LIVE News Updates: Centre trying to inflict emotional partition of J&K says Mehbooba Mufti

Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti said on Tuesday that instead of allowing old wounds to heal, the Modi government was inflicting another emotional partition of Jammu and Kashmir.

Reacting to media reports that the Centre was contemplating fresh delimitation of Assembly seats to give better and proportionate representation to the Jammu region, Mufti said on her Twitter page: "Distressed to hear about plans to redraw Assembly constituencies in J&K.

"Forced delimitation is an obvious attempt to inflict another emotional partition of the state on communal lines. Instead of allowing old wounds to heal, GoI (Government of India) is inflicting pain on Kashmiris."

A high-level meeting, chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, here on Tuesday reviewed the state's internal security as well as law and order situation, and raised doubts about the authenticity of alleged intel reports suggesting an ISI project to target retired army and police officials to revive militancy in Punjab.

Even as he directed the officials to take all possible steps to maintain peace and harmony in the state, the Chief Minister agreed with them that reports referring to intel inputs on such a project seemed far-fetched and removed from the ground realities.

Blaming the near rout of the Left in the general election on a global trend of consolidation of right-wing forces, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Tuesday said the central committee of the party will meet later this week to analyse the reasons behind the debacle.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist), which got a historic low of only three seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, did not win any in West Bengal for the first time since its inception in 1964.

Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party legislators Pasang Dorjee Sona and Tesam Pongte were on Tuesday elected unopposed as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly.

Pro-tem Speaker Phosum Khimhun declared Sona, a three-time legislator from Mechuka Assembly constituency, as Speaker of the 7th Legislative Assembly.

Soon after occupying the Speaker's chair, Sona presided over the election of the Deputy Speaker and announced Pongte, a two-time legislator from Changlang North Assembly constituency, would be his deputy.

Days after the Narendra Modi-led Central government took charge for the second term, West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress on Tuesday took out rallies across the state to protest against high unemployment, hike in cooking gas prices and anticipated disinvestment in public sector companies.

Apart from taking out several rallies in each district and block, the Trinamool organised two big rallies in the city - one in north Kolkata, led by party's MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay while the other in south Kolkata, led by MP Abhishek Banerjee.

"It is unfortunate that prices of cooking gas, petrol and diesel were hiked immediately after the Narendra Modi government came to power for the second term. They do not pay heed to common people's needs," said an activist holding replica of a LPG gas cylinder.

Group Captain Anupam Banerjee says ISRO satellites are also being used for photographing this area which will be analysed & used for further search operation for missing IAF AN-32 Aircraft

Justice Prashant Kumar was on Tuesday appointed as the acting chief justice of the Jharkhand High Court as the incumbent Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel has been appointed as the chief justice of the Delhi High Court. Justice Patel is likely to take charge in the Delhi HC on June 7.

Patel was appointed as the acting chief justice of the Jharkhand HC last month following the elevation of the chief justice Aniruddha Bose to the Supreme Court

Twenty-five pilgrims were injured on Tuesday when the bus they were travelling in fell into a gorge on the Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway, police said.

A total of 28 pilgrims were on board the bus when it plunged into a 20-metre-deep gorge near Kaleshwar, between Karnaprayag and Nandprayag, on the highway, Chamoli police PRO Ajay Rawat said.

The bus was on its way to Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib in Garhwal Himalayas, he said.

A prominent Hindu seer accused the Centre of fooling people over the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying it has decided to build it at a place other than where deity was born.

"The Centre has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court saying it will return 67 acres of acquired land around the disputed site in Ayodhya to the original owners.

"It has, in fact, made up its mind about building a Ram temple in Ayodhya at a spot other than the one where the deity was actually born," Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati told reporters here.  "All its claims about making a grand temple in Ayodhya is just eyewash meant to fool people," he said.

The Delhi High Court has asked the Centre and the Border Security Force (BSF) to file their responses to a petition by 30 teaching and non-teaching staff of BSF's polytechnic seeking regularisation of their jobs.

A Division Bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rajnish Bhatnagar in its May 30 order issued notice to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the BSF Director General, the BSF Education Fund and the BSF Polytechnic, Signal Training School (STS), and asked them to file response to the petition.

The court listed the matter for further hearing on July 9.

