New Delhi, Oct 29 (PTI) The new amendments to IT rules impose a legal obligation on social media companies to take all out efforts to prevent barred content and misinformation, the government said on Saturday making it clear that platforms such as Twitter and Facebook operating in India will have to abide by local laws and constitutional rights of Indian users.

The new rules provide for setting up appellate committees which can overrule decisions of the big tech firms on takedown or blocking requests.
 

The hardening of stance against the big tech companies comes at a time when discontent has been brewing over alleged arbitrary acts of social media platforms on flagged content, or not responding fast enough to grievances.

Amid concerns over the rising clout of Big Tech globally, the CEO of electric car maker Tesla Inc, Elon Musk, on Friday completed his USD 44-billion takeover of Twitter, placing the world’s richest man at the helm of one of the most influential social media apps in the world. Incidentally, the microblogging platform has had multiple run-ins with the government in the past.

India’s tweaking of IT rules allow formation of Centre-appointed panels, that will settle often-ignored user grievances against content decision of social media companies, Minister of State for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, adding that this was necessitated due to the “casual” and “tokenism” approach of digital platforms towards user complaints so far.

That is not acceptable,” Chandrasekhar said at a media briefing explaining the amended rules.

The minister said that lakhs of messages around unresolved user complaints reflected the “broken” grievance redressal mechanism currently being offered by platforms, and added that while it will partner with social media companies towards common goal of ensuring Internet remains open, safe and trusted for Indians, the government will not hesitate to act, crackdown, where public interest is compromised.

On whether penalties will be imposed on platforms for not complying, he said the government would not like to bring punitive action at this stage but warned that if the situation demands in future, that could be considered too. The internet is evolving, as will the laws.

 Kolkata, Oct 29 (PTI) Bangladesh Information Minister Hasan Mahmud Saturday said the Sheikh Hasina government is committed to the safety of its Hindu minorities and the peaceful Durga Puja celebrations in the country this year is a testimony to it.

Mahamud, who is in the city to inaugurate Bangladesh Film Festival, said the Indo-Bangla relation is not dependent only on the Teesta water sharing agreement between the two nations.

“The Sheikh Hasina government is committed to protecting the rights of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. The recent peaceful Durga Puja celebration in the country is a testimony to it. This year the number of Durga Pujas held in Bangladesh was much higher than last year,” Mahmud said at a press conference at the Press Club here.

Referring to the communal violence in Bangladesh during Durga Puja in 2021, he said the country’s government was extra cautious to avoid any untoward incident this year.

“Those who had tried to create problems during Durga Puja stand exposed. We have taken special measures to ensure no untoward incident takes place,” he said.

Speaking on India-Bangladesh relations, the minister said more than the government to government relations it is the people-to-people associations between the two countries that have helped strengthen the diplomatic relations.

“Our bilateral relation is not only dependent on Teesta (Water sharing). Whenever I come to India, I am asked this question. Our relationship is diverse,” he added.

The Teesta river water agreement has been hanging fire for more than a decade due to opposition from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. PTI 

New Delhi, Oct 29 (PTI) Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday produced an audio clip of an alleged BJP man purportedly discussing the party’s bid to poach AAP MLAs in the capital and demanded Home Minister Amit Shah’s arrest if he was involved in the matter.

The senior AAP leader played the audio tape at a press conference and said the BJP “dalal” (broker) heard in the clip was one of the three people arrested in Telangana over an alleged bid to poach that state’s ruling party Telangana Rashtra Samithi MLAs.

There was no immediate reaction from the BJP or Shah.

“In this audio, the BJP’s dalal (broker) can be heard luring a (TRS) MLA to the BJP, saying they were also trying to poach 43 Delhi MLAs and that money had been kept aside for this purpose. He is also saying that he has spoken with Shah and BL Santosh,” Sisodia said.

“If it is Home Minister Amit Shah the BJP’s dalal is referring to, he should immediately be arrested and questioned,” the Delhi deputy chief minister demanded.

