LIVE: Will oppose UP ordinance on conversions, says Akhilesh Yadav

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will conduct an aerial survey of the areas affected by the very severe cyclonic storm Nivar. Stay tuned for Latest LIVE news updates.

Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav addresses a press conference at the party office in Lucknow

In light of the widespread devastation caused by cyclone Nivar across the southern parts of the country, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy will do an aerial survey of the affected areas today.

"After the aerial survey, the Chief Minister would hold a review meeting in Tirupati," said an official.

The first phase of the DDC election and panchayat bypolls will be held in Jammu and Kashmir today, with 1,427 candidates in the fray and 700,000 voters eligible to exercise their franchise, according to officials.

State Election Commissioner K K Sharma said 2,146 polling stations had been set up for the smooth conduct of election in Phase-I. "As many as 700,000 voters shall use their right to vote in Phase-I of polling tomorrow. Out of 700,000 voters, more than 372,000 are from the Kashmir division and 328,000 are from the Jammu division," Sharma said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Pune today to review coronavirus vaccine development work at facilities there, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

A panel of OPEC+, a group of leading oil producing countries, will hold informal online talks today prior to meetings scheduled for next week.

Stay tuned for the latest news live updates of the day.

8:59 PM

PM Modi to visit Varanasi on November 30

PM Modi will visit Varanasi on 30 Nov & dedicate to nation six-lane widening project of Handia (Prayagraj)-Rajatalab (Varanasi) section of NH 19. PM will attend Dev Deepawali, undertake site visit of Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor Project &visit Sarnath Archaeological Site: PMO

8:30 PM

Haryana govt finalising scheme to provide tablets to students from Class 8-12

Haryana govt is finalising a scheme to provide tablets to students of Class 8 to Class 12 studying in govt schools to promote online education in view of COVID-19: State govt

6:52 PM

Jammu and Kashmir: Total voter turnout for the first phase of District Development Council (DDC) elections is 51.79%.

6:00 PM

AP announces Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia for families of deceased in Cyclone Nivar

4:20 PM

Will oppose ordinance on conversions: Akhilesh Yadav

Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said his party will oppose the state government's ordinance on religious conversions when placed in the assembly for passage. The start cabinet earlier this week gave nod to the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020 to curb forcible or dishonest religious conversions including those for the sake of marriage, which could land violators in jail for up to 10 years.

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel gave assent to the ordinance on Saturday. Now, it will be presented in the state legislature for passage. Commenting on it, Akhilesh Yadav told reporters, The Samajwadi Party is not in favour of any such law. We will oppose it (when it comes to the assembly). He also sought to know its relevance when the state has schemes to encourage inter-caste and inter-faith marriages.

The government does not want to debate on more important issues due to which it brought the ordinance, he said, alleging that it is creating hatred and chasm in society. The SP president also extended support to the farmers' protest against the Centre's farm laws.

3:28 PM

AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar booked

AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar booked under Section 505 -- statements conducing to public mischief -- of IPC: Police

3:24 PM

J&K polls: Polling for first phase of DDC elections underway

Polling for first phase of District Development Council (DDC) elections underway in Bufliaz area of Poonch.

"We've received great response as people are exercising their voting rights. Nearly 30% votes polled till 11 am here," says Poonch District Development Commissioner.

Jammu and Kashmir: Polling in the first phase of the District Development Council (DDC) elections underway in Budhal tehsil of the Rajouri district

Visuals from a polling station pic.twitter.com/wXNoP86APC
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2020

3:22 PM

J&K State Election Commission prohibits conduct of exit polls

Jammu and Kashmir State Election Commission has prohibited the conduct of any exit poll and publishing/displaying of the result of exit poll for the ongoing District development Council Elections till the last phase of the elections.

3:01 PM

UP ordinance on conversions comes into force after Guv nod

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel on Saturday gave her nod to the ordinance on religious conversions promulgated by the Yogi Adityanath government, paving the way for its enforcement across the state with immediate effect. The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020, was sent to the Raj Bhavan for necessary action last Wednesday after the Cabinet approval a day earlier. The ordinance will now have to be passed in both Houses of the state legislature within six months.

According to the ordinance, change of religion of a woman solely for the purpose of marriage will lead to the annulment of such marriage. As per the ordinance, for religious conversion, parties concerned will have to declare before prescribed authority that such change of religion is totally voluntary. The person(s) concerned will also have to declare that there was no temptation or pressure of any kind whatsoever on them for the conversion.

2:17 PM

Over 22% polling recorded till 11 am in first ever DDC elections in J&K

Over 22% polling recorded till 11 am in first ever District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir, with Samba district recording highest voting percentage at 36.40 and Pulwama the lowest at 3.51 so far: Officials

9:23 AM

Jammu and Kashmir: Voting underway for the first phase of DDC elections in the Union Territory

9:13 AM

Govt has done little to help pandemic-hit 'arts' community: Arundhati Ghosh

When the government wants to boost tourism and peddle soft power, arts and culture serve their purpose. Artists are sent out as emissaries. But when a pandemic breaks out, they are the first ones to be abandoned,” says Arundhati Ghosh, executive director of India Foundation for the Arts (IFA), which supports practice, research and education in the arts in India.

While she is upset that her sector has not got its due, Ghosh admits that artists and culture workers have led precarious lives even in pre-pandemic times.

“We could teach others about being atmanirbhar, you know!” she says. Read on...

9:02 AM

Cyclone Nivar affected Andhra districts receive nearly 188% excess rainfall

Nellore, Prakasam and Rayalaseema districts in Andhra Pradesh bore the brunt of the very severe cyclonic storm Nivar in the past four days, receiving almost 188 per cent excess rainfall.

"Due to the heavy rains that battered the state between November 23-26 over 10,000 people are taking shelter in 147 relief camps," said an official.

According to preliminary reports, the state government estimated that crop losses occurred in 30,000 heactres in Chittoor, Nellore, Kadapa and Prakasam districts.

As many as 16,290 heactares of paddy fields, black gram (7,362), cotton (3,571) and other crops (2,529) were damaged in the Nivar rains.

Likewise, several places suffered power interruptions, including 180 km length of roads damaged.

8:22 AM