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Tue, 30 January 2024
Will resume hunger strike on Feb 10 if...: Jarange
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23:37 Delhi temple tragedy: Two 'jagran' organisers held
Two organisers of the religious function that was held at Kalkaji Temple in Delhi where a stage collapsed leaving a woman dead and 17 injured were arrested on Tuesday, the police said.
Those arrested have been identified as Tughlakabad resident Satish Kumar (38) and Anuj Mittal (43) from Kalkaji, they said.
The incident took place on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday during a 'jagran' (religious function) when an elevated wooden platform at the venue collapsed, killing 49-year-old Tina and injuring 17 others.
A case under IPC sections 337 (causing hurt by the act that endangers life or safety of others), 304A (causing death by negligence) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) was registered at Kalkaji Police Station. More than 1,600 people attended the 'jagran' and singer B Praak also performed at the programme.
According to sources, he had left the venue before the incident happened.
According to police, an application for organising the event was given to the temple by Satish Kumar on behalf of 'Sri Kalkaji Sajja Sevadar Mitr Mandal'. -- PTI
Quota activist Manoj Jarange (left) and Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde
23:25 Will resume hunger strike on Feb 10 if....: Jarange
Quota activist Manoj Jarange on Tuesday sought implementation of the Maharashtra government's draft notification on Kunbi caste certificates for Marathas from Wednesday and warned of launching a fast unto death from February 10 if his demand was not met.
Talking to reporters, he said a special session of the state legislature should be called to convert the notification into a law to allow Marathas with Kunbi certificates to avail quota benefits in government jobs and education.
Talking to reporters, he said a special session of the state legislature should be called to convert the notification into a law to allow Marathas with Kunbi certificates to avail quota benefits in government jobs and education.
Just four days ago, Jarange had ended his agitation after the government issued a draft notification stating that blood relatives of a Maratha person, who has records to show he belongs to the Kunbi community, would also be recognised as Kunbi.
An agrarian community, Kunbi falls in the OBC category, and Jarange, spearheading the agitation for reservation for the Marathas since last August, has been demanding Kunbi certificates for all Marathas to enable them to avail quota benefits in government jobs and education.
"The notification must be implemented immediately. A special assembly session should be called to bring a law based on that notification. If the implementation does not start from tomorrow (Wednesday, January 31), then I will launch an indefinite fast from February 10," the activist said.
Jarange said he will launch a fast unto death from Antarwali Sarati village in central Maharashtra's Jalna district from where he started his latest agitation for Maratha quota in August last year. -- PTI
UGC commission chairman, M Jagadesh Kumar
23:16 UGC removes 'de-reservation' draft guidelines from website amid backlash
The University Grants Commission on Tuesday removed from its website, the draft guidelines suggesting "de-reservation" of reserved posts if enough candidates from the SC, ST and OBC categories are not available, amid a controversy over the issue.
The commission chairman, M Jagadesh Kumar, however, said "the guidelines have been removed from the website as the time period for stakeholders to submit their feedback is over".
A controversy erupted on Sunday over UGC's draft guidelines proposing that any vacancy reserved for SC, ST and OBC candidates can be "declared unreserved" if enough candidates from these categories are not available, with the Congress terming it a conspiracy to do away with quota in higher education institutions.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan clarified that not a single post will be de-reserved and there is no scope for ambiguity about reservations after the introduction of the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Act, 2019.
University Grants Commission chairman M Jagadesh Kumar also made it clear that there has been no de-reservation of reserved category positions in Central Educational Institutions in the past and there is "going to be no such de-reservation."
The draft guidelines have drawn flak from several quarters. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the BJP is "only busy snatching the jobs of youths". -- PTI
22:38 Seven additional judges in four high courts elevated as permanent judges
Seven additional judges posted in four high courts were elevated as permanent judges on Tuesday. Justices Ananya Bandyopadhyay, Rai Chattopadhyay, Shampa Dutt (Paul) and Raja Basu Chowdhury of the Calcutta high court were made permanent judges.
Justice Lapita Banerji of the Punjab and Haryana HC, Justice Shobha Annamma Eapen of the Kerala HC and Justice Pradeep Kumar Srivastava of the Jharkhand high court were also elevated as permanent judges.
Justice Subhendu Samanta, an additional judge of the Calcutta HC, was given a "fresh term" of one year effective from May 18.
Law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal announced the appointments in a post on X.
Additional judges are usually appointed for a period of two years before being made judges or what is commonly called "permanent" judges. -- PTI
Injured CRPF jawans taken to hospital
22:18 Maoists fired barrel grenade launchers at CRPF
Maoists fired dozens of crudely-made rocket-shaped barrels called BGL and unleashed heavy gunfire in their lethal attack on a CRPF unit in Chhattisgarh on a day the paramilitary force opened a new camp in a remote area of the Bastar region, official sources said on Tuesday.
Three personnel of the central paramilitary force were killed and 15 others were injured during the gun-battle that took place in the Tekalgudem village, located along the borders of Bijapur and Sukma districts of the state.
Located about 450 km south from state capital Raipur, the districts in the Maoist area are part of the most violent Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.
"The CRPF has taken many fatal and non-fatal casualties while creating forward operating bases called FOBs. This incident is an addition to that," a senior commander of the force said.
The Barrel Grenade Launcher (BGL) is a country-made improvised ammunition that the Naxals developed sometime in 2021. They used dozen of these during the attack in Tekalgudem on Tuesday, a senior security officer told PTI.
About half-a-dozen personnel suffered mild to serious splinter injuries from the explosion of these rockets. The rest suffered bullet injuries, an another officer said.
The BGLs are filled with explosives inside their iron casing and have fins on their tail that help them take flight.
Activist Anand Teltumbde
21:57 Court allows Teltumbde to visit Karnataka to receive award
A special court in Mumbai on Tuesday permitted scholar-activist Anand Teltumbde, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case of Maharashtra, to travel to Karnataka for two days to receive an award from the government in the neighbouring state.
