Category: India

The woman lived with her two sons after she lost her husband around one-and-a-half-year ago, and her other son lived in Agartala.

Agartala: A 62-year-old woman was tied to a tree and allegedly burnt alive by her two sons in West Tripura, officials said on Sunday.

Police said they have arrested the sons, and suspect that a family dispute might have led to the gruesome murder.

The incident happened on Saturday night in Khamarbari in the Champaknagar police station area, they said.

The woman lived with her two sons after she lost her husband around one-and-a-half-year ago. Her other son lived in Agartala.

“After receiving an input that a woman was set on fire, a police team rushed there and found the burnt body tied to a tree. We took the body to the hospital for post-mortem examination,” Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Jirania Kamal Krishna Koloi told PTI.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/tripura/woman-tied-to-tree-burnt-alive-by-sons-in-tripura-3212190

Jaishankar, who arrived in the US capital on Sunday, will also meet other Cabinet-rank and senior Biden administration officials.

Washington: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will meet his US counterpart Antony Blinken on Tuesday, during which they are expected to discuss a wide range of bilateral and global issues, including the Ukraine war and the Middle East crisis.

Jaishankar, who arrived in the US capital on Sunday, will also meet other Cabinet-rank and senior Biden administration officials.

Apart from meeting US Secretary of State Blinken, the external affairs minister is also scheduled to interact with the think-tank community.

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace will host a conversation between Jaishankar and its president Mariano-Florentino (Tino) Cuellar on the future of US-India relations.

The think-tank said India’s strategic importance was rising both globally and in the making of US foreign policy and cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2023 State Visit and his recent bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden to showcase this relationship.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/eam-jaishankar-reaches-washington-dc-to-meet-blinken-3212361

Junior medics from various government hospitals in West Bengal, along with members of the public, participated in torch rallies across the city on Sunday, demanding justice for the murdered doctor of R G Kar Hospital and calling for improved security at their workplaces.

The demonstrations took place a day before the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the case involving the alleged rape-murder of the postgraduate trainee.

The rallies were organised from several key locations, including R G Kar hospital, Sagore Dutta hospital, SSKM hospital, Calcutta Medical College, and Jadavpur in south Kolkata.

Participants, including doctors and community members, emphasised the need for justice for the victim and heightened safety measures for medical staff in state-run facilities.

On September 27, junior doctors had urged the public to hold protests across the state in solidarity ahead of Monday’s Supreme Court hearing.

Having returned to work after a month-long agitation, the junior doctors on Saturday expressed their intention to consider resuming total ’cease work’ in medical colleges, contingent on the state government’s assurances regarding their safety during the upcoming court proceedings.

The rallies converged at various significant junctions throughout the city, such as Esplanade, Shyambazar, Park Circus, and Gariahat.

Organized by the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front, an umbrella group representing medics from various medical college hospitals in the state, the rallies also highlighted the need to end a ”threat culture” in medical colleges, where students reportedly face intimidation.

At Sagore Dutta Hospital, junior doctors conducted a torch and candle march in protest of an assault by outsiders following a patient’s death on Friday night. This incident led the medics to go on strike, demanding proper security measures.

Participants held candles and torches as they marched from Sagore Dutta Hospital to Dunlop Crossing on the outskirts of Kolkata. The protests were sparked by an alleged assault on three doctors and three nurses at Sagore Dutta Hospital, which the medics claimed demonstrated the government’s failure to provide promised security.

Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma visited R G Kar Medical College and Hospital on Sunday afternoon to assess security measures ahead of the Supreme Court hearing. He interacted with police personnel and toured the hospital’s emergency department.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/kolkata-rape-murder-day-before-sc-hearing-bengal-medics-take-out-rallies-over-security-at-hospitals-9068328.html

Last week, a story that generated too much buzz was around the quality failure of many commonly used medicines. The trigger was the mention of widely used medications, including popular antacids, fever reducers, antibiotics and high-blood pressure medications in the monthly drug alert issued by the regulatory authority, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).

News18 was the first to report the story after awaiting responses from the drugmakers mentioned in the alert list issued by CDSCO, which are still accessible on their website.

After more than 24 hours, only two pharmaceutical companies shared the requested comments, while the others either ignored or did not acknowledge the email. As the story gained traction and other media outlets began covering it, almost all drugmakers released statements asserting that the drugs in question were counterfeit and that they did not produce them.

On Sunday morning, the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) – a pharma lobby backed by India’s top drug makers, some of whom were mentioned in the alert list – issued a press release venting anger over unfair implications over legitimate drugmakers in producing counterfeit drugs.

It said that the lobby will collaborate with the government to strengthen regulations against counterfeit products to protect public health and India’s global standing.

SNAPSHOT ON THE STORY
According to the ‘Not of Standard Quality (NSQ) alert’ for August, released by the country’s drug regulation watchdog CDSCO, more than 50 drugs have been declared NSQ or substandard. NSQ alerts are the results of random sampling done by state drug officers every month. The list includes names of top-selling drugs manufactured by big pharma companies in India.

HOW ARE DRUG ALERTS ISSUED BY CDSCO?
Every month, state drug inspectors pick up samples from offline stores across India. These drugs are tested in government laboratories and their results are published on the government website.

Before publishing these results, CDSCO also sends these reports to the makers (pharma companies), instructing them to check the product/control samples. In turn, pharma companies check their samples and submit reports to CDSCO or state regulators.

Officials from top pharma companies told News18 that they respond to the government within the timeline of 10-12 days with the test reports. However, it does not guarantee that their name will be taken off the alert list.

“Despite providing all the details of our investigation, our name still appears in defaulters. Eventually, this tarnishes the brand’s reputation,” an official from a top Mumbai-based pharma company said, requesting anonymity.

THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS FAKE DRUGS
While the story starts with the fact that drugs manufactured by these big, reputable drugmakers are failing quality tests, it turns out to be a different one. The real concern now is, no one knows who manufactured those drugs and they all are fake.

Almost all drugmakers who found mention in the drug alert are now claiming (in their official versions) that their investigations have shown the drugs in question are not manufactured by them and so are fake. This means it is the problem of “fake or counterfeit” drugs in the Indian market, which is a much bigger issue to resolve.

Unfortunately, for us, as ultimate consumers or patients, the problem remains the same — we are still taking pills without knowing if they are dummy, lethal or genuine pills.

Before writing the column, I spoke to multiple industry insiders working with top pharma companies across India.

A senior executive at a pharma company, which manufactures one of the top-selling pain-relieving medicine brands, explained how they helped the regulator spot the racket manufacturing the fake drugs using their popular brand name.

“Our drug was manufactured with similar branding and packages. They were selling the pack of drugs at just Rs 10 to retailers. This deal was a win-win for both as there was no investment involved in making fake drugs and, in turn, retailers were earning huge profit margins,” the officer explained.

Almost all drugmakers who found mention in the drug alert are now claiming (in their official versions) that their investigations have shown the drugs in question are not manufactured by them and so are fake. This means it is the problem of “fake or counterfeit” drugs in the Indian market, which is a much bigger issue to resolve.

Unfortunately, for us, as ultimate consumers or patients, the problem remains the same — we are still taking pills without knowing if they are dummy, lethal or genuine pills.

Before writing the column, I spoke to multiple industry insiders working with top pharma companies across India.

A senior executive at a pharma company, which manufactures one of the top-selling pain-relieving medicine brands, explained how they helped the regulator spot the racket manufacturing the fake drugs using their popular brand name.

“Our drug was manufactured with similar branding and packages. They were selling the pack of drugs at just Rs 10 to retailers. This deal was a win-win for both as there was no investment involved in making fake drugs and, in turn, retailers were earning huge profit margins,” the officer explained.

Almost all drugmakers who found mention in the drug alert are now claiming (in their official versions) that their investigations have shown the drugs in question are not manufactured by them and so are fake. This means it is the problem of “fake or counterfeit” drugs in the Indian market, which is a much bigger issue to resolve.

Unfortunately, for us, as ultimate consumers or patients, the problem remains the same — we are still taking pills without knowing if they are dummy, lethal or genuine pills.

Before writing the column, I spoke to multiple industry insiders working with top pharma companies across India.

A senior executive at a pharma company, which manufactures one of the top-selling pain-relieving medicine brands, explained how they helped the regulator spot the racket manufacturing the fake drugs using their popular brand name.

“Our drug was manufactured with similar branding and packages. They were selling the pack of drugs at just Rs 10 to retailers. This deal was a win-win for both as there was no investment involved in making fake drugs and, in turn, retailers were earning huge profit margins,” the officer explained.

The company and regulator, in this instance, worked hand-in-hand and were able to catch the makers near the Uttar Pradesh border with not just one brand of medicine, but many other top-selling, but fake brands.

Fake or counterfeit is not a new challenge for India. In 2019, the United States warned India of its growing problem of counterfeit or spurious drugs.

In its ‘Special 301 Report’ on intellectual property protection and review of ‘notorious markets’ for piracy and counterfeiting, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) blamed India for its growing problem of counterfeit medicines. The USTR report said almost 20 per cent of all pharmaceutical goods sold in the Indian market are counterfeit.

OTHER REASONS WHY DRUGS FAIL TESTS
Industry officials claim that the storing practices followed by state drug inspectors are not always in line with the protocol. They do not test the samples immediately after picking and hence, they are not very sure how these medicines are stored, eventually, impacting the quality of the sample tested.

“For instance, an inspector picked up a sample from a retailer kept it in his bag and continued to select more samples across stores in that particular location. The drug continues to be in heat or sunlight, which eventually, leads to the deterioration of the sample,” said an official working with a Hyderabad-based drugmaker.

Also, industry officials claim that the time when the sample is picked and when the sample is tested varies. “Sometimes, regulators send information on our drugs, two to three months after picking the samples. In that case, how can we be sure that they kept the samples in the required condition.”

Another reason that appeared frequently in my conversation with the pharma industry was the formation of local groups buying from third-party manufacturers and selling directly to doctors.

There is a growing trend where several retired company officials join hands with each other and buy medicines from third-party manufacturers. These officials start a business on the premise that they know several doctors locally and can sell these medicines directly to them.

“These firms can secure licences also for selling medicines, but they don’t have strong infrastructure that can guarantee safe storage and supply facility of these drugs. Eventually, when a drug fails, it’s the company that gets all the blame,” an industry veteran told News18.

WHAT SHOULD THE REGULATOR DO?
CDSCO should change its approach, adopting a method more akin to that of the US FDA, rather than simply posting the results on its website.

As CDSCO has been working hard on resolving the problem of poor quality drugs manufactured and exported, it should also begin the hunt against the counterfeit market operating inside the Indian market.

Also, when CDSCO informs the drugmakers about such NSQ results, they must ask the company to stop sales from the particular batch under question and send the report of their internal analysis. Both CDSCO and drugmakers must do a joint analysis and go back to tracing the supply chain. The regulator must go deep to understand if the drug is manufactured by the company, how the drug has travelled down the market (tracking supply chain) and if it is fake then how it was injected into the market.

Also, while releasing the alert, the CDSCO must mention that “only this batch” is found to be NSQ and not all batches.

One of the very important practices is to ask the company to recall the questionable batch as such batches continue to prevail in the market which makes this entire exercise futile.

Also, it is the responsibility of the regulator to educate the public about the possible actions while releasing the alerts and controlling the panic.

They must mention advice in the alerts, similar to the US FDA, that the public must reach out to their healthcare providers for clarification or substitutes.

POOR QUALITY DRUGS CAN LEAD TO SEVERE COMPLICATIONS: HEALTH EXPERTS
More than half a dozen health experts told News18 that finding poor quality drugs in the Indian market is concerning news for doctors and patients both.

Eventually, it means that we are popping fake medicines or medicines of compromised quality. Hence, patients will not recover in time and thus have to be on longer therapies or need to take added doses to manage their illnesses.

Also, it will make our bodies resistant against pathogens such as bacteria, fungi and viruses – leading to antimicrobial resistance – which means medicines will stop working when we are ill. Hence, putting us at risk of severe infections and even death.

Sample one of the conversations with Dr Anirvan Karmakar, senior consultant, critical care unit, Narayana Hospital, Howrah, who believes that “drug quality failures pose a significant threat to treatment outcomes”.

When these drugs fail to meet quality standards, patients may experience ineffective treatment, prolonged illness, or even harmful side effects.

Karmakar believes that this is particularly concerning for vulnerable people, such as the elderly, individuals with chronic conditions, and those with compromised immune systems, as they are more dependent on regular and effective medication for maintaining their health.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/poor-quality-medicines-or-fake-drugs-the-real-story-health-matters-9068145.html

A terrorist was killed in an ongoing operation in a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district on Sunday, taking the death toll in the incident to two, officials said.

The body of the terrorist was recovered from the scene of the encounter at Kog-Mandli in Billawar tehsil this afternoon, the officials said.

A massive search operation is underway in the village for the second day.

Additional Director General of Police, Jammu zone, Anand Jain said the search operation was launched in the village on Saturday following information about the presence of three to four foreign terrorists.

A policeman was killed and two officers injured Saturday evening when terrorists opened fire on a joint security search party in the village.

Talking to reporters near the scene of the encounter, Jain said an information was received about the presence of terrorists in the area and subsequently an operation was launched, leading to an exchange of fire.

Head constable Bashir Ahmad laid down his life and two officers — a DSP and an Assistant Sub-Inspector — were injured in the encounter, he said, adding both the officers are stable.

The whole area is under tight security cordon and an operation is underway to neutralise the three to four foreign terrorists hiding in the area, he said.

He said the presence of terrorists was reported in a house and subsequently an operation was launched which is underway.

Asked about the interception of the terrorist group ahead of the third phase of polls on October 1, the police officer said the operations against terrorists are going on and will continue.

“We are getting continuous information about terrorists and subsequently conducting operations with an endeavour to neutralise them as soon as possible,” he said.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/pakistani-terrorist-j-k-police-constable-killed-in-counter-terror-operation-in-kathua-manhunt-on-to-nab-others-9068027.html

The militants have taken two Meitei men hostage and are demanding the release of Mark T Haokip, currently in the custody of the NIA.

Kuki militants in Manipur have demanded the government free a man from their community held over secessionism charges, in exchange for two Meitei youngsters they currently hold hostage, officials in the security establishment and the state government said on Sunday in what threatens to escalate into a fresh crisis for a region besieged by ethnic strife.

A senior officer in the multi-agency security establishment deployed to the state told HT that the militants have made several demands, with two being crucial. “The demands include the release of Mark T Haokip, currently in the custody of the NIA, and the shifting of 15 Kuki prisoners from Imphal’s Sajiwa jail to the Churachandpur jail,” said the officer, who asked not to be named.

Chief minister Biren Singh held meetings with officials and political parties as pressure to resolve the hostage crisis grew. A video released on social media Sunday showed the two captive men urging the CM to accept the demands. The CM’s office has not confirmed the nature of the specific demands.

According to the official cited above, negotiations between the Biren Singh administration and Kuki groups are being routed through central security forces — the Assam Rifles and the Central Reserve Police Force — and Kuki civil society organizations, who are in contact with the militants.

“It’s unclear where the two Meitei men are being held. The CSOs deny knowledge of the location but say they can send human couriers to and from where the militants are placing their demands,” the official said.

Lelena, a civil society group member in touch with security forces, disputed the characterisation of those holding the Meiteis as militants, calling them village volunteers instead. “We’re only communicating with the security forces so that the demands of our village defense volunteers are met and the two men are released. On Friday, when the incident happened, the volunteers released one Meitei man, but kept the others.”

Source:https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kuki-militants-seek-release-of-secessionist-101727639829096.html

As many as 640 participants, including locals, took part in the two-day Spiti Marathon, which was organised as part of the Army’s Operation Sadbhavana.

Army and police personnel participated in the first-ever high-altitude marathon organised by the Indian Army in Sumdo in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul and Spiti district.
As many as 640 participants, including locals, took part in the two-day Spiti Marathon, which was organised as part of the Army’s Operation Sadbhavana.

Jigmet Namgyal of the Ladakh Police won the 77-km Spiti Avengers (men) event, while Tenzin Dolma secured first place in female category.

In 40 age group, Indian Army Honorary Captain (Retd) Suresh secured first place.

PM Narendra Modi emphasized urban development in Pune, citing past planning failures. He launched ₹11,200 crore projects expected to generate 30,000 jobs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that cities like Pune in Maharashtra need to be made the centre of urban development to keep up with the pace of the growing population, but the lack of vision and planning during the previous regimes stalled development. The Prime Minister was virtually launching projects worth ₹11,200 crore in the western state that is due to hold elections over the next two months.

According to a government statement, the projects announced by the PM have an employment potential of over 30,000 jobs.

“Pune should have had an advanced transport system much earlier. But unfortunately, in the past decades, there was a lack of both planning and vision. Even if a plan came up for discussion, its file remained stuck for years. That old work culture has caused a great loss to our country,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister’s scheduled visit to Pune on September 26 was cancelled after heavy rain lashed parts of Maharashtra. On Sunday, Modi virtually inaugurated the Pune Metro section from the district court to Swargate, which also marks the completion of the Pune Metro Rail Project (Phase 1). Maharashtra governor CP Radhakrishnan, chief minister Eknath Shinde, and others were in attendance at the official event.

