LIVE! Gogoi says relationship with Akbar not consensual; vows to continue to speak truth

15:17  Gogoi says relationship with Akbar not consensual; vows to continue to speak truth:  

US-based journalist Pallavi Gogoi, who has accused M J Akbar of raping her while working under him in India, has dismissed his claims that it was a “consensual relationship”, saying a relationship based on “coercion and abuse of power” is not consensual.

  

Gogoi, the chief business editor of National Public Radio, a Washington-based American media organisation, took to Twitter and said she stands by every word in her published account in The Washington Post.

She said that she would continue to speak her truth so that other women, who have been sexually assaulted by him, know it is okay for them to come forward and speak their truth too.

Akbar, 67, who recently resigned as junior foreign minister following a spate of #MeToo allegations, on Friday denied accusations of rape by Gogoi who, in her article, recounted the “most painful memories” of her life and said she was in “shreds — emotionally, physically, mentally”.

In a statement, he said: “Somewhere around 1994, Ms Pallavi Gogoi and I entered into a consensual relationship that spanned several months”.

“This relationship (with Gogoi) gave rise to talk and would later cause significant strife in my home life as well. This consensual relationship ended, perhaps not on the best note,” Akbar said.

In a separate statement, his wife Mallika Akbar also dismissed Gogoi’s accusations, made in a Washington Post article Friday, as a “lie”.

Responding to Akbar’s claims, Gogoi said: “yesterday, The Washington Post published my first-hand account of being physically, verbally and sexually assaulted by M.J. Akbar. I was in my early 20s, an aspiring journalist, and an employee at the newspaper he led”.

She said that rather than taking responsibility, “Akbar has insisted just like other infamous serial sexual abusers of women that the relationship was consensual. It was not”.

“A relationship that is based on coercion, and abuse of power, is not consensual. I stand by every word in my published account. I will continue to speak my truth so that other women who have been sexually assaulted by him know it is okay for them to come forward and speak their truth too,” Gogoi said in the statement.

— PTI

14:58  SAD takes out protest march to seek justice for 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims:  

The Shiromani Akali Dal on Saturday took out a protest march to seek justice for the families of those killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The march, led by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, started from Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib and ended outside Parliament Street police station.

The Akali Dal has been seeking justice for the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in which a large number of Sikhs were killed in the national capital and in other parts of the country in the aftermath of former prime minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination by her Sikh bodyguards.

— PTI

14:31  Plans afoot for statue of Lord Ram on Saryu river banks in Ayodhya:  

Plans are afoot to install a statue of Lord Ram on the banks of the Saryu river in Ayodhya, according to BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh.

Rishikesh Upadhyay, the mayor of Ayodhya Municipal Corporation, said, “There is a proposal to install a 151-metre-tall statue of Lord Ram on the banks of the Saryu river in Ayodhya… Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath may make an announcement on this on the occasion of Dev Deepawali.”

“The place where the statue will be installed will be finalised after the soil is tested. The statue is likely to come up in the vicinity of Sant Tulsidas Ghat. Officials are looking at two-three sites, after which they will pick the best one,” Upadhyay, a BJP leader, added.

The BJP leader’s remarks came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated an imposing 182-metre statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the country’s first home minister, in Gujarat.

The Uttar Pradesh unit chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Mahendra Nath Pandey, said, “Yogi Adityanath, in addition to being the chief minister, is the ‘peethadheeswar’ (head) of a prominent ‘peeth’ and sant. He must have made some plans pertaining to Ayodhya, which is a place of religious interest, pilgrimage and also the birthplace of Lord Ram.”

“Let Diwali come and you will get good news,” he told reporters.

— PTI

14:00  Delhi’s pollution level dips slightly but remains in ‘very poor’ category:  

Delhi’s air pollution level dipped slightly Saturday but remained in the ‘very poor’ category due to poor dispersion of pollutants and stagnant meteorological conditions, authorities said.

  

The overall Air Quality Index of Delhi was recorded at 346, which falls in the ‘very poor’ category, according to data of the Central Pollution Control Board.

Wazirpur recorded ‘severe’ air quality, while 34 other areas recorded ‘very poor’ air quality, according to the CPCB data.

The PM2.5 level was recorded at 175. Fine particulates can be a matter of serious health concern than PM10 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 10 micrometres).

