Old Anti-Conversion Law Making A Comeback, Arunachal Christians Protest

Thousands of people under the banner of the Arunachal Christian Forum held a peaceful protest today near Itanagar against the implementation of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act 1978, an anti-conversion law. Though passed by the state in 1978 and President's assent received, this law was not implemented in Arunachal Pradesh for over four decades. But in September 2024, the the Itanagar Bench of the Gauhati High Court, after hearing a petition, ordered the government to frame rules for this within six months.

ACF president Tarh Miri said over two lakh Christians, cutting across denominations, had gathered at Borum today. An apex body of Christians in Arunachal Pradesh, the ACF has been protesting against the implementation of the law, claiming it would harm Christians in the state and curtail their freedom of religion. They observed an eight-hour hunger strike in Borum on February 17.

"The move by the present government to implement this law is unconstitutional, against the spirit of secularism and anti-Christ" said Tarh Miri.

Government sources say the law cannot be repealed and the government has been directed by a court to implement it. The state, however, will hold "consultative meetings with all religious leaders and other stakeholders" over framing of the rules for the Act, sources said.

"There is confusion among people over the act, people are making their own narrative... since there is a court directive, the government will form a committee having our MLAs, a different faith leader led by the home minister and the committee will frame the rules in such a way that there is no prejudice," said PD Sona, Education Minister and government spokesperson.

The APFRA prohibits religious conversion "by use of force or inducement or by fraudulent means" and entails a two-year jail term or a fine up to Rs 10,000. The law also mandates that every conversion has to be reported to the district Deputy Commissioner. A failure to report it will attract a penalty.

From 0.79% of the state's population in the 1971 Census, the Christian numbers had grown to 30.26% in the 2011 Census.

Around 13 per cent people in the state follow Buddhism. There is also a huge share of people who still follow indigenous faith like the Donyi Polo.  

The leaders of the indigenous faiths had met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat during his recent "Arunachal Pravas". Speaking on Sunday, Mr Bhagwat had emphasised the need to balance cultural heritage with modern aspirations.

A section of the indigenous faith followers, meanwhile, are holding marches to support the implementation of the four- decade old anti-conversion law. 

"This act is for people of all faiths in Arunachal. It will serve all. This is not at all unconstitutional," said one of them, Kamjai Taism.

In the northeast, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram are Christian-majority states while Manipur also has a significant Christian population, therefore this fresh controversy over the anti-conversion law will be keenly watched.
 

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PM Modi Meets Japanese Business Delegation, Vows To Deepen Collaboration

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met a Japanese business delegation and said he is looking forward to deepening economic collaboration with Japan, India's special strategic and global partner.

During the meeting, discussions focused on areas of high-quality, low-cost manufacturing in India and expanding manufacturing for global markets with a special emphasis on Africa.

A statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said the delegation from the Japan-India Business Cooperation Committee (JIBCC) comprising 17 members and led by its Chairman Tatsuo Yasunaga called on Prime Minister Modi.

After talks with the Japanese delegation, PM Modi said he was encouraged by their expansion plans in India and steadfast commitment to 'Make in India, Make for the World'.

The delegation included senior leaders from leading Japanese corporate houses across key sectors such as manufacturing, banking, airlines, pharma sector, plant engineering and logistics.

"Pleased to meet the Japanese business delegation led by Mr Tatsuo Yasunaga today. Encouraged by their expansion plans in India and steadfast commitment to 'Make in India, Make for the World'," Modi said in a post on X.

Pleased to meet the Japanese business delegation led by Mr. Tatsuo Yasunaga today. Encouraged by their expansion plans in India and steadfast commitment to ‘Make in India, Make for the World'. Looking forward to deepening economic collaboration with Japan, our Special Strategic… pic.twitter.com/UUCYErZTfW

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 5, 2025

"Looking forward to deepening economic collaboration with Japan, our special strategic and global partner," the prime minister said.

Yasunaga briefed the prime minister on the upcoming 48th Joint meeting of Japan-India Business Cooperation Committee with its Indian counterpart, the India-Japan Business Cooperation Committee, which is scheduled to be held on March 6, 2025 in New Delhi.

The discussions covered key areas, including high-quality, low-cost manufacturing in India, expanding manufacturing for global markets with a special focus on Africa, and enhancing human resource development and exchanges, the statement said.

Prime Minister Modi expressed his appreciation for Japanese businesses' expansion plans in India and their steadfast commitment to 'Make in India, Make for the World'.

