Kannada news channels fall for columnist’s joke, report Tamil Nadu has received Mysore Pak GI tag

Kannada news channels on Monday reported that the government had given Tamil Nadu the geographical indication tag, or GI tag, for Mysore Pak, a sweet popular in South India, falling for a joke tweeted by columnist Anand Ranganathan. The GI tag is given to certain products to specify their area of origin.

Hindi row: Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa says no compromise on Kannada’s importance

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday said that all the official languages in the country had equal status and asserted that Kannada was the “principal language” in his state. Several politicians, especially from the south, have opposed to Home Minister Amit Shah’s comment on Saturday that Hindi was the only language that could unite the country.

Muslims who hesitate to vote for BJP are traitors and support Pakistan, says Karnataka minister

Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister KS Eshwarappa has said Muslims who hesitate to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party are traitors and support Pakistan. “A rashtra bhakta [patriotic] Muslim will vote for the BJP, and those who are pro Pakistan and rashtra drohis [traitors] will hesitate to vote for the BJP,” Eshwarappa said at a public meeting in Bengaluru on Sunday.

Maharashtra Assembly elections: Congress, NCP to contest 125 seats each, leave 38 for other allies

Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar on Monday announced that the party will contest the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections in alliance with the Congress. Pawar said that the seat-sharing agreement between the two parties had also been finalised and they will contest 125 seats each.

Saudi Aramco has assured Indian refiners there will be no supply shortage, says oil ministry

Oil company Saudi Aramco has told Indian refiners there will be no shortage in supplies after drone attacks at two major plants in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, the Indian oil ministry said. The drone strikes by Yemeni Houthi rebels crippled half of the supplies of the world’s largest oil exporter and disrupted almost 5% of global supplies.

Saradha scam: Rajeev Kumar fails to show up for questioning, CBI seeks details of his whereabouts

Former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar on Monday failed to show up after he was summoned to the Central Bureau of Investigation office for questioning in connection with the Saradha scam. The investigating agency had asked the police official to come to its office in Kolkata’s Salt Lake area by 2 pm on Monday.

Maharashtra: Pune-based surgeon, cab driver run over by bus while fixing flat tyre on roadside

An orthopaedic surgeon and a driver were killed when a speeding bus hit them on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway in Maharashtra on Sunday night, the police said. Two other doctors were also injured in the accident.

Congress calls Farooq Abdullah’s detention under Public Safety Act a misfortune for India

The Congress on Monday criticised the detention of National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah under the Public Safety Act. The party said it is the country’s misfortune that people who fought for its unity and integrity are behind bars.

Hindi row: ‘No shah, sultan, samrat can renege on promise of unity in diversity’, says Kamal Haasan

Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan on Monday said in a video that “no shah, sultan or samrat” can renege on the promise of unity in diversity made when India became a republic. The word “shah” was an apparent pun on Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s surname, two days after he said Hindi is the only language that can unite the country.

BHU sends professor accused of sexual harassment on long leave after students protest

The Banaras Hindu University on Sunday sent a professor accused of sexual harassment on a long leave and said the complaints against him will be referred back to the institute’s executive council. This came after a large group of students began protests on the campus on Saturday night following his reinstatement.

Congress calls Farooq Abdullah’s detention under Public Safety Act a misfortune for India

The Congress has criticised the detention of National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah under the Public Safety Act. The party said it was the country’s misfortune that people who fought for its unity and integrity were behind bars. Abdullah was booked on Sunday night under the “public order” section of the Public Safety Act, which allows one to be detained for six months without trial. Another section, which is invoked in case of threat to security, allows for detention for up to two years.

Bihar: Former inmate of Muzaffarpur shelter home allegedly raped by four men in Bettiah

The police in Bihar’s Bettiah town have booked four men for allegedly raping a former inmate of a Muzaffarpur shelter home that made news last year after it emerged more than 30 girls were allegedly sexually assaulted there. The alleged incident occurred on Friday evening.

Wholesale price inflation remained unchanged at 1.08% in August: Government data

India’s wholesale price inflation remained unchanged at 1.08% in August, data released by the government showed on Monday. The inflation rate was the same in July 2019, a two-year low, and 4.62% in August last year. The wholesale prices of primary articles rose by 6.43% since the same month last year, the data showed.

