Kerala floods: Amit Shah deliberately skipped survey and chose BJP-ruled states, alleges CPI(M)

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah “deliberately skipped” an aerial survey of Kerala on Sunday and “chose to go only to BJP-ruled states” of Maharashtra and Karnataka. The toll in the floods in Kerala rose to 72 and that in Karnataka and Maharashtra rose to 40 each on Monday.

Coast Guard ship catches fire off Andhra Pradesh coast; one sailor missing, 28 rescued

Twenty-nine crew members of Coast Guard’s offshore support vessel Coastal Jaguar jumped into the sea off the Andhra Pradesh coast after a fire broke out on the vessel on Monday morning. However, one sailor is said to be missing and the search for him is on. Indian Coast Guard Ship Rani Rashmoni, which was in the vicinity, was diverted to the spot and rescued the crew members and workers after coordinating with the Visakhapatnam Port Trust.

P Chidambaram alleges J&K move was motivated by ‘religious fanaticism’, BJP lashes out at him

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday lashed out at senior Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram, a day after he claimed that the Centre had decided to revoke the state’s special status and bifurcate it into Union Territories because it was a Muslim-majority region. The BJP said Chidambaram’s comments were “very irresponsible and provocative”.

Uttarakhand: Six people, including three children, killed in Chamoli cloudburst

At least six people, including three children, were killed in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Monday after their homes collapsed following a cloudburst. “The debris of landslides fell over three houses in Banjabgad and Lankhi villages in Ghat area of the district early on Monday, trapping the occupants inside,” District Disaster Management Officer NK Joshi said.

Not bilateral: Centre can’t have say on India vs Pakistan Davis Cup tie, says Sports Minister Rijiju

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday said the government will not have any say on whether India should participate in next month’s Davis Cup tie in Pakistan as the event is not a bilateral engagement. India’s participation in the Asia-Oceania Zone Group 1 Davis Cup tie, scheduled on September 14 and 15 in Islamabad, is uncertain owing to high political tensions with Pakistan.

Mukesh Ambani promises investment in J&K and Ladakh, says Reliance will create special task force

Reliance Industries Chairperson Mukesh Ambani on Monday said that the Reliance group will create a special task force and will make several announcements related to the investment in the two new Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Ambani made these comments at the the 42nd annual general meeting of Reliance Industries.

Delhi: Bus service to Lahore cancelled after Pakistan shut it down, says transport corporation

Delhi Transport Corporation on Monday cancelled the bus service between the city and Lahore in Pakistan two days after the Imran Khan government discontinued it in protest against India’s decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcate it into Union territories, PTI reported.

West Bengal: BJP accuses Trinamool leaders of laundering scam money through Durga Puja committees

The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday accused Trinamool Congress leaders of laundering money looted in chit fund scams through the Durga Puja committees, PTI reported.

Haryana: Wrestler Babita Phogat, father Mahavir Phogat join BJP

Wrestler Babita Phogat and her father and coach Mahavir Phogat joined the Bharatiya Janata Party at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Monday. Their home state, Haryana, is expected to have Assembly elections later this year. The family was the subject of the 2016 Hindi film Dangal.

J&K: Eid-al-Adha prayers held peacefully in local mosques, says Centre

The Union Home Ministry on Monday claimed that residents in Jammu and Kashmir offered prayers on Eid-al-Adha peacefully in local mosques without any untoward incidents. Around 10,000 people offered prayers at the Jamia Masjid in Baramulla, the ministry said.

BJP MP claims her family descended from Hindu deity Ram’s son Kush

A day after a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked senior lawyer K Parasaran, who is representing Hindu deity Ram in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case, if anyone from Raghuvansha – descendants of Ram – was still residing in Ayodhya, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Divya Kumar claimed her family descended from Ram’s son Kush.

Mukesh Ambani announces that Saudi Aramco will buy 20% stake in Reliance Industries’ oil refinery

Reliance Industries Chairperson Mukesh Ambani announced on Monday that Saudi Arabian giant Aramco will buy a 20% stake in his flagship Reliance Industries’ oil refinery and chemical business. Aramco will buy the shares at a cost of $75 billion (Rs 5.32 lakh crore), he added according to PTI. Reliance Industries also announced on Monday that its Jio Fiber internet services will start on September 5.

