Live: Delhi turns into hot cauldron; mercury leaps to 49°C in some parts
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
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CPM youth wing DYFI elects president, general secretary
CPI(M)'s youth wing DYFI on Sunday elected A A Rahim, a Rajya Sabha member from Kerala, and Himagnaraj Bhattacharya as its national president and general secretary respectively.
A DYFI functionary said that on the concluding day of the four-day national conference at Salt Lake here, the Leftist youth organisation elected its new central committee that comprises 77 people and an 18-member secretariat.
The new committee, in its first meeting, elected Rahim and Bhattacharya as DYFI national president and general secretary respectively, he said.
Sanjeev Kumar was elected as treasurer, the functionary said.
The central committee comprises 62 men and 15 women members, he said.
Of the 77 seats, 17 were left vacant which will be filled up by representatives of states to which these are allotted to, he added.
Mundka fire: Bio samples of victims' kin collected for DNA profiling
The Delhi Police on Sunday said it has collected biological samples of at least 20 people, whose family members are believed to be killed in the fire at the building in outer Delhi's Mundka, for DNA profiling.
These members also include kin of the eight people whose identities have already been ascertained, officials said.
At least 27 people were charred to death in the massive blaze that ripped through the four-storey building on Friday, according to the police.
"Though eight charred bodies have been identified, we have collected DNA samples from their family members, too, to fully confirm their identities. So far, we have collected samples from over 20 people for the process of DNA profiling, which will be carried out by forensic experts," Sameer Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer), said.
"DNA samplingis a long process. We will ensure it is completed within a span of five-ten days. Once the DNA profiling is done, all the charred bodies and remains found can be identified and handed over to the family members concerned," he added.
My visit to Nepal intended to further deepen 'time-honoured' ties: PM Modi
India's ties with Nepal are "unparalleled", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday, a day ahead of his visit to Lumbini in the neighbouring country on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.
In a statement, Modi said he was looking forward to meeting Nepalese PM Sher Bahadur Deuba after their "productive" discussions during the latter's visit to India last month.
The prime minister said his visit to Nepal is intended to further deepen the "time-honoured" linkages between the two countries, adding both sides will continue to build on the shared understanding to expand ties in multiple areas, including hydropower and connectivity.
"Our ties with Nepal are unparalleled. The civilisational and people-to-people contacts between India and Nepal form the enduring edifice of our close relationship," Modi said in his departure statement.
"My visit is intended to celebrate and further deepen these time-honoured linkages that have been fostered through centuries and recorded in our long history of inter-mingling," he said.
The prime minister is paying a day-long visit to Lumbini on the occasion of Buddha Purnima. It will be the prime minister's fifth visit to Nepal since 2014.
"I look forward to offering prayers at the Mayadevi Temple on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Jayanti. I am honoured to follow in the footsteps of millions of Indians to pay reverence at the sacred site of Lord Buddha's birth," Modi said.
Mundka fire: NHRC notice to Delhi govt, will send team for on-spot probe
The NHRC on Sunday sent a notice to the Delhi government over the Mundka fire tragedy, which has claimed 27 lives, while observing the incident has established the city authorities have "learnt little" from past experiences.
The police have so far recovered 27 bodies following the Friday incident. Of them, 14 have been identified as women and six as men.
"The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports that as many as 27 people died in a major fire in a four-storey office in Mundka, Delhi on May 13.
"Reportedly, this fire incident has once again established that the city authorities have learnt little from similar incidents in the past that exposed the utter lack of fire safety mechanisms and the gaping holes in their implementation," it said in a statement.
The panel has issued the notice to the Delhi government's chief secretary, seeking a report within two weeks that would include action taken against those responsible, fixing the culpability and status of disbursement of the relief or rehabilitation granted by the government, if any.
Issuing the notice, NHRC observed that going by media reports, "this appears to be the worst case of gross violation of human rights of the victims due to utter apathy and complete dereliction of statutory duties of public servants in the national capital of Delhi causing loss of valuable lives due to fire".
Cong to field those below 50 in half of seats in LS, state polls from 2024
The Congress on Sunday said starting 2024 Lok Sabha elections, half of its tickets will be given to those below 50 years of age and retirement age will be fixed for those in Parliament, state legislatures and other elected posts.
The bold decisions are part of the Congress 'Nav Sankalp' declaration that was adopted at the end of the three-day 'Chintan Shivir here, indicating that the party has chosen to put its weight behind the young leadership after a prolonged old-versus-new tussle.
The exit of several young leaders from the Congress in recent years had been attributed to the party's old guard failing to address the aspirations of the so-called 'gen-next' leaders.
While adopting the 'Nav Sankalp' declaration, the party said exactly 80 years ago, in the year 1942, Mahatma Gandhi gave the slogan of "Quit India" and in 2022, the slogan of "Jodo India" (Unite India) should be adopted now.
The Congress also decided to bring a constitutional amendment to provide 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament, legislative assemblies and legislative councils and get it passed at the earliest to ensure the empowerment of women so that females in every category should get the benefit of proportionate reservation.