Teltumbde, currently out on bail in the seven-year-old case, had filed an application seeking permission to travel to Bengaluru for two days from January 31 to receive the Basava Rashtriya Puraskar Award 2022-23 from the Karnataka government.
Special judge Rajesh Kataria, assigned to hear matters related to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), allowed the application and directed the accused to inform the central agency about his itinerary and the place where he would be staying in Bengaluru.
The court also directed the academician-activist to attend a hearing in the case trial in Mumbai scheduled on February 2.
On November 18, 2022, the Bombay high court had granted regular bail to Teltumbde. Later, the Supreme Court decided not to interfere with the HC order after the NIA, probing the case, filed an appeal against the relief granted to the accused.
Teltumbde is among more than a dozen academicians and activists who have been named as accused by the NIA in the case.
The case against Teltumbde and others relates to alleged inflammatory speeches delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave held at Shaniwarwada in Pune on December 31, 2017, which the police claimed, triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon Bhima war memorial on the outskirts of the western Maharashtra city, around 200 km from Mumbai.
The Pune police, which probed the case before it was transferred to the NIA, claimed the conclave was backed by Maoists.
Elon Musk
21:30 Musk announces Neuralink's brain implant procedure in first human recipient
Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Neuralink, announced on Monday that the first human recipient of an implant from the brain-chip startup underwent the procedure on Sunday and is recovering well.
Taking to social media, X, Musk posted, "The first human received an implant from @Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well."
Neuralink was given clearance by the US Food and Drug Administration last year to conduct its first trial to test its implant on humans.
"Initial results show promising neuron spike detection," Musk's post added. According to Neuralink's website, it has received approval from the independent institutional review board. The PRIME Study (short for Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface) - an investigational medical device trial for fully-implantable, wireless brain-computer interface -- aims to evaluate the safety of our implant (N1) and surgical robot (R1) and assess the initial functionality of our BCI for enabling people with paralysis to control external devices with their thoughts," according to the company's website.
File image
21:03 Rohingyas file PIL in HC alleging hate speech promotion by Facebook
Two Rohingya refugees on Tuesday urged the Delhi high court to act against the alleged propagation and promotion of hate speech against the community by social media giant Facebook and prevent the "possible escalation" of violence against them.
The senior counsel appearing for the petitioners contended that the government should intervene but the court struck a note of caution on seeking "state censorship" as a remedy.
The counsel claimed that the "ecosystem" of the platform "magnified" hate speech through its "algorithm" to enhance its business, an allegation that was strongly rejected by the senior advocate representing Facebook.
Senior advocate Arvind Datar, appearing for Facebook, said while substantial work has already been done by the platform following consultations with the Centre to prevent any abuse on its platform, completely stopping hate speech is not possible as "intermediaries can't be super censors".
In the public interest litigation, Mohammad Hamim and Kawsar Mohammed contended that there was a duty on the government to intervene and work against the "systematic hate speech" on the social media platform.
A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan remarked that the prevalence of abuse on social media cannot be denied but questioned the maintainability of a writ petition on the issue, saying such "serious allegations" have to be proved through evidence, which can be only be done in a suit. -- PTI
20:44 Nitish Kumar-BJP govt to seek trust vote on Feb 10
The new National Democratic Alliance government in Bihar led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will seek a trust vote in the assembly on February 10, according to a notification issued on Tuesday.
The government will seek the trust vote on the first day of the budget session after the customary address by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to both Houses of the legislature, the notification issued by the parliamentary affairs department said.
Kumar, the president of the Janata Dal-United, took oath as chief minister of Bihar for a record ninth time on Sunday after a dramatic volte-face, ditching the INDIA grouping, and forming the new government with the Bharatiya Janata Party, which he had dumped less than 18 months ago.
The upcoming session will have a total of 12 working days, and the state budget will be presented on February 12, the notification said.
It is expected to be a stormy session with Rashtriya Janata Dal MLA Awadh Bihari Choudhary yet to step down as the speaker amid mounting pressure from the NDA, which has moved a no-confidence motion against him.
It has been learnt that the BJP will keep the post of assembly speaker. -- PTI
Shiv Sena-UBT MP Sanjay Raut
20:37 Khichdi scam: ED questions Sanjay Raut's brother
The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday questioned Shiv Sena-UBT leader and MP Sanjay Raut's younger brother Sandeep Raut in connection with the money laundering case related to the "Khichdi scam" of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
Sandeep Raut, accompanied by Sanjay Raut, appeared before the probe agency at its office in Ballard Estate in south Mumbai around 11.30 am.
As per the case details, rules were violated when the BMC gave a contract for providing hichdi' packets to migrant workers stranded in the city during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ED has arrested Aditya Thackeray's close aide and Yuva Sena functionary, Suraj Chavan, in the case alleging that he helped Force One Multi Services to bag the contract due to his proximity to a senior politician and a BMC official, and made a wrongful gain of Rs 1.35 crore out of the transaction.
Speaking to reporters outside the ED office, Sandeep Raut said he had done nothing wrong in the past and will not do any wrong in future.
"I will answer questions posed by ED officials," he said, adding that the action was politics of revenge and animosity.
The ED has been questioning Sandeep Raut for more than six hours. -- PTI
Dimple Yadav
20:29 SP names 16 candidates for LS polls, Dimple Yadav to contest from Mainpuri
The Samajwadi Party on Tuesday announced its first list of 16 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Sitting MP Dimple Yadav has been fielded from Mainpuri, while party MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq will contest from Sambhal, according to the list of candidates released by the party on its official 'X' handle.
Ravidas Mehrotra, sitting MLA from Lucknow Central, has been named as the party candidate from Lucknow Lok Sabha seat.
Similarly, the sitting SP MLA from Katehari in Ambedkarnagar district, Lalji Verma, has been named as party candidate from Ambedkarnagar parliamentary constituency.
