New Delhi:

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has moved the Supreme Court against the directives by the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments that eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route must display the names of their owners.

In her plea before the top court, Ms Moitra has sought a stay on the orders passed by the two state governments saying such directives aggravate discord between communities.

The plea is yet to be listed for hearing.

The TMC leader said by forcing the disclosure of the names of proprietors and even those of their staff, on the stated ground of respecting pilgrims’ dietary choices, “makes it clear that dietary choices is a pretext, or a proxy, for the compelled disclosure of personal — and, in this case, religious — identity”, the plea said.

The plea alleged that this has been done to create a socially-enforced economic boycott on Muslim shop owners and workers, and the loss of their livelihoods.

“Since June 2023, the Respondent No. 1 (State of UP) continued to empower and embolden the anti-social elements by actively targeting Muslim owned businesses based on fabricated and malicious information circulated by the anti-social elements.

“The Respondent No. 1, through acts of commission and omission, created conditions for the complete economic boycott of Muslim minorities on the pretext of their ‘impure’ dietary choices,” the petition said.

On Monday, the Supreme COURT is scheduled to hear a plea against the Uttar Pradesh government’s controversial order. A bench of justices Hrishikesh Roy and S V N Bhatti is likely to hear the plea filed by NGO Association of Protection of Civil Rights.

Meanwhile, extensive arrangements have been made across several states for the Kanwar Yatra that starts on Monday with the beginning of the Sawan month of the Hindu calendar during which lakhs of Shiva devotees carry holy water from the Ganges in Haridwar to their homes while offering it at Shiva temples on their way.

Days after the Muzaffarnagar police asked all eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their owners’ names, the Uttar Pradesh government on Friday extended the controversial order across the state.

The order issued by the Muzaffarnagar police earlier this week has been slammed by opposition parties and some members of the ruling NDA at the Centre, who say it targets Muslim traders.

Authorities in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Sunday said they have made special arrangements to ensure a smooth yatra and extensive security measures are in place.

Spanning from July 22 to August 19, this special period for the worship of Lord Shiva will include five Mondays. 

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

New Delhi:

The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Friday said it has initiated legal action against Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra for her remarks against its chairperson Rekha Sharma.

This came a day after the TMC, commenting on a video posted on X showing the NCW chairperson’s arrival at the site of a stampede that recently took place in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras, wrote, “She is too busy holding up her boss’s pajamas”.

The NCW in a statement said that a formal complaint has been filed with the Delhi Police and a letter has been sent to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at the Parliament stating that Ms Moitra’s remarks are condemnable in strongest possible words and being a Member of Parliament, it is unbecoming of her stature.

Reacting to the same, Ms Moitra took a jibe at the NCW and posted on X, “Come on @DelhiPolice please take action immediately on these suo moto orders. Am in Nadia in case you need me in the next 3 days to make a quick arrest. I Can Hold My Own Umbrella”.

In the letter to Mr Birla, the NCW has urged the speaker of the Lok Sabha to look into the matter and take appropriate action against Ms Moitra.

“These crude remarks are not only outrageous but also a severe violation of a woman’s right to dignity,” the NCW said.

While in the letter to the Delhi police, the NCW said upon careful consideration, the Commission said it has has determined that Ms Moitra’s remarks fall under Section 79 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023.

The NCW demanded registration of FIR against Ms Moitra. 

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

New Delhi:

Delhi High Court on Wednesday said allegations of conspiring against the prime minister amount to treason and cannot be levelled irresponsibly without any cogent material.

The court was hearing a lawsuit by BJD MP Pinaki Misra against lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai over his allegedly defamatory tweets and statements, including that the lawmaker — along with expelled TMC MP Mahua Moitra — conspired against the prime minister.

Justice Jasmeet Singh observed that while a politician cannot be “sensitive”, Dehadrai should await the outcome of his complaint to the authorities and cannot be “trigger happy”.

Ms Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha on December 8 following accusations by Mr Dehadrai, her former partner, that she took bribes from businessman and Hiranandani Group CEO Darshan Hiranandani to ask questions in Parliament.

“When you say conspiracy against the prime minister, it is troublesome. You can’t be trigger happy … Conspiracy against the prime minister is an offence against the state, (it is) treason,” the court said during the hearing.

“It has serious repercussions on the general public … Wait for the investigation (to conclude) before you say all this,” it added.

