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Mungeshpur tops with 49.2 degrees Celsius in northwest Delhi and 49.1 degrees Celsius at Najafgarh in southwest; All weather stations recorded a heatwave day
 "Live: Delhi turns into hot cauldron; mercury leaps to 49°C in some parts")
1 min read Last Updated : May 15 2022 | 11:40 PM IST
11:40 PM
BJP and Karni Sena leader Suraj Pal Ammu was allegedly attacked in a condolence meeting here on Sunday, police said.
According to the FIR lodged at the Sohna City police station, Pawan Verma, a friend of Ammu, hit the BJP leader with the butt of a revolver around 4.45 during a condolence meeting at a dharamshala.
Ammu in his complaint said the accused had grabbed his property.
People present on the occasion announced social boycott of the accused.
The complaint has been registered under Sections 323 (causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC and Section 25 (1B) (a) of the Arms Act at Sohna City police station.
11:38 PM
Taking a dig at ex-prime minister Imran Khan for claiming that the US conspired against his ouster, Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Sunday that the conspiracy to topple the PTI government was not hatched inside the White House but in Bilawal House.
Addressing a rally in Karachi, the foreign minister said contrary to Khan's claims, there was no foreign conspiracy against him and he was only ousted through a democratic process which is a victory both for the country's parliament and political workers.
"We used the no-confidence vote as a democratic weapon against Imran Khan and brought his government down," Bilawal said as he explained how the "conspiracy" was planned, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.
"Imran Khan was never your or people's representative... he was imposed upon us. He assumed power but he failed to deliver on a single promise, he said.
Bilawal said Khan promised five million homes and 10 million jobs and vowed to eliminate corruption in 90 days, but the PTI government was involved in record corruption.
He said Khan destroyed Pakistan and made the common man's life miserable. Bilawal said akin to his cricketing days, Khan tried ball tempering in politics too but failed.
"He attacked the constitution via his speaker as he was trying to escape from the no-confidence motion," he said.
After attacking parliament, Khan is now targeting the judiciary and the army, he said.
"Basically, he is asking why did they not save his government... he wanted them to take undemocratic steps to save him," he said. Khan blames the US for sending his government home. He said he had asked the military establishment to intervene and save his government but it did nothing.
Highlighting the former government's failures, Bilawal said China has always been Pakistan's best friend but due to the confusing policies of Khan, Beijing also got annoyed.
"His policies were confusing... on one hand he was criticising Narendra Modi but also kept calling him but did not get any response and he also kept calling Joe Biden but he also didn't give any diligence," he added.
Bilawal said it was the PPP's efforts that led to the formation of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) an alliance of former opposition parties, the Dawn newspaper reported.
Forgetting our political differences, together with other parties, we formed the PDM and on September 20, 2020, when we laid the basis for PDM, we had clearly said we would do long marches and protests and that we would also struggle inside parliament and send the PTI government home through a vote of no-confidence," Bilawal recalled.
He explained that personal and political differences were forgotten during times of hardship in favour of "national interest", the report said.
"The PPP is ready for elections as soon as we bring in our election reforms and act on the Charter of Democracy," he said.
Khan, the cricketer-turned-politician, was voted out of power last month through a no-confidence motion, which he alleges was masterminded by the US with the help of local players over his pursuance of an independent foreign policy. His supporters used social media to target the army for doing nothing to save his government.
The state institutions like the judiciary and the military have been severely criticised since the Imran Khan-led government was ousted from power through a no-confidence motion. Since then, Khan held several public rallies in different cities, labelling the new government as traitors and corrupt rulers allegedly imposed at the behest of the US.
Since his ouster, he has blamed the US for conspiring against his government a stance that the incumbent government has refuted.
11:21 PM
West Bengal on Sunday recorded 40 new COVID-19 cases, 17 less than the previous day, with the tally rising to 20,18,860, the health department said in a bulletin.
