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Tue, 04 April 2017
GST Bills in RS tomorrow; BJP issues whip to MPs

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21:25   Keep getting threat calls, says man behind highway liquor ban
Harman Sidhu, who led a campaign against liquor vends on highways and drunken driving, has said that he keeps getting threat calls but would like to take them in his stride.

"I keep getting such calls. There is nothing new," he said.

The 47-year-old Chandigarh resident's campaign had recently led to the Supreme Court ordering shut down of liquor shops and bars within 500 metres of highways across the country.

When asked to comment on the nature of threat calls received by him, Sidhu said, "Some callers say 'hume aapko haar pehanane hai' (we want to garland your photo after your death). I just try to take all this in my stride."

On being asked whether he had demanded any security from the government, he said, "One-and-a-half years back, I had requested the Chandigarh administration in this regard, but they thought it was not required. Afterwards, I was provided with two personal security officers by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. I am satisfied with that."

When contacted, Chandigarh SSP Eish Singhal today said that Sidhu had been provided two PSOs. -- PTI

Also read
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20:11   GST Bills in RS tomorrow; BJP issues whip to MPs
The Goods and Services Tax supplementary bills will be discussed in Rajya Sabha tomorrow.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has issued a whip to its Rajya Sabha members, asking them to remain present in the house for next two days.

The ruling party doesn't have a majority in the upper house.

Lats week, the Central GST Bill, 2017; The Integrated GST Bill, 2017; The GST (Compensation to States) Bill, 2017; and The Union Territory GST Bill, 2017 were passed by the Lok Sabha after negation of a host of amendments moved by the opposition parties. -- ANI
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19:02   Yogi Adityanath fulfills poll promise, waives off farm loans up to Rs 1 lakh
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced loan waiver of up to Rs 1 lakh, which would benefit around 86 lakh farmers in the state.

The decision was taken at the first Cabinet meeting of the newly formed Uttar Pradesh government.

The move will cost around Rs 36,000 crore to the exchequer.

In an unrelated move, the state government decided to impose ban on electronic slaughter houses in the state.

Uttar Pradesh has close to 2.3 crore small and marginal farmers who owe about Rs 62000 crore to banks and cooperatives. 
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18:52   Man assaulted by cow protection vigilantes in Rajasthan dies in hospital
A Muslim man who was assaulted by vigilantes over suspicion of cow smuggling in Rajasthan died at a hospital in Alwar, police said on Tuesday.

The incident came amid several steps taken by BJP-ruled states to protect cows, considered sacred by many Hindus. BJP and other right-wing Hindu leaders have also been quoted making provocative statements over the issue.

Police said Pehlu Khan (35) died at a hospital on Monday night, two days after 15-odd people were assaulted by vigilantes on the Alwar highway.

Alwar collector Muktanand Agrawal said Khan was among the people transporting cows in six vehicles.

Some of those attacked are undergoing treatment for injuries while the remaining are in judicial custody, said Virendra Singh, a constable at the Bahror police station.

The transporters are said to be Muslims from Haryanas Nuh district.
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18:30   Yoga education programme to be compulsory in UP govt schools
A yoga education programme will soon be made "compulsory" in Uttar Pradesh government schools as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the state officials to work in this regard.

The state government has also decided that mandatory self-defence training be provided to girl students in these schools.

"The Chief Minister directed that 'Rani Laxmibai Aatmaraskha Kaaryakram' (self defence programme) and 'Yog Shiksha Kaaryakram' (Yoga education programme) would be compulsory," the statement released said.

In the meeting, Adityanath also stressed on a uniform syllabus for all the state universities of UP and the need to ensure that academic sessions in colleges are held regularly.
    
He asked the institutes of higher education to fill up the vaccancies of teachers.
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18:16   Trump to broker peace between Pak and India? No thanks, says India
India today made it clear that its position of bilateral redressal of all India-Pakistan issues has not changed, in a veiled snub to the US which suggested that it may "find its place" in efforts to de-escalate Indo-Pak tensions.

"Government's position for bilateral redressal of all India-Pakistan issues in an environment free of terror and violence hasn't changed.

"We of course expect international community and organisations to enforce international mechanisms and mandates concerning terrorism emanating from Pakistan, which continues to be the single biggest threat to peace and stability in our region and beyond," the external affairs ministry spokesperson said.

He was responding to a query on remarks of US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley that the American administration was "concerned about the relationship between India and Pakistan and very much wants to see how we de-escalate any sort of conflict going forward".
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17:52   Dalai Lama reaches Bomdila, discourse tomorrow
The Dalai Lama arrives in Bomdila to a traditional welcome.

The Tibetan spiritual leader rescheduled his visit to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh as his chopper could not take off due to inclement weather in the region and instead reached Bomdila in the state by road from Guwahati today.

Tomorrow, the spiritual leader is scheduled to visit Dirang, 14 kilometers from Bomdila and on Thursday he will go to Tawang before visiting Itanagar on April 12.