Speaking at the event, PM Modi said that India’s vision for modernity must be based on the country’s fundamental values. “India should be modern but based on our fundamental values. India should develop, grow and move forward carrying its heritage with pride,” he said during the brief address.

Crediting his government with implementing the project, the PM said: “The talk of building a metro in Pune first started in 2008. However, its foundation stone was laid in 2016 when our government started making decisions quickly by removing the obstacles. And today Pune Metro is gaining speed and is also expanding.”

While blaming the previous regime for the lack of development, the Prime Minister said: “The previous government could not even build a single pillar of the metro in eight years. Whereas our government has prepared a modern network of metro in Pune.”

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pollbound-maha-gets-projects-worth-rs-112kcr-101727635806827.html

The incident was caught on the CCTV cameras installed in the area and the video of the incident is doing rounds on social media. It can be seen in the video that two bike-borne assailants open firing at the shop from outside and escape on the bike after throwing a letter on the crime scene.

In a shocking incident which came to light from the national capital on Saturday, few gunmen opened fire at a famous sweet shop in Nangloi. The incident was caught on the CCTV cameras installed in the area and the video of the incident is doing rounds on social media. It can be seen in the video that two bike-borne assailants open firing at the shop from outside and escape on the bike after throwing a letter on the crime scene.

The incident occurred at Roshan Confectionery shop at around 9.30 AM in the morning today. The CCTV footage shows that two shooters arrive on a bike with their faces covered with clothes and start firing bullets at the shop and escape from the spot. There are reports that the unknown miscreants fired around three rounds of bullets at the shop and escaped from the shop.

The police arrived on the spot on receiving information about the firing and initiated an investigation. They have also released the CCTV footage in which the shooters are seen escaping from the spot after firing at the shop. The police have claimed that there are no injuries or fatalities in the incident and the firing has reportedly been done for extortion.

There are also reports that the miscreants left the spot after throwing a letter in which three names – Deepak Boxer, Ankesh Lakda and Vishal were mentioned and the police have claimed that the incident has taken place to extort money from the shop owner. Another footage has also come to the fore in which it can be seen that gunshots are there on the counters in which sweets are stored inside the shop. Luckily, no one was hurt in the incident.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/delhi-firing-video-2-bike-borne-shooters-open-fire-at-sweet-shop-in-nangloi-escape-after-leaving-extortion-letter

A strong anti-incumbency wave is not the only worry for ruling BJP in poll-bound Haryana as it is also faced with several other adversities including the farmers and employees’ wrath simmering against the saffron party.

A strong anti-incumbency wave is not the only worry for ruling BJP in poll-bound Haryana as it is also faced with several other adversities including the farmers and employees’ wrath simmering against the saffron party.

While the state government’s stern action against the protesting farmers at Shambhu and Khanauri borders – which also led to death of some protesting farmers – is still fresh in the memory of the farmers of Haryana, the state police action on the protesting guest (temporary) teachers, anganwadi workers and panches and sarpanches have also been a commonplace in the BJP’s second term since 2019.

This displeasure against the BJP apart, what was also said to have irritated a large section of people, especially in the rural interiors of the state, has also been “too much’’ of mandatory use of portals such as “Parivar Pehchan Patra’’ (for each family’s ID), property and crops related transactions.

Even though BJP formed its government for the first time in Haryana with a strong backing of the non-Jat vote banks in 2014 under the leadership of Manohar Lal Khattar, a Punjabi, it repeated its government for the second time in a row in 2019.

The party which had won 47 seats out of the total 90 in 2014, their count fell to 40 in 2019 and had to thus take the support of Dushyant Chautala-led Jannayak Janta Party (JJP, a splinter group of Indian National Lok Dal) and make him deputy chief minister. The BJP, however, snapped its ties with JJP in March this year.

The party had two tall Jat leaders, namely O P Dhankar and Capt Abhimanyu in 2014, and were given important departments of agriculture and finance, respectively, but both of them lost their election in 2019. However, this time it had five ministers – J P Dalal, Ranjit Chautala, Kamlesh Dhanda, Devender Babli and Mahipal Dhanda, though they were not of the stature of the two named above. It

Also, Khattar himself faced protest against himself because of his treatment towards some protesters on occasions when he himself talked harshly to them or instructed his officials or the event organisers to “take them out” of the venue.

Insiders say that these were some of the reasons that the party had fielded at least 30 new faces in the fray to beat the anti-incumbency and replaced Khattar with OBC leader Nayab Saini, towards the end of BJP’s second term – in March this year.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/haryana-assembly-elections-2024-ruling-bjp-faces-strong-anti-incumbency-wave-amid-farmers-discontent-and-employee-protests

In an ironic coincidence, blaze at the Tata Electronics unit occurred on a day when Chief Minister M K Stalin laid the foundation for the JLR and Tata Motors manufacturing facility at a Small Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) complex in Ranipet district.

Tamil Nadu woke up to news of massive blaze engulfing the Tata Electronics plant in Krishnagiri district and at a fireworks unit in Sattur in Virudhunagar district on Saturday morning. Fortunately, no major human casualties were reported till late evening.

In an ironic coincidence, blaze at the Tata Electronics unit occurred on a day when Chief Minister M K Stalin laid the foundation for the JLR and Tata Motors manufacturing facility at a Small Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) complex in Ranipet district.

The fire broke out at dawn at Nagamangalam in Krishnagiri where the Tata Electronics plant has been functioning for years. More than 10 fire tenders were pressed into service to fight the blaze.

“There has been an unfortunate incident of fire at our plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. Our emergency protocols at the plant ensured that all our employees are safe. The cause of the fire is under investigation and we will take necessary actions to safeguard the interest of our employees and other stakeholders,” said a statement from Tata Electronics Private Limited.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/tamil-nadu-massive-fires-erupt-at-tata-electronics-plant-and-sattur-fireworks-unit-no-major-casualties-reported

Investigation revealed that three people in the car were carrying the smuggled gold by concealing it in a specially made cavity below the handbrake.

Hyderabad: Nearly 4.7 kg smuggled gold valued at over Rs 3.71 crore was seized at Raikal Toll Plaza in Telangana and three persons were arrested in this connection, the DRI said on Saturday.

Acting upon specific intelligence regarding movement of smuggled foreign origin gold from Coimbatore, the officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) , Hyderabad Zonal Unit intercepted a car at the Raikal Toll Plaza on September 27.

Investigation revealed that three people in the car were carrying the smuggled gold by concealing it in a specially made cavity below the handbrake.

Then one of them opened the secret cavity by pulling a latch beneath steering wheel and four packets containing 24 Kt gold bars/cut pieces weighing 4778.00 grams, valued at Rs 3,71,25,060 were recovered, it said.

The recovered gold along with the vehicle were seized and the three persons travelling in the car were arrested under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 and remanded to judicial custody, the release said adding further investigation is in progress.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/telangana/smuggled-gold-worth-rs-371-crore-seized-in-telangana-three-held-3211317

Gandhi said the rising unemployment in the country is a very serious and sensitive issue for him.

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said the Congress’ “incoming government” in Haryana will end “the decade of pain” and the party has resolved to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the people of the state.

Gandhi made the remarks after the Haryana Congress rolled out its detailed poll manifesto for the October 5 state assembly polls, making a host of promises, including setting up a farmer welfare commission, Rs 2 crore for the families of martyred soldiers, promoting labour-intensive units for generating employment and reconstitution of the Haryana Minority Commission.

Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Bhupinder Singh Hooda and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot among other leaders were present on the occasion of manifesto launch.

In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi alleged the BJP has snatched away Haryana’s prosperity, dreams and power in a decade of its rule.

The Agniveer scheme snatched away the aspirations of the patriotic youth, unemployment snatched away the smile of families and inflation snatched away women’s self-reliance, he alleged.

“By bringing black laws, they tried to snatch away the rights of farmers and through demonetisation and flawed GST, they snatched away the profits of lakhs of small traders,” he said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/congress-government-will-end-decade-of-pain-in-haryana-rahul-gandhi-3211480

In his address to the UN General Assembly, Jaishankar also said that in these troubled times, it is necessary to provide hope and rekindle optimism.

United Nations: As India lands on the moon or dispatches vaccines worldwide, its quest for a ‘Viksit Bharat’ will be followed closely, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday.

In his address to the UN General Assembly, Jaishankar also said that in these troubled times, it is necessary to provide hope and rekindle optimism.

“When India lands on the moon, rolls out its own 5G stack, dispatches vaccines worldwide, embraces fintech or houses so many Global Capability Centres, there is a message here. Our quest for a ‘Viksit Bharat’ or developed India will understandably be followed closely,” he said.

Jaishankar highlighted India’s efforts to focus on the issues of the vulnerable, women, farmers and youth; expanding opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship; creating templates that are replicable elsewhere and encouraging the Global South to voice its shared concerns and come together.

“Given the scale of transformation underway in India, each of these dimensions underline that the world’s problems can indeed be tackled. And that by working together, we can surely create a larger lifting tide,” he said.

“In these troubled times, it is necessary to provide hope and rekindle optimism… We have to demonstrate that big changes are possible, and not over a long period. Nothing is more powerful in this regard than the transformative potential of the digital.

“We have seen its impact in our daily lives in India over the last decade. It is visible when public benefits, from nutritional support and housing to energy and health, are delivered efficiently and on a vast scale. Or when small business loans and farmers’ support are extended without using intermediaries,” Jaishankar said in his address.

He said when street vendors and expat workforce confidently use fintech in their regular transactions, when services, delivery and benefits move seamlessly and transparently, less people will be left behind, and this he described is “India’s experience and India’s relevance”.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/our-quest-for-viksit-bharat-will-understandably-be-followed-closely-s-jaishankar-at-unga-3211520

The complaint alleged that BJP members including JP Nadda, in connivance with ED officers, extorted private firms and made illegal gains under the Electoral Bonds Scheme.

A Bengaluru court on Friday sent a complaint related to the Electoral Bonds Scheme against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others to the city police.

The complaint alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members, including JP Nadda, extorted private firms and made illegal gains under the Electoral Bonds Scheme that was struck down by the Supreme Court in February this year.

The order passed by the XLII Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate at Bengaluru stated,

“Office to send the complaint and connected papers to the said police station. Await FIR, Call on 10.10.2024.”

The private complaint was registered before the Court by activist Adarsh R Iyer of non-governmental organisation (NGO) Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishath.

In his complaint, Iyer had claimed that Sitharaman and some officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) connived with Nadda and others to commit “extortion under the guise and garb of electoral bonds and benefited to the tune of 8000 and more crores of INR.”

The complaint mentions instances of raids by ED on companies such as Vedanta, Sterlite and Aurobindo Pharma to get their proprietors to donate money through the Electoral Bonds Scheme.

Iyer also told the Court that he had approached Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Bengaluru South East on February 4 this year with a complaint seeking appropriate action. However, the police did not take any action, prompting him to approach the Court.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/bengaluru-court-directs-police-to-register-fir-against-union-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-following-complaint-about-electoral-bonds-scheme

In a veiled dig at China during his address at the United Nations General Assembly, S Jaishankar said that the sanctioning of global terrorists by the United Nations should also not be impeded for political reasons.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday took a veiled dig at China during his address at the United Nations General Assembly stating that the sanctioning of global terrorists by the United Nations should also not be impeded for political reasons. Notably, on several occasions in the past, China blocked India’s bid to include Pakistan-based terrorists in the UN-terrorist list.

“Terrorism is antithetical of everything that the world stands for. All its forms of and manifestations must be resolutely opposed. The sanctioning of global terrorists by the United Nations should also not be impeded for political reasons,” Jaishankar stated.

S Jaishankar’s Address At The UNGA:

Mentioning the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, Jaishankar called for urgent solutions. “The world cannot be fatalistic about the continuation of violence on a large scale, no more than be impervious to its broader consequences. Whether it is the war in Ukraine or the conflict in Gaza, the international community seeks urgent solutions. These sentiments must be acknowledged and acted upon..,” the Foreign Minister said.

Meanwhile, in a stern message to Pakistan, Jaishankar asked Pakistan to immediately stop cross-border terrorism. He said that the India-Pakistan ties could only be improved after the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by the neighbouring country.

“We heard some bizarre assertions from this very forum yesterday. Let me make India’s position very clear – Pakistan’s policy of cross-border terrorism will never succeed. And it can have no expectation of impunity,” the EAM said.

“On the contrary, actions will certainly have consequences. The issue to be resolved between us is only the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan and of course, abandonment of Pakistan long long-standing attachment to terrorism,” he added.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/not-to-be-impeded-for-political-reasons-jaishankars-veiled-dig-at-china-over-sanctioning-of-global-terrorists-article-113771575

The trust managing the Vindhyavasni Beejasan Devi temple, situated on an 800-foot high hillock in Salkanpur, submitted a memorandum to the collector of Sehore seeking ban on ‘laddus’ being sold on the premises.

Amid growing concerns among devotees about the purity of world-famous Tirupati ‘laddu prasadam’, the trust managing a famous temple dedicated to Vindhyavasni Beejasan Devi in Madhya Pradesh has called for a ban on ‘laddus’ being sold by a self-help group on the premises. This comes amid claims of adulterated ghee being used for making laddus at Sri Venkateswara Temple, following which the temple authorities performed purification ritual.

The representatives of the trust submitted a memorandum to the collector of Sehore in Madhya Pradesh seeking ban on ‘laddus’ being sold on the premises after devotees complained of bad smell and taste. Vindhyavasni Beejasan Devi temple is situated on an 800-foot high hillock in Salkanpur, some 70 kilometres from the state capital Bhopal.

The memorandum called for a ban saying any sort of adulteration will bring a bad name to the trust and the temple. “We want a ban on the sale of these laddus on the temple premises,” temple trust chairman Mahesh Upadhya told PTI.

Sehore collector Praveen Singh said, “The memorandum was received when I visited the temple two-three days ago. A meeting was held between the trust and the self help group. It involved the employment of many women in the SHG. The issue is almost settled.” The temple is patronised by thousands of people, who climb more than 1,000 steps to reach it. A grand fair is held during Navratri.

Earlier, Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir banned the offerings prepared by external agencies. Chief Priest Acharya Satyendra Das questioned the purity of ghee being sold nationwide and said ‘prasad’ should be prepared under supervision of temple priests only. He also demanded a “complete ban” on prasad prepared by external agencies in all prominent temples and monasteries.

“Prasad to the deities should be prepared under the temple priests’ supervision and only such prasad should be presented to the deities,” said Das. “The controversy over the alleged use of fat and meat in Tirupati Balaji’s prasad is escalating across the country. Both seers and devotees are expressing anger and demanding an investigation,” he said.

Controversy Over Tirupati Laddu Continues

The Tirupati Laddu, also called the ‘Srivari Laddu’, has been the main offering at the temple for more than 300 years. The newly-elected TDP government accused the previous YSRCP government of “adulteration” with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu claiming that animal fat was used in place of pure ghee, sparking concerns.

However, Jagan Mohan Reddy refuted the allegations and has written to Prime Minister Modi asserting that no violation took place under his government and the entire controversy is unwarranted.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/amid-tirupati-laddu-row-ban-call-for-madhya-pradesh-temple-prasad-over-different-taste-smell-article-113777464

A human skeleton was unearthed in a house here in Hathras, 30 years after the death of a man who was alleged to have been killed by his two sons.

Police have sent the skeleton for forensic examination and are preparing to file an FIR against siblings Pradeep Kumar and Mukesh Kumar, their mother, and another individual.

Punjabi Singh, a native of Giloundpur village and the youngest of the four sons of Buddha Ram, said he remembered hearing his two eldest brothers arguing with his father a night before his disappearance.

”I used to sleep with my father when I was young. I still remember that one night my two elder brothers who were then in their twenties along with another man asked me to sleep in the other room,” recalled Punjabi Singh who was around nine years old at the time of the incident .

”I couldn’t sleep that night. So I decided to come out and see. That’s when I heard my brothers fighting with my father in one room. I got scared and hid in a corner,” Singh told PTI on Saturday.

The next day, Singh noticed a freshly dug ditch in the porch of the house.

”The next thing I remember is a deep hole dug in the porch of the house which I found after returning from school the next day,” he recalled. ”When I asked my mother she told me that my father had gone somewhere.” Singh kept the details to himself for more than a decade and confided in his another brother, Basti Ram, only when he was around 25 years old.

”I first told about the incident to my elder brother. After talking to him, my suspicion became firm about the role of both my eldest brothers in my father’s disappearance,” he added.

Singh claimed that he had also approached police eight years ago with the same complainant but the then in-charge of the police station closed the investigation terming it a property dispute.

”This time we decided to approach senior officers and that resulted in the police action,” said Singh.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/skeleton-found-in-ups-hathras-home-30-years-after-alleged-murder-of-man-9067561.html

A Jammu and Kashmir Police head constable was killed and an assistant sub-inspector was injured Saturday evening during an encounter between security forces and terrorists in a remote village in Kathua district, officials said.

The encounter at Kog-Mandli village in Billawar tehsil started around 5.30 pm when security forces launched a joint cordon and search operation following information about the presence of a group of terrorists inside a house, the officials said.

They said the firing initially lasted for a brief period but later resumed with both sides exchanging heavy gunfire.

