India News LIVE | Plea filed in SC seeking new parliament inauguration by President

The Allahabad High Court will hear on Friday a petition filed by the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board and the Gyanvapi masjid management committee that has challenged the maintainability of a suit pending before a Varanasi court, seeking the restoration of a temple at the site of the mosque.

The petitioners have also challenged an April 8, 2021 order of the Varanasi court, directing the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a comprehensive survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex.

On November 28, 2022, Justice Prakash Padia had reserved his judgment in the matter after hearing both sides at length.

However, in its order dated May 24, Justice Padia said more clarifications were required from the counsel for the parties. Considering this, the matter was put up, along with other connected matters, for further hearing on Friday.

The high court had earlier reserved its judgment on the maintainability of the suit pending in the Varanasi court. Now, all connected matters on the suit's maintainability and the order for the ASI survey will be heard together by the court.

On April 8, 2021, the Varanasi court, while hearing a suit seeking the restoration of the temple at the Gyanvapi mosque site, had directed the ASI to conduct a comprehensive survey of the mosque complex.

(With PTI inputs)

Paid tributes to the Martyrs who lost their lives in the terrorist attack in Kotranka, Rajouri. It is due to these brave soldiers we have peaceful sleep at nights!

A Vistara flight (UK996) from Mumbai to Delhi was diverted to Jaipur on Thursday due to bad weather at Delhi airport, the airline revealed via Twitter. The plane landed at around 9:45 pm. A sudden weather change with rain and lightning today forced the airline to divert the flight. 

A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction that the inauguration should be done by the President of India. The hearing has been scheduled for May 26. 

The petition says the respondents--the Lok Sabha secretariat and the Union of India--are "humiliating" the president by not inviting her for the inauguration. The PIL filed by advocate Jaya Sukin contended the statement issued by the Lok Sabha secretariat on May 18 and invite issued by Secretary General, Lok Sabha about the inauguration of the new Parliament building are violative of the Constitution.

"The President is the first citizen of India and head of the institution of Parliament," it noted and sought a direction from the Supreme Court to facilitate the inauguration by Murmu. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had recently met the prime minister and invited him to inaugurate the new building. Modi had also laid the foundation stone for the building in 2020 and most opposition parties had stayed away from the event even then. 

"According to the Constitution, Parliament consists of the President of India and the two Houses of the apex legislature, the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha," the plea noted. 

"That Article 79 of the Constitution states that there shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and the two Houses--Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of People (Lok Sabha). But the Respondents are not following Indian Constitution," the PIL said.  

(With PTI inputs)
 

The Special Protection Group (SPG), the force that handles the security of the prime minister, will now be handled by an officer not less than the rank of an additional director general belonging to the Indian Police Service while junior officers will be appointed on deputation for an initial period of six years.

These parameters were fixed through a new set of rules released by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday under the Special Protection Group Act, 1988 (34 of 1988) through a gazette notification.

According to the notification, the officers of All India Services will be appointed to the SPG on deputation by the central government on the same terms and conditions as applicable to the officers of the corresponding ranks in the central government.

The SPG, as earlier, will have its headquarters in New Delhi and the director shall be appointed by the central government at a level of not less than the additional director general of police from the Indian Police Service, the notification said.

So far, it was headed by an officer of the rank of inspector general while on occasions in the past, the post was elevated to the rank of additional director general. However, there were no fixed rules issued in this effect so far, it said.

Other members of the SPG, except the All India services officers, shall be appointed on deputation for an initial period of six years, according to the notification.

The appointment for the second tenure may be done with the prior approval of the central government for reasons to be recorded, it said.

The general superintendence, direction, command and control, supervision, training, discipline, and administration of the SPG will be vested in the director.

The director of the SPG shall be the functional head and responsible for the implementation of the duties assigned in the Act besides any other duties, orders, and instructions assigned on this behalf by the central government, the notification said.

The manner of providing assistance to the director or member of SPG in terms of provisions contained in the Act shall be specified by the central government through standard operating procedures, it said. 

