No Politics Behind Orange Vande Bharat Trains, Says Railway Minister

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a recent interaction with journalists dismissed the notion that there is any politics behind launching orange-colour Vande Bharat trains, saying the choice of colours was informed by scientific thought.

"For human eyes, two colours are supposed to be the most visible - yellow and orange. In Europe, almost 80 per cent of trains have either orange or a combination of yellow and orange," Mr Vaishnaw said.

"There are many other colours, such as silver, which are bright like yellow and orange but if we talk about it from the point of view of visibility to the human eye, these two colours are considered to be the best," he added.

Mr Vaishnaw asserted there is no politics behind it and it is a 100 per cent scientific thought.

He said it is due to these reasons black boxes in aircraft and ships are of orange colour. "Even rescue boats and life jackets, which National Disaster Response Force uses, are of orange colour."

The Indian Railway launched its first orange-grey colour Vande Bharat train on September 24 between Kasaragod and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. It was one of the nine Vande Bharat trains that Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off on September 24 in a video conference.

Kasaragod-Thiruvananthapuram was the 31st Vande Bharat train to hit the track for a trial run on August 19 at the Integral Coach Factory, a manufacturer of rail coaches in Perambur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. 

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Centre Bans 2 Tripura-Based Insurgent Groups, Their Associates For 5 Years

The Centre on Tuesday banned Tripura-based insurgent groups the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) as well as their associate organisations for five years for their involvement in various subversive activities and threatening the country's sovereignty and integrity.

In a notification, the Union home ministry said the professed aim of the NLFT and the ATTF is the establishment of an independent nation by the secession of Tripura from India through an armed struggle in alliance with other armed secessionist organisations of the northeastern state and to incite the indigenous people of Tripura for such secession.

The Centre is of the opinion that the NLFT and the ATTF have been engaging in subversive and violent activities, thereby undermining the authority of the government and spreading terror and violence among people for achieving their objectives, the ministry said.

The two groups, in pursuance of their aims and objectives in the recent past, engaged in violent and unlawful activities, "which are prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India", it added.

These groups are also involved in killing civilians and personnel belonging to the police and security forces and engaged in extortion of funds from the public, including businessmen and traders, the notification said.

The NLFT and the ATTF have established and maintained camps in neighbouring countries for the purpose of a safe sanctuary, training, procurement of arms and ammunition etc.

The notification said the Centre is also of the opinion that the aforesaid activities of the NLFT and the ATTF are detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India and that they are unlawful associations.

"Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the central government hereby declares the NLFT along with all its factions, wings and front organisations and the ATTF along with all its factions, wings and front organisations as unlawful associations," the notification said.

The home ministry said the ban will be effective for five years. 

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Ashok Gehlot Submits Apology In Court For "Corruption In Judiciary" Remark

In an affidavit filed Tuesday in the Rajasthan High Court, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot tendered an "unconditional apology" for his remark suggesting that there was "rampant corruption" in the judiciary.

The affidavit was in response to a petition filed by an advocate over Mr Gehlot's remark on August 30 that had triggered outrage in the lawyers' community.

Mr Gehlot had suggested then that some judges were delivering judgments drafted by lawyers. 

"Corruption is rampant in the judiciary today. I have heard that some lawyers themselves take the judgement in writing and the same judgement is pronounced," he told reporters.

The bench of Justices M M Shrivastava and Praveer Bhatnagar posted the matter for the next hearing on November 7, allowing the petitioner to file his rejoinder to the chief minister's affidavit.

"The answering respondent submits that he has the utmost regard for the majesty of law and the judiciary. He has not knowingly or unknowingly made any statement to undermine the dignity of law or courts. The answering respondent has full faith in judiciary," Mr Gehlot said in the affidavit filed on his behalf.

However, if the court feels that the statement attempted to lower the dignity of the judiciary among people, "the answering respondent tenders his unconditional apology for the same", it added.

