LIVE! Two-month-old among 5 killed, 106 injured in fire at hospital in Mumbai

19:39  Two-month-old among 5 killed, 106 injured in fire at hospital in Mumbai:  

Five persons, including a two-month-old baby, were killed while 106 others were rescued as a major fire swept a government hospital in Mumbais Andheri (East) on Monday, officials said.

The fire has now been brought under control and all those trapped in the building rescued.

Apart from the baby, whose death was confirmed by doctors, the BMCs Disaster Management department said four others were killed, including two unidentified bodies recovered from the fire. More details about the deaths is awaited, an official said.

The level three fire, which is defined as a major incident, was reported at 4:20pm from the fourth floor of the Employees State Insurance Corporation Hospital. It was later raised to level four at 4:54 pm, fire department officials said.

According to the fire brigade, smoke spread through out the multistorey hospital, trapping patients in the corridors and on the terrace. The rescued people were sent to three nearby hospitals.

All the nearby hospitals have been alerted as the rescue operation is still on.

The fire department has sent 10 fire engines, six water tankers, three turn table ladders and as many as 16 ambulances for rescuing trapped people as senior officials supervised the operation.

19:23  Mamata Banerjee is now the only woman chief minister in India :  

Mamata Banerjee, who is being seen as a major centre in the country’s political power-play ahead of next year’s general elections, is now the only woman chief minister in India.

  

The year started with three women chief ministers but after the recent elections, Banerjee is the only one to be in office. While, Vasundhara Raje Scindia lost power in Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir’s Mehbooba Mufti resigned in June after ally BJP withdrew support from her government.

“Each woman chief minister, including me has won elections and then lost. Once you have lost, you have to leave. I am happy that Mamata Banerjee represents all of us women at the moment as the chief minister of Bengal and of course as a part of the opposition, she will have a role in the upcoming elections,” said Sheila Dikshit, who was the longest serving chief minister of Delhi, serving from 1998 to 2013.

Banerjee, the eighth and current chief minister of West Bengal since 2011, is the first woman to hold the office. Known for her fiery speeches and keen political acumen, people close to her refused to comment on her achievements through the prism of her gender, but chose to highlight her political activism instead.

“She has led struggles for people’s issues over decades, including a historic 26-day hunger strike. She has served as a seven-term MP, a three-time Union Cabinet Minister and twice-serving chief minister. Her courage, conviction and accomplishments are her credentials,” said Derek O’Brien Trinamool’s Parliamentary party leader in the Rajya Sabha, listing Banerjee’s achievements.

Banerjee’s political rivals too seem to see her as a politician first and a woman later. CPI-M’s lone politburo member Brinda Karat said that Banerjee’s style of governance did not benefit women.

“In politics it is not biology but ideology and political programmes that determine whether women as chief ministers are successful or not. What is of concern to me is that the number of women MLAs have decreased. There is no use having a woman on top and no women at lower levels of governance. 

“As far as Mamata is concerned, her politics is one of authoritarianism and women cannot benefit from that,” she said.

— PTI

18:33  Bhupesh Baghel takes oath as Chhattisgarh CM:  

Senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel took the oath of office in Chhattisgarh. 

The 57-year-old OBC leader, who steered the party to a stupendous victory with a two-thirds majority in Chhattisgarh pipped party colleagues T S Singh Deo, Tamradhwaj Sahu and Charan Das Mahant to the top post. 

In the two-phase polls that took place on November 12 and November 20, the Congress had romped home to power in Chhattisgarh after 15 years with a two-third majority, winning 68 seats in the 90-member House.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, which was in power in the state since 2003, was reduced to 15 seats.

18:22  Security tightened for Sterlite plant amid reports of fresh protest:  

Security has been tightened around the Sterlite Copper plant following information that attempts were on by some outfits to organise a major protest in the backdrop of the NGT setting aside a Tamil Nadu government order permanently closing it,officials said Monday.

    

Besides, security was also strengthened in other parts of the district, including at the Collectorate where a large number of police personnel had been posted, as a precautionary measure in view of the violent protests witnessed in May this year demanding closure of the plant.

    

Thirteen people were killed in police firing on May 22-23 after the 99-day long protest by the locals against Sterlite turned violent and government properties came under attack. The protesters were demanding closure of the plant citing pollution concerns.

    

While the Tamil Nadu government had on May 28 ordered permanent closure of the plant in the wake of the protests, the National Green Tribunal on Saturday set it aside, allowing an appeal by the Sterlite.

    

The state government has said it would file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the NGT order even as opposition parties attacked it for “negligent” handling of the issue.

    

An official on Monday said there was information that some religious and political outfits were trying to coordinate and organise a major agitation here against Sterlite.

18:15  Property issue: Fadnavis says will speak to Dilip Kumar, Banu:  Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Monday he will speak to legendary actor Dilip Kumar and his family to allay their fears over a property issue involving a city-based builder.

