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Thu, 05 September 2024
Jailed cleric files papers against Omar Abdullah
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21:11 Sitaram Yechury remains under treatment in AIIMS for lung infection
CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury continues to be under treatment at AIIMS, where he was admitted for treatment of a lung infection, sources said on Thursday.
Yechury (72) was admitted to the emergency ward of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on August 19. He was later shifted to the intensive care unit, where he continues to be under treatment.
A team of doctors is monitoring his condition, the sources said.
Yechury was admitted to AIIMS for treatment of a pneumonia-like infection. The exact nature of his ailment was not disclosed by the hospital.
He had recently undergone a cataract surgery.
NC vice-president Omar Abdullah/File image
21:08 Jailed cleric files papers against Omar Abdullah
Jailed Kashmiri cleric Sarjan Ahmad Wagay on Thursday filed nomination papers for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls from two seats, Ganderbal and Beerwah, days after his candidature was rejected from another constituency.
Wagay, popularly known as Sarjan Barkati, a prominent face at the protest rallies in the south Kashmir districts of Shopian and Kulgam after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in 2016, had earlier filed his nomination from the Zainpora assembly constituency in Shopian.
However, his nomination was rejected because the papers did not include the certificate of oath that was to be duly signed by the jail authorities.
On Thursday, Barkati's representatives filed his nomination papers from Ganderbal as well as from Beerwah. National Conference vice-president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah will also contest the upcoming polls from Ganderbal.
Abdullah represented Beerwah in the last Assembly of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Barkati was first arrested in 2016 and booked under the Public Safety Act. -- PTI
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20:55 Govt extends ceasefire pact with NSCN-K Niki group for another year
The Centre on Thursday extended the ceasefire agreement with a break-away faction of the Naga insurgency group NSCN for another year.
The National Socialist Council of Nagaland-K Niki group is led by Niki Sumi against whom the National Investigation Agency had announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for allegedly killing 18 Indian Army soldiers in Manipur in 2015.
The ceasefire agreement is in operation between the government and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-K Niki group and it was decided to extend the pact for a period of one year with effect from September 8, 2024 to September 7, 2025, an official statement said.
This agreement was first signed on September 6, 2021.
The government had signed a framework agreement with the major Naga group NSCN-IM on August 3, 2015 in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to find a permanent solution.
The framework agreement came after over 80 rounds of negotiations spanning 18 years, with the first breakthrough made in 1997 when the ceasefire agreement was sealed after decades of insurgency in Nagaland which started soon after India's independence in 1947. -- PTI
20:32 Firing at Badlapur railway station near Mumbai, one injured
A man was injured after being shot at Badlapur railway station in neighbouring Thane district on Thursday evening, the police said.
The incident took place at platform number 1, and the assailant was immediately overpowered and taken into custody, said a Government Railway Police official.
The injured was rushed to hospital for treatment, he said.
Senior officials including the deputy commissioner of police (Central Railway) were reaching the spot and probe was on, he added. -- PTI
20:08 BSE Sensex top losers today
Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty surrendered early gains to close lower for the second straight day on Thursday, tracking losses in the most valuable firm Reliance Industries, Bharati Airtel and L&T amid a sluggish trend in global markets.
The 30-share BSE Sensex failed to hold on to initial gains and declined 151.48 points or 0.18 percent to settle at 82,201.16.
During the day, it dropped 222.2 points or 0.26 per cent to 82,130.44.
The NSE Nifty dipped 53.60 points or 0.21 per cent to 25,145.10 despite a positive beginning of the trade.
Among the 30 Sensex firms, Reliance Industries declined over 1 per cent. Tata Motors, Nestle, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Finance, Larsen & Toubro, JSW Steel and Mahindra & Mahindra were other big laggards.
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20:01 Shinde Sena leader attacks Dalits over temple entry
A Shiv Sena leader of the Shinde faction and several others were booked in Thane for allegedly attacking some people and preventing them from entering a temple, a police official said on Thursday.
The incident took place late Wednesday night after a meeting called at a temple by accused Vikas Repale, who is a former corporator, the Wagle Estate police station official said.
"As per the complainant, who is a 25-year-old Dalit student, he and some others of his caste were stopped from entering the temple for the meeting by Repale. He told them why they should come to a temple when he (complainant) belongs to a different religion (Buddhism). As per the complaint, Repale tried to hit them with a rod while others with him threw slippers," the official said.
"The group also threw stones when the complainant was going to the police station to get a case registered. We have booked Repale and some others under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for assault, unlawful assembly, provocation to cause rioting and other offences," he added.
No one has been arrested in the case and further probe is underway, the Wagle Estate police station official added.
Repale is considered a close aide of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, sources said. -- PTI
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh/File image
19:14 Kuki body writes to SC-appointed official for probe against Manipur CM
A Kuki organisation has demanded registration of an FIR and investigation against Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh alleging conspiracy to commit "large scale ethnic violence" against the Kukis in the state.
The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust has written in this regard to the Supreme Court-appointed officer monitoring probe in cases related to the ethnic violence in Manipur.
In a memorandum addressed to Dattatray Padsalgikar, former Maharashtra director general of police appointed by Supreme Court to oversee the probe into Manipur ethnic violence cases, sent through home secretary Govind Mohan, KOHUR gave reference of news articles on a leaked audio purportedly of the Manipur chief minister and demanded action.
The Manipur government has dismissed the recording as doctored.
The Kuki organisation also sought registration of an FIR and initiation of investigation against other unknown individuals for "conspiracy to commit large scale ethnic violence, including mass murder and sexual offences against the ethnic minority Kuki people residing within the state of Manipur, and for the commission of several overt and covert illegal and criminal actions in furtherance of the said criminal conspiracy". -- PTI
18:50 Shivaji statue collapse: Sculptor-contractor, consultant sent to police custody
A local court in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district on Thursday remanded sculptor-contractor Jaydeep Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil, held over the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue, in police custody till September 10.
While Patil was arrested on August 30 from Kolhapur, Apte was taken into custody on Wednesday night from Kalyan in Thane district, nearly 10 days after an FIR was registered in connection with the incident.
A 35-foot statue of the iconic Maratha warrior king collapsed at the Rajkot fort in Malvan tehsil of the district on August 26, nearly nine months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled it.