The affidavit said he has been reading what many former judges of the Supreme Court have said about corruption in the judiciary. It added that members of the public meeting him about their grievances have also highlighted "corrupt practices" in the judiciary.

"This has greatly anguished the respondent," it said.

Some published articles on the judiciary were also attached with the Congress leader's reply.

High court lawyers and those working in the lower courts in Jodhpur had observed a day-long strike over Mr Gehlot's remark. The CM had later backtracked, saying the comment did not reflect his "personal opinion". 

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Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Rides Motorbike To Lead Yatra Ahead Of Polls

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday rode a motorcycle to lead the ruling Congress' 'Bharosa Yatra' in his assembly constituency in Durg district to propagate the works done by his government in the last five years.

Similar day-long Bharosa Yatras (march of trust) were also taken out in the remaining 89 assembly constituencies of the poll-bound state by the Congress to mark Gandhi Jayanti.

During the yatras, the Congress said, it apprised people about welfare schemes of the Baghel government and also told them how the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) neglected the residents of the state during its 15-year rule (2003-2018).

Riding motorcycles, a large number of ruling party leaders and workers accompanied Bhupesh Baghel in the 40-km-long yatra kicked off from Selud village in the Patan assembly constituency in Durg district.

Addressing a gathering of workers at the launch of the yatra, Baghel hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his statement on paddy procurement in Chhattisgarh.

"The PM lied (during his recent rally in Bilaspur) to people that the Centre procured every single grain of paddy from farmers in the state. Who has opened paddy procurement centres? Who has decided to procure 20 quintal paddy per acre? All these works are being done by the state government," the chief minister said.

When there was a "double-engine" government in Chhattisgarh (2014-2018), with PM Modi and Raman Singh leading the central and state governments, respectively, they had decided to procure 10 quintal per acre from farmers in place of 15 quintal per acre, he said.

Bhupesh Baghel said his government has strengthened the local economy and transformed the lives of people.

"We have improved education, health and infrastructure in the last five years," he asserted.

Talking to reporters later, Mr Baghel said his party Congress has decided to observe a peaceful 'Bastar Bandh' (shutdown) on Wednesday in protest against the Centre's plan to privatise the newly commissioned Nagarnar Steel Plant of mining major NMDC in Bastar district.

Prime Minister Modi will dedicate the plant to the nation during his visit to Jagdalpur on Wednesday.

Baghel accused the opposition BJP of spreading rumours on alleged irregularities in recruitment by the state public service commission (PSC).

Earlier, state ministers, Congress MLAs and MPs took part in the yatras in their respective constituencies.

The assembly elections are expected to be held in the state in November-December.

The state government had in the last few months organised 'Bharose Ka Sammelan' (gathering of trust) at various places to connect with the masses. These events were also attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi.

Slogans like 'Bhupesh Hai To Bharosa hai' (if there is Bhupesh, we have trust) and 'Bharose Ki Sarkar' (government of trust) featured during these programmes.

The opposition BJP concluded its 'Parivartan Yatra' (March of Change) on Saturday (September 30) in Bilaspur city where Prime Minister Modi addressed a gathering.

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"Won't Walk Away": Biden Vows Ukraine Support, Urges Republicans To "Stop The Games"

President Joe Biden on Sunday vowed the United States would not abandon Ukraine despite aid being dropped from a deal to avoid a government shutdown, urging Republicans to "stop the games" on funding.

"I want to assure our American allies, the American people, and the people in Ukraine that you can count on our support. We will not walk away," Biden said in an address from the White House.

Biden said there was an "overwhelming sense of urgency" to get Congress to pass a new package of assistance to Ukraine in the days and weeks to come as it battles the Russian invasion.

An 11th-hour deal by Congress late Saturday to avoid a US government shutdown contained no new war-time aid for Ukraine as part of a compromise between Republicans and Democrats.

Democrat Biden lashed out at Republicans and called on House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to avoid another shutdown drama when the 45-day stopgap deal agreed on Saturday runs out.

