30 Ministers To Take Oath As Modi 3.0 To Be Sworn In Today: Sources To NDTV

1. PM Narendra Modi will take oath as the Prime Minister for the third straight term today and while the entire council of ministers will not be sworn in, nearly 30 ministers will, sources have told NDTV. The strength of the full council of ministers is expected to be between 78 and 81.
2. Taking oath after PM Modi will be the top ministers of the government, including those who will hold the crucial portfolios of home, defence, finance and external affairs - all of which will continue to be held by the BJP. Others who are likely to be sworn in will include those who will be entrusted with critical infrastructure ministries like steel, civil aviation and coal.
3. The official time of the swearing-in ceremony is 7.15 to 8 pm, which means that it is expected to last 45 minutes. The ministers that will be taking oath are expected to get calls from the government beginning this morning.
4. The BJP is short of a majority on its own for the first time in 10 years and this will reflect in the swearing-in ceremony and the composition of the cabinet. Allies, especially Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party and Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal United, are pressing for more than one ministerial berth and other parties will need to be accommodated too.
5. The BJP and the Prime Minister were planning to reduce the number of ministers going forward but, sources said, very few members of the cabinet will hold more than one portfolio in third iteration of the PM Modi-led cabinet.
6. Among the leaders taking oath tomorrow will be representatives of the BJP's NDA allies, some of whom are likely to get key ministries. Reports have said that the TDP is likely to get four ministerial posts and the JDU two, but it is not clear if all of them will be sworn in tomorrow.
7. When PM Modi takes oath today, he will be only the second person in India's history to be Prime Minister for three successive terms. The country's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, had won the 1952, 1957 and 1962 general elections.
8. Several foreign leaders will be attending the event, including Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mauritius PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay and Seychelles Vice-President Ahmed Afif.
9. Security has been strengthened in the national capital and prohibitory orders have been put in place. Traffic restrictions will also apply on several roads, especially those around the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
10. The NDA won 293 of 543 Lok Sabha seats in the just-concluded elections, putting it comfortably past the halfway mark. The INDIA alliance put up a strong fight and managed to clinch 232 constituencies. The Congress nearly doubled its tally from 52 in the 2019 elections to 99 this time.

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16-Foot Python Swallows Woman Whole In Indonesia

A woman has been found dead inside the belly of a snake after it swallowed her whole in central Indonesia, a local official said Saturday.

The husband of 45-year-old Farida and residents of Kalempang village in South Sulawesi province discovered her on Friday inside the reticulated python, which measured around five metres (16 feet).

The mother-of-four had gone missing Thursday night and failed to return home, forcing a search effort, village head Suardi Rosi told AFP.

Her husband "found her belongings... which made him suspicious. The villagers then searched the area. They soon spotted a python with a large belly," said Suardi.

"They agreed to cut open the python's stomach. As soon as they did, Farida's head was immediately visible."

Farida was found fully clothed inside the snake.

Such incidents are considered extremely rare but several people have died in Indonesia in recent years after being swallowed whole by pythons.

Last year, residents in Southeast Sulawesi's Tinanggea district killed an eight-metre python, which was found strangling and eating one of the farmers in a village.

In 2018, a 54-year-old woman was found dead inside a seven-metre python in Southeast Sulawesi's Muna town.

And the year before, a farmer in West Sulawesi went missing before being found eaten alive by a four-metre python at a palm oil plantation.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Dilip Ghosh Speaks Out As BJP's Bengal Setback Prompts Attacks From Within

The second successive setback for the BJP in West Bengal has exposed fissures within the state unit, with a former president hitting out at the local leadership and pointing out flaws in the way the campaign was run.

Former West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh, who was at the helm when the party shocked the Trinamool Congress by winning 18 of the state's 42 Lok Sabha seats in 2019, fired the first volley on Thursday when he quoted former Prime Minister, and one of the party's most revered figures, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in a post on X. 

"Keep one thing in mind: even one old Karyakarta of the party should not be neglected. If necessary, let ten new Karyakartas be separated. Because the old workers are the guarantee of our victory. Trusting new Karyakartas too quickly is not advisable - Atal Bihari Vajpayee," Mr Ghosh wrote.

While the former state BJP president did not name anybody, the post was widely seen as hinting at Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, who had quit the Trinamool Congress and joined the BJP in 2020. While Sukanta Majumdar is the Bengal BJP chief now, Mr Adhikari was seen to be calling the shots as far as ticket distribution for the Lok Sabha polls was concerned.

The BJP was reduced to 12 seats in the elections and the constituencies the party lost included Medinipur, where Mr Ghosh was the sitting MP. Instead of being fielded from there again, the senior leader was made to contest from the Bardhaman-Durgapur seat, where he lost to the Trinamool's Kirti Azad by a margin of over 1.37 lakh votes. Mr Ghosh's replacement for the Medinipur constituency, Agnimitra Paul, was also defeated.

This prompted another attack from Mr Ghosh on Friday. "For over a year, I have spent all my time and money in Medinipur. But I wasn't allowed to contest from there. The result in both seats (Medinipur and Bardhaman-Durgapur) is for all to see," he said in Bengali.