Patil and Apte were produced before a court in Malvan where the police sought their custody for interrogation.
The court remanded them in police custody till September 10.
Apte's advocate Ganesh Sovani said the sculptor had intended to surrender on Wednesday night and that he was willing to cooperate with the probe.
"He is willing to submit to the police all details regarding the design of the statue and other documents," Sovani told the court.
Apte, a Thane-based sculptor, was responsible for creating the 35-foot statue of Shivaji Maharaj. -- PTI
18:16 Omar Abdullah files nomination from 2nd constituency
National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah on Thursday filed his nomination papers to contest the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls from Budgam.
"Omar Abdullah filed his nomination for the Budgam constituency for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls," an NC spokesperson said.
Abdullah was accompanied by senior NC leaders Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, Aga Mehmood, party treasurer Shammi Oberoi and provincial secretary Shaukat Mir.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister will contest the polls from two constituencies. He filed his papers from the family bastion of Ganderbal on Wednesday.
The 90-member Jammu and Kashmir assembly is scheduled to go to polls in three phases on September 18, September 25 and October 1, and the counting of votes will be taken up on October 8.
Actor Vijay
18:03 SRK tops celeb taxpayers list, guess who is at No.2?
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan topped the list of celebrity taxpayers with advance tax payment of Rs 92 crore in 2023-24, followed by Tamil actor 'Thalapathy' Vijay at a distant second, according to a list compiled by Fortune India Magazine.
Fortune India's 'The Star Cast' list is based on advance tax payments by celebrities and places film star Salman Khan in the third position and Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan in fourth place.
Virat Kohli paid Rs 66 crore in advance tax in 2023-24 fiscal -- making him the highest taxpayer among cricketers in the country.
"Shah Rukh Khan tops the list of celebrity taxpayers in FY24 while Tamil superstar 'Thalapathy' Vijay moves ahead of the likes of Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Virat Kohli to emerge second (Advance Tax payment, FY24)," Fortune India said.
According to Fortune India, 'Thalapathy' Vijay paid an advance tax of Rs 80 crore, followed by Salman Khan (Rs 75 crore), and Amitabh Bachchan (Rs 71 crore).
Many other well-known faces from the film and entertainment industry, including Ajay Devgn (Rs 42 crore), Ranbir Kapoor (Rs 36 crore), Hrithik Roshan (Rs 28 crore), Kapil Sharma (Rs 26 crore), Kareena Kapoor (Rs 20 crore) and Shahid Kapoor (Rs 14 crore) made it to the coveted list.
Actors Mohan Lal and Allu Arjun both paid advance taxes of Rs 14 crore each and Kiara Advani (Rs 12 crore).
Both Katrina Kaif and Pankaj Tripathi paid Rs 11 crore advance tax, while Aamir Khan shelled out Rs 10 crore in FY24. -- PTI
17:50 Law student dies by suicide at her hostel room at Delhi's NLU
A third year LLB student died allegedly by suicide in her hostel room at National Law University in Dwarka North area, officials said on Thursday.
The body of the student was discovered on Wednesday afternoon by her roommates and other hostel staff, when she did not open the door despite repeated calls, they said.
Her body was found hanging from an almirah's rod in the room, a police officer said, adding that a suicide note was recovered in which she has not blamed anyone.
The hostel staff informed the local police and crime team inspected the spot, the officer said.
The officer said the student was in depression for the past few months.
She had discussed suicide with her friends before, following which the administration had called her parents who took her to their home in Chennai for some time, the officer added.
On Wednesday, she did not attend her class and also did not turn up for the lunch after which her body was discovered.
The body will be handed over to family members after post-mortem examination. An inquest proceeding was underway, the police said. -- PTI
BJP chief JP Nadda hands over party membership certificate to veteran party leader LK Advani in New Delhi/ANI on X
17:28 Nadda hands over BJP membership certificate to LK Advani
Bharatiya Janata Party chief JP Nadda, along with party general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam, handed over the BJP membership certificate to veteran party leader LK Advani in Delhi as part of the party's membership drive on Thursday.
Along with BJP National President respected JP Nadda ji, handed over the copy of membership renewal under 'Bharatiya Janata Party - National Membership Campaign 2024' to guide of all of us respected Lal Krishna Advani ji," Dushyant Kumar Gautam posted on X.
Earlier on September 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the BJP's 2024 membership drive by renewing his membership.
The new membership drive was launched here with PM Modi getting the certificate for the renewal of his membership from BJP president JP Nadda. -- ANI
17:17 Fuel prices to go up in Punjab as VAT on petrol, diesel hiked
Fuel prices are set to go up in Punjab with the state Cabinet on Thursday deciding to increase value-added tax on petrol and diesel by 61 paise a litre and 92 paise per litre, respectively.
A decision in this regard was taken by the council of ministers in a meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Chandigarh.
At present, the retail price of petrol in Mohali stands at Rs 97.01 per litre and diesel is priced at Rs 87.21.
Already, the fuel is more expensive in Punjab than in Chandigarh.
In the Union Territory of Chandigarh, prices of petrol and diesel are Rs 94.24 and 82.40 per litre, respectively.
Fuel pump owners strongly condemned the decision of the AAP-led government, saying it would hit their business hard.
They further said it is the third time that the Bhagwant Mann-led government raised fuel prices in the past two-and-a-half years.
Addressing the media after the Cabinet meeting, finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the decision has been taken to raise VAT on petrol and diesel. -- PTI
16:50 Teenager charged with murder of 80-year-old Bhim Kohli in UK
A 14-year-old boy arrested following the fatal assault on 80-year-old Bhim Kohli while he was out walking his dog in a park near the eastern England city of Leicester appeared in court on Thursday charged with his murder.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons as he is a minor, appeared at Leicester Youth Court sitting at Leicester Magistrates' Court. He was among five children aged 12-14 years arrested following the death of Kohli in hospital on Monday night by Leicestershire Police, with the other four released earlier with no further action.
Meanwhile, Kohli's family released a statement via the police to say they were heartbroken and struggling to cope with the loss of a loving and caring person. "Bhim was a loving husband, dad and granddad. He was also a son, brother and uncle. He adored his grandkids with all his heart and loved spending time with them. He really was such a loving, caring person whose life was centred around his family," the statement reads.