They said the firing initially lasted for a brief period but later resumed with both sides exchanging heavy gunfire.

A police head constable was killed and assistant sub-inspector was injured in the exchange of fire, the officials said.

The firing was going on when last reports were received and so far a policeman was injured, the officials said.

Earlier, a police official said, “Based on specific intelligence about the presence of terrorists, a joint search operation was launched by security forces at village Kog. Contact has been established and few rounds have been fired from both sides.” The official said the area has been put under a tight cordon with the induction of the reinforcements from adjoining security camps.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/policeman-killed-in-gunfight-with-terrorists-in-jammu-and-kashmirs-kathua-9067569.html

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch projects worth more than Rs 11,200 crore for Maharashtra through video-conferencing on Sunday.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Saturday said Modi will inaugurate the Pune Metro section from the district court to Swargate, which will also mark the completion of the Pune Metro Rail Project (Phase-1).

The cost of the underground section is around Rs 1,810 crore.

Modi will lay the foundation stone for the Swargate-Katraj extension of Pune Metro Phase-1, to be developed at a cost of around Rs 2,955 crore. This southern extension of around 5.46 km is completely underground with three stations — Market Yard, Padmavati and Katraj — the PMO said.

The prime minister will also inaugurate the Bidkin Industrial Area, a transformative project covering an expansive 7,855 acres under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme of the Centre.

The project developed under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor holds immense potential as a vibrant economic hub in the Marathwada region. The Centre has approved it with an overall project cost of more than Rs 6,400 crore for development in three phases, the PMO said.

Modi will inaugurate the Solapur airport as well. It will significantly improve connectivity, making Solapur more accessible to tourists, business travellers and investors.

The existing terminal building at the airport has been revamped to serve around 4.1 lakh passengers annually, the PMO said.

Modi will lay the foundation stone for a memorial at Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule’s first girls’ school at Bhidewada in commemoration of the noted social reformer.

The prime minister was to launch most of these projects from Pune in the poll-bound state a few days ago but his visit was cancelled due to massive rains. PTI KR RC

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/pm-modi-to-launch-projects-worth-over-rs-11200-crore-for-maharashtra-9067572.html

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday hit out at Pakistan over the Kashmir issue and said that the issue to be resolved between both the countries now is only the restoration of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to India.

While addressing the 79th United Nations General Assembly Session (UNGA) in New York, he said, “We heard some bizarre assertions from this very forum yesterday. Let me make India’s position very clear – Pakistan’s policy of cross-border terrorism will never succeed. And it can have no expectation of impunity. On the contrary, actions will certainly have consequences. The issue to be resolved between us is only the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan and of course, abandonment of Pakistan long long-standing attachment to terrorism.”

Speaking further about Pakistan’s policy of “harbouring terrorists” on its soil, Jaishankar said, “Many countries get left behind due to circumstances beyond their control. But some make conscious choices with disastrous consequences. A premier example is our neighbour, Pakistan. Unfortunately, their misdeeds affect others as well, especially the neighbourhood.”

“When this polity instils such fanaticism among its people, its GDP can only be measured in terms of radicalisation and its exports in the form of terrorism. Today, we see the ills it sought to visit on others consume its own society. It can’t blame the world; this is only karma,” he added.

Jaishankar On Israel-Hamas, Russia-Ukraine War

The minister further extended India’s support to the UNGA and highlighted the ongoing crisis at the global stage, stating that ‘the assembly has gathered at a difficult time’.

“…We strongly support the 79th UNGA theme – ‘Leaving No-one Behind’. We are gathered here at a difficult time. The world has yet to recover from the ravages of the Covid pandemic. A war in Ukraine is well into its third year and the conflict in Gaza is acquiring wider ramifications,” Jaishankar said while addressing the UNGA.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/jaishankar-at-unga-ukraine-gaza-global-south-china-covid-trade-latest-news-9067598.html

The announcement came after a mob attacked junior doctors and nurses at the Sagore Dutta Hospital in North 24 Parganas on Friday evening.

Junior doctors in West Bengal on Saturday threatened to resume their protests from Monday after a hearing of the RG Kar case in the Supreme Court on Monday. The doctors, who held a 41-day cease work protest over the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctors at the RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata last month, renewed the threat after a mob attack on medics at a state-run hospital on Friday evening.

“We are giving an ultimatum to the state government. If the government fails to take any positive measures to strengthen security in hospitals and gear up hospital infrastructure, we will go on a full-fledged strike again from Monday,” Aniket Mahata, a junior doctor, said late on Saturday night.

The announcement came after a mob attacked junior doctors and nurses at the Sagore Dutta Hospital in North 24 Parganas on Friday evening after a woman, who was rushed to the hospital with severe respiratory problems, died during treatment. Family members of the woman assaulted junior doctors and nurses of the hospital alleging that she died because of negligence.

While a few doctors and nurses were injured, police arrested four persons in connection with the attack, even as junior doctors at the hospital began a cease work on Friday itself.

Following a meeting of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF) on Saturday, Mahata said, “The Supreme Court will hear the RG Kar case on Monday. We are all waiting for that. Our counsel will also tell the court how the state government has failed to build confidence among junior doctors by taking some positive steps. We will also see what the state tells the court. If there is no positive response, we will again start our cease work across all state-run hospitals from Monday 5pm.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bengal-doctors-threaten-to-resume-stir-from-monday-101727550352458.html

The driver of the passenger train had to apply emergency brakes to stop the train after he noticed a concrete pillar on the tracks, police said.

A 16-year-old boy has been detained for allegedly putting a fencing pillar on the Banda-Mahoba rail track, causing disruptions on Saturday, police said.

The driver of the passenger train had to apply emergency brakes to stop the train after he noticed a concrete pillar on the tracks, police said.

The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when the driver of a passenger train informed the Railway Protection Force and police about the obstruction on the track, they said.

“Police team along with RPF reached the spot and detained a minor. The minor has confessed to placing the pillar on the track,” Circle Officer (CO) of the area Deepak Dubey said.

The rail traffic on the route was cleared shortly after the pillar was removed from the track, the officer said.

A similar incident occurred earlier in the day in Ballia.

A rail engine hit a stone placed on the railway track in the Bairia area on Saturday, officials said, adding that no damage was caused.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/teen-detained-for-putting-fencing-pillar-on-banda-mahoba-rail-track-in-up-6672295

The accident took place around 7:45 pm on National Highway 51 when the bus was heading from Dwarka to Ahmedabad.

Seven people including four children died and 14 suffered injuries after a bus jumped the road divider and hit three vehicles near Dwarka in Gujarat on Saturday evening, police said.

The accident took place around 7:45 pm on National Highway 51 when the bus was heading from Dwarka to Ahmedabad.

It jumped the divider as its driver tried to avoid hitting cattle on the road, and collided with a minivan, a car and a motorcycle coming from the opposite direction, said a local police official.

Of those dead, six people were travelling in the minivan while one was a bus passenger, said police inspector D H Bhatt.

The minivan was on the way from Gandhinagar to Dwarka, and was only a few kilometres from its destination when it met with accident.

“Seven persons have died; four children, two women and a man,” inspector Bhatt said.

Those dead were identified as Hetalben Thakor (25), Tanya (2), Riyansh (3), Vishan (7), Priyanshi (13), Bhavnaben Thakor (35) and Chirag Ranabhai (25).

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/4-children-among-7-dead-as-bus-jumps-divider-hits-vehicles-in-gujarat-6672667

A police official said Shahi Mahatma aka Shashi Negi made sure the drugs being delivered changed hands four times before getting to their destination.

The orders for the drug were generated through WhatsApp, supplies were initiated and delivery made; but the delivery person and the final receiver never saw each other. In fact, people in the demand and supply chains operated like unrelated units.

Shahi Mahatma aka Shashi Negi, an apple trader in the upper Shimla region, ran an interstate ‘chitta’ (adulterated heroin) racket for five to six years, avoiding enforcement agencies by ensuring the dots were always so wide apart that they could not be connected to reach him. Negi remained the only common link between the demand and supply chain in his ‘chitta’.

But he ran out of luck on September 20, a day after the police made this year’s biggest haul of drugs in Shimla – 465 grams of ‘chitta’ from Kharapathar.

“Links of the accused Mudasir Ahmed Mochi, a resident of Bhatpura village in Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir (who was arrested on September 19) were established with Shahi Mahatma alias Shashi Negi and the kingpin was arrested,” SP Shimla Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi told PTI on Saturday.

Mr Gandhi said Negi and his 40 associates were supplying drugs in Rohru, Jubbal-Kotkhai and Theog areas of Upper Shimla under the garb of his apple business, and he had links with Nigerian drug gangs in New Delhi, gangs in Haryana and people in Kashmir.

Explaining the modus operandi of Negi’s gang, Mr Gandhi said he made sure the drugs being delivered changed hands four times before getting to their destination. He had hired different sets of unrelated people for bringing in demand, supplying drugs and receiving payments.

He himself never used to come in direct contact with any of the partners, Mr Gandhi said.

The demand for drugs was generated in WhatsApp groups and, after verification of the drug user, it was sent to Negi, who had another team to supply the drugs.

At the time of the final handover too, the delivery person would keep the drug in an isolated place and share a video with the buyer, who would pick it up from there, Mr Gandhi said.

As for the money, it reached Negi’s Dhan Laxmi account in Solan after travelling through various bank accounts, police said. And the people whose accounts were used during these transactions never knew it was drug money.

A fund flow of ₹ 2.5-3 crores was detected in the bank accounts of the accused in the past 15 months, the police said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/shimla-fruit-sellers-drug-racket-order-on-whatsaap-no-contact-between-delivery-person-receiver-6672355

Modi accused the Opposition of having deprived the UT’s people of their rights and said the decision to strip the region of its statehood was only temporary.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Congress, National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of inflicting wounds on the people as he addressed his final rally on the penultimate day of campaigning for Jammu and Kashmir’s first assembly polls in a decade.

Speaking in Jammu, Modi accused the Opposition of having deprived the UT’s people of their rights and said that the decision to strip the region of its statehood was only temporary.

“In the past 60 to 65 years, this region witnessed only destruction… Leave aside development, every sphere of life suffered. Modi is working sincerely to fill up all those pits of the past and will not leave any opportunity to address your issues,” he said.

“BJP is the only party which will restore statehood to the region,” he added.

The PM asked the people of Jammu to grab the opportunity to “end discrimination” meted out to the region for decades. “I want to tell the people of city of temples not to let this opportunity go away. The BJP government alone would end the discrimination to Jammu region,” he said.

After a contentious delimitation exercise, Hindu-majority Jammu has 43 seats and Muslim-majority Kashmir has 47 in the 90-member legislative assembly. Before delimitation, Kashmir had 46 seats compared to Jammu’s 37.

Modi was speaking ahead of the third and final phase of assembly elections in the restive region on October 1, when 40 seats – 24 in Jammu and 16 in Kashmir – go to the polls. The votes will be counted on October 8.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is fighting on all of the 43 seats in Jammu and 19 of the 47 seats in Kashmir.

Escalating his attack, the prime minister said the Congress-NC alliance and the PDP were irked by the changes in Jammu and Kashmir because they did not like development.

“They are saying they will form the government to revive the old system – the same discriminatory approach which led Jammu to be the biggest sufferer,” he added.

Modi said the Jammu region in particular faced “decades of injustice” at the hands of the three parties which not only defamed the Dogra legacy but also their rulers.

He also called them the biggest enemy of the Constitution. “They strangled the Constitution given by Babasaheb Ambedkar.” he said.

In the speech a little over 40 minutes, Modi highlighted “peace” on the borders with Pakistan and “overall development” in Jammu and Kashmir since 2014. He also invoked India’s surgical strike on terror camps across the Line of Control (LoC) in 2016 and termed the elections an opportunity for Jammu to end discrimination.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/global-peace-prosperity-under-threat-eam-to-un-101727549808752.html

He said the surgical strikes have taught the biggest lessons to the “mentors of terrorism” as they have understood if they do any mischief again, they will be hit inside their own country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the 2016 surgical strike showed the world a new India that can strike within enemy territory.

He said the surgical strikes have taught the biggest lessons to the “mentors of terrorism” as they have understood if they do any mischief again, they will be hit inside their own country.

Addressing a large BJP campaign rally in M.A.Stadium here, PM Modi recalled the surgical strikes carried out by the country’s defence forces deep inside Pakistan on September 28, 2016.

These surgical strikes were carried out in retaliation to the Uri terror attack of September 18, 2016, in which 19 soldiers were killed by terrorists sponsored and guided from across the Line of Control (LoC).

“The enemy (Pakistan) knows that if they do anything serious in our country, then Modi will hit them deep inside their country,” the PM reiterated.

He said people can never pardon Congress for seeking proof of surgical strikes from the country’s defence forces.

“Congress had no money for our defence forces, but we never think of financial constraints when it comes to our defence forces. We implemented the one-rank-one pension scheme and this benefits every family of our defence forces. Congress is in the hands of urban Naxalites. Whenever Infiltration and intrusion of terrorists occurs, Congress feels happy. They see their vote bank in terrorists,” said PM Modi.

He said, “I am filled with great feeling of patriotism when I visit Jammu. Maharaja Hari Singh, Mehr Chand Mahajan and Pandit Premnarh Dogra have been produced by this land. Today is the birth anniversary of Martyr Bhagat Singh, I salute his martyrdom.”

“Today is my last campaign rally in J&K for the Assembly elections. People of J&K are tired of three families of NC, PDP and Congress. People here don’t want their rule anymore where corruption is rampant. The people of J&K want peace and a better future for their children and that is the reason the people of J&K want a BJP government here. Large participation in the last two phases proves that in both these phases, people have voted for BJP and now the first majority government of BJP is going to be formed in J&K and that is a certainty,” the PM said.

“People of Jammu never had this opportunity before. For the first time, a government of the people’s choice of Jammu is going to be formed. This is the city of temples and do not let go of this opportunity. Jammu has suffered gross discrimination and BJP will remove that discrimination. On October 8 results with come. And, on October 12, is the Vijayadashami and this will be the Vijayadashami of our success. The slogan all around is ‘Jammu Ki Yahi Pukar, Aye Rahi Hai Bajpa Sarkar,” PM Modi said.

“Congress, NC and PDP are the worst enemies of Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s Constitution. Many communities were deprived of democratic rights by these families. BJP has given voting rights to PoK refugees, Valmiki and Gorkha Samaj. These people have made great contributions to the development of J&K and the enemies of the Constitution deprived them of their rights. These enemies of the Constitution had not allowed Panchayat, BDC and DDC elections. They did not give reservations to the weaker communities of J&K. Reservations to these communities were given by us. These reservations have given political representation to these communities. And these communities are now wholeheartedly voting for the BJP,” the PM said.

“Congress, NC and PDP have injured many people and irrespective of their caste and religion, we are applying balm on these injuries now. For Kashmiri Pandits, we have given the Shaheed Tika Lal Taploo Scheme. They (Congress, NC & PDP) say once they return to form the government, they will bring back the old dispensation, which has been highly unjust to the Jammu people. Watch their speeches. How they attack the Dogra heritage. How they insult Maharaja Hari Singh. The country’s most corrupt Congress is blaming the Dogra rule for corruption,” the Prime Minister mentioned.

“We are committed to removing the historical discrimination against the people of Jammu region. In the last 20 years, you have AIIMS, ITI, IIM and roads in the farthest areas of Kathua and Samba. Work is going on the Jammu ring road and this will reduce the load on your roads. Congress considered border villages as the last villages while we call them first villages. Electric buses are plying here now. The airport and railway station are being refurbished. A ropeway is being laid from the Bahu Fort to the Mahamaya temple. For tourism, work is going on in Gharana wetland, Surinsar Lake and the city BSF Chungi post. Tawi River Front will become a major entertainment attraction for Jammu. You have a major orthopaedic hospital here. Many nursing colleges and medical colleges have already been started here,” the PM said.

Assuring the business community, PM Modi said, “I want to assure the local businessmen that the coming days are going to bring prosperity to them as well. New industries will come up here so that local youth get locally employed. We have brought in transparency in recruitment. In previous governments, only favourites of Congress, NC and PDP would get employment. We have to ensure that such a system never returns to power in J&K. For women empowerment, we are giving help to self-help groups, we are making Lakhpati Didis, and we are imparting drone training to our sisters and daughters.”

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-polls-surgical-strikes-taught-biggest-lessons-to-mentors-of-terrorism-pm-in-jammu-and-kashmir-6669496

India’s First Secretary to the UN, Bhavika Mangalanandan, delivered a pointed rebuttal alleging Pakistan’s complicity in global terrorism and citing its long history of using cross-border terrorism as a state policy.

India issued a stern warning to Pakistan today at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) following Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s speech, in which he raised the Jammu and Kashmir issue. India firmly responded by stating that Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism will “inevitably invite consequences.”

India’s First Secretary to the UN, Bhavika Mangalanandan, delivered a pointed rebuttal alleging Pakistan’s complicity in global terrorism and citing its long history of using cross-border terrorism as a state policy. Ms Mangalanandan’s statement came in response to Mr Sharif’s call for India to reverse its 2019 abrogation of Article 370, which revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, and his demands for a dialogue between the two countries.

