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Emphasising the need to modernise its police force, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said the state government will make funds available from its resources apart from the Centre’s support for the purpose. Speaking to senior officials after visiting the police headquarters in Patna, the chief minister asked them to make the Forensic Laboratory at Bihar Police Academy in Rajgir functional at the earliest and ensure specialised training for police personnel. The officials were directed to identify suitable places for imparting specialised training for which all sorts of resources would be made available by the state government, he said. The number of doctors at the hospital built at the Bihar Police Academy in Rajgir should be increased and necessary arrangements should be made in the institution for providing training, Mr Kumar said.

Jammu and Kashmir has delivered a “resounding slap” on “terrorists, extremists, and separatists”, Union Minister  Ravi Shankar Prasad said today, pointing to the results of local body elections in the newly formed Union Territory — the first polls held there in two years. The BJP’s emergence as the single largest party, the minister said, has proved that the people have shown their preference for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “larger narrative”. None of the individual parties in the Gupkar Alliance — an amalgam of seven parties — have been able to compete with the BJP, and this, he said, was the reason behind the tie-up. Addressing a press conference today as the final results in the election became known, Mr Prasad said the BJP has won 74 seats against the 67 seats of Omar Abdullah’s National Conference, 27 of Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party and the Congress’s 26 seats. The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, led by Farooq Abdullah, won 110 seats. “The BJP got over 4

The Congress is pushing ahead with changes in its organizational leadership after yesterday’s meeting with the dissidents with an overhaul in leadership in four states — Telangana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. So far, Telangana Congress President Uttam Kumar Reddy has resigned taking responsibility for poor performance in Hyderabad local polls. Gujarat Congress President Amit Chavda has also resigned after the party’s poor performance in Gujarat by polls. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, who is the state party president, also holds CLP leader’s post. Mr Nath was said to play a key role in bringing about the top leadership’s meeting with G-23 — as the rebels who sounded the first note of dissidence have been dubbed. On Saturday, the Congress had made changes in Mumbai Regional Congress Committee. Balasaheb Thorat, who is the Maharashtra Congress president, is also the leader of Maharashtra Congress Legislature Party The party’s interim president Sonia Gandhi

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and former minister Madan Mitra on Saturday said that the party will host a “grand gala” to express gratitude to “traitors” whose departure has ensured the party is “free of virus.” Mr Mitra’s remarks were made today after the former minister in Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet, Suvendu Adhikari joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in the presence of Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah at a rally in Midnapore. Shah is in on a two-day visit to West Bengal ahead of State Assembly elections in 2021. In his address at the induction ceremony, Mr Adhikari said “When I was ill with Covid-19, the TMC for whom I had worked for 21 years and sacrificed so much never came to my assistance and never valued my work whereas Amit Shah and the other BJP leaders have given me love and affection.” Mr Adhikari also wrote an open letter to TMC members in which he alleged “extremely deep rot and malaise” within the party. He urged them to join hands and start a new beginning.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday appointed three All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretaries each for Assam and Kerala where Assembly polls are slated for early next year. The newly appointed secretaries will assist the general secretaries in-charge of the two states — Jitendra Singh for Assam and Tariq Anwar for Kerala. Assembly polls in the two states, where the Congress is the main opposition party, are slated for April-May. MLAs Anirudh Singh and Vikas Upadhyay and Prithviraj Prabhakar Sathe have been appointed AICC secretaries for Assam, while former MP P Viswanathan, former MLC Ivan D’Souza and PV Mohan have been appointed for Kerala, according to a party statement.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah welcomed high-profile Trinamool Congress rebel Suvendu Adhikari and several others to the BJP on Saturday at a mega rally in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur, sparing no shot at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. “Why are so many people leaving Trinamool Congress? Because of the misrule, corruption and nepotism of Mamata Banerjee. Didi , this is just the beginning. By the time elections come, you will be left all alone,” he said. Besides Mr Adhikari, nine other MLAs from various parties and Trinamool MP Sunil Mondal joined the BJP in Mr Shah’s presence. The former BJP chief reiterated that the party would form the next government in the state with more than 200 seats. West Bengal has a 294-member assembly. Both Mr Shah and Mr Adhikari referred to growing discontent among the people and the party about the rise of Ms Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee. Mr Adhikari even gave the slogan, “ Bhaipo Hatao (Remove The Nephew)”. “I have a long association with Amit

Former union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Thursday accused Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal of indulging in “cheap theatrics” by tearing up copies of the farm laws. She said his government in Delhi was among the first to notify one of the central laws related to agriculture. The Delhi Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution against the Centre’s three new agriculture laws with Mr Kejriwal tearing up their copies, saying he cannot betray farmers of the country. In a statement here, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal said the Delhi CM was known as a “dramebaaz” but this time he indulged in “cheap theatrics” and “unparalleled hypocrisy” by tearing up the same laws in the Vidhan Sabha, one of which he had notified on November 23. Asking Kejriwal to have “mercy” on farmers, Ms Badal said it is strange that the Delhi CM has suddenly discovered that farmers are sitting out in the open in cold wave conditions and over 20 of them have died. “The Delhi chief minister is only shedding crocodile tears i

