15:11 TTV Dinakaran sent to judicial custody till May 15 in EC bribery case: The Delhi court has sent TTV Dinakaran to 15-days judicial custody in the AIADMK symbol bribery case.
Earlier, the court had remanded Dinakaran to a five-day custody of Delhi Police which said it needed to unearth the money trail and entire conspiracy in the Election Commission official bribery case.
Dinakaran was arrested by the police April 25 after four days of questioning for allegedly attempting to bribe an EC official to get the undivided AIADMK’s two leaves election symbol for his faction.
14:46 Rajnath chairs crucial security meet over Kashmir unrest, Sukma attack:
An intensive discussion was held on the present security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the recent Sukma attack in the high-level meeting at Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s residence here.
Research and Analytical Wing chief Shankaran Nair, Intelligence Bureau chief Rajiv Jain, Director General Central Reserve Police Force Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar and many other top officials attended the meet.
With regard to the recent Sukma attack, an intense discussion took place in regard to strategies and security.
Rajnath also stressed on improving the situation in Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest.
As many as 25 Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed and five others injured in the encounter with naxals in Sukma on April 24.
14:21 Baahubali 2 crosses Rs 500 crore mark worldwide: SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’ has made waves worldwide with its bumper opening and massive weekend collections. The multi-lingual film that stars Prabhas and Rana Daggubati, amassed a whopping Rs 506 crore worldwide (cumulative figure of all languages) over the opening weekend, according to a report on BoxofficeIndia.com.
13:52 Telangana Police encouraging youth to join Islamic State: Digvijaya Singh:
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh made a shocking allegation by accusing Telangana Police of setting up a ‘bogus IS site which is radicalising Muslim Youths and encouraging them to become Islamic State modules’.
Questioning the involvement of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao in the matter, Singh asserted that if KCR is involved then he should own up and resign.
“If he has then shouldn’t he own the responsibility and resign?” he tweeted.
“Is it ethical? Is it moral? Has KCR authorised Telangana Police to trap Muslim youths and encourage them to join ISIS?” senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh tweeted.
“Telangana Police has set up a bogus ISIS site which is radicalising Muslim Youths and encouraging them to become ISIS Modules,” he tweeted.
“Whether the state police should be trapping Muslim youth in becoming ISIS modules by posting inflammatory information?” Digvijaya tweeted.
The CRPF has offered to set up a model library at Bharandua village, Krishna Kumar Pandey’s home in Rohtas district, in memory of the jawan who was among the 25 personnel killed in the Sukma Maoist attack last week.
The library will be named after Pandey (30), who is survived by his wife Anita and 11-month-old daughter Aditya.
13:13 UPDATE: Turkish Prez courts controversy, suggests multilateral dialogue to resolve Kashmir issue:
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today suggested a multilateral dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue to ensure peace in the region.
Erdogan, who arrived in India on Sunday ahead of talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, favoured India’s bid for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group besides that of Pakistan, saying India should not have objection to it.
“We should not allow more casualties to occur (in Kashmir). By having a multilateral dialogue, (in which) we can be involved, we can seek ways to settle the issue once and for all,” he said.
The Turkish leader said that it is in the interest of India and Pakistan that they should resolve this issue and not leave it for the future generations who will have to suffer.
“All around the world, there is no better option than keeping the channel of dialogue open. If we contribute towards global peace, we can get a very positive result,” he said.
Erdogan said India and Pakistan were both friends of Turkey and he wanted to help strengthen the dialogue process among the stakeholders for resolving the Kashmir issue which has been festering for the last 70 years.
12:13 UPDATE: 1 army jawan, 1 BSF jawan have been martyred after Pakistan’s army violated the ceasefire when it opened fire at the Line of Control in Krishna Ghati sector in Jammu-Kashmir.
West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shyamapada Mondal waded into controversy by calling Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee a ‘eunuch’ and accused her of practicing politics of appeasement.
“Today you cannot understand whether Mamata Banerjee is a female or a male.. I’d say she has become a ‘hijra’ ( eunuch),” he said.
This statement has triggered demand for action against him.
Also earlier this month, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader courted massive controversy by announcing a reward of Rs 11 lakh for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s head, following a lathi charge at Birbhum district to disperse a rally raising slogans of “Jai Sri Ram” on Hanuman Jayanti.
11:48 SC orders medical examination of Calcutta HC judge Karnan:
The Supreme court today ordered a medical examination of Calcutta high court judge CS Karnan, escalating an unprecedented confrontation within the judiciary.
No one can say such things and get away, the bench said on Monday after Karnan did not heed summons to appear before it.
Karnan has accused a number of apex court judges, including the chief justice of corruption, which triggered a first contempt proceeding ever against a sitting HC judge.
Today, the top court declared all orders passed by him invalid and said no court or tribunal shall take cognisance of his directions.
In a barbaric and dastardly attack by the outlawed Maoists, India lost 25 brave CRPF personnel. They were ambushed and killed by the anarchists, who are hell-bent on stalling the development of the backward tribal areas and exploiting the situation. Some security personnel were also injured. The attack shocked the conscience of every right-thinking Indian. No sympathy or monetary compensation will make up for the loss suffered by the families of the victims. Nevertheless, the government will extend all possible help to them. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, the sacrifices of the brave jawans will not go in vain.