A post-mortem examination carried out after his death in hospital following the attack at Franklin Park in Braunstone Town on Sunday evening confirmed the cause of death as a neck injury, while further tests were to be carried out.
"The circumstances surrounding Mr Kohli's death are extremely tragic and upsetting not only for his family and friends but also the wider community, Detective Inspector Emma Matts, Senior Investigating Officer at Leicestershire Police, said earlier this week.
Actor Darshan is in custody
16:37 Renukaswamy was tortured beyond tolerance: Father
Expressing anguish over the latest picture of Renukaswamy which has emerged on social media, the victim's parents called the jailed Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa and his accomplices 'demons' for allegedly torturing their son to death.
The photograph shows a shirtless Renukaswamy pleading for mercy before he was allegedly murdered. There were also several injury marks all over his body.
Renukaswamy's father Kashinath S Shivanagoudru claimed that the developments have had adverse effect on their pregnant daughter-in-law these days. "After seeing the photograph which has gone viral, we are confused. We don't know what to say and how to react. We can now imagine how much he would have suffered and screamed and pleaded to them. He was tortured beyond tolerance," Shivanagoudru said.
He said he is unable to console his daughter-in-law. Shivanagoudru said, "My son requested Darshan and his gang members that he has a mother and a pregnant wife but they did not pardon him. They were all demons. They did not have even a trace of humanity in them."
The victim's father lamented that Darshan and his gang members could have complained to the police. According to police sources, 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Gowda, which enraged Darshan, allegedly leading to his murder.
His body was found near a stormwater drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli here on June 9. Raghavendra, one of the accused who is part of Darshan's fan club in Chitradurga, had brought Renukaswamy to a shed in R R Nagar, on the pretext that the actor wanted to meet him. It was in this shed that he was allegedly tortured and murdered.
As per the post-mortem report, Renukaswamy, a native of Chitradurga, died due to shock and haemorrhage as a result of multiple blunt injuries. Police sources said Pavithra, who is accused number one, was the "major cause" for Renukaswamy's murder, claiming that it has been proved from the probe that she instigated other accused, conspired with them, and took part in the crime. PTI
16:22 Reliance board approves 1:1 bonus issue
The board of Reliance Industries Ltd on Thursday approved issuing 1:1 bonus shares -- the first bonus issue in seven years. Reliance, the nation's most valuable company, had last issued bonus shares in September 2017. In a regulatory filing, the company said its board recommended to shareholders for their approval "issue of bonus shares in the ratio of 1:1 ie 1 (one) new fully paid-up equity share of Rs 10 each for every 1 (one) existing full paid-up equity share".
The record date for such issuances will be intimated separately, it said. Prior to the 1:1 bonus issue in 2017, Reliance had in 2009 issued 1:1 bonus share. The company board also approved and sought shareholder nod for increase in authorised share capital of the company from Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 50,000 crore. PTI
15:57 SC reserves its order on Kejriwal's bail hearing
The Supreme Court reserves its order on Arvind Kejriwal's pleas seeking bail and challenging arrest by the CBI in the excise policy "scam".
Questioning the maintainability of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's pleas seeking bail and challenging his arrest, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday told the Supreme Court that he should have first approached the trial court for bail in the corruption case linked to the alleged excise policy scam.
Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the central agency, submitted before a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan that even in the money laundering case, Kejriwal, who had challenged his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), was sent back by the apex court to the trial court.
"He has approached Delhi High Court directly without going to sessions court. Under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), both have concurrent jurisdiction. My preliminary objection is he must first go to trial court," Raju said.
The law officer said the CBI did not issue a notice to Kejriwal under section Section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure as he was already in judicial custody. Earlier in the day, Kejriwal told the top court that the CBI did not arrest him for nearly two years in the alleged excise policy scam and an "insurance arrest" was made on June 26 after he got bail in the "harsher" money laundering case filed by the ED.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the chief minister, told the bench that no notice was served to Kejriwal by the CBI before his arrest and an ex-parte arrest order was passed by the trial court.
Seeking bail for the beleaguered Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, Singhvi submitted that Kejriwal is a constitutional functionary and not a flight risk. Singhvi said Kejriwal was also not named in the CBI FIR.
The senior lawyer pointed out that the top court, while granting him interim bail in the money laundering case, had said the chief minister was not a threat to society. What started in August 2023 has led to arrest in March this year in the money laundering case, he said, adding the top court and a trial court have already granted him bail.
The hearing still is underway. -- PTI
15:34 Missing teen found raped, head smashed
A case of rape and murder has been registered after the body of a 19-year-old woman was found with multiple injuries days after she went missing from her home at Gunateerthawadi village in this district of Karnataka, police said on Thursday.
Three people have been arrested in connection with the incident which allegedly happened on August 29, they said. She was allegedly killed after being hit on her head with a stone and later her body was dumped in the bushes, police said, adding, they suspect she was sexually assaulted.
However, investigators are awaiting medical reports for confirmation. The victim was missing since August 29 and her parents lodged a complaint at Basavakalyana police station two days later, police said.
"We registered a missing case and we started investigating. On September one, her body was recovered with multiple injuries on her body including head. We registered a case of murder initially and the accused were unknown. Then based on the technical evidence, we started searching for the accused and we found three people who were in contact with her on the day of her disappearance," a senior police officer said.
One of them, who also hails from the same village, was in direct contact with her. "So, we picked the accused and during interrogation, he confessed to murdering her. During interrogation, he said that he went along with two others who were guarding him from far away during the incident," he said.
"All three accused involved in the incident have been arrested. We are waiting for the medical reports of the victim. She sustained head injuries among other injuries. On suspicion of sexual assault and based on interrogation, we have added sections of rape in the FIR," he said.
The prime accused and the victim knew each other well, police said, adding her parents were unaware of it. Further investigation is underway. PTI
14:41 Attacks on Hindus in B'desh not communal: Yunus
Chief Adviser to Bangladesh's interim government, Muhammad Yunus, has said the issue of attacks on minority Hindus in his country is exaggerated and questioned the manner in which India projected it.
In an interview with PTI at his official residence in Dhaka, Yunus said the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh are more political than communal. He suggested that the attacks were not communal, but a fallout of a political upheaval as there is a perception that most Hindus supported the now-deposed Awami League regime.
