Prime Minister Narendra Modi today received kudos from BJP patriarch L K Advani who hailed the NDA dispensation led by his once protege for "honesty" even as he accused Congress of attempting to malign the government's image through baseless allegations.

Terming the murder of a Congolese student in Delhi as a "one-off situation", Union minister V K Singh today refused to call it a case of racial attack even as he asked Indians staying in Africa to be careful, apprehending backlash over the incident.

From Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir governor, N N Vohra Thursday urged the state chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti to initiate time bound measures to deal with an earthquake of a magnitude of 8 or above on the Richter Scale.

The much-talked about film Udta Punjab by filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has been stopped by the censor board.The film, based on the subject of Punjab's drug menace, was reportedly not granted an all-clear because of "excessive swearing".

From Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar: One army jawan was injured in a grenade blast in south Kashmir Pulwama district this evening. A senior police officer said militants hurled a grenade at a camp of the Rashtriya Rifles at Kakpora village in Pulwama district.

A court in Faizabad today rejected the bail plea of Bajrang Dal leader Mahesh Mishra who was arrested on charges of disturbing communal harmony and posing threat to peace and law and order.

Following media reports and video footages of a Bajrang Dal weapon-training camp in Ayodhya held on May 14 in which Dal activists held a mock drill eliminating 'rioters and terrorists' in Islamic uniforms, the police on Tuesday booked the case against the activists and office-bearers of saffron outfit and arrested Mishra.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Ravindra Gupta, hearing the bail application, passed the order sending the accused to 14 days in judicial custody to Faizabad district jail.

The Faizabad police took cognizance of media reports and video footage that went viral in which Bajrang Dal leaders projected Muslim youth as terrorists.   Reacting to the issue, BJP MP Vinay Katiyar alleged that the state government wanted to communalise the atmosphere and claimed that in Bajrang Dal training camp they have not targeted the Muslim community but were getting trained to fight anti-national forces and terrorists.

On the other hand, local Muslim leaders demanded the arrest of all those senior leaders of Bajrang Dal and VHP who organised the training camp.

Border guarding forces of India and Pakistan are expected to hold their bi-annual DG-level talks on issues related to ceasefire violations, infiltration and digging of illegal tunnels along the International Border in July in Lahore.

The last such meeting between the Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers was held in the national capital in September last year.

While the forces have mutually agreed to hold the talks between July 21 and 24 at the Rangers' headquarters in Lahore sources said, a final call on travel will only be taken by the governments of the two countries.

The proposed visit of an NIA team to Pakistan to probe the Pathankot terror attack is awaiting Islamabad's approval.

A Joint Investigation Team from Pakistan had visited Pathankot early this year.

Sources indicated a positive movement on NIA's proposed visit could pave the way for the BSF-Rangers meeting.

Officials said though the IB has been 'relatively less volatile' in nearly eight months since the last meeting between the two forces compared to the frequent ceasefire violations in Jammu and Kashmir in the early 2015, infiltration and drugs smuggling continue to be a matter of concern.

They said the bi-annual meeting between the two border guarding forces has been already delayed due to a number of bilateral issues.

The Indian side will also raise issues related to smuggling of arms, contraband items and detection of illegal tunnels running across the IB.

The Delhi Police on Thursday filed chargesheet in the Civil Lines Mercedes hit-and-run case.

The Juvenile Justice Board will hear the matter on June 2.

The Delhi Police have moved a plea before the JJB asking to try the minor accused of running over 32-year-old Siddharth Sharma last month as an adult.

The accused has been termed a 'perpetual' defaulter, as last year he had been fined thrice - twice for speeding and once for parking wrongly.The police have also chargesheeted the juvenile's father and the family driver in the case.

The accused allegedly ran over Sharma with his Mercedes in north Delhi's Civil Lines area on April 4.

Meanwhile, the Delhi sessions court upheld the JJB's order granting bail to the juvenile, saying it is for the JJB to decide how long the child has to be kept in the reform home.

