India becomes world's sixth largest economy, muscles past France

India has become the world's sixth-biggest economy, pushing France into seventh place, according to updated World Bank figures for 2017.

India's gross domestic product (GDP) amounted to $2.597 trillion at the end of last year, against $2.582 trillion for France.

The country's economy rebounded strongly from July 2017, after several quarters of slowdown.

India, with a population of around 1.34 billion, is poised to become the world's most populous nation, whereas the French population stands at 67 million. This means that India's per capita GDP continues to amount to just a fraction of that of France which is still roughly 20 times higher, according to World Bank figures.

Nirbhaya Rapists Will Hang, Supreme Court Rejects Plea to Review Death Sentence

 A year after it had first upheld the death sentence against four convicts in the Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case of 2012, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed pleas filed by three out of the four seeking review of its earlier verdict.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra and comprising Justices R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan rejected the review pleas filed by Mukesh (29), Pawan Gupta (22) and Vinay Sharma (23), saying no grounds have been made out by them for review of the verdict.

The fourth convict, Akhay Kumar Singh (31), did not file a review petition against the May 5, 2017 judgment of the apex court.

The court said on Monday that the death row convicts had failed to point out "error apparent on the face of record" in the judgment.

The bench also said that these three convicts were heard elaborately during the stage of their appeal against the Delhi High Court's judgement and no case has been made out by them for review of the apex court's verdict upholding the death penalty.

The apex court in its 2017 verdict had upheld the capital punishment awarded to them by the Delhi High Court and the trial court in the case of gangrape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedic student on December 16, 2012 in the national capital.

The woman was gang-raped on the intervening night of December 16 and 17 inside a running bus in South Delhi by six persons and severely assaulted before being thrown out on the road. She succumbed to injuries at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore after a two-week long struggle for survival.

One of the accused in the case, Ram Singh, had allegedly committed suicide in the Tihar Jail here.

A juvenile, who was among the accused, was convicted by a juvenile justice board. He was released from a reformation home after serving a three-year term.

The 23-year-old victim, on course to be the first professional in the family, was coming home from the cinema with a male friend when she boarded the fateful bus.

The empty bus with the six men in it drove around the city in loops while torturing the woman and her friend. The friend was beaten till he was unconscious while the woman, now known as Nirbhaya, was brutally raped with an iron rod inserted into her private parts that fatally injured her.

Mumbai rains: Residents trapped after wall of Antop Hill high rise building collapses

Several residents are feared trapped in a high rise building in Antop Hill area of Mumbai after a wall on its under-construction premises collapsed. The incident occurred at Lloyds Estate after heavy rains battered the city over the weekend. Fire brigade has sprung into action and officials are on the site to evacuate all personnel.

As the Mumbai rains battered the city over the weekend, a major structural failure occurred on Monday morning as a road on the premises of a high rise building caved in. The incident happened at Lloyds Estate C Wing and D Wing, Antop Hill near Vidya Lankar College, Wadala East. Fire brigade has been mobilised and officials and trucks reached the site as a lot of residents are suspected to be trapped inside. At least 15-20 cars are also seen trapped in and around the rubble.

The residents who are trapped inside the high rise can’t come out and an operation to vacate the premises has been initiated by the authorities. According to latest reports from ANI, it was reported that seven cars were damaged after a wall of the under construction building crumbled in the morning on Monday after rains battered the structure.

India Retaliates With Higher Import Duties On US Farm, Steel Products

India increased duties on a slew of farm products, steel and iron imported from the United States, a government notice said, joining the European Union and China in retaliatory action against President Donald Trump's tariff hikes on steel and aluminum.

The move came a day after the EU's decision to charge higher import duties on a range of US products.

In tariff rates issued late on Wednesday, the commerce ministry named some varieties of apples, almonds, chickpeas, lentils, walnuts and artemia that would carry higDher import taxes. Most of these are purchased from the United States.

India also raised duties on some grades of iron and steel products. Last month, India launched a complaint at the World Trade Organisation against the United States over the steel and aluminum duties after it failed to win an exemption.

A list of products to the WTO that it said could incur higher tariffs was also given.

An official from the steel ministry said at the time that the new tariffs were intended to show displeasure at the US action. Some of the new rates will take effect immediately while the others would go into force on August 4.

Rising trade tensions between the United States and some major economies have threatened to derail global growth.

