LIVE! Pak rejects India's charges on Jadhav-family meet as 'baseless'

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Tue, 26 December 2017

Pak rejects India's charges on Jadhav-family meet as 'baseless'

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23:43 Pak rejects India's charges on Jadhav-family meet as 'baseless'

Pakistan today rejected as "baseless" India's contentions that Kulbhushan Jadhav's family was harassed and claimed that his wife's shoes were confiscated on security grounds as there was "something" in it.

The foreign office in a statement said that Pakistan does not wish to indulge in a "meaningless battle of words" and categorically rejects India's baseless "allegations and twists" about attitude of authorities during Jadhav's meeting with his wife and mother.

"The Indian baseless allegations and twists, that come 24 hrs later, about the visit of the wife and mother of Commander Jadhav, a convicted terrorist and spy, who has confessed to his crimes, are categorically rejected," the statement said.

"If Indian concerns were serious, the guests or the Indian DHC should have raised them during the visit, with the media, which was readily available, but at a safe distance, as requested by India," it said.

"We do not wish to indulge in a meaningless battle of words. Our openness and transparency belies these allegations," it said.

Responding to India's contentions that Jadhav's wife's shoes were not returned to her after the meeting, Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Faisal told Dawn News that the shoes were confiscated on "security grounds".

"There was something in the shoe (of Jadhav's wife)," Faisal told the daily, adding that the shoe is being investigated.

He said Jadhav's wife had been provided replacement shoes and all her jewellery was returned to her.

The spokesman said that the fact is that Jadhavs mother "publicly thanked Pakistan for the humanitarian gesture, which was also recorded by the media."

"Nothing more needs to be said on the issue," he said.

India today accused Pakistan of violating mutual understandings on Jadhav's meeting with his family, and said the Indian national appeared coerced and under considerable stress during the tightly-controlled interaction.

India also accused Pakistan of disregarding cultural and religious sensibilities of family members under the pretext of security. -- PTI

22:53 GST collections slip to Rs 80,808 crore in Nov

The GST collections slipped to their lowest in November as rates were cut on dozens of goods to make the new national sales tax regime more acceptable.

Total collections under the Goods and Services Tax -- which is the amalgamation of the excise duty, service tax, VAT and several other indirect taxes -- in November slipped for the second straight month to Rs 80,808 crore, down from over Rs 83,000 crore in the previous month, a finance ministry statement said.

As many as 53.06 lakh tax returns had been filed till December 25, it said.

In the biggest GST rejig yet, tax rates on over 200 items, ranging from chewing gum to chocolates to beauty products, wigs and wrist watches, were cut in early November to provide relief to consumers and businesses amid economic slowdown.

As many as 178 items of daily use were shifted from the top tax bracket of 28 per cent to 18 per cent, while a uniform 5 per cent tax was prescribed for all restaurants, both air-conditioned and non-AC.

The rate cuts came on the back of GST Council -- the highest decision making body of the new indirect tax regime -- in October deciding to reduce tax rates on 27 products.

Of the Rs 80,808 crore collected in November, Rs 7,798 crore has been garnered as compensation cess in November -- the fifth month of GST rollout.

Besides, Rs 13,089 crore have been collected as Central GST, Rs 18,650 crore as State GST, Rs 41,270 crore as Integrated Goods and Services Tax.

Further, Rs 10,348 crore is being transferred from IGST to CGST account and Rs 14,488 crore is being transferred from IGST to SGST account by way of settlement of funds on account of cross utilisation of IGST credit for payment of CGST and SGST, respectively or due to inter-state business to consumer transactions.

Thus, a total amount of Rs 24,836 crore is being transferred from IGST to CGST/SGST account by way of settlement, the statement added.

Thus, the total collection of CGST and SGST for the month of December, 2017 (up to December 25) is Rs 23,437 crore and Rs 33,138 crore, respectively.

As per the data available, GST collections in July was over Rs 95,000 crore, while in August the figure was over Rs 91,000 crore.

