LIVE: India says air exercise in east not connected to China border clash

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5:17 PM

All parties barring BJP work for commission and serve their families, says Nadda

BJP national president J P Nadda on Thursday claimed that all parties come to power to serve their families and earn through commission except the BJP.

"All political work for their families and earn through commission except the BJP. Right from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, everyone in BJP toils day and night to serve the people and to change their image and destiny," Nadda said addressing people after inaugurating BJP offices in 10 districts of poll-bound Karnataka.

He said the Congress in Karnataka was dividing communities and knows nothing about development.

 

4:57 PM

Elections big budget affair, simultaneous polls will save money: Govt

Elections have become a "big budget affair" and holding simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and state assemblies would result in huge saving to the exchequer, the government said on Thursday.

In a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, law minister Kiren Rijiju said the law commission in its report on reforms in electoral laws had suggested simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

"Simultaneous elections would result in huge saving to the public exchequer, avoidance of replication of effort on part of administrative and law and order machinery in holding repeated elections and bring considerable savings to political parties and candidates in their election campaigns," Rijiju said.

 

4:38 PM

Issue of vacancies in higher judiciary will linger till new system put in place: Rijiju

Law minister Kiren Rijiju told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that the issue of vacancies and appointments in the higher judiciary would continue to linger till such time a new system is created for the same.

Replying to questions in the upper house of parliament, the law minister said the Centre has limited powers over appointments of judges.

As on December 9, 777 judges are working in the high courts against the sanctioned strength of 1,108, leaving a vacancy of 331 (30 per cent).

In the Supreme Court (as on December 5), against the sanctioned strength of 34 judges, 27 are working, leaving seven vacancies.

 

4:14 PM

Nirav Modi loses bid to appeal against extradition in UK Supreme Court

Nirav Modi, the fugitive diamond merchant wanted in India to stand trial on fraud and money laundering charges, on Thursday suffered another setback in his legal battle against his extradition as the High Court in London denied him permission to appeal against his extradition order in the UK Supreme Court.
 

In a judgment order pronounced at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Lord Justice Jeremy Stuart-Smith and Justice Robert Jay ruled that "the Appellant's (Nirav Modi) application for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court is refused".

Last month, the 51-year-old diamantaire had lost an appeal on mental health grounds when the same two-judge High Court bench ruled that his risk of suicide is not such that it would be either unjust or oppressive to extradite him to India to face charges in the estimated USD 2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan scam case.

 

3:50 PM

Air exercise in northeast not connected to Tawang clash with China, says IAF

India's air force will hold a training exercise on Thursday and Friday in the country's east but it is not connected to last week's border scuffles with China in the region, the Indian Air Force (IAF) said.
 

The IAF said its Eastern Air Command would conduct an exercise to train its crew.

 

"This exercise was planned well in advance of the recent developments in Tawang and is not associated with these events," it said.

3:37 PM

Take action against Bihar govt over hooch tragedy: BJP Lok Sabha members to Centre

BJP Lok Sabha members Thursday termed the deaths in Bihar due to the hooch tragedy as "mass murder" and urged the Centre to take immediate action against the government under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, holding it responsible for the incident.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, BJP's Paschim Champaran MP Sanjay Jaiswal claimed that spurious liquor sale has been flourishing in Bihar under the protection of police officers despite a prohibition in place.

But the chief minister does not take any action against any of them, he charged.

BJP's Aurangabad MP Sushil Kumar Singh termed the hooch tragedy deaths as "mass murder" and held the Bihar government responsible for it.

"There is no hope from Bihar government," he said.

 

3:27 PM

Russian cosmonauts' spacewalk cancelled at space station due to leak

Nasa and Russia's space agency cancelled a spacewalk by two Russian cosmonauts just as they were preparing to exit the International Space Station because of an apparent coolant leak from an attached space capsule.

Nasa's Johnson Space Centre said Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin were not in danger, nor were other astronauts on the space station.

It was the second time the Russian cosmonauts have had to cancel the spacewalk. In the first attempt, a problem arose with coolant pumps on the cosmonauts' Russian-built Orlan spacesuits.
 

 

 

3:12 PM

Those who drink spurious alcohol will die, says Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

After Bihar's hooch toll climbed to 26, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday warned that if people drink spurious liquor, they will die, as the prohibition policy of his government came under attack from left, right and centre.

