India

Bhubaneswar, Dec 11 (PTI) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik accused Tuesday the BJP-led central government of "ignoring" interests of farmers and said the assembly elections in five states show mood of the nation.

He congratulated the Congress, the TRS and MNF for their performance in the polls.

"This (election results) shows the mood of the nation," Patnaik told reporters here.

New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) The Congress was leading in the BJP-ruled states of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh and was locked in a close fight in Madhya Pradesh while the TRS forged ahead in Telangana and the MNF in Mizoram, trends indicated on Tuesday as votes for elections in the five states were counted

KANPUR: Was it a sheer slackness or half-hearted attitude in the sluggish running of the solid waste management plant that displeased the team members of the Clean India Mission who visited the plant site at Panki Bhav Singh here on Monday?

KANPUR: It was the state government cabinet minister’s arrival at the office of the Uttar Pradesh Small Industries Corporation Ltd at Fazalganj here on Monday morning. This department makes available the manpower in the government offices.

Panaji, Dec 10 (PTI) A 24-year-old man arrested in a gang-rape case in Goa escaped from police custody here Monday when he was brought to a hospital for medical treatment, police said.

Ishwar Makwana, who hails from Indore in Madhya Pradesh, was arrested by the Goa Police along with two other men from MP in May this year for allegedly raping a 20-year-old woman at a beach in South Goa district.

He was lodged at the Central Jail at Colvale in North Goa district since then.

Balrampur (UP), Dec 10 (PTI) A seven-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her neighbour in a village in Utraula area here, the police said Monday.

According to the FIR lodged by the girl's family, she was playing outside her home when 33-year-old Paras took her to a secluded place and raped her.

The victim is recuperating in a hospital and her condition is stable, the police said.

The accused has been arrested and the matter is being probed, they added.

New Delhi, Dec 10 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Monday ordered that status quo be maintained with regard to a mosque situated in the premises of the Allahabad High Court, which had last year directed that the structure be removed.

A bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta also issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh government, Registrar General of the Allahabad High Court and others seeking their responses on a plea filed by the Waqf Board.

Mohali (Pb), Dec 10 (PTI) Former prime minister Manmohan Singh alleged Monday the BJP-led central government was taking the country towards a "wrong path" and the nation's freedom could be under threat due to its actions.

He said the Congress had played an important role in strengthening the country's freedom, but "during the last four and a half years, the BJP laid emphasis on things which could adversely affect India's history".

"This can again endanger country's freedom," he said.

New Delhi, Dec 10 (PTI) BJP MP Subramanian Swamy Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to dissuade RBI Governor Urjit Patel from leaving, saying his resignation would be wrong for the government, economy and the institution at this time.

The prime minister has to persuade Patel that he cannot leave in larger public interest, he said.

Mumbai, Dec 10 (PTI) Reserve Bank Governor Urjit Patel unexpectedly resigned Monday, four days ahead of a crucial meeting of the board of the central bank that could have discussed issues of simmering differences with the government.

Patel, who is the first governor since 1990 to step down before his term ends, in a brief statement cited "personal reasons" for the decision that was effective immediately.

The government seems to have accepted his resignation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying Patel will be missed "immensely".