‘India is a protectionist country, but we’re negotiating a limited trade deal’: US

United States Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross on Thursday said India is among the world’s most protectionist countries, but they are trying to negotiate a limited trade deal to resolve disputes between the two countries.

United Bank of India names Mehul Choksi, his company Gitanjali Gems as wilful defaulters

United Bank of India on Thursday declared fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi and his company Gitanjali Gems as wilful defaulters and sought repayment of Rs 332 crore in dues, PTI reported. The bank had sanctioned Rs 331.85 crore in credit limit to Choksi’s firm, and declared the account as a non-performing asset in March 2018.

Maharashtra: Sanjay Nirupam opts out of poll campaign, says the day to quit Congress not far away

Maharashtra Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam on Thursday said he will not participate in the state Assembly election campaign. Nirupam, in a tweet, said that he had suggested only one candidate’s name from Mumbai for the elections, but even that was rejected.

PMC Bank case: Two top HDIL officials arrested by Mumbai Police, say reports

The Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police on Thursday arrested two top officials of the real estate company Housing Development and Infrastructure Limited, or HDIL, in the PMC Bank case, The Economic Times reported. The authorities also seized property worth Rs 3,500 crore in connection with alleged financial irregularities at the company.

Bihar: Toll rises to 73, IMD predicts rain for two more days

Torrential rain in Bihar, which has triggered floods in 15 districts, has claimed 73 lives so far, PTI reported on Thursday. The state disaster management authorities said the toll included deaths in several rain-related incidents in the state.

Kashmir politicians will be released from detention ‘one by one’, says adviser to J&K governor

An adviser to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Thursday said that the political leaders detained in Kashmir after the state lost its special constitutional status will be released in a phased manner.

Manmohan Singh accepts Punjab CM’s invitation to join first group of Kartarpur pilgrims

The Punjab Chief Minister’s Office on Thursday said that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has accepted Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s invitation to join the first group of devotees who will travel to the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan on November 9. The Chief Minister’s Office also said that Manmohan Singh will attend the main event at Sultanpur Lodhi in Indian Punjab.

Maharashtra elections: Jailed gangster Chhota Rajan’s brother gets ticket from BJP’s ally

Deepak Nikalje, the brother of jailed gangster Chhota Rajan, will contest the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections on a Republican Party of India (Athawale) ticket, party chief Ramdas Athawale announced in Mumbai on Wednesday. The party, which is an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, has fielded Nikalje from Phaltan constituency.

Former Kolkata police chief Rajeev Kumar appears before Alipore court, gets bail

Former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar on Thursday appeared before the Alipore court in Kolkata, which granted him bail in the Saradha scam case on the basis of two bonds for Rs 50,000 each. The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday had provided anticipatory bail to Kumar on grounds that he would cooperate with the Central Bureau of Investigation in its inquiry.

INX Media case: P Chidambaram’s judicial custody extended till October 17

A special court in Delhi on Thursday extended Congress leader P Chidambaram’s judicial custody in the INX Media case till October 17, PTI reported. The Central Bureau of Investigation had sought extension of Chidambaram’s custody in the case.

Delhi on alert after intelligence input warns of terror strikes: Reports

Security was beefed up across Delhi on Thursday after intelligence inputs said Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists have entered the national Capital to carry out terror strikes during the upcoming festive season, PTI reported.

The deputy commissioners of police of all 15 police districts have been directed to increase security, particularly at railway and metro stations and malls. “We are on alert and taking all anti-terrorism measures,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Delhi) MS Randhawa told NDTV. “We are working on all inputs. There is nothing to worry.”

Karnataka: Collecting data on immigrants, will talk to Centre about NRC, says state home minister

Karnataka’s Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said that the process of collecting information on immigrants in the state had begun and the National Register of Citizens would be implemented after discussions with the Centre, Hindustan Times reported.

“We are one of the states where people across the border have come and settled down,” he said. “Some of them have even been involved in criminal activities, this has come to our notice. We will soon take a decision on this, we will take a decision this week.”

Modi-Xi summit: Madras HC allows Tamil Nadu government to erect banners from Chennai to Mamallapuram

The Madras High Court on Thursday gave Tamil Nadu government permission to set up flex boards from Chennai airport to Mamallapuram to welcome dignitaries for the upcoming informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, ANI reported. The two leaders are slated to meet on October 11 and 12 in the coastal town of Mamallapuram, about 60 km from Chennai.

SC/ST Act: Supreme Court reserves order on pleas against changes made to restore original provisions

The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its order on a plea challenging Parliament’s amendments to reverse last year’s verdict of the top court that diluted a law protecting marginalised castes and tribes, Bar and Bench reported.

A three-judge bench said it does not want to dilute the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act anymore. On Tuesday, another three-judge bench of the court had recalled the earlier judgement from March 2018.