Prime Minister Modi also highlighted the importance of enhanced cooperation in skill development, which remains a key pillar of India-Japan bilateral ties. 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Man Dies By Suicide In Mangaluru, Accuses CISF Officer Of Exploitation

A man from Uttar Pradesh has ended his life in Mangaluru, claiming he was deceived and exploited by a CISF woman officer. Abhishek Singh, 40, who is from Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, was discovered dead in a lodge near Rao & Rao Circle. 

Before taking the step, he recorded a 20-minute video, blaming the woman for his death and uploaded it on Instagram.

Singhvi, who worked for a private company in Chennai, had come to Mangaluru with colleagues to attend an exhibition.

In the video, he accused CISF Assistant Commandant Monika Sihag of misleading him. He alleged that she hid her marital status and entered into a relationship with him.

He further alleged that she took advantage of him emotionally, physically, and financially, extracting gold worth Rs 8 lakh from him. He also mentioned that she had similar relationships with multiple people

Local authorities have registered a case and started an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. A case has been registered at Pandeshwar police station regarding the incident.

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Students Allegedly Throw Itching Powder On Girl Student In Kerala

A case has been registered against six students and two teachers of a government higher secondary school here in connection with an alleged incident of itching powder being thrown on a girl student last month, police said on Sunday.

A cop from Infopark police station said the case was registered on Saturday based on a complaint by the girl, who alleged that the itching powder was thrown on her in the first week of February.

The teachers have been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, while the students have been charged under the Juvenile Justice Act, police said.

The incident came to light after the girl and her mother spoke about it on a TV channel.

Recounting the incident, the girl said she was resting her head on the desk after an exam when some students allegedly started throwing itching powder around, some of which fell on her.

She rushed to the washroom to wash it off, but the powder entered her private areas, causing severe discomfort, she said.

In the following days, her condition worsened, and due to the medication she was taking, she was unable to attend school or prepare properly for her upcoming SSLC exams, she claimed.

Her mother also described her daughter's ordeal and alleged that the school initially denied her permission to sit for the SSLC exams due to insufficient attendance.

However, following intervention by the General Education Department, the school has reportedly allowed the girl to take the exams.

The mother has demanded action against the students involved and the teachers who allegedly failed to provide timely assistance.

Police said they were handling the case cautiously as the students' exams were underway.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Anti-Smog Guns To Be Mandatory For High-Rise Buildings, Hotels In Delhi

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Saturday announced that all high-rise buildings, hotels, commercial complexes, major establishments such as airports and construction sites must install anti-smog guns to curb air pollution levels.

Stressing that Delhi has to put its house in order before seeking action from others, Manjinder Singh Sirsa directed all departments concerned to prepare a detailed roadmap to tackle pollution and sought data on the contribution of key sites, including Delhi Airport, to the city's air pollution.

Chairing a high-level meeting with the officials from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Manjinder Singh Sirsa emphasised the need for stringent pollution control measures and said that if necessary, new laws would be introduced.

Rising pollution was a major election issue in Delhi and the BJP had accused the previous AAP government of failing to check it.

The MCD has been asked to provide a detailed list of existing and under-construction high-rise buildings, which will be subject to new pollution control norms. Existing buildings and upcoming projects will have separate guidelines, ensuring stricter compliance with environmental regulations, Manjinder Singh Sirsa said.

The minister also announced plans to transition all vehicles operating inside the airport to green alternatives and urged major establishments to actively contribute to pollution control by increasing greenery in their surroundings.

"By 2026, at least 10,000 electric vehicles will be introduced in Delhi, and steps will be taken to ensure a significant reduction in landfill waste, with parks and forests developed on cleaned landfill sites," Manjinder Singh Sirsa said.

Additionally, the minister highlighted the need for cloud seeding as a potential measure to combat pollution during peak smog months and said that all necessary permissions and formalities would be completed on a priority basis.

He also said that leading institutions like IIT Delhi and other Delhi-based colleges would be involved in pollution control efforts.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa stressed that before holding others accountable, Delhi must first reduce its pollution levels.

"Fifty per cent of Delhi's pollution comes from within the city itself. We need to fix our own problems first before seeking action from others," Manjinder Singh Sirsa added.

Bhavreen Kandhari, an environmentalist, said that the government should "focus on controlling emissions and addressing major sources of pollution such as industries, construction activities and fossil fuel plants located in the middle of the city that contribute significantly to air pollution".

Kandhari said that while anti-smog guns and water sprinkling help manage pollution to some extent, they are not complete solutions. Anti-smog guns are ineffective at construction sites, whereas water sprinkling can help control dust in such areas.

"Therefore, the government should introduce policies that bring impactful and lasting results," she added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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UP Man Out On Bail In Rape Of 17-Year-Old Kidnaps Teen Again, Probe On

A man out on bail in a rape case of a 17-year-old girl allegedly kidnapped the teenager again, police said.