Implying that he had strengthened the party at a time when it did not have much of a standing in Bengal, Mr Ghosh added, "This time, votes in Bengal were sought in the name of PM Narendra Modi, we have a stronger organisation, and so many leaders have joined the party. In 2021 (Bengal Assembly polls), we didn't have so many people and in 2019 (Lok Sabha polls) there was nobody, I went around campaigning and there were central leaders."

"This time, PM Modi went practically everywhere. We have so many MLAs and MPs now, why did the results turn out the way they did," he asked.

Mr Ghosh also pointed to former Union minister Debasree Choudhury being asked to contest from the Kolkata Dakshin seat instead of Raiganj, which she had won in 2019. This was seen by many as the BJP leader suggesting that the old guard in the party was being sidelined by new entrants like Mr Adhikari. 

The just-concluded Lok Sabha election is the second time the BJP has fallen way short of its own expectations since its astounding performance in 2019. During the 2021 Assembly polls, the party had set itself a target of winning 200 of the state's 294 constituencies, but had ended up with only 77.

'Leaders Self-Centred'

For the Trinamool Congress, which has gone up from 22 Lok Sabha seats to 29, Mr Ghosh's remarks provided a welcome opportunity to hit out at the BJP.

"The BJP's Bengal leadership is a tragedy. The leaders are self-centred. They do not care about the people. The BJP had 18 MPs and they did nothing for the people of their constituencies. People understand that it is all political," said Saayoni Ghosh, Trinamool Congress leader and the newly elected MP from Jadavpur.

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Multi-Layered Security In Delhi For PM Modi's Oath Ceremony

A multi-layered security with five companies of paramilitary personnel, NSG commandoes, drones and snipers will blanket the Rashtrapati Bhawan for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony scheduled on May 9, Delhi Police officials said on Friday.

The national capital will remain on high alert on the day as dignitaries from SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) nations have been invited to the ceremony, officials said.

According to officials, dignitaries attending the swearing-in will be given designated routes from their hotels to the venue and back.

Top leaders of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal, Mauritius and Seychelles are likely to attend the swearing-in ceremony. Hotels in the city such as Leela, Taj, ITC Maurya, Claridges and Oberoi have already been brought under the security cover.

Commandoes from Delhi Police's SWAT and NSG will remain deployed around the President's house and various strategic locations on the event day.

The Delhi Police officials have held multiple meetings at the police headquarters and in the New Delhi district to make a security plan for the event, officials said.

According to a senior police officer, as the event is scheduled to be held inside the Rashtrapati Bhawan, it will have a three-layered security both inside and outside the premises. Delhi Police personnel will remain deployed at the outer ring followed by paramilitary personnel and internal security of the President's house at the inner ring.

"Around 2500 police personnel, including five companies of paramilitary and Delhi Armed Police (DAP) jawans, have been planned to be deployed around the venue," the officer said.

Snipers and armed police personnel will remain deployed on the routes of the dignitaries too and drones will be deployed at the strategic locations in the new Delhi district, another officer said, adding that the security cover is likely to resemble the one for the G20 summit last year.

The officer said several roads heading towards the central part of Delhi may be shut on Sunday or there may be traffic diversions since morning. Checkings will be enhanced at the borders of the national capital from Saturday itself.

PM Modi is all set to take charge as the prime minister for a historic third consecutive term with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) winning 293 seats in the Lok Sabha polls.

It is learnt that the guest list of foreign leaders for PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony was primarily guided by New Delhi's "Neighbourhood First Policy" and its strategic focus on island nations considered important in the Indian Ocean region.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Unfortunate": Kangana Ranaut's Mandi Rival Vikramaditya Singh On Slap Row

After a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) official allegedly slapped BJP MP Kangana Ranaut at the Chandigarh airport today, Congress leader and Ms Ranaut's poll rival in Mandi Vikramaditya Singh called the incident "unfortunate" and called for action against the official concerned.

"It is unfortunate if these kinds of incidents are happening and should not happen to any person, particularly a woman. It is unfortunate that it has been done by a security person. We got to know that the security person had some grievances related to the farmer's protest," Mr Singh said.

It is the duty of the CISF to provide a peaceful atmosphere inside airports, he added.

"You have a constitutional right and platform to bring up your grievances and issues. To assault a person like this is unfortunate. The government should take action against the person. Once you are in an airport, you are under the security protection of the CISF, and it is their duty to provide you with security and a peaceful atmosphere," Mr Singh said.

Meanwhile, the CISF suspended the woman constable, who allegedly slapped actor and MP Kangana Ranaut inside Chandigarh airport during the security check.

A senior CISF officer confirmed the incident and said they are also in the process of filing an FIR against the constable.

"We have given a complaint to the local police station against the lady constable. She has been suspended with immediate effect and an inquiry has been ordered into the matter," the officer said.

The incident took place around 3:30 pm when Kangana Ranaut was on her way to board a flight to Delhi.

Reacting to the incident, Ms Ranaut in a video message said, "I am safe. I am perfectly fine. The incident took place during the security check. After I was done with the security check, a woman constable of the CISF waited for me to pass through the cabin. Later, she came from the side, hit me in the face, and started abusing me."

