By Shashank Bengali from NYT World https://ift.tt/9sXiDE2
Here are the steps the court ordered Israel to take.
By Shashank Bengali from NYT World https://ift.tt/9sXiDE2
2024 Polls: 96 Crore Citizens, Including 47 Crore Women Eligible to Vote
Over 96 crore people, including 47 crore women, are eligible to cast votes in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, for which more than 12 lakh polling booths will be set up across India.
Over 1.73 crore of those eligible to vote are in the age group of 18 to 19 years, according to Election Commission data.
As many as 1.5 crore polling personnel will be deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the parliamentary elections to elect members of the 18th Lok Sabha.
According to a 2023 letter sent by the EC to political parties, India had 17.32 crore registered voters in 1951, which rose to 19.37 crore in 1957.
There were 91.20 crore voters in the 2019 polls.
Out of the total voters registered in the electoral rolls, nearly 18 lakh are persons with disabilities.
In the first Lok Sabha elections, the voter turnout was recorded at 45 per cent. It was 67 per cent in the last parliamentary polls.
Qatar Expresses Anger Over Netanyahu’s Leaked Criticism
By The New York Times from NYT World https://ift.tt/2Cq5wFX
Padma Vibhushan For Venkaiah Naidu, Actor Chiranjeevi. See Full List
The government today announced the prestigious Padma Awards on the eve of the 75th Republic Day celebrations.
The Padma Vibhushan has been awarded to Vyjayantimala Bali, Konidela Chiranjeevi, M Venkaiah Naidu, Bindeshwar Pathak (posthumous), and Padma Subrahmanyam.
BJP leader Ram Naik, singer Usha Uthup and actor Vijaykanth (posthumous) are among the 17 who have been awarded the Padma Bhushan.
The first woman judge of the Supreme Court Chief Justice M Fathima Beevi (posthumous), actor Mithun Chakraborty, and Bombay Samachar owner Hormusji N Cama are also among the Padma Bhushan awardees.
Young Liu, the CEO of Taiwan's Foxconn, has also been honoured with Padma Bhushan.
Anti Terror Agency Files Fresh Chargesheet Against 2 In Coimbatore Car Blast
The NIA on Wednesday filed a fresh charge sheet and named two more accused in the ISIS-inspired Coimbatore car bomb blast case of 2022, an agency spokesperson said.
Mohammed Azarudeen alias Azar and Mohammed Idris, both residents of Coimbatore, have been named in the supplementary charge sheet and have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and Explosive Substances Act, the spokesperson said.
With this, a total of 13 people have been charge-sheeted in this case till now. The rest were named in the prosecution complaints filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in April and June last year.
The probe pertains to an explosion that took place in front of the ancient Arulmigu Kottai Sangameshwarar Thirukovil Temple at Eswaran Kovil Street in Ukkadam, Coimbatore on October 23, 2022, through a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), allegedly driven by one Jamesha Mubeen.
Mubeen was "inspired" by hardcore ISIS ideology to commit this act of terror.
The NIA probe found, the spokesperson said, that Mubeen, along with Mohammed Azarudeen, Umar Faaruq, Sheikh Hidayathullah and Sanofer Ali, conspired to carry out a series of suicidal terror attacks in Coimbatore city following a conspiracy hatched in the forested area of Sathyamangalam region in Erode district of Tamil Nadu.
The attack was intended to wreak vengeance on 'kafirs' (non-believers), as stated in one of the self-made confessional videos by the accused a few days before the attack, the spokesperson said.
Azarudeen, who acted as a pedagogue to the module involved in the attack, was earlier arrested by the NIA in another case related to the indoctrination of ISIS ideology and in connection with the NTJ (National Thowheeth Jama'ath) module of Sri Lanka, which was responsible for the 2019 Easter blast attacks in the island country.
"Azarudeen had motivated three other accused who met him in the high-security prison (HSP) Viyyur. This led to the subsequent Sathyamangalam Conspiracy meeting, resulting in the planning and preparation of the instant terror attack," the spokesperson added.
Accused Umar Faaruq was elected as the "Amir" to lead the execution.
Mohammed Idris, part of the module of Azarudeen and radicalised in the ISIS and by the 'bayans' (statements) of accused Zahran Hashim, was tasked with purchasing a used vehicle for the blast and to assisting the main accused in the attack, he said.
"The larger aim of the conspiracy was to create terror in the minds of a section of the society by targeting its various branches like general administration, police, judiciary," the spokesperson said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Security Tightened In Imphal As Manipur Ministers To Meet This Key Group
Security has been tightened in and around Manipur capital Imphal after Arambai Tenggol asked all ministers and MLAs from the valley districts for a meeting at Kangla Fort on Wednesday.
Arambai Tenggol, an organisation of around 50,000 people engaged in guarding villages in the valley areas of the state, has asked all ministers and MLAs from the valley districts to come for discussions, the details of which have not been specified, an official said, adding "there are intel reports that they (Arambai Tenggol) are planning to enter Kangla fort with arms before the meeting."
According to the officials, a large number of security forces including CRPF, Assam Rifles, Army and state police have been deployed near the fort as a precautionary measure.
Kangla Fort served as the royal seat of Manipur kingdom till 1891.
Earlier too, Arambai Tenggol had asked all legislators to attend a meeting at Kangla Fort, the official said.
The development comes a day after a three-member Union home ministry team met the leaders of the group at the residence of Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba on Monday, the official added.
The group has demanded delisting of Kukis from the ST list, deportation of refugees to camps in Mizoram, border fencing, replacement of Assam Rifles with other paramilitary force and revoking Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement between Centre and Kuki militant groups, officials said.
