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India's capital Delhi is under a dense blanket of smog with pollution&nbsp;reaching dangerous levels. At 8 am on Thursday (Nov 14), the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 428, marking a “severe” level of pollution, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Locals are reporting breathing difficulties, eye irritation, and reduced visibility due to the smog.

<h2>Will GRAP 3 be enforced?</h2>

As per reports, despite the alarming levels of pollution, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has opted against enforcing Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). If enforced, GRAP 3 would have included measures like halting in-person classes for primary schools and a blanket ban on construction activities.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-delhi-becomes-gas-chamber-as-aqi-surges-to-severe-for-first-time-this-season-775895">India: Delhi becomes 'gas chamber' as AQI surges to 'severe' for first time this season</a>

Meanwhile, the central government, on Wednesday (Nov 13) exempted certain categories of industrial plants from the provisions applicable under Section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Sectors like assembly of air coolers, repairing and servicing, assembly of bicycles, and other non-motorising vehicles, bio-fertilisers, cotton, woollen and hosiery making, surgical and medical products assembling and many others are among those given exemptions, provided they notify local pollution control boards.

According to the official notification: “All industrial plants having pollution index score up to 20 as listed in the Schedule to this notification, subject to the condition that such plant shall inform in writing to the State Pollution Control Boards or the Pollution Control Committees.”

<h2>Delhi airport issues advisory</h2>

Delhi Airport also issued a statement about the low visibility caused by the smog.

On Thursday, the airport said that even though flight operations currently continue as normal, 'Low Visibility Procedures' are underway and urged passengers to check with airlines for updates.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/vegetable-vendors-in-najafgarh-area-of-delhi-now-need-name-plates-details-776049">Vegetable vendors in Najafgarh area of Delhi now need name plates. Details</a>

“Low Visibility Procedures are in progress at Delhi Airport. All flight operations are presently normal. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information,” read the advisory.

<h2>When will Delhi get relief from smog?</h2>

The India Meteorological Department has suggested that increased winds might improve the AQI, but it’s expected to remain in the “very poor” category.

(With inputs from agencies)

India's capital Delhi is under a dense blanket of smog with pollution reaching dangerous levels. At 8 am on Thursday (Nov 14), the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 428, marking a “severe” level of pollution, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

India's capital Delhi is under a dense blanket of smog with pollution reaching dangerous levels. At 8 am on Thursday (Nov 14), the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 428, marking a “severe” level of pollution, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Locals are reporting breathing difficulties, eye irritation, and reduced visibility due to the smog. Will GRAP 3 be enforced? As per reports, despite the alarming levels of pollution, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has opted against enforcing Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). If enforced, GRAP 3 would have included measures like halting in-person classes for primary schools and a blanket ban on construction activities. Also read | India: Delhi becomes 'gas chamber' as AQI surges to 'severe' for first time this season Meanwhile, the central government, on Wednesday (Nov 13) exempted certain categories of industrial plants from the provisions applicable under Section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Sectors like assembly of air coolers, repairing and servicing, assembly of bicycles, and other non-motorising vehicles, bio-fertilisers, cotton, woollen and hosiery making, surgical and medical products assembling and many others are among those given exemptions, provided they notify local pollution control boards. According to the official notification: “All industrial plants having pollution index score up to 20 as listed in the Schedule to this notification, subject to the condition that such plant shall inform in writing to the State Pollution Control Boards or the Pollution Control Committees.” Delhi airport issues advisory Delhi Airport also issued a statement about the low visibility caused by the smog. On Thursday, the airport said that even though flight operations currently continue as normal, 'Low Visibility Procedures' are underway and urged passengers to check with airlines for updates. Also read | Vegetable vendors in Najafgarh area of Delhi now need name plates. Details “Low Visibility Procedures are in progress at Delhi Airport. All flight operations are presently normal. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information,” read the advisory. When will Delhi get relief from smog? The India Meteorological Department has suggested that increased winds might improve the AQI, but it’s expected to remain in the “very poor” category. (With inputs from agencies)

Delhi faces severe smog as AQI soars to 428. Will GRAP 3 be enforced, primary schools shut? Details here

Vegetable vendors in Delhi's Najafgarh have been told to display their names and phone numbers on their carts, as per an order by the local councillor and market association. Reportedly, the rule has been introduced after complaints that unidentified sellers are entering the market.

The order aims to prevent “illegal” Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants from selling produce in the area. The process will involve assigning each cart a unique “number" by the market association. Vendors would also have to undergo an identity verification process using documents such as their Aadhar card.

Najafgarh Vyapar Mandal president Santosh Rajput said that records of all vendors would be kept with the market association and their identity verification details would be submitted to the local police and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

“With this move, we aim to improve the system in the vegetable market. If the names and phone numbers of vendors are displayed on their carts, any buyer with a grievance can report it to us," Rajput said.

"This will also help us identify illegal migrants selling goods. We will forward their details to the MCD and the police."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rents-surged-by-up-to-70-in-7-major-indian-cities-including-delhi-study-775929">Rents surged by up to 70% in 7 major Indian cities including Delhi: Study</a>

<h2>Rule for safety, not discrimination: Official</h2>

Anyone without a nameplate won't be allowed to sell their items in the market. As per the association, more than 300 street vendors sell vegetables in the Najafgarh market area.

The purpose of the rule is not to alienate or discriminate against anybody, local BJP councillor Amit Kharkhari claimed. He added that the rule has been imposed for security reasons.

The verification process is scheduled to be completed by November 20.

The Uttar Pradesh and Himachal governments had earlier introduced a similar rule that required street vendors to have name plates. However, they were withdrawn following backlash over claims that the rules were discriminatory in nature.

Vegetable vendors in Delhi's Najafgarh have been told to display their names and phone numbers on their carts, as per an order by the local councillor and market association.

Vegetable vendors in Delhi's Najafgarh have been told to display their names and phone numbers on their carts, as per an order by the local councillor and market association. Reportedly, the rule has been introduced after complaints that unidentified sellers are entering the market. The order aims to prevent “illegal” Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants from selling produce in the area. The process will involve assigning each cart a unique “number" by the market association. Vendors would also have to undergo an identity verification process using documents such as their Aadhar card. Najafgarh Vyapar Mandal president Santosh Rajput said that records of all vendors would be kept with the market association and their identity verification details would be submitted to the local police and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). “With this move, we aim to improve the system in the vegetable market. If the names and phone numbers of vendors are displayed on their carts, any buyer with a grievance can report it to us," Rajput said. "This will also help us identify illegal migrants selling goods. We will forward their details to the MCD and the police." Also Read: Rents surged by up to 70% in 7 major Indian cities including Delhi: Study Rule for safety, not discrimination: Official Anyone without a nameplate won't be allowed to sell their items in the market. As per the association, more than 300 street vendors sell vegetables in the Najafgarh market area. The purpose of the rule is not to alienate or discriminate against anybody, local BJP councillor Amit Kharkhari claimed. He added that the rule has been imposed for security reasons. The verification process is scheduled to be completed by November 20. The Uttar Pradesh and Himachal governments had earlier introduced a similar rule that required street vendors to have name plates. However, they were withdrawn following backlash over claims that the rules were discriminatory in nature.

Vegetable vendors in Najafgarh area of Delhi now need name plates. Details

Two Indian states Jharkhand and Karnataka entered into polls on Wednesday (Nov 13). While Jharkhand votes to elect 81 members to its legislative assembly, Karnataka will observe voting&nbsp;for three assembly seats in the bypolls.&nbsp;

People started voting on November 13 for Jharkhand’s 43 assembly constituencies, spread across 15 districts.&nbsp;

A total of 683 candidates are in the fray including prominent political leaders like former Chief Minister Champai Soren, Health Minister Banna Gupta, Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji, Geeta Koda (wife of former Chief Minister Madhu Koda), and Purnima Das, the daughter-in-law of former Chief Minister Raghubar Das.

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In Karnataka, the fate of 45 candidates will be decided in the by-election in three key constituencies- Channapatna, Shiggaon and Sandur. &nbsp;

The by-election in these constituencies was triggered after three seats were left open as JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, ex-CM Basavaraj Bommai and Congress’s E Tukaram were appointed as union ministers. They held the Channapatna, Shiggaon and Sandur assembly seats respectively.

<h2>Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024</h2>

The campaigning for the first phase of elections halted on Monday (Nov 11) after which&nbsp;voting started at 7:00 am on Wednesday. Among all the constituencies, East Singhbhum district has the highest number of 6 seats up for grabs, followed by 5 seats each in Palamu, West Singhbhum, and Ranchi districts while Koderma and Ramgarh districts have 1 seat each.

Watch |&nbsp;'One Nation, One Election' Explained; What is it and How it will work

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The key constituencies in the first phase include Saraikela, Ranchi, Jamshedpur West, Jagannathpur, and Jamshedpur East.&nbsp;

Former Chief Minister Champai Soren is contesting from the Saraikela seat. He joined the BJP in August ahead of the Jharkhand elections.

The primary contest is between the JMM-led Grand Alliance and the BJP-led NDA. Of the 43 seats in the first phase, the JMM is contesting 23, the Congress 17, while Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD has fielded candidates on five seats, with two of these candidates running against alliance members.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-high-court-seeks-eds-response-to-arvind-kejriwals-petition-against-criminal-complaints-775506">Delhi high court seeks ED’s response to Arvind Kejriwal’s petition against criminal complaints</a>

Within the NDA, the BJP is contesting 36 seats, while Sudesh Mahto's AJSU has fielded candidates in 4 seats, Nitish Kumar's JD(U) in 2 and Chirag Paswan's LJP (R) in 1 constituency.

Nearly 13.04 per cent voter turnout was recorded until 9:00 am on Wednesday in 43 assembly constituencies.

<h2>Karnataka By-elections 2024</h2>

The voting in three constituencies of Karnataka began at 7:00 am this morning and is expected to go on till around 6:00 pm.&nbsp;

More than seven lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes in about 770 polling stations across the three assembly constituencies.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-pollution-thick-smog-causes-low-visibility-in-delhi-ncr-aqi-crosses-350-mark-775686">Delhi pollution: Thick smog causes low visibility in Delhi-NCR, AQI crosses 350-mark</a>

Key contestants here include Nikhil Kumaraswamy, JDS leader and son of Kumaraswamy, on an NDA ticket, and five-time MLA CP Yogeshwar from the Congress party for the Channapatna assembly seat.&nbsp;

BJP's Bharat Bommai, son of former Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai, is set to face Congress party’s Yasir Ahmed Khan in Shiggaon. Lastly, E Annapurna, wife of Congress leader E Tukaram, will fight BJP’s Bangaru Hanumanthu in Sandur.

(With inputs from agencies)

Two Indian states Jharkhand and Karnataka entered into polls on Wednesday (Nov 13). While Jharkhand votes to elect 81 members to its legislative assembly, Karnataka will observe voting for three assembly seats in the bypolls.

Two Indian states Jharkhand and Karnataka entered into polls on Wednesday (Nov 13). While Jharkhand votes to elect 81 members to its legislative assembly, Karnataka will observe voting for three assembly seats in the bypolls. People started voting on November 13 for Jharkhand’s 43 assembly constituencies, spread across 15 districts. A total of 683 candidates are in the fray including prominent political leaders like former Chief Minister Champai Soren, Health Minister Banna Gupta, Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji, Geeta Koda (wife of former Chief Minister Madhu Koda), and Purnima Das, the daughter-in-law of former Chief Minister Raghubar Das. Also Read | Indian PM Narendra Modi makes ‘nine appeals’ to Uttarakhand, CM replies In Karnataka, the fate of 45 candidates will be decided in the by-election in three key constituencies- Channapatna, Shiggaon and Sandur. The by-election in these constituencies was triggered after three seats were left open as JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, ex-CM Basavaraj Bommai and Congress’s E Tukaram were appointed as union ministers. They held the Channapatna, Shiggaon and Sandur assembly seats respectively. Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024 The campaigning for the first phase of elections halted on Monday (Nov 11) after which voting started at 7:00 am on Wednesday. Among all the constituencies, East Singhbhum district has the highest number of 6 seats up for grabs, followed by 5 seats each in Palamu, West Singhbhum, and Ranchi districts while Koderma and Ramgarh districts have 1 seat each. Watch | 'One Nation, One Election' Explained; What is it and How it will work × The key constituencies in the first phase include Saraikela, Ranchi, Jamshedpur West, Jagannathpur, and Jamshedpur East. Former Chief Minister Champai Soren is contesting from the Saraikela seat. He joined the BJP in August ahead of the Jharkhand elections. The primary contest is between the JMM-led Grand Alliance and the BJP-led NDA. Of the 43 seats in the first phase, the JMM is contesting 23, the Congress 17, while Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD has fielded candidates on five seats, with two of these candidates running against alliance members. Also Read | Delhi high court seeks ED’s response to Arvind Kejriwal’s petition against criminal complaints Within the NDA, the BJP is contesting 36 seats, while Sudesh Mahto's AJSU has fielded candidates in 4 seats, Nitish Kumar's JD(U) in 2 and Chirag Paswan's LJP (R) in 1 constituency. Nearly 13.04 per cent voter turnout was recorded until 9:00 am on Wednesday in 43 assembly constituencies. Karnataka By-elections 2024 The voting in three constituencies of Karnataka began at 7:00 am this morning and is expected to go on till around 6:00 pm. More than seven lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes in about 770 polling stations across the three assembly constituencies. Also Read | Delhi pollution: Thick smog causes low visibility in Delhi-NCR, AQI crosses 350-mark Key contestants here include Nikhil Kumaraswamy, JDS leader and son of Kumaraswamy, on an NDA ticket, and five-time MLA CP Yogeshwar from the Congress party for the Channapatna assembly seat. BJP's Bharat Bommai, son of former Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai, is set to face Congress party’s Yasir Ahmed Khan in Shiggaon. Lastly, E Annapurna, wife of Congress leader E Tukaram, will fight BJP’s Bangaru Hanumanthu in Sandur. (With inputs from agencies)

Jharkhand assembly election kick starts with phase 1 polling along with Karnataka bypolls on 3 seats

It was a major election day in India, with by-polls held on 31 assembly seats across 10 states and elections held on 43 seats of the 81-member state legislative assembly in Jharkhand on Wednesday (Nov 13). Here is a round-up of all poll-related developments from across India.

<h2>Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024</h2>

The polling on 43 assembly seats of Jharkhand began Wednesday morning, with turnout recorded at 64 per cent until 5:00 pm (IST). Of all assembly seats, Khunti district recorded the highest turnout till 11:00 am&nbsp;at 34.12 per cent, followed by 33.86 per cent in Gumla, 33.44 per cent in Lohardaga and 33.18 per cent in Simdega.

The 43 seats include 17 general seats, 20 reserved seats for Scheduled Tribes and six&nbsp;seats for Scheduled Castes.

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On Wednesday, phase 1 of the polls was being held, with the second phase slated to be held on November 20.

In Jharkhand, the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is contesting against the national ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). On the other hand, JMM is part of the national opposition INDIA bloc, led by the Congress party. BJP’s allies in the state include All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) and Janata Dal (United) whereas INDIA bloc allies include JMM, Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Left parties.

<h2>By-polls across 10 states</h2>

Along with phase 1 of Jharkhand assembly polls, elections were underway across 31 seats in 10 Indian states, including seven seats in Rajasthan, six in West Bengal, five in Assam, four in Bihar, three in Karnataka, two in Madhya Pradesh, and one each in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, and Meghalaya.