Akshay Yadav, son of senior SP leader Ramgopal Yadav, has been named as the candidate from Firozabad, while Dharmendra Yadav fielded from Budaun parliamentary constituency. -- PTI
INS Sharada/File image
19:58 Indian Navy joins in rescue of Sri Lankan vessel
In a coordinated response, the Indian Navy along with naval forces of Sri Lanka and Seychelles, rescued a fishing vessel with six crew members after it was hijacked in the sea lanes east of Mogadishu, officials said on Tuesday.
The Indian Navy has carried out several successful rescues in recent weeks after receiving distress calls from vessels.
The Sri Lankan-flagged fishing trawler Lorenzo Putha was hijacked by three pirates on January 27, the officials said.
The Indian Navy deployed INS Sharada and also tasked the Sea Guardian long-range drones to locate the hijacked fishing vessel on Sunday and it was intercepted the next day.
"In a coordinated multilateral response to the hijacking of a Sri Lankan fishing vessel, the Indian Navy in collaboration with Seychelles defence forces and Sri Lankan Navy successfully intercepted and rescued the hijacked vessel," Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.
The three pirates surrendered to the Seychelles Coast Guard and all six crew members are safe and the vessel is being escorted to Mahe in Seychelles, he said.
"The Indian Navy deployed INS Sharada and also tasked the Sea Guardian long-range drones to locate and intercept the hijacked fishing vessel," Madhwal said. -- PTI
Pic: SRH/Twitter
19:25 Mayank Agarwal falls ill in Agartala, rushed to hospital
Out-of-favour India opener and current Karnataka skipper Mayank Agarwal was rushed to a hospital in Agartala after falling ill on a New Delhi bound flight which was about to take off, cricket association sources confirmed on Tuesday.
The soon-to-be-33 Mayank, who has played 21 Tests for India, led Karnataka to a 29-run win against Tripura on Monday.
"Mayank Agarwal was rushed to a local hospital in Agartala. The reason for the sudden illness is yet to be confirmed," a Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) official told PTI without elaborating further.
Agarwal, who scored 51 and 17 in the last game, was supposed to travel with the whole team to Rajkot via Delhi when the incident happened.
"The team was on flight and apparently Agarwal started feeling uneasy and vomited a couple of times sitting on the flight. Since he started feeling sick, he de-boarded. From KSCA MR Shahvir Tarapore called and we quickly sent two of our representatives to the ILS hospital. He is under observation and we are told doctors are running some tests," a Tripura Cricket Association official said on condition of anonymity.
It is learnt that if he feels better and is in a position to travel, he will fly back to Bengaluru at the earliest.
Manvendra Singh
19:22 Jaswant Singh's daughter-in-law dies in accident, son injured
Congress leader Manvendra Singh's wife was killed and the former MP and his son injured when their car met with an accident in Alwar on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, officials said.
Manvendra Singh, who is son of former Union minister Jaswant Singh, and his family were on their way to Jaipur from Delhi. The driver lost control of the car and collided with a wall.
Prakash Ambedkar
19:14 Maha Vikas Aghadi inducts Prakash Ambedkar-led VBA ahead of LS polls
The Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance of Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) and Shiv Sena-UBT on Tuesday announced the induction of Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi in its fold ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
"The Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena have unanimously decided to induct VBA as a political ally. We are thankful for your stand to fight against autocracy," Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole posted on X.
The VBA led by Dalit leader Ambedkar, grandson of B R Ambedkar, has pockets of influence in some districts, including the Vidarbha region. -- PTI
18:36 Gujarat: WR cancels 13 trains for two days for construction of truss bridge in Kheda
The Western Railway has cancelled 13 trains either originating from or passing through Ahmedabad on January 31 and February 1 for the construction of a truss bridge in Gujarat's Kheda district, an official said on Tuesday.
A "block" will be in place on Wednesday and Thursday for the construction of a steel truss bridge near Uttarsanda station on the Vadodara-Geratpur section, the Western Railway's Vadodara division said in a release.
At least 13 trains originating from or passing through Ahmedabad will remain cancelled on January 31 and February 1.
Some of the cancelled trains include Vadodara-Ahmedabad passenger special, Ahmedabad-Vadodara passenger special, Vadodara-Ahmedabad MEMU special, Ahmedabad-Vadodara MEMU special, Gandhinagar-Anand MEMU special, Ahmedabad-Vadodara Intercity Express and Vadodara-Ahmedabad Intercity Express, the release stated.
Apart from this, four trains will be "partially cancelled" on these two days, it said.
While the Mumbai Central-Ahmedabad Express will be short-terminated at Vadodara, the Ahmedabad-Valsad Gujarat Queen Express will originate from Vadodara instead of Ahmedabad, and the Jamnagar-Vadodara Intercity Express will be short-terminated at Ahmedabad, the release said. -- PTI
CRPF jawans in an anti-Maoist operation./File image
18:33 3 CRPF jawans killed in Chhattisgarh Maoist attack
Three Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed and 10 others injured during a gun battle with the Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Tuesday, official sources said.
The incident occurred near the Tekalgudem village when a joint team of security personnel was out on a search operation, inspector general of police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said.
The village is located along the border of Bijapur and Sukma districts.
A team from the 201 battalion of the CoBRA and 150 battalion of the CRPF was working in the area to establish a Forward Operating Base when the exchange of fire began around 1 pm.
An FOB is a remote camp meant to facilitate security forces operating in core Maoist-hit areas.
Three CRPF personnel were killed and about 10 have suffered injuries during the operation, the sources said.
The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action of the CRPF is a jungle warfare unit. -- PTI
17:45 Rahul's joke on Nitish U-turn: Guv said you...
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, mocked the return of JDU chief Nitish Kumar to the NDA fold, saying that this reflects the real condition of Bihar politics as when a little pressure is exerted by the BJP-led Centre, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar takes a U-turn.
Rahul Gandhi said that Nitish Kumar is not needed anymore in their battle to give social justice.
Addressing the public in Purnea, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said,
"Right now Baghelji (former Chhattisgarh CM) told me a joke. The joke goes like this...Your Chief Minister took oath at Governor's house.