The party also resolved to raise the demands of SCs/STs/minorities and OBCs across the country through the organisation, and as a first step, it would press for an SC-ST sub-plan with legal recognition in the budgets of the central and provincial governments.
At the organisational level, 50 percent of the posts should go to colleagues below 50 years of age. The youth group also concluded that a retirement age be fixed in Parliament, legislatures, legislative council and all elected posts.
In future party governments, 50 percent of people below 50 years of age should occupy positions. More experienced people should be used for strengthening the organisation. Beginning with the 2024 parliamentary elections, at least 50 percent of party tickets be granted to those below 50 years of age in parliament, legislatures, legislative councils and other levels, the resolution said.
Founders of PayTm, Koo address BJP's youth wing training session
Founder of Paytm Vijay Shekhar Sharma and Koo founder Aprameya Radhakrishna along with Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee on Sunday addressed the BJP's youth wing's training camp which was also attended by its president Tejaswi Surya.
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh also attended the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha's (BJYM's) training camp in Himachal Pradesh's Dharamsala that was held for three days from May 13.
The first session on the last day of the training camp began with a lecture by Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee on 'Tools of legal activism'.
"Law is like a shield and sword as well. It is up to us how we are using it," he was quoted as saying in a statement released by the BJYM.
The second session was addressed by Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma and Koo app founder Aprameya Radhakrishna. Both of them shared their views on startups, entrepreneurship, technology and government.
"It is because of the change in government policies post-2014 that India is becoming a breeding ground of several Unicorn companies and that too in a very limited time," Sharma said.
Retired Army Captain R Raghuram delivered a lecture on 'Leadership lessons from the Armed forces'.
In the concluding session, Chugh, who is also the BJYM in-charge, spokes to the workers of the outfit about views on the role of the BJP youth wing.
India asks Pakistan to punish those behind killing of 2 Sikh bizmen
India on Sunday asked Pakistan to sincerely investigate the killing of two Sikh businessmen in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and take strict action against those responsible for the "deplorable" incident.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India has registered its strong protest with Pakistan on the continued "targeting" of members of the minority community in that country.
Bagchi said India expects that the Pakistan government would look after the safety, security and well-being of its minority communities.
The two Sikh businessmen -- Saljeet Singh (42) and Ranjeet Singh (38) -- were shot dead on Sunday by unidentified gunmen in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
"We have seen the reports on the brutal killing of two Sikh traders by unidentified armed men in Peshawar. Sadly, this is not the first such case or a rare occurrence," Bagchi said.
He said "grave concerns" have been expressed by various quarters of the Indian civil society and the Sikh community at this shocking and deplorable incident.
"We have registered our strong protest with the Government of Pakistan on continued targeting of members of the minority community in Pakistan," Bagchi said.
G7 nations concerned about China's unilateral action in East, South China Seas
The Group of Seven nations G7 on Saturday reiterated the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific and raised concern over unilateral actions by Beijing in the East and South China Seas.
"We remind China of the need to uphold the principle of the UN Charter on peaceful settlement of disputes and to abstain from threats, coercion, intimidation measures or use of force," read a declaration by G7.
The G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, met in a fundamentally changed strategic and security environment.
"We remain seriously concerned about the situation in and around the East and South China Seas. We reiterate our strong opposition to any unilateral actions that could escalate tensions and undermine regional stability and the rules-based international order and express serious concern about reports of militarisation, coercion and intimidation in the region," added the declaration.
They reiterated the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and based on the rule of law, the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, democratic principles, transparency, territorial integrity, and the peaceful and inclusive resolution of disputes.
Follow Lord Buddha to build harmonious, developed country: President Kovind
President Ram Nath Kovind greeted citizens on the eve of Buddha Purnima on Sunday and asked all to resolve to build a harmonious and developed country.
"On the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima, I extend my warm wishes to all the fellow citizens and followers of Lord Buddha all over the world," he said in his message.
"Mahatma Buddha preached non-violence, love and compassion to the people," the President said.
In a world full of turmoil, his teachings are more relevant today than ever before, Kovind said.
The teachings of Mahatma Buddha inspire entire humanity to strive towards a life based on moral values. He guided people to follow the path of compassion and tolerance, he said.
"Let us resolve to follow the 'Ashtangik Marg' shown by Mahatma Buddha and contribute towards building a peaceful, harmonious and developed country by leading a virtuous life," the President said.
SAD chief Sukhbir Badal slams ban on wheat export
SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday slammed the Centre's decision of banning wheat export, saying the move will cause a drop in the demand for the crop and farmers will be the worst sufferers.
Badal also demanded Rs 500 per quintal of wheat for farmers for the drop in the yield and shrivelled grains due to the early onset of heat wave.
The Union government has banned wheat exports in a bid to check high prices amid concerns of wheat output being hit by scorching heat wave.
The decision would help control retail prices of wheat and wheat flour, which have risen by an average 14-20 per cent in the last one year, besides meeting the foodgrain requirement of neighbouring and vulnerable countries, it said.
Badal demanded that the export ban be lifted immediately to stop an artificially created fall in demand for farmers' produce.