The girl was kidnapped on February 5 and was yet to be traced, they said.

Police said that the girl's father in a complaint alleged that on February 5, Asif Khan alias Chhote Babu (22) kidnapped his daughter.

Following his complaint an FIR has been lodged under Section 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Gopiganj police station on Wednesday night, a police officer said.

According to police, the accused had allegedly abducted and raped the girl earlier on October 14, 2023, following which he was arrested and the girl was rescued.

Khan was sent to jail earlier, where he spent eight months before securing bail, police added.

Bhadohi Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhimanyu Manglik said the accused, from Chudihar Mohalla in Gopiganj, is already facing trial in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) court.

He also said that the girl's father was making efforts to trace his daughter since February 5.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Think Tank Hosts Discussion On Strengthening Gender Dimension In Public Policy

Chintan Research Foundation, a Delhi-based think tank, hosted a roundtable Discussion on 'Strengthening the Gender Dimension in Public Policy' earlier this week, discussing India's remarkable progress made by women in female labour force participation, particularly in traditionally male-dominated sectors.

The discussion, which took place on Tuesday, highlighted the progress women made in sectors like aerospace, aviation, finance, entrepreneurship, executive leadership, politics, and governance as well as the challenges to overcome.

Moderated by Shishir Priyadarshi, President, CRF, the discussion featured women leaders who shared their experiences, challenges and insights on breaking barriers in their respective fields.

The panellists included Amb Ruchira Kamboj, the first woman diplomat to be appointed as the Indian Ambassador to the UN, Jaya Varma Sinha the first woman Chairperson of the Railway Board in the 166-year history of the Indian Railways, Rumjhum Chatterjee, the Chairperson of CII's National Council on Women's Empowerment and Inclusion, and Manjeet Kripalani Co-founder of Gateway House, a leading think tank located in Mumbai.

The key takeaways included: Gender-inclusive policies & safe work environments are essential for expanding women's participation. Leadership plays a crucial role in creating an inclusive ecosystem. Even a small change can make a large impact-e.g., Indian Railways now manufactures locomotives with toilets for women drivers, making a significant impact. Sisterhood and mentorship are game-changers and collaboration over the competition is the key. Think tanks and research institutions must bridge the gap between government, corporate sectors and societies to drive impactful change.

The think tank said India is making strides, but the journey towards making the workforce equitable is a long one.

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End In Sight For Telangana Tunnel Rescue, Two More Days, Says Minister

The operation to rescue eight labourers trapped inside Telangana's Srisailam Left Bank Canal or SLBC tunnel is in its final stages said state Irrigation & Civil Supplies Minister Capt. N Uttam Kumar Reddy. The rescue, he said, will be completed within two days.

For this last stretch, Indian Marine Commando Force (MARCOS) and the Border Roads Organisation have been roped in, the minister said.

Following an extensive field assessment over the last two days, Mr Reddy said a concrete plan of action has now been finalised to ensure the safety of both rescuers and survivors.  

"The assessment yesterday was that the people going in to rescue and bring out the survivors would themselves be at great risk," he said. 

But after fresh assessment, new strategies have been devised to minimise risk for rescuers. 

"We now have a well-defined plan, and we are accelerating the rescue and relief operations with greater speed," he said. The experts, he said, are exploring alternate access routes, "including approaching from the side and the main exit, to expedite the rescue".  

One of the biggest challenges in the rescue effort has been the muddy water obstructing access to the Tunnel Boring Machine where the labourers are trapped. To counter this, the state has intensified dewatering operations.  

The experts are continuously assessing the structural stability of the tunnel, ensuring that rescue teams could proceed safely without any risks to either the trapped workers or the responders.  

Officials have been asked to accelerate debris removal and reinforce weakened sections of the tunnel to prevent any further mishap.

The minister said Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was personally monitoring the situation, directing that all critical agencies remain stationed at the site until the workers are rescued. 

The labourers got trapped when a section of the tunnel in Nagarkurnool district collapsed on Saturday morning. The minister had earlier said there is little hope of finding any survivors. . 
 

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Tigress That Attacked 2 People Allegedly Beaten To Death By Villagers In UP

A two-year-old tigress that strayed into a village in the buffer zone of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve and attacked two people was killed allegedly by villagers on Wednesday, officials said.

In a separate incident, a tiger was killed in a road accident that took place under the Mailani range of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR), they said.

In the first incident, the angry villagers of Phulwaria clubbed the tigress to death on the spot.

Saureesh Sahai, the Dudhwa Buffer Zone deputy director, said forest officials retrieved the carcass from the village in the Palia tehsil and sent it to the range headquarters.