China today offered to allow more Indian pilgrims to Kailash and Manasarovar in Tibet through Nathulla in Sikkim in addition to 250 who were permitted through the new route last year.

The offer to increase the number of pilgrims was made by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his talks with Pranab Mukherjee in Beijing.

"In order to realise the dream of Indian pilgrims, China is ready to expand the scale of Indian pilgrims for yatra through Nathu La pass in the Tibetan Autonomous Region", a Chinese foreign Ministry spokesman said after the talks.

China had opened the new route last year via Nathulla Pass with permission to allow 250 people in seven batches every year. The new route facilitates direct journey by trains and buses without going through the arduous route through the mountains using mules.

The additional numbers were expected to be finalised after talks between the two countries, officials said.

JUST IN: Sanjay Bangar appointed head coach, Abhay Sharma named fielding coach for India's tour of Zimbabw.

A detailed graphic on the onset of Southwest Monsoon.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday described his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee as 'a statesman, a guide, a friend and a philosopher', while the two leaders discussed various issues like terrorism, international relations and -- in particular -- the issues between the two nations vis--vis United Nations.

The talks between the two leaders were focused on three major issues -- economic affairs, political relations and nuclear programmes.

The meeting was followed by delegation-level talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The Indian President told the Chinese leadership about many initiatives taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also concentrated on climate change issue and thanked the Chinese support to India at international fora and the UN. By R Rajagopalan in Beijing.

Donald Trump on Thursday reached the number of delegates needed to clinch the Republican nomination for president, completing an unlikely rise that has upended the political landscape and sets the stage for a bitter fall campaign.Trump was put over the top in the Associated Press delegate count by a small number of the party's unbound delegates who told the AP they would support him at the convention.

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the chemical factory in Dombivali, Thane, where a blast took place earlier today.

According to some reports, the number of dead in the incident has risen to five.

Earlier, three people were reported dead and 159 injured.

As RBI governor Raghuram Rajan came under repeated attack from Subramanian Swamy, Congress today demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise for the BJP MP targeting "one of the most outstanding economists in the world".

"The present governor of the RBI is one of the most outstanding economists in the world. It is unfortuate that their own Rajya Sabha member has made the statement and more than that it is unforutnate that the PM has not spoken," Congress spokesman Kapil Sibal said.

Addressing a joint press conference with a battery of senior leaders at the AICC headquarters, he said, "It is the duty of the Prime Minister, in fact, to make a public statement apologising for what his party member has said about a person whom the world holds in high esteem."

Sibal said it was a matter of regret that the government failed to clarify that it was not its view when Swamy made the demand for Rajan's removal for the first time. He insisted that Swamy has been brought to the Rajya Sabha for the "particular purpose" of attacking the Congress party as also "individuals in high places and institutions".

Sibal's remarks came close on the heels of Swamy firing another salvo at Rajan levelling six allegations against him and asking the Prime Minister to immediately terminate his services. Accusing Rajan of raising interest rate to the detriment of small and medium industries, Swamy said the RBI governor should have known the "inevitable consequence of rising and high interest rate and his policy was wilful and thus anti-national in intent".

Rajan, the BJP leader also claimed, has been sending confidential and sensitive financial information using unsecured Chicago University email id and publicly disparaging the BJP government.

Delhi Police files charge sheet in Juvenile Justice Board against a teenager in Mercedes hit-and-run-case.

PM: Have you heard in the two years that Modi Govt indulged in corruption? Paisa khaaya hai? Kabhi suna hai aapne? Hamare virodhiyon ne kabhi aarop lagaaya hai? 2 saal pehle kisi ki himmat nahi thi ki laakhon logon ke beech khada hoke apna hisaab de sak."


"Betiyan kum paida hoti hain kyunki unhe Ma ke garbh mein hi maar diya jata hai." The PM asks doctors, "Treat pregnant woman free of cost for 1 day in a month." Retirement age of govt doctors to be increased to 65 years, after the Cabinet agrees to it since there is a shortage of doctors.

