New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) The Election Commission held a meeting with representatives of political parties in central Delhi on Wednesday, in the run-up to the assembly polls here due early next year. BJP MP from New Delhi Bansuri Swaraj, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chaddha and party leader Jasmin Shah attended the meeting. An election commission official said the meeting lasted for around half an hour and covered several topics. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar also reviewed poll preparedn...Read More
New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) The Ministry of Railways on Wednesday dismissed as "baseless" claims that passengers would be allowed to travel free of cost during the Maha Kumbh Mela, and said no such provision exists. "It has come to the attention of Indian Railways that certain media outlets are circulating reports claiming that passengers will be allowed to travel free of cost during the Maha Kumbh Mela," it said in a statement. "Indian Railways categorically denies these reports, as they are enti...Read More
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday deferred, till the second week of January next year, the hearing on the bail plea of lawyer Surendra Gadling, who remains behind bars in connection with the 2016 Surjagarh iron ore mine arson case. A bench, headed by Justice M.M. Sundresh, decided to adjourn the hearing after Gadling's counsel submitted that the Maharashtra government filed its reply late on Tuesday and the petitioner side would need some time to go through the contents of the counter a...Read More
New Delhi [India], December 18 (ANI): Bahujan Samaj Party Chief Mayawati on Wednesday slammed the Congress and the BJP over the Ambedkar controversy and said that instead of using Babasaheb's name for political gain, both the parties should show proper respect and reverence towards him. In a series of posts on X, Mayawati said, "Instead of using Dr BR Ambedkar's name for political gain, both Congress, BJP and their affiliates should show proper respect and reverence towards him. These parties h...Read More
New Delhi [India], December 18 (ANI): The INDIA bloc leaders have latched on to Home Minister Amit Shah's comments on BR Ambedkar turning it into a full blown controversy. Congress MP Kumari Selja on Wednesday said that BR Ambedkar is "no less than a God." Speaking to ANI, Selja slammed Amit Shah and said, "Constitution is the 'granth' of the country. If Constitution is the 'granth', Baba Saheb is no less than God. Such comments of a petty mindset for Baba Saheb, is an insult to Baba Saheb, to ...Read More
New Delhi [India], December 18 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs on Wednesday expressed support for the proposed One Nation, One Election Bill, underlining that it aligns with democratic values and would ensure the country's resources and working days are "not wasted." Speaking to ANI, BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar defended the bill, saying, "This is totally democratic. It ensures that the country's resources and working days are not wasted... Why should we let the country suffer losses due to ...Read More
New Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo on Wednesday announced "free medical treatment for senior citizens above 60 years" under the 'Sanjeevani Yojana' if the party wins the upcoming Delhi elections due in February 2025. In a post on X, Kejriwal said, "The elders of Delhi have always considered me as their son. Today I am going to fulfill my duty. If AAP wins, all citizens above 60 years of age in Delhi will get free treatment under Sanjeevani Yojana. Whether the hospital is ...Read More
New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal Wednesday announced that 'Sanjivni Yojna' would be launched for free treatment of people aged above 60 years after his party returns to power in Delhi. Assembly polls in Delhi are due in February next year. Kejriwal said registration for the scheme will begin within two-three days. AAP volunteers would go door to door for registration of the eligible elderly for the scheme, he said at an event at the party headquarters here. After the elect...Read More
Patna: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted simultaneous raids in Muzaffarpur and Vaishali on Wednesday morning in connection with an investigation involving two AK 47 assault rifles. One of the targeted locations was the residence of Bhola Rai, the village head of Mankauli Panchayat in Muzaffarpur. The raid at Bhola Rai's house began at approximately 3 A.M. and was carried out with the assistance of the local police. The NIA team conducted a thorough search of the premises, seiz...Read More
Hyderabad, Dec 18 (PTI) Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, his cabinet colleagues and leaders of the ruling Congress on Wednesday participated in a 'Chalo Raj Bhavan' protest here over the Adani issue and also against "Prime Minister Narendra Modi not visiting violence-hit Manipur". The protest was organised by the state Congress as per a call given by the AICC. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B Mahesh Kumar Goud was among the party leaders and workers who also too...Read More