A case against unidentified persons was lodged at Palia police station under provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act and a probe was taken up, he added.

The injured villagers were admitted to the hospital where their condition was stated to be stable.

Sahai said the animal's postmortem was conducted according to National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines and the viscera was sent to ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, for detailed analysis.

A few hours after the Phulwaria incident in the Dudhwa buffer zone, a speeding vehicle hit a male tiger on the Bhira-Mailani highway under the Mailani range of DTR.

Field director of DTR H Rajamohan confirmed the death of a male tiger in a road accident and said errant driver Laxman Saud along with his car was taken into custody.

Deputy director, DTR, Rengaraju T said a case under appropriate sections of the Wild Life (Protection) Act has been lodged and the driver sent to jail.

He added that the postmortem of the carcass was carried out as per NTCA guidelines.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Man Undergoes Rare Transplant, Lives With 5 Kidneys In Delhi

A 47-year-old man has undergone a rare third kidney transplant at a private hospital here, leaving him with a total of five kidneys in his body.

A surgery was performed at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, on Devendra Barlewar, who had been battling chronic kidney disease for 15 years and had undergone two failed transplants in 2010 and 2012.

Dr. Ahmed Kamaal, Senior Consultant, Urology, said the patient's condition worsened further after COVID-19 complications in 2022.

However, when a 50-year-old brain-dead farmer's family decided to donate his kidneys, hope emerged for Barlewar.

The four-hour-long surgery, conducted last month, posed significant medical challenges due to the presence of four non-functioning kidneys -- two native and two previously transplanted ones, Kamaal said in a statement.

He explained that the multiple existing kidneys increased the risk of immune rejection, requiring specialised immunosuppression protocols before the procedure.

Dr. Anil Sharma, Senior Consultant, Urology, highlighted the surgical complexities, saying, "We faced space constraints due to the patient's thin build and an existing incisional hernia." "Since previous surgeries had already used the standard blood vessels, we had to connect the new kidney to the largest abdominal blood vessels, making it a highly intricate procedure," he said.

Despite the challenges, the transplant was successful, and the patient was discharged within ten days with stable kidney function.

Speaking about patient's condition, Dr Sharma said that Barlewar's creatinine levels normalised within two weeks, allowing him to live dialysis-free.

Expressing his gratitude, Barlewar said, that he had lost hope after two failed transplants.

He said that dialysis had severely restricted his life, but the at Amrita Hospital gave him another chance when no one else did.

He added that today, he can perform daily activities independently, and his overall health has also improved.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Obesity On Rise, Fats Should Form Only 20% Of Diet: AIIMS Delhi Director

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, Director M Srinivas on Sunday said cases of obesity are on the rise in rural areas, as much as they are in urban areas, and stressed the need to battle the disease, soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the pressing concern and urged people to adopt a healthy lifestyle. 

In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Mr Srinivas said the biggest challenge is that obesity is a "risk factor associated with everything". "The most common thing we understand is the disease of the heart," he said.

"Even in the rural areas, we are seeing more cases of obesity. It's not just the urban, but also rural pockets facing such problems," he added.

He also highlighted the importance of leading a good lifestyle and exercising, and developing good food habits. "We need to have a balanced diet. The focus should be on proteins because they build the body. The easiest way to control oil intake is also by consuming nuts, flax seeds, etc. Fats should not comprise more than 20% of the total diet. Consume good oil, around two to four teaspoons of oil may be, daily," he said.  

During his monthly radio show Mann Ki Baat earlier in the day, PM Modi said obesity cases have doubled in the last few years, and the more concerning aspect has been the rise in such instances among children. "To become a fit and healthy nation, we have to tackle the problem of obesity. According to a study, today, one in every eight people is suffering from the problem of obesity," he said. 

He urged people to use less oil in food and also pass on the challenge of reducing oil intake by 10 per cent to 10 others.

Mr Srinivas also said it is important to keep a check on the oil intake. "There are two components. Visible and invisible oil. Invisible oil is something, you know, when we take milk, there is an oil in that, there is a fat component in that. Visible oil is what we use everyday. Our consumption of cooking or visible oil is very high in the country, and it is rightly said that we need to restrict that and cut down on that," he said. 

The AIIMS Delhi Director said an individual, depending on the gender, is likely to suffer from obesity if his/her waist measures 80cm-90cm. However, it is the abdominal obesity - a condition where there is too much fat around the stomach and abdomen - that is dangerous, he said. 

Asked whether the problem of obesity is bigger than malnutrition, Mr Srinivas said: "I think we have to tackle both, because somebody is eating more and somebody is eating less. So somebody who is eating less, we need to tell them what is a balanced diet."