As per the data by the Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting And Research, the PM10 level in Delhi stood at 302.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 “satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology said the contribution from biomass fire is likely to be marginal on Friday and further for the next two days. 

“Because of poor dispersion and stagnant meteorological conditions, no significant improvement is likely for the next two days,” the IITM said.

The Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting And Research  has said no deterioration is expected till November 5.

However, the authorities said there could be ‘severe’ deterioration from November 5 due to unfavourable meteorological conditions. 

— PTI

13:24  Cong moves SC in Alok Verma’s support, says CVC or govt can’t curtail CBI chief’s tenure:  

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday moved the Supreme Court in support of Alok Verma, pressing for a full term for the CBI director who has been divested of all charges amid the turmoil in the agency.

Questioning the governments decision to send Verma on leave, Kharge said in his petition that neither the Central Vigilance Commission nor the government can curtain Vermas tenure. 

Asserting that the law provides for a two-year term, Kharges intervention application in Vermas petition has termed the governments move as arbitrary and illegal. 

Kharges petition comes amid Congress allegations that Verma was removed from the post as he wanted to investigate the Rafale fighter jet deal. Party chief Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that French firm Dassault Aviation paid Rs 284 crore as “first instalment of kickbacks” to Anil Ambani’s company. 

Anil Ambani’s Reliance Group rejected Gandhi’s charges as false and said Ambani and his company are being continuously dragged into a political battle in view of upcoming polls.

In an unprecedented shake-up in the CBI’s 55-year-history, both Verma and his deputy, Special Director Rakesh Asthana, were divested of their powers and sent on leave in a dramatic overnight action by the government last month.

12:40  ‘No point living a life of misery’: Tej Pratap Yadav on filing for divorce:  

Tej Pratap Yadav, son of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, on Saturday confirmed that he had filed for divorce from his wife of six months Aishwarya Rai.

He had filed the divorce papers on Friday.

It is true that I have filed a petition. Ghut-ghut ke jeene se toh koi fayeda hai nahi (No point living a life of misery), Tej Pratap Yadav was quoted by ANI as saying.

Earlier, Tej Prataps lawyer cited incompatibility as the reason for the divorce. I cannot give much details. I was only told by my client that he and his wife were not compatible and hence he wanted a divorce, lawyer Yashwant Kumar Sharma said.

The separation has been sought invoking Section 13 A of the Hindu Marriage Act under which either spouse can unilaterally seek divorce, said lawyer Yashwant Kumar Sharma, who filed the petition on behalf of Tej Pratap at a civil court in Patna.

Tej Pratap, a sitting RJD MLA and a former Bihar minister, had tied the knot with Aishwarya Rai on May 12. The grand wedding ceremony for which Prasad, serving sentences in fodder scam cases, had flown in from Ranchi after obtaining parole from a court, was attended by leaders from virtually all political parties including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan.

12:35  Hollywood star Alec Baldwin arrested, charged with assault over parking dispute:  

Actor Alec Baldwin was taken into custody after he allegedly punched a man following a dispute over a parking spot.

  

The 60-year-old actor was charged with assault and harassment and has been given a desk appearance ticket, the New York Police Department said.

According to CNN, the alleged altercation occurred in the West Village area of Manhattan on Friday.

Police said the two men were arguing and pushing each other before Baldwin stuck the 49-year-old man.

Baldwin was subsequently placed under arrest, while the victim was taken to a local hospital where he is said to be in a stable condition.

The actor, who was shortly released, took to Twitter to clarify that he never punched anyone. 

“Normally, I would not comment on something as egregiously misstated as today’s story. However, the assertion that I punched anyone over a parking spot is false. I wanted to go on the record stating as much,” he wrote on the official Twitter handle of Hilaria and Alec Baldwin Foundation.

“I realise that it has become a sport to tag people with as many negative charges and defaming allegations as possible for the purposes of clickbait entertainment. Fortunately, no matter how reverberating the echos, it doesn’t make the statements true,” he added.

It is not the first time Baldwin has run into trouble with the law. He was charged with battery, and later acquitted, in a case involving a photographer in the 1990s. He was arrested for disorderly conduct in 2014.

— PTI

Image: Actor Alec Baldwin exits the 6th precinct of the New York Police Department in Manhattan, New York. Photograph: Andrew Kelly/Reuters

12:15  #MeToo at NID Ahmedabad: Senior faculty member made to leave, barred from entering campus:  

The premier design institute National Institute of Design  in Ahmedabad has been hit by the #MeToo movement as one of the senior most faculty members was asked to leave the institution on October 5 and barred to enter of the NID campuses. 