Mr Dehadrai and his counsel assured the court that he would not make further statements in relation to Misra “conspiring” against the prime minister till the next date of hearing.

“Mr (Raghav) Awasthi, who appears for the defendant, assures the court that no allegation of the plaintiff being involved in any conspiracy against the prime minister will be made till the next date of hearing,” the court recorded.

It added that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is already looking into the allegations and the dispute between Mr Dehadrai and Ms Moitra is also pending before the high court.

“Prima facie the allegation of conspiring against the prime minister is a serious allegation. The same tantamount to treason. The allegation of conspiring against the prime minister cannot be made irresponsibly and needs to be based on cogent and substantive reasons,” the court said.

Taking the statement of the defendant on record, the court issued notices on the lawsuit to Mr Dehadrai and two media houses, and listed it for further hearing in July.

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

Kolkata:

Exuding confidence in securing her Krishnanagar Lok Sabha seat with a bigger margin, senior TMC leader Mahua Moitra feels that her victory would be a fitting response to the “conspiracy” to expel her from Lok Sabha last year and tarnish her reputation through raids and summons by central agencies in a cash-for-query case.

She asserted that despite all efforts by the BJP to “sound the death knell” for constitutional democracy, India is too great a country to be destroyed by the fascists.

Ms Moitra, who was re-nominated by the TMC from the same Krishnanagar seat after being expelled last year, accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of acting as “political agents of the saffron camp”.

In an interview with PTI, Ms Moitra said the Election Commission has “lost its independence” since commissioners are handpicked by a selection committee where the Centre has two-thirds majority.

“There is no doubt about my victory. It is about how big the margin will be, which will be decided on June 4. I live here and have been among my people for the past five years and even before that as an MLA. So there is a very strong connection, and frankly, there is no election mode as such here,” she said.

She won by a margin of over 60,000 votes in the 2019 elections, bagging 45 per cent of the total votes polled.

“My victory would be a fitting response to the conspiracy to expel me and tarnish my reputation,” the 49-year-old politician said.

Ms Moitra, known for her outspokenness and fiery debates in the Lok Sabha, was expelled from the Lower House in December last year after a parliamentary Ethics Committee’s report held her accountable for accepting gifts and illegal gratification.

The former investment banker with JP Morgan Chase, who had dubbed the expulsion recommendation by the Ethics committee as a “prefixed match by a kangaroo court”, claimed the BJP has been trying to destroy democracy in the country.

“I have been saying this since my first speech in Parliament. The BJP is sounding the death knell for India as a constitutional democracy… But India is too great a nation to be destroyed by these fascist thugs,” she said.

Asked why the people of her constituency would believe her side of the story instead of the version propagated by the BJP, Ms Moitra said she is the daughter of the soil.

“This is my Karmabhoomi and my Dharmabhoomi. My people will back me 100 per cent,” she said.

While the cash-for-query controversy brought an abrupt end to her first term as a parliamentarian, it undeniably enhanced her stature within the party, with unwavering support from the TMC top leadership and the entire opposition.

Speaking about the CBI raids at her premises and summons by the Enforcement Directorate, which she has skipped, Ms Moitra alleged those agencies are an integral part of the BJP.

The CBI conducted a raid on her property regarding the cash-for-query case, prompted by the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal’s directive following allegations from BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, which she rejected.

Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate has issued fresh summons to her and businessman Darshan Hiranandani for questioning in a case involving contravention of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

Ms Moitra recently complained to the EC, alleging that the BJP was employing the CBI and the ED to disrupt her campaign and tarnish her image before the elections, although she expressed scepticism about the poll panel taking any action on the matter.

“The EC itself now has lost its independence. The commissioners are handpicked by the two-thirds majority of the prime minister and the home minister. Within 30 minutes, 200 names were given to choose (two Election Commissioners after the resignation of Arun Goel last month). The entire exercise is a farce,” she said.

The former MLA from Karimpur seat in the West Bengal Assembly said opposition leaders and political parties still write to the EC, as “we need to write and record it for history, and that is also important”.

Asked if re-elected, whether she would continue with the same zeal in attacking the saffron party on policy issues, Ms Moitra shot back, “What do you think… I will get back to my seat and sing paeans to the BJP?” Ms Moitra had repeatedly questioned the Centre’s involvement in the expansion of assets of a private conglomerate and had moved multiple lawsuits in the Supreme Court challenging various policies made by the Narendra Modi government.

