Demonetisation triggered current economic slowdown, India’s former chief statistician tells HuffPost

Former Chief Statistician of India Dr Pronab Sen on Monday said demonetisation of high-value currency in 2016 was the initial trigger for the country’s economic slowdown, HuffPost reported. Sen, who is the director of the International Growth Centre’s India programme at present, told the website that the global economic slowdown was only a “contributory factor” to India’s problems.

‘Chinmayanand raped, physically exploited me for one year’, alleges Uttar Pradesh law student

A 23-year-old law student, who has levelled harassment allegations against former Bharatiya Janata Party MP Chinmayanand, on Monday alleged that she was raped and physically exploited for a year by the former Union minister.

Manipur will approach Centre for implementation of NRC, says Chief Minister Biren Singh

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday said the state government supported the implementation of National Register of Citizens, and will approach the Centre for the same. His statement came a fortnight after more than 19 lakh people were excluded from the final list of the updated citizens’ database in Assam.

Jharkhand: Two teachers allegedly rape nine-year-old in school’s sickroom

Two school teachers, including the vice-principal, allegedly raped a nine-year-old student in the sickroom of the institute in Jharkhand’s Dhanbad district, police officials said on Monday. No one has been arrested yet. The girl’s statement was recorded in a local court and a first information report was lodged on the basis of her complaint, said Dhanbad Senior Superintendent of Police Kishor Kaushal.

MJ Akbar defamation case: Priya Ramani says she spoke up against him ‘at a great personal cost’

Journalist Priya Ramani, who accused former minister and editor MJ Akbar of sexual harassment, on Monday told a court in New Delhi that she had spoken up more than two decades after the event so that women in similar situations might find the courage to fight back. She deposed before the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal in a criminal defamation case brought against her by Akbar.

UN human rights chief expresses concern about Kashmir situation, asks Centre to ease lockdown

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Monday expressed concern about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, and said the National Register of Citizens verification process in Assam has caused great uncertainty and anxiety to the people of the state. Bachelet asked India and Pakistan to ensure that the human rights of the people of Kashmir were respected and protected.

Not only Assam, we want entire country to be cleansed of illegal migrants, says Amit Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that the Centre planned to expel all illegal immigrants from the country and not just Assam, PTI reported. The Union minister’s comments came days after 19 lakh people were excluded from the final National Register of Citizens in Assam.

INX Media case: Chidambaram defends other officials involved, says he doesn’t want them arrested

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Monday said that he did not want any officials, associated with the INX Media case, to be arrested as they had done nothing wrong. The Congress leader, who is in lodged in Tihar jail at the moment, said that he had asked his family to tweet on his behalf.

“People have asked me ‘If the dozen officers who processed and recommended the case to you have not been arrested, why have you been arrested?” the tweet read. “Only because you have put the last signature?’ I have no answer.”

Passenger vehicle sales show worst monthly decline since at least 1997, fell over 31% in August

Automobile sales declined for the tenth consecutive month in August as passenger vehicle sales fell 31.6% since the same month last year, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers said. This was the steepest decline in a month ever since the group began compiling the data in 1997-’98.

‘Time has come for the world to say good-bye to single use plastic,’ says Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that it was now time for the rest of the world to follow India and “say good-bye” to single-use plastic. He made the remark at the Conference of Parties (COP14) to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh.

Ashok Leyland shuts seven facilities for up to 18 days this month due to poor demand

Commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland on Monday said seven of its facilities will have up to 18 non-working days this month because of continued weak demand for its products.

Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh to have a common High Court, says judicial academy director

Jammu and Kashmir State Judicial Academy Director Rajeev Gupta said on Monday that the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will have a common High Court. Gupta added that 108 central laws and 166 state laws will be applicable to the Union territories. As many as 164 laws will be repealed.