While the Maoists are an offshoot of the communist movement, the ideological warfare unleashed by them is totally out of sync with the tenets of democracy. Disillusioned with the communists who placed their faith in democracy, a section broke away to propagate and practise a violent ideology. Unfortunately, a variety of reasons, including the lack of political will and the failure of different regimes to devise a concrete strategy to combat Maoists, the backwardness of some regions and illiteracy, provided fertile grounds to the outlaws. The Maoists have a sinister design: To prevent the development of backward regions and exploit the situation by misguiding poor villagers, striking fear among them.
11:20 JUST IN: Ceasefire violation by Pakistan Army in Krishna Ghati sector along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir
11:11 OPS camp ups ante, sets 5-day ‘deadline’ for merger talks:
Virtually setting a five day deadline for merger talks with the rival faction, rebel AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam is set to launch a statewide tour from May 5. Panneerselvam has planned to visit all 32 districts and meet his supporters during the tour which is likely to end by May last.
The tour, besides hoping the mop up support for him, is also seen as OPS’s attempt to prepare them for local body elections.
“He will commence the tour from Kancheepuram,” said Mettur MLA S Semmalai. Leaders in OPS faction say they expect the merger talks to come to a conclusion before the tour. “Whichever way the talks go, we expect to arrive at a clear picture before OPS launches the tour. In fact, our deadline is Tuesday,” said a senior member of OPS’s merger talks committee.
OPS camp has also planned to up the ante by appointing district level office bearers during his visit. “Besides the possibilities of the talks succeeding or getting stuck, there is another outcome that is highly probable – that a section of MLAs from EPS side would come out in our support,” he said.
K Pandiarajan said they would not step down from the two demands – recommendation of CBI inquiry in Jayallaithaa’s death and ouster of Sasikala family from party.
10:52 Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari’s house ransacked, 4 arrested:
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party Chief Manoj Tiwari’s house in Delhi was ransacked on the wee hours of Monday, a development that apparently stemmed out of road rage.
The incident took place around 1 am. However, Tiwari was not present in his house when the incident took place, but the accused attacked the staffers of the leaders present there.
CCTV footage shows Tiwari’s staffers getting into a scuffle with some men a little ahead of the politician’s residence, following which the assaulters can be seen charging into the gates of his house, along with others.
The police have arrested four people in connection with this incident till now.
“This is a very big threat. It was an attack on my life. Two of our staff members are injured. Their intentions were very dangerous. Looks like a big conspiracy, that too with police involvement. No one should be spared,” Tiwari said after the incident.
The accused ransacked the entire house and even the cars were vandalised.
Earlier in February, Tiwari’s car was attacked by few unidentified men in Mumbai and was warned to stay away from campaigning for BMC polls in Mumbai.
10:31 Coming soon to a theatre near you: A biopic on PV Sindhu: Ace shuttler Pusarla Venkata Sindhu, who became the first Indian woman to win a silver medal at the Olympics last year, is the next sports personality whose story is heading for the big screen.
Actor-producer Sonu Sood is set to take Sindhu’s life and victory to the silver screen.
“It feels great to make a biopic on PV Sindhu. It’s a story of a girl who has inspired millions of Indians and sent a message that everyone can dream big and not only dream but achieve it too by hard work.
“It’s a journey that everyone has to know of and be inspired by,” Sonu said in a statement.
“I am very honoured and pleased to know that Sonu Sood has decided to make a biopic on my journey. I’m very impressed with the thorough research that the team has done on my biopic for the last eight months.
“They have written a script which I am sure will inspire millions of Indians and our youngsters to dare to dream and achieve glory for the country in spite of all the hardships and hurdles that we all face in our journey,” the Hyderabad-born Sindhu, 21, said.
10:11 Air pollution comes up before SC today: The Supreme Court will hear a plea today that was filed by noted environmentalist M C Mehta on air pollution.
The apex court had on January 17 warned that the problem of air pollution was very serious and it was important to find a solution for it on an urgent basis.
The observation was made by the court after the amicus curiae and senior advocate Harish Salve said there was a need to ensure 100 percent compliance of the Pollution Under Certificate and linking them with the insurance of vehicles.
10:02 ‘Shrameva Jayate!’ PM tweets on Labour Day: On the occasion of Labour Day today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi saluted workers, saying they play a big role in the country’s progress.
“Today, on Labour Day, we salute the determination & hardwork of countless workers who play a big role in India’s progress. Shrameva Jayate!,” he tweeted.
The International Workers’ Day, also known as Labour Day, celebrates the spirit of labourers.
The prime minister also wished Gujarat and Maharashtra on their foundation day today.
09:28 Update: Erdogan receives ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who arrived in New Delhi yesterday on a two-day visit, received a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning, where he was received warmly by President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The leaders will hold wide-ranging talks today.
Bhupendra, who has several criminal cases registered against him, was in a car with his friend Arun along with his public safety officer Vijay and constable Kuldeep when, around 11.15 pm, some goons fired indiscriminately at his car.
