"Small Mistake": Tamil Nadu Minister On 'China Flag On Indian Rocket' Ad

A day after his advertisement related to ISRO's new launch complex in Tamil Nadu caused a row for featuring a 'Chinese flag', DMK leader and Fisheries Minister Anitha R Radhakrishnan on Thursday said it was a gaffe by the designer.

The minister stressed that it was only a mistake and they (DMK) had no other intentions.

"A small mistake happened in the advertisement. We have no other intention. We have only love for India in our hearts," Mr Radhakrishnan said, adding that it is his party's stand that India should stay united without giving any room for clashes on the grounds of caste or religion.

Mr Radhakrishnan said it was late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi who first voiced the demand for a new launch complex of ISRO at Kulasekarapattinam near here in Tamil Nadu. Also, Chief Minister MK Stalin and Thoothukudi Lok Sabha MP Kanimozhi had all along urged the Centre to set up the launch complex in the state, he told reporters.

This is why it was decided to give an advertisement (in dailies) to highlight the efforts made by the DMK leaders to bring the project to Tamil Nadu, the minister said.

Those who designed the advertisement made a gaffe which went unnoticed by them, the Minister said.

BJP leader and Union Minister L Murugan, however, demanded that the DMK apologise to the people for publishing that advertisement.

On the DMK's stand that the 'China' reference was a mistake, Murugan said, "It is our duty to put the Indian flag (in advertisement) and they (DMK) must apologise to the people. Only India's achievements have to be showcased. The country's achievements in space technology and the new ISRO complex in Tamil Nadu are the nation's pride." On February 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for a new launch complex of ISRO at Kulasekarapattinam, which is worth about Rs 986 crore. The complex, which can accommodate 24 launches per year, includes 35 facilities and features mobile launch structures (MLS) with checkout computers marking a significant stride in enhancing space exploration capabilities.

On the concluding day (Feb 28) of his two-day visit to Tamil Nadu, PM Modi strongly criticised the DMK for being "oblivious" to the nation's achievements in the space sector.

Addressing a BJP rally, PM Modi alleged that the DMK regime does not work, but only takes "false credit" and affixes its 'stickers' on Central schemes.

"Now they have crossed the limit. They have pasted the sticker of China to take credit for ISRO launchpad in Tamil Nadu. This is an insult to our space scientists, space sector, your tax money and you (the country)," he said, addressing the people.

In a post on X, the PM had said: "DMK's advertisement today is hilarious. They have insulted Indian science and the Indian space sector, for which they must apologise."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Top Court Reserves Order On Maharashtra MP's Plea In Caste Certificate Case

The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on Lok Sabha MP Navneet Kaur Rana's plea challenging the Bombay High Court verdict cancelling her caste certificate.

On June 8, 2021, the high court had said the 'Mochi' caste certificate was obtained fraudulently using fabricated documents. It had also imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh on the Amravati MP. It said the records indicated that she belonged to the 'Sikh-Chamar' caste.

A bench comprising justices JK Maheshwari and Sanjay Karol reserved its judgement on the plea of the independent lawmaker who represents Maharashtra's Amravati constituency that is reserved for scheduled castes.

The top court had earlier stayed the high court verdict cancelling Rana's caste certificate.

Rana, backed by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), won from Amravati in 2019 while claiming she was a member of the 'Mochi' caste.

A division bench of the high court had asked Rana to surrender the certificate within six weeks and asked her to pay the penalty of Rs 2 lakh to the Maharashtra Legal Services Authority.

The high court had held that Rana's claim of belonging to the 'Mochi' caste for obtaining the scheduled caste certificate itself was fraudulent and made with the intention of obtaining various benefits available to a candidate from such a category despite knowing she does not belong to that caste.

"The application (for caste certificate) was made intentionally to make a fraudulent claim to enable the respondent no.3 (Rana) to contest the election for the post of Member of Parliament on a seat reserved for a scheduled castes candidate," the high court had said in its judgment.

The high court had passed the order on a plea seeking cancellation of the caste certificate dated August 30, 2013 issued by the Mumbai deputy collector, identifying Rana as a member of the 'Mochi' caste.

Shiv Sena leader Anandrao Adsul had filed a complaint with the Mumbai District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, which ruled in Rana's favour and validated the certificate. He then approached the high court.

He had contended that Rana obtained the certificate using forged and fabricated documents. It was obtained by using the influence of Navneet Rana's husband Ravi Rana, who was a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, he alleged.

The high court had held that the order passed by the Scrutiny Committee was totally perverse, without the application of mind, and contrary to the evidence on record.

The bench had noted that the original birth certificate of Navneet Rana did not mention the caste 'Mochi'.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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BJP Ended Crisis Of Credibility In Politics: Rajnath Singh In Bihar

The BJP ended the crisis of credibility in Indian politics by fulfilling the promises it made to the people, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday, seeking support for the party in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Addressing a rally here, Singh also talked about the Modi government conferring the Bharat Ratna on Karpoori Thakur, saying he was neglected by the Congress.

"During Congress time, only one family got all the honours. Our prime minister also gave the Bharat Ratna to PV Narasimha Rao ji, who was a Congress leader. We honoured his contribution," Singh said.

The senior BJP leader said his party implements what it promises.

"We do what we promise. During the 2014 Lok Sabha election when the election manifesto was being drafted, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-ji used to regularly remind me that I should take utmost care of the fact that none of the promises we cannot fulfil should find a place in the manifesto," he said.

"In 2019, PM Modi said the same thing. You can pick out both manifestos and see for yourself whether we fulfilled the promises we made or not," he said.

"Since 1951 when we were working as Jan Sangh, since then we used to talk about removing Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. We did what we said. We said we would abolish Triple Talaq, we did so," he said.

Singh also referred to the movement undertaken by the BJP for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

"When the movement was going on for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, I led a group of Kar Sevaks as the national president of Yuva Morcha. I also had to go to jail for this movement. Today a grand Ram temple has been constructed in Ayodhya," he said.

Singh said that the BJP maintained since 1984 that whenever it gets the opportunity, a grand Ram Temple will be built in Ayodhya. "Opposition used to mock us by claiming that we will build the temple but we won't tell the date. Now everyone knows the date of January 22," Singh said.

"When Congress was in power, they used to say that they will eradicate poverty. But they failed to do so. Whereas under the leadership of Modi-ji, 25 crore people have come out of poverty in 10 years. Poverty cannot be eradicated by giving speeches," Singh said.

He also said that the annual defence exports have increased to Rs 20,000 crore from Rs 1,000 crore.

"When I became the defence minister, there were defence exports from India worth about Rs 1,000 crore. Now it has exceeded Rs 20,000 crore. Defence production worth more than Rs 1 lakh-crore is taking place in the country," he said.

Singh called upon people to vote BJP to power again.

"I will tell you why you should cast your vote in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party. You might say that everyone appreciates the party and government and I am doing the same." he said.

"But, this is not the case. Here many intellectuals are sitting. I am saying that if you don't agree with what I am saying you can publicly challenge me," he said.

"Why I am saying that the track record of the BJP government has been excellent has a reason. Around 10 years have passed since we formed the government. You have seen the working of previous governments also especially the Congress government," he said.

The defence minister said the Modi government ensured that the faith that people have "reposed in us is never shaken." "On all previous Congress governments, some or other allegations of corruption have been made. But under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi no one can dare to make an allegation against our government." The defence minister said India's global stature has also gone up under PM Modi's leadership.

"In the international community, India's credibility has been established. PM Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He also spoke to (US President) Joe Biden when needed," he said.

"The war stopped briefly and Indian students in Ukraine could return home," he said, referring to India's evacuation mission following the start of the Ukraine conflict.

