LIVE: New farm laws will destroy India's food security system, says Rahul

'It's not a farmers' agitation but of the country, farmers only showing the way', says Rahul. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday attacked the government for the three agriculture laws that have triggered protests by farmers at Delhi's borders, saying these legislations will allow industrialists to buy unlimited quantity of foodgrains and hoard them.

In another news, Union Home Minister Amit Shah today said the process of granting Indian citizenship to refugees under the CAA, including to the Matua community of West Bengal, will begin once the process of Covid-19 vaccination has ended.

Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed the Rajya Sabha that after sustained talks between India and China, both sides had decided on a disengagement at north and south banks of Pangong Lake. “Our aim is to maintain peace and tranquility at LAC. Last year, what China did, impacted peace at the border. We clarified the importance of disengagement at LAC. We also have adequate and effective counter deployment at the border,” Singh said.

Meanwhile, the government today extended the cap on capacity and control on air fare till 31 March. However, in order to help airlines improve their balance sheet, the government has increased the upper and lower cap on airfare by up to 30 per cent. 

Stay tuned for the latest news of the day.

2:21 AM

A decade after 2011 protests, Bahrain suppresses all dissent

A decade after demonstrators massed in Bahrain's capital to call for the downfall of their government in 2011, authorities continue to suppress all signs of dissent. Activists behind those turbulent days say the memory of the protests that threatened the Sunni monarchy's grip on power is all but extinguished.
 

But many live with the consequences.
 

“That was the start of the dark era,” said Jawad Fairooz, an exiled former leader of the now outlawed Al-Wefaq Shiite political party, who was stripped of his nationality for his political work in 2012.
 

Although many activists and protesters have escaped into exile or been imprisoned, the threat of dissent persists in this tiny kingdom with a majority-Shiite population off the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia.
 

In contrast to neighboring Gulf Arab monarchies, low-level unrest has plagued Bahrain over recent years. Police have been out in force in city streets over the past week, residents say, taking no chances on renewed demonstration.
 

2:20 AM

Rioters acted on Trump's ''orders,'' Democrats say in trial

House Democrats prosecuting Donald Trump's impeachment said Thursday the Capitol invaders believed they were acting on "the president's orders” and reflected his violent rhetoric when they set out to storm the building and stop the joint session of Congress that was certifying Democrat Joe Biden's election.
 

The prosecutors were wrapping up their opening presentation, describing in stark, personal terms the horror they faced that day and unearthing the many public and explicit instructions Trump gave his supporters — both in the weeks before the Jan. 6 attack and at his midday rally that unleashed the mob on the Capitol.
 

Videos of rioters, some posted to social medial by themselves, talked about how they were doing it all for Trump.
 

“We were invited here,” said one. "Trump sent us,” said another. “He'll be happy. We're fighting for Trump.” Five people died.
 

“They truly believed that the whole intrusion was at the president's orders,” said Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado. “The president told them to be there.” Trump's lawyers will launch their defense on Friday, and the trial could wrap by weekend.
 

8:52 PM

5,808 flights cancelled or delayed in India due to weather in Nov-Dec 2020: Govt

A total of 5,808 flights were delayed or cancelled in India due to adverse weather conditions, which includes fog, during November and December last year, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Thursday.

 

In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, the minister said a total of 1,434 flights were cancelled and 4,374 delayed in November and December 2020 due to adverse weather conditions.

 

"Total number of passengers affected due to cancellation of flights during November December 2020 are as follows: November 2020 14,062; December 2020 28,974," he stated. READ ON...

8:24 PM

CAA to be implemented after Covid-19 vaccination, says Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah Thursday said the process of granting Indian citizenship to refugees under the CAA, including to the Matua community of West Bengal, will begin once the process of COVID vaccination has ended.

 

Accusing the opposition parties of misleading the minorities about the Citizenship (amendment) Act, he said, its implementation will not impact the citizenship status of Indian minorities.

 

Shah said the Modi government had in 2018 promised it will bring in a new citizenship law and kept it when the BJP was voted to power in 2019. READ ON...

