LIVE: Women's reservation is the victory of BJP's ideology, says PM Modi

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2:30 PM

Congress party like 'rusted iron' which promoted corruption, poverty and appeasement politics: PM Modi

With an eye on the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday tore into Congress equating the party with "rusted iron" which he said would push MP back into the BIMARU category if given an opportunity again. Addressing a massive gathering of BJP workers 'Karyakarta Mahakumb', the prime minister said the Congress and its allies in the Ghamandia bloc supported the Women's Reservation Bill out of compulsion and hesitation as they understood the power of "nari shakti". He said if given an opportunity, Congress will back out on this bill that seeks to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and state legislatures.

2:19 PM

Sanatan Dharma row: Hindu saints stage protest in Delhi, torch effigies of Udhayanidhi

Scores of Hindu saints on Monday staged a protest against DMK's Udhayanidhi Stalin over the Sanatan Dharma row and burnt his effigies near Tamil Nadu Bhawan here. The protesters also raised slogans against political leaders who also made similar remarks and issued statements supporting the DMK leader. The protesters under the banner of Delhi Sant Mahamandal held placards denouncing Udhayanidhi Stalin and other leaders and marched from a temple in Sarojini Nagar towards Tamil Nadu Bhawan.

1:34 PM

India to achieve 500 GW renewables target before 2030 deadline: R K Singh

Union Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh on Monday said India will achieve its 500 GW renewable energy target before the 2030 deadline. Addressing FICCI's India Energy Transition Summit 2023, Singh also said had India not lost two years due to COVID-19, the nation would have achieved 50 per cent of its power generation capacity from RE non-fossil fuels, by now.

1:32 PM

First C-295 aircraft inducted into IAF Ghaziabad

The first C-295 medium tactical transport aircraft was inducted into the Indian Air Force on Monday, boosting its logistics capabilities. The induction ceremony took place at the Hindan Air Force Station here in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The aircraft was unveiled at the hangar after two sliding screens, bearing '11 SQN: Pioneers of C-295 MW', 'Rhinos: The Trailblazers of C-295 MW', and image of the newly-inducted aircraft, moved sideways. One-horned rhino is the emblem of Sqn. No. 11.

1:04 PM

Farmers protest with human skeletons over Cauvery water dispute in TN

The National South Indian River Interlinking Farmers Association under the leadership of Ayyakannu held a protest on Monday in Tamil Nadu's Trichy by holding parts of the human skeleton and demanded the sharing of Cauvery water. The protestors demanded the sharing of Cauvery water to save the standing 'kuruvai' crop cultivation in Tamil Nadu. The visuals from Trichy showed the protestors raising slogans demanding the release of water from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu and saving farmers.

12:49 PM

Monsoon starts withdrawing from India, eight days after normal date of Sept 17

"(The) southwest monsoon has withdrawn from parts of southwest Rajasthan today, September 25, 2023, against its normal date of withdrawal from southwest Rajasthan of September 17," the India Meteorological Department said in a statement. The late retreat of the monsoon this year is the 13th consecutive delayed withdrawal. Withdrawal of the monsoon from northwest India marks the beginning of its retreat from the Indian subcontinent. Any delay in the monsoon's retreat means a longer rainy season, which can significantly impact agricultural production, particularly for northwest India where monsoon rainfall plays a crucial role in the Rabi crop production.

12:28 PM

SC seeks Centre's response on plea raising issue of assistance to persons with disabilities

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to respond to a plea which sought that quantum of assistance to persons with disabilities should be 25 per cent higher than those given to others under similar social welfare schemes. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud issued notice to the Centre seeking its response on the petition filed by Delhi-based organisation 'Bhumika Trust' and posted the matter for hearing after four weeks.

11:56 AM

SC asks Chandrababu Naidu's lawyer to mention his plea to quash FIR on Sept 26

Supreme Court on Monday asked counsel of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to mention on September 26 his plea seeking to quash the FIR registered against him in the skill development scam case. As senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Naidu, tried to mention for urgent hearing the plea, which was not listed in mentioning list, the bench asked him to mention it tomorrow.

11:43 AM

39 injured as private bus headed for PM's Bhopal rally hits truck in Khargone

As many as 39 persons were injured, one of them seriously, when the private bus carrying them to the venue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Bhopal rammed into a stationary truck in Khargone district, police said on Monday. The incident occurred under the Kasrawad police station limits on Sunday night, an officer said. The prime minister is scheduled to address a mega meet of BJP workers in the Madhya Pradesh capital around Monday noon.

11:18 AM

Money laundering case linked to PFI: ED conducted searches at 12 locations in Kerala

The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at 12 locations in Wayanad, Kozhikode and Kochi in Kerala on Monday in connection with a money laundering cases related to the banned Popular Front of India, sources said. The searches were spread across premises of the organisation and its former leaders among others, they said. The organisation was banned in September last year by the Centre for alleged unlawful activities and several of its leaders were arrested.

10:51 AM

Ahead of PM Modi's Bhopal visit, Uma Bharti raises demand for OBC quota within women's reservation Bill

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled arrival in Bhopal, senior BJP leader Uma Bharti on Monday said she expects the PM to give a “positive signal” about carving out a quota for OBCs within the recently passed women's reservation Bill. Earlier last week, Bharti had expressed her disappointment for not including the OBC (Other Backward Classes) quota within the constitutional amendment bill which provided 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and state legislatures.

10:41 AM

Rahul Gandhi arrives in poll-bound Chhattisgarh, will launch rural housing scheme in Bilaspur

During the program, the Congress leader will launch 413 development works worth Rs 597.61 crore for the people of the district. He will also distribute Rs 25 thousand of the first instalment to 1 lakh 30 thousand beneficiaries of "Pradhan Mantri Awas Gramin Yojana". Rahul Gandhi will also participate in distributing an amount of Rs 5 crore to the beneficiaries of the "Chief Minister Construction Workers Housing Assistance Scheme." Additionally, he will also gift many development works including community building to the district.

10:37 AM

Russia's air defence systems destroys four Ukraine-drones over Black Sea

Russian air defence systems destroyed four Ukraine-launched drones over the northwestern part of the Black Sea and over the Crimean Peninsula, Russia's defence ministry said on Monday. "It was not immediately known whether there was any damage or injuries as a result of the reported attacks," reports Reuters.

10:10 AM

PM Modi to engage with academic leaders at 'G20 University Connect' on Sept 26

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is set to host an event, 'G20 University Connect,' on Tuesday, September 26, facilitating an interaction between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the academic community. The event, scheduled to take place at Bharat Mandapam, will bring together Vice-Chancellors, principals, faculty members, and students from universities and colleges across the nation.

9:50 AM

Chinese envoy calls for strengthening bilateral ties amid row over visa denial to Indian wushu players

Amid controversy over China's decision to deny visas to three Indian wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh for the Asian Games, Chinese envoy Zha Liyou has called for strengthening bilateral relations on a healthy and stable track. Currently, relations between the two countries are "generally stable, and the leaders of the two countries maintain dialogue and communication", said Liyou, Chinese consul general in Kolkata.