Hyderabad: 30-minute delay in Metro services on Uppal-Raigurg route leaves passengers stranded in peak hours

A metro rail user U Jagadish complained that there was no update from the authorities despite a delay that lasted for nearly 30 minutes.

Published Date – 27 March 2024, 03:49 PM


Hyderabad: 30-minute delay in Metro services on Uppal-Raigurg route leaves passengers stranded in peak hours

Representational Image

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metro Rail services at the busy Uppal-Raidurg section were delayed for nearly 30 minutes, during the peak traffic hour from 10.40 am to 11.10 am on Wednesday. The metro coaches came to a grinding halt and did not proceed from the Nagole station for 30-minutes, even as passengers complained and took to social media platforms to post about the developments.

A metro rail user U Jagadish complained that there was no update from the authorities despite a delay that lasted for nearly 30 minutes. “Hyderabad metro coach along the Nagole-Raidurg did not move at all for the past thirty minutes. There is no announcement or acknowledgement about the delay on the public address system,” he said.


The delay of metro-rail along with Uppal-Raidurg section had a domino effect on passengers who were waiting for the metro rail at the central Ameerpet metro station to travel to Hitec city and Kukatpally.

“Trains at Ameerpet were late today, which led to huge crowd at the station,” a metro traveler tweeted on X (formerly Twitter)”.

The Hyderabad metro receives a lot of traffic between the peak hours of 8 am and 11 am and from 6 pm and 8 pm on a daily basis along the Nagole-Ameerpet-Hitec city section.

Gaza protesters interrupt 'genocide Joe' as rage rises over US Israel support

Pro-Palestinian protesters have disrupted president Joe Biden’s campaign speech in North Carolina by chanting slogans and protesting against his support for the crimes of the Zionist regime.

While speaking in Raleigh about the Affordable Care Act, Biden was met with protesters as they began shouting him down roughly five minutes into his speech.

Biden was speaking at a healthcare-focused campaign event where he began pledging his commitment to the Obama-era law that provides health care for Americans, which led to the eruption of demonstrations.

“What about health care in Gaza?” protesters shouted.

“Hospitals are being bombed,” another demonstrator shouted.

Another accused Biden of being “complicit in genocide” while others shouted now-familiar refrains demanding a cease-fire in the coastal enclave.

The protests come amidst an escalating diplomatic dispute between Washington and Tel Aviv following the US’s decision to abstain from a UN security council resolution vote on Monday, demanding an immediate cease-fire for the month of Ramadan.

Biden has increasingly faced pressure from many of his colleagues to respond more forcefully to the humanitarian needs in Gaza and political pressure on the Israeli government to allow more aid to enter the Gaza Strip has increased, but has still not requested to stop the sale of American weapons to this regime.

In January, Biden’s speech on abortion was disrupted nearly 12 times by pro-Palestinian protesters, and in the wake of the incident, his team tried to prevent this by downsizing events and keeping the exact locations of his speeches hidden.

The International Court of Justice has accused Israel of committing genocide and has recently issued an interim ruling.

This ruling mandates Tel Aviv to cease all genocidal acts and ensure the provision of humanitarian aid to the civilians residing in Gaza.

Since the October 7 operation “Al-Aqsa Storm” by Hamas fighters against the Zionist regime and the subsequent intensification of the blockade along with operations from the air, sea and land by this regime against Gaza, Joe Biden has repeatedly and successively faced the protesters because of his support of the apartheid regime.

According to the UN, the ongoing Israeli genocide has resulted in the internal displacement of 85% of Gaza’s population, who are now facing severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine. Additionally, the UN reports that 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been either damaged or completely destroyed.

Over 32,400 Palestinians have lost their lives in the Palestinian territory, with an additional 74,800 individuals sustaining injuries amidst widespread devastation and scarcity of essential resources.

ED issues third summons to Mahua Moitra in FEMA violation case

Moitra, who was expelled from Lok Sabha last year in December, has been asked to appear before the ED on Thursday at the ED Headquarters in Delhi, according to sources.

