Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Wednesday that the state government has developed a comprehensive roadmap for the energy sector that spans the next 25 years, reported news agency PTI. Speaking at a 'meet-the-press' event in Nagpur, Fadnavis emphasised the government's commitment to enhancing energy accessibility and sustainability in the state. The Chief Minister, who also oversees the energy portfolio, expressed the government's intent to reduce electricity tariffs within the next two to three years, further supporting the state's energy objectives. "The energy sector is very important, and we have prepared the roadmap for the next 25 years," the chief minister said. "We also plan to make sure houses provided to the poor under different government schemes do not get electricity bills. These homes will be covered under solar energy," he said, stated PTI. Moreover, Fadnavis highlighted the importance of expediting the completion of pending projects, particularly in the irrigation sector, which aligns with the broader goal of improving infrastructure and quality of life for residents in Maharashtra. 'Congress insulted Ambedkar; didn't want anyone to grow bigger than Nehru-Gandhi family' Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday demanded that Congress apologise to the nation for insulting Dr BR Ambedkar repeatedly, reported news agency PTI. The Opposition party distorted Union Home Minister Amit Shah's speech in Parliament, he said, speaking at a 'meet-the-press' programme. "Congress should apologise to the nation for always insulting Ambedkar. Its anxiety was that no one should grow in stature above the Nehru-Gandhi family. Congress distorted Amit Shah's comments on Ambedkar to mislead the people. BJP and Shah can not insult Ambedkar even in their dreams," Fadnavis said, reported PTI. Even his own speech in the Maharashtra Assembly where he said that Naxalites do not believe in the country 's Constitution was distorted in such a way that it appeared he did not believe in the Constitution, the chief minister said. "We now have the technology to get the entire digital footprint for identifying those who are circulating such messages," said Fadnavis who also holds the home portfolio, reported PTI. Congress also knows that EVMs are tamper-proof, but "one can not wake up someone who pretends to be sleeping," he said, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
25 December,2024 05:22 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentLeaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) convened at the residence of BJP president J P Nadda in New Delhi on Wednesday to commemorate the birth centenary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, reported news agency PTI. The meeting brought together prominent figures, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, JD-U leader and Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Apna Dal (S) president and Union Minister Anupriya Patel, as well as JD (S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy. In addition to these leaders, the gathering also included Bihar's Hindustani Awam Morcha (S) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) president Upendra Kushwaha, a Rajya Sabha MP, and Thushar Vellappally, president of Bharath Dharma Jana Sena, PTI reported. The meeting, however, did not release any official statement regarding its agenda, though sources indicated that discussions centered around good governance and various political issues. Good governance was a key theme of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, and the NDA members aimed to reflect on this legacy during their discussions. PTI reported. It was also decided to hold an alliance meeting annually to honour the contributions of Vajpayee, who is renowned for successfully leading the first coalition government in India for its full term. This gathering comes at a crucial time as the NDA focuses on the proposal for simultaneous elections, with all constituent parties expressing their support for this initiative. Furthermore, a Joint Parliamentary Committee has been constituted to examine two bills related to simultaneous polls, with its first meeting scheduled for January 8. CM Nitish Kumar to lead NDA in 2025 state polls The NDA will contest the Assembly polls in Bihar next year under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary said on Sunday. Elections to the 243-member Bihar Assembly are due in late 2025. Choudhary said, “The NDA is working under the leadership of Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bihar and we will continue to contest elections under the leadership of both leaders.” “There is no confusion,” he said during a press conference at the BJP headquarters when asked to comment on speculation that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) could do a rethink on projecting Kumar as its leader in the polls. He was responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent interview to a news channel in which he was asked if the NDA could go to the polls in Bihar without declaring a chief ministerial candidate, like it recently did with great success in Maharashtra. (With agency inputs)