In September, it was over Rs 92,150 crore and in October it was over Rs 83,000 crore. -- PTI

Senior bureaucrat Sumita Misra was today appointed as joint secretary in the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council as part of a mid-level bureaucratic reshuffle.

Misra, a 1990 batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre, has been appointed to the post for five years, an order issued by the personnel ministry said.

The Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, set up in September, is mandated to analyse all critical issues, economic or otherwise, referred to it by the prime minister and advising him thereon.

Ten officers, including five IAS officers, have been appointed as joint secretaries in various central government departments as part of the reshuffle.

Amardeep Singh Bhatia, a 1993 batch IAS officer of Nagaland cadre, will be director, Serious Fraud Investigation Office, under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

He is at present joint secretary in the ministry.

IAS officer Mukhmeet Singh Bhatia will be joint secretary, 15th Finance Commission, under the Department of Economic Affairs for a tenure of five years, the order said.

Amit Mehta, a 1987 batch Indian Ordnance Factory Service officer, will be joint secretary in Department of Consumer Affairs, it said.

IAS officer Ashish Upadhyay has been appointed JS in the coal ministry.

Sanjay Upreti will be financial adviser in the Border Security Force, Nikunja K Sundaray JS in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Gopal Krishan Gupta will be joint secretary in Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the order said.

Sudhir Garg, a 1986 batch officer of Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers, has been named joint secretary in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, it added. -- PTI

The Congress today condemned the Pakistani government for the treatment meted out to Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer currently lodged in a Pakistani jail, and his family and asked the Centre to spell

out its policy and steps to get him released.

Congress spokesperson Gaurav Gogoi criticised the "flip-flop" and "inconsistent" policy of the BJP-led central government towards Pakistan which, he said, was creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and asked it to exert international pressure on Pakistan to help secure an early release of Jadhav.

"The Congress condemns the Pakistani government for meting out an inhuman treatment to the family of Kulbhushan Jadhav. They have insulted Indians and Indian women in particular and we strongly condemn it.

"The Congress party wants Kulbhushan Jadhav to return to India. We condemn Pakistan for the treatment meted out to Jadhav as he looked under a lot of stress. We want the Government of India to take concrete steps in securing an early release of Jadhav and it should find a way out," he told reporters here.

Gogoi added that the government's "flip-flop", "blow hot and cold", "ambiguous" and "inconsistent" policy towards Pakistan would not help as it was adopting a policy of birthday wishes at times and that of biryani at other times.

"Such an inconsistent policy of the government is creating an atmosphere of uncertainty for the people of the country and will not help secure Jadhav's release," he said.

The Congress spokesperson also expressed concern over Jadhav being tried and convicted in a military court in Pakistan, even when he was not a prisoner of war as he was not caught in a military conflict.

"We are concerned about Jadhav's release. We want the Government of India to clarify its policy and steps to get him released from Pakistan.

"We condemn Pakistan for the treatment meted out to Jadhav as we are worried about his health. The Pakistani government has not honoured its promises made to the Indian government," he said. -- PTI

Pakistan today summoned India's acting deputy high commissioner to protest "unprovoked" firing by the Indian Army that killed its three soldiers along the LoC.

The foreign office in a statement rejected reports that the Indian Army commandos crossed the Line of Control in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir and smashed a post.

"The false claims by India about the alleged cross LoC adventures are a figment of their imagination and counter- productive for peace and tranquility on the LoC, it said.

"The Indian actions got a befitting response from the Pakistani side and their guns were silenced," it claimed

The foreign office spokesman said Director General (SA & SAARC) Mohammad Faisal summoned India's acting deputy high commissioner and "condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations" by Indian forces in the Rakhchikri sector.

He claimed that the firing "provided a cover for the planting of IEDs by non-state actors", resulting in the death of three soldiers.

Faisal urged the Indian side to "respect the 2003 Ceasefire arrangement; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC."

