LIVE! Police cracks mystery over finger in ice-cream

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Thu, 27 June 2024

Police cracks mystery over finger in ice-cream

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23:51 Police cracks mystery over finger in ice-cream

The finger tip found inside an ice cream cone recently in Mumbai's Malad area is that of an employee of an ice cream factory in Indapur in Pune as per DNA tests conducted during the probe, a police official said on Thursday.

The Forensic Sciences Laboratory report that was received during the day said the DNA found in the finger tip and that of ice cream factory employee Omkar Pote were the same, he said.

"A part of Pote's middle finger was cut during the process of filling ice cream at the Indapur factory. It was later found in the ice cream cone ordered by a Malad based doctor who alerted the authorities," the official added.

The row over the venue for the swearing in ceremony of two newly elected Trinamool Congress MLAs intensified on Thursday as Speaker Biman Banerjee wrote to President Droupadi Murmu requesting her intervention to resolve the deadlock even as the legislators refused to take oath at Raj Bhavan as directed by Governor C V Ananda Bose and staged a dharna in the assembly complex.

The legislators, Baranagar MLA Sayantika Bandyopadhyay and Bhagabangola MLA Rayat Hossain Sarkar, insisted that the oath-taking ceremony is held in the assembly citing the controversy over allegations of molestation of a woman at Raj Bhawan, prompting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to criticise the governor, asserting he has 'no right to obstruct the process'.

The controversy deepened when the MLAs declined the Governor's invitation to take the oath at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday.

Citing a convention, they claimed that bypoll winners are sworn in by the Speaker or Deputy Speaker.

Instead, the two MLAs sat on a dharna in front of the B R Ambedkar statue in the West Bengal Vidhan Sabha complex, demanding the governor facilitate their oath-taking in the assembly.

The Governor, meanwhile, had left for New Delhi on Wednesday afternoon, leaving the issue unresolved.

Miffed over the developments, Speaker Banerjee described the situation as unacceptable and hoped for justice through the President's intervention. -- PTI

The Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory, which manufactures railway coaches, achieved a significant milestone on Thursday with the production of 75,000th coach.

Inaugurated by the late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1955, ICF, as it is popularly called, has been producing several coaches like Electric Multiple Units (EMUs), Diesel Electric Multiple Units (DEMUs), High Speed Accident Relief Train, Air-conditioned Electric Multiple Units, Golden Chariot, Maharaja's Express, among many others.

Currently, it is engaged in manufacturing different variants of the latest semi-high speed 'Vande Bharat' coaches.

The 75,000th coach was the 69th rake of a Vande Bharat train-set rolled out of the production lines, a release said.

After inspecting the coach, the general manager of ICF U Subba Rao congratulated the officers and employees on reaching the milestone.

Producing about 74 coaches a year in 1957-58, ICF now manufactures nearly 3,000 per year.

Besides serving the domestic market, it also exports to overseas.

ICF is now geared up to manufacture variants in Vande Bharat coaches like metro and sleeper coaches, it said.

21:58 Speed of Vande Bharat, Gatiman Express reduced

The Railway Board has reduced the speed of semi-high speed trains Gatimaan Express and Vande Bharat from 160 kmph to 130 kmph till the automatic train protection system gets operational.

At present, only Gatiman Express and two Vande Bharat trains run at 160 kmph between Hazarat Nizamuddin (New Delhi) and Agra rail route due to suitable track conditions.

On June 24, the Railway Board's executive director (signal) issued a letter to the general manager of NCR zone and said that the issue of speed of these trains was examined.

'...it is decided that as advised earlier, Zonal Railways to expedite IR-ATP Kavach works in the section and till the time the Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system is operational, trains to run at maximum speed of 130 kmph in the section,' the letter said.

Directing the NCR zone to ensure the instruction, the letter said that the direction of reduction in speed has also been approved by the Railway Board's Member, Infra; Member, Traction and Rolling Stock; and Member, Operation and Business Development.

"The Board took the decision on its own in the wake of the recent Kanchanjunga Express accident in West Bengal in which a goods train hit the passenger train from the rear killing 10 people including the freight train's driver," a source in the Board told PTI, adding that the speed restriction has been in operation since June 25.

The letter specifically mentions three trains -- train number 20171/20172 (New Delhi-Rani Kamalapati Vande Bharat Express), 22470/22469 (Hazrat Nizamuddin-Khajuraho Vande Bharat Express) and train number 12049/12050 (New Delhi-Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi Gatiman Express).

Gatiman is India's first semi-high speed train launched in April 2016 which runs between Nizamuddin and Jhansi but it takes 160 kmph speed only between Tughlakabad railway station and Agra as tracks were laid there to suit the train's speed.

"On June 22, 2024, five days after the Kanchanjunga Express accident on June 17, the crew of Gatiman was instructed by the control department to reduce the speed from 160 to 140 and then two days later, the Railway Board's direction came," a railway source from Delhi Rail Division said.

"Vande Bharat runs at 130 kmph across all rail networks except this New-Delhi Agra route as it gets a suitable track to go up to 160," another railway source said.

He added, "The distance between Nizamuddin and Agra is 188 km and out of that about 125 km stretch is such where trains can run at a maximum speed of 160 kmph. At remaining stretches, its speed varies but remains below 130. Vande Bharat and Gatiman had almost a similar speed graph until the Railway Board's new direction came to decrease the speed to 130."

According to the railway sources, the Agra division is already working on 'Kavach' installation and it has developed a complete 'Kavach' network on the 80-km stretch between Mathura (excluding the station) and Palwal.

This involves the placement of RFID tags on railway tracks in station areas and other places, installation of stationary 'Kavach' units at several places such as stations, and installation of towers and antennas along the tracks.

"This installation is only for the purpose of trial and it is not being used in train operations as of now. It can be made operational as and when the concerned authorities decide," a loco pilot, working on that route, said.

The Kavach system, developed by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), can apply brakes automatically in case of an emergency when a train driver fails to act in time. -- PTI

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has bought an apartment in a upscale residential building at Pali Hill in Bandra West, Mumbai, for nearly Rs 10 crore.

According to property registration documents accessed and analysed by real estate consultant SquareYards.com, Khan has executed the deed of transfer of a residential property in his name in Mumbai's Bandra suburb. The actor acquired the prestigious property for Rs 9.75 crore.

The property is ready-to-move-in and approximately 1,027 square feet (carpet area) in size.

The transfer deed, which was finalised on June 25, incurred a stamp duty of Rs 58.5 lakh and a registration fee of Rs 30,000.

The property is located in Bella Vista Apartments, an upscale residential building situated in the Pali Hill area.

Post-COVID pandemic, there has been a surge in demand for luxury housing properties across major cities. Celebrities, industrialists and top executives are among major buyers.

