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Fri, 07 June 2024
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23:44 7 Naxalites killed, 3 jawans injured in Narayanpur
Seven Naxalites were killed and three jawans injured in an encounter in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district on Friday, police said.
The gunfight took place at around 3pm in a forest near Gobel and Thulthuli villages in Orchha area, where a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation, a senior police official said.
Personnel belonging to the police's District Reserve Guard from Narayanpur, Kondagaon, Dantewada and Bastar districts and the 45th battalion of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) were involved in the operation, he said.
After guns fell silent, bodies of seven Naxalites in uniform and some weapons were recovered from the spot, he said.
Three jawans were also injured in the gun battle, he said, adding a search operation was underway in the area. The identity of the slain Naxalites was yet to be ascertained, the official informed.
With this incident, 125 Naxalites have been killed in separate encounters with security forces in the state so far this year.
On May 23, seven Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in the forest on the Narayanpur-Bijapur inter-district border, while 12 were gunned down in Bijapur district on May 10.
Ten Naxalites, among them three women, were killed in an encounter in a forest along the border of Narayanpur and Kanker districts on April 30, and 29 died in an encounter in Kanker district on Apil 16, police said. -- PTI
23:33 Musk congratulates Modi, says looking forward to...
Congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his historic election victory, Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Friday said he is looking forward to his companies doing 'exciting work' in India.
'Congratulations @narendramodi on your victory in the world's largest democratic elections! Looking forward to my companies doing exciting work in India,' Musk said in a post on X.
Modi will be administered the oath of office on June 9, his third consecutive term as Prime Minister. -- PTI
22:26 PM oath ceremony: Delhi declared no-flying zone
Delhi Police has imposed prohibitory orders and declared the national capital no-flying zone as Narendra Modi will take oath as the prime minister for third term on June 9, according to an order issued by the Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora on Friday.
The prohibitory orders will remain imposed for two days, June 9 and 10, it said.
"It has been reported that certain criminal, anti-social elements or terrorists inimical to India may pose a threat to the safety of the general public, dignitaries and vital installations," Arora said in the order.
He further said, "In exercise of the power conferred upon me by section 144 of the CrPC prohibiting flying of sub-conventional aerial platforms like para gliders, para-motors, hang gliders, UAVs, UASs, microlight aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft, hot air balloons, small size powered aircraft, quadcopters or even by para jumping from aircraft etc over Delhi during the swearing-in ceremony and doing shall be punishable u/s 188 of the Indian Penal Code."
As the notice cannot be served individually on all concerned, the order is, hereby, passed exparte, it said.
This restrictions will come into force on June 9 and stay till June 10, the order said. -- PTI
21:09 Modi, ministers to take oath at 7:15 pm on Sunday
President Droupadi Murmu will administer oath to Narendra Modi and his council of ministers at 7.15 pm on June 9, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said on Friday evening.
It also said that the Change of Guard Ceremony will not take place on June 8, 15 and 22, 2024 at Rashtrapati Bhavan due to the preparation for the swearing-in-ceremony at Forecourt, Rashtrapati Bhavan and address to both the Houses of Parliament by the President.
The President appointed Modi as the prime minister-designate on Friday after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief J P Nadda handed her a letter on Modi's election as the leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party and NDA leaders submitted their letters of support. -- ANI
20:23 Don't believe hoaxes about portfolios: Modi to MPs
Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi on Friday urged National Democratic Alliance MPs not to fall prey to hoaxes about ministries and portfolios and claimed the 'INDI Alliance' could also indulge in spreading 'fake news' about such issues.
Addressing a meeting of the NDA Parliamentary Party, Modi said he did not find much truth in what was being aired on TV in the last couple of days.
"I did not find any truth in what is being run. I said one should ask where do they get such information from. There had not been such an occasion in the last 10 years, so there will be such excitement. Some people reach out to you and say they have high contacts and will make you minister... We fall for it thinking this could be a way to become a minister," Modi said.
He said now technology is such that people could also come out with a list of ministers with even his signatures on it.
"Some intelligent person may also distribute portfolios. A lot of people are busy in forming government these days, distributing ministries and posts. I request you, those who know Modi, know that all such attempts are useless. If you get a phone call, verify that they are from the authority concerned or not," he said.
"So there is an entire army indulging in such rumour-mongering. Some people do it habitually, some do it for entertainment while some do it with ill-intentions. I urge all MPs not to fall prey to such conspiracies," he said.
Modi alleged that during the Lok Sabha elections, the 'INDI Alliance' perfected themselves in spreading 'fake news' and have done a 'double PhD in it. They will make use of such tactics. We should stay away from such things, stay away from rumours', he said.
Referring to senior leaders, Modi said the team that was sitting there was experienced and gave him the right advice .
"That is why the team will make the right decisions jointly. Be rest assured that the country will not run on the basis of breaking news," he said. -- PTI
19:53 Congress did not reject EVMs: Chidambaram
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Friday said his party did not reject Electronic Voting Machines and the party is for improvement of VVPAT and asserted that he has never blamed the EVMs.
Answering a question at a press conference here, Chidambaram said that in the Congress party's manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, 'we did not reject EVMs'.
Chidambaram was answering a question on PM Narendra Modi's comment on the silence of the opposition bloc on EVMs.
"Please read the manifesto, what we say is, the VVPAT slip, in order for us to read, displays for about 4-5 seconds and then the slip falls inside the box. What we say in the manifesto is that there should be one more improvement," he told reporters.
Rather than the slip automatically falling inside the VVPAT box, the voter should be able to receive it, see that and then deposit it into the box and with this improvement, there will be no doubt for anyone as regards the EVM-VVPAT system.
Even now, if opinion is sought on EVMs, 'four out of ten or three out of ten people doubt the EVMs and I am not saying if the suspicion is just or not; as far as I am concerned, I have never blamed the EVMs'.
The Congress party's stand is to further improve and reform the EVM system, he asserted.
"I am not denying that one or two party leaders are opposing the EVM system, but that is not the party's stand."
Modi, addressing newly-elected MPs and leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Delhi, flayed the opposition INDIA bloc leaders for casting suspicions on EVMs and the Election Commission throughout the poll process, alleging that they wanted to stoke fire across the country if the results did not suit them.
However, the EVMs silenced them by June 4 evening, the PM said in an apparent reference to the opposition's better-than-expected showing. -- PTI
19:29 Naidu to take oath as Andhra CM on June 12
Telugu Desam Party Leader K Raghu Rama Krishna Raju informed that party chief Chandrababu Naidu will take oath as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister on June 12 at 4.55 pm.
"Nara Chandrababu Naidu will take oath as Andhra Pradesh CM on 12th June at 4.55 pm... It's a very pleasant moment for the people of Tamil Nadu, the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appreciated our leaders Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan. Both our state leaders have shown a lot of respect towards Modi ji. Of course, we need a lot of support from the Centre considering the destruction caused by former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy," said the TDP leader.
