Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD national President Lalu Prasad Yadav will meet Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in Delhi on September 25.

Both the leaders of Bihar will go to New Delhi for the meeting.

Nitish Kumar is currently flexing his muscles to unite opposition parties in the country. He went to Delhi for the three days and met several leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Sitaram Yechury, D. Raja, Arvind Kejriwal, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav and others. As Sonia Gandhi was not present at that time, he did not meet her.

Following the meeting with Sonia Gandhi, Nitish Kumar will go to Haryana’s Fatehabad for former Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal’s birth anniversary. It is expected that leaders of opposition parties of the country will assemble there during the rally.

The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), headed by Om Prakash Chautala, used to organise a rally every year on the occasion of the birth anniversary of “Tau” Devi Lal.

Tata Steel will merge with itself six of its subsidiary companies, a statement said on Friday.
A proposal in this regard was approved by the Board of the company on Thursday, it said.

“The Board of Directors of Tata Steel considered and approved schemes for the proposed amalgamation of six subsidiaries into and with Tata Steel,” the statement issued by Tata Steel said.

The subsidiaries are Tata Steel Long Products Limited in which Tata Steel holds 74.91 per cent equity, The Tinplate Company of India Limited (74.96 per cent), Tata Metaliks Limited (60.03 per cent), The Indian Steel & Wire Products Limited (95.01 per cent equity holding), Tata Steel Mining Limited and S & T Mining Company Limited (both wholly-owned subsidiaries).

“Tata Steel Board approves the amalgamation of strategic businesses into the company,” the statement said.

The Board also approved the amalgamation of TRF Limited (34.11 per cent equity), an associate company of Tata Steel, into Tata Steel Limited.

Tata Steel further said the proposed amalgamation is aimed at driving synergies, simplifying the group holding and management structure, and consolidating and strategically growing downstream operations and engineering capabilities

The Board has considered the proposal based on independent fairness and valuation opinions. It followed the process laid down under the Companies Act, 2013 and Securities and Exchange Board of India Regulations.

The proposed amalgamation will enhance management efficiency, drive sharper strategic focus and improve agility across businesses based on the strong parental support from the Tata Steel leadership.

“On completion, there will be further opportunities towards reduction of overhead and corporate costs. Each of the proposed amalgamations will be value-accretive for shareholders,” the company said.

The Boards of all the amalgamating companies have also considered the proposals following due process and have unanimously approved the merger.

The proposed amalgamation is also part of Tata Steel’s continuing journey to simplify the group holding structure, the company said.

According to the statement, since 2019, Tata Steel has reduced 116 associated entities (72 subsidiaries have ceased to exist, 20 associates and JVs have been eliminated and 24 companies are currently under liquidation).

A fire broke out at a factory in north Delhi’s Narela Industrial Area on Friday morning, officials said.
No casualties have been reported. Ten fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the blaze has been brought under control, they said.

According to fire officials, they received information regarding the fire at 8:34 am at Narela Industrial Area, near MSC Mall.

On Thursday, a shoe factory caught fire in Narela area.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday made it clear he will fight for the party’s president post and said irrespective of the outcome, it is necessary to work in a united manner and ensure the party emerges as a strong opposition.

Any call on his successor to head the Rajasthan government will be taken by party interim President Sonia Gandhi and Congress’ Rajasthan in-charge, Ajay Maken, he told reporters here.

“I will fix the date (to submit the nomination papers) after going (back to Rajasthan), but I have decided that I will have to contest. It is a question of democracy and let us make a new start,” he said.

With speculations rife that Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor is likely to jump into the fray, Gehlot said other “Congress friends” may also contest but what matters is unity and the need to strengthen the organisation at all levels.

“There are Congress friends. Even if they contest, there is no issue. After the results, we should work together to strengthen the Congress at the block, village, district levels and also move forward making our (Congress) thought process as the base so that we emerge as a strong opposition,” he added.

Considering the present situation in the country, there is a need for a strong opposition, the veteran Congress leader said.

Responding to a question on Rahul Gandhi’s ‘one-man, one-post’ statement made in the context of the Congress leadership role and asked for his comment on a possible successor if he wins the party election, Gehlot said Rajasthan state in-charge Ajay Maken and Sonia Gandhi would decide on the matter.

He was also asked if he would have a say in the matter.

“I can’t say that standing from Kochi. Our general secretary in charge Mr Ajay Maken and Congress president Sonia Gandhi will decide” on the related developments in Rajasthan and when it is to be done, he added.

The Congress had on Thursday issued notification for the party president post. The party is likely to be headed by a non-Gandhi leader for the first time in decades, with Rahul Gandhi indicating he is not going to vie for the top post.