Suvendu Akhikari, the powerful rebel leader of Bengal’s Trinamool Congress, quit the party today ending weeks of speculation on the issue. There is a buzz that he would join the BJP over the weekend when Union Home Minister Amit Shah visits the state. An induction of the leader — who is said to have control over the local leaders in more than 50 seats in the western part of the state — will be the highlight of the visit of Mr Shah, who has set his heart on forming the next government in the state next year. A second Trinamool leader, Asansol’s disgruntled MLA Jitendra Tiwari quit the party shortly after Mr Adhikari. Earlier today, Mr Tiwari had resigned his post in the town’s civic body after a meeting with Mr Adhikari. The meeting, where party MP Sunil Mondal was also present, took place last night. Mr Adhikari had quit Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet last month after much bitterness over the induction and rapid rise of her nephew Abhishek Banerjee. Without naming the young M

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday congratulated Joe Biden on winning the US presidential election in November, saying he hoped the countries could set aside their differences to promote global security. Putin wished the US president-elect every success and said that, “for my part, I am ready for collaboration and contacts with you,” according to a Kremlin statement. The Russian president was one of the last remaining leaders of major world countries to have held back on congratulating Biden, who was confirmed as the next US president by the Electoral College on Monday. Officials in Moscow, including the country’s elections chief and foreign minister, had earlier criticised the US elections process, describing it as archaic and not representative of the will of the people. In his congratulatory telegram to Biden, Putin said that their countries “bear special responsibility for global security and stability.”

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has defended his election to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat in a reply to the Supreme Court, asserting that there was no violation of law. Mr Jaishankar’s election in 2019 from one of the two seats vacated by Union Ministers Amit Shah and Smriti Irani had been challenged by Gaurav Hemantbhai Pandya, the Congress candidate who had lost. Mr Jaishankar, in his affidavit, says the voting procedure adopted by the Election Commission did not violate any law. The Congress leader’s appeal was “based on misrepresentation of facts and not understanding the correct law position”, the External Affairs Minister said. Mr Pandya’s appeal had not been accepted by the Gujarat High Court, after which he had gone to the Supreme Court. Polls were conducted in May 2019 for the seats vacated by Amit Shah and Smriti Irani after they won the Lok Sabha election. The polls were conducted through separate voting and the BJP won both seats. The Congress argues that it would have won on

Thousands of farmers – protesting against the government’s controversial agricultural laws – have planned a massive rally today to block the Delhi-Jaipur highway as they pledge to intensify their agitation, which started late November. Today’s rally will be followed by an all-India hunger strike on Monday when the demonstrators plan to hold protests at district offices. On Saturday, over 4,000 policemen were deployed in Gurgaon and Haryana to stop the farmers from occupying highways. The laws are meant to bring reforms and increase farmers’ income, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday in what was seen as a renewed assurance from the government. Farmers from Rajasthan and Haryana are expected to start their rally to the national capital via National Highway-48 (Delhi-Chennai highway). On Saturday, large group of protesters were stopped from blocking the main highway from Delhi to Agra. “We’re fully prepared to control the protests from escalating,” a senior Gurgaon cop told NDT

Mamata Banerjee’s party’s tussle with the BJP over the attack on its chief JP Nadda’s convoy rolled on to Saturday with the Trinamool Congress accusing Union Home Minister Amit Shah of “indirectly trying to impose emergency in Bengal… by terrorising IAS and IPS officers of the state”. In a letter to the Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, who reports to Mr Shah, Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee has protested his ministry’s letter dated Friday which asked the chief secretary of Bengal to release three Indian Police Service (IPS) officers for “central deputation”. Claiming that JP Nadda was himself to blame for the stone-throwing at his convoy on December 10 when the three officers were responsible for his security, Mr Banerjee said that the convoy had 50 motorcycles and 30 cars with BJP flags. “All three officers were deployed on 10th December nearby at the place of occurrence. Your motive is very clear that by taking them, you want to create pressure upon the said three police officers,” Mr

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday said a gang which brought girls from Bangladesh to Indore and pushed them into prostitution has been busted. The state police rescued 21 girls and arrested nine persons a few days ago, he said. “Girls are brought from Bangladesh and drugged. They are then pushed into flesh trade,” Mr Chouhan said, speaking to reporters at the airport. The police team visited Gujarat and other states during its probe of the racket, he said, adding that the gang members were connected to Nigerian drugpeddlers. “We have also come across some vital clues during the drive against drug peddlers in Indore. Some gym trainers were found involved in the drug business,” the chief minister said.