He said the audio tape was a “proof” of the BJP’s failed attempt to poach AAP MLAs in Delhi and Punjab and demanded a probe by the Enforcement Directorate into the matter.

“It is very dangerous for a country if its home minister is involved in such a conspiracy,” Sisodia said. PTI 

 Aurangabad/Patna, 29 October (HS): In Bihar, more than two dozen people, including seven policemen, were injured in a cylinder blast at a house in Shahganj locality of Nagar police station area of Aurangabad city in the early hours of Saturday. The blast happened at Anil Goswami's house.

According to the police, preparations were being made for Kharna at Anil's house. During this, gas leaked from the kitchen cylinder and the fire spread. During this the cylinder exploded. The local people somehow tried to control the fire but without success. It is suspected that the gas leaking from the cylinder caught fire due to a short circuit.

25 to 30 people were injured in this accident. Out of this, the condition of about 10 people is said to be serious. People admitted in Sadar Hospital were treated. After this, people took their patient out according to the situation, seeing the nearby private hospital and serious condition. 10 injured were referred from Sadar Hospital in critical condition.

SI Vinay Kumar Singh of the city police station told that the police reached as soon as the information was received. An attempt was made to put out the fire. During this there was a loud explosion. Investigation is being done. Homeowner Anil Goswami says that the fire started due to gas leakage in the cylinder. Singh said that seven policemen were also injured in the accident. Among the injured were Prabhat Kumar, RN Goswami, Anil Kumar, Raj Kishore, Mo Nazir, Mo Meraj, Mo Bittu, Ashgar, Shahnawaz, Sonu, Monu, Mahendra Saw, Aditya Rai, Sudhanshu Kumar, Chhotu Alam, Arbaaz, Shabir, Pankaj Verma. , Abhay Kumar Thakur, Rajiv Kumar, Dilip Kumar, Aditya Kumar, Akhilesh Kumar, Mo Mozzam, Chhotu Alam, Preeti Kumari, Jaglal Prasad etc.

Hindusthan Samachar

 An IndiGo plane declared emergency at the Delhi airport on Friday after one of its engines caught fire at the time of taxiing, according to sources.

The Bengaluru-bound A320 aircraft, which had 184 people on board, later returned to the bay. The people were safely deboarded, the sources said.

A video on Twitter showed one of the plane's engines on fire and sparks flying at the time of taxiing at the airport.

The incident took place at around 10 pm.

In a statement, IndiGo said the aircraft operating flight 6E2131 from Delhi to Bengaluru experienced an engine stall during take off roll. "The take off was aborted and the aircraft safely returned to the bay. All passengers are being accommodated on an alternate aircraft," the statement said.

Delhi police officials said the control room at the airport received a call from the CISF control room regarding fire in engine of the IndiGo plane. The plane had 177 passengers and seven crew members. Later, passengers were safely deboarded, they added.

According to the sources, the pilot of a SpiceJet plane that was behind the IndiGo aircraft in the line up while taxiing alerted the Air Traffic Controller about the fire in the engine.

New Delhi, Oct 29 (PTI) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday called for concerted global efforts to deal with the challenge of the use of new technologies by terror groups to foment discord.

In a message at the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee's meeting in Delhi, he expressed concerns over the abuse of new technologies by various terror groups to spread disinformation, foment discord and radicalise youths.
The counter-terror meeting in Delhi is being attended by representatives from all 15 member nations of the UN Security Council.
The message by Guterres was read out by an official of the global body.
 "New and emerging technologies have unmatched potential to improve the human conditions everywhere, regrettably they have been also been misused by many including malicious actors," the UN Secretary-General said. "Terrorists and others posing hateful ideologies are abusing new and emerging technologies to spread disinformation, foment discord, recruit and radicalise, mobilise resources and execute attacks," he said.

New Delhi, Oct 29 (PTI) Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh has said it is the Centre's firm commitment to ensure every part of Jammu and Kashmir gets durable road network for its rapid growth The prime objective of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is to provide connectivity, by way of all-weather road to the unconnected habitations in rural areas, he said on Friday.