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In West Bengal, over 45 per cent turnout was recorded till 1:00 pm. Scattered events of violence were reported from the state, with one member of the ruling TMC party getting killed in a bomb attack in Bhatpara.

<h2>Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll </h2>

By-poll was also underway in the high-profile Lok Sabha seat of Wayanad, where Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made her electoral debut.

The bypoll is being held after the seat was vacated by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as he retained the Raebareli seat in Uttar Pradesh.

Priyanka is competing against 15 candidates, including Sathyan Mokeri of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Navya Haridas of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Polling in Wayanad crossed 50.63 per cent by 3:00&nbsp;pm IST.

Results for all seats will be declared on November 23.

(With inputs from agencies)

It was a major election day in India, with by-polls held on 31 assembly seats across 10 states and elections held on 43 seats of the 81-member state legislative assembly in Jharkhand on Wednesday (Nov 13).

It was a major election day in India, with by-polls held on 31 assembly seats across 10 states and elections held on 43 seats of the 81-member state legislative assembly in Jharkhand on Wednesday (Nov 13). Here is a round-up of all poll-related developments from across India. Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024 The polling on 43 assembly seats of Jharkhand began Wednesday morning, with turnout recorded at 64 per cent until 5:00 pm (IST). Of all assembly seats, Khunti district recorded the highest turnout till 11:00 am at 34.12 per cent, followed by 33.86 per cent in Gumla, 33.44 per cent in Lohardaga and 33.18 per cent in Simdega. The 43 seats include 17 general seats, 20 reserved seats for Scheduled Tribes and six seats for Scheduled Castes. Also read: Terror network linked to al-Qaeda dismantled in India: 14 arrested in Delhi Police operation On Wednesday, phase 1 of the polls was being held, with the second phase slated to be held on November 20. In Jharkhand, the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is contesting against the national ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). On the other hand, JMM is part of the national opposition INDIA bloc, led by the Congress party. BJP’s allies in the state include All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) and Janata Dal (United) whereas INDIA bloc allies include JMM, Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Left parties. By-polls across 10 states Along with phase 1 of Jharkhand assembly polls, elections were underway across 31 seats in 10 Indian states, including seven seats in Rajasthan, six in West Bengal, five in Assam, four in Bihar, three in Karnataka, two in Madhya Pradesh, and one each in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, and Meghalaya. Also read: Ex-Jharkhand CM Champai Soren joins BJP, expresses faith in PM Modi In West Bengal, over 45 per cent turnout was recorded till 1:00 pm. Scattered events of violence were reported from the state, with one member of the ruling TMC party getting killed in a bomb attack in Bhatpara. Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll By-poll was also underway in the high-profile Lok Sabha seat of Wayanad, where Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made her electoral debut. The bypoll is being held after the seat was vacated by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as he retained the Raebareli seat in Uttar Pradesh. Priyanka is competing against 15 candidates, including Sathyan Mokeri of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Navya Haridas of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Polling in Wayanad crossed 50.63 per cent by 3:00 pm IST. Results for all seats will be declared on November 23. (With inputs from agencies)

India elections: 64% turnout recorded as NDA, INDIA bloc clash in Jharkhand, assembly bypolls

Children’s Day, or Bal Diwas, is celebrated every year on November 14&nbsp;in India to honour the birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s first prime minister. This day is not just a tribute to Nehru’s legacy but also an opportunity to celebrate the innocence, potential, and brilliance of children everywhere.

<h2>Children’s Day 2024: Quotes&nbsp;</h2>

Here are some meaningful quotes to share on Children’s Day, each one reflecting the significance of nurturing and guiding young minds:

1. “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln

2. “Children are like buds in a garden and should be carefully and lovingly nurtured, as they are the future of the nation and the citizens of tomorrow.” – Jawaharlal Nehru

3. “The best way to make children good is to make them happy.” – Oscar Wilde

4. “Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.” – John F&nbsp;Kennedy

5. “Every child you encounter is a divine appointment.” – Wess Stafford

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<h2>Children's Day 2024: Wishes and messages</h2>

On this special occasion, here are some heartfelt wishes and messages to share:

<ul>
	<li>"Happy Children’s Day to all the little stars who light up our lives with their laughter, innocence, and boundless imagination!"</li>
	<li>&nbsp;"May your hearts always be filled with joy, your dreams remain unshakable, and your journey ahead be full of adventure. Happy Children’s Day!"</li>
	<li>"On this Children’s Day, let’s celebrate the magic that each child brings to the world. Keep shining and dreaming big!"</li>
</ul>

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<ul>
	<li>"To the future leaders, dreamers, and changemakers—your potential is limitless. Wishing you all a Happy Children’s Day!"</li>
	<li>"May your curiosity continue to drive you toward knowledge, and may your laughter fill every room you enter. Happy Children’s Day!"</li>
</ul>

(With inputs from agencies)

Children’s Day, or Bal Diwas, is celebrated every year on November 14 in India to honour the birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s first prime minister.

Children’s Day, or Bal Diwas, is celebrated every year on November 14 in India to honour the birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s first prime minister. This day is not just a tribute to Nehru’s legacy but also an opportunity to celebrate the innocence, potential, and brilliance of children everywhere. Children’s Day 2024: Quotes Here are some meaningful quotes to share on Children’s Day, each one reflecting the significance of nurturing and guiding young minds: 1. “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln 2. “Children are like buds in a garden and should be carefully and lovingly nurtured, as they are the future of the nation and the citizens of tomorrow.” – Jawaharlal Nehru 3. “The best way to make children good is to make them happy.” – Oscar Wilde 4. “Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.” – John F Kennedy 5. “Every child you encounter is a divine appointment.” – Wess Stafford Also read | Rents surged by up to 70% in 7 major Indian cities including Delhi: Study Children's Day 2024: Wishes and messages On this special occasion, here are some heartfelt wishes and messages to share: "Happy Children’s Day to all the little stars who light up our lives with their laughter, innocence, and boundless imagination!" "May your hearts always be filled with joy, your dreams remain unshakable, and your journey ahead be full of adventure. Happy Children’s Day!" "On this Children’s Day, let’s celebrate the magic that each child brings to the world. Keep shining and dreaming big!" Also read | Delhiites brace for traffic chaos as 450k weddings to be held in 3 weeks "To the future leaders, dreamers, and changemakers—your potential is limitless. Wishing you all a Happy Children’s Day!" "May your curiosity continue to drive you toward knowledge, and may your laughter fill every room you enter. Happy Children’s Day!" (With inputs from agencies)

Happy Children's Day 2024: Heartwarming messages, quotes and wishes to share

India’s top court on Wednesday (Nov 13) rebuked the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a party in the Indian state of Maharashtra,&nbsp;for using photos and videos of party founder Sharad Pawar. The Ajit faction had orchestrated a split from Sharad’s party in July last year and joined the ruling alliance led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Meanwhile, the faction led by Sharad Pawar remains a part of the opposition INDIA bloc.

Before the top court, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was representing the Sharad Pawar faction, claimed that junior Pawar was violating earlier SC ruling by blatantly using videos of Sharad Pawar in election campaigning. Singhvi added that the Ajit faction wanted to “piggyback” on the reputation of the senior Pawar.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjpg7HP0dmJAxXFsVYBHdKrHIoQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-mva-release-manifesto-ahead-of-maharashtra-assembly-elections-promises-these-five-guarantees-774993" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-mva-release-manifesto-ahead-of-maharashtra-assembly-elections-promises-these-five-guarantees-774993&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjpg7HP0dmJAxXFsVYBHdKrHIoQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE">MVA releases manifesto ahead of Maharashtra assembly elections: Promises these ‘five guarantees’</a>

Responding to the charges, advocate Balbir Singh, who was representing the Ajit faction, claimed the videos were doctored and the party never used Sharad Pawar’s images in poll campaigning. In response, Singhvi said the video in question was shared by the official handle of Amol Mitkari, a politician affiliated with the Ajit Pawar faction.

Justice Suryakant then scolded Balbir Singh and asked the Ajit faction to “Stand on your own legs.”

“Whether or not it is an old video, with Sharad Pawar, you have an ideological difference and are competing against him. Stand on your own legs,” the supreme court justice noted.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjpg7HP0dmJAxXFsVYBHdKrHIoQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/focus-on-women-welfare-food-security-health-bjp-releases-manifesto-for-maharashtra-elections-774981" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/focus-on-women-welfare-food-security-health-bjp-releases-manifesto-for-maharashtra-elections-774981&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjpg7HP0dmJAxXFsVYBHdKrHIoQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">Focus on women welfare, food security, health: BJP releases manifesto for Maharashtra elections</a>

Justice Suryakant further advised, “Concentrate on the battlefield. The people are wise; they know who is Sharad Pawar and who is Ajit Pawar. Video clips may or may not influence them, but the Court’s order must be respected.”

Earlier, the opposition INDIA bloc had raised concerns that the Ajit faction was still using images of Sharad Pawar to create confusion among voters. The court also directed the Ajit faction to issue a message to all candidates not to use images and campaigning material carrying visuals of Sharad Pawar.

The case will now be heard on November 19.

According to arguments made before the court, the Ajit faction and Sharad Pawar faction are going head-to-head in 36 assembly seats in Maharashtra state. The polls in the state will be held on November 20.

(With inputs from agencies)

India’s top court on Wednesday (Nov 13) rebuked the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a party in the Indian state of Maharashtra, for using photos and videos of party founder Sharad Pawar.

India’s top court on Wednesday (Nov 13) rebuked the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a party in the Indian state of Maharashtra, for using photos and videos of party founder Sharad Pawar. The Ajit faction had orchestrated a split from Sharad’s party in July last year and joined the ruling alliance led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Meanwhile, the faction led by Sharad Pawar remains a part of the opposition INDIA bloc. Before the top court, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was representing the Sharad Pawar faction, claimed that junior Pawar was violating earlier SC ruling by blatantly using videos of Sharad Pawar in election campaigning. Singhvi added that the Ajit faction wanted to “piggyback” on the reputation of the senior Pawar. Also read: MVA releases manifesto ahead of Maharashtra assembly elections: Promises these ‘five guarantees’ Responding to the charges, advocate Balbir Singh, who was representing the Ajit faction, claimed the videos were doctored and the party never used Sharad Pawar’s images in poll campaigning. In response, Singhvi said the video in question was shared by the official handle of Amol Mitkari, a politician affiliated with the Ajit Pawar faction. Justice Suryakant then scolded Balbir Singh and asked the Ajit faction to “Stand on your own legs.” “Whether or not it is an old video, with Sharad Pawar, you have an ideological difference and are competing against him. Stand on your own legs,” the supreme court justice noted. Also read: Focus on women welfare, food security, health: BJP releases manifesto for Maharashtra elections Justice Suryakant further advised, “Concentrate on the battlefield. The people are wise; they know who is Sharad Pawar and who is Ajit Pawar. Video clips may or may not influence them, but the Court’s order must be respected.” Earlier, the opposition INDIA bloc had raised concerns that the Ajit faction was still using images of Sharad Pawar to create confusion among voters. The court also directed the Ajit faction to issue a message to all candidates not to use images and campaigning material carrying visuals of Sharad Pawar. The case will now be heard on November 19. According to arguments made before the court, the Ajit faction and Sharad Pawar faction are going head-to-head in 36 assembly seats in Maharashtra state. The polls in the state will be held on November 20. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Stand on your own legs,’ SC scolds Ajit-led NCP over using Sharad Pawar’s images in campaigning

Delhi woke up to a thick layer of smog on Wednesday morning, causing a significant drop in visibility. The neighbouring regions of Noida, Ghaziabad and other parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) were also engulfed in similar smog-like conditions.

The air quality index (AQI) remains in the “very poor” category on November 13, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). At 8:00 am on Wednesday, the national capital’s air quality stood at 361, as per the data of CPCB.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, 401 and 450 ‘severe’ and above 450 ‘severe plus’.

According to Swiss group IQAir's live ratings, the AQI in Delhi was 1133 (hazardous), with PM2.5 as the main pollutant.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-man-arrested-for-cultivating-cannabis-at-home-in-greater-noida-and-selling-on-dark-web-775611">India: Man arrested for cultivating cannabis at home in Greater Noida, selling on dark web</a>

The smog was combined with shallow to moderate fog and mist that led to reduced visibility during the morning hours. Experts are expecting the hazy conditions to stay till the evening and night, further impacting visibility and increasing health risks.

The weather department has also predicted that these conditions are unlikely to improve soon, with the AQI predicted to remain in the “very poor” range for the next two days. Meteorological conditions are still “extremely unfavourable” for pollutant dispersion.

Watch |&nbsp;India, Pakistan Grapple With Severe Smog

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&nbsp;

The second stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been in place in Delhi.

When it comes to Punjab and Haryana, many parts of the states recorded 'poor' air quality. Punjab witnessed 83 fresh farm fires, taking the total count to 7,112, according to the data available.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhis-green-waste-to-energy-plant-exposing-millions-to-toxic-emissions-report-775558">Delhi’s ‘green’ waste-to-energy plant exposing millions to toxic emissions: Report</a>

In Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, the AQI was recorded at 349 at 9:00 pm, according to the CPCB's Sameer app, which provides hourly updates. In Punjab, Mandi Gobindgarh recorded an AQI of 269, Patiala 245, Ludhiana 233, Jalandhar 212 and Rupnagar 200.

In Haryana, the AQI was 291 in Kaithal, 272 in Jind, 267 in Panchkula, 240 in Sonipat, 236 in Bahadurgarh, 217 in Kurukshetra, 205 in Gurugram and 202 in Yamunanagar.

(With inputs from agencies)

Delhi woke up to a thick layer of smog on Wednesday morning, causing a significant drop in visibility. The neighbouring regions of Noida, Ghaziabad and other parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) were also engulfed in similar smog-like conditions.

Delhi woke up to a thick layer of smog on Wednesday morning, causing a significant drop in visibility. The neighbouring regions of Noida, Ghaziabad and other parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) were also engulfed in similar smog-like conditions. The air quality index (AQI) remains in the “very poor” category on November 13, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). At 8:00 am on Wednesday, the national capital’s air quality stood at 361, as per the data of CPCB. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, 401 and 450 ‘severe’ and above 450 ‘severe plus’. According to Swiss group IQAir's live ratings, the AQI in Delhi was 1133 (hazardous), with PM2.5 as the main pollutant. Also Read | India: Man arrested for cultivating cannabis at home in Greater Noida, selling on dark web The smog was combined with shallow to moderate fog and mist that led to reduced visibility during the morning hours. Experts are expecting the hazy conditions to stay till the evening and night, further impacting visibility and increasing health risks. The weather department has also predicted that these conditions are unlikely to improve soon, with the AQI predicted to remain in the “very poor” range for the next two days. Meteorological conditions are still “extremely unfavourable” for pollutant dispersion. Watch | India, Pakistan Grapple With Severe Smog × The second stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been in place in Delhi. When it comes to Punjab and Haryana, many parts of the states recorded 'poor' air quality. Punjab witnessed 83 fresh farm fires, taking the total count to 7,112, according to the data available. Also Read | Delhi’s ‘green’ waste-to-energy plant exposing millions to toxic emissions: Report In Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, the AQI was recorded at 349 at 9:00 pm, according to the CPCB's Sameer app, which provides hourly updates. In Punjab, Mandi Gobindgarh recorded an AQI of 269, Patiala 245, Ludhiana 233, Jalandhar 212 and Rupnagar 200. In Haryana, the AQI was 291 in Kaithal, 272 in Jind, 267 in Panchkula, 240 in Sonipat, 236 in Bahadurgarh, 217 in Kurukshetra, 205 in Gurugram and 202 in Yamunanagar. (With inputs from agencies)

Delhi pollution: Thick smog causes low visibility in Delhi-NCR, AQI crosses 350-mark

A recent study has revealed that rents in seven major Indian cities have surged as much as 70 per cent in the last six years, with a significant jump in the last two years. The research conducted by property consultants ANAROCK group revealed a shift in homebuyer preferences, with more people preferring to buy larger properties.