At least 45 people recuperated from the disease in the last 24 hours, pushing the total number of recoveries to 19,97,241, it said.
The recovery rate was 98.93 per cent, while the positivity ratio stood at 0.50 per cent.
Fifty-seven coronavirus cases were reported the previous day, while 43 had recovered from the infection.
The death toll remained at 21,203 as no new fatality due to the infection was reported in the last 24 hours, the bulletin said..
West Bengal now has 416 active patients and twelve of them are being treated in hospitals.
Altogether 8,080 sample tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, it added.
11:20 PM
Heatwave conditions wreaked havoc in Rajasthan, although some places recorded a drop of two to three degrees Celsius in the maximum temperature on Sunday.
Churu and Hanumangarh were the hottest places in the state, recording 47.9 degrees Celsius each.
According to the meteorological department, the maximum temperature in many districts was above 47 degrees Celsius.
Pilani, Jhunjhunu and Dholpur experienced 47.7 degrees Celsius each, Sri Ganganagar 47.6 degrees, Karauli 47.3 and Alwar 47.2 degrees Celsius. In major cities, the temperature on Saturday night was recorded in the range of 33.1 degrees Celsius to 25.8 degrees Celsius.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the capital city Jaipur recorded a maximum temperature of 44.4 degrees Celsius and a minimum temperature of 33.1 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, a fire broke out on Sunday near the banks of the Indira Gandhi Canal at Bajju in Bikaner. Bajju Station House Officer Bhup Singh said more than 1,000 trees came under the grip of the fire that spread in an area stretching more than three kilometres.
Teams from the forest department and police tried to douse the fire, he said.
Prima facie it appeared that excess heat was the cause of the fire, the SHO said.
11:01 PM
Senior leaders of Jammu and Kashmir BJP on Sunday faced protesters' ire when they visited the migrant colony at Sheikhpura in Budgam district as a Kashmiri Pandit woman tore into the Union Territory government over the killing of Rahul Bhat earlier this week.
The woman, who broke down while making the point on behalf of her community, said the BJP delegation, led by party's Jammu and Kashmir unit president Ravinder Raina, had come to visit them only because they felt that they were losing ground in the state.
"Where were they when tear gas shells were fired on us? When they realised that we have come together at all places, and that their impression is gone, they held a meeting with the LG (Lieutenant Governor) sahib and they were sent to calm us down. If you are really grieved, sit with us here without security," the unidentified woman told the BJP delegation.
An 88-second video clip of the woman hitting out at the BJP leaders at the protest site is being shared on social media.
The BJP delegation had earlier called on LG Manoj Sinha and submitted a memorandum, demanding measures to ensure safety of Kashmiri Pandits in the valley.
Bhat, who had got the job of a clerk under the special employment package for Kashmiri Pandits 2010-11, was gunned down by terrorists inside the tehsil office in Chadoora town on Thursday.
The woman said the men and children of the Kashmiri Pandit community are not safe amidst words of encouragement and support from her community members.
10:59 PM
Unfortunately in our country, the history that has been forced upon us has been propaganda of 'West', Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Sunday.
"What they thought about us was that we are the land of snake charmers. They thought that we were a country of the poor. My question is did they invade us because we are poor? The answer is definitely no," Sawant said.
Sawant was speaking after releasing the book 'Savarkar (Part 2): A Contested Legacy, 1924-1966, by noted historian Vikram Sampath, during the closing session of Kumaon Literary Festival.
Dr. Bibek Debroy, Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India and Sumant Batra, Founder of Indian Cinema Heritage Foundation were also present.
"Savarkar was the first person to challenge vicious propaganda by 'West' through his book '1857 Ka Swatantra Samar'. History has to be fact driven and not opinion driven," Sawant said.
"He challenged the British empire and fought against them. This book ignited the flame of patriotism among many youths. After independence, some sections spread lies, falsehood against him," Sawant said.
10:34 PM
Digital payments and financial services company Paytm on Sunday said it will seek a new general insurance license with a fresh application, aimed at gaining majority shareholding with a 74 per cent upfront equity stake.