Published Date – 27 March 2024, 03:25 PM


ED issues third summons to Mahua Moitra in FEMA violation case


New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a third summons to Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra for questioning in connection with a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violation case, a source said on Wednesday.

Moitra, who was expelled from Lok Sabha last year in December, has been asked to appear before the ED on Thursday at the ED Headquarters in Delhi, according to sources.


The summons comes after she failed to comply with two earlier summons, missing scheduled appearances on March 11 and February 19.

ED sources said that Moitra has been asked to furnish certain documents pertinent to foreign investments linked to the ongoing investigation.

Moitra had been embroiled in a controversy over allegations of receiving cash in exchange for putting up queries in the Parliament on behalf of businessman Darshan Hiranandani.

Video: Rohit Recreates 'Flying Kiss' That Led To Hefty Fine For KKR Star

Video: Rohit Sharma Recreates Flying Kiss That Resulted In Hefty Fine For KKR Star

Rohit Sharma gives Mayank Agarwal a flying kiss© Twitter

Kolkata Knight Riders fast bowler Harshit Rana recently grabbed the headlines as he gave a cheeky send-off to Sunrisers Hyderabad batter Mayank Agarwal after dismissing him during their IPL 2024 match in Kolkata on Saturday. Mayank looked in great touch but on the third ball of the sixth over, he tried to pull a bouncer from Rana and ended up gifting a catch to the fielder at deep backward square leg. Rana was ecstatic at taking his first wicket of this edition and he celebrated by blowing a flying kiss towards the batter.

The act resulted a hefty fine for Harshit Rana. “Kolkata Knight Riders bowler Harshit Rana has been fined a total of 60 percent of his match fees for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during his team’s Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on March 23.

“Rana committed two Level 1 offences under Article 2.5 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct. He was fined 10 percent and 50 percent of his match fees for the two respective offences. Rana admitted to the two offences and accepted the Match Referee’s sanction. For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee’s decision is final and binding,” a release from IPL read.

Mumbai Indians captains Rohit Sharma recreated the gesture with Mayank Agarwal ahead of their match on Wednesday.

Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar was not impressed with Harshit Rana as he had his say about the matter on commentary.

“He should not have done that. Did the batsman do anything to him when he was hitting him for sixes? Cricket can be played without these antics. It’s the age of television. I understand that. Celebrate with your teammates but no need for such antics for the opposition,” he said on commentary.

Topics mentioned in this article

China To Develop Strategic Deep Sea Port, Airport In Sri Lanka

China To Develop Strategic Deep Sea Port, Airport In Sri Lanka

A Japanese-funded expansion of Colombo airport had been on hold. (Representational)

Colombo:

Sri Lanka’s prime minister said Wednesday that China has pledged to develop the island nation’s strategic deep sea port and the capital’s airport after talks with his counterpart in Beijing.

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said China — the island’s biggest bilateral creditor — would “assist” Sri Lanka’s restructuring of external debt, a key condition to maintaining a $2.9 billion IMF bailout.

Beijing’s position on debt restructuring has not been made public, but Sri Lankan officials have said China was reluctant to take a haircut on its loans but could extend the tenure and adjust interest rates.

Sri Lanka in 2022 ran out of foreign exchange to finance essential imports and declared a sovereign default on its $46 billion foreign debt.

Months of protests forced then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa out of office.

Gunawardena’s office said Premier Li Qiang had promised China would “assist Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring process continuously and help Sri Lanka to develop its economy”.

Gunawardena said Beijing had offered “assistance to develop” Colombo International Airport and Hambantota port, the statement added, without giving further details.

A Japanese-funded expansion of Colombo airport had been on hold since Sri Lanka’s sovereign debt default.

The southern sea port of Hambantota was handed to a Chinese state-owned company in 2017 on a 99-year lease for $1.12 billion, sparking security concerns in Beijing’s regional rival India.

India and the United States are both concerned that a Chinese foothold at Hambantota, on the island’s southern coast, could boost its naval advantage in the Indian Ocean.

Sri Lanka has insisted its ports will not be used for any military purposes, but New Delhi has objected to Chinese research vessels calling at Hambantota fearing that they could be used for espionage.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Number of those injured in Moscow attack rises to 360

“As of Wednesday morning, 360 people, including 11 children, have been injured in the terrorist attack,” a health emergency official said.

