LEAD

Ahead of its presidential poll, the Congress on Monday issued a set of guidelines for the election, debarring party office-bearers from campaigning for candidates. Those who wish to support any candidate will have to first resign from their organisational post, stated the guidelines issued by the Congress' central election authority.

Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor are contesting the Congress president election in their personal capacity, the party said, noting that the "delegates are free to elect any one of them, as per their choice, through ballot paper".

Telecom operator Bharti Airtel's 5G services will be available from Saturday in eight cities announced chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal at India Mobile Congress.

Bharti Airtel has become the first company to launch 5G services in the country. The services will be available in eight cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi, Bangalore, and others.

"When you (Prime Minister) will launch 5G today. 5G from Airtel will be available in 8 cities - Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi, Bangalore and other cities," Mittal said.

Congress presidential candidate Shashi Tharoor on Friday apologised for showing a distorted map of India in his election manifesto, saying that it was not done on purpose. The Kerala Congress MP faced criticism for not showing parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on the map displayed in his election manifesto.

The BJP grabbed the opportunity to target the Congress presidential candidate over the map blunder, saying he put a "mutilated map" not having parts of Jammu and Kashmir may be to "find favour" with the Gandhis.

Later, Tharoor "apologised" unconditionally for the error, and said, "No one does such things on purpose. A small team of volunteers made a mistake. We rectified it immediately."

The Varanasi district court hearing the Gyanvapi mosque dispute reserved its order in the case on Thursday and will pronounce it on October 7. The Hindu side demanded a scientific investigation of the 'Shivling' and carbon dating of 'Argha', which was opposed by the Masjid Committee.

Speaking to media, advocate Vishnu Jain, representing the Hindu side, said the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee opposed the probe saying it's a fountain and not a 'Shivling'.

The court had earlier ruled in favour of Hindu women seeking permission to pray inside the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, next to the Kashi Viswanath temple. The apex court had upheld the their petition as legally valid.

The Union Cabinet on 28 September approved the Indian Railways’ proposal for the re-development of three major railway stations -- New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Mumbai's CSMT.

The project involves an investment of approximately ₹10,000 crore.

Address the press in the national capital, Union Railways Minister said, "Cabinet approves the Indian Railways’ proposal for redevelopment of three major railway stations - New Delhi Railway Stn., Ahmedabad Railway Stn. and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mumbai at an investment of ~ ₹10,000 crore."