Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, while speaking to the media persons before getting detained, accused the Delhi Police of manhandling the partymen.
“We are standing here on the issues of price rise and unemployment. We wanted to move forward but the police did not allow us,”Gandhi said.
When asked about the MPs being manhandled, he said, “That is fine. I’m happy to be manhandled. Our job is to resist these forces, our job is to make sure that Indian democracy is protected. Our job is to raise issues of the people like price rise and unemployment and we are doing that.”
The Foreign Ministry on Friday said Vice Minister Deng Li made “solemn representations” over what he called “wanton interference in China’s internal affairs.”
China has dispatched navy ships and warplanes and launched missiles into the Taiwan Strait in response to a visit this week by U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, which China regards as its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary.
On the Chinese coast across from Taiwan, tourists gathered Friday to try to catch a glimpse of any military aircraft heading toward the exercise area. Fighter jets could be heard flying overhead and tourists taking photos chanted, “Let’s take Taiwan back,” looking out into the blue waters of the Taiwan Strait from Pingtan island, a popular scenic spot.
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Omega Seiki, Agri Junction tie up to deploy over 10k EVs in rural market
Omega Seiki Mobility (OSM) on Friday announced a strategic partnership with Agri Junction to deploy over 10,000 electric two and three-wheelers in rural markets by current fiscal year. In the first phase, these vehicles will be introduced in tier II and III markets of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, the two firms said in a joint release. Faridabad-headquartered Omega Seiki product range comprises electric three-wheeler Rage+, passenger electric three-wheeler Stream and light commercial vehicle M1KA.
Three more ships with grain depart Ukraine ports under UN deal
Three more ships with grain have left Ukrainian ports and are headed to Turkey for inspection, Turkey’s defense ministry said Friday, evidence that a U.N.-backed deal is working to export Ukrainian grain that has been trapped by Russia’s invasion. The three ships are loaded with over 58,000 tons of corn. Much of the grain that Ukraine exports is used as animal feed, experts say. Ukraine is one of the world’s main breadbaskets and the stocks of grain trapped were exacerbating a sharp rise of food prices and raising fears of a global hunger crisis. The departure of the ships comes after the first grain shipment since the start of the war left Ukraine earlier this week. It crossed the Black Sea under the breakthrough wartime deal and passed inspection Wednesday in Istanbul and then headed on to Lebanon. The ships that departed Friday from Ukraine are from among over a dozen bulk carriers and cargo ships that had been loaded with grain and stuck at the ports there since the start of Russia’s invasion in late February.
Germany’s health minister tests positive for COVID-19
Germany’s health minister, an epidemiologist by training who has led the country’s fight against COVID-19 since December, has tested positive for the coronavirus. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach’s ministry said early Friday that the 59-year-old has only light symptoms and is working from home. It said that Lauterbach has had four vaccine shots and his infection “shows that, with the highly contagious omicron variant, an infection can’t be entirely ruled out even with utmost caution.”
BJP MP urges Centre to take measures to declare Bihar drought-hit
With farmers in Bihar hit by a massive deficit in monsoon rains, a BJP MP in Lok Sabha on Friday asked the Centre to take quick measures to declare the state drought-hit. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Patliputra MP Ram Kripal Yadav said the situation in the state was “frighteningly bad” and the Centre needed to take immediate steps to provide relief to farmers. He urged the central government to send a high level team to review the situation in the state.
Rahul Gandhi detained by Delhi Police
Several Congress parliamentarians, including Rahul Gandhi, were on Friday detained by the Delhi Police after they carried out a protest march against the Central government in between the Parliament House and Rashtrapati Bhavan in the national capital. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, while speaking to the media persons before getting detained, accused the Delhi Police of manhandling the partymen.
Congress leader and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat detained by police during the party’s protest against Centre on price rise and unemployment
We are protesting peacefully against inflation, price rise, unemployment, GST rate hike among other issues
– Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge
All Congress MPs were marching towards Rashtrapati Bhawan to raise the issue of inflation and price rise but they are not allowing us to go ahead from here. Our job is to raise the issues of the people…Some MPs detained, also beaten
– Congress MP Rahul Gandhi at Vijay Chowk
Encounter breaks out in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam
An encounter broke out between militants and security forces in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, police said. “Encounter has started at Redwani area of #Kulgam. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow,” a police spokesman tweeted. There were no reports of any casualties so far on either side, a police official said.
Congress MPs protest march reaches Vijay Chowk
Congress parliamentarians, protesting against the government over inflation, GST and unemployment, reached Vijay Chowk near the Rashtrapati Bhavan and were subsequently stopped by the police. All Congress MPs are dressed in black to register their protest. The police were not allowing the protesting lawmakers to move forward towards the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Rahul compares Centre with Hitler’s regime
Comparing PM Modi with Hitler, Rahul Gandhi said, “Hitler had also won elections, he too used to win elections. How did he use to do it? He had control of all of Germany’s institutions…Give me the entire system, then I will show you how elections are won.”
Rahul Gandhi further said, “We’re witnessing the death of democracy. What India has built brick by brick, starting almost a century ago, is being destroyed in front of your eyes. Anybody who stands against this idea of the onset of dictatorship is viciously attacked, jailed, arrested & beaten up.”
