Breaking News HIGHLIGHTS: Navjot Sidhu Calls Appointment Of Channi As Punjab's First Dalit CM 'Historic'
Breaking News HIGHLIGHTS Updates September 19, 2021: This blog brings to you the latest breaking news from across India and the world. Refresh the page to find the latest updates.
Suspicious movement was detected along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector on the intervening night of September 18-19. A search of the area is under progress: PRO Defence, Srinagar.
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and CM Manohar Lal Khattar felicitated participants and medal winners of Tokyo Paralympics 2020 in Gurugram earlier today
"@INCIndia creates a new history by appointing Punjab’s first Dalit CM in Sardar Charanjit Channi," Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala wrote.
"On the eve of relinquishing my duties as CM, I thank the officers & employees of the State for giving their best to put Punjab on the path of peace & progress in the 4.5 years of my Government. May you continue to serve the people of the State with the same zeal & commitment," former Punjab CM Amarinder Singh wrote.
Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu calls the announcement of "Punjab’s first Dalit CM-Designate" Charanjit Singh Channi as "historic".
Ganpati immersion at the official residence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, in Mumbai.
Maharashtra reports 3,413 new COVID-19 infections, 8,326 recoveries and 49 deaths today.
Total cases: 65,21,915
Total recoveries: 63,36,887
Death toll: 1,38,518
Active cases: 42,955
"Congratulations to Shri Charanjit Singh Channi Ji for the new responsibility. We must continue to fulfill the promises made to the people of Punjab. Their trust is of paramount importance," former Congress president Rahul Gandhi wrote.
Congress has confirmed that Charanjit Singh Channi will be sworn in as the new Punjab CM at 11 AM on Monday. He will also address the media along with state party chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and other party leaders.
Kerala reports 19,653 fresh COVID-19 infections, 26,711 recoveries and 152 deaths today.
Active cases: 1,73,631
Total recoveries: 43,10,674
Death toll: 23,591
Test positivity rate is 17.34%
1,13,295 samples tested in the last 24 hours
Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu arrives at Raj Bhavan, Chandigarh after his party announced Charanjit Singh Channi as the new CM of Punjab.
"It's high command's decision..., I welcome it. Channi is like my younger brother...I am not at all disappointed...": Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, after the announcement of Charanjit Singh Channi as new Punjab Chief Minister
"No decision yet (on new Punjab CM), you will have to wait for 2-3 hours... announcement will be made today": Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa
Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has sought time for a meeting with Governor Banwarilal Purohit amid political developments in Punjab, ANI credited sources as saying. Randhawa is likely to become the next Chief Minister after Captain Amarinder Singh resigned, yesterday.
"The real situation in Kerala is alarming. Earlier many people had expressed the view that there is a Kerala connection in terror incidents across and outside the country": Union Minister V Muraleedharan said.
"Meeting Bishop & telling something is not enough. Govt should've taken the necessary action. I don’t know whether the home ministry has info that CPM has to describe in their party note. Govt should hand over info to Centre. So that Centre can take required action": he added.
Hectic talks on Sunday were going on to finalise the name of new leader of the Punjab Congress Legislature Party (CLP), a day after Amarinder Singh resigned as the chief minister.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Rawat and party's central observers Ajay Maken and Harish Chaudhary are camping at a hotel here, holding discussions and taking feedback.
Former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, the party's current state unit president Navjot Singh Sidhu and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa are the frontrunners for the post of the CLP leader, who will be the new chief minister.
According to sources, the central observers were also in touch with the party leadership in Delhi.
The sources said the party may also go in for two deputy chief ministers in order to balance the caste equations.
If the party goes for a Hindu face as the CLP leader, then a Sikh and a Dalit can be made deputy CMs, they said.
