Rajasthan crisis LIVE: Ashok Gehlot to address media at 9 am in Jaipur

Petition filed in Rajasthan HC on behalf of Sachin Pilot camp over disqualification notice from Assembly speaker. Stay tuned with Business Standard for all latest news updates.

10:59 PM

4 dead, 13 rescued after portion of building collapses in Mumbai

At least four people were killed and 13 others rescued after a portion of a building collapsed at the Fort area of Mumbai on Thursday.

 

Among the dead include Jokhna Gupta (70), Kusum Gupta (45), Padumlal Gupta (60), while the identity of one person remained unknown.

 

The incident took place around 2:30 pm. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray reached the spot to take stock of the rescue operations.

10:30 PM

India slams Pak over construction of dam in PoK

India on Thursday said it has strongly protested with Pakistan against the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha dam in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and condemned Islamabad's continuous attempts to bring about material changes in Indian territories under its illegal occupation.

 

India's strong protest came after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday kicked off construction work at the Diamer-Bhasha dam in Chilas in Gilgit-Baltistan, notwithstanding New Delhi's objection to the China-backed mega project.

 

Asked about the development at the weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said India had made its position on it clear earlier and it remains unchanged.

9:55 PM

Haryana government steps up efforts to control locust swarms

In view of the warning regarding potential intense attacks in several districts after July 22, the Haryana government has stepped up efforts to control locust swarms which cause crop damage, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Department, Sanjeev Kaushal said here on Thursday.

 

He said that among other measures, arrangements were being made to stock additional quantities of pesticide.

 

Agriculture Minister J P Dalal directed to set up a task force in each district to monitor all the arrangements during the attack.

 

Dalal gave these directions here during a review meeting with the officials regarding preparations made to deal with the locust attack.

9:07 PM

Disengagement process in eastern Ladakh "intricate", requires constant verification: Army

China and India are committed to "complete disengagement" of troops, and the process is "intricate" that requires "constant verification", the Indian Army said Thursday after the fourth round of marathon military talks for further de-escalation of tension in eastern Ladakh.

 

Separately, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said there is absolutely no change in India's position on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and any "unilateral attempts" to change the status quo are not acceptable to it.

 

As India and China move to finalise a framework for a complete disengagement at friction points along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to visit Ladakh on Friday to take stock of India's military preparedness and review the overall situation.

9:06 PM

Chabahar-Zahedan rail project awaits appointment by Iran of entity to finalise pending issues: MEA

8:59 PM

We reiterate our commitment to ensure safe return of Kulbhushan Jadhav to India: MEA

8:45 PM

Rajasthan HC to hear Sachin Pilot camp's plea against disqualification notice tomorrow

A division bench of the Rajasthan High Court, headed by Chief Justice Indrajit Mohanty, on Friday, will hear a petition filed by Sachin Pilot and 18 other Congress MLAs against disqualification notices issued to them by Assembly Speaker CP Joshi, news agency ANI reported.

 

Earlier in the day, Rajasthan High Court accepted former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot camp's application for amendment in their petition against disqualification notice sent by the Rajasthan Assembly Speaker.

 

"They gave application for amendment of their petition. The court accepted their request and ordered to send the matter to the divisional bench for hearing," Abhay Kumar Bhandari who appeared before the High Court for state Congress chief whip Mahesh Joshi told ANI.

 

Pilot and the MLAs from his camp approached the Rajasthan High Court over disqualification notice seeking the quashing and setting aside of the show cause notice issued to them on July 14 by the Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.

 

The development comes after Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi sent notices to Pilot and 18 MLAs under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, popularly known as the anti-defection law after chief's whip application for their disqualification. MLAs were asked to present before Assembly Speaker on July 17.

8:18 PM

Kulbhushan Jadhav was visibly under stress and indicated that clearly to consular officers: MEA

7:59 PM

Amended petition filed by Sachin Pilot, 18 other Congress MLAs likely to be heard by Rajasthan HC at 1 pm Friday

7:58 PM

BJP baffled by Vasundhara Raje's silence over Sachin Pilot's revolt

Amid the ongoing political crisis in Rajasthan, after rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot was removed from the posts of the Deputy Chief Minister and the state party president following a tussle for power with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the state BJP is in a fix over Pilot's next move, news agency IANS reported.

