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Budget LIVE Updates: The government aims to bring greater ease of living in the lives of its citizens, says finance minister

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Budget LIVE Updates: The government aims to bring greater ease of living in the lives of its citizens, says finance minister

On 1st February 2019, the then acting Finance Minister Piyush Goyal had presented an Interim Budget where several benefits for individual taxpayers and MSMEs were announced. However, since it was the year of General Elections, the government presented a vote on account and not a full budget. After the Modi government has taken charge, today, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the first full budget of Modi government’s second term.

This page brings you the live updates as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents Union Budget 2019. You can also watch the budget speech live on YouTube by scrolling down to the end of this page.

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Watch the speech live on YouTube:

Delhi: 6-year-old girl brutally raped in Dwarka, accused Mohammed Nanhe arrested

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Delhi: 6-year-old girl brutally raped in Dwarka, accused Mohammed Nanhe arrested

In another horrific incident of sexual assault on children, a 6-year-old girl was raped in Dwarka’s Sector-23, Delhi, on July 2.


As reported by Raj Shekhar Jha of Times of India, police arrested one Mohammed Nanhe (24) with the help of the CCTV footage.


The victim was abducted from near her house and taken to an isolated place where the accused raped her. The minor was found lying in a pool of blood by a passerby in the bushes adjacent to a road and was rushed to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital.

She was later shifted to the Safdarjung Hospital. According to doctors, the condition of the baby remains fragile as she has suffered serious injuries in her private parts, including ruptured veins.

The police found a CCTV in the area of crime which caught the face of the accused. With the help of this footage, the Delhi police identified and nabbed the accused.

OpIndia got in touch with the local police station who confirmed the incident and said that the perpetrator has been arrested.

The spate of incidents of criminal assaults against women especially minor girls have been on the rise. Last month, the dead body of a 7-year-old girl was found in Narela Industrial Area, Delhi. One Imran had been arrested for raping and murdering the child and dumping her body in Narela. The girl was visually-impaired.

Video and Stats Highlight from Afghanistan v West Indies match

OpIndia Staff
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Video and Stats Highlight from Afghanistan v West Indies match

So Windies finishes off with a win just like they started their world cup campaign, in between they lost six games, with one called off due to rain while Afghanistan failed to win a single game in the tournament.

West Indies opted to bat first after winning the toss on a batting track at Leeds. Playing his last World Cup match, Chirs Gayle couldn’t do much with the bat and got out for just seven runs. After his dismissal, every West Indian batsman chipped with some useful runs. Lewis (58) and Hope (77) added 88 runs for the second wicket before Nabi caught Lewis off Rashid. The next four batsmen, Hetmyer (39), Pooran (58), Holder (45) and Brathwaite (14*) all scored at more than run a ball to finish the innings at 311 for 6 in 50 overs. The Afghan bowlers didn’t have a great day in the field, with everyone going over five an over.

Afghanistan had a lousy start too when they lost their captain and opener, Gulbadin Naib for just 5. However, Rahmat Shah (62) and the new batting sensation, Ikram Alikhil (86) added 133 runs in as many balls brought the hope in Afghan fans of winning the first game of the tournament. But once Ikram got out, 311 looked like a huge score to chase down. Even though Najibullah Zardan (31) and Asghar Afghan (40) added tried their best to chase, the task was too high with wickets falling at regular intervals. Afghanistan bowled out for 288 in 50 overs, for West Indies Brathwaite took four wickets while Roach took 3.

In the end, it was an easy win for West Indies, Afghanistan fought well but chasing a score above 300 was too much for them.

Video Highlights

STATS

  • Gayle has now 10,338 runs in ODI for West Indies, only Lara with 10,348 runs is ahead of him for most runs in ODI for West Indies.
  • Ikram Alikhil (18 years, 278 days) is the third youngest batsman, after Tamim Iqbal (17 years 362 days) and Mohd Ashraful (18 years, 234 days), to score a World Cup fifty.