Saira Banu, veteran actress and Kumar’s wife, had Sunday sought a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will in Mumbai Tuesday, to discuss the issue following the release of the builder, Samir Bhojwani, from jail. Bhojwani had falsely claimed ownership of the two plots on which Kumar’s bungalow has been built.

The 96-year- old actor’s bungalow is located in the upscale Pali Hill area of suburban Bandra. — PTI

18:11  There is no case against me: Kamal Nath on anti-Sikh riots :  Kamal Nath on 1984 anti-Sikh riots: “I took oath in 1991 and several times after that, no one said anything. There is no case, FIR,or charge sheet against me. Today they are raking up this matter. You can understand politics behind this. Did eyewitness tell you (about his involvement)?”

18:09  Incentives to investors if 70% jobs reserved for locals: MP CM:  Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath has this to say: After joining this post (of Chief Minister), the first file I have signed is of farm loan waiver of Rs 2 lakh each, as I had promised the farmers.”

He has also offered incentives to investors in the state but on the understanding that there will be a 70 per cent reservation in employment for the people from Madhya Pradesh. “People from other states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh come here and local people don’t get jobs. I have signed file for this,” he said.

After Kamal Nath signed the relevant file, Rajesh Rajora, Principal Secretary, Farmers’ Welfare and Agriculture Development Department, issued an order in this regard. The order stated, “Madhya Pradesh Government has taken a decision to write off short-term crop loan of eligible farmers up to the limit of Rs 2 lakh, as on March 31, 2018,
from nationalised and cooperative banks.”

17:54  Sajjan Kumar will move SC over life sentence:  Congress leader Sajjan Kumar intends to move an appeal in the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court verdict on Monday sentencing him to spend the remainder of his life in jail in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, his lawyer said.

The lawyer told PTI that since the high court verdict was over 200 pages long, time was required to apply the mind and thereafter, they will move the apex court.

Advocate Anil Sharma, who represented Kumar in the high court, said the 73-year old Congress leader has been given time till December 31, 2018 to surrender and efforts would be made to challenge the conviction and the sentence before that. If no appeal would be filed before December 31, Kumar would surrender, Sharma said. PTI

17:14  PM in Mumbai, Pune tomorrow :  Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Maharashtra tomorrow. He will address the ‘Republic Summit’, organized by Republic TV, in Mumbai. At a function in Raj Bhavan, the Prime Minister will release a book, titled ‘Timeless Laxman’, based on the famous cartoonist, RK Laxman.

Important projects related to housing and urban transportation will be unveiled during the Prime Ministers visit to the State.

He will also hold a public meeting in Kalyan, where he will lay the foundation stone of two important metro corridors. These are the Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan Metro; and the Dahisar-Mira-Bhayander Metro. The two corridors, once completed, will greatly facilitate public transport in the area.

The PM will launch the 90,000 units’ EWS and LIG Housing scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

He will then go to Pune to lay the foundation stone of Pune Metro Phase-3 and address a gathering there.

17:09  MP CM announces loan waivers for farmers :  Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath announces loan waivers for farmers and makes good its poll promise in the state.  This is his first announcement after he was sworn in as the Congress party’s chief minister in the state today. Governor Anandiben Patel administered the oath of office to the Congress leader and invited him to form the new government in the state.

Those present at the swearing in ceremony included Rahul Gandhi, former
prime minister Manmohan Singh, AICC general secretary Mallikarjun
Kharge, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, his deputy Sachin Pilot,
MPs Jyotiraditya Scindia, former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah
and Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah,
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Loktantrik Janata Dal
leader Sharad Yadav, DMK’s MK Stalin, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and
Kamal Nath’s predecessor and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan were also
present.

16:41  Jaitley hails Sajjan Kumar’s conviction, takes a dig at Cong for choosing Kamal Nath as CM:  

BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Monday welcomed the conviction of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riot case and also took a swipe at the opposition party for choosing Kamal Nath as Madhya Pradesh chief minister, claiming that Sikhs consider him “culpable” in the violence against the community.

  

Kamal Nath, who took oath as chief minister of the central Indian state on Monday, has always denied any role in the riots against Sikhs following the assassination of Indira Gandhi in October 1984. 

The Congress has maintained that due process of law is being followed and the issue should not be politicised.

Jaitley dubbed Kumar, who was convicted by the Delhi high court in a 1984 riots case and sentenced him to imprisonment for life, a “symbol” of the anti-Sikh “genocide” and said the country had never seen murders on a bigger scale than this. 

He also alleged that the Congress and its ruling Gandhi family were involved in a “cover-up”.

The decision may be delayed but at least the process of justice has started, he said, hoping that there will be more verdicts as many cases are being heard on a day to day basis.

“It is an irony that the verdict has come on a day when a Congress chief minister, who is held culpable by the Sikh community, is taking oath,” Jaitley told reporters in an apparent reference to  Nath.