"It is the result of India's goodwill that the eight former Indian sailors who were given death sentence in Qatar were pardoned. No one else can do this work except Modiji," he said.

"We gave 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament. We took some tough decisions. We took decisions that led to a considerable reduction in the non-performing assets of banks," he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"We Will Build 11 Lakh Houses If Centre Doesn't...": Mamata Banerjee

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said her government will build 11 lakh houses for the state's poor if the Centre does not clear the "dues" of the PM Awas Yojana by April 1.

Addressing an official programme in Purulia, she attacked the BJP-led government at the Centre for holding back funds of central schemes for the state.

"We will wait till April 1 and if the Centre does not release the funds for the Awas Yojana, our government will build the 11 lakh houses for the beneficiaries. There is no need to beg the Centre. Remember we are not beggars. We are demanding our rights," Ms Banerjee said.

She said her government will pay around 50 lakh MGNREGA workers whose "dues" are pending with the Centre.

"We are paying 50 lakh MGNREGA workers, and not 21 lakh. We took this number (21 lahks) from the Centre's portal. But now we are seeing that it is 50 lakh. In another couple of days, the transfer (of money) will be complete. We will ask the BJP government at the Centre why they have not paid the workers their dues," she said.

Ms Banerjee earlier announced that 21 lakh workers, who did not get the money from the Centre after working for the 100-day work scheme in the last three years, would be paid by her government.

She staged a dharna in Kolkata earlier this month, claiming that the Centre owes the state thousands of crores of rupees on account of various welfare schemes, including the MGNREGA and the PM Awas Yojana.

She led a similar demonstration last year as well over the issue. Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, who is Ms Banerjee's nephew, held an agitation in New Delhi and sat on a dharna outside the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata over it.

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Pics: US Envoy Offers Prayers At Golden Temple, Performs 'Sewa'

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti on Monday offered prayers at the Golden Temple here and performed 'sewa' (voluntary service).

His wife Amy Wakeland and another family member also accompanied him.

Later, he went to 'Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib' to pay obeisance.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami honoured Garcetti and his family members with a golden model of Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib, books and shawls at the information centre of the Golden Temple.

-US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti pays obeisance at Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib
-Advocate Dhami honoured him, requests to start direct flights to US from Sri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport, Amritsar
Amritsar, February 26-
Ambassador of United States of America (USA)… pic.twitter.com/XRufsy88Rr

— Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (@SGPCAmritsar) February 26, 2024

Earlier, Mr Dhami and Mr Garcetti discussed various topics during a meeting.

Mr Dhami asked him to start direct flights from the USA to Amritsar.

"There are a few places in the world that are truly sacred- this Golden Temple is right there at the top of that list. You feel not only the holiness of this place but how the generous service of the people define not only the world as it is but as it can be.

"May the deep friendships between the United States and Sikhism always bring peace to our world. With deep respect and friendships," Mr Garcetti wrote in the visitor book.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Unfortunate": Minister As Akali Dal Leader Raises Farmers' Issue At Event

In a veiled attack on Shiromani Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, after attending the inauguration of AIIMS Bathinda, on Sunday said that "seasoned politicians" should resist the temptation of injecting their own "political frustration" in these type of occasions.

This comes after Shiromani Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal raised the issue of protesting farmers after the virtual inauguration of AIIMS Bathinda by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"In this function that I attended virtually, I heard one particular person made a highly political speech. I don't think an occasion like the dedication of a medical facility..... They take an oath and they are totally committed to human life and they're apolitical...Look, the government of the Prime Minister is dealing with those problems in a manner no government has done before," Mr Puri told news agency ANI.

He further said that the event was not the right time and platform to raise other demands and called it "unfortunate."

"The MSP has gone up several times with more coverage and more benefits to the farmers and what the farmers are being paid every three months (under PM Kisan Samman Yojana). The reference to politics in today's programme was unfortunate. I thought seasoned politicians should resist the temptation of injecting their own political frustration into occasions like this," he added.

This comes after PM Modi inaugurated five All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh), Rajkot (Gujarat), Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh), Bathinda (Punjab) and Kalyani (West Bengal), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he has completed the guarantee given to the people of Rae Bareli.

During the last round of talks, which ended past midnight on February 18, the panel of three Union ministers made an offer to buy five crops --moong dal, urad dal, tur dal, maize and cotton--from farmers at MSP for five years through central agencies.

However, the protesting farmers turned down the demand and returned to their protest sites.

The SAD and BJP became alliance partners in 1996, but the controversy over the Centre's now-repealed agriculture laws led to the SAD one of the BJP's oldest allies breaking away from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2020.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Haryana INLD Chief Killed Today, Told About Threat Months Ago: Party Leader

The Indian National Lok Dal's Haryana unit president Nafe Singh Rathi was killed this evening when unidentified men fired at the SUV he was travelling by in Bahadurgarh in Jhajjar district. The attack, which came months before the Lok Sabha elections, is drawing sharp reactions from opposition parties, which alleged a breakdown in law and order in the BJP-ruled state. INLD leader Abhay Chautala has claimed that six months ago, Rathi gave in writing that his life was in danger but "no security was provided to him".

"I hold the state government responsible for this because six months ago, Nafe Singh Rathi told me that the police informed him that his life was in danger and he could be attacked anytime. I spoke to the SP about it. He wrote to the SP, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, and DG that they must investigate this and provide him with security but no security was provided to him," he claimed

Asking for a CBI probe into the incident, Mr Chautala said, "Those who need the security are not getting it, instead, those who are accused in several cases are getting it. So I clearly hold the Chief Minister responsible for this incident. If someone is giving in writing that his life is under threat, then the Chief Minister should have conducted an investigation and provided him with security. We will demand that a CBI investigation should be done in this and the accused should be punished.

#WATCH | Jhajjar: Haryana INLD leader Abhay Chautala says, "The incident that has taken place today (death of party chief Nafe Singh Rathee), for this the state government is responsible. They are responsible because, six months ago, Nafe Singh told me, the police informed him… https://t.co/uVAmhsvFYk pic.twitter.com/1jKWEPtBlV

— ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2024

On gangster Lawrence Bishnoi being linked to the attack, he said that this is the government's ploy to "save itself".

"The government is trying to save itself by taking the name of the Lawrance gang, but if what they are saying is true then why didn't they provide any security," he said.

The men came in a car and fired indiscriminately at the SUV Nafe Singh Rathi was travelling by. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

The opposition Congress and Aam Aadmi Party also hit out at the Manohar Lal Khattar government over the incident.

Senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda said, "The news of INLD state president Nafe Singh Rathee being shot dead in Haryana is very sad. This reflects the law and order of the state...Today no one is feeling safe in the state." Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sushil Gupta said that "rule of law has ended in Haryana and jungle raj prevails".

"No one is safe in Haryana today," he added.

Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij has instructed the officials to take immediate action in the case.

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Minister Arjun Munda Calls For Suggestions Amid Centre, Farmers' Impasse

Amid a deadlock in talks between farmers and the central government, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda appealed to the citizens to maintain peace and has invited suggestions.

Speaking to ANI, Agriculture Minister Munda said, "We should try to maintain peace in the country. We have always conversed and held talks in order to find a solution and will continue to do so. We welcome all the suggestions, too. I hope we will discuss the issue further. The Government of India is dedicated to the development of the agriculture sector.

The protesting farmers, whose demands include a legal guarantee for minimum support price, had earlier rejected the government's offer after the fourth round of talks.

The Centre however expressed readiness for the fifth round of talks with the farmers while urging them to find a solution through 'dialogue'.