Political strategist turned activist Prashant Kishor described the state's prohibition law as a farce and demanded scrapping of the prohibition law.

"Jo piyega woh marega" (those who drink spurious alcohol will die), thundered Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who stood his ground maintaining that prohibition was not my personal wish but a response to the cries of the women of the state.

 

3:10 PM

100 days of Bharat Jodo Yatra: Rahul Gandhi, leaders walk on road to Cong revival

As the Bharat Jodo Yatra enters its 100th day Friday, Congress watchers feel it has found some answers the party had been looking for on the road to 2024 but questions remain whether it will yield electoral dividends going forward.

The Kanyakumari-to-Kashmir foot march has also courted many controversies in the last three months and led to several fiery exchanges between the Congress and the BJP including on Rahul Gandhi's ever-growing grey beard and his Burberry T-shirt.

With over 2,800 km under his belt, Gandhi has managed to catch the attention of his supporters as well as detractors and seen quite a few celebrities including from the tinsel town and academia walking alongside him from time to time. However, some political pundits feel the party should have had more tangible political objectives for the yatra.

 

2:47 PM

Nepal, India to hold joint military training exercise in Rupandehi from Friday

India and Nepal will hold the 16th edition of the joint military training exercise 'Surya Kiran' from Friday.

A team from the Indian Army has reached Nepal to participate in military exercises to take place at Saljhandi in Rupandehi near the Nepal-India border.

"Indian Army troops arrived today in Saljhandi, Nepal for the 16th Joint India-Nepal Military Ex #SURYAKIRAN. The exercises are a paragon for the exchange of professional experience & cementing the friendship between two armies," the Indian embassy in Kathmandu has tweeted.

The 15th edition of the joint exercise was held in Pithoragarh in which 650 soldiers from both sides participated.

2:27 PM

Gujarat: Former state minister Shankar Chaudhary set to become next assembly speaker

The ruling BJP in Gujarat on Thursday declared Shankar Chaudhary and Jethabhai Bharwad as its candidates for the posts of speaker and deputy speaker, respectively, of the newly-formed 15th state legislative assembly.

An official notification issued by the assembly secretariat said the new assembly will meet for the first time for a day on December 20, and election for the posts of speaker and deputy speaker will be held in the first half, while other businesses will be taken up in the second half.

Another notification said that all the newly-elected MLAs will be administered oath in the assembly on December 19 by protem speaker Yogesh Patel.

2:22 PM

Party is not neglecting me, says former Karnataka CM and BJP leader Yediyurappa

Refuting opposition's allegation that the BJP was trying to finish him off, former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said that the party was not neglecting him.

"The party is not neglecting me. But one has to invite me to attend a public gathering," he said.

"I have built a party. I have worked hard to bring the party to power. The people of the entire state know it," Yediyurappa added. 

1:26 PM

Supreme Court grants bail to convict in 2002 Godhra train coach burning case

The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to a convict serving life imprisonment in the 2002 Godhra train coach burning case, noting that he has been in jail for the last 17 years.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha took note of the submission of a lawyer, appearing for one of the convicts, Faruk, that he be granted bail considering the period undergone till now.

The appeals against the conviction of several convicts are pending adjudication in the apex court.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat government, said it was the most heinous offence in which 59 people, including women and children were burnt alive and there was a need to hear the appeals of the convicts at the earliest.

Faruk along with several others was convicted for pelting stones at the coach of the Sabarmati Express. (Source: PTI) 

 

1:07 PM

2 dead, 9 injured in bomb blast in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Two persons, including a soldier, were killed and nine others wounded in a suicide blast in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, the military said on Thursday. The blast took place in Miranshah town in North Waziristan.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the remote border area is a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban.

1:05 PM

Nitish should resign if his govt fails to implement his policies: Giriraj Singh on hooch tragedy

Union minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday slammed Bihar CM Nitish Kumar over the hooch tragedy in Chhapra, saying if his policies were not being implemented on the ground then he should resign.

"Since the liquor policy has been implemented in Bihar, several thousand people have died, mostly poor. But Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's sympathy is not awakened and when someone raises it (the issue) in the House, he is treated in a way that no one expects from a CM," Singh told ANI.

"If your police is not able to implement your law and policies then you should resign. He (Nitish) is in a huge frustration. He is in fear and that is why he has said in the future Tejashwi Yadav will be the leader," he said.