J&K: Detained CPI(M) leader moved to Delhi for treatment after Supreme Court order

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, who was under detention in Srinagar since Jammu and Kashmir lost its special status, was shifted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi on Monday morning. This followed a Supreme Court order on September 5 to move the ailing politician to AIIMS in consultation with doctors at Srinagar and Delhi.

NRC: People’s tribunal points out flaws in Supreme Court’s role, says process dehumanised migrants

A “people’s tribunal” has pointed out flaws in the Supreme Court’s role in the compilation of Assam’s National Register of Citizens. The tribunal, which held its discussions over the weekend in Delhi, observed that the top court’s role had raised important constitutional concerns.

Bihar: Three policemen injured in mob attack after two boys are found dead in a ditch

A mob in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district held policemen hostage and then beat them up two missing boys were found dead in a ditch, PTI reported. Three policemen were injured in the attack and had to be hospitalised, unidentified officials said.

Odisha: Truck driver in Sambalpur fined Rs 86,500 for violating traffic rules

A truck driver from Odisha’s Sambalpur district was last week fined Rs 86,500 for violating traffic rules under the amended Motor Vehicles Act. Though the incident took place on September 3, a photo of the challan issued to him went viral on Saturday.

Chandrayaan-2: After Pakistan’s jibe, DRDO chief says those who haven’t done it can’t understand it

Defence Research and Development Organisation Chairman G Satheesh Reddy on Sunday criticised Pakistani politicians for ridiculing India’s moon mission, and said they probably cannot understand the complexity of the effort. “Chandrayaan is a very complex mission,” Reddy said. “This type of complex mission can be appreciated by those people who have also taken up such missions. The people who haven’t done anything of this class, I don’t think they can appreciate and probably they cannot understand the complexity of this mission.”

Economic slowdown is cyclical, fundamentals remain strong, says Prakash Javadekar

Union minister Prakash Javadekar on Sunday claimed that the economic slowdown is cyclical. He was addressing the media on the completion of 100 days of the Narendra Modi-led central government’s second term. “Indian economy is on a strong footing as the fundamentals are strong,” Javadekar said. “Slowdown is a cyclical process. There are always some patches. Globally also there is a slowdown, which has an impact on sentiments in the domestic market.”

J&K: Most who are detained are being released, just a few hundred are with police, says DGP

Most people who are being detained in Jammu and Kashmir are being released under community bonds, and the number of people who have stayed in detention is not too high, the state police chief has said. In an interview to The Indian Express, Dilbagh Singh said the police has “just a few hundred” persons detained with them five weeks after the state lost its constitutional autonomy.

Telangana: K Chandrashekar Rao expands Cabinet, his son and nephew are back as ministers

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Sunday inducted six members into his Cabinet, taking the number of ministers to 18. The expanded Cabinet has two women members. The chief minister’s son KT Rama Rao was given the Information Technology, Industries and Municipal Administration departments, while nephew T Harish Rao got the Finance portfolio.

Pakistan and China call for dialogue to resolve Kashmir dispute

Pakistan and China on Sunday said the Kashmir dispute needed to be resolved through talks even as Beijing reiterated its support to safeguarding Islamabad’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and national dignity. The statement came two days after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said the Indian government’s decision to remove Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status had challenged Islamabad’s “security and integrity”.

Chandrayaan-2: PM’s speech and nation’s support have boosted our morale, says ISRO chief K Sivan

Indian Space Research Organisation Director K Sivan on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation and the positive response from across the country had boosted the morale of scientists who were upset after the lander of Chandrayaan-2, India’s second mission to moon, failed to touch down on the lunar surface.

‘Cow is a symbol of faith, can’t see it suffering on the streets,’ says Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Sunday said the cow was a symbol of faith and not politics, and its protection and conservation were top priorities for his government. “Gaumata [cow] is a symbol of faith and pride for us,” the Congress leader tweeted. The chief minister announced that his government had decided to open 1,000 cow shelters in the state. “We can’t see it suffering on the streets,” he added.

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