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 "LIVE: Amit Shah to visit 11 states in Jan for BJP Lok Sabha Prawas exercise")
3 min read Last Updated : Jan 02 2023 | 5:58 PM IST
5:58 PM
5:53 PM
West Bengal CM and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee lashes out at opponents state BJP and CPI(M)-led Left Front, claiming the 'Ram-Baam' (BJP-Left) had allied covertly.
Launching her party's new outreach programme titled 'Didir Suraksha Kavach' (Didi's Protective Shield), Banerjee said, "Even if one weed attacks our paddy, the whole crop could be ruined, while cautioning her workers to root out corruption ahead of Panchayat polls to be held in the next few months.
Around 3.5 lakh Trinamool Congress workers will reach out to the around 10 crore people of the state to check if they are benefitted from government projects, she said.
5:30 PM
Senior BJP leader and Home Minister Amit Shah will travel to as many as 11 states this month as part of his party's "Lok Sabha Prawas" programme, which is aimed at boosting its prospects in targeted parliamentary constituencies ahead of the general election in 2024.
Party sources said Shah will be in Tripura on January 5 and Manipur and Nagaland on January 6. He will be travelling to Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand on January 7 and Andhra Pradesh on January 8.
He will be in Uttar Pradesh on January 16, in West Bengal on January 17 and at Hubli in Karnataka on January 28. The home minister will be in the northern states of Haryana and Punjab on January 29, party sources said.
4:59 PM
The take-off of a Sharjah-bound Air Arabia flight from the international airport in Coimbatore was aborted after the aircraft was hit by two eagles on Monday, airport sources said.
The flight carrying 164 passengers was starting on the runway for take-off at 7 AM, when the eagles hit the engine on the left side, resulting in stoppage of the flight, airport sources said.
After all the passengers were disembarked, technicians checked the damage caused by the birds, one of which died after hitting the blade, the sources added.
4:40 PM
Nepal's newly-appointed Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has decided to take the vote of confidence in the Parliament on January 10, an official said on Monday.
The 68-year-old CPN-Maoist Centre leader was sworn in as the Prime Minister for the third time on December 26 after he dramatically walked out of the pre-poll alliance led by the Nepali Congress and joined hands with opposition leader K P Sharma Oli.
"The prime minister has sent a letter to include the subject of vote of confidence on the agenda of the Parliament on the 10th of January," said Rojnath Pandey, the spokesperson of the parliament secretariat.
4:34 PM
Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda on Monday alleged that Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray "backstabbed" the BJP and compromised with his ideology for the sake of power, but got a befitting reply as a new government is now in place in Maharashtra.
Nadda was addressing a 'Vijay Sankalp' rally in Maharashtra's Chandrapur district. The rally is part of the BJP's plan to win 18 "difficult" seats from Maharashtra in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, according to a party leader.
Thackeray's party had snapped ties with long-term ally BJP after the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls. Thackeray later tied-up with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state.
4:21 PM
A Delhi court remands five accused arrested for causing the death of a woman in a road accident on the New Year Day in police custody for three days.
The 20-year-old woman had died after her scooty was hit by a car and she was dragged for around four kilometres in outer Delhi's Sultanpuri on Sunday, police said.
A detailed order is awaited.
4:07 PM
Bhartiya Kisan Union national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait Monday said he will not participate in the Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra which is slated to enter Uttar Pradesh on January 3. He said BKU workers are "free to participate" in the Rahul Gandhi-let march but office-bearers above the rank of district presidents will not take part in it.
The yatra is currently on a winter break and will resume on January 3. The foot march began in Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7. It will enter Uttar Pradesh via Ghaziabad on January 3 and will pass through Shamli on January 4 and enter Haryana through Sanauli in Panipat on the evening of January 5.
3:57 PM
The government has proposed a self-regulatory mechanism, mandatory verification of players and physical Indian address for online gaming companies, according to the draft online gaming rules published Monday.
Online gaming companies will be covered under the new IT rules that were issued in 2021 for social media platforms.
The online gaming platforms are expected to comply with the laws of the land, including any such law that relates to gambling or betting or the age at which an individual is competent to enter into a contract.
"The draft amendments are aimed at addressing the said need while enabling the growth of the online gaming industry in a responsible manner," the notice said.
3:34 PM
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut asserts that the group led by Uddhav Thackeray is the "real Shiv Sena", rejecting a suggestion by a leader of the Eknath Shinde-headed camp for an introspection by Thackeray for the unification of the two rival factions.
