UK Conservative lawmaker Spencer charged with sexual assault
British lawmaker Patrick Spencer has been charged with two counts of sexual assault relating to two women, London's Metropolitan Police said on Tuesday.
Spencer, 37, was charged following an investigation into two alleged incidents at central London's Groucho Club in 2023. He will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 16.
Spencer, who belonged to the opposition Conservative Party, was elected in last year's general election to represent the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich seat in eastern England.
The party said it had suspended Spencer with immediate effect and he would no longer represent the Conservatives in parliament.
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Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
Shivaji Maharaj belongs to entire country, British history confined him as regional icon: BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi
Nagpur: Warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj belonged to the entire country, but British history tried to confine him as a regional icon, said BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, who was in Nagpur on Friday to attend an event marking the 351st anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj's coronation. Trivedi told TOI at the event organized by Shivaji Maharaj Kruti Samiti that Shivaji Maharaj's contribution in 'safeguarding' the southern part of India from Mughal invasion must not be forgotten. Trivedi said, "Shivaji Maharaj belonged to all of us, entire country. Unfortunately, the British purposely tried to project him as a regional king in their history books. But everyone knows that Shivaji Maharaj formed the Hindawi Swaraj, which goes beyond regional borders." The Rajya Sabha MP said it was Shivaji Maharaj who held Aurangzeb at bay, else the Mughal empire would have spread to India's southern tip. "He stood as a wall between Mughals and the rest of India. It was Shivaji Maharaj's greatness that he was able to challenge such a mighty force. People followed him because they believed in his leadership, they were convinced that Shivaji Maharaj was working for the greater good," said Trivedi. Commenting on Shivaji Maharaj's foresight, Trivedi said, "Look at how he built up a formidable naval force. At that time nobody even thought about having a navy. And Shivaji Maharaj was facing a threat from the Portugese, the British were also there apart from the then mighty Mughals." Trivedi praised Shivaji Maharaj's strategy to go for one of Mughals' financial hubs. "Surat was a big revenue spinner for the Mughals. We have to understand the military brilliance behind Shivaji Maharaj's decision to attack Surat, as it ultimately hampers the enemy's financial standing," said Trivedi. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
NDTV
33 minutes ago
- NDTV
"I Stand Slightly Demoted...": Omar Abdullah To PM Modi On Statehood Restoration
Katra: Mixing humour with political resolve, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday used the flagging-off ceremony of the first train to Kashmir by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Katra to subtly but clearly articulate his government's demand for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Recalling the opening of the Katra railway station, the last programme of his first government in 2014, Mr Abdullah pointed at a "coincidence" that four people present at the event on Friday were also on stage that day. Humorously pointing out the differing career trajectories of the persons involved, Mr Abdullah said, "You (Narendra Modi) became the Prime Minister for the first time then... You came here right after the election. And by the grace of God, you inaugurated the Katra railway station here. 'After that, you won the election twice in a row and remained the prime minister of this country. Your minister of state in the PMO, Jitendra Singh, was also present... Even our respected Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who was the minister of state for railways at that time, was present." Referring to his own position, Mr Abdullah said, "And I, as the chief minister of a full-fledged state then, stand slightly demoted. I was the chief minister of a state. Now I am the chief minister of a union territory." "But I believe that it will not take long for this to be corrected. And with your help, Jammu and Kashmir will again attain the status of a state," Mr Abdullah added. The chief minister's direct plea for the restoration of statehood was met with applause by the large gathering. The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised into two Union Territories – J&K and Ladakh – following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. During his speech at the inauguration of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway link, the chief minister reflected on the significant passage of time since the project's inception in early 1980s. 'I was an eighth-grade student when this project was started. Today, I am 55 years old. My children have also completed college. Now this project has been completed," he said, pointing at the decades-long journey of the railway link between Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country. He also underscored the historical significance of the railway link, noting that even the British envisioned connecting Kashmir by rail via Uri and Jhelum, but failed to realise the dream. "But today, what the British could not fulfil, has been fulfilled by your hands. The Kashmir Valley has been connected with other parts of the country,' Mr Abdullah said, commending the Centre's achievement. Remembering former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Abdullah said, 'I will be making a huge mistake if I do not thank Vajpayee ji on this occasion... This happened after he gave it the status of a project of national importance and made it a part of the Budget." Mr Abdullah also highlighted the immense benefits the railway project would bring to Jammu and Kashmir. "Jammu and Kashmir will benefit a lot with this project. It will benefit from tourism. It will benefit the residents of Jammu and Kashmir," he said. The chief minister also specifically mentioned the inflated airfares during highway closures. "When the highway closes as soon as it rains, the airlines start looting us. A ticket for Rs 5,000 suddenly costs Rs 20,000 within hours. But with the completion of the rail link, at least the loot of the passengers will be reduced now.' Abdullah further expressed hope that the railway line would also help facilitate the transportation of fruits like apples and cherries to markets across the country. Acknowledging the development of broader infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir by the Centre, Mr Abdullah said, "With your auspicious hands, another infrastructure project has been completed in Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly, many other projects are moving forward rapidly." He also cited the ongoing work on various projects in Jammu and Kashmir, including ring roads in Jammu and Srinagar, the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway, Jammu-Srinagar four-laning, and airport and railway network expansions.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
BJP sought caste census during UPA rule: OBC Morcha chief
Bhopal: The BJP on Friday mounted its attack on the Congress for taking credit for the Centre's decision to carry out a caste census, saying the main opposition party intends to "mislead people for vote politics". "The decision taken for the caste census is a historic step. The Congress is today spreading the propaganda that the Modi govt took the decision of caste census under the pressure of Rahul Gandhi," BJP OBC Morcha national president K Laxman said here on Friday. "I want to ask Rahul Gandhi and Congress leaders that for decades they were in power in the country and three members of the Nehru-Gandhi family were prime ministers. Why did Rahul Gandhi not demand a caste census at that time? Today, when he is in the opposition, he is talking about caste census to mislead people for vote bank politics," he said at a massive workshop of the party's OBC Morcha. Laxman said during the Manmohan Singh govt, BJP demanded a caste census. The workshop was also addressed by BJP state president VD Sharma, state BJP organisational general secretary Hitanand Sharma, state BJP backward classes front chief Narayan Singh Kushwaha, and cabinet minister Krishna Gaur. Laxman said caste census has been taking place in the country since the British era, but after the independence of the country, the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru stopped the practice of caste census through the Central Census Act. "Pt Nehru shelved the report of the Kaka Kalelkar Committee. OBC Commission was not formed. Later, the govt of Morarji Desai constituted the Mandal Commission. The govt of Indira Gandhi also maintained silence on it, and the govt of VP Singh implemented it," Laxman recalled. He said in 1961, Pt Nehru wrote a letter to the chief ministers of the states and said that reservation should be done on an economic basis. Laxman claimed that the BJP never backed down from the matter of caste census. "When the Modi govt was formed in 2014, the then Union home minister Rajnath Singh said that we will do the census by adding castes, but due to the Covid crisis, it could not be possible," he said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