A commission appointed by a Congress government gave a clean chit to the then dispensation, and it was the Nanavati commission constituted by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government of the BJP-led NDA that collated riot cases police station vise, Jaitley said.

— PTI

16:13  VVIP Chopper case: Dubai-based accused moves for anticipatory bail:  

A Dubai-based businessman and accused in a money laundering case connected with the Rs 3,600-crore VVIP chopper deal moved a Delhi court Monday seeking anticipatory bail.

   

Rajeev Saxena, a director of two Dubai-based firms — UHY Saxena and Matrix Holdings — filed application through his advocate before Special Judge Arvind Kumar, saying he was anticipating arrest.

 

The court sought response from the ED by December 24, when it will next year the matter.

 

The court has already issued non-bailable warrant against Saxena in the case. — PTI 

15:52  Banning high value notes dragged India’s economic growth down: Rajan:  Demonetisation slowed down India’s economic growth at a time when the world economy was growing and it impacted the GDP significantly, former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan said. Rajan said he has seen studies which reaffirm that banning of high value currency notes in late 2016 impacted India’s growth significantly.

“I think the net impression is that it (demonetisation) had a significant effect on our growth. And now, I have seen studies which reaffirm that. It has slowed down (our growth). “…the world (economy) was growing faster in 2017, we slowed down,” Rajan told NDTV news channel in an interview.

The growth was not only impacted due to demonetisation but also because of implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST), he said. In 2017-18, the Indian economy grew by 6.7 per cent. “That was the twin blow of demonetisation and GST (that impacted India’s growth). And before anybody accuses (me) of being anti-GST, it’s a good idea in the longer run, but it has short term teething effect,” Rajan noted.

When asked if he was asked to implement demonetisation during his tenure as the RBI Governor, Rajan said he was asked for his opinion on banning high value currency notes from the system, which he thought was a “bad idea”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a televised interview on November 8, 2016 had announced to ban the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes from the system aimed at curbing black money, fake currency and terror funding, among others.

Rajan headed the Reserve Bank for three years – from September 2013 to September 2016. Expressing his views further on the GST, the former RBI Governor said that the reformist tax system could have been implemented in a much better manner.

On whether GST should have one rate rather than five different slabs, he said it is a matter of debate. “In my view, which is an alternative view, once you do it, you find out the problem then you start fixing it one by one. So, this (teething problem) was inevitable,” Rajan said.

On fraudsters list, Rajan said that it (report) had a list of the largest frauds. “I’m unaware of where those cases stand….The reason I’m worried is if one gets away with immunity then others may follow,” he said on the list of fraud cases he had flagged to the Prime Minister’s office. — PTI

15:32  Amarinder Singh hails Sajjan Kumar’s conviction in 1984 anti-riots case :  Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Monday hailed the conviction of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-riots case, describing it as “a case of justice finally delivered’ to the victims of one of independent India’s worst instances of communal violence.

The CM, however, reiterated his stand that neither the Congress party nor the Gandhi family had any role to play in the rioting and lashed out at the Badals for continuing to drag their names into the case at the behest of their political masters – the BJP.

The reversal, by the Delhi High Court, of the trial court’s earlier acquittal to Kumar had once again proved that the judiciary in India continues to stand tall as a pillar of the nation’s democratic system, Singh said in a statement.   The Delhi High Court convicted Kumar for conspiracy to commit murder in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case and sentenced him to imprisonment for life

According to Singh, the conviction vindicated the stand he had been taking since those dark days of the violence perpetrated on thousands of innocent Sikhs in the wake of the assassination of prime minister Indira Gandhi.

The chief minister said he had been naming Kumar as well as a few other former Congress leaders, including Dharam Das Shastri, H K L Bhagat and Arjun Das, for the past 34 years, based on information personally received from victims in refugee camps in Delhi during the riots. Kumar is the only surviving former Congress leaders implicated in the riots, as the others have since passed away. — PTI           

15:26  Sajjan Kumar wasn’t given ticket or office: Congress :  Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Monday said that neither Sajjan Kumar – convict in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot case — was given a ticket by the Congress, nor he does not hold any office.

Earlier in a day, Shiromani Akali Dal leader and Delhi MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa told ANI, “Court has accepted that prominent Congress leaders were involved in the Sikh massacre. Court has also agreed to the fact that they had political patronage that protected them.”

Sirsa also criticised Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for taking a side of party leaders like Jagdish Tytler and Kamal Nath who were accused in anti-Sikh riots incident case.

Notably, the conviction of former Congress MP, Sajjan Kumar came at a time when Congress emerged victorious in three major states.

Further defending Kamal Nath, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister designate, on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots issue, Sibal attacked Prime Minister Modi in connection with the 2002 Gujarat violence. He said, “What about the allegations made against the then chief minister in 2002 Gujarat violence. Rather than questioning Kamal Nath, one should question Prime Minister Modi for riots that took place under his nose.”