We will try to score 500 runs says Pakistani cricket captain Sarfaraz Ahmed

OpIndia Staff
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We will try to score 500 runs says Pakistani cricket captain Sarfaraz Ahmed

In a press conference before their last World Cup match, Pakistani cricket captain Sarfaraz Ahmed said that the team would try to score 500 to qualify for the semis. Pakistan needs to win the match by a minimum of 312 runs to qualify for the semis, whether they score 400 or 500 or 600.

Pakistan needs to score a minimum of 400 runs to score batting first, and then they have to dismiss Bangladesh for less than 84 or score 350 and dismiss Bangladesh for 38 runs. If they bowl first then they will have no chance.

Sarfaraz Ahmed said,”Obviously we are here to win all the matches. We will do our best to win the last game as well. We will do our best, but we need to be realistic. If you score 600, 500 or 400 scores on a pitch, then you think you can get the other team out for 50? It will be tough, but we will still give it a try.


“The target is in front of us; there are no secrets that [we have] to score 500, 550, and then win by a 316-run margin. But if you look at the tournament then, realistically it is a 280-300 tournament.”

Sarfaraz also said that the turning point for their team in the World Cup was their loss against the mighty Australians. Pakistan was in winning a position at one stage in the match before Starc finished off their innings.

“The turning point was the loss against Australia. We were in a better position to win that game but lost the way in the middle overs. “And if you look at the pitches, they were not for free and open cricket, all the matches they were tough for batting, spin was there, and the ball was not coming on the bat.”


Currently, Pakistan is at the 5th position in Points table with 9 points; they need to win the match to have 2 points and also need to win an unrealistic margin to grab a place in the semis.

Gujarat Rajya Sabha bypolls: Congress MLAs return to Gandhinagar from ‘shivir’, voting underway

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat Rajya Sabha bypolls: Congress MLAs return to Gandhinagar from ‘shivir’, voting underway

Voting for the Rajya Sabha bypolls in Gujarat is currently underway in Gandhinagar. The Congress MLAs who were whisked away to Banaskantha resort for a ‘shivir’ in a bid to stop horsetrading, returned to Gandhinagar this morning to cast their votes. The bypolls were necessitated after Smriti Irani and Amit Shah vacated their Rajya Sabha seats after they were elected from Amethi and Gandhinagar respectively.

Congress’ nervousness is understandable as close Sonia-aide and senior leader of the party, Ahmed Patel, had only barely managed to scrape through in the Rajya Sabha elections in 2017. Even then, the MLAs were taken to the resort in Karnataka owned by Karnataka MLA DK Shivakumar to prevent them from defecting to the BJP and cross-voting.

While Patel managed to retain his seat, Congress leadership in Gujarat received a lot of flak for abandoning the people who voted for them during one of the worst floods Gujarat faced even as they enjoyed luxury in Bengaluru. It drew more criticism as special chef was arranged for to provide Gujarati meals even as the rescue operations in Gujarat were carried out in their constituencies.

BJP has fielded External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Juglalji Thakor while Congress candidates are Chandrika Chudasma and Gaurav Pandya. The counting of votes will begin at 5 pm today.

Union Budget 2019: British legacy of budget briefcase dumped, Nirmala Sitharaman arrives with ‘Bahi khata’

OpIndia Staff
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Union Budget 2019: British legacy of budget briefcase dumped, Nirmala Sitharaman arrives with ‘Bahi khata’

The Union Budget is to be presented in the parliament today. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is India’s first female full-time Finance Minister, has arrived at the Finance Ministry at North Block with the Budget documents.


Nirmala Sitharaman, however, surprised all when she appeared without the usual leather briefcase that has become so symbolic with Finance Ministers arriving on Budget days. On her hands was not the briefcase but a traditional ‘Bahikhata’, wrapped in red cloth and tied with a gold string. The Indian national emblem shone brightly on it.

Chief Economic Advisor Krishnamurthy Subramanian explained the idea behind it. Speaking to media, Subramanian stated that it is the Indian way to store the ledger and account details in a four-fold red cloth. He stated that the FM carrying the documents in that manner represents our departure from the slavery of western thought. He asserted that in our country, it is not the budget, it is the ‘Bahi Khata’.