Not a single drop of water has dripped from the roof in the sanctum sanctorum where Lord Ram is seated nor has water entered there from anywhere, Ram temple trust general secretary Champat Rai said on Thursday.

He said water entered through all the junction boxes and the same water fell on the ground floor through conduit pipes.

It appeared that water was dripping from the ceiling, whereas in reality the water was coming out on the ground floor with the help of conduit pipes, he added.

The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust functionary said the flooring of the first floor will become completely watertight and there will be no entry of water from any junction boxes.

Water will not reach the lower floor through the conduit, he added.

Rai said a well-planned arrangement has been made for the drainage of rain water in the temple and park complex, the work of which is also in progress.

Hence, there will be no waterlogging anywhere in the temple and park complex, he said.

He said the entire Ram Janmabhoomi complex has been rainwater-managed with zero water discharge outside.

To completely store the rain water inside the Ram Janmabhoomi complex, recharge pits are also being constructed, Rai added.

Ram Temple Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Mishra had also on Tuesday rejected the allegations of the temple's chief priest regarding the seepage of rainwater draining out of water from the sanctum sanctorum.

"There was no water leakage but the rain water came down from the pipes fixed to install electric wires," Mishra had said.

"I myself have inspected the building of the temple. The second floor is under construction. When the roof of the second floor will be finally constructed, then the rain water will stop entering the temple," Mishra had said, while talking to media persons in Ayodhya.

Alleging negligence in the construction of the temple, Ram Janmabhoomi temple chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das had on Monday alleged that there was no arrangement for the draining out of rainwater from the temple premises after the showers on Saturday midnight and urged the temple authorities to take necessary corrective measures. -- PTI

The country's top telecom operator Jio will increase mobile services rates by 12-27 per cent from July 3, according to a company statement.

This is the first hike in mobile services rates by Jio after a gap of about two-and-a-half years.

"The introduction of new plans is a step in the direction of furthering industry innovation and driving sustainable growth through investments in 5G and AI technology," Reliance Jio Infocomm chairman Akash M Ambani said in the statement.

The company has raised mobile services rates across almost all plans.

The price of the lowest recharge is being raised to Rs 19, about 27 per cent higher than Rs 15 for 1 GB data add-on-pack. The 75 GB postpaid data plan will now cost Rs 449 as against Rs 399.

Jio has also raised the price of the popular Rs 666 unlimited plan with 84-day validity by about 20 per cent to Rs 799.

Prices of the annual recharge plans will be increased by 20-21 per cent from Rs 1,559 to Rs 1,899 and from Rs 2,999 to Rs 3,599.

"Unlimited 5G data will be available on all 2GB per day and above plans... The new plans will be made effective on July 3, 2024, and can be opted from all existing touchpoints and channels," the statement said.

The top United Nations human rights official on Thursday voiced concern over the use of anti-terror law in India to silence critics and urged authorities to drop cases against author Arundhati Roy over comments on Kashmir.

'#India: We are concerned by the use of #UAPA anti-terror law to silence critics. Repeat call for review of law & release of human rights defenders detained under it. Urge authorities to drop cases against Arundhati Roy and Sheikh Showkat Hussain over comments on Kashmir,' the UN Human Rights Office, led by High Commissioner Volker Turk, said in a post on X.

Earlier this month, Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena accorded sanction to prosecute Roy and former Central University of Kashmir professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for allegedly making provocative speeches at an event in 2010.

Roy, a Booker Prize-winning author, and Hussain had been named in an FIR registered on October 28, 2010.

The two had allegedly made provocative speeches at a conference organised under the banner of Azadi The Only Way' on October 21, 2010, in New Delhi.

Roy, 62, was on Thursday honoured with the prestigious Pen Pinter Prize 2024 for her 'unflinching and unswerving' writings.

The prize, established in 2009 by the charity English PEN, defends freedom of expression and celebrates literature in memory of Nobel-Laureate playwright Harold Pinter.

Benchmark Sensex breached the historic 79,000 mark while Nifty scaled the 24,000 peak for the first time on Thursday as buying in blue-chip stocks like Infosys, Reliance and TCS helped markets extend gains to the fourth straight day and close at lifetime high levels.

The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 568.93 points or 0.72 per cent to settle at a new closing peak of 79,243.18 amid the expiry of monthly contracts in the derivatives segment.

During the day, it zoomed 721.78 points or 0.91 per cent to hit the new lifetime peak of 79,396.03.

The Nifty ended at a fresh record high of 24,044.50, rising 175.70 points or 0.74 per cent.

Intra-day, it soared 218.65 points or 0.91 per cent to hit the all-time peak of 24,087.45.

Among the 30 Sensex companies, UltraTech Cement jumped over 5 per cent after the country's leading cement maker said it will acquire a 23 per cent stake in its Chennai-based rival India Cements Ltd, in a deal estimated to be around Rs 1,885 crore.

Gains in Infosys, TCS and Reliance Industries drove the benchmark indices to record-high levels. -- PTI

A 17-year-old medical aspirant allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan in his rented accommodation in Kota, police said on Thursday.

This is the twelfth case of suspected suicide by a coaching student in Kota since January.

The number of student suicides in Kota stood at 26 in 2023.

Bihar native Hrishit Kumar Agrawal, a student of Class 12, was preparing for NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) at a coaching institute in Kota, Dadabari ASI Shambhu Dayal said.

He lived in a rented room in a building in Chota Chaurahin Dadabari area where some other coaching students also resided, he said.

At around 1 pm on Thursday, the other students informed police after Agrawal did not open his door when they knocked, he said.

When a police team broke open the door, they found Agarwal hanging from a ceiling fan inside his room, he said.

No suicide note was recovered from Agarwal's room, the ASI said.

The body was in a decomposing state. It is suspected that he committed suicide sometime on Wednesday, he said.

Agarwal was preparing for the medical college entrance exam and taking coaching for the same in Kota for the last two years, Dadabari circle inspector Naresh Kumar Meena said, adding that the boy's parents have been informed.

The body has been sent to MBS hospital for a post-mortem, which will be conducted after the arrival of his parents, he said.

On June 16, another Bihar native, Ayush Jaiswal (17) committed suicide inside his PG room in Kota.

He was preparing for the IIT-JEE competitive exam.

An 18-year-old NEET aspirant, Bagisha Tiwari, died allegedly after jumping from the ninth floor of a building in the coaching hub, a day after the National Testing Agency (NTA) declared the NEET-UG results, in which she scored 320 out of 720 marks. -- PTI

Screen grab from NSUI video

19:13 NSUI members occupy NTA headquarters in protest

Members of NSUI, the Congress party's student wing, barged into the headquarters of the National Testing Agency (NTA), which is under the scanner over alleged irregularities in the conduct of NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams, and locked its doors as a sign of protest.

