LIVE: LS adjourned for day amid opposition uproar over Manipur issue

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8:42 PM

Assam will ban single-use plastic water bottles of carrying capacity below 1 litre: CM

8:19 PM

Manipur incident: Assam Congress stages protests in solidarity with victims

The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) and its various wings on Friday organised separate programmes to condemn the violence in Manipur and express solidarity with the two women whose video of being paraded naked has gone viral. The APCC organised a Bonti Projolon Karjyaxuchi' (earthen lamp lighting programme) at the state headquarters, Rajiv Bhawan, here in the evening.

Leaders and members of the opposition party participated in the programme as a show of support for the two women.

7:21 PM

Yasin Malik's presence in Supreme Court was a serious security lapse: Tushar Mehta

6:17 PM

Projected population of Muslims in 2023 to stand at 19.75 crore: Govt in Lok Sabha

The projected population of Muslims in India in 2023 would stand at 19.75 crore, the government has informed the Lok Sabha. In a written reply to a question by TMC MP Mala Roy in Lok Sabha, Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani said as per the Census 2011, Muslim population is 17.22 crore, which constitutes 14.2 per cent of the total population of the country.

"As per the report of the Technical Group on Population Projections, July 2020, National Commission on Population, country's projected population in 2023 stands at 138.82 crore. Accordingly, applying the same proportion of 14.2 per cent, as was there in Census 2011, projected population of Muslims in 2023 would stand at 19.75 crore," Irani said.

5:55 PM

BJP alleges 'massive corruption' in Rajasthan govt's free ration kit scheme, stages walkout from Assembly

Opposition BJP legislators on Friday staged a walkout from the Rajasthan Assembly, alleging "massive corruption" in the Congress government's scheme to provide free ration kits to more than one crore people every month ahead of the elections. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, deputy leader of opposition Satish Poonia alleged that corruption has been "institutionalised" in the Ashok Gehlot-led state government. "The corruption has been institutionalised in Rajasthan in the last four-and-half-years, and Annapurna food packet scheme is just another example," said Poonia in the House.

5:33 PM

HC to hear petition seeking Siddaramaiah's disqualification July 28

The High Court of Karnataka has said that it will hear on July 28 a petition challenging the election of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to the Assembly from Varuna constituency. The petition blames the election manifesto of the Congress party which promised five 'guarantees' as corrupt practices amounting to bribery and also undue influence under Section 123(2) of the Representation of the People Act. The petition alleges that Siddaramaiah had breached the provisions of the Constitution and the rules and guidelines under The Representation of the People Act.

4:44 PM

Varanasi court orders scientific survey of Gyanvapi mosque

A Varanasi court on Friday ordered a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple here, according to government counsel Rajesh Mishra. The barricaded wazukhana', where a structure claimed by Hindu litigants to be a shivling' exists, will not be part of the survey. The court of A K Vishvesh upheld the petition of a group of Hindu devotees seeking a scientific survey to determine if the mosque was built at the site of a Hindu temple.

4:09 PM

Govt party in over 6.36 lakh cases pending in courts, says Law Minister Meghwal

The central government is a party in over 6.36 lakh cases pending across courts, with the Finance Ministry alone involved in over 1.79 lakh litigations, the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday. Responding to a question on pending court cases that involve the government as a party, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said in a written response that the total number of such cases stood at 6,36,605.

3:29 PM

Manipuris treat women as their mother, incident tarnished state: CM

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday said the people of the state consider women as their mother but the miscreants who attacked and stripped two tribal women naked in May, whose video has drawn nation-wide condemnation, has tarnished the state's reputation. The chief minister said protests were launched across the northeastern state to condemn the incident. Singh was referring to the viral video that surfaced two days ago, in which two tribal women were seen being paraded naked and molested by a group of men. Four of them were arrested on Thursday.