"Some of his ministers also took oath. Celebrations were going on. Nitish Kumar decided to go back to his home. Suddenly while going back he realised he has left his shawl at the Governor's house. He went back and met the Governor. Governor was shocked and said you came back so quick this time.
"So this is the condition of Bihar, a little pressure is exerted, and he (Nitish Kumar) makes a U-turn," he added.
Wayanad MP further mentioned that the current alliance partners in Mahagathbandhan are ready to fight for social justice in Bihar.
"Our society has people from backward class, Dalit, Adivasi, minority and general caste.OBC community is the biggest community. But today you will not have the answer if I ask you about the population of the OBC community. BJP does not want you to know this. Nitish Kumar was caught in the middle of it. BJP showed him a way to escape and he went on that. Don't worry, we will provide social justice. Nitish Kumar is not needed anymore. Our alliance partners in the state are capable enough for this," he said.
"The time has come for an X-ray of India to ascertain the population in this country. The first step towards social justice is an X-ray of the country," he added.
Rahul Gandhi interacted with farmers in Bihar's Purnia district today as his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra continues its journey from West Bengal to Bihar.
File pic
17:17 Going to Himachal? Heads up for snow, rain
The India Metrological Department on Tuesday issued an orange alert for various places in Himachal Pradesh indicating the possibility of snowfall in higher mountains and rain in other parts of the state during the next 48 hours.
According to IMD from the late night of January 30 to the morning of February 2, heavy rain/snowfall is likely at some places in Chamba, Kangra, Kinnaur, Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti, Mandi, Shimla districts.
This will end the prolonged dry spell as from tonight fresh western disturbance is entering the state. The Meteorological Department has predicted snowfall in the high-altitude areas of the state and snowfall in the plains.
17:07 No CAA in Bengal as long as I live: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday lambasted the BJP for raising the CAA issue ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, asserting that she will never allow its implementation in the state during her lifetime.
Speaking at a public distribution programme at Raiganj in Uttar Dinajpur district, she alleged that the BJP "opportunistically raised" the issue of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA ahead of the upcoming elections.
"With elections approaching, the BJP has again raked up the CAA issue to reap political benefits. But let me make it very clear that as long as I am alive, I will not allow its implementation in West Bengal," Banerjee affirmed, echoing sentiments expressed on the previous day.
Her remarks were prompted by Union minister and BJP leader Shantanu Thakur's recent assertion that the CAA would be rolled out across the country within a week.
Thakur's statement, made during a public gathering at Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas district on Sunday, fueled concerns regarding the imminent enforcement of the controversial legislation.
The CAA, enacted by the BJP-led government at the Centre in 2019, seeks to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim immigrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians, from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014. -- PTI
16:52 Man detained at airport for uttering 'B'-word
Apparently irritated over the repeated checks he was asked to undergo, a Kochi-bound flier uttered the words 'bomb' and 'knife' at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, only to be detained by the police and let off with a warning after he claimed a family emergency, official sources said.
On Sunday, after regular checking Saju K Kumaran was allowed to board the plane, but was offloaded later as the security personnel wanted to check his handbag again, they said.
Annoyed, the 38-year-old passenger wondered whether the authorities thought he possessed a bomb and knife. Following this, the personnel detained him and took him to the airport police station, sources added.
"When the man pleaded there was a death in his family and he had to rush to his hometown Thrissur, he was allowed to board the flight again but was asked to appear whenever his presence was required to probe the case," an official said. An FIR was registered against the man. PTI
Rahul Gandhi speaking to farmers
16:14 INDIA bloc doesn't need Nitish: Rahul in Bihar
Rahul Gandhi's rally in Bihar: "Country needs caste-based census to determine exact population of Dalits, OBCs, others.
"The Mahagathbandhan will fight for social justice in Bihar, we don't require Nitish Kumar."
The rally is being held in Purnea.
Rahul's ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' on Monday completed its West Bengal leg and entered Bihar on Tuesday. The arrival of Rahul's bandwagon into Bihar is significant as it happened barely two days after Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar ditched the 'Mahagathbandhan' alliance in the state, of which the Congress was a part, and returned to the BJP-led NDA fold.
15:39 Cheating! says Kejriwal after BJP's mayoral win
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday alleged there was "cheating" in broad daylight in the Chandigarh mayoral polls and that those who did it can go to any extent in the national elections.
His reaction came after BJP's Manoj Sonkar on Tuesday defeated AAP's Kuldeep Kumar, who was fielded as part of an alliance with the Congress, to win the post of mayor.
In Chandigarh, councillors of the INDIA bloc parties -- AAP and Congress -- protested as soon as the results were announced.
"The way cheating has been done in broad daylight in the Chandigarh mayoral polls is extremely worrying. If they can stoop so low in a mayoral election, they can go to any extent in the national elections. This is extremely worrying," Kejriwal said in a post on 'X' in Hindi.
The polls, held following the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, assume significance with opposition INDIA bloc members Congress and AAP joining hands to contest the elections. Sonkar polled 16 votes while Kumar secured 12. Eight votes were declared invalid.
15:07 BJP: Congress is NPA, nobody wants to...
The Congress is a non-performing asset, a liability and a sinking boat, a senior BJP leader alleged on Tuesday and said no political party will associate itself with it.
The Congress had made attempts to create the INDIA alliance, but the Congress party has become a NPA (non-performing asset) in the country and has become a liability, former BJP MLC and party's in-charge for Srinagar parliamentary constituency Surinder Ambardar said.
Justifying his assertion, Ambardar said West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee earlier decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections alone and then Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar left the INDIA bloc and returned to the NDA.
"Congress is a sinking boat and no political personality is ready to sail in it," the BJP leader told reporters after inaugurating the party's election office in Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.
On Tuesday, the BJP inaugurated its election offices in all five constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir. Ambardar said the BJP believes that election is the biggest festival in the country and is celebrating it by launching election offices.