The central team included former Intelligence Bureau special director AK Mishra, SIB New Delhi joint director Mandeep Singh and SIB Imphal joint director Rajesh Kamble.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
From US To Nepal, Indian Community Celebrates Grand Ram Temple Event
Joyous Ram devotees and members of the Indian diaspora around the world came together, including at the iconic Times Square in New York, for prayers, car rallies, cultural and other religious events along with live streaming to celebrate the consecration of 'Ram Lalla' in Ayodhya on Monday.
Nepal's Janakpurdham, the birthplace of goddess Sita, on Monday, decked up for the Ram Temple consecration ceremony, with temple authorities decorating the Janaki temple with garlands and flowers.
Hindus in Janakpurdham, who joined the celebrations with multiple cultural and religious festivities, wrote "Jai Siyaram" with flowers.
Lord Ram's wife Sita's other name is Janaki, daughter of King Janak of Janakpur. It is 500-odd kms east of Ayodhya in India and has been a symbol of the ancient bond shared by the two countries.
Houses and streets of Janakpur were decorated with colourful lights, paper flags, banners and garlands, local authorities said.
As many as 1.25 lakh earthen lamps were lit to celebrate the auspicious occasion of 'pran pratistha'.
The Indian diaspora gathered at New York's Times Square to witness the live screening of the 'Pran Pratistha' ceremony at Ram Mandir. The iconic location was lit up to mark the ceremony. People were seen donning traditional attire, dancing, singing bhajans and other songs.
At SV Lotus Temple in Fairfax County of Virginia, a suburb of Washington DC, members of the Sikh, Muslim and Pakistani American communities also joined the celebrations. Over 2,500 people attended the event coinciding with the consecration at Ayodhya.
Pictures of the Ram Mandir were also displayed on the NASDAQ screen.
At an event organised by the Hindus of Greater Houston, members from various countries where Lord Rama is part of the culture were facilitated.
In Los Angeles, 1,000 people attended a car rally to celebrate the occasion. About 250 cars participated in the rally.
Immediately after the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) and Vishwa Hindu Parishad of Canada announced a Ram Mandir Yatra to visit over 1,000 temples in the two countries.
The epic journey is scheduled to commence on March 25 from the Om Hindu Centre in Billerica, Massachusetts, featuring a specially adorned van carrying statues of Shree Ram, Sita, Lakshaman, and Hanuman, according to a statement issued by VHP America.
“The primary goal of this monumental endeavour is to personally deliver Prasad and Akshat (rice) obtained by VHPA delegates who actively participated in the Shree Ram Lalla Murti Prana Pratishtha in Ayodhya Dham on January 22, 2024,” it said.
“Additionally, the initiative aims to present written recognition of participation in the Shree Ram Lalla Murti Prana Pratishtha,” it said, adding, this ambitious task is set to be accomplished in 45 days, encompassing the entire expanse of the USA and Canada.
Thousands of people in Trinidad and Tobago, a Caribbean nation with a large Indian-origin population, attended a grand event on the eve of the consecration of 'Ram Lalla' in Ayodhya.
More than 5,000 people attended the celebration on Sunday which was marked by cultural events and the singing of popular Ram songs.
“Indeed, an honour to participate in the grand celebrations by the Indian Diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago on the eve of Pran Pratishtha of Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya,” the Indian High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago posted on X.
In Canberra, the members of Indian diaspora in Australia had gathered at a community event to witness live streaming of consecration of Ram Lalla at Ayodhya. Indian High Commissioner and several of his colleagues attended the event.
In United Kingdom, car rallies, community celebrations and cultural events marked the celebrations.
Car dressed up as 'rath' in London was part of a rally held ahead of the Ayodhya event while temples across UK, including the famous Ram Temple at South Hall in London, saw gatherings of the members of the diaspora. They organised langars to mark the occasion, held Ram Dhun and distributed laddoos.
The Mauritian government granted a one-off special leave for two hours to public servants of the Hindu faith to attend prayers marking the "landmark" inauguration.
"Let us rejoice as Shri Ram returns to Ayodhya. May his blessings and teachings light our way towards peace and prosperity. Jai Hind! Jai Mauritius!" Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth posted on X.
Presenting the rustic melodies of Ram bhajans, the Roche Bois Ramayana Group from Mauritius created a heartwarming ambience that filled the air with devotion, peace, and a sense of unity.
The Indian community in Dubai celebrated the consecration ceremony of the new Ram Temple in Ayodhya by organising a cultural event where hundreds of members of the Indian diaspora performed traditional dances and sang devotional songs to mark the occasion.
On the eve of the ‘Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at Ayodhya, Queretaro in Mexico got the first Lord Ram temple. Queretaro also hosts the first Lord Hanuman temple in Mexico.
"The ‘Pran Pratishtha' ceremony was performed by an American Priest with Mexican hosts & the idols brought from India. The atmosphere was filled with divine energy as the hymns & songs sung by the Indian diaspora reverberated throughout the hall," the Embassy of India in Mexico posted on X.
Over 250 diaspora members attended the event.
In Fiji, Ram Lalla Utsav was organised from January 18-22 by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in Suva and Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji to commemorate the inauguration.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Rajasthan Minister's One-Meal Vow Until Grand Krishna Temple Is Built
Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar on Monday said he will eat only one meal a day till a grand temple is constructed in the birthplace of Lord Krishna.
"Unless a magnificent temple on the birthplace of Lord Sri Krishna is constructed, I will eat only once a day, beginning today," Mr Dilawar said at a felicitation event in Ramganj Mandi, his constituency in Kota.
In his address, Mr Dilawar recalled how he along with Dr Kirorilal Meena, now a state cabinet minister, and hundreds of kar sevaks staged a demonstration in Ayodhya in 1992 against the illegal detention and fabricated charges of murder against their colleagues.
Mr Dilawar, a six-time MLA and three-time minister, had in February 1990 also vowed he would not accept or wear garland till the Ram Temple is constructed in Ayodhya.
