India

Dharamsala, Nov 23 (PTI) The BJP on Tuesday suffered a setback in Himachal Pradesh after its state unit vice-president Kripal Parmar resigned from his post.

He posted his resignation letter addressed to state party president Suresh Kashyap on Facebook.

"I, Kripal Parmar, vice-president, Himachal BJP, am sending my resignation from the party post. Kindly accept it. I will explain the reason in separate letters," the letter stated.

New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI) The CBI on Tuesday arrested an enforcement officer of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation in a case of alleged bribery of Rs one lakh, officials said.

The action came on a complaint that Anil Kumar, the enforcement officer posted at Jagadhari in Haryana, had opened an inquiry against the complainant under the Code of Civil Procedure.

The complainant alleged the inquiry was opened even though all dues for the period of November 2018 to July 2019 relating to the provident fund of the employees of his firm were deposited.

Muzaffarnagar, Nov 24 (PTI) Twenty-six years after a case was registered against a man under the Arms Act, a court here has acquitted him.

Chief Judicial Magistrate, Manoj Kumar Jatave, on Tuesday acquitted Salahuddin, saying the prosecution has failed to prove its case and provide any witness.

According to the prosecution, four cartridges were recovered from the possession of Salahuddin in 1995 and a case was lodged against him under the Arms Act.

A charge sheet was later filed in the court against the accused.

New Delhi, Nov 24 (PTI) The Centre has approved the construction of 3.61 lakh houses in 17 states and union territories under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), taking the total number of houses sanctioned under the scheme to 1.14 crore, a statement said on Wednesday.

The approval was given by the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) chaired by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra on Tuesday.

New Delhi, Nov 24 (PTI) The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a bill to repeal the three farm laws, which triggered protests at Delhi borders by thousands of farmers.

This was announced by I&B Minister Anurag Thakur after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

New Delhi, Nov 24 (PTI) The Union Cabinet on Wednesday decided to extend till March the free foodgrains supply under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) to provide relief to ration cardholders.

The 5 kg foodgrain per person per month is being provided free of cost to more than 80 crore beneficiaries under the PMGKAY.

The scheme was initially launched for three months from April 2020 to provide relief to poor people amid the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the nationwide lockdown. It has been extended several times since then.

Kanpur: The President of India, His Excellency, Ram Nath Kovind arrives here on a two-day visit today.

He was welcomed by Governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

He will grace and address the birth centenary celebrations of Chaudhary Harmohan Singh Yadav today.

While the President will grace and address the centenary celebrations of Harcourt Butler Technical University on Nov 25.

New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI) A Delhi court has framed charges of arson and rioting against a father-son duo for allegedly damaging and setting a Mosque on fire, vandalism, and stone-pelting during the February 2020 riots.

Mithhan Singh and his son Jony Kumar are accused of allegedly being part of a violent mob that raised slogans Jai Shree Ram and damaged the mosque in Delhi's Khajuri Khas area on February 25, 2020, as per the complainant.

Jammu, Nov 22 (PTI) The Jammu and Kashmir unit of CPI(M) on Monday asked the civil society of Ramban and adjoining areas to come forward and demand the return of the body of Amir Magray -- the third person killed in the Hyderpora encounter last week -- and whose kin claim he was innocent.

The Left party has been pressing for a judicial probe into the controversial encounter in Srinagar and return of the body of Magray, a resident of Gool area of Ramban, who was among four persons killed in the incident on November 15.

Ballia (UP), Nov 23 (PTI) A 13-year-old girl was allegedly raped by two men in a village here, police said on Tuesday.

Both the accused have been arrested, police said.

SHO, Gadwar police station, Durgeshwar Mishra, said the minor had gone out to relieve herself on Monday evening when the two accused hailing from a neighbouring village caught hold of her and allegedly raped her.

On the complaint of the father of the victim, an FIR has been lodged against the accused, the SHO said.