India

Greater Noida, Jan 10 (IANS) A forest department team continued with its search operation after a leopard was spotted in Greater Noida's residential colony.

The search operation has been going on since January 3 when the leopard was first spotted.

The Forest Department team has used various state-of-the-art machines and tried indigenous remedies to catch the elusive big cat.

The leopard has been repeatedly spotted in the under-construction building.

The Forest department team and other special teams of the surrounding districts are also continuously trying to catch the leopard, but have failed to catch the animal.

The team sprayed lime at various places on the under-construction site so that they could record the movement of the leopard.

Apart from this, CCTV cameras and other cameras have also been installed at many places.

According to the information received, evidence of the leopard coming and staying in the under-construction society have been found by the officials of the forest department.

Sources have told IANS that the leopard has been coming to the under-construction building for the past several days. The leopard has made it a 'temporary home' here in a way and also lives in the surrounding ridge area.

Even though the forest department team is not saying this openly, they have got the evidence and are investigating accordingly.

The leopard sighting has triggered panic among the residents living in the surrounding societies.

Trap cages with goats as bait have been deployed and the forest department has been continuously monitoring the area.

--IANS
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Amroha (Uttar Pradesh), Jan 10 (IANS) The body of an 11-year-old boy was recovered from a temple premises in Tigri village here.

According to police sources, the body has some injury marks, but since it is stiff it is possible that the boy could have been killed some time ago and the body thrown away later. There are no signs of sexual assault.

Amroha Superintendent of Police Aditya Langeh said, "The deceased has been identified as Rahul Prajapati, a Class 5 student who was missing from Friday. His family had filed a complaint at the Gajraula police station in the area.

Family members, who were searching for him, found his body in a temple premises, 500 yards away from his house."

He further said, "We have sent his body to the district hospital for autopsy. His viscera has been preserved and is being sent to the laboratory for testing. We have formed two police teams to crack down the case."

One person has been detained and is being questioned.

--IANS
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Bhopal, Jan 10 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh government hosted India's 17th 'Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas', which was attended by hundreds of representatives from several foreign countries and the Indian diaspora, was addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Indore on Monday.

Modi addressed the gathering of NRIs and the representatives of business firms, appealing them to understand the values of India in depth and spread in the countries they were living.

The Prime Minister asserted that "for me, all Indian-origin citizen and their families living in all over the world are brand ambassadors of India".

Hundreds of NRIs and people associated with business firms had arrived in Indore since the last two days while many reached on Monday as well. They wanted to attend the gathering to listen to Modi at the venue. However, many of them were disappointed due to shortage of space at the venue.

Some of those allegedly denied entry in for the inaugural season at the venue (as they claimed), were seen expressing their disappointment and questioning the arrangements.

Due to lack of space inside the hall, they were told by the staff that they should listen Prime Minister Modi's address on TV or watch it on phone through a live video link.

"If we had to watch Modiji speak on TV or phone only, why did we fly so far from the US to Indore," said a fuming Julie Jain from the US.

"We came all the way from the US to hear Prime Minister Modi address the Indian diaspora, but once at the entry of the venue of the inaugural session at 8.30 a.m. (around two hours before the PM actually arrived), we were told by the on-duty staff, that the space inside was full. We were invited guests, who had registered in advance for this main event," she added.

Veena Singh, who arrived from the UK, too, remained dejected on failing to get an entry inside.

"We were here to listen to Modiji from as close as possible and arrived by 9 a.m, still we were denied entry into the venue of the inaugural session. Is this actual 'Atithi Devo Bhava'?"

Prashant Singh, an overseas Indian from Jamaica, too, was peeved over failing to get entry to hear Prime Minister Modi speak.

"It wasn't me only, but ministers from Jamaica, who weren't allowed entry inside. If you can't even manage 3000 guests, then how can you even dream of becoming a superpower. Overseas Indian guests have been waiting outside, while officials of the government were sitting inside."

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, however, apologised and tried to pacify the angry guests while addressing the occasion in the presence on Prime MInister Modi, several Union Ministers and the Governor Mangubhai C. Patel along with his cabinet ministers.