The Indian Army sources in New Delhi earlier said a "small group" of 'Ghatak' commandos carried out a tactical level selective targeting of the Pakistani post around 200-300 metres across the LoC last evening in which three Pakistani soldiers were killed and one was injured.

The operation is seen as avenging the killing of four Indian Army personnel by a Border Action Team of the Pakistan Army in Keri sector Rajouri district three days ago. -- PTI

21:25 Virushka's Mumbai reception

After Italy and New Delhi, the the Virushka wedding celebration has now moved it to Mumbai.

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma has hosted their wedding reception in Mumbai.

The reception is being held at St Regis' Astor Ballroom in Lower Parel.

Photograph: ANI

The Shiv Sena will hold internal polls to elect its party president on January 23 which happens to be the birth anniversary of its founder (late) Bal Thackeray.

According to sources, incumbent Sena president Uddhav Thackeray will be re-elected at the party meeting to be held at Rang Sharda auditorium in suburban Mumbai, as there will be no other nomination for the post.

Uddhav Thackeray took charge as the party president on January 23, 2013, after the death of his father Bal Thackeray (86) in November 2012.

"Uddhav had refused the post of 'Shiv Sena Pramukh' saying it will be only Balasaheb who will remain as Pramukh or the chief. Uddhav dissolved the post of executive president which he served in Balasaheb's lifetime and took the post of 'Paksh Pramukh' (Shiv Sena party president)," sources said today.

Once the procedure of electing the party president is completed, Uddhavji will choose his new team.

"He may either retain the old team or give a chance to new faces," sources said.

The election will be held to comply with the Election Commission's directives to political parties to hold internal organisational elections, according to sources. -- PTI

A former zilla panchayat member of Karnataka today said he would pay Rs 1 crore to anyone who chopped off Union minister Ananth Kumar Hegde's tongue for his reported remark that secular people were unaware of their parentage.

Former Kalaburagi zilla panchayat member Gurushant Pattedar said he had announced the "bounty" because Hegde's comment had pained Dalits, Muslims, backward classes and secular people.

"Opposing his (Hegde's) remarks I'm announcing a bounty of Rs 1 crore for chopping his tongue and bringing it (over)," Pattedar, who identified himself as a senior Dalit leader, told reporters in Kalaburagi.

Pattedar, who is currently associated with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, said he was announcing the "bounty" on his volition.

"I'm ready to give the bounty amount to anyone who chops Hegde's tongue and brings it in one month's time, by January 26," he said.

He also accused Hegde of "denigrating" the Constitution.

The minister for skill development and entrepreneurship had kicked up a controversy on Sunday when he said at an event in Kukanur town in Koppal district that people who "call themselves secular" were unaware of their parentage.

He said he was happy if people recalled their religion or caste with pride.

"I feel happy because he (the person) knows about his blood, but I don't know what to call those who call themselves secular," the minister had said.

Hegde then said, "Those who, without knowing about their parental blood, call themselves secular, they don't have their own identity... They don't know about their parentage, but they are intellectuals."

He also said while he respected the Constitution, "it will be changed in the days to come".

"We are here for that and that is why we have come," the five-time Lok Sabha MP from Karnataka said, drawing the ire of the ruling Congress in the state.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the BJP leader did not know "Parliamentary or political language". -- PTI

A bill seeking to criminalise the practice of instant triple talaq among Muslims is set to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill is listed for introduction in the Lok Sabha by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on December 28, according to the list of business in the Lower House.

The bill, prepared by an inter-ministerial group headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, makes instant triple talaq or talaq-e-biddat in any form -- spoken, in writing or by electronic means such as email, SMS and WhatsApp -- "illegal and void" and provides for a jail term of three years for the husband.

It was cleared by the Union Cabinet earlier this month.

The bill was listed for introduction last week, but Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar later told reporters that it would be introduced this week.

As per the provisions of the bill, the husband could also be fined and the quantum of fine would be decided by the magistrate hearing the case.