When asked if the TDP has placed any specific demands of ministries in the new Modi cabinet, he said, "That is not my subject to comment. But our party leader is not the kind of person who demands. I think by virtue of his good relations he can extract as much as he can but he never demands." -- ANI
"Nara Chandrababu Naidu will take oath as Andhra Pradesh CM on 12th June at 4.55 pm... It's a very pleasant moment for the people of Tamil Nadu, the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appreciated our leaders Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan. Both our state leaders have shown a lot of respect towards Modi ji. Of course, we need a lot of support from the Centre considering the destruction caused by former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy," said the TDP leader.
When asked if the TDP has placed any specific demands of ministries in the new Modi cabinet, he said, "That is not my subject to comment. But our party leader is not the kind of person who demands. I think by virtue of his good relations he can extract as much as he can but he never demands." -- ANI
18:41 Modi meets President, stakes claim to form govt
Leader of the National Democratic Alliance Parliamentary Party Narendra Modi on Friday met President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and staked claim to form the government.
Earlier in the day, Modi was chosen as the leader of the NDA parliamentary party, thus paving the way for him to become the prime minister for the third time.
The BJP-led NDA has got 293 seats and enjoys majority in the 543-member Lok Sabha. -- ANI/PTI
18:35 Future of Modi as PM uncertain: Gaurav Gogoi
The future of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister is uncertain as one needs a large heart, open mind and inclusive approach to run a coalition government, Congress Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi said in New Delhi on Friday.
"These are the qualities that former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and late Atal Behari Vajpayee possessed, but I don't think Modi has them. Therefore, his long-term prospects as PM are questionable," Gogoi told reporters after he, along with two other elected Congress MPs, were felicitated at the state party headquarters in New Delhi.
Gogoi, who wrested the Jorhat Lok Sabha seat from Bharatiya Janata Party's Topon Gogoi, expressed gratitude towards the people of Uttar Pradesh for elevating 'Rahul Gandhi to a stature bigger than the prime minister'.
"If we compare the victory margins of Rae Bareli and Varanasi in UP, where the BJP claims its 'double engine government' is thriving, Gandhi has won by more than double Modi's victory margin," the deputy leader of the opposition in the outgoing Lok Sabha said.
"When the people of Uttar Pradesh are unhappy with the prime minister, it raises doubts about how long the coalition will remain satisfied with his leadership," he added.
"Currently, my foremost doubt is the continuity of Modi as PM for five years because UP's people have shown their disapproval, as evidenced by their voting pattern in Varanasi compared to Rae Bareli," he continued.
Regarding the impact of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra (BJNY), Gogoi said, "It undeniably had a significant impact across the country, evident from the decline in vote share in the Hindi heartland states of UP, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, among others, where the BJP was deemed powerful, but their margins have diminished."
He also highlighted the BJNY's influence in the Northeast, where it started in Manipur, leading to Congress winning two seats, followed by one seat each in Nagaland and Meghalaya, and three seats in Assam.
"In the NE, the BJNY has fractured the backbone of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA). It's unfortunate that its convenor and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, instead of taking moral responsibility and resigning, is attributing the losses in Nagaland and Meghalaya to a particular religion," he lamented.
"We respect all faiths in the Northeast, be it Christianity, Hinduism, or Islam. However, it's regrettable that the Chief Minister lacks the maturity to own up to NEDA's poor performance," Gogoi remarked.
"Sarma's reckless statement blaming a particular religion necessitates an apology. The chief ministers of Nagaland and Meghalaya should also condemn this remark," he emphasised.
"Across India, particularly in Assam, people have rebuffed the rhetoric of communal division based on symbols like the 'mangalsutra' and Hindu-Muslim divides. I commend the Indian electorate for rejecting such rhetoric through their votes, whether in UP, Manipur, Assam, or Tamil Nadu. People of all faiths and religions across the country have dealt a strong blow to the BJP," Gogoi remarked.
Assessing the impact of the election result, Gogoi said it will not only affect the upcoming polls in Delhi, Haryana, and Maharashtra but will also resonate in the Assam assembly elections two years from now.
"The echo of the Congress victory in Jorhat will reverberate throughout the state," he concluded.
Gogoi, who won the Jorhat seat by a margin of 1,44,393 votes, was welcomed at the party headquarters, along with Pradyut Bordoloi, who retained the Nagaon seat, and Rakibul Hussain, who defeated All India United Democratic Front president Badruddin Ajmal in Dhubri by a margin of 10,12,476 votes.
They were felicitated by senior party leaders, including the state president Bhupen Bora. -- PTI
18:10 'Ample' evidence to nail Kejriwal: ED to court
The Enforcement Directorate asserted before a Delhi court on Friday it has 'ample evidence' to link Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to 'grave' economic offences, as it opposed his application for regular bail in a money laundering case related to the alleged excise scam.
The central probe agency told Special Judge Kaveri Baweja it was in possession of several incriminating evidences against Kejriwal.
The judge posted the matter for June 14 for further arguments on the application.
"There is ample evidence on record to link the applicant to the commission of the offence of money laundering, and his release on bail would adversely affect further investigation to unearth the deep-rooted multi-layered conspiracy," the ED claimed.
"He is involved in grave economic offences," it alleged.
The court had on Sunday sent Kejriwal to judicial custody in the case.
The judge had passed the order after he was produced before the court through video conference after surrendering before Tihar central jail authorities.
The judge passed the order on an application filed by ED on May 20, when Kejriwal was out on interim bail granted to him by the Supreme Court.
The court had on June 5 dismissed the AAP national convenor's plea seeking interim bail on medical grounds. -- PTI
Shashi Tharoor celebrates his cliffhanger win
17:11 This was likely Shashi Tharoor's last LS battle
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday said if the next Lok Sabha polls take place five years down the line, he does not see himself contesting another election for the Lower House as he believes that one needs to know when to step aside for the younger blood to come in.
In Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat, Tharoor beat Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar by 16,077 votes to register his fourth straight victory from the constituency.
Asked if this election was his electoral politics swansong, Tharoor told PTI, "Not electoral politics but certainly Lok Sabha. I think I have done my bit and I honestly feel that at some point, we all need to know when to step aside for younger blood to come in and have a crack at it."
"The Lok Sabha is certainly a very important institution. I have done my very best for my constituents and I will continue doing so but there are ways of serving in public life without necessarily having to do it that way. I think if the election is five years from hence, I don't really see myself at that stage wanting to have another go at the Lok Sabha," the former Union minister said.
Tharoor added that but for now, there are five years to serve and he is determined to do his best for the people he represents during that time.
Asked about the close fight and if the Left made it difficult for him, Tharoor said CPI candidate Pannyan Raveendran took two and a half lakh votes.
"But the other is the three areas that are represented by the CPI(M), the CPI candidate came last and the BJP candidate came first. There are some legitimate questions being asked as to how exactly and why exactly that happened. But you know at the end of the day, a victory is a victory and we are savouring it as sweet," Tharoor told PTI.