"After the fourth round, the government is ready to discuss all the issues like MSP, crop diversification, stubble issue, FIR in the fifth round. I again invite the farmer leaders for discussion," Arjun Munda said while speaking to ANI on Wednesday.

"I appeal to them to maintain peace and we should find a solution through dialogue," he added.

He said that the farmers have not responded to the invite yet while appealing to move forward with the talks.

"No information has come yet (from farmers' side). We appeal that we should move forward for talks and present our stand. The government also wants to move forward and find a solution," the Union Minister said.

On February 19, the farmer leaders rejected the Centre's proposal on MSP purchase, saying "not in farmer's favour".

"After the discussion of both forums, it has been decided that if you analyse, there is nothing in the government's proposal. Our government imports palm oil worth Rs 1.75 crore from outside that also causes illness to general public. If this money is given to the farmers of the country to grow oil seed crops and MSP is announced, then that money can be used here. This is not in the favour of farmers. We reject it," farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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2 Dead, 1 Injured As Wall Collapses Near Film City In Mumbai Suburb

Two people died while another person was injured in a wall collapse incident near Film City in suburban Goregaon on Saturday evening, a civic official said.

The incident took place near gate number 2 of Film City on Aarey Colony Road.

A wall, around 60 feet long and 20 feet tall, collapsed, trapping at least three men underneath, said the Fire Brigade official.

They were rescued before a Fire Brigade team arrived on the spot, he said, adding that two of them were declared dead by the doctor accompanying the 108 ambulance.

The other injured person was undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital, and search was underway with the help of Percussive Rescue Tool (PRT) kit to check if any more persons were trapped under the debris, the official added.

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'What Did You Do In 150 Days': Court Raps Delhi Police In Newsclick Case

The Patiala House Court of Delhi on Friday granted 20 more days to Delhi Police to complete the investigation against Prabir Purkayastha, founder and Editor-in-Chief and Amit Chakravarty, HR Head of the news portal in the case registered under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, following allegations that News Portal NewsClick received huge money for pro-China propaganda.

Additional sessions judge Pawan Kumar, while extending the investigation period, also pulled up Delhi Police for taking a long time to complete the investigation and asked what they have done in the 150 days of investigation; if they had utilised these days, they would not have needed an extension.

Delhi Police through Special Public Prosecutor Advocate Akhand Pratap Singh submitted that it has taken prompt steps to conduct the probe and a large number of data has been retrieved which is being checked, there are nearly four lakh emails and more than 100 digital documents and one of the accused is residing outside India.

We are in the process of appreciating evidence and summarising them, added the Delhi Police

Meanwhile, the Court has extended the Judicial Custody of the arrested accused till March 15, 2024.

In October last year, the Delhi Police arrested Purkayastha and Newsclick HR Head Amit Chakraborty under the provisions of UAPA. Bother the accused the presently in Judicial Custody.

Recently the Court allowed Amit Chakravarty to turn approver in the case. The approver, an accomplice who decides to testify against the co-accused in exchange for a pardon, is subject to examination and treatment under the CrPC. Safeguards are in place to prevent coerced or deceitful confessions, and the approver's testimony must be supported by corroborative evidence as per the law.

Amit Chakravarty has also moved a bail plea in Delhi High Court after turning approver in the case. The Delhi High Court has yet to pass an order on his bail application.

The Delhi Police's Special Cell, in its FIR against Purkayastha, stated that the People's Dispatch Portal, owned and maintained by PPK Newsclick Studio Pvt. Ltd., has been used for intentionally peddling false narratives through paid news in place of crores of illegally routed foreign funds as part of a conspiracy.

The FIR further stated that foreign funds in crores have been infused illegally in India by Indian and foreign entities inimical to India in pursuance of a conspiracy to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, to cause disaffection against India and to threaten the unity, integrity, and security of India.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Murder In Delhi Mall, Man Celebrating Birthday Stabbed By Restaurant Staff

A 23-year-old man was allegedly stabbed to death at a restaurant in a mall in outer Delhi's Pitampura area while he was celebrating his birthday with his friends, police said on Thursday.

According to the police, they have procured the CCTV footage of the incident and have detained six people, including the owner of the restaurant.

The man has been identified as Jatin, a resident of Budh Vihar area, they said, adding that his friends also suffered injuries while trying to save him.

"It all started due to some misunderstanding with the restaurant workers. A quarrel broke out between the workers and Jatin, who was later stabbed in the chest, and two of his friends, identified as Varad and Prashan, also suffered injuries when they intervened," a senior police officer said.

According to the police, they got a PCR call on Wednesday at 6.30 am from B M Hospital about a man who was admitted there with serious injuries.

"Soon after getting the call, a police team including ACP Mangolpuri and SHO of Mangolpuri rushed to the spot. Initial investigation suggested an accident. However, further inquiry revealed that it was an incident of quarrel at a hotel," the officer said.

Police said local inquiry revealed that the incident took place when Jatin, a private bank employee, was celebrating his birthday along with his friends at a restaurant located in Vardmaan Mall in Pitampura.

"After he was stabbed, Jatin was rushed to the hospital where he was declared dead. A PCR call regarding a quarrel was also received at 3.27 am. An FIR under sections of the Indian Penal Code including that dealing with murder was registered and the task was assigned to Special Staff of the Outer district," said the officer.

Police said that looking into seriousness of the matter, a team was formed immediately. The team procured CCTV camera footage, collected local information and conducted proper examination of the witnesses, they said.

"Six people have been detained so far. We are investigating the matter further," the officer said.

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Bus Attended Sexually Harasses Students During Excursion, Arrested: Cops

A 27-year-old attendant of a private bus was arrested on the charge of sexually harassing students during their excursion in a Mumbai suburb, police said on Wednesday.

The incident took place on Tuesday when students of a private school from Thane city had gone to a theme park in the Ghatkopar area of Mumbai in a private bus, they said.

Taking serious cognizance of the crime, the school management terminated the services of three teachers who accompanied the students to the excursion.

"During the bus journey, the accused touched some girls as well as boys inappropriately on the pretext of serving them snacks. Following this, some students raised an objection and later told their parents about it. After that, they approached the police and filed a complaint," J P Patil, an official of the Kapurbawdi police station, said.

A case was registered against the bus attendant under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 354 (assault or use of criminal force to any woman), 354A (sexual harassment) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said, adding he was later arrested.

Meanwhile, the school management has terminated the services of three teachers holding them responsible for the incident.

In an official release, the school management said, "An extremely unpleasant and unfortunate incident happened in the bus while students were returning from a one-day picnic. The school has expressed regret and required action has been taken." The school has cancelled all future excursions and initiated an internal inquiry through a committee comprising senior members of the management in respect of the alleged incident, said the release.

"During the pendency of the inquiry, the school has terminated the employment of three teachers who accompanied the students to the excursion," it added.

Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC)'s Education Officer Balasaheb Rakshe told PTI the civic body has received a memorandum in relation to the incident from a political party.

He said the TMC's education department has sought an explanation from the school management.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Video: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Offers Prayers At Ayodhya Ram Temple

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday paid obeisance at the Ram temple here along with his cabinet colleagues and said it was a very emotional moment for him.

Uttarakhand ministers Satpal Maharaj, Premchand Aggarwal, Subodh Uniyal, Dhan Singh Rawat and Rekha Arya, and Rajya Sabha member Naresh Bansal accompanied Dhami during his visit to the city in Uttar Pradesh.

#WATCH | Ayodhya, UP: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami did the Darshan of Ram Lalla at the Ram Temple today pic.twitter.com/3QvN9lDr1K

— ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2024

"When I was a student at Lucknow University, I had visited Ayodhya many times. Seeing Lord Ram Lalla in a tent, I was pained. But today, we are feeling proud that once again Ram Yug is coming," the chief minister said while talking to reporters after paying obeisance at the temple.