The Dalai Lama will deliver a discourse at the Buddha Park in Bomdila tomorrow.

On April 6, he will give teachings at Dirang and confer the Avalokiteshvara Permission at Thupsung Dhargyeling Monastery in the morning.

From April 8 to 10, the Dalai Lama will deliver discourses in Tawang.

The Dalai Lamas visit to Arunachal Pradesh comes eight years after his previous visit in 2009.

The previous visit came exactly 50 years after he had passed through the town on his way from Lhasa in Tibet to India.

Amid persistent Chinese objections to the Dalai Lamas trip to Arunachal Pradesh, India said today that no "artificial controversy" should be created around the Tibetan spiritual leaders visit.
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17:26   Day later another jawan found with live bullet in airport
An army jawan was caught at the Srinagar airport with a bullet in his baggage on Tuesday, just a day after another soldier was caught with live ammunition including two grenades in his baggage at the same airport.

The jawan, Pandia Raj, was booked on an Indigo flight to Delhi and was stopped when the anti-hijacking team posted at the main gate of the airport spotted the bullet in his baggage on Tuesday. The police said he was posted with the Army Medical Corps at the field hospital in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir.

But the police believe the bullet got into his baggage by mistake.

"During screening of baggage, a bullet was recovered. It looks like that jawan had inadvertently carried the bullet in his baggage. He might have forgotten it in the bag," said Manzoor Ahmad Dalal, the senior superintendent of police anti-hijacking Srinagar airport.

Dalal added that the jawan had been handed over to the army.
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17:26   Day later another jawan found with live bullet in airport
An army jawan was caught at the Srinagar airport with a bullet in his baggage on Tuesday, just a day after another soldier was caught with live ammunition including two grenades in his baggage at the same airport.

The jawan, Pandia Raj, was booked on an Indigo flight to Delhi and was stopped when the anti-hijacking team posted at the main gate of the airport spotted the bullet in his baggage on Tuesday. The police said he was posted with the Army Medical Corps at the field hospital in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir.

But the police believe the bullet got into his baggage by mistake.

"During screening of baggage, a bullet was recovered. It looks like that jawan had inadvertently carried the bullet in his baggage. He might have forgotten it in the bag," said Manzoor Ahmad Dalal, the senior superintendent of police anti-hijacking Srinagar airport.

Dalal added that the jawan had been handed over to the army.
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17:20  
UP CM Yogi Adityanath arrives for his first cabinet meeting. 
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16:49   Farm loan waiver tops agenda at Yogi's cabinet meeting this evening
UP CM Yogi Adityanath will preside over the first state cabinet meeting in Lucknow at 5 pm today. Key issues in the BJP's poll manifesto, especially farm loan waiver, electricity in rural areas and an ordinance on slaughterhouses, are likely to be taken up during the meeting in Lucknow.

State Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi said a proposal prepared for farm loan waiver will be presented before the cabinet at its first meeting.

Though state Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh maintained that the agenda of the meeting was yet to be finalised, sources said the government was likely to take a decision on waiving the loans of small and marginal farmers.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said the promises made in the BJP's manifesto for the just-concluded state Assembly polls will be on the agenda of the Adityanath government's first cabinet meeting.

"Decisions on a number of important issues will be taken at the cabinet meeting on April 4. The focus will be on honouring the promises made in the party's manifesto," he said.

The BJP, in its Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra (manifesto), had promised to waive the loans of small and marginal farmers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi too had said in his campaign speeches that writing off farm loans would be among the foremost tasks of the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh.
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16:38   Death toll in Syria 'gas attack' rises to 58
A suspected gas attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun in northwestern Syria today killed 58 civilians, including 11 children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said. Dozens more were suffering the effects of the attack, with medical sources reporting respiratory problems and symptoms including fainting, vomiting and foaming at the mouth, the monitor said.
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16:10   Rakhi Sawant arrested for 'derogatory' comments against Valmiki
Bollywood starlet Rakhi Sawant has been arrested for making objectionable remarks against sage Valmiki, who wrote the mythological Hindu epic 'Ramayana'.

A local court in Ludhiana issued the arrest warrant against Sawant on March 9 on the basis of a complaint filed against her for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of the Valmiki community with the comments she made in a programme last year, police said on Sunday.

While speaking about the controversy created in the name of Valmiki, the 38-year-old actress told ANI that she used the example of Valmiki's change of soul to explain the change in her friend and singer Mika Singh, when he was accused in an assault case.

"I just gave an example from what I have read in my childhood. Just like Valmiki, who got changed from being a robber to a saint, Mika ji also has changed. It was just an example," she said.

Sawant had failed to appear before the court during the last hearing held on March 9 despite the court issuing her repeated summons. The next hearing of the case is scheduled for April 10.
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15:48   Chacha Jethmalani never charged me: Lalu
After Supreme Court lawyer Ram Jethmalani made it clear that he will not charge lawyer fees from his client Arvind Kejriwal, RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Tuesday said Jethmalani has represented him for free in the multi-crore fodder scam case.

