No One-Size-Fits-All Solution: Shashi Tharoor On Seat Talks In INDIA Bloc

On the political uncertainty in Bihar, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said on Saturday that the ultimate objective of the INDIA bloc is to change the Union government (BJP at the Centre), adding that seat-sharing is being discussed on a state-by-state basis.

Asserting that it is imperative for the political parties forming the INDIA bloc to mainly focus on taking on BJP in the Lok Sabha polls and resolving the seat sharing issues as there is no single formula for seat sharing permutations in every state.

The INDIA bloc is struggling to combat the inner differences amid the political crisis in Bihar. On the other hand, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann have announced that they would go solo in their respective states in the Lok Sabha polls.

"This whole alliance and seat-sharing is being discussed on a state-by-state basis. No one is going to have a one-size-fits-all solution. In each state, the story is going to be different, " Tharoor said while addressing the media in Kolkata.

"I think we are all focused on the imperative need to change the Union govt and that is the ultimate objective," he added.

Earlier, the mega alliance suffered a setback after West Bengal CM Banerjee and her Punjab counterpart, Bhagwant Mann announced that they would go solo in their respective states in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who left no stone unturned in uniting the oppoisition to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha polls, is likely to jump ship back to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Several NDA leaders including former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi have indicated an alliance breakdown between JD(U)-RJD.

Earlier today, BJP leader and Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey participated in the foundation laying ceremony of development works with CM Nitish Kumar.

"Whatever is God's wish, will happen. The first time around, I only brought him (Nitish Kumar) here, and today also I have brought him," he said.

Earlier, former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD President Lalu's daughter, Rohini Acharya, took a swipe at RJD's ruling ally, JDU, on X, posting that while the 'socialist party' (JDU) styles itself as progressive, its ideology shifts with the changing wind patterns, a statement that triggered cracks within the ruling alliance.

However, a few hours later, all three posts by Lalu's daughter were deleted.

If Nitish Kumar crosses over to the NDA, this would be the fourth time he would be switching sides.

However, CM Kumar is yet to break his silence on the issue.

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

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"Give Proof Or Resign": BJP To Arvind Kejriwal On Poaching Charge

The BJP on Saturday rejected as "false" and "baseless" Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's allegation that it was trying to poach AAP legislators to topple his government and asked him to either give proof to substantiate his claim or resign.

AAP leaders, including its convener Mr Kejriwal, alleged that seven MLAs of the party were offered Rs 25 crore each and a BJP ticket to contest polls if they switched sides.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said that Mr Kejriwal should stop "lying" and dared him to tell the names of the MLAs who, the AAP chief has claimed, were contacted by the BJP.

"Kejriwal's statement shows his political frustration. He said that the BJP wants to break off his party MLAs. This shows his mental bankruptcy and how much a party of 62 MLAs (out of 70 in Assembly) is frustrated after losing its political ground," he said.

Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said that Chief Minister Kejriwal has made "false allegations to defame the BJP".

"He should provide proof of his statement otherwise he should resign from the post of chief minister," Bidhuri said, adding that the BJP is consulting experts for legal action in this matter.

He also claimed that Mr Kejriwal's dream of becoming a major political leader in the country was disintegrating as the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was soaring after the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

"The BJP is going to win 400 seats in Lok Sabha polls, so AAP is falsely accusing the BJP of poaching its MLAs," he said.

The AAP leaders have also alleged that the BJP was conspiring to get Kejriwal arrested in a "fake" liquor scam case and topple his government by poaching AAP MLAs.

Mr Sachdeva said,"People can see that Kejriwal needs an alliance for survival as his political ground has slipped ahead of Lok Sabha polls. So, he is making such absurd statements so that he can stay alive politically." The "absurd" claims made by Kejriwal and other AAP leaders including Delhi minister Atishi show that they have lost all their discretion before their imminent fall, Delhi BJP secretary Bansuri Swaraj said.

"Kejriwal has now run out of excuses to avoid ED investigation in the liquor scam so he has started resorting to lies," she charged.

Mr Kejriwal has so far skipped four notices of the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged excise policy scam in his government.

