Budget 2018-19

  Gangster Suresh Pujari, wanted in several extortion cases in Mumbai region and Karnataka, has been deported to India, a senior police official said on Wednesday. Gangster  Suresh Pujari , wanted in several extortion cases in Mumbai region and Karnataka, has been deported to India, a senior police official said on Wednesday. Pujari, also wanted in extortion cases in Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan, Ulhasnagar and Dombivli near Mumbai, was brought back to India late Tuesday night after he was arrested and extradited from the Philippines. Intelligence Bureau (IB) and CBI officials took his custody after he landed at Delhi airport, the official said. He will be handed over to Mumbai Police after the central agencies interrogate him, the official said. A Mumbai crime branch team is already in Delhi to take his custody. Mumbai and Thane police had issued red-corner notices against him in 2017 and 2018 respectively after several extortion cases. Pujari, who was on the run for over 15 years, ...

NCP leader Nawab Malik alleged that former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh and Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze had planned Antilia bomb threat Maharashtra Cabinet Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik on Tuesday alleged that former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh and Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze had planned Antilia bomb threat and added that National Investigation Agency has recovered a passport with fake entry stamps to Pakistan from Sachin Waze’s house. “Param Bir Singh and  Sachin Waze  had planned the Antilia bomb threat. They planned a fake encounter of Mansukh Hiren and put a false passport on him with its entry and exit stamps marked from Pakistan,” said Malik while addressing the reporters. “National Investigation Agency (NIA) has recovered a passport with fake entries of Pakistan travel from Sachin Waze’s house as part of a larger plan in  Antilia Bomb scare case ,” said Malik while interacting with media in Pune. Malik further said, “A...

  According to an official release issued late Monday night, the civic employees who have not taken the first dose, will not be paid salaries. The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) in Maharashtra has said its employees who have not taken even one dose of vaccine against COVID-19 will not be paid salaries. The decision was taken on Monday during a meeting of senior TMC officials, including civic commissioner Dr Vipin Sharma and Thane Mayor Naresh Mhaske. According to an official release issued late Monday night, the civic employees who have not taken the first dose, will not be paid salaries. The civic employees who have not taken their second vaccine dose within the stipulated period will also not get their salaries, the release said. The TMC has made it compulsory for all civic employees to submit their vaccination certificates at their respective offices. These measures are part of an effort to achieve the target of cent per cent vaccination in the city by this month-end, Mhaske ...

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has commended Indian Diaspora for distinguishing itself across the world as he received a warm welcome from the community on his arrival here. Prime Minister  Narendra Modi  has commended Indian Diaspora for distinguishing itself across the world as he received a warm welcome from the community on his arrival here. He was greeted by groups of Indian Americans at the airport soon after his plane landed here Wednesday and later at the hotel where he had an interaction with the members of the community. Grateful to the Indian community in Washington DC for the warm welcome. Our diaspora is our strength, Modi said in a tweet along with a set of pictures of his interaction with the Indian American CEOs. It is commendable how the Indian diaspora has distinguished itself across the world, Modi said. One of the signature events of the Prime Minister’s overseas visit has been his meetings with the diaspora community in large gatherings. However, due ...

  Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday laid the foundation stone and inaugurated over 300 development projects of the Public Works Department (PWD) in the state Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh  Bhupesh Baghel  on Sunday laid the foundation stone and inaugurated over 300 development projects of the Public Works Department (PWD) in the state. Over the past three years, the state government is continuously working hard for the development of Chhattisgarh, despite facing many challenges during COVID-19 times. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Baghel said, “We faced many difficulties during COVID-19 pandemic, but still, development projects did not stop in the state. Today, we are inaugurating around 332 new projects at the PWD department worth Rs. 28,000 crores.” “Following the decline in COVID-19 cases in the state during the second wave, we immediately ramped up the developmental projects from June,” he added. According to him, these 332 projects are bei...

  The Allahabad High Court has observed that adults have the right to choose their life partner, irrespective of the religion professed by them The  Allahabad High Court  has observed that adults have the right to choose their life partner, irrespective of the religion professed by them. The court made this observation on Thursday while granting protection to an interfaith couple from Gorakhpur. “In such a case, not even their parents can object to their relationship,” the court further observed. Hearing a petition jointly filed by Shifa Hasan and her Hindu partner, a division bench comprising justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Deepak Verma said, “It cannot be disputed that two adults have the right of choice of their matrimonial partner, irrespective of the religion professed by them.” “As the present petition is a joint petition by the two individuals who claim to be in love with each other and are major, therefore, in our considered opinion, nobody, not even their p...

  Youth Congress activists protested in Aizawl over the steep hike in power tariff, demanding the resignation of state power minister R Lalzirliana. Youth Congress  activists protested in Aizawl over the steep hike in power tariff, demanding the resignation of state power minister R Lalzirliana. Leading the demonstration outside Vanapa Hall here on Tuesday, state Youth Congress president Lalmalsawma Nghaka accused the government of robbing the people by hiking power tariffs and issuing bogus power bills. “The power minister should take responsibility for the hike and bogus bills and must oblige to resign from his office for failing to look after his department efficiently,” he said He said the government has hiked power tariff by 20.7 per cent, which came into effect in April, at a time when people are facing hardship and livelihood crisis due to the pandemic. Lalmalsawma claimed that power bills issued in August were mostly high and some poor families, who consumed very less ...