He added: "On the other hand, people who are not doing exercises and taking in more calories... that is something which needs to be restricted." 

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Mizoram Plans To Amend Liquor Prohibition Law, May Allow Sale Of Wine, Beer

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Friday said his government was planning to amend the liquor prohibition law, which has been in force since May 2019, to allow the sale of wine and beer in the state.

During a discussion on the motion of thanks on the governor's address in the assembly, Lalduhoma said his government had no intention of lifting the ban on hard liquor but was planning to regulate the sale of wine and beer.

He said that a bill to amend the prohibition law will be introduced in the assembly during the ongoing budget session.

"Our excise and narcotics minister will introduce an amendment bill to the existing prohibition law to regulate the sale of beer and wine, during this ongoing budget session," he said.

The Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act was enacted by the previous MNF government in 2019, which replaced the Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition & Control) Act, 2014, brought by the then Congress government, allowing the sale of wine in the state.

The Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act imposed a blanket ban on the sale, manufacture and consumption of liquor, including wine and beer, in the state, barring three autonomous district councils.

In September 2022, the government allowed the manufacture, sale and export of wines processed from locally-grown grapes following massive protests by grape growers.

The first wine shop in Mizoram was opened in 1984. After 11 years of relaxation and partial prohibition, the then Congress government introduced The Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1995, which imposed a complete ban on liquor.

The total prohibition remained until 2014 when the government allowed the sale of wine.

The prohibition in the Christian-majority state is often blamed for the prevalence of drug abuse among a large section of the youth. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Being In WhatsApp Groups Doesn't Indicate Criminality": Umar Khalid To Court

Activist Umar Khalid on Thursday argued in the Delhi High Court that his mere presence in WhatsApp groups was not enough to attribute any criminality to him and the police equated staging protests and attending meetings with terror.

Senior advocate Trideep Pais, while representing Khalid, argued before a bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur and sought bail for his client in an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case related to the February 2020 riots.

Pais opposed the prosecution's claim that Khalid created "communal" groups on WhatsApp to mobilise and instigate students and to plan a "disruptive" chakka jam (blockades), saying he was not even an active member of these groups.

"I have been added to the groups. I have not posted a single message. I am not even chatting. I have been roped in by somebody. Merely being in a group is not an indicator of any criminal wrong," argued Pais, responding to the police's submissions.

"(Offences under) UAPA are not made out against me. They are equating protest and attending a meeting to terror," he added.

Pais said co-accused Devangana Kalita and others were also part of such groups and faced "far more serious allegations" in the violence but were granted bail in the case.

He said nothing was recovered from Khalid aside from the fact that there was "nothing criminal about what he said" in his speeches and the statements of protected witnesses against him were hearsay.

Pais underlined his client's incarceration saying Khalid had spent 4.5 years in jail and the delay in trial was a ground to release him on bail.

"(There are) 800 witnesses and (case pending since) five years. Charges are yet to be framed. We can quibble over who is at fault ..but (the trial court record shows) that while the others did not wish to go on with their arguments on charge, I wanted to. The prosecution itself moved the high court and obtained a stay for six months stating that they were unwilling to give hard copies of documents," he said.

Khalid, who was arrested by the Delhi Police in September 2020, challenged a trial court order refusing to grant him bail in the case for the second time.

Aside from Khalid, several others were booked in the case of the February 2020 riots, which left 53 people dead and over 700 injured.

The violence erupted during the protests against the CAA and NRC.

Pais previously questioned the "basis" on which the city police made him an accused in the UAPA case when no criminality was alleged against many others who allegedly attended the supposed conspiratorial meetings.

Delhi Police opposed the bail plea, saying the speeches by Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others created a sense of fear after a common reference to CAA-NRC, Babri mosque, triple talaq and Kashmir.

It argued that statements of several protected witnesses establish that the accused persons were not "innocent bystanders" who merely organised protest sites, but planned to cause violence through WhatsApp groups, resulting in registration of 751 FIRs related to the riots.

Bail pleas by other co-accused - including Sharjeel Imam, are pending in high court.

The matter would be heard on March 4.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Uddhav Thackeray Wanted To Make Eknath Shinde Chief Minister: Sanjay Raut

Uddhav Thackeray had planned to make Eknath Shinde the Chief Minister of Maharashtra after the 2019 election, but he was foiled - first by ally BJP and then the allies of Maha Vikas Aghadi, senior Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut has said.  Among then MVA, he especially named veteran leader Sharad Pawar, saying he had objected to Mr Shinde.