Delhi BJP general secretary Kamaljit Sehrawat claimed there was "unrest" among the AAP MLAs and MPs and Kejriwal was accusing the BJP "due to frustration with his own people".

"Kejriwal is levelling wild allegations against the BJP to divert attention from the way opposition bloc Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) was breaking apart in different states," claimed Delhi BJP media cell head Praveen Shankar Kapoor.

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

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दिल्ली : उधार नहीं लौटाने पर ACP के वकील बेटे को नहर में दिया धक्का, पुलिस को शव की तलाश

दिल्ली पुलिस में तैनात एसीपी (ACP) के बेटे की रहस्यमयी गुमशुदगी का मामला सुलझ गया है. दोस्त ने ही उसकी हत्या कर दी है. मृतक का नाम लक्ष्य चौहान था, जिसे पानीपत के मुनक नहर में धक्का दे दिया गया. पुलिस अभी शव बरामद करने की कोशिश कर रही है. एक आरोपी अभिषेक को गिरफ्तार किया गया है. वहीं अभिषेक के साथी विकास भारद्वाज की तलाश की जा रही है.

पुलिस के मुताबिक विकास भारद्वाज तीस हजारी कोर्ट में एक वकील के पास क्लर्क का काम करता है. मृतक लक्ष्य चौहान जो कि खुद पेशे से वकील था, उसने विकास भारद्वाज से पैसे लिए थे और वापस नहीं दे रहा था.

विकास ने जब लक्ष्य से पैसे मांगे तो उसने विकास भारद्वाज से बदतमीजी की. इसी के चलते विकास ने अपने दोस्त अभिषेक के साथ मिलकर लक्ष्य की हत्या की साजिश रची.

22 जनवरी को लक्ष्य को अपने एक रिश्तेदार की शादी में भिवानी जाना था. विकास भी लक्ष्य के साथ अपने दोस्त अभिषेक को साथ लेकर लक्ष्य की गाड़ी में ही भिवानी गया. देर रात को वापस लौटते वक्त दोनों ने मुनक नहर के पास लक्ष्य चौहान को बहाने से गाड़ी से उतारा और धक्का दे दिया.

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"Drones Becoming Weapon Of Choice For...": Air Force Chief To NDTV

Drones are becoming the weapon of choice for state and non-state actors, Air Chief Marshal VR Choudhary told NDTV in an exclusive interview.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is looking at using drones not only for reconnaissance, but also for strike roles, the Air Chief Marshal said.

"Drones are now becoming a weapon of choice of both state and non-state actors. And we also realised the potential of inducting drones in large numbers, not only for recce and surveillance, which were the traditional roles for which we use them, but also for certain offensive missions," Air Chief Marshal Choudhary told NDTV.

With drones becoming mainstream in offensive roles, air-defence capabilities will also have to be improved, he said. The war in Ukraine has shown the effectiveness of drones, and how the much cheaper hardware can destroy larger, more expensive targets.

"... While the proliferation of drones takes place in the subcontinent, we have a plan to boost our air defence capabilities because now we have a huge spectrum of threats, starting from small drones to hypersonic weapons. So the air defence network and capabilities need to be strengthened in equal measure," Air Chief Marshal Choudhary said.

The Air Chief Marshal briefly explained the process that India has been following in developing drones of all types, from basic to complex machines, involving the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and small private firms.

He pointed to the "Mehar Baba Competition" by the IAF for Indian start-ups to develop a swarm drone-based system.

"We got astonishing results from the Mehar Baba Competition, and incubated many small firms. Many small industries that started making drones in swarms have been able to meet the requirements that we had projected at that time," Air Chief Marshal Choudhary said.

"I think this industry is really galloping within our country, and most of it is in the private sector and small scale, and we encourage all of them to come up with their ideas and see how we can implement them in our broader operational plans," he said.

"For bigger platforms that can fly high and have long endurance, we are collaborating with other industries to be able to make a long-term plan for homegrown capability in this field. So the whole drone ecosystem is being supported and encouraged by the armed forces, particularly by the IAF," Air Chief Marshal Choudhary said.

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Masala Tea At Shop, UPI Payment, Roadshow: When PM, Macron Met

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron took part Thursday in a roadshow in the Pink City, where the visitor was presented a replica of Ayodhya's Ram temple and offered masala chai from a teashop before the leaders sat down for bilateral talks.