The study polled 7,615 respondents between the ages of 24-78 across 14 Indian cities. The findings showed that 52 per cent of homebuyers in Delhi-NCR opted for 3BHK apartments while 38 per cent preferred 2BHKs.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhiites-brace-for-traffic-chaos-as-450k-weddings-to-be-held-in-3-weeks-775900">Delhiites brace for traffic chaos as 450k weddings to be held in 3 weeks</a>

According to the report, more people now prefer investing in real estate over other assets, with 59 per cent of respondents saying they opt for it over stocks, while 31 per cent preferred investment in stocks.

The report also highlighted the regional buying patterns, with more people in southern India preferring residential plots, when compared to those in northern and western Indian regions.

As per the findings, around one-third of homebuyers in the southern Indian cities of Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad said that they prefer buying residential plots. On the other hand, 70 per cent of buyers in northern and western Indian regions like Delhi-NCR and Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) said they preferred apartments.

More people buy properties for personal use rather than investments, the research found. Out of the investors, 57 per cent buy properties for rental income and 20 per cent buy for reselling after appreciation in value.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/demolition-costs-to-be-deducted-from-officers-salaries-sc-sets-guidelines-to-curb-bulldozer-justice-775826">'Demolition costs to be deducted from officers' salaries,' SC sets guidelines to curb 'bulldozer justice'</a>

Despite the rise in property prices, 51 per cent of respondents preferred larger homes, particularly 3BHKs over smaller houses.&nbsp;

The research also revealed that most homebuyers are dissatisfied. Around 53 per cent said they are not happy with present options that are affordable due to cramped areas, poor construction quality, and bad location accessibility.

The high home loan interest rates, which have crossed nine per cent, are a major reason many potential buyers are discouraged and impact the home-buying decision of over 87 per cent of people.

(With inputs from agencies)

A recent study has revealed that rents in seven major Indian cities have surged as much as 70 per cent in the last six years, with a significant jump in the last two years.

A recent study has revealed that rents in seven major Indian cities have surged as much as 70 per cent in the last six years, with a significant jump in the last two years. The research conducted by property consultants ANAROCK group revealed a shift in homebuyer preferences, with more people preferring to buy larger properties. The study polled 7,615 respondents between the ages of 24-78 across 14 Indian cities. The findings showed that 52 per cent of homebuyers in Delhi-NCR opted for 3BHK apartments while 38 per cent preferred 2BHKs. Also read | Delhiites brace for traffic chaos as 450k weddings to be held in 3 weeks According to the report, more people now prefer investing in real estate over other assets, with 59 per cent of respondents saying they opt for it over stocks, while 31 per cent preferred investment in stocks. The report also highlighted the regional buying patterns, with more people in southern India preferring residential plots, when compared to those in northern and western Indian regions. As per the findings, around one-third of homebuyers in the southern Indian cities of Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad said that they prefer buying residential plots. On the other hand, 70 per cent of buyers in northern and western Indian regions like Delhi-NCR and Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) said they preferred apartments. More people buy properties for personal use rather than investments, the research found. Out of the investors, 57 per cent buy properties for rental income and 20 per cent buy for reselling after appreciation in value. Also read | 'Demolition costs to be deducted from officers' salaries,' SC sets guidelines to curb 'bulldozer justice' Despite the rise in property prices, 51 per cent of respondents preferred larger homes, particularly 3BHKs over smaller houses. The research also revealed that most homebuyers are dissatisfied. Around 53 per cent said they are not happy with present options that are affordable due to cramped areas, poor construction quality, and bad location accessibility. The high home loan interest rates, which have crossed nine per cent, are a major reason many potential buyers are discouraged and impact the home-buying decision of over 87 per cent of people. (With inputs from agencies)

Rents surged by up to 70% in 7 major Indian cities including Delhi: Study

Sluggish traffic, road barricades for marriage processions, loud bangs of 'dhols' and DJs during commute, and parking headache awaits Delhiites as the wedding season kicked off on Tuesday (Nov 12).

With around 450k&nbsp;weddings expected to be held over the next three weeks, Delhi Police have&nbsp;deployed 1,500 to 2,000 traffic personnel to smoothen the flow of vehicles.

The first phase of the wedding season, which spans 18 days, began on Tuesday and will continue till December 16, according to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). Around 50,000 weddings are scheduled for the day in the national capital, it said.

Wedding bands and banquet halls across the city are witnessing a surge in demand for bookings.

A senior police officer said that regular meetings are being held with banquet hall owners to ensure that parking arrangements are in place. "We advise venues without on-site parking to arrange for valet services. We are also focussing on curbing drunk driving and managing 'baraats' to avoid congestion on main roads," the officer said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-delhi-becomes-gas-chamber-as-aqi-surges-to-severe-for-first-time-this-season-775895">India: Delhi becomes 'gas chamber' as AQI surges to 'severe' for first time this season</a>

Patrolling bikes have been stationed across the city to help maintain traffic flow, he added.

Wedding vendors in the city are gearing up for a busy month ahead.

Jakir Khan, owner of Rajdhani Band, shared that he has already received 75 to 80 bookings for November. "From today, we're getting five to six bookings every day. A lot of customers booked us in advance, starting last month," Khan said.

Karishma, who runs the Jea Band Group, also reported a strong start to the season.

"We have already received around 80 bookings for November, with 14 just for today," she said. "The number is likely to increase in the coming days. We're also seeing a rise in destination wedding bookings," she added.

Mohammad Rihaan, owner of White and Green Wedding Planners, said that his team has secured 50 contracts for weddings this month alone.

Harindra Tomar, another wedding planner, said he has already 25 wedding bookings for this month, and expects the numbers to rise as the season progresses.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-man-arrested-for-cultivating-cannabis-at-home-in-greater-noida-and-selling-on-dark-web-775611">India: Man arrested for cultivating cannabis at home in Greater Noida, selling on dark web</a>

Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of the CAIT and the MP from Chandni Chowk, explained that the tradition of celebrating weddings after Dev Uthani Ekadashi is rooted in ancient texts, which suggests that Lord Vishnu awakens from his four-month rest on this day.

"From this point onward, auspicious events like weddings begin," Khandelwal said.

With weddings spanning sectors such as clothing, jewellery, decorations, electronics, furniture, gifts, and catering, the wedding season will create a wealth of opportunities for service providers and generate significant employment, he added.

According to CAIT's estimates, the wedding season is set to drive economic activity of over Rs 6 lakh crore.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sluggish traffic, road barricades for marriage processions, loud bangs of 'dhols' and DJs during commute, and parking headache awaits Delhiites as the wedding season kicked off on Tuesday (Nov 12).

Sluggish traffic, road barricades for marriage processions, loud bangs of 'dhols' and DJs during commute, and parking headache awaits Delhiites as the wedding season kicked off on Tuesday (Nov 12). With around 450k weddings expected to be held over the next three weeks, Delhi Police have deployed 1,500 to 2,000 traffic personnel to smoothen the flow of vehicles. The first phase of the wedding season, which spans 18 days, began on Tuesday and will continue till December 16, according to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). Around 50,000 weddings are scheduled for the day in the national capital, it said. Wedding bands and banquet halls across the city are witnessing a surge in demand for bookings. A senior police officer said that regular meetings are being held with banquet hall owners to ensure that parking arrangements are in place. "We advise venues without on-site parking to arrange for valet services. We are also focussing on curbing drunk driving and managing 'baraats' to avoid congestion on main roads," the officer said. Also read | India: Delhi becomes 'gas chamber' as AQI surges to 'severe' for first time this season Patrolling bikes have been stationed across the city to help maintain traffic flow, he added. Wedding vendors in the city are gearing up for a busy month ahead. Jakir Khan, owner of Rajdhani Band, shared that he has already received 75 to 80 bookings for November. "From today, we're getting five to six bookings every day. A lot of customers booked us in advance, starting last month," Khan said. Karishma, who runs the Jea Band Group, also reported a strong start to the season. "We have already received around 80 bookings for November, with 14 just for today," she said. "The number is likely to increase in the coming days. We're also seeing a rise in destination wedding bookings," she added. Mohammad Rihaan, owner of White and Green Wedding Planners, said that his team has secured 50 contracts for weddings this month alone. Harindra Tomar, another wedding planner, said he has already 25 wedding bookings for this month, and expects the numbers to rise as the season progresses. Also read | India: Man arrested for cultivating cannabis at home in Greater Noida, selling on dark web Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of the CAIT and the MP from Chandni Chowk, explained that the tradition of celebrating weddings after Dev Uthani Ekadashi is rooted in ancient texts, which suggests that Lord Vishnu awakens from his four-month rest on this day. "From this point onward, auspicious events like weddings begin," Khandelwal said. With weddings spanning sectors such as clothing, jewellery, decorations, electronics, furniture, gifts, and catering, the wedding season will create a wealth of opportunities for service providers and generate significant employment, he added. According to CAIT's estimates, the wedding season is set to drive economic activity of over Rs 6 lakh crore. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Delhiites brace for traffic chaos as 450k weddings to be held in 3 weeks

The air quality of India's capital region, Delhi turned 'severe' for the first time this season on Wednesday (Nov 13) with 30 of the 36 monitoring stations in Delhi reporting air quality in the 'severe' category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The air quality of India's capital region, Delhi turned 'severe' for the first time this season on Wednesday (Nov 13) with 30 of the 36 monitoring stations in Delhi reporting air quality in the 'severe' category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). At 4:00 pm (local time), Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to 418, a drastic jump from Tuesday's 334 at the same time. Earlier, at 9:00 am, the AQI had already reached 366, as reported by CPCB data. Residents of Delhi, along with nearby areas like Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram, woke up to thick smog that reduced visibility to nearly zero. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', 401 and 450 'severe' and above 450 'severe plus'. Delhi surpassed the Pakistani city of Lahore, to become the world’s most polluted city, as per live rankings by Swiss group IQAir, with an AQI that crossed 1000, classified as “hazardous.” Also read: 59% turnout recorded as NDA, INDIA bloc clash in Jharkhand, assembly bypolls BJP urges AAP to close all schools up to Class 5 The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday urged the Delhi government to close all schools up to Class 5, citing concerns for children’s health. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva slammed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, saying that the city had become a "gas chamber" due to extreme pollution. "Delhi has become a gas chamber where everyone is coughing and complaining of trouble in breathing," he said. Addressing a press conference, Sachdeva accused the Delhi government of failing to control pollution levels, pointing out that PM 2.5 levels had surpassed 400 and PM 10 levels had exceeded 1,000, as reported by news agency PTI. Sachdeva also pointed out the lack of government-run clinics providing medication to counter the adverse effects of pollution on public health. He urged the Delhi government to take immediate action to make necessary medicines available to help residents cope with pollution. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Delhi becomes 'gas chamber' as AQI surges to 'severe' for first time this season

A doctor was stabbed seven times at a government hospital in the Indian city of&nbsp;Chennai on Wednesday (Nov 13) by a man who alleged that his mother, who was a cancer patient, was prescribed the wrong medications.&nbsp;

The oncologist was stabbed multiple times in Kalaignar Centenary Super Specialty Hospital, including in his chest. He was also a heart patient and suffered injuries to his upper chest, head, scalp, neck, and ear.&nbsp;

Following the incident, he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Currently, he is in a stable condition, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian said.

A senior doctor said that his colleague had a pacemaker and was cut on his forehead and back, and was also hit on his stomach.&nbsp;

The 25-year-old man has been arrested now, following the incident.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-hospital-horror-doctor-shot-dead-by-2-teenagers-who-entered-hospital-under-pretext-of-injury-764063">Also read:&nbsp;Delhi hospital horror: Doctor shot dead by 2 teenagers who entered hospital under pretext of injury</a>

<h2>Doctors protest</h2>

Doctors at the Kalaignar Centenary Super Specialty Hospital are&nbsp;now protesting against the attack, according to the&nbsp;news agency ANI.&nbsp;Non-emergency treatments have&nbsp;been suspended.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Doctors at the Kalaignar Centenary Multy speciality government hospital sit on a protest after a 25-year-old man attacked a doctor with a knife today. <a href="https://t.co/NKFrY66kZ0">pic.twitter.com/NKFrY66kZ0</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1856612696533225856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The attack took place in the outpatient department (OPD) of the hospital in the city's Guindy neighbourhood after the man suspected the doctor had prescribed the wrong medicines to his mother.&nbsp;

According to some reports, he tried to escape after stabbing the doctor but was caught and handed over to the police.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Kolkata Doctor Murder Case: Trial Begins; Accused 'Sanjay Roy' Claims 'Not Guilty'

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"Doctors feel insecure. The attack was a security lapse and indicates a lack of fear of the law... security should tightened. CCTCs have been set up but I don't think they function," Dr Anto Uresh, a member of the Tamil Nadu government Doctors' Association, told NDTV.&nbsp;

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has ordered an inquiry into the stabbing incident and promised medical aid. He also gave assurances that such an attack would not happen again.&nbsp;

"Service of doctors is laudable... and it is our responsibility to ensure their safety," he stated in a social media post.&nbsp;

"The selfless work of our government doctors in providing treatment to patients regardless of the time is immeasurable. The government will take measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future," MK Stalin added.

(With inputs from agencies)

A doctor was stabbed seven times at a government hospital in the Indian city of Chennai on Wednesday (Nov 13) by a man who alleged that his mother, who was a cancer patient, was prescribed the wrong medications.

A doctor was stabbed seven times at a government hospital in the Indian city of Chennai on Wednesday (Nov 13) by a man who alleged that his mother, who was a cancer patient, was prescribed the wrong medications. The oncologist was stabbed multiple times in Kalaignar Centenary Super Specialty Hospital, including in his chest. He was also a heart patient and suffered injuries to his upper chest, head, scalp, neck, and ear. Following the incident, he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Currently, he is in a stable condition, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian said. A senior doctor said that his colleague had a pacemaker and was cut on his forehead and back, and was also hit on his stomach. The 25-year-old man has been arrested now, following the incident. Also read: Delhi hospital horror: Doctor shot dead by 2 teenagers who entered hospital under pretext of injury Doctors protest Doctors at the Kalaignar Centenary Super Specialty Hospital are now protesting against the attack, according to the news agency ANI. Non-emergency treatments have been suspended. #WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Doctors at the Kalaignar Centenary Multy speciality government hospital sit on a protest after a 25-year-old man attacked a doctor with a knife today. pic.twitter.com/NKFrY66kZ0 — ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2024 × The attack took place in the outpatient department (OPD) of the hospital in the city's Guindy neighbourhood after the man suspected the doctor had prescribed the wrong medicines to his mother. According to some reports, he tried to escape after stabbing the doctor but was caught and handed over to the police. Watch | Kolkata Doctor Murder Case: Trial Begins; Accused 'Sanjay Roy' Claims 'Not Guilty' × "Doctors feel insecure. The attack was a security lapse and indicates a lack of fear of the law... security should tightened. CCTCs have been set up but I don't think they function," Dr Anto Uresh, a member of the Tamil Nadu government Doctors' Association, told NDTV. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has ordered an inquiry into the stabbing incident and promised medical aid. He also gave assurances that such an attack would not happen again. "Service of doctors is laudable... and it is our responsibility to ensure their safety," he stated in a social media post. "The selfless work of our government doctors in providing treatment to patients regardless of the time is immeasurable. The government will take measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future," MK Stalin added. (With inputs from agencies)

Chennai doctor stabbed 7 times by son of cancer patient for allegedly prescribing wrong medications

Delhi's winter wedding season kicks off on November 12 with an estimated 48,000 weddings in the coming three weeks. Wedding bands and banquet halls across the city are witnessing a surge in demand for bookings. Watch this report for more details!