China on Thursday warned that the interests of US workers and farmers will be hurt by Washington's intent to impose higher tariffs on some imported products.

Arvind Kejriwal softens stand, assures safety of IAS officers

Softening his stand in the face-off with LG which entered its seventh day on Sunday, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that “IAS officers are part of his family” and gave a public assurance of safety to bureaucrats in meetings with ministers while urging them to stop the boycott of the AAP government and return to work.
A senior IAS officer in Delhi government said the appeal would be discussed among the bureaucrats before a decision is taken.

The development came as a surprise as Kejriwal has been unrelenting in his demands that the LG direct the IAS officers to end the “strike” and take punitive action against the bureaucrats who have been boycotting the Delhi government for the last four months.

The uncertainty over the ending of the CM-LG face-off, + however, continues because neither Kejriwal has said that he will end his dharna nor the bureaucrats have given any hints of accepting the appeal and stopping the boycott of routine meetings.

In his appeal, Kejriwal said he will ensure the safety and security of officers with all the powers and resources available at his command. “It is my duty. I have given similar assurances earlier also to many officers who have been meeting me privately. I reiterate it today,” he said in the appeal which is likely to be considered by the IAS officers on Monday.

The appeal came hours after five IAS officers held a press conference + at the Press Club of India where they rebutted the claim of the Aam Aadmi Party that the officers are on a strike and said that the work is going on smoothly in all the departments. The bureaucrats, however, added that they are avoiding routine meetings which they feel would be “unsafe” for them.

The IAS officers claimed that an atmosphere of threat has enveloped the bureaucracy after the alleged assault on Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash at Kejriwal's residence in February.

Police, doctor differ on cause of death of civilian post Eid celebrations

Doctors said Sheeraz Ahmed had been hit by pump action gun bullets in his neck and chest.

Doctors and the police differed on the cause of death of a youth in violence after Eid prayers in Anantnag in South Kashmir on Saturday. The police claimed 20-year-old Sheeraz Ahmed was killed when a grenade exploded in his hand, but doctors said he had been hit by pump action gun bullets in the neck and chest, The Indian Express reported.

Nearly two dozen people were injured in violence after Eid prayers in several parts of Kashmir on Saturday. Clashes between protestors and security forces were reported in Shopian, Srinagar, Pulwama, Sopore and Kupwara.

Protests broke out after Eid prayers at Ashajipora in Anantnag. Protesting youth allegedly threw stones at security forces. The police used tear gas shells and pellet guns to disperse the crowd, reported the Hindustan Times. Ahmed was killed during the clashes.

“Most of the youths [who were brought to the hospital] had pellet injuries,” Anantnag District Hospital medical superintendent Dr Majeed Mehrab told The Indian Express. He said 23 youths other than Ahmed, and some policemen, were brought to hospital with injuries. Nine people were taken to Shri Maharaja Hasi Singh Hospital in Srinagar by 1 pm, according to Greater Kashmir.

Dr Saleem Tak of the Srinagar hospital said that 12 people from various parts of the Kashmir Valley were admitted on Saturday. “All of them have been hit by pellets,” he said. “Seven of them have been hit in their eyes.”

In Shopian, seven protestors were injured in similar clashes between security forces and civilians.One person was injured in clashes in Safakadal area of Srinagar soon after the prayers, PTI reported, quoting a police official.

PM Narendra Modi posts video of his morning exercises, inspires others to take up fitness challenge

Less than a month after accepting Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli's fitness challenge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday posted a video which shows him doing a number of exercises in the morning to 'refresh and rejuvenate' himself.

PM Modi, known to practice yoga regularly, is seen performing a number of asanas which appeared to vary in degrees of difficulty. Additionally, he also is seen practising breathing exercises which are known to improve the body's immunity - among several other benefits.

Most interestingly though, 67-year-old PM Modi can be seen walking on a track which he said was inspired by the five elements of nature. "Apart from Yoga, I walk on a track inspired by the Panchtatvas or 5 elements of nature - Prithvi, Jal, Agni, Vayu, Aakash. This is extremely refreshing and rejuvenating," he wrote in a message accompanying the video.

Here are moments from my morning exercises. Apart from Yoga, I walk on a track inspired by the Panchtatvas or 5 elements of nature - Prithvi, Jal, Agni, Vayu, Aakash. This is extremely refreshing and rejuvenating. I also practice
breathing exercises.

