Amit Shah Addresses Rally in Rajouri Ahead of 2nd Phase of J&K Elections

Ahead of the UN Summit of the Future, India on Saturday told a key global meeting of culture ministers in Italy that it is "incumbent upon us to advocate vociferously" for the inclusion of culture as an autonomous goal within the Pact for the Future.

The summit in New York, to be held on September 22 and 23, will produce an inter-governmentally negotiated, action-oriented Pact for the Future with chapters on issues ranging from sustainable development and financing for development to international peace and security.

Odisha's former chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Saturday said his party will undertake a detailed study on the ‘One nation, one election’ proposal before taking a stand on the subject.

During an interaction at the 12th edition of the Odisha Literary Festival organised by the New Indian Express, he said the party will examine the proposal and its execution.

“Let the details come forth, we will study and take a stand,” he said.

Replying to a question on the new BJP government in the state, Patnaik said, “All can see how the law and order situation in Odisha has declined with the incident of the governor’s son at Puri. Recently, an army major and his fiancée were harassed violently at a major police station in the capital city. This is not a good record." He referred to the "assault" of an Odia officer allegedly by Governor Raghubar Das’ son.

The French presidential palace unveiled a new centre-right government on Saturday, more than two months after elections that produced a hung parliament and deepened political divisions as France grapples with economic and diplomatic challenges.

Conservative French Prime Minister Michel Barnier put together the government after weeks of difficult negotiations, and President Emmanuel Macron approved it. The new government was announced at the presidential palace.

A left-wing coalition secured the most seats in June-July elections but failed to win an outright majority. The 38-member Cabinet announced on Saturday includes primarily ministers from Macron's centrist alliance and the conservative Republicans party.

A welfare board will be set up for the Jain community in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday evening announced.

Yadav was speaking at a traditional Jain `Kshamavani' program organised at his residence here.

A Jain Kalyan Board would be formed in the state, and Jain monks would be provided free stay facility during their journeys, he said. Sagar Medical College will be named `Acharya Vidyasagar Medical College', Yadav said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived in the US on a three-day visit to “further strengthen India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership,” attend the Quad summit and address a key conclave at the United Nations.

Ahead of the Quad Leaders' Summit on the first day of the trip, Modi was set to meet US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in one-on-one interactions.

“I am sure the discussions throughout the day will contribute to making our planet better and addressing key global challenges,” Modi posted on X after reaching Wilmington, Delaware, the venue of the Summit.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday lambasted the BJP for pursuing “anti-youth and anti-poor” policies and sought the support of people to establish a “stable and pro-people” government in Jammu and Kashmir.

Telephonically addressing an election rally at the border town of Chhamb here in favour of party candidate Tara Chand, Kharge said his party is fully committed to restoring statehood of the Union Territory and accelerating developmental activities that have been stalled under the current regime.

“The people of Jammu and Kashmir have been unjustly deprived of their statehood and the Congress party will leave no stone unturned in restoring it. We believe that statehood is the constitutional and democratic right of the people and our top priority will be to ensure that Jammu and Kashmir once again enjoys full statehood with dignity and self-governance," he said.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday said his government will not compromise on law and order and warned that "strict action will be taken against police personnel for negligence." During a review meeting of the home department, the Chief Minister emphasised that the rule of law is "top priority" for the NDA government.

The meeting assumes significance in the backdrop of opposition targeting the government over alleged deterioration of law and order in the state.

According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Kumar said, "The government will not compromise on law and order and strict action will be taken against negligent police personnel." He directed police officials to enhance night patrolling and urged senior officials to conduct regular inspections in their areas.

 Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Saturday emphasised on the need to create awareness about rare diseases among the society, on being empathetic and supportive to such parents and their families regardless of cultural, religious or traditional barriers.

He said we can no longer afford to be unaware of genetic diseases.

Citing the National Policy of Rare Diseases launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in March 2021, he said that further research is necessary to define the definition of rare diseases and stressed on the need to ensure equitable access to advanced medical therapy like gene therapy in a diverse nation like India.