12:52 PM

Meanwhile in Rajya Sabha, repeated disruptions and opposition uproar continue

Rajya Sabha proceedings were disrupted thrice during the first hour on Thursday as opposition members created an uproar after the chair disallowed adjournment notices given by them on several issues, including alleged misuse of probe agencies by the government.

The House witnessed two back-to-back adjournments of 15 minutes each and then again for two minutes during the Zero Hour as opposition members raised slogans demanding that their notices be admitted for a discussion.

While opposition members created uproar over not being allowed discussion on issues raised by them, BJP members were also on their feet raising the issue of the Bihar hooch tragedy.

Seven opposition members had given adjournment notices under Rule 267 for discussing various issues of importance, which were not allowed by the chair.

12:44 PM

High-level meeting called by home secy on crowding at major airports concludes

12:36 PM

China needs to revisit assumption that Indian response will remain indefinitely low: Gokhale

The developments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in 2020 have brought strategic clarity in India towards China, and Beijing might need to revisit its assumption that an Indian response to its military coercion will remain indefinitely low, former foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale has said.

Gokhale, a former Indian ambassador to China, also said that India is now more willing and committed to enhancing military capacity in preparation for the "situation of armed coexistence" that it expects to prevail along the LAC.

"Judging India's future responses and behaviour on the basis of current capacity may not be valid," he said on Tuesday in a paper titled 'China's India Policy: Lessons for India-China Relations' for leading think-tank Carnegie India.

12:34 PM

Government focussing on last-mile air connectivity to Tier-III cities: Scindia

Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday said the government is focussing on last-mile connectivity to tier-3 cities to ensure democratisation of civil aviation in the country.

Replying to a question in Lok Sabha, Scindia said India has tremendous connectivity between tier I-II cities. "What needs to be strengthened is last-mile connectivity to tier-III cities. Our government is concentrating on last-mile connectivity to make sure the democratisation of civil aviation does truly take place in the country," Scindia said during Question Hour.

The minister said the government is looking at the small aircraft scheme launched last year under which sub-20 seater aircraft are being used to provide last-mile connectivity.

12:27 PM

Gen Naravane says threat from north increasing, Chinese troops resorting to hooliganism

Former chief of Indian Army General MM Naravane has hit out at the Chinese army for descending to the level of "prehistoric times" by using "clubs and barbed wires" in clashes with Indian soldiers. He said the Indian Army would rather open fire than resort to such ridiculous tactics in warfare.

Gen Naravane also said the Indian Army has felt that the threat from India's northern borders is increasing based on assessments but it keeps evaluating threats and takes remedial measures.

In a podcast with the ANI editor-in-chief, he said, "That is how an army fights by using the weapons at your disposal and not getting into fisticuffs. Are we hooligans or mafia? We are professional. Is that the level PLA has gone down to? Hooliganism and streetfighting? Or they are a professional 21st-century army? On one side they try to show their technological prowess, on the other side they are coming with barbed wire clubs. It is ridiculous."

12:16 PM

'Chinese glasses' covering 'red eye' of Modi govt, says Congress chief Kharge

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday took a dig at the Narendra Modi government for trying to dodge a discussion in parliament over the India-China Tawang clash of December 9.

Using terms like "lal aankh" and "Chinese glasses", Kharge's tweet in Hindi could roughly be interpreted as: "The once glaring eyes of the Modi government have been covered with Chinese glasses".

The leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha also questioned the central government on whether it needed permission to speak against China in Sansad Bhawan.

The parliament has witnessed multiple disruptions this week with both houses rejecting the opposition's requests for a discussion on the India-China border situation following the Tawang clash in Arunachal Pradesh.

12:12 PM

Building body strength will make you tolerate spurious liquor: Bihar minister

Following the Chhapra hooch tragedy, Bihar industry minister Sameer Mahaseth has made a controversial statement. He has claimed that the strength of the body has to be improved to tolerate 'poisonous' liquor.

Talking to reporters in Hajipur on Wednesday, he said, "Poor quality of liquor is coming to Bihar. This is causing slow poisoning for the people." 

"If you make yourself stronger by engaging in sports, you could tolerate the liquor," he said, according to ANI.

At least thirty-nine people died in Chhapra of Saran district after consuming spurious liquor.