Lalu, who used to call Jethmalani Chacha (uncle), told newspersons in Patna, "Chacha ke paas paise ki kya kami hai? Theek hi kaha hai ke Kejriwal se paisa nahin lenge.

He said Jethmalani, who is one of India's most eminent lawyer's has never charged a penny from him for appearing in several cases.

"Aaj tak mera case ladne ke liye chacha ne ek paisa bhi nahin liya hai," Lalu said.  

Just last year, Lalu's RJD made Jethmalani the party's Rajya Sabha MP. Jethamalani defended Lalu in the fodder scam.

Ram Jethmalani on Tuesday said he will defend Arvind Kejriwal in the defamation case slapped on him by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley without taking any fee if the Delhi chief minister cannot afford to pay him.

Jethmalani also hit out at Jaitley alleging that the row over the Delhi governments move to clear his bills for fighting the case has been instigated by the Union finance minister.

Jethmalani said it is the governments duty to defend the chief minister.

I will certainly defend him even if he cant pay, but he said no, I want to pay, send us the bills, so I have sent the bills. Even if the government does not support him, I will.

If necessary, I will support him for his livelihood because he is a clean force compared to Arun Jaitley, said Jethmalani.

MI Khan/Rediff.com
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15:38   Did Delhi ask Kejriwal to sue Jaitley? Why should people pay, BJP asks
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju today criticised the Delhi government's move to pay fees of a lawyer representing Arvind Kejriwal in a defamation case, saying no chief minister has ever burdened the exchequer to fight his own case.


"I just can't recall any other chief minister who has ever burdened the exchequer to save himself or promote himself," he told reporters, reacting to the Delhi government's move to pay around Rs 3.8 crore to top lawyer Ram Jethmalini.


Rijiju said the defamation case was slapped against Kejriwal for speaking against Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. "Whatever he had said about Jaitleyji was his own statement. So, why should the people of Delhi pay? Did the people of Delhi asked him to fight the case. Then why should people of Delhi pay now?," he said.


Later, in a tweet, Rijiju said, "Public money for defending Kejriwal ji !! Already too much money is being used to advertise him (sic)".


In December, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had asked for releasing appearance fee to Jethmalani who has been fighting the defamation case slapped against Kejriwal by Jaitley.


The amount of pending dues to Jethmalini is over Rs 3 crore and the Delhi Law Department had asked why the Delhi government should foot the bills when the case is not related to city administration, sources said.


Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal is also learnt to have sought Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar's advice in clearing bills.


Former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee has said the Delhi government cannot pay Jethmalani's fees since it's a civil suit. Kejriwal has to pay on his own."
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15:32  
Madras High Court directs the Tamil Nadu government to waive loans of all drought-hit farmers.
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15:16   Jawan held with grenades given bail, sent back to army
An Army jawan who had been arrested yesterday after two hand grenades were recovered from his baggage at the international airport in Srinagar was today granted interim bail by a local court which handed him to the army authorities. Bhopal Mukhiya was arrested at the Srinagar International Airport while he was on his way to catch a flight to Delhi yesterday.


Granting interim bail to the accused, the court in Budgam handed over Mukhiya to army authorities, who had moved an application to this effect, officials said.


The army authorities have informed the court that Mukhiya's custody was required by them for investigating the case, they added. The court has listed the case for next hearing on April 6.


The soldier, who is posted with 17 JAK Rifles at Boniyar in Uri sector of Baramulla district, was arrested yesterday after security officials found two hand grenades in his baggage during screening at the main gate of the airport.


Mukhiya reportedly told the security officials that a superior officer had handed over the grenades to him with the instructions to hand it over to a person at Delhi airport.


The security officials are likely to question the officer named by the accused soldier in connection with the recovery of grenades, the officials said. Army officials refused to comment on the developments in the case saying the investigation was underway. Yesterday, a defence spokesman said action as per the due process of law would be taken.
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14:50   Those behind attacks on Africans in India must be punished: UN
The United Nations has expressed hope that those behind attacks on African nationals in India would be brought to justice.

"We do very much hope that people who are responsible for the attacks are brought to justice," spokesman for the UN Secretary General Stephane Dujarric told reporters yesterday.

Dujarric was asked about the incidents of attacks on African nationals in India and whether there was any UN response or intervention to prevent these attacks.

Dujarric said that there was no UN involvement that he was aware of.

Four Nigerian students were attacked by a group of Greater Noida residents who took out a candlelight march on March 26 after a 17-year-old Indian boy died due to suspected drug overdose.