The police have reached the spot and are trying to control the situation. National Students' Union of India (NSUI) members stormed into the testing agency's office in Okhla during a protest led by its national president Varun Choudhary as they raised slogans of "shut down NTA".

There was no immediate reaction from officials of the NTA about the incident.

Visuals from the scene shared by NSUI showed scores of its members raising slogans inside the building of the NTA. It also showed students locking the entrance of the NTA office.

"No more Corrupt NTA. #NTA BAN," read a message pasted on the iron lock and chain.

The Delhi police has reached the spot and are trying to control the situation, a police officer said.

"Apparently, the NTA locked the door from inside as students were protesting. Subsequently, the protesters also locked the door from outside with an iron chain and lock," the officer said.

Ajit Pawar

19:08 Sack Ajit Pawar from Maharashtra alliance, says BJP leader

A BJP office-bearer from Shirur in Maharashtra's Pune district has sought the removal of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and his NCP from the ruling alliance, which also consists of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena.

A video of Sudarshan Choudhary, the BJP's Shirur tehsil vice president, making the demand at a party meeting recently has gone viral, leading to a backlash from the Nationalist Congress Party, whose workers mobbed him on Thursday and sought an apology.

"It is a suggestion to you. Listen to what party workers are thinking. If you really want to make a decision, remove Ajit Pawar from the Mahayuti (ruling alliance)," Choudhary tells the BJP leadership in the video.

He also said senior leaders like Subhash Deshmukh, Rahul Kulkarni and Yogesh Tilekar, who were present in the meeting, could have become ministers and others could have been made head of state-run corporations if Pawar was not part of the ruling dispensation.

The BJP had been opposing Pawar for the last 10 years but workers are now in a state of fear because the deputy CM is at the helm of affairs, Choudhary further claimed.

It is the wish of all BJP workers in the tehsil that they do not want such power which also involves Ajit Pawar, he added.

"Why bring Ajit Pawar to power because he will issue orders and suppress BJP workers," Choudhary said in the video.

Speaking to reporters on the issue, Choudhary said during the review meeting held in Shirur, BJP workers freely expressed their wish.

Meanwhile, several Nationalist Congress Party workers arrived at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) complex in Pune when Choudhary was talking to reporters, shouted slogans against him and sought an apology for the statement on the deputy CM.

The ruling alliance got a drubbing in the recent Lok Sabha polls, managing to win just 17 seats against the Maha Vikas Aghadi's 30.

The Ajit Pawar-led NCP emerged victorious on just Raigad seat.

In Shirur, NCP (SP) MP Amol Kolhe trounced the ruling alliance's Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil by a margin of more than 1.40 lakh votes.

Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs had joined the Shinde government in July last year.

The Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party on Thursday asked its spokespersons to refrain from making comments that could cause discord among allies.

The NCP is part of the ruling alliance comprising Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The notice issued by NCP's Maharashtra unit chief Sunil Tatkare said spokespersons must discuss policy decisions with the leadership before making comments in the media.

'Party spokespersons have been asked to ensure their comments don't cause discord among the alliance partners,' an NCP leader said.

The directive comes amid statements from some NCP spokespersons in response to a few BJP and Shiv Sena leaders making disparaging comments about Ajit Pawar's utility in the ruling alliance.

The ruling alliance managed to win just 17 of the 48 seats in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha polls, with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP emerging victorious on just one seat. -- PTI

The crime investigation department probing molestation charges against former Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa on Thursday filed a charge sheet in the special court dealing with POCSO cases.

After the Sadashivanagar police in Bengaluru registered a case of molestation in March this year against the BJP stalwart, Karnataka Director General of Police Alok Mohan had issued an order transferring it to the CID for further investigation.

The case was registered based on a complaint by the mother of a 17-year-old girl who alleged that he molested her daughter during a meeting on February 2 this year, at his residence in Dollars Colony in Bengaluru.

Yediyurappa has denied the charge, and said, "People would teach a lesson to those indulging in conspiracies against me."

The 54-year-old woman, who had levelled the charge against Yediyurappa, died at a private hospital last month, due to lung cancer.

The CID questioned Yediyurappa for about three hours on June 17 in connection with the case.

The Karnataka high court had earlier passed orders restraining the CID from arresting Yediyurappa in the case.

17:49 SC issues notice to NTA over NEET OMR sheets

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the National Testing Agency (NTA) to apprise it whether there is any time limit for raising grievances regarding the OMR sheets provided to the candidates who appeared in NEET-UG 2024.

A vacation bench of Justices Manoj Misra and SVN Bhatti, which issued notice to the NTA on a fresh plea filed by a private coaching centre and few NEET candidates, tagged the petition with the pending matters and listed it for hearing on July 8.

Senior advocate R Basant, appearing for the coaching institute and the candidates, submitted that a few students, who have appeared for the examination, have not got the OMR sheets.

The bench at the outset pointed out to Basant as how can a private coaching institute file an Article 32 petition in the Supreme Court and what kind of fundamental rights of the institution are affected.

Counsel appearing for the NTA submitted that the OMR sheets have been uploaded on the website and given to the candidates.

The bench asked him whether there is any time limit for raising the grievance of OMR sheets.

The NTA counsel said that he needs to take instructions and sought listing of the petition along with the pending matters.

"We will file a short reply by then to the query," he said.

Basant pointed out that there is no set procedure or time limit to raise the grievance and therefore as an interim relief the candidates are seeking grant of OMR sheets.

The bench then issued notice and tagged the petition with the pending matters while asking the counsel for NTA to file a short written reply to the court's query on time limit.

On June 20, the top court sought responses from the Centre, the NTA and others on a slew of petitions, including those seeking scrapping of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2024 and a court-monitored probe, amid mounting outrage over alleged irregularities in conducting the all-India medical entrance test.

While hearing separate pleas on the NEET-UG 2024, the apex court had on June 18 said even if there was '0.001 percent negligence' on the part of anyone in the conduct of the examination, it should be thoroughly dealt with.

It had listed all the petitions for hearing on July 8.

The NEET-UG is conducted by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.

The Centre and the NTA had on June 13 told the top court that they had cancelled the grace marks given to 1,563 candidates who took the examination for admission to MBBS and other such courses.

They will have the option to either take a retest or forgo the compensatory marks awarded to them for the loss of time, the Centre had said.

The examination was held on May 5 across 4,750 centres and around 24 lakh candidates appeared for it. The results were expected to be declared on June 14 but were announced on June 4, apparently because the evaluation of the answer sheets got completed earlier.

The allegations have led to protests in several cities and sparring between rival political parties. As many as 67 students scored a perfect 720, unprecedented in the NTA's history, with six from a centre in Haryana's Faridabad figuring in the list, raising suspicions about irregularities.