“This Assembly regrettably witnessed a travesty this morning. A country run by the military, with a global reputation for terrorism, narcotics trade and transnational crime has had the audacity to attack the world’s largest democracy,” Ms Mangalanandan said. “The world can see for itself what Pakistan really is.”

The First Secretary described Mr Sharif’s speech as audacious, given Pakistan’s international “reputation for terrorism”, narcotics trade, and transnational crime. “A country run by the military, with a global reputation for terrorism…has had the audacity to attack the world’s largest democracy,” she said, referencing attacks orchestrated by Pakistan-based terror groups, including the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Ms Mangalanandan said Pakistan’s “fingerprints” are on many terrorist incidents across the world. “Perhaps it should come as no surprise that its prime minister would so speak in this hallowed hall. Yet we must make clear how unacceptable his words are to all of us. We know that Pakistan will seek to counter the truth with more lies. Repetition will change nothing. Our stand is clear and needs no reiteration,” she said.

India reiterated that any discussion of a “Strategic Restraint Regime” with Pakistan is moot unless terrorism is eradicated. Ms Mangalanandan noted, “There can be no compact with terrorism.” She also spoke of Pakistan’s past, including its hosting of Osama bin Laden and connections to various terrorist incidents worldwide.

Mr Sharif, in his speech, linked the Kashmir issue with regional peace. He also alleged that India’s military expansion was directed against Pakistan. However, Ms Mangalanandan pointed out Pakistan’s history of meddling in Jammu and Kashmir through terrorism, seeking to disrupt the democratic process in the region.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indias-inevitable-consequences-warning-after-shehbaz-sharifs-un-speech-6667824

Budhh Singh went missing in 1994 and was never found, according to his son Punjabi Singh who lodged the complaint.

A 30-year-old human skeleton was dug up from the courtyard of a house in a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras after a man alleged his two brothers had killed their father and hid his remains in the house.
Budhh Singh went missing in 1994 and was never found, according to his son Punjabi Singh who lodged the complaint.

The skeleton was recovered in Gilondpur village under the limits of the Mursaan police station limits in Hathras on Thursday.

The youngest son of the family lodged a complaint at the office of Hathras District Magistrate Rohit Pandey alleging his father was killed 30 years ago and was buried in his house by his two elder brothers and a resident of the same village.

Following the orders of DM Pandey, excavation work began under the presence of Hathras Police at about 9 pm on Thursday and a skeleton was found.

On Friday, Vijay Kumar Singh, Station House Officer (Mursan) said the complaint Punjabi Singh filed the complaint at the Hathras district magistrate’s office about the murder of his father Buddh Singh.

“The youngest son mentioned that his father Budhh Singh was killed by his two elder brothers and another person of his village,” the officer told PTI.

Punjabi Singh was nine-year-old when his father died, he added.

Based on the complaint of Punjabi Singh, the excavation work was carried out at his house after the orders of the DM in the matter on Thursday, the SHO said.

“A skeleton was found in his house during the excavation, after which it was sent for postmortem and DNA testing,” he said.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/up-man-accuses-brothers-of-fathers-murder-skeleton-found-in-courtyard-6666009

Bhadrak: Prohibitory orders banning gatherings were imposed after a community’s protest over a Facebook post escalated into violent clashes.

The Odisha government suspended internet services in Bhadrak district for 48 hours till September 30, following violent communal clashes linked to social media postings, news agency ANI reported, citing the official order.

In the official order, the state’s additional chief secretary, Satyabrata Sahu, said the home department has extended the prohibition on the use and access of social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and others via the internet and data services for 48 hours, until 2am on September 30, 2024, in Bhadrak district.

In the official order, the state’s additional chief secretary, Satyabrata Sahu, said the home department has extended the prohibition on the use and access of social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and others via the internet and data services for 48 hours, until 2am on September 30, 2024, in Bhadrak district.

Prohibitory orders banning public gatherings in Bhadrak town were implemented after a protest by a community over a Facebook post related to their religious beliefs escalated into violence, injuring police personnel.

By Friday night, security was tightened in Bhadrak, with additional police deployed after some officers were injured during a stone-pelting incident. A video shared by news agency ANI showed several police personnel stationed in the area following the clashes.

The internet suspension was enforced under the provisions of Section 5(2) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, in conjunction with Rule 2(1) of the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency/ Public Safety) Rules, 2017.

The order detailed the banned services, saying: “1. Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and other social media services of all Mobile service providers. 2. Mobile Internet/ data services of all Mobile Service Providers. 3. Internet/ data services of all Internet Service Providers (ISPs). 4. Broadband Dial up systems. 5. Any other such means or modes of transmission.”

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/odisha-imposes-48-hour-internet-shutdown-in-bhadrak-after-communal-clashes-over-social-media-posts-101727491998856.html

Riya Arvinde Barde was one of eight Bangaldeshi women arrested for staying illegally in India with fake documents.

Riya Arvinda Barde, a Bangladeshi adult film actress, was arrested in Ulhasnagar of Thane district in Maharashtra on Thursday for staying illegally in India using fake documents, officials told news agency PTI.

The Hill Line police station in Ulhasnagar received a tip-off about Riya Bard’s identity and involvement in a cheating and forgery case, following which an FIR was registered against her under IPC sections related to cheating, forgery and common intention, along with the Foreigners Act.

According to the police reports, an investigation into Riya Barde’s identity had begun a year ago, revealing that her birth certificate, school leaving certificate and passport listed three different places of birth – West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas, Hooghly and Achalpur in Maharashtra’s Amravati district.

Not only did Riya Barde fabricate her own documents, she also allegedly conspired to obtain a fake education certificate and passport for one of her accomplices. Riya Barde’s arrest was one among eight others this week in Maharashtra where Bangladeshi nationals were staying illegally in India.

What we know about Riya Barde:

Family

Identified as Riya Arvind Barde, the Bangladeshi porn star is also known as Arohi Barde and Banna Sheikh, reported The Times of India.

Riya Barde was living illegally in India with her mother Anjali Barde also known as Ruby Sheikh, her brother Ravindra/Riyaz Sheikh and sister Ritu/Moni Sheikh.

Police officials told The Times of India that her mother allegedly married Arvind Barde from Amravati so they could continue residing within the country.

Currently, Riya’s father and mother are residing in Qatar according to the police while her siblings are yet to be found.

Career

The police told The Times of India that Riya Barde was an adult film actress who had been employed in projects done by Raj Kundra productions. She also worked alongside performer Gehana Vasisth in several films.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/who-is-riya-barde-alias-arohi-barde-bangladeshi-porn-star-arrested-for-fake-indian-documents-101727490110726.html

Home Minister Amit Shah said that “dealers, dalals and damaad” used to rule Haryana during the previous Congress government.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s words, attacked the previous Congress government in Haryana, alleging that “dealers, dalaals and damaad” used to rule the state before the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came into power.

Home Minister Amit Shah addresses a public meeting ahead of Haryana Assembly elections, in Rewari (PTI Photo)(PTI)
Home Minister Amit Shah addresses a public meeting ahead of Haryana Assembly elections, in Rewari (PTI Photo)(PTI)
He also highlighted the efforts and initiatives of the BJP government in Haryana in a poll rally on Friday, ahead of the state assembly elections.

Amit Shah criticised the Congress regime in Haryana in the previous term, saying that it was marked with “cuts, commission and corruption.” The home minister said, “The rule of dealers, dalals (brokers) and damads (sons-in-law) prevailed. Neither dealers nor brokers are left in the BJP government, there is no question of son-in-law.”

Addressing a rally in Rewari, further accused the Congress of lying to farmers in the name of MSP. Attacking Rahul Gandhi, Shah said that the Congress leader doesn’t even know the difference between Rabi and Kharif crops.

“Some NGO has recently told Rahul Gandhi that he will get votes by saying MSP. Rahul Baba, do you know the full form of MSP? Do you know which are the Kharif and Rabi crops? Congress governments running across the country, stop lying to the farmers in the name of MSP. The BJP government of Haryana is buying 24 crops from farmers at MSP. Congress leaders in Haryana should tell us once which government of yours in the country bought 24 crops at MSP?” Shah added.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/amit-shahs-dealers-dalaal-damaad-attack-on-congress-at-haryana-poll-rally-101727431781020.html

According to the students’ wing, the two members – Prantik Chakraborty and Rajanya Haldar – were removed for “anti-party activities”.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) students’ wing ‘Trinamool Chhatra Parishad’ on Friday suspended two senior members after they made a short film in the backdrop of the rape and murder case of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. According to the students’ wing, the two members – Prantik Chakraborty and Rajanya Haldar – were removed for “anti-party activities”.

This came after Rajanya Haldar uploaded the poster of the film ‘Agamani, Tilottomader Galpo’ (the tale of Tilottomas) on social media, with the tagline ‘in the backdrop of RG Kar incident’. The film, directed by Prantik Chakraborty, is slated for release in the first week of October.

Trinamool Chhatra Parishad state president Trinankur Bhattacharya, in a notice, said the decision to suspend the two members will remain in force until the party’s disciplinary committee makes a final decision on the issue, reported PTI.

“The two student functionaries violated the party’s discipline and created a false impression among the public that the TMCP is promoting the film,” it said.

Meanwhile, Chakraborty has claimed that the film had no connection with the RG Kar incident.

Over 1,000 four-legged soldiers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will now get a dedicated team of doctors to take care of them. The finance ministry has approved the Ministry of Home Affairs’ proposal to create a dedicated veterinary cadre for the force, which will be headed by senior veterinary doctors.

This was a long-standing demand as the CRPF has no permanent doctors to look after the force’s canines and instead gets doctors on contract through walk-in interviews. In a recent official communication, MHA said these posts will be created by abolishing a few existing positions in the force.

Born in 1907, Singh was hanged by the British at an age of 23 for his involvement in revolutionary activities and is a iconic symbol of India’s resistance to the colonial rule.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid homage to revolutionary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh on his birth anniversary.

Paying tribute to him on X, he said Bhagat Singh sacrificed his life to protect the self-respect of the motherland.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/pm-modi-pays-tributes-to-bhagat-singh-on-his-birth-anniversary-3210801

Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) have been directed to pay special attention to security arrangements within their respective zones. Temples and other religious institutions have been instructed to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities as a precautionary measure.

Mumbai police have heightened security across the city following warnings from central agencies about a potential terror threat. In response, law enforcement has increased security measures at religious sites and other crowded locations throughout the city. These efforts include conducting ‘mock drills’ to test and improve preparedness.

According to an NDTV report, Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) have been directed to pay special attention to security arrangements within their respective zones. Temples and other religious institutions have been instructed to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities as a precautionary measure.

Mock Drills Carried Out In Crowded Areas

On Friday, police carried out a security drill in the crowded Crawford Market area, which is home to two prominent religious sites. While some may have been alarmed by the sudden increase in police presence, officials clarified that these drills were part of routine security checks ahead of the upcoming festive season. With Durga Puja, Dussehra and Diwali approaching, Mumbai is preparing for large public gatherings.

The controversy erupted when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed that under the previous YSR Congress government led by Jagan Mohan Reddy, animal fat had been used to prepare the sacred laddoos distributed as prasad at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati.

The controversy surrounding the alleged use of animal fat in the famed Tirupati laddoos, which has caused political uproar for over a week, is now set to be heard by the Supreme Court on Monday, September 30. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairman YV Subba Reddy, a Rajya Sabha MP from the YSR Congress Party, have both filed petitions seeking court intervention.

What Is The Controversy?

The controversy erupted when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed that under the previous YSR Congress government led by Jagan Mohan Reddy, animal fat had been used to prepare the sacred laddoos distributed as prasad at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati. The allegation has sparked heated debates, with both Swamy and Subba Reddy now seeking a court-monitored investigation into the matter.

Subramanian Swamy, in his Public Interest Litigation (PIL), has asked the Supreme Court to direct the Andhra Pradesh government to provide a detailed report on the ghee used in making the laddoos and to submit a forensic analysis of the ingredients. The state government had earlier referenced a laboratory report from Gujarat, claiming that traces of beef tallow, fish oil, and lard were found in the ghee used for the laddoos.

DUSU election: Delhi high court allowed the DUSU poll to go ahead but barred counting and declaration of results until defaced public property is restored.

The Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) will conduct its election on Friday, September 27, after the Delhi high court allowed the poll to go ahead under the condition that counting and declaration of results could take place after defaced public property on campus was restored.

The Delhi high court expressed displeasure over the vandalism that had taken place on campus during the election campaigns and on Wednesday had warned the students’ union and election authorities that polls would be deferred if action was not taken, reported news agency ANI.

On Thursday, a bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela gave permission for the elections to continue but expressed serious concern about the lack of regulations and transparency as candidates spent large amounts of money on campaigns.

The next hearing on the matter has been scheduled for October 21. Earlier, in 2019, the court had disposed of a PIL by lawyer Prashant Manchanda seeking a complete ban on defacement of public property by the DUSU candidates.

The DUSU elections also faced controversy after Varun Choudhary, president of the Congress-linked National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), claimed that people linked to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had been appointed as electoral officers for the polls, reported news agency ANI.

Amid questions being raised about the integrity of the polls and the lack of supervision by the university, Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS), the student wing of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party has bowed out of the race.

Kamal Tiwari, party secretary of the CYSS stated that they have opted out of elections after facing setbacks in the Punjab University polls last year and would be focusing on spreading awareness about AAP’s youth centric policies in Vidhan Sabha constituencies, reported The Indian Express.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/delhi-university-students-union-election-today-aap-s-student-wing-won-t-contest-details-101727395533965.html

Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia demanded Delhi L-G Saxena withdraw the order, and threatened legal action in the matter by his party.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of “killing democracy” in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) after Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena overturned the postponement of the election for the final seat of the MCD Standing Committee.

Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia claimed that the LG, on the orders of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, acted to ensure BJP councillors secured control of the key committee seat.

“Tonight, on PM Narendra Modi’s orders, the BJP is killing democracy in the Delhi Municipal Corporation,” Sisodia said at a hurriedly called press conference.

Earlier in the day, Mayor Shelly Oberoi had adjourned the MCD House until October 5 after chaotic scenes erupted over the frisking of councillors ahead of the Standing Committee election. She condemned the frisking of councillors as “undemocratic and insulting,” arguing that such measures were unprecedented in the history of the MCD.

The mayor postponed the election, but a last-minute intervention from LG Saxena directed the MCD Commissioner to hold the vote by 10 pm the same day.

Saxena, who is currently in the United States, issued instructions from abroad to hold the election and submit a report by 10pm.

The LG order read, “The Commissioner is hereby directed to submit a report of conduct of elections of the sixth member of standing committee by 10 pm today ie on 26.09.2024 positively.”

His order also included contingency measures if the mayor or deputy mayor refused to preside over the election. In such cases, Saxena ordered that the senior-most member of the House take charge.

“We were thinking what is the motive of the BJP, then we understood what the real game is, ” the AAP leader said.

Sisodia alleged that BJP councillors had been tipped off in advance about the LG’s directive, accusing them of waiting in the MCD House while AAP and Congress councillors had left.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/bjp-killing-democracy-on-pm-modis-orders-aap-on-delhi-l-g-forcing-late-night-mcd-vote-101727369013989.html

The comprehensive program is designed with a robust curriculum – three months of intensive classroom training, consisting of over 20 sessions, followed by another three-month hands-on internship at various renowned temples.

Mumbai: In a unique education initiative, India ’s first-ever Postgraduate Diploma program in Temple Management has been launched.

This six-month course aims to professionalise temple operations covering technology, sustainability, and inclusivity.

It will equip participants with the essential skills to manage temple ecosystems with modern expertise and strategic foresight, according to Temple Connect, a platform and an initiative to connect the global Hindu temples and offer its digital format of information to one and all for the benefit of the devotees.

The inaugural batches of this innovative course commenced at the University of Mumbai and Welingkar Institute with further rollouts planned at Savitribai Phule Pune University.

The comprehensive program is designed with a robust curriculum – three months of intensive classroom training, consisting of over 20 sessions, followed by another three-month hands-on internship at various renowned temples.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/first-ever-postgraduate-diploma-program-in-temple-management-launched-in-maharashtra-3209190

Parul Solomon was apprehended by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh Police. Two mobile phones were seized from her possession, cops said.

Prayagraj: A former principal of the Bishop Johnson Girls School and College was arrested here on Thursday for her alleged role in leaking the examination paper of the review officer and assistant review officer held by the UPPSC.

Parul Solomon was apprehended by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh Police. Two mobile phones were seized from her possession, it said.

In June, the STF had arrested six members of a gang, including a staff of a printing press, for their alleged involvement in leaking the exam paper. The arrests were made in Prayagraj.

Those arrested included Arpit Vineet Yashwant who looked after the examination work of Bishop Johnson Girls School and College and was appointed by Solomon.

A case regarding the paper leak was registered at the Civil Lines police station in Prayagraj, leading to the arrest of Yashwant and others, it said.

The exam, conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC), was held across the state on February 11.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/uttar-pradesh/uttar-pradesh-stf-nabs-former-principal-for-role-in-review-officer-exam-paper-leak-3208876

A government-appointed selection panel hasn’t disclosed who the likely candidates are or when they will release the names of the new MPC members.