“BJP leaders like Arun Jaitley are trying to give political colours to court’s verdict, they should stop doing so. It is the court’s decision and we accept it,” he added. — ANI

15:09  Former MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan with his successors — Kamal Nath and deputy CM Jyotiraditya Scindia.  

14:52  A lotus blooms in MP:  All for one for all? Opposition leaders at the swearing-in ceremony of Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath.

14:48  Kamal Nath sworn-in as MP CM :  Bhopal: Kamal Nath takes oath as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. The nine-time Chhindwara Lok Sabha MP was administered oath of office by Governor Anandiben Patel at the Jamboree Maidan in Bhopal. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, former PM Manmohan Singh were present during the ceremony. In Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel will be administered the oath at 5 pm, but reports say inclement weather has delayed flights to the state.

Earlier this morning, Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot were sworn in as Rajasthan Chief Minister and Deputy CM in Jaipurs Albert Hall.

The swearing-in ceremonies in Jaipur, Raipur and Bhopal are being seen as a platform to showcase the Opposition unity ahead of the Lok Sabha polls 2019.

Among those present in Bhopal are former prime minister H D Devegowda, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, LJD leader Sharad Yadav, Sharad Pawar and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu.

14:24  Time to wear the turban:  Sachin Pilot takes oath as Rajasthan deputy CM. He is wearing a turban after four years. How do we know? In 2014, after the drubbing in the state polls, Pilot, as head of the Congress’s Rajasthan unit, had vowed he would never wear a turban or don one received as a gift till he revives the sagging fortunes of his party.

14:19  Rajasthan deputy CM Sachin Pilot at Kamal Nath’s swearing in ceremony. 

14:17  Kamal Nath to be sworn-in soon:  It’s Kamal Nath’s turn now to be crowned CM. National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh and Mallikarjun Kharge, Andhra Pradesh CM & TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and other leaders at the swearing-in ceremony in Bhopal.

13:56  Sajjan Kumar today, Kamal Nath tomorrow: SAD on 1984 riots’ conviction:  
Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on the conviction of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar: “I want to thank PM Modi that on Shiromnai Akali Dal’s request in 2015 he set up a SIT to probe the 1984 massacre. It’s a historic judgement. Wheels of justice have finally moved. It is Sajjan Kumar today, it will be Jagdish Tytler tomorrow then Kamal Nath and eventually the Gandhi family.”

The Delhi High Court on Monday reversed the acquittal of the Congress leader in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case and sentenced him to life imprisonment for criminal conspiracy to commit murder.

A bench of justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel also convicted Kumar for the offences of abetment, delivering speeches instigating violence against Sikhs and disrupting communal harmony, saying “truth will prevail and justice will be done”.

The court said the life sentence awarded to the Congress leader would be for the “remainder of his life” and directed him to surrender by December 31. The bench also said Kumar will not leave the city of Delhi from now till December 31.

Kaur added, ” ‘Khoon ka badla khoon, jab ek bada darakht girta hai to dharti hilti hi hai.’ When a PM says these words on national television…we were trying to protect ourselves and were saved by the almighty. Thousands of innocent were brutally killed before their families. Congress leaders, at the behest of the PM, went to Sikh houses along with police. Even today when I think of all that happened, it gives me goosebumps. Children were crying, they could not utter a word. I still remember it today.”

13:31  Rahul’s lies on Rafale exposed: Smriti :  Union minister Smriti Irani Monday accused the opposition Congress of trying to malign the country’s defence establishment and said “lies” of the party’s chief Rahul Gandhi on Rafale deal have been exposed. The Congress is trying to play with the national security and is spreading lies to mislead the people, Irani told a press conference in Kolkata.

“The Congress has not only spread lies but has also tried to malign the Indian Air Force and the defence establishment. The Congress has tried to stand in the way of strengthening our forces,” she said.

“The lies of Congress and its party president Rahul Gandhi have been exposed. Rahul Gandhi should reveal his source of information,” Irani added. The Supreme Court Friday dismissed the pleas challenging the deal between India and France for procurement of 36 Rafale jets saying there was no occasion to “really doubt the decision making process” warranting setting aside of the contract.–  PTI

13:17  It’s Kamal Nath’s turn now :  Bhopal: Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders including Farooq Abdullah and Sharad Yadav arrive for oath ceremony of Kamal Nath as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister.

12:58  Instant Talaq Bill tabled in Lok Sabha:  
Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018, commonly known as Instant Talaq bill was tabled in the Lok Sabha today. The Bill was high on government’s agenda as it will try to get the Parliament’s nod before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. As the government could not pass the bill in Rajya Sabha in the last monsoon session, the government had issued an ordinance on September 19 in making triple talaq a criminal offence.

The monsoon session of Parliament was productive for the government with 21 bills passed by Lok Sabha and 14 by the Rajya Sabha even as it witnessed clashes between the Opposition and the treasury benches on a range of issues including NRC and the Rafale fighter jet deal.