As many as 92 people injured in the attack have been hospitalized, while 63 people have been already discharged, with 205 others receiving outpatient treatment, the official added, TASS reported.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova told reporters on Tuesday that the number of people hurt in the attack had been growing as people recovered from the initial shock.

A gang of terrorists attacked the concert venue just outside of Moscow late on March 22. At least 139 people are reported so far to have been killed in the deadly attack. Eleven suspects in the attack have been apprehended, including all four gunmen, who were detained in the Bryansk Region, southwest of Moscow, as they were attempting to seek refuge by crossing the nearby Ukrainian border.

MP/PR

Congress Leader Targets Party Leadership After Team Thackeray Snub

Congress Leader Targets Party Leadership After Team Thackeray Snub

New Delhi:

Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Nirupam today urged the party to consider pulling the plug on their alliance with Shiv Sena (UBT). Mr Nirupam’s remarks come hours after the Uddhav Thackeray-led party snubbed Congress and independently released its list of 16 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

“The way Shiv Sena UBT has taken 5 seats of Mumbai. It seems that there is a plan to bury Congress in Mumbai. It seems that Shiv Sena wants to force Congress to kneel,” the senior Congress leader told reporters.

“I appeal to the Congress leadership to intervene otherwise break the alliance with Shiv Sena. If Shiv Sena thinks it can fight alone then it is making a big mistake,” Mr Nirupam added.

Maharashtra, which has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second highest after Uttar Pradesh (80), will vote in five phases starting from April 19. Results will be announced on June 4.

The three parties which are part of the opposition alliance in Maharashtra – Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) – have been unable to finalise a seat-sharing plan despite a flurry of meetings before polling in the state begins.

Team Thackeray finally took a call and announced its candidates for 16 seats in the state. The party is yet to announce any candidate for Mumbai South-Central, a seat which the Shiv Sena (UBT) as well as Congress are keen to contest.

Sanjay Nirupam also hit out at Sena’s choice of candidate, which includes Amol Kirtikar, who was today served a notice by the Enforcement Directorate for an alleged multi-crore ‘khichdi’ scam during the Covid pandemic.

“Shiv Sena has forced an accused of the Khichdi scam as a candidate. I will not work for a Khichdi thief,” he said.

He also took at his party saying that Shiv Sena (UBT) announcing a list is a failure of Congress’s top leadership.

“I will wait for a week for the Congress leadership to take a decision after which I am open to all the options,” Mr Nirupam said.

Recently, Mr Nirupam also made remarks on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest which were not in line with the party’s official. While the Congress condemned the arrest and attacked the BJP over the matter, Sanjay Nirupam called for Kejriwal’s resignation after his arrest.

Mr Nirupam reportedly wants to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the Mumbai North West seat and his recent remarks against the Congress have sparked rumours that he could switch to the ruling BJP alliance, which is yet to announce a candidate for the seat.

India Summons US Diplomat Over Comments On Arvind Kejriwal's Arrest

India Summons US Diplomat Over Comments On Arvind Kejriwal's Arrest

United States’ Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gloria Berbena leaving the MEA office.

New Delhi:

The government has objected strongly to remarks by a US State Department spokesperson on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal‘s arrest last week in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam.

The External Affairs Ministry summoned Gloria Berbena, the US’ Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, to a 40-minute meet at its office in Delhi on Wednesday afternoon. In a brief statement released shortly afterwards, the MEA warned of “unhealthy precedents and against “unwarranted aspersions”.

“States are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others, and this responsibility is even more so in case of fellow democracies. It could otherwise end up setting unhealthy precedents,” the External Affairs Ministry said.

“India’s legal processes are based on an independent judiciary which is committed to objective and timely outcomes. Casting aspersions on that is unwarranted,” the statement stressed.

On Tuesday the US State Department said it is monitoring reports of Mr Kejriwal’s arrest, and called on New Delhi to ensure “a fair and timely legal process” for the jailed Aam Aadmi Party leader.