As explained by a report in Republic TV, the word Budget has been derived from the French term bougette which means a briefcase. The British tradition of ‘opening the budget’ and presenting the financial plans of the government had originated in the 1860s. Eventually, it trickled over to post-colonial India.

The budget will be presented at 11 am today in parliament.

Yet another fake ‘hate crime’, Kanpur incident of Muslim auto driver thrashed for not chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ is fake

OpIndia Staff
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Yet another fake ‘hate crime’, Kanpur incident of Muslim auto driver thrashed for not chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ is fake

On Thursday reports emerged that a Muslim auto driver in Kanpur, Aatib, was allegedly thrashed for not chanting Jai Shree Ram. It was reported that he was allegedly locked up inside a public toilet by three people for refusing to chant ‘Jai Shree Ram’ on Wednesday night.

The Telegraph had reported that Aatib was asked by the customers who hired his auto to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ after they refused to pay the fare. Congress mouthpiece Navjivan, had also reported how three youths mercilessly thrashed Aatib for refusing to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’. In fact, there were reports that communal tensions have escalated in the area because rumours were floated on WhatsApp that Aatib had died after being thrashed for not chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

However, the allegations that Aatib was forced to chant Jai Shri Ram are false. According to Police, the men who boarded Aatib’s auto were drunk and matters escalated when they refused to pay fare and got into a heated argument. However, Aatib was not forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ as claims made by Aatib. SP South Raveena Tyagi confirmed to OpIndia that the news of Aatib being forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ are false.

This is not the first time an alleged ‘hate crime’ has turned out to be someone crying wolf. In May this year, media had reported how one Barkat Ali in Gurugram was beaten up by some Hindu men in Sadar Bazar area and his cap forcefully thrown on the ground. He had even claimed that he was forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’. Prime-time debates happened around him since the incident took place right after Narendra Modi was reelected as Prime Minister with a thumping mandate. However, the CCTV recording revealed how it was actually a scuffle between few men and the argument turned into push and shoving in which his cap fell down. The CCTV footage showed how no one had deliberately removed his skullcap. And how even his initial complaint never mentioned that he was forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

Similarly, in June this year, a madarsa teacher named Mohammed Momin had alleged that he was abused and then run over by the car as he refused to chant Hindu religious slogans at Delhi’s Rohini Sector. However, eyewitnesses rubbished Momin’s allegations. A Police officer said, “The accounts given by some eyewitnesses of the incident do not substantiate the claims made by the victim but the investigation is underway”. CCTV footage from near the crime scene has also not been able to prove the allegations.

In yet another incident, former AIMIM leader who is now a leader of Majlis Bachao Tehreek took to Twitter to share that a Muslim man was beaten up in Karimnagar, Telangana. He alleged that the Muslim man was beaten up for not chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’. It was also shared by other social media users.

However, Commissioner of Police, Karimnagar, Telangana State, shared a video of the Muslim man where he clarified that he was beaten up over a personal issue and there was no communal side to it.

He mentioned how it took place over a ‘love story’. He was beaten up for allegedly harassing a teenaged girl over last few days. The police have registered a case against five persons who beat him up under various sections of the IPC.

You could read our detailed report on how a dozen ‘hate crimes’ turned out to be fake here.

Revealed: Dhoni’s secret of using different logo on bats during the Cricket World Cup

OpIndia Staff
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Revealed: Dhoni’s secret of using different logo on bats during the Cricket World Cup

In a grand gesture to all the bat owners who helped MS Dhoni in the different stages of his career, MS Dhoni using bats in the world cup with different logos on it.

In an interview to Mumbai Mirror, Dhoni’s manager, Arun Pandey revealed reasons for using different bat logos in World Cup games.

As per Pandey, “It’s a fact that he has been using different bats with different brandings, but he is not charging them. He wants to say thank to them for helping in various stages of his career.”