It has been alleged that grace marks contributed to 67 students sharing the top rank. -- PTI

16:57 All smiles at Oppn meeting with Speaker

A video grab of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi meeting Speaker Om Birla today. He voiced his displeasure over the reference to Emergency made by the chair, saying it was "clearly political" and could have been avoided.

He was accompanied by Samajwadi Party's Dharmendra Yadav and Dimple Yadav, DMK's Kanimozhi, NCP's (SP) Supriya Sule, RJDs Misa Bharti and TMC's Kalyan Banerjee, RSP's N K Premachandran and some others.

An accidental encounter between Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray in a lift in Vidhan Bhawan on Thursday caused ripples in state political circles.

On the first day of the state legislature monsoon session, Fadnavis and Thackeray found themselves waiting for the lift together.

A viral video shows the two leaders exchanging some words. Asked about the conversation later, Thackeray said, "People must have thought of the song, 'na na karte pyar tumhi se kar baithe' (I fell in love with you despite denials). But no such thing will happen. Lifts don't have ears so it is a good suggestion to have more such meetings in lifts," Thackeray added on a lighter note, while speaking to reporters.

Thackeray said nothing else was to be inferred from the lift encounter as it was an unexpected meeting". BJP legislator Pravin Darekar, who was also in the lift said, "When the lift doors opened, Fadnavis walked towards the side of the ruling party offices and Uddhav ji walked to the opposition party offices. This means he has no intention of joining the ruling benches."

Senior BJP minister Chandrakant Patil also met Thackeray in the office of the Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Ambadas Danve. Patil presented Thackeray a bouquet and a milk chocolate. "You will give another chocolate to the people tomorrow," Thackeray quipped, in an apparent reference to sops being part of the state budget to be tabled on Friday.

This is the last legislature session before the state assembly polls due in four months. There are reports that the Mahayuti alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP is planning to present a please all' budget' ahead of the assembly polls. There is speculation that after the debacle of Mahayuti alliance in the recently held Lok Sabha polls, deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, is set to table a populist budget.

Of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, the ruling alliance won 17, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi combine of Congress, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and Shiv Sena (UBT) bagged 30. PTI

The 1st India bloc meeting after the poll results was held on June 5

16:30 INDIA Bloc meeting at Kharge's home at 5pm

INDIA alliance partners to meet at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence at 5 pm today.The 1st India bloc meeting after the election results was held on June 5. Mallikarjun Kharge told opposition leaders that all INDIA bloc partners fought well, unitedly and resolutely in the Lok Sabha election 2024.

16:21 'Humbled'

TMC MP Sagarika Ghose tweets, "After 30+ years as a journalist I am humbled to be part of India's democratic opposition fighting for the Constitution and India's parliamentary democracy. #JaiSamvidhan."

15:37 Proud that President mentioned Emergency: BJP

On the President Murmu's address to Parliament mentioning the Emergency, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad says: "It is a matter of pride for us that the President the condemned Emergency period in her address today. Congress talks about saving the Constitution, but has Rahul Gandhi said even word on it till now?..."

BJP MP Giriraj Singh says: "If anyone has hurt the Constitution, it has been the Congress party. The new generation has the right to know about that period."

BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi: "The whole country knows that it was a dark period in our country's history. 140 crore people in the country can never forget it. It was the doing of Congress..."

BJP MP Arun Govil says: "We can't simply forget what happened in the past. Congress never mentions what they did with the Constitution but only talks about saving the Constitution now."

President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday stressed the government's unwavering faith in the Constitution and efforts to make it a part of "public consciousness", while slamming the Emergency as the "biggest and darkest chapter of direct attack" on the Constitution.

Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy, currently facing the threat of prosecution over historic comments on Kashmir 14 years ago, was on Thursday honoured with the prestigious Pen Pinter Prize 2024 for her unflinching and unswerving writings.

The prize, established in 2009 by the charity English PEN, defends freedom of expression and celebrates literature in memory of Nobel-Laureate playwright Harold Pinter.

Roy expressed her delight at being named this year's winner amid an incomprehensible turn the world is taking. "I am delighted to accept the PEN Pinter prize. I wish Harold Pinter were with us today to write about the almost incomprehensible turn the world is taking. Since he isn't, some of us must do our utmost to try to fill his shoes," said 62-year-old Roy.

The renowned author, who won the Booker Prize for her debut novel The God of Small Things', was chosen by this year's judges Chair of English PEN Ruth Borthwick; actor and activist Khalid Abdalla; and writer and musician Roger Robinson.

She will receive the award at a ceremony co-hosted by the British Library on October 10, where she will also deliver an address.

Roy tells urgent stories of injustice with wit and beauty. While India remains an important focus, she is truly an internationalist thinker, and her powerful voice is not to be silenced, said Borthwick. Arundhati Roy is a luminous voice of freedom and justice whose words have come with fierce clarity and determination for almost 30 years now, said Abdalla.

15:04 Women in Parliament

RJD MP Misa Bharti, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi and SP MP Dimple Yadav at the Parliament complex in Delhi.

On President Droupadi Murmu's address, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says: "There was no logic of talking about Emergency in the address after 49 years. She should have spoken about today's issues. We did not hear anything about the NEET exam or unemployment. The word Manipur did not come out from President Murmu or PM Modi. Issues like the India-China border should have been taken up in the address..."

14:53 L K Advani discharged from AIIMS

Veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani, who was admitted to the AIIMS here last night, was discharged on Thursday, a hospital official said.

The 96-year-old former deputy prime minister was evaluated by a team of doctors from different specialities including urology and geriatric medicine and is learnt to have undergone a minor procedure.

"Advani was admitted for old age-related issues and has been discharged," the AIIMS official said. Advani was admitted to the old private ward of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences around 10.30 pm on Wednesday. PTI

MPs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi arrive in Parliament

14:41 Emergency reference avoidable, Rahul tells Speaker

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi met Speaker Om Birla on Thursday and voiced his displeasure over the reference to Emergency made by the chair, saying it was "clearly political" and could have been avoided.

It was a courtesy call during which Gandhi also raised the issue of Emergency being invoked by the Speaker in the House, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal told reporters after the meeting in Parliament House.

"It was a courtesy call. The Speaker declared Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of Opposition and after that he along with other INDIA alliance partner leaders met the Speaker," he said.

Asked whether Gandhi discussed the issue of Emergency being raised in the House, Venugopal said, "We discussed so many things about Parliament functioning. Of course, this issue also came up." "Rahul ji, as Leader of Opposition, informed the Speaker about this issue, and said it could have been avoided from the Speaker's reference. That is clearly a political reference, it could have been avoided," the Congress leader said.

Soon after his election as Lok Sabha Speaker, Birla had on Wednesday set off a firestorm by reading out a resolution condemning the imposition of Emergency as an attack on the Constitution by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi, an act that triggered vociferous protests by Congress member in the House.