In a regulatory filing, Paytm reiterated its intention to make inroads in the general insurance sector, as it is extremely bullish about its potential.
Paytm said it remains bullish on its roadmap for general insurance, "and we intend to seek requisite approvals for a new general insurance license, wherein we hold a 74% majority shareholding upfront."
Paytm is synonymous with digital payments in India - having pioneered QR code and wallet trends in the country. It has also successfully forayed into financial services as its partner-based lending business has recorded rapid growth.
This, along with the growing technology-led insurance penetration in India, now gives the company confidence to file for a new application, where One 97 Communications Ltd - the parent firm of Paytm - will have a direct majority shareholding instead of the earlier proposed fully diluted shareholding of 11%.
The decision to seek approval for a new license comes after Paytm and Raheja QBE mutually agreed to discontinue the proposed acquisition of RQBE.
10:26 PM
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Sunday said the Centre's initiatives to raise income of farmers have started yielding benefits to them and urged cultivators to adopt technology in farming to ensure higher productivity and better profit.
Addressing an agriculture conclave here, he expressed concern over the financial condition of growers in Odisha and said there are opportunities for them to increase their income.
"The government under the leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi is committed to increase the income of farmers. In the last eight years, the government has undertaken several initiatives, results of which are starting to pay off today," the PIB Odisha said quoting Tomar, in a Twitter post.
The minister's statement holds significance as Odisha stood at the second position from the bottom in a list of states in terms of farmers' income in the country, according to a survey conducted by National Statistical Office (NSO) in 2019.
Tomar advised farmers in the eastern state to adopt technology in farming to secure higher profits.
"Benefits to farmers don't come overnight as it takes time to get results. The central government implemented several schemes and initiatives in the last eight years and they have started paying dividends now," he said.
The minister said those farmers who use technology and diversify crops are getting benefits.
10:24 PM
Telangana on Sunday recorded 28 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of cases to 7,92,599 so far, said a bulletin from the Health Department.
No fresh fatality due to the infection was reported today and the death toll continued to be 4,111, it said.
Hyderabad recorded the highest number of 25 cases.
A total of 44 people recuperated from the infection today,taking the cumulative number of recoveries to 7,88,080 till date.
The active cases stood at 408, the bulletin said.
A total of 9,019 samples were tested today and the total number examined till date was 3,48,21,817. The case fatality rate was 0.51 per cent and the recovery rate 99.43 per cent.
10:18 PM
Santosh Kumar (41) whose wife Ranju Devi (34) was among those killed in the deadly fire in Mundka, identified her body through her turtle-shaped ring and two bangles -- the only items that remained unburnt on her charred body.
The massive blaze that ripped through the four-storey building in outer Delhi's Mundka on Friday claimed at least 27 lives, while 19 people are still missing and there is little hope of finding survivors.
"I was at work when I got the news of fire at her workplace. I rushed there and waited for three hours but could not find her. Later, I rushed to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital but I could not get any information about her," he said.
"I went to the hospital on Saturday morning again. The staff took me to the mortuary at 2 pm where I identified her through her ring and bangles -- one red and the other white. I received her body from the hospital at 4.30 pm and did all the rituals yesterday," an emotional Santosh told PTI on Sunday.
A resident of Bhagya Vihar in Mundka, Santosh works as a mason and has three children. He said his wife had joined the company, where the fire broke out, only seven months ago.
Santosh is not the only person in the locality to have lost a loved one in Friday's fire tragedy.
A sense of gloom, despair and restlessness prevailed in Bhagya Vihar, which is located near Mundka Industrial Area. The area is inhabited largely by people working in factories and industries in the region and many victims of the fire tragedy resided here.
Vishwajeet Kumar (41), husband of deceased Yashoda Devi (35), said she took up the job at the factory to help him repay the debt after their daughter's wedding.