Shivraj Singh said, "The hall might have fallen short of space, but there is boundless love and respect for you in my heart."

Talking to IANS, officials claimed the delegates were clearly told in advance about 8 a.m. being the deadline for entry into the venue of PM's programme, but still many arrived late.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Jan 9 (IANS) With the AAP and BJP slugging it out for the Delhi Mayor's post, the AAP is expecting the support of the Congress, which has nine councillors, but Congress leaders do not trust it after the 2013 experience.

In 2013, the party supported the AAP to form the government in Delhi - despite opposition from outgoing Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit but the Arvind Kejriwal-led party junked the Congress after 49 days and in subsequent elections, the Congress has been decimated. Presently, the Congress has neither an MLA nor an MP in Delhi.

Congress ex-MLAA Anil Bhardwaj said: "The ruckus witnessed at the Civic Centre when the Mayoral election was set to take place was very shameful as both the BJP and Aam Aadmi Party councillors betrayed the confidence of the people to indulge in hooliganism and undermine democratic norms in the greed for power."

He said that the Congress councillors were committed to take up the issues of the people, and find solutions to the problems, and not for personal power and glory. He said that it was surprising that the AAP, with a voting strength of over 150, was rattled, making unsubstantiated allegations agains the Congress and trying to threaten the Congress councillors.

He said that it was a matter of serious concern that how the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party councillors turned the oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected Municipal Councillors and elections to the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and the Standing Committee members a shameful wrestling bout in the presence of MPs and MLAs of the BJP and the AAP.

The Congress alleged that the BJP and the AAP indulged in rowdy behavior not for addressing the issues of the people, but for capturing power in the MCD, which has exposed the real intentions of these parties.

It said that it will continue to protest against the anti-people policies of the BJP and the AAP as its mandate was to protect and serve the interests of the people and "not to endorse the power games and divisive misrule" of both these parties.

--IANS
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Hyderabad, Jan 9 (IANS) Tamil superstar Rajinikanth called on Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national President and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu here on Monday.

Rajinikanth met Naidu at the latter's residence in Jubilee Hills. The TDP termed it as a courtesy call.

"It was a pleasure to meet and interact with my dear friend 'Thalaivar' Rajinikanth today," tweeted Naidu. He shared a picture of their meeting.

Rajinikanth met Naidu a day after Tollywood actor and Jana Sena Party (JSP) leader Pawan Kalyan met the former Chief Minister.

Pawan Kalyan had expressed solidarity with Naidu in the wake of the recent developments in the latter's Assembly constituency Kuppam.

Naidu was not allowed to conduct road shows and hold meetings in Kuppam last week, consequent to a Government Order (GO) issued by the state government prohibiting meetings on roads.

The GO was issued in the wake of an incident of stampede during Naidu's road show at Kandukur. Eight persons were killed in the incident that occurred on December 28.

--IANS
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Panaji, Jan 9 (IANS) A heavy police force has been deployed at Dabolim airport in Goa after an incoming chartered flight from Moscow to Goa was diverted to Gujarat's Jamnagar over bomb threat.

Sources said the flight was diverted after the Air Traffic Controller at Goa airport received a bomb threat. There were around 244 passengers on-board the flight which landed at Jamnagar airport at around 9.49 p.m.

After receiving the bomb threat, a large number of police personnel were deployed at Dabolim airport in Goa and senior officers held a meeting over the incident.

More details are awaited.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Jan 9 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah was on Tuesday chairing a meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party's core group meeting of Jammu and Kashmir at his residence.

BJP leaders like party's J&K President Ravinder Raina, Kavinder Gupta, Jammu and Kashmir in charge Tarun Chugh, former Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh were present at the meeting, where, as per sources, "there will be deep discussion on multiple issues related to J&K like security, border issues, political, assembly election, ground review etc".

The meeting comes in the wake of the recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the Rajouri incident in which 7 civilians were killed.

Six civilians, including two children, were killed and many more injured in two terror attacks in Upper Dangri village in Rajouri district on Sunday evening and Monday morning. One injured subsequently succumbed.