While highlighting the government's initiatives towards strengthening road connectivity, he said it is the firm commitment of present dispensation that every part of the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory gets a durable road network for rapid growth and development, according to an official statement.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday dedicated 75 projects to the nation, a number of them falling in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, from Shyok village in Leh district of Ladakh.

The projects are of vital importance for the troops as well as the civilians, said the statement issued by the Personnel Ministry. In his address, Jitendra Singh said the highest number of projects including seven bridges and one road were inaugurated in his parliamentary constituency of Udhampur-Kathua-Doda in Jammu and Kashmir.

The seven bridges e-inaugurated by the defence minister in Kathua district of Singh's constituency comprise Jantriya, Konyali-I, Konyali-II, Chenab Badi, Pakka Kotha, Challa Nallah and Benadi.

Jitendra Singh informed that Benadi bridge has been constructed in just 90 days by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) which is a BRO record till date while Pakka Kotha bridge, which is 181 metres long multi span bridge, has been built in 102 days.

Commenting on the inauguration of 10 per cent of total projects in his parliamentary segment, the minister said, "With inauguration of new roads in Kathua district, road connectivity up to zero line on the International Border has been achieved".

Singh thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for prompt approval of projects in his parliamentary constituency and said with 200 bridges, including small puliyas, a "sort of record" has been made in the last eight years of the Modi government, the statement said. 

 New Delhi, October 29

*Counter-terrorism has become one of top priorities during India’s ongoing tenure in UN Security Council: EAM Jaishankar at UN meet in Delhi.

*Terrorism remains one of gravest threats to humanity: EAM Jaishankar at UN Counter-Terrorism Committee meet in Delhi. 

*UNSC evolved important architecture built primarily around counter-terror sanctions regime to combat terrorism: Jaishankar.

*UN counter-terror sanction regime effective to put countries on notice that turned terrorism a state-funded enterprise: Jaishankar.

*Despite UN efforts, threat of terrorism growing and expanding, particularly in Asia, Africa as highlighted in UN reports: Jaishankar.

*New technologies throws open new challenges for governments due to their vulnerability for misuse by non-state actors: Jaishankar.

*Terrorists, their fellows, and lone wolf attackers enhanced their capabilities by gaining access to new technologies: Jaishankar.

*Ethos of open societies is being used to attack freedom, tolerance and progress: Jaishankar.

*Internet and social media platforms turned into potent instruments in toolkit of terrorists, militant groups: Jaishankar.

 Jaipur, Oct 28 (PTI) Senior IPS officer Umesh Mishra will be the new Rajasthan Director General of Police (DGP).

The 1989-batch officer will take over as the DGP upon the retirement of incumbent M L Lather on November 3, an order issued by the department of personnel on Thursday night said.

Mishra, who is currently the DG Intelligence, has been appointed as the DG (head of police force for a period of two years (irrespective of his date of superannuation) or until further orders, whichever is earlier, it said.

At the same time, he has also been promoted to the apex scale (Level 17 in the pay matrix) of the Indian Police Service, the order read.

Mishra has held posts like Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Intelligence, ADG Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and Special Operations Group (SOG), ADG Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), IG Bharatpur in the past. He has also been the Superintendent of Police of Kota city, Bharatpur, Pali and Churu districts. PTI

Jammu, Oct 28 (PTI) A massive search operation was carried out in and around the railway station here on Friday after 18 detonators were found in a drain near it, officials said.

The railway police on Thursday evening foiled a plan of terrorists to possibly trigger an IED blast by recovering 18 detonators and explosive material packed in a bag near the station.

The bag was found in a drain near a taxi station.

Sleuths of railway police and Railway Protection Force (RPF) conducted a search operation at the railway station, platforms and parking areas, they said.

Trains were checked and patrolling on the tracks has been intensified in wake of the threat perception due to recovery of the explosive material, they said, adding sniffer dogs have been pressed into service Checking of incoming vehicles have been intensified and people have been asked to keep a eye on suspicious objects, they said. PTI