"In the last year 3 crore poor families got free LPG connection.5 crore people to get LPG connection in the next three years."

"Swachch Bharat Mission not for the rich. No scheme of my government is aimed at a particular caste."

"Each penny the government spends is minutely scrutinised."

"We have the highest budget allocation for roads."

"Took steps to free poor from the clutches of money lenders."

Few ambassadorial residences in the world are located under a Nato helicopter flight path. But as the windows of his elegant reception room rattle from a constant stream of Black Hawks and Chinooks coming in and out of the nearby Nato-led isaf HQ in Kabul, India's ambassador to Afghanistan, Manpreet Vohra, appears unfazed. "I love it here," he says. "Afghanistan is important for much of the world but certainly for India as [we are] neighbours.' Read more

"This government's intentions are clear, its programmes are clear. To work for the downtrodden and the poor. I appeal the people to participate in this journey of development," the PM said.

PM: We have given importance to building schools, hospitals, roads and transforming the lives of the poor. I am shocked at the kind of corruption by past governments. Nobody had the kind of guts to stand in front of people and ask this question: Have you heard of any stories of the corruption by the government."

The crowd shouts, Nahin, Nahin. No. No.  

"I had said from the Red Fort, I may be called Pradhan Mantri but I am Pradhan Sevak.

"Firstly, I want to apologise to you (crowd) that the place has fallen short. Many people are left out in the sun. You have come to bless me in this scorching sun is a great fortune for me. I want to thank you all.
Earlier states used to get only 35 per cent of Central fund, now they get 65 per cent. The country is changing, but not the thought process of some people."

Modi, Modi chants in the air.

"Our schemes are ensured to empower people to fight poverty," he said.  "I warn sugar mills... do not hold back payments to farmers." 

The PM says, "I am a Uttar Pradesh-wala, a Parliamentarian from UP. I have come to give an account of my work. At this time in 2014 I was taking oath. In my first speech I had said my government is dedicated to working for the poor."


Image: Crowds at the rally listen in to the PM speak  

PM Modi takes the podium and begins the speech with 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' chants.

PM addressing the rally now. 

First up is Home minister Rajnath Singh. Highlights of his speech.

"We dont want to do politics by shying away from public glare, we want to be able to look our people in the eyes.

"We will keep presenting records of our performance in front of the public.

"We dont think the public is in our pocket, we believe the public are our masters.

-- "Pehli baar maine dekha, sarkaar banne ke baad, pradhaan mantri ke dil mein sabse pehle dard chhalakte hue dekha toh kisanon ke liye dekha.

-- No allegation of corruption from Modi government.

PM Narendra Modi reaches Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh to address a rally to mark the second anniversary of the government.


As the NDA Government at the Centre completes two years in office on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will follow this up with four more rallies Balasore in Odisha; and one each in Rajasthan, Karnataka and Meghalaya, later on.

Besides, senior union ministers including Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Suresh Prabhu, Najma Heptulla and J.P. Nadda and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionaries will also be visiting different districts in Uttar Pradesh to ensure the reach of the governments programmes at the ground level in the state which will go to polls next year.


On the eve of the governments second anniversary, the Prime Minister chaired a meeting of Union Council of Ministers on Wednesday asking the ministerial colleagues to focus on carrying the initiatives taken by the dispensation to the grass roots.

He also briefly spoke about the various programmes being lined up to mark the governments second year.

Meanwhile, top BJP leaders led by the party chief Amit Shah have highlighted the achievements of the government claiming they included empowerment of the poor, infrastructure growth and youth-led development.

Top echelons of the government including Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar besides Shah, were present as Union Minister Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Nirmala Sitharaman made a presentation to highlight its performance at an interaction with senior editors from various media houses in the national capital on Wednesday.

The presentation also claimed that the common man has benefited due to low inflation and stable price regime and India has emerged as a bright spot in the world with high growth rate of 7.6 per cent.

