MUDA Land Scam Highlights: Governor is acting illegally, governor is acting as BJP representative, says CM Siddaramaiah

Priceless paintings by Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh and others were safe after firefighters worked to douse a fire Saturday at Somerset House, a large central London arts venue. Heavy smoke and flames seen coming from the roof around noon had been knocked down by firefighters who poured water on it from buckets on ladder trucks. It appeared from video footage that the fire had left holes in the roof of the building located next to the River Thames. The cause of the fire was not yet known, the London Fire Brigade said.

The Appointments Ministry of Committee of the Cabinet approves the proposal of the Home Affairs for Inter Cadre Deputation of Mandip Singh Brar from Haryana Cadre to AGMUT Cadre (Chandigarh Segment), for three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier

Former Jammu and Kashmir Minister Choudhary Zulfikar Ali will join BJP tomorrow at BJP headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, says J&K BJP. Former Jammu and Kashmir Minister Choudhary Zulfikar Ali says, "Today I met with the Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding several issues in our area. We had a detailed discussion over the elections (upcoming Assembly elections in J&K) also. About joining BJP I will speak tomorrow..."

"I will rejoin Congress in a few days. Azad Sahab gave me a lot of respect, but perhaps people didn’t accept us in these elections (Lok Sabha elections 2024)…I want him (Ghulam Nabi Azad) too to return to Congress, I will be very happy," confirms Former Jammu and Kashmir minister Taj Mohiuddin to ANI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday that countries should put their ideas on the issue for the membership of the UN to make a choice and there should be text-based negotiations. Answering queries during a presser after the Third Voice of Global South Summit hosted by India, Jaishankar said there are many specific ideas for UN reforms and different groups of countries have their own ideas. "Is there growing sentiment for UN reforms, to me absolutely. I think there are many specific ideas, different groups of countries have their own ideas, so the exercise is to find a way of reconciling that to best possible and then subjecting it to a democratic choice. We are not going to get perfect unity among 190-odd countries in the world. Our view is to open it up and let everybody put forward their idea and then give the membership of the UN the ability to make that choice. We believe that there should be a negotiation, there should be text-based negotiation," he said.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has appointed Omair Khan as the Chairman of the Minority Department of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee and Ruhul Amin as the Chairman of the Minority Department of Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee

"A two-day orientation programme is being organised for all newly elected Odisha MLAs. The programme was attended by the Speaker, the CM, the Deputy CMs and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. The aim of this programme is to make the MLAs aware about the procedure of the Legislative Assembly," says Odisha Minister Mukesh Mahaling

On Karnataka Governor granting permission to prosecute him in the alleged MUDA scam, CM Siddaramaiah says,The Governor is acting illegally. The Governor's permission for prosecution against me is against the constitution. They are trying to overthrow the elected government... There are attempts to destabilize the government through the Governor and he is working as a puppet of Central government. This is happening against me and the state government because we work for the poor people. These attempts against me will not succeed. There is no record in the MUDA case, no investigation has been done so far. He said, The decision taken by the Governor in the MUDA case is illegal. The entire cabinet condemns (opposes) the Governor's decision. The Governor should work as the representative of the Constitution but the Governor is working as the representative of the Central Government. Governor is acting as BJP representative. Siddaramaiah also thanked DK Shivakumar and all ministers as well as Congress party for showing support to him. He said, We have called an urgent cabinet meeting today. I thank DK Shivakumar and all my ministers. Congress party also stands with me. Congress workers are also standing with me. Congress high command also stands with me. The leaders of the Congress High Command called me and said that we will stand with you.

Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje and BJP women workers stage a protest against the rape-murder incident at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje says, "This case is very sad. The Criminal Amendment Bill was passed in the parliament but many states did not implement it... At the time of Sandeshkhali incident, Mamata Banerjee should have fought against it but she supported the criminals. Because of this, people got courage to commit such incident in the college... Even in this case, Mamata Banerjee remained silent for 3-4 days... After the court's intervention, the case was given to the CBI. We all demand that Mamata Banerjee should resign and there should be justice in this case."

The BJP top leadership will hold a meeting with state presidents and general secretaries from across the country on Saturday in New Delhi, kickstarting the party’s membership drive, to be followed by election of its office-bearers from local- to state-level committees.  BJP MP Sambit Patra says, "A meeting was held regarding the membership campaign under the leadership of Home Minister Amit Shah and President JP Nadda. Discussion was held on how to take the membership campaign forward...The membership campaign will start on September 1. The target is to make more than 10 crore people members..."

