LIVE: Man, seeking job, tries to breach PM's security in Varanasi; held

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11:56 PM

Man, seeking job, tries to breach PM Modi's security in Varanasi; held

There was a breach in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security in Varanasi. A man jumped in front of PM Modi's convoy in Varanasi, asking for a job, reports India Today. The incident took place outside the Rudraksh Centre in Varanasi, when PM Modi's convoy was on its way to the Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport. The man, identified as Krishna Kumar, is a BJP worker. He was held after and is being questioned. A resident of Ghazipur, the man was just 20 meters away from the Prime Minister's convoy. Police and security officials immediately caught him.

10:32 PM

Farmers in Karnataka's Mandya continue their protest over Cauvery water release to Tamil Nadu

9:17 PM

Nijjar took training in Pakistan, backed terrorist activities across India, claims fresh Intelligence report

Khalistan-backer Hardeep Singh Nijjar whose killing has triggered a diplomatic row between India and Canada, had gone to Pakistan to gain expertise in arms and ammunition, according to fresh findings by the Indian Intelligence agencies, a source in the know of things said.

9:12 PM

Indian foreign minister Dr S Jaishankar to address the UN today

8:39 PM

Cooperative sector hurt by political interference in the past: Amit Shah

While addressing an audience in Mumbai, Union Health Minister Amit Shah said that political interference has hurt co-operative movement in India. "Co-operative sector gave boost to rural and agriculture development in country," he said.

6:34 PM

PM Modi to address public rally in Telangana on Sept 30

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public meeting organised by the BJP at Mahabubnagar in Telangana on September 30, before the year end assembly polls. The meeting would be held at 12 noon on September 30 at the ITI Ground at Bhoothpur in Mahabubnagar, state BJP General Secretary G Premender Reddy said in a release here on Saturday. Union Tourism Minister and state BJP president G Kishan Reddy and other party leaders would attend the rally. The Assembly elections are expected to be held in a couple of months in Telangana and the saffron party pins hope on Modi's rally to boost its prospects.

 

6:33 PM

The Indian contingent at the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games being held in Hangzhou, China

6:02 PM

'One Nation, One Election' committee

Former President Ram Nath Kovind chaired the First meeting of the 'One Nation, One Election' committee which was attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, Ghulam Nabi Azad and others, earlier today.

 

4:55 PM

British Columbia province Premier David Ebby says Canada “holding back” info on Nijjar killing

Amid the ongoing diplomatic stand-off between India and Canada, the Premier of British Columbia province, David Ebby has said the federal government is “holding back” information on the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, CBC News reported.

4:54 PM

Fire breaks out in Humsafar Express in Gujarat's Valsad; no casualty reported till now

4:53 PM

PM Modi inaugurates 16 schools under Atal Awasiya Vidyalaya Yojana in 18 districts of Uttar Pradesh

3:39 PM

PM Narendra Modi attends all-women public meeting in Varanasi

PM Narendra Modi attends all-women public meeting in Varanasi. Women greet him for passage of women's reservation bill in Parliament

3:35 PM

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge alleges misuse of probe agencies by BJP

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday accused BJP of misusing probe agencies like ED. He said, "each Congress candidate has to fight 4 pitched by PM Modi - 1 of BJP, ED, I-T, CBI."
 

He was supported by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who claimed that Parliament's special session was called to change name of India to Bharat, however, it was postponed and women's reservation bill introduced.
 

The remarks from the leaders came while they were addressing a public rally in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

3:23 PM

India-Canada row "a political gimmick", says All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee Chairman

A Sikh organization in Kashmir claimed that the India-Canada dispute was merely "a political gimmick" used by the ruling class to gain support ahead of elections and that the Sikh community was a vital component of the nation. "Everything is used for political purposes. Sikhs have a crucial role in this nation. Since RSS gained control, their primary goal has been to talk about "gharwapsi," whether it pertains to Muslims, Sikhs, or anybody else. Chairman of the All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee Jagmohan Singh Raina told reporters, "We are not going to allow it."

 

3:22 PM

Chandrababu Naidu moves SC seeking to quash FIR against him in a scam case

Former Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday moved Supreme Court seeking to quash the FIR registered against him in the alleged skill development scam case. Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday dismissed his petition.

 

3:22 PM

Govt making sincere attempts to draft laws in simple language, Indian languages as much as possible, says PM

Government making sincere attempts to draft laws in simple language, Indian languages as much as possible, says PM Modi.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the International Lawyers’ Conference 2023 in New Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan.

2:53 PM

NIA confiscates property of SFJ's Gurpatwant Pannu in Chandigarh

The National Investigation Agency Saturday confiscated the property of banned outfit Sikhs for Justice's chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannu here, said official sources.

A 'property confiscation notice' was put up outside the residence of pro-Khalistan Pannu in Chandigarh, they said.

The action was taken under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

2:36 PM

DUSU polls: ABVP leading on all four posts

The RSS-affiliated ABVP was leading on all the four central panel posts of the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) after eight rounds of counting, according to official data.

Counting of votes for the DUSU's central panel posts of president, vice-president, secretary and joint secretary are underway. The election was held on Friday.

According to the data shared by Chief Election Officer, DUSU, ABVP candidates were leading on all the four posts in the first eight rounds. The Congress-affiliated NSUI was trailing on all the posts..

2:25 PM

PM Modi to flag off 9 Vande Bharat Express trains on Sunday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday flag off nine Vande Bharat trains connecting religious and tourist destinations across 11 states.

The nine trains will provide faster connectivity across 11 states -- Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Odisha, Jharkhand and Gujarat.

1:40 PM

He is frequent offender: NCP Supriya Sule to move privilege motion against BJP's Ramesh Bidhuri

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule on Saturday said she is moving a 'privilege motion' against "frequent offender" Bharatiya Janata Party MP Ramesh Bidhuri for his abusive remarks against BSP member Danish Ali in Parliament.