Pelosi says US will ‘not allow’ China to isolate Taiwan
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday that the United States will “not allow” China to isolate Taiwan, after her visit to the self-ruled island infuriated Beijing. China, which views Taiwan as part of its territory, launched its largest-ever military exercises around the island after Pelosi defied stern threats to become the highest-profile US official to set foot on Taiwanese soil in years. Now in Tokyo on the final leg of her Asian tour, Pelosi did not comment directly on the drills but argued that American politicians should be able to travel to Taiwan freely.
No GST on room rents of ‘sarais’ managed by religious or charitable trusts
The Finance Ministry has said that the Goods and Services Tax will not apply on room rents of ‘sarais’ (inns) or properties managed by religious and charitable institutions. The clarification was issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) on Thursday evening to clear the confusion with regard to the levy of GST on room rents. This clarification by the Finance Ministry came following a demand from various quarters including AAP MP Raghav Chadha that the GST on rooms rented by religious institutions be withdrawn.
Piped cooking gas price hiked by Rs 2.63 per unit in Delhi due to rise in input costs, says IGL
Taiwan condemns ‘evil neighbour’ China over war drills
Taiwan blasted its “evil neighbour next door” on Friday after China encircled the island with a series of huge military drills that were condemned by the United States and other Western allies. During Thursday’s military exercises, which continued Friday, China fired ballistic missiles and deployed both fighter jets and warships around Taiwan.
Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned briefly till 11.30 am
Proceedings have ground to halt amid Opposition uproar over alleged misuse of ED, hike in GST
Landslides force closure of Jammu-Srinagar highway, Mughal Road
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and Mughal Road were closed for vehicular traffic due to landslides and shooting stones triggered by heavy rain at several places in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban and Poonch districts on Friday, officials said.
A few hundred vehicles, including those carrying a batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims, are stranded on the highway, they said. Heavy rains triggered shooting of stones at Mehaar and Cafeteria Morh in Ramban, blocking the highway, the officials said.
U.S. calls China reaction to Pelosi’s Taiwan visit “flagrantly provocative”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told an Asian meeting of top diplomats on Friday that China’s reaction to U.S. house speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan was “flagrantly provocative”, a western official said.
Blinken, speaking at the East Asia Summit in Cambodia, said China had sought to intimidate not only Taiwan, but neighbours too, after it launched the largest-ever military drills in the Taiwan Strait, the official said.
Shares rise, rupee strengthens after RBI rate hike
Indian shares advanced, the rupee strengthened and bond yields rose after the country’s central bank hiked a key policy rate for the third time to tackle persistently high inflation in Asia’s third-largest economy. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised the key policy repo rate by 50 basis points.
“With inflation expected to remain above the upper tolerance threshold in Q2 and Q3 of the current financial year, the MPC stressed that sustained high inflation could de-stabilise inflation expectations and harm growth in the medium term,” RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said.
Assam delegation to visit Mizoram on August 9-10 for border talks
A five-member delegation headed by Assam Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora will be on a two-day visit to Mizoram from August 9 to discuss issues related to the inter-state boundary dispute, an official said on Friday. A special officer and private secretary to the Assam border protection and development minister had on Wednesday informed the Mizoram government that the Assam delegation would arrive in Aizawl the next Tuesday to have two-day talks over the boundary issues, he said.
Rahul Gandhi holds press conference, Delhi Police on vigil amid Congress protests
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is holding a press conference at the party headquarters in New Delhi amid the ongoing protests by the Congress party in the national capital on issues of price rise and unemployment. Delhi Police officials have briefed security personnel at Vijay Chowk, ahead of the protests. Notably, Delhi Police has denied permission to Congress for holding protests. The police officials said that the prohibitory orders are in force in the national capital. The Delhi Police has imposed Section 144 CrPC in the entire area of the New Delhi district except for Jantar Mantar. The police said that protest/dharna/ gherao in the area of New Delhi district on August 5 cannot be permitted in view of security, law and order and traffic reasons.
Markets bounce back after a day’s breather
Equity benchmarks began the trade on a positive note on Friday in tandem with largely firm Asian markets and ahead of the RBI’s policy meeting outcome. The 30-share BSE benchmark climbed 227.89 points to 58,526.69 in early trade. The broader NSE Nifty advanced 64.35 points to 17,446.35.
PayTM Money app faces outage in crucial trading hours
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PM Modi congratulates India’s medal winners at CWG
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated Sudhir on winning gold in para powerlifting at the Commonwealth Games and lauded him for his consistent performance. He also hailed Murali Sreeshankar for winning silver medal in the men’s long jump, noting that it is after decades India has won podium finish in the event at the CWG.
US, Russia, China take part in talks with SE Asian nations
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken joined the foreign ministers of Russia and China at a meeting on Friday with top diplomats from Southeast Asia that comes at a time of increased tensions between Washington, Moscow and Beijing. The East Asia Summit of the ongoing Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings in Cambodia’s capital was the first time the three men were scheduled to take part in the same forum.
Sensex climbs 227.89 points to 58,526.69 in early trade
Nifty advances 64.35 points to 17,446.35
African swine fever: Culling of pigs completed in Kannur
Culling of pigs in two private farms in Kanichar panchayat of Kannur district to prevent spread of African swine fever, which was recently reported here, was completed on Thursday. The culling operations had to be put on hold on Wednesday due to stiff opposition from the owner of one of the affected farms
Former Haryana minister Sampat Singh to rejoin Congress
“I have decided to rejoin the Congress. My move is mainly guided by farmers’ interests as I feel this party can better watch the interests of the farming community,” Singh told PTI over the phone after meeting senior Congress leader K C Venugopal in Delhi on Thursday.