The Shia Muslim community of Jammu and Kashmir's Kargil district celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, on Tuesday.

Religious preachers of the Shia community in Kargil district had announced on Monday that the Eid crescent had been sighted, thereby declaring the end of Ramadan.

On the other hand, the Sunni Muslim community of Kargil, which is emotionally better connected with the Kashmir Valley, has decided to celebrate the Eid festival on Wednesday, along wi th the rest of the state.

India skipper Virat Kohli believes that his team has learnt from the mistakes of the 2017 Champions Trophy when they lost to arch-rivals Pakistan in the final and the captain has said that introducing wrist spinners in the side was a step in that direction.

The Men in Blue will start their campaign in the 2019 World Cup on Wednesday when the Kohli-led side will be up against South Africa in Southampton. Addressing the media on the eve of the clash, KOhli said: "The lessons from the Champions Trophy -- is to play the cricket we know how to play. In the final, the better side won. We have plugged the gaps. We brought in wrist spinners to take wickets in the middle overs. We are a stronger side than Champions Trophy side."

Two local leaders of Trinamool Congress were chased and threatened in West Bengal's Cooch Behar district while a BJP worker was beaten up in South 24 Parganas district allegedly by Trinamool party cadres, police said on Tuesday.

"Two local leaders of Trinamool Congress were chased on Tuesday. They escaped unhurt as it was just a ploy to scare them," said an officer of the Ghokshadanga police station.

He noted that the incident was a repercussion of a BJP leader receiving threats from Trinamool members on Monday.

Indian Captain Virat Kohli believes that in spite of changes South Africa will be a side to reckon with. “Even with replacements, SA would be a very strong side”, says Kohli

India will play its first match against South Africa on June 5th in World Cup 2019, where as South Africa has already faced defeat from England and Bangladesh

Beijing on Tuesday issued a travel alert for Chinese citizens planning to travel to the US, warning them of frequent shootings, robberies and thefts.

In a statement, the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism urged tourists to be aware of the risks of visiting the US and to take safety precautions.

The alert, in effect until the end of the year, comes amid escalation in the trade war between China and the US, which also seems to be affecting other aspects of bilateral ties, such as student exchanges

Four people are dead and one person injured in Australia after a gunman opened fire late Tuesday in the northern city of Darwin, authorities said.

A 45-year-old man has been taken into custody and Northern Territory (NT) police say there are no further public threats.

They said the incident was not believed to be terror-related.

BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday rebuked Union minister Giriraj Singh for his snide tweet targeting NDA leaders in Bihar on their presence in 'Iftar' parties and asked him to refrain from making such remarks, party sources said.

Singh had posted pictures of top Bihar NDA leaders, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan, attending 'Iftar' and questioned as to why people lag behind in observance of their own "karm-dharm" (religious customs) while staying ahead in making a show for religious rituals of others.

BJP leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi was also seen in one of the pictures.

His tweet drew sharp reactions from the BJP allies.

A BJP leader said Shah admonished Singh and asked him to avoid making such remarks.

Large crowds turned out for a mass candlelight vigil in Hong Kong on Tuesday evening marking 30 years since China's bloody Tiananmen crackdown, a gathering tinged with symbolism as the city struggles to preserve its own cherished freedoms.

The eye-catching spectacle -- in which thousands of Hongkongers clutched candles, sang songs and listened to emotional speeches -- is the only place in China were such commemorations can be safely held.

The semi-autonomous financial hub has hosted an annual vigil every year since tanks and soldiers smashed into protesters near Beijing's Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989 -- an illustration of the city's unusual freedoms and vibrant political scene.

A Naxal "commander" with a Rs 1 lakh reward on his head on Tuesday surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, police said.

Baman Beko (26), active as "jan militia commander" of the proscribed Communist Party of India (Maoist), turned himself in before Dantewada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava, an official said.

Beko, a native of Orchha in neighbouring Narayanpur district, had joined the outlawed group's children's wing in 2005 and was mainly tasked with recruiting youth and spreading Maoist propaganda among villagers, SP Pallava said.

Madhya Pradesh: Acute water shortage in Bhopal's Nehru Nagar, locals, say, "Tankers should come at least 2-3 times in a day so that people get adequate water. A lot of fights erupt due to water shortage. When it rains, the tankers don't come."