Delhi Braces for Wedding Season, 45,000 Weddings Expected in Coming 3 Weeks

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Tuesday asked for an immediate report from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after Sanjay Roy, the main accused in the RG rape and murder case claimed that he was falsely framed in the matter and alleged that the former Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal has conspired the whole thing against him.

In a post on X, Raj Bhavan Media Cell said that Governor Bose has urged the state government to look into the matter and inform him of the factual position and the state government's stand on the allegations at the earliest.

"RG Kar rape and murder: Revelations against Vineet Goyal Police Commissioner. Guv asks for an immediate report from CM Mamata Banerjee," Raj Bhavan posted on X.

"In the light of disturbing news carried by the media on November 12, 2024, in connection with the RG Kar alleged rape and murder case, where the key accused Sanjay Roy, after the proceedings in the Sealdah Court on November 11, 2024, has reportedly alleged that 'he was framed by senior police officers, including former Kolkata police commissioner Vineet Goyal', HG has urged the state government to look into the matter and inform him the factual position and the state government's stand on the allegations at the earliest," it added.

Earlier, while being taken from the Sealdah Court on Monday after the hearing, Roy from the police van shouted at the reporters, stating that it was the former CP who had conspired and framed him.

He further said that there were other big officers related to this case and that he was also threatened by them.

"I am telling you it was Vineet Goyal (former Kolkata Police Commissioner) who conspired the whole thing (rape and murder of RG Kar Medical College resident doctor) and framed me...They had threatened me and there were other big officers in it," Roy said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/demolition-costs-to-be-deducted-from-officers-salaries-sc-sets-guidelines-to-curb-bulldozer-justice-775826">'Demolition costs to be deducted from officers' salaries,' SC sets guidelines to curb 'bulldozer&nbsp;justice</a>

On November 4, Sealdah Court framed charges against Sanjay Roy in connection with the rape and murder case.

The charges were framed under sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sahita, and the trial took place on Monday.

This case has drawn significant attention due to its serious nature, and the court's decision marks a major step in the legal proceedings against the accused.

In the wake of this shocking incident, junior doctors have called for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take strict action and ensure capital punishment for those responsible.

Meanwhile, on September 17, IPS officer Manoj Kumar Verma was appointed as the new Commissioner of Police (CP) for Kolkata following the removal of Vineet Kumar Goyal from the position.

The rape and murder incident unfolded on August 9, when the second-year medical student was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The incident has ignited protests across West Bengal, with doctors nationwide expressing solidarity with the junior doctors in Kolkata.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Tuesday asked for an immediate report from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after Sanjay Roy, the main accused in the RG rape and murder case claimed that he was falsely framed in the matter and alleged that the former Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal has conspired the whole thing against him.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Tuesday asked for an immediate report from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after Sanjay Roy, the main accused in the RG rape and murder case claimed that he was falsely framed in the matter and alleged that the former Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal has conspired the whole thing against him. In a post on X, Raj Bhavan Media Cell said that Governor Bose has urged the state government to look into the matter and inform him of the factual position and the state government's stand on the allegations at the earliest. "RG Kar rape and murder: Revelations against Vineet Goyal Police Commissioner. Guv asks for an immediate report from CM Mamata Banerjee," Raj Bhavan posted on X. "In the light of disturbing news carried by the media on November 12, 2024, in connection with the RG Kar alleged rape and murder case, where the key accused Sanjay Roy, after the proceedings in the Sealdah Court on November 11, 2024, has reportedly alleged that 'he was framed by senior police officers, including former Kolkata police commissioner Vineet Goyal', HG has urged the state government to look into the matter and inform him the factual position and the state government's stand on the allegations at the earliest," it added. Earlier, while being taken from the Sealdah Court on Monday after the hearing, Roy from the police van shouted at the reporters, stating that it was the former CP who had conspired and framed him. He further said that there were other big officers related to this case and that he was also threatened by them. "I am telling you it was Vineet Goyal (former Kolkata Police Commissioner) who conspired the whole thing (rape and murder of RG Kar Medical College resident doctor) and framed me...They had threatened me and there were other big officers in it," Roy said. Also read: 'Demolition costs to be deducted from officers' salaries,' SC sets guidelines to curb 'bulldozer justice On November 4, Sealdah Court framed charges against Sanjay Roy in connection with the rape and murder case. The charges were framed under sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sahita, and the trial took place on Monday. This case has drawn significant attention due to its serious nature, and the court's decision marks a major step in the legal proceedings against the accused. In the wake of this shocking incident, junior doctors have called for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take strict action and ensure capital punishment for those responsible. Meanwhile, on September 17, IPS officer Manoj Kumar Verma was appointed as the new Commissioner of Police (CP) for Kolkata following the removal of Vineet Kumar Goyal from the position. The rape and murder incident unfolded on August 9, when the second-year medical student was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The incident has ignited protests across West Bengal, with doctors nationwide expressing solidarity with the junior doctors in Kolkata. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Bengal Gov demands report from CM after RG Kar rape-murder accused Sanjay Roy accuses ex-Kolkata top cop

The Supreme Court of India issued a judgement aimed at limiting the practice of ‘bulldozer justice’ on Wednesday (Nov 13). A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan issued pan-India guidelines on a nationwide scale, setting a standardised process for demolishing properties.

This ruling was issued in response to petitions contesting the use of bulldozers on properties linked to individuals accused of crimes, a practice that has become known as ‘bulldozer justice’ in some Indian states. Officials have previously claimed that only illegal structures were being targeted in these cases. However, many petitioners argued that such actions bypassed legal procedures.

“It is a dream of every person, every family to have a shelter above their heads. A house is an embodiment of the collective hopes of a family or individuals' stability and security,” the court’s ruling stated.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jharkhand-assembly-election-kick-start-with-phase-1-polling-along-with-karnataka-bypolls-on-3-seats-775742">Jharkhand assembly election phase 1 polling starts with Karnataka bypolls</a>

<h2>'Construction of a house is the culmination of years of hard work, dreams and aspirations'</h2>

“For an average citizen, construction of a house is the culmination of years of hard work, dreams and aspirations. House embodies collective hope of security and future. If this is taken away, authorities must satisfy it is the only way,” the bench emphasised.

The court raised questions on whether authorities could demolish a home if only one resident faced accusations, effectively leaving others homeless. “Punishing such persons who have no connection with the crime by demolishing the house where they live in or properties owned by them is nothing but an anarchy and would amount to a violation of the right to life guaranteed under the Constitution,” the bench said.

“Such an action also cannot be done in respect of a person who is convicted of an offence. Even in the case of such a person the property/properties cannot be demolished without following the due process as prescribed by law. Such an action by the executive would be wholly arbitrary and would amount to an abuse of process of law. The executive in such a case would be guilty of taking the law in his hand and giving a go-bye to the principle of the rule of law,” the court observed.

"The executive cannot declare a person guilty, as this process is the fundamental aspect of the judicial review. Only on the basis of the accusations, if the executive demolishes the property/properties of such an accused person without following the due process of law, it would strike at the basic principle of rule of law and is not permissible," the court added.

"The chilling sight of a bulldozer demolishing a building, when authorities have failed to follow the basic principles of natural justice and have acted without adhering to the principle of due process, reminds one of a lawless state of affairs, where ‘might was right’," the court observed.

<h2>Demolition guidelines</h2>

Using its authority under Article 142 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court laid out specific demolition guidelines. It mandated that demolitions cannot proceed without a show cause notice, allowing the recipient 15 days (or the time specified in local laws) to respond.

“It is not a happy sight to see women, children and aged persons dragged to the street overnight. Heavens will not fall on the authorities if they hold their hands for some period,” the court said.

The show cause notice must include details of the alleged unauthorised construction, the specific violation, and the justification for demolition. Authorities are required to allow the accused to present their side before issuing a final order and 15 days will then be granted to allow the property owner to remove the unauthorised construction, with authorities stepping in only if no appeal halts the order.

The bench warned that violations of these guidelines could lead to contempt proceedings. Officers responsible for wrongful demolitions will be held liable for the restoration of the demolished property, with the costs deducted from their salaries.

Furthermore, the court directed all municipal authorities to establish a digital portal within three months, detailing show-cause notices and final orders for illegal structures.

The supreme&nbsp;court added that these directions do not apply to unauthorised structures on public spaces like roads, streets, footpaths, or water bodies, or in cases where a court has issued&nbsp;an&nbsp;order.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Supreme Court of India issued a judgement aimed at limiting the practice of ‘bulldozer justice’ on Wednesday (Nov 13). A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan issued pan-India guidelines on a nationwide scale, setting a standardised process for demolishing properties.

The Supreme Court of India issued a judgement aimed at limiting the practice of ‘bulldozer justice’ on Wednesday (Nov 13). A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan issued pan-India guidelines on a nationwide scale, setting a standardised process for demolishing properties. This ruling was issued in response to petitions contesting the use of bulldozers on properties linked to individuals accused of crimes, a practice that has become known as ‘bulldozer justice’ in some Indian states. Officials have previously claimed that only illegal structures were being targeted in these cases. However, many petitioners argued that such actions bypassed legal procedures. “It is a dream of every person, every family to have a shelter above their heads. A house is an embodiment of the collective hopes of a family or individuals' stability and security,” the court’s ruling stated. Also read: Jharkhand assembly election phase 1 polling starts with Karnataka bypolls 'Construction of a house is the culmination of years of hard work, dreams and aspirations' “For an average citizen, construction of a house is the culmination of years of hard work, dreams and aspirations. House embodies collective hope of security and future. If this is taken away, authorities must satisfy it is the only way,” the bench emphasised. The court raised questions on whether authorities could demolish a home if only one resident faced accusations, effectively leaving others homeless. “Punishing such persons who have no connection with the crime by demolishing the house where they live in or properties owned by them is nothing but an anarchy and would amount to a violation of the right to life guaranteed under the Constitution,” the bench said. “Such an action also cannot be done in respect of a person who is convicted of an offence. Even in the case of such a person the property/properties cannot be demolished without following the due process as prescribed by law. Such an action by the executive would be wholly arbitrary and would amount to an abuse of process of law. The executive in such a case would be guilty of taking the law in his hand and giving a go-bye to the principle of the rule of law,” the court observed. "The executive cannot declare a person guilty, as this process is the fundamental aspect of the judicial review. Only on the basis of the accusations, if the executive demolishes the property/properties of such an accused person without following the due process of law, it would strike at the basic principle of rule of law and is not permissible," the court added. "The chilling sight of a bulldozer demolishing a building, when authorities have failed to follow the basic principles of natural justice and have acted without adhering to the principle of due process, reminds one of a lawless state of affairs, where ‘might was right’," the court observed. Demolition guidelines Using its authority under Article 142 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court laid out specific demolition guidelines. It mandated that demolitions cannot proceed without a show cause notice, allowing the recipient 15 days (or the time specified in local laws) to respond. “It is not a happy sight to see women, children and aged persons dragged to the street overnight. Heavens will not fall on the authorities if they hold their hands for some period,” the court said. The show cause notice must include details of the alleged unauthorised construction, the specific violation, and the justification for demolition. Authorities are required to allow the accused to present their side before issuing a final order and 15 days will then be granted to allow the property owner to remove the unauthorised construction, with authorities stepping in only if no appeal halts the order. The bench warned that violations of these guidelines could lead to contempt proceedings. Officers responsible for wrongful demolitions will be held liable for the restoration of the demolished property, with the costs deducted from their salaries. Furthermore, the court directed all municipal authorities to establish a digital portal within three months, detailing show-cause notices and final orders for illegal structures. The supreme court added that these directions do not apply to unauthorised structures on public spaces like roads, streets, footpaths, or water bodies, or in cases where a court has issued an order. (With inputs from agencies)

'Demolition costs to be deducted from officers' salaries,' SC sets guidelines to curb 'bulldozer justice'

Indian Army's recruitment rallies across various districts of the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has turned out to be a ray of hope for thousands of unemployed youth across the valley. Thousands of young men are showing up at the recruitment venues in the region. For some, it's a huge employment opportunity, while for many, joining the Indian Army is a dream come true.&nbsp;

These long queues of young Kashmiri men from all over North Kashmir's Baramulla district are hoping to serve the country and join the Indian Army. Over 20 thousand youth showed up at the 161 Infantry Battalion of the Territorial Army in the Gantmulla area of Baramulla district of North Kashmir. Some of the youth were not very happy as there were only 306 posts to be filled during these rallies.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kashmir-tourism-stakeholders-unite-to-condemn-terror-attacks-as-winter-season-approaches-775491">Kashmir tourism stakeholders unite to condemn terror attacks as winter season approaches</a>

"It's a very happy moment for me, It has been a long time since the recruitment was not happening and I have been practising for over three years for this day and finally doing excellently here has given me great happiness. This has been my dream from the very beginning, since my childhood, and that's why I joined NCC. I am feeling very happy, this is not only a mode of employment but a proud moment for me and my family,"&nbsp;said Syed Toufiq Geelani, a candidate.

Kashmir has been facing unemployment for decades. Most of the youth who had come to join the Indian Army were college graduates and postgraduates. Additionally, most of the youngsters requested the Indian Army to hold more such recruitment rallies in the Valley. A lot of these youngsters dream of donning the Indian Army uniform and serving the nation.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-pollution-thick-smog-causes-low-visibility-in-delhi-ncr-aqi-crosses-350-mark-775686">Delhi pollution: Thick smog causes low visibility in Delhi-NCR, AQI crosses 350-mark</a>

“I have always been dreaming about joining the Indian Army. I have been coming for three days and waiting to get a chance to participate in the recruitment. I belong to the Pattan area. The Indian Army has been supportive while taking us tests. They have been motivating us and that's why I have got excellent remarks. Kashmir has a lot of unemployment, but you need to have passion. And I have it in me,” said Sahil Manzoor, a candidate.

Kashmir Valley witnessed a rise in terror attacks across the region in the last few weeks. Terrorist groups have not only attacked security forces but also killed and targeted civilians and non-locals working in the Valley. But despite that, huge numbers of youngsters have appeared at these recruitment rallies, defying any kind of threat.

Indian Army's recruitment rallies across various districts of the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has turned out to be a ray of hope for thousands of unemployed youth across the valley.