On the BJP winning its first seat in Kerala with actor-politician Suresh Gopi winning the Thrissur seat by a huge margin, Tharoor said it needs to be taken seriously as for the first time one seat has gone to the BJP.
"But I must say Suresh Gopi, whom I know well and he supported me in 2009 is not a typical BJP candidate. He went out of his way to declare his secular credentials, appealed overtly to the minority voters in Thrissur particularly to the Christian community, and had this personal quality of being a celebrity candidate, a well regarded movie star as well as the host of the Malayalam edition of the Kaun Banega Crorepati," Tharoor said.
17:00 China upset at Taiwan's message to Modi
In a sharp response to China's protest over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply to Taiwan President Lai Ching Te's congratulatory message, Taipei said on Friday that Beijing's actions are "utterly unjustified."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan in its statement also said that the island remains dedicated to "building partnerships" with India.
"China's outrage at a cordial exchange between the leaders of 2 democracies is utterly unjustified. Threats & intimidation never foster friendships," Taiwan MOFA said in a post on X. "Taiwan remains dedicated to building partnerships with #India underpinned by mutual benefit & shared values," it said.
The Chinese Embassy in India on Thursday reiterated that Taiwan is an "inalienable part" of the territory of China.
The embassy's spokesperson further emphasised that the one-China is a universally recognised norm in international relations and a prevailing consensus in the international community.
"There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China. The one-China principle is a universally recognized norm in international relations and a prevailing consensus in the international community," the spokesperson added.
16:16 Sensex hits all-time ahead of Modi's swearing-in
Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty climbed over 2 per cent to settle at record closing high levels on Friday after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revised upwards the GDP growth projection to 7.2 per cent for 2024-25 from 7 per cent earlier.
The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 1,720.8 points, or 2.29 per cent, to hit a new record peak of 76,795.31 in day trade. The benchmark ended at 76,693.36, up 1,618.85 points, or 2.16 per cent.
The NSE Nifty climbed 498.8 points, or 2.18 per cent, to 23,320.20 during the day and is just 18.5 points from hitting its record high level. It settled with a jump of 468.75 points, or 2.05 per cent, at 23,290.15. IT and interest rate-sensitive bank, realty, and auto stocks ended with sharp gains.
The RBI left its key interest rates unchanged on Friday as expected, keeping the focus on inflation amid robust economic growth that is likely to provide the new Modi government headroom for manoeuvring reforms.
16:07 Adani Ports bags 5-year operation and maintenance contract at Kolkata port
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) on Friday said it has secured a five-year Operation and Maintenance (O&M) contract for the container facility at the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata.
With this, APSEZ has to deploy cargo handling equipment within seven months from the letter of acceptance (LOA) date, the company said in a statement.
"APSEZ won the five-year O&M contract through a competitive bidding process, which mandates the successful bidder to deploy cargo handling equipment within seven months from the letter of acceptance (LOA) date," the statement said.
"The presence of APSEZ at the dock is likely to improve connectivity between the terminal and its container ports, particularly with the transhipment hubs at Vizhinjam and Colombo that are targeted for commissioning during the year," it said.
15:56 Farmers' bodies support CISF cop who hit Kangana
Some farmer outfits on Friday threw their weight behind the CISF woman constable who allegedly slapped actor and BJP MP-elect Kangana Ranaut, saying the entire sequence leading to the incident needs to be properly investigated.
Ranaut, in a video message, had on Thursday said she was hit in the face and abused by the constable during security check at the Chandigarh airport, the ugly fracas breaking out two days after she was elected to the Lok Sabha from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha were among the prominent outfits which said they stand in support of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) woman constable.
The constable, who appeared to be upset with Ranaut over her stance on the farmers' protests, has been suspended and an investigation has been launched.
The CISF, tasked with providing security at airports, had also ordered a court of inquiry into the incident. SKM (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said they will meet Punjab's Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav for a proper investigation into the matter.
"We will demand a proper investigation and we will tell him that there should be no injustice with the woman constable," Dallewal said addressing a press conference in Chandigarh with Pandher and some other farmer leaders.
On June 9 in Mohali, an "Insaaf march" to Mohali the senior superintendent of police's office will be taken out "to demand that no injustice be done in this case with the constable", he said. In a video statement titled "Shocking rise in terror and violence in Punjab" posted on X after she landed in Delhi after the incident on Thursday, Ranaut said she was safe and fine. The constable, Ranaut had said, came towards her from the side.
"She hit me in the face and started abusing me. I asked her why she did it and she said she supports the farmer protests.
"I am safe but my concern is that terrorism and extremism are increasing in Punjab... How do we handle that?" Ranaut had said. Another video doing the rounds of social media had shown the agitated constable talking to people presumably after the incident.
"Kangana made a statement (earlier) that farmers were protesting in Delhi because they were paid Rs 100 or Rs 200. At the time, my mother was one of the protesters," she said in the purported video.
The brother of the constable on Thursday said they learnt about the incident through the media. The constable's brother, who is based in Kapurthala, had said his sister has been in service for the past 15 years and had served at many places including Kerala, Chennai and Amritsar. Dallewal and Pandher said the constable's brother was active in farmer movements and was part of their organisation.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher alleged that Ranaut had hurt sentiments with her comments against farmers, elderly women and Punjabis in the past. Both Dallewal and Pandher lashed out at the actor for stating that terrorism was increasing in Punjab.
Jalgaon District Collector Ayush Prasad
15:41 Four students from Maharashtra drown in Russia, two bodies recovered so far: MEA
Four Indian students from Jalgaon district in Maharashtra who were studying in a university in Russia drowned in the Volkhov river there, the external affairs ministry said on Friday, adding that a fifth student has been safely rescued.
"Our Consulate in St. Petersburg remains in contact with the university and local authorities and is providing all possible assistance," the ministry said in a statement today. Local emergency services have so far recovered two dead bodies from the Volkhov river, it said, adding that the Indian consulate in St Petersburg is coordinating with local authorities for the repatriation of the mortal remains.
"We offer our condolences to the families. The search for the remaining two missing students continues, the external affairs ministry said. All five students involved in the accident belong to the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra and were studying at the Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University located in Veliky Novgorod, Russia.
On Thursday the four Indian students studying at the Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University in Veliky Novgorod, drowned in the Volkhov river, with a fifth student narrowly escaping and currently receiving medical attention.
The Indian embassy has assured that the authorities are working to send the bodies to the relatives as soon as possible. "We are working to send the bodies to the relatives as soon as possible. Proper treatment is also being provided to the student whose life has been saved," the Indian Embassy in Moscow said in a post on X.
15:33 Modi meets MM Joshi
Narendra Modi meets veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi at the latter's residence in Delhi.
15:26 The 1st person Modi met after leaving Parliament...
