News updates: Rahul Gandhi targets PM Modi over BJP MP Kangana Ranaut's remarks on farmers

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9:49 PM

Opposition targets government over collapse of Shivaji Maharaj's statue in Maharashtra

A statue of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a fort in Maharashtra's coastal Sindhudurg district just eight months ago, collapsed on Monday. The opposition Nationalist Congress Party (SP) lashed out at the Mahayuti government over the incident. NCP (SP) state president and former minister Jayant Patil said, "The government is responsible for the collapse as it did not take proper care of the statue."

9:21 PM

Rahul Gandhi targets PM Modi on BJP MP Kangana Ranaut's remarks against farmers

Targetting PM Modi over BJP MP Kangana Ranaut's remarks over farmers protests, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that instead of fulfilling the promises made to farmers, government is tarnishing their image. He further said that this is an insult to the farmers across Western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana.

8:44 PM

Telegram's CEO arrest is not a ‘Political Decision’, says French President Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron said the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was “in no way a political decision” and that it would be up to judges to decide on the case. “It’s the judicial system that will independently enforce the law,” Macron said in a post on X. 

7:43 PM

Congress, NC finalises seat sharing deal for J&K's assembly polls

Congress and National Conference have finalised their seat sharing agreement for upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls. According to the deal, National Conference will contest on 51 out of 90 assembly seats, wheareas Congress will contest on 32 seats. Both the patrties will contest on 5 seats. 

7:25 PM

Delhi court convicts three men in 2009 kidnapping case

A court here has convicted three men of conspiracy and kidnapping, fifteen years after a man paid them Rs 2 crore to secure the release of his kidnapped son.

Additional Sessions Judge Virender Kumar Kharta was hearing a case against the three accused and said that the prosecution had proved them guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

6:57 PM

Delhi court grants 10-day interim bail to Meeran Haider in UAPA case

A Delhi court has granted 10-day interim bail on humanitarian grounds to Jamia Millia Islamia student Meeran Haider in a UAPA case related to an alleged conspiracy behind the 2020 riots here. The court, however, imposed conditions that Haider would not talk or give an interview to the media, including social media platforms, and that he would not meet the general public.

6:39 PM

Communal tensions erupt in Rajasthan's Bhilwara after portion of cow's tail found

Shopkeepers downed shutters Monday after communal tension erupted in Rajasthan's Bhilwara city, a day after a chopped portion of a "cow's tail" was found near a temple, police said. Police used lathis to disperse a crowd that hurled stones at them. Additional forces was summoned to prevent violence from flaring up. On Janmasthami, a large demonstration was held at the city's Parshuram Circle demanding the arrest of the culprits.

6:17 PM

Bangladesh's Yunus wishes Hindus on Janmashtami, promises to promote harmony

Bangladesh's interim government chief Muhammad Yunus on Monday met the country's Hindu community and vowed to promote interfaith harmony as he hosted a reception for them coinciding with Janmashtami. The minority Hindu population has faced vandalisation of their business and properties and devastation of Hindu temples in the students' violence that ensued for days following the ouster of prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

5:59 PM

BJP failed to curb drug menace in Haryana, says Congress leader Kumari Selja

Congress general secretary Kumari Selja on Monday said youths in Haryana are falling victim to drug addiction, with 13 of the 22 districts being severely affected by the scourge. The Sirsa MP also said drug abuse is more prevalent in Haryana areas bordering Punjab and Rajasthan.

5:39 PM

JNU admin agrees to hold caste census in campus, reverts to in-house entrance exam

The ongoing stalemate between the JNU administration and its students' union, which has been staging a hunger strike for the past 15 days over various unresolved issues, may soon come to an end as the two sides have reached a consensus on several demands. The university has agreed to fulfill at least six of the 12 major demands of the protesting students' union. These include reinstating the old in-house entrance exam system -- JNU Entrance Exam (JNUEE) -- for admissions and conducting a caste census of the campus.

5:21 PM

Congress' DNA is anti-public, says Jyotiraditya Scindia

The DNA of the Congress is anti-public and the party stands in support of oppressors and those who are corrupt, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Monday. In Gwalior to take part in Krishna Janmashtami events, he further said the Congress opposes the rule of justice.

4:55 PM

Finance Minister-led inter-ministerial panel meets Singapore President, discusses boosting ties

Inter-ministerial delegation led by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday met Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and discussed boosting partnership between the two countries. Both sides discussed boosting the India-Singapore Strategic Partnership by focusing on key areas like digitalisation, green initiatives and skill development.

4:37 PM

MP Kangana Ranaut is neither permitted nor authorised to make statements on party's policy: BJP

The saffron party has expressed disagreement with party MP Kangana Ranaut's controversial remarks on farmers' protest.

 

4:34 PM

DMRC tweaks Phase-4 construction plans to save 69 trees

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has redesigned its Phase-4 construction plan to save 69 trees on the Janakpuri West-RK Ashram Marg Corridor, officials said on Monday.They said that permission was received for felling overall 15,508 trees across Delhi for this phase, and approval was awaited for cutting 71 more on the Majlis Park–Maujpur Corridor.

4:31 PM

Supreme Court directs states, UTs to provide complete information on open prisons

The Supreme Court has directed several states and Union Territories (UTs) to provide complete information with regard to the functioning of open prisons within four weeks. Semi-open or open prisons allow convicts to work outside the premises during the day to earn a livelihood and return in the evening. The concept was introduced to assimilate the convicts with society and reduce psychological pressure as they faced difficulties in leading normal lives outside.