Denouncing attacks on African nationals as "xenophobic and racial" in nature, heads of African missions in India have hit out at the government, saying it took no "known, sufficient and visible" deterrent action.The Indian government has condemned the attacks as "unacceptable" and said investigations on the death of the teenager and the subsequent incident by local authorities are ongoing.
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14:46   Delhi govt cannot pay Jethmalani: Sorabjee
Former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee weighs in on whether the Delhi government should pay SC lawyer Ram Jethmalani's fees: Sorabjee says, "The Delhi government cannot pay. It's a civil suit. Kejriwal has to pay on his own."
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14:22   Politicians are voting on the impeachment of Donald Trump
The Massachusetts city of Cambridge has passed a resolution calling for an impeachment investigation into President Donald Trump.The Cambridge City Council passed the resolution on Monday evening by a 7-1 vote. One council member abstained from voting. Read more
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14:12   Goa govt assessing impact of liquor ban on tourism
The Goa government is assessing the impact of the Supreme Court order banning liquor vends on national and state highways.

"I have asked the (tourism) department to study and submit the report on impact on tourism following ban on the sale of liquor around the state and national highways," Goa Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar told PTI today.

He said his department has also approached Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar over the matter. "Parrikar is an able chief minister. We have a hope that he will find a solution to the problem," he said.

The state Excise department has already issued notices to nearly 3,000-odd outlets falling within 500 metres of the national and state highways. The liquor traders are hopeful that the order will not have a severe impact on their businesses as the apex court has reduced the area of ban to 220 metres in areas having a population of up to 20,000.
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14:08   Pak violates ceasefire along LoC, 3rd violation in 24 hours
Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire and shelled forward posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir today, the third such violation in 24 hours.

"The Pakistani Army initiated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatic and mortar shells from 1100 hours today on Indian Army posts along the LoC in Bhimbher Gali (BG) sector of Rajouri district," a defence spokesman said.

Army troops deployed on forward posts retaliated strongly and effectively, the spokesman said, adding the exchange of firing continued till last reports came in. Today's ceasefire violation is the third such incident in less than 24 hours along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts.
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13:51   Geetha Johri becomes Gujarat's 1st woman DGP
Geetha Johri takes over as DGP, Gujarat. She is the state's first woman DGP-level officer. She replaced PP Pandey, who resigned as DGP over the Ishrat Jahan case.

The CBI dropped charges against Johri in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. She has also served as MD of the Gujarat State Police Housing Corporation.

Johri began her career in Ahmedabad in 1982 after clearing the IAS exam. She also served as the principal of police training school at Vadodara for sometime.

In 2006, Johri, who was posted in Criminal Investigation Department (CID), headed the investigations into the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter and the killing of his wife Kausar Bi. She was appointed to the case after Sohrabuddin's brother Rubabuddin filed a petition in the Supreme Court.

She gathered evidence that confirmed that the encounter was 'fake' and implicated the role of several officers in the fake encounter. The evidences led to the arrest of 13 police officers, including ex-Gujarat cop DIG DG Vanzara, SP Rajkumar Pandian and Dinesh MN.
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13:18   Declare cow as national animal: Ajmer dargah head to govt
The spiritual head of Ajmer dargah has said that the government should put a ban on the slaughter of all bovine animals as well as the sale of beef to promote communal harmony in the country.


Dargah Deewan Zainul Abedin Ali Khan said on Monday that Muslims should take the initiative to stay away from slaughter of bovine animals and not consume beef so that a good and positive message could be communicated in the country.


Releasing his message in the presence of religious heads of various shrines from different parts of the country during 805th annual Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer, Khan announced that he and his family members will not eat beef now on and said that the government should declare the cow as the national animal.


"The government should widely impose a ban on slaughtering of all bovine animals and sale of beef, which is one of the prominent reasons for communal hatred. Muslims should become an example by taking resolution to not consume beef in the interest of communal harmony in the country," he said.


Welcoming the Gujarat government's move to enact a law with the provision of life sentence for those found guilty of cow slaughter, the Deewan said, "The cow is the symbol of religious belief. Not only the government, but it is also the duty of every follower of the religion to protect them."
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13:08  
Cartoonist Hemant Morparia has the last word on grounded slipper-MP Rajendra Gaikwad. In the Bangalore Mirror.
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12:55  
Erm...

Hrithik Roshan @iHrithik My dear lady, who are you and why are u lying.
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12:52   Rs 200 notes soon?
Business daily Mint reports that the Reserve Bank of India has approved a proposal to introduce notes of Rs 200 denomination. If done, this will be the second new denomination, after the Rs 2000 notes, since Prime Minister Narendra Modi demonetised notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 on November 8 last year.

According to the Live Mint report, the RBI Board had, in March this year, cleared a proposal to introduce the Rs 200 note and it's now awaiting clearance from the government.


There is however, no official confirmation. 
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12:49   Haley says she discussed US secretary of state post with Trump
US Ambassador Nikki Haley has said she had discussed becoming secretary of state with Donald Trump after his election but that the US president ultimately did not offer her the job. Haley, a rising star in the Trump administration, told a news conference yesterday that she had no ambition beyond her current post at the United Nations, for the time being. Asked about reports that she had turned down the post of secretary of state in November, Haley made clear that Trump had not offered her the position.


"The original call that I received to go to Trump Tower was to discuss secretary of state," she said. "No, he did not offer it." "It was the discussion that we were having at the time. So, when we went in, that was the position that we were discussing."
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12:31   St Petersburg subway bomber identified as Kyrgyz man
The intelligence agency in the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan has identified a suspect behind Monday's deadly bombing on the St Petersburg subway as a Kyrgyz-born Russian citizen.