"Shinde wanted to become CM, but top leaders of the MVA refused to work under him as he was junior to them," Mr Raut was quoted as saying by news agency Press Trust of India. "It was Sharad Pawar, then president of the Nationalist Congress Party, and Ajit Pawar who opposed the plan to make Shinde chief minister," he added.

As for the BJP, "The BJP did not fulfil the promise of sharing the CM's post with the Shiv Sena, that was why Shinde lost the chance to head the government," Mr Raut said.

The BJP's refusal led to a massive political churning. Mr Thackeray broke off the party's decades-old alliance with the BJP and formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance with the Congress and the undivided Nationalist Congress Party of Sharad Pawar. He also became the Chief Minister.

It was Mr Shinde's rebellion two years later that split the Sena and brought down Uddhav Thackeray's government. Mr Shinde joined hands with the BJP and formed government, becoming its Chief Minister. 

The two factions have been huge political rivals since and Mr Pawar's recent praise of Mr Shinde at a recent event did not go down well with Mr Thackeray's section.

He is now a deputy chief minister, along with Ajit Pawar who split the NCP a year later, in the Devendra Fadnavis-led government.

(With PTI)

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Uber Adopts Smaller Rivals' Model For Auto Rides To Tackle Competition

Ride-hailing platform Uber has moved to a zero-commission model for its autorickshaw drivers in India and will instead charge them a subscription fee, mirroring a strategy followed by local rivals as competition intensifies.

Uber said it will now only connect users with nearby drivers and will suggest a fare but the final amount would be decided by the driver and the rider, the company said in a blog post.

A company spokesperson said the company made the shift as it did not want "to be at a competitive disadvantage".

News publication Inc42 was the first to report the development earlier on Tuesday.

High commissions charged by ride-hailing applications Ola Consumer and Uber have been a pain point for their network of drivers, with many holding protests in recent years.

Uber's move also follows newer but smaller rivals Rapido and Namma Yatri, who do not charge their three-wheeler rickshaw drivers any commission and instead take a daily or weekly subscription fee.

It also comes as ride-hailing platforms seek clarity on tax liabilities, following an authority's move that a model like Namma Yatri would not be required to pay taxes as it connected drivers with users, multiple local media publications reported last year.

A web of varying regulations across Indian states, particularly on fares, has also been a pain point for Uber.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Bhopal Gas Tragedy: Issue Of Toxic Waste Disposal At Pithampur In Top Court

The disposal of hazardous waste from the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy has come under the Supreme Court's scanner following a petition about the health risk to residents of Pithampur, where it has been shifted. The petition also pointed to the risks to the people of Indore, which is just 30 km away. 

Today, a bench of Justices BR Gavai and Augustine George Masih agreed to hear a petition challenging the orders of the Madhya Pradesh High Court that triggered the transfer.

The top court has sought responses from the Centre, Madhya Pradesh and its pollution control board.

Around 377 tonnes of waste from the now defunct Union Carbide factory was shifted to Pithampur industrial area in Dhar district, 250 km away from Bhopal, recently.

The petition said at least four-five villages lie within the one km radius from the disposal site, saying the life and health of the residents are at "extreme risk," the petition alleged. It also pointed out that the Gambhir river flows besides the facility and caters waters to the Yashwant Sagar Dam, which supplies drinking water of 40 per cent of Indore's population.

It alleged the authorities have not informed the affected residents of Indore and Dhar districts about the risks or issued health advisories. 

On the night of December 2-3, 1984, highly toxic gas methyl isocyanate leaked from the Union Carbide factory, causing one of the worst-ever industrial disasters in the world. It killed 5,479 people and maimed more than five lakh others. 

In its order in December last year, the Madhya Pradesh high court had rebuked the authorities for not clearing the Union Carbide site despite directions from the Supreme Court. It set a four-week deadline to shift the waste, observing that even 40 years after the gas tragedy, authorities were in a "state of inertia". It had even warned the government of contempt proceedings if its directive was not followed.
 

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Top Sikh Body Condemns US For Not Allowing Some Deportees To Wear Turban

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee on Sunday strongly condemned US authorities for allegedly not allowing Sikh deportees, who were part of the second batch of illegal Indian immigrants brought from America, to wear their turbans.

The SGPC statement came after some visuals appeared on social media showing Sikh deportees without turbans while completing their immigration formalities at the Amritsar airport.

A US military aircraft carrying 116 illegal Indian immigrants landed at the Amritsar airport late Saturday night, with one deportee claiming they were handcuffed with their legs chained during the journey. The fresh batch of deportees included 65 immigrants from Punjab, 33 from Haryana and eight from Gujarat.

SGPC officials, who were deputed for providing 'langar' and bus service for deportees on Saturday night at the airport, provided 'dastar' (turban) to Sikh deportees.

