July 3, 2024 News: Jharkhand CM Champai Soren Resigns; CBI Arrests 'Kingpin' Aman Singh In NEET Case

Here are the top headlines of the day in case you missed the major happenings of the day.

• NEET-UG 2024 Case: CBI Arrests 'Kingpin' Aman Singh From Jharkhand

• Hathras Tragedy: Self-styled Godman Reacts, Says 'Stampede Caused By Anti-social Elements'

• Maharashtra Congress Chief Nana Patole Says 'Will Contest Polls As MVA'

• Hemant Soren To Return As Jharkhand CM?

• Govt Asks States To Keep Vigil After Zika Cases In Maharashtra

• Rouse Avenue Court Extends kejriwal's Custody Till July 12

• Indian Cricket Team Leaves From Barbados

• PM Modi Says Govt Putting All Efforts To Improve Situation In Violence-Hit Manipur

• PM Modi Says Congress Biggest Opponent Of Constitution

• Kharge Tells Why Opposition Staged Walkout

Welcome to Outlook India's Breaking News Live Blog, through which we bring you real-time updates on major events and developments across the globe. Here’s a look at top events and developments in focus today:

• Hathras 'Satsang' Stampede follow-ups

• Weather Updates

• EAM S Jaishankar to lead Indian delegation to SCO Summit

• Arvind Kejriwal's judicial custody ends today

A total 116 people died and several others were injured in a stampede that took place during a 'satsang' (Religious gathering) at a village in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district on Tuesday, July 2. The stampede reportedly occurred when 'Bhole Baba', in honour of who the 'satsang' was organised, was exiting the venue and people rushed to touch his feet. Some people fell, because of the slippery mud due to water overflowing from a nearby drain, and were crushed by the crowd coming from behind. READ FULL STORY

A witness Shakuntala Devi told news agency PTI that the stampede took place while people were leaving the venue at the end of the 'satsang'. "Outside, there was a road built on a height over a drain. People fell atop each other," she said.

A second witness, Sonu Kumar, said there were at least 10,000 people at the venue and when Baba was leaving, many of them rushed to touch his feet. As they were returning, people slipped and fell over one another as parts of the ground had turned boggy with water overflowing from a nearby drain, he added.

Another person who had left the venue before the programme ended said the arrangements made were inadequate for the size of the crowd gathered at the venue.

Sanding outside the mortuary in Etah, Kailash said people fell on top of each other due to the slippery mud and the crowd coming from behind crushed them.

Santosh, who went to Hathras from Firozabad to attend the 'satsang', told reporters, "I went to Satsang with my sister. Hari ji came at around 12 o'clock. It concluded at 1.30 o'clock I took prasad in the pandal with my sister. "When we came out, we saw that everyone ran for darshan, and there was a drain nearby, and some people fell in it."

Day after Rahul Gandhi's unbridled speech in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a fierce address, saying that what happened yesterday will not be forgiven by the people of the nation for centuries to come.

From calling the Leader of Opposition a "kid" to terming the Congress to be a "parasitic" party, Modi launched back-to-back attacks at the grand old party and its leader.

Modi was replying to the Motion of Thanks on President Droupadi Murmu's Address in the Lok Sabha. READ FULL STORY HERE

Most of the 116 people who died in a stampede during a 'satsang' organised in Sikandra Rao area of the Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday have been identified, the Uttar Pradesh government said.

As per Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, out of the 116 victims, seven are children, one man and the rest are women.

Aligarh Zone Inspector General of Police (IG) Shalabh Mathur told PTI, "116 people have died in the stampede incident in Hathras." Etah and Hathras are adjacent districts and people from Etah had also come to attend the 'satsang'.

Efforts are being made to identify the remaining bodies, officials said.

Bhole Baba aka Narayan Saakar Hari, the religious preacher whose 'Satsang' led to the stampede that claimed the lives of over 100 people on Tuesday, served in the state police for 18 years before quitting his job and taking up this new role.

His real name is Surajpal and he is a native of Kasaganj district's Bahadur Nagar, a retired IPS officer said. Meanwhile, Circlo Officer (CO) of Patiyali Vijay Kumar Rana told news agency PTI that the Baba left his policeman job in the late 1990s and turned towards the spiritual line.

A search operation was underway for 'Bhole Baba', who conducted a Satsang in Hathras where a stampede took place yesterday claiming the lives of 116 people.