On Monday, after the consecration ceremony was over at Ram Temple in Ayodhya, he was offered a 34 kg garland, and another, 108 feet in length, by his supporters.
Mr Dilawar however refused to wear the garlands saying he would wear it when he visits the temple in Ayodhya on January 31.
In February 1990, Mr Dilwar had also vowed he would not sleep in bed until Article 370 pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir was scrapped. It is said he slept on a mat ever since, till the contentious Article was revoked in 2019, when he finally took to bed.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Gujarat Man Paints His Jaguar Saffron To Mark Ayodhya Ram Temple Event
The preparations for the grand 'Pran Prathistha' (consecration) ceremony of Ayodhya's Ram Temple on January 22 are in full swing. Amid this, a man from Gujarat, Siddharth Doshi wrapped his Jaguar car with the theme of the ceremony.
Mr Doshi painted his luxury car in a radiant shade of saffron. The car has images of Lord Rama and the Ramayana on its sides. It also features a picture of the temple structure on the car's bonnet. Further, Sanskrit sholkas are also seen on the car. The vehicle also displays Ram Darbar and Lord Hanuman.
Mr Doshi embarked on a pilgrimage from Surat to Ayodhya. He shared several pictures and videos from his journey. In one of the posts, Mitesh Patel, Member of Parliament from Anand, Gujarat is seen posing next to him. In another post, he is pictured with Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Keshav Prasad Maurya and BJP MP Manoj Tiwari.
However, this is not the first time that Mr Doshi has made changes to his car. Last year, he modified his Jaguar car with India's G20 Presidency-themed films to spread awareness about it. He stated at that time that hosting the G20 group by India was a proud moment for all the countrymen.
The businessman, who is a big fan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, drove his car from Surat in Gujarat to the national capital Delhi to spread awareness about the importance of G20.
"It is a proud moment for us and India that India is hosting the G20 this year, my simple message through my car is that people know the importance of the country," he told ANI.
Earlier, he had decorated his same car around the theme of 'Amrit Mahotsav of Independence', the 75th year of independence.
Lev Rubinstein, Russian Poet and a Critic of Putin, Is Dead at 76
By Valerie Hopkins from NYT World https://ift.tt/hdpIx6W
'First In History': Army Couple To March Down Kartavya Path In R-Day Parade
Major Jerry Blaize and Captain Supreetha C T are all set to become the first couple to march down the Kartavya Path as members of two different contingents in the Republic Day parade on January 26.
"This is a first in the history of the Republic Day parades," Major Blaize told PTI.
The couple, who got married in June 2023, said it was a sheer coincidence that they were getting to march together on the occasion.
"This did not happen in a planned way. It is a coincidence. Initially, I gave my selection test and got through. Then my husband also got selected from his regiment," Captain Supreetha said.
They were part of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) during college.
"My wife took part in the NCC Republic Day parade in 2016 at the Kartavya Path, New Delhi and I got the opportunity to be part of the NCC Republic Day camp in 2014 New Delhi. This was also one of the motivating factors for me to lead my regiment in the Republic Day 2024 at Kartavya path and make my regiment proud," Major Blaize said.
Capt Supreetha is from Mysore, Karnataka, and is a Law graduate from JSS Law College in the city. Major Blaize is from Wellington, Tamil Nadu, and did his graduation from Jain University, Bengaluru.
They currently live in Delhi. They are from different regiments and take part in practice sessions separately.
"My husband is from the Madras regiment and I am part of the Corps of Military Police contingent," Captain Supreetha said.
"We are posted at different places and this is one such opportunity that both of us are getting to spend time together for these two months in New Delhi. It is a very proud moment for both of us that we are here with our respective contingents," she added.
They said their families are delighted and they will be coming to attend the parade.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
"Ram Mandir A National Temple," Says Dipika Chikhlia Who Played Sita
Dipika Chikhlia, who became synonymous with Goddess Sita due to her role in Ramanand Sagar's TV serial Ramayan, believes that the Ram temple in Ayodhya is not only about faith but also a 'rashtra mandir'.
Ahead of the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony in Ayodhya, Chikhlia recalled the moment when she was selected to play the role of Sita in the TV serial. Ramanand Sagar was very happy about it and even had tears in his eyes, she said.
Ms Chikhlia said that with 'Pran Pratishtha' Sanatan Dharma is finally getting its due.
"I was considered for Sita only. I had worked with Ramanand Sagar before Ramayan. So he had me in mind. But he did not want to arrive at a decision without going through auditions. He was very happy after the final audition. With tears in his eyes, he said, 'Mujhe meri Sita mil gayee'," Chikhlia told PTI in an interview.
The actor said she had visited Ayodhya in July 2023 and was totally mesmerized by the holy city. "I thought that I was in the same city that Ram Ji had ruled and lived in at one point in time." "The Ram temple is not only about faith; it is also a 'rashtra mandir' (national temple) under construction. (Ram Mandir sirf vishvas, bharosa kee hee baat nahi hai. Usske saath-saath yeh mandir, raashtra mandir kaa nirmaan hone jaa rahaa hai). This, I think, is extremely wonderful," she said.
Speaking about the ceremony, Chikhlia said, "Pran Pratishtha is very symbolic because Sanatan Dharm is finally getting its due. All our temples are getting renovated and are becoming larger than life. Due to the trust that the people have in their gods and the governance system, I think they are becoming more confident in being Sanatanis. They think that the Sanatanis also get respect in this country."
On the transformation of Ayodhya, she said, "A number of changes are being witnessed in Ayodhya. A grand temple is being built. The architecture has also changed. It is looking very beautiful, organized, and coordinated. The roads have become broad. This will give a boost to tourism and also to the economy. So, I think it's all wonderful." Chikhlia is a producer with Nazara TV and has produced a TV serial called Dhartiputra Nandini, which is the story of a family living in Ayodhya.
