Srinagar: Sitaram Yechury visits CPI(M) colleague Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami a day after SC approval

Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Thursday visited ailing party colleague Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami in Srinagar, PTI reported. Tarigami has been under house arrest in the city since August 5, when the Centre revoked the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir, and split it into two Union Territories.

Centre is aiming for 100% privatisation of Air India, says civil aviation minister

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday said the government would aim for 100% privatisation of national carrier Air India, which has a debt burden of more than Rs 50,000 crore. He added that the Centre was open to the idea of 100% foreign direct investment in the aviation sector, reported Times Now.

RBI’s contingency fund has sunk to Rs 1.96 lakh crore after record transfer to Centre: Annual report

The Reserve Bank of India’s contingency fund has depleted to Rs 1.96 lakh crore after its Rs 52,000 crore excess payout to the government, according to its annual report for 2018-’19 that was published on Thursday. Earlier this week, the central bank granted the government Rs 1.76 lakh crore.

Uttar Pradesh police to use National Security Act against those spreading rumours of child-lifting

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday announced it would invoke the National Security Act against people who spread rumours about child lifting, PTI reported. The decision was taken following recent incidents of mob violence against those suspected of kidnapping children.

Patna High Court judge taken off all cases after he questions corruption in the judiciary

A senior judge of Patna High Court has been taken off all cases after he brought up corruption in the judicial system in his order on a corruption case, reported Bar and Bench. An 11-judge bench of the High Court also suspended Justice Rakesh Kumar’s order on the case on Thursday.

‘War and Peace’ row: Bombay HC judge criticises media, says he did not refer to Tolstoy classic

The Bombay High Court on Thursday criticised the media for reporting that it had asked Bhima Koregaon case-accused Vernon Gonsalves to explain why he possessed “objectionable material” such as 19th-century classic War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, Bar and Bench reported.

Amit Shah asks women to carry cloth bags instead of plastic bags to protect environment

Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday asked women to carry cloth bags instead of plastic bags for shopping, PTI reported. Shah added that though carrying cloth bags may look old-fashioned, it will help protect the environment.

India condemns ‘irresponsible statements by Pakistani leaders’ on internal matters

India on Thursday condemned the recent statements by the Pakistani leadership on Jammu and Kashmir. “These are very irresponsible statements,” said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar. He added that Pakistan was trying to project an alarmist situation.

Kumar confirmed that the government had received information on infiltration by terrorists. Ports across Gujarat have been put on high alert after the intelligence warned of the possibility of Pakistani commandos infiltrating via sea. “Pakistan should behave like a normal neighbour, do normal talk, normal trade,” said Kumar.

INX Media inquiry: Supreme Court to deliver order in ED case against P Chidambaram on September 5

The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its order on Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s plea for anticipatory bail in the INX Media case registered by the Enforcement Directorate. The court will pronounce its verdict on September 5. The court directed the directorate to submit the materials collected by it in a sealed cover within three days.

INX Media case: Indrani Mukerjea says P Chidambaram’s arrest is good news

Jailed INX Media co-founder Indrani Mukerjea, who turned approver in a corruption case linked to P Chidambaram, on Thursday said it was “good news” that the former finance minister had been arrested, reported PTI.

Rajiv Gandhi assassination case: Madras HC rejects convict Nalini Sriharan’s plea for early release

The Madras High Court on Thursday rejected Rajiv Gandhi assassination convict Nalini Sriharan’s plea for early release, reported PTI. Sriharan, in her plea, had asked the court to direct the state to press the governor to decide on its recommendation for premature release of all the seven convicts. All the seven people, including Sriharan, are serving life term in the case.

Gujarat: Ports in Kutch on high alert as intelligence suggests entry of Pakistani commandos

The Gujarat Police on Thursday beefed up security across all ports in Kutch district after intelligence agencies shared inputs about the possibility of Pakistan-trained commandos entering India through the sea route. “We receive inputs about possible terrorist infiltrations from time to time and we have enhanced the security at all vital installations in Kutch district, including the Kandla port,” said Inspector General of Police (Border Range) DB Vaghela.

Assam: Days before final NRC, many get notices to defend their citizenship claims again

Several people in Assam have been served notices informing them that their names have been struck off from the National Register of Citizens after a fresh round of verification. The notice asked them to appear before officials to defend their citizenship claims even as the deadline to publish the final list is just two days away.

Read all the stories in The Final Count series here.

UP: Ten injured in mob attack on police, healthcare team after child abduction rumours in Fatehpur

Ten people, including two police personnel, were injured after a group of local residents in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur district pelted stones at them following child-lifting rumours on Wednesday, PTI reported, quoting police. The mob, which had around 150 locals, also attacked health department officials who had visited Khesan village.

‘Mayawati a naked live wire, anyone who touches her will die,’ says Uttar Pradesh minister

Uttar Pradesh minister Giriraj Singh Dharmesh on Thursday likened Bahujan Samaj Party President Mayawati to a “naked electric wire”. Dharmesh, who was recently inducted into the state government, made the comments while speaking to the media in Agra, IANS reported.

‘When was Kashmir yours?’ Rajnath Singh asks Pakistan

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said Pakistan has no locus standi on the Kashmir matter since it has occupied part of it illegally. Addressing an event in Leh, Singh asked how India could have talks with Pakistan if it kept trying to destabilise India using terrorism, PTI reported. India wants to have a good neighbourly relationship, but Pakistan should first stop exporting terror to India, Singh said.