Indian shops attacked in Congo, some Indians hurt in violence after Congolese national's killing in Delhi: Foreign Ministry

The Aam Aadmi Party today alleged that two-years of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre have seen only "corruption" and "hooliganism" and claimed the Prime Minister's Office has been reduced to an "international travel agency".

"Modiji got massive mandate on the development plank and the only development in the country has been done by PMO which is now functioning as an international travel agency. The officials have been reduced to travel agents who keep on arranging his visits to one country or the other," AAP leader Dileep Pandey said.

"These visits are planned only in hope that situation or relations with other countries will improve but we have seen how they have gone worse be it with Pakistan, China or Nepal.


"There is no consistent, transparent, convenient foreign policy and the country has not reaped any benefits from your foreign trips. The FDI that you boast about has only turned out to be short term investment by foreign companies which come here for 3-4 months, make profits and leave," he added.

The AAP leader alleged that the Modi government was attacking educational institutions such as JNU, AMU, Allahabad University, BHU and FTII among others only to establish RSS ideology and it resorts to hooliganism to crush voices of dissent.

"They attacked so many educational institutions. We all know what happened in JNU, FTII, AMU and now in BHU. Their sole agenda has been to establish RSS ideology there. Wherever there are voices of dissent they resort to hooliganism" he said.

"There is hooliganism on chanting or not chanting of Bharat Mata ki Jai, Akhlaq was killed over beef, Rohith Vemula was forced to commit suicide. All these were part of the two-years of their regime," Pandey added.

Party leader Ashutosh alleged, "He is the first PM in our history to bow down in front of Pakistan. While he hugged Pakistan PM, Pathankot attack followed and ironically we asked the same party to investigate the attack who conducted it".


"Following three levels of corruption-regional corruption, national corruption and international corruption-Modi has proved himself to be standing parallel to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.


"He not only kept silent on various corruption issues be it of Vasundhra Raje, Lalit Modi, Agusta Westland, Smriti Irani's degree or his own degree. Be it Supreme Court or High Court, BJP government was slammed but they did not learn any lessons. People feel let down for having voted for the party," he added.

The Central Information Commission has directed the Defence Ministry to disclose some records related to AgustaWestland helicopters deal including the opinion of the Attorney General on returning procured choppers and records related to court proceedings in Italy.


The Commission has also sought records related to the termination of the deal to be presented before it in an in camera proceedings for its perusal before deciding whether they can be disclosed under the RTI Act or they attract its exemption clauses.


"Commission will examine application of Section 8(1)(a) and (h) in claiming exemption from disclosure of files and documents by the CPIO. It will also take a decision, if required on applying severability clause under Section 10 of RTI Act in respect of any portion of the document/files,' Information Commissioner Divya Prakash Sinha said.

Hearing the plea of activist Subhash Agrawal, Sinha ordered Defence Ministry to provide details of Bank Guarantee amount received back by India. MoD is directed to provide copy of Attorney Generals opinion on sending back already procured helicoptersprovide details of court cases in Italian courts in which India is a party, he said. Examining the application point by point, Sinha ordered the Ministry provide names of Italian Advocates/Italian law Firms hired to represent India in Italian courts.

Just in: Three terrorists have been gunned down by security forces in Nowgam (J&K) in an encounter.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday stayed the reservation for Jats and members of five other communities -- Jat Sikhs, Muslim Jats, Bishnois, Rors and Tyagis -- provided by the Haryana government under a newly carved Backward Classes (C) category.

The High Court passed the order while hearing a petition challenging the constitutional validity of The Haryana Backward Classes (reservation in services and admission in educational institutions) Act 2016 that was passed unanimously by the State Assembly on March 29.

The interim order was passed by a Bench headed by Justice S.S. Saron.

The Act was challenged by Murari Lal Gupta of Bhiwani, who was seeking a direction to quash block 'C' of the Act, which provides reservation to the Jat community under a newly carved Backward Classes (C) category.