The video posted by PM Modi was him fulfilling his promise of showcasing his exercise regime. He had accepted the challenge thrown at him by Kohli who had also challenged his wife Anushka Sharma and fellow Team India cricketer MS Dhoni.

The government has been urging people at large to adopt a healthy lifestyle and do some form of exercise on a daily basis. Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore had initially challenged Kohli as part of  HumFitTohIndiaFit campaign. Since, many celebrities and public figures have posted photos and videos of them doing exercises - urging fellow citizens to become active as well.

Congress wins Jayanagar seat, party's tally goes up to 80 in Karnataka

The Congress on Wednesday won the election in Bengaluru's Jayanagar constituency in Karnataka, where assembly polls were held on June 11. Congress now has 80 seats in the assembly.

The Congress was initially leading over the BJP by a margin of over 7,300 votes in the first two hours of counting of votes for the Jayanagar Assembly constituency.

While Congress candidate Sowmya Reddy was leading with 27,195 votes till 10 am, BJP's B N Prahlad had secured 19,873 votes, poll officials said.

The Assembly elections were held across Karnataka on May 12, but poll in Jayanagar was countermanded following the death of BJP candidate B N Vijayakumar, who was holding the seat.

An estimated 55 per cent polling was recorded in the constituency on June 11.

BJP's B N Prahlad, brother of Vijayakumar, and senior Congress leader and former minister Ramalinga Reddy's daughter Sowmya Reddy were locked in a direct contest for the seat.

In all, 19 candidates were in the fray. Police have made elaborate security arrangement in and around the counting centre.

Ahead of polls, Janata Dal Secular had on June 5 pulled out its candidate from the contest and extended the party's support to its ruling coalition partner, the Congress. 

BJP Stares at Possible Dissent in Bihar Ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha Elections

As 2019 Lok Sabha elections draw closer, fear seems to have gripped the BJP in Bihar with seat distribution expected to cause friction within NDA allies.

The BJP, which leads the alliance, will have to watch its step before making any announcements as all the four National Democratic Alliance (NDA) parties are eyeing Lok Sabha berths. Any 'wrong move' could hamper the party's prospects, especially as the united opposition is leaving no stone unturned to defeat the BJP.

Despite Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP), JD(U) and BJP being a part of the same alliance, the parties often have different stands on important issues. Moreover, incidents of candidates’ skipping and hopping increase ahead of polls.

In such a scenario, it will be interesting to see how BJP keeps its flock together in Bihar during the 2019 general elections.

In 2009, BJP and JD(U) contested together sharing 25-15 seats. While BJP won 12 out of 15 and JD(U) won 20, Kumar later broke the alliance in 2014 over Narendra Modi’s candidature as PM. Following this, both the parties contested separately.

The BJP won 22 seats on its own while its new ally, the LJP, won six out of the seven seats it contested and the RLSP won three out of four seats it contested. The JD(U) was reduced to winning just two out of 40 seats.

JD(U) is now back in the NDA and on various occasions we have seen its leaders claiming that their party is the senior partner in the alliance.

This will become a problem for other allies like RLSP and LJP. Recently, the confusion was evident at the NDA unity meet which was not attended by Union minister Upendra Kushwaha, citing other engagements in Delhi. The meeting was called by the state BJP for better coordination among the allies.

RLSP leader Nagmani recently said, "We cannot accept Nitish Kumar as the leader of the coalition in Bihar."

Recalling Kumar’s switch to the NDA, he also questioned the JD(S) chief's loyalty. “What’s the guarantee that he won’t go back with RJD?” Nagmani asked.

Tejaswi has already invited Upendra Kushwaha to join the ‘mahagatbandhan’. Keeping the vote share in mind, ‘luring’ Kushwaha in the joint opposition will be a big dent to the NDA vote share in Bihar.

Kushwahas make up 10% of Bihar's electorate. Amid possibilities and speculations, Kushwaha has claimed that the “NDA is together”. “We are with Narendra Modi. We will also ensure that he comes back to power in 2019,” he said.

On the other hand, LJP national president and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan is confident that the seat sharing will not be a problem and things will be sorted. With six MPs, LJP plays a vital role in keeping the Paswan votes intact.

Nirav Modi flees to UK claiming political asylum

Nirav Modi, who is at the centre of a money laundering case linked to over USD 2 billion Punjab National Bank fraud, has fled to the UK where the absconding diamantaire sought asylum claiming "political persecution" back home, according to a media report today.

Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi are being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate for allegedly cheating the PNB, the country's second largest lender, to the tune of more than USD 2 billion.

The duo and others are also being probed by other central agencies after the fraud came to light this year following a complaint by the PNB that they allegedly cheated the nationalised bank to the tune of over Rs 13,000 crore, with the purported involvement of a few employees of the bank.

Both Nirav Modi and Choski are said to have left the country before criminal cases were lodged against them.

"Officials in India and the UK say he (Nirav Modi) is in London, where his company has one store, and is trying to claim asylum from what he said was political persecution," The Financial Times reported.

"There are always a number of complicated cases that add a little tension and spice to our relationship with India. But there is also an appreciation from both sides that we have a legal process that has to be gone through and that we are of course governed by human rights legislation," a senior UK Foreign Office official was quoted as saying by the report.

The CBI had in May filed two charge sheets in the case before a Mumbai court. The ED has also filed its charge sheet in the case involving Nirav Modi, who is in his late 40s, and his associates, officials in New Delhi said.

They said the about 12,000 page charge sheet or the prosecution complaint has been filed before a special court here under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Denied cabinet post, Congress leaders MB Patil and Dinesh Gundu Rao meet Rahul Gandhi

The central leadership had called the disgruntled leaders for talks to resolve the matter after state Congress leaders could not placate them.

Amid rebellion in Karnataka Congress over Cabinet formation, former Minister M.B. Patil and working president of party's state unit Dinesh Gundu Rao, who were denied ministerial berths, on Saturday met Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.

According to sources, Patil met Gandhi and then had a meeting with party's senior leader Ahmed Patel.

The central leadership had called the disgruntled leaders for talks in order to resolve the matter after state Congress leadership could not placate them.

Considering the seniority of Patil in the party, he could be given a ministerial berth in the Karnataka Cabinet.

Patil was very upset on being denied a ministerial post and he had told reporters that "his self-respect was hurt".

Earlier, there were reports that the party would rotate ministers to placate disgruntled MLAs and that non-performers could be dropped after six months.

On the situation in Karnataka over distribution of portfolios, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said: "We are all here to serve the people to honour our manifesto, to honour the commitments we made to the people during our campaign, to the farmers, to the poor, to the unemployed youth and so on and so forth.

"These are processes and it is a very vibrant democracy which is full of sound and light. We are here to honour our commitments. These processes have to be lived through, gone through and then we come out with it."

As per the agreement between the alliance partners, the cabinet posts and portfolios are shared in the ratio of 21:11, with the Congress getting 21, including the Deputy Chief Minister rank, as it has 78 legislators in the hung assembly, and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-) 11, including Chief Minister rank, as it has 36 lawmakers.

JD-S leader H.D. Kumaraswamy and Congress state unit president G. Parameshwara were sworn-in as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister on May 23.

Of the 25 ministers, 14 are from Congress and 9 from Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) and one each from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Karnataka Pragnyavanta Janata Paksha (KPJP), which are allies of both the coalition partners.

Gangster Sampat Nehra wanted to kill Salman Khan, say police

The Special Task Force (STF) of the Haryana Police who had arrested gangster Sampath Nehra on June 6, Wednesday, revealed that he was also plotting to kill Bollywood actor Salman Khan.

Sampat Nehra is one of the most wanted gangsters belonging to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang from Hyderabad.

According to police, Nehra had gone to Mumbai to take note of the actor's movement around his house.

"Bishnoi had threatened to kill Salman Khan in connection with blackbuck case. Nehra had gone to recce his residence in Mumbai and planned to flee outside India after executing the plan," police officials were quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

A resident of Kalauri village in Rajasthan's Churu district, Nehra was a sharp shooter of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and had been active in students politics. reported NDTV.

The Lawrence Bishnoi gang is quite active on social media platforms like Facebook and Whatsapp.

With more than two dozen criminal cases pending against him in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Chandigarh, Nehra, 28, also carried a cash reward on his head and had been absconding for the past few years. 

Ukrainian Model, Arrested For No Visa, Released From Gorakhpur Jail

Ukrainian model Daria Molcha, who was arrested by the special task force of Uttar Pradesh Police from a private hotel here on April 3 for staying in the country without a valid visa, was released from jail on Friday.