"When I asked her why she did this, she said that she supported the farmers' protest. My question is how we end the growing extremism and terrorism in Punjab", the BJP leader added.

Meanwhile, the CISF constable said her mother was among the farmers sitting in protest against the farm laws, which have now been repealed.

"She (Kangana Ranaut) said that the farmers are sitting there for Rs 100. Will she go and sit there? My mother was sitting there and protesting when she gave this statement..." the constable said.

Farmers protested for 15 months against the now-repealed farm laws and other issues.

Kangana Ranaut defeated Congress candidate Vikramaditya Singh from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi by a margin of 74,755 votes in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

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Row Over Relocation Of Parliament's Gandhi, Ambedkar, Shivaji Statues

The members of the 18h Lok Sabha, when they take oath, will do so at a rather different looking Parliament complex. Not only the iconic statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Babasaheb Ambedkar and Chhatrapati Shivaji will no longer be found at their designated spots, the parliament security personnel at the complex will be replaced by the Central Industrial Security Forces. While the first change has raised eyebrows, especially in the Congress, the second has raised concerns about security.

The statues will be moved to a new spot towards the back of the parliament complex, called Prerna Sthal, the Lok Sabha Secretariat has said in a statement.

Announcing a plan to landscape the Parliament grounds, the Lok Sabha Secretariat, in a statement, said: "In the Parliament Complex, statues of great leaders and freedom fighters of the country were installed at different parts of the Complex. Due to their location at different places in the Parliament Complex, visitors were not able to view these statues conveniently. For this reason, all these statues are being respectfully installed in a grand Prerana Sthal in the Parliament House Complex itself."

"This Prerana Sthal is being developed in such a way that the visitors coming to visit the Parliament complex could easily see the statues of these great leaders and take inspiration from their lives and philosophy," the statement read.

Protests By Opposition

Newly elected MP from Amethi, KL Sharma, posted the photos of the removal and the denuded spots.

"The statues of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar have been removed from their special places in front of the Parliament House. This is a very cheap and petty act," read a translation of his post in Hindi.

संसद भवन के सामने छत्रपति शिवाजी महाराज, महात्मा गांधी जी और बाबासाहेब अंबेडकर जी की मूर्तियों को उनके विशिष्ट स्थानों से हटा दिया गया है। यह बेहद घटिया और ओछी हरकत है।
# pic.twitter.com/QqAu7GPNu1

— Team Kishori Lal Sharma Amethi (@KLSharmaAmethi) June 6, 2024

The 16-ft tall bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi had become iconic, with Opposition MPs choosing it as a protest spot for years.

Protesting against the move, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, in a post on X, said, "Statues of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar have just been removed from their places of prominence in front of the Parliament House. This is atrocious."

Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged that the statues of Shivaji and Ambedkar were removed because Maharashtra did not vote for the BJP. As they did not get a clean sweep in Gujarat, they removed the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. "Just think, if they had been given 400 seats, would they have spared the Constitution?" read a rough translation of his Hindi post on X, formerly Twitter.

CPI's D Raja also condemned the move, calling it "arbitrary and unilateral". "All statues in the Parliament House are erected in the honour of individuals who significantly contributed to our national life," read his post on X.

Lok Sabha Secretariat Responds

The Lok Sabha Secretariat has pointed out that the Parliament House complex comes under the jurisdiction of the Lok Sabha Speaker and earlier also, statues were shifted inside the complex with the permission of the Speaker.

"It is clear that no statue of any great person has been removed from the Parliament House complex, rather they are being installed in an orderly and respectful manner inside the Parliament House complex," the statement read.

The Opposition has questioned the haste when a new Speaker is about to take charge.

Congress's Manickam Tagore, meanwhile said the move to replace parliament security personnel is  an "attack on parliament's autonomy" and called for the constitution of a joint security committee.

"Shah wants to control Parliament with CISF jawans. 450 parliamentary security personnel are being relieved of their duties during the elections. The first task of the new Speaker should be to constitute a joint security committee otherwise, we may see future incidents like Chandigarh airport," he added, pointing to the slapping of new MP Kangana Ranaut by a CISF constable at the Chandigarh airport earlier today.

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T20 WC Live: Naseem Provides Pakistan Breakthrough, USA One Down In Chase

USA vs Pakistan Live Updates, T20 World Cup 2024: Steven Taylor and Monank Patel eye a solid start for United States in chase of 160 against Pakistan at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas. On the fifth ball of the second over, Taylor smashed Mohammad Amir for a four but broke his bat in the process. Earlier, Babar Azam scored 44 off 43 as Pakistan posted 159 for 7 after getting an invitation to bat first. Pakistan were 26 for 3 in 4.4 overs before Babar Azam and Shadab Khan took the side out of the hot water with a 72-run stand. Shaheen Afridi's 23 not out off 16 also played a crucial role in taking Pakistan to a competitive total. Nosthush Kenjige was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 30 in four overs. (Live Scorecard) (Points Table)

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