The Winter Session of Parliament commenced from December 11 and continue till January 8 next year.The session was delayed this year due to the Assembly elections in five states.

12:56  On a power trip:  Congress President Rahul Gandhi and other leaders going for the swearing-in ceremony of Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and Deputy CM Sachin Pilot.

12:40  More the merrier :  Jaipur: Earlier visuals of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, former PM Manmohan Singh and other leaders heading to the swearing-in ceremony of Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and Deputy CM Sachin Pilot. Spot the odd one.

12:33  Cong leader Kamal Nath involved in anti-Sikh riots: Delhi BJP leader:  A Delhi BJP leader Monday sat on an indefinite hunger strike against Kamal Nath being nominated for the CM’s post in Madhya Pradesh, alleging that the Congress leader was involved in the anti-Sikh riots.

Nath will be sworn in as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh on Monday. Tejinder Pal Singh Bagga started his hunger strike at Tilak Nagar in west Delhi where several families affected in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots live.

Protesting the Congress’s move in selecting Nath for the chief minister’s post, he said, “I am sitting on an indefinite hunger strike against Rahul Gandhi’s decision to nominate him as CM. He (Nath) is the same person who was involved in the riots against Sikhs in Delhi.”

He said his hunger strike will continue till Nath is replaced by someone else as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh. Several BJP leaders are supporting Bagga’s protest. BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta said the Congress has “hurt” Sikh sentiments by appointing Nath as chief minister. — PTI

12:20  Best wishes for their tenure ahead: PM:  Narendra Modi tweets his congratulations: @narendramodi Congratulations to Shri @ashokgehlot51 Ji and Shri @SachinPilot Ji on taking oath as the CM and Deputy CM of Rajasthan. Best wishes for their tenure ahead.

12:17  Cong knowingly misleading people on Rafale pricing: Sitharaman:  Defence Minister Niramala Sitharaman Monday attacked opposition Congress, alleging that the party was “knowingly” misleading people over the pricing of Rafale jets.

Hitting out at the Gandhi family for alleging corruption in the defence contract, she said that they showed “amazing audacity” by not listening to the Supreme Court’s verdict in the case.

“The Congress is knowingly misleading people on the pricing of the Rafale jets,” Sitharaman said at the BJP office in Mumbai. The stance of the country’s “first family” in not listening to the apex court’s order on the Rafale deal case petition can be termed as, with due respect, “amazing audacity”, she said.

The Supreme Court on Friday had said there is no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France, and dismissed all the petitions seeking an investigation into alleged irregularities in the Rs 58,000 crore deal.

There was no substantial evidence of commercial favouritism to any private entity, the bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had said on the issue of an offset partner in its ruling on a batch of petitions.

The Congress has repeatedly criticised the deal for the 36 Rafale jets, alleging that the government was procuring each aircraft at a cost of over Rs 1,670 crore as against Rs 526 crore finalised by the UPA government. The government has, however, denied any irregularity in the deal. — PTI

12:10  No more Papu, Rahul now Pappa: Athawale :  After Congress gained victory in three states in the recently concluded Assembly elections, Union Minister and Republican Party of India (Athawale) chief Ramdas Athawale said that Congress president Rahul Gandhi has evolved as a mutual leader and he is no more a ‘Pappu’, but has become a “Pappa” (dad).

Rahul Gandhi is often trolled as “Pappu” on social media platforms. Also, in the past, BJP leaders like BJP MP Devajibhai had faced severe criticism for calling Congress president Rahul Gandhi ‘Pappu’.

Responding to an electoral defeat of BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, Ahthwale said, “People who used to call Rahul Gandhi a Pappu should know that he has become a Pappa (dad) now. I have a suggestion for him that he should marry soon to become a Pappa. After all, he has marked a victory in three states,”Athawale further said that Prime Minister Modi has nothing to do with the party’s defeat in the three states. It is a defeat of the BJP, not the Prime Minister.In the recently-concluded Assembly elections the results of which were declared on December 11, the Congress got a massive majority in 90-member Vidhan Sabha of Chhattisgarh where the party won 68 seats, and the BJP got just 15 seats and the remaining seats went to others including BSP 2 and Ajit Jogi’s Janata Congress Chhattisgarh won 5 seats.

In Rajasthan where the poll was held in 199 seats out of 200, the Congress bagged 99 seats, and the BJP 73. On the other hand, Madhya Pradesh saw a nail-biting fight, where the Congress managed to bag 114 seats out of a total of 230, while the BJP got 109 seats. — ANI

11:44  Cong’s show of strength in Rajasthan:  
A galaxy of senior leaders at the Rajasthan swearing-in inlcude: Outgoing Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje (not in picture),  NCP’s Sharad Pawar, LJD leader Sharad Yadav, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu (not in picture), RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, DMK leader M K Stalin, JMM leader Hemant Soren, JVM leader Babulal Marandi were among others who were present at the ceremony. Gehlot, Pilot and other leaders received Rahul Gandhi, Manmohan Singh at the airport and left for the Albert Hall in a bus amid tight security arrangements.