On whether it is possible to defeat the BJP-led NDA, as the opposition bloc INDIA is not finding enough traction in most of the states, Ms Moitra said, “The people are the ultimate decision-makers. I have faith in the people. It may be delayed but it will happen.” The TMC leader said implementation of CAA rules will not have much impact in her constituency, which has a considerable Matua population.

“The Matua population is in higher numbers in the neighbouring seat of Ranaghat. Here we have a small percentage. But yes, Matua organisations themselves are telling their members not to apply for CAA and mark themselves as illegal foreigners, given they have enjoyed all state benefits for the past years,” she said.

Ms Moitra was referring to All India Matua Mahasangha’s directive that has advised its members to abstain from submitting citizenship applications due to a lack of necessary documents proving their previous residential address in Bangladesh.

When asked about her opinion on her opponent from the saffron camp, ‘Rajmata’ Amrita Roy of the Krishnanagar Royal family, she said the candidate is of no consequence to her.

“My fight is against the BJP symbol. I am least bothered about who they have put up. June 4 will show the results,” she said. 

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

Krishananagar:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday mocked the BJP’s target of winning 400-plus seats in the Lok Sabha polls and challenged the saffron camp to win at least 200 constituencies.

Ms Banerjee also asserted that she won’t allow the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act in the state.

She cautioned people that applying for CAA would turn an applicant into a foreigner and urged them not to apply for it.

“The BJP is saying “400 paar”, I challenge them to cross the 200 seats benchmark first. In 2021 assembly polls, they gave a call of 200 plus seats but had to stop at 77,” she said.

“The CAA is a trap to turn legal citizens into foreigners. We would allow neither CAA nor NRC in West Bengal,” she said while addressing her first rally in the election season after her injury earlier this month.

Ms Banerjee, the TMC supremo, slammed the opposition bloc INDIA partners — CPI(M) and Congress — for “joining hands with the BJP” in West Bengal.

“There is no INDIA alliance in West Bengal. The CPI(M) and Congress are working for the BJP in Bengal,” she said while addressing an election rally at Krishnanagar in support of TMC candidate Mahua Moitra.

“Our MP Mahua Moitra was maligned and expelled from the Lok Sabha as she was vocal against the BJP,” she added. 

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

New Delhi:

Amrita Roy, the erstwhile royal of Bengal’s Krishnagar who will take on Trinamool Congress’s Mahua Moitra, told NDTV today that given the law and order situation in the state, she thought she had a role to play.

Citing the recent allegations of land grab and sexual harassment emanating from Sandeshkhali against Trinammol Congress strongman Sheikh Shahjahan, she told NDTV in an exclusive interview that such events happen every other day.

“Some things are coming out. Other things are being kept under wraps… So I feel that I have a big role to play… this cannot go on,” she told NDTV.

“People are scared to come out or talk… in case they get a bad name. They are being deprived of their fundamental right,” she added.

The idea of contesting, though, was of the BJP, which had approached her, she told NDTV. She said though she had been apolitical all her life, she had accepted “since it was a good platform”.

The BJP, which is hoping to win at least 25 of the state’s 42 seats, is focusing on woman power this time.

With Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress said to be backed by the state’s women, the BJP is hoping its women candidates would help it expand its footprint in the state.

Ms Roy is facing Mahua Moitra, the sitting MP from Trinamool till she was disqualified by a Parliamentary Ethics Committee over the alleged cash-for questions controversy earlier this year.

In a huge show of support for Ms Moitra, the party has fielded her from Krishnanagar again, expressing confidence that she would be re-elected.

Asked about senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh’s remarks about Mamata Banerjee — over which he has received a showcause notice from the Election Commission —  Ms Roy said,  “In politics, many things can be misinterpreted. You should be a little cautious,” she said.

“Didi goes to Goa and says, ‘I am Goa’s daughter’… goes to Tripura and says, ‘Am Tripura’s daughter’. Decide who your father is. It is not good to be just anybody’s daughter,” Dilip Ghosh had said – words that have even been slammed by his own party.

New Delhi:

Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in a foreign exchange violation case, sources said Wednesday.

The agency wants to question Ms Moitra over transactions linked to a non-resident external, or NRE, account, as well as a few instances of foreign remittances and transfer of funds, sources said.

Ms Moitra has denied any wrongdoing in the matter.