The idol of Ram Lalla was kept at a makeshift shrine while the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title case was being heard in the court. In 2019, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of construction of the temple at the site while ordering the allotment of an alternative piece of land for a mosque.

On January 22, the new Ram temple was inaugurated after the consecration of the new idol of Ram Lalla. "It is a matter of great privilege for me that we have come here. It is a very emotional moment for me that Lord Ram Lalla is here in the temple after 500 years," the chief minister said.

Mr. Dhami said that Ram Yug has started again under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. It was the dream of every devotee of Lord Ram that a grand and divine temple be built where he was born, and this work has been completed now, he said.

Mr Dhami said the Saryu river flows from Uttarakhand and reaches here and "the Raghunath temple is in Devprayag, where Lord Ram performed 'Pitri Yagya'". "We have a very deep connection and the people of Uttarakhand will always come here," he said.

"I am overwhelmed with emotions," the Uttarakhand chief minister said.

To a question on a Uttarakhand Bhawan in Ayodhya, Dhami said, "I have requested the Uttar Pradesh government and the chief minister... there is a very deep connection between Ayodhya Dham and Uttarakhand, and if we get land, we will have a guesthouse here."

"Our government has sanctioned Rs 32 crore for buying land for the purpose. The state guesthouse will be built over 4,700 square metres of land. Ram devotees coming from Uttarakhand to Ayodhya for a darshan can stay at the guesthouse," he said.

Before leaving for Ayodhya from the Jolly Grant Airport in Uttarakhand capital Dehradun, Mr Dhami said his heart is filled with a feeling of devotion and joy as he heads for a darshan of Ram Lalla.

On reaching the city, he was welcomed by Minister of State of Uttar Pradesh Satish Chandra Sharma among others.

Acharya Satyendra Das, the chief priest of the temple, said, "I hope that all chief ministers of BJP-ruled states will come here and visit. We welcome Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and his cabinet colleagues." 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Protesting Noida Farmers Warn Of Delhi March Again On Friday

The protesting farmers' groups in Noida and Greater Noida today said they will march to Delhi on February 23 to press for the resolution of their issues, including developed plots and increased compensation for their land acquired in the past.

Thousands of these villagers, including women, unsuccessfully tried to enter Delhi on February 8 amid tightened security along Noida's borders with the national capital, choking traffic movement in the city.

The protestors called off the march that day and were pacified after the police's assurance of a high-level meeting with representatives of local authorities and the Uttar Pradesh government.

Scores of farmers on Monday gathered outside the office of the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) in protest where the Bharatiya Kisan Parishad (BKP), a key local group, gave the call for February 23 march to Delhi.

"A meeting was held by government authorities on February 13 and it was decided that a high-power committee would be formed by February 18 to resolve the issues of farmers but nothing has happened so far," the BKP said in a statement.

"Now, three more days' time has been sought from the administrative officials, which the farmers have accepted and said if the solution is not found till then, the farmers will march towards Delhi on February 23," the farmers' group warned.

The farmers from over 200 villages in Noida and Greater Noida have been protesting since December 2023 against the local authorities and the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Dadri with demands for increased compensation and developed plots in lieu of their land acquired by them in the past.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Will Protest In Front Of Punjab BJP Leaders' Houses: Farm Leader

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha will gherao the residences of BJP leaders in Punjab for three days from Tuesday to press the Centre into accepting the farmers' demands including a legal guarantee to minimum support price on crops, a leader of the outfit has said.

Several farmer outfits, which are part of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), have extended their support to the "Delhi Chalo" call given by SKM (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. The march was stopped by security forces at Shambhu and Khanauri points on Punjab's border with Haryana which led to clashes.

Protesting farmers have stayed put at Shambhu and Khanauri for the sixth day after their march to the national capital was halted.

A group of Union ministers and farmer leaders held a fresh round of talks with farm leaders on Sunday evening in Chandigarh. The two sides met on February 8, 12 and 15 as well but those talks remained inconclusive.

Balbir Singh Rajewal, a leader of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of various farmer unions, said they will stage protests in front of the residences of Punjab BJP leaders, including MPs, MLAs and district presidents, from Tuesday to Thursday.

Interacting with reporters after a meeting of SKM leaders, Mr Rajewal said it has also been decided that they would protest at all toll barriers in the state and make them free for all commuters from February 20 to 22.

The SKM will not accept anything less than the C-2 plus 50 per cent formula for MSP as recommended in the Swaminathan Commission report, he said after the meeting which was also attended by farmer leaders Balkaran Singh Brar and Boota Singh, among others.

The long-pending demands of farmers, the ongoing agitation by SKM (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha) and their multiple rounds of talks with Central ministers were also discussed in the meeting, Rajewal said.

He also said the SKM will hold a high-level meeting on February 22 in Delhi to chalk out future strategy on the demands put up earlier before the Centre during their agitation in 2021 against the now-repealed farm laws.

"Our struggle will continue even if the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections comes into force," he said in reply to a question by reporters.

Besides a legal guarantee of MSP, the farmers are demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Dangal Actor, 19, Died Of Rare Inflammatory Disease: Family

Actor Suhani Bhatnagar, who played young Babita Phogat in Aamir Khan-starrer wrestling drama 'Dangal', died in Delhi yesterday. Her family today revealed that she was suffering from Dermatomyositis, a rare inflammatory disease that causes skin rash and muscle weakness.
The 19-year-old was admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences on February 7 and died on February 16 after medical complications.

The family said that the symptoms showed two months ago while she was diagnosed with the disease only ten days back.

"She developed a red spot on her hands about two months ago. We consulted with doctors in different hospitals but it couldn't be diagnosed, said Suhani's mother Puja Bhatnagar.

She was admitted to AIIMS after her health started deteriorating.

Suhani's father Sumit Bhatnagar said there was no improvement in her health and eventually her "lungs got damaged due to an infection and accumulation of excess fluid".

"She was put on the ventilator but there was no improvement," he said.

Her father claimed that there are only five to six people all over the world who have been diagnosed with the disease.

Dermatomyositis is a rare inflammatory disease marked by muscle weakness and a distinctive skin rash. It can also affect other organ systems such as the pulmonary, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems.

The cremation of Suhani Bhatnagar, who was a resident of Faridabad, took place at the Ajronda cremation ground.

She had appeared in the 2016 biographical drama about a wrestler who mentors his two daughters to success. Zaira Wasim played young Geeta while Bhatnagar portrayed the role of Babita. The grown-up versions of the characters were played by Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra. Aamir Khan played the role of their father, Mahavir Phogat.

Aamir Khan's production house also condoled her death: "We are deeply saddened to hear about our Suhani passing away. Our heartfelt condolences to her mother Poojaji and the entire family. Such a talented young girl, such a team player, 'Dangal' would have been incomplete without Suhani".

Suhani had taken a break from acting to complete her studies.

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Sexual Harassment Of Students By Teachers Abuse Of Power: Delhi High Court

Sexual harassment of students by teachers is an abuse of a position of power and a serious offence that has become "widespread", the Delhi High Court said.

The court said the relationship between a student and a teacher is one of the most pious relationships and parents send their children away from home in the hope that they would be in a safe and conducive environment under the guidance of their teachers.

"However, the act of sexual harassment by teachers has witnessed a widespread occurrence which is a serious offence and abuse of a position of power," said Justice Chandra Dhari Singh.

"A teacher is not only a person who teaches in a classroom but one who encourages and inspires students to become a holistic person. Teachers are gifted with the power to impart wisdom and shape the minds of children who are the future, and it is imperative that such power is not misused," the judge added.

