News LIVE: Rebel MLAs name group after Balasaheb, say they are in Sena

Live news updates: From the political crisis in Maharashtra to the end of constitutional protection for abortions in US, catch all the latest updates here

9:55 PM

Shiv Sena Rebel Eknath Shinde met BJP leaders in Gujarat Friday night: Report

Shiv Sena rebel MLA Eknath Shinde and the BJP's Devendra Fadnavis met in Gujarat's Vadodara last night to discuss possible government formation in Maharashtra, NDTV.com reported quoting sources. Home Minister Amit Shah was also in Vadodara last night, said the website. Shinde reportedly came to Vadodara on a special flight from Assam's Guwahati last night.

9:51 PM

Shiv Sena workers loyal to Thackerays protest against rebels

The ongoing battle for the control of the Shiv Sena between party president Uddhav Thackeray and rebel leader Eknath Shinde played out on the streets of Maharashtra on Saturday with the cadres loyal to the Thackerays staging protests against the rebels by defacing their banners, hurling stones, and vandalising the office of an MLA in various parts of the state. The Mumbai police has deployed its personnel at the city-based offices of various political parties and leaders, including ministers, MLAs and MPs, and their residences, PTI reported.

6:33 PM

Rebel Sena MLAs say they haven't quit party

Rebel Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde said in Guwahati they have not left the party, but will act as a separate group in the Maharashtra Assembly under the name Shiv Sena (Balasaheb). In Mumbai, the Sena executive passed a resolution that no outfit should use the name of the party’s late founder Bal Thackeray.

5:45 PM

Shiva Sena executive says no other outfit can use Bal Thackeray's name

The Shiv Sena’s national executive on Saturday passed a resolution authorising Maharashtra Chief Minister and party chief Uddhav Thackeray to take action against "those who have betrayed the party", but refrained from taking immediate action against rebel leader Eknath Shinde. The Shinde faction, which is camping in Guwahati, said earlier it has named itself as `Shiv Sena (Balasaheb)'.

5:37 PM

5 men detained for throwing stones at office of Eknath Shinde's son's office

As many as five Shiv Sena supporters were detained on Saturday in Thane district for throwing pelting stones at the office of Shrikant Shinde, Lok Sabha MP from Kalyan and son of party rebel leader Eknath Shinde. The incident took place at the Gol Maidan office in Ulhasnagar of the LS MP at 1pm and a video of it had gone viral on social media soon after, PTI reported.

5:14 PM

Shinde accuses Thackeray govt of withdrawing security of rebel MLAs

Dissident Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on Saturday alleged that the Maharashtra government has withdrawn the security cover from the residences of 38 party rebels, including himself, and their families, and dubbed the action as "political vendetta", although Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil denied any such move. Shinde, who is currently camping in Guwahati along with the rebel legislators, tweeted a letter signed by him and other MLAs that is addressed to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Walse Patil.

3:39 PM

Prohibitory orders issued in Thane

Thane collector Rajesh Narvekar has issued prohibitory orders in the district against the backdrop of Shiv Sena strongman from the region Eknath Shinde rebelling against his party, PTI reported quoting an official Saturday. The order, which will be in force till June 30, prohibits processions, display of posters and placards etc, as well as possession and carrying of lethal weapons, the official added.

3:28 PM

Shive Sena moves Election Commission against Eknath Shinde faction

"While we cannot prevent Shri Eknath Shinde and his cohorts from establishing any political party they wish to, however we strongly object to any such party being created in the name of or using the names "Shiv Sena' or 'Balasaheb'," Uddhav Thackeray faction wrote, according to NDTV.com

2:59 PM

Amid Maha crisis, Uddhav chairs Shiv Sena's national executive meet; all eyes on action against rebels

The national executive meeting of the Shiv Sena is underway at the party's headquarters in the city on Saturday, where Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who is also the party president, is expected to take a decision on the action against the rebel MLAs, including Eknath Shinde.

Thackeray was supposed to chair the meeting virtually from his residence "Matoshree". However, he reached the party headquarters - Shiv Sena Bhavan - at Dadar in central Mumbai.

