Highlights: Bihar CM Nitish reshuffles portfolios of 3 RJD ministers

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11:29 PM

Varanasi court acquits Uttar Pradesh Congress chief in 27-year-old case

Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai was acquitted on Saturday in a 27-year-old case related to holding a protest in violation of prohibitory orders. Ajay Rai's lawyer, Anuj Yadav, stated, "The MP-MLA Court of Judge Ujjawal Upadhyay acquitted Rai after the prosecution failed to prove the allegations." The case, filed in 1996, alleged that Rai organized a protest with his supporters in contravention of prohibitory orders.

11:16 PM

Human Rights Watch report blames IMF for additional hardships for low-income groups in Pak

Pakistan is grappling with one of the most severe economic crises in its history, placing the rights to health and food of millions of people at risk, according to Human Rights Watch. The organization emphasized that the financially strained country is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Furthermore, Human Rights Watch stated that the policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have exacerbated the challenges faced by low-income groups in Pakistan.

10:49 PM

CM Nitish reshuffles portfolios of 3 RJD ministers in Bihar govt

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced a cabinet reshuffle on Saturday night, involving changes in the portfolios of three ministers from his ally, the RJD. Notably, Education Minister Chandra Shekhar, who has been making headlines for various reasons, was shifted to the role of Sugarcane Industries Minister.

10:36 PM

Amend Constitution for internal reservation for SCs: Siddaramaiah to Centre

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah criticized the high-level committee formed to review internal reservations for Scheduled Castes, describing it as a ploy to mislead the Dalit community. He accused the BJP of lacking genuine concern behind the formation of the committee.

10:15 PM

Promises made in BJP manifesto will be delivered before time: Rajasthan CM

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma announced on Saturday that the promises made by the BJP in its election manifesto will be fulfilled ahead of schedule. He made these remarks while addressing a gathering at a "Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra" camp organized at Bhanipura Gram Panchayat in Bikaner.

10:03 PM

Central govt hospitals in Delhi to remain closed till 2:30 pm on January 22

All four Central government-run hospitals in Delhi, including AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) and Safdarjung Hospital, will be closed until 2:30 pm on January 22, in observance of the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple. However, critical and emergency services will continue to operate during this period. An official notice by AIIMS, Delhi, mentioned that the central government has declared January 22 as a half-day holiday until 2:30 pm.

9:43 PM

'Conspiracy against me': Soren after ED interrogates him for over 7 hours

On Saturday, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was interrogated by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. After being questioned for more than seven hours, Soren alleged that a conspiracy was hatched against him. His remark came as he addressed a large crowd of supporters, who gathered outside his residence where he was questioned. He further stated that he was not scaredand would face the "bullets first". "A conspiracy was hatched against me, but the final nail in the coffin of the conspirators will be put by us... We will not be scared, your leader will face the bullets first and keep your morale high," Soren told JMM workers who had been outside his house since the morning, and refused to leave even after ED officers left.

 

 

 

 

9:26 PM

PM Modi to visit Arichal Munai in Dhanushkodi, Tamil Nadu on Sunday

Ahead of attending the Ram Temple consecration event on January 22 in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Tamil Nadu. After holding a roadshow in Rameswaram, he will visit Arichal Munai point in Dhanushkodi. The Arichal Munai point is said to be the place from where Ram Setu will built. Later, he will perform puja and darshan at Sri Kothandarama Swamy temple. 

8:20 PM

Ram Temple consecration: Entire country waiting for it, says Dharmendra Pradhan

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday urges countrymen to light diyas on the occasion of Ram Temple consecration on Jan 22. He said, "The entire country is waiting for it... I appeal to all the countrymen to light diyas in front of their homes on the evening of 22 January and celebrate Diwali..."

 

 

7:29 PM

Ayodhya Ram Temple 'Pran Pratishtha': Visuals from the International Media Centre in Ayodhya

6:55 PM

EAM S Jaishankar meets Bangladesh counterpart in Uganda

EAM Dr S Jaishankar tweets, "So glad to meet with my new Bangladesh counterpart FM Dr. Mohammed Hasan Mahmud in Kampala today. Congratulated him on his appointment and wished him all success. India-Bangladesh relations are growing from strength to strength. Look forward to receiving him in Delhi soon."

 

6:21 PM

Centre nods for 35 roads under PM Gram Sadak Yojana in Rajasthan

The central government has sanctioned 35 roads in Rajasthan under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The Union Rural Development Ministry issued approval in this regard on Friday.

 

According to the official statement issued here on Saturday, under the scheme (PMGSY), approval has been received to build 35 roads of 394.65 km length in the state for Rs 251.38 crore. Under this, 35 roads will be built in the Didwana-Kuchaman, Jhunjhunu, and Nagaur districts.