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met L K Advani at the veteran BJP leader's residence in New Delhi on Friday, before staking claim to form the next government at the Centre for a third consecutive term.
Modi visited Advani soon after being chosen as the leader of the NDA parliamentary party, leader of the BJP parliamentary party and leader of the BJP in the Lok Sabha.
He was later scheduled to go to the Rashtrapati Bhawan to call on President Droupadi Murmu for staking claim to form the government. While the Bharatiya Janata Party has got 240 seats, the National Democratic Alliance has got 293 seats and enjoys majority in the 543-member Lok Sabha. PTI
Narendra Modi bows before the Constitution
15:12 Modi smirks at Oppn silence on EVMs on June 4
Prime Minister Narendra Modi of Friday took a dig at the opposition INDIA bloc and said that when the results were declared he was concerned if the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) are 'dead or alive' referring to the allegations of EVM rigging.
He alleged that the opposition tried to blame the EVMs and thus weaken the Election Commission of India. "When results were coming out on June 4, I was busy with work. Phone calls started coming in later. I asked someone, numbers are fine, tell me EVM zinda hai ki mar gaya (Is the EVM dead or alive). Before 4 June, these people (opposition) were constantly blaming EVMs and they were determined to make people lose faith in the democratic process of India. I thought they would take out the funeral procession of the EVM," PM Modi said while addressing the meeting of newly elected MPs of the alliance on Friday in Parliament.
"But by the evening of June 4, unko taale lag gaye. EVM ne unko chup kar diya (EVM silenced them). This is the strength of India's democracy, its fairness. I hope I won't get to hear about EVM for 5 years. But when we go into 2029, perhaps they will again harp about EVM. The country will never forgive them," he added.
He also targeted the Congress party and said, "Even after 10 years, Congress could not touch the figure of 100 seats. If we combine the 2014, 2019 and 2024 elections, Congress did not even get as many seats as BJP got in this election. I can clearly see the people of the INDI alliance were sinking slowly earlier, now they are going to sink at a fast pace."
Chandrababu Naidu has won 16 seats in the LS polls
14:56 Lobby for Speaker, Aaditya advises JDU, TDP
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Friday said the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janta Dal United (JDU), key to forming the next NDA government at the Centre, must insist on getting the Lok Sabha Speaker's post.
In a post on 'X', Thackeray claimed that the minute the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) forms a government, it will try to break the parties of its allies. "A humble suggestion to the possible allies of the BJP in the newly remembered NDA. Get the post of the Speaker," he said.
Thackeray also indirectly referred to the splits engineered in the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
"Having experienced the tactics of the BJP, the minute they form government with you, they will break the promises and try to break your parties too. You'll have experienced it earlier," he said, tagging the accounts of the TDP and JDU on 'X'.
As the BJP has fallen short of the majority required to form a government, the support of TDP and JD(U) has become crucial for Narendra Modi's third term as prime minister.
The NDA has 293 seats, of which the BJP has bagged 240. With 12 MPs, the JD(U) is the second biggest BJP ally after the Telugu Desam Party's 16 in the alliance. PTI
14:34 Modi meets Yogi in Parliament
A pat on the back for Yogi Adityanath from Modi as MPs line up to felicitate the PM-in-waiting.
A chunk of the BJP's lost seats came from Uttar Pradesh -- a state it has dominated since the 'Modi wave' of 2014. In 2019 the party won 62 seats and nearly 50 per cent of the votes, while its ally, the Apna Dal (Sonelal), added two more. This time the BJP got 33 and its vote share fell to 41.3 per cent.
14:26 INDIA Bloc never worked for India: Nitish in Parl
Days after Lok Sabha poll outcome, Janata Dal-United (JDU) Chief Nitish Kumar on Friday lashed out at the INDIA opposition bloc claiming that the latter never worked for the country.
Addressing the parliamentary meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Parliament here in the national capital, Kumar said that the country will progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.
"Agli baar jab aap aaiye toh kuch log jo idhar udhar jeet gaya hai, agli baar sab haarega. Humko poora bharosa hai (Those who have won this time will lose the next elections. I'm confident about it). They never worked for the nation. They never served the country. The country will progress under your (PM Modi) leadership" said Kumar.
Prime Minister Modi and the other leaders at the meeting could not stop laughing at the jibe of Kumar, key founder-member of INDIA bloc in 2023. who had swtiched sides to BJP.
The JDU chief further in his remarks at the NDA meeting affirmed his support towards PM Narendra Modi stating, "All the pending works of Bihar will be done. "It is a very good thing that all of us have come together and we will all work together with you (PM Modi). You will be swearing in as the Prime Minister on Sunday, but I wanted you to do it today itself. Whenever you take the oath, we will be with you...We will all work together under your leadership..."
Kumar has also backed the proposal of naming Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister. The newly elected MPs of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) attended the meeting of the alliance, being held days after the results of the Lok Sabha elections were announced. -- ANI
Chandrababu Naidu felicitates Modi at the NDA Parliamentary meet
14:18 NDA synonymous with good governance: Modi
After all alliance partners unanimously passed a resolution endorsing Narendra Modi, the leader of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, the Prime Minister said the NDA government will provide good governance and thanked people for giving him the opportunity to serve them again. Modi was today formally elected as the leader of the BJP, leader of NDA Parliamentary Party and leader of the Lok Sabha.
Leaders of the NDA allies garlanded Narendra Modi. endorsed as the leader of the NDA Parliamentary Party by alliance partners Addressing the meeting of newly elected MPs of the alliance on Friday in Parliament, Prime Minister said,
"The NDA government has given good governance to the country and in a way, just saying NDA becomes synonymous with good governance. Poor welfare and good governance have been paramount in the focus of all of us."
He also vowed to continue his efforts towards consenus as he called the NDA the most successful alliance. "I assure the people of the country that the majority they gave us to run the government, it will be our effort that we will strive towards consensus and leave no stone unturned towards taking the country forward...NDA has completed around thrr decades, it is no ordinary thing...I can say that this is the most successful alliance," the prime minister said.
"NDA is not a gathering of some parties to gain power or run the government. This is a group that is committed to nation first with the basic spirit of nation first," he added. -- ANI
13:35 Will ensure unanimity in all decisions: Modi in Parl
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he would strive to ensure unanimity in all decisions of his next government and asserted that the NDA is an organic alliance committed to the principle of 'nation first'.
Chosen by BJP-led National Democratic Alliance as their leader to become prime minister for the third time, Modi also said the NDA government in the next 10 years will focus on good governance, development, quality of life and minimum interference in the lives of common citizens.
He said mutual trust was at the core of this alliance and they were committed to principle of 'sarv pantha sambhava' (all sects are equal). He congratulated NDA leaders who have won in the Lok Sabha elections and said he must salute the lakhs of ground workers who worked to ensure this victory.
"This is the most successful alliance in the history of our country. It has completed three successful terms and is now entering its fourth.