Three railway employees including Chief Booking Supervisor posted at Sangrur railway station were suspended due to fraud detected in unreserved ticketing system (UTS) at Sangrur and Dhuri railway stations in Punjab under Ambala Railw Division in which preliminary investigation revealed that tickets of short distance railway stations in machine were being converted to long distance railway station tickets thus putting excessive amount of fare  in their own pocket causing heavy revenue loss to railways. When fraud was detected at Sangrur and Dhuri railway stations and matter reached railway headquarter Baroda House New Delhi a three member railway vigilance team from Northern Railways reached at Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) office at Ambala Cantt which collected the file to investigate ongoing fraud not only at Sangrur and Dhuri railway stations but also to check all UTS at other railway station in Ambala division.

Preliminary investigation revealed that large numbers of short distance tickets between Sangrur and Sunam railway stations having few kilometers distance with meager amount of fare were falsely converted to long distance railway stations in trains on way to U.P and Bihar thus putting difference of amount in fare into their pockets and cause huge revenue loss to railways. The practical demonstration was also given to vigilance team in which while preparing a fake long distance ticket ink cartridge was removed from UTS machine at the time of operating machine on blank short distance ticket. Information reveals, Chief Commercial Manager Northern Railways has directed Divisional Rail Managers of all five divisions in Northern Railways    to investigate similar frauds in UTS machines installed at all railway stations.

Hari Mohan Senior DCM told that a technical staff arriving to check all UTS machines installed at railway stations in Ambala division. He told that serious action is being taken against railway staff involved in this scam and there is possibility of action taken against few more railway employees. He told that a Train Travelling Examiner (TTE) while checking tickets in a long route train got suspected a foul smell and informed him when the matter was reported to Chief Commercial Manager Northern Railways New Delhi who took mater seriously and fraud exposed. 

Bengaluru : The National Investigation Agency (NIA)  carried out raids at the Popular Front of India (PFI) offices and  Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and the residences of the office-bearers of these two outfits across the state simultaneously.The raids which began early in the morning were carried out in at least 14 locations in Bengaluru,and other places in karnataka, Mangaluru the district headquarters town of Dakshina Kannada, Sirsi in Uttara Kannada and Kalaburagi According to reports, the raids were conducted after informing the local police according to information received here. As a protest many Muslim youth came near the places where the raid was going on and raised ‘NIA go back’ slogans while NIA officials are conducting raids on residences of the members of Popular Front of India (PFI) in Bengaluru.

NIA officials are conducting raids on residences of the members of Popular Front of India (PFI) in Bengaluru.  The raids have been going on since the early hours of Thursday. According to sources  the raids are being conducted in few places in the city – a flat in an apartment on Kannur Main Road near Bagaluru, a flat belonging to Karnataka president Mohammed Shakib in Richmond Town, a house on Tannery Road.

Police sources said the NIA team detained a few key SDPI and PFI activists, seized documents, literature, computers, laptops and phones as well.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated the government forces for freeing Buddha Pahad in Jharkhand after almost three decades from the domination of Maoists.

The Maoist-dominated area has been freed under Operation ‘Octopus’ of Jharkhand police, Chhattisgarh police, Telangana police, CRPF Cobra battalion, Jaguar assault unit and IRB on Wednesday.

“A historic milestone in the internal security of the country has been crossed. Under the leadership of PM @narendramodi ji, the security forces have achieved unprecedented success in the decisive battle against Left Wing Extremism across the country. Congratulations to @crpfindia, security agencies and state police forces for this, ” Shah tweeted.

“For the first time, permanent camps of security forces have been established by successfully removing Maoists from the inaccessible areas of Buddha Pahad, Chakrabandha and Bhimabandh. Under the leadership of @narendramodi ji, the policy of zero tolerance of the Ministry of Home Affairs against terrorism and LWE will continue and this fight will intensify further, ” he said in another tweet.

The joint forces managed to free Buddha Pahad located in Jharkhand’s Latehar district, about 150 km from state capital Ranchi. Buddha Pahad is spread in about 55 square km with one side connected with Chhattisgarh. It had turned out shelter of top naxal commanders of Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Odhisha.

While having interaction with media persons here at the residence of Haryana Home & Health Anil Vij  , a group of senior Sikh community leaders accompanied by Vice President Haryana Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee as well as  SGPC member Harpal Singh Pali and Jathedar Ranbir Singh Fauzi arrived to convey thanks to Haryana state government for co-operation in long pending issue for a separate Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) in Haryana state as in case of Delhi.  Vij expressed warm welcome to historic decision taken by Supreme Court of India to form a separate committee in Haryana after eight years. Visiting leaders also honored Vij with Siropa

Vij appreciating the decision said, as told to him Sikh society in the state was awaiting the decision since a long time not only face lifting of all gurudwaras in the state due to shortage of funds since all collections of the funds in Haryana gurudwaras were sent to their head office and they were not permitted for any development works in the state without seeking permission from head office. Pali told that every care will now be taken for face lifting of all gurudwaras in Haryana state besides opening of educational institutes, hospitals and other social welfare organizations because of availability of funds collected in gurudwaras in the state.