5:56 PM

Congress' KC Venugopal comments on Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal says, "From the day it (Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra) entered Assam, the CM himself is attacking the Yatra in a very bad shape. Police is trying to disturb our Yatra everywhere. They are now allowing us. They registered FIR against our people. They are making maximum trouble for us. Today, they attacked our vehicles & flexboards. The way they are doing it in Assam is condemnable. We can remind them of only one thing - we are not going to surrender all of these things, we will continue our Yatra with great vigour. The people of Assam are with us. Why they are doing all of these things? They are scared of the popularity of this Yatra...Because the Yatra is gaining momentum from all over Assam...Nobody can stop us, we will continue our Yatra..."

5:30 PM

Exicse policy scam: Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh's judicial custody extended till Feb 3

On Saturday, a Delhi court extended the judicial custody of former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh till February 3, 2024. The two leaders have been in judicial custody in connection with a money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam in the national capital. Both Sisodia and Singh appeared through video conferencing from Tihar jail. The court also decided to reserve its order on a bail application of Sarvesh Mishra, who is said to be a close aide of Singh and is an accused in the case. 

5:18 PM

PM Modi holds roadshow in Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu

4:51 PM

Here's what Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said during Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Arunachal Pradesh

As 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' is underway in Arunachal Pradesh, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "...BJP's mindset is that whole India must be run from Delhi and Hindi language should spread in the entire country, all Indians must use Hindi. Our mindset is that Hindi has its own place but your own language also has its own place...your state must be run from here not from Delhi"

 

 

4:42 PM

PM Modi offers prayers at Sri Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram

4:18 PM

ED being used as a tool to terrorise and silence political opponents, says NCP chief Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Saturday slammed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and accused it of being used as a tool to terrorise and silence the political opponents in the country. Pawar's remark was in connection to a query on his grandnephew and party MLA Rohit Pawar getting summons from the central agency to appear before it on January 24 for questioning as part of its money laundering probe into the alleged Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam.

3:49 PM

As regional tensions escalate, Iran launches satellite that is part of Western-criticised programme

On Saturday, Iran announced the successful launch of a satellite in its highest orbit, yet. The move comes as heightened tensions take control of the Middle East amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The satellite is part of a Western-criticised programme. The launch also comes just days after Iran and Pakistan engaged in airstrikes in each others' countries. 

3:25 PM

Rashmika Mandanna deepfake video case: Accused arrested from South India, says Delhi Police

On Saturday, Delhi Police announced that they have arrested a man in connection with a deep fake video of actress Rashmika Mandanna which was circulated widely on social media. According to an official, the accused, suspected of being the creator, was arrested from South India and brought to the national capital. The official further added that the accused is currently being interrogated.  A First Information Report (FIR) was filed on November 10, 2023, under sections 465 (punishment for forgery) and 469 (forgery for the purpose of harming reputation) and sections 66C and 66E of the Information Technology Act at the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) Unit of the Delhi Police's Special Cell. 

12:49 PM

Cyber crime rising in the run up to the Pran Pratishtan event draws closer

12:38 PM

PM Modi offers prayers at Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Tiruchirapalli

Prime Minister Modi on Saturday offered prayers at the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Tiruchirappalli. PM Modi wore a traditional outfit for his visit to what is one of the most important temples for worshipping Lord Vishnu.

 

11:57 AM

PM Modi has taken several steps for welfare of central armed forces: HM Amit Shah

11:46 AM

PM Modi arrives in Trichy, Priests of Ranganathaswamy Temple welcome first visit by a PM

PM Narendra Modi has reached Tiruchirappalli. He is scheduled to visit the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple where he will offer prayers.

 

11:42 AM

Delhi missing deadline to treat sewage makes Yamuna cleaning goal tough

Delhi government has missed the deadline to treat sewage treatment targets for December 2023. This makes it challenging for it to clean Yamuna river waters to bathing standards which was one of the key promises AAP made to voters.

11:28 AM

Cong, not Rajiv responsible for unlocking of Babri Masjid gates: Aiyar

Veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said it was the Congress and not former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, responsible for unlocking of Babri Masjid gates and asserted that the "BJP-planted" Arun Nehru was behind it.

 

10:41 AM

ED to question Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren at his official residence

10:16 AM

French Rafale fighters, multirole tanker transport to participate in Republic day event

9:28 AM

Ahead of R-Day, Delhi police prohibits flying aerial objects till Feb 15

As the country is gearing up for the 75th Republic Day, the Delhi Police on Friday prohibited flying of sub-conventional aerial platforms, including paragliders, paramotors, hang gliders, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in the national capital. The prohibition has been implemented for 29 days--from January 18 to February 15--unless withdrawn earlier.