Birla recalled that it was on June 26, 1975 that the country woke up to the cruel realities of Emergency, when the Congress government jailed opposition leaders, imposed many restrictions on the media and also curbed the autonomy of the Judiciary.

This is Gandhi's first meeting with the Speaker after he assumed charge as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. He was accompanied by SP's Dharmendra Yadav, DMK's Kanimozhi, Shiv Sena's (SP) Supriya Sule and TMC's Kalyan Banerjee, besides some others. PTI

A public interest litigation has been moved in the Supreme Court against the newly amended Criminal law bills Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023.

The petitioner has urged the top court to issue a notice seeking specific directions to immediately constitute an expert committee on this to assess, and identify the viability of the three new amended criminal laws named as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 with the aim to overhaul the criminal laws of the country and abolish, Indian Penal Code 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Evidence Act, 1872.

The petition has sought to stay the operation and implementation of three new criminal laws Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023.

The PIL has been filed by two persons Anjali Patel and Chhaya through advocates Sanjeev Malhotra and Kunwar Siddhartha. According to the plea, the proposed Bills suffer from many defects and discrepancies.

"The above-proposed Bills were withdrawn and new Bills were produced with some changes, these were passed by the Parliament on 21st December 2023 and were published in Gazette Notification on 25th December 2023 and all of them have now assumed the position of an Act," the plea said.

"Because for the first time at such a level changes are been made in criminal laws. It is said that the old colonial law has been changed. The main symbol of colonial rule is the police system which has continued since British times. It needs reforms to be carried out and implemented," the petition read. -- PTI

The 'Sengol' found its prominence in Parliament on Thursday amid the ongoing political controversy ignited by Samajwadi Party (SP) Member of Parliament (MP) RK Chaudhary's recent comments calling it a symbol of monarchy.

"The Constitution is the symbol of democracy. The BJP government, under PM Modi, installed the Sengol in Parliament. 'Sengol' means 'Raj-Dand' or 'Raja ka Danda'. After ending the princely order, the country became independent. Will the country be run by 'Raja ka danda' or the Constitution? I demand that Sengol be removed from Parliament to save the Constitution," said Chaudhary.

BJP leader CR Kesavan called Chaudhary's comments outrageous and outlandish. "RK Chaudhary's remarks are outrageous and outlandish. He insulted the millions of devotees. He has also undermined the sanctity of the Parliament. He has also abused the office of the President. But what better can you expect from a Samajwadi Party MP," he said.

Union Minister Anupriya Patel asked what were the SP's MP doing when the Sengol was being established in the House. "When Sengol was established, the Samajwadi Party was in the House even then, what were its MPs doing at that time?" she said.

Union Minister BL Verma said that SP leaders should look at the constitution and parliamentary traditions. "Samajwadi Party MPs who are saying this first, should know the parliamentary traditions and then speak. And they are talking about removing something that is a symbol of self-respect. I think that somewhere they should look at the constitution and parliamentary traditions," he said.

RJD MP Misa Bharti said that the Senghol should be removed because it is a democratic country. "It should be removed because it is a democratic country. The Sengol should be kept in the museum where people can come and see it," Bharti said.

Meanwhile, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav defended Chaudhary, suggesting that the remark might be a reminder for the Prime Minister. "When the Sengol was installed, the PM bowed before it. He might have forgotten this while taking the oath. Maybe our MP's remark was to remind him of that," Yadav stated.

On May 28, 2023, PM Narendra Modi installed the historic Sengol in the Lok Sabha chamber, next to the Speaker's chair in the new Parliament building, after performing a traditional puja. This Sengol, handed over to PM Modi by Adheenams, was previously accepted by India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, on the night of August 14, 1947.

Akhilesh Yadav had met Atishi in hospital

13:54 Delhi water minister Atishi discharged from hospital

Delhi Minister Atishi was on Thursday morning discharged from the LNJP Hospital where she was admitted after her health deteriorated during a hunger strike against the water scarcity in the city.

The minister was discharged from the hospital at 10.30 am, said a hospital official.

The AAP leader and Delhi's water minister was sitting on an indefinite hunger strike demanding the BJP-ruled Haryana releases Delhi's due of share of water. She was admitted to the hospital in the early hours of Tuesday after her blood sugar fell after the hunger strike for five days.

She was admitted to the hospital's Intensive Care Unit initially and later shifted to the normal ward after her condition improved. Samajwadi Party president Akilesh Yadav and CPM leader Vrinda Karat met Atishi at the hospital on Wednesday. PTI

13:48 PM introduces his Council of Ministers in RS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday introduced his Council of Ministers in the Rajya Sabha, amid clapping and thumping of desks. The prime minister had introduced his Council of Ministers in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday after the election of the speaker.

Leader of the House J P Nadda, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi were among those present in the House.

Thursday was the first day of the 264th session of the Rajya Sabha.

The House met after President Droupadi Murmu addressed a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament. The President's address was also tabled in the Rajya Sabha. The House will pass a Motion of Thanks on the President's address after a discussion. PTI

The government has decided to conduct feasibility studies for bullet train corridors in the country's north, south and east, President Droupadi Murmu said in her address to the joint session of the parliament on Thursday.

Highlighting infrastructure development in the country, which according to her, has emerged as the new face of a changing India, Murmu said, "My Government has decided to conduct feasibility studies for bullet train corridors in the North, South and East of the country."

In her speech, she also mentioned the ongoing high-speed rail project between Ahmedabad and Mumbai in the western part of the country. "Work on the High-Speed Rail Ecosystem between Ahmedabad and Mumbai is also progressing at a rapid pace," Murmu said.

The 508-km Ahmedabad-Mumbai high-speed corridor is the first in the country on which a bullet train will run at 320 kmph speed covering the whole distance in just 2 hours and 7 minutes with limited stops at Surat, Vadodara and Ahmedabad.

The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited, which is constructing the project, has announced the projected completion of its first phase between Surat and Bilimora by August 2026.

Speaking on the government's efforts to make India's public transport system one of the best in the world, she said, "In 10 years, Metro has reached 21 cities. Work is going on in many schemes such as Vande Metro." PTI

President Murmu leaves Parliament. That's the sengol in front

13:01 Prez on Parl disruptions: Opposing policies not same

Opposing policies and obstructing Parliament are two different things, President Droupadi Murmu said on Thursday as she addressed the first joint sitting of the 18th Lok Sabha.

She said making India a developed nation is the aspiration and resolve of every citizen of the country and no obstacle should come in the way of fulfilling their aspirations.

"Opposition of policies and obstruction of parliamentary functioning are two different things. When Parliament conducts its business smoothly, healthy deliberations take place here, and far-reaching decisions are taken, then the people repose confidence not only in the Government but also in the entire system," he said.