RBI watchers are getting anxious about who will decide interest rates in two week’s time, a crucial meeting as a wave of global easing kicks off.

The contracts of three external members of the Reserve Bank of India’s monetary policy committee will expire on Oct 4, just days before the MPC is expected to meet and make its rate decision on Oct 9. A government-appointed selection panel hasn’t disclosed who the likely candidates are or when they will release the names of the new MPC members.

A delay in the appointments risks a repeat of 2020, when the RBI had to postpone its rate decision because the new committee members hadn’t been appointed in time. Looming in the background is also uncertainty over who will lead the RBI from next year, with the contracts of both Governor Shaktikanta Das and his deputy in charge of monetary policy, Michael Patra, coming to an end in coming months.

“Extensions and reappointments should be concluded and announced well ahead avoiding last minute delays. Unwarranted suspense in critical appointments is unsettling and distracting,” said Shubhada M Rao, founder of QuantEco Research, based in Mumbai. “This becomes relevant especially for the financial markets that seek signals around policy continuity,” she said.

The RBI’s policy committee is made up of three external members — usually well-known economists from the academic or finance worlds — and three RBI officials, comprising the governor, the deputy governor in charge of the monetary policy, and another official, typically the executive director of the monetary policy department.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/business/economy/india-keeps-markets-guessing-over-key-rbi-positions-3209241

The CJI opined that the framers of the Indian Constitution had deliberately not limited the meaning of untouchability under Article 17 to any one social evil.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud on Thursday defended his judgment in the Sabarimala temple case in which he said that barring of menstruating women to the hill shrine in Kerala amounted to untouchability barred under Article 17 of the Indian Constitution.

The CJI opined that the framers of the Indian Constitution had deliberately not limited the meaning of untouchability under Article 17 to any one social evil.

“The context of this provision (Article 17) was the stratified society we found ourselves in. Reading through the Constituent Assembly debates, I concluded that the framers deliberately left untouchability untethered to caste; that Article 17 provided a guarantee against notions of impurity and pollution-and caste was but one manifestation,” he said.

The CJI was delivering the MK Nambyar Memorial Lecture today in New Delhi on the topic – Foresighted Mr. MK Nambyar – Constitutional Journeys Beyond Original Intent.

Nambyar is the father of Senior Advocate and former Attorney General KK Venugopal.

The event began with an introductory address by KK Venugopal followed by remarks by Senior Advocate CS Vaidyanathan. Venugopal’s son, Senior Advocate Krishnan Venugopal delivered the closing remarks.

The CJI in his speech opposed a narrow, originalist interpretation of the Constitution.

“Originalism wrongly presumes that the intent of the framers can be precisely ascertained. It presumes that history speaks in one voice and this voice is capable of consistent interpretation by different readers. Answering these questions may not necessarily require us to tether ourselves to the elusive original intent of the framers. Should a Constitutional Court freeze the content of constitutional guarantees and provisions to what the ‘Founders’ perceived,” he asked.

He said that the Constitutional doctrine must evolve with changes in the society.

“As society evolves, so must constitutional doctrine. The institutions which the Constitution has created must adapt flexibly to meet the challenges in a rapidly growing knowledge economy.”

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/cji-dy-chandrachud-defends-sabarimala-judgment

The State and the convicts had moved the Court challenging the January 8 judgment of the top court which had cancelled the remission granted by the State government to the eleven convicts in the case.

The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the review petitions filed by the convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang rape case challenging the cancellation of their remission (early release from prison) [State of Gujarat v Bilkis Yakub Rasool and ors].

A Bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan also dismissed review petition filed by the State of Gujarat in this regard.

The State and the convicts had moved the Court challenging the January 8 judgment of the top court which had cancelled the remission granted by the State government to the eleven convicts in the case.

The State’s challenge was limited to the adverse remarks made against it by the Court in the January 8 judgment.

“Having carefully gone through the review petitions, the order under challenge and the papers annexed therewith, we are satisfied that there is no error apparent on the face of the record or any merit in the review petitions, warranting reconsideration of the order impugned,” the Court said while dismissing the review pleas.

The case concerns the early release of 11 convicts who had gang raped Bano and murdered her family members during the 2002 communal riots in the State.

The State had granted remission to convicts Jaswant Nai, Govind Nai, Shailesh Bhatt, Radhyesham Shah, Bipin Chandra Joshi, Kesarbhai Vohania, Pradeep Mordhiya, Bakabhai Vohania, Rajubhai Soni, Mitesh Bhatt and Ramesh Chandana.

The State granted remission of their sentence following a May 2022 judgment in which the top court held that an application of remission should be considered in line with the policy of the State where the crime was committed and not where the trial was held.

Pursuant to that judgment, the Gujarat government applied its remission policy to release the convicts though the trial in the case had taken place in Maharashtra.

Various petitioners including Bano challenged the same before the Supreme Court.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/supreme-court-dismisses-review-petition-bilkis-bano-gangrape-convicts-remission

Tata Consumer Products is all set to raise Rs. 3,000 crore from the Rights issue

Tata Consumer Products Limited has made a rights issue of 3,66,47,492 equity shares at a price of ₹818 per equity share.

Cyril Amarchand advised Tata Consumer Products.

Khaitan & Co acted as the Legal Counsel to the Bankers (Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited, Axis Capital Limited and HSBC Securities and Capital Markets India Private Limited) in relation to the rights issue.

The transaction team consisted of Abhimanyu Bhattacharya (Partner), Thomas George (Partner), Suman Prabhu (Principal Associate), Aadhya Singh (Associate) and Tharun Vadlapatla (Associate).

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/law-firms/dealstreet/goyel-goyal-advises-india-quotient-on-investment-in-convin-series-a-fundraise

The first 100 days of the Modi 3.0 government saw key steps in the foreign policy.

President Droupadi Murmu was honored with Fiji’s highest civilian award, the ‘Order of Fiji’ and Timor-Leste’s ‘Order of Timor-Leste’.

Murmu was conferred the Companion of the Order of Fiji, as she hailed the ties between the two countries and said India stands ready to partner with Fiji to build a stronger, resilient, and more prosperous nation. “President Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere of Fiji conferred the Companion of the Order of Fiji upon President Droupadi Murmu. This is the highest civilian award of Fiji,” the President’s Office said in a post on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed President Droupadi Murmu on being honoured with the Grand-Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste and said that it reflects the strong ties and mutual respect between the two countries.

PM Modi’s key international engagements include significant visits to Russia and Ukraine during the conflict, participation in the G-7 Summit in Italy, and being awarded the ‘Order of St. Andrew the Apostle’ during his visit to Russia.

In June, Modi met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G7 Summit in Japan. This meeting was significant, as Modi not only expressed India’s humanitarian support for Ukraine but also emphasised the need for dialogue and peace. India made it clear it was ready to be part of the solution, not just a bystander. Then, in August, Modi went to Kyiv in Ukraine to meet Zelenskyy once again.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/100-days-of-modi-3-0-pms-visit-to-russia-ukraine-singapore-poland-more-9054194.html

Four Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) companies have reached Manipur and are deployed deep inside Kuki areas such as Kangpokpi, Motbung, Dolaithabi, Geljang, replacing 22 Assam Rifles, according to top intelligence sources. Meanwhile, the Central government is upset with the state for issuing an intelligence alert on “900 Kuki militants”, without verifying and creating an atmosphere of panic, said sources.

According to top sources in CRPF, their focus will be the camps of the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) and Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) situated at T Gamnon.

Earlier, top CRPF officials had reached Imphal to coordinate this movement of CRPF inside these areas

The state alert had mentioned that over 900 Kuki militants, newly trained in the use of drone-based bombs, projectiles, missiles, and jungle warfare, have entered Manipur from Myanmar. It had stated that these militants are reportedly grouped in units of 30 members each, scattered across the periphery, and are expected to launch multiple coordinated attacks on Meitei villages around September 28.

A special court in Kolkata on Wednesday denied bail to former RG Kar principal Dr Sandip Ghosh and suspended police officer Abhijit Mondal – the two accused in connection with the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the medical facility. The court observed the charges against the two accused are such that during trial, they might be considered “rarest of rare” and this can lead to “capital punishment”.

“On the other hand the nature and gravity of the accusation is grave and if proved there might be a capital punishment, which is only given in the rarest of rare case and in that situation this Court is of the opinion that, it would be injustice flouting the principle of equity, to release the accused on bail,” it said in its order.

The court said the “social status” of the accused — one being a doctor and the other a cop — cannot be overlooked. “…so the position of the accused regarding the social status is not at all a matter to overlook,” it said. It also rejected the plea of the accused to have in-camera proceedings while allowing a narco-analysis test on them but only with their consent.

Records altered, falsely created in the case: CBI

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) deposed before the court that it suspects records have been altered or falsely created in the case, and these have been sent for forensic examination.

“There might be involvement of Sandip Ghosh and Tala thana (police station) officer in charge (Abhijit Mondal) in this case,” it told the court, adding that CCTV footage from the police station has produced additional evidence that Mondal can be confronted with.

The CBI, which interrogated Mondal and Ghosh in its custody, produced the accused after the completion of their remand. The special court has sent them to judicial custody till September 30.

Mondal was arrested on September 14 while Ghosh, who was already in judicial custody in a separate corruption case, was taken into custody on September 15 after the orders of the court. The CBI had arrested prime suspect Sanjay Roy on August 10, a day after the victim’s body was found inside a seminar hall, after “his role in the commission of crime had already emerged”.

The Delhi high court on Wednesday asked the Delhi University (DU) to take “stern action” against the widespread defacement of property by candidates contesting in the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections by cancelling or deferring the polls till the defaced walls are repainted and restored, underlining that the same “involved laundering of money and corruption by the students” and was “worse than general elections”.

Mumbai Rains: The incident occurred at around 9.20 pm near gate no. 8 of MIDC, Andheri East, they said. The victim was identified as Vimal Anil Gaikwad.

A 45-year-old woman drowned in a nullah overflowing due to heavy rains in suburban Andheri on Wednesday, police said.
The incident occurred at around 9.20 pm near gate no. 8 of MIDC, Andheri East, they said. The victim was identified as Vimal Anil Gaikwad.

Local police and the fire brigade were alerted and they took the woman to the Cooper Hospital where she was declared brought dead, they said.

Budgam and Chrar-e-Sharief assembly segments recorded the largest declines in voter turnout, each dropping by 15% to 66.32% and 82.44% respectively.

In the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls on Wednesday, 20 out of the 26 assembly segments saw a decline in voter turnout compared to the 2014 elections.

The overall voting in the 2014 assembly polls for the six districts that voted on Wednesday exceeded 60 per cent, according to data from the Election Commission of India.

Chief electoral officer of Jammu and Kashmir, PK Pole said that approximately 56.05 percent voter turnout was recorded in the six districts during Wednesday’s polling.

In the 2014 elections, there were 25 assembly segments in the districts of Srinagar, Ganderbal, Budgam, Reasi, Rajouri, and Poonch. However, after the delimitation exercise in 2022, the number of segments in these six districts has increased to 26.

While five assembly segments in the Srinagar district witnessed higher voter turnout compared to the 2014 polls, all other segments across the remaining five districts saw a decrease in turnout.

In central Kashmir, the Budgam (66.32 percent) and Chrar-e-Sharief (82.44 percent) assembly segments experienced the largest decline in voter turnout, with both segments dropping by 15 percentage points. Budhal, which had a turnout of 82.50 per cent in 2014, followed closely with a 14 percentage point fall.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-assembly-election-20-of-26-assembly-segments-see-lower-turnout-than-2014-101727277948013.html

In a major development, the suspected killer who chopped 26-year-old Mahalaxmi, a single working woman in Bengaluru, into more than 50 pieces and stuffed the body parts into a fridge has committed suicide by hanging, police sources on Wednesday.

“The suspected killer has been identified as Mukthiranjan Roy was the victim’s colleague. The suspected killer was found hanging from a tree in a village in Bhadrak district in Odisha,” the sources said. They added that the incident has come to light in the Booyakapura region near Pandi village in Dushiri police station limits.

“The suspected killer had arrived at the Pandi village on Wednesday and stayed at home. He had gone on a two-wheeler. His body was found by the locals,” police sources said.

Mukthiranjan had disappeared following the incident of a sensational murder. The Karnataka Police had sent four teams to Odisha to hunt him.

Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara has stated that the accused is on the move in Odisha and escaping from the police. Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda stated that the police have tracked the killer and the cops are hunting him down. Commissioner Dayananda had stated that the killer was from outside and settled in Bengaluru.

Farm laws were rolled back by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in November 2021 after massive agitations.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday distanced itself from its MP Kangana Ranaut’s fresh comment on the three farm laws that were at the core of the farmers’ protest in 2020. Speaking to reporters in her Lok Sabha constituency of Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, the actor-politician said the laws – rolled back by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in November 2021 after massive agitations – “should be brought back… (and) farmers themselves should demand it”.
“I know this will be controversial… but I feel the farm laws that were repealed should be brought back. The farmers themselves should demand it. They are a pillar of strength for the nation’s development and I want to appeal to them – demand the laws back for your own good,” Kangana Ranaut said.

The BJP, however, said her comments do not represent the party’s views.

Party’s spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said the remarks are Ms Ranaut’s “personal statement”.

“Kangana Ranaut is not authorised to make such a statement on behalf of the BJP and it doesn’t depict the BJP’s view on the farm bills,” Mr Bhatia said.

She then responded to Mr Bhatia’s statement and said, “My views on farm laws are personal and they don’t represent the party’s stand on those Bills.”

Ms Ranaut, whose latest film, ‘Emergency’, is fighting for a censor certificate, has already been reprimanded once by the BJP – last month – over earlier remarks on the farmers’ protests. The actor had said that a “Bangladesh-like situation” could have erupted in India during the farmers’ protests if strong measures had not been taken by the Centre.

In 2020, as the farmers’ protests were gathering steam, she allegedly misidentified a woman farmer from Punjab and called her Bilkis Bano.

That swipe resurfaced in June this year after Kangana Ranaut was slapped by a woman CISF officer.

Kangana Ranaut’s Farm Laws Remark Draws Congress, AAP’s Ire
Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) attacked Kangana Ranaut and vowed that “these black laws will (never be brought back now)… no matter how hard Modi and his MPs try”.

“More than 750 farmers were martyred… only then did the Modi government wake up and these black laws were withdrawn. Now BJP MPs are planning to bring them back… but Congress is with the farmers,” party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said.

AAP’s Balbir Singh also took a jibe at the actor.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjp-distances-itself-from-kangana-ranauts-farm-laws-remark-she-reacts-6643880

The incident took place in Bhubaneswar on the night of September 15 and has sparked widespread outrage.

Retired Army Chief General VK Singh and former CBI Director M Nageswara Rao have clashed over the alleged torture and sexual assault of an Army officer’s fiancee at a police station in Odisha. The incident took place in Bhubaneswar on the night of September 15 and has sparked widespread outrage.

General VK Singh, in a social media post, described the treatment of the woman, the fiancee of an Army officer, as “shameful and horrendous.” General Singh condemned the handling of the situation by the Odisha Police and demanded immediate action against the officers involved.

“Everyone must listen to the daughter of a retired Army officer. What happened to her in Bharatpur police station in Odisha is shameful. The Odisha Chief Minister should take swift action against the police personnel and those shielding the criminals in uniform,” General Singh stated in his post.

According to the victim’s account, she was allegedly thrashed and sexually assaulted inside Bharatpur police station after she and her fiance attempted to file a complaint regarding a road rage incident. The Army officer was allegedly illegally detained by the police.

In a counter-response, former CBI Director M Nageswara Rao, an Odisha-cadre IPS officer, painted a different picture. Mr Rao disputed General Singh’s allegations and accused the Army officer and his fiancee of being drunk and behaving inappropriately.

“An Army officer and his fiancee consumed alcohol and drove through the city late at night. They were involved in a brawl with engineering students and later created a scene at Bharatpur police station. When asked to undergo a medical examination and blood test, they refused, which is a standard part of the investigation,” Mr Rao claimed.

He further defended the police, stating that the Odisha Police, which manages more than 600 police stations, had no reason to misbehave with visitors, including Army personnel. Mr Rao urged General Singh to reconsider his stance, adding that it is improper to castigate the police for the actions of an individual Army officer.

“It is not appropriate for a former Chief of Army Staff and Central Minister to jump to conclusions and criticize the police for the alleged drunken misconduct of the Army officer and his fiancee. However, I would not question the Indian Army’s discipline based on one individual’s actions. I urge the Army to take appropriate action against this officer for conduct unbecoming of a soldier,” Mr Rao concluded.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/odisha-army-officer-vk-singh-nageshwar-rao-ex-army-cbi-chiefs-clash-over-alleged-torture-of-woman-at-odisha-police-station-6643772

Sadaf Fatima died in office after she fell off her chair inside HDFC Bank’s premises. She was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead.

A woman employee of HDFC Bank in Lucknow allegedly died due to work pressure on Tuesday, days after a similar incident involving an Ernst & Young employee in Pune, News18 reported.

The employee identified as Sadaf Fatima was posted as additional deputy vice-president at HDFC Bank’s Vibuti Khand branch in Gomti Nagar. The News18 report claimed that Fatima died in office after she fell off her chair inside bank premises, quoting unnamed colleagues. She was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead and her body was sent to undergo a postmortem.