The court also said the relationship between students and teachers dates back to the Vedas and it "runs through every epic that has overcome evil".

The court's observations came on a petition by a former Delhi University professor who was compulsorily retired following allegations of sexual harassment.

Before the High Court, the petitioner challenged the varsity's move to recover a certain "overpaid amount" to him against the background of the Internal Complaints Committee recommending his compulsory retirement to the governing body, which was subsequently approved.

Justice Singh ruled the overpaid amount could not be recovered from the petitioner since they were paid to him before his suspension was approved by the vice-chancellor.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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'Kavach' System Successfully Tested In Vande Bharat Train

The Agra railway division on Friday successfully tested an automatic braking system installed in eight-car Vande Bharat trains as part of the indigenously developed anti-collision device 'Kavach', an official said.

"In the first-ever trial, the loco pilot did not apply the brakes and still the train, running at a speed of 160 kmph, automatically stopped 10 metres before the red signal. This parameter will now be freezed for all eight-car Vande Bharat trains across the country," Agra Railway Division PRO Prashasti Srivastava told PTI.

All Vande Bharat trains are fitted with a 'Kavach' system which can apply brakes on its own in case the loco pilot fails to do it due to any reason. Since this system needs several other components such as station Kavach, RFID tags throughout the track length and Kavach towers along the tracks to work simultaneously, the Indian Railways is in the process of implementing these components across its network to enhance operational safety.

Under the supervision of Kush Gupta, Deputy Chief Signal and Telecommunication Engineer, North Central Railway zone, the trial started at 9:30 am between Mathura and Palwal and the whole exercise was repeated in both up and down directions till 2 pm.

Ms Srivastava said that the exercise will now be done for 16-car Vande Bharat trains.

Before this trial, the Agra division, under the supervision of Mr Gupta, successfully conducted two more Kavach trials at 140 kmph and 160 kmph for other mail and express trains.

The Agra division has developed a complete Kavach network on the 80-km stretch between Mathura (excluding the station) and Palwal. This involves the placement of RFID tags on railway tracks in station areas and other places, the installation of stationary Kavach units at several places such as stations, and the installation of towers and antennas along the tracks.

The Kavach system, developed by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), can apply brakes automatically in case of an emergency when a train driver fails to act in time.
According to RDSO officials, a 125-km stretch in three parts between Delhi and Agra is the only stretch across the entire rail network where trains can run at a maximum speed of 160 kmph.
Trains run at a maximum speed of 130 kmph on all other sections in India.

The special track was laid here for India's first semi-high speed train Gatimaan Express, which was launched in April 2016.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Tenable, Sustainable": Maharashtra Speaker On His "Real NCP" Ruling

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker called his order recognising Ajit Pawar's faction as the real NCP tenable, sustainable, and based on the principles established by the Supreme Court.

Talking to reporters after delivering the verdict, Mr Narwekar said all the guidelines of the top court were adhered to.

“A reasoned and justifiable order has been delivered today. This verdict is tenable, sustainable, and justified. It has been given on the basis of the sound principles established in accordance with the guidelines given by the top court and disqualification rules,” Mr Narwekar said.

Reacting to the criticism by the Sharad Pawar-led NCP group and Shiv Sena (UBT), he said those who don't know about the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, which deals with anti-defection provisions, can make such a statement.

MP Supriya Sule from the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) termed Mr Narwekar's ruling "laughable and copy-paste" of what he had done in the Shiv Sena case where the factions led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray had filed disqualification petitions.

An invisible power is actively trying to finish off Shiv Sena and NCP, two important state parties, she said.

“They can't talk on merit. They should comment on the difference between dissent and defection, inter-party dispute and voluntary giving up of party membership,” Mr Narwekar said.

The Speaker also quipped that lawmaker Jitendra Awhad of the Sharad Pawar-led party, as well as Shiv Sena UBT leaders Sanjay Raut and Aaditya Thackeray, were “constitutional experts”.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Actor Gautami Tadimalla Joins AIADMK Months After Quitting BJP

Popular film actress Gautami Tadimalla on Wednesday called on All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and formally got inducted into the main opposition party in Tamil Nadu.

The 55-year-old actress, who acted in over 120 films and was paired with top stars such as Rajinikanth and actor-politician Kamal Hassan, quit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in October 2023 after serving it for more than 25 years.

On Wednesday, Gautami, who was born in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, called on former chief minister Palaniswami at his residence in Chennai and formally joined the AIADMK, a press release said.

The AIADMK chief handed over a copy of the book 'Maaperum Tamilkanavu (The Great Tamil Dream)' with an image of former Chief Minister C N Annadurai to Gautami on the occasion.

"I was impressed by Annan (elder brother in Tamil) for his ability to unite everyone to fight for the welfare of the people. Today I am very happy to join the party. By joining the AIADMK, I hope I will be able to serve the people.

"You all know that I was in the BJP for 25 years and had quit that party due to some reasons. I am very happy to join the AIADMK today." Gautami later told reporters.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Maharashtra Congress Chief's "Adarsh Scam" Jibe At Ashok Chavan Post Exit

Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole on Tuesday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party is scared and departure of former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan will not have any impact on Congress.

"Congress and Maha Vikas Aghadi belong to the common people. The exit of a leader makes no difference. BJP in Maharashtra is scared in their survey also. That is why, they are making small attempts but as a result, people's sympathy for Congress has increased. I think Congress' seats will increase. The departure of Ashok Chavan will not have any impact on Congress," he said.

Former Congress leader Ashok Chavan on Tuesday announced his decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party asserting to work for the "constructive development of Maharashtra".

Nana Patole further said that Central government mentioned the 'Adarsh Scam' during a discussion on white paper in the Parliament and everybody knows who is associated with that scam.

"Our in-charge has told you how much respect he (Ashok Chavan) had in our party. But two days back, the Government came out with a White Paper on the UPA Government. Adarsh Scam was specifically mentioned by the PM. Everyone knows who is involved in Adarsh Scam," he said.

"I had told him that his condition would be bad there (in BJP). He always had leadership roles here but there he won't get any such opportunity. What is the condition of many Maharashtra leaders who went there today? That's why I offered him to come back today," Mr Patole added.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress in-charge Ramesh Chennithala on Tuesday slammed Ashok Chavan for quitting the party and joining the Bharatiya Janata Party and said that he should clarify his stand.

He further went on to say that those "who wish to leave the party for selfish gains and are feeling pressure from the ED and CBI are free to go".

"No one apart from Ashok Chavan will leave the party in Maharashtra. Congress is united and will work under the leadership of Kharge Ji. Ashok Chavan should clarify his stand. As a political leader, he needs to explain why he made this decision when the party gave him everything. People are watching him. What is the pressure on him? Is it being the pressure of ED? He must answer. Congress will become stronger now; we will not be affected," he said.

Calling it a "new beginning" in his political career, Ashok Chavan said, "Today it's a new beginning of my political career. I am formally joining the BJP in their office today. I am hopeful that we will work for the constructive development of Maharashtra."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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PM To Visit Jammu And Kashmir On Feb 20, Inaugurate Several Mega Projects

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hand out over a lakh appointment letters at a Rozgaar Mela in Jammu and Kashmir on February 20, sources said. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate several mega projects during his visit.

The Prime Minister's visit to the Union Territory is seen as an attempt to woo the young voters of the region ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. 

As per plans, Union Ministers Dr Jitendra Singh and Ashwini Kumar Choubey are scheduled to attend the job distribution mela at BSF Headquarters Paloura in Jammu.