7:55 PM

Bengal polls to be fought between Modi's "Vikas" and Mamata's "Vinash" models: Shah

Branding West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee a "failed administrator", Union Home Minister Amit Shah Thursday said the upcoming assembly elections in the state will be a contest between Narendra Modi's "development model" and her "destruction model". He said the BJP's 'Parivartan Yatra' is not for changing a chief minister, MLA or minister but ending infiltration and transforming West Bengal's condition.

 

Addressing a rally in this North Bengal town, he said the yatra is also aimed at ending corruption patronised by "Bua-Bhatija" combine. The BJP has been accusing Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek, the Lok Sabha MP from Diamond Harbour, of "institutionalising corruption". He also spoke about the killing of BJP workers and warned that the perpetrators will be thrown behind bars.

 

Claiming that Mamata Banerjee will not be the chief minister after May (by when the assembly elections will get over), Shah said she too would start chanting "Jai Shri Ram" by then.

7:04 PM

Cap on airline capacity extended till 31 Mar, but fares may rise up to 30%

Government on Thursday has extended the cap on capacity and control on air fare till 31 March. However, in order to help airlines improve their balance sheet, the government has increased the upper and lower cap on airfare by up to 30 percent.

 

Currently, airlines are allowed to deploy 80 percent of their pre-Covid capacity but except market leader IndiGo, no other airline has been able to deploy around 70 percent capacity of what they operated during the winters of 2020. After a closure of almost two months due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown, domestic flights resumed on 25 May, 2020

 

Airlines except market leader IndiGo has, however, said that any decision to further increase capacity should be postponed to March as forward booking for next three months is poor. READ ON...

6:31 PM

Rahul attacks govt in Lok Sabha, says farm laws will damage rural economy

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday attacked the government for the three agriculture laws that have triggered protests by farmers at Delhi's borders, saying these legislations will allow industrialists to buy unlimited quantity of foodgrains and hoard them. Lending his support to the ongoing farmers protests, he said in Lok Sabha that it was not an agitation of the farmers only but a movement of the country and the government will have to repeal the laws.

Gandhi also dramatically led his party members and those from the TMC and the DMK to observe a two-minute silence by standing to mourn the death of "200 farmers" during the ongoing agitation and said he was doing this as the government has not paid tributes to those who died during the protests.

"The intent of the three laws are to allow industrialists to buy unlimited quantity of foodgrains and hoard them as much as they want," he alleged.

6:06 PM

Rahul Gandhi cites old family planning slogan 'hum do hamare do' to attack govt

Rahul Gandhi cites old family planning slogan 'hum do hamare do' to attack govt, says 4 people are running the country

6:05 PM

It's not a farmers' agitation but of the country, farmers only showing the way: Rahul Gandhi

It's not a farmers' agitation but of the country, farmers only showing the way; Govt will have to repeal laws: Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha

6:04 PM

Budget shows a hope - A hope to build 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat': Anurag Thakur

6:04 PM

MPs of Cong, TMC, DMK, at Rahul's appeal, stand to observe silence in Lok Sabha to condole death of farmers

MPs of Cong, TMC, DMK, at Rahul Gandhi's appeal, stand to observe silence in Lok Sabha to condole death of farmers during protests

5:53 PM

LIVE: Content of second law is to end Essential Commodities Act, says Rahul in Lok Sabha

The content of the second law is that big businessmen can store as much food grains, fruits and vegetables as they want. They can hoard as much as they want. Content of the second law is to end the Essential Commodities Act. It is, to start unlimited hoarding in India: Rahul Gandhi

5:53 PM

New farm laws will destroy India's food security system; will hurt rural economy: Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha

The new farm laws will destroy India's food security system; will hurt rural economy: Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha

5:49 PM

PM Modi gave three options - hunger, unemployment and suicide: Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha

PM says he has given options. Yes, you gave three options - hunger, unemployment and suicide: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha

5:43 PM

'Hum Do, Hamare Do Ki Sarkar', tweets Rahul Gandhi

There was a slogan for family planning 'Hum do hamare do'. Like Corona comes back in a different form, this slogan has come back in a different form. Nation is run by 4 people - 'Hum do hamare do'. Everyone knows their names. Whose govt is it, of 'hum do, hamare do': Rahul Gandhi