"The suicide bomber in the St Petersburg metro was a Kyrgyz national Akbarjon Djalilov, born in 1995," a spokesman for the country's security services said.

"It is probable that he acquired Russian nationality," he added.

At least 11 people were killed and 50 others injured on Monday when an explosion ripped through a subway train in Russia's second-largest city.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which came while President Vladimir Putin was visiting the city, his hometown.
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12:12   Sri Lanka releases 18 Tamil Nadu fishermen
Eighteeen of 38 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy between March 21 and 26, were released by the island nation today and will be handed over to India this afternoon, officials said.
Sri Lankan naval personnel will hand over the fishermen to the Indian Coast Guard at the International Maritime Boundary Line at 12 noon, 'Q' branch Inspector Kennedy and Assistant Director (Fisheries) Kulangainathan said.
The fishermen would later proceed to Karaikal and reach there by around 4 pm, they said.
On March 21, 10 fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy while fishing near Katchatheevu on charges of crossing the IMBL.
The following day, 16 more fishermen from Nagapattinam and Rameswaram districts were arrested in two separate incidents on the same charge.
On March 26, 12 fishermen from Pudukottai district were arrested by Sri Lankan navy for allegedly fishing in the island nation's territorial waters.
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11:51   India's message: Arunachal part of India, can't restrict Dalai Lama's visit
The government on Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh: The Dalai Lama is deeply respected by the Indian people. No additional colours should be ascribed to his visit. No artificial controversy should be centered around his visit. His visit is purely religious in nature and there should be no political angle given to it," said Union Minister Kiren Rijiju today. 

The Tibetan Spritual leader has rescheduled his trip to Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang due to bad weather conditions in the Himalayan region.

The Tibetan Spiritual lead was set to leave Guwahati by a chopper, but the inclement weather has forced him to travel by road and change his stop to Bomdila, where he will make a public appearance tomorrow.

China has warned India that the proposed visit of the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh would cause "deep damage" to Sino-Indian ties, and stressed that New Delhi would have to make "a choice" in its dealings with the Tibetan spiritual leader.

The Tibetan spiritual leader has said that China's reaction was normal. "No problem. It's normal," he said when asked about China's objection to his visit to the northeast state.

Rijiju added that Arunachal Pradesh was a part of India, Dalai Lama's visit cannot be restricted.  

He also said that India respects 'one-China' policy and it also expect China's reciprocal attitude.

Also read: An epic journey: The day the Dalai Lama came to India
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11:20   Rajasthan's jugaad! Will denotify highways to beat liquor ban
The Rajasthan Public Works Department is mulling the de-notification of state highways to urban highways to shield itself from the Supreme Court's direction to ban sale of liquor at national and state highways.


The apex court in its December 15, 2016 order had ruled that licenses of existing shops along national and state highways will not be renewed after March 31.


Rajasthan, which depends heavily on tourism, is set to de-notify sections of highways passing through populated areas as urban roads if they are connected by a bypass. The move will make stretches of highways immune to the court order banning liquor shops within a range of 500 meters from highways.


Around 2800 liquor shops situated near the national and state highways in Rajasthan will be affected by the Supreme Court order banning sale of liquor within 500 metres of the highways.

Out of 7,760 liquor shops, which were given licence in the financial year 2016-17,2,800 fell within the 500 metres radius from highways, thus came under the Supreme Court order.

The revenue collection target for the financial year 2016-17 was Rs 7,300 crore. The department had collected Rs 6,712 crore against the target of Rs 6,300 crore in the fiscal 2015-16.

The ruling has been challenged by several associations across states seeking modification of the judgment.

On 23 March, the Tamil Nadu government had also moved the top court to extend the time for relocation of retail liquor shops along the highways till the expiry of their license period up to 28 November, 2017.


However, the apex court on Friday granted partial relief to state liquor associations regarding banning of liquor stores on state and national highways.


Hearing a batch of petitions seeking modification of its December 2016 order banning liquor outlets within 500 metres of state and national highways across the country, the apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Khehar said that in those areas where population was less than 20,000, the distance would be around 220 meters.


Several states, including Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab, Telangana and Haryana and various others had told the apex court that 500-metre distance is much higher and should be reduced.


Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohatgi, also agreed with the associations and said that the 500-metre distance should be reduced. The apex court, however, observed that life is more important than liquor.


File pic: Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje Scindia.
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11:04   Docu on Sachin for his birthday
And while on Sachin, a new documentary on Tendulkar's eventful career, that included winning the World Cup in 2011, is set to be screened on the eve of the former Indian cricketer's 44th birthday.

Titled 'Little Master', the film will be aired on Sony ESPN Channel on April 23.Documenting the historic win of the Indian cricket team six years ago, the production will illustrate how a sport and one man can redefine the rise of a nation over the course of a few weeks.
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11:02   Hey dada! Sachin bonds with Sourav
The camaraderie continues off field too.