25 December,2024 04:56 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday demanded that Congress apologise to the nation for insulting Dr B R Ambedkar repeatedly, reported news agency PTI. The Opposition party distorted Union home minister Amit Shah's speech in Parliament, he said, speaking at a 'meet-the-press' program. "Congress should apologise to the nation for always insulting Ambedkar. Its anxiety was that no one should grow in stature above the Nehru-Gandhi family. Congress distorted Amit Shah's comments on Ambedkar to mislead the people. BJP and Shah can not insult Ambedkar even in their dreams," Fadnavis said, reported PTI. Even his own speech in the Maharashtra assembly where he said that Naxalites do not believe in the country 's Constitution was distorted in such a way that it appeared he did not believe in the Constitution, the chief minister said. "We now have the technology to get the entire digital footprint for identifying those who are circulating such messages," said Fadnavis who also holds the home portfolio, reported PTI. Congress also knows that EVMs are tamper-proof, but "one can not wake up someone who pretends to be sleeping," he said, reported PTI. The Mahayuti received a massive mandate in the assembly elections as it could debunk the fake narrative used by the Opposition during the Lok Sabha polls, he said. The mandate brings a lot of expectations and challenges, he added. "As a Nagpur-kar (native of Nagpur), I want to assure you that power doesn't go to my head. I will never let you down. I believe power is a means for service," Fadnavis said, reported PTI. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule will discuss the issue of appointment of guardian ministers of districts with allies NCP and Shiv Sena, he said, adding, "Whatever decision he takes, will be binding on me. I would like to be the guardian ministers of Gadchiroli, if permitted," reported PTI. Gadchiroli in eastern Maharashtra is affected by Naxal violence. Fadnavis said Naxalism was now at an all-time low, and a lot of development is taking place in Gadchiroli district. Referring to the brutal murder of a sarpanch in Beed district, Fadnavis said his government had taken the incident seriously. "We will not tolerate lawlessness. But it is wrong to defame the Beed district," he added. (With inputs from PTI)
25 December,2024 02:03 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentDense fog enveloped parts of Delhi on Wednesday morning, reducing visibility to 100 metres in the early hours. The mercury settled at a low of 8.4 degrees Celsius, 1.5 notches below the seasonal average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Humidity levels in the city were recorded at 100 per cent at 8.30 am. Safdurjung and Palam witnessed dense fog in the morning which brought down visibility to 100 metres, the IMD said. The weather office has forecast fog during the day. The maximum temperature is expected to settle around 22 degrees Celsius. Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 333 in the 'very poor' category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Out of the 36 monitoring stations, Mundka recorded 'severe' air quality while some recorded 'poor' air quality. On Tuesday, the maximum temperature in Delhi was recorded at 21 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature settled at 9 degrees Celsius, intensifying the need for night shelters, where homeless people found relief from the biting cold. On Tuesday evening, Delhi experienced light rain across several parts, further amplifying the winter chill. However, the unexpected rain caused traffic jams and congestion in parts of the city, with vehicles moving at a snail's pace on roads like Ring Road near South Extension. (With inputs from Agencies)
25 December,2024 01:11 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentWelcome to Mid-Day's Top News at this hour! We bring you a curated selection of the most significant and compelling news from around the globe. Stay informed with the latest developments in the nation, Mumbai, entertainment, sports, and more. Let's dive into the headlines shaping our world today. Mumbai: Cuffe Parade reels from ‘unsavoury activities’ The Cuffe Parade Residents’ Association (CPRA) has raised serious concerns about women’s safety following the growing menace of drug abuse and immoral activities, including prostitution, in the elite residential locality. The residents have alleged that the slum dwellers have damaged the fencing net of Bay View Marina Garden where “cleaning crew members have discovered discarded condoms”, Preeti Bedi, the secretary of the CPRA, told mid-day. Bedi stressed the urgent need of “foot patrolling by the police” at the garden. Read more. Punjab terror conspiracy case: Arrested Babbar Khalsa man worked as a crane operator at Mumbai Metro site Jatinder Singh alias Jyoti, a key figure attached to the Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), had been living in Maharashtra Nagar, Mankhurd, for the past three months and was working as a crane operator at an ongoing Metro construction project before being arrested, officials have revealed. His capture, on Monday, has raised serious questions about Mumbai’s security and intelligence mechanisms, as the BKI is known to have links with gangster and terrorist Dawood Ibrahim. Read more. Borivli hawker menace: Will resume services soon on Borivli road cleared of hawkers, says BEST undertaking The BEST undertaking on Tuesday assured Borivli residents that bus services at Bhaji Market Gully, also known as court lane, in Borivli West would resume soon. The undertaking has stated it would shift to smaller electric or conventional models if the bigger Olectra Greentech buses do not fit on the road. Read more. Skipper Rohit on a good deck These are challenging times for Rohit Sharma. His personal form has been anything but inspiring and his fellow batters are locked in a desperate battle with their own selves as much as the opposition bowling. But if Rohit is feeling the heat, there simply is no evidence. Read more. Welcome To The Jungle: 34 actors of Akshay Kumar-starrer to shoot 3 songs in UAE Foreign shores are calling the team of Welcome to the Jungle. The ensemble comedy—which boasts 34 actors, including Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Arshad Warsi, Jacqueliene Fernandez, Disha Patani, Jackie Shroff and many more—had gone on floors in Mumbai in April, followed by another marathon schedule in August and September. Now, director Ahmed Khan is gearing up for a 15-day stint in the United Arab Emirates, during which three songs will be canned. Read more.