  CJI N V Ramana recused himself from hearing the plea of Andhra Pradesh which alleged that Telangana has deprived it of its legitimate share of drinking and irrigation water from River Krishna Chief Justice of India (CJI) N V Ramana on Wednesday recused himself from hearing the plea of Andhra Pradesh which alleged that Telangana has deprived it of its legitimate share of drinking and irrigation water from  River Krishna.  The bench, which also comprised Justice Surya Kant, took note of the submissions of the counsel appearing for Andhra Pradesh that the state wanted adjudication of the case by the apex court bench instead of opting for mediation. Then let the matter be listed before another bench, the CJI ordered. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said that the central government has no objection if the CJI-led bench hears the plea of Andhra Pradesh. Earlier, the top court had suggested mediation to  Andhra ...

  Suspected drone activity was reported from four places in the Bari Brahmana area of Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday night, informed Samba Superintendents of police Rajesh Sharma Suspected drone activity was reported from four places in the Bari Brahmana area of Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday night, informed Samba Superintendents of police (SSP) Rajesh Sharma on Monday. Earlier on Friday, suspected drones were spotted at three different places in the Samba district. Earlier on July 16, a drone that was operating around the Jammu Air Base was picked up by the radars of the anti-drone system deployed by the National Security Guard (NSG) there. The NSG had deployed an anti-drone system in the city after a  drone attack  took place on the Jammu air base last month. The Air Force has also taken measures to prevent any such attack in Jammu and other important airbases across the country. It has also taken strict measures to address threats from sma...

  Around 10 people are reported missing in flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in   Himachal Pradesh ‘s tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti, a senior disaster management official said on Wednesday. Around 10 people are reported missing in flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh’s tribal district of  Lahaul-Spiti , a senior disaster management official said on Wednesday. The incident took place at Udaipur in Lahaul at around 8 PM on Tuesday, state disaster management director Sudesh Kumar Mokhta said. Two tents of labourers and a private JCB have been washed away, he said, adding that a 19-year-old labourer, Mohammad Altaaf, was injured while around 10 people are reported missing. Altaaf, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, has been referred to a nearby hospital. The state police and the ITBP teams were dispatched for searching the missing people but a heavy flow of water hampered the search operation on Tuesday night, the official said, adding that the sear...

  As many as six Assam Police personnel have died in an exchange of fire with their Mizoram counterparts, said Assam BJP MLA Kaushik Rai on Monday. As many as six Assam Police personnel have died in an exchange of fire with their Mizoram counterparts, said Assam BJP MLA Kaushik Rai on Monday. Rai, who visited the Silchar Medical College where the injured are admitted said that at least 40 people were injured including three to four civilians. “40 people injured including 3-4 civilians. As per doctors, 6 policemen have died. The Chief Minister has directed State Minister Pijush Hazarika to visit the border area,” said the  BJP  MLA. However, according to Assam Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, around 80 people were injured in the firing from the  Mizoram ‘s side. “6 Assam Police personnel have died and around 80 people have been injured in the firing. There was no firing from our side. Firing from the Mizoram side was...

  Several parts of Delhi received incessant rainfall on Monday morning Several parts of Delhi received incessant  ra infall on Monday morning. As parts of the national capital continued to receive heavy rainfall, the vehicular movement has been affected in several parts, while roads were waterlogged in several parts of Delhi. According to the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) prediction in the wee hours of Monday, a thunderstorm with light to moderate intensity rain is likely in Delhi and its adjoining places including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. “Recent satellite imagery shows intense or very intense convection over parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Uttar Pradesh, Haryana Chandigarh, and Delhi, northwest Madhya Pradesh, northeast Rajasthan, north Konkan and Bihar,” IMD informed. “Including sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram & Tripura and nei...

Examinations have been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic in the country. The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed CBSE to decide within eight weeks if it would refund the examination fees taken for class 10 and class 12 board examinations as they have been cancelled due to the  COVID-19 pandemic .  Justice Prateek Jalan ordered CBSE to consider as representation a petition by Deepa Joseph, mother of a Class 10 student studying in a CBSE affiliated school here, who had paid Rs 2,100 as examination fee. CBSE’s decision would be open to challenge if the Joseph is not satisfied, the court clarified as it disposed of the petition. There has to be reasonableness on both sides, the judge adde Justice Jalan also recorded that the parties had no objection to him hearing the petition even though he would be beneficiary of the petition on account of his son being in Class 12. Advocate Robin Raju, for Joseph, contended that since the board examination have been cancelled, at least ...