"I have said this to (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi also that this is exaggerated. This issue has several dimensions. When the country went through an upheaval following the atrocities by (Sheikh) Hasina and the Awami League, those who were with them also faced attacks," the Nobel laureate told PTI.
The minority Hindu population faced vandalism of their businesses and properties, as well as the destruction of Hindu temples, during the student-led violence that erupted following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
After unprecedented anti-government protests that peaked on August 5, Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled to India. "Now, while beating up Awami League cadres, they had beaten up Hindus as there is a perception that Hindus in Bangladesh mean Awami League supporters. I am not saying that what has happened is right, but some people are using it as an excuse to seize property. So, there is no clear distinction between Awami League supporters and Hindus," he said.
In his first direct contact with New Delhi last month, shortly after becoming the head of Bangladesh's interim government, Yunus conveyed to Prime Minister Modi that Dhaka would prioritise the protection and safety of Hindus and all other minority groups. During the conversation, Modi reaffirmed India's support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, and progressive Bangladesh and emphasised the importance of ensuring the safety of Hindus and other minority communities in the violence-hit country.
Hindus, who made up 22 per cent of Bangladesh's population at the time of the 1971 Liberation War, now constitute about 8 per cent of 170 million and have predominantly supported the Awami League, known for its secular stance.
Describing the attacks as more political than communal, Yunus questioned the manner in which India is propagating them. These attacks are political in nature and not communal. And India is propagating these incidents in a big way. We have not said that we can't do anything; we have said that we are doing everything, the Chief Adviser said.
14:38 PV retails dip 5 pc in August
Passenger vehicle retail sales in India witnessed a 5 per cent on-year decline in August on account of delayed customer purchases, poor consumer sentiment and persistent heavy rains, industry body FADA said on Thursday. The overall passenger vehicle (PV) registrations last month stood at 3,09,053 units, as compared to 3,23,720 units in August 2023.
14:35 PM calls on Singapore president, thanks him for 'passionate support'
Prime Minister Narendra called on Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam in Singapore, during his two-day visit to the island nation on Thursday and discussed avenues to broaden and deepen India-Singapore cooperation.
The two leaders warmly greeted each other and sat down and held discussions. PM Modi also signed the visitor's book.
Prime Minister Modi also thanked the Singapore President for his passionate support for India-Singapore partnership.
14:25 Teacher should be paid more than an IAS: Sisodia
Former Education Minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia on Thursday said a teacher's salary should be more than that of an IAS officer if India wants to evolve into a developed country by 2047.
He made the remarks while addressing a 'Shikshak Samman Samaroh,' organised by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on the occasion of Teachers' Day.
"Today, there is a lot of talk about India of 2047. The teachers who are sitting here today, the children you have with you are very important for 2047. The India of 2047 depends on these children. But even policy makers have to do something for them," Sisodia said.
"In most developed countries, the salary of teachers is more than the bureaucrats there. A teacher with five years of experience draws more salary than an IAS officer with five years of posting," he added, citing examples of Germany, Switzerland and a few other countries.
Talking about his incarceration in Tihar jail, Sisodia said he spent 8-10 hours every day reading books and learning about the education system of different countries.
"The last 1.5 years I was in a difficult circumstances of my life. When we are in difficult circumstances, the lessons learnt by teachers are most useful. I studied a lot during this time. I used to read books for 8-10 hours. Most of all, I read about education, India's education system, the world's education system," he said. Sisodia was lodged in Tihar jail for 17 months in an excise policy-linked money laundering case. He was released on bail last month. PTI
14:25 Teacher should be paid more than an IAS: Sisodia
Former Education Minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia on Thursday said a teacher's salary should be more than that of an IAS officer if India wants to evolve into a developed country by 2047.
He made the remarks while addressing a 'Shikshak Samman Samaroh,' organised by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on the occasion of Teachers' Day.
"Today, there is a lot of talk about India of 2047. The teachers who are sitting here today, the children you have with you are very important for 2047. The India of 2047 depends on these children. But even policy makers have to do something for them," Sisodia said.
"In most developed countries, the salary of teachers is more than the bureaucrats there. A teacher with five years of experience draws more salary than an IAS officer with five years of posting," he added, citing examples of Germany, Switzerland and a few other countries.
Talking about his incarceration in Tihar jail, Sisodia said he spent 8-10 hours every day reading books and learning about the education system of different countries.
"The last 1.5 years I was in a difficult circumstances of my life. When we are in difficult circumstances, the lessons learnt by teachers are most useful. I studied a lot during this time. I used to read books for 8-10 hours. Most of all, I read about education, India's education system, the world's education system," he said. Sisodia was lodged in Tihar jail for 17 months in an excise policy-linked money laundering case. He was released on bail last month. PTI
14:10 How Bimal Roys 'Sujata' embodied caste inequality, six decades ago
Pratik Majumdar writes about Bimal Roy's Sujata, memorable for many reasons, but mostly for the way it broached the subject of caste inequality in mainstream Indian cinema, all of 65 years ago. Read the column here.
13:48 Hijab row: K'taka withholds best teacher award
The Karnataka government has withheld its decision to bestow the best teacher award on B G Ramakrishna, principal of the Government Pre-University College at Kundapura in Udupi district, sources in the Education Department said on Thursday.
Ramakrishna was supposed to get the award today on the occasion of Teachers' Day but due to a severe backlash from some activists and leaders from the Muslim community, the government decided not to give him the award.
The reason behind the anger against the teacher was his alleged stand during the hijab row in the state two years ago.
"The government had earlier announced his name but now it has been withdrawn," a source said. -- PTI
13:10 Search for 1 missing aircrew on
Porbandar: ICG ALH Helicopter crash: Search for one missing aircrew is in progress. 4 Indian Coast Guard ships, 2 Indian Naval ships, and aircraft are continuing with the search. The average depth in area is 55 mtrs. Indian Navy clearance diving team along with specialized vessels are assisting in Search and Rescue operations. The injured crew ex-Motor Tanker Hari Leela was also rescued by ICG ship: Indian Coast Guard.