The bill is being introduced as the practice still continued despite the Supreme Court striking down 'talaq-e-biddat'.

The proposed law would only be applicable to instant triple talaq and it would give power to the victim to approach a magistrate seeking "subsistence allowance" for herself and minor children.

The woman can also seek the custody of her minor children from the magistrate who will take a final call on the issue. -- PTI

Security personnel arrested a top CPI (Maoists) leader from Jharkhand's East Singhbhum district during an anti-Maoist campaign today, police said. The Maoist leader was arrested from an area under the jurisdiction of Patamda police station, the police said. A loaded country-made pistol of 7.65 bore, five cartridges, one magazine, four bundles of codex wire, 25 detonators and explosives were recovered from the Maoist leader's possession, a police officer said.

17:57

Amul's take on Lalu Prasad Yadav's incarceration.

17:14

Mumbai: Celebration at the Bombay Stock Exchange office after Sensex breaches the 34000 mark.

17:06 Modi to focus on farmers' distress after Gujarat loss

New Delhi political circles are agog with speculation about imminent portfolios changes in the Narendra Modi's council of ministers as a direct impact of the Gujarat election losses.

Changes in portfolios like Radha Mohan Singh getting the Agriculture ministery and and Narendra Singh Tomar, Rural Development, give rise to speculation that the focus of the Union Budget will be on the farming community and will bring relief to farmers.

Whether the portfolio changes Will happen in early January or later, is not sure, but it is speculated that lessons learnt from Gujarat is that farmers are upset with the complete derailment of the rural economy.

The BJP government registered losses in rural Gujarat with most votes going to the Congress.

16:41 Patanjali eyes diaper, sanitary napkin market

After making headway into several markets, Patanjali Ayurveda is now eyeing the diaper and sanitary napkin industry, to take on the international companies.

According to Patanjali spokesperson SK Gupta Tijarawala, Patanjali will launch both kids and adult diapers and affordable sanitary napkins in the Rs 16,000-crore market in the first quarter of the next financial year.

One of the fastest growing companies, Patanjali climbed from 45th place last year to 19th this year, in the Forbes magazine's Annual India Rich List. -- ANI

A week into the Winter Session of Parliament and with disruptions in the Rajya Sabha every day, the government has finally found a way to get the House to function from Wednesday.

A compromise has been reached between the Treasury Bench and the Congress. Union Minister Vijay Goel had an hour-long meeting with former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and between Arun Jaitley and Ghulam Nabi Azad and a draft statement has since been approved by these leaders.

The statement will be read out on Wednesday morning once the House reassembles after the Christmas holidays.The Prime Minister will be present in the Rajya Sabha but he will not apologise for his comments on Dr Singh.

As a halfway measure, the Congress has however agreed to accept a statement which will contain an euology to Manmohan Singh for his personal integrity, which the House will endorse. Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu also paved the way for this compromise by calling BJP and Congress for a Andhra state Upma-Idli-Vada breakfast meeting on Tuesday.

The winter session of Rajya Sabha began on a stormy note on December 15 with the Opposition demanding an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his 'conspiracy with Pakistan' remarks against his predecessor Manmohan Singh, creating uproar and repeatedly disrupting proceedings.

An angry opposition led by the Congress accused Modi of levelling 'serious charges' against Singh, former Vice President Hamid Ansari and diplomats.

It was yet another day of records for stock markets today as both Sensex and Nifty closed at life highs, mainly because of some fag end buying by participants.

Rising for the second straight session, the 30-share Sensex hit 34,010.61, a fresh closing high -- with a gain of 70.31 points, or 0.21 per cent. This was its highest closing since Friday when it had closed at 33,940.30. It had risen 184.10 points in the previous session on Friday.