Reacting to the incident, Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav said the work pressure and stress has become the same everywhere from government to private jobs and people are working out of ‘compulsion’.

“The condition of employed people has become worse than bonded labourers because they do not even have the right to speak. Government is there to solve problems, not to give baseless suggestions,” Akhilesh Yadav posted X.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/lucknow-hdfc-bank-employee-dies-after-falling-off-chair-peers-allege-work-pressure-101727231820235.html

Unknown miscreants on Tuesday set Sri Rama Temple chariot was set on fire . The incident took place in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district. A high-level probe has been ordered.

On Tuesday, locals immediately rushed to the spot after they noticed the blaze. They doused the fire and then informed the police. After reaching the spot, cops inspected the chariot. A case has been registered against unknown people. The chariot was partly burnt in the incident.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/sri-rama-temple-chariot-set-on-fire-by-unknown-miscreants-in-aps-anantapur-cm-chandrababu-nadu-orders-probe-article-113642920

In the past month, nearly 20 cases have been reported in which obstructions in the form of gas cylinders, boulders, or broken rails have been placed on the railway tracks with the intent to cause damage to train operations.

New Delhi: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday said that the Railways is working closely with all state governments, Director Generals of Police (DGP) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to track miscreants who are trying to derail trains by placing objects on tracks.

Insisting that the railways have been working with all zones and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to get to the root of the matter, Vaishnaw said, “We will take strict action against anyone and everyone behind such illegal activities. The administration is working hard to ensure that no such incidents are repeated and that we can track down the offenders.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/nia-to-probe-train-sabotage-incidents-rail-min-3204842

Maharashtra is set to witness heavy rains with Pune and Raigad on red alert and Mumbai, Thane and Nashik on orange alert for the next 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said.

Mumbai and its suburbs are gearing up for another day of relentless rain as the IMD has issued an orange alert for the city today. Forecasters have predicted heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in some parts, accompanied by thunder and lightning. This weather event follows a series of continuous downpours that caused waterlogging and disrupted daily life in the metropolitan area.

The possibility of gusty winds and flash floods has added to the concern. Alongside Mumbai, Thane is also under a weather alert, with predictions of very heavy rainfall in certain areas and strong winds that could further complicate local conditions.

Red Alert in Raigad, Pune

Meanwhile, Raigad district is facing a more severe threat, as the IMD has placed it under a red alert. This means that the region is likely to experience extremely heavy downpour, potentially leading to flooding, landslides, and significant disruptions. Authorities have advised residents to stay alert and avoid unnecessary travel. Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, and Palghar districts, all situated along Maharashtra’s coast, are also under orange alerts, indicating the high possibility of hazardous weather.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that unity always works for peace and “we have to prepare the second peace summit to end the war altogether.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the UN Security Council that “we have to prepare” the second peace summit to end the Russia-Ukraine war “altogether” and he has invited India and other countries to join the peace process.

“We all know what needs to be done if we honestly look at the situation and truly want to stop Russia’s war. Most importantly, act together, of course in unity, without creating new and unnecessary divisions of the world into blocks or regional groups,” Zelenskyy here on Tuesday told a Security Council meeting on the Ukraine conflict.

Zelenskyy said that unity always works for peace and “we have to prepare the second peace summit to end the war altogether. And I invite all of you, all principle nations to join us in this process, all who truly respect the UN Charter. We invite China. We invite Brazil. I have already invited India. We are working with African nations, all of Latin America, the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, the Pacific region, and North America. All.” Zelenskyy said all are “equally important for peace, all without exceptions. Just as the UN Charter must work without exceptions”.

The Ukrainian president said this process will “lead us to peace, to a just peace, a real peace, a peace that will last. All of us already know how to achieve it. We have the peace formula, we have the UN Charter and we have all the strength needed to make it happen. What’s needed is determination.” Zelenskyy on Monday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York before the Indian leader wrapped up his three-day visit to the US.

PM Modi’s meeting with Zelenskyy, requested by the Ukrainian side, came at the sidelines of his other engagements, including participating in the Quad Leaders’ Summit and his address to the UN’s ‘Summit of the Future’.

The meeting between PM Modi and Zelenskyy was their third in a little over three months.

PM Modi met the Ukrainian leader in Kyiv last month, just weeks after he had met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in July.

In June, PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy.

“We are committed to implementing the outcomes of my visit to Ukraine last month to strengthen bilateral relations. Reiterated India’s support for early resolution of the conflict in Ukraine and restoration of peace and stability,” the prime minister said on X following Monday’s meeting with Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy, noting that this was already the third bilateral meeting this year with PM Modi, said the main focus of their conversation was on “enhancing our interaction on international platforms, particularly at the UN and G20 as well as implementing the peace formula and preparing for the second peace summit. We had a substantive discussion on the available opportunities.” “We are actively developing our relations and working together to strengthen cooperation across various fields,” the Ukrainian president said, adding that he was “grateful for the clear support of our sovereignty and territorial integrity”. Responding to a question during a press briefing on discussions with the Ukrainian leader on a second peace summit, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the discussions covered a lot of issues related to finding a way forward.

Mr Misri said a number of things came up, the peace summit that was held in Switzerland, the ideas that have been floated after that, the efforts that Ukraine is making on its own and the possibility of a second peace summit that Ukraine has been talking.

“But I think we are not right now at a stage where the second peace summit can be discussed in any detail. I think there is a lot of work that remains to be done before that, so there was not a great deal of discussion on that specific issue.” Pavan Kapoor, Secretary (West) at the Ministry of External Affairs, represented India at the ‘Summit on Peace in Ukraine’ hosted by Switzerland at Burgenstock on June 15-16.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams on Monday held a purification ritual called the ‘Shanti Homam’ in the kitchens where the laddu are prepared for offering.

The samples were collected by the Food Safety and Drug Administration department and one ‘peda’ sample has been sent for testing in a Lucknow facility. FSDA Assistant Commissioner Dhirendra Pratap Singh said in the sampling campaign conducted at many places in Mathura and Vrindavan on Monday, 43 samples were collected from 15 vendors.

These include sweets and other items made from milk, ‘paneer’, ‘peda’, ‘barfi’, milk cake, ‘rasgulla’, ‘imarti’, ‘sonpapdi’, other sweets and spices. He said 42 of them were found to be within the standard but one sample of ‘peda’ was sent to Lucknow for testing. Dhirendra Pratap Singh said all the samples were collected on Sunday and Monday from the shops around the temples.

Earlier on Monday, Lucknow’s Mankameshwar Temple banned the offerings brought from the market. The temple administration has asked the devotees to bring homemade items for offerings.

“We have taken an initiative in view of the Tirupati Prasadam row. There is always some adulteration in the food products. We have banned the prasad bought from outside in the ‘Garbh Grih’. We have requested the devotees to bring homemade prasad,” said Mahant Divya Giri.

Tirupati Laddu Row

The decisions were taken amid claims of adulterated ghee being used for making the laddu at Sri Venkateswara Temple. The Tirupati Laddu, also called the ‘Srivari Laddu’, has been the main offering at the temple for more than 300 years. The newly-elected TDP government accused the previous YSRCP government of “adulteration” with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu claiming that animal fat was used in place of pure ghee, sparking concerns.

However, Jagan Mohan Reddy refuted the allegations and has written to Prime Minister Modi asserting that no violation took place under his government and the entire controversy is unwarranted.

Naidu on Sunday constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged use of animal fat in laddus. “An Inspector General level or above officer-manned SIT will be formed. It will probe all the reasons, the misuse of power and give a report to the government. The government will take stringent action to avoid recurrences (laddu adulteration), there is no compromise,” he said.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/amid-tirupati-laddu-row-big-decision-in-up-food-samples-collected-from-shops-near-mathura-vrindavan-temples-article-113614161

India reported the first case of Mpox Clade 1 on Monday, which is the strain declared as public health emergency by WHO.

India on Monday has reported the first case of the Mpox clade 1 strain, official sources told PTI. This is the same strain which led to the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring Mpox a public health emergency last month. The Mpox clade 1 strain has been detected in an individual from Kerala, reported PTI.

Sources said Clade 1b strain has been detected in the 38-year-old man from Malappuram district who had recently returned from the United Arab Emirates. The patient is currently stable and under observation.

“This was the first case of the current strain that led to the World Health Organization declaring Mpox a public health emergency last month for a second time,” the official sources said.

Manisha Verma, a spokesperson for the health ministry, confirmed the strain after news agency ANI cited official sources as saying that the mpox case reported in Kerala’s Malappuram district last week belonged to clade 1.

The earlier case of Mpox that emerged in the national capital was a 26-year-old resident of Haryana’s Hisar who has tested positive for the previous West African Clade 2 strain earlier this month. Since the 2022 declaration of Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the WHO, 30 cases were reported in India.

If all extra deaths are attributed to Covid-19, it would mean 201,645 people died in 2021, compared to the official death toll of 11,101 that year in Gujarat.

In Gujarat, 725,573 people died in 2021, an increase of 38.5% as compared to 2020, shows the state government data on births and deaths, with the officials attributing the increase to Covid-19 pandemic.

If all extra deaths are attributed to Covid-19, it would mean 201,645 people died of the viral disease in 2021, compared to the official death toll from Covid-19 that year of 11,101.

Even if only half the extra deaths were on account of Covid-19, it would mean 100,847 people succumbed to the viral disease that year, which is still 808% more than the official death toll.

Both 2020 and 2021 were Covid-19 pandemic years and the data shows that intensity of the disease was highest during April to May months of 2021.

In 2020, when the pandemic first struck and a nationwide lockdown was imposed, Gujarat recorded 523,892 deaths, a 13.3% increase from the 462,284 deaths recorded in 2019.

The spike in deaths during 2021 was unprecedented, representing a 64.3% increase from the ten-year average, the ‘Annual Report on the Working of Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, Gujarat State – 2021’ showed. HT has seen the report.

“There seems no other reason other than the Covid-19 pandemic for this excess mortality rate,” Dileep Mavalankar, former director of the Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar, the first university in India dedicated solely to public health. He said in rural areas many COVID-related deaths went unreported because testing wasn’t available.

In May 2021, at the height of the second wave of Covid-19, Gujarat recorded 180,239 deaths, accounting for 24.84% of the state’s total fatalities that year, according to the government report. April followed with 88,571 deaths (12.21%), and June saw 76,984 deaths (10.61%), it added. Altogether, from April to June 2021, Gujarat reported 345,794 deaths, marking a 55% increase compared to the same period in 2020, when 223,000 deaths were recorded. The rise in mortality is stark when compared to 2019, which saw 182,000 deaths during this period, reflecting a 90% increase from 2019 to 2021.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/data-flags-higher-covid-19-toll-in-gujarat-than-official-count-101727149148216.html

Atishi, 43, vowed to run the government for the next four months until the upcoming elections, just as “Bharat ruled with Lord Ram’s ‘khadaun’ (sandals) on the throne”.

 AAP leader Atishi officially took charge as the eighth Chief Minister of Delhi today, following the resignation of Arvind Kejriwal. Drawing a symbolic comparison to the Hindu epic Ramayana, Atishi said, “My situation is like that of Bharat, when Lord Shri Rama went into exile, and Bharat had to govern in his absence.”

Atishi, 43, vowed to run the government for the next four months until the upcoming elections, just as “Bharat ruled with Lord Ram’s ‘khadaun’ (sandals) on the throne”.

After assuming office, Atishi placed an empty chair next to hers, in a symbolic gesture towards her party chief Mr Kejriwal. “This chair belongs to Arvind Kejriwal. I am confident that the people of Delhi will reinstate him after four months,” she said.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/atishi-takes-charge-as-chief-minister-with-grand-gesture-for-arvind-kejriwal-6629072

Social media users, including Opposition MPs, have accused Finance Minister Nirmal Sitharaman of making insensitive remarks without addressing the issue of toxic workplaces.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s remarks on the death of a 26-year-old chartered accountant, allegedly due to work pressure, has sparked a row. The minister has said people need inner strength to handle pressure and this can only be achieved by divinity.
Several social media users, including leaders from the Opposition, have termed the remarks insensitive.

Addressing an event at a Chennai medical college, Ms Sitharaman referred to Anna Sebastian Perayil’s death without mentioning Ernst & Young, where she was working. “Our children go to colleges and universities for education and come out with flying colours. A company, without mentioning its name, it’s a partnership. There, a woman who had studied CA well (was) unable to cope with the work pressure. Two-three days ago, we received news — she died unable to cope with the pressure,” she said.

“What should families teach — whatever you study and the job you do, you should have the inner strength to handle that pressure and this can be achieved through divinity only,” she said. “Believe in God, we need to have God’s grace. Seek God, and learn good discipline. Your Atmashakti will grow only from this. The inner strength will come only with growing Atmashakti,” the Finance Minister added.

“Educational institutions should bring in divinity and spirituality. Then only will our children get the inner strength, it will help in their progress and that of the country. That is my strong belief,” the minister said, according to news agency PTI.

The remarks sparked a row, with social media users accusing the Finance Minister of making insensitive remarks without addressing the issue of toxic workplaces.

Priyanka Chaturvedi, Rajya Sabha MP from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), hit out at the Finance Minister’s remarks.

“Dear Nirmala Sitaraman ji, Anna had (the) inner strength to handle the stress that came with pursuing a gruelling Chartered Accountancy degree. It was the toxic work culture, long work hours that took away her life which needs to be addressed. Stop victim shaming and at least try to be a little sensitive, am sure god will be the guide if you seek.”

CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar accused the Finance Minister of “belittling and demeaning everyday struggles of working people across the country”. “Over-work, inhuman working conditions, pervasive unemployment and lack of social security are creating stress and insecurity among workers, particularly the younger sections of our workforce across occupations. Instead of addressing these structural concerns, the finance minister’s advice to ‘rely on God’ is bizarre and insensitive,” he said in a statement.

Besides the Opposition leaders, several social media users found the remarks insensitive and said the government should address the toxic work culture in many organisations.

Anna Sebastian Perayil’s death has sparked a nationwide conversation on how toxic workplaces are affecting the well-being of employees.

The matter came to light after Anna’s mother Anita Augustine wrote to Ernst & Young India Chairman Rajiv Memani and said her daughter had died just four months after she joined the company and flagged a work culture that “seems to glorify overwork while neglecting the very human being behind the role”.

“Anna would return to her room utterly exhausted, sometimes collapsing on the bed without even changing her clothes, only to be bombarded with messages asking for more reports. She was putting in her best efforts, working very hard to meet the deadlines. She was a fighter to the core, not someone to give up easily. We told her to quit, but she wanted to learn and gain new exposure. However, the overwhelming pressure proved too much even for her,” she wrote.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nirmala-sitharaman-anna-sebastian-ernst-young-need-gods-grace-to-row-over-ministers-remark-on-ey-staffs-death-6629398

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York on Monday.

This was the second meeting between the two leaders in about a month. PM Modi had visited Ukraine on August 23 and reiterated India’s willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate an early return of peace in the Ukraine conflict.

PM Modi had visited Ukraine at the invitation of President Zelenskyy in first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in the year 1992.

A joint statement issued following PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine had said that both Leaders expressed mutual interest in working towards elevating bilateral relations from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic partnership in the future.

They reaffirmed their commitment to further developing bilateral ties for the benefit of the peoples of both countries based on mutual trust, respect, and openness.

The statement had said that PM Modi and President Zelenskyy reiterated their readiness for further cooperation in upholding principles of international law, including the UN Charter, such as respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. They agreed on the desirability of closer bilateral dialogue in this regard.

“The Indian side reiterated its principled position and focus on peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, as a part of which, India has attended the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, in June 2024. The Ukrainian side welcomed such participation by India and highlighted the importance of high-level Indian participation in the next Peace Summit,” the statement had said.

“Prime Minister Modi reiterated the need for sincere and practical engagement between all stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that will have broad acceptability and contribute towards early restoration of peace. He reiterated India’s willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate an early return of peace,” it added.

Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in conflict for over two years.

A joint statement issued by Quad leaders after their meeting hosted by US President Joe Biden on September 21 said that they stand for adherence to international law and respect for principles of the UN Charter, including territorial integrity, sovereignty of all states, and peaceful resolution of disputes.
“We express our deepest concern over the war raging in Ukraine including the terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences. Each of us has visited Ukraine since the war began, and seen this first-hand; we reiterate the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in line with international law, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. We also note the negative impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, especially for developing and least developed countries,” the statement said.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-meets-ukraine-president-zelenskyy-in-new-york-6634557

Jabalpur: A video of a snake hanging from an iron grip inside a coach of Jabalpur-Mumbai Garibrath Express has gone viral on social media.

The incident reportedly occurred near Kasara station in Maharashtra on Sunday morning.

West Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Harshit Shrivastava told PTI that authorities are currently coordinating with Central Railways to verify details of the sighting.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/snake-found-hanging-in-garibrath-express-coach-3201895

The new facility, named ‘Shakti,’ will specialise in advanced sensing, advanced communications, and high-voltage power electronics, making it one of the world’s first multi-material fabrication plants focused on national security.

