breach during a high alert in the national capital due to the ongoing Republic Day celebrations, official sources said Sunday.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), responsible for securing the "hypersensitive" Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, has suspended a head constable on charges of dereliction of duty.

The intruder, who was found to be intoxicated, was first spotted on the runway by the pilot of an Air India flight around 11:30 pm on Saturday, they said.

The pilot informed the Air Traffic Control (ATC) which directed the CISF to pursue the intruder.

The man hailing from Haryana was apprehended by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and handed over to the Delhi Police, they said.

The paramilitary force launched an inquiry into the serious security breach at the "hypersensitive" civil aviation facility and has suspended a head constable who was on duty that day, the sources told PTI.

The "alarming" incident came during the high-alert sounded by security agencies for the ongoing Republic Day celebrations with special measures to check sabotage activities in view of the extreme cold weather and accompanying fog, a senior officer said. -- PTI

08:26 Comedian Munawar Faruqui wins 'Bigg Boss 17'

Popular stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui on Sunday was announced as the winner of the reality show Bigg Boss season 17, beating actor Abhishek Kumar through live voting.

Besides Faruqui and Kumar, the other three contestants who were competing for the trophy in the finale were actors Mannara Chopra, Ankita Lokhande, and social media personality Arun Mahashetty.

Superstar Ajay Devgn served as the special guest on the last episode of he latest season that aired on Colors channel.

The first contestant to be evicted in the finale from the Bigg Boss house was Arun. He was followed by Ankita and Mannara.

Bigg Boss host and superstar Salman Khan announced Faruqui as the winner, who took home a cash prize of Rs 50 lakh and a car.

Many had predicted Faruqui's win on social media.

The comedian first made headlines in 2021 when he was jailed for over a month for making remarks on Hindu deities during a stand-up show and allegedly hurting religious sentiments.

In 2022, he won another reality TV show, Lock Upp season one, which was hosted by actor Kangana Ranaut.

During his stint on Bigg Boss season 17, Faruqui entertained fellow housemates and viewers with his wit and charm.

His personal life also remained a topic of discussion throughout the show.

The latest season of Bigg Boss premiered on October 15, 2023 with 17 contestants, including Vicky Jain, Ayesha Khan, Anurag Dobhal, Aishwarya Sharma, Neil Bhatt, Isha Malviya, Jigna Vora, Firoza Khan aka Khanzaadi, and Rinku Dhawan. -- PTI

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