Krishnesh Mehta, NIDs faculty member of interdisciplinary studies and industrial design for the last 25 years, was to be terminated from the institute after an enquiry committee, set up by the institute to probe complaints against him, found the charges levelled against him to be genuine. However, he was relieved from the services of NID with immediate effect from October 5 when he submitted his resignation.

The institute has also decided not to involve Mehta in any NID academic or administrative matters. He is also not being allowed to enter the NID campuses except when called for specific official matters.

This was the second complaint against the conduct of Mehta amounting to sexual harassment and students demanded appropriate action against him.

11:51  Kejriwal to inaugurate Signature Bridge tomorrow :  

The much-awaited Signature Bridge on the Yamuna is set to open for public on November 5.

  

As per the project plan, the bridge, which will reduce the travel time between north and northeast Delhi, will have designated selfie spots.

Delhiites will be able to enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the top of the bridge, where they will be taken in four elevators with a total capacity of carrying 50 people.

The elevators area likely to be operational in two months, an official said.

He said the bridge will serve as a tourist destination with the 154-metre-high glass box giving a bird’s-eye view of the city to visitors.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to inaugurate the bridge on November 4 and it will be thrown open for public on November 5.

Announced in 2004, the bridge has missed several deadlines since 2011.

The proposal for the bridge, mooted in 2004, received approval of the Delhi Cabinet in 2007. It was initially expected to be completed at a modified estimate of Rs 1,131 crore for the Commonwealth Games, held in Delhi in October 2010.

In 2015, the cost of the project rose to Rs 1,594 crore. Reportedly, the bridge was proposed for the first time as early as in 1997 at an initial cost of Rs 464 crore.

The bridge will share the burden of vehicular traffic currently borne by the Wazirabad bridge.

— PTI

11:47  6% polling in first two hours in Karnataka bypolls:  

About 6 per cent of the electorate cast their votes Saturday in the first two hours of polling for the by-elections to three Lok Sabha and two assembly constituencies in Karnataka.

  

While the Lok Sabha constituencies of Shivamogga, Ballari and Mandya recorded 7.16 per cent, 4.4 per cent and 4.18 per cent voting respectively till 9 am, Ramanagara and Jamkhandi assembly constituencies have recorded 7.34 and 9 per cent polling.

Voting began at 7 am and will go on till 6 pm.

A total of 54,54,275 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in about 6,450 polling stations.

There are a total 31 candidates in the fray in all the five constituencies, though the contest is mainly between the Congress-JD-S combine and the BJP.

Counting of votes will be on November 6.

— PTI

11:31  6% polling in first two hours in Karnataka bypolls:  

About 6 per cent of the electorate cast their votes Saturday in the first two hours of polling for the by-elections to three Lok Sabha and two assembly constituencies in Karnataka.

  

While the Lok Sabha constituencies of Shivamogga, Ballari and Mandya recorded 7.16 per cent, 4.4 per cent and 4.18 per cent voting respectively till 9 am, Ramanagara and Jamkhandi assembly constituencies have recorded 7.34 and 9 per cent polling.

Voting began at 7 am and will go on till 6 pm.

A total of 54,54,275 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in about 6,450 polling stations.

There are a total 31 candidates in the fray in all the five constituencies, though the contest is mainly between the Congress-JD-S combine and the BJP.

Counting of votes will be on November 6.

— PTI

11:03  Illegal immigration costs American taxpayers $100 bn a year: Trump:  

Illegal immigration costs American taxpayers USD 100 billion a year, President Donald Trump has said as he slammed the opposition Democratic party for advocating an open border policy facilitating an easy entry of illegal immigrants into the US.

His comments came amid a row over a caravan of an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 people mostly from three Latin American countries El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala who are currently at the southern US border along Mexico with the intention to enter America.

Trump said that soldiers deployed to stop the illegal immigrants from entering the US would not open fire, but would arrest them if they threw stones at the troops.

“Illegal immigration costs American taxpayers more than USD 100 billion every single year, more than three times the entire state budget of Indiana. We need to use our precious resources to help our fellow Americans who respect our laws, not illegal caravans who break into our borders and break our laws,” Trump said at an election rally in Indiana.

Democrat immigration policies not only drain US treasury, but they threaten communities, he alleged.