"Therefore, I am confident that every moment of Parliament will be fully utilised and public interest will be given priority," she said in her first address to Parliament after the constitution of the 18th Lok Sabha. She said making India a developed nation is the aspiration and resolve of every citizen of the country.

"All of us are responsible for ensuring that no obstacles come in the way of achieving this resolution," she said.

She said in the 18th Lok Sabha, many new members have become part of the parliamentary system for the first time and the old members have also returned with new enthusiasm.

"You all know that the present times are very favourable for India in every way. In the coming years the decisions taken and policies framed by the Government and the Parliament of India will be keenly watched by the whole world," she said.

"It is the responsibility of every Member of Parliament as well as of the Government, to ensure the country gets utmost benefits during this favourable period. With the reforms that have taken place in the last 10 years and the new confidence that has been infused in the country, we have gained a new momentum to make India a developed nation," the President added. -- PTI

Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah thump their benches

12:39 Emergency direct attack on Constitution: President

President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday described the imposition of Emergency in 1975 as the "biggest and darkest chapter" of direct attack on the Constitution, and said the country emerged victorious over such unconstitutional forces.

Addressing a joint sitting of the Houses after the Constitution of the 18th Lok Sabha, she said when the Constitution was being drafted, there were powers in the world who were hoping that India would fail.

Even after the Constitution came into force, there were several attacks on the Constitution, she noted.

"Today is 27th June. The imposition of Emergency on June 25, 1975 was the biggest and darkest chapter of direct attack on the Constitution. The entire country felt outraged. But the country emerged victorious over such unconstitutional forces as the traditions of the republic lie at the core of India," she said.

There were noisy protests by some opposition members when she referred to the Emergency in her address. However, she did not name any leader. PTI

The government is fully committed to investigating the recent incidents of paper leaks and ensure that the guilty are punished, President Droupadi Murmu said in her address to a joint sitting of Parliament.

Addressing the 18th Lok Sabha for the first time, the president said her government is working to create an environment to enable youth of the country dream big and achieve them.

As she mentioned steps taken by the government on the education front, some opposition members were heard shouting "NEET".

"If due to any reason there is obstruction in examinations it is not appropriate. Sanctity, transparency are a must in government recruitments and examinations," she said.

"The government is committed to conduct fair investigation and ensure the most stringent punishment to those guilty in the recent incidents of paper leak," she said.

There were incidents of paper leaks in some states earlier as well, the president said, stressing that there is need to rise above partisan politics and take strong steps at the national level.

The president added that Parliament has also made a strong law against paper leaks. She added that the government is working to bring reforms in the examination process. PTI

PM Modi and Union Minister JP Nadda in Parliament

12:03 25 cr Indians out of poverty in last 10 years: Prez

President Droupadi Murmu addresses a joint session of both Houses of Parliament, she says, "It is possible to build a developed India only when the poor, youth, women and farmers of the country are empowered. Therefore they are being given top priority by my government. Our aim is to provide the benefits of every government scheme to them.

"India is working with the willpower that not even a single person should be left out of the government schemes. It is because of the government schemes that 25 crore Indians have come out of poverty in the last 10 years... My Government is developing affordable and indigenous assistive devices for Divyang brothers and sisters. My Government is integrating social security schemes for workers. Work is being done to increase the coverage of accident and life insurance by using Digital India and the network of post offices."

"In the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the dignity of the life of the poor and their health have been made a matter of national importance. For the first time, toilets have been built for crores of poor people in the country. These efforts make us regret that only today the country is following the orders of Mahatma Gandhi in the true sense..."

President Droupadi Murmu says, "For a capable India, modernity in our armed forces is essential. We should be the best in the face of war - to ensure this, the process of reforms should go on continuously in the armed forces. With this mindset, my government took several important steps in the last 10 years...With reforms, India is indulging in defence manufacturing of more than Rs 1 Lakh Crores. In the last 1 decade, our defence exports have increased by 18 times and touched Rs 21,000 crores."

President Droupadi Murmu addresses a joint session of both Houses of Parliament.

She says, "...For the development of the northeast, my government has increased the (budget) allocation by over 4 times in the last 10 years. Government is working to make this region Strategic Gateway under Act East Policy. All kinds of connectivity are being extended to the northeast.

"My Government is working continuously to bring peace in the northeast. In last 10 years, several old issues have been resolved, several agreements have been made and phase-wise repealing of AFSPA is underway in areas with unrest after making rapid progress there..."

She says, "My Govt has provided Rs 3.20 lakh crores to the farmers of the country under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. Since the beginning of the new term of my government, an amount of more than Rs 20,000 crores has been transferred to the farmers. The government has also made a record increase in the MSP for Kharif crops.

"Today's India is changing its agriculture system keeping in mind its current needs. Nowadays, the demand for organic products is increasing rapidly in the world. Indian farmers have the full capacity to meet this demand. Therefore, the government is integrating the supply chain of natural farming and related products...

"On India's initiative, the whole world has celebrated International Millet Day in the year 2023. You have seen that recently the whole world has also celebrated International Yoga Day..."

Criticising the Centre over the alleged paper leak in the medical entrance exam NEET-UG, Congress leader Ajoy Kumar claimed that the National Testing Agency (NTA) has less than 25 permanent employees but was conducting over two dozen exams.

Kumar, the Congress in-charge for Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, alleged the Centre gambled with these competitive examinations by asking the NTA to conduct those. "NTA has about a dozen employees on deputation from various departments and some contractual employees.

Due to inadequate internal experts, NTA outsourced the paper setting, paper distribution and data security protocol work to private technical service providers and external experts," he claimed.

Kumar said NTA's functioning was akin to playing with the future of students. NEET-UG was conducted by the NTA on May 5 with around 24 lakh candidates appearing in it for admission to MBBS courses. The results were announced on June 4, but they were followed by allegations of question paper leaks in states such as Bihar, besides other irregularities. PTI

11:24 Stable govt formed after 6 decades: President

President Droupadi Murmu addresses a joint session of both Houses of Parliament.

"A stable government with a complete majority has been formed in the country after six decades. People have shown trust in this Govt for the third time. People are aware that only this Govt can fulfil their aspirations...The 18th Lok Sabha is a historic Lok Sabha in many ways. This Lok Sabha was formed in the early years of the Amrit Kaal. This Lok Sabha will also be a witness to the 56th year of adoption of the Constitution of the country...

"In the upcoming sessions, this government is going to present the first budget of this term. This budget will be an effective document of the government's far-reaching policies and futuristic vision. Along with big economic and social decisions, many historic steps will also be seen in this budget..."

She says, "The pledge of reform, perform and transform has made India the fastest-growing economy in the world. In 10 years, India rose from the 11th position to become the 5th largest economy...