The party's national executive is expected to authorise Thackeray to take decisions regarding the organisation in view of the rebellion by Shinde. Along with Shinde, another disgruntled party leader and former minister Ramdas Kadam, is expected to face action. Both of them are members of national executive. Kadam's son MLA Yogesh Kadam has joined the rebel camp in Guwahati.

2:44 PM

Shinde-led rebel MLAs name their faction 'Shiv Sena Balasaheb'

The Shiv Sena rebel MLAs of Eknath Shinde faction on Saturday named their group as 'Shiv Sena Balasaheb'.

 

Former Minister of State for Home and rebel MLA Deepak Kesarkar told ANI that Eknath Shinde-led MLAs formed a new group 'Shiv Sena Balasaheb'.

 

The decision comes at a time when Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was holding the executive meeting of Shiv Sena. The Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government continues to be in a combative mode with 38 of its rebel MLAs are camping in Guwahati.

2:43 PM

Maha crisis: MVA govt in minority, have sympathy for Shinde, says Athawale

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Saturday said the MVA government in Maharashtra no longer enjoyed majority in the legislature as over two-third MLAs of the Shiv Sena were with rebel leader Eknath Shinde.

He was speaking to reporters here after meeting former chief minister and Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis.

"Shiv Sena rebel Eknath Shinde has support of more than two-third MLAs, thus reducing the MVA government to a minority. Fadnavis told me the BJP has no role to play in this development. The BJP has neither initiated this rebellion nor supported it, he told me. The BJP will wait and watch," the Union minister of state of social justice and empowerment said.

2:40 PM

Enhanced rainfall likely over NW & Central India from Monday: IMD

The Northwest India, which is again reeling under hot conditions after a brief spell of pre-monsoon showers, is likely to experience an enhanced rainfall from Monday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday.

Similar enhanced rainfall activity is on the cards for Central India as well, it added.

Under the influence of lower level easterlies, scattered to fairly widespread light/moderate rainfall with isolated thunderstorm & lightning are on the cards over Uttarakhand & East Uttar Pradesh from Sunday till June 29; over Himachal Pradesh & West Uttar Pradesh on June 28 & 29.

2:38 PM

BA.5 becomes dominant Covid variant in Germany

The Omicron sub-lineage BA.5 has become the dominant Covid-19 variant in Germany, accounting for around half of the infections, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases.

"The strong increase in share of this variant has continued together with BA.4 and BA.2.12.1," the RKI said in its weekly report.

With the increasing spread of these more contagious variants, a "rebound in infection numbers" was also been observed, reports Xinhua news agency.

2:37 PM

UN human rights chief blasts US abortion ruling

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has denounced the US Supreme Court's decision to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade that established a constitutional right to abortion, saying that it was a huge blow to women's human rights and gender equality.

"Access to safe, legal and effective abortion is firmly rooted in international human right law and is at the core of women and girls' autonomy and ability to make their own choices about their bodies and lives, free of discrimination, violence and coercion," Bachelet said in a statement late Friday night.

"This decision strips such autonomy from millions of women in the US, in particular those with low incomes and those belonging to racial and ethnic minorities, to the detriment of their fundamental rights," she added.

2:37 PM

Mild tremors felt in Karnataka

Mild tremors were felt in many parts of Sullia taluk in Dakshina Kannada (DK) district on Saturday morning, official sources said.

Several residents of Sullia said they experienced mild tremors at around 9.10 am. They said a loud sound was heard when the earth shook for about 45 seconds.

Residents of Kallugundi, Sampaje, Goonadka, Aranthodu, Ivarnadu, Thodikkana and Peraje areas in the taluk also felt the tremors. Some buildings in Sullia including houses have developed cracks.

2:36 PM

Amid Shiv Sena tussle, prohibitory orders issued in Thane

Thane collector Rajesh Narvekar has issued prohibitory orders in the district against the backdrop of Shiv Sena strongman from the region Eknath Shinde rebelling against his party, an official said on Saturday.

The order, which will be in force till June 30, prohibits processions, display of posters and placards etc, as well as possession and carrying of lethal weapons, the official added.

Similar orders have also been issued by the Thane police commissioner.

2:25 PM

Maharashtra crisis: Shinde calls meeting of rebel MLAs to discuss strategy

Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has called a meeting at Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati on Saturday afternoon to discuss further strategy, said sources.