Indian Army's recruitment rallies across various districts of the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has turned out to be a ray of hope for thousands of unemployed youth across the valley. Thousands of young men are showing up at the recruitment venues in the region. For some, it's a huge employment opportunity, while for many, joining the Indian Army is a dream come true. These long queues of young Kashmiri men from all over North Kashmir's Baramulla district are hoping to serve the country and join the Indian Army. Over 20 thousand youth showed up at the 161 Infantry Battalion of the Territorial Army in the Gantmulla area of Baramulla district of North Kashmir. Some of the youth were not very happy as there were only 306 posts to be filled during these rallies. Also read | Kashmir tourism stakeholders unite to condemn terror attacks as winter season approaches "It's a very happy moment for me, It has been a long time since the recruitment was not happening and I have been practising for over three years for this day and finally doing excellently here has given me great happiness. This has been my dream from the very beginning, since my childhood, and that's why I joined NCC. I am feeling very happy, this is not only a mode of employment but a proud moment for me and my family," said Syed Toufiq Geelani, a candidate. Kashmir has been facing unemployment for decades. Most of the youth who had come to join the Indian Army were college graduates and postgraduates. Additionally, most of the youngsters requested the Indian Army to hold more such recruitment rallies in the Valley. A lot of these youngsters dream of donning the Indian Army uniform and serving the nation. Also read | Delhi pollution: Thick smog causes low visibility in Delhi-NCR, AQI crosses 350-mark “I have always been dreaming about joining the Indian Army. I have been coming for three days and waiting to get a chance to participate in the recruitment. I belong to the Pattan area. The Indian Army has been supportive while taking us tests. They have been motivating us and that's why I have got excellent remarks. Kashmir has a lot of unemployment, but you need to have passion. And I have it in me,” said Sahil Manzoor, a candidate. Kashmir Valley witnessed a rise in terror attacks across the region in the last few weeks. Terrorist groups have not only attacked security forces but also killed and targeted civilians and non-locals working in the Valley. But despite that, huge numbers of youngsters have appeared at these recruitment rallies, defying any kind of threat.

Thousands turn up at recruitment rallies, Kashmiri youth dream of donning Indian army uniform

A dense layer of Smog enveloped Delhi and surrounding regions of Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad on Wednesday morning which led to various flight diversions...Watch in for more details!

Delhi AQI Drops To 'Very Poor' | Toxic Smog Smashes W.H.O Safe Limit

With the recent spike in&nbsp;terror incidents in the Kashmir Valley and the winter tourism season about to begin, the tourist stakeholders in the region are worried that these attacks will have a direct impact on one of the biggest industries of the Valley. This&nbsp;has led to all stakeholders to come&nbsp;together for the first time and condemn these terrorist attacks.

Kashmir Valley has witnessed a rise in terror-related incidents in the last few weeks and, to counter it, security forces have intensified the anti-terrorist operations across the Kashmir division. In the last 10 days, nine encounters have taken place in Kashmir. Eight terrorists, including five foreign terrorists, have been killed by security forces. There have been two encounters in Srinagar city while a grenade attack in one of the busiest Sunday markets led to the&nbsp;death of a civilian woman and injured eleven others. There were two attacks close to tourist destinations: Gulmarg and Sonamarg.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/11-kuki-militants-killed-in-armed-clashes-with-crpf-in-manipur-one-jawan-injured-775277">11 Kuki militants killed in clashes with CRPF in Manipur, one jawan injured</a>

Following these attacks, the tourist stakeholders of the Kashmir Valley have come together and condemned these attacks. The hoteliers, houseboat association, Shikara association, travel agents' association and even the taxi associations have come together, condemning the recent attacks across various districts of the Kashmir Valley. The&nbsp;stakeholders have said that this disruption of peace is unacceptable to Kashmiris.

''We all have gathered here including Minister Satish Sharma and we have all condemned the attacks including the one that took place near to TRC. In which our children got injured and are being treated in the hospital and before this also many attacks, in which soldiers, policemen or civilians have died is not acceptable to Kashmiris. We have seen terrible times and have been fighting for peace for the last 30 years and everything was going normal from the last few years, now our request is please don't do it. This is unacceptable to Kashmiris, and we want peace only, '' said Mushtaq Chaya, Chairman, Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Club.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kolkata-rape-murder-accused-sanjay-roy-claims-he-was-framed-by-ex-police-commissioner-vineet-goyal-775404">RG Kar rape-murder accused Sanjay Roy claims he was 'framed' by ex-Kolkata police commissioner Vineet Goyal</a>

Some of the tourism stakeholders have said that there has been some impact of these attacks on Kashmir Tourism as cancellations have happened in the last few weeks, but they also say that these attacks have not impacted the tourism industry yet. The tourist stakeholders want to send a message to tourists across the country and the world that Kashmir is safe, and they can come to visit anytime.

''All tourist stakeholders got together today to give out a message that Kashmir is very peaceful, and we welcome tourists. Kashmir is safer than any other place in the world. Nobody will bear this inhuman behaviour, and human lives are the most precious lives. Government should probe these incidents. We had some cancellations, but tourism is going well. Though there was some effect as tourists don't want to go to places which are insecure although Kashmir is the safest place on earth, '' said Tariq Ghani Bedaba, President, Chamber of Commerce.

Kashmir Valley has seen tremendous growth in tourist arrivals in the last few years. All the previous records of tourist arrivals have been broken and this winter also the stakeholders are expecting huge arrivals. &nbsp;

&nbsp;

With the recent spike in terror incidents in the Kashmir Valley and the winter tourism season about to begin, the tourist stakeholders in the region are worried that these attacks will have a direct impact on one of the biggest industries of the Valley.

With the recent spike in terror incidents in the Kashmir Valley and the winter tourism season about to begin, the tourist stakeholders in the region are worried that these attacks will have a direct impact on one of the biggest industries of the Valley. This has led to all stakeholders to come together for the first time and condemn these terrorist attacks. Kashmir Valley has witnessed a rise in terror-related incidents in the last few weeks and, to counter it, security forces have intensified the anti-terrorist operations across the Kashmir division. In the last 10 days, nine encounters have taken place in Kashmir. Eight terrorists, including five foreign terrorists, have been killed by security forces. There have been two encounters in Srinagar city while a grenade attack in one of the busiest Sunday markets led to the death of a civilian woman and injured eleven others. There were two attacks close to tourist destinations: Gulmarg and Sonamarg. Also read | 11 Kuki militants killed in clashes with CRPF in Manipur, one jawan injured Following these attacks, the tourist stakeholders of the Kashmir Valley have come together and condemned these attacks. The hoteliers, houseboat association, Shikara association, travel agents' association and even the taxi associations have come together, condemning the recent attacks across various districts of the Kashmir Valley. The stakeholders have said that this disruption of peace is unacceptable to Kashmiris. ''We all have gathered here including Minister Satish Sharma and we have all condemned the attacks including the one that took place near to TRC. In which our children got injured and are being treated in the hospital and before this also many attacks, in which soldiers, policemen or civilians have died is not acceptable to Kashmiris. We have seen terrible times and have been fighting for peace for the last 30 years and everything was going normal from the last few years, now our request is please don't do it. This is unacceptable to Kashmiris, and we want peace only, '' said Mushtaq Chaya, Chairman, Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Club. Also read | RG Kar rape-murder accused Sanjay Roy claims he was 'framed' by ex-Kolkata police commissioner Vineet Goyal Some of the tourism stakeholders have said that there has been some impact of these attacks on Kashmir Tourism as cancellations have happened in the last few weeks, but they also say that these attacks have not impacted the tourism industry yet. The tourist stakeholders want to send a message to tourists across the country and the world that Kashmir is safe, and they can come to visit anytime. ''All tourist stakeholders got together today to give out a message that Kashmir is very peaceful, and we welcome tourists. Kashmir is safer than any other place in the world. Nobody will bear this inhuman behaviour, and human lives are the most precious lives. Government should probe these incidents. We had some cancellations, but tourism is going well. Though there was some effect as tourists don't want to go to places which are insecure although Kashmir is the safest place on earth, '' said Tariq Ghani Bedaba, President, Chamber of Commerce. Kashmir Valley has seen tremendous growth in tourist arrivals in the last few years. All the previous records of tourist arrivals have been broken and this winter also the stakeholders are expecting huge arrivals.

Kashmir tourism stakeholders unite to condemn terror attacks as winter season approaches

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (Nov 11) met the first Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Denis Manturov, and expressed his delight in the progress made by both countries in implementing decisions to boost the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.

Sharing a post on X, PM Modi wrote, "Glad to meet Russia's First Deputy PM Denis Manturov today. Happy to see that teams on both sides are working together to implement decisions taken during my recent visits and meetings with President Putin to further strengthen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership."

The two leaders also had discussions on bolstering cooperation across multiple sectors, including trade, economics, energy, and connectivity.

"The First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, H.E. Denis Manturov, called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. They exchanged views on enhancing cooperation in various areas, including trade and economic ties, energy, connectivity among others," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-pm-modi-invites-russian-president-putin-to-visit-india-for-india-russia-annual-summit-next-year-770054">Also read:&nbsp;PM Modi invites Russian President Putin to Delhi for India-Russia Annual Summit next year</a>

"PM Modi welcomed the sustained and joint efforts being made by the teams in both sides for the implementation of the decisions taken during his recent visits and meetings with President Putin to further strengthen India- Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. PM extended his warm greetings to President Putin and said that he looked forward to continued exchanges with him," the PMO statement added.

On Tuesday, Manturov will join External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the national capital for the 25th Session of the Intergovernmental Russian-Indian Commission on trade, economic, scientific, technical, and cultural cooperation, the Russian Embassy in India stated.

The session will address the progress of ongoing bilateral initiatives and explore new areas for collaboration.&nbsp;

During his visit, Manturov is also expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings with key Indian leaders to further discuss strategic cooperation.

Watch |&nbsp;PM Modi's Russia visit: 22nd India-Russia annual summit

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Last month, PM Modi attended the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, hosted under Moscow's presidency. He addressed two sessions during the summit. The Prime Minister described the BRICS Summit as "very productive" and thanked President Putin, the people of Russia and their government for their hospitality.

Prior to this, PM Modi also went on a visit to Russia. During his first bilateral visit in his third term as PM, he attended the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit with President Putin.

He was also awarded the prestigious "Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle" in recognition of his efforts to foster deeper ties between New Delhi and Moscow.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (Nov 11) met the first Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Denis Manturov, and expressed his delight in the progress made by both countries in implementing decisions to boost the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (Nov 11) met the first Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Denis Manturov, and expressed his delight in the progress made by both countries in implementing decisions to boost the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. Sharing a post on X, PM Modi wrote, "Glad to meet Russia's First Deputy PM Denis Manturov today. Happy to see that teams on both sides are working together to implement decisions taken during my recent visits and meetings with President Putin to further strengthen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership." The two leaders also had discussions on bolstering cooperation across multiple sectors, including trade, economics, energy, and connectivity. "The First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, H.E. Denis Manturov, called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. They exchanged views on enhancing cooperation in various areas, including trade and economic ties, energy, connectivity among others," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. Also read: PM Modi invites Russian President Putin to Delhi for India-Russia Annual Summit next year "PM Modi welcomed the sustained and joint efforts being made by the teams in both sides for the implementation of the decisions taken during his recent visits and meetings with President Putin to further strengthen India- Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. PM extended his warm greetings to President Putin and said that he looked forward to continued exchanges with him," the PMO statement added. On Tuesday, Manturov will join External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the national capital for the 25th Session of the Intergovernmental Russian-Indian Commission on trade, economic, scientific, technical, and cultural cooperation, the Russian Embassy in India stated. The session will address the progress of ongoing bilateral initiatives and explore new areas for collaboration. During his visit, Manturov is also expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings with key Indian leaders to further discuss strategic cooperation. Watch | PM Modi's Russia visit: 22nd India-Russia annual summit × Last month, PM Modi attended the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, hosted under Moscow's presidency. He addressed two sessions during the summit. The Prime Minister described the BRICS Summit as "very productive" and thanked President Putin, the people of Russia and their government for their hospitality. Prior to this, PM Modi also went on a visit to Russia. During his first bilateral visit in his third term as PM, he attended the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit with President Putin. He was also awarded the prestigious "Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle" in recognition of his efforts to foster deeper ties between New Delhi and Moscow. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

PM Modi meets Russian Deputy PM Denis Manturov, says 'happy' to see both sides working together

The Indian Navy is not new to India's projection of power in the Indian Ocean and beyond, but with each passing year, it has increased its foray and ability to deliver. One of the most pivotal moments in the past has been the Indian Navy's role in thwarting the coup in the Maldives in 1988 when it had deployed frigates Godavari and Betwa which intercepted mercenaries under Operation Cactus. The Time Magazine had a front page cover with the Indian Naval Ship Godavari with the header “Super India: The Next Military Power”.

Building on the successes, the Indian Navy has been executing a range of high-stakes humanitarian missions—from Search and Rescue (SAR) to Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). The missions reflect India's commitment to global humanitarian assistance and regional security. These are part of India's larger strategic objectives, including the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine and the “Neighborhood First” policy. Policies that are key to creating goodwill and trust in the region and beyond.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/indian-influencer-tests-japans-cleanliness-by-walking-on-its-streets-in-white-socks-heres-the-result-775280">Indian influencer tests Japan's cleanliness by walking on its streets in white socks. Here's the result</a>

Among the key roles the Indian Navy has played in the first few years of this century was during the 2004 tsunami. That year, the Indian Navy responded rapidly, delivering life-saving aid and relief to affected nations, including Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and the Maldives. This elevated India's role as the first responder in the region. Since then, from the COVID crisis (2020) to Typhoon Yagi (2024), the role has significantly increased as Indian Navy assets play an important role in implementing Delhi's foreign policy objectives.

Under Mission Sagar, the Indian Navy extended its reach to deliver COVID-19 assistance to countries like the Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros, and Seychelles which included medical assistance teams, food aid, and other essential supplies. In the backdrop of Typhoon Yagi, under Operation Sadbhav, the Indian Navy delivered relief materials to Myanmar. Overnight loading of HADR pallets, including essentials like drinking water, rations, and medicines, was done onto an Indian naval ship destined for Yangon. This rapid mobilisation showcased the Navy's capability to respond swiftly to regional humanitarian crises, in a short time frame.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/khalistani-terrorist-pannun-threatens-to-attack-indias-ram-mandir-warns-will-shake-foundations-of-ayodhya-775276">Khalistani terrorist Pannun threatens to attack India's Ram Mandir, warns 'will shake foundations of Ayodhya'</a>

Former Navy Chief Admiral (Retd) Karambir Singh has noted that these missions serve “dual purposes”—fostering regional stability while also enhancing India's stature as a security provider.

The Navy has also executed high-stakes missions, &amp; operations like Sukoon (2006) and Raahat (2015). Under Operation Sukoon, the Navy successfully evacuated Indian, Sri Lankan, and Nepali nationals from war-torn Lebanon while in Operation Raahat, saw the swift evacuation of over 4,600 Indian and foreign nationals from conflict-ridden Yemen. Amid the volatile situation in Gulf of Aden with Houthi attacks (2023-ongoing), the Indian Navy not only rescued Indian nationals, but nationals of countries like the Philippines and Pakistan.

Vice Admiral (Retd) Biswajit Dasgupta, former Eastern Naval Command Chief, emphasised that the Navy's humanitarian missions reinforce “universal values of compassion and neutrality, critical elements of soft power.”

The integration of satellite-based communication systems, UAVs, and real-time coordination networks ensure&nbsp;that India's SAR, NEO, and HADR missions are swift and highly efficient. One of the standout innovations is the use of advanced water purification systems aboard naval vessels, allowing them to produce potable water from seawater. These capabilities, coupled with real-time intelligence sharing and international collaboration, position the Indian Navy at the forefront of global humanitarian efforts.

