NEW DELHI: Google Pay in collaboration with Visa and banking partners on Monday rolled out tokenisation across its platform, enabling users to safely transact with their cards and use Tap-to-pay feature on near-field communication (NFC)-enabled point of sale (POS) terminals and online merchants.

The feature is now available to users of Axis and SBI Card, with Kotak and more banks expected to follow suit very soon.

With tokenisation, Google Pay Android users can use their debit or credit card to make payments through a secure digital token attached to their phone without having to physically share their credit or debit card details.

“We are hopeful that the tokenisation feature will further encourage users to transact securely and safely in the current times, and expand merchant transactions both online and offline,” said Sajith Sivanandan, Business Head: Google Pay and NBU-India.

The feature also works with online merchants, delivering more native and seamless OTP experiences without any redirects to 3D Secure sites.

With tokenisation, Google Pay will enable NFC-capable Android devices to make contactless payments at over 2.5 million Visa merchant locations.

It will allow users to scan and pay at more than 1.5 million Bharat QR enabled merchants and the customers can pay bills and recharges from within their Google Pay app using their card.

“Visa recently crossed over 1 billion token credentials globally and with Google Pay live in India, we expect these numbers to rise significantly. We are excited to partner with Google to further accelerate digital payment innovations in times to come for the Indian market and beyond,” said TR Ramachandran, Group Country Manager, Visa, India & South Asia.

To enable the tap and pay feature using the smartphone phone, users will have to do a one-time set up by entering their card details and follow it by entering the OTP they get from the bank to add their card to the Google Pay app.

After the registration, the feature can be used to make payments at NFC-enabled terminals, the company said.

“We are already live for Axis and SBI Card holders with Visa payments network and are working closely with Kotak and other banking partners to further expand the adoption of card-based payments with tokenisation in India,” Sivanandan added.

The eight suspended members are Derek O’Brien, KK Ragesh, Dola Sen, Syed Nazir Hussain, Sanjay Singh, Rajiv Satav, Ripun Bora and Elamaram Kareem.

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha on Monday suspended eight MPs, including TMC leader Derek O’Brien and Sanjay Singh of AAP, for the remaining part of the Monsoon session over their “unruly behaviour” during the passage of farm bills.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu termed the behaviour of members during the passage of the bills on Sunday as “very unfortunate, unacceptable and condemnable” and one that has “tarnished the image of Parliament, particularly elders’ House.”

Following the ruckus, the house was also adjourned for the day after resuming briefly at 12 noon as legislative discussions could not take place amid the disturbing atmosphere.

Earlier in the day, some members managed to raise issues during Zero Hour. The House witnessed five adjournments as some opposition members continued protests over the suspension of members.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu termed the behaviour of members during the passage of the bills on Sunday as “very unfortunate, unacceptable and condemnable” and one that has “tarnished” the image of Parliament, particularly the House of Elders.

He also rejected the notice for a no-confidence motion moved by Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and 46 other MPs against Deputy Chairman Harivansh, who was in the chair during the bedlam on Sunday, saying it was not in proper format and does not give the required 14-day notice period.

Two key farm bills were on Sunday passed by Rajya Sabha with voice vote amid unprecedented unruly scenes by protesting opposition members who were demanding that the proposed legislation be referred to a House panel for greater scrutiny The government on Monday moved a motion seeking suspension of Derek O’Brien (TMC), Sanjay Singh (AAP), Rajeev Satav (Congress), K K Ragesh (CPM), Syed Nazir Hussain (Cong), Ripun Boren (Cong), Dola Sen (TMC) and Elamaram Kareem (CPM).

Amid opposition, the motion was adopted by voice vote and the Chairman asked them to leave the House but they remained present and protested against the ruling.

Naidu called for taking up of call attention motion on GST compensation to states where O’Brien, Ragesh and Kareem were listed as movers.

But with members protesting, he moved on to the next listed business saying they were not interested.

As the protests continued, he adjourned the proceedings for 20 minutes.

The House saw three more adjournments as the suspended members remained present in the House and opposition parties protested against the decision.

Soon after the Zero Hour, Naidu said he was “pained” at the happenings during the passage of the two bills.

He condemned the unruly behaviour of some members and also “physically threatening” the deputy chairman.

As some opposition members wanted to put across their point of view, Naidu asked them to obey the chair and not speak in between.

He rejected their point of order and when they persisted, he named O’Brien and asked him to leave the House.

“It was a really bad day for democracy,” he said.

“Some members came to the well of the House and also threw papers. They wrenched the mike of Deputy Chairman. They hurled some papers on the Deputy Chairman. They abused Deputy Chairman, according to the Deputy Chairman,” he said, adding the “Rule book was also thrown on him”.

“Climbing on the table, dancing, shouting in the well, tearing papers, breaking the mike, obstructing deputy chairman from doing his duties, throwing papers, rule book on dy chairman, is it a parliamentary standard,” he asked.