Forensic unit along with dog squad was seen at the stampede incident site in Hathras, where 116 people died in the mishap on Tuesday.

An FIR has been registered under sections 105, 110, 126(2), 223 and 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 against one Devprakash Madhukar referred to as 'Mukhya Sewadar' and other organisers of the religious event where the stampede occurred

Italian police arrested a farm owner on Tuesday on suspicion of homicide after one of his workers, an undocumented labourer from India, bled to death when his arm was cut off by a piece of farm equipment. The landowner abandoned the bleeding worker and failed to call an ambulance, prosecutors said.

The death of Satnam Singh shocked Italians and sparked protests by unions and farm workers demanding better working conditions. They have called for an end to the exploitive “caporalato” system of using underpaid migrant labour to work in Italy's agriculture industry.

(via PTI)

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval appointed TV Ravichandran and Pawan Kapoor as his deputy in the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) team. Rajendra Khanna, who served as the deputy NSA, has been appointed as the Additional NSA.

TV Ravichandran, a 1990 batch IPS officer, is currently the special director in the Intelligence Bureau. Pawan Kapoor, a 1990 batch IFS officer, has served in several missions abroad for India and is currently in the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Prime Minister's Office.

Kapoort has also served as an international civil servant with the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.

A 55-year-old woman has been detected with Zika virus injection in Pune, taking the number of cases to seven, health officials said on Tuesday. The city had on Monday reported six cases of the infection, and two of the patients were pregnant women.

In the latest case, a woman from Dahanukar colony in Kothrud developed rashes and suffered from joint pains. Her reports came positive for Zika virus on Monday, news agency PTI quoted an official from the Pune Municipal Corporation as saying.

Death toll in Hathras incident rises to 121 and 28 injured, as per the Office of the Relief Commissioner.

The road near Yamunotri National Highway at Dabarkot is blocked due to a landslide. Road clearance activity is underway but it is taking time to clear the road due to continuous sliding: Uttarakhand Police

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is likely to visit Hathras on Wednesday where a stampede at a religious congregation killed 116 people, a senior government official said.

A team consisting of ADG Agra and Aligarh Divisional Commissioner has been constituted to inquire into the cause of the incident. The report is to be submitted within 24 hours, the government said in a statement on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters at his residence on Tuesday, Adityanath said, "Our government will get to the bottom of this incident and give appropriate punishment to the conspirators and those responsible. The state government is investigating this entire incident. We will see whether it is an accident or a conspiracy."

He also slammed the political parties doing politics over the tragic incident and said, "Doing politics on such an incident is extremely unfortunate and condemnable. This is the time to heal the wounds of the victims, to sympathise with the victims. The government is sensitive in this matter and no culprit will be spared."

The death toll in the stampede at a religious congregation in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras has risen to 121, a senior official said on Wednesday.

According to the Office of the Relief Commissioner, the number of people injured in Tuesday's incident stands at 28.

Of the total fatalities, 19 are yet to be identified, it said.

Sensex hits historic 80,000-mark; Nifty reaches fresh lifetime high in early trade.

A member of the forensic unit who examined the Hathras accident spot on Wednesday said, "... I will not be able to tell what we have found. There are no specific things to collect from here, it is only the belongings of the devotees such as shoes and sheets used for sitting."

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday lodged an FIR against the organisers of the religious congregation in Hathras where 121 people died in a stampede, accusing them of hiding evidence and flouting conditions with 2.5 lakh people gathering for the event in which only 80,000 were permitted.

However, the congregation or 'satsang' conductor Jagat Guru Saakar Vishwahari has not been named in the FIR though his name is in the complaint.

The FIR alleged that the organisers hid the actual number of devotees coming to the 'satsang' while seeking permission, did not cooperate in traffic management and hid evidence after the stampede, which broke out after people gathered there stopped to collect mud from the way the baba's vehicle was passing.

(Via PTI)

Moderate to heavy rain is expected to lash Delhi on Wednesday, July 2, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The Met office this morning predicted moderate to heavy rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds.

The orange alert is in place for July 3 in Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, West Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak in the Rajya Sabha at around 12 noon. He will take part in the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address.

PIL in SC seeks appointment of expert panel to probe Hathras stampede which claimed 121 lives.

