Congress leader sacked for praising PM Modi joins BJP
Former Congress MLA from Kerala, AP Abdullakutty, who was recently expelled from Congress for praising PM Narendra Modi, joined BJP on Wednesday in the presence of party Working President JP Nadda. Further, the only Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) member in Rajya Sabha, Ram Kumar Kashyap, also joined BJP today. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) spokesperson Lanka Dinakar also joined BJP.
BJYM workers recite Hanuman Chalisa on road to counter namaz in WB
Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) members recited Hanuman Chalisa on the road in West Bengal’s Howrah on Tuesday. BJYM’s OP Singh said, “GT Road is blocked to offer Friday namaz. Patients die, people can’t reach office on time.” He added, “As long as it continues, we’ll recite Hanuman Chalisa on Tuesdays on all main roads near Hanuman temples.”
Over 60 Kochi hotels protest against OYO, refuse bookings for 2 days
Over 60 hotels in Kerala’s Kochi, affiliated to Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA), are participating in a 48-hour booking shutdown to protest against OYO. The association alleged since last December, OYO has forced hotel owners to bear the discounts which it had earlier offered itself. OYO has said it will take legal action if hotels disrupt the agreement.
2 live bombs found near Bengaluru after terror suspect’s confession
Two live bombs were discovered in a drain in Ramanagara near Bengaluru after a terror suspect arrested by the NIA on Tuesday revealed about it. A huge contingent of police, bomb squad and emergency services were rushed to the spot to defuse the bombs. Habibur Rehman SK is a terror suspect in connection with the 2014 Burdwan bomb blast case.
Uttarakhand cabinet minister’s son killed in road accident in UP
Two persons including the son of Uttarakhand cabinet minister Arvind Pandey were killed and another was critically injured in a road accident near Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly during wee hours of Wednesday. Minister Arvind Pandey’s son Ankur Pandey along with Munna Giri, died on the spot. Their car collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction.
We’re friends who can help each other: US’ Pompeo on ties with India
US’ Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, during his visit to Delhi, called India an important friend and partner for America. “We can see each other not just as bilateral partners, but something much bigger than that so that we can help each other all around the world,” Pompeo added. “All relationships are work-in-progress,” Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said.
Payment firms can process abroad but must bring data back in 24 hrs
The RBI has said foreign payment firms can process transactions outside of the country but the related data should be brought back for local storage within 24 hours. Such data must be “deleted from the systems abroad”, it added. The previous RBI directive in April 2018 didn’t specify whether data can be processed abroad or should only be done locally.
3 kids die after car runs over them, mob beats driver to death
Three children sleeping on the footpath were killed and another child was injured in Patna on Tuesday after a car ran over them, police said. The driver tried to escape but was caught and beaten to death by the mob. The Bihar government has announced an ex gratia of ₹4 lakh to the family of each of the deceased.
Hindus donate land for graveyard to Muslims in Ayodhya
Hindus in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya have donated land to Muslims for a graveyard. “The land is by the side of a graveyard and some Muslims buried their dead here. There were disputes and tension, but now we’ve settled the matter,” said a signatory to the land deed. The registered deed for 1.25 bissas of land was signed on June 20.
226 districts in country facing water crisis: PM Modi
PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday informed Rajya Sabha that around 226 districts in the country are facing water crisis. He said he is considering how water-related issues can be prioritised in MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds. He added it is also important to make society aware about water issues so that future generations can be saved from water crisis.
RBI says all coins must be accepted by public as legal tender
The RBI has urged citizens not to pay heed to rumours regarding the genuineness of coins of 50 paise, ₹1, ₹2, ₹5 and ₹10 denomination of various sizes, themes and designs. It asked the public, including traders and shopkeepers, to continue to accept them as legal tender without hesitation. The central bank reiterated that banks should accept coins for transactions.
MGNREGA workers’ son 1st from his Rajasthan village to crack JEE Main
Lekhraj Bheel, an 18-year-old son of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act labourers, has become the first from Rajasthan’s Mogayabeeh Bhilan village to crack JEE Main. “I didn’t know what an engineer is and couldn’t even dream that my son would graduate,” his father said. “I want to complete engineering degree and take care of my parents,” Lekhraj said.
PM Modi wrongly attributes quote to Mirza Ghalib in Rajya Sabha
PM Narendra Modi wrongly attributed a quote to Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday while taking a swipe at Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad. “Ghalib once said, ‘Ta umr Ghalib ye bhool karta raha, dhool chehre par thi, aaina saaf karta raha’,” PM said. “The sher PM quoted is wrongly attributed to Ghalib,” lyricist Javed Akhtar tweeted.
Delhi triple murder case solved, daughter of victim’s friend arrested
Three days after an elderly couple and a nursing attendant were found murdered in Vasant Vihar, the Delhi Police on Wednesday said they’ve solved the case. The daughter of the slain elderly woman’s friend has been arrested along with her live-in partner. Police said the CCTV footage showed the two left the house seven hours before the bodies were discovered.
Won’t tolerate FDI norms violations: Govt warns e-commerce firms
Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal, in his recent meeting with stakeholders including e-commerce firms, warned strictly against the violations of FDI norms by the e-commerce firms. Goyal addressed the chief executives of close to 25 e-commerce companies, including Flipkart, Amazon India and Zomato. The government is planning to bring out a national policy on e-commerce within the next 12 months.
Balakot air strike planner Samant Goel appointed as new RAW chief
PM Narendra Modi has appointed Samant Goel, who was part of planning the Balakot air strikes, as the next chief of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Goel earlier headed operations for the external intelligence agency and also had a role in surgical strikes after Uri attack. Meanwhile, Arvind Kumar has been appointed as the Director of Intelligence Bureau.
Mamata is trying to create West Bangladesh: BJP’s Dilip Ghosh
Accusing the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government of allowing infiltrators from Bangladesh to settle in West Bengal, state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh said, “She is trying to combine Bengal and Bangladesh and create West Bangladesh.” Ghosh added, “They are saying that you have to learn Bengali to go to West Bengal…The chief minister is very interested in becoming prime minister.”
Congress can neither digest victory nor accept defeat: PM Modi
Seemingly referring to Congress’ victory in three state elections in December 2018 and loss in recent LS polls, PM Narendra Modi said, “I’m shocked looking at Congress. You were in power so long, but it seems you can neither digest victory nor accept defeat.” He added, “This isn’t the last election ever…What’s the point in getting so disappointed over defeat?”
Amitabh Kant to be NITI Aayog CEO for two more years
The government on Wednesday extended think-tank NITI Aayog’s CEO Amitabh Kant’s tenure by two years till June 30, 2021. Kant, who graduated in economics from Delhi’s St. Stephen’s College, is a 1980 batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre. Earlier this month, PM Narendra Modi approved the reconstitution of NITI Aayog and retained Rajiv Kumar as the Vice Chairman.
Sitharaman on list of 100 most influential women in India-UK ties
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has featured in the list of ‘100 Most Influential People in UK-India Relations: Celebrating Women’. The list credited Sitharaman as one of India’s most “powerful women” who plays a “pivotal” role in the bilateral relationship. It was launched by UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid to mark India Day in the Houses of Parliament on Monday.
Pakistan, China back India’s bid for non-permanent UNSC seat
Pakistan, China and 53 other members of the United Nations’ Asia-Pacific Group of countries have backed India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat at the Security Council for a two-year term in 2021-2022. Elections for five non-permanent members for the 2021-2022 term will reportedly be held around June 2020. India has served as a non-permanent member of the UNSC seven times.