"The NDA is not a grouping of parties that have come together to get power, it is committed to the principle of 'nation first'," he added. PTI
13:21 NDA govt in 22 states, says Modi in Parliament
At the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting, Narendra Modi says: "I express my heartfelt gratitude to all the leaders of the constituent parties present in this assembly hall, all the newly elected MPs and our Rajya Sabha MPs. It is a matter of happiness for me that I have had the opportunity to welcome such a large group here today. All those leaders who have come victorious deserve congratulations. The lakhs of workers who have worked day and night, today from this central hall, I bow down and salute them...
"I am very fortunate that all of have unanimously chosen me as the leader of NDA. You all have given me a new responsibility and I am very grateful to you. When I was speaking in this House in 2019, you all chose me as the leader, then I emphasized one thing which is trust. Today, when you are giving me this role, it means that the bridge of trust between us is strong. This relationship is on a strong foundation of trust and this is the biggest asset.
"Very few people discuss this, perhaps it doesn't suit them. But look at the strength of the great democracy of India -- today, people have given NDA the opportunity to form a government and serve in 22 states.
"There are 10 states in our country where the number of our tribal brothers is decisively high, NDA is serving in 7 out of these 10 states...Whether it is Goa or Northeast, where the number of Christians is decisively high, NDA has got the opportunity to serve in those states as well."
13:11 Apna Dal supports proposal
More allies support the proposal. Apna Dal (S) president Anupriya Patel supports the proposal to name Narendra Modi as the Leader of NDA Parliamentary Party.
13:03 Narendra Modi elected Leader of BJP, NDA, LS
Narendra Modi elected as the Leader of Lok Sabha, Leader of the BJP and Leader of NDA Parliamentary Party.
13:02 Kuch log idhar udhar jeet gaya hai...: Nitish on Oppn
Bihar CM- JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar says, "...'Agli baar jab aap aaiye toh kuch log jo idhar udhar jeet gaya hai, agli baar sab haarega. Humko poora bharosa hai'..."
13:01 Ajit Pawar supports proposal
Maharashtra Deputy CM and NCP chief Ajit Pawar supports the proposal of naming Narendra Modi as the NDA Parliamentary Party Leader.
12:59 Chirag Paswan gives Modi a hug in Parliament
Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) National President Chirag Paswan supports the proposal of naming Narendra Modi as the leader of Lok Sabha, Leader of the BJP and NDA Parliamentary Party. Paswan also went up to Modi and gave him a hug. Modi, of course, reciprocated, as Rajnath, Naidu, Nadda look on indulgently
12:56 Manjhi supports the proposals on Modi
HAM(S) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi supports the proposal to name Narendra Modi as the Leader of NDA Parliamentary Party.
12:55 India has the right leader -- Narendra Modi: Naidu
At the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, "Narendra Modi has a vision and a zeal, his execution is very perfect. He is executing all his policies with a true spirit. Today, India is having the right leader -- that is Narendra Modi. This is a very good opportunity for India, if you miss now, we will miss forever."
12:53 Want Modi to be sworn-in today: Nitish in Parl
At the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting, Bihar CM- JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar supports the proposal of naming Narendra Modi as the leader of Lok Sabha, Leader of the BJP and NDA Parliamentary Party.
He says, "All the pending works of Bihar will be done. It is a very good thing that all of us have come together and we will all work together with you (PM Modi). You will be sworn in as the Prime Minister on Sunday, but I wanted you to do it today itself. Whenever you take the oath, we will be with you...We will all work together under your leadership..."
12:50 Rajnath proposes Modi as Leader of NDA, BJP
Senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh on Friday proposed Narendra Modi's name as the leader of the NDA Parliamentary Party and the proposal was seconded by his party colleagues Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari as well as top NDA leaders.
At a meeting of the NDA parliamentary party here at the central hall of old Parliament house, Singh also credited Modi for expanding the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance and said this grouping is not a compulsion but a commitment for the BJP.
After Shah, Gadkari also seconded the three proposals made by Singh to make Modi the leader of the BJP in Lok Sabha, of the NDA parliamentary party and the BJP parliamentary party.
Senior NDA leaders, including H D Kumaraswamy, Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar, also supported the resolutions, paving the way for Modi to become prime minister for the third time.
12:49 K'taka govt bans screening of 'Hamare Baarah' after Muslim outfit's concerns
The Karnataka government has banned the screening of the Hindi movie Hamare Baarah for at least two weeks after some Muslim organisations raised concerns.
In an order, the government stalled the release of the film and its trailer in electronic media, social media, film theatres, private television channels or other media.
The order said several Muslim organisations had appealed to the government not to allow the screening of the movie which portrays Islam in an "instigative and derogatory manner", and giving permission to such a film would lead to hatred between faiths and communities.
The organisations said a conspiracy has been going on to target a particular faith, disturb peace and hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims. -- PTI
12:30 Kumaraswamy supports the proposal as well
At the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting, JD(S) MP-elect HD Kumaraswamy supports the proposal of naming Narendra Modi as the Leader of NDA Parliamentary Party.
12:29 Gadkari supports proposals
At the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting BJP MP Nitin Gadkari supports the proposal of naming Narendra Modi as the leader of Lok Sabha, Leader of the BJP and NDA Parliamentary Party.
12:24 Fortunate to get sensitive PM like Modiji: Rajnath
BJP MP Rajnath Singh says, "We are fortunate that we are going to get a sensitive Prime Minister like Modi ji. I would like to make it clear that this alliance is not a compulsion for us but a commitment."
12:18 NDA govt in Sikkim, Andhra, Arunachal, says Nadda
At the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting, BJP national president JP Nadda says, "I want to that NDA got a majority in the Lok Sabha Elections and we also formed out govt in Odisha. I am happy to inform you that the NDA govt was also formed in Andhra Pradesh. In Arunachal Pradesh too, we formed our Govt for the third time. In Sikkim, NDA formed its govt too. We remember that 10 years ago, there was an indifferent India, it was said about India that nothing was going to change here and today, 10 years later, under the leadership of PM Modi, the same India has become an aspiring India and has set out with the resolution of a developed India..."
12:15 Nadda congratulates PM leading NDA win
At the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting, BJP national president JP Nadda says, "We extend heartiest congratulations to the Prime Minister, who spent every moment in the service of the nation. That is the reason that India is creating history today and NDA is forming a government for the third consecutive time with a majority."
12:13 And that's the Puri MP
MP-elect from Puri, BJP leader Sambit Patra says, "Jai Jagannath" as he comes to Parliament for the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting.
12:11 Modi pays homage to the Constitution in Parliament
Newly elected MPs, Chief Ministers and other leaders of the NDA chant 'Modi-Modi' during the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting at Samvidhan Sadan (Old Parliament). Narendra Modi meets TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and Bihar CM- JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar. Modi respectfully touches the Constitution of India with his forehead as he arrives for the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting.