Bhupendra, Arun and Vijay were killed on the spot, while Kuldeep, who was injured, was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
An investigation into the matter is currently underway and further details are awaited.
The incident took place as the upper caste villagers were unhappy with Chander Meghwal, who had invited a band party for his daughter’s wedding despite being warned of a boycott as the village traditions only permitted a dhol to welcome the groom.
On receiving threats, Meghwal had informed the cops about it and the marriage took place under tight security.
Following this, the upper castes poured kerosene into the well to take revenge. The police are said to be investigating the matter.
No arrests have been made so far.
08:47 You won’t see red beacon on VIP cars from today: The Union Cabinet’s decision to end the culture of flashing red beacons, comes into effect from today.
The Union Cabinet’s decision covers all government vehicles, including those ferrying the prime minister, chief ministers, central and state ministers and judges of the Supreme Court and high courts.
The government has also decided to make amendments to the rule governing the use of blue beacons — these can only be used by vehicles such as ambulances, fire tenders and police cars in cases of emergency — which will be notified soon.
Even before the Centre’s decision, there have been several state governments that have sought to do away with the red beacon.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was one of the first to announce that neither he nor his team would use cars with flashing lights. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath issued similar orders after getting elected. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, too, travels without this mark of power.
The decision to ban red beacons comes more than three years after the Supreme Court first raised the issue and asked for restrictions on their use in December 2013.
On December 10 that year, a bench led by Justice G S Singhvi ruled that vehicles fitted with the red beacon would be allowed only for “high dignitaries”, and directed the government to amend the Motor Vehicles Act to ensure that fines for violations were sufficiently large, so as to encourage deterrence.
The court had then asked all authorities to enforce these directions within a month.
08:39 Bengal BJP leader calls Mamata a ‘eunuch’, draws ire: A West Bengal BJP leader on Sunday described Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as a “eunuch”, and accused her of practising the “politics of appeasement”.
While addressing a party meeting at Chandrakona in West Midnapore district, the BJP state committee member Shyamapada Mondal alleged that Banerjee has been doing what Muslims do as their religious practice.
“Mamata Banerjee is practising the politics of appeasement and indulging in theatrics. We cannot understand whether Mamata Banerjee is a man or a woman. I would say she has become a ‘hijra‘ (eunuch) that you see in trains and buses,” he said amid laughter by party supporters.
Asked to comment on the episode, Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee said the BJP was creating an unhealthy political environment in the state.
“By making such remarks, they are thinking that they will make their party stronger,” Chatterjee said. “But they should remember that it is Bengal. This will not be so easy here. People will give them a befitting reply,” he said.
08:35 Kejriwal plays down differences with Vishwas over EVMs: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has sought to quell speculation of a rift between him and Kumar Vishwas, days after the senior party leader differed with him over EVM tampering as the reason behind AAP’s recent poll defeats.
Party chief Kejriwal also warned party leaders against trying to create a divide between him and his “younger brother” Vishwas, after AAP’s Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan alleged earlier that Vishwas was trying to “usurp” the AAP and that he harbours ambitions of leading the party.
On Friday, contrary to the party line that EVM rigging was behind AAP’s loss in the Punjab assembly and MCD polls, Vishwas had pointed to reasons other than alleged tampering of electronic voting machines and said there is a communication gap between the top brass and volunteers.
He also said AAP was getting “Congressised” to an extent.
08:31 Erdogan has a solution for Kashmir issue: talk to Pakistan, too: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has suggested a multilateral dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue to ensure peace in the region.
Erdogan, who arrived in New Delhi on Sunday evening ahead of talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, favoured India’s bid for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) besides that of Pakistan, saying India should not have objection to it.
“We should not allow more casualties to occur (in Kashmir). By having a multilateral dialogue, (in which) we can be involved, we can seek ways to settle the issue once and for all,” he told WION news channel in an interview.
The Turkish leader said that it is in the interests of India and Pakistan that they should resolve this issue and not leave it for the future generations who will have to suffer.
“All around the world, there is no better option than keeping the channel of dialogue open. If we contribute towards global peace, we can get a very positive result,” he said.
Erdogan said India and Pakistan were both friends of Turkey and he wanted to help strengthen the dialogue process among the stakeholders for resolving the Kashmir issue which has been festering for the last 70 years.
08:18 Lok Sabha MP honey-trapped, cops on the hunt for woman: A Lok Sabha member of Parliament has complained to his party’s leadership of being “honey-trapped’, drugged and filmed in an objectionable state by an unidentified woman, the Times of India reports.
The gang has allegedly threatened to release his pictures and videos if the demand was not met.
The woman has also threatened to implicate the MP in a rape case, the newspaper said.
The MP, whose identity has not been disclosed, has said in his complaint that the woman, who had sought his help in some matter, asked him to accompany her to a house in Ghaziabad, where he was served drinks laced with a sedative.
‘Special commissioner Mukesh Meena has confirmed that the case was under investigation. The police are treating the case as top priority and arrests are likely soon. An FIR has been filed under section 384 (extortion) of the IPC,’ the Times reports, ‘and that a special team has been formed to crack the case.’
Source: Rediff