Vishwajeet works at a coal factory in Rajasthan's Alwar. He rushed to Delhi soon after he learnt about the tragedy.
10:17 PM
Karnataka on Sunday reported 126 fresh Covid-19 cases, taking the total infections to 39,49,675 so far, while there were zero fatalities, the Health Department said.
In its bulletin, the department said there were 1,891 active cases while 103 people were discharged.
The State today conducted 18,566 tests including 14,409 RT-PCR tests.
The majority of cases came from Bengaluru urban district which reported 118 infections today. The city had 1,810 active cases. There were infections in six other districts, including two each in Hassan and Ballari.
The department said 24 districts reported zero infections and nil fatalities. The positivity rate for the day was 0.67 per cent.
As many as 6,604 inoculations were done in the State, taking the total vaccinated to 107.2 million till date.
10:16 PM
Truth about Gyanvapi mosque, Taj Mahal and Krishna Janmabhoomi in Uttar Pradesh and all other disputed places in the country should come out before the people, senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar said on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, he said the people want to know the truth about these places as they feel that it will help the country get "a right direction".
It's not out of any grudge against anybody or due to some politics that people want to know the truth of these places, he added.
"A discussion is going on about the Gyanvapi, Taj Mahal, Krishna Janmabhoomi and various other places in the country. Everyone wants to know the truth (about them). It's is not out of any grudge against anyone or due to some politics," the RSS leader told the reporters in response to their queries.
Common people feel that the more truth about these places comes out the more it will help the country get a right direction.
Kumar, who is RSS national executive member, appealed to the people to rise above their caste, community, region, religion, and party, and help the court bring out truth about "such disputes".
10:15 PM
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is heading to Northern Ireland on Monday to try to end a political deadlock that is preventing the formation of a regional administration.
The trip comes amid threats by Johnson's government to break the Brexit agreement with the European Union that it blames for the crisis.
Voters in Northern Ireland elected a new Assembly this month, in an election that saw Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein win the most seats. It was the first time a party that seeks union with the Republic of Ireland has won an election in the bastion of Protestant unionist power.
The Democratic Unionist Party came second and is refusing to form a government, or even allow the assembly to sit, until Johnson's government scraps post-Brexit checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the U.K.
Under power-sharing rules set up as part of Northern Ireland's peace process, a government can't be formed without the cooperation of both nationalist and unionist parties.
10:14 PM
More than 400 candidates have been booked by the Assam Police recently for allegedly submitting fake certificates for recruitment into the force, a top officer said on Sunday.
The officer also said that the CID has taken up the case and a probe has been launched into the matter.
Addressing a press conference here, Director General of Police Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta said discrepancies in the documents came to light during the verification process.
"Before declaring the final result, we verified the computer efficiency certificate of every candidate through respective superintendents of police. During the verification, 414 certificates were found fake, he said.
9:42 PM
Hitting out at Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday sought to liken the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state with the Babri mosque structure and said he would not rest till the Shiv Sena-led dispensation was brought down from power.
He also said that the Shiv Sena does not mean Mumbai, Maharashtra or Hindutva, and added that nobody can separate Mumbai from the state, but he wants to free the city from "corruption and misdeeds".
Fadnavis was addressing 'Hindi Bhashi Mahasankalp Sabha' organised by the BJP's North Indian cell in suburban Goregaon, a day after Uddhav Thackeray's rally in the city, where he had slammed Fadnavis and the BJP. Fadnavis's rally began with the chanting of Hanuman Chalisa.
Elections to several other civic bodies in the state, including Mumbai, which was ruled by the Shiv Sena for more than 25 years, are due this year.
Describing Thackeray's rally as a "laughter show", Fadnavis said, "This man had never spoken about the state's development, progress and welfare of people in the two-and-a-half years (of his rule)."
"One doesn't become a tiger just by clicking photographs of tigers. There is only one tiger now - Narendra Modi," he said.
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First Published: May 15 2022 | 6:57 AM IST