Floods: 72 killed in Kerala, only two districts now on orange alert; toll in Karnataka rises to 40

The toll in the floods in Kerala rose to 72 and that in Karnataka and Maharashtra rose to 40 each on Monday. Only two districts in Kerala – Alappuzha and Ernakulam – are on an orange alert, or “be prepared”, for the day, with the likelihood of heavy to very heavy rain in isolated places.

Former Additional Solicitor General Amarendra Sharan dies at 70

Former Additional Solicitor General Amarendra Sharan died of a heart attack at a resort near Rishikesh on Monday morning. The 70-year-old senior advocate died in his sleep.

‘India-China relations should be a source of stability in an uncertain world,’ says S Jaishankar

Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar on Monday said relations between India and China should be a factor of stability at a time when the world is facing uncertainties, PTI reported. Jaishankar arrived in China on Sunday on a three-day visit.

CBSE refutes reports on steep fee hike for SC/ST students, says fee was low earlier only in Delhi

Last week, the board had released its circular for school principals, asking them to submit lists of candidates for the examinations of 2020. The circular said candidates from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Delhi government schools would pay Rs 1,200 for five subjects, while all others in India would have to pay Rs 1,500 for five subjects. Both amounts were higher than previous years.

Income tax department seizes bungalow, Rs 4 crore FDI in inquiry into Kamal Nath’s nephew

The Income Tax Department on Sunday seized a Rs 300-crore bungalow under the anti-benami transactions law in its investigation into businessman Ratul Puri, the nephew of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath. It also attached Foreign Direct Investments worth Rs 4 crore.

Google celebrates 100th birthday of ISRO founder Vikram Sarabhai with a doodle

Google on Monday celebrated Indian Space Research Organisation founder Vikram Sarabhai’s 100th birth anniversary with a doodle. Sarabhai is considered the father of India’s space programme. “Beyond his personal interest in cosmic rays, rockets, and satellites, Dr. Sarabhai believed in using science and technology as ‘levers of development’,” Google said.

J&K: Group of Kashmiri Pandits, Dogras, Sikhs call Centre’s decision undemocratic, unconstitutional

A group of citizens from the Kashmiri Pandit, Dogra and Sikh communities issued a statement on Saturday condemning the revision of Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The 64 signatories rejected the “unilateral, undemocratic and unconstitutional imposition” on them.

J&K: Administration prepares for Bakrid, some reports say curfew back in parts of Srinagar

The administration in Jammu and Kashmir claimed to have made arrangements for Eid-al-Adha celebrations on Monday, even as some reports said curfew was imposed again in parts of Srinagar and security remained tight. Some markets and banks were open on Sunday, and the administration said it was “trying to reduce inconveniences and ease facilities” for the festivities.

Google celebrates 100th birthday of ISRO founder Vikram Sarabhai with a doodle

Google on Monday celebrated Indian Space Research Organisation founder Vikram Sarabhai’s 100th birth anniversary with a doodle. Sarabhai is considered the father of India’s space programme. “Beyond his personal interest in cosmic rays, rockets, and satellites, Dr. Sarabhai believed in using science and technology as ‘levers of development’,” Google said.

Chief election commissioner claims allegations of EVM tampering are ‘made with criminal intent’

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora claimed on Saturday that allegations of tampering of electronic voting machines are “more than unfair” and “made with criminal intent”, PTI reported. Arora said at a business conclave at the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta that EVMs may sometimes be faulty but they cannot be tampered with.

Railways cancels Samjhauta Express on Indian side days after Pakistan suspends services

ndian Railways announced on Sunday that it has cancelled the Samjhauta Express at the Indian end of the railway line, PTI reported. Last week, Pakistan had suspended services on its side in protest against the Indian government’s decision to revoke special status for Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution.

BJP leaders criticise Congress for appointing Sonia Gandhi its interim chief

Bharatiya Janata Party leaders on Sunday mocked United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s appointment as the interim Congress president. The Congress Working Committee appointed Sonia Gandhi to the post after Rahul Gandhi refused to reconsider his decision to quit.