Plea in SC seeks direction to UP govt to submit status report on Hathras stampede incident.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath met and inquired about the health of the persons injured in the stampede incident, at Hathras government hospital

A fresh batch of more than 5,700 pilgrims left for the Amarnath shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas from Jammu on Wednesday, officials said. More than 74,000 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the 3,880-metre high cave shrine till Tuesday evening and over 2,500 on-the-spot registrations of devotees were done on Tuesday, they said.

The sixth batch of 5,725 pilgrims left in 256 vehicles for the twin basecamps of Baltal and Pahalgam at 3.05 am and were escorted by security vehicles, they said.

Watch PM Modi's Rajya Sabha speech LIVE

Country elected a government for the third straight term, some people could not digest it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his Rajya Sabha address while slamming the Opposition on Wednesday

Constitution not just a compilation Articles for us, said PM Modi in Rajya Sabha, adding that it works as a "light house".

Those who wave around the Indian Constitution objected to November 26 being observed as Constitution Day, PM Modi said in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, referring to the Opposition.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, said some "legends" believe the country would on its own go ahead, adding that these are the people who have experience of running the government on "remote pilot" mode.

The coming five years are decisive in the fight against poverty and this country, in this battle, will come out victorious, PM Modi said in Rajya Sabha, adding that "I can say this confidently on the basis of the past 10 years".

"When India becomes the world's third-largest economy, its effect will be on every sphere.. a lot of development and advancement opportunities will come... when India becomes world's third-largest economy, it will have unprecedented impact globally," PM Modi said.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi listed the achievements of the government led by him, Opposition chanted 'jhooth bolna band karo [stop lying]' and 'LoP ko bolne do [let the LoP speak]' in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

As Opposition's sloganeering remained undeterred on Wednesday in Rajya Sabha amid PM Modi's speech, the Prime Minister said sloganeering, hooliganism and "running away" is all that the Opposition does.

As the Opposition staged a walkout amid PM Modi's Rajya Sabha speech, the PM said "those who lie do not have the strength to listen to the truth".

As the Opposition staged a walkout amid PM Modi's Rajya Sabha speech, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar condemned the leaders and said he hopes they will "introspect".

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reaches and inspects the accident spot where the stampede took place yesterday

Rajya Sabha Chair Jagdeep Dhankhar told the Prime Minister he has given him an opportunity to be the only second RS chairman who has been able to witness a reply by a PM for the third straight term.

Addressing Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: "I cannot understand the reason for Opposition's joy, is this for their loss's [in recently concluded general elections] hattrick, or is it because they're nervous 90's prey or is this for another unsuccessful launch. Respected chairman, I was seeing Kharge ji was also excited but maybe he has served his party a lot because the he saved the person who should have from faced the brunt of the defeat in Lok Sabha elections 2024."

EAM Jaishankar met Russian counterpart Lavrov in Astana, Kazakhstan, on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. Jaishankar raised concern over Indian nationals in war zone and sought their safe return.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was established in 2001 by China and Russia to discuss security concerns in Central Asia and the wider region, Other members are Iran, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Observer states and dialogue partners include Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India is sending his foreign minister S Jaishankar.

I say with all seriousness that Congress is biggest opponent of Constitution, PM Modi said in Rajya Sabha.

PM Modi suggested in his Rajya Sabha speech that Congress misused central agencies when its was in power and cited statements by several opposition leaders to back his claim. "Congress had used CBI to strike political bargains with many parties," PM Modi cited a 2013 statement by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Prakash Karat.

On the Opposition's walkout from Rajya Sabha, Congress leader and LoP in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said, "We walked out because the PM was addressing the House on the President's address and told some wrong things to the House. It's his habit to lie and say things beyond truth. I have just asked him that, when he was speaking about the Constitution, you didn't make the Constitution, you people were against it. I was just clarifying that who the people were for and against the Constitution... They (RSS) have opposed the Constitution. They burnt the effigy of BR Ambedkar & Pandit Nehru... He says time and again that we disrespected BR Ambedkar, he said it there (in Lok Sabha) and he is saying it today also... I wanted to tell what Babasaheb has said in the Constituent assemble and what the RSS has written in the Organiser..."

PM Modi said in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, "I am saying without hesitation, I have given full authority to central agencies to take strict action against corrupt and corruption... government won't interfere anywhere given that they work honestly [central agencies] and for the honest."

Reacting to the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak row, PM Modi said in Rajya Sabha, "Assuring the youth of the country that the government won't spare those who cheated with them."