Most of the batsmen charge Rs 4 to 5 crores for bat sponsors. The first multi-dollar deal happened in 1996 when MRF signed Tendulkar as the bat sponsor. Since then, many bat companies signed cricketers all over the world to promote their brand name.

“Dhoni has a big heart. He does not need money; he has enough of it; he is using those bats as a goodwill gesture. BAS was with him from the beginning, and SG also was beneficial to him,” Pandey also said.

MS Dhoni, who is playing his last world cup, has won World T20 in 2007 and World Cup 2011 as an Indian captain. He is the only captain to win ICC World Cup, ICC World T20, ICC Champions Trophy and ICC Number One Test Team mace.

Delhi: Two youths, Maroof and Salman arrested after video of them vandalising shops with swords went viral

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi: Two youths, Maroof and Salman arrested after video of them vandalising shops with swords went viral

A video exposing free run of hooligans in the national capital has emerged. In the terrifying video, a man is seen waving sharp weapons and vandalising the stalls on the roadside.


According to reports, the video relates to an incident that took place on the night of July 2 in Welcome area of Delhi. The man in the video is armed with two weapons, a meat cleaver in his right hand and a long sword in his left hand. He is seen vandalising the food stalls on the side of the road. He hits the stalls with the weapons in his hand, kicks at a glass panel on a food stall, as the people standing there move aside. He also assaults a man who is seen coming out of a shop.

As per reports, Salman was also seen threatening the staff with a machete. As per the police, Salman was released from the jail just a month prior and was accused of extorting the shopkeepers. He even has four other criminal cases against him.

A case has been registered by the police against the accused under the Arms Act. Accused Salman and Maroof have been arrested by Delhi Police. An inquiry has also been ordered by a senior officer in the case.

Former RBI governor Urjit Patel says before 2014, RBI and government was slow in tackling bank crisis

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Former RBI governor Urjit Patel says before 2014, RBI and government was slow in tackling bank crisis

In his first remarks after resigning from the position of governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Urjit Patel held banks, government and the RBI responsible for the spiraling crisis of bad loan mess and the following low capital buffers till 2014. Patel asserted the banks indulged in over-lending and the regulator (RBI) should have acted sooner to reduce the magnitude of the current NPA crisis.

Patel was invited at Standford University where he spoke about the areas of concern for the country’s banking sector including high non-performing assets (NPAs) especially at state-run lenders, and current capital buffers being “overstated” and insufficient to tackle the huge stress. He said, “There are multiple stakeholders responsible for the position we are in right now. Prior to 2014, all stakeholders failed in playing their role adequately. Banks, the regulator, and the government.”

After Narendra Modi came into power in 2014, Patel was appointed as the governor of RBI in 2016, and he had kickstarted asset quality review that led to the recognition that system was reeling from hidden stress. The introduction of bankruptcy laws was one of the moves to assuage the lurking stress. Patel contended these actions profoundly impacted the bank’s ability to fund the demands of the economy, where growth had been slumping.

Patel recommended the current government to stay on the course and enforce tough decisions in the face of difficulties. “Temptations to reset ‘back to the past’ should be forsaken, ” he urged. In addition, he cautioned that “episodic concerns” on stability are possible if there is “foot-dragging, or, worse, back-pedaling”. He also emphasized that short cuts and hiding the problem for future remedy will be futile and will only dealy unlocking of capital, and act as an impediment in the way of financing future investment efficiently.

Regarding NPA issue Patel said, “Matters related to ever-greening the NPA problem may surface again. Banks may be inclined to delay their decision making leading to the reemergence of the NPA crisis.”

He also aired his disappointment about the enforcement of the insolvency and the bankruptcy code, asserting it has “thrown up a worrying number of exceptions” and signs of “gaming” are evident as several major cases are held beyond the 350-day resolution window.

Speaking on the recent measures of forcing bank consolidation by the government, Patel voiced concern suggesting such mergers have “eroded” the value of the entity taking over weaker banks and called IDBI Bank a “highly problematic” organization, which was thrust upon LIC. He also added that the public sector banks have a high ratio of non-operating expenses to their earnings as compared to their private counterparts.

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