12:08 Pema Khandu arrives in Parliament
BJP leader Pema Khandu arrives in Parliament for the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting. The BJP swept the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly polls recently.
12:05 Narendra Modi arrives in Parliament
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the Parliament for the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting. Newly elected MPs of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance arrived at Parliament complex on Friday to elect Narendra Modi as their leader, paving the way for him to take oath as prime minister for a third term.
Besides NDA MPs, senior leaders of the alliance, including chief ministers, will be part of the meeting where BJP president J P Nadda is expected to propose a resolution in support of Modi's leadership, with allies and MPs likely to endorse it.
12:00 Prasad arrives in Parliament
Pilibhit BJP MP Jitin Prasad is greeted in Parliament. The former Congress MP was given a ticket from the constituency instead of sitting MP Varun Gandhi.
11:57 All NCP MLAs with us: Ajit Pawar
"No MLA of the NCP is in contact with Sharad Pawar's faction. All MLAs are with us," says Ajit Pawar at a press conference organised after the meeting of NCP MLAs. Five MLAs could not attend the meeting due to personal reasons.
11:52 Yogi, Murty arrives in Parl
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath arrived for the NDA meeting at the Parliament and was greeted by author-philanthropist and Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty.
11:48 First look: NDA meeting to elect Modi as PM begins
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav and other NDA leaders at Samvidhan Sadan (Old Parliament). Meeting of the NDA MPs to begin shortly.
Newly elected MPs of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance arrived at Parliament complex on Friday to elect Narendra Modi as their leader, paving the way for him to take oath as prime minister for a third term.
Besides NDA MPs, senior leaders of the alliance, including chief ministers, will be part of the meeting where BJP president J P Nadda is expected to propose a resolution in support of Modi's leadership, with allies and MPs likely to endorse it.
11:34 Rahul granted bail in defamation case in Bengaluru court
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday was granted bail by a special court here in connection with a case filed by the BJP's Karnataka unit for issuing "defamatory" advertisements in mainstream newspapers.
The advertisement ahead of Assembly polls last year accused the then BJP government in the state of indulging in large-scale corruption during its 2019-2023 rule.
The court had on June one granted bail to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the State Congress chief, after they appeared before it in connection with the defamation case. Judge K N Shivakumar had directed Gandhi to appear before the court on June seven without fail. PTI
11:31 'Naidu will give BJP run for its money'
'400 Plus' was the slogan of Narendra D Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The reality is the BJP is nowhere near the ambitious numbers it had set. In fact, Modi doesn't have the majority to implement some of his party's not so popular plans.
There is also another reality; that is, Narendra Modi is going to be prime minister of India for a third time.
"Indian voters have demonstrated as they did in the past that when they see democracy being threatened, they tend to place limits on leaders with autocratic tendencies. Voters have spoken loud and clear that they do not like autocratic, centralised political rule," Zoya Hasan, the eminent political scientist, tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier.
Read the interview here.
The Gandhi statue at which protests are normally held by MPs
11:21 'Gandhi statue moved in Parl so Oppn can't protest'
The Congress on Friday alleged that statues of Mahatma Gandhi, B R Ambedkar and Chhatrapati Shivaji among others have been relocated within Parliament premises to ensure that Opposition parties cannot hold democratic protests, and said such "stunts" cannot save Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "unstable government" from falling.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh termed the Lok Sabha secretariat's explanation for relocating the statues as "wholly bogus", and said there has been no discussion with any political party on the matter.
In a statement, the Lok Sabha Secretariat said Thursday that due to their location at different places in the Parliament premises, visitors were not able to see these statues conveniently.
"For this reason, all these statues are being respectfully installed in a grand 'Prerna Sthal' in Parliament House premises. This 'Prerna Sthal' is being developed in such a way that the visitors coming to visit the Parliament complex view the statues of these great persons conveniently and get inspired by their life experiences," the statement said.
The Lok Sabha Secretariat had asserted that the Parliament House complex comes under the jurisdiction of the Lok Sabha Speaker and earlier also, statues were shifted inside the complex with the permission of the Speaker.
Slamming the shift of statues, Ramesh said, "Yesterday at 2:30 PM, I had highlighted how the Modi regime was shifting the statues of Chhatrapati Maharaj, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr. Ambedkar away from prominent places they now occupy in front of Parliament House.
"Rattled by photographs of these shifts that were also put out, late last night, well after 8 PM, the Lok Sabha Secretariat was forced to issue a wholly bogus and clearly manufactured explanation for the shift. There has been NO discussion with any political party on these shifts," he said in a post on X.
The real reason for the shifts can now be revealed, Ramesh said, adding that these statues were places where for the past 10 years Opposition parties - including the TDP and JDU - would stage peaceful and democratic protests against the Modi Government.
"Clearly the incoming one-third PM wants no place next to where Parliament meets where protests, even in a Constitutional manner, against him and his government can take place. Such stunts can no longer save him and his unstable Government from falling," Ramesh said. In its statement, the Lok Sabha secretariat said the arrangements are also being made to provide visitors with detailed information about the life and contribution of these great persons and freedom fighters through modern technology at this 'prerna sthal' so that the people visiting can get inspired by their life and thoughts.
The Parliament premises will sport a new look when the 18th Lok Sabha convenes for its maiden session in June as work is underway to integrate the entire complex, comprising four different buildings.
As part of the redevelopment of external areas, the statues of national icons, including those of Gandhi, Shivaji and Jyotiba Phule, were to be moved to a lawn near Gate No 5 of the old Parliament building, which has been named as Samvidhan Sadan.
This would pave the way for the creation of a vast lawn in front of the Gaja Dwar, which is used by the President and the prime minister to enter into the new Parliament building.
11:04 'Those who could not get 100 seats are celebrating'
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dinesh Sharma on Friday said that the entire opposition could not manage to win as many seats as the BJP did in the recent Lok Sabha polls and added that it is laughable that Congress which could not cross the 100 mark is celebrating.
"BJP is a cadre-based party, we will review and make sure that we work on our weaknesses. It is laughable that those (Congress) who could not even get 100 seats are celebrating and the entire opposition could not get as many seats as BJP alone. They are comparing their performance with us while we are forming our government for the third time in a row," former UP Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma told reporters.
He further said that the BJP has put up a good performance in the southern states in the Lok Sabha polls.
"This is a historic event that under the leadership of PM Modi, NDA is going to form its govt for the third time. Earlier people used to call BJP a party of the North but now BJP has a mandate in the South as well," he said.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is holding a meeting of its newly elected MPs at the central hall of the Parliament, sources said.
11:01 Defamation case hearing against Rahul postponed to June 18
An MP-MLA court in Sultanpur on Friday postponed the hearing in the 2018 defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his alleged objectionable remarks targeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Gandhi's lawyer Kashi Prasad Shukla said due to the death of a lawyer, a condolence meeting was held in the court on Friday and the hearing was postponed to June 18.
