Srinagar, Aug 11 (IANS) The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has submitted to the J&K High Court that the Lt Governor (L-G) is empowered to nominate five members to the Legislative Assembly. The MHA said that these nominations were necessary for inclusive and adequate representation of all communities.The MHA, in its affidavit to the high court, said the L-G’s powers were discretionary and can be exercised without the aid and advice of the council of ministers, asserting that the L-G’s office …

Chennai, Aug 11 (IANS) In yet another case of man-animal conflict due to encroachments by humans and resultant habitat loss for wildlife, a 60-year-old plantation worker from Kerala was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Gudalur, Tamil Nadu, on Monday triggering protests from local residents over alleged inaction by the Forest Department.The deceased, identified as Mani, a native of Oveli New Hope in Gudalur was employed at a private estate in the same area.The incident occurred when he was…

Jaipur, Aug 11 (IANS) A 20-year-old B.Sc. Agriculture first-year student allegedly committed suicide in Kota on Sunday, just hours after returning from his village, where he had celebrated Raksha Bandhan.The deceased, identified as Abhishek Meena, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in his rented room in the Rangbari area of Kota, police said on Monday.According to his cousin, Satish Meena, Abhishek hailed from Rampuriya Bhagatan village in Mangrol, Baran district. He had been studying in Kot…

Bhopal, Aug 11 (IANS) Raising apprehension over the number of missing children and women from Madhya Pradesh, veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath, on Monday, demanded the state government to form a special task force of police to trace the missing persons. Kamal Nath (76), who is among the senior-most members in the Assembly, citing a media report said that more than 58,0000 children have gone missing in past four years from the state, which is alarming and concerning.Th…

Gangtok, Aug 11 (IANS) Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Monday delivered a sharp rebuttal to recent criticism from the opposition Citizen Action Party (CAP), asserting that his government is fully capable of governing without unsolicited guidance. Addressing a public gathering, Tamang refrained from naming CAP directly, but his remarks left little doubt about the target.“We know how to run the state. We do not require instructions from those sitting in the opposition,” he said, ami…

New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) India on Monday slammed the irresponsible remarks made by Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir during his recent visit to the United States, emphasising that “nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan’s stock-in-trade”. During his US visit over the weekend, Munir has warned that Pakistan will never allow India to choke the Indus River and will defend its water rights at all costs even if the forces will have to destroy any dam that India sought to…

Aizawl, Aug 11 (IANS) The Mizoram government has started the recruitment process to form a Mizo Territorial Army (MTA) battalion to deal with drug trafficking and other law and order-related issues, officials said on Monday. A Mizoram Home Department official said that 70 male candidates would be recruited for the first batch, and subsequently, recruitment of other batches would be done. Successful candidates would undergo nine months of rigorous training at the Assam Regimental Centre in Shillo…

Gandhinagar, Aug 11 (IANS) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel offered prayers at the historically significant Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple in Vadnagar, North Gujarat, on Monday. With devotion, he prayed for the nation’s and state’s continued development, progress, and for the health, prosperity, and peace of all citizens.The Hatkeshwar Temple has been included in the Swadesh Darshan Yojana and the Heritage Circuit Project. Under the temple complex development plan, the first phase — worth …

Patna, Aug 11 (IANS) Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav has launched a fresh attack on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing him of copying his ideas and proposals on development schemes.LoP Yadav alleged that CM Nitish Kumar is announcing the very plans that he had proposed earlier, but lacks the vision to implement them effectively.In a video released early on Monday morning, Tejashwi said, “A thief may steal the idea, but from where will he bring the vision? El…

New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) As India positions itself to bid for the 2036 Olympic Games, the Lok Sabha on Monday passed two landmark legislations – the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025 and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025 – amid scenes of intense disruption by opposition members. Both Bills were adopted through a voice vote, with the government pushing ahead despite the din in the House. Sandhya Rai, who chaired the session, considered the twin legislations, moved jointly by Uni…