The Union Home Ministry had issued an order for deploying an additional 18 companies of paramilitary forces in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the civilian killings in the two terror attacks in the Rajouri district.

--IANS
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Jaipur, Jan 9 (IANS) Terming the BJP's 'Janakrosh Yatra' in Rajasthan as "historic" in the nation, party state in charge Arun Singh said that it covered 1.15 lakh km,, which happened for the first time in the history of the country and the state, while 92 lakh leaflets were also distributed to the common people, as 200 chariots were run in 200 assembly seats.

He said that the Jan Aakrosh Yatra reached all panchayats and villages of Rajasthan and more than 62,000 Nukkad Sabhas and Choupals were held. Contact has been made with more than 1.20 crore people of Rajasthan, and the message has reached 8 crore people of the state, he said.

Singh also mocked the Ashok Gehlot government, saying that "Rahul gone, power gone", in Rajasthan on the present power crisis in the state, while targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra.

He claimed that there is resentment against the Congress government in Rajasthan among the people, adding that the farmers of Rajasthan are saying that when Rahul Gandhi reached Bharat Jodo Yatra in Rajasthan, there was electricity, but as soon as he left, the electricity has also gone in those areas.

Congress government's lacunae came to fore via this yatra, including crime against women, breach of promise to the youth, failure to fulfil the promise of loan waiver to farmers, due to which the farmer of Rajasthan is forced to commit suicide and now the public will say good bye to the Congress government from Rajasthan in 2023, Singh said.

Terming the Rajasthan government as anti-youth, he accused it of playing with their future, noting 16 times, exam papers have been leaked in a row, and there is definitely involvement of the people sitting in the government, while Gehlot is constantly trying to save them.

If elections are held now, a BJP government with a three-fourth majority will be formed in Rajasthan under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Jan 9 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday called Lt. Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena for a public discussion, claiming that he had interfered in the functioning of the elected government, while accusing him of by-passing the Council of Ministers.

The Chief Minister's reply came after the L-G invited him for a meeting over the matter.

Kejriwal has accused the L-G of by-passing the elected government in the appointment of Aldermen, the presiding officers and the Haj Committee.

"Make your stand on your by-passing of the elected government. There was strong public criticism when you unilaterally appointed 10 aldermen, presiding officer and the Haj Committee. You admitted having taken all those actions unilaterally bypassing the government saying that in all those Acts and provisions, it was written that 'Administrator/LG shall appoint'. All laws and acts related to electricity, health, water, education define the government as 'Administrator/LG', will all these departments be directly run by you? What would the elected government do in Delhi? Won't it be contrary to all SC judgements on transferred subjects belonging to the elected government? These questions are very critical for the future of Delhi and the whole country, better to have public discussion than private talks," Kejriwal has written in the letter.

"Then what would the elected government do, Sir? Won't that be contrary to all SC judgements where it has been repeatedly said that L-G is bound by aid and advice of the Council of Ministers on all transferred subjects? Whereas we could discuss all these issues privately over tea, however, these questions are very critical for the future of Delhi and the whole country. Therefore, a public discussion on this issue will be useful. We wait for your response, Sir."

He, however, said that he would definitely attend the meeting with the L-G, and fix a convenient time with the L-G office.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Jan 9 (IANS) The Centre on Monday reappointed Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Michael Debabrata Patra for a period of one year with effect from January 15.

The decision was taken by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

Patra, a career central banker since 1985, had taken over as RBI Deputy Governor on January 14, 2020.

He has worked in various positions in the central bank.

As Executive Director, he was a member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the RBI, which is entrusted with the responsibility of monetary policy decision making in India.

He continues to be an ex-officio member of the MPC as Deputy Governor.

Prior to this, he was Principal Adviser of the Monetary Policy Department of RBI between July 2012 and October 2014.

Patra has worked in the International Monetary Fund as Senior Adviser to Executive Director (India) during December 2008 to June 2012, when he actively engaged in the work of the IMF's Executive Board through the period of the global financial crisis and the ongoing Euro area sovereign debt crisis.

--IANS
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