The broader Nifty jumped 38.50 points, or 0.37 per cent, to end at a new peak of 10,531.50, breaking it previous record of 10,493 reached on Friday. Intra-day, it rose to a life high of 10,545.45. Mid-cap and small-cap indices continued to be on investors' radar. -- PTI

15:37

The full MEA statement on Kulbhushan Jadhav's meeting with his family.

15:36 Jadhav meeting: Family had to remove bindi, mangalsutra, footwear not returned

The ministry of external affairs statement on the meeting between the Indian death row prisoner Kulbhushan Jadhav and his wife and mother.

Retired Indian Navy officer Jadhav, 47, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April this year.

India moved the International Court of Justice in May this year against the verdict. The ICJ halted his execution on Indias appeal pending the final verdict by it.

The MEA statement says that Pakistan violated rules of engagement between Kulbhushan Jadhav and his family in both letter and spirit.

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "The manner in which the meeting was conducted and its aftermath, was clearly an attempt to bolster a false and unsubstantiated narrative of Jadhavs alleged activities.

"This exercise lacked any credibility. The appearance of Mr Jadhav raises questions about his health and well being.

"Jadhav's comments were tutored. It was clear Jadhav was under a lot of stress and spoke under coercion.

"For some inexplicable reason, despite her repeated requests, the shoes of the wife of Shri Jadhav were not returned to her after the meeting. We would caution against any mischievous intent in this regard.

"Under pretext of security precautions, cultural and religious sensibilities of family members were disregarded. This included removal of mangal sutra, bangles and bindi, as well as a change in attire that was not warranted by security. Jadhav's mother was not allowed to speak in her mother tongue."

Jadhav's wife and mother landed in Pakistan to meet him, for the first time since his arrest, at the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MOFA), according to Pakistani media. The two women arrived in the capital via a commercial flight and are expected to leave today after the meeting takes place. Officials said all arrangements are in place to facilitate the meeting.

TV footage showed a convoy of around seven vehicles escorting Jadhavs family in the city. A Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson said that Jadhavs family spent more than half an hour at the Indian High Commission before the meeting.

Senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily has said that no decision has been taken on whether Sonia Gandhi will continue to occupy the position of UPA chairperson or make way for new party president Rahul Gandhi.

Moily acknowledged there are calls for her continuation in the position, but said Rahul Gandhi, who assumed charge as the Congress president earlier this month, is also capable of holding the post.

"Rahul Gandhi is also capable," the former Union minister told PTI yesterday. The decision on the UPA's chairmanship has not yet been taken and "it is left to them (Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi)," he said.

Ever since Sonia Gandhi stepped down as the Congress president, there was speculation whether Rahul Gandhi would assume charge of the UPA chairperson or she would continue in the position. Asked if it would "help" if Sonia Gandhi continued to be the UPA chairperson, Moily declined to comment and said, "Ultimately, it's between them (Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi); they will have to take a call."

He said Sonia Gandhi has "managed the party very well" during her 19-year tenure as the Congress president, adding that "she has to continue to be active in providing advice and, while running the party by Rahulji, she has to be behind him always."

She should continue to be a part of the decision- making process and her "wise counsel" should always prevail on the Congress, the former chief minister of Karnataka said.

On TMC leader Derek O'Brien's statement that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has the "finest credentials" to take on the BJP in 2019, Moily said it's not an "objective" assessment.

He argued that ever since Sonia Gandhi became the party president and also the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), she has provided "best leadership" for the party and also the United Progressive Alliance.

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14:18

First meeting of newly-elected Gujarat cabinet to be held tomorrow at 10 am in Gandhinagar.

14:08

LK Advani at Vijay Rupani's swearing-in ceremony today. The PM tweeted, "Political leaders, chief ministers of various states, our esteemed NDA allies and respected former Chief Ministers of Gujarat joined the occasion, making it even more special."

13:35

Erstwhile royal of Udaipur Vishvaraj Singh writes to CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi expressing reservation after being invited by CBFC to be a part of the proposed Committee to assist it in the process of certifying the film 'Padmavati'.