 

2:48 PM

Flood water from Mahatma Gandhi memorial at Rajghat completely pumped out

Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat has been freed of waterlogging, a week after waters from the Yamuna river inundated the complex. Officials on Friday said, Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena who was supervising the operation to drain flood water from the lawns and pathways of the memorial, visited Rajghat and took stock of the situation.

 

2:36 PM

Massive wave of change prevailing in MP: Priyanka Gandhi

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on Friday a massive wave of change prevails in the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, where assembly elections are due by the end. She was addressing a rally in Gwalior, the home turf of Union minister and former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, where she also paid flora tribute to great freedom fighter Rani Laxmibai. Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said that the PM called senior opposition leaders who command respect thieves. Political decency has taken a beating, she said.

 

2:25 PM

No purpose will be served by taking Bhushan in custody: Delhi court order

Allegations of sexual harassment against outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh were "serious" but no purpose will be served by taking him in custody at this stage, a Delhi court order released on Friday said. The court on Thursday granted regular bail to Singh, a six-time BJP MP, and also allowed the bail application of suspended Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) assistant secretary Vinod Tomar.

2:10 PM

TMC to protest in Delhi on Oct 2 to demand release of state funds: Abhishek

Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Friday announced that the party will launch a massive protest in Delhi on Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) against the BJP-led Central government for blocking funds of Bengal under MGNREGA and other schemes.

 

1:56 PM

Priyanka Gandhi pays homage to Rani Laxmibai in Gwalior, to address rally

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday paid floral tributes to Rani Laxmibai at her memorial in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior, the home turf of Union minister and former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia. This is her second visit to MP, where assembly polls are due by the year-end, in 40 days. MP Congress head and former state chief minister Kamal Nath, Leader of the Opposition Govind Singh and other party leaders accompanied Priyanka Gandhi to the memorial of the great freedom fighter Laxmibai here.

 

1:40 PM

3-fold rise in unemployment in Haryana under BJP rule: Deepender Hooda    

Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda said the unemployment rate has increased three-fold in Haryana under BJP rule and slammed the Manohar Lal Khattar government over the "appalling" situation. In a reply to a question in Parliament, Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Rameswar Teli on Thursday said the unemployment rate in Haryana was 2.9 per cent in 2013-14 (when Congress was in power), which increased to 9.0 per cent in 2021-22, the Congress leader said in a statement here.

 

1:24 PM

SC stays proceedings pending in HCs against 'Adipurush'

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed proceedings pending in various high courts against the controversial movie "Adipurush". Adipurush, a retelling of the epic Ramayana, has come under attack for its dialogues and use of colloquial language. A bench of Justices S K Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia issued notice to parties in the case. The Allahabad High Court on June 30 had directed the makers of the movie to appear before it on July 27 and told the central government to form a committee to give its views on the film. It was hearing separate petitions of Kuldeep Tiwari and Naveen Dhawan seeking a ban on the movie.

1:11 PM

Microwaving food containers can expose you to toxic nanoplastics: Study

  Microwaving plastic food containers can release billions of small toxic plastic particles, according to a study.

The researchers found that microwaving plastic baby food containers released over two billion nanoplastics and four million microplastics for every square centimeter of container in some cases.

12:55 PM

Have appraised PM Modi of extraordinary challenges that Sri Lanka experienced, says Wickremesinghe

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe says, "I have also appraised Prime Minister Modi of the extraordinary challenges that Sri Lanka has experienced in economic, social and political terms in the past year and of the reform measures I have spearheaded on a number of fronts in overcoming these challenges. I have conveyed to Prime Minister Modi and to the government and the people of India a profound appreciation for the solidarity and support rendered to Sri Lanka in what was undoubtedly the most challenging period in our modern history."

 

12:30 PM

PM Modi to distribute over 70,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits tomorrow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute more than 70,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits on 22nd July at 10:30 AM via video conferencing. Prime Minister will also address these appointees on the occasion: PMO

 

12:07 PM

Delhi govt issues advisory on water-borne diseases in view of monsoon season

Cautioning that there is an increased risk of contracting water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, dysentery and cholera in the rainy season, the Delhi government has issued an advisory mentioning dos and don't.