"We have created 38 departments for the elections and made 38 convenors and 38 co-convenors. Those 38 departments vary from election office to social media to strategic aspects and will touch all aspects of the election," he added. The former MLC said the BJP is looking to win at least 330 seats on its own in the upcoming general elections. For the NDA, the score will be over 400 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will score a hat-trick, he added.
14:59 Teacher shoots dead colleagues in Jharkhand
Teacher shoots two colleagues dead at a school in Jharkhand's Godda. Details awaited.
14:39 Hemant Soren meets ministers, wife at meeting
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren holds a meeting of the state's ministers and ruling side's MLAs at his residence in Ranchi. His wife Kalpana Soren is also present at the meeting.
Hemant Soren waves from his car
14:12 'Missing' Jharkhand CM arrives at residence
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren arrives at his residence in Ranchi. He is being probed by ED in money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.
The poster with the 'reward'
14:03 BJP leader offers Rs 11K reward for Hemant Soren
Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi on Tuesday claimed that a constitutional crisis-like situation was created in the state due to "sudden disappearance" of Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
He also announced a reward of Rs 11,000 from his side for providing information about the chief minister and posted a 'missing' poster of the CM on X.
Speaking to reporters, Marandi said, "Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren has been missing for the last two days. It is a serious issue that the director general of police and the intelligence department of the state are not aware of the location of the CM".
He claimed, "There is a constitutional crisis-like situation in the state due to sudden disappearance of Hemant Soren. Whoever gives correct information about the chief minister will be given a reward of Rs 11,000 from our side", he said.
The former chief minister alleged that Soren is personally accused of acquiring illegal property. "But, his reply is being sent to the ED on behalf of the chief minister secretariat", he said. PTI
13:49 Mamata begins yatra in BJP stronghold North Bengal
Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday undertook a padayatra in the northern part of the state.
Banerjee, who is currently in northern West Bengal for an administrative visit, took out the 'Jonosanjog Yatra' in Chopra town in Uttar Dinajpur. Later, she undertook another yatra in nearby Islampur.
As Banerjee traversed through Chopra town, she waved at onlookers and greeted them with folded hands. She was welcomed by party leaders and greeted by locals, including women and children, during the yatra.
Many were seen chanting 'Didi... Didi', while others showered flowers and some blew conch shells as the yatra passed through various localities. TMC supporters carrying flags raised slogans, hailing Banerjee and the party.
Flanked by security guards, Banerjee interacted with locals. Later, she took out another yatra in Islampur town, around 30 km away.
She walked for around 1 km in both towns.
Banerjee's march comes at a time when the TMC has pulled all the stops to regain ground in northern West Bengal lost to the BJP in the last Lok Sabha polls, during which the saffron party had bagged seven of the eight Lok Sabha seats in the region.
"The CM undertook padayatra as part of the TMC's 'Jonosanjog Yatra' in Chopra town this morning. At present, she is in Islampur where she undertook another yatra. She spoke to the locals and greeted them," a senior police officer told PTI.
She will be undertaking another yatra from Karnajora area to Raiganj, where she is scheduled to chair an administrative review meeting.
Speaking to reporters, Banerjee said her trip has been "very fruitful", but refused to answer questions on Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra', which has passed through the region. -- PTI
13:42 Imran Khan sentenced to 10 years in jail, can appeal
Update: A Pakistani court sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan to 10 years in jail after finding him guilty of violating the nation's Official Secrets Act by making a diplomatic cable public when he was in power.
A special court judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain handed down the order on Tuesday, Imran Khan's lawyer Shoaib Shaheen said in a text message. His former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was also convicted for 10 years in the same case, he said.
Imran Khan can appeal against the verdict in a higher court.
The case pertains to allegations that Imran Khan had shared contents of a secret cable sent by the country's ambassador in Washington to the government in Islamabad.
13:37 Imran Khan sentenced to 10 years prison
Pakistan former PM Imran Khan sentenced to 10 years prison.
13:31 BJP defeats INDIA bloc in Chandigarh mayoral polls
Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Manoj Sonkar on Tuesday defeated Aam Aadmi Party's Kuldeep Kumar to win the post of mayor in the Chandigarh mayoral polls.
The polls, being held following the directions of the Punjab and Haryana high court, assumes significance with opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc members Congress and AAP joining hands to contest the elections.
As part of the alliance, the AAP is contested for the mayor's post while the Congress has fielded candidates for senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor. -- PTI
The Yatra pays homage to the Mahatma in Bihar today
13:07 Rahul's 1st rally in Bihar after Nitish U-turn
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' on Tuesday reached Purnea district where he will address his first big rally in Bihar ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
Gandhi's entourage, which had entered Bihar the day before from Kishanganj district, stayed in adjoining Araria for the night. In the morning, before departing from Araria, the Congress leader paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary.
Those who joined him on the occasion included Swaraj Abhiyan founder Yogendra Yadav.
At the Purnea rally, where Gandhi is likely to be joined by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the party leaders would seek to pick up the threads for the opposition bloc INDIA which has been tattered with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's exit.
The Congress' oldest and most important ally in the state, the RJD, is likely to be represented by a representative of its de facto leaders Lalu Prasad, the founding president, and his son Tejashwi Yadav who has twice been deprived of the Deputy Chief Minister's chair as a result of Nitish Kumar's somersaults.
According to state Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh, "both Lalu and Tejashwi would have attended the rally, but for the ED summonses which seem to be aimed primarily at thwarting their visit to Purnea".
Notably, Lalu Prasad, who is in his 70s and suffers from many ailments, was grilled by the Enforcement Directorate at the Patna office for close to nine hours on Monday. Tejashwi Yadav, who like his father is named in the alleged land-for-jobs scam, has appeared for questioning on Tuesday.
