Monday, December 29, 2025

Youth Congress workers protest over Rafale fighter aircraft deal

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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Just a day after Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, in a counter-offensive against Congress chief Rahul Gandhi’s charge of corruption in the Rafale Deal describing allegations on pricing and procedure as false, the Indian Youth Congress upped its ante against the deal.

Jaitley had claimed that the NDA government got a better price for both the basic fighter and the weaponized version than what was being negotiated by the UPA government in which Congress was a major partner.  Leaders and activists from several state units of Indian Youth Congress gathered outside All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters today to protest against the Rafale deal.

Taking a cue from Congress President, Rahul Gandhi’s tweet immediately after Arun Jaitley’s 15 posers to him, IYC leaders alleged the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government “misled” the nation by quoting “illogical and imaginary data”. It is worth mentioning that Rahul Gandhi had tweeted that if the deal was fair, why was the government shy of setting up of a Joint Parliamentary Committee on the deal. The Congress, which has launched a frontal attack on the government over the Rafale issue, is undertaking a pan India campaign to apprise people” on the deal. Party leaders are fanning out across the country, holding press conferences, which will be followed by plans for district and state level agitations on the issue.

“Rafale deal is the biggest scam. Why is the central government not forming Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the deal?,” IYC president Keshav Chand Yadav reiterated.

Karnataka cabinet expansion on the cards as Kumaraswamy calls on Rahul Gandhi

By
Aditi Chahar
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After Karnataka Chief Minister, H.D.Kumaraswamy met Congress President, Rahul Gandhi today; the speculation is rife that expansion of state cabinet is on the anvil.

H.D.Kumaraswamy cabinet was expanded last on July 7 with the induction of 25 ministers including 14 from the Congress, nine from Janata Dal (Secular) and one each from the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party.

Both parties had agreed to share the 34 portfolios in the ratio of 2:1, with the Congress getting 22 and the JD(S) 12, including the chief minister’s post. Along with chief minister HD Kumaraswamy and deputy chief minister G Parameshwara, the cabinet strength at present stands at 27. Of the 25 newly inducted ministers, 11 are from the Old Mysuru region, three each from Bengaluru City and Coastal Karnataka regions, and four each from the Hyderabad-Karnataka and Mumbai-Karnataka regions.  Among the 25, only one woman-Congress leader and film star, Jayamala had taken the oath.

Ever since the last induction in the cabinet, there were demands for expansion of the ministry. The meeting of Kumaraswamy at the residence of Congress President, Rahul Gandhi assumes added significance as the government has completed 100 days in power and the chief minister provided him a record of his performance. Kumaraswamy’s discussions with Rahul Gandhi also come on the eve of the JD(S)-Congress Coordination Committee meeting scheduled for tomorrow.

The Chief Minister confirmed after the meeting “In the meeting, I have requested the Congress President to take an early decision on expansion of the cabinet and appointment of corporation Boards chairman”. Asserting that the coalition government was successful in completing 100 days in the state, the chief minister said: “People in the state have various expectations. My first goal is to fulfill their expectations in the coming days.”  About his equation with former chief minister and Karnataka Congress leader, Siddarmaiah, the chief minister said that “The coalition government is secure under the leadership of Siddarmaiah who is necessary for the coalition government to run safely”.

Madras High Court directs NHAI to provide separate lanes for VIPs, Judges at toll plazas across India

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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The Madras High Court directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to make separate lanes at the toll plazas for VIPs, including sitting judges, across the country.

The court said that it is very disheartening that VIPs and sitting Judges are compelled to wait for 10 to 15 minutes at toll plazas.

An interim order was passed by the bench comprising justices MV Muralidharan and Huluvadi G Ramesh, directing the NHAI to issue the circular to all toll plazas to take necessary steps for providing a separate lane so that vehicles of sitting judges and VIPs can pass through without any hindrance.

The bench further added that it is embarrassing for VIPs and sitting judges to display identity documents at toll plazas.

It warned that the court would issue show cause notices to all the authorities concerned unless the problem was rectified and any violation of the order would be viewed seriously.