People are giving (me) their love and they are filled with excitement. Many people told me that they were praying at home for my release and for Arvind Kejriwal. Hopefully he will also be released soon. God will listen to our prayers and truth will win,” says AAP leader Manish Sisodia during his ‘padyatra’ in Delhi.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will keep additional standby trains ready to cater the rush of passengers on Raksha Bandhan festival on Monday, a statement said. The DMRC will also deploy additional personnel at stations to cater to the extra rush of commuters by operating additional ticket counters, it said. In order to facilitate passengers on the festival of Raksha Bandhan on Monday, the DMRC will be ready with additional standby trains on its corridors for induction into services to cater the rush, if required, it said.

“We have just concluded the third Voice of the Global South Summit. It began with a leader’s session in the morning. All in all, 123 countries took part in the summit, including India. At the level of head of state and head of government, there were 21 countries. There were 118 Ministers, not counting the Foreign Ministers, and there were 34 Foreign Ministers. The main theme was ‘An Empowered Global South For A Sustainable Future’,” says External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at a press conference in New Delhi.

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini addresses a public rally in Hansi. He says, "I believe that your blessings will be fruitful in forming the BJP government for the third time...Those who are corrupt themselves are asking about us. Our double-engine government has changed the picture of Hansi in the last 10 years..."

Delhi News Live: Former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia holds a Padyatra in West Vinod Nagar

"We have strongly condemned the rape and murder... Mamata Banerjee, our leader and the CM, has done her best. One accused was arrested within 12 hours, and she had announced that the case will be handed over to the CBI, if necessary. Now, the case is (being probed) by CBI, but the Left and BJP are using this unfortunate incident to disturb West Bengal," says TMC leader Kunal Ghosh

BJP is openly insulting model code of conduct (MCC). Elections have been announced and MCC has been implemented in Haryana. However, despite that BJP government recently transferred 86 officials in the state. This is illegal. BJP is freaking out over their imminent loss, so they are employing all the tricks in the book, says AAP leader Anurag Dhanda

Speaking on BJP demanding CM Siddaramaiah's resignation over MUDA scam, Karnataka Minister G Parameshwara said, I don't think it is necessary at this point of time. We have already clarified that the CM need not to resign. We will take the route of legal proceedings, he added.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda reviewed the mpox status and readiness during a meeting in New Delhi today, in light of the World Health Organization's declaration of mpox as a public health emergency of international concern. The Union Health Ministry has stated that as of right now, there have been no documented instances of mpox in the nation. It was resolved to implement preventative steps to stop the disease from spreading and to manage its spread during the review meeting. The steps include preparing the testing labs, preparing health facilities for the detection, isolation, and management of any cases, and sensitizing the health units at all airports, seaports, and ground crossings.

On rumours of him joining BJP, Former Jharkhand CM and JMM leader Champai Soren says, "I don’t know what rumours are being spread. I don’t know what news is being run so I cannot tell whether it’s true or not, I don’t know anything about it. Hum jahan par hain vahi par hain"

Speaking on Lucknow High Court's order to issue fresh results after cancellation of recruitment of 69,000 teachers in UP, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav says, I hope that there will be no injustice done to the aspirants who are demanding reservation. They will get justice. The fight for reservation was long. The list of discrimination made by the government, we hope that those children will get justice. Those aspirants have struggled for a very long time. Probably no one has done such a big movement, such a long movement as those aspirants have done. They had to face a lot of trouble. We hope that the government will give them justice, will not do injustice to them and the government will also take care of this in future

On the administration of Ambience Mall receiving a bomb threat via email, ACP Vikas Kaushik says, "The administration of Ambience Mall received an email which says that a bomb has been planted in the mall. When we received the information, all the teams including the bomb detection and disposal squad, dog squad, SWAT team, etc. came to the spot. We started sanitising the mall. Till now, we haven't found anything suspicious thing in the mall. Our cyber teams are tracking the sender of the email. We got the information at 10 in the morning."

Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare JP Nadda reviews the Monkeypox situation and preparedness. Cautionary measures to be put in place to prevent and control the spread of the disease. No reported cases of Monkeypox in India as of now

On the complaints of sewer overflow from various parts of Delhi, Water Minister Atishi wrote to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar directing him to oversee and resolve any problem related to sewer overflow across Delhi and to take strict action against those officials whose negligence has caused this crisis.

