Nepal's first woman Chief Justice Sushila Karki was suspended today after an impeachment motion against her was registered in Parliament by two major ruling parties that accused her of 'interfering' with the executive and issuing 'prejudiced' verdicts.

As a fallout of the impeachment motion registered by the lawmakers of the ruling Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist-Centre, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bimalendra Nidhi resigned over his dissatisfaction with the move.

Nidhi leads the Nepali Congress, the largest constituent of the current ruling coalition, in the Cabinet.

Karki, 64, who has done her masters in political science from Banaras Hindu University, was automatically suspended from the post after the registration of the motion.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Min Bishwokarma and CPN-Maoist-Centre chief whip Tek Bahadur Basnet, among other lawmakers, registered the motion in the Parliament secretariat this afternoon.

A total of 249 lawmakers from the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN-Maoist-Centre have signed the motion which has accused Karki of 'interfering in the jurisdiction of the executive and failing to issue verdicts without being prejudiced'.

According to the constitutional provision, an amendment motion can be filed in the parliament secretariat by securing the support of at least one-fourth of the total number of lawmakers.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development Kamal Thapa also expressed his displeasure over the impeachment motion.

In a tweet, chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Thapa said the impeachment motion registered by the Nepali Congress and Maoist lawmakers was objectionable and unfortunate.

Attorney General Raman Shrestha said it was necessary to impeach the Chief Justice for her tampering with the work performance evaluation of the Inspector General of Police candidates during a recent controversy over the promotion of Nepal Police Chief.

Karki had assumed office as Nepal's first woman Chief Justice on August 1 last year.  -- PTI

One civilian has been killed, while another was injured along with four police personnel in a grenade attack outside Khanyar police station in Srinagar.

Injured police personnel and civilian have been shifted to a hospital after the attack.

More details awaited. -- ANI

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Two naxals, one of them carrying a cash reward on his head, were arrested from Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Dantewada district, police said today.

The Naxals, identified as Baaglu Alaami, 30, and Koparam Netam, were apprehended from Barsoor police station area last evening, a local police official told PTI.

Acting on a tip-off that two active cadres of Indravati Area Committee of Maoists have arrived in Barsoor to procure commodities of daily use, a joint team of CRPF's 195th battalion and local police raided the site, he said.

During their interrogation, the duo admitted to their association with the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist, he said. Alaami was active as a member of military platoon number-16 of Maoists, the official said adding that he was carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakh on his head.

Similarly, Netam was working as a lower-rung jan militia member, he added.

Initial investigation revealed that they had come to Barsoor to buy food material and things of daily use for their colleagues, he added. -- PTI

King of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan posts this photo on Instagram.

'After a whirlwind travelling spree spent a quiet evening with friends in LA & met one of my fav stars' Warren Beatty,' Shah Rukh wrote. Photograph: @iamsrk/Instagram

The government will soon make quoting of Aadhaar number compulsory for key managerial personnel and directors in regulatory filings under the Companies Act.

The move, primarily aimed at tackling the issue of bogus identities, comes at a time when authorities are bolstering measures to deal with the menace of shell companies, suspected to be used for laundering illicit funds.

Moving towards implementation of the Aadhaar requirement under the companies law, the Corporate Affairs Ministry has already asked individual stakeholders to obtain Aadhaar at the earliest for 'integrating their details with MCA21'.

MCA21 is the portal through which filings required under the Companies Act are submitted to the ministry.

A source said the Ministry has started work for implementing a framework to make quoting of Aadhaar compulsory in the filings made under the companies law.

"We will roll it out pretty fast. It will be done in a phased manner," the source said.

The idea is to have a system in place which would help in identifying the stakeholders whose name come up in the filings made through MCA21.

The move also assumes significance against the backdrop of instances where authorities have found discrepancies in personal details provided by individuals in the regulatory filings.

According to the source, having Aadhaar number along with the filings would help ascertain the authenticity of the individuals.

With respect to foreign entities, a separate system would be worked out by the ministry. -- PTI

Two suspected cattle thieves have been lynched by a mob in Nagaon of Assam, police said on Sunday.

Parents of deceased have filed a complaint in this regard.

More details awaited. -- PTI

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JUST IN: Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed to remain under house arrest for 90 days more, PTI quotes Pak official as saying.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam today took exception to a proposal to dub or carry Hindi subtitles in regional movies, calling it an attempt to 'force' the language on regional cinema and sought a clarification from the Centre.

The DMK will resist any attempts of Hindi imposition, its working president M K Stalin said, referring to the proposal.

"While all regional languages must be respected equally, any efforts to bring them under the dominance of Hindi will ruin India's unity and integrity," he said.

'The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) government targeting cinema also as a part of its Hindi and Sanskrit imposition is condemnable. The Centre should clarify on this matter,' he said in a statement.