Union Minister of State for AYUSH, Women and Child Development, Mahendra Munjpara, will attend the Rozgar Mela at Srinagar while Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farm Welfare, Kailash Choudhary, will distribute the appointment letters among the youth at the Rozgar Mela at Leh, added the sources.

"The PM will inaugurate mega projects in Jammu, which includes the inauguration of AIIMS in Vijainagar and an Indian Institute of Management (IIM)," a senior BJP leader said.

"Before the Model Code of Conduct is declared some promises made by the party would be fulfilled and also some mega projects would be inaugurated by the Prime Minister," the leader said.

"Jammu and Kashmir has five seats and this Lok Sabha election would be the first poll after Article 370 was done away with. So stakes are high for us too," he added.

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Government Releases List Of Countries Where UPI Payments Are Accepted

Payments through India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) will now be accepted in seven countries after its launch in Sri Lanka and Mauritius on Monday. After the announcement, MyGovIndia, a citizen engagement platform of the Government of India, shared a world map, highlighting the countries where Indians can use UPI to make payments. France, UAE, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Bhutan, and Nepal are the countries that accept UPI payments, according to the government. 

''UPI goes Global! India's Unified Payments Interface goes International with launches in Sri Lanka and Mauritius!  An instant, one-stop payment interface showcases 'Make in India, Make for the World,'' the tweet read. 

Here's the tweet:

UPI goes Global!?
India's Unified Payments Interface goes International with launches in Sri Lanka and Mauritius!

An instant, one-stop payment interface showcases 'Make in India, Make for the World'. #DigitalPayment #RuPay pic.twitter.com/EI8LBWxZCi

— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) February 12, 2024

India has been proactive in extending the reach of UPI globally. Last year, India also showcased the UPI system at the G20 meetings, enabling the delegates to experience real-time transactions over the phone.

On Monday, UPI services were rolled out in Sri Lanka and Mauritius, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing it as linking historic ties with modern digital technology. In his remarks, PM Modi hoped the new fintech services would help the two nations and said the UPI is implementing "new responsibilities of uniting partners with India".

Before that, the payment system was formally launched at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, on February 2. Notably, Bhutan was the first country to enable UPI transactions through the BHIM app. The UPI digital payment app was virtually launched on July 13, 2021, by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Bhutanese counterpart Lyonpo Namgay Tshering. 

Last year, a report suggested that Japan might also join India's UPI payment system and promote cooperation on the digital identity system.

Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), UPI is an instant real-time payment system to facilitate inter-bank transactions through mobile phones. It powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing, and merchant payments into one hood.

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Patient In Unconscious State In ICU Bitten By Rats At Telangana Hospital

A 43-year-old patient undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a state-run hospital in Kamareddy was bitten by rats, which has prompted an enquiry into the incident, health officials said on Sunday.

The patient suffered rat bites on the fingers of the right hand and the back of his heel on Saturday, his attendant informed the patient's doctors, they said.

The patient, who had earlier undergone a surgery at a hospital in Hyderabad had later been shifted to Kamareddy and admitted in the ICU at the hospital a week ago, He is in an unconscious state, a health official said.

An enquiry was ordered following the incident and a senior health official visited the hospital and the patient.

Subsequently, as part of measures initiating disciplinary action against those responsible for the alleged lapses, a memo was issued to them.

According to a preliminary enquiry, rats were able to enter into the ICU as the Dialysis unit beside it is being renovated, for which some dismantling work is being carried out in the hospital. Improper disposal of food by attendants of patients around the bedside and on the hospital premises are also causing the rodent menace, the official said.

He said care would be taken to ensure that such incidents don't recur. 
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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BJP Insulted Lord Ram Saying It "Brought" Him To Ayodhya: Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav attacked the BJP saying it insulted Lord Ram by claiming that the party "brought" Ram to the temple in Ayodhya, whereas the Hindu god always lived in people's hearts.

"When Lord Ram resides in the heart, what is the need to take the name? Lord Ram was there earlier too," Mr Yadav said during the budget session in the Legislative Assembly.

"Lord Ram is there even today. Lord Ram will always be there. When we were not there, Lord Ram was there, and when we would no longer be, Lord Ram would still be there. Therefore, by saying that you have brought Lord Ram, you are not only insulting Lord Ram, but also the religion," he said, asking the BJP to stop doing politics in the name of religion.

Akhilesh Yadav cited the Governor's address to say Rs 31,000 crore was spent on the beautification of Ayodhya ahead of the Ram Temple consecration ceremony.

The former UP Chief Minister criticised the "big budget" presented by the treasury bench, saying it means nothing if the government chooses to spend it covertly.

"The government does not provide information about how much has been spent of the amount allocated."

He said, "Whether the UP budget is of Rs 7 lakh crore or Rs 8 lakh crore, the biggest question will always be 'what is in it for the 90 per cent of the people of the state?' The policy of the BJP is not for the common public of the state. It keeps 90 per cent of the budget for the 10 per cent of rich people. And only 10 per cent of the budget for the 90 per cent of the needy people."

The SP chief mentioned in his speech several issues afflicting the state, such as inflation, law and order, unemployment, and farmer distress, and asked the government if there is enough in the budget to address these issues and also asked it to reveal the allocation towards them.

"Will the farmer get the right price for his crop? Whether the income of the farmers be doubled? Will the labourer get the right price for his hard work?" Mr Yadav asked, and used a Hindi proverb to claim big is not always better - 'Bada hua to kya hua jaise ped khajoor, panchi ko chhaaya nahi, phal lage ati door.'

"India is the fifth (largest) economy in the world, but 80 crore are dependent on government ration. There is no exemption in rail fare for senior citizens. For the youth, there is only four-year Agniveer recruitment in the Army," Mr Yadav said.

The Uttar Pradesh government presented a Rs 7.36 lakh crore budget for 2024-25 on Monday invoking Lord Ram and claiming to prioritise infrastructure development and the welfare of women, youth, and farmers.

UP's Finance Minister Suresh Khanna started his budget speech in the assembly with a verse from the Ramcharitmanas and said that the state government is inspired by the concept of 'Ram Rajya'.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Doctor-Population Ratio In Country At 1:834: Health Minister

The doctor-population ratio in the country stands at 1:834 which is better than the WHO standard of 1:1000, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told Lok Sabha on Friday.

As per the information provided by National Medical Commission (NMC), there are 13,08,009 allopathic doctors registered with the state medical councils and the National Medical Commission (NMC) as on June, 2022, Mr Mandaviya said responding to a question.

"Assuming 80 per cent availability of registered allopathic doctors and 5.65 lakh AYUSH doctors, the doctor-population ratio in the country is 1:834 which is better than the WHO standard of 1:1000," he said.

Also, there are 34.33 lakh registered nursing personnel and 13 lakh allied and healthcare professionals in the country. The government has increased the number of medical colleges and subsequently increased MBBS seats, Mr Mandaviya stated.

There is an increase of 82 per cent in medical colleges from 387 before 2014 to 706 as of now.

Further, there is an increase of 112 per cent in MBBS seats from 51,348 before 2014 to 1,08,940 as of now, there is also an increase of 127 per cent in PG seats from 31,185 before 2014 to 70,674 as of now, the minister stated.

For increasing the number of psychiatrists in the country, PGMEB of the NMC issued the Minimum Standard of Requirements for Post-Graduate Courses - 2023 (PGMSR-2023) on January 15, Mr Mandaviya said responding to a question on whether the government plans to take steps such as training healthcare workers to properly address mental health issues.

"For starting or increase of seats in MD (psychiatry), PGMSR-2023 has brought down the number of OPD to 30 per day, for annual intake of maximum two PG students with 20 per cent increase for each additional seat.