The petitioner submitted that reservation has been provided under the new Act on the basis of the Justice K.C. Gupta commission report, which the Supreme Court has already quashed.The counsel for the petitioner stated that providing reservation on the basis of the Gupta commission report tantamounts to the revision of a judicial order, which the legislature cannot do.It was further submitted in the petition that in 2014 as well, the State government had introduced such a Bill to include Jats in the list of other backward classes for reservation in jobs and educational institutes.

However, the Supreme Court, in the case of Ram Singh and others versus the Union of India, had held that Jats were not backward socially, educationally and politically.

The Congress Party launched a scathing attack on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA regime on Thursday, saying there were only lectures but no governance since it had come to power.

Addressing a press conference in Ahmedabad where it highlighted the failures of the NDA government, Congress leader Manish Tewari said the ruling dispensation had failed on each and every front, including foreign policy, which Prime Minister Modi puts as his top most priority.

"The BJP has severely dented our relations with the neighbours. Look at China, it is now opposing India at the NSG, it opposes our stand to give terrorist entity to Masood Azhar and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). There is no new idea as far as relationship is concerned with the United States," Tewari told the media.

"If you see in totality, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done nothing on the front of foreign policy and has just been paying trips to various nations," he added. "We want to ask Prime Minister Modi as very basic fundamental question-You promised of 'Acche Din', 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas'. Can you tell us how the life of the common people have been improved and affected? How you have been able to better the life of a common man in the past two years?" he further asked.

Meanwhile, addressing another conference in the national capital, representatives of the grand old party said that the only feat which Prime Minister Modi has achieved in the last 24 months was to become a great speaker but one who has done no work. "Bhashan veer Modi do saal mein karamveer nahi ban paaye. Only bhashan no shasan. (Prime Minister Modi's words speak louder than his words. There was no governance, only lecture)," Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said.

"There was negligible growth in various core sectors. The value of rupee is sliding, inflation is on rise. The Big achievements of this government are creation of social tension, provocation by BJP leaders, unnecessary controversies and mob violence," said senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Quoting Mirza Ghalib, senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge asked the ruling dispensation to refrain from attacking the Congress and to listen to the suggestions and advises of the Opposition as well. "Ya rab woh na samjhe hain na samjhenge meri baat, de aur dil unko, jo na de mujh ko zubaan aur," said Kharge.

Maharashtra gets new Anti Terrorism Squad chief. IPS officer Atulchandra Kulkarni takes charge today.

Update on the Dombivali blast: A change in the figures ... the number of deaths are now three, with 20 people injured. Earlier reports put the death toll as one with over 150 injured.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says he spoke to police officials and local authorities and has asked them to speed up the relief operations.

Just in: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan reacts to the Supreme Court decision to allow Italian marine Salvatore Girone to go home.

The Supreme Court relaxed the bail conditions of Girone, one of the two Italian marines accused of killing two fishermen off Kerala coast in 2012, and allowed him to go to his country till an International Arbitral Tribunal decides the jurisdictional issue between India and Italy.

The Kerala CM said that the accused who committed crime must be tried in India. "The court's decision based on wrong responses from the Centre. The centre is up to foul play on the marine's case from the start," Vijayan said. 



The other marine Massimiliano Latorre is already in Italy on health grounds and his stay there was recently extended by the apex court till September 30 this year. A vacation bench of Justices P C Pant and D Y Chandrachud sought a fresh undertaking from Italian Ambassador in the capital stating that if the International Arbitral Tribunal (IAT) decides jurisdictional issue in Indias favour then he will be responsible

Naseeruddin Shah doesn't like talkative people. That's why he enjoyed working with Kalki Koechlin during the filming of Waiting, which releases this weekend.

"I don't like talking too much and don't like talkative people. Kalki could keep silent and it was not uncomfortable. There are not many people one can say that about. You feel a compulsion to say something all the time. That's the great thing about working with her," Naseer said. Read more

Three new pieces of debris have been found in Mauritius and in Mozambique that could be linked to missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, Australia's transport minister said today.