Stalin, whose party had successfully led an anti-Hindi agitation in the state in the 1960s, said the DMK was ready to 'resist and defeat' any efforts of Hindi 'dominance'. -- PTI

Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Sitaram Yechury said today he would not seek re-election to the Rajya Sabha after his second consecutive term ends in August.

Yechury said he would not seek another term as the party's norm does not allow a leader to get elected to the Rajya Sabha more than twice.

"It is our party norm. So, I will not be contesting for a third term. As a party general secretary, I have to ensure that the norm is followed," he said.

According to sources in the Left party, the Congress had offered its support for the re-election of Yechury, considered as one of the effective orators from the Opposition benches in the Rajya Sabha, if the Marxist leader chooses to contest the poll from West Bengal.

Handed a drubbing by its arch rival Trinamool Congress in the 2016 Assembly polls in West Bengal, the CPI-M has only 26 MLAs -- not enough to send Yechury or any of its leaders to the Rajya Sabha on its own from the state.

The Congress has 44 legislators and its support can ensure Yechury gets one more term.

One of the sources, however, said the practice of not electing a leader to the Rajya Sabha more than twice is just a norm and that the party can take a decision otherwise, if needed.

"The party norm aims to encourage young leaders within the party. However, it is just a norm and not something mandatory. The CPI-M believes in collective decision-making. So, it only has to take a call in this connection," the source added.  -- PTI

The Election Commission will soon ask the government to disqualify for up to five years candidates listed in chargesheets for bribing voters, a move which comes after it found that 'innovative ways' were used for luring electors in a Tamil Nadu bypoll.

The poll watchdog has decided to write to the law ministry seeking changes in the Representation of the People Act to ensure that candidates contesting Lok Sabha and assembly polls are disqualified for up to five years once they are chargesheeted by a court, sources in the poll panel said.

Earlier this month, the commission had indefinitely cancelled the RK Nagar assembly bypoll after it found that money power was used to influence voters. The bypoll was to be held on April 12.

It was necessitated following the demise of J Jayalalithaa. -- PTI

Bharatiya Janata Party national general secretary Ram Madhav today met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti at her residence in Srinagar amid tensions in the Valley and between the ruling coalition.

After the 30-minute meeting at her Fairview residence in Gupkar area this afternoon, the BJP leader refused to speak to waiting mediapersons.

The meeting comes in the wake of the deteriorating law and order situation in the valley and reports of a rift between the coalition partners over statements by Madhav and Industries Minister Chandra Prakash Ganga.

Ganga had stoked a controversy by calling for use of bullets on protesters in the valley. He later expressed regret.

The People's Democratic Party was also unhappy with Madhav's comments complimenting an army officer who had tied a man to the bonnet of a jeep to escape stone-pelting in a Kashmir village.

Besides this, the PDP's defeat in the legislative council elections at the hands of the BJP has also led to friction between the two parties.  -- PTI

Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu today asserted that triple talaq is not a religious issue as it has no sanction in Shariat amid a raging debate on the issue.

He also hit out at the Congress for keeping 'silence' on the matter for past several years.

"Triple talaq is not a religious issue as it has no sanction in Shariat. It is a matter of right of equality and right to live with dignity of Muslim women along with other women.

"Why this discrimination...this must be put to an endand it should not be politicised," Naidu, who holds the portfolio of Information and Broadcasting, told reporters.

On senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge charging Prime Minister Narendra Modi with politicising the triple talaq issue to gain political mileage, Naidu said, "What the PM said yesterday is that the Muslim society should think on this."

"You (Congress) say you are champions of minorities. You don't have concern for women among the minorities. It is aquestion of inequality and discrimination against the women onthe basis of religion. Why you kept silent for all theseyears. They should answer this," he said. -- PTI

Delhi Crime Branch has found transactions of huge amounts from five bank accounts of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (Amma) leader T T V Dinakaran, sources said.

The team has also acquired details of communication between Dinakaran and his alleged middleman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.

The police team is probing the case of alleged bribing of Election Commission officials by Dinakaran in order to retain the party's 'two leaves' symbol.

Sources said the details found by crime branch team shows that most amount was paid by cash to the alleged hawala operator.

Dinakaran's chartered accountant will be questioned, sources said.

Dinakaran was arrested on April 25 night in New Delhi following four days of questioning.

The AIADMK (Amma) faction leader has been accused of allegedly arranging the amount from undisclosed sources and getting it transferred from Chennai to Delhi through illegal channels.

The court had on April 26 remanded Dinakaran in five days custody of Delhi Police which said it needs to unearth the money trail and entire conspiracy in the case. -- ANI

Normal life was affected in the Kashmir Valley today due to a strike called by separatists to protest the killing of a civilian in firing by security forces after terrorists attacked an army camp in Kupwara district on Thursday.