Similarly, the minimum beds required per unit for starting MD (psychiatry) course with two seats in a medical college is eight beds and 12 beds for three seats and 20 beds for five seats," he said.

Under the tertiary care component of NMHP, 25 Centres of Excellence have been sanctioned to increase the intake of students in PG departments in mental health specialities as well as to provide tertiary level treatment facilities, the minister stated.

Further, the government has also supported 19 government medical colleges/institutions to strengthen 47 PG departments in mental health specialties. Mental health services are also provisioned for 22 AIIMS through the psychiatry departments.

He said that mental health infrastructure development is being implemented across the primary, secondary, and tertiary care facilities for implementing the measures detailed in National Mental Health Policy (NMHP) 2014.

As part of the NMHP, the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) component has been sanctioned for implementation in 738 districts of the country, for which support is provided to states and Union Territories through the National Health Mission.

As per DMHP guidelines, one psychiatrist, one clinical psychologist, one psychiatric social worker, one psychiatric nurse, one community nurse, one monitoring and evaluation officer and case registry assistant and one ward assistant are the staff of the District Mental Health Programme Team, Mr Mandaviya elaborated.

Under the DMHP implemented under the National Mental Health Programme, the manpower is trained at various DMHP units. One of the components of DMHP is to provide training to specialist and non-specialist cadres such as medical officers, psychologists, social workers, and nurses.

The government is also augmenting the availability of manpower to deliver mental healthcare services in the underserved areas of the country by providing online training courses to various categories of general healthcare medical and para-medical professionals through the Digital Academies, since 2018.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Delhi Metro Told To Set Up Panel To Probe Metro Wall Collapse Incident

The Delhi government on Thursday directed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to constitute a committee of experts to look into the wall collapse incident at the Gokulpuri metro station that claimed the life of a man and left four others injured, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said.

A 53-year-old man died on Thursday when a portion of the Gokulpuri metro station on the Pink Line in northeast Delhi collapsed, police said. The man was on his scooter when he came under the debris of the collapsed wall of the elevated platform. "I have already told MD, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to constitute a committee of experts to examine the incident from all angles," Mr Gahlot told PTI.

Later in a post on X, he called the incident "deeply regrettable". "I've instructed @OfficialDMRC to form a Committee of Experts to investigate the matter, with a report due in two weeks, provide compensation  compensation within 24 hours and extend full support to the injured & their families for medical treatment," he said in the post.

Mr Gahlot said he has directed the DMRC to constitute a committee of experts which shall inquire into this incident and submit a report within two weeks. "The DMRC shall disburse ex-gratia compensation as per rules within 24 hours. All necessary assistance shall be extended to the injured people and their families to ensure proper medical treatment," read the order.

The DMRC announced Rs 25 lakh as compensation for the family of the man who died in the incident. The DMRC announced Rs 5 lakh for the grievously injured and Rs 1 lakh for those who received minor injuries, it stated. It also suspended two of its officials over the incident. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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How Pet Dog Led Rescue Teams To Missing Tourists Who Died On Walking Trail

The police found the bodies of two people who died allegedly after slipping and falling in the snow in Himachal Pradesh's Billing Valley. A pet dog stood guard over them for almost two days, officials said.

The two tourists, including a woman, went missing on Sunday. The rescue teams searching for the two on Tuesday heard the barks of the German Shepherd, the police said.

On following the sound, they reached the bodies that were lying on the side of a walking trail, three kilometres below the take-off point for paragliders, they added.

For almost two days, the dog, named Alpha, guarded the bodies, which bore marks of attack by wild animals, according to the police.

When the rescue teams removed the bodies, the dog accompanied them to Bir on foot from where the man's family took him, the police said. The victims, identified as Abhinandan Gupta (30), a resident of Pathankot, and his friend Pranita Wala (26) from Pune, had arrived in Bir Billing, a famous paragliding destination in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district, on Sunday afternoon.

The two came in a private car along with Mr Gupta's dog. After parking the car, they left on foot to the take-off point for paragliders.

When the two did not return to Chogan near Bir, their friends on Monday informed the police, following which a rescue team launched a search operation and recovered the bodies on Tuesday.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the man and the woman slipped in the snow, sustained injuries, and died due to extreme cold, Kangra ASP Veer Bahadur said.

The autopsy report will reveal the circumstances under which both the two died, he said.

Mr Gupta lived in a rented house near Chaugan in Bir for the last five years, while the girl came to Bir a few days ago, the police said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Lots In A Name: Probe Agency Raids Wrong Businessman's Bengal Home

Sleuths of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday reached the residence of a businessman in West Bengal's Hooghly district, while it actually wanted to go to another person's place.

The aggrieved family threatened legal action against the central agency if such an incident is recurred.

A team of ED officers, accompanied by central forces personnel, raided the house of Subhadeep Sadhukha at Chinsurah on Tuesday morning, mistaking him for Sandip Sadhukha.

The raid was in connection with their investigation into the alleged embezzlement of MGNREGA funds.

"Initially, the ED officers did not listen to us. We repeatedly told them that my son is Subhadeep and not Sandip but they continued to harass us. Ten officers of the ED came to conduct the raid," Subhadeep's father said.

Subhadeep looks after the family business of lozenge and they have been residents of Chinsurah for several decades.

"We are shocked. This is a big insult to our family. we will seek legal assistance if such mistakes are repeated," the angry father said.

Local people, who protested against the ED raid, described the family as decent and well-known in the area.

"Such mistakes are not expected from any central probe agency," a resident of the locality said.

The officers of the central probe agency soon left and went to the correct address where they conducted a search operation for nearly seven hours.

When contacted, an ED officer did not want to comment on the matter.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Delhi Government To Offer Free Travel To Transgenders In Buses: Arvind Kejriwal

The Delhi government will offer free travel to people belonging to transgenders in  Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses and cluster buses, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Monday.

He said a proposal for this will soon be passed by the Cabinet and the scheme implemented. "In our society, people belonging to the third gender are subjected to humiliation. This should not happen as they too are human beings and have the right to equality," the Chief Minister said in a post in Hindi on 'X'.

"The Delhi government has decided that they will get to travel for free in state-run buses. Soon, this will be passed by the Cabinet and implemented. I have full faith that people of the transgender community will be greatly benefitted by this move," he added.

Women are already provided free travel on these buses in the national capital. The free travel scheme for women began in October 2019.

Earlier in the day, a senior Delhi transport department official said, "Women are already provided free travel in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses operated by the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Limited (DIMTS). We plan to extend the facility of free travel to people from the third gender too." The official said that the social welfare department of the Delhi government has data on people belonging to the third gender in Delhi which will prove helpful for the scheme.

Those looking to avail the benefit of this scheme will have to furnish certificates issued by the revenue department, the senior official added.

In April last year, the Delhi High Court asked the city government to decide on a representation to legally recognise the transgender community as the third gender in bus tickets issued by the DTC. The Delhi government's Women and Child Development department had approved various measures for transgenders, including the addition of a "third gender" category in job application forms and the setting up of monitoring cells to protect them from abuse.

The measures were approved following an advisory by the National Human Rights Commission to ensure the welfare of the category.

The population of the transgender community in Delhi, according to the Census 2011, was 4,213. Officials said only 1,176 were enrolled as voters.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Heard A Lot Of I, My, Myself In Last 10 Years": Shashi Tharoor's Swipe

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sunday accused the Centre of destroying India's democratic institutions and said the country is turning into an "electoral dictatorship".

He also took an apparent dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said there has been talk of only one person in the last 10 years and that the country now needs an alternative leadership that will understand people's needs and find solutions to their problems.