According to the bench, a circular may be issued to each toll collector for providing a separate lane for VIPs and sitting judges.

Lalu Prasad Yadav surrenders before CBI court in Ranchi

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Tehelka Web Desk
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RJD president and fodder scam convict Lalu Prasad Yadav surrendered before CBI court in Ranchi on Thursday.

Lalu who arrived in Ranchi on Wednesday was directed by the Jharkhand High Court to surrender before the CBI court by August 30.

Prior to surrender, Lalu Prasad Yadav said that he has trust in the CBI’s court decision.

As per the reports Lalu will now be sent to jail first and then to the hospital for treatment. 

Lalu, who was on provisional bail till August 20, had requested the Jharkhand High Court to extend his bail for three more months on medical grounds.  Jharkhand High Court on August 24 refused to extend the bail and ordered Lalu Yadav to surrender by August 30 before the CBI court and directed the state government to provide medical care to RJD chief whenever needed.

Lalu Prasad Yadav has been convicted in four cases of the multi-crore rupees fodder scam. 

PM Modi arrives in Nepal to attend BIMSTEC summit

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday, to attend the fourth Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit.

Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Nepal was welcomed by Nepal’s Defence Minister Ishwar Pokhrel.

The Prime Minister on Wednesday said that “his participation in the BIMSTEC summit in Kathmandu signals India’s highest priority to its neighbourhood and a strong commitment to continue deepening ties with the ‘extended neighbourhood’ in South-East Asia.”

The BIMSTEC summit, which is slated to be held from August 30 to August 31, is the regional group of seven countries geographically situated near the Bay of Bengal. It includes Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Nepal.

In a statement before leaving for Nepal, Prime Minister Modi said that he will interact with the leaders of Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Thailand on the margins of the summit, to further enrich their regional cooperation and advance the collective efforts to build a peaceful and prosperous Bay of Bengal region.

He also said, “I also look forward to meeting Prime Minister of Nepal, Rt. Hon. K.P. Sharma Oli and reviewing the progress we have made in our bilateral ties since my last visit to Nepal in May 2018.  Prime Minister Oli and I will have the honour and privilege to inaugurate the Nepal Bharat Maitri Dharmashala at the Pashupatinath temple complex.”

He further added, “I am confident that the Fourth BISMTEC Summit will further consolidate the progress made thus far under BIMSTEC, and will chart the course for building a peaceful and prosperous Bay of Bengal Region.”

Jammu and Kashmir: Security forces kill two terrorist in an ongoing encounter in Bandipora district

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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Representational Image

Two terrorists were killed on Thursday, in an encounter with security forces in Hajin area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

As per the reports, two or more terrorists are believed to be trapped inside.

The cordon and search operation was launched by security forces after getting the information on the presence of terrorist’s in the Hajin area, the search operation turned in to an encounter after terrorists opened fire on security forces said a police official.

Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) Shesh Paul Vaid, tweeted that one terrorist was killed in the exchange of fire.

“Encounter started at Hajin, SF on job, details will follow”.

“One terrorist killed, exchange of fire going on,” Vaid said in another tweet.

 Earlier on Wednesday, two terrorists of the Hizbul Mujahideen militant group were gunned down by security forces in Anantnag district of south Kashmir.

The operation was launched in Munward-Harnag area of Anantnag district, after receiving the information of some terrorist’s presence in the area.

The operation was jointly carried out by the Army, state police, and the Central Reserve Police Force.

NIA arrests Hizbul chief Syed Salahuddin’s second son from Srinagar

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday, arrested Syed Shakeel Ahmad, the second son of Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin from Srinagar.

According to reports, the NIA along with local police and CRPF raided the residence of Syed Shakeel Ahmad in Rambagh area of Srinagar and arrested him.

Salahuddin, 71, is the head of the Kashmiri terrorist group, Hizbul Mujahideen and is recently designated as global terrorist by the US state department.

Shakeel works as a medical assistant at Srinagar’s Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences.

As per the reports, the probe agency arrested Salahuddin’s elder son Syed Shahid Yousuf in October 2017 and since then he is lodged in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail.