Most of the shops, other business establishments and fuel stations were shut.

Public transport was sparse but private cars, cabs and auto-rickshaws were plying normally in many areas of the city.

The weekly flea market was open as many vendors set up their stalls on the TRC Chowk-Batamaloo axis along the city centre of Lal Chowk, officials said.

They said the effect of the strike was accentuated because of holiday.

Similar reports were received from most other district headquarters of the Valley.

Separatists, including chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference -- Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq -- and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief Muhammad Yasin Malik, had on Friday called for a Valley-wide shutdown against the killing of Mohammad Yousuf Bhat in security forces firing on protesters on Thursday.

The protesters were demanding the bodies of two terrorists who were killed in retaliatory firing after they attacked an artillery unit of an army garisson at Panzgam.

Three soldiers, including an officer, were killed by the terrorists in the pre-dawn attack before they were neutralised by the security forces. -- PTI

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PM's Mann Ki Baat continues:

- Removing red beacons on the car is one thing. We are ensuring the VIP culture is removed from the minds of the select few 'VIPs'. New India is not about VIP. It is about EPI - every person is important.

- On May 5, India will launch South Asia Satellite. It is important step by India to enhance cooperation with entire South Asia.

- When people mark Labour Day on May 1, we remember Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and his role for the welfare of workers.

- We are happy to mark 1,000th Jayanti of Shri Ramanujacharya. He contributed immensely to society and social equality.

- Let us devote ourselves towards a transformed India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation through his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat:

- Before Mann Ki Baat, I get so many messages, thoughts and ideas on MyGov, Narendra Modi App, by post.

- Greetings to the people of Gujarat and Maharashtra on their respective statehood days. Both Gujarat and Maharashtra have contributed greatly to Indias development.

- Temperatures are rising. No wonder this time when I asked for suggestions for Mann Ki Baat, people wrote about the summers.

- I have noticed children have taken a lead when it comes to putting a bowl of water for birds during the summers. A few days ago, Mr Jagat Kinkhabwala wrote to me about his efforts to save the sparrow. Such efforts must be encouraged. During summers, many people come to our homes...postmen, milkmen, vegetable sellers...always offer them water.

- My young friends, make these holidays about new experiences, new skills and new placesgo out of your comfort zone. Pursue sports in the holidays. Also go play with children of nearby areas.

- I am sure there is so much to learn...and people have so much to teach. These must meet & new skills must be taught and learnt.

- Do some thing out of the box. India is full of diversities. Try learning a language. Go learn swimming or drawing.

- I urge my young friends to get more and more people use the BHIM App during these holidays.

A united Opposition candidate for the presidential elections will be the beginning of unity among the non-BJP parties to take on the BJP, senior JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, seen as one of the probable Opposition choices, said today.

Having met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi last week as part of efforts to put up a joint Opposition candidate for the high-stakes polls, the former JD(U) president said the successof this exercise could go a long way in arresting the BJP's surge across the country.

He said unity in the Opposition ranks is the need of the hour as a division in the non-BJP votes has been a key reason behind the saffron party's win in the recent assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh and the Delhi civic elections.

Asked about the likelihood of major Opposition parties agreeing to back a common candidate against the BJP-led NDA's choice, he said that he was "hopeful" that it will happen.

"We are making efforts to get as many Opposition parties as possible on a common platform for the presidential election. A joint candidate will be the beginning of the coming together of Opposition parties against the BJP," he said.

The Rajya Sabha member and former Union minister noted that even in Uttar Pradesh where the BJP won an unprecedented 312 seats out of the total 403, the combined votes of the Samajwadi Party, the BSP and the Congress were much more than it.

On his second visit to Gorakhpur after assuming charge as Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Yogi Adityanath warned law-breakers of strict action if they took law into their hands.

In an oblique warning to members of "gau-rakshaks" brigade and "anti-Romeo squad", the chief minister said that he will not compromise with law and order at any cost.

"I am committed to fulfill the dreams of our people to make Uttar Pradesh the best ruled state in the country. We will not compromise with law and order and those who violate law won't be spared", warned Yogi Adityanath.

Adityanath announced that he will establish rule of law in the state.

He also appealed the media to play a positive role in this. 

Union minister Nitin Gadkari said that the ideology of the RSS was "the solution to all the problems".

He was speaking at a function where a book on the RSS, written by Ramesh Mehta and published by Lotus Publications, was released.

"RSS' ideology of socio-economic equality, nationalism and its work in the field of health, education is the solution to all the problems," Gadkari said.

Marxism and socialism had failed over the years, he said.

"RSS' model of social and economic development can give a direction to the world," the senior BJP leader said.

The organisation survived negative propaganda directed at it because of its conviction and commitment, Gadkari said.