25 December,2024 11:15 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentCongress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday extended greetings on the auspicious occasion of Christmas and wished for everyone to enjoy a celebration filled with "peace, joy, and the light of kindness and love," reported news agency ANI. "May the spirit of Christmas illuminate our hearts with compassion and fill our days with kindness and joy. Wishing you and your loved ones a celebration filled with peace, joy, and the light of kindness and love," Priyanka Gandhi posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday. May the spirit of Christmas illuminate our hearts with compassion and fill our days with kindness and joy. Wishing you and your loved ones a celebration filled with peace, joy, and the light of kindness and love. 🎄💜💜💜 pic.twitter.com/rj9fCYKaC1 — Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) December 25, 2024 Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge also extended Christmas greetings and stated that the festival underscores the need to follow the ideals of sacrifice, service, redemption and amity in his post. "To my fellow citizens, I extend warm wishes on Christmas, which embodies the ideals of forgiveness, peace, and unity. The festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ underscores the need to follow the ideals of sacrifice, service, redemption and amity," Kharge said in a post on X. "The values of compassion for all living beings and concern for those in need imbue this joyous occasion with a unique spirit of sharing. May these festivities usher in a new era of hope, happiness, and prosperity for all. Merry Christmas!" added the Congress president. To my fellow citizens, I extend warm wishes on Christmas, which embodies the ideals of forgiveness, peace, and unity. The festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ underscores the need to follow the ideals of sacrifice, service, redemption and amity. The values of… pic.twitter.com/352tp8SLfU — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) December 25, 2024 Cities across India were beautifully adorned with lights on Tuesday night, setting the stage for Christmas celebrations. Churches and markets came alive with vibrant decorations, including sparkling stars, twinkling lights, and intricately arranged Christmas cribs, creating a joyous ambience on the eve of the holiday, stated ANI. Visuals from across India captured the essence of the celebrations. The St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral was adorned with lights, stars in Ernakulam, Kerala. Similarly, ANI stated that special prayers were held at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral in Thiruvananthapuram. In Goa's Panaji, the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church sparkled with festive decor, while in Tamil Nadu's Madurai, the St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral was beautifully illuminated, as shown in captivating drone visuals, stated ANI. The highlight at the Santhome Cathedral Basilica in Chennai was the midnight mass prayers, and devotees also gathered at the Thiru Iruthaya Andavar Church in Thoothukudi. (With inputs from ANI)
25 December,2024 11:07 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentJammu and Kashmir (J-K) Police have intensified their crackdown on drug peddling in the region, registering 94 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act this year, officials said on Tuesday. As part of their efforts, chargesheets have been filed in 64 cases, and 156 individuals have been arrested and produced in court. "Along with terrorism, there is a drug menace as well. J-K Police are relentlessly working against drug peddling and those involved. This year, we have registered 94 cases under the NDPS Act. Chargesheets have been filed in 64 cases, and 156 people have been produced in court. We have also seized properties worth Rs 4.5 crore," Srinagar SSP Imtiyaz Hussain said. On December 22, the Budgam Police attached properties worth Rs1.28 crore in four cases under the NDPS Act. The properties include a residential house and vehicles, such as a Mahindra Scorpio, Mini Truck, and Ashoka Leyland, owned by Muhammad Yaseen Dar of Sholipora Budgam. Dar is implicated in FIR Nos. 302/2020 and 134/2021. Additionally, in Chadoora, police attached land and a residential house worth Rs 63.7 lakh owned by Muhammad Ayoub Beigh, involved in case FIR No. 47/2024, officials said. On December 10, Awantipora Police seized property worth Rs3.30 lakh from drug peddler Jitender Singh. The property, a four-wheeler, was confiscated under Section 68-F of the NDPS Act for being acquired through illicit drug trafficking, they said. In October, Anantnag Police disrupted an interstate drug trafficking racket. Three individuals were arrested, and 413 bottles of Codeine Phosphate were recovered. The consignment, destined for Sopore and Srinagar, was intercepted at Doonipora Sangam, they added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 December,2024 09:22 AM IST | Srinagar | AgenciesTwo persons were injured in a firing incident in the Aman Vihar area of the city on Tuesday night, police said. According to officials, the shooting occurred after a scuffle. The injured were identified as Bharat and Tushar. Both were rushed to the hospital, where Bharat has since been discharged, and Tushar is undergoing treatment, they said. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and also under the Arms Act. Delhi Police are making efforts to arrest the accused. Further details are awaited. Earlier, a 21-year-old youth died and another man was critically injured in Delhi's Jahangirpuri area on Monday after being stabbed by three juveniles, who were later apprehended. The deceased was identified as Aman (21), a resident of Jahangirpuri, and the injured person as Pawan (45). This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 December,2024 09:17 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe Congress party on Tuesday held a nationwide protest—‘Ambedkar Samman March’—including in Jammu, Amritsar, Haryana, Bhopal, Jharkhand, Guwahati and Chennai, to protest against Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Constitution, and reiterated its demand for an apology. A weeklong campaign against Shah was launched with the party alleging that Shah insulted Ambedkar with his remarks while participating in a debate on the Constitution in the Rajya Sabha last week. Scores of workers, former ministers, ex-legislators and senior leaders joined the march demanding Shah’s resignation. Slogans against the BJP and Shah, and hailing Ambedkar, reverberated in the rally. The Congress leaders also submitted a memorandum demanding respect and dignity for Ambedkar. “The agitation has now reached the ‘sadak’ from Sansad. We will continue to hold marches to ensure justice for the architect of the Constitution. We will not tolerate any insult to Ambedkar,” said Congress’ Jammu and Kashmir working president Raman Bhalla. In Haryana, Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda led the protest with other party leaders and workers in Rohtak, while Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari, along with former MP chief minister Digvijaya Singh, with other party leaders and workers led the protest in Bhopal. Kalaburagi observes bandh Protesters in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi took to streets on Tuesday following a bandh call given by Dalit organisations to condemn the recent statement of Shah on Ambedkar in the Parliament. Adequate security arrangements have been put in place by the police to avoid any untoward incidents. According to police, the city is completely shut with no traffic movement as buses, auto rickshaws and taxis are not operating and shops are also shut following the bandh call given by various Dalit organisations. “A bandh is being observed in Kalaburagi after a call for the same was given by various Dalit organisations condemning the statement of union home minister on Ambedkar. We have deployed police forces in large numbers. Adequate security measures are in place to avoid any untoward incident,” a senior police officer said. “Situation remains peaceful and everything is under control,” he said. BSP demands resignation Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) workers on Tuesday held protests in parts of the state over Shah’s remarks on Ambedkar and demanded his resignation. BSP chief Mayawati had earlier described Shah’s remarks made in Rajya Sabha last week as deeply hurtful to Ambedkar’s followers. On Tuesday, BSP workers staged protests in parts of the state, including the state capital Lucknow, where people gathered in front of Ambedkar’s statue in Hazratganj area. Party workers, carried copies of the Preamble and posters of Ambedkar in their hands and raised slogans. Congress, BJP, AAP councillors clash The councillors of Congress, BJP and AAP clashed on Tuesday over the Ambedkar issue during the general house meeting of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation here. The Congress and AAP councillors had passed a motion against Shah over his remarks and demanded his resignation, while BJP councillors accused the Congress of trying to belittle Babasaheb Ambedkar during Nehru's time. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 December,2024 09:09 AM IST | Jammu | AgenciesThe Delhi police on Tuesday claimed to have unearthed a gang involved in illegal immigration of Bangladeshi nationals arresting at least 11 people in connection. Among those arrested, four are Bangladeshi citizens and the rest were allegedly involved in making forged documents, an official said. “The gang was busted when our team tracked down four people involved in a murder case in Sangam Vihar on October 21,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Ankit Chauhan. The accused persons were found in possession of Bangladeshi ID cards (chip-based NID cards) and birth certificates. Around 21 Aadhar cards, four voter ID cards, and eight PAN cards were also recovered from the victim’s residence, said police. A team led by Inspectors Umesh Yadav and Umesh Sharma, under the supervision of ACPs Abhinendera Jain and Niraj Tokas, was formed to conduct a thorough probe into the illegal immigration issue, Chauhan said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 December,2024 09:03 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe death toll in the gas tanker crash on the Ajmer highway climbed to 15 on Tuesday, with two more persons succumbing to their injuries, hospital authorities said. “Two patients undergoing treatment died in the morning. Three were discharged yesterday. At present, 18 patients are under treatment and five of them are critical,” Dr Sushil Bhati, Superintendent of the SMS Hospital, said. He said one or two persons would be discharged later in the day as their condition has improved. An LPG tanker collided with a truck on December 20, sparking a massive fireball that turned a stretch of the Jaipur-Ajmer highway into an inferno. Eleven persons had died on the day of the incident. Police question tanker driver The driver of an LPG tanker that was involved in the December 20 explosion on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway, appeared before police and later will be also questioned by the Special Investigation Team probing the case, a senior official said on Tuesday. The driver, identified as Jaiveer, 40, a resident of Mathura in UP, managed to get out of the tanker in time after sensing the impact of the collision, which broke the tanker's outlet nozzles. An FIR was registered in the matter on the day of the incident. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 December,2024 09:01 AM IST | Jaipur | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
