India

New Delhi, Sep 25 (PTI) The Congress on Saturday extended support to the Bharat Bandh call given by farmer unions against the Centre's three agri laws and demanded that discussions be initiated with the protesters.

Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said the Congress party and all its workers will support the "peaceful Bharat Bandh on September 27, called by farmer unions and farmers".

New Delhi, Sep 25 (PTI) The Aam Aadmi Party strongly supports the call for a Bharat Bandh issued by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha on September 27, party leader Raghav Chadha said on Saturday.

He said AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has always stood by the farmers against the "black laws".

"The Aam Aadmi Party and Arvind Kejriwal have always stood by the farmers against black laws. AAP strongly supports the call for a Bharat Bandh issued by the United Kisan Morcha on September 27," Chadha tweeted.

Jammu, Sep 25 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina on Saturday said the assembly elections in the union territory would likely be held early next year after the completion of the delimitation exercise.

He said the supporters of terrorism are the enemies of the people of the union territory and would be treated in accordance with the law of the land which is equal for everyone -- whether a government employee, politician or an ordinary citizen.

Tumakuru, Sep 25 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday denounced the call for Bharat Bandh by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha against the Centre's three contentious farm laws on September 27, saying disrupting economic activities post COVID-19 was not in the interest of the nation.

People have just now started performing various tasks after suffering for one-and-half years due to the pandemic, he said. "They have started their business activities. It is our duty to make sure that people should not face hardship," Bommai told reporters.

Chandigarh, Sep 25 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Saturday said he will meet ministers, MLAs and other political functionaries every Tuesday.

The move is aimed at ensuring better coordination between the government and people's representatives.

A spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said Channi ordered that the Cabinet meeting would be held every Tuesday at 3 pm and directed all administrative secretaries and heads of departments to remain present in their offices during this time every Tuesday.

New Delhi, Sep 25 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will bring home 157 artefacts and antiquities, which were handed over to India by the US during his visit, with both he and President Joe Biden expressing commitment to strengthening efforts to combat theft, illicit trade and trafficking of cultural objects.

While nearly half of the artefacts (71) are cultural, the other half consists of figurines related to Hinduism (60), Buddhism (16) and Jainism (9), an official statement said on Saturday.

Kaushambi (UP), Sep 25 (PTI) A five-year-old girl was allegedly raped here in Sarai Akil police station area, officials said on Saturday adding that a case has been registered against unknown persons in this regard.

Currently, the girl is undergoing treatment at the district hospital.

Godda, Sep 26 (PTI) A man was arrested in Jharkhand's Godda district for allegedly setting his wife on fire for dowry, police said.

Rajesh Paswan of Kusumara village was arrested on Saturday as a case was lodged against him and his parents at Mufassil police station after his wife Soni Devi died of burn injuries, they said.

Soni Devi, mother of three children, was first tied with a rope by her husband and mother-in-law and then set on fire by sprinkling kerosene on September 16, police said.

New Delhi, Sep 26 (PTI) Bishan Singh Bedi once invited Pakistani cricketers Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Mudassar Nazar and others for dinner in Australia and cooked delectable food for the 25-odd guests, says a new book.

Bedi turned 75 on Saturday and his former teammates, friends and admirers from the cricket fraternity came together to pay unique tribute to him through a festschrift of sorts.

Lucknow, Sep 26 (PTI) The Council of Ministers headed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will be expanded on Sunday evening, officials said.

A swearing-in ceremony has been scheduled at the Gandhi auditorium in Raj Bhavan at 5:30 pm, they said.

The officials, however, remained tight-lipped about the number or the names of ministers who will be inducted in the cabinet, barely months ahead of the crucial 2022 assembly elections in the state.