Nearly 100 per cent of heroin in the US enters through the southern border, along with roughly 90 per cent of the cocaine, the majority of meth and a substantial portion of the ultra-lethal fentanyl, killing youths all over the country, the President claimed.

Trump said that the Caravan of people coming from Latin American countries have some criminals in it.

In the caravan, more than 300 people have criminal records and have serious problems that US don’t want to get involved with. The administration wants people coming in, but they have to come in legally.

The November 6 mid-term elections is about security. This election is about prosperity, Trump said.

“For years, you watched as we let foreign countries plunder our wealth, shutter our factories, and steal our jobs. But those days, if you haven’t noticed, are over.

“I recently announced that we are replacing the horrible NAFTA deal, one of the worst trade deals, with an incredible, brand-new US-Mexico-Canada agreement. The USMCA is a giant victory for Indiana farmers, manufacturers and dairy producers,” he told his supporters as he listed out his achievements.

Trump said that his administration has taken the toughest ever action to crackdown on China’s very abusive trade practices. — PTI

10:58  Terrorism most serious human rights violation, emanating from beyond our borders: India @ UN:  

In a veiled attack on Pakistan, India at the United Nations said that terrorism is the most serious violation of human rights emanating from beyond its borders, urging the global community to take a resolute action against the menace in all its forms and manifestations.

A lack of consensus in the Human Rights Council’s actions in situation-specific issues is a worrisome development that compromises its effectiveness and credibility, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Paulomi Tripathi said at a General Assembly 3rd Committee session on ‘Report of the Human Rights Council’ on Friday.

“Terrorism is the most serious violation of human rights which emanates from beyond our borders. The international community must take resolute action against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations to prevent and stop abuse of human rights and fundamental freedoms of innocent people,” she said.

“Adoption of aggressive and confrontational approach and overly intrusive methods, without consultation and consent of the country concerned have been counterproductive, leading only to politicisation of human rights issues,” Tripathi said.

India called for the Human Rights Council to continue to strengthen its adherence to the fundamental principles of universality, transparency, impartiality, objectivity, non-selectivity and constructive dialogue for retaining its relevance and efficacy.

Tripathi also pointed out that the number of Special Procedures is increasing since inception of the Council, leading to duplication of mandates, adding that the process of selection of Special Procedure mandate-holders also needs more transparency.

She said the dependence of the Council on voluntary funding is of continuing concern and the Council needs to continue to rationalise its priorities of work, to make the most efficient use of the limited resources.

The diplomat stressed that the 47-member Council also has a role in building consensus around the frontier issues such as protection of human rights in the cyberspace and impact of artificial intelligence, genetics and other emerging technologies on human rights.

India was last month elected to the Human Rights Council and remains committed to bring in pluralistic, moderate and balanced perspectives, to bridge multiple divides in human rights discourse and in action, within the Council and beyond, Tripathi added. — PTI 

10:14  Prohibitory orders announced as Sabarimala reopens on Monday:  

With the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala all set to open for a day’s pooja on November 5, prohibitory orders will come into force from Friday night till Tuesday at the foothills Pamba and other areas to prevent any untowards incidents, police said.

Sabarimala will be under heavy security cover from Saturday night in the backdrop of the violent protests witnessed last month against entry of young women in the 10-50 age group.

        

Prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC banning assembly of four or more people would be clamped at Pamba, Nilackal and Illuvangal, according to police sources.

The shrine had been opened for five days from October 17-22 for monthly poojas when it witnessed angry protests by devotees and other outfits over entry of women in the ‘barred’ age group.

At least a dozen young women had made a vain attempt to offer prayers, but had to retreat followingprotests against the Communist Party of India-Marxist led Left Democratic Front government’s decision to implement the Supreme Court order permitting women of all ages to trek the hills.

Some 543 cases have been registered in connection with the violent protests and 3,701 persons arrested till Thursday, according to police.

The BJP observed a hartal in Pathanamthitta Friday after the body of a missing Ayyappa devotee was recovered. The party alleged that he had died in police action against protesting devotees at Nilakkal.

Describing the BJP protest as “unnecessary”, Devaswom (temple administration) Minister Kadakampally Surendran said it was only to cause difficulties to the people.

Even the deceased’s family has not alleged there was any foul play, he told reporters.