Former Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh has called his party's state chief Navjot Singh Sindhu anti-national. This is a very serious allegation. BJP is asking only one question to Congress that why Sonia, Rahul & Priyanka are silent on this?: BJP leader Prakash Javadekar
Navjot Sidhu is not a traitor. If after now Capt Amarinder Singh calls Sidhu a traitor, then I will open the whole book. Capt's target is not Sidhu but the Gandhi family. I'll not allow Capt to target Gandhi family: Md Mustafa, advisor to Punjab Cong Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu
Navjot Sidhu is not a traitor. If after now Capt Amarinder Singh calls Sidhu a traitor, then I will open the whole book. Capt's target is not Sidhu but the Gandhi family. I'll not allow Capt to target Gandhi family: Md Mustafa, advisor to Punjab Cong Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu
Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, a minister in the outgoing cabinet of Amarinder Singh whose name is doing the rounds among the probables to be the new leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Punjab, on Sunday asserted that he has never hankered after posts.
Asked that his name was among the frontrunners, Randhawa replied he or his family "never hankers for any post".
When the mediapersons here asked that can it be assumed that they are talking to the future chief minister, Randhawa quipped, " You are talking to a Congressman".
In a veiled dig at Amarinder Singh, he then added, "A chief minister remains (in his post) only till the time when his party, people of the state stand by him".
Amid the crisis in Punjab in choosing the new Chief Minister of the state, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot took to Twitter and said " hope that Capt. Amarinder Singh ji won't take any step that could cause damage to the Congress party."
According to ABP sources, Ambika Soni who was offered the position of Punjab Chief Minister has declined the offer stating that the state should have a Sikh CM.
As Congress mulls over crisis in Punjab, senior leader Kapil Sibal takes a jibe on the situation
Punjab | We are awaiting Sonia Gandhi's orders. Immediately after, a decision will be taken in the CLP meeting. There is a background and issues behind the resignation of Captain Amarinder Singh: Congress MLA Kuldeep Singh Vaid after meeting with Sunil Jakhar, in Chandigarh
India reports 30,773 new Covid cases, 38,945 recoveries & 309 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry.
Active cases: 3,32,158
Total cases: 3,34,48,163
Total recoveries: 3,26,71,167
Death toll: 4,44,838
Total vaccination: 80,43,72,331(85,42,732 in last 24 hrs)
Ahead of the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, former Union Minister and Congress leader Salman Khurshid said that party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will decide whether she wants to be the chief ministerial candidate or not.
"Congress would contest the UP assembly polls under party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's leadership and she herself would decide on the issue of whether she would be party's chief ministerial candidate or not," said Mr Khurshid while speaking to reporters in Prayagraj yesterday.
The Congress social media department Saturday passed a resolution to make Rahul Gandhi party president at the earliest, saying his leadership will bring new energy into the party cadre.
The resolution was passed unanimously at the social media department's national executive meeting "Drishti 2021".
This comes after similar resolutions were passed at the national executive meetings of the Indian Youth Congress, the NSUI and the Congress SC/ST department.
Rahul Gandhi attended the social media department meeting and urged party workers to continue their fight against the ruling dispensation with humility, truth and love.
Background
Breaking News HIGHLIGHTS Updates September 19, 2021: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a marathon meeting with the secretaries of central government departments on Saturday and wondered why the bureaucrats, despite having a vision for development, lacked in the execution, sources said.
The meeting which came months after a major reshuffle of the Union Council of Ministers lasted more than four hours, according to ANI sources.
Many secretaries shared their views on various policy-related matters and made suggestions on further improving governance and delivery on the ground, the sources said.
Expressing the need to have a permanent president of the Congress, senior party leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday emphasised that more energy needs to be instilled in the organizational structure of the party.
Speaking to reporters today, the Congress MP said, "The leadership of Sonia Gandhi is the leadership we all love. Many have called for a permanent president. We haven't had a permanent president in the last two years. We need to instill more energy in the organizational structure of the Congress party. We all want Congress to have a permanent president. No one will speak against Sonia Gandhi. Sonia Gandhi is a leader who has led us so well. But even she has been saying for years that she has a desire to step down."
Pakistan paid a "very heavy price" of siding with the US in its occupation of Afghanistan, said Prime Minister Imran Khan, adding that hearing American politicians blame Islamabad for its humiliating retreat hurts.
In an interview with Russia Today, Khan expressed his anger towards American officials who have pointed fingers at Islamabad when apportioning blame for the US failure in Afghanistan.
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