New Delhi, December 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a blistering attack at the Congress party, accusing it of indulging in every possible dirty trick to obliterate the legacy of Dr. Ambedkar and also humiliate the SC/ST communities. PM Modi's tirade came on back of Congress's demand for the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah, whom they accused of disrespecting Dr Ambedkar during his speech in the Rajya Sabha. 'Amit Shah Maafi Mango': Rahul Gandhi, INDIA Bloc MPs Prote...Read More
New Delhi [India], December 18 (ANI): Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday condemned the ongoing opposition protests, accusing the Congress party of a "conspiracy against BR Ambedkar" and questioning their respect for the former Minister of Law and Justice of India. Rijiju also highlighted that he is the first Buddhist after Ambedkar to hold the position of Union Law Minister. Also Read | Congress MLAs Arrive at Madhya Pradesh Assembly With Tea Kettles, Alleging BJP Government's 'Failure' ...Read More
New Delhi [India], December 18 (ANI): Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Wednesday lashed out at Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his remarks on Dr BR Ambedkar, saying that he can't "bulldoze" Ambedkar's legacy which remains a voice for the oppressed communities. "Yesterday, Amit Shah who believes in Manuwaad and who is a follower of Savarkar has expressed his anti-mindset of Ambedkar (anti-Ambedkar mindset)...We will try to say to him 'Ambedkar Jai'...because he can't just bulldoze Ambedkar's le...Read More
New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) Retirement fund body EPFO has extended time till January 31, 2025 for employers to upload wage details etc regarding 3.1 lakh pending applications for pension on higher wages. An online facility was made available by EPFO for submitting applications for validation of options/joint options for pension on higher wages, a [...] New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) Retirement fund body EPFO has extended time till January 31, 2025 for employers to upload wage details etc regarding 3.1 lak...Read More
New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has written to Chief Minister Atishi, slamming the AAP government over a "deliberate lapse" in tabling CAG reports in the assembly and advising her to summon a special session of the House on December 19 or 20 to do so. In his letter on Tuesday, Saxena alleged that there has been a "conscious and deliberate lapse" on the part of the elected government in presenting the 14 reports over the last two years. In normal course, a legislatur...Read More
New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) The Pakistan high commission on Wednesday said it issued 84 visas to Indian pilgrims to visit the Shree Katas Raj temples in Punjab province's Chakwal district. The group has been given visas to visit the Katas Raj temples from December 19 to 25. The temples are also known as Qila Katas. It is a complex of several Hindu temples connected to one another by walkways. Under the provision of a bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines, Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from ...Read More
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 18 (PTI) Senior NCP leader in Kerala and state Forest Minister A K Saseendran on Wednesday rejected media reports about the change in the party's lone ministership in the Left government and made it clear that there is no obstacle for party MLA Thomas K Thomas to be part of the state cabinet instead of him. The Sharad Pawar-led NCP is an ally in the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the state. It has two MLAS - A K Saseendran and Thomas K Thomas. Saseendran told rep...Read More
New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the country will not tolerate Babasaheb Ambedkar's insult and demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah should apologise for his remarks in the Rajya Sabha. Several MPs of the INDIA bloc, including Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, staged a protest in Parliament premises demanding Shah's apology for his remarks which they claimed were an insult to B R Ambedkar. Sharing pictures from the...Read More
Chennai: A felicitation ceremony was held today under the patronage of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, on behalf of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT), for D Gukesh from Tamil Nadu, who won the "World Chess Championship" title at the age of 18. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand and others participated in the ceremony held at Kalaivanar Arangam, Chennai. Home of Chess Academy Speaking at the function, Ch...Read More
New Delhi: Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday hit out at the Congress for disrupting House proceedings over Amit Shah's remarks on B R Ambedkar and said the opposition was distorting the Home minister's comments. Displaying posters of Ambedkar, Congress MPs on Wednesday raised slogans in the Lok Sabha demanding Shah's apology. "... a small clip of Shah's Rajya Sabha speech was under circulation, distorting what he said. It was wrong. I condemn it," Rijiju told reporters here. He asserted ...Read More
