LIVE news updates: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday sought a detailed report from the West Bengal government over the attack on BJP National President J P Nadda's convoy. The Ministry, in a written message to the state Chief Secretary, has asked to submit the report about the issue and lapses in law and order in the state that may lead to the risk for senior BJP leaders camping in the state ahead of the assembly elections that is just six months away, said sources privy to the development.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that the incident of attack on BJP president J P Nadda's convoy in the state is a "drama" to divert attention from lack of attendance in his rally.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday laid the foundation stone of a new Parliament building at an event that was attended by leaders from various political parties, cabinet ministers and ambassadors of various countries.
Describing the laying of foundation stone of the new Parliament building as a "milestone in India's democratic history", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said if the old Parliament house gave direction to the country post-independence, the new one would be a witness to making of a 'self-reliant' India.
The new Parliament building is expected to be completed by 2022 at an estimated cost of Rs 971 crore.
Stay tuned for the latest news of the day
1:08 AM
Deputy registrar of BITS Pilani allegedly dies by suicide at his residential quarters on the institute campus in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu district: Police
10:57 PM
Today's atttack on my convoy speaks a lot about the mentality of Mamata Banerjee and her TMC: J P Nadda at press conference
10:52 PM
Adityanath on attack on JP Nadda's convoy
I strongly condemn the attack on the convoy of BJP President J P Nadda in West Bengal today. It's clear that the state is not safe for the common man. Incident reflects poor condition of law & order situation. We won't accept such cowardly acts by TMC goons: UP CM Yogi Adityanath
Ten BJP, four Congress and three independent candidates were on Thursday elected to the post of pramukh' in 17 out of the 20 zila parishads in Rajasthan.
The election to the posts of pradhan' and pramukh' in 222 gram panchayats and 20 zila parishads of the state was held earlier in the day.
Of the 17 zila parishads for which the results have been declared, the BJP won in Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Churu, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Jhunjhunu, Pali, Sikar, Tonk and Udaipur, while the Congress candidates won in Banswara, Barmer, Bikaner and Pratapgarh, officials said.
Three independent members were elected as zila pramukh in Ajmer, Bundi and Dungarpur.
The counting of votes for the post of pradhan in 222 panchayat samitis in 21 districts of the state is underway.
The 4,371 newly-elected members will elect the pradhan in 222 panchayat samitis.
The filing of nominations had started at 10 am and the scrutiny of the same was completed by 3 pm.
9:41 PM
Mamata compares BJP leadership to Hitler, Mussolini
West Bengal Chief Minister hit out at the BJP on Thursday comparing its leadership to dictators Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini and claimed that the party is indulging in false propaganda.
Banerjee, who is among the vocal critics of the saffron party, said it has a "prepared script" to break the movements against it and is trying to do so with the farmers' movement.
The TMC supremo criticised BJP national president J P Nadda's outreach programme in her constituency Bhawanipore in the city on Wednesday and said it was poorly attended.
Likening the BJP leadership with dictators Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini and Nicolae Ceausescu, Banerjee told a protest rally by the party's farmers' wing here that "Narendra Modi's party (BJP) is indulging in false propaganda to further its agenda".
She that the BJP has a "prepared script" to divert the attention of people, break the movements against it and is trying to do so with the ongoing farmers' movement too.
"The Narendra Modi government is not abiding by the principles of democracy or the federal structure or the Constitution and is encroaching upon the jurisdiction of a state government," she said.
8:47 PM
Attack on J P Nadda staged to divert attention from lack of attendance in rally: Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday claimed that the incident of attack on BJP president J P Nadda's convoy in the state is a "drama" to divert attention from lack of attendance in his rally. Wondering why 50 cars were after Nadda's vehicle, the Trinamool Congress supremo said that only three cars were part of his convoy. Nadda's convoy was pelted with stones by alleged TMC workers at Sirakol when he was travelling to Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas district to address a rally there.
"I feel that it is a drama to divert attention from lack of attendance in his rally," Banerjee said.
Maintaining that no untoward incident happened at Sirakol, Banerjee said that there was probably some incident in front of a tea stall and the police were asked to inquire into it. "In your (Nadda's) convoy there were 50 cars, followed by 30 cars of the media and 40 motorbikes," Banerjee, who also holds the Home (Police) portfolio, said at a farmers' rally.