First meeting of All CMs, Governors, LGs, Union Ministers & officials after PM Modi led govt took charge again, will be held on June 15 when the Governing Council of NITI Aayog meets. This will be the 5th meeting of NITI Aayog Governing Council, chaired by the PM.

Pune Sessions Court has rejected CBI's plea seeking 14 more days custody of two accused Sanjeev Punalekar and Vikram Bhave in Narendra Dabholkar murder case. Both the accused have been sent to judicial custody.

2 Army jawans lost their lives and 3 injured after the Army vehicle they were in, overturned in Nakarahola of Sonitpur district today. The injured jawans have been admitted to Army Base Hospital in Tezpur.

Empty streets seen during afternoon hours in Churu as the temperature touches 50 degree Celsius today. People take to consuming juice to beat the heat and water being sprinkled on roads.

Afghanistan skipper Gulbadin Naib won the toss and elected to bowl against Sri Lanka in their World Cup tie at the Sophia Gardens on Tuesday.

Afghanistan have made no changes to the team which played against Australia whereas Sri Lanka have made one change in their playing XI which featured against New Zealand. They have replaced Jeevan Mendis with Nuwan Pradeep.

After the toss, Gulbadin Naib said: We want to bowl first. The conditions are good for the bowlers. It's a good toss to win. We struggled in the middle, we put a good total, but that wasn't good enough against a good team like Australia. Sri Lanka is a champion side. We have made no changes.

HR Biswas, Director, Met Dept, Bhubaneswar: Monsoon likely to onset over Kerala during next 96 hours. After onset of Monsoon in Kerala, we will tell about Odisha advancement. In next 24 hrs, there will be thunderstorm activities in isolated places in North and South Odisha.

Celebrated chef and culinary revivalist Jaspal Inder Singh Kalra, popularly known as Jiggs Kalra, passed away early morning on Tuesday. He was 71.

Announcing his father's demise, the iconic chef's restaurateur son Zorawar Kalra said his father was his "mentor, inspiration and his biggest hero".

"With profound grief and sadness, I would like to announce the demise of my beloved father, Jiggs Kalra. He was my mentor, my inspiration and my biggest hero," said Zorawar.

Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy visited Sharada Peetham today to seek the blessings of Swami Swaroopanandendra Saraswati. He also offered prayers at Raja Shyamala Temple in Sharada Peetham.

Nirbhaya rape convicts execution plea: Delhi's Patiala House Court issues notice to Tihar jail Superintendent through DG Prisons with a direction to appear in person along with the status report of the convicts on July 19.

The court has sought response on the application of Nirbhaya's parents seeking to expedite the execution of the rape convicts. The court has asked jail authorities to apprise it with various legal remedies that all four convicts have availed and which are pending.

BJP leader Vijendra Gupta files a defamation case against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, for allegedly attempting to "frame him" in relation to an alleged assassination plot against Kejriwal. Matter fixed for hearing at Rouse Avenue Court on June 6.

Alleging that bank fraud cases rose during the NDA government's first term, the Congress on Tuesday said it hoped the BJP will take tougher steps and rectify the banking system.

In a series of tweets, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said that during the first tenure of the Modi government, bank frauds amounted to ₹1 lakh crore while people like Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi fled the country.

Surjewala added: "According to latest data by RBI, in 2018-19 alone, there has been a bank fraud of ₹71,500 crore."

Bombay HC adjourns hearing on Mehul Choksi applications till 10th June. He had filed 2 pleas in Bombay High Court, one against him declared a fugitive economic offender and 2nd to permit him to cross-examine the person on the basis of whose statements ED had declared him an offender.

Dhanbad: Mohammed S Sheikh, a para-teacher stopped by police from attempting self-immolation outside Dy Commissioner's office yesterday, says,"We don't receive our salaries on time. Govt is not concerned. It's better to die near DC Office than to die at home. So I took this step."

Mukesh Kumar, DSP Dhanbad: The para teacher was saying that he would self-immolate so we are here. He has been detained and appropriate action will be taken.

BSP chief Mayawati on Tuesday said her party will fight the upcoming assembly bypolls in Uttar Pradesh alone but can work with the SP in future if Akhilesh Yadav is able to "fulfil his duties".