Claim the Night protests in Kolkata
13:04 HC seeks CBI report on nasty posts on RG Kar victim
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed the CBI to file a report by September 18 on detestable posts being made on social media regarding the rape-murder victim of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The court noted that nasty comments, which are far from being acceptable to any member of the society, have been made with the photograph of the victim as found in the copies of the offending posts provided by the petitioner. The body of the on-duty trainee doctor was found in the seminar room of the state-run hospital on August 9, triggering nationwide outrage. The CBI is investigating the case from the second week of August on an order of the high court.
The petitioner prayed in the PIL that the CBI be directed to investigate the cyber offences in connection with the "unfortunate and brutal incident." The court asked the Additional Solicitor General Asok Kumar Chakrabarti, representing the central agency, whether it could find a way to block these types of posts.
The division bench, presided by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam, directed the joint director, CBI, Kolkata, to look into the grievance expressed by the petitioner with regard to the issue of such abominable social media posts.
The bench, also comprising Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, directed the CBI joint director or any other competent officer to file a report in this regard by September 18, when the PIL will come up for hearing again along with other petitions relating to the August 9 rape-murder of the doctor.
After the order was dictated, Chakrabarti submitted before the court that the CBI does not have any separate wing to investigate such cyber crimes. Maintaining that the state police has a special unit to monitor such matters, he prayed that the West Bengal government's cyber crime branch be also directed to file a separate report.
12:46 Yunus warns India: Keep Hasina quiet
Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh's interim government, has said that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina making political remarks from India is an unfriendly gesture", asserting that she must remain silent to prevent the discomfort to both countries until Dhaka requests her extradition.
"If India wants to keep her until the time Bangladesh (government) wants her back, the condition would be that she has to keep quiet," he said.
In an interview with PTI at his official residence in Dhaka, Yunus, who was appointed the country's Chief Advisor after Hasina's ouster, stressed that while Bangladesh values strong ties with India, New Delhi must move beyond the narrative that portrays every other political party except Awami League as Islamist and that the country will turn into Afghanistan without Sheikh Hasina.
"No one is comfortable with her stance there in India because we want her back to try her. She is there in India and at times she is talking, which is problematic. Had she been quiet, we would have forgotten it; people would have also forgotten it as she would have been in her own world. But sitting in India, she is speaking and giving instructions. No one likes it, he said. Yunus was apparently referring to Hasina's statement on August 13 in which she demanded "justice", saying those involved in recent "terror acts", killings and vandalism must be investigated, identified and punished. It is not good for us or for India. There is discomfort regarding it, he told PTI.
Following unprecedented anti-government protests that peaked on August 5, Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled to India. Her presence in India for nearly four weeks has fuelled speculation in Bangladesh.
When asked whether Bangladesh has communicated its stance to India, Yunus said it has been conveyed verbally and quite firmly that she should keep quiet. "Everyone understands it. We have said quite firmly that she should keep quiet. This is an unfriendly gesture towards us; she has been given shelter there and she is campaigning from there. It is not that she has gone there on a normal course. She has fled following a people's uprising and public anger," he said.
Yunus stated that the interim government is committed to ensuring justice for the people of Bangladesh against the atrocities, and justice requires that she be brought back to the country.
"Yes, she has to be brought back or else the people of Bangladesh won't be at peace. The kind of atrocities she has committed, she has to be tried in front of everyone here," he emphasised.
Discussing the future of the India-Bangladesh relationship, Yunus expressed a desire for good ties with India but insisted that New Delhi must abandon the narrative that only Hasina's leadership ensures the country's stability.
"The way forward is for India to come out of the narrative. The narrative is that everybody is Islamist, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is Islamist, and everyone else is Islamist and will make this country into Afghanistan. And Bangladesh is in safe hands with Sheikh Hasina at the helm only. India is captivated by this narrative. India has to come out of this narrative. Bangladesh, like any other nation, is another neighbour, he said. Referring to the recent incidents of alleged attacks on Hindu minorities in the country and India raising concerns about it," Yunus said this is just an excuse.
"The issue of trying to portray the conditions of minorities in such a big way is just an excuse," he said.
"The minority Hindu population has faced vandalism of their businesses and properties, as well as the destruction of Hindu temples, during the student-led violence that erupted following the ouster of Hasina. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15, expressed hope that the situation in violence-hit Bangladesh would return to normal soon and stated that 1.4 billion Indians are concerned about the safety of Hindus and minorities in the neighbouring country. -- PTI
12:41 'BJP Doesn't Own The Country'
Iltija Mufti, 37, is contesting her first election from Srigufwara Bijbehara, Jammu and Kashmir.
She holds a master's degree in international relations from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom, and was the spokesperson for her mother Mehbooba Mufti when the former J&K chief minister was detained after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
Iltija's mother and grandfather Mufti Mohammad Sayeed also won their first election from Bijbehara.
"I am entering politics now because there is a need for me to step up. The party is at its lowest. There was a mass exodus at the behest of the BJP. I am under immense pressure because there are expectations that I have to live up to."
"They are writing the party's obituary," she says in a phone interview while campaigning in her constituency which votes on September 18.
"But I am proud of the fact that whatever respect I earn will be on my own merit. No one can accuse me of having it served on a platter."
"The most powerful thing that I can offer is my voice," Iltija Mufti tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih.
Read the interview here.
12:36 India on sustainable growth path: RBI guv
Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das on Thursday said the fundamental drivers of the Indian economy are gaining momentum and the country is moving on a sustainable growth path.
In the inaugural address at FIBAC 2024, the governor said that massive changes are taking shape in various economic sectors and markets, and the country is geared for orbital shifts.
"Our nation's journey towards becoming an advanced economy is drawing strength from a unique blend of factors, and these factors would include a young and a dynamic population, a resilient and diverse economy, robust democracy, and a rich tradition of entrepreneurship and innovation," Das said.
Stressing that India's growth story is intact and banks have robust balance sheets, he exhorted the private sector to step up investments in a big way. He said data actually shows that the fundamental growth drivers of the Indian economy are actually gaining momentum and they are not slowing.
"This gives us the confidence to say that the Indian growth story remains intact," he said.
In his speech, the governor said past reforms like GST and IBC have yielded long-term positive outcomes, and emphasised the need for further reforms in land, labour, and agri markets. While acknowledging that headline inflation matters, he said the balance between inflation and growth is well-poised.