In a rare address to the ethnic violence in Manipur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government is continuously working to stabilise the situation in the state.

"Today, in most parts of Manipur, schools and colleges are functioning, offices are also open, like other parts of the country, exams took place in Manipur as well," PM Modi said, adding that the central and state government are talking to stakeholders to establish peace.

Indian cricket team leave from Barbados. The team will reach Delhi early morning on July 4.

The flight arranged by BCCI's Jay Shah is also carrying the members of Indian media who were stranded in Barbados amid hurricane Beryl.

Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Wednesday after the House adopted the Motion of Thanks on the President's address to the joint sitting Parliament.

The 264th session of Rajya Sabha, which began on June 27, concluded after Prime Minister Narendra Modi replied to the motion of thanks, and the House adopted it.

Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Tuesday.

Arvind Kejriwal moves Delhi HC seeking bail in CBI's corruption case related to excise policy 'scam'.

On the Hathras stampede incident, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said "Our priority was to focus on the rescue and operation," adding that out of the 121 people who lost their lives, most were from UP, Haryana, MP and Rajasthan. Six were from other states, Yogi Adityanath said.

"I had a conversation with several eyewitnesses and they informed me that the incident took place after the program was over when the preacher of the Satsang was coming down from the stage, suddenly several women started going towards him to touch him and when the 'sevadars' stopped them, due to which this accident happened. The administration was not allowed by the 'sevadars' to enter inside...," CM Yogi Adityanath said.

The Rouse Avenue court extends the judicial custody of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Vinod Chauhan till July 12. They will be produced through video conferencing (VC).

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister announced that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the Hathras stampede incident. It will be led by ADG Agra, the chief minister said.

"It has submitted a preliminary report. They have been told to investigate this deeply. There are several angles that need to be investigated...State Government has decided to have a judicial inquiry as well which will be led by a retired High Court judge. Retired senior officials of the Administration and Police will also be a part of it..." said Uttar Pradesh Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also announced a judicial inquiry by retired HC judge in Hathras stampede.

In view of some cases of Zika virus reported from parts of Maharashtra, the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday issued an advisory to all states highlighting the need for maintaining a constant vigil over the situation in the country.

States have been urged to focus on screening pregnant women for Zika virus and monitor the growth of foetus of expecting mothers who tested positive for the infection.

Hemant Soren is likely to return as chief minister of Jharkhand for third time following consensus among JMM-led alliance MLAs, news agency PTI quoted party sources.

Hemant Soren was out on bail last week.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday expressed condolences over the stampede at a religious congregation in Uttar Pradesh in which 121 people were killed.

"President of #Russia Vladimir Putin sent a condolence message to President of #India Droupadi Murmu & Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi over the tragic stampede in #UttarPradesh: Kindly accept the most sincere condolences over the tragic accident in Uttar Pradesh," the Russian Embassy in India posted on X.

On the Hathras stampede incident, Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya on Wednesday said, "This is a very sad incident and politics should not be done on this...The government should make sure that this type of incident should not be repeated and the opposition should not this incident with a political view..."

On the NEET issue, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said,"Today, the Prime Minister has written very clearly that strict steps have been taken and will be taken further too. We will take the strictest action against those who play with the future of students and if this happens, we will take more strict steps for that too, the Prime Minister has given assurance and steps are already being taken, in which a law has also been passed. Now under this law, action will be taken further too...These people (opposition) keep abusing Modi from morning to evening and night and then they say that there is no freedom of speech."

Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Wednesday said, "The walkout happened because the dignity of the Leader of the Opposition was violated by the govt today...The Prime Minister said everything he wanted because there was no Opposition there...The people of Manipur know how big a disappointment it is when the Prime Minister of your country does not even talk about you..."

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of 24th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday said, "What PM said in Rajya Sabha today on Manipur is different from reality. In February 2022, BJP and its allies garnered more than 2/3rd share of votes (in Manipur). Within 15 months, Manipur started burning. It is a conspiracy hatched inside. PM has not been to Manipur to date. He had not said a word before today. Today, he was compelled to speak up. There was not much mention of Manipur in the President's Address."