According to the sources, Shakeel was called in for questioning on at least three different occasions, failing which agency investigators arrested him.

Supreme Court criticises action of police over arrest of Activists

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed that all the five human rights activists, who were arrested by Pune police on Tuesday over Bhima Koregaon violence will be kept under house arrest till next hearing in the case. The court will hear the matter on September 6.

Hearing the petition of Romila Thapar, Prabhat Patnaik, Satish Deshpande and others. The apex court expressed its anguish over the manner in which Sudha Bhardwaj, Gautam Navlakha, Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonzalves and Arun Ferreira were arrested, saying the “Dissent is the safety valve of democracy. If dissent is not allowed, then the pressure cooker may burst”.

The Supreme Court issued a notice to the Maharashtra Government and other parties and sought their replies by September 6.

A political debate broke out between the opposition parties after the arrests of five activists on Tuesday.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi took to his twitter account and blamed the government for attacking those activists who are not affiliated to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. “There is only place for one NGO in India and it’s called the RSS. Shut down all other NGOs. Jail all activists and shoot those that complain. Welcome to the new India”, tweeted Rahul Gandhi.

However, the BJP in reply to the Congress President claimed that the arrested activists had links with Maoists.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju tweeted, “As Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had declared that Maoists are No.1 threat to India’s internal security. Now the Congress president openly supports the front organisations & sympathisers of the Maoists. Keep national security above politics.”

RBI confirms 99.3 % old currency returns to banking system

By
Aditi Chahar
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The cat is finally out of the bag as the Reserve Bank of India has finally confirmed that as much as 99.3 percent of the junked Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes have returned to the banking system after demonetization.

The Annual Report of RBI for the financial year 2017-18 points out that of the Rs 15.41 lakh crore worth Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in circulation till November 8, 2016, when the note ban was announced, notes worth Rs 15.31 lakh crore have come back to the banking system.

That raises a question mark on the wisdom of such a huge exercise that meant huge expenditure on the printing of new currency, long queues before the ATMs and banks and job cuts. The RBI annual report confirms that only a minuscule percentage of currency was left out of the system after the government’s unprecedented note ban aimed at curbing black money, corruption and alleged circulation to terrorists outfits. Already the jury is out on the talk of digitalization of economy because more than the amount that was with people as cash is out of banks post demonetization.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), data show that just Rs 10,720 crore of the junked currency did not return to the banking system.  Post-demonetization, RBI spent Rs 7,965 crore in 2016-17 on printing new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 and other denomination notes, more than double the Rs 3,421 crore spent in the previous year. In 2017-18 (July 2017 to June 2018), it spent another Rs 4,912 crore on the printing of currency, the annual report said.

Jammu and Kashmir: Four policeman killed in terror attack in Shopian district

By
Tehelka Web Desk
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Representational Image

Four policemen were killed on Wednesday, in a major terror strike in Shopian district of South Kashmir, two policemen died on the spot while two others succumbed to injuries in a hospital.

According to the sources, the policemen had gone to an automobile workshop near Arhama fruit mandi to repair their vehicle, when the terrorists fired at them.

The deceased policemen have been identified as constable Javed Ahmad Bhat, constable Ishfaq Ahmad Mir, constable Mohammad Iqbal Mir and SPO Adil Manzoor Bhat.

The terrorists fled with three AK 47 rifles of the policemen after the attack.

The area was cordoned off after the incident and the search operation have been launched by security forces.

In a tweet, Jammu and Kashmir Police paid tribute to the policemen who died in the terror strike.

“In a terror strike we lost four boys in #Shopian.Our tribute to the brave hearts. We shall always remember their supreme sacrifice.@JmuKmrPolice (sic),” the tweet read.

In another tweet by Jammu and Kashmir Police, “Our tribute to the policemen Ishfaq, Javaid, Iqbal &Adil whom we lost today in a terror strike at Shopian. The sacrifice of these men will always remain with us. @JmuKmrPolice @spvaid @ KVijayKumarIPS @Sandeep IPS JKP

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