As regard incident of demolishing of a illegal residential building over government land in Ambala Cantt on Tuesday by a team of Sadar municipal committee and police which was illegally constructed by a drug smugglers having large number of cases registered against him, Vij told media persons that it is his sincere advice to all drug smugglers and suppliers either to leave this illegal business immediately or be prepared to leave Haryana state, failing which their properties too will face similar action since there is a long list of anti-social elements with police administration involved in drug smuggling and supply business invested in properties with the earnings through such illegal business, likely to face similar action and no one will be spared, Vij warned.

In reply to a question as regard former Punjab chief minister Capt Amrinder Singh joined BJP recently, Vij said that it will strengthen BJP network in Punjab. As regard Congress protest rally launched by Rahul Gandhi and holding elections for party’s national president, Vij said people now understand that Congress is under the influence of a single Gandhi family and its senior leaders are unaware of  happenings at present as well as future in the party, moreover the readers have now lost interest in news related to Congress party. Vij expressed deep concern over a recent incident in abroad in which Punjab Chief Minister Maan was forced the get down from air journey because he was under the influence of liquor and the incident has severely damaged the reputation of country.

When questioned as regard Trimul Congress leaders threatening BJP by bomb blasts, Vij said no one makes such silly statements while in the state of conscious, it seems Trimul Congress leaders are in the habit of making such comments while in the state of unconsciousness and need medical treatment. However, action will be taken against them. As regard Congress protest against rising prices in the country Vij said India is a democratic country where every political party in opposition has right to protest, whereas India has been identified economically strong country in the world.    

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday has written a letter to his Punjab counterpart, Bhagwant Mann, drawing the latter’s attention to the issue of “untreated water” coming from Punjab into the canals of Rajasthan.

In the letter, Gehlot urged Mann to direct his officials to complete the construction of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) under Punjab’s Buddha Nullah Rejuvenation Project on time and to stop the flow of untreated waste directly into the rivers/nullahs.

“Rajasthan receives its share of water from Ravi-Beas and Sutlej rivers from Harike barrage. The polluted water of Ludhiana city of Punjab through Budha Nullah and the urban and industrial waste of cities/towns situated near Sutlej river through drains reaches Harike barrage, ” he said in the letter.

Gehlot wrote in the letter that the water coming from Harike barrage is released into the Rajasthan feeder (Indira Gandhi feeder) and the Ferozepur feeder.

Water is provided for irrigation and drinking purposes through Indira Gandhi feeder in western Rajasthan and through Ferozepur feeder in Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar districts, he added while pointing out that “Rajasthan is getting polluted water from Harike barrage”.

There has been a demand from time to time by the farmers and general public of this area to stop the supply of polluted water, he said.

Gehlot informed Mann that in view of the seriousness of the matter, on August 28, 2022, joint inspection of Budha Nullah and Sutlej river was done by the Principal Secretary of Water Resources Department with the officials of Punjab and Rajasthan. During inspection it was found that the untreated waste is flowing into Budha Nullah which is reaching Harike barrage through river Sutlej.

The Rajasthan Chief Minister expressed hope that “positive steps would be taken by the Punjab government on this sensitive issue related to the health of the people of the state”.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has decided to file a review petition following the Supreme Court judgment today in the case regarding challenge to validity of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) Act, 2014. The opinion of senior lawyers will be taken in this regard and the legal action is required accordingly.

This decision was taken in the SGPC executive committee (EC) meeting presided over by SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami, here on Tuesday.

Talking to the media after the meeting, SGPC President said that a consensus has been reached to file a review petition in the case of validity to HSGMC Act, 2014, by the Supreme Court, for which, the officials of SGPC have been deputed at Delhi. He said that the next legal action will be taken as per the opinion of the senior lawyers after examining the Supreme Court’s order.

SGPC President said that it is not right to comment on the Supreme Court’s judgment, but the move played by the then Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda to form a separate Gurdwara management committee for Haryana is dividing the Sikh power.

“Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is a part of Congress class that massacred Sikhs, but it is sad that the incumbent BJP Government also followed the same footsteps and became partners in breaking the foremost representative institution of Sikhs. The politics of breaking up SGPC and dividing Sikh power is not right and the governments should not interfere in Sikh issues”, said Dhami.

However, the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the constitutional validity of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara (Management) Act, 2014 under which a separate committee was formed to manage the affairs of gurdwaras in the state.