One of the Sikh deportees also claimed that when they landed at the Amritsar airport, they were not wearing turbans. He said that when they entered the US illegally, they were asked to remove their turbans.

SGPC general secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal condemned the US authorities for allegedly not allowing them to wear their turbans.

It is a matter of regret that deportees were brought in shackles and Sikh deportees were not wearing turbans, he said.

Grewal said the SGPC will soon raise the issue with the US authorities. "Turban is the part of a Sikh," he said.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia too condemned the US authorities for allegedly sending Sikh deportees without turbans.

He also urged the Ministry of External Affairs to immediately take up the matter with the US authorities so that such an incident is never repeated in future. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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31-Member Panel Set Up To Examine Income Tax Bill, Will Be Headed By BJP MP

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday constituted a 31-member Select Committee of the lower house to examine the Income Tax Bill.

To be headed by BJP's Baijayant Panda, the panel is mandated to submit its report by the first day of the next session.

The ongoing Budget Session will conclude on April 4 and the Monsoon session could commence in the third or fourth week of July.

While introducing the Bill in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had urged Om Birla to refer the draft law to a Select Committee of the House.

The much-anticipated Bill will replace terminologies such as "assessment year" and "previous year" with the easier-to-understand "tax year" as part of a move to simplify language while removing provisos and explanations.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"How Can Chief Justice..." Veep's Big Remark On Separation Of Powers

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar today said that the Chief Justice of the country shouldn't be involved in any executive appointment in a democracy like India. "How can in a country like ours or in any democracy, by statutory prescription, the Chief Justice of India participate in the selection of the CBI director? Can there be any legal rationale for it?" Mr Dhankhar wondered.

"I can appreciate that the Statutory prescription took shape because the executive of the day has yielded to a judicial verdict. But the time has come to revisit. This surely does not merge with democracy. How can we involve the Chief Justice of India with any executive appointment?" he added.

His statement has come at a time when a meeting is to be held for the selection of the next Chief Election Commissioner. The selection would be a first since the Chief Election Commissioner And Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service And Term of Office) Act, 2023, was passed.

The act came after a verdict by the Supreme Court in March 2023 which directed for a three-member panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Justice (CJI) to operate till Parliament enacted a law. The new law, however, excluded the CJI from the panel. Detractors say the new law amounts to excessive interference of the executive in the appointments and was detrimental to the independence of the poll panel.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar is set to retire on February 18 and the selection committee for appointing his successor is expected to meet possibly on Monday.

The committee - comprised of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, will deliberate on the appointment a day before the Supreme Court hears petitions against the new law.

Jagdeep Dhankhar,while speaking at the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal expressed his deep concern over the breach of the principle of separation of powers and said, "Executive governance by judicial decree is a Constitutional paradox, that the largest democracy on the planet cannot afford any longer. When institutions forget their bounds, democracy is remembered by the wounds this forgetfulness imparts."

He said that these institutions should operate within defined constitutional bounds while "maintaining cooperative dialogue, keeping national interest in mind".

"Executive governance reflecting the will of the people is constitutionally sanctified. Accountability is enforceable when executive roles are performed by an elected government. Governments are accountable to the legislature. And periodically accountable to the electorate. But if executive governance is arrogated or outsourced, the enforceability of accountability will not be there. Exclusively, governance lies with the government with utmost respect, any intervention from any source, in the country or outside, from legislature or judiciary, is antithetical to constitutionalism and certainly not in consonance as with fundamental premise of democracy", he added.

Recalling his stint as Parliamentary Affairs Minister in 1990, Mr Dhankhar said the Supreme Court then had eight judges.

"More often than not, all the eight judges sat together (on a bench hearing a case)....When the strength of the Supreme Court was eight judges, under Article 145(3), there was a stipulation that the interpretation of the Constitution will be by a bench of five judges or more," he said.

"Please note, when this strength was eight, it (size of constitutional bench) was five. And the Constitution allows the highest court of the land to interpret the Constitution," he added.

But under the guise of interpretation, there can be no "arrogation of authority", and the essence and spirit which the founding fathers had in mind under Article 145(3) must be respected, the vice president further said.

Article 145(3) of the Constitution of India states that at least five judges are required to sit on a case involving the interpretation of the Constitution.

Mr Dhankhar, speaking about Judicial review, said, "Parliament is supreme in lawmaking subject to judicial review. It's a good thing. The judicial review has to be on the anvil that the legislation is in conformity with the Constitution. But when it comes to making an amendment in the Indian Constitution, the ultimate repository, the ultimate power, the ultimate authority, and the last authority is only the Indian Parliament."