Bhima Koregaon case: Fifth SC judge recuses himself from hearing activist Gautam Navlakha’s plea

Supreme Court judge Ravindra Bhat on Thursday recused himself from hearing activist Gautam Navlakha’s plea to quash a first information report filed against him in the Bhima Koregaon case, Live Law reported. He is the fifth top court judge to have opted out of the case. Navlakha has challenged a Bombay High Court order rejecting his petition.

Yes Bank Group President Rajat Monga resigns, lender’s stocks surge

Yes Bank’s Group President Rajat Monga has resigned, the private lender’s Chief Executive Officer Ravneet Gill said during a conference call on Thursday, Moneycontrol reported. Gill said Monga had decided to “move on” but did not divulge any details. It is not clear if Monga’s resignation is effective immediately.

After the news broke, Yes Bank’s stock surged 25% to Rs 39.90. This is biggest gain for the lender’s stock in almost eight months, according to Bloomberg Quint.

Impose Rs 50,000 fine for immersing idols in Ganga and its tributaries, Centre tells states: Reports

Ahead of the festive season, the Central government has decided to impose Rs 50,000 penalty for immersing idols in the Ganga or its tributaries, The Indian Express reported on Thursday. The National Mission for Clean Ganga has issued a 15-point directive to chief secretaries in 11 Ganga-basin states, telling them to cordon off the ghats. The officials have reportedly been told to implement the rules and make alternative arrangements in an “environment-friendly manner”.

INX Media case: P Chidambaram moves Supreme Court for bail

Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday moved the Supreme Court to seek bail in the INX Media case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The Delhi High Court had dismissed the plea on Monday.

S Jaishankar says he expects Pakistan to ‘paint apocalyptic scenarios’ about J&K

Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar on Wednesday said he expects Pakistan to “paint apocalyptic scenarios” about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir as that is what it wants. Speaking at an event in the United States, Jaishankar said the revocation of the state’s special constitutional status was long-awaited and the right thing to do.

‘Pakistan is squatting in PoK,’ says lawyer Harish Salve, backs scrapping of J&K special status

Senior lawyer Harish Salve, who represented India in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case in the International Court of Justice, on Wednesday said Article 370 was a mistake and backed the Centre’s decision to scrap Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. Salve said Pakistan’s reaction to the move was a sign of “complete bankruptcy”.

Haryana: Congress announces first list of candidates amid infighting, name of state chief missing

The Congress on Wednesday night released its first list of 84 candidates for the Haryana Legislative Assembly elections. It has repeated 16 sitting MLAs, and dropped one – Renuka Vishnoi who represented the Hansi constituency. Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda will contest from his Garhi Sampla-Kiloi seat, while Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala will contest from his Kaithal Assembly constituency.

S Jaishankar and US State Secretary Mike Pompeo discuss bilateral relations and Kashmir

Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar and United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed growing strategic bilateral ties, developments in Kashmir and global matters of concern in a meeting, PTI reported on Thursday. The two leaders met at the US Department of State on Monday. A readout of the meeting was issued only two days later.

Congress’s Rae Bareli MLA skips Priyanka Gandhi march, defies boycott of special UP Assembly session

The Congress legislator from Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli district on Wednesday defied a joint Opposition decision to boycott a special Assembly session on Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary, and skipped party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi’s protest march in Lucknow. According to unidentified party officials, Aditi Singh may soon cross over to the saffron party. However, she has denied it on record, NDTV reported.

Doordarshan Chennai official suspended allegedly after PM Modi’s speech is not aired live: Reports

A senior official at the Doordarshan Kendra in Tamil Nadu’s capital Chennai has been suspended allegedly after the public broadcaster’s Tamil channel did not broadcast live one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speeches during his visit to the city earlier this week.

Bihar rains: Union minister Giriraj Singh says BJP-led NDA owes an apology to the people of Patna

Union Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Giriraj Singh on Wednesday said the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance owes an apology to the people of Patna, who have been suffering due to heavy rain and floods over the past few days, PTI reported.

PM Modi declares rural India ‘open defecation-free’ on Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday declared rural India “open-defecation free”. “I am satisfied that on the occasion of Gandhi At 150, we’re witnessing the fulfillment of his dream of ‘Swachh Bharat’,” Modi wrote in the visitor’s book in Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. “I feel lucky that on this occasion when India has successfully stopped open defecation, I’m here at the ashram.”

At least 42 dead in rain-related incidents in Bihar, orange alert issued in three districts

At least 42 people died due to rain-related incidents in Bihar between September 27 and September 30. The weather department issued an orange alert for Patna, Khagaria and Begusarai districts for October 3 and October 4. Work to restore the districts back to normalcy was carried out at a faster place more efficiently as the rain subsided on Wednesday.

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