READ | “Encourage Fair, Transparent Legal Process”: US On Kejriwal Arrest

The US State Department’s comments came, in turn, days after Germany’s Foreign Office stressed that Mr Kejriwal, like any other Indian citizen facing charges, is entitled to a fair and impartial trial.

The Indian government reacted strongly to the comment, summoning the German envoy and labelling the Foreign Office spokesperson’s remark “blatant interference in internal matters”.

READ | “Blatant Interference”: India Protests Germany’s Remarks On Kejriwal

“We see such remarks as interfering in our judicial process and undermining the independence of our judiciary,” the External Affairs Ministry said, “Biased assumptions are most unwarranted.”

Asked about India’s protest to Germany, the State Department spokesperson told Reuters, “We refer you to the German Foreign Ministry for comment on their discussions with the Indian government.”

Earlier this month the Indian government also took exception to comments by its counterpart on the changes to the citizenship law, calling them out as “misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted“.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last week in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam that has roiled his AAP and provoked furious protests from the opposition ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Mr Kejriwal was this week sent to jail till March 28.

NDTV Explains | Why Enforcement Directorate Arrested Arvind Kejriwal

The Enforcement Directorate believes the now-scrapped liquor policy provided an impossibly high profit margin of 185 per cent for retailers and 12 per cent for wholesalers. Of the latter, six per cent – over Rs 600 crore – were bribes and the money was allegedly used to fund the AAP’s poll campaigns.

The ED has labelled the Chief Minister as a key conspirator in this case, but Mr Kejriwal and party colleagues arrested in this matter – ex-Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, and former Health Minister Satyendar Jain – have all denied the charges.

The AAP and the opposition have hit out at the BJP-led central government for using central agencies, like the ED, to target rivals and critics before the general election. The AAP has criticised Mr Kejriwal’s arrest on grounds it was timed to interfere with his plans to campaign for the party.

The BJP has dismissed claims it uses central agencies as described by the opposition.

Meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal is in the Delhi High Court today to challenge his arrest.

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KTR challenges CM Revanth, lambasts BJP-Congress politics

He derided Revanth Reddy’s lack of courage, alleging that the Chief Minister remained silent in response to his earlier challenge, due to the BRS’ strong winning prospects.

Published Date – 27 March 2024, 02:58 PM


KTR challenges CM Revanth, lambasts BJP-Congress politics


Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao launched a verbal onslaught against Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, daring him to resign to his post and contest against him in Malkajgiri parliamentary election. He questioned Revanth Reddy’s allegiance to the Congress and accused him of defecting to the BJP after the Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing the party cadre from Malkajgiri parliamentary constituency at Telangana Bhavan on Wednesday, Rama Rao expressed his disappointment at Revanth Reddy evading the challenge to contest from Malkajgiri, despite holding the significant post of the Chief Minister. He derided Revanth Reddy’s lack of courage, alleging that the Chief Minister remained silent in response to his earlier challenge, due to the BRS’ strong winning prospects.


Reiterating that Revanth Reddy will defect to the BJP after the Lok Sabha elections with 30-40 Congress MLAs, the BRS working president questioned the Chief Minister’s silence over allegations in this regard. He said casting vote for either the Congress or the BJP during the ensuing elections in Telangana, will ultimately benefit the BJP alone. He pointed out that while Congress senior leader Rahul Gandhi was criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and businessman Gautam Adani, Revanth Reddy was praising them as ‘Bada Bhai’ (elder brother) and friend respectively.

“The Chief Minister wants to adopt the Gujarat model in Telangana. Does he want to ignite communal violence like Godra or use bulldozers against the people? Is he a Congress leader or a BJP leader? He must clarify,” he demanded. He said Revanth Reddy who shifted from ABVP to TRS, then to TDP and Congress, was now gearing up to return to his parental organisation BJP for personal gain.

Drawing contradictions in the Congress statements at the national level and in Telangana on the Delhi excise policy case, Rama Rao demanded the Congress leadership to clarify its stand. He pointed out that while Rahul Gandhi was criticising the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Revanth Reddy was welcoming BRS MLC K Kavitha’s arrest in the same case. He accused Reddy of prioritising politics over the welfare of farmers and marginalised communities, citing the government’s failures in addressing pressing issues like unemployment and agrarian distress.