India will set up its first national security semiconductor fabrication plant, aimed at producing chips for military hardware and critical telecommunications and electronics, under a transformative collaboration with the United States. This ambitious joint project was announced following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden in Wilmington on September 22.

Both leaders hailed the India-US semiconductor fabrication partnership as a “watershed arrangement,” as detailed in a joint fact sheet released after their discussions. The initiative will be supported by the India Semiconductor Mission and will involve a strategic technology partnership among Bharat Semi, 3rdiTech, and the US Space Force.

Anna Sebastian Perayil, the 26-year-old CA, passed her Chartered Accountancy exams in 2023 and worked at the EY Pune office for four months died in July.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday called on colleges and universities to impart stress management lessons to students. Her rationale was that this will help in increasing the students’ inner strengths.

Sitharaman’s comment came in the wake of death of a 26-year-old CA professional employed with Ernst & Young (EY), a Big 4 accounting firm. Anna Sebastian Perayil, the 26-year-old CA, passed her Chartered Accountancy exams in 2023 and worked at the EY Pune office for four months died in July.

In a letter to EY India chairman Rajiv Memani, Perayil’s mother attributed her daughter’s death to excessive workload, which drained her “physically, emotionally and mentally.” While addressing an event at a private medical college, she alluded to the death of the young CA, without naming the victim or the company.

“Was discussing about an issue that is on newspapers for the past two days. Our children go to colleges and universities for education and come out in flying colours. A company, without mentioning its name, its a partnership. There, a woman who had studied CA well, unable to cope with the work pressure, 2-3 days ago, we received a news — she died unable to cope with the pressure,” Sitharaman said.

She added that even if educational institutions impart good education and ensure jobs to students via campus recruitments, they should teach certain things, along with that, which are taught in the family.

“What should families teach — whatever you study and the job you do, you should have the inner strength to handle that pressure and this can be achieved through divinity only,” she said.

“Believe in God, we need to have God’s grace. Seek God, learn good discipline. Your Atma shakthi will grow only from this. The inner strength will come only with growing Atma shakti,” the Finance Minister said.

FM Sitharaman added that educational institutions should bring in divinity and spirituality, then only will children get the inner strength. The central government stepped into the matter and said that it will investigate the work environment at the Big 4 accounting firm.

Source: https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/seek-god-learn-good-discipline-nirmala-sitharaman-on-ey-employee-death-congress-reacts-446997-2024-09-23

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi today convened a high-profile roundtable with top American technology CEOs, focusing on innovation, collaboration, and India’s growing tech space. The meeting, held at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel, was part of PM Modi’s three-day visit to the United States, with its second leg in New York.

Hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Engineering, the roundtable saw participation from leaders of companies specialising in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, and biotechnology.

The roundtable was attended by prominent CEOs like Google’s Sundar Pichai Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Adobe’s Shantanu Narayen.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Prime Minister Modi said, “Had a fruitful roundtable with tech CEOs in New York, discussing aspects relating to technology, innovation, and more. Also highlighted the strides made by India in this field. I am glad to see immense optimism towards India.”

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement that the roundtable focused on cutting-edge sectors, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum computing, biotechnology, and semiconductor technologies.

“The CEOs participated in a deep dive with Prime Minister on the evolving technology landscape at a global level and how these cutting-edge technologies are contributing to the well-being of people around the world including in India. They touched upon how technology is being leveraged for innovations, which have the potential to revolutionize the global economy and human development,” the MEA said in a statement.

On Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Prime Minister stressed that India’s policy is to promote ‘AI for All’, underpinned by its ethical and responsible use.

PM Modi also reassured the CEOs of India’s strong commitment to protecting intellectual property and fostering a conducive environment for technology-led innovation. He encouraged the business leaders to capitalise on India’s growth trajectory, pointing to the nation’s potential to become the third-largest economy globally.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/google-to-nvidia-pm-modis-roundtable-meet-with-15-tech-ceos-at-mit-6627633

India is investigating the business practices of US streaming giant Netflix’s local operations, including allegations of visa violations and racial discrimination, according to a government email sent to a former executive. The details of investigation were included in a July 20 email, reviewed by Reuters, which was written by a home ministry official to Netflix’s former director of business and legal affairs for India, Nandini Mehta, who left the company in 2020.

“This is regarding visa and tax violations concerns regarding the business practices of Netflix in India,” wrote Indian official Deepak Yadav from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) of the home ministry in New Delhi.

“We have received certain details in this regard w.r.t (with respect to) the stated company’s conduct, visa violation, illegal structures, tax evasion and other malpractices including incidents of racial discrimination that the company has been engaged in while conducting its business in India,” he added.

In an emailed statement, Ms Mehta said she is pursuing a lawsuit in the US against Netflix for alleged wrongful termination as well as racial and gender discrimination – charges the company denies.

Ms Mehta said she welcomed the investigation and hopes the authorities make their findings public but did not elaborate on the allegations made by the government.

Mr Yadav declined to comment, saying he was not authorized to speak to the media. The FRRO and Home Ministry did not respond to Reuters queries.

A Netflix spokesperson said the company was “unaware of an investigation by the Indian government.”

The  official’s email shows growing scrutiny of Netflix in India, where it has roughly 10 million users and which it considers a growth market where companies target affluent people in the nation of 1.4 billion people.

Over the years, the US streaming giant has developed more local content featuring Bollywood actors.

It has also often faced heat in India over its content deemed insensitive by some users. This month, it was forced to add new disclaimers to an Indian series about a plane hijack after social media outrage and government anger over what they said was Muslim hijackers being shown as Hindus.

SEEKING DOCUMENTS, US LAWSUIT

While it is known that Netflix has since 2023 faced an Indian tax demand – which is challenging – the existence of a broader investigation into allegations including visa compliance and racial discrimination has not been previously reported.

The government’s email did not elaborate on which agencies are looking at issues concerning Netflix. The FRRO works closely with home ministry’s Intelligence Bureau, the domestic intelligence agency, and is the main agency looking into foreigners’ visa compliance and permissions to visit so-called “sensitive” regions.

Last year, India accused Chinese smartphone player Vivo and its Indian affiliates of breaching visa rules by visiting certain “sensitive” regions without permission.

The FRRO also acts as a liaison in matters related to foreigners with other government offices.

Ms Mehta worked at the company’s Los Angeles and Mumbai offices from April 2018 to April 2020, her LinkedIn profile shows.

The government email asked her to provide “details/documents” as she was a former legal executive of the company.

While it remains unknown who introduced the laddu in the temple, records show the prevalence of it from as early as 1790 AD

The Tirumala Laddu, long cherished by devotees, is now at the centre of an unsettling controversy. Days after Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu claimed that the ghee used in preparing the sacred offering contained beef tallow and lard, a storm of unanswered questions has erupted. Were these laddus with adulterated ghee samples ever distributed to the public, or were they rejected before reaching devotees? And how did the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) laboratory — responsible for testing every consignment — not detect this alleged contamination?

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/how-tirumalas-laddu-became-the-temples-sacred-offering-101726931507316.html

Arvind Kejriwal said that despite serving as the chief minister of Delhi for over a decade, he is yet to purchase his own house in the city

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal, who stepped down as the chief minister on September 17, on Sunday said he will vacate the CM’s official residence at 6, Flagstaff Road in Civil Lines as soon as the Navratri begin, in the first week of October.

Kejriwal has been living at the CM’s official residence since 2015, after the AAP won absolute majority in the Delhi assembly and he was elected chief minister for the second time.

Speaking at a public gathering at Jantar Mantar, Kejriwal said that despite serving as the chief minister of Delhi for over a decade, he is yet to purchase his own house in the city.

“In a few days I will be leaving the CM’s bungalow. Today, after 10 years since I became CM, I don’t even have a house in Delhi. Many people tell me what kind of a man you are, you remained CM for 10 years, you could have built 10 bungalows in 10 years,” Kejriwal said.

“I have not earned anything in 10 years, I have only earned your love and blessings. And the result of this love is that today when I am leaving the official accommodation, so many people in Delhi are offering me their houses, without rent. After Pitru Paksha (a 16-day period in the Hindu calendar) ends, and as soon as the Navratras start, I will leave the CM residence and come to any of your houses and start living with you,” he said.

In response, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said Kejriwal is trying to “mislead” the people by trying to project that he is making a sacrifice by leaving the residence. “Previous CMs also left their official bungalows without drama. But Kejriwal doesn’t do anything without drama as he believes that he can fool the people all the time,” he said.

Meanwhile, a Public Works Department (PWD) official, on condition of anonymity, said that as per convention, a chief minister should move out of the CM’s official residence within two-three weeks of his/her resignation being accepted.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/will-vacate-delhi-cm-s-official-house-when-navratri-starts-kejriwal-101727028096556.html

After the roundtable meeting of prominent CEOs of Tech Companies with PM Narendra Modi, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said that PM Modi has been focussed on transforming India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in a roundtable with the CEOs of leading American tech companies, where he emphasised India’s growth prospects and discussed initiatives to foster bilateral collaborations across various sectors.

After the meeting, Pichai said, “It is Digital India vision. He (PM Modi) pushed us to continue making in India, designing in India. We are proud to now make our Pixel phones manufactured in India. He is really thinking about how AI can transform India in a way that benefits the people of India. He challenged us to think about applications in healthcare, education, agriculture and he is also thinking about the infrastructure of India – be it data centres, power, energy and investing to make sure that India can transition.”

Pichai also mentioned Google’s India plans and investment in AI expansion.

“We are proud to be partnering with India. We are robustly investing in AI in India and we look forward to doing more. We have set several programs and partnerships. He has always challenged all of us to do more, more for India. Now, he is asking us to do the same with AI. He has a clear vision, both in terms of the opportunity that AI will create but he wants to make sure ultimately AI is there to benefit the people of India and he has a clear vision that it should all be in the service of the people of India. He is challenging us to do more,” Pichai added.

PM Modi In US: Tech Roundtable

The meeting took place at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel on Sunday during the second leg of Modi’s three-day US visit. It saw the participation of CEOs of 15 major US-based firms working on cutting-edge technologies such as AI, quantum computing and semiconductors.

The above posts are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to complaints and grievances against the firm on social media. From not returning the deposit amount to closing tickets raised by customers without resolving their issues, unsatisfied customers have raised issues galore against the firm. The Free Press Journal reached out to Colive for a reply, but the firm has not responded.

Aggrieved customers lashed out at Colive, a firm or start-up providing “tech enabled shared living spaces” that is into the business of providing rental homes and PGs via their app, for allegedly duping customers of their deposit amounts. Several customers took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and claimed that Colive was issuing post-dated cheques to refund the deposit amounts but the cheques would “bounce off” due to lack of money in the firm’s account.

Sanket salot (41), a Bengaluru based working professional, narrates his experience and the ordeal he had to go through in getting his deposit money back from Colive after using the firm’s app. Sanket lived in Colive Signature Tower from October 2023 to March 2024, the PG accomodation that he got using the Colive App.

“Firm Forcing Customers To Accept Post-Dated Cheques”

Sanket and several other people who lived in Colive PG have alleged that the firm forces the customers to accept deposit amount only in the form of post-dated cheques.

An 18-member committee has been formed to draft a bill titled ‘The Right of Women to Menstrual Leave and Free Access to Menstrual Health Products,’ aimed at improving the work-life balance for women.

Karnataka government is planning to propose paid menstrual leave for women in both private and public sectors with an aim to improve work-life balance for women. The government is looking to propose six days of paid menstrual leave a year for women to address the physical and emotional challenges they face during menstruation.

An 18-member committee has been formed to draft a bill titled ‘The Right of Women to Menstrual Leave and Free Access to Menstrual Health Products,’ aimed at improving the work-life balance for women.

“We are reviewing the proposal and have scheduled a meeting with the committee members. This initiative aims to support the female workforce, as women face significant physical and emotional fluctuations throughout their lives. The leave will be flexible, allowing women to choose when they need time off,” Labour Minister Santosh Lad said.

Lad will meet committee members to discuss the recommendations following which they will be put out for consultation with the public, companies and other stakeholders.

These 3 States Already Have Paid Period Leave Plan

If passed, Karnataka will be the fourth state to offer menstrual leave after Bihar, Kerala, and Odisha. The state has established an 18-member committee to draft the bill, focusing on the well-being of working women.

Bihar introduced its policy in 1992, allowing women two days of paid menstrual leave every month. In 2023, Kerala extended menstrual leave to female students in all universities and institutions, along with up to 60 days of maternity leave for female students over 18.

The Odisha government in August introduced a one-day menstrual leave policy for women workers in both the state government and the private sector. During the district-level Independence Day celebration in Cuttack, new Odisha CM Pravati Parida said women workers would be allowed to take the leave on either the first or second day of their menstrual cycle. The one-day menstrual leave policy will be effective immediately.4

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/six-paid-period-leaves-per-year-karnataka-govts-plan-to-improve-womens-work-life-balance-article-113551287

The bench said the State cannot abdicate its constitutional and statutory responsibility of payment of compensation by arguing that its role was limited to initiating acquisition proceedings.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has said when acquisition of land for public purpose is undertaken under the power of eminent domain of the government much against the wishes of the landowners, this is coupled with a bounden duty and obligation on part of the government body to ensure that the compensation or awarded amount is paid as declared by the statutory award at the earliest.

A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said the omission or lapse to complete such an exercise before taking possession of the land could be said to be in contravention of the mandate of Section 38(1) of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

The court also said Section 38 of the 2013 Act indicated that the payment of full and final compensation to land owners is a precursor to taking possession of the land sought to be acquired from such persons.

The bench said the State cannot abdicate its constitutional and statutory responsibility of payment of compensation by arguing that its role was limited to initiating acquisition proceedings.

It also said any delay in the payment of compensation to the landowners after taking away ownership of the subject land from them is in contravention to the spirit of the constitutional scheme of Article 300A and the idea of a welfare State.

In its decision on appeal by Ultra-tech Cement Ltd related to payment of supplementary award to landowners for their land in Solan, the bench said, “It is regrettable that the State of Himachal Pradesh, being a welfare state, did not ensure payment of compensation to the Respondent Nos 1-6 before taking possession of their land.”

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/state-under-bounden-duty-to-pay-compensation-in-land-acquisition-cases-at-the-earliest-supreme-court-3201372

Tirumala Laddu row: A day after the TTD initiated legal action against the firm, the employee refuted the allegation that fish oil was used to prepare ghee.

An employee of AR Dairy Food Private Limited – a Tamil Nadu-based company in the dock for allegedly supplying adulterated ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams for Sri Venkateswara Temple prasadam – has called the allegations against the firm “absurd”.

A day after the TTD initiated legal action against the firm, the employee refuted the allegation that fish oil was used to prepare ghee. He said the charge was absurd because fish oil was more expensive than ghee.

The intelligence report says “900 Kuki militants, newly trained in use of drone-based bombs, projectles, missiles and jungle warfare have entered Manipur from Myanmar… grouped in units of 30 members each,” sources said

The Security Adviser to the Manipur government today for the first time publicly confirmed they have received an intelligence report that alerted about the entry of “900 Kuki militants” trained in jungle warfare and use of weaponised drones to Manipur from neighbouring Myanmar. The intelligence report cannot be taken lightly, Manipur Security Adviser Kuldiep Singh told reporters today.

The intelligence report was sent to all Senior Superintendents of Police in the districts along the India-Myanmar border in southern Manipur, top intelligence sources told NDTV, requesting anonymity. The report, sent on Thursday, mentioned that “900 Kuki militants, newly trained in use of drone-based bombs, projectles, missiles and jungle warfare have entered Manipur from Myanmar”, the sources said.

The “Kuki militants” are believed to be grouped in units of 30 members each and at present are scattered in the periphery, the intelligence sources told NDTV, adding they may launch multiple coordinated attacks on Meitei villages in the last week of September.

The lawyer and her partner claimed that they were subjected to torture and sexual abuse when they visited the station on September 14 to file a road rage complaint.

A woman lawyer and her Army Major fiance were allegedly brutally assaulted by cops at Bharatpur police station in Odisha.

The lawyer and her partner claimed that they were subjected to torture and sexual abuse when they visited the station on September 14 to file a road rage complaint.

While addressing the press on September 19, the lawyer alleged that two female officers began beating her while holding her ears.

“I kept requesting them not to do this. Then they started dragging me through the corridor of the police station and I was trying to fight back. Meanwhile, a lady constable tried to strangle me and I bit her hand. Then they tied my hands behind my back with my jacket and a lady constable tied my legs and locked me in a room,” the woman said.

She broke down and recounted,

“Then a male officer came and tore my blouse and started kicking my breasts. Around 6, he came and opened his pants and flashed his penis while I was screaming for help.”

A few days after the incident, the Orissa High Court took note of the incident and released the woman on bail.

She was arrested on charges of assaulting the police and vandalising police property. The Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of the police station claimed that while on patrol duty around 3:30 AM, she received a call reporting that a young man and woman were causing a disturbance at the police station.

It was alleged that couple used abusive language and assaulted the ASI as well as other police staff. As per the first information report (FIR), the lawyer bit a female officer, causing an injury to her hand.

However, the woman refuted all such allegations against her and informed the High Court that she and her partner were brutally assaulted and that the police had refused to register their complaint. Additionally, it was stated that both individuals were illegally detained in lockup for several hours.