12:53 I'm also waiting for CM's response: Jharkhand guv
Jharkhand Governor C P Radhakrishnan on Tuesday said that he was also waiting for Chief Minister Hemant Soren's response like other people in the state. The governor was speaking to the reporters on the sideline of a function organized at Bapu Vatika in Ranchi's Morabadi ground on the occasion of the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
In response to a question about the chief minister allegedly being untraceable since Monday, the Governor said, "Like you, we are also waiting for the CM's response".
Radhakrishnan reiterated that that nobody is above the law. "I have been telling repeatedly that nobody is above the law. We have to work within the constitution. We all are law-abiding citizens," he said.
On the rally and demonstration being carried out by the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, the governor said that this not the right attitude of the ruling party.
"I have nothing to do with the political rivalry. One thing we want that the law and order to be intact. Law and order will be maintained at any cost," he said. Soren, 48, has informed the Enforcement Directorate that he is ready to depose before them on Wednesday at his Ranchi residence around 1 pm in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land deal case of Jharkhand. PTI
File pic
12:34 19 Delhi-bound trains delayed, flights disrupted due to fog
As many as 19 Delhi-bound trains were reported to be running behind schedule after heavy fog shrouded the national capital and vast swathes of North India on Tuesday morning, significantly reducing visibility, railway officials informed.
12:30 That's Rs 36 lakh
First look: The Enforcement Directorate has recovered Rs 36 lakhs in cash and also seized two cars from the Delhi residence of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren.
12:29 Parliamentary floor leaders meet ahead of Budget session
Floor leaders of various parties on Tuesday attended an all-party meeting convened by the government ahead of the Budget session of Parliament.
Defence Minister and Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha, Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and his deputy Arjun Ram Meghwal represented the government at the meet. Congress' K Suresh, TMC's Sudip Bandopadhyay, DMK's T R Baalu, Shiv Sena's Rahul Shewale, Samajwadi Party's S T Hasan, JD(U)'s Ram Nath Thakur and TDP's Jayadev Galla were among the leaders present at the meeting at the Parliament House complex.
It is a customary practice ahead of every session to convene a meeting 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.
A PFI morcha
12:03 14 PFI workers to be hanged for killing BJP leader
A Kerala court on Tuesday sentenced to death 14 persons associated with the now-banned Islamist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) in connection with the murder of BJP OBC wing leader Ranjith Sreenivasan in this district in December 2021.
The sentence was pronounced by Mavelikkara Additional District judge V G Sreedevi.
The prosecution had sought the maximum sentence for the convicts, saying that they were a "trained killer squad" and the cruel and diabolical manner in which the victim was killed in front of his mother, infant, and wife brings it within the ambit of the "rarest of the rarest" of crimes. PTI
Sec 144 has been imposed outside Soren's residence
11:50 Jharkhand drama: ED seizes Rs 36L cash from Soren
The Enforcement Directorate has seized Rs 36 lakh, an SUV and some "incriminating" documents after it searched the Delhi residence of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, official sources said Tuesday.
The federal agency searched the 5/1 Shanti Niketan residence of the JMM leader in south Delhi on Monday and camped there for almost 13 hours in order to question him in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land deal case of Jharkhand.
The sources said the ED teams seized about Rs 36 lakh in cash, a HR (Haryana) number plate bearing BMW registered under a "benami" name and some "incriminating" documents during the day-long operation.
Soren, 48, has informed the ED that he is ready to depose before them on Wednesday at his Ranchi residence around 1 pm.
A party official said in Ranchi that all the legislators of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led ruling alliance in Jharkhand have been asked not to leave the state capital and to attend a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the current political situation in the state. PTI
Mamata Banerjee: Sitting tight on seats
11:24 There has to be give and take: Cong on Mamata
After Trinamool Congress accused the Congress of delay in seat-sharing talks, party leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said that when we are in an agreement, it is a give-and-take situation, so all parties need to realise this.
"What Mamata Banerjee has said is true, we are in the INDIA bloc and we will take on BJP as the INDIA bloc only. Both TMC and Congress have the goal of defeating the BJP. From Mamata Banerjee's side, she has said that they will contest from 40 seats but when we are in an agreement, it is a give-and-take situation, so all parties need to realise this. We hope that soon we can declare about seat sharing officially," he said.
Notably, speaking at a public event in West Bengal on Monday, Abhishek Banerjee who happens to be the nephew of TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said while the basic norm of an alliance is for the partners to finalise a seat-sharing deal at the earliest, the Congress had been dragging their feet in the matter for months.
"When you are in an alliance with someone, the first thing you do is finalise the seat-sharing deal. We had been asking them about the seat-sharing arrangement since June. Seven months passed and they did nothing. At our (INDIA's) last meeting in Delhi, Mamata Banerjee even set a deadline of December 31 (for the Congress to finalise its seat-sharing arrangement with the TMC in Bengal). We're in the last week of January now and they still haven't done anything," Abhishek said.
11:07 'Rahul comes across as INDIA's villain'
"Despite the shock administered to the INDIA bloc by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar crossing over to the National Democratic Alliance on Sunday, January 28, 2024, the Congress has continued with Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra as if nothing has happened.
"But is everything okay with the Opposition alliance that has announced dislodging Prime Minister Narendra Modi from power in the 2024 elections?"
In the first part of his interview to Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com, Congress watcher and author Rasheed Kidwai explained why regional satraps like Nitish Kumar, Mamata Banerjee are not too enamoured of the way INDIA functions.
"Seat adjustments in the Lok Sabha elections was like making jalebi. The decision-making process was very tardy and the committees which they appointed had no big leaders. All the committee members did was go back and report to their respective leaders," Kidwai says in the second part of an illuminating interview.
Read it here.
Read the 1st part here.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra with her brother Rahul Gandhi
11:02 Modi guarantee a jumla, real issue is... :Priyanka
Hitting out at the Centre over people seeking jobs in Israel, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday said talk of five trillion dollar economy and Modi's guarantee are just a "jumla" with the real issue in the country being that of unemployment and inflation for which she claimed the BJP government has no solution.
The Congress general secretary shared a video on X which showed people queuing up for a recruitment drive to send workers to Israel.