In a scathing attack on BJP candidate Eetala Rajender, the former Minister demanded him to explain the contribution of the Narendr Modi government for development of the Malkajgiri constituency including Secunderabad cantonment in the last 10 years, before seeking vote. He took a dig at Rajender for speaking about crop loan waiver, pointing out that Prime Minister Modi preferred to waive off Rs 14.5 lakh crore of corporate loans over crop loan waiver for farmers.

Rama Rao termed the Lok Sabha polls as a fight between 10 years of BRS’ commitment, 10 years of BJP’s communal poison, and 100 days of Congress’ propaganda. He urged people to choose their future wisely. He also urged the party cadre to strive for the party’s victory in the elections, by supporting the candidature of Ragidi Laxma Reddy from Malkajgiri constituency which has turned into the BRS stronghold. He wanted the party cadre to fight the false propaganda against the BRS with victory in the parliamentary polls.

India Summons US Diplomat Over Comments On Arvind Kejriwal's Arrest

India Summons US Diplomat Over Comments On Arvind Kejriwal's Arrest

United States’ Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gloria Berbena leaving the MEA office.

New Delhi:

The government has objected strongly to remarks by a US State Department spokesperson on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal‘s arrest last week in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam.

The External Affairs Ministry summoned Gloria Berbena, the US’ Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, to a 40-minute meet at its office in Delhi on Wednesday afternoon. In a brief statement released shortly afterwards, the MEA warned of “unhealthy precedents and against “unwarranted aspersions”.

“States are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others, and this responsibility is even more so in case of fellow democracies. It could otherwise end up setting unhealthy precedents,” the External Affairs Ministry said.

“India’s legal processes are based on an independent judiciary which is committed to objective and timely outcomes. Casting aspersions on that is unwarranted,” the statement stressed.

On Tuesday the US State Department said it is monitoring reports of Mr Kejriwal’s arrest, and called on New Delhi to ensure “a fair and timely legal process” for the jailed Aam Aadmi Party leader.

READ | “Encourage Fair, Transparent Legal Process”: US On Kejriwal Arrest

The US State Department’s comments came, in turn, days after Germany’s Foreign Office stressed that Mr Kejriwal, like any other Indian citizen facing charges, is entitled to a fair and impartial trial.

The Indian government reacted strongly to the comment, summoning the German envoy and labelling the Foreign Office spokesperson’s remark “blatant interference in internal matters”.

READ | “Blatant Interference”: India Protests Germany’s Remarks On Kejriwal

“We see such remarks as interfering in our judicial process and undermining the independence of our judiciary,” the External Affairs Ministry said, “Biased assumptions are most unwarranted.”

Asked about India’s protest to Germany, the State Department spokesperson told Reuters, “We refer you to the German Foreign Ministry for comment on their discussions with the Indian government.”

Earlier this month the Indian government also took exception to comments by its counterpart on the changes to the citizenship law, calling them out as “misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted“.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last week in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam that has roiled his AAP and provoked furious protests from the opposition ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Mr Kejriwal was this week sent to jail till March 28.

NDTV Explains | Why Enforcement Directorate Arrested Arvind Kejriwal

The Enforcement Directorate believes the now-scrapped liquor policy provided an impossibly high profit margin of 185 per cent for retailers and 12 per cent for wholesalers. Of the latter, six per cent – over Rs 600 crore – were bribes and the money was allegedly used to fund the AAP’s poll campaigns.

The ED has labelled the Chief Minister as a key conspirator in this case, but Mr Kejriwal and party colleagues arrested in this matter – ex-Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, and former Health Minister Satyendar Jain – have all denied the charges.

The AAP and the opposition have hit out at the BJP-led central government for using central agencies, like the ED, to target rivals and critics before the general election. The AAP has criticised Mr Kejriwal’s arrest on grounds it was timed to interfere with his plans to campaign for the party.

The BJP has dismissed claims it uses central agencies as described by the opposition.

Meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal is in the Delhi High Court today to challenge his arrest.

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