Congress leader Motilal Vora passes away at 93
New Delhi, Dec 21: Senior Congress leader Motilal Vora died on Monday at a hospital here following post-COVID-19 complications, his family said.
He was 93.
Vora was admitted to the Escorts Hospital in Okhla here a few days ago with a urinary infection. He also had a lung infection and was put on ventilator support, his family said.
He completed 93 years only on Sunday. He will be cremated in Chhattisgarh where his body will be taken either later in the day or on Tuesday.
Vora, a former Chief minister of undivided Madhya Pradesh and also a former Governor of Uttar Pradesh, had served as a Rajya Sabha member four times and as a Lok Sabha member once.
Several political leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi paid their tributes to the departed leader.
PM Modi said he was saddened by the demise of the Congress veteran.
"Shri Motilal Vora Ji was among the senior-most Congress leaders, who had vast administrative and organisational experience in a political career that spanned decades. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and well-wishers. Om Shanti," the PM said in a tweet.
In his condolence message, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he was sad on hearing about Vora's demise. The minister said he had worked closely with Vora when he was UP Governor.
"He was respected across parties as a gentle and experienced politician. I express my condolences to his family in this hour of grief," Singh said in a tweet in Hindi.
Rahul Gandhi condoled Vora's demise, saying he was a wonderful human being and a true Congressman.
Vora ji was a true congressman and a wonderful human being. We will miss him very much. My love and condolences to his family and friends, he tweeted.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said every Congress leader and worker is feeling personally pained over Vora's death.
Vora ji was a symbol of loyalty, dedication and patience towards the ideology of Congress, she said.
She also said Vora was present at every party meeting even at an advanced age of 92 and expressed his views openly on every issue. "Today, while bidding him goodbye I feel sad that an elder member of the family has left us. We will all miss him very much."
Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "A giant is no more. Sh Moti Lal Vora was the epitome of commitment, dedication and loyalty. He inspired an entire generation by his untiring attitude and capacity to brave every adversity. My heartfelt homage.
The Congress party also tweeted through its official handle, "We offer our heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of stalwart Congress leader, former Union Cabinet Minister and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Motilal Vora. Congress has lost a guiding light. May his soul rest in peace."
Vora ji was a true congressman and a wonderful human being. We will miss him very much.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 21, 2020
My love & condolences to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/MvBBGGJV27
श्री मोतीलाल वोरा जी के निधन से कांग्रेस पार्टी के हर एक नेता, हर एक कार्यकर्ता को व्यक्तिगत तौर पर दुःख महसूस हो रहा है। वोरा जी कांग्रेस की विचारधारा के प्रति निष्ठा, समर्पण और धैर्य के प्रतीक थे।... @MotilalVora pic.twitter.com/Qvp0R3yRb8
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) December 21, 2020
A giant is no more !
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) December 21, 2020
Sh. Moti Lal Vora was the epitome of commitment, dedication & loyalty.
He inspired an entire generation by his untiring attitude & capacity to brave every adversity.
My heartfelt homage !? pic.twitter.com/5r13Uepl8i
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Sensex, Nifty extend gains for 3rd day on strong global cues, lower US inflation
Mumbai, Jan 16: Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rallied for the third session on the trot on Thursday, helped by a rally in global markets after lower-than-expected consumer inflation in the US ignited hopes of more rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.
Intense buying in Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank also boosted sentiments, traders said.
The 30-share BSE index climbed 318.74 points or 0.42 per cent to revisit 77,000 level at 77,042.82. During the day, it jumped 595.42 points or 0.77 per cent to 77,319.50.
On the similar lines, the NSE Nifty rallied 98.60 points or 0.42 per cent to 23,311.80.
As many as 2,778 stocks advanced, while 1,188 declined and 101 remained unchanged on the BSE.
Unabated foreign fund inflows, weakness in the rupee and elevated global crude prices continue to weigh on domestic equity markets, traders said.
"Benchmark indices continued to trade in the positive, albeit off highs, driven by positive investor sentiment following mild US inflation data, which raised hopes for a potential rate cut by the Federal Reserve.
"Additionally, favourable developments in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and a reduced trade deficit further boosted the market's upward movement. However, weak economic growth data from the UK dampened some of this optimism," Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services, said.
From the 30-share blue-chip pack, Adani Ports, State Bank of India, Bajaj Finserv, Bharti Airtel, Tata Motors, IndusInd Bank, NTPC, Maruti, Reliance Industries and Axis Bank were the biggest gainers.
In contrast, HCL Tech, Nestle, Infosys, Hindustan Unilever, ITC and Tata Consultancy Services were among the laggards.
IT services major Infosys on Thursday reported an 11.46 per cent year-on-year increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 6,806 crore in the October-December quarter of FY25.
Shares of Infosys slipped 1.21 per cent to settle at Rs 1,926.20 apiece on the BSE.
Meanwhile, Adani group stocks rallied on Thursday after Hindenburg Research founder Nate Anderson announced that he would disband the firm, which made international waves with campaigns targeting billionaire Gautam Adani that wiped billions from the market value of his group companies.
Shares of NDTV surged 9.15 per cent, Ambuja Cements jumped 3.88 per cent, Adani Green Energy rallied 3.35 per cent, Sanghi Industries climbed 3.34 per cent and Adani Power went up by 2.45 per cent on the BSE.
The stock of Adani Ports advanced 2.03 per cent, Adani Total Gas (1.78 per cent), Adani Enterprises (1.74 per cent), Adani Energy Solutions (1.54 per cent) and ACC (0.77 per cent).
Shares of Adani Wilmar, however, declined 1.19 per cent.
"Nifty has regained momentum, closing at 23,312, buoyed by demand and reclaiming the 23,300 mark, as Wall Street's strong performance helped bulls take charge. Risk-on sentiments were sparked by cooler-than-expected US CPI inflation data for December, easing concerns about rising inflation and boosting expectations that the Fed might continue its rate-cutting cycle throughout the year.
"This, coupled with a weaker US dollar (now at 109) and a drop in the 10-year US bond yield to 4.65 per cent, has further strengthened investor confidence," Prashanth Tapse, Senior VP (Research), Mehta Equities Ltd, said.
The BSE smallcap gauge jumped 1.43 per cent while the midcap index climbed 0.92 per cent.
Among BSE sectoral indices, services jumped 1.93 per cent, industrials (1.73 per cent), metal (1.63 per cent), telecommunication (1.61 per cent), capital goods (1.56 per cent) and commodities (1.51 per cent).
IT, Consumer durables, teck and BSE-focused IT were the laggards.
"The Nifty continued its upward momentum for the third straight session, closing 98 points higher (0.42 per cent) at 23,311, driven by positive global sentiment. Asian markets tracked Wall Street's gains, responding favourably to US core inflation data that reinforced expectations of potential Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2025," Devarsh Vakil, Head of Prime Research, HDFC Securities, said.
In Asian markets, Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong settled in the positive territory.
Equity markets in Europe were quoting higher. US markets rallied on Wednesday.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 4,533.49 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.
The rupee depreciated 16 paise to close at 86.56 (provisional) against the US dollar on Thursday.
Global oil benchmark Brent crude dipped 0.18 per cent to USD 81.88 a barrel.
In the previous session, the BSE benchmark rose 224.45 points or 0.29 per cent to settle at 76,724.08 on Wednesday. The Nifty advanced 37.15 points or 0.16 per cent to 23,213.20.
