Top news of the day: Sikkim CM can contest polls as Election Commission waives disqualification period, Centre bans onion exports, and more

The major news headlines of the day, and more.

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang. Photo: Twitter/@PMOIndia

Election Commission cuts Sikkim Chief Minister’s disqualification period, enables him to contest bypoll

Prem Singh Tamang was found guilty of misappropriation of government funds in a cow distribution scheme while he was the Minister of Animal Husbandry in the 1990s. A case was registered in 2003 under the Prevention of Corruption Act that was subsequently repealed. Mr. Tamang has served the full sentence. The EC order said Mr. Tamang’s disqualification stands reduced to one year and one month. In other words, his disqualification period ended on September 10, 2019 and he can contest poll to continue as Chief Minister.

Onion export prohibited until further notice

The retail price of onions have shot up to as much as ₹60 per kg in the metros. At one point, they even touched ₹80 per kg.

Bihar rain: waterlogging throws life out of gear in many parts of State

Earlier, the State Disaster Management Department had sounded red alert in 13 districts of

Bihar for heavy rain. The situation in Katihar, Purnia, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Begusarai, Kishanganh are bad with incessant heavy rain for the last 36 hours.

Kashmir will be normal soon, restrictions exist only in ‘certain minds’: Amit Shah

“There is no curfew anywhere in 196 police stations in J&K. Restrictions under Section 144 Cr.PC, that prohibits assembly of more than four people and political processions, is imposed in eight police stations. Landlines are functional, in fact after August 5, as many as 6,200 new PCOs were opened,” said Mr. Shah. He added that J&K would be the most developed State in the next 10 years.

E-cigarettes banned to prevent youth from falling into new way of intoxication: Modi

In the latest edition of his monthly Mann ki Baat radio address, Mr. Modi said several harmful chemicals are added to e-cigarettes, which have a bad effect on health.

Bhima Koregaon case: Gautam Navlakha moves Supreme Court

The activist has moved the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court decision to reject his plea to quash the FIR against him in the Bhima Koregaon case. On September 13, the High Court had granted him protection from arrest for two weeks to approach the Supreme Court in appeal.

Pakistan army targets posts, village along LoC in J&K’s Poonch

In the second ceasefire violation in as many days, the Pakistani Army resorted to firing and shelling on forward posts and villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. On September 28 evening, Pakistani troops resorted to mortar shelling and small arms firing in Shahpur and Kerni sectors in Poonch district, prompting strong retaliation by India.

Americans mourn killing of trailblazing Sikh police officer in Texas

Lt. Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal, 42, who made national headlines when he was allowed to grow a beard and wear a turban on the job in the U.S. State of Texas, was gunned down while conducting a mid-day traffic stop in northwest of Houston on September 27.

Centre may seek ₹30,000 cr interim dividend from RBI to meet fiscal target

Government finances have come under pressure due to moderation in revenue collection and a slew of measures are being taken to lift growth from a six-year low of 5% in the first quarter of the current fiscal.

Former India captain Shantha Rangaswamy resigns from CAC and ICA after being served conflict of interest notice

“I have other plans so have decided to move on. The Cricket Advisory Committee was anyway meeting once in a year or one in two years so I did not understand the conflict,” Ms. Rangaswamy told PTI. “ I would have resigned from the Indian Cricketers Association anyway before the elections were held. So it was a matter of time.”