He added, "On 1st July, Inner Manipur MP Bimol Akoijam also expressed that Manipur has not been mentioned. What is this hypocrisy? When Opposition walked out as LoP was not given the opportunity to give a rebuttal to the lies that were being repeatedly said by the PM. When Opposition walked out, the PM said a few words about Manipur. The words he used were different from reality. Even today, the people of Manipur are asking why is the PM not visiting Manipur.This is hypocrisy."

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Wednesday said, "We will contest (the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls) as Maha Vikas Aghadi. The CM face will be decided after the elections by our party high command."

Japanese PM Fumio Kishida on Wednesday issued a message of condolence over Hathras stampede incident.

He said, “I am deeply saddened to learn that many precious lives were lost in the stampede that occurred in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh. On behalf of the Government of Japan, I pray for the souls of the victims and extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I would also like to express my sincere wishes for the swift recovery of the injured.”

In his presser on Hathras stampede, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath on Wednesday said,"Out of the 121 people who lost their lives, six people were from different states - one from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh; four from Haryana and one from Rajasthan. I met the victims at Hathras district hospital. 31 injured are getting treatment at hospitals in Hathras, Etah, Agra and Aligarh, and all of them are out of danger. The eyewitnesses said when the gentleman's (Saakar Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba) preaching was over, he came down from the stage and his convoy moved forward, a group of women moved towards him to touch him. A crowd followed them and started climbing on top of each other. The 'sevadars' kept pushing people leading to the accident."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday announced the judicial inquiry will find out who were responsible for the Hathras stampede.

"Our priority was to focus on the rescue and operation. A total of 121 devotees have lost their lives. They were from UP, Haryana, MP and Rajasthan. Out of the 121 deceased, 6 were from other states. 31 injured people are undergoing treatment and almost everyone is out of danger. I had a conversation with several eyewitnesses and they informed me that the incident took place after the program was over when the preacher of the Satsang was coming down from the stage, suddenly several women started going towards him to touch him and when the 'sevadars' stopped them, due to which this accident happened. The administration was not allowed by the 'sevadars' to enter inside."

"We have formed an SIT, led by ADG Agra. It has submitted a preliminary report. They have been told to investigate this deeply. There are several angles that need to be investigated...State Government has decided to have a judicial inquiry as well which will be led by a retired High Court judge. Retired senior officials of the Administration and Police will also be a part of it," Adityanath added.

National Commission for Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma on Wednesday said,"They (organisers of the event) sought permission for 80,000 people. However, they never allowed anyone to click photos or make videos of their events. That's why even the administration doesn't have the photos or videos. No one has the exact details about the number of people who were present at the event."

The authorities in view of the rain in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur district for the last 2 days have closed all government, council, aided and recognized schools from Class 1 to 8 till July 6.

A meeting of the JMM-led ruling alliance legislative party was held at the residence of Chief Minister Champai Soren in Ranchi on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by the state's former CM Hemant Soren.

In his reaction over the stampede during the 'satsang', godman Narayan Sakar Hari on Wednesday said, "stampede occurred after I left venue, caused by anti-social elements."

Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren along with JMM-led alliance MLAs reached Raj Bhavan in Ranchi on Wednesday.

Jharkhand CM Champai Soren tendered his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan in Ranchi on Wednesday.

On his resignation as Jharkhand Chief Minister, JMM leader Champai Soren on Wednesday said, "We all know what happened with Hemant Soren and he was forced to resign. Our alliance, however, is strong and we have made a leadership change today. Hemant Soren has been selected as alliance's legislature party leader and I have resigned willing."

Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker and BJP leader Raman Singh on Wednesday said, "...Rahul Gandhi shows childishness. Being the leader of the opposition is not enough... the kind of statements he (Rahul Gandhi) is making are low level."

The CBI on Wednesday arrested Aman Singh from Jharkhand's Hazaribagh for his alleged role in NEET-UG 2024 irregularities case. He is said to be a "kingpin" in the case.

The Patiala House Court on Wednesday granted custody parole to gangster Sandeep alias Kala Jatheri to attend funerals and to perform the last rites of his mother.

The funeral is scheduled for tomorrow at Sandeep's village in Sonipat, Haryana.

Delhi Education Minister Atishi on Wednesday issued a show-cause notice to the Secretary of Education and the Directorate of Education for disobeying the Minister-in-charge order to halt the transfer of 5,000 teachers.

Delhi Education Minister had in written order on 01.07.2024 directed that no teacher be transferred only because she/he has completed more than 10 years in a particular school.