The Congress leader appeared in court in the defamation case in February and he was granted bail. The complaint against Gandhi was filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra. Last December, the court issued a warrant against Gandhi. Subsequently, the Congress leader halted his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Amethi on February 20, appeared in the court, and was granted bail. The complaint was filed on August 4, 2018, against Gandhi for his alleged objectionable comments against Shah made at a press conference in Bengaluru in May of that year during the Karnataka elections.
The complainant referred to Gandhi's comments that the BJP claims to believe in honest and clean politics but has a party president who is an "accused" in a murder case. Shah was the BJP president when Gandhi made the comment.
10:44 Why Modi called WHO chief 'Tulsi bhai'
World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated PM Narendra Modi on being re-elected as the prime minister after the Lok Sabha polls.
Responding to his message, the prime minister thanked his friend "Tulsi Bhai".
"Congratulations Prime Minister @narendramodi on your reelection. I look forward to continuing @WHO-#India close collaboration for #HealthForAll," the WHO chief said in a post on X.
"Thank you my friend Tulsi Bhai ! India's cooperation with WHO promotes our vision of 'One Earth One Health'. The first WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India adds to our joint efforts towards #HealthForAll," the PM said, replying to the message.
The name "Tusli Bhai" comes from the PM's exchange with the WHO chief during a three-day Global AYUSH Investment and Innovation Summit in Gujarat in 2022.
During the summit, the WHO chief requested him to pick a Gujarati name for him as he had "become a pucca Gujarati."
"WHO Director-General Tedros is a good friend of mine. He always told me Indian teachers taught me and I am here because of them. Today he told me - 'I have become a pucca Gujarati. Have you decided a name for me?' So I will call him Tulsibhai as a Gujarati. Tulsi is a plant that modern generations are forgetting. Generations have worshipped Tulsi. You can also use the Tulsi plant in marriage. So now you are with us," the PM had said.
Akhilesh Yadav at the INDIA block meet
10:39 SP to cancel membership of rebel MLAs
After securing a big victory from Uttar Pradesh in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Samajwadi Party is now gearing up to cancel the membership of rebel MLAs who stood against the party in the Rajya Sabha elections and voted in favour of the BJP.
According to sources in the Samajwadi Party, seven SP MLAs, including Chief Whip Manoj Pandey, surprised the party by supporting the BJP's candidate during the Rajya Sabha elections.This move has angered party president Akhilesh Yadav greatly.
However, following conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections, Yadav has initiated steps to revoke the membership of these seven MLAs, for which an official letter is also being prepared by the party, which will soon be submitted to the UP Legislative Assembly Speaker by the Samajwadi Party.
The list of these seven MLAs includes Rakesh Pratap Singh from Amethi Gauriganj, Manoj Pandey from Rae Bareli Unchahar, Rakesh Pandey from Ambedkarnagar, Pooja Pal from Prayag, Vinod Chaturvedi and Ashutosh Verma and Abhay Singh.
10:22 RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 6.5% for 8th time
Update: The Reserve Bank of India on Friday decided to keep the policy rate unchanged for the eighth time in a row, saying it will maintain a tight vigil on inflation.
The rate increase cycle was paused in April last year after six consecutive rate hikes, aggregating to 250 basis points since May 2022. Announcing the second bi-monthly monetary policy for the current financial year, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent.
He said MPC will remain watchful of elevated food inflation amid the expectation of a normal monsoon. The RBI raised the growth projection to 7.2 per cent from an earlier estimate of 7 per cent for the current financial year. The government has mandated the RBI to ensure CPI inflation at 4 per cent with a margin of 2 per cent on either side. PTI
10:11 RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 6.5%
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das keeps the policy repo rate unchanged at 6.5%. This is the second monetary policy of this financial year, the first one after the high-stakes Lok Sabha election results. The RBI's rate-setting panel will observe the impact of global headwinds and climate shocks on economic determinants such as gross domestic product growth and food prices.
The NDA leaders
10:07 This is what Modi plans in education in 3rd term
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the qualitative changes in India's education sector are reflected in the QS World University Ranking and his government will work on further boosting research and innovation in the third term.
"Over the last decade, we have focused on qualitative changes in the education sector. This is reflected in the QS World University Rankings. Compliments to the students, faculty and institutions for their hard work and dedication. In this term, we want to do even more to boost research and innovation," the PM wrote on X.
The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) Bombay and Delhi are among the top 150 universities in the world, while the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) retained the top rank globally for the 13th time, according to the QS World University Ranking-2025 announced on Wednesday.
While IIT Bombay climbed from 149 last year to 118, up by 31 ranks, IIT Delhi improved its rank by 47 points to bag the 150th position globally. According to the coveted ranking published by the London-based higher education analyst, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the University of Delhi stood out for the employability of its graduates and has been ranked 44th globally in the category of "employment outcomes".
Boasting 46 universities in this edition of the rankings, the Indian Higher Education system is the seventh most represented globally and the third in Asia, trailing only Japan (49 universities) and China (Mainland) (71 universities). From 46 institutions compared to 11 in 2015, India has increased its representation by 318 per cent in the last decade, registering the highest growth among G20 nations, QS officials said. PTI
Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar at the NDA meeting two days ago
09:50 Nitish Kumar's meeting with JDU leaders begins
JD(U) leaders begin arriving at the residence of Bihar CM and party leader Nitish Kumar for the party's Parliamentary Party meeting in New Delhi this morning. The party's newly elected MP from Bhagalpur Ajay Kumar Mandal says, "I never think of becoming anything in the party. I am a soldier of the party. It is the leader who will make decisions. I will accept whatever they decide and will do as they say. I cannot say who will be the ministers."
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on Thursday said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has always been in a leading role in Bihar and will remain a part of the NDA.
Speaking to ANI, Vijay Kumar Sinha said, "Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has always been in a leading role in Bihar, he has said that he was, is, and will remain a part of the NDA. The mandate has been received in favour of the NDA, so those who keep peeping through the back door will not succeed, their intentions will never be fulfilled."
Making a jibe at the INDIA bloc, Sinha said, "INDI alliance is not 'mahagathbandhan' it is 'magathagbandhan.' Speculations are continuing that the INDIA bloc is trying to woo some of the NDA allies to spring a surprise.
The body of the watchman being carried out
09:30 Watchman dead, 40 girls rescued from hostel fire
A watchman died and more than 40 girl students were rescued after a fire broke out in a five-storey building that houses a hostel in Shanipar area of Maharashtra's Pune city in the wee hours of Friday, officials said.
The incident occurred around 1.30 am, said Pune Municipal Corporation's chief fire officer Devendra Potphode. Forty-two girl students who were living in the hostel on the second floor of the building were evacuated following the fire, he said.
"The fire brigade received a call about the fire in a five-storey building. After our team reached the spot, it was found that the blaze had erupted at an accounting academy on the ground floor," Potphode said.