The 20-year-old model walked free after civil judge Surendra Pratap Singh issued her release order on Thursday. "Daria Molcha, who was jailed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Foreigners Act, was released around 1.00 pm. We had received the release order very late yesterday that is why she was released today," jail superintendent Ramdhani said.

Two persons from Kolkata - Chandari Rawat and Adarsh - had come here on a chartered plane and they went to the chief judicial magistrate court for the release of Molcha. Gorakhpur-based businessman Anuj Poddar had also helped her, SP (Crime) Alok Sharma said.

Molcha has been sent to the Ukrainian embassy in Delhi under police protection, Senior Superintendent of Police Shalabh Mathur said. The application of the model's bail was rejected by the district court on April 12. After that, the bail application was filed in the high court which granted her bail about a week ago.

Molcha had crossed the Indian border without any valid travel documents and was arrested by the STF from a private hotel on Park Road here. Police said that she had sneaked into the Indian territory through the porous Nepal border.

She stayed in the Himalayan country with her friend Imran Kashif for 15 days and after that she came to Gorakhpur on a fake driving licence. The STF sleuths had recovered USD 18000, a smart phone and a tablet from her.

Nirmala Sitharaman :Stand by Ramzan ceasefire but will retaliate against unprovoked attacks

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said India stood by the Ramzan ceasefire agreed upon with Pakistan, but it reserved the right to retaliate in the face of unprovoked attacks from across the border.

"When it is an unprovoked attack the Army was given the right to retaliate. We honour the ceasefire but of course, a margin was given to us when there is an unprovoked attack," Sitharaman told mediapersons at a press conference.

Last week, the Director General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan had agreed to implement the ceasefire pact of 2003 + in "letter and spirit" to stop cross border firings in Jammu and Kashmir. Prior to that, the Centre had asked security forces to not launch operations in the Valley during the holy month of Ramzan. At the same time, home minister Rajnath Singh had clarified that security forces would act if there were terror attacks during this period.

Echoing the sentiment, Sitharaman said today that while ceasefire at the border is very important, it is equally important to respond to any terror attacks on the country.

"It's our business to guard the border and we won't stop if we're provoked. We shall be alert that no unprovoked attack goes without us responding. It's our duty to keep India safe," she said.

When asked about the possibility of bilateral dialogue with Pakistan, the defence minister reiterated India's unequivocal stance on the matter. "Terror and talks cannot go hand in hand," she asserted.

Farmers’ strike does not have any purpose, it will only bring losses, says Haryana chief minister

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday said that the farmers’ 10-day strike, which was launched across eight states on Friday, was without a purpose or topic, ANI reported.

“The strike doesn’t have any purpose or topic,” the chief minister said, adding that the protest was unnecessary. He said the organisers of the strike were harming farmers who will not be able to sell their produce. “Not selling produce will only bring losses to the farmers.”

 Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar speaks on farmers' strike, says, 'they don't have any issues, they are just focusing on unnecessary things, not selling produce will bring losses to farmers.'

Madhya Pradesh Minister for Agriculture Balkrishna Patidar too dismissed the farmers’ strike, saying “It’s [June 2] today, where is the strike happening?” according to ANI. He said farmers were happy with the schemes launched by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Union Minister of Shipping and Road Transport Nitin Gadkari blamed the surplus production and global economy for the agrarian crisis in the country, reported PTI. “The government is working on a war footing by formulating mid- and long-term policies as well as exporting excess produce,” he added.

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh said that some organisations were using the strike to gather fame, reported ANI.

Meanwhile, prices of vegetables in cities in Punjab and Haryana soared as supplies dwindled in vegetable markets. The retail price of vegetables went up by Rs 10 to Rs 20 per kg as the strike entered the second day, reported The Indian Express.

In Maharashtra’s Nashik district, all milk dairies remained closed and collection centres for milk were affected. Farmers reportedly poured milk on the roads at Visapur in Yeola taluk on Saturday morning, according to The Indian Express.

Its 2nd June today,where is the strike happening? No farmers are participating in the strike. Farmers are happy with the schemes CM has launched for them.They have faith that state&central govt will solve their problems: Balkrishna Patidar, Madhya Pradesh minister for Agriculture pic

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, however, termed the strike as a sign of the farmers’ desperation “in the face of the wrongs being perpetrated on them by the central government”, reported PTI. He said the farming community in the country was in the grip of a serious crisis due to the indifferent attitude of the BJP-led central government.