Macron, who is the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi on January 26, also visited the hilltop Amber Palace, Jantar Mantar observatory and Hawa Mahal in a carefully curated tour that ended at an iconic palace-turned-hotel.

In the evening, the two leaders were driven in an open-top vehicle through a short stretch in the heart of the city, beginning from Jantar Mantar, the 18th century astronomical observatory which is now a Unesco heritage site.

They stood in the vehicle, chatting and waving at people who lined the route.

For the PM, it was the first visit to the city after the swearing-in of Bhajanlal Sharma who took over as the Rajasthan chief minister after the BJP victory in the recent assembly polls.

PM Modi and Macron got down in front of the breezy Hawa Mahal. They admired the lit-up five-storey building with nearly 1,000 windows and 'jharokhas'.

The two leaders visited a handicrafts shop in the area. PM Modi, who led the consecration ceremony at Ayodhya's new Ram Mandir this week, bought a small replica of the temple for the guest, according to the shopkeeper.

He paid Rs 500 for the artifact -- digitally, through UPI.

And "Sahu chaiwala", who had set up a temporary stall for the occasion, accepted Rs 2 as token payment for the masala tea offered to the leaders. Again, the payment was digital.

The two leaders boarded the open-top vehicle again to continue the roadshow up to Sanganeri Gate. From there, they were to be driven to Rambagh Palace for dinner and the bilateral talks.

Earlier, in the afternoon, the French delegation was received by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma at the Jaipur airport.

A couple of hours later, PM Modi, who was on a visit to Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr, also reached Jaipur. He met up with Macron at Jantar Mantar, where the two shook hands, hugged and then took a brief tour of the observatory.

Before this meeting, Macron had already ticked off Amber Palace on his Jaipur itinerary. His delegation had headed straight from the airport to the fort, the seat of Kachhwa Rajputs before Jaipur was founded nearby.

A red carpet was laid out and caparisoned elephants lined up at the fort for the French president.

Macron interacted there with a group of children. The delegation also browsed through artifacts on display at the temporary stalls set up near the entrance.

S Jaishankar and Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari were at the fort.

Cutouts and hoardings were earlier put up at several locations in Jaipur around the sites PM Modi and Macron were set to visit.

(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 Terror Agency Files Fresh Chargesheet Against 2 In Coimbatore Car Blast

The NIA on Wednesday filed a fresh charge sheet and named two more accused in the ISIS-inspired Coimbatore car bomb blast case of 2022, an agency spokesperson said.

Mohammed Azarudeen alias Azar and Mohammed Idris, both residents of Coimbatore, have been named in the supplementary charge sheet and have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and Explosive Substances Act, the spokesperson said.

With this, a total of 13 people have been charge-sheeted in this case till now. The rest were named in the prosecution complaints filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in April and June last year.

The probe pertains to an explosion that took place in front of the ancient Arulmigu Kottai Sangameshwarar Thirukovil Temple at Eswaran Kovil Street in Ukkadam, Coimbatore on October 23, 2022, through a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), allegedly driven by one Jamesha Mubeen.

Mubeen was "inspired" by hardcore ISIS ideology to commit this act of terror.

The NIA probe found, the spokesperson said, that Mubeen, along with Mohammed Azarudeen, Umar Faaruq, Sheikh Hidayathullah and Sanofer Ali, conspired to carry out a series of suicidal terror attacks in Coimbatore city following a conspiracy hatched in the forested area of Sathyamangalam region in Erode district of Tamil Nadu.

The attack was intended to wreak vengeance on 'kafirs' (non-believers), as stated in one of the self-made confessional videos by the accused a few days before the attack, the spokesperson said.

Azarudeen, who acted as a pedagogue to the module involved in the attack, was earlier arrested by the NIA in another case related to the indoctrination of ISIS ideology and in connection with the NTJ (National Thowheeth Jama'ath) module of Sri Lanka, which was responsible for the 2019 Easter blast attacks in the island country.