With monsoon progressing well and healthy Kharif sowing, food inflation outlook could become more favourable, he added. Das further said the financial sector must expand access and harness digital platforms to drive inclusive growth. He also made a strong case for tailored products and services for women-led businesses and MSMEs without diluting underwriting standards.
12:05 Coaching centre deaths: HC seeks CBI stand on basement owners' bail pleas
The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought the stand of the CBI on the bail pleas of jailed co-owners of the Old Rajinder Nagar coaching centre basement, where three civil services aspirants died after drowning in July.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma issued notice to the agency on the bail applications of the co-owners of the basement -- Parvinder Singh, Tajinder Singh, Harvinder Singh and Sarbjit Singh -- and asked it to file its reply.
"The incident was very unfortunate," said Justice Sharma, while adding that the present matter "should not be an ordinary case".
The court asked the CBI counsel to "give concrete evidence" with respect to the accountability of the basement co-owners and also permitted the father of one of the deceased aspirants to file a "short reply" to the bail pleas.
Three civil service aspirants Shreya Yadav, 25, of Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni, 25, from Telangana and Nevin Delvin, 24, from Kerala died after the basement of the building housing Rau's IAS Study Circle was flooded following heavy rain in central Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar on July 27 evening.
The case, being probed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), was transferred from the Delhi Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the high court.
12:02 I'm CBI's insurance arrest, Kejriwal tells SC
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal told the Supreme Court on Thursday that the CBI did not arrest him for nearly two years in the alleged excise policy scam and an 'insurance arrest' was made on June 26 after he got bail in the "harsher" money laundering case filed by the ED.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the chief minister, told a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan that no notice was served to Kejriwal by the CBI before arrest and an ex-parte arrest order passed by the trial court. Seeking bail for the jailed Delhi CM, Singhvi submitted that Kejriwal is a constitutional functionary and was not a flight risk.
Singhvi said Kejriwal was not named in the CBI FIR and moreover, he is not a flight risk. The senior lawyer said the top court, while granting interim bail in the money laundering case, had said the chief minister was not a threat to society.
What started in August, 2023 has led to arrest in March this year in the money laundering case, he said, adding the top court and a trial court have already granted him bail.
The hearing is underway.
The top court had on August 23 allowed the CBI to file its counter affidavit in the matter and gave two days to Kejriwal to file a rejoinder. Kejriwal has filed two separate petitions challenging the denial of bail and against his arrest by the CBI in the case.
He has challenged the August 5 order of the Delhi High Court upholding his arrest. The AAP chief was arrested by the CBI on June 26. On August 14, the top court refused to grant interim bail to Kejriwal in the case and sought a response from the probe agency on his plea challenging his arrest.
The Delhi High Court had on August 5 upheld the arrest of the chief minister as legal, and said there was no malice in the acts done by the CBI which was able to demonstrate how the AAP supremo could influence witnesses who could muster the courage to depose only after his arrest.
The high court had asked him to move the trial court for regular bail in the CBI case. The excise policy was scrapped in 2022 after the Delhi lieutenant governor ordered a CBI probe into alleged irregularities and corruption involving its formulation and execution. According to the CBI and the ED, irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy and undue favours extended to licence holders. PTI
11:33 Kejriwal not a flight risk: Singhvi tells SC
The Supreme Court on Thursday commenced hearing on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's pleas seeking bail and challenging his arrest by the CBI in the alleged excise policy scam.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the chief minister, told a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan that Kejriwal was not named in the CBI FIR and moreover, he is not a flight risk.
Singhvi said the top court, while granting interim bail in the money laundering case, had said the chief minister was not a threat to society. What started in August, 2023 has led to arrest in March this year in the money laundering case, he said, adding the top court and a trial court have already granted him bail.
The hearing is underway. The top court had on August 23 allowed the CBI to file its counter affidavit in the matter and gave two days to Kejriwal to file a rejoinder. Kejriwal has filed two separate petitions challenging the denial of bail and against his arrest by the CBI in the case.
He has challenged the August 5 order of the Delhi High Court upholding his arrest. The AAP chief was arrested by the CBI on June 26. On August 14, the top court refused to grant interim bail to Kejriwal in the case and sought a response from the probe agency on his plea challenging his arrest.
Stalin cycles like a champ during his visit to the US
10:58 Rahul responds to Stalin's cycling: Bro, when are...
A video of Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin cycling in the US has received more than 2 million views, 25K likes, and nearly a thousand comments. Sharing Stalin's video in a post on X, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, said, "Brother, when are we cycling together in Chennai?"
Stalin, whose party DMK is part of the INDIA bloc alliance replied, "Dear brother @RahulGandhi, whenever you're free, let's ride and explore the heart of Chennai together!"
The CM also said a box of sweets is 'still pending' from his side, and invited the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha to his home for a "delicious South Indian lunch".
"A box of sweets is still pending from my side. After our cycling, let's enjoy a delicious South Indian lunch with sweets at my home," Stalin said.
The background to the CM's box of sweets comment comes after the Congress leader had thanked him for birthday wishes in June, saying he was waiting for his box of sweets from Stalin.
10:40 Bengal's Reclaim the Night: Protestors molested
Thousands of women across West Bengal marched in midnight as part of the second edition of the "Reclaim the Night" campaign, demanding justice for a doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered at a state-run hospital in Kolkata last month.
The campaign on Wednesday night, the second one after August 14, witnessed stray undesired incidents in which two persons were taken into custody by the police in separate spots of Kolkata for misbehaving with protesting women. In north Bengal's Mathabhanga town, a protester was assaulted allegedly by members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
The "Reclaim the Night" movement, largely driven by social media, gained momentum as protests kicked off at 11:30 pm, marking the second such gathering since a midnight campaign on August 14. Across the state, from small towns to bustling cities, the air reverberated with the rallying cry: "We want justice".
Political party flags were notably absent, and protesters were seen holding the national flags aloft, underscoring the unified call for justice beyond partisan lines.
At various spots in and around Kolkata, women from all walks of life actors, students, professionals and homemakers marched together carrying posters and candles, their voices rising in unison against the violence that had claimed the doctor's life.
In a particularly moving moment in the city's Sealdah Station, pavement dwellers joined the demonstration, with some women blowing conch shells, a traditional symbol of resistance and defiance.