The summons are the Enforcement Directorate’s third to the former Krishnanagar Lok Sabha MP; she skipped the first two citing scheduling conflicts and sought a new date from the agency.

READ | Mahua Moitra Summoned By ED In Foreign Exchange Violation Case

The summons comes after the Central Bureau of Investigation filed a case and raided her Kolkata home in the cash-for-query case that led to Ms Moitra’s expulsion from Parliament in December.

A parliamentary ethics panel had found Ms Moitra’s conduct “immoral (and) indecent”.

She has been accused of taking Rs 2 crore in cash, as well as “luxury gift items”, from a businessman – Darshan Hiranandani – to ask questions critical of the government in Parliament. She was also accused of sharing log-in details to her confidential account on the parliament website.

READ | Mahua Moitra Expelled From Parliament: “Her Conduct Immoral, Indecent”

Mr Hiranandani has also been called for questioning, but in an unrelated case; this case deals with his Mumbai-based real estate group. Earlier his father, Niranjan Hiranandani, was questioned.

Ms Moitra has denied, vehemently, the bribery charges (but said she did share website credentials, arguing it is common practice among MPs). The Supreme Court will hear this case in May.

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had slammed the expulsion as “vendetta politics” by the Bharatiya Janata Party. “BJP has killed democracy… this is injustice. Mahua will win the battle. The people will give a befitting reply to the BJP. They will be defeated in the next election,” she said.

READ | “Mahua Will Win Battle”: Mamata Condemns Trinamool MP’s Expulsion

The Trinamool has re-nominated Ms Moitra to contest from the Krishnanagar seat she won in the 2019 election; she eased to victory five years ago, picking up nearly 45 per cent of the total votes.

She will contest Amrita Roy, the rajmata of a local royal family, whom the BJP hopes will have enough sway to win a seat that it has won only once since the seat first voted in 1967.

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New Delhi:

Trinamool leader Mahua Moitra must overcome the challenge of Bharatiya Janata Party debutant Amrita Roy, the matriarch of a local royal family, if she is to win back the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha seat from which she was so controversially expelled last year. 

Rajmata (or Queen Mother) Amrita Roy was named Sunday in the BJP’s fifth list, which included quite a few surprises; actors Kangana Ranaut and Arun Govil will contest Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi and Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut, while Varun Gandhi has been dropped from UP’s Pilibhit.

The identity of Ms Moitra’s opponent in next month’s election comes days after the Central Bureau of Investigation filed a police case and raided her Kolkata home in the cash-for-query case. In response, Ms Moitra taunted the BJP for having not yet named its candidate for the Krishnanagar seat. 

The CBI came home & to my election offices today. Were very polite. Searched. Found nothing. Meanwhile @sayani06 & I still searching for BJP candidates against us . pic.twitter.com/njt8VXWnuH

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) March 23, 2024

Mahua Moitra, 49, eased to victory in Krishnanagar in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, picking up 45 per cent of the votes to finish over 60,000 ahead of the BJP’s Kalyan Chaubey.

Since then, the former investment banker has grown into one of the BJP’s fiercest critics, with impassioned speeches in Parliament, backed up by sharply worded jabs on social media, earning her run-ins with union ministers, saffron party leaders, and right-wing trolls.

Krishnanagar has been held by the Trinamool since 2009, when Tapas Paul took it off the CPIM, which ruled here unchallenged from 1971 to 1999. The Left party is unlikely to be a contender in this election, which will be a straight fight Ms Moitra and the rajmata, who is backed by the BJP looking for a big win over Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool.

The Trinamool re-nominating Mahua Moitra from Krishnanagar has been seen as an act of defiance to the BJP – a throwing down of the gauntlet after her hugely contentious expulsion on corruption charges.

READ | In Retaining Mahua Moitra As Poll Pick, Trinamool’s Defiant Message To BJP

The party took some time to come to Ms Moitra’s aid but has now rallied firmly to her side. Ms Banerjee has described her sacking “murder of democracy”.

For the Trinamool, Ms Moitra has emerged as one of the central figures in this battle against the BJP – a re-run of the pitched (in many cases) warfare that marked the 2021 state poll. 

READ | “Mahua Will Win Battle”: Mamata Condemns Trinamool MP’s Expulsion

Mamata Banerjee’s party is, on paper, a member of the INDIA opposition bloc. 