Farmers across the country started a 10-day strike on Friday to demand better prices for their produce. They also called for a boycott of mandis in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

The strike is being held a year after farmer protests were held across the country. On June 6 last year, six farmers died during police firing in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandsaur.

The strike is effective in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana and Chhattisgarh.

Home Loans To Get Costlier As SBI, ICICI Bank, PNB, HDFC Raise Lending Rates Ahead Of RBI Policy

With effect from June 1, country's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) raised its marginal cost of funds based lending rates (MCLR) by 10 basis points across the tenors. The overnight MCLR has been raised to 7.9 per cent with effect from Friday. The one-month MCLR, likewise, has been raised to 7.9 per cent, 10 basis points higher than the earlier rate. The three month MCLR will now stand at 7.95 per cent. The State Bank of India (SBI's) six-month MCLR has been increased to 8.1 per cent. Similarly, the one-year MCLR, two-year MCLR and three-year MCLR have been raised to 8.25 per cent, 8.35 per cent and 8.45 per cent. The increase of SBI fixed deposit (FD) rates that took place on May 28 has led to the increase in lending rates. Check the SBI's latest FD rates here.

MCLR is the minimum rate below which commercial banks cannot lend to its customers. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in April 2016 unveiled the concept of MCLR, which sought to remove much of the discretion commercial banks have to set lending rates.

The last time, SBI, ICICI Bank and PNB raised their lending rates (MCLR) was in March this year. That time also, it had happened a day after the bank raised its fixed deposit (FD) interest rates.

Following the SBI, Punjab National Bank (PNB), ICICI Bank, HDFC Ltd and Kotak Mahindra Bank also raised their lending rates (MCLRs), thus adding to the EMI (equated monthly instalments) burden of borrowers.

The Punjab National Bank (PNB)'s overnight MCLR stays the same at 7.8 per cent. The one-month and three month MCLR will also remain the same at 7.95 per cent and 8.10 percent.

The PNB's six -month MCLR has been risen by 5 basis points to 8.3 per cent. The one-year MCLR has been raised by 10 basis points to 8.4 per cent. The three-year MCLR has been raised by 10 basis points to 8.55 per cent. The five-year MCLR rose by 10 basis points to 8.7 percent. Even the base rate has been revised to 9.25 per cent from 9.15 per cent with effect from June 1.

Likewise, ICICI Bank's overnight MCLR has been raised to 8.05 percent. The one-month MCLR also rose to 8.05 per cent. The three month MCLR hit 8.1 per cent. The six month MCLR now stands at 8.35 per cent and one year MCLR is now 8.4 per cent.

HDFC or Housing Development Finance Corporation has increased its Retail Prime Lending Rate (RPLR), on which its adjustable rate home loans (ARHL) are benchmarked, by 10 bps, with effect from June 2, 2018. The benchmark prime lending rate for HDFC will now go up to 16.45 per cent  from 16.35 per cent.

Air India air hostess accuses senior airline official of sexual harassment, probe ordered

An Air India air hostess has accused a senior airline official of sexually harassing her for last six years and alleged that the airline management has not acted on her complaint made last September. She took to social media seeking “help” on Tuesday to get the airline to act. Following this, aviation minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted that he has asked AI chairman “to immediately address this issue. If necessary, will appoint another committee.”

In a complaint sent to Prabhu on May 25, the “proud single mother” air hostess claims “a senior executive over last six years has sexually harassed, tortured and discriminated against me…. this senior executive (whose name will be revealed when I meet you) is a predator and has sexually… abused me… and has tried to compel women in his office (including me) to come and drink with him at various bars and many of us have been forced to do so…. He has insulted and denied me positions and privileges after I rejected his advances… he has made my life a misery and work and continues to do so.

Sadly the AI women’s cell did nothing… During the mockery of inquiry… the lady chairperson of the committee had to temerity to respond ‘you know how he talks. He has even flirted with me like this so many times’.

In any other company, this offending officer would either have been suspended or transferred out. Yet in AI, through his old boys’ club, (he) has continued to serve in the same office,” she says in her letter to Prabhu, marked also to Prime Minister Modi, while seeking a meeting with the minister.
  Source

Mann Ki Baat: Narendra Modi discourages use of plastic

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke of the adverse effects of plastic and appealed to people not to use things made by using low grade materials .