She was a Lok Sabha MP from Vadodara from 1991 to 1996. She was elected on a BJP ticket.
Deposit 150 Crores By Jan 31, Supreme Court To New Owners Of Jet Airways
The Supreme Court on Thursday directed Jalan-Kalrock consortium, the new owners of the cash-strapped Jet Airways, to deposit Rs 150 crore in SBI's escrow account by January 31, saying failure to do so will mean that the consortium is not in compliance with the terms of the resolution plan for reviving the airline.
The top court, meanwhile, also refused to allow the separate plea of the Jet Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Welfare Association seeking payment of provident fund and gratuity dues, observing if additional money is awarded, the resolution plan will become “unworkable”.
The consortium, as per the lawyers for the workmen, has to pay over Rs 200 crore towards dues on account of PF and gratuity.
A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said the insolvency appellate tribunal NCLAT was not correct in permitting adjustment of Rs 150 crore from the performance bank guarantee (PBG) towards payment of Rs 350 crore by the consortium to the lenders led by the State Bank of India. The amount was to be deposited in SBI's escrow account.
Escrow is a legal concept whereby an asset or money is held by a third party on behalf of two other parties that are in the process of completing a transaction.
"In the circumstances, we have come to the conclusion that the NCLAT (National Company Law Appellate Tribunal) was not justified in holding in its order dated August 28, 2023 that the last tranche of Rs 150 crores, which was to be paid, would be adjusted against the PBG," the bench said.
Out of the Rs 350 crore, which was to be paid by the consortium, Rs 200 crore was deposited in two equal instalments of Rs 100 crore and the remaining Rs 150 crore was adjusted from the performance bank guarantee (PBG) to which lender banks led by the State Bank of India objected.
Under a performance guarantee, monetary compensation has to be paid by the bank when there is any delay in delivering the performance or operation. Payment has to be made even if the service is delivered inadequately.
While referring the case back to the NCLAT for expeditious disposal, the top court said, "The SRA (successful resolution applicant- the Jalan-Kalrock consortium) shall on or before January 31, deposit an amount of Rs 150 crores to the SBI's escrow account failing which the SRA shall be treated as non compliant to the resolution plan." Modifying the August 28, 2023 order of the NCLAT, the bench said the permission granted to the consortium to adjust the last tranche of Rs 150 crore against the PBG is substituted with the direction.
The top court refused to extend the time for deposit of Rs 150 crore from January 31 to February 15 as sought by the consortium.
It said the rights and contentions of rival parties with regard to the compliance of the terms of the resolution plan will be adjudicated upon by the NCLAT.
During the day-long hearing, the bench said the consortium “must restore the performance bank guarantee of Rs 150 crore”.
On Wednesday, the top court had asked the consortium how much have they paid towards provident fund and gratuity dues to the former employees of the troubled airline.
On Thursday, the bench said though it was aware of the plight of the workmen, the amount sought cannot be awarded as it would make the resolution plan to revive the Jet Airways “unworkable”.
On August 28, 2023, the NCLAT had extended till September 30 the time for Jalan-Kalrock consortium to pay Rs 350 crore to the lenders of the bankrupt Jet Airways.
The tribunal had accepted the consortium's plea for extending the deadline and for adjustment of Rs 150 crore from performance bank guarantee (PBG) towards payment of Rs 350 crore.
Jalan-Kalrock Consortium had emerged as the winning bidder for the airline, which stopped flying in April 2019 and later underwent an insolvency resolution process.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General N Venkataraman, appearing for the SBI-led consortium of banks which had lent money to Jet Airways, said the financial institutions have to recover Rs 7,800 crore. They said they are also incurring expenses on maintaining aircraft.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Man Rapes Woman, Kills Her By Hitting Head With Stone: Gurugram Cops
A man was arrested for allegedly killing a 34-year-old woman after raping her in this district, police said Wednesday.
The body of the woman was spotted in the hilly area near Bhondsi village on January 13, they said.
Both the accused and the woman were known to each other.
According to police, Jeevan Aharwal (28), a resident of Rajpura village in Madhya Pradesh' Chhatarpur district and the woman, a native of Sagar district, came to know each other when they worked as labourers. The accused, however, later started selling fruits.
A senior police officer said Aharwal confessed to the murder. He told police that he had raped the woman and she wanted to lodge a police complain against him so he killed her by hitting her head with a stone.
"On January 7, he took the woman to the hills of Bhondsi on the pretext of showing her a temple. He raped her and when she resisted and threatened to file a complaint, he killed her using a stone," the official said.
The forest ranger had informed the police on January 13 about the body of a woman lying in the hilly area in Bhondsi. The police reached the spot, took the body in custody, and kept it in the mortuary.
The woman's body was identified a day later by her husband, police said.
An FIR was registered at Bhondsi police station on January 14. During the investigation, a team led by Sub-Inspector Ashok Kumar arrested the accused Jeevan from near SPR Road on Tuesday night, they said.
"We have taken the accused on two days' police remand after producing him in a city court today. We are questioning him," Gurgaon police spokesperson Subhash Boken said on Wednesday.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
"Dissent Should Be Expressed Within Bounds Of Dignity Of House": Om Birla
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday said that dissent should be expressed within the bounds of dignity and decorum of the House.
Addressing the valedictory session of the orientation programme for members of the Rajasthan Assembly, Mr Birla said it is a matter of utmost importance for the members to establish the highest standards of conduct in the House.
"In a democracy, there may be differences of opinion on policies and issues, but disagreements and dissent should be expressed within the bounds of dignity and decorum of the House," he said.
Mr Birla emphasized that there should not be any disruption in the House during addresses of the president and the governor.
Observing that these are sacrosanct occasions in our parliamentary system, he advised the members to be sincere during these addresses.