Ayodhya case: Supreme Court asks registry if hearing can be live-streamed

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the registry if it was possible to live-stream the proceedings of the Ayodhya case. Counsel Vikas Singh, representing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ideologue KN Govindacharya, told the bench that a lot of people are unable to follow the proceedings as they are not telecast live. Singh claimed that Govindacharya had filed the plea “in the interest of the principles of an open court”.

Former Andhra Pradesh Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao dies after alleged suicide attempt, say reports

Former Andhra Pradesh speaker and Telugu Desam Party leader Kodela Sivaprasada Rao died at a private hospital in Hyderabad on Monday afternoon. Rao reportedly attempted suicide on Sunday night. The police refused to confirm whether Rao had killed himself. “We are investigating what happened,” said Banjara Hills Assistant Commissioner of Police K Srinivasa Rao. “Further details will be revealed soon.”

CPI(M) leader Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami is free to return to Kashmir, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed Communist Part of India (Marxist) leader Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami to return to Jammu and Kashmir, PTI reported. Tarigami was shifted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi on September 9 for treatment following the top court’s order. A three-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SA Bobde and S Abdul Nazeer said the former MLA does not need anybody’s permission to go home if his doctors allow him.

CJI Gogoi says he will visit J&K if needed after petitioner claims it’s difficult to approach HC

The Supreme Court on Monday sought a response from Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal on an allegation that petitioners were finding it difficult to approach the court. The top court was hearing a plea by two child rights activists, who had sought clarity on reports that children were being illegally detained by security forces in the state.

Supreme Court directs Centre to ensure normalcy is restored in Jammu and Kashmir

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government to ensure that normalcy is restored in the state without compromising national interest. The top court was hearing petitions filed by Anuradha Bhasin, the executive editor of Kashmir Times, and political commentator Tehseen Poonawalla. Bhasin had challenged the restrictions on media in the state, while Poonawalla had challenged the security clampdown.

Supreme Court allows Ghulam Nabi Azad to visit parts of Jammu and Kashmir

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad to visit Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag and Jammu. However, the top court restrained him from carrying out any political activities.

Rajasthan: Floods cause havoc in many districts, over 300 children, 25 teachers trapped in a school

Water released from dams caused large-scale flooding in several districts of Rajasthan on Sunday. The floods led to the evacuation of thousands of people, including children and schoolteachers.

Uttar Pradesh may implement NRC in phases, says Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath said on Sunday that his government was not averse to implementing the National Register of Citizens in the state, in a phased manner. He also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the decision to implement the NRC in Assam.

J&K: Public Safety Act invoked against Farooq Abdullah, say reports

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has invoked the Public Safety Act to keep former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah under detention. The law allows for detention for up to two years without a trial.

BJP’s ideology is to keep India in economic slowdown, claims Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia

Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia on Sunday attacked the Narendra Modi government over the state of the economy, and said that the Bharatiya Janata Party was unable to fix the situation. “The BJP’s ideology is to keep the country in a state of economic slowdown, and at the same time keep working on its agenda,” Scindia said.

Madhya Pradesh: Two arrested after 10-year-old boy found chained to a bench in Bhopal madrasa

The Madhya Pradesh Police on Sunday arrested two managers of a private madrasa in Bhopal after they found a student chained to a metallic bench in the institution. The police rescued two boys – a 10-year-old and 7-year-old.

Donald Trump will attend Narendra Modi’s Houston rally, says White House

The White House on Sunday said that United States President Donald Trump will attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming rally in Houston on September 22. Modi said that he was delighted, and added that Trump’s gesture highlighted the strength of the relationship and recognition of the contribution of the Indian community to American society and economy.

Scrapping of J&K special status: SC to hear multiple petitions challenging Centre’s decisions today

The Supreme Court will on Monday hear a batch of petitions challenging the Centre’s decision to scrap Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. A three-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice of India Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SA Bobde and S Abdul Nazeer will hear the petitions.

Modi asked me to make J&K shine so much that people from PoK will want to cross over, says governor

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik said on Saturday that the message Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave him when he was appointed was to make the state “shine so much” that the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir would want to cross over to this side.

Haryana will implement National Register of Citizens, says Chief Minister ML Khattar

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Sunday that the state government will implement the National Register of Citizens. Khattar met former state human rights commission chief and judge HS Bhalla, as well as Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba, as part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s “Jan Sampark” programme.