The Rajya Sabha member tells reporters there is no need for an introspection and such a suggestion shows the frustration of the rival group.
Shinde led a revolt against the Sena leadership in June last year following which the party split and the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government collapsed. Shinde later became the chief minister with the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) support.
3:24 PM
Goa CM Pramod Sawant says he will soon lead an all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and oppose the Centre's approval to Karnataka for detailed project reports (DPRs) of two dams on Mahadayi river.
Goa and Karnataka have been engaged in a dispute for several years over the distribution of the Mahadayi water.
Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai has announced the Centre has given clearance for DPRs of two dams on Mahadayi river.
"The Goa government will not compromise on Mahadayi river issue. The construction of dams at Kalsa and Bhandura will affect drinking water requirement of the people living in North Goa district," Sawant said.
2:50 PM
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal makes a promise. He says 80 % of Delhi's bus fleet will run on electric by 2025 and this, he adds, will go a long way in reducing pollution in the national capital.
Sharing a roadmap for procurement of electric buses, Kejriwal says the government will buy 1,500 of these buses in 2023 and another 6,380 buses by 2025.
"We have 300 electric buses now. Delhi has 7,379 buses plying on its roads currently which is the highest number of buses plying on the roads in the last 75 years. New buses were not purchased for many years and we were also questioned over it," he said at a ceremony at the Rajghat depot to flag off 50 electric buses."
2:40 PM
BJP on Monday hailed the Supreme Court judgment upholding the government's demonetisation exercise as "historic" and slammed the Congress for its campaign against the decision, asking whether its leader Rahul Gandhi will apologise now.
Rahul Gandhi has often raised questions on the wisdom behind the decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes on November 8, 2016. On Monday, the Supreme Court in a 4:1 majority verdict upheld the government's decision, saying the decision-making process was not flawed.
"It's a historic decision and is in national interest. The Supreme Court has held a decision taken in national interest valid. Will Rahul Gandhi now say sorry for his campaign against demonetisation. He spoke against it even abroad," former law minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said at a press conference.
2:21 PM
Nearly 10 fire tenders were still at the site, an official said, adding that it will take some more time to completely put it out.
The blaze at Jindal Poly Films Pvt Ltd at Mundhegaon situated alongside Nashik-Mumbai national highway in Igatpuri taluka at 11:30 am on Sunday was triggered after a blast in a boiler at the factory. Two persons were killed and 17 others injured in the accident.
1:42 PM
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says China is adopting the same principle with India as Russia is with Ukraine. He also claims that the Sino-Indian border conflict has a link with a weak economy, a confused nation without any vision, hatred and anger.
"Essentially, what the Russians have done in Ukraine is that they have said we do not want Ukraine to have a strong relationship with the West and they have basically told the Ukrainians that if you will have a strong relationship with the West, we will alter your geography.
"That is the exact same principle that can be applied to India. What the Chinese are saying to us is that be careful with what you are doing, because we will alter your geography. We will enter Ladakh, we will enter Arunachal (Pradesh), and what I can see is them building a platform for that type of an approach," Gandhi said in a conversation with film actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan.
1:35 PM
Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on the last day of 2022 received a series of messages on its official Twitter account regarding a bomb threat, however, it later turned out to be a hoax message.
Soon after the messages were received from 8:39 am to 10:40 am on December 31, 2022, concerned airport authorities were alerted and the alleged account was then continuously monitored.
However, in the last message at 10:40 am, the unidentified person wrote: "To be honest, I am really sorry."
1:18 PM
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said a 77-year-old organisation like the United Nations needs a "refresh", asserting that pushing for a major overhaul in the top global body is an important part of New Delhi's foreign policy.
Jaishankar made these comments while addressing members of the Indian diaspora in Austrian capital Vienna on Sunday.
When asked how Jaishankar was planning to undertake the reforms in the UN, and if India would take the leadership in bringing about this change, the minister said: "The UN system was invented in 1945. Now, I tell people to show me something which is 77 years old and you feel doesn't need a refresh. People refresh themselves, institutions need to be refreshed by other people. We need change. Large parts of the world do not believe anymore that the UN system speaks fairly for them."
1:03 PM
It is "misleading and wrong" to say the Supreme Court has upheld demonetisation, the Congress declared on Monday, adding the majority apex court verdict on the matter deals with the limited issue of the process of decision making not with its outcomes.
The verdict has nothing to say whether the stated objectives of demonetisation were met or not, AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said.
Earlier Monday, the Supreme Court in a 4:1 majority verdict upheld the government's 2016 decision to demonetise Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denomination notes, saying the decision-making process was not flawed.