He said in this case there can't be any intervention from any quarter because the "will of the people is reflected in a representative manner on the most sanctified platform through elections."

Mr Dhankhar further said the judiciary's public presence must be through judgments as "other mode of expression other than through judgments avoidably undermines institutional dignity".

"When we look around the globe, we never find judges reflecting the way we see here on all issues," he added.

Stressing the importance of dialogue, the Vice President said that democracy gets "thinner" if the right to express is "compromised, or throttled, or diluted".

"One facet of expression is right to vote. But more important is to express your views, your point of view. You participate in governance, and administration, by having a voice of expression. And this expression is not standalone. This expression requires dialogue. Expression without dialogue means my way or no way. Dialogue is nothing but reflection, either approval of your expression or the other point of view," he said.

"A difference of opinion should not result in confrontation. A difference of opinion must ignite an urge in us to converse to find a common ground. And sometimes yielding is a better part of discretion," he added.

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"Not Speculation...": Biren Singh Signs Off With "Demographic Shift" Post

N Biren Singh, who resigned as Chief Minister of violence-hit Manipur days before President's Rule with the assembly under animated suspension was imposed, in a long post on X today said the shift in Manipur's demographic balance is not speculation, but "happening before our eyes."

The Kuki tribes, who are dominant in some areas categorised as hill districts in Manipur, hold Mr Singh responsible for the outbreak of clashes in May 2023 over his policies that allegedly targeted the Kuki tribes.

The valley-dominant Meitei community blame an influx of illegal immigrants from neighbouring Myanmar and alleged mushrooming of unrecognised villages across the state as the root cause of the ethnic clashes.

Land rights and political representation are also among issues that have contributed to tensions.

Mr Singh shared an old post from November 8, 2022 showing a 26-year-old Myanmar national who was arrested for carrying the Aadhaar card of an Indian who had died.

"Flashback to 2022: A Myanmar national with a fake Indian Aadhaar card. How many more remain undetected till today?" Mr Singh said in the post.

"Our land and identity are under threat. With a small population and limited resources, we stand vulnerable. I monitored and detected illegal immigration tirelessly until May 2, 2023. But after the tragic events of 3rd May, 2023 our state machinery has struggled to respond effectively.

"An unguarded 398-km border with Myanmar and the Free Movement Regime (FMR) were rapidly shifting Manipur's demographic balance. This is not speculation, it is happening before our eyes. Since our government took charge in March 2017, the challenge has only intensified. After the May 3, 2023 incident, the situation has become even more critical," Mr Singh said.

"Manipur is a small state, with a small population and no significant resources. We have only three MPs to represent us in the nation's highest decision-making body. Yet, we have always stood with pride, resilience, and an unbreakable spirit.

"Illegal immigration continues to be on the rise, threatening the very fabric of our society. So far, we have only identified a fraction of those who have entered our land. But what about the ones who remain undetected to this day? I urge all concerned authorities to take serious note and intensify efforts to detect and deport illegal immigrants from Manipur. As for me, I will continue this fight with unwavering commitment in every way I can," Mr Singh said.

"The challenge before us is not just ours alone, it carries consequences far beyond our borders," he added.

Flashback to 2022: A Myanmar national with a fake Indian Aadhaar card. How many more remain undetected till today?

My Dear Indigenous Friends,

Our land and identity are under threat. With a small population and limited resources, we stand vulnerable. I monitored and detected... https://t.co/ivUX7gDvt9

— N. Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) February 13, 2025

What Next In Manipur

The President's Rule was imposed for the 11th time in Manipur today since 1951.

Sources in the Manipur administration said that for a start, they expect the central security forces to neutralise armed groups, disarm everyone from both sides, open up highways in the hill and valley areas, ensure airport access for all, and work out ways to rebuild, compensate and provide safety for internally displaced people to return home.

A communique from the office of President Droupadi Murmu said after receiving a report from Governor Ajay Bhalla and "after considering the report and other information received by me, I am satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the Government of that State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of India".

The move by the Centre came as the state BJP failed to come to a consensus on the chief ministerial candidate and the assembly could not be convened.

The BJP was hoping to pick a chief minister after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned from his visit to the US. But meanwhile, the gap in the convening of state assembly threatened to pass the constitutionally approved maximum time of six months.

Article 174(1) of the Constitution says that state assemblies have to be convened no later than six months after their last sitting.

In the case of Manipur, the last sitting was on August 12, 2024. The budget session of the assembly, which was expected to begin on Monday, had to be postponed indefinitely after Mr Singh and his Council of Ministers stepped down. 

The deadline for convening the assembly was today and in the evening, President's Rule had to be declared in the state.

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