Mayawati added that the Bahujan Samaj Party's relationship with the Samajwadi Party is never going to end and she will try to ensure that their relationship stays intact.

"On the other hand, political compulsions cannot be ignored completely and everyone knows that," she said.

"The bypolls can be announced any moment now. Under current conditions, in Uttar Pradesh, we have decided to fight the bypolls - which will happen on some seats - all alone," Mayawati told the media.

SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav on SP-BSP coalition: If the coalition has broken, I will reflect deeply on it and if the coalition isn't there in the by-elections, then Samajwadi Party will prepare for the elections. SP will also fight on all 11 seats alone.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday pledged to protect the rights of children.

In a message to mark the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, he tweeted: "My heart goes out to all children who have been victims of violence."

The children deserve to be happy, healthy and safe, he said. "Let us come together and pledge to protect the rights of all children in the world today," he added.

Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja on 1 person tested positive of Nipah virus: Out of 86 patients suspected, 2 were admitted. 2 nurses who treated the patient initially have sore throat and fever. Sample of second patient will be sent to NIV Alappuzha, Manipal Laboratory and NIV Pune.

The Assam government will not hold a hearing on the National Register of Citizen (NRC) issue on Wednesday due to the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, officials said on Tuesday.

The move comes after civil society organisations and individuals demanded the Assam government to keep the hearing for claims and objections regarding the NRC on hold from Tuesday to Thursday due to the festival.

On Monday night, NRC coordinator Pratik Hajela confirmed that no hearing will take place on Wednesday, but did not mention about Tuesday or Thursday.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Nipah virus: Today morning I have called a meeting at my residence with all the officers including health secretary. Yesterday itself we had dispatched a team of six officers to Kerala.

I have assured the Kerala Health Minister of all possible support from the Central govt. We are also in touch with wildlife department to seek their help for subjecting the bats for testing of the virus. I don't think there is any need to panic.

Special NIA court adjourned hearing in Malegaon blasts case as listed witness wasn't available for statement today. Exemption from appearance for Pragya Singh Thakur was filed for today which was allowed.

BSP Chief Mayawati said, “Ever since SP-BSP coalition took place, SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav and his wife Dimple Yadav have given me a lot of respect. I also forgot all our differences in the interest of the nation, and gave them respect. Our relation isn't only for politics, it'll continue forever.”

“However, we can't ignore political compulsions. In the results of Lok Sabha elections in UP, base vote of Samajwadi Party, the 'Yadav' community, didn't support the party. Even strong contenders of SP were defeated.”

“It's not a permanent break. If we feel in future that SP Chief succeeds in his political work, we'll again work together. But if he doesn't succeed, it'll be good for us to work separately. So we've decided to fight the by-elections alone.”

Delhi Police sends a reminder to Delhi Government for sanction to chargesheet Former Delhi minister Sandeep Kumar, who is accused of sexually assaulting a woman. The sanction is pending with Delhi Government since around 1 year.

Enforcement Directorate has filed an affidavit in Bombay High Court requesting it to reject appeal against FEOA (Fugitive Economic Offenders Act) special court order that declared Mehul Choksi a fugitive offender.

Indian Air Force in association with the Army and Indo Tibetan Border Police on Tuesday resumed the search operation for the AN-32 aircraft that has remained missing from the sky of Arunachal Pradesh.

"Search and rescue (SAR) operation resumes as weather clears up on Tuesday. Two MI 17s and one ALH already deployed with the ground party of Army and ITBP," Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh said, adding that more assets may be deployed if required.

The transporter aircraft with IAF personnel on board got airborne on Monday from Jorhat at 12.27 p.m. for Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground. The aircraft last contacted ground agencies at around 1 p.m. Thereafter, there was no contact with the aircraft.

Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja confirmed on Tuesday that a 23-year-old college student admitted to a hospital has been infected with the Nipah virus.

The results of blood samples of the student, which were tested at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, have confirmed Nipah, she said.

The result came this morning, she said. The student has been admitted to a private hospital.

Earlier, blood samples examined at two virology institutes--Manipal Institute of Virology and Kerala Institute of Virology and Infectious Diseases--had indicated Nipah.

One person from Kochi's Ernakulam was tested positive in the results that came from Pune Virology Institute.