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New Delhi/Bengaluru, Sep 29 (IANS) Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, has invited sugarcane farmers from Karnataka to Delhi for discussions over the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane, with officials to address their concerns, instead of staging protests. Joshi represents Dharwad Lok Sabha seat in Karnataka.Responding to the sugarcane growers who are planning a protest in Hubballi on Tuesday, Joshi urged them to come to the national Capital and hold discussions with the officials concerned to find solutions to their problems.In a video message shared on his X account, Joshi said the Narendra Modi-led Central government was always ready to address farmers’ concerns and welcomed Karnataka’s sugarcane growers to Delhi for an open discussion.“I welcome ...

Gandhinagar, Sep 29 (IANS) The Gujarat government has intensified surveillance and mosquito-control measures against vector-borne diseases after a review of the state's malaria, dengue and chikungunya situation, with Health Minister Praful Pansheriya saying cases of malaria and dengue have declined compared with last year.According to the Health Department, malaria cases in the state have fallen by 22 per cent in 2026 compared with the previous year, while dengue cases have declined by 39.6 per cent.The review meeting, chaired by Pansheriya, examined disease surveillance and diagnostic activities across all districts and municipal corporation areas.The minister reviewed the functioning of diagnostic centres at 42 hospitals affiliated with medical colleges in the state, particularly their c...

Mumbai, Sep 29 (IANS) Taking advantage of the massive crowds gathered for Ganesh Visarjan on Anant Chaturdashi, gangs of thieves stole mobile phones and gold jewellery from devotees across Mumbai. Police have arrested 18 accused, including two women and a minor, in connection with the thefts, police said on Tuesday.More than 200 complaints related to lost and stolen mobile phones were received at various police stations during the Ganesh Visarjan celebrations. Police registered official complaints involving 192 lost or stolen mobile phones, while 10 separate cases were filed in connection with the theft of mobile phones and gold chains.Millions of devotees gathered in areas including Lalbaug, Parel and Girgaon Chowpatty to bid farewell to Lord Ganesha. Police said pickpocketing gangs, co...

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...