The Indian Navy is not new to India's projection of power in the Indian Ocean and beyond, but with each passing year, it has increased its foray and ability to deliver.

The Indian Navy is not new to India's projection of power in the Indian Ocean and beyond, but with each passing year, it has increased its foray and ability to deliver. One of the most pivotal moments in the past has been the Indian Navy's role in thwarting the coup in the Maldives in 1988 when it had deployed frigates Godavari and Betwa which intercepted mercenaries under Operation Cactus. The Time Magazine had a front page cover with the Indian Naval Ship Godavari with the header “Super India: The Next Military Power”. Building on the successes, the Indian Navy has been executing a range of high-stakes humanitarian missions—from Search and Rescue (SAR) to Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). The missions reflect India's commitment to global humanitarian assistance and regional security. These are part of India's larger strategic objectives, including the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine and the “Neighborhood First” policy. Policies that are key to creating goodwill and trust in the region and beyond. Also read | Indian influencer tests Japan's cleanliness by walking on its streets in white socks. Here's the result Among the key roles the Indian Navy has played in the first few years of this century was during the 2004 tsunami. That year, the Indian Navy responded rapidly, delivering life-saving aid and relief to affected nations, including Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and the Maldives. This elevated India's role as the first responder in the region. Since then, from the COVID crisis (2020) to Typhoon Yagi (2024), the role has significantly increased as Indian Navy assets play an important role in implementing Delhi's foreign policy objectives. Under Mission Sagar, the Indian Navy extended its reach to deliver COVID-19 assistance to countries like the Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros, and Seychelles which included medical assistance teams, food aid, and other essential supplies. In the backdrop of Typhoon Yagi, under Operation Sadbhav, the Indian Navy delivered relief materials to Myanmar. Overnight loading of HADR pallets, including essentials like drinking water, rations, and medicines, was done onto an Indian naval ship destined for Yangon. This rapid mobilisation showcased the Navy's capability to respond swiftly to regional humanitarian crises, in a short time frame. Also read | Khalistani terrorist Pannun threatens to attack India's Ram Mandir, warns 'will shake foundations of Ayodhya' Former Navy Chief Admiral (Retd) Karambir Singh has noted that these missions serve “dual purposes”—fostering regional stability while also enhancing India's stature as a security provider. The Navy has also executed high-stakes missions, & operations like Sukoon (2006) and Raahat (2015). Under Operation Sukoon, the Navy successfully evacuated Indian, Sri Lankan, and Nepali nationals from war-torn Lebanon while in Operation Raahat, saw the swift evacuation of over 4,600 Indian and foreign nationals from conflict-ridden Yemen. Amid the volatile situation in Gulf of Aden with Houthi attacks (2023-ongoing), the Indian Navy not only rescued Indian nationals, but nationals of countries like the Philippines and Pakistan. Vice Admiral (Retd) Biswajit Dasgupta, former Eastern Naval Command Chief, emphasised that the Navy's humanitarian missions reinforce “universal values of compassion and neutrality, critical elements of soft power.” The integration of satellite-based communication systems, UAVs, and real-time coordination networks ensure that India's SAR, NEO, and HADR missions are swift and highly efficient. One of the standout innovations is the use of advanced water purification systems aboard naval vessels, allowing them to produce potable water from seawater. These capabilities, coupled with real-time intelligence sharing and international collaboration, position the Indian Navy at the forefront of global humanitarian efforts.

Indian Navy's HADR operations showcase India's growing influence

Where does the buck stop&nbsp;in the Indian politics? It stops at the highest office of the government, which is the throne of the prime minister. The prime minister is not only the eyes through which the country sees the world but is also the force that drives the country through its tumultuous as well as glorious phase. But underneath this cloak of the prime minister lives a human who sometimes makes mistakes, sometimes fears resistance to their decisions, and sometimes fails to battle all conflicts thrown at them.

Award-winning journalist and political commentator Neerja Chowdhury in her book "How Prime Ministers Decide" attempts to tell the story of the other side of the prime minister's life, which is filled with failure, rejection, self-doubt and sometimes even the idea of quitting.&nbsp;

In a candid interview with WION over her book, Chowdhury speaks about how history has many times failed to capture the processes that have led to the historic decisions taken by the prime ministers.

The book, which is an eye-opening account of the historic decisions taken by the six prime ministers of India, has made it to the shortlist for the 7th annual Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay&nbsp;New India Foundation Book Prize.&nbsp;

The book was also among the three&nbsp;requested by Delhi's former chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, when he was in jail. Commenting on this incident, Chowdhury says that she hopes to discuss the book with the Aam Aadmi Party leader someday.

Here is the full&nbsp;transcript of the interview:

A very unprecedented situation arose when Delhi's then-Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested and sent to jail. During his time in prison, he asked for a few books that included Mahabharata, Ramayana and also your book "How Prime Ministers Decide". After he came out of prison, he resigned from his position. Do you think that this book may have influenced his decision in some way?&nbsp;

I got to know that Arvind Kejriwal read it from cover to cover and he liked the book. He wanted to read similar books. So, I said that when he comes out of prison, I would like to meet him and ask him what are the bits he liked. And you know, people said the exact opposite of your questions. Many said that Kejriwal was trying to pick the traits of how he would become the prime minister one day.&nbsp;

I am sure his aim is to try to reach the top. But I see his resignation as a very smart political move because he was sent to jail with the allegations of culpability in the liquor scam case. I would like to have an opportunity for a chat with Kejriwal on my book, which I feel will be very fascinating.

Also, the fact that the national capital's then-chief minister decided to read this book when he was at the centre of his fiercest political battle underlines the significance that this book holds in today's time. How do you feel about that?

Well, I felt good. The book has been written over the years. I wrote the book during the pandemic. During those two years, my movement remained restricted from the computer table to the dining table to the bed.

The book encompasses the intense period of living with the prime ministers and the different political players who shaped things in the last 55 years. I signed up for the book in 2017 but did very little work at that time because of daily commitments.

I pulled out all my notebooks, filled with notes taken throughout my journalistic years, which I had kept very carefully. These notebooks had copious notes of on-the-record and off-the-record information shared by anyone. So, if somebody like Kejriwal read and liked the book, I felt happy. But, I have to say this: I would&nbsp;really like younger people to read it.&nbsp;

The book has a very fresh humane take on the lives of the prime ministers. Like in the case of Indira Gandhi, we see all shades of her personality - the weak shades and the strong ones. She has multiple roles to play as a daughter, a mother and a prime minister and there is constant conflict in her mind. In this battle of the human self and of a prime minister - who is believed to be on a pedestal which is devoid of these human conflicts - do they eventually lose themselves?&nbsp;

Jaipal Reddy, who used to be a Janata Dal leader and later joined the Congress and was also in the ministry of Manmohan Singh, once said to me that people do sharp political analysis and don't look at the human side of the politician. So, I decided to take one decision per prime minister and put it under the scanner to understand the pressures, lobbies involved and many other factors. In this process, what I got was a very holistic picture of them.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-travel-to-nigeria-brazil-and-guyana-this-month-774987">PM Modi to travel to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana this month</a>

So, I decided to start the book by saying how lonely it is at the top. Many prime ministers have spoken about the awesome feeling that the buck stops at them and their decision is going to impact the lives of millions, maybe for generations. However, most of the decisions of prime ministers were ad-hoc in nature and were dictated by the compulsion of time - either to retain power or to wrest power. Unfortunately, history captures events but rarely records processes that culminate in those events.

Two prime ministers who made political capital out of their loneliness and solitude are Indira Gandhi and Narendra Modi.

In the 1989 general elections, after the Bofors case, Congress had emerged as the single-largest party with 197 seats and the Left had 52 seats, which was giving Rajiv Gandhi a fair chance to try forming a coalition government. However, as you have clearly stated Gandhi did not have the stomach to run a coalition government, which is something every good politician in India should have. Why is history so lenient to Rajiv Gandhi?

Look, Rajiv came before the coalition politics set in. After his mother's death, Congress had secured a whopping majority of 414 in the 1984 elections. There was a coalition government for two and a half years under Morarji Desai after Indira Gandhi was routed out post-Emergency. There had not been a history of coalition governments, so Rajiv having ruled with the majority of 414, obviously did not have an appetite for coalition.&nbsp;

Maybe, he also knew that the government wouldn't last very long which is what happened. They lasted for only 11 months. So, it could have been a calculation.&nbsp;

You have also talked about Rajiv Gandhi getting influenced by the last man he talked to. How do you think this shortcoming of Gandhi affected his political decisions?

I think Rajiv was very politically naive. He got too quickly into the top position. People have called Manmohan Singh the accidental prime minister but I think it was Rajiv Gandhi who was actually the first one. In the morning he was campaigning in West Bengal and by 7 o'clock evening, he became the prime minister of India after her mother Indira was assassinated by her own security people on October 31, 1984.&nbsp;

When Indira died, Rajiv's political experience was essentially three years and he had been given easier things to handle. He was forward-looking and talked about taking India to the next century but he lacked experience, particularly of the old India.&nbsp;

But he failed to understand the caste and community and this was epitomised by Shah Bano's judgement which came in April of 1985 when an old Muslim woman was granted a maintenance of Rs 119 from her husband who divorced her through Triple Talaq. The Muslims said that the judgement interfered with the Muslim personal law. After this, Rajiv brought a law at the instance of the Muslim community to undo the Shah Bano judgement. It was said that Rajiv was appeasing the Muslims and the word appeasement came into the political lexicon at that time.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;India: PM Modi Urges People To Guard Against 'Digital Arrests'

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-pm-modi-urges-people-to-guard-against-digital-arrests-773190/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

To placate the Hindus, he facilitated the opening of the locks at the Babri Masjid which had been put there in 1949 when an idol of Ram Lalla was smuggled surreptitiously in the the dead of night and kept in the sanctum sanctorum which is when the Masjid became a disputed structure. So, he ended up pleasing neither the Muslims nor the Hindus.&nbsp;

During PV Narasimha Rao's tenure as the prime minister, some very significant events happened like the Babri Masjid demolition and Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation (LPG) reforms&nbsp;in the Indian economy. However, when the 1984 anti-Sikh Riots took place, he was the man who was holding the position of the home minister. What do you think is the defining legacy of Narasimha Rao?

In 1984, Narasimha Rao was the home minister and was in charge of law and order. However, he did not call the army when the anti-Sikh riots broke out in some parts of North India and Delhi. When Narasimha Rao became the prime minister, the country was in flames - there was Mandal violence, Mandir violence and Jammu and Kashmir was up in arms.

When bureaucrats went to him to get papers signed, he said, "I knew the situation was bad but I did not realise it was so bad”. He dealt with some critical international issues but again he was the one who was responsible for doing nothing to save the Babri Masjid. So, Narasimha Rao has a very mixed legacy, on one hand, he was forward-looking and on the other hand, his non-decision on Babri Masjid led to the rise of the BJP.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was known for his oration skills. He was a poet and a great speaker. However, when he announced the success of the nuclear test, he was seen reading from a piece of paper and had a very statesmanly look on his face. When do you think a politician becomes a statesman and why? Also, now that the speech has stood the test of time, how do you see it in hindsight?

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a great orator. When he had to read out something, Vajpayee was not the same speaker. He spoke very spontaneously and took his time to answer questions. So, on the day of the nuclear test, it was decided what he would exactly speak. This was because the world was watching and every word would be scrutinised.&nbsp;

So, the speech was worked out very carefully and had very measured words, and Vajpayee didn't even take any questions that day.&nbsp;

Through the prime ministership of Manmohan Singh, it was very well known that Sonia Gandhi was pulling his strings. However, she never really held the position. So, where is Sonia Gandhi's place in the prime ministerial history?

When the prime ministerial story of India will be written, Sonia Gandhi will have a very important place in it. This is because she was the influence behind the throne in the prime ministership of Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh and also played a part in some decisions of Narasimha Rao. So, I have called her half-prime minister during Manmohan Singh's tenure.&nbsp;

Out of the 14 prime ministers, eight of them came from Uttar Pradesh. Why has UP been the power centre of Indian politics?&nbsp;

This is because Uttar Pradesh is the largest state in the country and dominates politics because of the large number of MPs. It was also the hub of the freedom movement. Then, the Nehru-Gandhi family, who played a very important role in the freedom movement, lived in Anand Bhawan, which was in UP.

The importance of the state diminished during Narasimha Rao's regime. And there was a theory that he did it deliberately and gave much more importance to the South.&nbsp;

Where does the buck stop in the Indian politics? It stops at the highest office of the government, which is the throne of the prime minister. The prime minister is not only the eyes through which the country sees the world but is also the force that drives the country through its tumultuous as well as glorious phase.