Mr Tharoor, also an author, made the remarks during a discussion on the book titled "Audacious Hope: How to Save a Democracy" by Indrajit Roy, at the 17th Jaipur Literature Festival here.

"We have a parliamentary system which is run by the President. And we should remember the Congress' slogan of 2014 -- 'Not I, We'," the Congress leader said.

"However, we have heard a lot of I, my, myself in the last 10 years. There has been talk of only one person," he said without taking any name.

Mr Tharoor said the antidote of this "I" is to create a different kind of leadership, which does not just boast about itself, but "listens to you with complete humility, talks about you, understands your needs and addresses them".

He said that democracy is facing a "real crisis" today.

He appealed to the youth to use their franchise extensively in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and said "ultimately only your vote matters. Your future is in your hands".

He also said that India is a strong and mature democracy.

On a question that the INDIA bloc could not agree on a single name to counter PM Modi in the parliamentary polls, Mr Tharoor said, "Vote for the opposition alliance, and then we will answer this question." On the announcement by the Trinamool Congress to go alone in polls in West Bengal, he said, "The fact is that many political parties are involved in it (INDIA bloc). No single formula can be applicable to all...each state has its own politics. There are some states where we agree with each other, some others where we do not agree with each other." Attacking the BJP government, Mr Tharoor said that in the last six-seven decades, previous governments had strengthened various institutions for the smooth functioning of democracy, but today the autonomy of these institutions is being destroyed.

He said that under the guise of majority, the country is turning into an "electoral dictatorship" from an electoral democracy.

Referring to the Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation and other investigating agencies, Tharoor said that the Central government is "shamelessly" using them for vested interests.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Odisha: PM Inaugurates IIM Sambalpur Campus, Unveils Projects Worth Crores

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for projects worth over Rs 68,000 crore in Odisha.

Besides inaugurating the 400-crore permanent campus of IIM, Sambalpur, he unveiled several infrastructure projects in various sectors, such as power, roads and railways, in the state.

He had laid the foundation stone for the IIM campus in 2021.

After unveiling 18 projects in the state, the prime minister said, "These projects will benefit the youth of Odisha and will create employment opportunities. The Centre is supporting Odisha in every sector." The development works, which are either being inaugurated or for which the foundation stones are being laid, will give a significant boost to the state's progress, he said during the function.

"Today is a significant occasion for the development journey of Odisha as development projects worth nearly Rs 70,000 crore are launched," PM Modi said.

Speaking after inaugurating the IIM, Sambalpur campus, he said when an institution like this gets a modern campus, it leads to several benefits.

"Students from all over India will come here to study. It will also improve the local economy and make Sambalpur a hub for learning," PM Modi said The PM also claimed that the eastern state has greatly benefited from the policies made by the central government in the last 10 years.

He asserted that the goal of "a Viksit Bharat can only be achieved if all the states are developed".

The prime minister flagged off the Puri-Sonepur-Puri weekly express, which will improve connectivity in the region, and dedicated the Jharsuguda Head Post Office Heritage Building to the nation.

He also inaugurated the 412-km Dhamra-Angul pipeline section of the Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra pipeline project (JHBDPL).

Built at a cost of around Rs 2,450 crore under the 'Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga', the project will connect Odisha with the national gas grid.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Governor Raghubar Das and Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Bishweswar Tudu and Ashwini Vaishnaw were present at the function.

The PM also laid the foundation stone for the 692-km Nagpur Jharsuguda natural gas pipeline section of the Mumbai-Nagpur-Jharsuguda pipeline project.

This project will be developed at a cost of more than Rs 2,660 crore and will improve natural gas availability in Odisha, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.

During the programme, PM Modi dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stones for multiple power projects worth around Rs 28,980 crore.

These projects included NTPC Darlipali super thermal plant (2x800 MW) and NSPCL Rourkela PP-II expansion project (1x250 MW) in Sundargarh district.

He laid the foundation stone for NTPC Talcher thermal power project, stage-III (2x660 MW), in Angul.

These projects will ensure the supply of low-cost power to various parts of Odisha and other states.

The PM also laid the foundation stone of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) Talabira power project worth more than Rs 27,000 crore.

Three road projects, constructed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) at the cost of Rs 2,110, were also inaugurated by the prime minister.

The PM dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stones for railway projects worth about Rs 2,146 crore.

Noting that the region is known for its potential in mining, power and steel industries, PM Modi said new connectivity will create possibilities for new industries in the entire region, thereby creating thousands of new employment opportunities.

He dedicated to the nation the 168-km Sambalpur-Talcher doubling railway line and Jhartarbha to Sonepur new tracks covering 21.7 km, enhancing the rail network capacity in the region, and a 50-km-long second track of Jharsuguda-Barpali-Sardega rail line phase-1 built by Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd, with an investment of Rs 878 crore.

Pointing out that the earlier policy in which benefits of mineral production were not available in those areas and states where mining took place, the prime minister asserted that the issue was addressed with the formation of the District Mineral Foundation which ensured investments in the development of the same area from income received through mining.

"Odisha has so far received more than Rs 25,000 crore and the money is being used for the welfare of the people in the area where mining is taking place," he said.

The prime minister also assured the people of Odisha that the central government will continue to work for the development of the state at the same pace.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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On 48-hour Dharna Over Bengal's Dues, Mamata Banerjee's Big 2024 Hint

Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee today began her 48-hour dharna over the state's Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) dues.

The Chief Minister will run her office from the protest site under Dr BR Ambedkar's statue in central Kolkata's Maidan area. 

The TMC chief not only trained her guns at the Centre and the BJP but also on INDIA bloc partners Congress and the Left - hardening her stand to go solo in Bengal in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

"For the past two years, it's only Bengal that you have not given the dues of MNREGA. Even after working, people were not paid. They (the Centre) should be sent to jail. Now they say one nation, one election. What will be the transition period? Different states have elections at different times. Why are you shying away from saying you are moving towards a presidential form of government? One party, one government, one language... They will now decide what you will wear, what you will eat - they won't allow you to have fish or meat," she alleged.

Explaining why the seat-sharing talks among INDIA bloc partners did not work in Bengal, Mamata Banerjee said, "The CPIM has become the biggest friend of the BJP. We told the Congress to contest 300 seats... The remaining seats should be contested by the regional parties whoever is strong in the respective areas. The BJP is trying to trigger the Hindus. The BJP and the CPIM are trying to trigger the Muslims." 

She further asserted, "Only Bengal can fight the BJP. Only TMC has fought the BJP... Congress would get only 40 seats maybe... We are allies. They were holding a Yatra but I was never informed by them."

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Nitish Kumar-Led Newly Formed NDA Government To Seek Trust Vote On Feb 12

The newly formed NDA government in Bihar, headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, will seek the trust vote on February 12, the inaugural day of the budget session, according to a revised notification issued on the matter on Thursday.

Earlier, the less-than-a-week-old government was scheduled to seek the vote of confidence on February 10.

However, according to a fresh notification, the session will now commence on February 12 which will also witness the governor's address to a joint session of members of both Houses.

JD(U) president Nitish Kumar on January 28 took oath as Chief Minister of Bihar for a record ninth time, ditching the Mahagathbandhan and the opposition bloc INDIA and forming a new government with the BJP, which he had dumped less than 18 months ago.

The election of a new Speaker, who would succeed Awadh Bihari Choudhary of the RJD, is also scheduled on February 12 and so is tabling of the state Economic Survey.

The budget which was earlier slated for tabling on February 12, will now be presented a day after.

The session will come to a close on March 1 after eleven working days. It is likely to be a stormy budget session as the NDA has moved a no-confidence motion against the Speaker (of the RJD), who has not resigned so far.

Hectic lobbying is on for the posts of the Speaker and ministers.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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