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Monsoon covers entire country, way ahead of schedule</br><br> Moving at a brisk pace, the Southwest Monsoon today covered the entire length and breadth of the country, way ahead of schedule in a year in which there is a deficit rainfall forecast for India. "The Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of West Rajasthan. Thus, it has covered the entire country today, June 26, 2015," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its bulletin. The normal date for the monsoon to cover entire India is July 15. "The Southwest Monsoon has covered the entire country. Even the last post of West Rajasthan has been covered entirely. "In fact, monsoon onset over the region usually happens around July 15, but some good rains in the last 24 hours has led to the declaration of monsoon over West Rajasthan," added Skymet, a private forecasting agency. The monsoon made a late entry this year as it hit the Kerala coast on June 5 — a delay of four days from its normal onset date. However, it made speedy progress and has covered the entire country in some 21 days. Incidentally, IMD has predicted "deficient" rainfall this year. So far, from June 1 onwards, the country has received 28 per cent more rain than its normal limit. (AP)
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BJP will never impose Emergency: BJP's Harsh Vardhan</br><br> Taking a dig at Congress which imposed Emergency, Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Harsh Vardhan said BJP-led NDA would never do so and it could be expected from a party dominated by 'dynastic politics'. "BJP will never impose emergency on the country…it will never be done," he said, adding the party takes pride on its vibrant system of inner-democracy. Though there has been criticism against the Modi-led BJP regime at the Centre by rival parties, such voices were not muffled, he said, addressing a meet organised by his party here. Taking a dig at arch rival Congress, he said the Emergency may be expected from that party as it was dominated by dynastic politics led by the Gandhi Nehru family, where party workers "sing paeans" to the leadership. "Emergency may be expected from the Congress party, but not from the BJP," he said. (PTI)
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'Priyanka Gandhi has not had a meeting with Lalit Modi' </br><br> Priyanka Gandhi's office today said she has "not had a meeting, even socially" with former IPL chief Lalit Modi whose claim that he had "run into" her and her husband Robert Vadra in London triggered a political row. "Priyanka ji has not had a meeting with Mr Lalit Modi, not even socially," her office said. The clarification came in the midst of a fresh war of words between BJP and Congress over Lalit Modi's tweets in the escalating row over the help rendered to the tainted former IPL boss by two leaders of the saffron party. BJP alleged links between Lalit Modi and the Gandhi family while the Congress said it was a case of 'chhota Modi' helping 'bada Modi' (Narendra Modi) with lies". Lalit Modi had last night tweeted, "Happy to meet the Gandhi family…in London. I had run into Robert and Priyanka separately in a restaurant". BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said,"Today's big revelation is the fact that Lalit Modi had met the Gandhi family. Only yesterday he met Priyanka Gandhi and Robert Vadra. Why have they met him? Rejecting the allegation, Congress chief spokesperson Randip Surjewala said, "Looking into each other is neither improper nor a crime by any strength of imagination. There was no social interaction of any nature between Lalit Modi and Robert Vadra or Priyanka Gandhi." (Reuters)
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Devendra Fadnavis dares Oppn to come out with proof on Pankaja Munde Rs 200 cr alleged 'scam'</br><br> Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said he was ready to order a probe into corruption charges against state minister Pankaja Munde in awarding contracts if the opposition furnishes evidence. "If the Opposition (Congress and NCP) comes out with evidence that norms have been flouted we are ready to conduct an inquiry into the purchases," Fadnavis said. Pankaja, daughter of BJP veteran late Gopinath Munde, who is in charge of Women and Child Welfare Department, has come under a cloud with the Congress accusing her department of awarding contracts for purchase of a host of items totalling Rs 206 crore for institutions under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) without inviting tenders. The Opposition parties have termed it as the first "major scam" to hit the BJP-led Government after it came to power eight months back and approached the state Anti Corruption Bureau for probe. Meanwhile,Congress leader Sachin Sawant, who has filed a complaint with the ACB, said he had been getting "threatening calls" after he moved the anti-graft body. (PTI)
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Orphan boy in Kashmir unable to pay IIT counselling fee </br><br> After cracking the prestigious IIT with active support from Army under 'Sadhbhavana project' this month, a militancy-victim from north Kashmir might be forced to forgo his seat as he is unable to pay the counselling fee of Rs 10,000. Zahid Ahmad Qureshi (21), an orphan whose father was shot dead by militants when he was just two months old, was among three students of 'Kashmir Super-30' who have cleared JEE-Advanced for admission into the prestigious IITs in the recently declared results. The 'Super-30' programme launched by the Indian Army only last year is run by Srinagar-based Chinar Corps in collaboration with the NGO 'Centre for corporate Social responsibility and leadership'. "I am not in a position to pay my counselling fee. No body is coming forward to help me as a result of which I might not be in a position to pursue the course and forced to forgo my seat," Qureshi, a resident of remote Glaiend Kalan village of Kupwara said. Qureshi was part of the second batch of 'Super-30' and had secured 89th rank. (PTI)