"Despite a pandemic and conflicts in different parts of the world, India has been able to achieve this growth rate. This became possible due to the reforms and decisions taken in national interest in the last 10 years. Today, India contributes to 15% of the global growth. My government is working towards making India the 3rd largest economy in the world."

President Droupadi Murmu addresses a joint session of both Houses of Parliament, congratulates all newly-elected MPs.

11:02 President Murmu arrives in Parliament

President Droupadi Murmu being accorded the Guard of Honour upon her arrival at the Parliament. She will address a joint session of both Houses shortly. She is welcomed by the VP Dhankar and the PM.

10:53 Sensex breaches historic 79,000-mark

Benchmark indices rebounded after falling in early trade on Thursday, with the Sensex breaching the historic 79,000-mark for the first time and the Nifty hitting its fresh record high, amid buying in blue-chip stocks.

The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 339.51 points to hit its new lifetime peak of 79,013.76 after falling in early trade, helped by buying in blue-chips Reliance Industries and ICICI Bank. The Nifty also bounced back, rising 97.6 points to hit its fresh all-time high of 23,966.40. Among the 30 Sensex companies, UltraTech Cement, JSW Steel, Reliance Industries, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finance, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Tata Steel were the biggest gainers.

AiADMK's C Ponnaiyan wants the Stalin government dismissed

10:30 AIADMK MLAs begin hunger strike over hooch tragedy

Led by party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, AIADMK MLAs and party workers commenced their hunger strike in Chennai on Thursday to seek a CBI investigation into the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.

Clad in black shirts, the AIADMK legislators, who have been suspended from the ongoing Assembly session for disrupting proceedings, began their fast here by 9 am at the Rajarathinam stadium.

The fast is also to condemn 'denial of permission' to raise the issue in the state Assembly, according to the main opposition party. Palaniswami had said on Wednesday that 'denying a honest debate' over the hooch tragedy, that has reportedly left over 60 dead, and evicting and suspending AIADMK MLAs was against democracy.

The former Chief Minister condemned what he described as 'diversionary politics' of the DMK government rather than taking action over hooch deaths. The hunger strike is likely to end by 5 pm on Thursday. PTI

President Droupadi Murmu will be addressing the joint sitting of Parliament today, which will be her first presidential address after the formation of the third National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

Following the President's address, a motion of thanks will be moved in both Houses of Parliament, which will be discussed by the members.

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha began on Monday and the Rajya Sabha session will start from today.

Earlier on Wednesday, Om Birla was elected as the Lok Sabha Speaker for the second time in a row after the motion moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seconded by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was adopted by the House through a voice vote on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Birla urged that there should be a new vision and resolve for the 18th Lok Sabha.

He called for the 18th Lok Sabha to be a centre of creative thinking and new ideas, which would establish high levels of parliamentary traditions and dignity and added that the aim of the House should be to fulfil the resolve of Viksit Bharat.

On Thursday, parts of Delhi received spells of heavy rainfall, bringing much-needed respite from the sweltering heat.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted the weather for the next seven days, predicting generally cloudy skies and varying intensities of rain accompanied by gusty winds.

As predicted by IMD for June 27, temperatures will range from a high of 38C to a low of 29C.

The IMD also predicts very light rain or thunderstorms with similar gusty winds. On June 28, the forecast includes light to moderate rain or thunderstorms, with temperatures similar to the previous day and wind speeds reaching up to 35 km/h.

The weather on June 29 is expected to be slightly cooler, with a high of 36C and a low of 28C. The city will likely experience light to moderate rain or thunderstorms with winds reaching speeds of 30-40 km/h.

On June 30, temperatures will drop further to 34C, with moderate to heavy rain and gusty winds. For July 1 and 2, the IMD forecasts thunderstorms with moderate rain, with temperatures steady at a high of 34C and a low of 27C.

Wind speeds will continue to vary, maintaining a range of 25-35 km/h. The weather conditions are expected to cause minor traffic disruptions and increase the chance of vehicle accidents due to water accumulation on roads. Residents are advised to check for traffic congestion before leaving and avoid areas prone to waterlogging. -- ANI

09:23 Emergency to be part of school syllabus in MP

A chapter explaining the excesses and repression committed during the 1975-77 Emergency in the country and a spirited fight by those opposed to the drastic measure will be included in the school syllabus in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said.

Speaking on Wednesday, Yadav also announced several additional facilities for "Loktantra Senanis" (democracy fighters) who took part in the struggle against Emergency, whose 50th anniversary was on June 25. With an aim of making the present generation aware of the struggle during the Emergency, a lesson on circumstances that prevailed in the country, repression and determination of Loktantra Senanis to oppose the drastic step taken by the then-Congress government will be included in the school curriculum, he said.

The CM was addressing a gathering of those who fought against the Emergency, a 21-month-long period characterised by the suspension of civil liberties, suppression of dissent, and erosion of democratic principles, at his residence in Bhopal.

Yadav said these Loktantra Senanis will be provided the facility of staying in government circuit and rest houses for three days on a discount of 50 per cent in tariff. They will also get relaxation in paying toll on highways. There will be no delay in payment of expenses incurred by democracy fighters on treatment through their Ayushman health card.

The respective collector will ensure payment to them within three months, he stated. In case of serious health problems, air ambulances will be made available to them to travel to big hospitals or other metros for treatment, Yadav declared on the occasion.

Under the air taxi service started in the state, a 25 per cent discount will be provided in fares to anti-Emergency crusaders, he said. Arrangements will be made for the last rites of Loktantra Senanis with state honours.

Besides, the amount given to their families at the time of funeral will be increased to Rs 10,000 from Rs 8,000 now, Yadav maintained. Employment opportunities will be made available to family members of democracy fighters by providing them necessary training for setting up industries or other business ventures, he said.

On June 25, 1975, the then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency in the country, jailing opposition leaders, dissidents and effecting press censorship. PTI

There has been a "concerning increase" in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, and demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities in India, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said.

In his remarks at the release of the annual State Department report on international religious freedom, Blinken said on Wednesday that at the same time, people around the world are also working hard to protect religious freedom.

The report stated that senior US officials continued to raise concerns about religious freedom issues with their Indian counterparts in 2023. "In India, we see a concerning increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities.

At the same time, people around the world are also working hard to protect religious freedom," the secretary of state said. Ten of 28 states have laws restricting religious conversions for all faiths.

Some of these states also impose penalties specifically against forced religious conversions for the purpose of marriage, the 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom stated for India.

During the year, some members of religious minority groups challenged the government's ability and willingness to protect them from violence, investigate crimes against members of religious minority groups, and protect their freedom of religion or belief, it stated. India has previously rejected the US state department's annual human rights report on the country, saying they continue to be based on "misinformation and flawed understanding". "Motivated and biased commentary by some US officials only serves to undermine further the credibility of these reports," the Ministry of External Affairs said last year.