 

Though Union Minister Gajendra Shekhawat, senior BJP leader Om Mathur and Rajasthan BJP chief Satish Punia have offered Pilot to join BJP, yet former state Chief Minister and BJP leader Vasundhara Raje has not uttered a word on the ongoing political drama in the state.

 

According to sources, after he was removed from the post of Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President in Rajasthan, the main opposition BJP in the state has its eyes fixed on Sachin Pilot and the party is awaiting his decision.

 

Sources said that the BJP wants to induct Pilot in the party to strengthen its position in the state. But it is not possible for the high command to do so at the moment over the indifference of Raje.

7:45 PM

PM Narendra Modi to address high-level segment of UNESC on Friday

For the first time after getting elected as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a broader UN membership on Friday in an annual High-Level Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNESC) session, according to an IANS report.

 

The Prime Minister will deliver the keynote address virtually at this year's High-Level Segment from 9.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. (local time) at the UN in New York. He will be speaking at the valedictory session along with the Prime Minister of Norway and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

 

The annual High-level Segment convenes a diverse group of high-level representatives from the government, the private sector, civil society and academia. The theme of this year's High-level Segment is "Multilateralism after COVID19: What kind of UN do we need at the 75th anniversary".

 

Set against the changing international environment and the COVID-19 pandemic, this session will focus on critical forces shaping the course of multilateralism and explore ways to bolster the global agenda through strong leadership, effective international institutions, a broadening of participation and enhanced significance of global public goods.

7:29 PM

EC not to extend facility of postal ballot to electors above 65 in Bihar polls and bypolls in near future

7:27 PM

India ranks 3rd in global manufacturing locations among 48 nations: Report

India ranks third in the list of most-suitable locations for global manufacturing among 48 countries in terms of cost competitiveness and operating conditions, according to property consultant Cushman & Wakefield.

 

China and the US retain the top two positions, while India has moved one place higher to rank third, the consultant said in its Global Manufacturing Risk Index (MRI) report.

 

In its annual ranking of the most suitable locations for global manufacturing among 48 countries in Europe, Americas, and the Asia-Pacific, the consultant said India is in top-3 countries this year and an upcoming manufacturing hub globally from an operating conditions and cost-competitiveness perspective. READ MORE...

7:14 PM

Congress defends Rahul Gandhi's silence during Rajasthan crisis

While the Congress was facing crisis in Rajasthan due to open rebellion by Sachin Pilot, former party chief Rahul Gandhi was busy taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and raising the Chinese transgression and coronavirus-related issues.

 

He kept mum on the Rajasthan developments in public. He, however, attacked the media.

 

"Today, a large part of the Indian news media has been captured by fascist interests. A hate-filled narrative is being spread by television channels, WhatsApp forwards and fake news. This narrative of lies is tearing India apart," Rahul Gandhi had tweeted.

 

Defending Rahul Gandhi, Congress spokesperson Rajiv Tyagi said, "The Congress is a democratic party. So discussions are natural. Rahul Gandhi has been acting as a responsible leader and has opened front against the Bharatiya Janata Party government. He is exposing it on several fronts, like the Covid-19 pandemic, Chinese transgression and unemployment."

 

Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal said Rahul Gandhi was busy in building the party. "Rahul Gandhi's vision has ensured association of more youth with the party. They are getting a platform to lead from the front and represent the pulse of the nation.

6:46 PM

One third expect Sachin Pilot to convince MLAs to join BJP: IANS Poll

While there is much speculation on rebel Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot's next move after being sacked as Deputy Chief Minister and state party chief, almost one-third of the respondents in the IANS-CVoter Snap Poll expect that he will try to convince his MLAs to join the BJP.

 

The poll, on Thursday with a sample size of 1,200, found that 32.7 per cent respondents said that Pilot will try to convince his loyal MLAs to join the BJP. After being sacked from important posts, Pilot and other rebel MLAs have been slapped with a show-cause notice by the Assembly Speaker.

 

"What according to you will be Sachin Pilot's next strategy?" was the question posed in the snap poll.

 

Over a fourth (26.3 per cent) respondents said Pilot will break away from the Congress and float a new party with his MLAs, while just under a fourth (24 per cent)

 

said Pilot will stay in the Congress, try to gain the support of more MLAs and will rebel again at the right time. The lowest probability outcome, as per the snap poll, is for Pilot to work under Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, with only 17.1 per cent holding that Pliot will remain in the party and work under Gehlot.