12:51 Jadhav's wife, mother's meeting with Sushma ends

The mother and wife of Kulbhushan Jadhav leave from the residence of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in Delhi. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar were also at the Swaraj's residence.

Jadhav met his wife and mother, through a glass barrier, for 40 minutes at the heavily guarded foreign affairs ministry building.

It was the first time that Jadhav was meeting his family since his arrest in March, which Pakistan portrayed as a humanitarian gesture to mark the birthday of the countrys founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah.

12:20

Today's cartoon in the Times of India by Sandeep Adhwaryu on the meeting between Kulbhushan Jadhav and his family in Pakistan.

12:10 Kulbhushan Jadhav's family meets Sushma Swaraj

A day after they flew to Islamabad and met with Kulbhushan Jadhav, Avanti and Chetankul -- the wife and mother -- of the Indian prisoner on death row met with External Affairs Minister in New Delhi.

Jadhav met his wife and mother, through a glass barrier, for 40 minutesat the heavily guarded foreign affairs ministry building.

It was the first time that Jadhav was meeting his family since his arrest in March, and Pakistan portrayed it as a humanitarian gesture to mark the birthday of the countrys founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah.

Vijay Rupani, 61, took oath as Gujarat chief minister in the state capital in a ceremony that has doubled as a massive show of strength by the BJP.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who landed in Gandhinagar around 10 am, is attending as is party chief Amit Shah and all the BJP's chief ministers. Key BJP ally Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is also attending along with his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi.

Vijay Rupani, close to Amit Shah and a leader with a clean image, was always seen as a frontrunner especially after the BJP chief signalled earlier this year that he would continue as chief minister after the elections.

But his chances of being retained to the top post were seen to diminish after the BJP won 99 seats, only seven more than it needed for a majority to form government and 16 less than it had won last time.

Party leaders, including PM Modi and Amit Shah, have emphatically said that a win in the elections and being chosen by the state again after 22 years of continuously being in power cannot in any way be seen as a setback.

Vijay Rupani, 61, will take oath as Gujarat Chief Minister in state capital Gandhinagar soon, in a ceremony that will double as a massive show of strength by the BJP.

Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, chief ministers of all BJP-ruled states and those governed by NDA allies are attending the ceremony.

Not just 18 NDA chief ministers but also BJP patriarch LK Advani and former Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel are on the stage for the swearing-in ceremony of the Vijay Rupani cabinet.

Vijay Rupani will also be hosting a luncheon for Narendra Modi and other guests at the Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, said some news reports.

The Central Jail at Hotwar in Ranchi has a famous inmate now: Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad, who is prisoner no. 3351 after conviction in a fodder scam case on Saturday.

Prasad is lodged in the upper division ward of the jail. He has a separate room with a wooden cot, a mosquito net and a TV set which allows him to watch only news on Doordarshan. He reads some vernacular newspapers while soaking in the winter morning sunlight on the lawn outside and has an attendant to cook food.

Read full story HERE

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who landed in Gandhinagar, is attending the swearing-in ceremony of Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani.

PM Modi stood on the floorboard of his car and waved to hundreds of people lining the roads as his convoy made its way from the airport to an open ground near the state secretariat where the oath ceremony will be held.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi will be attending the oath-taking ceremony .

The Bihar CM had rejoined the NDA a few months ago, four years after having snapped ties with the BJP.

He had predicted a comfortable victory for the saffron party in the home state of the Prime Minister, who served as Gujarat chief minister for three terms.

In retaliation to an earlier ceasefire violation, the Indian Army soldiers crossed over the Line of Control to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Tuesday and killed three Pakistani troops, as per Intelligence sources.

One Pakistani soldier was also injured.

This was in retaliation to the ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the LoC on Saturday.

Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked and indiscriminate shelling and firing in the Keri sector of Jammu and Kashmir. The army strongly retaliated, but three jawans and one Major lost their lives in the firing that took place.