However, on the ground the Trinamool is contesting under its own steam; there is no seat-sharing deal with INDIA members, which, in Bengal, includes the CPIM and the Congress. 

Bengal has 42 Lok Sabha seats – the most after Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra – and is, therefore, a key state for a BJP that wants to win 370+ seats on its own. 

A good score in Bengal – where it picked up 18 last time – is critical.

Mahua Moitra Was Expelled. What Happened?

A little less than four months ago, Ms Moitra was expelled on charges of corruption. 

READ | Mahua Moitra Expelled From Parliament: “Her Conduct Immoral, Indecent”

She allegedly took Rs 2 crore in cash and “luxury gift items” from a businessman – Darshan Hiranandani – to ask questions critical of the government in Parliament. She was also accused of sharing log-in details to her confidential account on the parliament website.

She has denied the bribery charges (but said she did share portal credentials, arguing it is common practice among MPs). The Supreme Court will hear this case in May.

New Delhi/Kolkata:

Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra’s home in Kolkata was searched by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today in the cash-for-query case.

This comes a day after the CBI registered a First Information Report or FIR against Mahua Moitra.

The Lokpal had earlier this week asked the CBI to probe the allegations against Ms Moitra and submit a report within six months.

The CBI had also been asked to file periodical reports regarding the status of the investigation every month.

“After careful evaluation and consideration of the entire material on record, there remains no doubt regarding the fact that the allegations leveled against the Respondent Public Servant (RPS), most of which are supported by cogent evidence, are extremely serious in nature, especially in view of the position held by her,” Lokpal said in its order.

Mahua Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha in December last year.

An ethics panel recommended the (now) ex-MP be removed after she was accused of taking bribes  from businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for asking questions critical of the Narendra Modi government in Parliament.

She was also accused of surrendering confidential log-in credentials for the parliamentary website, so Mr Hiranandani could post questions directly.

Ms Moitra denied the bribery charges but admitted to sharing the log-in details. She argued that sharing of these details is common practice among MPs.

She has challenged her expulsion in the Supreme Court.

Lokpal orders CBI probe into charges against Mahua Moitra

The Lokpal has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to further probe the allegations made against former Lok Sabha member Mahua Moitra and submit a report on its findings within six months. “After careful evaluation and consideration of the entire material on record, there remains no doubt regarding the fact that the allegations levelled against the RPS (Respondent Public Servant), most of which are supported by cogent evidence, are extremely serious in nature, especially in view of the position held by her,” said the Lokpal’s judgment.

PM Modi, BJP slam Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on ‘Shakti’ as evidence that the Congress is anti-Hindu and anti-women

For the second successive day, the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Congress party and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on ‘Shakti’, making the issue an important theme in the party’s campaign for the Lok Sabha election. In Salem, the Prime Minister alleged at a public rally that the Congress and its allies, including Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), were out to “destroy Shakti”, but asserted that “they will get destroyed” instead.

Lok Sabha election | Congress plans to reach every household with 25 guarantees and ‘paanch nyay’

Asserting that the BJP’s guarantees for 2024 Lok Sabha polls would be another “India shining” moment, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on March 19 urged its office-bearers to ensure that the party’s 25 guarantees and five pillars of justice or paanch nyay reached every household in India. After a three-hour discussion, the CWC approved the manifesto that will also include a section on electoral bonds. Former party chief Rahul Gandhi told the closed door CWC meeting that the electoral bond scheme had “exposed the BJP’s corruption and extortion tactics”.

SC directs States and Union Territories to give ration cards to 8 crore migrant workers

The Supreme Court on March 19 took exception to the delays in the implementation of its April 2023 order to provide ration cards to about eight crore migrant workers registered in the eShram portal but not covered under the National Food Security Act. The portal has 28.6 crore registrants. Of this, 20.63 crore find place in ration card data. A Bench led by Justice Hima Kohli directed States and Union Territories to provide ration cards to the remaining eight crore migrant and unorganised sector workers registered on the eShram portal in two months.

Schoolchildren at PM Modi’s Coimbatore road show | FIR registered, action to be taken against headmaster, report called for

The Sai Baba Colony Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on Tuesday, against the management of a government-aided school for bringing schoolchildren to participate in a roadshow led by BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Coimbatore on March 18.