The political crisis in Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra erupted after the party legislators joined a rebellion led by Eknath Shinde who is staying at a hotel in Guwahati. The rebel MLAs who are at the same hotel authorised Shinde to decide on a further course of action.

Shinde along with 38 party MLAs and nine independent MLAs are campaigning at Radisson Blu Hotel from June 22.

On the other hand, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has also called a meeting of the party's national executive committee on Saturday at 1 pm.

2:24 PM

'Neither supporting BJP nor against oppn, decision keeping BSP in mind': Mayawati backs Murmu

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Saturday backed Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA Presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu.

 

Addressing a press conference, Mayawati said the BSP has taken this decision neither in support of BJP or NDA nor against opposition but keeping her party and movement in mind.

 

"We have decided to support NDA's Presidential election candidate Droupadi Murmu. We have taken this decision neither in support of BJP or NDA nor against opposition but keeping our party and movement in mind," said the BSP chief.

2:23 PM

Exposure to air pollution increases death risk by 20%: Study

Exposure to above-average levels of outdoor air pollution increased the risk of death by 20 per cent, and the risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 17 per cent, according to researchers, including one of Indian origin.

 

The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, showed that using wood- or kerosene-burning stoves, not properly ventilated through a chimney, to cook food or heat the home also increased the overall risk of death (by 23 per cent and 9 per cent) and cardiovascular death risk (by 36 per cent and 19 per cent).

 

"Our study highlights the role that key environmental factors of indoor/outdoor air pollution, access to modern health services, and proximity to noisy, polluted roadways play in all causes of death and deaths from cardiovascular disease in particular," said researcher Rajesh Vedanthan from NYU Langone Health.

2:14 PM

Modi pushing RSS agenda, says RJD, but Sangh insists it's above politics

After the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, many things have changed in the country and hardcore neo-Hinduism has become a core issue of debate.

 

The opposition leaders believe that the government has been continuously promoting its hidden agenda to implement hardcore Hindutva in the country and the situation has reached such a pass that the existence of a united India is under threat. On the other hand, organizations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) believe that it is the only way for the country to stay united and the BJP is the political party which is capable of achieving the goals.

2:13 PM

Cong to counter muscular Hindutva with focus on economic issues

The Congress is wary of the BJP's neo-Hindutva in the backdrop of the Gyanvapi row and the recent political turmoil in Maharashtra where the Shiv Sena rebels have taken the cover of Hindutva to break away ahead of the crucial Presidential polls where the BJP has fielded a tribal woman candidate.

The Congress wants to take on 'Hindutva', with a social and economic agenda to counter the BJP.

The party leaders, having long deliberated over the issue, said that ideological differences with the BJP is core to the Congress politics and to fight for the people's cause is the key takeaway from the just concluded Chintan Shivir of the party. The party is now readying for its nationwide satyagraha on June 27 against the Agnipath scheme on military recruitment and wants to assimilate itself with peoples issue.

2:04 PM

Maharashtra crisis: Edgy Sena rebels fear a 'Moosewala type' fate

Exasperated Shiv Sena rebel MLAs have alleged that the security cover of around 16 legislators - currently camping in Guwahati - has been abruptly withdrawn, terming it as an illegal move arising out of vendetta.

 

The affected rebels have also expressed fear that a situation akin to Punjab where the security of several high profile persons was withdrawn by their state government, resulting in their being targeted by the mafia in that state, without naming, referring to the May 29 killing of rap singer Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu alias 'Moosewala'.

 

The rebels' group has shot off a letter to Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders like Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil, Director-General of Police Rajnish Seth and all police commissioners in the state.

2:03 PM

On IMF demands, Pakistan raises tax rates for salaried class

Owing to the demand of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) withdrawing relief given on June 10, Shehbaz Sharif government on Friday increased the tax rates for the salaried class.

It had withdrawn the tax relief to the salaried class announced on June 10 and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR's) collection target was increased to Rs 7,470 billion, reported Geo News.

On Personal Income Tax (PIT), the government raised a tax amount of Rs 80 billion as first, the government abolished tax relief of Rs 47 billion and then raised a tax amount of Rs 35 billion, so the FBR was going to collect Rs 235 billion from salaried class in the next budget against a collection of Rs 200 billion in the outgoing fiscal year.