The fate of the passenger jet, which is presumed to have crashed at sea after disappearing en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew on board in March 2014, remains a mystery.

Five other fragments have previously been found and identified as definitely or probably from the Boeing 777. All of them were discovered thousands of kilometres from the current underwater search zone far off Western Australia's coast, where three ships carrying sophisticated equipment are scouring the sea floor for traces of the plane.

Transport Minister Darren Chester said two of the new pieces were found in Mauritius, with the other in Mozambique and were "of interest in connection to the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370".

Congress President Sonia Gandhi at AIIMS to meet Delhi minor rape victim's kin. The girl's condition is critical.

A 13-year-old girl was allegedly brutally raped and dumped near a railway track in south east Delhi's Pul Prahladpur area, police said on Wednesday.

The minor girl, an orphan, is admitted in AIIMS and her condition is said to be critical.The girl lives with her maternal aunt at a village near Pul Prahladpur.

She went missing on 17 May, and a search operation was conducted but she could not be found, a senior police official said.In the wee hours of 18 May, locals spotted the girl lying unconscious near the railway track.

Terming a sharp slowdown in China as a "significant risk" for global economy and the SAARC region in particular, Governor Raghuram Rajan today said RBI has been moderating any extreme currency volatility through its intervention. He also said India has in place a four-pronged defence against external shocks -- "good policies; prudent capital flow management and swap arrangements; preventing extreme forex volatility; and building reasonable forex reserves."

"Good policy has been essential to our stability," Rajan said while listing out various structural reforms undertaken by the government to enhance growth. "RBI has been moderating periods of extreme volatility in the currency through exchange intervention, though only when the movement is excessive, and increasing access to foreign exchange reserves, including pooling of reserves," he said.


In his inaugural speech at the SAARCFINANCE Governors' Symposium held in Mumbai today, Rajan also said that India's SAARC swap arrangement with a number of SAARC countries had been drawn on by some to alleviate short term foreign exchange needs, and had hopefully been helpful, the Governor averred. SAARCFINANCE is a "network of central bank governors and finance secretaries of the SAARC region". The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was set up as a regional bloc in 1985. Rajan said sharp slowdown of the Chinese economy remains a significant risk for global economy and the SAARC region.

One person has died and at least 150 have been injured after a boiler blast at a chemical factory in Dombivali in Thane district. Following the blast, a fire broke out in the factory situated at MIDC Phase 2 in Dombivli (East). Reports suggest that the blast was so huge that window panes in buildings located as far away as 3-4 km from the site were shattered. Further details awaited.

BJP chief Amit Shah on Wednesday distanced the party from Subramanian Swamy's strident attack on RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, making it clear that the newly nominated Rajya Sabha MP was not articulating the view of the outfit in office, reports The Times of India.


"The party stand is spelt out by me," Shah told journalists who asked whether the MP was reflecting the party stand on Rajan. He repeated his statement when asked whether Swamy's stance was in conflict with that of the party, "I will only say that the party's stand is articulated by me."He also dodged persistent queries about what he thought of Rajan's performance as the central bank chief. "I will not comment on institutions and their heads in public," he said.


Interestingly, his remark drawing a line between BJP and Swamy's attack on Rajan coincided with the MP's tweet declaring that he would present his six-point chargesheet against "R3", in what many see as a euphemism for Raghuram Rajan.


Swamy has accused Rajan of hurting growth by keeping interest rates high. The governor's three-year term runs out in early September. Finance minister Arun Jaitley has dodged questions about the government's response to Swamy's tirade against Rajan, his refrain being it wasn't proper for him to discuss such issues in public. 

Lt Governor of Puducherry, Lt General (retd) A K Singh today demitted office after holding the post as additional charge for nearly two years. Singh is Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and has been holding additional charge of Puducherry since July 2014.