Mentioning that every member has an important responsibility to make the House the cornerstone of democracy, he urged the members to devote their full time to the House.
The Lok Sabha speaker said that learning from others will widen the perspective of the members and this will help them to deliver speeches more effectively.
He also suggested the members to read old debates, laws and rules, which will help them to be better legislators.
Mr Birla said that as members of the legislative assembly, it is their responsibility to fulfill the hopes, expectations and aspirations of the people they represent.
The Lok Sabha speaker said that the members, as people's representatives, should regularly communicate with the grassroots level elected organisations in their area, participate in development activities and raise their issues in the House.
He suggested that the members should be technology-friendly and should use technology as an effective tool to connect with the people at the grassroots level.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Poll Body Reschedules UP Bypoll Due To Public Holiday For Ram Temple Event
The Election Commission (EC) on Monday rescheduled a bypoll to fill a vacancy in the Uttar Pradesh legislative council as the last date to withdraw candidature was January 22, which the state government has declared a public holiday to mark the Ram temple consecration ceremony at Ayodhya.
In a statement, the poll panel said January 22 was the last day to withdraw candidature for the January 29 bypoll. But in view of the public holiday, the last date to withdraw nominations has now been fixed at January 23 and the bypoll itself will take place on January 30, instead of January 29.
On January 4, the EC announced two legislative council by-polls for Telangana and one for Uttar Pradesh.
It made it clear that the by-polls scheduled for Telangana will go ahead in accordance with the schedule announced earlier.
According to the established practice, polls and counting of votes for the Rajya Sabha and legislative councils take place on the same day.
The by-poll for the Uttar Pradesh legislative council was necessitated after former deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma resigned from the state's Upper House after being elected to the Rajya Sabha.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Sack Narayan Rane From Cabinet Over Shankaracharya Remark: Thackeray Sena
The Shiv Sena (UBT) has demanded the dismissal of Union Minister Narayan Rane from the Union cabinet for questioning the "contribution" of Shankaracharyas to the Hindu religion.
The Uddhav Thacerkay-led party also sought a public apology from the BJP ahead of the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya over Mr Rane's comments.
Shiv Sena (UBT) ally Congress staged a protest at the party office in Mumbai against Narayan Rane on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters in Palghar, Mr Rane said the Shankaracharyas should bless the Ram Temple instead of criticising some aspects and accused them of looking at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP through a "political prism".
"No one could do it until now. PM Modi and the BJP took it up and a temple is being built. Should they bless the temple or criticise it? It means Shankaracharyas look at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP through a political prism. This temple is not built on politics but on religion. Lord Ram is our God," he said.
"The Shankaracharyas should tell what is their contribution to the Hindu religion," he said.
Addressing a rally on Saturday night, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray said the BJP should issue a public apology ahead of the consecration of the Ram temple for the "derogatory" remarks made by Mr Rane against Shankaracharyas. He also demanded the BJP expel Mr Rane.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said Mr Rane insulted Hinduism by questioning the contribution of the Shankaracharyas.
"The BJP must apologise before January 22. We demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi sack Mr Rane from the Union cabinet," Mr Raut said.
Supriya Sule, the working president of the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party, said it was for the BJP to respond to Mr Rane's comments.
On Friday, the VHP's working president Alok Kumar said two of the four Shankaracharyas have "openly welcomed" the upcoming consecration ceremony, but none would attend the grand event in Ayodhya.
They will visit the Ram temple later "as per their convenience", he told PTI.
The Opposition has been targeting the BJP over reports of respective Shankaracharyas of Shri Shringeri Sharda Peeth Karnataka, Dwarka Sharda Peeth in Gujarat, Jyotir Peeth in Uttarakhand and Govardhan Peeth in Odisha deciding not to attend the consecration ceremony.
Jyotirpeeth Sankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati reportedly said it would not be right to perform a consecration ceremony at this stage as the construction is not complete yet.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Doctor, 2 Nurses Off-Rostered After Ventilator Malfunction Kills Patient
A doctor and two nurses of MDM Hospital in Rajasthan's Jodhpur were removed from duty today, a day after a cancer patient died due to a disruption in the supply of oxygen caused by a power shutdown in the trauma centre of the state-run facility.
The action was taken following a preliminary report by the inquiry committee constituted by the hospital administration to fix responsibility for the incident.
Dr Kuldeep Singh and two nurses have been put on APO (awaiting posting order), hospital superintendent Vikas Rajpurohit said, adding that a detailed inquiry was in progress.
A parallel administrative inquiry has been ordered into the incident by the divisional commissioner. Additional District Magistrate Sanjay Basu will conduct the probe and submit a report by Monday.
Rajasthan Medical and Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar reached the hospital this evening and held a meeting.
He enquired about the incident from the hospital superintendent and directed him to take strict action against those responsible for it.
He also directed the administration to take action against the ventilator supplier for the failure of its power backup system.
Gopal Bhati, a cancer patient admitted at the MDM Hospital, died early morning on Friday after the supply of oxygen was disrupted following a power cut, which led to the ventilator dysfunction. An attempt to engage a generator to resume the power supply also failed.
The patient's family alleged that the on-duty doctor was not present at the centre and the male nurse could not handle the situation.
"Had they swung into action and resumed the supply of oxygen by making an alternative arrangement, the patient could have been saved," a family member said.
This is the second such incident at the hospital in nearly 15 years.
In 2011, three patients died due to a disruption in the supply of oxygen.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Amid Severe Cold Wave, Patna Schools Upto Class 8 Shut Till January 16
Cold wave conditions gripped Bihar on Friday with the mercury dipping below 10 degrees Celsius in several districts.
Gaya recorded the lowest temperature in the state at 4.9 degrees Celsius, according to an India Meteorological Department (IMD) report.