Sourav Ganguly @SGanguly99 @sachin_rt well done Tendulkar .. great stuff .. talent not restricted to batting only.

Sachin tendulkar @sachin_rt  Hey dada, kemon acho, bhalo acho? hope you have watched on 100MB.

Sachin made his singing debut with Sonu Nigam in a new song titled 'cricket wali beat'. The video premiered during the grand finale of reality show Indian Idol 9 on Sunday night where Sachin Tendulkar was the celebrity guest.
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10:49   Will represent Kejriwal for free if he can't pay my fees: Jethmalani
Supreme Court lawyer Ram Jethmalani responds to the controversy over his client Arvind Kejriwal's lawyer fees.

Kejriwal wants the taxpayer to foot his legal bills of Rs 3.8 crore for defamation cases filed against him by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Kejriwal engaged a battery of lawyers to represent him, including Ram Jethmalani, one of the most eminent, but expensive lawyers in the country. Kejriwal's deputy, Manish Sisodia, has signed off on the bills and sent them for clearance to Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, who has sought the opinion of experts on how to proceed.

Jethmalani said today that he was willing to represent Kejriwal for free if he couldn't pay. "I will work free if Kejriwal cannot pay my bill. Everyone knows I charge the rich, but work for free for the poor. The entire controversy has been instigated by Arun Jaitley; all LGs are under his control."
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10:32   Swamy to discuss Ram Temple with 'Hindutva partner' Adityanath today
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy who is set to meet Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today, said that the Ram Temple issue will be brought up for discussion as both leaders are 'partners in Hindutva'.


"It is an informal visit. He is known to me and his guru was very closely known to me. We both are partners in Hindutva. When he was here he had hardly any time so he told me to come to Lucknow and we will have meeting. I will certainly discuss Ram temple but this is an unofficial meeting," Swamy told ANI.


Describing Adityanath as a very determined person, the BJP leader further stated that if the Chief Minister makes a promise he will keep it.


Two weeks after taking oath, Adityanath will hold his first Cabinet meeting today where it is expected that the issue of farmers' loan waiver will be discussed.


"The cabinet meeting will be held in the evening on April 4 at 5 pm today," state Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh told the media. A proposal to waive off farmers' loans had also been sent to the cabinet.
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10:23   Kejriwal should pay Ram Jethmalani's Rs 3.8 crore fees: BJP
Raising brows over Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's move to use taxpayers' money to pay his lawyer's fees in a defamation case, the BJP on Tuesday vehemently criticized the former saying he is a repeat offender and always uses public money for his own welfare.


"As far as Arvind Kejriwal is concerned he is a repeat offender. He has always used public money for his own welfare. Yet again we see in the criminal, civil defamation case filed against Kejriwal and some of the other AAP members by Arun Jaitley, a whopping sum of Rs.4 crore, in fact the lawyer (Ram Jhetmalani) fee that has been collected or rather a letter has been sent to the LG, that this amount be collected from the tax payers money," BJP leader Sambit Patra told ANI.


He further questioned as to why the tax payer should pay for protecting Kejriwal, as whatever he had said against Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was in individual capacity and not as Chief Minister.


Kejriwal wanted the taxpayer to foot his legal bills of Rs. 3.8 crore raised by lawyer Ram Jethmalani defending the Chief Minister in a defamation suit filed by Jaitley.


Jethmalani, who is defending Kejriwal in both a criminal and a civil defamation case, has reportedly sent bills of Rs. 1 crore in retainership and Rs. 22 lakh for each appearance in court to the Delhi Chief Minister.


Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia sent the bill for clearance to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, who has sought the opinion of experts on how to proceed.


Sisodia sent a letter to the Lieutenant Governor citing that Kejriwal had made these remarks in capacity of Delhi Chief Minister.


Jaitley had filed a criminal defamation complaint against Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders for allegedly defaming him in the Patiala House Court, while a civil defamation case was filed in the Delhi High Court.


Jaitley had filed the suit seeking Rs. 10 crore in damages after Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders accused him of alleged irregularities and financial bungling in the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA), of which the former was the president for about 13 years until 2013.
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10:10   Trump admin cuts off UN agency's funds over abortion concern
The Trump administration is cutting off US funding to the United Nations Population Fund over concerns about abortion. The State Department has determined that the UN agency falls under the "Kemp-Kasten amendment." The amendment affects organizations that support or participate in coercive abortion programs or involuntary sterilization. The UN Population Fund works on population and reproductive issues. The State Department says the agency partners with Chinese government agencies despite China's restrictions on reproduction.
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10:03   Kishori Amonkar's demise an irreparable loss to Indian classical music: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday offered his condolences on the passing away of renowned Hindustani classical vocalist Kishori Amonkar, saying that her demise is an irreparable loss to Indian classical music.

Posting a youtube link of a film dedicated to the late singer, the Prime Minister tweeted saying 'the works of Kishori Amonkar will always remain popular among people for years to come'.