11:36  Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot’s place in the sun. 

11:28  

Congress president Rahul Gandhi and former PM Dr Manmohan Singh at the Rajasthan swearing-in ceremony.

11:17  Rajasthan: Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot take oath :  Ashok Gehlot sworn in as Rajasthan CM, Sachin Pilot, deputy CM. Finally, it’s done.

Chief Minister designates Kamal Nath and Bhupesh Baghel will take oaths in their respective states later today.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is now in Jaipur for the Gehlot and Pilot’s swearing-in ceremonies, will be attending the swearing-in ceremonies of the other two CMs as well.

Senior Congress leaders like Dr Manmohan Singh are also at the the swearing-in ceremony.

In what is being viewed as a photo-opportunity ahead of the 2019 general elections, a brigade of opposition leaders including NCP leader Sharad Pawar, Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu, DMK chief MK Stalin, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, are likely to attend the oath-taking ceremonies. BSP chief Mayawati, who had earlier said that she would be attending the event, later backed out, as did West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.

10:44  Sajjan Kumar enjoyed political patronage: HC :  The Delhi High Court while reading the judgement, said, “In the summer of 1947, during Partition, several people were massacred. 37 years later Delhi was witness of a similar tragedy. The accused enjoyed political patronage and escaped trial.”

10:42  Cong leader Sajjan Kumar gets life sentence in 1984 anti-Sikh riots:  The Delhi High Court today has found Congress leader Sajjan Kumar guilty in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot case. He has been given a life sentence in the riot case and he has to surrender before December 31, that is before this year ends.

The HC verdict overturns the trial court’s judgment of the Congress leader which acquitted him in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot case.

A bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel delivered the verdict in the case related to the killing of five people in the Delhi Cantonment area following the assassination of Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.

The Delhi HC in October had reserved its order on the Central Bureau of Investigation plea that challenged the trial’s court judgment where Sajjan Kumar was acquitted and five others were convicted in the case.

The CBI has filed an appeal challenging the acquittal of Kumar and said that the trial court “erred in acquitting Sajjan Kumar as it was he who had instigated the mob during the riots”.

In 2013, the trial court had convicted five others – former councillor Balwan Khokkar, former legislator Mahender Yadav, Kishan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal – for their involvement in the case.Sajjan Kumar and five others were tried in the case involving the killing of five Sikhs – Kehar Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Raghuvender Singh, Narender Pal Singh and Kuldeep Singh, who were members of the same family – by a mob in Delhi Cantonment’s Raj Nagar area.

The case against Sajjan Kumar and others was registered in 2005 on a recommendation by the Justice GT Nanavati Commission.

10:36  Sensex rises 224 pts on fund inflows, positive Asian cues:  The equity benchmark BSE Sensex rose by almost 224 points Monday on buying in key frontline counters led by metal, banking, auto and energy stocks amid fresh foreign fund inflows. Positive cues from other Asian markets also bolstered trading sentiments here, traders said.

The BSE Sensex rose 223.89 points, or 0.62 per cent, to 36,186.82. The gauge had gained over 33 points in the previous session on Friday. The broader Nifty 50 index was trading at 10,864.80, with a gain of 59.35 points, or 0.55 per cent.

Major gainers were Vedanta Ltd, Reliannce Industries, Yes Bank, Tata Steel, Maruti Suzuki, Sun Pharma, HDFC Bank, Adani Ports and PowerGrid, and SBI, rising up to 3.83 per cent. — PTI

10:33  Madhya Pradesh: People greet Chief Minister designate Kamal Nath outside his residence in Bhopal. He is expected to be sworn-in at around 1:15 pm.

10:29  Shouldn’t Mr Parrikar be allowed to step back?:  Our thoughts exactly.

Omar Abdullah @OmarAbdullah “He has a tube inserted through his nose into his digestive tract. How inhuman to force him to continue working & doing photo ops. Why can’t he be allowed to deal with his illness without all this pressure & tamasha?”

Read the report here.

10:20  Manmohan, Rahul arrive in Jaipur :  Rajasthan: Congress President Rahul Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrive in Jaipur for the swearing-in ceremony of CM designate Ashok Gehlot and Deputy CM designate Sachin Pilot.

10:16  Maya, Akhilesh, Mamata to skip Cong’s mega swearing-in ceremonies today:  Rajasthan’s Chief Minister designate is all smiles today as he and deputy CM designate Sachin Pilot are set to be sworn in. Gehlot said the focus would remain ‘development’.

Speaking to media ahead of his oath-taking ceremony, Pilot said, “Even non-Congress parties now want to see Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Minister. It is not only going to be an oath-taking ceremony but it will also give a glimpse of the future of politics in this country. This is an indication of how the politics will turn in upcoming times.”