The sound resonated through the station, adding an unexpected yet reinvigorating touch to the protest. The movement spread to other key locations in various district towns, including Berhampore, Chinsurah, Santiniketan, Krishnanagar, Bardhaman, Siliguri, Barasat, Barrackpore, Rajarhat-Newtown, Cooch Behar, Mathabhanga and Jalpaiguri.
The movement, however, witnessed some stray incidents in which one male protestor was assaulted while two others misbehaved with women at separate places.
At Jadavpur in Kolkata, one person was arrested for allegedly molesting a woman when a large number of people assembled at 8B Bus Stand area to demand justice for the raped and murdered doctor. The unidentified man, who was allegedly in an inebriated state, was whisked away by the policemen present and taken to the nearby police station.
A group of students from Jadavpur University, film and stage actors and others followed them. A police official said an FIR was lodged against the accused by the victim woman, who was escorted to the police station by actor Sohini Sarkar. Her industry colleagues Bidipta Chakraborty, Sudipta Chakraborty and Birsha Dasgupta also went to the police station to offer moral support to the woman who identified the alleged molester before the police.
In another rally at Garia in southern Kolkata, a youth was detained by police for allegedly misbehaving with women. The youth, also intoxicated, was beaten up by other protesters before being handed over to the authorities. In Mathabhanga town in Cooch Behar district, a protester was assaulted allegedly Trinamool Congress (TMC) members. Pradyut Saha, a branch secretary of the CPI(M) and an employee of the Mathabhanga Municipality, was allegedly attacked during a demonstration.
CPI(M) filed a complaint with the police regarding the incident. The TMC denied involvement of any party member in the assault.
In another incident at Kolkata, actor Rituparna Sengupta faced hostility from a group of protesters at Shyambazar as she arrived at the protest venue. When she attempted to address the crowd, protestors shouted: "Go back."
10:36 Read and weep
Telangana: 50,000 trees uprooted in Tadvai range, Medaram forest area, Mulugu due to incessant rainfall.
The Chief Minister's Office, the state government will submit a comprehensive report on flood damages to the central government. Chief Minister Reddy said he will write a letter to the union government seeking immediate assistance and flood relief and appeal to the Centre to declare the floods in the state as a national calamity.
The aunt of the murdered doctor. The pic has been blurred to protect her identity
10:27 Doc murder: 'Cops abandoned us after last rites'
Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case: Aunt of the deceased doctor says: "When the body of the daughter was lying in front of the parents in the house the police were offering money. Is this the humanity of police?"
"Till the last rites were not performed, 300-400 policemen surrounded us but after it was performed, not a single policeman was seen there. What would the family do, how would they go home, police took no responsibility.
"Police were active till the last rites were performed and after that, they became completely inactive. When the body of the daughter was lying in front of the parents in the house and we were shedding tears, the police were offering money, is this the humanity of police?
"The police were saying that they have fulfilled all their responsibilities, is this what is called fulfilling the responsibility?"
Family members of a doctor, who was allegedly raped and murdered in Kolkata last month, joined the protesting medics at RG Kar hospital on Wednesday and accused the Kolkata Police of attempting to suppress the case by hurriedly cremating the body of the doctor.
Participating in the protests at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where the body of their daughter was recovered on August 9, the parents demanded justice and accused a senior police officer of trying to bribe them after the incident came to light.
10:06 Kejriwal planned to privatize Excise Policy: CBI
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party benefited from the illicit funds generated through the criminal conspiracy in the Excise Policy case.
The CBI claims that as the National Convenor and Overall In-Charge of AAP, Arvind Kejriwal is responsible for this. The CBI in its supplementary charge sheet, stated that the investigation has revealed that Arvind Kejriwal was involved in the criminal conspiracy related to the formulation and implementation of Delhi's Excise Policy from the outset.
It is alleged that he had a pre-conceived plan to privatize the Excise Policy and sought monetary support for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in March 2021, during the policy's formulation by the Group of Ministers (GoM) led by co-accused Manish Sisodia.
This comes as the Supreme Court is set to hear pleas on Thursday filed by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking bail against his arrest by the CBI in the now-scrapped excise policy case. Arvind Kejriwal is challenging the Delhi high court's decision that upheld his arrest in the corruption case related to the alleged scam.
Additionally, Kejriwal's close associate, Vijay Nair, who is in charge of Media and Communication for AAP, allegedly approached various stakeholders in the Delhi Excise Business, demanding illegal gratification in exchange for favourable adjustments to the Excise Policy.
09:58 Sensex all gung-ho amid foreign fund inflows
Benchmark equity indices rebounded in early trade on Thursday amid steady foreign fund inflows along with buying in frontline stocks Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank. The 30-share BSE Sensex rebounded 264.85 points to 82,617.49 in early trade.
The NSE Nifty climbed 76.75 points to 25,275.45. Among the 30 Sensex firms, UltraTech Cement, Tata Steel, ITC, Titan, ICICI Bank, JSW Steel, Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank were the biggest gainers. Nestle, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Finance and Mahindra & Mahindra were among the laggards.
In Asian markets, Seoul and Shanghai were trading higher while Tokyo and Hong Kong quoted lower. The US markets ended on a mixed note on Wednesday. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 975.46 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.
09:24 Will Canada's Trudeau govt fall? Sikh ally backs out
Leader of Canada's New Democratic Party (NDP) Jagmeet Singh has announced that he is withdrawing support to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government.
The NDP leader on Wednesday in a video posted on social media stated that he "ripped up" the supply-and-confidence agreement his party made with Trudeau's Liberal government, the Canadian news outlet CBC news reported. The deal struck between the two leaders in 2022 and scheduled to run until June 2025 ensured the survival of the minority Liberal government and was the "first such formal agreement between two parties at the federal level."
Trudeau first took office in November 2015. Singh accused Trudeau of not being able to take on the opposition Conservatives, who polls indicate are set to easily win an election that must be held by end-October 2025.
"Justin Trudeau has proven again and again he will always cave to corporate greed. The Liberals have let people down. They don't deserve another chance from Canadians," Singh said in the video as cited by CBC. The NDP leader spoke of an "even bigger battle ahead."
"The threat of Pierre Poilievre and Conservative cuts. From workers, from retirees, from young people, from patients, from families -- he will cut in order to give more to big corporations and wealthy CEOs," said Singh.