By the time the fire brigade team reached the site, people in the area evacuated the girl students in the hostel, he said.
When the fire was being doused on the ground floor, one person in his early 40s was found dead there with the death apparently being caused by burn injuries, he added. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-1) Sandip Singh Gill said that deceased man was a watchman who was inside a room on the ground floor.
"After he was found there, he was referred to the Sassoon General Hospital, but was declared dead by doctors," he said.
08:45 NDA MPs to meet today to elect Modi as their leader
Newly elected MPs of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance will meet on Friday to elect Narendra Modi as their leader, paving the way for him to take oath as prime minister for a third term.
The swearing-in is likely to be held on Sunday, sources said.
After Modi is elected the leader of NDA MPs, senior members of the alliance like TDP's N Chandrababu Naidu, JD(U)'s Nitish Kumar and Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde will join the prime minister for a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu to present her the list of parliamentarians supporting him, some alliance members said.
He may be sworn in over the weekend, likely Sunday, they added.
The NDA has 293 MPs, comfortably above the majority mark of 272 in the 543-member Lok Sabha.
Senior BJP leaders, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and J P Nadda, have also been holding deliberations with allies to work out an amicable formula for their share of representation in the new government, which will critically depend on them for survival.
The BJP leadership has moved swiftly since the June 4 results for government formation to end any sense of uncertainty after the verdict, which was a setback to the ruling party as it lost majority for the first time since 2014 and needs allies' support to maintain its hold on power. -- PTI
08:26 BJP defamation case: Rahul to appear before B'luru court today
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will appear before a special court in Bengaluru on Friday in connection with a defamation case filed by the Karnataka BJP for issuing allegedly defamatory advertisements in mainstream newspapers.
The advertisement ahead of the assembly polls last year had accused the then BJP government in the state of indulging in large-scale corruption during its 2019-2023 rule.
"Congress national leader Rahul Gandhi will attend the City Civil Court at 10.30 am tomorrow (Friday)," the state Congress said on Thursday.
Later, he will hold a discussion with the Congress's newly-elected MPs from the state as well as the defeated candidates at Bharat Jodo Bhavan on Queens Road at 11.30 am, the party's state unit said, adding that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President D K Shivakumar will also be present.
The court had on June 1 granted bail to Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar after they appeared before it in connection with the case.
Judge K N Shivakumar had passed the order while setting June 7 as the date for Rahul Gandhi's personal appearance.
File image
01:23 Developer, others booked as digital signboard falls on senior citizen in Mumbai
The owner of a construction firm and some others were booked on Thursday after a digital advertising board fell on a 62-year-old man in Malad area of north Mumbai, officials said.
The incident happened around 8pm on Wednesday when the man and his son had gone to Liberty Garden, a Malad police station official said.
"The digital advertising board fell due to strong wind as it was not fastened properly. The man tried to fend off the board but it was too heavy. He then approached us and we have registered a case against the developer of Jaikiran Construction and other concerned persons under IPC sections 336 and 337 for rash and negligent act," the official said.
The incident took place at a site of Jaikiran Construction adjacent to Liberty Garden, the official added.
Earlier, a civic official said the board fell while it was being removed, adding the injured person, however, did not opt for medical treatment. -- PTI
01:10 Saudi announces Eid Al Adha on June 16
Saudi Arabia on Thursday announced the sighting of the crescent moon, marking the start of the month of Dhul Hijjah.
This sighting confirms that the first day of Eid Al Adha will be on June 16.
The Day of Arafah, the pinnacle of Hajj pilgrimage, will be observed on June 15.
Arafat Day falls on Saturday, June 15, while Sunday, June 16 will be the first day of Eid Al Adha, a Saudi Supreme Court statement said on Thursday.
Most Gulf countries align with Saudi Arabia's announcement.
However, Oman announced that the crescent moon was not sighted in the country on Thursday and hence Eid Al Adha will be celebrated on Monday, June 17. -- PTI
File image
00:38 Statues of Gandhi, Ambedkar, Shivaji not removed but ....: LS Secretariat
After the Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that statues of Mahatma Gandhi, BR Ambedkar and Chhatrapati Shivaji were "removed" from their places of prominence in front of the Parliament, the Lok Sabha Secretariat said that the statues were "respectfully" moved to be installed in the grand 'Prerana Sthal' in the Parliament House Complex itself.
After the construction of the new Parliament Building, an action plan has been made for landscaping and beautification of the Parliament Complex so that the Complex could be made grand and attractive as per the high dignity and decorum of the Parliament, Lok Sabha Secretariat stated in a press release on Thursday.
"Statues of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar have just been removed from their places of prominence in front of the Parliament House. This is atrocious," Congress' general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh earlier said in a post on X.
Due to the location at different places in the Parliament Complex, visitors were not able to view these statues conveniently.
"For this reason, all these statues are being respectfully installed in a grand Prerana Sthal in the Parliament House Complex itself. This Prerana Sthal is being developed in such a way that the visitors coming to visit the Parliament complex could easily see the statues of these great leaders and take inspiration from their lives and philosophy," stated a press release from the Lok Sabha Secretariat.
"In the Parliament Complex, statues of great leaders and freedom fighters of the country were installed at different parts of the Complex. These great leaders and freedom fighters have made significant contributions to the independence of our nation, in the cultural and spiritual renaissance of the nation and in taking the country's democratic journey forward strongly after independence. These great heroes, through their lives, philosophy and work, established the tribal pride of the country and paved the way for the upliftment of the exploited and deprived society. They are the source of eternal inspiration for the present and future generations of our nation," the release further said.
In this Prerana Sthal, arrangements are also being made to provide detailed information to the visitors through modern technology regarding the lives and contributions of the great freedom fighters so that the people coming to visit them could get inspiration from their lives and thoughts. -- ANI
The father of teen Porsche driver in police custody/ANI Photo
00:33 Pune teen's father among 5 booked in suicide case
The police booked the father and grandfather of the juvenile involved in the May 19 Porsche car crash in Pune, and three others, in a separate case related to abetment of suicide of a businessman's son in the city, an official said on Thursday.
According to the police, a complaint in this regard was registered by a man, DS Kature, who runs a construction business in Pune's Vadgaon Sheri area, against one Vinay Kale, from whom his son Shashikant Kature, had taken a loan for construction work.
After he could not pay the loan on time, Kale allegedly started adding compounding interest to the principal amount and harassing Shashikant Kature.
Fed up with constant harassment, Shashikant Kature committed suicide in January this year, they said.
A case was registered against Kale under IPC sections 306 (abetment of suicide ) and 506 (criminal intimidation) at the Chandannagar police station in the city.
"During investigation, the role of the juvenile's father (a builder), grandfather and three others cropped up in the suicide case. We have now added sections 420 (cheating) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC to the case," said a police officer without elaborating on their alleged role in the episode. -- PTI
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