The IMD predicted that minimum temperatures were likely to remain between 9 and 12 degrees Celsius over the next four to five days in several parts of the state, including Patna.
According to the IMD report, Banka was the second-coldest at 6.3 degrees Celsius, followed by Motihari (6.8), Sabour in Bhagalpur at 7 degrees Celsius, Dehri (7.2) and Kaimur (7.6).
State capital Patna recorded a minimum temperature of 8.1 degrees Celsius.
Low visibility due to foggy conditions was reported from different parts of the state, the weather office said.
The maximum temperature of 22.2 degrees Celsius was registered at Forbesganj in Araria district.
Meanwhile, Patna District Magistrate Chandra Shekhar Singh ordered the closure of all government and private schools up to class 8 till January 16 due to the prevailing severe cold conditions.
The order will be effective across the Patna district.
"It has been made to appear to me that due to prevalent cold weather and low temperature prevailing particularly in the morning in the district, the health and life of children are at risk.
"Therefore, I... hereby prohibit the academic activities of all the private and government schools (including pre-schools and anganwadi centres) of the district up to class 8 till January 16," the DM's order stated.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Foreigners Cant Claim Right To Reside, Settle In India: Delhi High Court
The Indian Constitution does not allow a foreign national to claim the right to reside and settle in India, the Delhi High Court has said while observing that the fundamental right of foreigners is limited to the right to life and liberty.
The high court dismissed a petition that claimed the detention of a man named Azal Chakma was illegal and without authority.
"We may also note that foreign national cannot claim that he has the right to reside and settle in India in terms of Article 19 (1) (e) of the Constitution of India.....
"Fundamental right of any such foreigner or suspected foreigner is limited to the one declared under Article 21 of Constitution of India, that is, fundamental right of life and liberty and there is nothing which may suggest that his liberty has been curtailed in an illegal or unlawful manner," a bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain said.
The high court said Chakma himself is to be blamed for his miseries as he has failed to explain as to how he came back to India when he had left the country on a Bangladeshi passport.
It rejected the habeas corpus petition filed by the family of Azal Chakma, a suspected Bangladeshi national, who was apprehended at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi in October 2022.
A habeas corpus petition is filed seeking direction to produce a person who is missing or has been illegally detained.
According to the plea, the man has Indian citizenship by birth and had his initial education in Gomati in Tripura and later in Shillong, Meghalaya.
It was averred that he lived in India all his life except for a very brief period and that he was holding an Indian passport, Aadhaar card, PAN card and driving licence issued by Indian authorities, and was running business in Kolkata.
However, Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO) contended that the man was apprehended at IGI Airport during immigration clearance when he was attempting to depart for Bangladesh capital Dhaka using a fraudulently obtained Indian passport. It was in this backdrop that his movements were restricted.
The authorities claimed it transpired after scrutiny that Chakma had been visiting India till 2016 on the basis of multiple Indian visas on a passport issued to him by Bangladesh.
They claimed he had left India on a Bangladeshi passport in June 2016 and it was not known how he subsequently sneaked into India.
According to the authorities, he entered India illegally through a porous border and thereafter managed to obtain Indian documents, including passport, in a "fraudulent and dishonest" manner. His passport was revoked by the Indian authorities in June 2023.
The high court was told that Chakma's movements have been restricted under the provisions of the Foreigners Act and that the High Commission of Bangladesh has already issued travel documents for his repatriation. He will be deported as soon as the authorities get a confirmed air ticket for him from the Embassy of Bangladesh, the court was informed.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Greater Noida Man Shoots Self To Allegedly Frame Loanee For Attack
A 25-year-old man in Greater Noida allegedly shot himself in the arm on Wednesday to implicate a friend in a case of attack, police officials said.
The incident took place around 8.30 am in the Kaanth Mandi area under Dadri police station limits, they said.
"The man, identified as Tanuj Nagar, had lent around Rs 15 lakh to Rishabh Gupta two years ago. The repayment of the loan was allegedly getting delayed. Nagar had come to Gupta's house for repayment on his call," a police officer said.
"Nagar was accompanied by another friend who stood outside Gupta's house as the two talked inside. Later, Nagar pulled out a firearm and shot himself in his arm after which he ran out of the house," the officer said.
This, the policeman said, was allegedly done to implicate Gupta in a criminal case.
Nagar was later taken to a hospital for treatment where his condition is stated to be out of danger, according to the police.
No case has been registered yet in the case but the police said they are ascertaining facts of the matter and checking documents of the gun before initiating any legal proceedings, they added. PTI KIS CK
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Aligarh Muslim University Can't Be Minority Institution, Supreme Court Told
Aligarh Muslim University cannot be a minority institution given its "national character", the Centre on Tuesday told the Supreme Court, which began hearing the hugely disputed question of the minority status of AMU.
It said AMU is not and cannot be a university of any particular religion or religious denomination as any university which has been declared an institution of national importance cannot be a minority institution. In his written submissions filed before the apex court, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the university has always been an institution of national importance, even in the pre-independence era. The university was founded in 1875.
"Therefore, as per the submission of the Union of India, the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is an institution of a national character. A survey of the documents surrounding the establishment of the Aligarh Muslim University and even the then existing legislative position enunciates that the AMU was always an institution having a national character," the document said.
While referring to debates in the Constituent Assembly, it said, it is clear that a university which was and is clearly an institution of national importance, has to be a non-minority university.
"It is submitted that owing to the obviously secular ethos and nature of the nation and the Constitution, considering the fact that AMU is an institution of educational 'national character' it cannot be considered to be a minority institution irrespective of the question whether it was established and administered by the minority at the time of inception or not," Mehta said.
The top law officer said AMU is not a university dominantly functioning as a Muslim university as it is not established and administered by the minority.