(With PTI inputs)

An Army medical team and the IAF have worked in tandem to ferry a harvested heart from Jaipur to Delhi which will give a new lease of life to a young woman, officials said. The HQ Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force (IAF) also shared a few pictures of the mission on its Twitter handle.

"In a life saving mission today, an #IAF aircraft swiftly airlifted a medical team of Army Hospital (R&R), Delhi to SMS Medical College, Jaipur. The team retrieved a donated  heart which was promptly airlifted to Delhi. This will give a new lease of life to a 19 year old woman," it said.

Army Hospital (Research and Referral) is located near Dhaula Kuan area in Delhi.

"Today after 75 years, ‘Sengol’ is being remembered. The government is recreating the entire event that happened in 1947. Very nostalgic and a beautiful feeling for us that our forefathers were part of history and now we’re also going to witness the recreation of that event," said Vummidi Balaji, great-grandson of jeweller Vummidi Bangaru Chetty who made the Sengol. 

Senior Congress leader Rashid Alvi said that there was no need for a new parliament. He also objected to the new building being inaugurated on the birthday of VD Savarkar on May 28 and questioned why is it not being inaugurated on Mahatma Gandhi's birthday?

"It is a matter of pride that the New Parliament Building will be inaugurated on Veer Savarkarji’s birth anniversary (May 28)," Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar to Republic.

• A havan and puja will be performed from 7:30 am to 8:30 am. 
• The pandal for worship will be set up near the Mahatma Gandhi idol.
• Many ministers including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman will be present in this puja.
• After this, the Sengol will be installed inside the Lok Sabha between 8.30 and 9.00 am.
• There will be a prayer meeting at 9 or 9:30 am.
• Many top scholars, pundits and saints including Shankaracharya will be present in this prayer meeting.
• Second session the will begin with the national anthem. 
• Two short films will be screened on this occasion. 
• The message of the Vice President and the President will be read out by the Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha. 
• The leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha as well as the Lok Sabha speaker will also deliver a speech. 
• A coin and stamp will also be released on this occasion. 
• In the end, there will be an address by Prime Minister Modi. The program will end at around 3 pm.

As we have a new Parliament building, I join a joyous and proud nation in congratulating PM @narendramodi Ji, the Union Govt, and every hand that has contributed to building this historic structure," TDP chief Chandrababu  Naidu tweeted. 

"I wish for the New Parliament building to become the abode for transformational policy and decision-making. The dream of a poverty-free India where the gap between haves and have-nots has been bridged will be achieved by 2047, on completion of 100 years of independence," he further wrote. 

"Sharad Pawar Ji has assured us that NCP will support us in defeating in Rajya Sabha the bill to replace the Centre's ordinance against the Delhi government," Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said during a press conference in Mumbai. "We are trying to gather support from all non-BJP parties."

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal met with NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on May 25. Kejriwal is accompanied by AAP MPs Raghav Chadha, Atishi, Sanjay Singh and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann. 

Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, while speaking to Republic TV, said that the inauguration of the new parliament building is a moment of pride and slammed the opposition parties for boycotting the event. 

"It is very very unfortunate that they are not participating and it shows the selfish political motive," she said. 

Go First, on Thursday, submitted their response to DGCA show cause notice dated 08.05.2023, wherein they have requested that they may be allowed to use the moratorium period to prepare a comprehensive restructuring plan for restarting operations and present the same to DGCA for the requisite regulatory approvals before restarting operations.

Accordingly, DGCA has advised the airline on 24.05.2023 to submit,within a period of 30 days, a comprehensive restructuring/revival plan for a sustainable revival of operations. The airline has been asked to furnish,inter-alia,the status of availability of operational aircraft fleet, post holders required, pilots and other personnel, maintenance arrangements,funding/working capital, arrangements with lessors and vendors etc. for sustainable revival of operations. The revival plan once submitted by Go First shall be reviewed by DGCA for further appropriate action in the matter.

SP leader and Akhilesh Yadav's uncle Ram Gopal Yadav, while speaking to Republic TV, justified his party boycotting the inauguration ceremony of the new parliament building. 

