Maharashtra: Shiv Sena cancels meeting with BJP after Devendra Fadnavis refutes power-sharing deal

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday cancelled a meeting with the Bharatiya Janata Party for government formation in Maharashtra, hours after incumbent Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the BJP had not promised any equal power-sharing agreement to the alliance partner, PTI reported.

Delhi: Air quality ‘severe’ in several areas, haze reported in many parts

The air quality in the National Capital Region continued to be bad on Tuesday as people complained of smog and haze in several places. The overall air quality index in Delhi as of 4 pm was 392, or in the “very poor” category, according to the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research, or SAFAR. The index measures air quality in real time.

Kashmir: CRPF patrol party attacked by militants in Pulwama district, no casualties reported

Suspected militants attacked an Army patrol party in Drubgam in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, PTI reported, quoting a police officer. However, there were no reports of any casualties. A Central Reserve Police Force spokesperson said the militants fired six to eight rounds at the security personnel. The security forces immediately retaliated.

‘Won’t join a PR stunt’: UK politician says India revoked J&K invitation as he wanted to move freely

An MP of the United Kingdom’s Liberal Democrats party on Tuesday claimed his invitation to visit Jammu and Kashmir was withdrawn by the Indian government after he insisted on being allowed to speak freely with locals without being accompanied by security forces, Hindustan Times reported. Chris Davies, who is a member of the European Parliament, said the invitation sent on October 7 was withdrawn three days later without any reason.

Shashi Tharoor asks government to explain alleged cyber attack at Kudankulam nuclear plant

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday demanded an explanation from the government after a Twitter user claimed that the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu may have been struck by a cyber attack. Calling the claim very serious, Tharoor said: “If a hostile power is able to conduct a cyber attack on our nuclear facilities, the implications for India’s national security are unimaginable.”

Delhi: Women can travel for free in buses now, scheme likely to be extended to senior citizens

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced that women can now travel for free in Delhi Transport Corporation and cluster buses, PTI reported. Assembly elections are due in Delhi early next year.

PM Modi praises Indian diaspora for strengthening ties with Saudi Arabia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said “hard work and commitment” of the Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia had helped strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. Modi is on a two-day visit to the West Asian country.

Maharashtra: Devendra Fadnavis says no 50:50 formula promised to Shiv Sena, asserts he will be CM

Incumbent Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that alliance partner Shiv Sena was not promised an equal power-sharing agreement when the tie-up was formalised with the Bharatiya Janata Party before the Lok Sabha elections. His comments came amid an ongoing tussle for power sharing in the Maharashtra government formation.

West Bengal: Arambagh Hatcheries closes down farm in Birbhum citing decline in rural consumption

Arambagh Hatcheries Limited, which is among the biggest producers of live chicken birds in India, has closed down one of its biggest farms in West Bengal because of decline in rural consumption. The hatchery is located in Birbhum district’s Rajnagar town.

Complaint filed against BJP leader Kapil Mishra for allegedly comparing Muslim children to pollution

A complaint was filed against Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kapil Mishra on Monday for his tweet allegedly targeting the Muslim community. “If you want pollution to come down, then you should reduce these firecrackers and not the ones burst on Diwali,” Mishra said in a tweet, along with a photo of a man with a skull cap, women in burqa and several children standing next to them.

‘EU MPs who suffer from Islamophobia visiting Kashmir’: Opposition attacks delegation of leaders

Members of Opposition parties in India criticised the group of European Union legislators visiting Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, for their affiliations to right-wing parties. The delegation is mostly comprised of leaders from right-wing parties known for making Islamophobic or anti-immigrant comments in the past.

Maharashtra: Another Independent MLA backs Shiv Sena as power struggle in ruling alliance continues

An Independent legislator in Maharashtra backed by the Nationalist Congress Party on Monday pledged support to the Shiv Sena, which is involved in a power tussle with senior alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party. The Sena wants the saffron party to share the chief minister’s post over the next government’s five-year tenure, as well as share Cabinet portfolios. However, the BJP is not keen to accept the “50:50 formula”.

‘Are you Pakistani terrorists?’ Kannada actors harass moviegoers for sitting during national anthem

A video showing Kannada actors Arun Gowda, BV Aishwarya and few others castigating a family for not standing up for the national anthem in a cinema hall in Bengaluru has been shared widely on social media. The incident occurred on October 23 at PVR Orion Mall in the city during the screening of the Tamil movie Asuran.

Jammu and Kashmir: EU team of mostly nationalist parliamentarians reach Srinagar

A delegation of European Union leaders on Tuesday reached Jammu and Kashmir for an unofficial visit to the region. The parliamentarians on Monday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said the trip should help the leaders understand the cultural and religious diversityof the region, and give them a clear perspective on the “development and governance priorities”.

SA Bobde appointed next chief justice of India by President Kovind

President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday appointed Justice SA Bobde the 47th chief justice of India. He will assume charge on November 18, a day after incumbent Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi retires.

World aviation body rejects India’s complaint against Pakistan for closing airspace to Modi’s plane

The International Civil Aviation Organisation has told India that planes carrying national leaders are considered to be “state aircraft” and are not subject to its provisions. The world body pointed this out in its response to New Delhi’s complaint against Pakistan for refusing to allow Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aircraft use its airspace on its way to Saudi Arabia.

J&K: Suspected militants gun down truck driver transporting apples, fourth such killing in two weeks

Suspected militants on Monday killed a truck driver transporting apples in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district. This is the fourth person involved in the apple business to be killed in the state in the past two weeks. The driver was identified as Narayan Dutt, the resident of Udhampur district’s Katra area.

Tamil Nadu: Two-year-old boy stuck in borewell since Friday evening found dead

Rescue officials in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday said a two-year-old boy trapped in an abandoned borewell in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchirappalli district since Friday evening was dead. He had stopped communicating with rescuers early on Saturday morning. Sujith Wilson’s body was sent for autopsy after a National Disaster Response Force team pulled him out of the borewell in Nadukkatupatti village.

Andhra sand crisis: ‘Mind-boggling to see workers committing suicide,’ says Chandrababu Naidu

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday tweeted a video of a labourer from the state’s Guntur district, alleging that workers were committing suicide due to lack of work. Three labourers from Tenali, Guntur, and Mangalagiri regions of the district reportedly killed themselves in separate incidents this month, owing to a decline in jobs in the construction sector.

Maharashtra: Two Independent MLAs declare support to BJP amid its power-sharing fight with Shiv Sena

Two newly elected Independent MLAs in Maharashtra have declared their support to the Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP and its ally Shiv Sena are locked in a power tussle in the state. The legislators were identified as Chandrapur MLA Kishor Jorgewar, and Badnera legislator Ravi Rana.

‘JJP did not seek votes for either Congress or BJP’: Dushyant Chautala responds to Hooda’s criticism

Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala on Monday responded to criticism of his Jannayak Janta Party, pointing out that the party did not support either the Bharatiya Janata Party or the Congress during the election campaign. He was responding to Congress leader and former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s description of the BJP-JJP ruling alliance as opportunistic and against the mandate.