“I only suggest to members of Parliament please do some introspection and is it a way to conduct ourselves,” he said.

Naidu said marshals prevented ugly scenes.

“If marshals were not called on time what would have happened to the deputy chairman. I am worried. He says he was abused with objectional words. This is very unfortunate. This should not be allowed. If you have any problem, the way (out) is to discuss, debate and decide.

If you have numbers vote against the resolution. Deputy Chairman also stated that you please go to your seat he will conduct voting. It is on record.” he said.

He said, “the deputy chairman was “physically threatened. So I am worried he would have been harmed also. Keeping this in mind, the government wants to move a resolution.”

Naidu said he had received a letter expressing no confidence against the deputy chairman.

“I have gone through the entire proceedings of the House yesterday. In light of allegations made by the Leader of the Opposition and other members, I observe that the deputy chairman had persistently requested the members to go to their seat and participate in the debate and move amendments.

“Obviously in view of the continuous disruption of the House, the division could not have taken place. Certainly, the conduct of some members grossly crossed all barriers of parliamentary decorum and etiquette and thereby bringing down the prestige of the House,” he said.

He said after carefully going through the provisions of the Constitution, rules of the House and past precedence, it is “observed at the outset that the motion is not in a proper format.”

“As per provision of Article 90(C) of the Constitution, a notice period of 14 days is required for moving a resolution of the motion. As the House is going to be adjourned sine die on October 1 the notice does not complete the required period of 14 days. Hence I rule that motion is not admissible,” he said.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan moved a resolution that eight members be suspended for the remaining part of the session “for their unruly behaviour especially with the chair.”

“And their gross disorderly conduct in the violation of rules and etiquette of Rajya thereby bringing disrepute to the this House and causing insult to the office of deputy chairman,” he said reading out the motion.

Amid protests, the motion was passed by voice vote and the Chairman said the eight members are suspended for the remaining part of the session.

Naidu also noted that COVID-19 precautions were violated by some members on Sunday.

They were radicalised on social media by the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation and were motivated to undertake attacks at multiple places including the National Capital Region.

KOCHI: Nine Al-Qaeda operatives were arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), after simultaneous raids in West Bengal’s Murshidabad and Ernakulam in Kerala. The arrests have pre-empted possible terrorist attacks in various parts of the country.

The module was actively indulging in fundraising and was planning to travel to New Delhi to procure arms and ammunition. They were radicalized on social media by the Pakistan-based terrorist organization and were motivated to undertake attacks at multiple places including the National Capital Region.

Leu Yean Ahmed and Abu Sufyan from West Bengal and Mosaraf Hossain & ​Murshid Hasan from Kerala are among the nine Al-Qaeda terrorists arrested by National Investigation Agency

A release by the NIA said the three arrested from Kerala were Murshid Hasan who was taken into custody from Pathalam near Kalamassery, ​while Iyakub Biswas and Mosaraf Hosse were arrested near Perumbavoor, all three were residing in Ernakulam.

The six picked up from Murshidabad were identified as Najmus Sakib, Abu Sufiyan, Mainul Mondal, ​Leu Yean Ahmed,​ Al Mamun Kamal and ​Atitur Rehman. The NIA officials are verifying their nationality to check whether they are illegal migrants from Bangladesh. 

The surprise raid started at around 2 am. According to sources, the trio was working at various factories and also went for manual works in the Perumbavoor area. The trio will be produced at NIA Court in Kochi for transit warrant and will be taken to New Delhi soon.

Three NIA officials seized digital devices, documents, jihadi literature, sharp weapons, country-made firearms, a locally fabricated body armour, articles and literature used for making home-made explosive from their possession. 

“As per the preliminary investigation, they were radicalised on social media and were motivated to undertake attacks at multiple places including the National Capital Region. For this purpose, the module was actively indulging in fundraising and a few members of the gang were planning to travel to New Delhi to procure arms and ammunition. These arrests have pre-empted possible terrorist attacks in various parts of the country,” said an official statement.

Earlier, NIA had arrest Jamaat-UL-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) terrorists from various parts of Kerala. Even Intelligence agencies have alerted that terrorists are using Kerala as a hideout as a large number of persons from West Bengal and Assam reach Kerala for employment in Kerala. 

PATNA: A controversial comment of RJD’s Saharsa MLA Arun Yadav on late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput triggered a major outcry in Bihar against the RJD and its MLA ahead of Assembly polls.

The MLA said that a person belonging to the Rajput caste cannot commit suicide.

The comment came a few days after the letters written by Dr Raghuvansh Prasad Singh caused a major faceloss to the party.

The RJD officially distanced itself from the controversial comment of Arun Yadav but the NDA allies continued to slam the RJD and its MLA for such objectionable comment and demanded an apology.