"Azarudeen had motivated three other accused who met him in the high-security prison (HSP) Viyyur. This led to the subsequent Sathyamangalam Conspiracy meeting, resulting in the planning and preparation of the instant terror attack," the spokesperson added.

Accused Umar Faaruq was elected as the "Amir" to lead the execution.

Mohammed Idris, part of the module of Azarudeen and radicalised in the ISIS and by the 'bayans' (statements) of accused Zahran Hashim, was tasked with purchasing a used vehicle for the blast and to assisting the main accused in the attack, he said.

"The larger aim of the conspiracy was to create terror in the minds of a section of the society by targeting its various branches like general administration, police, judiciary," the spokesperson said.

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

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Ayodhya Set To Become World's "Most Sought-After Destination": UP Minister

With an estimated 1 lakh devotees expected to visit Ayodhya daily following the inauguration of the Ram temple, the holy city is set to become the "world's most sought-after" tourist destination, Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh said on Tuesday.

Helicopter services to Ayodhya from six cities of the state, the ongoing conservation of 37 ancient temples and the expansion of the existing airport in the holy city will result in a manifold rise in the influx of visitors, Mr Singh said.

Asked about a report estimating that a USD 10 billion makeover of Ayodhya with a new airport, revamped railway station, township and improved road connectivity could attract over 50 million tourists a year, Mr Singh said "it will certainly happen".

"In fact, we estimate over 1 lakh tourists per day in Ayodhya and arrangements are being made keeping that in mind," Mr Singh said.

According to the report, the Golden Temple in Amritsar gets an estimated 30-35 million visitors a year while the annual footfall at the Tirupati Temple is 25-30 million. Globally, Vatican City gets around 9 million tourists every year and Mecca in Saudi Arabia around 20 million.

The minister asserted, "Certainly, Ayodhya will be the most sought-after destination in not only the country but the entire world." The crowd outside the temple today is tremendous. This moment has come after a wait of 500 years, he said.

Stressing that the number of visitors will start rising after Republic Day on January 26 as security measures affect the movement of trains and vehicles, Mr Singh said the hospitality industry in Ayodhya will also reap the benefits of religious tourism.

"After January 26, when rail traffic resumes, the number of visitors is going to rise. If you consider each devotee spending Rs 2,000-2,500 on buying prasad, food, and lodging, the revenue generated will be tremendous," the minister said.

"In the next two to three years, tourism in Ayodhya will generate the maximum revenue for the government. I am saying three years because starting a project, getting clearances and implementation takes that much time," he said.

After January 26, the tourism department will also start helicopter services to Ayodhya from at least six districts -- Lucknow, Varanasi, Mathura, Agra, Gorakhpur and Prayagraj, he said.

Work is going on to restore 37 ancient temples in Ayodhya, which will be the centre of attraction for tourists coming for a 'darshan' of Ram Lalla, the minister said, adding that the project will be completed soon.

According to Divisional Commissioner of Ayodhya, Gaurav Dayal, 102 intent agreements worth about Rs 18,000 crore were signed for tourism in Ayodhya during the Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023.

Currently, there are 126 ready-to-be-implemented projects worth Rs 4,000 crore related to tourism in Ayodhya, he said.

Around 50 renowned hotel brands have invested in Ayodhya, including Taj, Marriott, Ginger, Oberoi, Trident, and Radisson. Their projects will be completed soon, the officer said.

There are also plans to develop Raj Sadan, the grand residence of the erstwhile Raja of Ayodhya, as a heritage hotel, with a major hotel chain expressing interest in investing in this project, he added.

With several luxury and budget hotels, resorts, and homestays coming up in Ayodhya, the holy city is emerging as a new favourite of the hospitality industry, official sources said.

Good highways and roads, wall paintings depicting the life of Lord Ram, facade lighting, and a grand entrance adorned with Victorian lamps add to the attraction of Ayodhya, they said.

Meanwhile, the minister said UP's tourism sector has remained untapped, but with the focus on religious tourism, the state is going to become one of the top tourism destinations and Ayodhya will be a hot favourite.

Tour and taxi operators in Lucknow and Ayodhya are also upbeat over the prospects of increase in the number of tourists, both domestic and international, arriving in the holy city to pay obeisance at the Ram temple.

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

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