Speaking after Singh's announcement, Trudeau said his government is more focused on tackling the affordability crisis and climate change.
The Canadian PM said he hopes the next election will not happen "until next fall" so that his government has time to move forward on pharmacare, dental care and school food programs.
09:08 Mega digital thrust in India-Singapore's four MoUs
India and Singapore signed four Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the fields of digital technologies, semiconductors, health cooperation and skill development, which will further strengthen the cooperation between the two nations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a visit to Singapore, arrived at the Parliament House on Thursday, where he received a ceremonial welcome.
He met Singapore counterpart Lawrence Wong, and the two delegations held bilateral meetings, following which the MoUs were signed. The first MoU was signed between India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Singapore's Ministry of Digital Development and Information for cooperation in the field of digital technologies.
It will facilitate closer cooperation between India and Singapore in the areas of digital technologies, such as DPI, cyber-security, 5G and emerging technologies such as Super-computing, Quantum Computing and Artificial Intelligence.
The MoU will further enable cooperation for upskilling and reskilling of workers relating to the digital domain under the ambit of this MoU.
Photo: Thomas Mukoya/Reuters
08:46 Adani Group wants to develop Nairobi Airport
Dev Chatterjee/Business Standard
Adani Enterprises, the flagship company of the Adani group, has set up a subsidiary in Kenya as it intensifies efforts to take over Jomo Kenyatta international airport in Nairobi.
The Gautam Adani firm has established a wholly-owned step down subsidiary -- Airports Infrastructure PLC (AIP) in Kenya, according to a statement filed by Adani Enterprises to the stock exchanges.
AIP is incorporated to take over, operate, maintain, develop, design, construct, upgrade, modernise and manage airports, the company said in a statement.
AIP, owned by Global Airports Operator LLC, is based in Abu Dhabi.
Industry sources said the group aims to take over the management of Nairobis airport and talks are currently on with Kenyan government officials for investment purposes.While the quantum of the investment in Nairobi airport is not disclosed, sources said if due diligence is successful, the Indian company may invest up to $810 million.
If successful, Kenya will be the first international foray by the Adani group in the airport business.
In June, top company officials announced that the Adani group plans to invest $100 billion over the next decade, with $21 billion allocated specifically for the airport sector.
It currently operates airports in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram.
Going forward, it is set to commission a greenfield airport in Navi Mumbai by the year-end. The group is looking for investment opportunities, as it expects to surpass the combined Ebitda of Rs 1 trillion in the current financial year, as compared to a combined Ebitda of Rs 82,917 crore (Rs 829.17 billion) reported in 2023, according to a presentation made to the bankers.
To fund its expansion plans, the flagship firm is planning to launch a share sale to institutional investors to raise approximately Rs 16,700 crore (Rs 167 billion).
The shares of Adani Enterprises closed flat at Rs 3,015 apiece, as the market value stood at Rs 3.43 trillion on Tuesday.
08:29 Biden spoke to Modi about Bangladesh: White House
In his call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, United States President Joe Biden expressed his concerns about the safety of people in Bangladesh and the future of democratic institutions there, the White House has said.
During the call, Biden and Modi 'shared concerns' on the recent developments in Bangladesh, White House national security communications adviser John Kirby told a press conference on Wednesday.
"I mean, the President made clear his continued concerns about the safety and security of the people in Bangladesh and the future of their democratic institutions," he said in response to a question.
The statement issued by the White House after the August 26 call did not mention Bangladesh. However, a post on X by Modi and a statement issued by his office mentioned that Bangladesh was discussed during the telephonic conversation.
'The two leaders expressed their shared concern over the situation in Bangladesh. They emphasised restoration of law and order and ensuring safety and security of the minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh,' the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) had said.
In his post on X, Modi had said, 'We also discussed the situation in Bangladesh and stressed on the need for early restoration of normalcy, and ensuring the safety and security of minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh.' -- PTI
During the call, Biden and Modi 'shared concerns' on the recent developments in Bangladesh, White House national security communications adviser John Kirby told a press conference on Wednesday.
"I mean, the President made clear his continued concerns about the safety and security of the people in Bangladesh and the future of their democratic institutions," he said in response to a question.
The statement issued by the White House after the August 26 call did not mention Bangladesh. However, a post on X by Modi and a statement issued by his office mentioned that Bangladesh was discussed during the telephonic conversation.
'The two leaders expressed their shared concern over the situation in Bangladesh. They emphasised restoration of law and order and ensuring safety and security of the minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh,' the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) had said.
In his post on X, Modi had said, 'We also discussed the situation in Bangladesh and stressed on the need for early restoration of normalcy, and ensuring the safety and security of minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh.' -- PTI
00:04 RG Kar protest: Kolkata turns off lights for justice
Kolkata experienced a unique and powerful display of civic solidarity on Wednesday evening when residents turned off their lights for an hour from 9pm to 10 pm and came down to the streets with burning candles to protest the murder of the doctor at RG Kar hospital and to express support for the deceased doctor's family.
Significant pockets across districts of West Bengal also witnessed spontaneous protests from citizens hitting roads late in the evening with burning torches, candles and even backlit mobile phones demanding justice for the RG Kar hospital victim.
The West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front, which had called for the protest, titled the event 'Let There Be Light, Let There Be Justice' had planned it to coincide with the Supreme Court's scheduled hearing in the rape-murder case on September 5.
The protesters demanded that the case, which is currently being heard by an apex court bench, be resolved expeditiously so that justice doesn't get delayed any further.
At 9 pm sharp, prominent landmarks such as the Victoria Memorial and Raj Bhavan, along with homes across the city, its suburbs and districts, plunged into darkness as part of the protest.
Governor CV Ananda Bose also lit a candle at the Raj Bhavan and said, "When light is fear, darkness is dear."
Large crowds gathered across the city, Howrah, and Salt Lake, taking to the streets with candles and mobile phone torches, chanting "We want justice" and demanding accountability for the alleged gruesome rape-murder of the trainee doctor.
In Kolkata, protests were held in prominent landmarks including Shyambazar five-point crossing , Moulali, New Town Biswa Bangla Gate, Rashbehari crossing, Behala, Garia, Ballygunge, Hazra crossing and Jadavpur 8B bus stand. -- PTI
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