Speaking for third Voice of Global South Summit, Nirmala Sitharaman, highlighted some of the challenges faced by global south in global governance

--A pressing challenge that hinders developing economies is inadequate access to development finance.

--The global south is disproportionately impacted by global uncertainties. Growth remains best antidote to many economic and social challenges.

--Critical that financing requests made to MDBs are met with speed and agility. MDBs need to engage with credit ratings agencies to better incentivise flow of private capital for development financing

--Need to better processes for debt relief and liquidity support for low and middle income nations

Speaking at a session for third Voice of Global South Summit, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that Global South wants to be heard on global governance. India remains committed to ensuring that global south takes a larger role in shaping global development governance, she added

Giving weather forecast, IMD scientist Soma Sen says, a low-pressure area has formed in the Bay of Bengal. Due to this, there is a possibility of heavy rain in Mizoram and Tripura. Tomorrow it will move towards the northwest, then there will be rain in Bengal and Jharkhand. There is a possibility of very heavy rain there tomorrow. Rain is likely to increase in the plains from the day after tomorrow. Briefing about Delhi monsoons, Sen said that rain will reduce in Delhi from today onwards. There is a possibility of light rain today and tomorrow, the day after tomorrow the rain is likely to end. After that light rain will start again, she added

Bihar bridge collapse Live: No casualty reported as a superstructure of Sultanganj-Aguwani Ghat bridge collapses

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweets, "Tomorrow, 18th August, I shall be in Chennai to attend Kalaignar Karunanidhi’s birth centenary commemorative coin release event. Also, I shall be attending the inaugural function of a newly constructed state-of-the-art Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) building in Chennai. Looking forward to it."

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar extended support to CM Siddaramaiah after Karnataka Governor granted permission to prosecute CM Siddaramaiah in the alleged MUDA scam. Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said, the entire party and the government stand with my chief minister. Shivakumar defended CM Siddaramaiah saying he has not done anything wrong. It is a politically motivated issue. So we are going to protest. We are going to court. We will take all legal remedies. Also, the entire state, our party workers will protest against the governor's stance. No illegal activity has been done, he added

On doctors' strike over Kolkata's Medical College and Hospital incident, Gujarat Minister Rushikesh Patel says, "The incident that happened in West Bengal is condemnable. The anger of the public is relevant. The doctors across the country are angered by the incident. In Gujarat, junior, senior and resident doctors have held protests over this incident. But, the emergency services and OPD services are open in all the government hospitals of Gujarat."

Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah denied he had resigned and stated he had done nothing wrong in doing so after the Governor approved his prosecution in relation to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment "scam" on Saturday. He called Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot's action "anti-constitutional and illegal." He will fight it out legally and it will be questioned in court.

Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha reported on the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge collapse where a portion of the bridge collapsed today. The Deputy CM said the bridge had first collapsed on April 30, 2022. IIT Roorkee undertook an investigation into it and it was found out that there were problems in its superstructure and foundation. We are monitoring the situation and those responsible will not be spared. If action would have been taken when it first occurred, this would not have happened. We are taking the matter very seriously and working towards preventing such incidents from taking place in the future, he added

Welcoming the announcement of assembly elections in the state, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini says, BJP is ready for the elections and we will form the government in Haryana for the third time. In the last 10 years, we have developed Haryana without any discrimination, he added. Taking a jibe at the opposition, Saini said, instead of lying in front of the public, the opposition should talk about their work. He also appealed to the people to participate in elections enthusiastically. Saini emphasized that Haryana Scheduled Caste Commission Report was accepted in the cabinet today. He said, there is a 20 per cent quota in government jobs for scheduled castes. The commission has recommended that out of which a 10 per cent quota should be given to the deprived scheduled castes. Due to the code of conduct, this will be implemented after the elections.

BJP national president JP Nadda arrived at the party headquarters in Delhi for a meeting of party’s national office bearers and state presidents.

Angry mob vandalised Shastri Nagar Police station in Jaipur after a 36-year-old man was beaten to death by an e-rickshaw driver and two others following an argument on Friday night. Locals assembled outside Shastri Nagar police station demanding arrest of the accused.

Reacting to the Karnataka Governor granting permission to prosecute him in the alleged MUDA scam, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asserted, "The entire Cabinet, party high command, all MLAs, MLCs, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha MPs are with me." He emphasized the broad support he has received from his party and legislative colleagues in facing the charges.