"Aligarh Muslim University is not and cannot be a University of any particular religion or religious denomination as any University which is declared by the Constitution of India to be of national importance should, by definition, cannot be a minority institution," Mehta said in his written submissions.
On the impact of declaring AMU as a "minority institution", he said a minority educational institution is not required to implement the reservation policy under section 3 of the Central Educational Institution (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006 (as amended in 2012).
"Despite being an institution of national importance with other institutes of national importance, Aligarh Muslim University would have a separate admission procedure," the document said.
Mehta said the resultant effect of the said exemption would be "drastic" as AMU is an extremely old and large institute with vast properties and an enormous amount of students studying in various courses.
"It is submitted that a large national institute like Aligarh Muslim University ought to maintain its secular origins and serve the larger interest of the nation first," he said.
Mehta said AMU is ranked ninth among universities and autonomous institutions in India by the Ministry of Education's National Institutional Ranking Framework-2023, and the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), an autonomous body of the University Grants Commission, has graded the varsity at 'A '.
"The case of Aligarh Muslim University and Banaras Hindu University is sui generis (unique) case since the framers of the Constitution chose to place these two Universities in List I as a part of Entry 63, though the subject of education is otherwise in the State List (at the time of independence). This exhibits the national character of the University and its stand," it said.
Referring to the AMU Act, the solicitor general said, throughout the process of amendments to the law, the understanding of the character of AMU being national and non-minority has been clear.
"Therefore, the mere omission of the word 'establish' from the preamble and addition of 'established by the Muslims of India' in definition of University section 2(l) of the Aligarh Muslim (University) Act cannot change the historical fact that the Aligarh Muslim University was established by efforts of a large number of people including the State which had no religion and by an Act of the Indian Legislative Council, which did not provide for a predominant minority character to the University," he said.
The issue of AMU's minority status has been caught in a legal maze for the last several decades.
A five-judge constitution bench had in the S Azeez Basha versus Union of India case in 1967 held that since the Aligarh Muslim University was a central university, it cannot be considered a minority institution.
However, the fabled institution established in 1875 got back its minority status when Parliament passed the AMU (Amendment) Act in 1981.
In January 2006, the Allahabad High Court struck down the provision of the 1981 law by which the university was accorded the minority status.
The Congress-led UPA government at the Centre moved in appeal against the Allahabad High Court order. The university also filed a separate petition against it.
The NDA government spearheaded by the BJP told the Supreme Court in 2016 that it will withdraw the appeal filed by the erstwhile UPA dispensation. It had cited the apex court's 1967 judgement in the S Azeez Basha case to claim that AMU was not a minority institution since it was a central university funded by the government.
A seven-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud commenced hearing the matter on Tuesday. The arguments remained inconclusive and will resume on Wednesday.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Punjab Cops Seize 3.5 Kg Of Heroin, Arrest 3 In Drug, Arms Smuggling Racket
The Punjab Police on Monday said it has arrested three more people and seized 3.5 kg of heroin during an investigation connected to a cross-border drug and arms smuggling racket busted on December 31.
Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said they were identified as Balraj Singh alias Kaka of Lahorimal village in Amritsar, and Anmol Singh alias Laalu and Sarabjit Singh of the city's Ranjhe di Haveli area.
With this, the total number of arrests now stands at 10 and the quantity of heroin seized is 22.5 kilograms.
Gaurav Yadav said police have also seized 10 live cartridges of .30 bore and nine live cartridges of 9 MM, along with a car from their possession.
The development came more than a week after the police commissioner of Amritsar busted the racket that was being operated by US-based smuggler Mannu Mahawa.
Commissioner of Police (CP), Amritsar, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said Anmol Singh and his accomplices were caught after being spotted in the Sultanwind area.
As per preliminary investigations, the accused were in touch with a Pakistan-based smuggler and Mahawa, and were supplying drugs, arms, and ammunition across the state after smuggling them via drones, he added
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
3 AAP Leaders To Join Seat-Sharing Talks Of INDIA Bloc Tomorrow: Report
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak and Delhi cabinet ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj will participate in the INDIA bloc meeting on Monday to discuss seat sharing, party sources said.
According to the sources, the Opposition bloc will meet in Delhi tomorrow to discuss seat sharing.
"Sandeep Pathak, Atishi, and Saurabh Bharadwaj will attend the meeting on behalf of AAP," the source said.
The AAP and Congress have to work out a seat-sharing formula in Delhi and Punjab where the Arvind Kejriwal-led party is in power.
In Punjab, the state units of both AAP and Congress are confident of their victory. AAP sources had earlier ruled out the possibility of an alliance with Congress in Punjab.
After extensive internal consultations, the Congress has begun seat-sharing talks in some states with like-minded parties of the INDIA bloc for the crucial Lok Sabha elections.
Formal negotiations for seat-sharing with Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab and Delhi will begin on Monday, the sources said.
The seat-sharing talks with other parties come after the 28-party Opposition INDIA grouping decided to take on the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections together.
5-Year-Old Youngest In World To Undergo Successful "Awake" Brain Surgery
Doctors at AIIMS, Delhi, successfully performed a brain tumour surgery on a five-year-old girl while keeping her in a conscious state during the operation with the hospital claiming that she was the youngest patient in the world to undergo such a procedure.
The procedure termed as 'awake craniotomy' (conscious sedation technique) surgery for left perisylvian intraaxial brain tumour was performed on January 4, AIIMS said in a statement.
The child presented with a history of seizures and her brain MRI was done which showed a tumour in the left side of her brain adjacent to speech/language area, it said.
The surgery lasted three hours, including time taken for giving local anaesthesia to the child by neuroanaesthetists.
The tumour was removed successfully by a team of neurosurgeons as she remained conscious throughout the procedure.