A fall in demand will have a negative spiral impact on the entire economy. The farmers and farm labourers will be the worst sufferers but no economic segment nor any section of society will escape its negative short-term and long-term consequences, he said in a statement here.
Left parties call nationwide protest against price rise from May 25-31
Left parties have called a nationwide protest against the rising prices of essential commodities and unemployment from May 25-31.
In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the Left parties directed their units across the country to coordinate this united and concerted nationwide struggle against price rise and unemployment.
"Unabated galloping price rise is imposing unprecedented burdens on the people. Crores are suffering and are pushed into deeper poverty with growing hunger pangs. Coming on top of unprecedented and growing levels of unemployment, this is compounding people's miseries," the statement said.
The Left parties said that over the last year the prices of petroleum products have increased by 70 per cent, vegetables by 20 per cent, cooking oil by 23 per cent and cereals by 8 per cent.
Arvind Kejriwal visits India's first Food Security Mart in Kochi
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal visited India's first Food Security Mart, a revolutionary initiative by Twenty20 party led by Sabu Jacob in Kizhakkambalam, Kerala.
Kejriwal arrived at Cochin international airport near here on Saturday morning to loud cheers of his supporters. He is scheduled to address a public meeting organised by the apolitical outfit Twenty20 at the Kitex Garments Ground on Sunday.
The two outfits seem to have reached a mutual understanding ahead of the bypoll in the Thrikkakara Assembly constituency. Initially, it was rumoured that the outfits would put up a consensus candidate in the election. Soon after, the AAP declared that it will not contest the election.
On May 2, AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "There has been a very positive development in Kerala that a very progressive new kind of a party in Kerala named Twenty20 has invited the Chief Minister of Delhi for its annual meeting on May 15. Arvind Kejriwal has kindly accepted their invitation."
Delhi turns into hot cauldron; mercury leaps to 49 deg C in parts of city
A tormenting heatwave swept through the national capital and its neighbouring areas on Sunday with the mercury leaping to 49.2 degrees Celsius at Mungeshpur in northwest Delhi and 49.1 degrees Celsius at Najafgarh in the southwest parts of the city.
Maximum temperatures reached unbearable highs of 48.4 degrees Celsius at Sports Complex, 47.5 degrees Celsius at Jafarpur, 47.3 degrees Celsius at Pitampura and 47.2 degrees Celsius at Ridge.
At the Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi's base station, the maximum temperature rose to 45.6 degrees Celsius, five notches above the normal and the highest this year so far.
The primary weather station had recorded a maximum temperature of 44.2 degrees Celsius on Saturday and 42.5 degrees Celsius on Friday. On May 27, 2020, Safdarjung had recorded a maximum temperature of 46 degrees Celsius.
The city saw the maximum temperatures rise to 46.8 degrees Celsius at Ayanagar, 46.4 degrees Celsius at Palam and 45.8 degrees Celsius at Lodhi Road.
All the weather stations recorded a heatwave day.
Senior BKU leader parts ways, forms 'apolitical' farmer outfit
Fissures within the Bhartiya Kisan Union came out in the open on the death anniversary of its founder president Mahendra Singh Tikait on Sunday, with a senior national office-bearer announcing the formation of a separate outfit here.
Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) vice-president Rajesh Chauhan said he took the decision after being "insulted" and alleged that the outfit sided with political parties in the elections, an apparent reference to this year's UP Assembly polls.
His outfit will be called the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Arajnaitik), Chauhan said. "Arajnaitik" means apolitical in Hindi.
A senior office-bearer of the new outfit, Harinaam Singh, told PTI that Chauhan announced the formation of the outfit in Lucknow on the death anniversary of farmer leader Mahendra Singh Tikait. "Chauhan will be heading the BKU (A)," he said.
Speaking at an event here, Chauhan alleged that he from time to time tried to put forward his opinion but was ignored.
Senior BKU leaders Naresh Tikait and Rakesh Tikait "neither listen to workers nor pay any attention to problems of farmers", he alleged.
"They have got into bad company and insulted us in one or the other way. I wholeheartedly supported Naresh Tikait and Rakesh Tikait but when the elections came, they deviated from the ideal of Mahendra Singh Tikait," Chauhan alleged.
"They ventured into political mess and had made this organisation a puppet in the hands of political parties. I was extremely saddened and pained by this, Chauhan said.
BJP trying diversion as it failed to provide justice to J&K people: Omar Abdullah
National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Sunday alleged the BJP was using diversionary tactics as it failed to keep its promises and provide justice to any section of the society in Jammu and Kashmir.
The former chief minister said his party will scuttle every attempt of the BJP and will safeguard the rights of the people to start a new phase of development, once it returns to power.
Addressing his party workers at Surankote in the border district of Poonch, he said nothing has changed in Jammu and Kashmir since August 2019, when the BJP-led central government abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two union territories.
"Ad since they (BJP) failed, they are using diversionary tactics by creating differences, making Muslims fight each other and harassing people (by using government agencies)," he said.
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First Published: May 15 2022 | 6:57 AM IST