An Army jawan was killed and six others injured when their vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, officials said on Saturday.

The accident took place near Sukrala Devi temple on Machedi-Billawar road on Friday when the troops were on patrol in the remote area, they said.

Rescuers, including locals, rushed to the scene and took the seven injured soldiers to a hospital where one of them Sepoy Ramkishor was declared brought dead, the officials said.

The Rising Star Corps of the Army held a wreath-laying ceremony and paid tributes to the deceased soldier.

Veteran CPI(M) leader M M Lawrence, who was among the leaders involved in the attack on a police station at Edappally here during the Communist uprising in Kerala in 1950, died on Saturday, party sources said.

He was 95.

His death occurred at a private hospital where he had been receiving treatment for age-related ailments for about a month.

A former Lok Sabha member representing the Idukki seat, Lawrence served in various capacities, including as a member of the CPI(M) Central Committee, a member of the state secretariat, state general secretary of CITU, and convener of the Left Democratic Front (LDF).

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inspected the rising water levels of the Ganga at key locations in Patna and Hajipur on Saturday and urged district officials to "remain alert and be prepared to tackle any situation" in light of the developments.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar conducted inspections of the Ganga's rising water levels at key locations in Patna and Hajipur on Saturday, and urged district officials to "stay alert and be prepared to address any situation" as flooding intensifies.

Officials reported that the river levels have surpassed the danger mark at Digha Ghat, Gandhi Ghat, Hathidah, and Maner in Patna district, leading to flooding in several low-lying areas of Patna and Hajipur in Vaishali district.

The new Delhi Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Atishi, who took the oath of office on Saturday, has a long list of pending projects, schemes and new initiatives to be launched in the next few months, ahead of the Assembly polls due early next year.

Atishi will have to hit the ground running to accelerate the city government's functioning and ensure that the flagship projects and schemes are back on track after those slowed down for months due to the imprisonment of her predecessor, Arvind Kejriwal.

Due to the five-month-long judicial custody of Kejriwal in the excise policy case, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has been struggling to address issues related to basic services and infrastructure, including roads, water supply and sewer and medicines, owing to a fund crunch, as claimed by party leaders.

Senior AAP leader Atishi was administered oath as the eighth Chief Minister of Delhi by Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Saturday.

Saxena administered the oath of office and secrecy to Atishi. She was chosen as the leader of the Legislature Party earlier this week, after her predecessor Arvind Kejriwal decided to resign.

Senior AAP leaders Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia were also present at the swearing-in event.

Atishi is Delhi's third woman chief minister after Congress' Sheila Dikshit and BJP's Sushma Swaraj.

She also becomes the 17th woman to hold the post of chief minister in independent India.

Atishi, however, will have a brief tenure in office as assembly elections in the national capital are due in February.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday slammed Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, dubbing him the "most corrupt CM” who played with India's healthy democratic practices.

Singh asserted that it was time to dethrone Soren and vote the BJP to power in the eastern state. Assembly elections are due in Jharkhand later in the year.

“Hemant Soren is the most corrupt CM. He has played with India's healthy democratic practices and indulged in corruption. India will never accept any tainted person,” he said, flagging off BJP's 'Parivartan Yatra' in Itkhori.

No BJP chief minister in the state – Babulal Marandi, Arjun Munda and Raghubar Das – ever faced any corruption charges, he claimed.

Top commanders of the Indian Navy have decided to significantly bolster the force's combat prowess in the Indian Ocean against the backdrop of China's increasing forays into the region and geopolitical power play being witnessed in the Indo-Pacific. The decision to enhance India's combat capabilities in the maritime sphere following extensive deliberations at a four-day naval commanders' conference that concluded here on Friday, officials said.

The BJP on Saturday cited a joint statement of several Sikh groups to ask Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to withdraw his statement, which has allegedly created an atmosphere of fear in the country.

BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa told reporters that several Sikh and gurdwara management bodies met Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai over the issue and he asserted the sacrifices of the Sikhs have made the country strong.

The BJP has hit out at Gandhi for his comments during the trip to the US that the ongoing ideological fight in India include ensuring freedom for different religions such as whether the Sikhs will be allowed to wear turban or go to gurdwaras.

Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade emphasised the need for effective implementation of the central and state government schemes in tribal areas and asked officials to prioritize tribal welfare.

While addressing a review meeting of district level officials in Udaipur on Saturday, he said integrated development cannot take place until the income of tribal community and the poor does not increase.

"Therefore, it should be ensured that every poor child gets education," he said.

"People of Jharkhand never hesitate in doing hard work. I am the Defence Minister, and I see our brothers and sisters of Jharkhand, our Adivasi brothers and sisters in the security forces... they are serving the nation with utmost courage. There is a great scope of development in Jharkhand. Babulal Marandi, Arjun Munda, Raghubar Das were CMs of the state, but they didn't get ample time for Jharkhand's development. Be it Babulal Marandi, Arjun Munda or Raghubar Das - no one can point fingers towards them regarding any corruption. None of our CMs went to jail over corruption charges," says Defence Minister and BJP leader Rajnath Singh addressing a public gathering in Chatra, Jharkhand.

Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi releases a list of 11 candidates for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, set to be held later this year.

Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh, is presently serving as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, as the next Chief of the Air Staff, in the rank of Air Chief Marshal, with effect from the afternoon of September 30, 2024. The present Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, demits office on September 30, 2024.

Addressing a public meeting in Mendhar, Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "Since 1947, in every war fought against Pakistan, the soldiers from this land, Jammu and Kashmir, have defended India. When terrorism entered in the 1990s, courtesy Farooq Abdullah, it was my Pahadi, Gurjar, and Bakarwal brothers who bravely faced bullets on the borders..."

Addressing a public meeting in Mendhar, Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "This election is going to end the rule of three families in Jammu and Kashmir. Abdullah family, Mufti family and Nehru-Gandhi family...These three families had stopped democracy here. If Modi ji's government had not come in 2014, then panchayat, block and district elections would not have taken place."

BMC says, “BMC had issued a notice to the concerned to remove the construction of the encroached mosque on the 90 feet road in Dharavi. Also action was taken according to this notice. However, BMC administration should give a deadline of 4-5 days to remove the encroached construction from the said place…”

Addressing a public meeting in Mendhar, Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, “Abdullah, Mufti and Nehru-Gandhi family have spread terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir from the 90s till now…”

While addressing a rally in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri ahead of the second phase of voting, Home Minister Amit Shah said, “Pakistan is scared of Narendra Modi.”

Railway track tampered with in Surat district; police suspect sabotage attempt

Bhubaneswar, Odisha: BJD workers staged demonstration in front of Raj Bhawan over alleged custodial assault of Army man's fiancee

A man was booked for allegedly posting a comment against prophet Muhammad on a social media platform, police said.

The comment triggered a protest by members of the Muslim community in the Leduwa-Mahuwa and Durgjot road in Bakhira area on Friday, Additional Superintendent of Police Sunil Kumar Singh said, adding that it was called-off after police assurance of appropriate action in the matter.

Police here have registered cases against 16 individuals in connection with two separate instances of triple talaq in a week, officials said. Triple talaq was outlawed in India in 2019.

Normal life affected in Imphal Valley districts due to 18-hour bandh called by militant outfit.

A group of bikers in Delhi-NCR is planning a ride tomorrow in memory of Akshat Garg; there will be over 100 bikers. Akshat Garg’s family and friends to be a part of this protest.

The services on the Supreme Court's YouTube channel, which was hacked on Friday, has resumed.

"This is to inform all concerned that the YouTube channel of Supreme Court of India is live and up. The services on YouTube channel of Supreme Court of India has been resumed," said a notice uploaded on the apex court's website on Friday.

The top court's YouTube channel was hacked on Friday and showed videos promoting a cryptocurrency developed by US-based company Ripple Labs.