The behind-the-enemy-lines operation brings back the memory of 2016's surgical strikes, which the army conducted in response to Uri attack.

On September 18, 2016, four Pakistani terrorists had attacked the army post at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir, and killed 19 soldiers.

Eleven days later, the army conducted surgical strike across the LoC and destroyed terrorist launch pads and killed several terrorists.

-- ANI

09:49 2018 to be as hectic for PM Modi as 2017

Next year will be as hectic for Prime Minister Narendra Modi as this year as far as his international engagements are concerned.

In January, Modi is expected to host Israeli PM, followed by a possible visit by the King of Jordan. He is also expected to visit Davos for the World Economic Forum.

In the latter half of next year, he is likely to travel to South Africa for the BRICS Summit; Argentina for the G-20 Summit; Singapore for India-Asean & East Asia summits.

There's a buzz that a top leader from China and Saudi Arabia might also visit India next year.

Superstar Rajinikanth, who has kept everyone guessing on whether he will join politics, began meeting fans in Chennai today in a six-day outreach that is widely expected to end with him revealing his plans on December 31, New Year's Eve.

During his meeting with fans in May, Rajinikanth had said, "Let us face the war when it comes".

He is expected to announce his political debut on the last day.

"There is an expectation that he will spell out his stand on entering politics. He may do it or may not...only he knows...let no one speculate," a senior functionary of the All India Rajinikanth Fans Welfare Club told reporters.

The 67-year-old actor will meet some 1,000 fans across 18 districts.

Dalbir Kaur, the sister of Sarabjit Singh, who died in a Lahore jail in 2013, said Pakistan played a "cruel joke" by not allowing Kulbhushan Jadhav to meet his wife and mother freely and dubbed the entire exercise a "drama".

Jadhav, on death row in Pakistan for alleged spying, was allowed to meet his wife and mother -- but separated by a glass screen -- in a choreographed event that unfolded in tweets, photos and TV footage.

It was the fist time Jadhav was meeting his family since his arrest in March last year, and Pakistan portrayed it as a humanitarian gesture to mark the birthday of the country's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

But Kaur found no "humanism" in the meeting. "When it was held under such tight security and close relatives are separated by a glass screen, it has little meaning," she said.

Having lost her brother four years back in Pakistan, Kaur said she could fully understand what Jadhav's family must be going through at this hour.

"Jadhav or his family would know what they were going through by 'meeting' but in real sense not meeting at the same time. His family would have wanted to hug him, talk to him freely. But nothing of that sort happened. What solace would this meeting have provided them."

Pakistan portrayed the meeting as a humanitarian gesture, but if they believed in humanism, they should have allowed the family to meet Jadhav freely, she said.

-- PTI

08:31

JUST IN: Wanted Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist Noor Muhammad killed in encounter in Sempora in south Kashmir's Pulmama district.

08:11 New BJP government in Gujarat to be sworn in today

The new government led by Vijay Rupani would take the oath of office and secrecy at a grand ceremony in Gandhinagar today in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and a galaxy of senior BJP leaders and

chief ministers of NDA-ruled states.

Along with Rupani and his deputy Nitin Patel, several others are also expected to be sworn-in by Governor O P Kohli.

PM Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, chief ministers of all BJP-ruled states and those governed by NDA allies are expected to attend the ceremony, Gujarat BJP chief Jitu Vaghani said.

He said several Union ministers and senior leaders of the party have also been invited, besides saints and religious leaders of different faiths, Vaghani said.

Apart from Rupani and Nitin Patel, six to nine Cabinet and around 15 ministers of state are expected to take oath, party sources said.

"Most of the senior leaders who were ministers in the last government are expected to make it to the ministry," sources said.

The names doing the rounds for Cabinet berths are Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Kaushik Patel, Ganpat Vasava, Dilip Thakor, Babubhai Bokhiria and Pradeepsinh Jadeja.

Some new faces are likely to be inducted as ministers of state.

-- PTI

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