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Arvind Kejriwal sends secret note to Rajnath Singh </br><br> Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal has sent a "secret note" to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, mentioning allegations against Lt Governor- appointed Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) chief M K Meena of involvement in hawala and curtain purchase scam. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia informed the Delhi Assembly about the note while speaking on the functioning of the elite probe agency. The AAP government and the LG have been engaged in a bitter fight over administrative control of the ACB. "Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has sent a secret note to Union Home Minister and mentioned serious allegations – hawala and sofa-parda scam against him (Meena). I hope he (Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will take cognisance of this matter and will take strict action accordingly," Sisodia said. Lt Governor Najeeb Jung earlier this month had appointed Meena, a joint commissioner of Delhi Police as the head of the ACB superseding Kejriwal's hand-picked chief SS Yadav which was strongly denounced by the AAP government. The AAP has been maintaining that Meena's appointment is illegal and that for it Yadav is the ACB chief. Yesterday, Yadav had accused Meena of threatening and pressuring him and trying to hamper functioning of the anti-graft body. (PTI)
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BJP MLA Raj Purohit embarrasses party in sting video</br><br> A sting operation video, purportedly showing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Mumbai Raj Purohit saying that there is no collective leadership in the party, left the BJP embarrassed but the legislator dismissed it by saying the voice in it is not his. Terming the video as "forged", Purohit said in a statement, "the voice in it is not mine. The matter should be investigated forensically. I hold both Modi and Amit Shah in high esteem." Purohit had allegedly said in the sting video that only two people take decisions in the BJP and others only implement it. "There is no collective leadership in the BJP. Only two people take decisions and others merely implement it. Collective leadership is a farce," Purohit purportedly said in the video. Meanwhile, suspected Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers attacked Purohit's office in Kalbadevi area in South Mumbai today, as the MLA was also seen allegedly ridiculing Raj Thackeray in the video. "Raj Thackeray is bogus. He is not a leader. He is just a caste leader," the video shows Purohit as saying. “Injustice is being done to me. I am one of the senior most people in the BJP. I should have been a minister, next to Eknath Khadse," the MLA said. Purohit also alleged in the video that Mumbai BJP MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha had gotten hold of late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan's "huge money", which Lodha had ulitised for elections. "Lodha's writ runs in the RSS. He has lots of money. He manages everyone," Purohit said. Criticising the Modi government's decision, Purohit said "banias" (traders) who are BJP supporters are unhappy about Permanent Account Number (PAN) being made mandatory for gold purchases of over Rs 1 lakh. (PTI)
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Police reviews security following threat letter to Anna Hazare </br><br> Ahmednagar superintendent of police Saurabh Tripathi today met Anna Hazare at Ralegan Siddhi and reviewed the security following a threat letter received by the social activist. Hazare had received a letter yesterday which warned him against opposing the land acquisition bill, according to his aides. Tripathi reviewed the security arrangements at Yadav Baba temple in the village (where Hazare lives) and the surrounding area.
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AAP MLAs demand removal of LG-appointed ACB chief Meena </br><br> Aam Aadmi Party MLAs demanded removal of LG-appointee M K Meena from the post of Anti-Corruption Branch chief during the Budget Session of Assembly today. AAP MLA from Tilak Nagar Jarnail Singh raised the issue of tussle between the two ACB chiefs — AAP government-nominated S S Yadav and LG-appointee Meena. "Honest officer S S Yadav is being tortured and harassed because he is working to stop corruption. Attempts have been made to weaken ACB to check corruption," Singh said. MLAs alleged that Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has appointed Meena to restrict ACB from investigation against him. "The central government through LG is trying to curb the power of Delhi government. Why did the LG felt the need of creating a new post? There is something wrong in the case. I feel ACB was trying to investigate a scam case in which LG's role is found so he sent his man as ACB's chief," said Rohtas Nagar MLA Sarita Singh. Demanding suspension of Meena from ACB, another AAP MLA Alka Lamba said, "Meena has ordered that no FIR should be registered without his consent. ACB Chief's intention is not to keep a check on corruption but on corruption case files which involves name of LG and ex-chief secretary." "He is asking those file in which Delhi Police officers are named. I request this House to suspend him so that no further attempts are made to weaken ACB," Lamba said. However, opposition BJP said that AAP is trying to politicise the issue. (PTI)
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Vasundhara Raje needs to quit, says Aruna Roy</br><br> Demanding a probe into the Lalit Modi controversy, noted social activist Aruna Roy today said the Rajasthan Chief Minister should quit to ensure a fair investigation. Documents signed by Chief Minister Raje for the former IPL boss was "anti-Constitution" hence there should be a probe, Roy said, adding that Raje should quit the post to pave way for fair investigation. Roy was attending an event to mark the Emergency. It is quite evident that both Raje and her son Dushyant Singh were involved in alleged corruption and signing of documents in favour of Lalit Modi, she said. A competent Lokpal should be there to probe cases, if any, against the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister, she said. "We are again living in the undeclared Emergency in the country," she claimed. At the meet, a resolution was also adopted demanding Raje's resignation. (PTI)
Meet Alexandr Wang: The 28-year-old hired for 14 billion US dollar by Mark Zukerberg to lead Meta superintelligence labs