BJP MP Sambit Patra criticized the Karnataka government after Governor Thawarchand Gehlot granted permission to prosecute CM Siddaramaiah in the alleged MUDA scam. Patra accused the INDI alliance of disrespecting the Constitution, stating, "The Karnataka Governor has granted permission to prosecute CM Siddaramaiah... The MUDA land scam, exposed recently, involves the alleged allotment of 14 prime lands in Mysuru to Siddaramaiah's wife. The corruption is said to amount to Rs 4,000 crores." Patra emphasized that the Governor's decision came after being unconvinced by the government's explanations.

In response to the Karnataka Governor granting permission to prosecute CM Siddaramaiah in the alleged MUDA scam, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar declared strong support for Siddaramaiah, stating, "The party, the high command, and the entire state and Cabinet stand with him. We will fight it legally and politically... This notice and sanction are against the law." Shivakumar termed the move a "clear conspiracy" against Siddaramaiah, who is serving his second term as Chief Minister, and vowed to challenge it on all fronts.

The district administration in Gurugram received a bomb threat via email targeting all local malls at around 10 a.m. Following the alert, search operations were immediately initiated. Mohit Sharma, Chief of the Civil Defence Team in Gurugram, confirmed that police, dog squads, and civil defence teams are actively engaged in ensuring the safety of the premises.

First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF, Gita Gopinath, met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi, commending India's fiscal consolidation efforts and the vibrancy of its economy. Gopinath also highlighted the strength of India's relationship with the IMF, noting its importance on a global scale. Sitharaman expressed India’s deep appreciation for its ongoing engagement with the IMF and emphasized the government's openness to further collaboration in the future.

In response to the nationwide strike called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College, doctors at the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi staged a protest march on Saturday. The demonstration, held within the AIIMS campus, is part of broader protests across the country, highlighting the medical community's outrage and demanding justice for the victim.

A Karnataka Congress MLA has accused the Raj Bhavan of "misusing powers" following the Karnataka Governor's decision to grant permission to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with the alleged MUDRA scam. The MLA criticized the move, suggesting it was politically motivated and an overreach of authority by the Governor's office. The decision has sparked controversy, intensifying the ongoing political tensions in the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the need for equitable global governance at the Voice of Global South Summit, stating, “Our concerns can be addressed only by just and inclusive global governance... We will take steps to bridge the gap between Global North and South. The Summit of the Future at the UN can prove to be a game changer in this regard.” Modi highlighted the importance of international cooperation in addressing the disparities between the Global North and South, and the potential of upcoming global initiatives to drive meaningful change.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has appointed Congress leader KC Venugopal as the Chairperson of the Committee on Public Accounts for the 2024-25 term. This key position will see Venugopal overseeing the committee responsible for auditing the revenue and expenditure of the government, ensuring financial accountability in public administration.

Junior doctors and students from SMS Medical College and Hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan, held a protest against the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The demonstration reflects widespread outrage and calls for justice within the medical community. The protesters demanded improved safety measures and accountability in response to the tragic incident.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Army have successfully carried out a groundbreaking para-drop operation of the Aarogya Maitri Health Cube at a high-altitude area near 15,000 feet. This operation marks the first precise para-drop of its kind and is part of Project BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri). The IAF employed its advanced C-130J Super Hercules aircraft to airlift and accurately para-drop the health cube, showcasing the capabilities of indigenously developed technology in challenging environments.

Following the derailment of the Sabarmati Express near Kanpur, Police Commissioner Kumar stated, “Teams have reached the spot where the Sabarmati Express derailed. No passenger has been injured...A forensic team will be arriving at the spot and an investigation is underway.” The authorities are actively examining the incident, and efforts are focused on determining the cause and ensuring the safety of all involved.

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat arrived at Delhi's IGI Airport from Paris on August 17, 2024, following her Olympic stint. Overwhelmed by the warm reception, Phogat expressed her gratitude, saying, “Thank you for your support.” The athlete was greeted by Congress MP Deepender Hooda and other supporters. The emotional arrival marked a significant moment for Phogat, who received a rousing welcome from fans and well-wishers at the airport.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India’s role in shaping the G20 agenda during its presidency. He stated, “Under our leadership of G20, India made the agenda based on expectations, aspirations, priorities of the Global South.” Modi added, “India took forward G20 in a development-oriented approach,” emphasizing the country’s commitment to addressing global development issues through inclusive and forward-thinking policies.