In a post on X in Hindi, Gandhi said, "If there is a war situation anywhere, then first of all we rescue our citizens from there and bring them back to our country." "But today unemployment has resulted in such a situation that the government is not even saving thousands of helpless youth from taking the risk of going to war-torn Israel," she said.
"This shows, that talk of things like '5 trillion dollar economy', 'two crore jobs annually' and 'Modi's guarantee' during elections is just jumla (rhetoric)," she said. "Why are the youth not getting employment in their own country," she asked.
"Are these youth standing in long queues for two days not the children of our country that we are happily ready to send them into the middle of such a terrible war?" Gandhi said. "Notice how cleverly the government is making this a personal issue of the youth of the country," she said.
"What is the role of government in this? On what basis has the Government of India given permission to war-torn Israel to sacrifice Indian youth? Who will take the responsibility of protecting the life and property of these youth of ours? God forbid, if an incident happens to someone, who will take responsible?" the Congress leader said.
"The real issue of India today is unemployment and inflation and the BJP government has no solution to it," she claimed.
The youth of the country are now understanding this, she added.
The Congress on Saturday had attacked the government over people reportedly queuing up in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana for jobs in Israel, saying it was a reflection of the "grim unemployment situation" in the country and makes a "mockery" of the claims of a booming economy.
The Congress has been criticising the government over its handling of the economy and raising concerns over "increasing" unemployment and price rise. -- PTI
10:53 US kick-starts five-week H1-B visas renewal drive
H1B workers, including Indian nationals, can begin applying to renew their visas without leaving the US, marking a significant change after nearly two decades.Up to 20,000 qualified nonimmigrant workers can renew their H-1B visas domestically.
The announcement by the US Department of State on the pilot program for in-country renewal of certain petition-based temporary work visas, including for Indian nationals, was made in June 2023, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US.
During the visit, PM Modi announced at an Indian American community event in Washington that the H-1B visa renewal stamping was being conducted in the US.
10:48 Jharkhand drama: JMM MLAs told to stay in Ranchi
All the legislators of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led ruling alliance in Jharkhand have been asked not to leave the state capital Ranchi and to attend a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the current political situation in the state, a JMM official said.
The meeting, proposed at the CM House, has been called to discuss strategy over the current political situation and the Enforcement Directorate's proposed questioning of Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday, he said. In an email sent to ED, Soren agreed to record his statement on January 31 at 1 pm at his residence.
JMM general secretary and spokesperson Vinod Kumar Singh told PTI that all the MLAs of the ruling alliance have been asked to stay in Ranchi in view of the current political situation. The JMM, Congress and RJD are members of the ruling alliance.
10:41 Those who glorify Godse will not be allowed to define idea of India: Cong
On Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary, the Congress on Tuesday asserted that the true tribute to the father of the nation would be to not let the "flame of truth and harmony" be extinguished in the "storm of hatred".
The party also said that those who glorify Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse should not and will not be allowed to define the idea of India.
In a post on 'X', Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge cited a quote of Mahatma Gandhi, "The enemy is fear. We think it's hate but it is fear."
"On Martyrs Day, we pay our respects to Bapu, the moral compass of our nation. We must pledge to fight against those who seek to destroy his ideals based on 'sambhav' and 'sarvodaya'," Kharge said.
"Let us do everything to protect the India of 'unity in diversity' and ensure justice, equality and fraternity among our people," he said.
In a post on 'X' in Hindi, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said that on this very day, the ideology of hatred and violence had snatched away the revered Bapu from the country. "And, today the same thinking wants to snatch away his principles and ideals from us," he said. "But in this storm of hatred, the flame of truth and harmony must not be extinguished," the Congress leader said and added that this will be the true tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
A prayer meeting was held at the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra campsite in Araria in Bihar early in the morning to remember Mahatma Gandhi on the date of his assassination 76 years ago. -- PTI
Jharkhand CM with his wife
10:09 'Plans to make Hemant Soren's wife Jharkhand CM'
Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey has claimed that Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana Soren may replace him as the former has called all allied MLAs to reach Ranchi "with their luggage".
In a post on X, Dubey queried how a man who is absconding will protect the people of the state.
"A big advice to those who are doing wrong on the instructions of Chief Minister Hemant Soren ji, the CM is proving himself to be a fugitive, running away from facing the investigating agency, the man is facing insults in the country and abroad all day long. How will that man protect the officers or the people of the state?" he said.
"Hemant Soren ji has called his own, JMM, Congress and allied MLAs to reach Ranchi with their luggage and bags. According to the information, there is a proposal to make Kalpana Soren ji (Hemant Soren's wife) the Chief Minister. The CM has said that fearing an ED interrogation, they will reach Ranchi by road and announce their arrival," he added.
Meanwhile, Enforcement Directorate officials on Monday were seen at the residence of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in the national capital.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said that CM Soren was ready to appear before the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 in connection with a money-laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.
"CM has gone to Delhi for personal work, and he will return as well. He has been called on January 31. We are ready for January 31. You asked us to tell you the place and time, and we told you the place would be CM's residence on Kanke Road and the time would be 1 pm. Who is creating all the confusion, then? The way the political situation is being presented is against democratic values," Bhattacharya said. -- ANI
Photo: Courtesy @AcharyaGoury on X
09:37 Missing Indian student of US varsity found dead
An Indian student pursuing a double major at the prestigious Purdue University in the United States state of Indiana, who went missing on Sunday, has been confirmed dead, the university has said.
Tippecanoe County Coroner's Office officials were called around 11.30 am on Sunday to 500 Allison Road in West Lafayette for a possible dead body. Upon arrival, a 'college-aged male' was found deceased outside Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories on Purdue's campus.
Neel Acharya went missing on Sunday.
'It is with great sadness that I inform you that one of our students Neel Acharya has passed away. The leadership in the Department of Computer Science expresses our profound sorrow for his passing. I am deeply saddened by his loss. My condolences go out to his friends family and all affected,' Chris Clifton, interim head of the university's Computer Science Department, said in an email to the department on Monday.