Where does the buck stop in the Indian politics? It stops at the highest office of the government, which is the throne of the prime minister. The prime minister is not only the eyes through which the country sees the world but is also the force that drives the country through its tumultuous as well as glorious phase. But underneath this cloak of the prime minister lives a human who sometimes makes mistakes, sometimes fears resistance to their decisions, and sometimes fails to battle all conflicts thrown at them. Award-winning journalist and political commentator Neerja Chowdhury in her book "How Prime Ministers Decide" attempts to tell the story of the other side of the prime minister's life, which is filled with failure, rejection, self-doubt and sometimes even the idea of quitting. In a candid interview with WION over her book, Chowdhury speaks about how history has many times failed to capture the processes that have led to the historic decisions taken by the prime ministers. The book, which is an eye-opening account of the historic decisions taken by the six prime ministers of India, has made it to the shortlist for the 7th annual Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay New India Foundation Book Prize. The book was also among the three requested by Delhi's former chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, when he was in jail. Commenting on this incident, Chowdhury says that she hopes to discuss the book with the Aam Aadmi Party leader someday. Here is the full transcript of the interview: A very unprecedented situation arose when Delhi's then-Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested and sent to jail. During his time in prison, he asked for a few books that included Mahabharata, Ramayana and also your book "How Prime Ministers Decide". After he came out of prison, he resigned from his position. Do you think that this book may have influenced his decision in some way? I got to know that Arvind Kejriwal read it from cover to cover and he liked the book. He wanted to read similar books. So, I said that when he comes out of prison, I would like to meet him and ask him what are the bits he liked. And you know, people said the exact opposite of your questions. Many said that Kejriwal was trying to pick the traits of how he would become the prime minister one day. I am sure his aim is to try to reach the top. But I see his resignation as a very smart political move because he was sent to jail with the allegations of culpability in the liquor scam case. I would like to have an opportunity for a chat with Kejriwal on my book, which I feel will be very fascinating. Also, the fact that the national capital's then-chief minister decided to read this book when he was at the centre of his fiercest political battle underlines the significance that this book holds in today's time. How do you feel about that? Well, I felt good. The book has been written over the years. I wrote the book during the pandemic. During those two years, my movement remained restricted from the computer table to the dining table to the bed. The book encompasses the intense period of living with the prime ministers and the different political players who shaped things in the last 55 years. I signed up for the book in 2017 but did very little work at that time because of daily commitments. I pulled out all my notebooks, filled with notes taken throughout my journalistic years, which I had kept very carefully. These notebooks had copious notes of on-the-record and off-the-record information shared by anyone. So, if somebody like Kejriwal read and liked the book, I felt happy. But, I have to say this: I would really like younger people to read it. The book has a very fresh humane take on the lives of the prime ministers. Like in the case of Indira Gandhi, we see all shades of her personality - the weak shades and the strong ones. She has multiple roles to play as a daughter, a mother and a prime minister and there is constant conflict in her mind. In this battle of the human self and of a prime minister - who is believed to be on a pedestal which is devoid of these human conflicts - do they eventually lose themselves? Jaipal Reddy, who used to be a Janata Dal leader and later joined the Congress and was also in the ministry of Manmohan Singh, once said to me that people do sharp political analysis and don't look at the human side of the politician. So, I decided to take one decision per prime minister and put it under the scanner to understand the pressures, lobbies involved and many other factors. In this process, what I got was a very holistic picture of them. Also Read: PM Modi to travel to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana this month So, I decided to start the book by saying how lonely it is at the top. Many prime ministers have spoken about the awesome feeling that the buck stops at them and their decision is going to impact the lives of millions, maybe for generations. However, most of the decisions of prime ministers were ad-hoc in nature and were dictated by the compulsion of time - either to retain power or to wrest power. Unfortunately, history captures events but rarely records processes that culminate in those events. Two prime ministers who made political capital out of their loneliness and solitude are Indira Gandhi and Narendra Modi. In the 1989 general elections, after the Bofors case, Congress had emerged as the single-largest party with 197 seats and the Left had 52 seats, which was giving Rajiv Gandhi a fair chance to try forming a coalition government. However, as you have clearly stated Gandhi did not have the stomach to run a coalition government, which is something every good politician in India should have. Why is history so lenient to Rajiv Gandhi? Look, Rajiv came before the coalition politics set in. After his mother's death, Congress had secured a whopping majority of 414 in the 1984 elections. There was a coalition government for two and a half years under Morarji Desai after Indira Gandhi was routed out post-Emergency. There had not been a history of coalition governments, so Rajiv having ruled with the majority of 414, obviously did not have an appetite for coalition. Maybe, he also knew that the government wouldn't last very long which is what happened. They lasted for only 11 months. So, it could have been a calculation. You have also talked about Rajiv Gandhi getting influenced by the last man he talked to. How do you think this shortcoming of Gandhi affected his political decisions? I think Rajiv was very politically naive. He got too quickly into the top position. People have called Manmohan Singh the accidental prime minister but I think it was Rajiv Gandhi who was actually the first one. In the morning he was campaigning in West Bengal and by 7 o'clock evening, he became the prime minister of India after her mother Indira was assassinated by her own security people on October 31, 1984. When Indira died, Rajiv's political experience was essentially three years and he had been given easier things to handle. He was forward-looking and talked about taking India to the next century but he lacked experience, particularly of the old India. But he failed to understand the caste and community and this was epitomised by Shah Bano's judgement which came in April of 1985 when an old Muslim woman was granted a maintenance of Rs 119 from her husband who divorced her through Triple Talaq. The Muslims said that the judgement interfered with the Muslim personal law. After this, Rajiv brought a law at the instance of the Muslim community to undo the Shah Bano judgement. It was said that Rajiv was appeasing the Muslims and the word appeasement came into the political lexicon at that time. Watch: India: PM Modi Urges People To Guard Against 'Digital Arrests' To placate the Hindus, he facilitated the opening of the locks at the Babri Masjid which had been put there in 1949 when an idol of Ram Lalla was smuggled surreptitiously in the the dead of night and kept in the sanctum sanctorum which is when the Masjid became a disputed structure. So, he ended up pleasing neither the Muslims nor the Hindus. During PV Narasimha Rao's tenure as the prime minister, some very significant events happened like the Babri Masjid demolition and Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation (LPG) reforms in the Indian economy. However, when the 1984 anti-Sikh Riots took place, he was the man who was holding the position of the home minister. What do you think is the defining legacy of Narasimha Rao? In 1984, Narasimha Rao was the home minister and was in charge of law and order. However, he did not call the army when the anti-Sikh riots broke out in some parts of North India and Delhi. When Narasimha Rao became the prime minister, the country was in flames - there was Mandal violence, Mandir violence and Jammu and Kashmir was up in arms. When bureaucrats went to him to get papers signed, he said, "I knew the situation was bad but I did not realise it was so bad”. He dealt with some critical international issues but again he was the one who was responsible for doing nothing to save the Babri Masjid. So, Narasimha Rao has a very mixed legacy, on one hand, he was forward-looking and on the other hand, his non-decision on Babri Masjid led to the rise of the BJP. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was known for his oration skills. He was a poet and a great speaker. However, when he announced the success of the nuclear test, he was seen reading from a piece of paper and had a very statesmanly look on his face. When do you think a politician becomes a statesman and why? Also, now that the speech has stood the test of time, how do you see it in hindsight? Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a great orator. When he had to read out something, Vajpayee was not the same speaker. He spoke very spontaneously and took his time to answer questions. So, on the day of the nuclear test, it was decided what he would exactly speak. This was because the world was watching and every word would be scrutinised. So, the speech was worked out very carefully and had very measured words, and Vajpayee didn't even take any questions that day. Through the prime ministership of Manmohan Singh, it was very well known that Sonia Gandhi was pulling his strings. However, she never really held the position. So, where is Sonia Gandhi's place in the prime ministerial history? When the prime ministerial story of India will be written, Sonia Gandhi will have a very important place in it. This is because she was the influence behind the throne in the prime ministership of Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh and also played a part in some decisions of Narasimha Rao. So, I have called her half-prime minister during Manmohan Singh's tenure. Out of the 14 prime ministers, eight of them came from Uttar Pradesh. Why has UP been the power centre of Indian politics? This is because Uttar Pradesh is the largest state in the country and dominates politics because of the large number of MPs. It was also the hub of the freedom movement. Then, the Nehru-Gandhi family, who played a very important role in the freedom movement, lived in Anand Bhawan, which was in UP. The importance of the state diminished during Narasimha Rao's regime. And there was a theory that he did it deliberately and gave much more importance to the South.

History rarely records processes that culminate into decisions of prime ministers: Neerja Chowdhury

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a three-nation visit from November 16-21 during which he will also travel to Brazil to attend the G20 summit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday.

On the sidelines of the G20 summit, Modi is expected to meet several leaders.

The prime minister will visit Rio De Janeiro from November 18-19 to attend the G20 summit hosted by Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, the MEA said in a statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-travel-to-nigeria-brazil-and-guyana-this-month-774987">Also read:&nbsp;PM Modi to travel to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana this month</a>

India is part of the G20 troika along with Brazil and South Africa, and has been actively contributing to the ongoing G20 summit discussions, it said.

“During the summit, the prime minister will put forward India’s position on various issues of global importance and build on the outcomes from the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration and Voice of the Global South Summits which were hosted by India in the past two years,” the MEA said.

On the invitation of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Prime Minister Modi will visit Nigeria from November 16-17. This will be the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Nigeria in 17 years, according to the statement.

Watch |&nbsp;G20 Summit 2023 : What is G20 Summit and what's the history behind

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“During the visit, the prime minister will hold talks to review the strategic partnership between India and Nigeria and discuss further avenues to enhance the bilateral relationship,” the statement said.

Modi will also undertake a state visit to Guyana from November 19-21 on the invitation of the country’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali.

“This visit to Guyana will be the first by an Indian prime minister since 1968,” it said.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a three-nation visit from November 16-21 during which he will also travel to Brazil to attend the G20 summit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a three-nation visit from November 16-21 during which he will also travel to Brazil to attend the G20 summit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday. On the sidelines of the G20 summit, Modi is expected to meet several leaders. The prime minister will visit Rio De Janeiro from November 18-19 to attend the G20 summit hosted by Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, the MEA said in a statement. Also read: PM Modi to travel to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana this month India is part of the G20 troika along with Brazil and South Africa, and has been actively contributing to the ongoing G20 summit discussions, it said. “During the summit, the prime minister will put forward India’s position on various issues of global importance and build on the outcomes from the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration and Voice of the Global South Summits which were hosted by India in the past two years,” the MEA said. On the invitation of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Prime Minister Modi will visit Nigeria from November 16-17. This will be the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Nigeria in 17 years, according to the statement. Watch | G20 Summit 2023 : What is G20 Summit and what's the history behind × “During the visit, the prime minister will hold talks to review the strategic partnership between India and Nigeria and discuss further avenues to enhance the bilateral relationship,” the statement said. Modi will also undertake a state visit to Guyana from November 19-21 on the invitation of the country’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali. “This visit to Guyana will be the first by an Indian prime minister since 1968,” it said. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

PM Modi to attend G20 Summit in Brazil from Nov 18, will also visit Nigeria and Guyana

Rahul Chaudhary, a man from Greater Noida, was arrested for growing cannabis in a high-tech setup inside his apartment. He had been cultivating premium cannabis, known as "OG," in over 50 pots for the past four months.

Chaudhary transformed several rooms in his flat into a cannabis nursery, using specialised lights to mimic sunlight and create an ideal growing environment. The plants were cultivated for illegal sale, with orders fulfilled through the dark web.

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VIDEO | A Greater Noida resident has been arrested by the police after he was allegedly found cultivating cannabis inside his apartment. 
 
(Full video available on PTI Videos - <a href="https://t.co/n147TvqRQz">https://t.co/n147TvqRQz</a>) <a href="https://t.co/ia2YMh8Mp4">pic.twitter.com/ia2YMh8Mp4</a>
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1856333775241642097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhis-green-waste-to-energy-plant-exposing-millions-to-toxic-emissions-report-775558">Delhi’s ‘green’ waste-to-energy plant exposing millions to toxic emissions: Report</a>

<h2>Raid and large-scale seizure</h2>

A joint operation by the Narcotics Department and local police led to the discovery of the operation as per Deputy Commissioner of Police, Greater Noida, Saad Miya Khan. Authorities seized cannabis worth around INR 50 lakh ($ 59256.70). They also found that Chaudhary was purchasing cannabis seeds online to grow the plants at home.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-high-court-seeks-eds-response-to-arvind-kejriwals-petition-against-criminal-complaints-775506">Delhi high court seeks ED’s response to Arvind Kejriwal’s petition against criminal complaints</a>

Police revealed that Chaudhary used the dark web to secretly sell cannabis, fulfilling orders discreetly. Authorities are continuing to investigate his network. Chaudhary is originally from Meerut.

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थाना बीटा-2 पुलिस, थाना इकोटेक-1 और नारकोटिक्स टीम द्वारा अवैध गांजे की खेती करने वाले अभियुक्त को गिरफ्तार किया गया। कब्जे से 2.070 किलोग्राम अवैध गांजा, 163.4 ग्राम कैनाबिस (ओजी), विभिन्न रसायन और खेती में प्रयुक्त खाद, बीज व उपकरण बरामद किए गए। 
बाइट~<a href="https://twitter.com/DCPGreaterNoida?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DCPGreaterNoida</a> PART-1 <a href="https://t.co/7mp9qCun5t">https://t.co/7mp9qCun5t</a> <a href="https://t.co/oY2b4PE2KP">pic.twitter.com/oY2b4PE2KP</a>
— POLICE COMMISSIONERATE GAUTAM BUDDH NAGAR (@noidapolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/noidapolice/status/1856323090562855172?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kashmir-tourism-stakeholders-unite-to-condemn-terror-attacks-as-winter-season-approaches-775491">Kashmir tourism stakeholders unite to condemn terror attacks as winter season approaches</a>

<h2>Ongoing investigation &nbsp;</h2>

Deputy Commissioner of Police Saad Miya Khan confirmed that the investigation is ongoing to uncover any accomplices involved in the operation.

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Rahul Chaudhary, a man from Greater Noida, was arrested for growing cannabis in a high-tech setup inside his apartment. He had been cultivating premium cannabis, known as "OG," in over 50 pots for the past four months.

Rahul Chaudhary, a man from Greater Noida, was arrested for growing cannabis in a high-tech setup inside his apartment. He had been cultivating premium cannabis, known as "OG," in over 50 pots for the past four months. Chaudhary transformed several rooms in his flat into a cannabis nursery, using specialised lights to mimic sunlight and create an ideal growing environment. The plants were cultivated for illegal sale, with orders fulfilled through the dark web. VIDEO | A Greater Noida resident has been arrested by the police after he was allegedly found cultivating cannabis inside his apartment. (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/ia2YMh8Mp4 — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 12, 2024 × Also read | Delhi’s ‘green’ waste-to-energy plant exposing millions to toxic emissions: Report Raid and large-scale seizure A joint operation by the Narcotics Department and local police led to the discovery of the operation as per Deputy Commissioner of Police, Greater Noida, Saad Miya Khan. Authorities seized cannabis worth around INR 50 lakh ($ 59256.70). They also found that Chaudhary was purchasing cannabis seeds online to grow the plants at home. Also read | Delhi high court seeks ED’s response to Arvind Kejriwal’s petition against criminal complaints Police revealed that Chaudhary used the dark web to secretly sell cannabis, fulfilling orders discreetly. Authorities are continuing to investigate his network. Chaudhary is originally from Meerut. थाना बीटा-2 पुलिस, थाना इकोटेक-1 और नारकोटिक्स टीम द्वारा अवैध गांजे की खेती करने वाले अभियुक्त को गिरफ्तार किया गया। कब्जे से 2.070 किलोग्राम अवैध गांजा, 163.4 ग्राम कैनाबिस (ओजी), विभिन्न रसायन और खेती में प्रयुक्त खाद, बीज व उपकरण बरामद किए गए। बाइट~@DCPGreaterNoida PART-1 https://t.co/7mp9qCun5t pic.twitter.com/oY2b4PE2KP — POLICE COMMISSIONERATE GAUTAM BUDDH NAGAR (@noidapolice) November 12, 2024 × Also read | Kashmir tourism stakeholders unite to condemn terror attacks as winter season approaches Ongoing investigation Deputy Commissioner of Police Saad Miya Khan confirmed that the investigation is ongoing to uncover any accomplices involved in the operation. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Man arrested for cultivating cannabis at home in Greater Noida, selling on dark web

IndiGo Airlines bid&nbsp;farewell to Vistara on Monday as the airline took to the skies for its last flight from Goa to Bengaluru on Sunday. Vistara is set to merge with Air India, which will end its nine-year journey.

In a heartfelt X post, IndiGo acknowledged the “unforgettable legacy” of Vistara, bidding farewell to its competitor airline.&nbsp;

The airline wrote, “As an unforgettable legacy takes its final flight, a new journey on the horizon awaits. Goodbye, @airvistara. Here’s #ToLimitlessPossibilities ahead.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/vistara-ends-its-journey-says-sky-is-just-the-beginning-775248">Vistara ends its nine-year journey, says 'sky is just the beginning'</a>

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As an unforgettable legacy takes its final flight, a new journey on the horizon awaits. Goodbye, <a href="https://twitter.com/airvistara?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@airvistara</a>. Here’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ToLimitlessPossibilities?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ToLimitlessPossibilities</a> ahead. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/goIndiGo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#goIndiGo</a> 
 
Video credits <a href="https://twitter.com/UtkarshThakkar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UtkarshThakkar</a> <a href="https://t.co/QAOlNzX5xm">pic.twitter.com/QAOlNzX5xm</a>
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiGo6E/status/1855961099985887533?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Vistara Airlines responded to the tweet from its official handle saying, “Onward and upward! Here’s to the future and all the exciting possibilities it holds! #ToLimitlessPossibilities.”

Several social media users reacted to the post, praising the gesture.

A user wrote on X, “When your competitor praises you, that's when you know - you were DAMN GOOD!!”

“That's the spirit @IndiGo6E. Rivals in the market are always friends in the sky,” another commented.

“Loved this gesture,” a third said.