The new govt will be sworn in at t 10:15 am at the Albert Ground Hall, Jaipur.

Pilot also reiterated his commitment towards farmers and youth. “Today marks the beginning of a new era. It is a big day for the state and its people. Public and voters have bestowed their faith in Congress and our work will start from today itself. This is an important day for the present and future of Rajasthan. Our priority is farmers and youth. Soon after the oath-taking ceremony, the cabinet formation will take place and the government will start working,” he said.

On December 11, the Congress bagged as many as 99 seats out in the 200-member assembly. The party’s ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) managed to win one seat to get the magical 100-mark required to form the government.

In Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath will be sworn in at 1:15 pm, at Jamburi Maidan, Bhopal, while in Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel will be sworn in at 4.30 pm at the Govt Science College ground, Raipur.

 
Congress President Rahul Gandhi and senior leaders to attend all three swearing-in ceremonies. However, Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati and Mamata Banerjee will not be present for any of the ceremonies.

09:58  Editors Guild concerned over Meghalaya HC censuring newspaper editor:  The Editors Guild of India Sunday expressed “grave concern” over the Meghalaya High Court censuring the editor of a leading daily in the state, saying the judiciary should stand by the media in helping it discharge its functions in an independent manner.

Shillong Times Editor Patricia Mukhim was censured by the high court on Thursday for publishing an article about a court order seeking perks and facilities for retired judges and their families.

Mukhim and publisher Shoba Chaudhuri, who appeared in person before Justice S R Sen, were asked to turn up before Chief Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir this week, even after they apologised for the article.

The Editors Guild of India, in a statement Sunday, expressed “grave concern” over the issue. “It is unfortunate that an editor has been summoned by the Meghalaya High Court for what appears to be a factual news report,” the Guild said. The Guild believes that the judiciary is one of the pillars of India’s democracy and should stand by the media in helping it discharge its functions in an independent and unbiased manner, the statement said. — PTI

09:50  Can’t stop Parliament from examining Rafale, says Chidambaram :  The Parliament cannot be stopped from examining the Rafale deal asserted former finance minister and senior advocate P Chidambaram on Monday while citing that authority of the Supreme Court and Parliament are very different.

Chidambaram tweeted, “The jurisdiction of the SC and the domain of the sovereign Parliament are very different. Nothing can stop Parliament, present or future, from examining the Rafale deal.”

He also claimed that the verdict of the top court was constrained by its ‘jurisdictional limitation’ and said, “The judgment of the SC was constrained by its jurisdictional limitations. See the last sentence of the judgment as well as several other observations. Therefore, the issue of Rafale remains wide open.” Senior Congress leader Chidambaram also took a dig at Prime Minister Modi’s comment questioning Congress’s faith in Supreme Court.

“Congress does not believe in SC”, says PM Modi. Wrong. Congress believes in SC, but Congress does not believe in misleading SC,” he wrote.

The comments by former finance minister Chidambaram comes after, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a scathing attack at the Congress for allegedly considering itself above every institution and the people of the country.

Taking a jibe at the recent reaction of the Congress on the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Rafale deal, he said that one should “Stay alert and safe from such people and parties.”  — ANI

09:26  Punjab CM hospitalised for removal of kidney stone:  

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was admitted to the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh on Sunday evening for undergoing a laser procedure for removal of kidney stone.

 

The procedure for removal of kidney stone will be performed on Monday and the 76-year-old chief minister hopes to resume work by Tuesday.

“Got myself admitted to the PGI Chandigarh today evening for removal of a Kidney stone, a simple laser procedure will be performed tomorrow morning & I shall be returning to my work by Tuesday (sic),” he said in tweet on Sunday.

Amarinder Singh had undergone routine medical tests at the PGI on December 9 as a follow-up after a bout of viral fever a week before. Doctors at PGI had then said all the tests were normal and the chief minister had slight weakness as he was making a full recovery. — PTI 

09:16  Congress hits back at Modi for ‘liar’ remark, says no one taking him seriously:  

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “liar” attack on the Congress, the opposition party hit back on Sunday saying he should not be taken seriously and he should seek penance by taking a bath in the Ganges for telling “lies” to the Supreme Court.

 

It said no one is taking the prime minister seriously anymore and this was evident during his visit to Rae Bareli, a constituency represented by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, where Modi alleged that Congress was trying to project the Supreme Court as “liar” after the court on Friday dismissed the pleas challenging the Rafale aircraft deal with France.

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said a remark should be taken seriously only if it is made by a person who speaks the truth.

“Our prime minister started his days in the PM office by speaking a lie, working with malice and criticising Congress leaders.

“Some of such statements by the prime minister are providing two crore jobs and putting Rs 15 lakh in every citizen’s account. A person who does not have truth in his DNA and has an old enmity with truth can never speak the truth,” he said.

Asked about Modi’s statements and BJP’s press conferences across the country to tell people about the Supreme Court verdict on the Rafale deal, Sharma said it would not matter even if they hold 700 press conferences.