Clifton said Neel was a driven individual and academically talented.
He pursued a double major in computer science and data science and was a John Martinson Honors College student.
'He aspired to pursue numerous academic achievements and shared profound connections with friends. He was very proud of and cared deeply for his brothers at Triangle Fraternity. Neel could be counted on to reach out to others and make them feel included. He was an achiever and an includer, with his: most notable qualities being genuine kindness and unwavering compassion,' Clifton said.
Clifton told the local Purdue Exponent newspaper that he received an email from the Office of the Dean of Students confirming Acharya's death.
'A deceased person was found that matched Neel's description and had Neel's ID on (him),' he said.
Goury Acharya, the mother of the dead student, in a post on X on Monday, said: 'Our son Neel Acharya has been missing since yesterday January 28 (12:30 AM EST) He is studying at Purdue University in the US. He was last seen by the Uber driver who dropped him off at Purdue University. We are looking for any info on him. Please help us if you know anything.'
Responding to her post, India's Consulate General in Chicago, said: '(The) Consulate is in touch with Purdue University authorities and also with Neel's family. The consulate will extend all possible support and help.'
The exact reason for death is not known yet.
Acharya's demise comes after the news of the grisly murder of Vivek Saini, another Indian student who had recently earned an MBA degree in the US and was hammered to death by a homeless drug addict in Georgia state's Lithonia city, making it the second student death in the US in the past few weeks. -- PTI
Tippecanoe County Coroner's Office officials were called around 11.30 am on Sunday to 500 Allison Road in West Lafayette for a possible dead body. Upon arrival, a 'college-aged male' was found deceased outside Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories on Purdue's campus.
Neel Acharya went missing on Sunday.
'It is with great sadness that I inform you that one of our students Neel Acharya has passed away. The leadership in the Department of Computer Science expresses our profound sorrow for his passing. I am deeply saddened by his loss. My condolences go out to his friends family and all affected,' Chris Clifton, interim head of the university's Computer Science Department, said in an email to the department on Monday.
Clifton said Neel was a driven individual and academically talented.
He pursued a double major in computer science and data science and was a John Martinson Honors College student.
'He aspired to pursue numerous academic achievements and shared profound connections with friends. He was very proud of and cared deeply for his brothers at Triangle Fraternity. Neel could be counted on to reach out to others and make them feel included. He was an achiever and an includer, with his: most notable qualities being genuine kindness and unwavering compassion,' Clifton said.
Clifton told the local Purdue Exponent newspaper that he received an email from the Office of the Dean of Students confirming Acharya's death.
'A deceased person was found that matched Neel's description and had Neel's ID on (him),' he said.
Goury Acharya, the mother of the dead student, in a post on X on Monday, said: 'Our son Neel Acharya has been missing since yesterday January 28 (12:30 AM EST) He is studying at Purdue University in the US. He was last seen by the Uber driver who dropped him off at Purdue University. We are looking for any info on him. Please help us if you know anything.'
Responding to her post, India's Consulate General in Chicago, said: '(The) Consulate is in touch with Purdue University authorities and also with Neel's family. The consulate will extend all possible support and help.'
The exact reason for death is not known yet.
Acharya's demise comes after the news of the grisly murder of Vivek Saini, another Indian student who had recently earned an MBA degree in the US and was hammered to death by a homeless drug addict in Georgia state's Lithonia city, making it the second student death in the US in the past few weeks. -- PTI
08:44 Hamas rejects hostage deal, insists on troops withdrawal
Hamas seems to have rejected a proposed framework for a hostage deal with Israel, asserting it will not accept any agreement if the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza is not included, The Times of Israel reported.
The rejection came after Israel reportedly agreed to the plan during negotiations in Paris, aiming to secure the release of hostages held by the militant group.
Hamas, along with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, issued a joint statement insisting that any agreement must include an end to the ongoing conflict and a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
The group emphasised that Israel must cease its 'aggression' before any exchange deal can be considered, as reported by The Times of Israel.
A senior Hamas official expressed the group's desire for a 'complete and comprehensive ceasefire' in Gaza, a condition that seemingly contradicts earlier demands for an immediate end to hostilities.
The proposed agreement, crafted during a meeting involving heads of the Mossad and Shin Bet intelligence agencies along with US, Qatari, and Egyptian officials, outlines a phased process.
The deal would involve the release of all Israeli hostages, starting with vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly, and the sick.
'Phased pauses' in Israel's offensive against Hamas would occur during the hostage release process.
According to the deal, Israel would also allow more aid into Gaza and would release very large numbers of Palestinian prisoners.
The Times of Israel, citing Channel 12 news, reported that the offer centres around a 45-day pause in the fighting in exchange for 35-40 hostages in the first stage.
Around 100-250 Palestinian prisoners will be released for every hostage.
This will be followed by further releases in exchange for an extension of the truce and a larger ratio of Palestinian security prisoner releases for each hostage.
The framework reportedly does not establish a permanent ceasefire but leaves the possibility open.
The agreement also includes provisions for increased humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of a substantial number of Palestinian prisoners. -- ANI
00:15 Shankaracharya stopped from Gyanvapi 'parikrama'
Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of the Jyotish Peeth in Uttarakhand, was stopped by police on Monday from circumambulating the Gyanvapi area in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
Assistant Police Commissioner Awadhesh Pandey said the seer did not have permission for the 'parikrama'.
Prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144 are in force in the area, the police officer said. The Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque dispute is pending in court.
Soon after the Shankaracharya announced his plan to conduct 'parikrama' of the area at 3 pm, the police swung into action and stopped him as soon as he left a mutt.
The seer said, "It is our tradition to circumambulate the original area of Gyanvapi.... But we are being stopped from going there. We are being told that (CrPC) Section 144 has been imposed there. We are completing the process of obtaining permission (for the 'parikrama')." -- PTI
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