The classical music legend passed away at 84 in Mumbai on Monday night.

Born in Mumbai in 1932, Amonkar was considered one of the foremost singers in the Hindustani tradition and is an innovator of the Jaipur gharana.

She received a plethora of awards, including the Padma Bhushan in 1987 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2002
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09:51   Prashant Bhushan apologises for 'inappropriately phrased' Krishna tweet
Lawyer-politician Prashant Bhushan has tweeted his apology for his tweet comparing UP's Romeo squads with Lord Krishna. "I realise that my tweet on Romeo squads & Krishna was inappropriately phrased & unintentionally hurt sentiments of many ppl. Apologize & delete it."


On Sunday, the Supreme Court lawyer and former AAP member stoked controversy for his remarks on Lord Krishna while criticising the anti-Romeo drive in Uttar Pradesh. Following it, police complaints were filed against him.


Romeo loved just one lady, while Krishna was a legendary eve teaser. Would (UP CM Yogi) Adityanath have the guts to call his vigilantes Anti-Krishna squads (sic)? Bhushan tweeted.


As the controversy erupted, he tried to control damage by tweeting later that his remarks had been distorted and he had no intention of hurting religious sentiments.


My tweet on Romeo brigade being distorted. My position is: By the logic of Romeo Brigade, even Lord Krishna would look like eve teaser. (sic)


We have grown up with legends of young Krishna teasing Gopis. The logic of Romeo squad would criminalise this. Didn't intend to hurt sentiments (sic), he added in another tweet.


He also tried to explain his stand saying, "Tho I am not religious, my mother was.I grew up listening to the folklore of lord Krishna in childhood. Painting of Radha-Krishna in our home. We have grown up with legends of young Krishna teasing Gopis."


However, by then separate police complaints had been filed against him by Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Tajinder Pal Bagga in the national capital and UP Congress spokesperson Zeeshan Haidar in Lucknow.


I have lodged a police complaint against Prashant Bhushan for his indecent remarks on Lord Krishna, who is revered across the world. This is not a question of Hindu or Muslim. The tweets of Bhushan have hurt sentiments of crores of devotees, Haider said.


The Tilak Marg police in Delhi, where Bagga has lodged a complaint, is looking into the matter, a police official said, adding no FIR has been lodged yet.


The special anti-Romeo squads of UP Police were formed to check eve-teasing after the Yogi Aditynath government assumed office last month, fulfilling one of the poll promises of the BJP.


Critics have alleged that it has led to incidents of harassment.

Stressing that his government was firm on upholding the security and dignity of women, Chief Minister Adityanath had said a state-wide drive has been launched to free public places of anti-social elements and check incidents of eve-teasing, indecent behaviour and passing of lewd comments at women and girls.


Bhushan is a leader of Swaraj India party, which he along with his associate Yogendra Yadav floated in October last year after being expelled from the Aam Aadmi Party.


Reacting to Bhushans offensive tweet, UP BJP spokesperson Manish Shukla, said, It simply reflects his narrow mindset. The tweet has hurt the sentiments of billions of devotees of Lord Krishna not only in India, but across the world.


He is the same Prashant Bhushan, who had once said that Kashmir is not a part of India. Hence, the need of the hour is to initiate stringent legal action against him.


BJPs national general secretary Bhupendra Yadav said Bhushan should study the Indian epics before commenting.


Image: Prashant Bhushan tweeted this picture saying, "Though I am not religious, my mother was. I grew up listening to the folklore of lord Krishna in childhood. Painting of Radha-Krishna in our home."
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09:41   Youth goes live on FB before committing suicide from 19th floor of hotel in Mumbai
A 24-year-old college student allegedly committed suicide by jumping from the 19th floor of Mumbai's Taj Lands End hotel in suburban Bandra on Monday.

However, before ending his life, he went live on Facebook and recorded a 1.43-minute-long video giving a tutorial on how to end one's life.

The deceased, Arjun Bharadwaj, took the extreme step at around 6.30 pm when he broke the glass window of his room and leaped to his death. The Bandra police found a suicide note in which Bharadwaj said that he was ending his life due to depression. 

"I'm a drug addict..I don't want to live anymore and hence committing suicide," the official said, quoting the suicide note.

The hotel's security personnel said that they heard a loud thud on the premises and soon rushed to the spot where they found Bhardwaj lying in pool of blood.
He was taken to nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.
Bhardwaj had submitted proper documents before checking in, which helped the officials identify him.
The body has been sent for post-mortem. 
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09:36   Bad weather forces Dalai Lama to delay Tawang visit
His Holiness The Dalai Lama, who was set to reach Tawang today has been forced to change his schedule due to bad weather, and will now reach Bomdila by evening.

The Tibetan Spiritual lead was set to leave Guwahati by a chopper, but the inclement weather has forced him to travel by road and change his stop to Bomdila, where he will make a public appearance tomorrow. After staying there for two days, he will proceed to Tawang.