The Court was informed that a co-ordinate bench had directed the transfer of the woman to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, where she was receiving treatment.

While granting bail to the couple, the Court reportedly warned against the use of standardised rejection slips by magistrates when denying bail.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) took suo motu cognisance of the incident on September 17 after the video surfaced on social media.

The Commission has sought urgent disciplinary action in the matter.

In response to the nationwide outrage over the incident, the Odisha Police suspended five officers on September 19, including the Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of the Bharatpur Police Station.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/orissa-high-court-bail-woman-lawyer-torture-odisha-police-station

The police said it appears that the body parts have been kept inside the refrigerator for around 2-3 days. The area near the crime scene has been sealed and further investigation is underway.

The dismembered body of a 26-year-old woman was discovered in a refrigerator in Bengaluru’s Vyalikaval area, police reported on Saturday.

The victim, identified as Mahalakshmi, had been cut into multiple pieces, and her remains were found inside the fridge in a one-bedroom apartment where she lived alone.

The police suspect the murder took place about 2 to 3 days ago. Senior officers arrived at the scene and sealed off the area. A forensic team and a dog squad were deployed to assist in the investigation.

Authorities are gathering evidence and examining the crime scene for further clues.

“There is a one BHK house within the Vyalikaval Police limits. The body of a 26-year-old girl was found cut into pieces and stored in a refrigerator. Prima facie, the incident did not occur today; it appears to have happened 2-3 days ago,” Sathish Kumar, the Additional Commissioner of Police (West Zone), said.

“We have identified the girl, but let us complete the investigation,” he added.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/bengaluru/story/woman-body-cut-into-multiple-pieces-found-inside-fridge-in-bengaluru-2604173-2024-09-22

The new Council of Ministers announced by the party comprises Sultanpur Majra MLA Mukesh Ahlawat, a new entrant, besides ministers Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Imran Hussain.

New Delhi: Chief Minister-designate Atishi will be sworn in along with her new Council of Ministers during a ceremony at the Raj Niwas on Saturday afternoon that will see AAP form the government in Delhi for the fourth time in a row.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi will take the oath of office at 4:30 pm, officials have said.

The new Council of Ministers announced by the party comprises Sultanpur Majra MLA Mukesh Ahlawat, a new entrant, besides ministers Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Imran Hussain.

Atishi will be the 17th female chief minister of the country.

The officials at the lieutenant governor’s office on Friday evening said President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Atishi as the chief minister of Delhi from the date of her being sworn in and has also accepted Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation.

The President has also cleared the appointment of five ministers, they added.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/delhi/atishi-to-take-oath-as-delhi-chief-minister-at-430-pm-on-september-21-3200030

As per reports in a section of international media, Bulgarian company Norta Global owned by Jose was involved in the financial transactions for the supply of the pagers to Hezbollah.

Thiruvananthapuram: Relatives of a Keralite whose Bulgarian firm is reportedly linked to the pagers that exploded in Lebanon have maintained that they are in the dark about the reports.

There are media reports that a Bulgarian firm run by Kerala native Rinson Jose, 39, was involved in the financial transactions for purchasing the pagers that exploded in the middle-eastern country.

Jose, who hails from Mananthavady in Wayanad district, is learnt to have visited his home around ten months back. He has Norwegian citizenship.

Jose’s relative Thankachan told the media that the family was not aware of any links of Jose with the pager deal.

“Jose left Kerala for a job and studies ten years back. He last visited home last November and returned in January. We were told that he was working for a firm. We are not aware of any company he is running. He had contacted the family a few days ago but did not mention anything about the fresh developments. We firmly believe that Jose is not involved in any illegal acts,” Thankachan said.

Local sources said that Jose worked with some private firms in Bengaluru for a few years before going abroad.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/kerala/family-in-the-dark-after-reports-link-keralites-firm-to-exploded-pagers-in-lebanon-3200031

The bus, which was engaged in election duty, was carrying a total of 35 BSF personnel when it skidded off road in the Brell Waterhail area of Budgam and fell into a deep gorge, an official said.

Srinagar: At least four paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF) personnel died, and dozens more were injured after a bus they were travelling in skidded off the road and plunged into a gorge in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Friday.

The bus, which was engaged in election duty, was carrying a total of 35 BSF personnel when it skidded off road in the Brell Waterhail area of Budgam and fell into a deep gorge, an official said. In the incident four BSF jawans died while more than two dozen were injured.

Soon after the incident, reports said, police, administration and local volunteers rushed to the spot and pulled the injured BSF personnel from the bus.

Around 30 injured were shifted to various medical facilities in Budgam and Srinagar, where condition of six among them is stated to be critical. In addition to the injured BSF personnel, a civilian driver also suffered injuries in the incident.

In the purported videos of the incident which surfaced on social media, locals can be seen assisting in rescuing the injured.

The tragic incident comes three days after an army vehicle slipped off the road and fell into a deep gorge in border Rajouri district of Jammu region in which four soldiers were injured.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jammu-and-kashmir/four-bsf-jawans-on-poll-duty-die-dozens-injured-in-road-mishap-in-jks-budgam-3199890

Gadkari also said that as long as untouchability and notions of social inferiority and superiority persist, the work of nation-building can not be said to be complete.

Pune: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said the biggest test of democracy is that the ruler tolerates even the strongest opinion against him, and it leads to introspection.

Writers and intellectuals should express themselves fearlessly, the senior BJP leader said at a book release function at MIT World Peace University here.

“The biggest test of democracy is that the king tolerates the strongest opinion against him and introspects over it,” said Gadkari.

In India, there is no problem of difference of opinion but “there is a problem of lack of opinion”, he said.

“We are neither rightist, nor leftist. We are opportunists. It is expected from writers and intellectuals that they express their opinions without any fear,” he added.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/test-of-democracy-is-king-tolerates-dissent-introspects-gadkari-3200258

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday rebutted the claims made by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu over the ongoing controversy on the preparation of Tirupati Balaji prasadam laddoos, saying that no violation took place under his government and the entire controversy is unwarranted.

Accusing Naidu of doing pity politics in the name of god, the former CM said that the ghee which is used to prepare the laddoos is procured NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) certified companies and then thoroughly tested. The process of ghee procurement is totally transparent, Reddy said.

He further informed that apart from these lab tests, Tirumala Tirupathi Devastanam (TTD) also conducts its own round of tests thrice to check the quality of ghee. The same process is being followed for years.

The former AP CM also stated that he will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, explaining how Naidu “twisted the facts” on the issue.

“Ultimately, at the end of the day, I myself am writing a letter to the Prime Minister. I am also writing a letter to the Chief Justice of India. I am explaining to them as to how Chandrababu Naidu twisted the facts and why action should not be taken against him for having done so,” he noted.

The YSRCP chief further accused Naidu of using god for political gains and insulting Lord Venkateshwara Swamy. He said that Naidu alleged ghee adulteration in Tirupati prasadam laddoos to divert attention from his 100 days governance in Andhra Pradesh.

“This is a diversion politics. On one hand, people are expressing their anger at Chandrababu Naidu’s hundred days rule. They are demanding what happened to their “Super six” (poll promises). In order to divert people’s attention, this concocted story,” he said.

The ghee adulteration allegations are atrocious, he said, and asked is it fair to play with sentiments of crores of devotees across world.

The fiancée of an Army officer, who was reportedly assaulted at a police station in Bhubaneswar, has accused the inspector-in-charge (IIC) and another officer of “sexually harassing and molesting” her.

Sharing her distressing account with the media, she stated that this happened on the morning of September 15, and claimed she was “wrongfully thrown into jail.”

“I don’t know what happened, they put him in the lockup. When I raised the voice that they cannot put an Army officer in custody as it is unlawful, two female officers started physically assaulting me. I kept pleading to them to stop but they didn’t,” she alleged on Thursday.

The woman further alleged that the police woman dragged her through the corridor, and when the officer tried to grab her neck, she fought back and bit her hand.

The police personnel then put her in a room after tying her hands and legs, she alleged. “After some time, a male officer opened the doors and kicked on my breasts several times and left,” the woman added.

Anna Sebastian Perayil, a chartered accountant (CA) from Kerala who worked at EY’s Pune office, allegedly died due to work pressure.

Amid an uproar over the death of a 26-year-old employee at tax consultancy major Ernst&Young (EY) allegedly due to work pressure, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday suggested a 40-hour work week. Anna Sebastian Perayil, a chartered accountant (CA) from Kerala who worked at EY’s Pune office for four months, died this July. Her mother, Anita Augustine, wrote to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani this month, flagging the “glorification” of overwork at the multinational consulting firm.
Taking to his official X account, Mr Tharoor, who is a Member of Parliament from Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram, said Anna passed away after a cardiac arrest, following “four months of deeply stressful seven-day weeks of 14 hours a day” at the Big Four accounting firm.

He said he had a “deeply emotional and heartrending” conversation with her father, Sibi Joseph.

“He (Anna’s father) suggested, and I agreed, that I raise the issue of legislating, through Parliament, a fixed calendar for all workplaces, whether in the private sector or the public, that would not exceed eight hours a day, five days a week,” Mr Tharoor said.

“Inhumanity at the workplace must be legislated out of existence with stringent punishment and fines for offenders. Human rights do not stop at the workplace,” the Congress MP wrote.

He also said he will raise the matter at the “first opportunity” during the next session of Parliament, which is expected to be held in December.

“Advised Her To Quit”: EY Employee’s Father

Anna Sebastian Perayil’s father spoke to the media this week and said she had to work through the night, till 12.30 am.

“We advised her to quit, but she insisted that this stint would provide valuable professional exposure,” Siby Joseph said.

He also claimed the issue of extreme work pressure was mentioned before the senior officials of the EY, but no action was taken.

“She had complained to the assistant manager, but they insisted on working even at night,” he said.

The family alleged that the company responded only after her mother’s letter went viral.

“We are not planning to move legally, but we don’t want anyone else to face the same fate. We don’t want the newbies joining such corporate companies to face similar situations,” Mr Joseph said.

Anna’s mother, Ms Augustine, had also said in the letter that no one from the company had attended her funeral, which the family found deeply hurtful.

EY On Employee’s Death

As the issue snowballed, EY on Wednesday issued a statement saying it was deeply saddened by Anna Sebastian’s “tragic and untimely” passing in July 2024.

It said it works with about 1,00,000 people at its member firms in India and that Anna had worked at one such firm –  S R Batliboi – for four months.

“Since the death, EY has been in touch with the family, helping them but it is only now that her family has chosen to write to the company, complaining about the “excessive workload”, the accounting giant said.

EY India Chairman On Anna Sebastian Perayil’s Death

EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani also issued a statement on Thursday and said the fact that no one from the company attended the funeral is alien to their culture and that he “would not rest” until the objective of nurturing a harmonious workplace is accomplished.

In a statement posted on LinkedIn, Mr Memani said that, as a father, he could understand the anguish of the woman’s mother.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ey-anna-sebastian-perayil-shashi-tharoors-40-hour-work-week-pitch-after-ey-employees-death-6614259

The death of a 26-year-old Ernst & Young employee, Anna Sebastian Perayil, has sparked outrage after her mother’s emotional letter went viral, raising concerns over work pressure within the company.

Ernst & Young India chairman Rajiv Memani on Thursday denied the claims of “work pressure” behind the death of a 26-year-old employee — Anna Sebastian Perayil — in July this year.

The incident came to light after Anna’s mother wrote a gut-wrenching letter to the head of Ernst & Young India which went viral on social media and sparked a massive outrage.

Speaking about the issue, Memani said that Anna was allotted work like any other employee and also denied the possibility that work pressure could have claimed her life.

“We have around one lakh employees. There is no doubt each one has to work hard. Anna worked with us only for four months. She was allotted work like any other employee. We don’t believe that work pressure could have claimed her life,” The Indian Express quoted Rajiv Memani as saying.

Memani also condoled Anna’s death and termed it an irreparable loss for Ernst & Young India and all of its employees.

“Anna was a part of the Audit team at S R Batliboi, a member firm of EY Global, in Pune for a brief period of four months, joining the firm on 18 March 2024. That her promising career was cut short in this tragic manner is an irreparable loss for all of us. While no measure can compensate for the loss experienced by the family, we have provided all the assistance as we always do in such times of distress and will continue to do so,” he in a statement released on Wednesday.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ey-india-employee-anna-perayil-death-chairman-rajiv-memani-denies-work-pressure-claim-2602925-2024-09-19

Jayesh Jain, from Indore, revealed how overwork impacted both his health and professional life.

Days after the tragic death of a 26-year-old Ernst & Young (EY) consultant Anna Sebastian allegedly due to “work stress”, a former Deloitte employee has come forward to share his own experience of toxic work culture in India’s corporate sector. Jayesh Jain, from Indore, recounted his own experience, saying he could “totally understand what Anna would have gone through.”

Posting a series of screenshots on X, Mr Jain revealed how too much work impacted both his health and professional life. “With the EY case getting some attention, I want to share my experience at Deloitte,” he wrote. “I’m attaching screenshots of chats with a teammate where we discussed work and our health at 5 AM.”

The screenshots, timestamped as early as 5 AM, reveal the gruelling work schedule, with employees enduring 20-hour shifts but only able to log a maximum of 15 hours.

One message from 5:12 AM read, “I was also sitting here with a lot all the time for FI-HI doubts.” At 4:08 AM, Mr Jain’s colleague said, “Bahot ho gaya” (That’s enough), and later suggested to “turn off the laptop”. Another message from 5:07 AM shows Mr Jain’s colleague saying, “I will definitely file a complaint.”

The ruling Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday (September 19) claimed that laboratory reports have detected adulterated oil containing “beef tallow” in the ghee used for making the world-renowned Tirupati prasadam.

This added more fuel to the fire after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu accused the previous YSRCP government of using animal fat for making the consecrated laddus, which are distributed to crores of followers who visit the Lord Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala.

This is not the first time questions have been raised on the prasadam distributed at the Tirumala temple. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has, in the past, harshly criticised the alleged severe compromise in its quality.

Over the years, there were no procedures at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) — the board that manages the hill shrine — to test the cheese quality from which ghee is made for the laddus. But, the board has now set up a new sensory perception laboratory, where staff is being trained to carry out quality checks in Mysuru.

“Be aware if you are flying with Air India,” is what an Indian-American CEO said after his “far from pleasant” experience on 15-hour non-stop Chicago-Delhi Flight. Anip Patel, CEO of CaPatel Investments, spent Rs 5.27 lakh for a one-way first-class ticket. He took to Instagram to share his nightmarish experience, raising questions about the airlines’ $400 million refurbishment programme.

Patel recorded everything he endured on the Air India flight on video and later shared it on social media. He started the video with the words, “Come with me on the worst first-class cabin I ever been on. This is Chicago to Delhi non-stop Air India. It was $6300 one-way for 250,000 miles. Look at how gross this is,” as he showed around the “broken, dirty” first-class cabin.

“There was hair in there, things moving in every compartment, everything was ripped, or ruined or had little do on it. I understand regular wear and tear but this was next level guys,” Patel continued.

The woman spoke about the attack on her and her fiance, an army officer, on Thursday after being discharged from AIIMS Bhubaneswar

The fiancé of an army captain, who was assaulted and arrested by the Bhubaneswar police on September 15, on Thursday said she was allegedly beaten, kicked and dragged through the corridors before a police inspector also molested and flashed her.

The woman, who runs a restaurant in Bhubaneswar, spoke about the incident on Thursday shortly after being discharged from AIIMS Bhubaneswar where she was being treated for several injuries including dislocation of her jaws.

The woman, who was arrested by the police on charges of assaulting them, was released on bail on orders of the Orissa high court on Wednesday. The high court will take up her plea to cancel the first information report (FIR) filed against her and the army officer on September 26.

After she walked out free, the army officer on Wednesday filed a formal complaint against the personnel at the Bharatpur police station.

The woman, a lawyer who runs a restaurant in Bhubaneswar, said shortly after she closed her restaurant at about midnight on Sunday, she and her fiance were waylaid by a group of people who started fighting with them.

“Somehow, we managed to escape from there and went to Bharatpur Police Station to file a case. There was nobody except a woman police constable who was sitting at the reception. We requested her to register the complaint as there were several youths in the vehicle and they might follow us at any time and so police patrolling would be helpful for us. However, instead of registering my complaint, she misbehaved with me,” she said.

When she identified herself as a lawyer, she alleged, the woman constable got angry and misbehaved with her.

“In the meantime, a police patrolling vehicle with several cops including female police reached the police station. Then two female officers started pulling my hair and began thrashing me. When I pleaded with them to stop, they dragged me through the corridor of the police station. While one of them was throttling me, I bit her hand. They removed my jacket and tied both my hands with it and they used a scarf to tie both my legs and threw me into a room,” she said.

“Later, a male officer came and continuously kicked on my chest after removing my bra. Then the inspector of the police station came, unzipped his trousers, flashed his genitals and taunted me if I wanted to have a physical relationship with him. He also molested me,” the victim said.

The state government has already ordered a probe by CID into the case and suspended five police officers including inspector Dinakrushna Mishra.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cop-also-flashed-me-army-officer-s-fiance-alleges-sexual-assault-in-odisha-101726763964046.html