"Technological adjuncts viz preoperative functional MRI brain, intraoperative ultrasonography, neuronavigation were used to localise tumour precisely during resection while mapping of functional areas was being carried out under awake conditions. Ice cold saline was used for the brain surface to prevent any seizures during the procedure,” the statement said.
“The child is doing well and will be sent home on Monday," it said.
A long discussion was held between team members, patient's family and the child before taking a decision to go ahead with the surgery. They were counselled at length on steps of procedure, it stated.
She was shown common objects, common animals and given some tasks for language and sensorimotor assessments before surgery, which were repeated during the surgical procedure also.
She is a first standard student and was quick in identifying the picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the surgery, the statement said.
"Awake surgeries for brain tumours are done for maximising tumour removals and minimising neurological deficits usually. During awake craniotomy, patients should feel a minimum level of pain while being completely able to cooperate in neurological tests,” it said.
"Although this method is called awake craniotomy, this method requires even more collaboration in perfect harmony of the surgical and anaesthesia teams than other operations under general anaesthesia said,'' Dr Deepak Gupta, Professor of Neurosurgery who performed this operation with his team with neuroanesthesia team led by Dr Mihir Pandia and Dr Gyanendra Pal Singh.
"Akshita happens to be the youngest child in the world to undergo successful brain tumour surgery under awake conditions at this age at AIIMS, Delhi," Dr Gupta said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma On Key To Stop Violence In Manipur
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Friday said there has to be a political solution to the ongoing ethnic strife in neighbouring Manipur, adding that there is no "magic solution" to stop violence in Manipur.
Responding to a query on reports of fresh violence in Manipur, he said, "(It will) keep on happening unless and until we find a solution. But the solution is not with me. It lies with the Chief Minister of Manipur."
Asked what would be his suggestion to his Manipur counterpart N Biren Singh, Lalduhoma said, "There has to be negotiations. There is some demand from the tribal population and tribal leaders. That has to be discussed with the Union Home Ministry. A political solution has to be there."
Lalduhoma was in Kolkata to attend an interactive session of the Merchants' Chamber of Commerce.
Responding to a query whether his government will facilitate any discussion to stop violence in the neighbouring state, the Mizoram Chief Minister said, "No I am an outsider."
To a question on Mizoram facing the brunt of ethnic violence in Manipur with internally displaced people (IDPs) streaming in from the neighbouring state, Lalduhoma said, "On humanitarian grounds, we have to look after them. We are taking care of them. There is no problem. They are not foreigners. They are Indian citizens."
According to an official of the Mizoram Home Department, around 9,000 displaced people from Manipur are now living in Mizoram.
More than 180 people have been killed and several hundred injured since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3 last year when a Tribal Solidarity March was organised in the hill districts to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Frustration grows for tens of thousands of Israelis relocated from the Lebanese border.
By Roni Caryn Rabin from NYT World https://ift.tt/v5YqLc3
Not Tenable At This Stage: Court Rejects 12-Year-old's Abortion Petition
The Kerala High Court has declined a plea requesting the termination of the pregnancy of a 12-year-old girl, allegedly in an incestual relationship with her minor brother. The court noted that the foetus, now at 34 weeks, is fully developed and preparing for life outside the womb.
The court stated that termination at this stage is not tenable, if not impossible, and the child must be allowed to be born through either a caesarean section or normal delivery, a decision left to medical experts.
The parents argued that childbirth would have severe consequences on the girl's physical and mental well-being.
In its December 22 order, the court allowed the petitioners to seek continuous assistance from doctors at the nearby Government Medical College.
After reaching 36 weeks of gestation, they can approach the Medical College Superintendent for evaluation by experts, who will then decide on the nature of delivery.
The court assured protection for the baby after birth, emphasising the girl's comfort with her parents until delivery.
The parents were directed to ensure the accused brother stays away from her, with competent authorities enforcing this directive.
The court emphasised maintaining the petitioners' anonymity throughout the process and thereafter.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
"Practice What You...": Navjot Sidhu Slams Arvind Kejriwal On Summons
Ahead of Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Chief Arvind Kejriwal's appearance before the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the alleged excise policy scam, Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday attacked him citing an old 'X' post of his.
Mr Kejriwal, earlier, wrote in an 'X' post, "As a patriot Indian, my head hangs in shame when our corrupt leaders do not appear before ED and CBI even after multiple summonses by the investigating agencies when they should have resigned from their post immediately as soon as the allegations were made."
Practice what you preach … face the ED music even if you don't like the tune … resign from you're post till you come clean like I did in dec 2006 … #ArvindKejriwal pic.twitter.com/j13SCsALrQ
— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) January 1, 2024
Earlier in December, Mr Kejriwal skipped ED summons twice, which were issued to him in connection with the alleged excise policy scam.
As per ANI sources, Mr Kejriwal is likely to appear before the Enforcement Directorate on January 3 in connection with the excise policy case.
On December 22, ED issued a third summons to Chief Minister Kejriwal in connection with the excise policy case, asking him to appear before the agency on January 3.
Mr Kejriwal was issued the second summons by the ED on December 18, asking him to depose at the federal agency's office on December 21, which the Chief Minister skipped.
The Delhi Chief Minister was first called by the central agency to appear on November 2, but he did not depose, alleging that the notice was "vague, motivated and unsustainable in law."
Mr Sidhu took a swipe at the Delhi CM, stating, "Practice what you preach".
"Practice what you preach...face the ED music even if you don't like the tune ... resign from your post till you come clean like I did in Dec 2006," he wrote in a post on 'X'.
Earlier in 2006, Mr Sidhu (then BJP leader) had resigned from the post of Lok Sabha MP following his conviction in a case of death in a road rage involving him.
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The court’s decision prompts polarized responses in a country at war.
By Aaron Boxerman and Roni Rabin from NYT World https://ift.tt/NQ40UHk