The city health department's advisory was published in several leading dailies on Friday.

11:54 AM

BJP, JD(S) boycott Assembly proceedings in protest against suspension of 10 MLAs

The opposition BJP and the JD(S) boycotted proceedings of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly for the second day on Friday, after the Speaker suspended 10 BJP members for the remainder of the session, for their "indecent and disrespectful" conduct in the House.

 

Today is the last day of the legislature session that began on July 3.

11:47 AM

SC to hear Rahul Gandhi's plea in Modi surname case on Aug 4

Supreme Court issues notice to Gujarat Government and others on the plea of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi challenging the Gujarat High Court order which declined to stay his conviction in the criminal defamation case in which he was sentenced to two years in jail by Surat court over 'Modi surname' remark. The apex court posts the matter for hearing on stay of his conviction on August 4.

 

11:37 AM

TMC supporters streaming into Kolkata for Martyrs' Day rally

Tens of thousands of Trinamool Congress workers from villages and towns across the state are streaming into Kolkata for the ruling party's Marty's Day' rally on Friday. Many enthusiast party workers buoyed by a recent victory in rural polls have already arrived and have been staying in camps in Salt Lake and elsewhere. The TMC, which is part of the newly formed non-BJP alliance I.N.D.I.A, is likely to spell out at the rally its strategy for strengthening opposition unity and its design to counter the saffron party in the state.

 

11:23 AM

GST collection, devolution a success story in NE: Sitharaman

The North Eastern states have scripted a success story in the collection and devolution of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman said here on Friday. According to the 2023 RBI report on state finances, the eight NE states have registered a compounded annual GST hike of 27.5 per cent, she said.

 

11:07 AM

PM should make elaborate statement on Manipur in Parliament: Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday demanded that the prime minister make an elaborate statement in Parliament on the Manipur situation, saying he could have dismissed the state chief minister instead of making "false equivalence" with Congress governed states if he was angry over the matter. The Congress has demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must make a statement in both houses of Parliament followed by a discussion on the situation in Manipur.

 

10:47 AM

Need to skill our workforce in use of advanced technologies and processes: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said there is a need to skill the workforce in the use of advanced technologies and processes.

Addressing the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting at Indore via video link, Modi also said that globally, mobile workforce is going to be a reality

10:26 AM

Heavy rains continue in Goa, low-lying areas face flood-like situation; IMD issues orange alert

Goa continued to receive heavy rainfall on Friday with several of its low-lying areas facing flood-like situation and the weather department issuing an orange alert till July 24, officials said on Friday.

The control rooms of both districts - North Goa and South Goa - are working round-the-clock to monitor the situation, a senior state administration official said

10:14 AM

Once a poor man's grain, millet now showing up on Michelin-starred menus

For almost 8,000 years, millet has been nourishing the world without getting much attention. But recently, the nutrient-rich grains got their moment in the international spotlight. At the White House state dinner for India Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June, millet was served in a first-course salad with grilled corn.

9:55 AM

3 arrested following scuffle at Sheshnag camp of Amarnath Yatra: J-K Police

Three persons have been arrested for allegedly being involved in a scuffle at the Sheshnag base camp of the Amarnath Yatra last week which led to minor injuries to a few pilgrims and ponywallas, police have said.

The Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said some people have uploaded a misleading and baseless video on social media claiming stones were thrown at pilgrims.

9:42 AM

'Mobile workforce going to be a reality in the future', says PM Modi at G20 meeting

At the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting, PM Narendra Modi says, "Globally, mobile workforce is going to be a reality in the future. Therefore, it is now time to globalise the development and sharing of skills in the true sense. The G20 must play a leading role in this. I commend your efforts to initiate the international referencing of occupations by skills and qualifications requirements..."