New Delhi: Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Congress as he strongly defended Union Home Minister Amit Shah from the Congress' charge that he insulted B R Ambedkar in his speech in the Rajya Sabha. PM Modi in a thread of posts on X (formerly Twitter) said Congress was "clearly stung and stunned" by the "facts" presented by Shah, which is why they are now "indulging in theatrics". When it comes to Ambedkar, his government's respect and reverence are absolute...Read More
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], December 18 (ANI): Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) leader and MLC K Kavitha on Wednesday accused the Telangana government of misleading the public about Musi River beautification project. "Why is the Congress government deceiving the people of Telangana? Why this secrecy about the project and its funding?" Kavitha said in an official statement. Also Read | Congress MLAs Arrive at Madhya Pradesh Assembly With Tea Kettles, Alleging BJP Government's 'Failure' Over Job C...Read More
New Delhi, December 18: Google-owned YouTube has announced a partnership with the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to develop tools that will help creators and artists to manage AI-generated content featuring their likenesses. The collaboration is said to provide awareness and control over how AI is being used to depict them on YouTube. YouTube had previously shared plans to provide creators and partners with the necessary tools to make the most of AI's creative possibilities to ensure they have c...Read More
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday stoutly defended Amit Shah from the Congress' charge that he insulted B R Ambedkar in his speech in the Rajya Sabha, asserting that the Home Minister in fact exposed the party's "dark history of insulting" the architect of the Constitution, leaving the main opposition "stung and stunned". "They are clearly stung and stunned by the facts he presented, which is why they are now indulging in theatrics. Sadly, for them, people know the truth," Mo...Read More
New Delhi [India], December 18 (ANI): Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday condemned the ongoing opposition protests, accusing the Congress party of a "conspiracy against BR Ambedkar" and questioning their respect for the former Minister of Law and Justice of India. Rijiju also highlighted that he is the first Buddhist after Ambedkar to hold the position of Union Law Minister. "Today, I am the Parliamentary Affairs Minister. Ministers Arjun Meghwal and L Murugan, all three of us, come from...Read More
New Delhi/Hyderabad, Dec 18 (UNI) Union Minister and Telangana BJP President G Kishan Reddy emphasised the Modi government's commitment to preserving and promoting India's regional languages. Addressing the media in New Delhi on Wednesday, Reddy highlighted various initiatives undertaken by the central government to strengthen India's linguistic diversity. Reddy noted that India is unparalleled in its cultural and linguistic diversity, with 121 languages spoken across the country. "Our Consti...Read More
Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K. Kavitha has accused the state government of using the Musi Riverfront Development Project to displace thousands of families for the benefit of real estate developers. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Kavitha slammed the Congress-led government, alleging a lack of transparency, mounting debts, and no clear compensation plan for those affected by the project. Kavitha's remarks come after Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy reportedly appealed to the B...Read More
Bhopal, December 18: The Opposition Congress in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh continued its protests at the state Assembly premises on the third day of the winter session on Wednesday. Congress legislators arrived at the Assembly carrying tea kettles, alleging the BJP government's failure to deliver on its promise of creating two lakh jobs annually. "We have brought tea kettles to symbolise the plight of Madhya Pradesh's youth, who are being forced to open tea stalls under the BJP's governance. Duri...Read More
New Delhi, Dec 18 (VOICE) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a blistering attack at the Congress party, accusing it of indulging in every possible dirty trick to obliterate the legacy of Dr. Ambedkar and also humiliate the SC/ST communities. PM Modi's tirade came on back of Congress's demand for the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah, whom they accused of disrespecting Dr Ambedkar during his speech in the Rajya Sabha. In a series of posts on X, PM Modi lambasted the Congress...Read More
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], December 18 (ANI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remark on Ambedkar, asserted that those who care about country will mention the name of Ambedkar. "Only those who commit the most sins should worry about virtue. Those who care about the country, the people, and the security of the Constitution will only mention the name of the revolutionary Ambedkar! It must be mentioned!" CM Stalin wrote on X. This comes after A...Read More