12:58 PM
Delhi police requested to the city government's health department to constitute a medical board to conduct the post-mortem of the 20-year-old woman, who died after she was dragged by a car for several kilometres, said an official on Monday.
After falling off her scooty in Outer Delhi's Sultanpuri area in the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, the woman's clothes got entangled in the wheel.
Police said forensic experts were examining the crime scene and the vehicles involved for relevant physical, biological and other evidence to ensure a successful prosecution. The woman's clothes were torn in the accident and her naked body was found later.
12:47 PM
India has recorded 173 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases have declined to 2,670, according to Union health ministry data updated on Monday.
The total tally of Covid cases has been recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,78,822) and the death toll stands at 5,30,707 with two fatalities -- one reconciled by Kerala and one reported by Uttarakhand -- in the last 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The daily positivity rate has been recorded at 0.19 per cent while the weekly positivity was pegged at 0.14 per cent, it said. The ministry said 92,955 tests have been conducted in the last 24 hours
12:43 PM
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah "unequivocally" condemns a terrorist attack that killed four civilians in Dhangri village of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on Sunday and expressed his condolences.
"Deeply shocked as more details emerge of this targeted attack in Rajouri district of Jammu. I unequivocally condemn this heinous attack & send my condolences to the families of the deceased. I hope those injured in this attack will make a swift & complete recovery. #RajouriAttack," Omar Abdullah tweeted.
This morning, an IED was triggered in the same area. A child was killed in the blast.
12:38 PM
Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Monday said the majority verdict by the Supreme Court has steered clear of the question whether the objectives of the demonetisation exercise were achieved at all.
"Once the Hon'ble Supreme Court has declared the law, we are obliged to accept it. However, it is necessary to point out that the majority has not upheld the wisdom of the decision; nor has the majority concluded that the stated objectives were achieved," the senior Congress leader said in a tweet.
12:29 PM
Two helicopters collided Monday afternoon over an Australian beach and passengers in one of the aircraft were injured, police said.
The other helicopter managed to land safely, Queensland state police said in a statement. Thirteen patients were being assessed for injuries, Queensland Ambulance Service said.
Some reports said at least four people have died in the crash.
12:13 PM
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear on January 4 the Uttar Pradesh government's appeal challenging an Allahabad High Court order quashing its draft notification on urban local body elections and directing it to hold the polls without reservation for other backward classes.
A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state government, saying the matter needed an urgent hearing. "We will take it the day after tomorrow," the bench said.
11:59 AM
A child was killed and four others injured in an IED explosion on Monday near the house of one of the victims of the suspected terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Dangri village in Rajouri district, officials said.
On Sunday evening, suspected terrorists opened fire on three houses in the area in Rajouri district killing four civilians and injuring six, according to officials.
"The (improvised explosive device) blast has taken place near the house of the first firing incident. Five people were injured. One child succumbed to injuries and another is critical," Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Jammu, Mukesh Singh said.
11:55 AM
India's star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant "is doing well and has been shifted to a private suite due to fear of infection", revealed Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) Director Shyam Sharma on Monday.
"Due to fear of infection, we have told his family and hospital administration to shift him to a private suite. He is doing better and will recover soon," Sharma told ANI.
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday said the state government will provide all help for the 25-year-old's treatment, who was seriously injured in a road accident near Roorkee on December 30 while on his way to surprise his mother.
11:48 AM
11:38 AM
Yet another incident of infringement of Indian airspace by a suspected Pakistani drone has come to light in Punjab's border area. BSF jawans are reported to have fired at a Pakistani drone and forced it to return to the Pakistani side, at the Kalampur border outpost, in Gurdaspur.
Prabhakar Joshi, DIG BSF said in a statement, "A Pakistani drone was spotted by the Border Security Force (BSF) jawans at the Kalampur border outpost, on Sunday, January 1, at around 10.10 PM. The BSF jawans from the 89 battalion fired 20 rounds at the drone and fired three illumination bombs following which the drone went back to Pakistan."
According to BSF, this is the third instance of a Pakistani drone being spotted on the Indian side in the last three days and of the BSF jawans on duty firing at it and forcing it back to Pakistan.
11:20 AM
11:14 AM
Topics :Russia Ukraine ConflictS JaishankarGlobal economyIMFKristalina GeorgievaBrazilLuiz Inacio Lula da SilvaJammu and Kashmirterrorist attacks
First Published: Jan 02 2023 | 9:36 AM IST