"Whether it was the government of the Congress party at the Center before or now of the BJP, the BSP has always supported them on issues related to the country and public interest, rising above party politics. Hence, the party is also supporting the inauguration of the new building of the Parliament on May 28. Looking at it in this context, it is welcomed," said BSP supremo Mayawati. 

"I have received the invitation for the program dedicated to the country, the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament House, for which I thank and extend my best wishes. But due to my pre-scheduled engagement regarding the continuous review meetings of the party, I will not be able to attend that function," she added. 

"We won’t attend the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building as it is a bid to change history,” said JD(U) leader Lalan Singh on the Opposition's decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building.

AAP leader Satyendar Jain was admitted to the ICU of LNJP Hospital in Delhi after he was referred here from Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital. Jain is on oxygen support. He was taken to Deen Dayal Hospital earlier today when he felt dizzy and fell in the bathroom of Tihar jail. 

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah leaves the war room at 15 GRG after having a meeting with Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, Congress in-charge for Karnataka - Randeep Surjewala and party's general secretary KC Venugopal over the formation of the state cabinet.

"We will not be attending this event. This is really unfair that the President is not being called for the inauguration of the new building of the Parliament House. Many are saying that earlier also such incidents happened but I would say in the past only a part of Parliament was inaugurated by them. But now the whole new building is to be inaugurated. The President has the right to attend this event," said Hasnain Masoodi, NC MP on new Parliament building inauguration row. 

"We will continue to ask opposition parties to come for the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building. Post of President should not be politicised," said BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Delhi's Rohini Court has awarded a life sentence to Ravinder Kumar. He was convicted of kidnapping, sexual assault and murder of a 6-year-old girl. He was allegedly involved in the kidnapping and murder of 30 children between 2008 to 2015. Trials of only three cases were conducted.

Former Karnataka Minister Ashwath Narayan on FIR registered against him for his alleged statement in which he said beat Siddaramaiah like Tipu Sultan, said, "I had made it very clear that my statement had no intention of hurting Siddaramaiah, his sentiments or feelings and I expressed my regret too. The opposition party accepted my statement. Now they are opening the 3 months old closed chapter. I will face it politically as well as legally." 

A Dubai-bound Indigo aircraft which was moving on the runway of the Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) here suffered a bird-hit on Thursday morning, forcing the cancellation of the take-off, airport sources said. Sources said the incident occurred at around 8.30 am and the bird hit one of the wings of the aircraft, which was all set to take off. 
 

"It is being said that the President should inaugurate the new Parliament building, so why it didn't come up when Indira Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Annexe?," said Maharashtra Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis on the new Parliament Building inauguration row. 

A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction that the new Parliament building should be inaugurated by the President of India instead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Petitioner says Lok Sabha Secretariat violated the Constitution by not inviting the President for the inauguration.

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin writes to Home Minister Amit Shah requesting his "urgent intervention to direct Amul to desist from milk procurement from the milk shed area of Aavin in Tamil Nadu with immediate effect."

A meeting of Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, Congress in-charge for Karnataka - Randeep Surjewala and party's general secretary KC Venugopal is underway at the party's war room at 15 GRG, over the formation of the state cabinet.

SP MP Ram Gopal Yadav said, "What the Opposition is saying is absolutely correct. Constitution says that the Parliament means President, Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. President is the Head of the Legislature...If the inauguration is not done by the President - the post without which the definition of Parliament is incomplete - or if she is not invited to the event itself, it is absolutely wrong and the setting of a wrong precedent..."

PM Narendra Modi at the flagging off event of Vande Bharat Express between Dehradun and Delhi, said, "I have recently returned after visiting three countries. Today the whole world is looking at India with great expectations. The way we Indians have strengthened our economy, it has instilled the confidence of the whole world."

"Many congratulations to all the people of Uttarakhand for the Vande Bharat Express train. This train, running between Delhi and Dehradun, will connect the country's capital with Devbhoomi at a faster speed. Now the time in train journey between Vande Bharat between Delhi-Dehradun will also be reduced considerably," said PM Modi after flagging off Uttarakhand's first Vande Bharat Express via video conferencing. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has virtually inaugurated the Delhi (Anand Vihar)-Dehradun Vande Bharat Express today. This has become the first Vande Bharat to be introduced in Uttarakhand.