Congress poll panel clears Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Kharge’s son-in-law as Lok Sabha candidates

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress leader and member from Baharampur in the outgoing Lok Sabha, is among the candidates whose names were cleared by the party’s central election committee (CEC). The CEC also cleared the name of Radhakrishnan D., the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s son-in-law, as the party’s candidate for Gulbarga. Mr. Kharge had represented the seat in 2009 and 2014, but lost it in 2019.

Regulator snubs revenue projections at Adani-controlled Thiruvananthapuram Airport

The Adani-controlled Thiruvananthapuram Airport’s projection of revenue from non-aeronautical services such as the sale of food and beverages — used to subsidise costs levied on airlines and passengers — is just a “miniscule” 12% of the norm, according to the country’s airport tariff regulator. In fact, it is only a third of what the airport earned before privatisation.

Activist calls for border march in Ladakh to mark land lost to China

Around 10,000 people from Ladakh will march to the border along China this month to showcase how much land has been lost to the neighbouring country, climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk said on Tuesday. Mr. Wangchuk has been protesting in open in sub-zero temperature in Leh, surviving only on salt and water for the past 14 days, to demand constitutional safeguards for the Union Territory.

Railways earned ₹1,230 crore from cancelled waiting list tickets in span of 3 years

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21 lakh SIM cards in use have fake proof: DoT

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Army repurposes 21 Signal Group to research futuristic communications tech

The Army has transformed the 21 Signals Group into the Signals Technology Evaluation and Adaptation Group (STEAG). It will function as an elite technology Unit which will research and evaluate futuristic communication technologies like AI, 5G, 6G, machine learning and quantum technologies for defence applications. 

To solve for dietary preference of 100% vegetarians, Zomato introduces a ‘pure veg’ fleet

Food delivery platform Zomato on March 19 launched a “pure veg” delivery fleet that would deliver orders from restaurants that do not serve meat, fish or egg-based dishes. The fleet’s personnel are shown in promotional images wearing green uniforms and with green boxes on their bikes, and the company will not assign “pure veg” delivery partners to any orders from restaurants where food is not exclusively vegetarian.

Former Mumbai police officer gets life imprisonment in fake encounter case

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Police shoot dead man accused of murdering two minors in Uttar Pradesh

Police shot dead a man accused of murdering two boys aged 12 and 6 in Budaun district of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. A mob set ablaze a shop belonging to the accused man. Tension gripped Badaun district as news of the murder spread. The accused man, Mohd. Sajid, is said to have slit the throats of the minors who were brothers and also injured a third brother, aged 8, who managed to escape and share the horror with his parents. 

UN chief ‘alarmed’ by reports civilians killed in Myanmar air strikes

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has said he is “alarmed” by reports of ongoing Myanmar military air strikes on villages in Rakhine state, where locals told AFP more than 20 people were killed on March 18. Clashes have rocked Myanmar’s western Rakhine state since the Arakan Army (AA) attacked security forces in November, ending a ceasefire that had largely held since the military’s 2021 coup.

Trump says Jews who vote for Democrats ‘hate Israel’ and their religion

Former President Donald Trump on Monday charged that Jews who vote for Democrats “hate Israel” and hate “their religion,” igniting a firestorm of criticism from the White House and Jewish leaders. Mr. Trump, in an interview, had been asked about Democrats’ growing criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his handling of the war in Gaza as the civilian death toll continues to mount.

World Meteorological Organisation confirms 2023 as ‘hottest year’

In line with a host of observations by climate agencies in the preceding three months, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has officially confirmed 2023 to be the hottest year on record. The State of Global Climate Report, published Tuesday, stated that the global average near-surface temperature was 1.45 degrees Celsius (with a margin of uncertainty of ± 0.12 degrees Celsius) above the pre-industrial baseline. It was the warmest ten-year period on record.

Israel may be using starvation as ‘weapon of war’: U.N.

The U.N. said on March 19 that Israel’s severe restrictions on aid into war-ravaged Gaza coupled with its military offensive could amount to using starvation as a “weapon of war”, which would be a “war crime”. United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk denounced the rampant hunger and looming famine in Gaza.

IPL | I would like to see Dhoni smash the ball the way he loves to, says Vijay

Sameer Rizvi made the headlines in December 2023 when he became the most expensive uncapped player at the IPL auction. He was bought by Chennai Super Kings for a whopping 8.40 cr. The promising youngster from Uttar Pradesh is known for his power-hitting abilities in the middle-order, making him the ideal player to fill the role that Ambati Rayudu played for the five-time champion.