“I appeal to everyone to understand the importance of this theme. Let us make sure that we don’t use polythene, lower grade plastic as plastic pollution adversely impacts nature, wildlife and even our health,” the Prime Minister said in the 44th edition of his monthly radio programme, “Mann Ki Baat”.

Noting that India will host the global World Environment Day celebrations on June 5, Mr. Modi said it was an important achievement as the country had a growing role in the world towards mitigating climate change.

Mr. Modi further said that in the past few weeks, parts of the country witnessed dust storm, strong winds and unseasonal heavy rains which led to loss of lives and damaged goods.

“These sudden changes in weather pattern are a result of change in our lifestyle,” he said.

“We have to live with harmony with nature. Mahatma Gandhi advocated this matter every step of life,” he added. Source

Sunanda Pushkar death case transferred to designated court

A Delhi court on Thursday transferred the Sunanda Pushkar death case to the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM), Samar Vishal, and fixed the next date of hearing as May 28.
Earlier on May 14, the Delhi Police filed a charge sheet in the court and named Sunanda's husband and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor as accused, under sections 306 (Abetment of suicide) and 498A (Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Tharoor, however, had dismissed the chargesheet filed by Delhi Police as "preposterous".
"I have taken note of the filing of this preposterous charge sheet and intend to contest it vigorously. No one who knew Sunanda believes she would ever have committed suicide, let alone abetment on my part. If this is conclusion arrived at after 4+ years of investigation, (contd.)," the Congress leader tweeted.

"it does not speak well of the methods or motivations of the Delhi Police. In oct 17, the Law Officer made a statement in the Delhi High Court that they have not found anything against anyone and now in 6 months they say that I have abetted a suicide. unbelievable!," the tweet read.

Sunanda was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a suite of a five-star hotel in Delhi on the night of January 17, 2014. On February 23, Tharoor said he was looking for a conclusion in his wife's death case.
Incidentally, on that day, Tharoor's statement came hours after the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Delhi Police on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy's appeal challenging the Delhi High Court order dismissing his plea for a Special Investigation Team (SIT)-led probe into the case.

Get latest news & live updates on the go on your pc with News App. Download The Times of India news app for your device. Read more India news in English and other languages.

Army major involved in human shield row detained with woman at Srinagar hotel

Major Leetul Gogoi, the Rashtriya Rifles officer who shot to fame after tying a Kashmiri civilian to the front of his jeep to perceptibly prevent stone-pelting attacks, was detained by the police on Wednesday in circumstances that are still unclear.

Also detained with him was a woman and a local man. The woman was initially suspected to be a minor but the police later confirmed she was over 18 years of age. They, however, did not share details on her age.

According to the police, they were summoned to Grand Mamta Hotel, where Gogoi had booked a room in his own name (the booking had been done online). The two locals came to the hotel and asked to go up to Gogoi’s room and got into an altercation with the hotel staff when they were not allowed. The hotel staff called the police.

Gogoi has been released and has rejoined his unit, police said, adding that the two locals were still being questioned.

“A police party was deputed to the hotel, and it surfaced that a woman and a man, Sameer Ahmed of Budgam, had come to see some person in the hotel. The hotel reception didn’t allow them to meet the person. All three were brought to the police station,” said a police spokesperson.

He added that they later learnt that the woman had come to meet an army officer.

North Srinagar’s superintendent of police Sajad Ahmad Shah declined to name the army officer, but the hotel management said the booking was in the name of Leetul Gogoi, a resident of Tinsukia, Assam. “What we know is that a man and a woman had come to meet him. The hotel staff did not allow them, leading to an altercation,’’ Shah added.

“The room was booked online. A person came along with a local girl and sought (to go to) the room. Our hotel manager asked him for his identity and the identity of the girl. The girl was a local and according to our hotel policy we don’t provide rooms to local unmarried couples,’’ said the hotel owner, Manzoor Ahmad.

A person familiar with the matter said that Gogoi claimed he had booked the room to meet with a “source”, although this is highly irregular and not in keeping with army procedures. Hindustan Times couldn’t independently confirm this.

Last April, during by-elections for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, Major Gogoi had tied a civilian, Farooq Ahmad Dar, to a bonnet of his jeep as a human shield to deter stone-pelters from targeting his troops. The incident led to a massive human rights controversy. Army Chief General Bipin Rawat awarded Gogoi a commendation card for his “sustained efforts” on counter-insurgency operations.
Source