2:03 PM

Pakistan risks losing GSP+ status as EU looks to prepare draft report

As the European Union (EU) looks to prepare a draft report on GSP+ status, Pakistan needs to work in several areas to avoid losing the special incentive arrangements of the EU that it has enjoyed for the last seven years.

 

The GSP is a trade and development policy instrument in place since 1971 which is set to expire on Dec 31, 2023. Pakistan, a major recipient of the GSP+ scheme, benefitted from zero duty on several products.

 

The 27-member-bloc sees the coming months as crucial for extending the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status for 2024.

1:58 PM

His decisions always right, want to see him become CM: People from Shinde's village rally behind him

The residents of Dare village in Maharashtra's Satara district, the native place of Eknath Shinde, who is at the centre of the ongoing political turmoil in Maharashtra, recall the Shiv Sena leader as a "people's man" and some of them feel that the decisions he had taken in the past later turned out to be right.

The people from the village with around 80 households say they are standing strongly behind Shinde and want to see him become the state chief minister soon.

1:50 PM

Assam flood situation grim, Silchar submerged for sixth day

The flood situation in Assam remained grim on Saturday with the death count rising to 118 and Silchar town in Cachar district submerged for the sixth straight day, officials said.

Ten more people have died in the past 24 hours -- two each from Barpeta, Dhubri, Karimganj and Udalguri districts and one death each from Cachar and Morigaon -- due to floods and landslides.

The total population affected by the floods declined to 33.03 lakh in 28 districts as against the previous day's figure of 45.34 lakh in 30 districts, a bulletin issued by the Assam State Management Disaster Authority (ASDMA) said.

The situation improved marginally in some districts, as rivers showed a receding trend though the Brahmaputra at Dhubri and Kopili in Nagaon were flowing above the danger mark, the officials said.

1:50 PM

PM Modi to have 15 hectic engagements during Germany, UAE visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold meetings with over 12 world leaders during his visit to Germany and the United Arab Emirates and will have over 15 hectic engagements, official sources said on Saturday.

Modi will also speak at an Indian community event in Munich, which is expected to be the largest such programme post-COVID-19.

He is travelling to Germany to attend the G7 summit, to be held on June 26 and 27, and will travel to the UAE on June 28 to pay his condolences on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former president of the Gulf nation.

1:36 PM

PM Hasina opens Bangladesh's longest bridge

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday inaugurated the long-awaited Padma bridge, the country's longest and entirely built with domestic funding.

 

The 6.15-km-long road-rail four-lane bridge is built over the Padma river connecting southwestern Bangladesh with the capital and other parts.

 

The multipurpose road-rail bridge, which is fully funded by the Bangladesh government, has been constructed at a cost of USD 3.6 billion.

 

The inauguration of the Padma bridge carries a lot of significance as the structure was built entirely with domestic financing, defying speculations by some financial analysts if Bangladesh could mobilise the fund depending on domestic resources.

1:36 PM

IAEA team finds Indian nuclear regulatory arrangements solid, recommends some improvement

Peer reviewing the nuclear and radiation safety in India, an expert team of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expressed satisfaction at India's atomic energy sector regulator's professionalism, said India's atomic energy sector regulator.

 

The Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) team from IAEA recently concluded its 12 day peer review of the progress made by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) in the implementation of the recommendations and suggestions relating to nuclear power plants made by IRRS during its 2015 review mission.

 

The follow-up mission had an extended scope, also reviewing radiation sources. Such sources are used in facilities and in activities in the country in the field of research, industry, medicine and agriculture, said IAEA.

1:17 PM

5.6-magnitude quake jolts Iran

An earthquake of magnitude 5.6 hit Iran on Saturday at 03

As per US Geological Survey (USGS) the quake hit 30 km NE of Kish and the epicenter, with a depth of 10.0 km, was initially determined to be at 26.7253 degrees north latitude and 54.2613 degrees east longitude, reported Xinhua.

The quake comes after a major magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan's Paktika province in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

To date, around 1000 people are estimated to have been killed across Barmal and Giyan districts in Paktika province, and Spera district in Khost province.