"...The warning is not good enough...he (Ramesh Bidhuri) is a frequent offender. I and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have written to the honourable speaker. We are moving a 'privilege motion' against him," said Sule.

The NCP legislator was referring to the use of abusive language by Bidhuri against BSP's Danish Ali during a discussion on Thursday inside Lok Sabha.

1:38 PM

Congress MP Manish Tewari demands to conduct 2024 polls on paper ballots

The Congress voiced fresh misgivings over the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), with its Lok Sabha member Manish Tewari saying on Saturday that votes in the general elections next year should be cast via paper ballots. He said the exercise that defines the country's democratic character shouldn't be hostage to technology.

Speaking to ANI on Saturday, the Congress leader said, "Democracy is too precious to be left to technology. The question is not whether the EVMs are manipulated. It is whether the EVMs could be manipulated. I believe that is reason enough to return to paper ballots for next year's Lok Sabha elections. The point is simple: the electronic voting machine is, at the end of the day, just a machine. And, like any machine, it could be rigged, hacked and played around with," Tewari said.

1:14 PM

Himanta's wife files Rs 10 cr defamation suit against Gaurav Gogoi

Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has filed a Rs 10 crore defamation suit against Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi for "false" allegations of irregularities in a food processing project.

Senior advocate Devajit Saikia, her counsel, told PTI that the case has been filed at the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) of Kamrup Metropolitan on Friday and it will be moved on September 26.

"My client has claimed a defamation of Rs 10 crore against Gaurav Gogoi for various tweets on X. We have made it very clear that we never made any application to receive subsidy," he added.

12:08 PM

Rajasthan: Rahul Gandhi arrives in Jaipur, to address public rally, inaugurate new party office

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived in Jaipur on Saturday morning. Later in the day, the Wayanad MP will address a public gathering alongside Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

The Congress leaders will also lay the foundation of a new party office building in the Mansarovar area.

The Congress leader arrived at the Jaipur airport on a routine flight and was received by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and other senior party leaders.

The Congress leaders will also lay the foundation of a new party office building in the Mansarovar area.

12:05 PM

Counting of votes for Delhi University Students' Union elections underway

The counting of votes for the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections is underway.

The results of all four central panel posts of president, vice-president, secretary, and joint secretary are expected to be announced between 12 to 1pm, according to the sources.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police tightened security in the North Campus area of Delhi University on Saturday amid the counting of votes.

Voting for the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections was held on Friday.

A total of 24 candidates are in the fray for four posts: president, vice president, secretary, and joint secretary.

12:04 PM

Amit Shah to visit Mumbai today, meet Maharashtra CM Shinde, Dy CM Fadanavis

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit the official residences of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadanavis on Saturday to worship Lord Ganesha during his day-long visit to Mumbai.

Shah will start his visit to the city by worshipping the idol of Lord Ganesha established by 'Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal' in the Bandra West area and offering prayers at another famous Ganesha idol, the Lalbaug Raja at Lalbaug, Parel in Mumbai in the afternoon.

After worshipping Lord Ganesha idols established in two separate localities in the city, the Union Home Minister will take Darshan of the idol of Lord Ganesha established at Varsha Bungalow of CM Shinde and Sagar Bungalow of Deputy CM Fadanavis.

12:02 PM

Delhi to host over 30 countries at Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference

The national capital will host over 30 countries for the Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference from September 25 to 27.

The event is aimed at exchanging views and developing mutual understanding among the Indo-Pacific partners, officers in the Indian Army said.

Representatives from over 30 participating countries will discuss issues of mutual interest at the meeting, the Army informed further.

The conference will be a platform to exchange ideas and views on security, promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and develop mutual understanding and dialogue amongst the Indo-Pacific partners, officials added.

12:01 PM

Taiwan factory fire leaves at least 5 dead, more than 100 injured

A fire and subsequent explosions at a golf ball factory in southern Taiwan killed at least five people and injured more than 100 others, and five people are still missing.

The fire began on Friday night at the factory in Pingtung county and raged overnight. Authorities said rescuers were still looking for four factory workers and one firefighter who remained unaccounted for.

More than 100 people were taken to the hospital with injuries.

12:00 PM

PM Modi inaugurates International Lawyers' Conference in New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the International Lawyers' Conference 2023 in New Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan.

The inaugural event was also attended by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.

Speaking on occasion, CJI Chandrachud said that it is not utopian to aspire to a world where nations, institutions, and most importantly individuals are open to engaging with one another.

12:00 PM

Cauvery issue: Farmers' and pro-Kannada outfits observe bandh in Mandya

In the wake of a call by pro-Kannada organisations for a 'bandh' to oppose the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu from dams in Karnataka, most of the shops in the district headquarters town of Mandya, the Cauvery heartland, remained closed on Saturday.

Irrigation department officials told PTI that Karnataka was releasing 5,000 cusecs water to the neighbouring state as per the Cauvery Water Management Authority's direction.

Raising slogans alleging injustice to Mandya, where the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam on the Cauvery river is located, the protesters took out a march here.

11:28 AM

X social media's India, South Asia policy head Gupta resigns

Social media platform X's head of policy for India and South Asia, Samiran Gupta, has resigned, two sources said, a top departure that comes ahead of India elections and as the company fights a court battle with New Delhi over content removal.

Gupta was the most senior India employee for X, formerly known as Twitter, and responsible for "key content-related policy issues" and "defending Twitter's position with new policy developments and support in-country sales organization," according to his LinkedIn profile.

Gupta, who was designated as X's Head of Global Government Affairs for India and South Asia, declined to comment to Reuters. X did not immediately respond to a request for comment.