TOP STORIES

New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to list for hearing next week a fresh petition challenging the manner in which the powers of the Election Commission of India (ECI) are being exercised and questioning whether Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar can individually exercise or represent powers constitutionally vested in the multi-member poll panel.The matter was mentioned before Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant by senior advocate Vikas Singh, following which the CJI Kant said, “List it next week.”The petition seeks enforcement of the collective decision-making framework governing the ECI and a writ in the nature of quo warranto concerning the authority under which the CEC has reportedly acted in the name of the poll panel.The plea contends that Ar...

Mumbai, Sep 29 (IANS) Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe on Tuesday hit back at Shiv Sena(UBT) MP Sanjay Raut’s allegations of systemic extortion within the regulatory body, stating that the claims are generic, lack concrete details, and that no formal letter has been received by his office to date regarding this.The exchange follows a letter written by Raut, in which he alleged that FDA field officers were exploiting Commissioner Mundhe’s aggressive enforcement drive to blackmail local businesses, hoteliers, and quick-commerce operators.Responding to the publicised charges, Mundhe clarified that his office has not received any official copy of Raut’s letter and that he only became aware of the matter through media reports.Expressing openness to scr...

New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) As the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting got underway on Tuesday, former Lok Sabha Speaker and Congress leader Meira Kumar said the party's strategy on the Election Commission row would be formulated during the meeting. She also said that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar "will have to go".Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, along with chief ministers of Congress-ruled states and other senior leaders, are attending the CWC meeting.Speaking to IANS, Meira Kumar said, “The strategy will be formulated today during the CWC meeting, and the rest will be discussed after sitting down with our partners in the INDIA Bloc. But Gyanesh Kumar will have to go, and his removal is extremely neces...

Srinagar, Sep 29 (IANS) BJP MLAs staged a walkout from the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Tuesday against the statehood resolution passed by the House a day ago.The BJP legislators walked out of the Legislative Assembly to protest against the Speaker’s decision to allow discussion on the statehood resolution.The party accused the Speaker of allowing the statehood resolution despite its objections to references to the 2000 autonomy resolution and the 2024 special status resolution.The walkout came after Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma again raised the issue in the House and sought the Speaker’s removal.The statehood resolution, moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, was passed on Monday amid protests by BJP members.The BJP had on Monday told the Speaker that they had move...

New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) A key meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) state in-charges and co-in-charges commenced at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday under the chairmanship of BJP National President Nitin Nabin.Around 65 state in-charges and co-in-charges are participating in the meeting. The discussion is expected to be focused on organisational expansion, upcoming challenges and various issues currently being discussed in the country.Apart from Nabin, BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santosh, Uttar Pradesh in-charge Vinod Tawde, Sunil Bansal, Smriti Irani, Biplab Deb, Harish Dwivedi, Sanjay Bhatia, Satish Poonia and Gajendra Patel, among other senior leaders, are present at the meeting.According to sources, the meeting is also expected to chalk o...

Guwahati, Sep 29 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday highlighted the growing investment and employment opportunities in the state, citing a Rs 778 crore investment and the expansion of local value chains from agricultural produce to consumer products. Taking to social media platform X, CM Sarma said the growth of investment in Assam was creating more opportunities for local employment and enabling products originating in the state to reach markets beyond its borders."It grows with opportunity ₹778 Cr investment, more local employment opportunities,” CM Sarma said in his post. Highlighting the connection between agriculture and industry, the Chief Minister said the journey of a potato grown in Assam’s fields to a packet of Lay’s available on consumers’ shelves represe...

New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) A Delhi Police head constable was assaulted by a group of AAP supporters while he was videographing in plain clothes during former Chief Minister and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s visit to Tilak Nagar, sources said on Tuesday.According to Delhi Police sources, the head constable was recording the proceedings when a group of AAP supporters surrounded him and allegedly assaulted him.He was subsequently medically examined, and Delhi Police may register an FIR in connection with the incident.Meanwhile, Kejriwal on Monday visited Tilak Nagar, a day after Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma slapped a youth during an inspection of a newly constructed road in the area. The incident took place in the presence of AAP MLA Jarnail Singh.Kejriwal, accompanied by Rajya Sab...

Washington, D.C., Sep 29 (IANS) US President Donald J. Trump announced at the White House in Washington, D.C., Essar-backed Mesabi Metallics’ $18 billion investment to build a fully integrated American steel company, uniting its iron ore mine on Minnesota’s Mesabi Iron Range with a new steel complex in Iowa. The announcement was made in the presence of Ravi Ruia, Vice Chairman & Founder, Essar Group, and Rewant Ruia, Chairman, Mesabi Metallics.US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and John Jovanovic, Chairman of the US Export-Import Bank, were also present at the White House event, alongside Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Senator Joni Ernst, and Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Ashley Hinson, members of Iowa’s congressional delegation.The inves...

New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has triggered a massive row with remarks drawing a contrast between the religious and political identities of North and South India.The BJP has strongly criticised his comments and accused him of attempting to divide communities for political gains.Speaking at a media event in the national capital, Reddy questioned the BJP's repeated use of the slogan "Jai Shri Ram" and asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders do not similarly chant "Har Har Mahadev"."We are Dravidians. Here (North India), people are Aryans. We are devotees of Shiva, while people here are devotees of Lord Ram. BJP stole Ram. It's an emotion; a sentiment. Why does Modi ji not say, 'Har Har Mahadev'? Have you ever seen BJP people say 'Har ...