 

Alleging that a “false campaign” was on against the police, a senior official said he had died in an accident. — PTI

09:56  Pak govt succumbs to hardliners, agrees to put blasphemy accused on exit control list:  

A Pakistani radical Islamist political party, which was leading a nationwide protest against the acquittal of a Christian woman convicted for blasphemy, late Friday night called off its agitation following an agreement with the government that assured initiation of a legal process to place the woman on the exit control list that will prevent her from flying abroad, officials said.

The government will also not oppose a review petition filed against the Supreme Court’s judgement in the Asia Bibi blasphemy case, they said.

 

The Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan has in turn apologised if it “hurt the sentiments or inconvenienced anyone without reason”.

Informing reporters that an agreement has been reached between the government and the TLP, Federal Religious Minister Noorul Haq Qadri said it was a good news for the people who have been suffering from the last three days due to the protests.

Bibi, a 47-year-old mother of four, was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours. She always maintained her innocence, but has spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.

The apex court’s judgement, which was pronounced last Wednesday, triggered protests across Pakistan with agitators led by Islamic political party Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) and other groups blocking major highways and roads in different parts of the country.

“As per the agreement, the government will immediately initiate a process to place the name of Asia Bibi on the no-fly list (exit control list),” an official said.

The government has also promised to take appropriate legal action to redress any deaths that may have occurred during the protests against the verdict and to release all people picked up in connection with the agitation starting October 30.

The agreement was signed in Lahore between Punjab Law Minister Basharat Raja and a three-member TLP group led by Pir Afzal. 

Soon after the signing of the agreement, TLP leader Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi announced the ending of the protests. 

“Pakistan is saved from bloodshed. It is the government’s success that a breakthrough was made. We are happy that this matter has been resolved amicably,” Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hasan Chohan said.  

 

During the three-day nationwide protests, several major roads in Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi and other cities were blocked. The education institutions were also closed in Punjab, while private schools were closed in Khyber-Pakhtukhwa provinces as well as in cities like Karachi and Islamabad.

 

Many universities across Pakistan also announced cancellation of papers due to the ongoing tense situation. Business and trade activities were also badly affected and mobile phone and internet services also remained suspended in major cities.

Over 50 policemen were also injured in Punjab on Friday during clashes with the protestors. — PTI

09:30  Arnab Goswami appointed as trustee of Nehru Memorial Museum:  

The Narendra Modi government has appointed Arnab Goswami, the founder editor and hyper anchor of Republic TV as a trustee of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. 

The other three are former foreign secretary S Jaishankar, Vinay Sahasrabhudhe, Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra and BJP’s national vice president who is in charge of Madhya Pradesh, and Ram Bahadur Rai, senior Hindi journalist and former news editor of Jansatta.

The appointment is up to April 2020.

09:13  Indian-American arrested in Silicon Valley over H1B visa fraud:  

A 46-year-old Indian-American has been arrested and charged in California on charges of H-1B visa fraud.

 

Kishore Kumar Kavuru was arrested Friday morning and produced before the US Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen. He was later released on bond.

 

Kavuru has been charged with 10 counts of visa fraud and as many counts of mail fraud in connection with a scheme to maintain a pool of foreign workers for the clients of his consulting companies.

 

The accused faces 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of USD 250,000 for each count of visa fraud and up to 20 years of imprisonment for each count of mail fraud.

 

Since 2007, Kavuru was the owner and chief executive officer of four consulting companies. He is accused of submitting fraudulent documents to both the Department of Labor and the Department of Homeland Security, containing details of bogus work projects awaiting the foreign workers.

 

Because many of the applications were ultimately approved, the Indian-American had a pool of unemployed H-1B beneficiaries that were immediately available for legitimate work projects, giving him a competitive advantage over other staffing companies that followed the sometimes-lengthy visa-application process, federal prosecutors said.

 

As part of the scheme, Kavuru required some prospective workers to pay thousands of dollars in cash before he would prepare and submit the visa applications. He also required some workers to wait unpaid, sometimes for months, to be placed at an end-client’s workplace, the Department of Justice said in a statement.

 

Through his consulting companies, Kavuru submitted and mailed approximately 43 petitions for H-1B software engineers. “In fact, there were no software engineer positions available at the benefits company,” federal prosecutors added. — PTI 

09:11  2 killed in shooting at Florida yoga studio:  

Two people were killed and several in a shooting at a Florida yoga studio before the gunman fatally shot himself.