The RJD MLA, who is also known as a loudmouth, passed the controversial comment on the sidelines of inauguration of a road under his assembly constituency on Wednesday that triggered a mass outcry.

Yadav’s comment caused more embarassment to the party after the recent comment of Lalu’s elder son Tej Pratap Yadav on Dr Raghuvansh Prasad Singh comparing him with a pot of water in the RJD that is an ocean.

“It has become clear that RJD will not get the votes from a major chunk of Rajput caste after recent two controversial statements of its leaders.The party’s senior leaders belonging to the same caste are also hurt and have gone silent over this,” said a senior party source anonymously.

BJP spokesperson Dr Nikhil Anand lambasted the RJD for promoting a politician of such casteist mentality in politics.

“What can we expect from the leaders of a party like RJD wherein no decency is maintained in speaking about people like Sushant Singh Rajput and Dr Raghuvansh Prasad Singh? Arun Yadav’s comment at a time when the CBI is investigating the case of SSR, who was the son of Bihar’s soil, has bluntly exposed the RJD’s cunningness on the SSR death,” he said.

Slamming the RJD, Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, JD-U spokesperson said that the RJD ought to tender a written apology on behalf of Arun Yadav or the MLA himself.

Vijay Kumar Yadav, RJD spokesperson, told the media that the party does not owe any allegiance to this comment passed by the party MLA Arun Yadav. He said that party will ask him as to what transpired him to make such comment on the SSR death case without party’s consent.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Kumar Singh, senior JD-U Rajput leader, accused the RJD of always being anti upper-castes right from its chief Lalu Prasad to its MLA like Arun Yadav.

President Ram Nath Kovind accepted the resignation of Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who had resigned in protest against three farm sector bills.

NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday accepted the resignation of Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who had resigned in protest against three farm sector bills.

The Shiromani Akali Dal leader resigned on Thursday.

“The President of India, as advised by the prime minister, has accepted the resignation of Harsimrat Kaur Badal from the Union Council of Ministers, with immediate effect,” the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a statement.

Further, as advised by the prime minister, the president has directed that Cabinet Minister Narendra Singh Tomar be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, in addition to his existing portfolios, it said.

Tomar holds multiple portfolios including the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Rural Development Ministry and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

“I have resigned from the Union Cabinet in protest against anti-farmer ordinances and legislation. Proud to stand with farmers as their daughter and sister,” Badal tweeted, hours before the bills were passed by Lok Sabha.

Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill.

It has already passed Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill.

Kejriwal demanded that the Centre withdraw bills related to agriculture, saying his party will vote against the bills in Parliament.

NEW DELHI: Terming three bills related to agriculture “anti-farmer”, AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday demanded that the Centre withdraw them, saying his party will vote against the bills in Parliament.

The AAP has three Rajya Sabha MPs and one LoK Sabha MP.

“The three bills related to farming and farmers brought in the Parliament are anti-farmer. Farmers all over the country are opposing them. The central government should withdraw these three bills. The AAP will vote against them in Parliament,” he tweeted in Hindi.

The Centre had on Monday introduced The Farmers’ Produce Trade And Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) Bill, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, and ‘The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill to replace the ordinances promulgated earlier.

These bills seek to provide barrier-free trade for farmers’ produce outside notified farm mandis, and empower farmers to enter into farming agreements with private players prior to production for sale of agri-produce.

GUWAHATI: Her age may have posed a challenge but 100-year-old Mai Handique’s battle against COVID-19 was won by her positivity, doctors said on Thursday.

Handique, Assam’s oldest COVID-19 patient, was discharged from the Mahendra Mohan Chowdhury Hospital (MMCH) in Guwahati on Wednesday, they said.

A resident of the Mothers’ Old Age Home, she was admitted to the hospital ten days ago after testing COVID- positive.

The doctors and nurses who were treating her held a small celebration before she was discharged.

Handique, who was beaming with excitement, joined the party singing several Assamese songs in her full-throated voice.

Handique, called Aita (grandma) by all at the hospital, told reporters that she enjoyed her stay and the food.

“We were given fish or meat on most of the days while egg and banana were given daily. We were also given ‘ruti- bhaji’ (chappatis and vegetables) which I enjoyed the most,” she said.

She also thanked all those who treated her, saying, “The girls (the nurses) and the doctors’ took very good care.”

Handique also had a special word of praise for Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma — “He is doing very hard work for all of us and I bless him to continue to help people who are suffering from this disease.”

Sarma, too, wished her on the recovery.

“Steely resolve of 100-year old Mai Handique is monumental. With brilliant support of doctors at MMCH, she defeated coronavirus, giving us a lesson in having the right will power,” he said.

A doctor treating Handique said, “Initially, we were worried due to her age and she also has hypertension, but she was always cheerful and in a positive frame of mind.”

Twelve residents of the Mothers’ Old Age Home have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and five of them have been discharged so far.