4:17 PM

BJP releases list of 40 star campaigners for J-K campaign

Earlier today, the saffron party had released a list of 44 candidates for the three-phase election to 90 Assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir, but deleted it soon after. After a few  hours, the BJP released a fresh list, but this had only names of 15 candidates picked for the first phase of the election.

3:46 PM

AAP to launch 'Aap ka vidhayak, aap ke dwaar' campaign from Sep 1 in lead-up to Delhi polls

The AAP will launch a campaign 'AAP ka vidhayak, aap ke dwaar' from September 1 to reach out to people as the party gears up for the Delhi Assembly polls due early next year. Following a meeting of senior party leaders to chalk out the strategy for the polls, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak said the campaign will be intensified in the days to come.

3:28 PM

EAM Jaishankar congratulates Bui Thanh Son on his appointment as Vietnam's deputy Prime Minister

3:22 PM

Devotees throng temples across Jaipur to celebrate Janmashtami

Scores of devotees on Monday thronged Govind Devji temple and Shri Radha Gopinathji temple and paid obeisance amid tight security arrangements on the occasion of Janmashtami. Devotees made a beeline at the Govind Devji Temple, located inside the City Palace, from 3 am for 'mangla darshan' from 4.30 am.

2:59 PM

Light rains in parts of Himachal, 41 roads closed

There was light rainfall in some parts Himachal Pradesh and 41 roads are closed in the state due to ongoing downpour, officials said on Monday.

According to the state emergency operation centre, 143 people have died in rain-related incidents so far since the onset of monsoon in state on June 27 and the state has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 1,217 crore.

2:40 PM

AAP demands L-G Saxena's resignation for 'approving' tree felling in Delhi Ridge

AAP today demanded Lt Governor VK Saxena's resignation for allegedly approving the felling of 1,100 trees in Delhi's Ridge area. There was no immediate reaction from the Lt Governor's Office. Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj stated in a presser that the affidavit filed by the contractor involved in the project showed that the permission to fell the trees was issued by the lieutenant governor.

2:33 PM

AP pharma company fire accident: Two more injured workers die

The toll rose to three in the flash fire at a pharma company in Anakapalli district as two persons succumbed to burn injuries, an official said on Monday. A chemist and three workers from Jharkhand sustained serious injuries in the accident on August 23 at Syngene Active Ingredients Pvt Ltd, located at Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City (JN Pharma City) in Parawada. "Two more injured persons died. One person died yesterday night and another person died today (Monday) morning," Anakapalli Superintendent of Police M Deepika Patil said.

2:31 PM

Odisha forest department overhauls squad deployment following surge in elephant deaths

Under scrutiny for the death of over 40 elephants so far this fiscal, the Odisha forest department has reassigned protection squads from forest divisions to circle levels for more effective wildlife protection. In a recent letter to all Regional Chief Conservators of Forests (RCCFs), the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Chief Wildlife Warden said despite having 397 squads deployed in different forest divisions for protection and conservation of wildlife, more than 40 elephant deaths have been reported during the current financial year.

1:51 PM

Liquor policy case: Supreme Court to hear BRS leader Kavitha's bail plea Tuesday

The top court is set to hear on Tuesday the bail plea by BRS leader K Kavitha in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. A bench of justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan is likely to hear the matter. The Supreme Court had on August 12 sought responses from the CBI and the ED on Kavitha's pleas challenging a July 1 Delhi High Court order denying her bail in the two cases.

1:42 PM

Russia launches massive missile and drone strike on Ukraine; 3 killed

The Ukrainian air force told that Russia had 11 TU-95 strategic bombers in the air and confirmed the launch of a number of missiles. Outside the Ukrainian capital, Reuters reporters heard the sound of air defences engaging targets. Local authorities reported explosions in the northwestern city of Lutsk and said that an apartment block had been damaged and that they were verifying possible casualties.

1:32 PM

Tripura flood: PM Modi assures full support to people, says CM Saha

"Spoke to Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji spelling out all the details of the flood situation in the state. He assured of full support to the people of Tripura in this hour of crisis. We are extremely grateful to Hon'ble Prime Minister for his kind gesture to the people of Tripura," Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha wrote on X. At least 26 persons have died and 1.17 lakh people have been rendered homeless in Tripura due to devastating floods since August 19.

1:02 PM

BJP releases amended list for J-K Assembly polls

The saffron party has released an amended list of 15 candidates for upcoming J&K Assembly elections

 

12:54 PM

Darshan case: 7 prison officials suspended, superintendent transferred

Seven prison officials have been suspended and the Superintendent of the Central jail at Parappana Agrahara in the city has been transferred after a photograph went viral in social media showing leading Kannada actor Darshan in the prison garden with his friends. Those suspended include jailers Sharan Basappa Amingad and Prabhu S Khandelwal, assistant jailers L S Kuppeswamy and Srikanth Talwar, head warder Venkappa, Sampath Kumar and warder K Basappa, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said.

12:34 PM

Tractor-trolley carrying 17 persons swept away in Gujarat

"The tractor-trolley carrying 17 persons swept away when it was passing through a causeway (over a river) near Dhavana village in Halvad taluka of Morbi district at around 9 pm on Sunday. Ten persons were rescued while seven others are missing," said Morbi fire officer Devendrasinh Jadeja. State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel are conducting a search operation, he said.

12:32 PM

Differences over seat-sharing: Cong, NC leaders to hold talks

The Congress leadership is set to hold deliberations with the National Conference on Monday to iron out differences over seat-sharing for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls. Congress general secretary organisation, K C Venugopal will hold talks with NC president Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah at their residence here, leaders in both the parties said. They said the meeting was necessitated after "some differences" cropped up in seat-sharing arrangement during the talks between the local leadership of the parties.