The incident took place at Thomasville Road and Bradford Road in Tallahassee city. 

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum tweeted: “I’m deeply appreciative of law enforcement’s quick response to the shooting at the yoga facility in Tallahassee today.”

“No act of gun violence is acceptable. I’m in close communication with law enforcement officials and will be returning to Tallahassee tonight.” 

08:57  Voting begins in Karnataka bypolls:  

Voting for the bypolls to the three Lok Sabha and two assembly constituencies in Karnataka began on Saturday, which is seen as a litmus test for the ruling Congress-Janata Dal-Secular coalition.

   

Bypolls to Shivamogga, Mandya, and Ramanagara Lok Sabha seats, and Ballari and Jamkhandi assembly segments began at 7 am and will go on till 6 pm.

 

A total of 54,54,275 voters are eligible to cast their franchise in about 6,450 polling stations.

 

There are a total 31 candidates in the fray in all the five constituencies, though the contest is mainly between the  Congress-JDS combine and the BJP. Counting of votes will be on Tuesday.

 

Officials at the state chief electoral officer’s office said a total of 1,502 polling stations had been declared as sensitive.

 

More than 35,000 polling personnel will be on duty for the bypolls, in which 8,922 voter verifiable paper audit trail machines will be used, they added.

 

Senior police officials said elaborate security arrangements had been made in all the five constituencies.

 

The Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular, who came together in a post-poll alliance after the assembly elections in May threw up a hung House, have decided to fight the polls unitedly against the Bharatiya Janata Party.

 

While the Congress has fielded its candidates in Jamkhandi and Ballari, the JDS is contesting in Shivamogga,  Ramanagara and Mandya under an electoral understanding.

 

The outcome of the by-elections is expected to have a bearing on the alliance between the two ruling parties for the parliamentary polls and also be a factor in determining the respective bargaining power.

 

The BJP, which has been questioning the longevity of the coalition government, has predicted its fall once the bypoll  results are out.

 

Among the prominent candidates in the fray is Chief  Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s wife, Anita Kumaraswamy, who is expected to have a smooth sail in Ramanagara after BJP nominee L Chandrashekhar withdrew from the contest and rejoined the Congress. — PTI

08:48  ‘Man eater’ tigress Avni killed in Maharashtra:  

Avni, the tigress believed to be responsible for the deaths of 13 people over the last two years, has been killed in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal last night, news agency ANI reported.

In September, the Supreme Court said that Avni  could be shot on sight, prompting a flurry of online petitions.

Avni is survived by her two cubs who are 10 months old.

For nearly three months, equipped with the latest technology, 150 ground personnel, elephants and so-called expert trackers and shooters were on a quest to find Avni.

00:06  Govt bringing law on Ram temple is not impossible: Justice (retd.) Chelameswar:  

The government could bring a law for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya even when the dispute is before the Supreme Court, as there have been instances of the court’s decisions being scuttled legislative process, former Supreme Court judge Jasti Chelameswar said in Mumbai on Friday.  

   

His comments came when the clamour for enactment of a law to pave the way for construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya was growing within the Sangh parivar.

 

Justice (retired) Chelameswar was speaking at an interactive session hosted by the All India Professionals Congress, an organisation affiliated to the Congress party.

 

Earlier this year, Justice Chelameswar was among the four senior judges of the Supreme Court who went public with their objections about the then Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra’s style of functioning.

 

When asked at Friday’s programme whether Parliament can pass a law for Ram temple while the matter is in the Supreme Court, Chelameswar said it could happen.

 

“Legally if it can happen (or not) is one aspect. Whether it will happen (or not) is another. I’m aware of instances that happened in the past where decisions of the Supreme Court were scuttled by the legislative process,” he said.

 

He cited the example where the Karnataka Assembly passed a law to overturn the SC order on the Cauvery water dispute, and another similar instance related to inter-state water dispute between Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana.

 

“The nation should have opened up to these things much earlier…. This (a law on Ram temple) is possible as we did not stop it then,” he said.

 

Incidentally, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh said earlier Friday that Hindus were feeling “insulted” by the Supreme Court’s declaration that the Ayodhya issue is not a priority and insisted that an ordinance would be needed if all options run out.

After a three-day RSS conclave in Maharashtra, its general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi said the organisation “will not hesitate to launch an agitation for Ram temple, if needed, but since the matter is in the Supreme Court, there are restrictions.” — PTI