"We value our partnership with the U.S. and will continue to have frank exchanges on issues of concern to us, it said. In this year's report, the US state department said that Christians and Muslims were arrested under laws banning forced religious conversions, which religious groups said in some cases were used to harass and imprison members of religious minority groups on false and fabricated charges or for lawful religious practices.

Observing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated calls to enact a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) at the national level as called for in the Constitution instead of a system of separate personal laws for religious communities, the state department said Muslim, Sikh, Christian, and tribal leaders and some state government officials opposed the initiative on the grounds it was part of a project to turn the country into a "Hindu Rashtra (a Hindu Nation)".

Some UCC proponents, including opposition politicians, said a UCC would promote greater equality, including for women, by preventing polygamy or inequitable inheritance within personal religious laws.

Welcoming the report, the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) said it echoes findings presented in the annual report released by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom that calls on the State Department to designate India as a "Country of Particular Concern (CPC)" for ongoing and severe violations of religious freedoms for minorities.

"Once again, it is clear from the State Department's own reporting that India more than qualifies as a CPC, IAMC executive director Rasheed Ahmed said and added that "now it is time for Secretary Blinken to act on these facts, as well as the facts that have been presented by USCIRF for years, and designate India as a CPC." -- PTI

Nobel laureate Amartya Sen on Wednesday asserted the recent Lok Sabha poll results point to the fact that India is not a 'Hindu Rashtra'.

Sen, who arrived in Kolkata from the US in the evening, also expressed displeasure over the "continuation" of putting people behind bars "without trial" even under the new dispensation.

"That India is not a 'Hindu Rashtra' only has been reflected in the election results," Sen told a Bengali news channel at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata.

"We always hope to see a change after every election. Some of what happened earlier (during the BJP-led central government) like putting people behind bars without trial, and widening the gap between the rich and poor, are still continuing. That must stop," he said.

The eminent economist said there is a need to be politically open-minded, especially when India is a secular country with a secular Constitution.

"I do not think the idea of turning India into a 'Hindu Rashtra' is appropriate," Sen, 90, said.

He was also of the opinion that the new Union cabinet is "a copy of the earlier one".

"The ministers continue to hold similar portfolios. Despite a slight reshuffle, the politically powerful are still powerful," he said.

Sen recalled that during his childhood when India was under the British rule, people were jailed without any trial.

"When I was young, many of my uncles and cousins were put in jail without trial. We had hoped that India would be free from this. Congress is also to blame for the fact that this did not stop. They didn't change it... But, this is more in practice under the present government," the Nobel laureate said. -- PTI

08:22 LK Advani admitted to AIIMS Delhi

Veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani was admitted to the AIIMS in New Delhi late on Wednesday night, sources said.

"He is stable and under observation," a source said.

The 96-year-old former deputy prime minister has been admitted in the old private ward of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and is learnt to being treated by doctors from the department of urology.

However, there was no immediate clarity on his ailment.

File image

01:22 Combing operation launched as villager spots 'suspicious-looking' men in Pathankot

Security forces were put on high alert after a villager claimed to have spotted two "suspicious-looking' men in Punjab's Pathankot.

The Punjab police, along with the Army and the BSF, carried out a massive search operation in the Bamial area of Pathankot that lasted around six hours, police said.

However, nothing suspicious was found, Pathankot senior superintendent of police Suhail Qasim Mir told PTI on Wednesday. Security personnel will continue to remain deployed in the area as a precautionary measure, police said.

A villager in Kot Bhattian in Pathankot had informed police on Tuesday night about having seen two "suspicious-looking' people.

The village borders the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier during the day, deputy inspector general (Border Range, Amritsar), Rakesh Kaushal had said, "We are on alert."

Checking was also conducted at bus stands, the railway station in Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts. -- PTI

https://im.rediff.com/news/2022/jul/07shinde1.jpg?w=670&h=900/File image

01:03 Maha cabinet gives nod to set up central park at Mahalaxmi Race Course

The Maharashtra cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to set up a sprawling 120-acre central public park of international standards at the Mahalaxmi Race Course in Mumbai.

At a weekly cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Mumbai, it was decided that no construction activity will be undertaken at the site of the proposed central park.

Of the 211 acres of the Race Course land, 91 acres will be given to Ms Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) on a 30-year lease -- from June 1, 2023 to May 30, 2053 -- with condition to extend it further, as per the cabinet decision.

RWITC hosts races at the horse racing track.

The remaining 120 acres of land will be available for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for building the central park of international standards. -- PTI

A court in Bihar's Patna on Wednesday sent two accused in the NEET "paper leak' to CBI remand for three days.

The CBI had on Sunday filed an FIR in connection with alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam NEET-UG held on May 5 on a reference from the Union education ministry.

The probe agency on Tuesday presented a copy of the FIR before the court, seeking custody of the suspects, who were previously arrested by the Economic Offences Unit of the Bihar police.

The court allowed the CBI to take Baldev Kumar alias Chintu and Mukesh Kumar under its remand for further questioning.

Baldev Kumar, associated with the notorious Sanjeev Kumar alias Lutan Mukhiya gang, allegedly received the solved answer sheet of the NEET-UG in PDF format on his mobile phone a day before the exam, sources said.

Mukesh is also associated with the gang, they said.

The CBI is also trying to nab the other absconding members of the Mukhiya gang, accused of orchestrating multiple interstate paper leaks.

Investigations revealed that Baldev and his associates printed and distributed the solved answer sheet to students gathered at a safe house in Ram Krishna Nagar in Patna on May 4 for memorisation, the sources said.

The aspirants were brought there by two previously arrested persons, Nitish Kumar and Amit Anand.

Investigators also found that the leaked NEET-UG question paper was obtained from a private school in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, by the Mukhiya gang. -- PTI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde with deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar/File image

00:14 NCP leader hints separate contesting in Maha polls

Nationalist Congress Party leader Amol Mitkari has sparked speculation regarding the possibility of the Mahayuti members contesting the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls independently if each constituent insists on demanding 100 seats, drawing the ire of BJP.

Speaking at an event on Tuesday evening, Mitkari emphasised the impracticality of accommodating such demands within the 288-seat Maharashtra assembly.

The Mahayuti alliance comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and NCP led by deputy CM Ajit Pawar.

"If each constituent adamantly insists on contesting 100 assembly seats in the upcoming state elections, then the parties will have to contest separately. With only 288 assembly seats available, being offered only 55 seats would be unacceptable for the party," said Mitkari, who is an MLC and NCP spokesperson.

Pravin Darekar, BJP legislative party leader in the Legislative Council, responded by saying, "Mitkari should be reined in by senior leaders of his party. The party's chief or state president should clarify whether Mitkari is authorised to make such comments. Seat-sharing discussions will take place among the top leaders." -- PTI

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