Farmers’ protest is set to intensify today as they plan to block Delhi-Jaipur highway, a day after one of the 32 protesting unions moved the Supreme Court against the centre’s contentious agricultural laws. The farmers’ leaders have dismissed claims that “ultra-left” and “pro-Left Wing Extremist” elements have hijacked their agitation, the biggest in the last few years. Thousands of cops are on duty at entry points to the national capital to block the movement of the protesters. Two thousand policemen are on duty in Gurgaon and 3,500 policemen are on duty in Faridabad to stop the protesters, officials have said. The two cities in Haryana share borders with Delhi. A petition was filed on Friday in the Supreme court by the Bharatiya Kisan Union that sought repeal of the three “arbitrary” laws. The top court has already issued notices to the centre on a batch of petitions challenging the laws. With the deadlock over the new legislations entering the third week, the ruling BJP has planned

US President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris were named Time magazine’s 2020 “Person of the Year” on Thursday for their election victory over Donald Trump. “For changing the American story, for showing that the forces of empathy are greater than the furies of division, for sharing a vision of healing in a grieving world,” Time said, explaining its choice. The Democratic pair were chosen ahead of three other finalists: frontline health care workers and Anthony Fauci, the racial justice movement and President Trump. Time’s magazine cover boasts portraits of Biden, 78, and Harris, 56, with the subtitle “Changing America’s story.” “Together, they offered restoration and renewal in a single ticket. And America bought what they were selling,” the publication said. Biden beat Trump by 306 electoral college votes to Trump’s 232 to end the real estate tycoon-turned-politician’s presidency after one term. Biden received roughly seven million more votes than his Republican

BJP president JP Nadda’s convoy was attacked with bricks and stones near Kolkata this afternoon and many cars were damaged. BJP leaders were also injured in the attack, the party alleged, accusing the Mamata Banerjee government of serious lapses in security. Home Minister Amit Shah has asked for a report on what he called “sponsored violence” and said Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress would have to answer to people of the state. A dramatic video shared online shows a car, said to be part of the BJP chief’s convoy, being attacked with bricks and the windscreen and windows shattering. “If I have reached here for the meeting, it’s due to Ma Durga’s grace,” said Mr Nadda. The BJP has launched protests across the state. The Trinamool, however, accused the BJP of “intentional provocation” and attempting to stir trouble and malign the state government in the run-up to polls next year. The BJP leaders were travelling to Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas near Kolkata when the attack took

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President JP Nadda today, accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of being synonymous with “intolerance”, and exuded confidence about forming the next government in the state with more than 200 seats. Mr Nadda, who arrived on a two-day West Bengal visit, criticised the “dynastic politics” of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and other parties in the country, and asserted for the BJP, “party is family”. “Today, I want to recollect what Syama Prasad Mookherjee had said about discipline and tolerance…it is very pertinent in the present situation in Bengal. For West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee….thy name is intolerance,” he said after inaugurating nine party offices across various districts of the state. Mr Nadda accused the Trinamool Congress government of “minority appeasement”. He asserted the saffron party will come to power in 2021 polls with more than 200 seats ousting the TMC “lock, stock and barrel”. “When the entire country was wa

Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s meeting with protesting farmers on Tuesday evening – indicating the involvement of the government’s highest level to resolve the deadlock over the contentious farm laws – failed, with both sides remaining firm on their positions. The farmers refused to accept the government’s offer of amendment in the laws, sticking to their demand for a complete scrapping. The big meeting scheduled for today with Agriculture Minister Naresh Tomar – the sixth since the protests started – has been called off. Sources said farmers’ unions were given a presentation on the bills on Tuesday and a proposal will be sent to farm leaders today with written amendments that the government intends to carry out. “No meeting will be held between farmers and the government tomorrow (Wednesday). The minister has said a proposal will be given to farmer leaders tomorrow (Wednesday). Farmer leaders will hold a meeting to discuss the proposal,” Hannan Mollah, the general secretary of the Al

The Aam Admi Party (AAP) today alleged that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been placed under house arrest by Delhi Police since Monday, particularly in the wake of his visit to the Singhu border on Monday and the Bharat Bandh called today by farmers protesting against the new central agricultural laws. The party said that under the Union home ministry’s orders, the police have got the three mayors of Delhi’s various municipalities to protest before the Chief Minister’s residence, creating a pretext for his detainment. Mr Kejriwal’s residence has, thus, been barricaded completely, with none allowed to enter or leave the premises.       All of his official meetings have been cancelled for the day given the circumstances, AAP officials said. Mr Kejriwal had visited the Singhu border point between Delhi and Haryana on Monday to meet the protesting farmers and enquiring about their welfare. Thousands of farmers have been parked there, along with other border points with Delhi and

BJP’s Avinash Kumar Singh on Sunday bagged the Lucknow graduates’ constituency seat for Uttar Pradesh legislative council with his party emerging winner on total three seats and SP on two out of the five seats following a tough fight for them. As per the results declared for graduates’ constituency seats gradually since Saturday, BJP bagged a total of three seats with Dr Manvendra Pratap Singh ”Guruji” winning the Agra seat and Dinesh Kumar Goyal Meerut’s. The Samajwadi Party, on the other hand, bagged two out of the five graduates’ constituencies seats with SP’s Ashutosh Sinha winning the Varanasi seat and Dr Maan Singh Yadav the Allahabad-Jhansi division’s one. Both the SP candidates bagged the seats divesting them from the BJP, while the BJP’s “Guruji” won the Agra seat divesting it from the SP and Goyal by defeating four-time and sitting independent MLC Hem Singh Pundir. The third win for the BJP came in the form of Avinash Kumar Singh, who won the Lucknow Graduate constituency, an