The incident stirred a ruckus in the Bihar assembly on Wednesday where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar lost his temper and slammed the BJP MLAs.

11:50 AM

Big fire incident reported at skyscraper in Mumbai's Lower Parel area

11:40 AM

Shiv Sena row: HC reserves order on Uddhav Thackeray's appeal against decision freezing party name, symbol

Delhi High Court reserves its order on an appeal by former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray challenging a single judge's decision dismissing his plea against an election commission interim order freezing the Shiv Sena name and election symbol.

 

Thackeray has claimed that the single judge's November 15 order, by which it had also directed the EC to expedite the proceedings, is “erroneous” and liable to be set aside.

11:05 AM

6.2M earthquake shakes Taiwan's east coast; no major damage reported

A 6.2 magnitude earthquake originating in the waters off Taiwan's eastern coast shook the island Thursday, but no injuries or major damage were immediately reported.

The earthquake struck 29 kilometres southeast of Hualien, a city on Taiwan's east coast, the island's Central Weather Bureau said. The depth was 5.7 kilometres.

Buildings in the capital, Taipei, shook for about a minute and the subway briefly paused operations to ensure passenger safety.

Taiwan sits directly on a fault line as part of the Ring of Fire, a region in the Pacific Ocean that is seismologically active.

10:10 AM

Owaisi says Centre keeping people in dark over border situation with China

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi hits out at the Centre, claiming it is kepeping people in dark over the recent border situation with China.

"The Modi government has kept the people and the parliament in dark. Why is it scared of the truth about China coming out? What is Modi's interest in hiding the facts about Chinese aggression?" tweeted Owaisi and attached a snippet of a news article regarding "Chinese aggression" along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

On Tuesday, Owaisi said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi "failed" to show his political leadership.

10:04 AM

200 fresh Covid cases in country in last 24 hours, shows govt data

India saw a single day rise of 200 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases declined to 3,767, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.

The total tally of Covid cases in the country stands at 4.46 crore (4,46,75,447).

The overall death toll has risen to 5,30,663 with five fatalities three reconciled by Kerala, and one each reported from Karnataka and Maharashtra in the last 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am stated.

Active cases comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.80 per cent.

A decrease of 79 cases has been recorded in the active Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

9:58 AM

India slams Pakistan for raking up Kashmir issue at UN Security Council

India has strongly hit back at Pakistan for raking up the Kashmir issue in the UN Security Council, arguing that a country that hosted slain al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and attacked a neighbouring Parliament does not have the credentials to "sermonise" before the powerful UN organ.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's strong remarks came after Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto raised the Kashmir issue while speaking in the council's open debate on reformed multilateralism on Wednesday.

Jaishankar said the credibility of the UN depends on its effective response to the key challenges of our times, be it pandemics, climate change, conflicts or terrorism.

"While we search for the best solutions, what our discourse must never accept is the normalisation of such threats. The question of justifying what the world regards as unacceptable should not even arise. That certainly applies to state sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. Nor can hosting Osama bin Laden and attacking a neighbouring parliament serve as credentials to sermonise before this council," Jaishankar said.

 

9:52 AM

Govt wants to discuss global warming over price rise, joblessness: Derek O'Brien

TMC MP Derek O'Brien on Thursday listed a slew of issues that the opposition parties want to discuss in Parliament but claimed that the government only wants to discuss global warming.

His list, of issues that the opposition parties want to be discussed in the House, included: unemployment, price rise, alleged misuse of central agencies and Chinese agression on the LAC.

On Wednesday, opposition parties met and strategised how to raise some of these issues in parliament.
 

 

 

9:45 AM

Indian Air Force set for training exercise in northeast region from Thursday

With an aim to check its combat readiness, the Indian Air Force will begin a two-day consolidated training exercise in the northeast region on Thursday. The exercise is taking place soon after a face-off between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9, which was preceded by attempts to violate Indian air space.

"Indian Air Force is scheduled to carry out a consolidated training exercise this week in the eastern sector where the readiness of the aircraft would be checked. The training exercise has been planned much in advance," an official source told ANI.

"In the last few weeks, there have been two to three occasions where our fighter jets had to be scrambled to tackle the Chinese drones moving towards our positions on the LAC. The Su-30MKI jets had to be scrambled to tackle the air violation threat," the source said.