Many users on X also applauded the services of Vistara Airlines as they bid goodbye to the airline.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-navys-hadr-operations-showcase-indias-growing-influence-775365">Indian Navy's HADR operations showcase India's growing influence</a>

“@airvistara had taken the services to different levels,” another person said praising Vistara airline.

Another user posted, "Farewell,&nbsp;@airvistara... you truly were the best of the Indian sky."

<h2>Vistara-Air India merger</h2>

Launched as a joint venture between Tata Sons (51 per cent) and Singapore Airlines (49 per cent) in 2015, Vistara marks the end of its journey as the Tata group decided to merge it with its other aviation venture Air India. The company has said the decision has been made to streamline its aviation assets.&nbsp;

Vistara fleet and routes will be incorporated into Air India, and Singapore Airlines will hold a 25.1 per cent stake in the merged airline, becoming India's largest international carrier.​

(With inputs from agencies)

IndiGo Airlines bid farewell to Vistara on Monday as the airline took to the skies for its last flight from Goa to Bengaluru on Sunday. Vistara is set to merge with Air India, which will end its nine-year journey.

IndiGo Airlines bid farewell to Vistara on Monday as the airline took to the skies for its last flight from Goa to Bengaluru on Sunday. Vistara is set to merge with Air India, which will end its nine-year journey. In a heartfelt X post, IndiGo acknowledged the “unforgettable legacy” of Vistara, bidding farewell to its competitor airline. The airline wrote, “As an unforgettable legacy takes its final flight, a new journey on the horizon awaits. Goodbye, @airvistara. Here’s #ToLimitlessPossibilities ahead.” Also read | Vistara ends its nine-year journey, says 'sky is just the beginning' As an unforgettable legacy takes its final flight, a new journey on the horizon awaits. Goodbye, @airvistara. Here’s #ToLimitlessPossibilities ahead. #goIndiGo Video credits @UtkarshThakkar pic.twitter.com/QAOlNzX5xm — IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) November 11, 2024 × Vistara Airlines responded to the tweet from its official handle saying, “Onward and upward! Here’s to the future and all the exciting possibilities it holds! #ToLimitlessPossibilities.” Several social media users reacted to the post, praising the gesture. A user wrote on X, “When your competitor praises you, that's when you know - you were DAMN GOOD!!” “That's the spirit @IndiGo6E. Rivals in the market are always friends in the sky,” another commented. “Loved this gesture,” a third said. Many users on X also applauded the services of Vistara Airlines as they bid goodbye to the airline. Also read | Indian Navy's HADR operations showcase India's growing influence “@airvistara had taken the services to different levels,” another person said praising Vistara airline. Another user posted, "Farewell, @airvistara... you truly were the best of the Indian sky." Vistara-Air India merger Launched as a joint venture between Tata Sons (51 per cent) and Singapore Airlines (49 per cent) in 2015, Vistara marks the end of its journey as the Tata group decided to merge it with its other aviation venture Air India. The company has said the decision has been made to streamline its aviation assets. Vistara fleet and routes will be incorporated into Air India, and Singapore Airlines will hold a 25.1 per cent stake in the merged airline, becoming India's largest international carrier. (With inputs from agencies)

IndiGo bids farewell to rival Vistara, social media applauds the gesture

A bombshell report by the New York Times has revealed that Delhi’s Okhla waste-to-energy plant, touted as an eco-friendly solution to landfill menace, is exposing over a million residents to dangerous chemicals and emissions. The report revealed that the ash that is dumped from the Timarpur-Okhla Waste Management plant near residential areas in capital city’s Badarpur border is exposing millions to toxic emissions containing cadmium, lead, and arsenic.

Making things worse, the area is close to various schools and children’s parks, putting kids at the highest risk.

<h2>Brief history of the plant</h2>

Delhi’s Okhla plant was established in 2012 to address two of the capital city’s most pressing issues: Waste management and energy shortage. The plant was meant to convert up to 2,000 tonnes of trash daily into approximately 23 megawatts of electricity.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwi8yrr139aJAxVZ9DgGHaj3NosQxfQBKAB6BAgKEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-sc-asks-delhi-govt-to-decide-on-ban-of-firecrackers-says-no-religion-encourages-pollution-775226" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-sc-asks-delhi-govt-to-decide-on-ban-of-firecrackers-says-no-religion-encourages-pollution-775226&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi8yrr139aJAxVZ9DgGHaj3NosQxfQBKAB6BAgKEAE">India`s SC asks Delhi govt to decide on firecracker ban, says `no religion encourages pollution`</a>

But over the years, the facility, run by Jindal Group's JITF Intralogistics in a public-private partnership with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, turned into a toxic menace itself. By prioritising cost-cutting measures over public safety, the plant failed to uphold pollution controls.

The NYT teams collected samples from around the plant over five years between 2019 and 2023 and found they contained dangerously high levels of heavy metals and pollutants.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwi8yrr139aJAxVZ9DgGHaj3NosQxfQBKAB6BAgQEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-is-choking-can-green-buildings-help-win-the-battle-for-breath-775265" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-is-choking-can-green-buildings-help-win-the-battle-for-breath-775265&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi8yrr139aJAxVZ9DgGHaj3NosQxfQBKAB6BAgQEAE">Delhi is choking. Can green buildings help win the Battle for Breath?</a>

According to the report, cadmium levels were measured at 19 times the allowable limit, manganese at 11 times, arsenic at 10 times, lead at four times, and cobalt at three times. Prolonged exposure to these metals may result in severe health complications, including respiratory diseases, cancer, neurological disorders, and complications during pregnancy.

The findings from the New York Times further confirm internal government reports that have indicated significant dioxin emissions from the facility—reaching up to 10 times the legal limit—according to government documentation.

The effect is visible on local residents. Most of the people living around the plant suffer from respiratory illnesses, skin boils, and black phlegm production.

(With inputs from agencies)

A bombshell report by the New York Times has revealed that Delhi’s Okhla waste-to-energy plant, touted as an eco-friendly solution to landfill menace, is exposing over a million residents to dangerous chemicals and emissions.

A bombshell report by the New York Times has revealed that Delhi’s Okhla waste-to-energy plant, touted as an eco-friendly solution to landfill menace, is exposing over a million residents to dangerous chemicals and emissions. The report revealed that the ash that is dumped from the Timarpur-Okhla Waste Management plant near residential areas in capital city’s Badarpur border is exposing millions to toxic emissions containing cadmium, lead, and arsenic. Making things worse, the area is close to various schools and children’s parks, putting kids at the highest risk. Brief history of the plant Delhi’s Okhla plant was established in 2012 to address two of the capital city’s most pressing issues: Waste management and energy shortage. The plant was meant to convert up to 2,000 tonnes of trash daily into approximately 23 megawatts of electricity. Also read: India`s SC asks Delhi govt to decide on firecracker ban, says `no religion encourages pollution` But over the years, the facility, run by Jindal Group's JITF Intralogistics in a public-private partnership with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, turned into a toxic menace itself. By prioritising cost-cutting measures over public safety, the plant failed to uphold pollution controls. The NYT teams collected samples from around the plant over five years between 2019 and 2023 and found they contained dangerously high levels of heavy metals and pollutants. Also read: Delhi is choking. Can green buildings help win the Battle for Breath? According to the report, cadmium levels were measured at 19 times the allowable limit, manganese at 11 times, arsenic at 10 times, lead at four times, and cobalt at three times. Prolonged exposure to these metals may result in severe health complications, including respiratory diseases, cancer, neurological disorders, and complications during pregnancy. The findings from the New York Times further confirm internal government reports that have indicated significant dioxin emissions from the facility—reaching up to 10 times the legal limit—according to government documentation. The effect is visible on local residents. Most of the people living around the plant suffer from respiratory illnesses, skin boils, and black phlegm production. (With inputs from agencies)

Delhi’s ‘green’ waste-to-energy plant exposing millions to toxic emissions: Report

MK Stalin, the chief minister of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, has written to Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, highlighting the increasing frequency of arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.&nbsp;

In a letter, Stalin highlighted that the number of Indian fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy this year is the highest in seven years.&nbsp;

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TN CM <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MKStalin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MKStalin</a> writes to External Affairs Minister, seeking the release of Indian fishing boats, repatriation of Indian fishers arrested by Sri Lankan authorities... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SriLanka?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SriLanka</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TamilNadu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TamilNadu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/politics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#politics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/maritime?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#maritime</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fishing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fishing</a> <a href="https://t.co/fqZxBCrX8I">https://t.co/fqZxBCrX8I</a> <a href="https://t.co/tTwmIbkFlz">pic.twitter.com/tTwmIbkFlz</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1856286747824373903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The Sri Lankan Navy maintains that Indian fishing boats are poaching in Sri Lankan waters and that their Naval vessels conduct regular patrols and operations in their waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing boats, taking into account the impact of those practices on the livelihood of local fishermen.

Thus far this year, the Sri Lankan Navy says they have held 66 Indian fishing boats and 497 Indian fishermen in the island nation's waters.

The fishermen issue remains a sore point in India-Sri Lanka ties, with fishers from each side crossing over into the other's waters.&nbsp;

This is a longstanding and complex problem that involves fishing rights and territory in the narrow Palk Strait, the water body that separates the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the Northern part of the island nation Sri Lanka.&nbsp;

In the letter, MK Stalin touched upon the two incidents from Sunday, November 9, and Tuesday, November 12, where a total of 35 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, and their four boats were taken into custody by Sri Lankan authorities. "These arrests not only disrupt their livelihoods but also cause immense distress to their families," he stated.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/indian-and-sri-lankan-coast-guards-conduct-7th-high-level-meet-to-combat-transnational-maritime-crime-775329">Also read:&nbsp;Indian and Sri Lankan Coast Guards conduct 7th high-level meet, to combat transnational maritime crime</a>

<h2>Meetings between Indian and Sri Lankan authorities&nbsp;</h2>

In recent days, maritime security agencies from India and Sri Lanka have been meeting to discuss various issues, including efforts to combat transnational maritime crime and to promote regional cooperation.&nbsp;

The 7th Annual High-Level Meeting (HLM) between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) was conducted on November 11, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.&nbsp;

The meeting underscored the commitment of both the Coast Guards to jointly address a plethora of maritime challenges including drug trafficking, marine pollution, the safety of mariners, adoption of best practices, capacity-building programmes, and other collaborative arrangements.

The meeting between the Coast Guard leadership comes barely a week after the 34th India and Sri Lanka Navy &amp; Coast Guard International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) meeting, chaired by senior officials of the Indian and Sri Lankan Navies.&nbsp;

This meeting was held onboard the Sri Lankan Naval Ship SLNS Vijayabahu in Palk Bay on November 6, 2024.&nbsp;

Representatives from both sides held discussions with a special focus on maritime security in Palk Bay &amp; Gulf of Mannar, the safety of fishermen, and ways to enhance fishermen’s response to real-time communications.

Watch |&nbsp;Sri Lanka President Promises Return Of Tamil Land

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Campaigning ahead of the country's parliamentary polls, &nbsp;President Anura Kumara Dissanayake accused Indian fishermen of destroying the marine resources belonging to the Tamil-populated northern region of the island nation.&nbsp;

During his speech at Jaffna city, he also stated that his government will ensure that such exploitation of marine resources does not happen. He assured that he would protect the rights of Sri Lankan fishermen, bring more jobs to the region, and support agriculture and fisheries. He also touched upon the issue of drug abuse and vowed to crack down.

Sri Lanka's Parliamentary polls are scheduled for this Thursday, 14th November. The President's political event conducted on Sunday in Jaffna city was his first in the region. Interestingly, Dissanayake's JVP party has not been one to support Tamil rights in the bygone decades.&nbsp;

However, expectations are high from the young president, who has barely spent eight weeks in office.

MK Stalin, the chief minister of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, has written to Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, highlighting the increasing frequency of arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.

MK Stalin, the chief minister of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, has written to Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, highlighting the increasing frequency of arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. In a letter, Stalin highlighted that the number of Indian fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy this year is the highest in seven years. TN CM #MKStalin writes to External Affairs Minister, seeking the release of Indian fishing boats, repatriation of Indian fishers arrested by Sri Lankan authorities... #India #SriLanka #TamilNadu #politics #maritime #fishing https://t.co/fqZxBCrX8I pic.twitter.com/tTwmIbkFlz — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) November 12, 2024 × The Sri Lankan Navy maintains that Indian fishing boats are poaching in Sri Lankan waters and that their Naval vessels conduct regular patrols and operations in their waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing boats, taking into account the impact of those practices on the livelihood of local fishermen. Thus far this year, the Sri Lankan Navy says they have held 66 Indian fishing boats and 497 Indian fishermen in the island nation's waters. The fishermen issue remains a sore point in India-Sri Lanka ties, with fishers from each side crossing over into the other's waters. This is a longstanding and complex problem that involves fishing rights and territory in the narrow Palk Strait, the water body that separates the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the Northern part of the island nation Sri Lanka. In the letter, MK Stalin touched upon the two incidents from Sunday, November 9, and Tuesday, November 12, where a total of 35 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, and their four boats were taken into custody by Sri Lankan authorities. "These arrests not only disrupt their livelihoods but also cause immense distress to their families," he stated. Also read: Indian and Sri Lankan Coast Guards conduct 7th high-level meet, to combat transnational maritime crime Meetings between Indian and Sri Lankan authorities In recent days, maritime security agencies from India and Sri Lanka have been meeting to discuss various issues, including efforts to combat transnational maritime crime and to promote regional cooperation. The 7th Annual High-Level Meeting (HLM) between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) was conducted on November 11, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The meeting underscored the commitment of both the Coast Guards to jointly address a plethora of maritime challenges including drug trafficking, marine pollution, the safety of mariners, adoption of best practices, capacity-building programmes, and other collaborative arrangements. The meeting between the Coast Guard leadership comes barely a week after the 34th India and Sri Lanka Navy & Coast Guard International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) meeting, chaired by senior officials of the Indian and Sri Lankan Navies. This meeting was held onboard the Sri Lankan Naval Ship SLNS Vijayabahu in Palk Bay on November 6, 2024. Representatives from both sides held discussions with a special focus on maritime security in Palk Bay & Gulf of Mannar, the safety of fishermen, and ways to enhance fishermen’s response to real-time communications. Watch | Sri Lanka President Promises Return Of Tamil Land × Campaigning ahead of the country's parliamentary polls, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake accused Indian fishermen of destroying the marine resources belonging to the Tamil-populated northern region of the island nation. During his speech at Jaffna city, he also stated that his government will ensure that such exploitation of marine resources does not happen. He assured that he would protect the rights of Sri Lankan fishermen, bring more jobs to the region, and support agriculture and fisheries. He also touched upon the issue of drug abuse and vowed to crack down. Sri Lanka's Parliamentary polls are scheduled for this Thursday, 14th November. The President's political event conducted on Sunday in Jaffna city was his first in the region. Interestingly, Dissanayake's JVP party has not been one to support Tamil rights in the bygone decades. However, expectations are high from the young president, who has barely spent eight weeks in office.

Sri Lankan Navy's arrest of Indian fishers in 2024 is the highest in seven years

The Uttar Pradesh government has ramped up preparations to ensure a secure and successful Mahakumbh 2025, mobilizing National and State Disaster Response Forces (NDRF and SDRF) alongside healthcare teams for comprehensive emergency preparedness. Watch this report for more details!

India: Emergency Preparedness in Place for Mahakumbh in Uttar Pradesh

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