There's been a boiler blast at Boiler blast at Acharya Chemicals in the MIDC area of Dombivli. Sushanth Somayaji @rksomayaji  tweets that windows of houses nearby are broken and warns against using Manpada road, which has been blocked to traffic. Details awaited.

Just in: Former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's convoy attacked in Dumaria in Gaya district. Manjhi was on his way to meet a LJP leader who had died. Stones were thrown at his convoy, but reports say that nobody was hurt. Details awaited.

A couple of days ago, Manjhi today criticised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar saying he was working under someone's pressure and thus "failed" to deliver especially on law and order front in the state.

"Nitish Kumar is under pressure and hence he would not be able to do anything (on taking action)," the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) president said while referring to cases with regard to RJD leaders Raj Ballabh Yadav, Shahabuddin and others.

"Nitish Kumar ran a good government during 2005-13 but suddenly what happened that things are slipping out of his control. With so much vast experience of running the administration, he would have fared much better, but he is proving to be a 'Nakara' (non-performer)," Manjhi told reporters in Patna.

Just in: The Supreme Court allows Italian marine Salvatore Girone to go home. Girone had sought relaxation of bail conditions to enable him to return to Italy. The Centre told the court that it supported the marine on humanitarian grounds. 


Earlier on May 2, the UN's Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague recommended relaxation of bail conditions of Girone, one of the two marines facing murder charges for killing two Indian fishermen.


Girone and another Italian marine Massimiliano Latorre are facing charges of murdering two fishermen in 2012 off the Kerala coast.


The Arbitral Tribunal's order clearly recognises the fact that "Girone is under India's authority alone" and that the "Supreme Court of India exercises jurisdiction" over him.


The order further asked India and Italy to approach the Supreme Court of India for relaxation of the bail conditions.


The order reportedly stated that Italy must ensure that Girone reports to an authority in Italy designated by the Supreme Court of India.


It also recommended that Girone should surrender his passport and should be prohibited from leaving Italy unless the Supreme Court of India grants him permission.


Italy also accepted that if Girone is allowed to return to Italy, he would remain under the jurisdiction of the courts of India.


Italy had earlier in March asked the PCA to order India to release Girone, saying the latter, otherwise, risks four more years in India without any charges being made which would amount to "grave violation of his human rights".


The Supreme Court, which was handling this case, suspended the court proceedings relating to the trial of two marines in August 2015 following an order to this effect by International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) which was approached by Italy for international arbitration.

Vice Admiral Girish Luthra appointed as Flag Officer Commanding in Chief (FOC-in-C) of Western Command.

The Delhi police is likely to file the chargesheet in the Mercedes hit and run case tomorrow and they would urge the Juvenile Justice Board to treat the 17-year-old accused like an adult under the new provisions of the law. 

The NIA today made it clear that its charge sheet in the Samjhauta train blast was final and the agency had found no links of Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba terror group to the 2007 incident in which 68 people, including Indians and Pakistanis were killed.

Hollywood star Ian McKellen says India is at a juncture where it needs to decide whether it wants to move towards equality or stuck in the past as far as protection of LGBT rights is concerned. 

Mumbai police commissioner Dattatray Padsalgikar on Tuesday said the information that the alleged Indian wing of ISIS had planned to target Bollywood stars for extortion was "primary" and assured providing security to any film personality who feels "threatened" and approaches police.

German police had received information about plans to carry out a bomb attack on a gurdwara in Essen by a group of teenagers from one of the suspects' mother some weeks before an explosive was detonated there, media reports claimed today. 

In a major reshuffle in West Bengal ahead of the swearing-in of Mamata Banerjee as Chief Minister for the second consecutive term, altogether 30 IAS and IPS officers in the state were transferred today.

Clinton broke federal records rules, says report on private email use
Minor girl brutally raped, dumped near railway track in Delhi
Calls from Dawood's house: ATS to probe charges against Khadse
Kerala Dalit rape & murder: LDF appoints new team to probe case
'AFSPA should stay till police trained to contain insurgency'
Row erupts over Big B hosting NDA's 2nd anniversary event