At the Voice of Global South Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the pressing challenges of the 21st century, noting the pervasive uncertainty and multifaceted threats facing the world. Modi remarked, “We are meeting at a time when the world is living in uncertainty. War-like situations have raised challenges in our developmental journey. We are already facing the challenges of climate change, but we are also worried about health, food, and energy security. Terrorism, extremism, and separatism pose a serious threat to our society. Technology divide and economic and social challenges related to technology are also coming forward. Global Governance and Financial Institutions built in the last decade have proven to be incapable of fighting the challenges faced in this century.” He emphasized the need for effective global governance and financial institutions to address these evolving issues.

In his opening remarks at the Voice of Global South Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored India’s commitment to reimagining the G20’s role during its 2022 presidency. He stated, “When India took over the G20 presidency in 2022, we pledged that we would give G20 a new image. Voice of Global Summit became a platform where we widely discussed development issues and priorities. Based on the aspirations, hopes, and priorities of the Global South, India prepared its G20 agenda. G20 was conducted with an inclusive and development-oriented approach. The biggest example was the historic moment when the African Union got permanent membership in the G20.” Modi highlighted that this inclusive approach marked a significant shift in how the G20 addresses global development issues.

In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, resident doctors held a protest at the Indian Medical Association (IMA) office in response to the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The demonstration is part of a nationwide outcry by the medical community demanding justice and improved safety measures for healthcare professionals. The protest reflects growing concerns over the security and treatment of doctors in medical institutions across the country.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) inquiry committee has identified significant lapses in the security, infrastructure, and investigation related to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. The committee's findings highlight deficiencies in the safety measures at the medical college, inadequate infrastructure for handling such incidents, and shortcomings in the investigative process. These revelations come amid widespread protests and a 24-hour strike by doctors across India, demanding justice and improved safety for healthcare professionals.

Doctors across India began a 24-hour shutdown of non-emergency services on Saturday in response to the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. The strike, which started at 6 a.m., involves the suspension of elective procedures and outpatient consultations, while casualty departments will remain operational to handle emergencies.

The protests follow the tragic incident involving a 31-year-old doctor who was raped and murdered at the medical college where she worked. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has organized nationwide protests and demanded a professional investigation into the crime, with specific timelines for resolution. The IMA held a press conference on Friday outlining these demands and calling for enhanced safety measures for healthcare professionals.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has initiated a 24-hour nationwide strike on Saturday, August 17, in response to the brutal rape and murder of a second-year trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. The strike, which began at 6 a.m. and will end at 6 a.m. Sunday, involves all IMA members, with only emergency and casualty services remaining operational.

IMA General Secretary Anil Kumar J Nayak stressed the severity of the situation, highlighting ongoing concerns about the safety of healthcare professionals. He noted recent discussions with Union Health Minister JP Nadda about laws to curb attacks on doctors and emphasized the need for adequate security measures. The tragic incident on August 9, where the postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered while on duty, has ignited widespread outrage within the medical community, leading to this nationwide protest.

The Sabarmati Express, traveling from Varanasi to Ahmedabad, derailed near Kanpur early this morning after its engine struck an object placed on the track. The incident occurred at 2:35 am, with sharp hit marks observed on the engine. No injuries to passengers or staff were reported. The Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Uttar Pradesh police are investigating the matter, and evidence has been secured. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that arrangements were made for passengers to continue their journey to Ahmedabad.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert due to heavy rainfall in Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Meanwhile, light drizzles are expected in Delhi and Mumbai. The alert signals the need for preparedness in affected regions, urging residents to take necessary precautions as weather conditions could intensify.

In response to communal tensions following a stabbing incident at a government school in Udaipur, the Rajasthan government has enforced a 24-hour internet shutdown in the city starting from 10 PM yesterday. The district administration also imposed Section 144 and deployed security forces to maintain order. The incident involved a Class 10 student allegedly stabbing another boy, leading to unrest and protests, including stone pelting and arson. Authorities have urged the public to ignore rumors and assured that the situation is under control.

In the early hours of Saturday, 22 coaches of the Sabarmati Express derailed near Govindpuri Station in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The train was en route from Varanasi to Ahmedabad. Initial reports indicate minor injuries among passengers. Emergency services are on-site, and rescue efforts are ongoing. The railways have dispatched buses to transport passengers to a nearby station, where a special train will be arranged.

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