  Prime Minister   Narendra Modi  will launch the Customized Crash Course programme for COVID-19 frontline workers on Friday at 11 AM via video conferencing Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the  Customized Crash Course programme  for COVID-19 frontline workers on Friday at 11 AM via video conferencing. According to the Prime Minister’s office, the launch will commence the programme in 111 training centres spread over 26 states. The launch will be followed by the Prime Minister’s address. Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Mahendra Nath Pandey will also be present on the occasion. The programme aims to skill and upskill over one lakh COVID warriors across the country. The training will be imparted to COVID warriors in six customised job roles namely Home Care Support, Basic Care Support, Advanced Care Support, Emergency Care Support, Sample Collection Support, and Medical Equipment Support. The programme has been designed as a specia...

  At least eleven people, including eight minors, lost their lives after a residential  Building collapsed  in New Collector compound, Malad West of Mumbai late on Wednesday night At least eleven people, including eight minors, lost their lives after a residential structure collapsed in New Collector compound, Malad West of Mumbai late on Wednesday night, informed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). As many as 18 people have been rescued safely, while seven people have been injured in the incident. As per the BMC, the collapse engulfed a nearby residential structure. It also affected another residential structure in the area that is now in a “dangerous condition”. The building in which is in dangerous condition has been evacuated. Rescue operations are underway.  Maharashtra  Minister Aslam Shaikh, who has also reached the incident site, said, “Buildings have collapsed due to rain. Rescue operation is underway. Injured people have been shifted to the h...

  West Bengal Council of  Higher Secondary Education  Tuesday asked school authorities to complete the formalities relating to promotion of students from class 11 to the next class by July 15 Secondary Education Tuesday asked school authorities to complete the formalities relating to promotion of students from class 11 to the next class by July 15. The council had on April 30 said that the annual examination to promote students from class 11 to 12 will not be required this year in view of the pandemic situation and the respective higher secondary schools will promote students to the next class. The council on June 8 asked guardians to come to the school premises with the identity card of their wards to complete the admission procedure by strictly maintaining all Covid-19 protocols. Chief Minister  Mamata Banerjee  said on Monday that the board examinations in the state for classes 10 and 12 will not be held this year due to the Covid-19 situation. The evaluation...

  Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday blamed the recent surge in global crude oil prices for the fuel price hike in India. Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday blamed the recent surge in global crude oil prices for the fuel price hike in India. Noting that petrol and diesel have become costlier in recent times, Pradhan said it is up to the GST Council to decide whether the fuel should be brought under the Goods and Services Tax, which, many believe, would substantially bring down the prices. “The prices of petroleum products have gone up. The main reason is that the price of crude oil has gone over USD 70 (per barrel) in the international market. This negatively impacts consumers here, as India imports 80 per cent of its oil requirement,” he said. The minister was responding to a query raised by reporters about the recent  fuel price hike . He was in Gandhinagar to witness the signing of an MoU between the Guja...

  An incident of gas leak occurred at a chemical factory at Badlapur in Thane district, due to which a number of people living around the unit faced difficulty in breathing for a few hours a chemical factory at Badlapur in Maharashtra’s Thane district, due to which a number of people living around the unit faced difficulty in breathing for a few hours, an official said on Friday.The incident took place late on Thursday night and the leakage was plugged within an hour, he said. “The  gas leak  was reported around 10.22 pm at the factory in Shirgaon MIDC of Badlapur (East). A chemical reaction due to the overheating of sulfuric acid and benzyl acid led to the incident,” Santosh Kadam, chief of the Regional Disaster Management Cell of Thane Municipal Corporation said. “As a result, residents living in three km area around the factory complained of breathing problem and irritation in eyes for a few hours,” he said .On being alerted, two fire engines from...

  The state on Tuesday issued a red alert warning for Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur and Balasore districts, which are likely to be affected with heavy rainfall Ahead the predicted May 26 landfall of cyclone Yaas in coastal areas of the Odisha, the state on Tuesday issued a red alert warning for Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur and Balasore districts, which are likely to be affected with heavy rainfall. Umashankar Das, Deputy Director of India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Bhubaneswar said, “A red alert, i.e. extremely heavy rainfall warning has been issued for Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, and Balasore for today. The rainfall will exceed more than 20 cm.” The official said that an orange alert, i.e. heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khorda, and Puri today. “The rainfall in the district is expected to measure between 12-20 cm,” Das said. The IMD regional Deputy Director further said, “We are expecting wind speeds of 150-160 km...

  The NR Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and AIADMK alliance on Monday emerged victorious in Puducherry Assembly polls The NR Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and AIADMK alliance on Monday emerged victorious in Puducherry Assembly polls. The All India NR Congress secured 10 seats, and about 25.8 per cent of the total vote share, while the BJP won six, about 13 per cent. The AIADMK drew a blank but managed to garner 4.14 per cent of the total votes. While independents secured six seats, the Indian National Congress, whose government collapsed before completing its five-year term under Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, managed to score two seats and 15.7 per cent of the total vote share. The DMK, who fought the polls in alliance with Congress, secured six seats (18.5 per cent). After the NR Congress, BJP and AIDMK alliance crossed the simple majority mark, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister  Amit Shah  among other leaders thanked the people of the union ...