A blank video with the title "Brad Garlinghouse: Ripple Responds To The SEC's $2 Billion Fine! XRP PRICE PREDICTION" was live on the hacked channel.

Later in the day, a notice posted on the apex court's website informed that the court's YouTube channel was taken down.

White House officials have met a group of Sikh activists to assure them that the US government is committed to protecting Americans from any acts of transnational aggression on its soil, a community leader has said.

The meeting comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's three-day visit to the US during which he will attend the Quad summit in Delaware and address the 'Summit of the Future' at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Held inside the White House complex on Thursday, the meeting was attended by Pritpal Singh of the American Sikh Caucus Committee and representatives from the Sikh Coalition and Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF).

After remaining closed for around 24 hours, the West Bengal-Jharkhand border has been reopened for the movement of trucks for inter-state trade, officials said on Saturday.

The West Bengal government had closed the border on Thursday evening after the release of water by Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) from its dams located along the inter-state boundary with Jharkhand, causing flooding in districts of south Bengal.

"The inter-state border has opened and thousands of goods-laden trucks stranded on NH 2 and NH 6 have left for West Bengal," an Jharkhand government official said.

On International Coastal Cleanup Day, a clean-up drive organised by NCC cadets at Shangumugom Beach, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

On flood situation in the state, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose says, “Flood situation is something which is to be viewed seriously. There are certain steps to be taken before, during and after the floods. Accidents are not accidental, there is a human factor behind it.."

Improvised rocket head ammunition and shell have been found in Manipur's Churachandpur district during search operations, a police statement said on Saturday. (PTI)

Uttar Pradesh Yogi Aditynath holds Janta Darshan in Gorakhpur's Gorakhnath temple.

School timings in Dibrugarh will be changed from today, September 21 for all government and private schools. In view of the ongoing heatwave in the district, instructions are given to begin the classes early, from 8:00 AM onwards.

A student of NIT Patna - Bihta Campus was found hanging in her room at the hostel on the premises, last night. The deceased student hailed from Andhra Pradesh. Her body has been sent for postmortem. A suicide note has been recovered from her room. Investigation is underway: Police press release

PM Modi along with other world leaders will arrive in Wilmington on Saturday morning for the Quad Summit in US President Joe Biden's hometown, Delaware.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be bringing the message of India's example of its domestic development to the landmark Summit of the Future at the United Nations next week, the country's envoy on Friday said.

"I think his message will be India's example of our own domestic development story," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish told PTI in an exclusive interview.

The Delhi Police Crime Branch has busted a gang of drug traffickers and arrested three individuals, including a woman and a teenage girl, on Friday

A speeding SUV hit several people in Lucknow's Rumi Gate area late last night. Angry crowd beat up the driver and vandalised the car. The situation was brought under control by the police later.

Mobile internet services will be suspended across the state on September 21st and 22nd from 8 am to 1.30 pm, in view of the Jharkhand General Graduate Level Combined Competitive Examination (JGGLCCE), in a bid to check any malpractice during the examination.

PM Modi has embarked on his 3-day US visit, his first during his third term as Prime Minister.

Preparation visuals from Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New York’s Long Island. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet the Indian diaspora here during a community event on September 22, during his 3-day US visit.

PM Modi begins his 3-day visit to the US today; this marks his first trip to Washington during his third term, just before the upcoming US elections. During his visit, PM will hold high-level meetings with global leaders, attend the annual Quad summit, and address Summit of the Future at the United Nations.

The agitating doctors seeking justice for Abhaya will be returning to work partially from today, ending their over 40-day-long strike.

Atishi to take oath as Delhi CM at Raj Niwas today afternoon, say officials. The President also cleared the appointment of five ministers and the oath-taking ceremony will take place at 4.30 pm at Raj Niwas, they said.
 

PM Modi emplanes for USA, where he will be attending various programmes, including the Quad Summit, a community programme, addressing the Summit of the Future and other bilateral meetings.