“Let them hold 700 press conferences; they stand exposed and condemned for a lie, which is exposed internationally, nationally. They should not hold press conferences, they should go for penance. The prime minister has gone (to Allahabad) and his Cabinet should join.

“May be, the Ganga is not clean still, at least go there and have a dubki (bath). May be, they will realize that they should not tell lies to the Supreme Court,” he said. — PTI

09:02  Oppn leaders disagree with Stalin proposing Rahul for PM: Sources:  

A number of opposition leaders are understood to have reservations over naming any prime ministerial nominee for the opposition alliance for 2019 Lok Sabha elections, sources in the opposition camp said.

 

This came after Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M K Stalin said Congress chief Rahul Gandhi should be made the prime ministerial candidate of the opposition as he has the ability to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party.

“A number of opposition leaders are understood to have reservations against naming anyone as the prime ministerial face. The SP, TDP, BSP, TMC, and NCP disagree with Stalin’s announcement. It is premature. The PM name is to be decided only after the Lok Sabha results,” a top opposition leader said.

DMK chief M K Stalin Sunday made a strong pitch for Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate of the Opposition for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, saying the Gandhi scion had the ability to defeat the “fascist” Narendra Modi government.

Stalin’s plea is in line with the tradition of his late father M Karunanidhi who had earlier invited Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi for leadership roles.

The DMK president was speaking at a rally attended by chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, N Chandrababu Naidu and Pinarayi Vijayan, respectively.

Incidentally, Naidu, post his split with the BJP-led NDA earlier this year, is attempting to cobble up a mega coalition of anti-BJP front for the next parliamentary elections.

Stalin recalled that Karunanidhi had in 1980 declared “Welcome daughter of Pandit Nehru. Give a Stable Regime” while extending support to the late Indira Gandhi. Similarly, he had made an invitation to Sonia Gandhi in 2004, saying “Welcome daughter-in-law of Indira Gandhi, India’s daughter should Win”.

“In 2018, on the occasion of unveiling Thalaivar Kalaignar statue, I propose, we will install a new prime minister in Delhi. We will build a new India, as the Son of Thalaivar Kalaignar, I propose the candidature of Rahul Gandhi from Tamil Nadu,” Stalin said.

“Rahul has got the ability to defeat the ‘Fascist Nazist’ Modi government. I appeal to all my respected party leaders on the dais. We will strengthen the hands of Rahul Gandhi. We will save this nation,” Stalin said. — PTI 

08:51  Don’t call Sharad Pawar a future PM, says his nephew:  

Former Maharashtra deputy chief minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar Sunday asked his party workers to desist from calling NCP chief Sharad Pawar as future prime minister, as “some people might not like it”.

Addressing a function in Baramati taluka, Ajit also appealed to the activists to not label him as “future chief minister” of Maharashtra, where elections are due in October next year.

“Someone called me a future chief minister of the state. I would like to urge you not to say all these things. Let’s be grounded and move ahead patiently. Our main objective is that the NCP and the Congress win maximum number of seats”, he said.

“I am making an appeal again to all of you that do not say that Pawar saheb can become a prime minister in future or Ajit Pawar can become a chief minister, as some people may not like it”, said Ajit, who is nephew of Pawar senior.

The NCP chief, who pitched for a united anti-BJP stand for 2019 polls, had said that the party that wins the maximum number of seats would claim the post of PM.

“Sometimes, even allied parties can think that if they (NCP) get maximum number of seats they will have an upper hand, so let’s try and defeat their (NCP) candidate,” he said.

Pawar also asked the party workers to come together and be prepared for the elections next year. — PTI

08:23  On Nirbhaya’s 6th anniversary, 3-year-old girl gangraped in Delhi:  

A three-year-old girl was raped allegedly by a neighbour at her house in southwest Delhi’s Dwarka on Sunday, police said.

 

On being informed about the incident police reached the spot and rushed the unconscious girl to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, they said.

The minor girl was allegedly raped by one Ranjeet, who works as a guard and resides in the ground floor of the same building as the victim. The girl’s parents were out on work when the incident occurred, a senior police officer said. 

The 40-year-old accused was beaten up by the people, following which he was taken to hospital for treatment. He was later arrested, the officer said, adding a case has been registered against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act.

The girl is undergoing treatment and according to doctors she is now stable. Her father is a mason and mother a domestic help.

Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal tweeted, “Today a 3 year old girl has been brutally raped in Bindapur, Delhi. She is bleeding profusely & is v critical. Am on my way to meet her. How more can this city let down Nirbhaya that even on her 6th death anniversary children are raped! @narendramodi ji, for nth time, pl help! (sic).

A 23-year-old paramedical student was gang-raped in a moving bus in Delhi six year ago, and later died in hospital. The incident triggered outrage and protests across the country, and she subsequently came to be known as ‘Nirbhaya’, the fearless. — PTI