"I'm sick and tired of the brinksmanship," Biden said, speaking from the Roosevelt Room at the White House.

"The brinksmanship has to end. There shouldn't be another crisis."

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US Government Hours From Shutdown, Funding Chaos

With the US government just hours from shutting down on Saturday, Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy pitched a last-gasp stopgap measure to avoid a closure that would throw into doubt everything from access to national parks to Washington's massive support for Ukraine.

The freeze of all but critical government services, set to start after midnight Saturday (0400 GMT Sunday) if lawmakers fail to reach a deal, would be the first since 2019 -- immediately delaying salaries for millions of federal employees and military personnel.

Congress has been unable to break the deadlock, largely due to a small group of hard-line Republicans in the House of Representatives pushing back against temporary funding proposals that would at least keep the lights on.

Speaker McCarthy called a vote Saturday on a fresh measure that would keep the government open for another 45 days at current spending levels, but without any aid for Ukraine -- a point of major contention for Democrats.

"I am asking Republicans and Democrats alike. Put your partisanship away," McCarthy said Saturday.

If the bill receives the significant Democratic support it would need to pass and overcome hardline Republican opposition in the House, the right-wingers have threatened to remove the speaker from his post.

"If somebody wants to remove (me) because I want to be the adult in the room, go ahead and try," McCarthy said, as he also sought to shift any blame for a shutdown on President Joe Biden.

If Biden lobbies against the latest stopgap, "then the shutdown is on him," McCarthy said.

The White House insists the real negotiation is between McCarthy and the hardliners who scuppered a similar temporary funding measure on Friday, underlying a growing sense of chaos inside the Republican party ahead of next year's presidential election.

"There are those in Congress right now who are sowing so much division, they're willing to shut down the government tonight," Biden said Saturday morning on X, formerly known as Twitter. "It's unacceptable."

The Democrat-controlled Senate had been expected to vote on its own stopgap bill later Saturday - one that does include funding for Ukraine.

- Big question on Ukraine -

While all critical government services would remain functioning, a shutdown would mean the majority of national parks, for example -- from the iconic Yosemite and Yellowstone in the west to Florida's Everglades swamp -- would be closed to public access beginning Sunday.

With student loan payments resuming in October, officials also said Friday that key activities at the Federal Student Aid office would continue for a couple of weeks.

But a prolonged shutdown could cause bigger disruptions.

A shutdown "unnecessarily" places the world's largest economy at risk, White House National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard told CNBC.

Risks that could percolate through the wider economy include air travel delays, with air traffic controllers asked to work without pay.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned a closure could also delay infrastructure improvements.

"In the immediate term, a government shutdown will only reduce GDP by 0.2 percentage points each week it lasts," said a report released Friday by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank, adding that a shutdown would "undermine the United States' overall credibility as a commercial partner."

The mess casts a growing shadow over Biden's policy of arming and funding Ukraine in its desperate war against the Russian invasion. For Republican hardliners behind the derailment of a new budget, stopping aid to Ukraine is a key goal.

Most Republican members of Congress continue to support US backing for Ukraine, but the shutdown will at minimum raise questions over the political viability of renewing the multibillion-dollar flow of assistance.

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"Panchayat Winner Not Sworn-In...": Tamil Nadu Governor's Caste Charge

A woman panchayat president in Tamil Nadu was prevented from assuming office merely because she hailed from the Scheduled Caste community, Governor RN Ravi said on Friday.

The woman, P Indumathi (of Navakkaneri village panchayat, Tirupattur district), could not take the oath of office, two years after winning the rural local poll, as she belonged to the SC community, he said at an event in Rajapalayam in the district.

"These are the people who always spread poison in the society. They are the people who have kept the society divided and in the name of social justice they have still kept a large population of our country especially the people from SC and ST suppressed," the Governor said in a veiled reference to the ruling DMK.

"... And they proudly proclaimed that they are the champions of social justice, Ravi said and added, "they are the people who spread poison just for the sake of politics," he said.

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