After several hours of thundershowers, members of Tibetan refugee community of Monpas and residents of the northwestern town of Arunachal Pradesh were out of their homes to clean the road to welcome their spiritual leader.

Tawang monastery, a place where Dalai Lama is going to stay for next four days is decorated with religious flags and coloured clothes with mantras inscribed on them.In 1959, along with thousands of supporters the spiritual leader escaped from China and crossed over at Chuthangmu post.

On the global stage, China has repeatedly warned India that Dalai Lama's visit would hit the bilateral ties significantly.

Dressed in traditional costumes, around 800 monks will welcome their spiritual leader Dalai Lama in the 400 year old monastery which is India's largest and world's second largest.

During his visit he is also expected to hold a religious discourse at the stadium of Tawang's senior secondary school and will also deliver a public talk on 'Secular Ethics and Happiness' at the Kala Wangpo Convention Centre.
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09:25   Youth goes live on FB before committing suicide from 19th floor of hotel in Mumbai
A 24-year-old college student allegedly committed suicide by jumping from the 19th floor of Mumbai's Taj Lands End hotel in suburban Bandra on Monday.

However, before ending his life, he went live on Facebook and recorded a 1.43-minute-long video giving a tutorial on how to end one's life.

The deceased, Arjun Bharadwaj, took the extreme step at around 6.30 pm when he broke the glass window of his room and leaped to his death. The Bandra police found a suicide note in which Bharadwaj said that he was ending his life due to depression. 

"I'm a drug addict..I don't want to live anymore and hence committing suicide," the official said, quoting the suicide note.

The hotel's security personnel said that they heard a loud thud on the premises and soon rushed to the spot where they found Bhardwaj lying in pool of blood.
He was taken to nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.
Bhardwaj had submitted proper documents before checking in, which helped the officials identify him.
The body has been sent for post-mortem. 
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09:04   UP CM Yogi Adityanath to hold first Cabinet meet today
Two weeks after taking oath, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will hold the first meeting of his cabinet today at 5 pm. 

Key issues in the Bharatiya Janata Party's poll manifesto, especially farmers loan waiver, could be taken up at the meeting.

Though state Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh maintained that the agenda of the meeting was yet to be finalised, sources said the government was likely to take a decision on waiving the loans of small and marginal farmers.

The BJP, in its Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra (manifesto), had promised to waive the loans of small and marginal farmers and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said in his election speeches that writing off farmers loans would be among the foremost tasks of the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh.

Modi had promised during his election campaign that a decision on loan waiver would be taken at the first cabinet meeting of the BJP government in the state.

According to officials, there are around 2.30 crore farmers in Uttar Pradesh of whom, around 2.15 crore fall in the small and marginal category.

They had suffered losses due to natural calamities in the recent past and were unable to repay loans amounting to about Rs 62,000 crore.

As the figure is huge, the Uttar Pradesh government is mulling various options, including raising loans, to honour the saffron partys commitment to waive the loans of small and marginal farmers.
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08:16   Trump administration announces measures against H-1B visa fraud
The United States has announced multiple measures to "deter and detect" what it described as "fraud and abuse" of H-1B work visas, the most sought after by Indian IT firms and professionals.
The announcement by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services comes on a day on which the federal agency started accepting applications for H-1B visas for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2017.
The USCIS announcement indicated that the US government is going to be tough and stringent in approval of H-1B visas this year.

President Donald Trump, during his election campaign had promised to end the lottery system for H1B visas, which gives each applicant an equal chance at 65,000 positions each year.
The USCIS has a Congressional mandate to issue 65,000 H-1B visas in general category and another 20,000 for those applicants having higher education -- masters and above -- from US universities in the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Asserting that its multiple measures announced on Monday will further "deter and detect H-1B visa fraud and abuse", the USCIS said the H-1B visa programme should help US companies recruit highly-skilled foreign nationals when there is a shortage of qualified workers in the country.
"Yet, too many American workers who are as qualified, willing and deserving to work in these fields have been ignored or unfairly disadvantaged. Protecting American workers by combating fraud in our employment-based immigration programs is a priority for the USCIS," a statement said.
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00:11   1.5 lakh youths apply for 5,000 posts in J&K police
As many as 1,50,000 youths in Jammu and Kashmir have applied for 5,000 posts in new police battalions to be raised in the state.

The process of recruitment in the five India Reserve Battalions has started and authorities have received around 1,50,000 applications, 40 per cent of which are from the Kashmir Valley.

"This is a very encouraging response as there are 30 applicants against one post," a senior government official said.

The IRBs are being raised with an aim to provide jobs to the local youths and 60 per cent of vacancies in the new battalions will be filled from border districts of the state.

The cost of raising each battalion is around Rs 61 crore and 75 per cent of it will be provided by the central government.

Personnel of India Reserve Battalions are normally deployed in their respective states but they can be deployed in other states too if there is a requirement.

At present, there are 144 India Reserve Battalions in various states. In addition, four IRBs each are being raised in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, 12 in Maoist-hit states besides the five battalions in Jammu and Kashmir. -- PTI

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