Check train timing and stoppages: 

• Depart for Dehradun from Anand Vihar railway station at 17:50 pm; arrival in Dehradun at 22:35 
• It will halt at Meerut City, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Roorkee, and Haridwar.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reached the residence of AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal in Delhi to discuss cabinet expansion in the state.

Speaking on Amnesty India demanding hijab ban in Karnataka be rolled back, state's Minister Priyank Kharge said, "We are very clear on our stand we will review any such executive order, we will review any Bill that is regressive to the economic policies of Karnataka, any Bill that brings a bad image to the state, any Bill that is not used for economic activities, any Bill that does not create employment, any Bill that violates the rights of an individual, any Bill that is unconstitutional will be reviewed and if necessary, rejected."

When asked about RSS in the wake of Congress' stand on a ban on PFI and Bajrang Dal in the state, he said, "Any organisation, either religious, political or social, who are going to sow seeds of discontent & disharmony in Karnataka will not be tolerated. We will tackle them legally & constitutionally - be it Bajrang Dal, PFI or any other organisation. We will not hesitate to ban them if they are going to be a threat to law and order in Karnataka."

A 45-year-old man, Chandra Mohan arrested for stabbing to death, a 55-year-old woman, Yarram Anuradha Reddy and chopping her body into six pieces, in Hyderabad. Police said, "The accused is 45-year-old Chandra Mohan. The woman lived in a rented house of the accused. He chopped the body into six parts with the help of stone cutters and knives. We have recovered all the body parts." 

Jailed AAP leader Satyendar Jain was brought to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital after he slipped and fell in the bathroom at Tihar Jail last night. He has suffered minor injuries and has been brought for a checkup. 

A Congress worker, 42-year-old Ravi alias Matthiravi (42) murdered in Chowdeshwari Nagar, Bengaluru. Case registered at Nandini Layout Police Station and efforts are underway to nab the accused. He was hit on his head with a stone that led to his head. The crime was committed by five people who came on motorcycles. Police sent the body to Victoria Hospital for postmortem. 

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal will meet Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on Thursday. Kejriwal and his party comrade and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday evening.

The Gujarat Police on Thursday brought Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi from Ahmedabad's Sabarmati Central Jail to the national capital. He was taken to Gujarat by Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in connection with a case of cross-border smuggling of drugs.

A massive fire broke out at a scrap godown in Bhiwandi town of Thane earlier this morning. A total of 4 fire tenders are present at the spot and operation to douse the fire is underway, said a Thane Municipal Corporation official. 

FIR registered against former Karnataka Minister and BJP MLA CN Ashwath Narayan at Devaraja Police Station in Mysuru for his alleged statement in which he said beat Siddaramaiah like Tipu Sultan. Karnataka Congress leaders are also demanding the arrest of Ashwath Narayan.

"The manner in which PM Modi represented us before the world, represented the culture and democratic values, have brought laurels to the world. His recent visits to the nations were a success. We saw how the global leaders honoured India. When the PM is respected, the people of India are also respected," said Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi. 

A massive fire gripped a furniture warehouse in the Bhawani Peth area of Pune City at around 4 am today. A total of 18 fire tenders are present at the spot and operation to douse the fire is underway. No casualties were reported in the incident.

While taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, "Uttarakhand’s connectivity is all set to get a big boost. At 11 AM today, I will be flagging off the Vande Bharat Express between Delhi and Dehradun. Making the occasion even more special is the feat of 100% electrification of Uttarakhand’s rail tracks. Do join the programme."

"During PM Modi's visit, we saw how world leaders respected India. When the PM is respected, the people of India are also respected," said Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi. 

PM Narendra Modi on his arrival to India after concluding his three-nation tour, said, "I want to tell you that while speaking about the culture and great tradition of India, never get immersed in slavery mentality, speak with courage. The world is eager to listen. The world agrees with me when I say that attack on our pilgrimage sites is not acceptable." 

"In the times of crises, they asked why Modi was giving vaccines to the world.. Remember, it's the land of Buddha, it's the land of Gandhi! We care even for our enemies, we are the people inspired by compassion! We move further like this only," he added.