Jammu and Kashmir: Five men from Rajouri, Poonch booked for sensitive Facebook posts

The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday booked five people belonging to Rajouri and Poonch districts for allegedly writing sensitive posts on Facebook, The Indian Express reported. The accused reportedly work abroad.

Madhya Pradesh: Video of students cleaning toilet goes viral, collector says ‘nothing wrong’ in it

The Khandwa district administration in Madhya Pradesh initiated an inquiry after a video showing two students cleaning a government school toilet went viral on social media, PTI reported on Wednesday. The students were reportedly promised extra marks for doing the job. However, it is unclear who asked them to do it.

No decision yet on closing airspace to India, says Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday said that his country has not taken any decision on closing its airspace to India, PTI reported. He added that any such measure would be taken only after “due consideration and looking into each and every aspect through consultation”.

Tamil Nadu: NIA raids five locations in Coimbatore in connection with alleged Islamic State module

The National Investigation Agency on Thursday conducted raids at five locations in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore district in connection with its inquiry into an alleged Islamic State module, IANS reported. The state was put on high alert last week following an intelligence input that six Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists had settled in Coimbatore.

IAS officer who resigned from service citing J&K restrictions asked to resume duty immediately

Indian Administrative Service officer Kannan Gopinathan, who resigned from service last week because of the restrictions imposed in Jammu and Kashmir, has been asked to resume duty till his resignation is accepted. Gopinathan held the post of secretary of power, urban development and agriculture departments in the Dadra and Nagar Haveli administration. He sent his resignation to the Union Home Secretary on August 21.

Kashmir dispute: BJP’s Manohar Lal Khattar and Vikram Saini also feature in Pakistan’s letter to UN

A letter written by Pakistan to several United Nations officials about the Kashmir matter criticised India and used statements not only by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, but also by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

Missing law student case: ‘Nobody knows what is happening with her,’ says Priyanka Gandhi

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday criticised the Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government after police charged Bharatiya Janata Party leader Chinmayanand for allegedly kidnapping a law student. A case was registered on Tuesday after a law student went missing soon after posting a video on social media, alleging harassment by influential people.

Mobile phone services restored in five districts of Jammu

Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday restored mobile phone services in five districts of Jammu after over three weeks of suspension. The services were resumed in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch districts.

UP: Mob kills man taking nephew to doctor on kidnapping rumours

A 40-year-old man, who was taking his nephew to a doctor, was lynched after residents mistook him for a kidnapper in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district. The deceased’s brother, who was accompanying the two, was also grievously injured in the attack, which occurred on Tuesday at Asalatpur Jarai village.

Biggest punishment is not being able to contact anyone, says Union minister Prakash Javadekar

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday said that being unable to talk to anyone or not having any modes of communication were the worst kinds of punishment for people. “This is the power and need of communication...when people store everything in their hearts and are unable to tell anyone about it, is the biggest punishment,” Javadekar said.

J&K: Pakistan minister says there will be a ‘full and final’ war with India in a few months

Pakistan’s Railway Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Wednesday predicted that a full-fledged war would be fought between India and Pakistan in October or November. Ahmed claimed that it was time for the “last battle for the liberation of Kashmir” and the war with India would be “full and final”. Ahmed also blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for causing trouble in Kashmir and said that it was because of “Hitler Modi that we smell war over Kashmir”.

Arundhati Roy apologises after 2011 video of her comparing Pakistan and Indian Army surfaces

Author Arundhati Roy apologised on Wednesday after a video of her from 2011, drawing parallels between the Pakistan and Indian armies, resurfaced on social media. Roy, in a statement, explained that what she had said back then did not represent her current opinions. In the video, the writer was speaking at a panel discussion about India deploying personnel in states like Kashmir, Telangana and the North East. She said that Pakistan had not stationed troops “against its own people the way India has”.

Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi’s mothers petition SC to end caste discrimination at universities

The mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi have moved the Supreme Court seeking to end caste discrimination in universities and other higher education institutions. Vemula, a PhD scholar at Hyderabad Central University, had committed suicide on January 17, 2016, after allegedly being discriminated against because of his caste. Tadvi, an Adivasi student at TN Topiwala National Medical College in Mumbai, committed suicide on May 22 after allegedly being at the receiving end of casteist abuse by three doctors. The three are out on bail at present.

‘I have never justified Modi, been a strong critic of government,’ Shashi Tharoor tells Congress

Congress parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday said he had never justified Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s actions and had been a strong critic of the Bharatiya Janata Party government. This came a day after the party’s Kerala unit asked Tharoor to clarify his remarks in support of party colleague Jairam Ramesh, who asked the Congress to stop demonising Modi.

J&K: Russia says it has same view as India, decisions were in accordance with Constitution

The Russian ambassador in India on Wednesday said that Moscow’s position on the Kashmir matter was identical to New Delhi’s view, PTI reported. The recent decisions on the state of Jammu and Kashmir are in accordance with the Indian Constitution, Nikolay Kudashev said.

Centre allows 100% FDI in coal mining and contract manufacturing, spells out norms for digital media

The Centre on Wednesday announced a big foreign direct investment push in single-brand retail, coal mining and manufacturing to boost the economy. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said 100% foreign direct investment under automatic route in coal mining and associated infrastructure, and contract manufacturing were approved at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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