8:31 PM
Old Parliament building will not be able to fulfil needs of 'new India': Hardeep Singh Puri
Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday said the 2022 Winter Session will be held in the new Parliament building, while pointing out that the existing structure would not have been able to fulfil the needs of a 'new India'. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday laid the foundation stone for the new building, which is expected to be completed by the 75th anniversary of India's independence and is estimated to cost Rs 971 crore.
Addressing a gathering at the foundation stone laying ceremony, Puri said the existing structure of Parliament had been built as an imperial legislative council.
When the existing building of Parliament had been conceptualised and constructed, it was not kept in accordance with bicameral legislature of independent India, he said. The housing and urban affairs minister said in the existing structure, there have been problems in parliamentary operation, which had been pointed out by previous chairmen.
8:07 PM
DoT considering two spectrum bids in 2021, may include 5G in second half
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is considering holding two spectrum auctions in 2021, starting with the sale of 4G airwave licences, which are due to expire next year. It is learnt that the 5G auctions, which were earlier kept out of the process, may also be tendered in the latter part of 2021, according to internal discussions at DoT.
According to an official in the know, “There is no hurry to conduct the 5G auctions since the ecosystem is not in place and companies are not willing to put in money. The situation is likely to improve in a year’s time. By the end of next year, we may be a in a position to even offer 5G spectrum.”
The licences for some of the 4G spectrum held by telecom companies (telcos) expire next year. Therefore, the government may conduct the auctions to enable telcos to buy that spectrum. READ ON...
7:50 PM
Haryana schools to reopen for class 10, 12 students from Dec 14
Schools in Haryana will reopen from December 14 for students of classes 10 and 12, appearing for board examinations next year, according to an order issued on Thursday. In order to attend the classes, the pupils will require to submit a medical certificate stating that their general health is fine and they do not have any coronavirus-like symptoms, the order said.
Besides, both government and private schools will also resume for students of classes 9 and 11 from December 21, the state's Directorate School Education ordered on Thursday. For the students of classes 10 and 12 appearing for board examinations, each day the classes of government and private schools will be held for three hours between 10 am and 1 pm, it said.
Before coming to schools, all the students will need to go for a medical check up, which will be free, at their nearest Community Health Centre, Primary Health Centre or where a doctor will examine them and provide medical certificate. The doctor needs to certify that they are free from COVID-19-like symptoms and their health is fine.
7:49 PM
Today's atttack on my convoy speaks a lot about mentality of Mamata Banerjee and TMC: J P Nadda
7:34 PM
BJP's lotus will bloom, we'll win more than 200 seats: J P Nadda
7:19 PM
No compulsion to hold 2021 CBSE Board exams in March: Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank
Adequate time would be given to the students preparing for the CBSE board exams for Classes 10 and 12 to be held next year, said Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. The Minister clarified on Thursday that there is no compulsion to conduct examinations in March. Parents across the country have urged the Senior Secondary Board to conduct the board examinations for 2021 in May.
Nishank said, "Students will be given ample time for preparation based on the new pattern on which the exam would be conducted. There is no compulsion to conduct the exams in March. Keeping in view the coronavirus pandemic, the scheduled dates for the exam will be fixed. Practical exams will not be held clashing with the dates of any entrance exam."
"Practical exams in the CBSE board are held at the school level. If a situation arises that the students cannot go to laboratories for practicals then it will be difficult to conduct the examination and the Central government will consider further steps to resolve the issue," Nishank added.
7:14 PM
'Lawlessness, anarchy and intolerance' in West Bengal: BJP chief J P Nadda
7:12 PM
Ensure CCTVs in working condition or face action: Delhi govt to hotels, clubs
The Delhi government has ordered hotels, clubs and restaurants to ensure that CCTV cameras installed on their premises are in a working condition, warning to take stern action including cancellation of licence in case of violation. The order issued by the excise department earlier this week, noted that instances of non-functional surveillance cameras came to notice of the inspection teams.
The CCTV cameras help to check violations like serving of alcohol to underage people, law and order situations and any other irregularities that violate the conditions of the licence, said an official of the department.
"Instances have come to the notice of the department that Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras installed at hotels, clubs and restaurants are found to be non-functional during inspection," the deputy commissioner (excise) said in the order.
The non-functional CCTV cameras hamper inspection work due to unavailability of footage for checking violations at these establishments by the excise department teams, the official said.
6:49 PM
BJP workers coming out with arms for rallies everyday: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
 "J P Nadda, Jagat Prakash Nadda")
