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Thu, 20 July 2017
Congress hopes Kovind will be 'conscience keeper' of Constitution
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23:55 Congress hopes Kovind will be 'conscience keeper' of Constitution
The Congress today hoped President-elect Ram Nath Kovind will uphold the traditions of democracy with its chief Sonia Gandhi saying the president is the 'conscience keeper' of the Constitution of India.
The Congress party while congratulating Kovind also hoped that the president-elect would defend the nation and its people against any attack on democracy, fundamental rights and everything that the Constitution stands for.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said this election was not about numbers but a 'fight for our ideology and principles'.
"This is a struggle for upholding India's pluralism, diversity and composite culture. This is the true soul of India that we seek to defend," he said.
Surjewala said the Congress and other opposition parties fought this election as a struggle between autocracy of one man and cumulative wisdom of many, between politics of drift and division versus cohabitation and togetherness, a fight between subjugation of democratic institutions and preservation of their innate freedom.
"We hope that the new president-elect shall not only uphold these traditions but show the mirror of truth to a government drunk with arrogance of numbers," he said.
Surjewala said if one examines the results more minutely, 'we are happy that presidential candidate Meira Kumar holds close to 35 per cent votes.'
"Opposition unity has stayed intact while a government which was drunk with numbers and a Union minister who was also the agent of the winning candidate claimed that they will poll 70 per cent votes or more. The winning candidate has got about 65.66 per cent votes," he said. -- PTI
The Congress party while congratulating Kovind also hoped that the president-elect would defend the nation and its people against any attack on democracy, fundamental rights and everything that the Constitution stands for.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said this election was not about numbers but a 'fight for our ideology and principles'.
"This is a struggle for upholding India's pluralism, diversity and composite culture. This is the true soul of India that we seek to defend," he said.
Surjewala said the Congress and other opposition parties fought this election as a struggle between autocracy of one man and cumulative wisdom of many, between politics of drift and division versus cohabitation and togetherness, a fight between subjugation of democratic institutions and preservation of their innate freedom.
"We hope that the new president-elect shall not only uphold these traditions but show the mirror of truth to a government drunk with arrogance of numbers," he said.
Surjewala said if one examines the results more minutely, 'we are happy that presidential candidate Meira Kumar holds close to 35 per cent votes.'
"Opposition unity has stayed intact while a government which was drunk with numbers and a Union minister who was also the agent of the winning candidate claimed that they will poll 70 per cent votes or more. The winning candidate has got about 65.66 per cent votes," he said. -- PTI
22:43 BSF jawan commits suicide in training centre
A 24-year-old Border Security Force jawan committed suicide at Meru in Hazaribag district today, police said.
Mithilesh Kumar, a resident of Bhojpur district in Bihar was undergoing training at the BSF training centre at Meru, approximately 10 km from Hazaribag.
He hanged himself today morning, the police said.
Kumar hanged himself from a tree near the PT ground of the centre, Superintendent of Police Anup Birtheray said.
A police team from Muffasil police station went to the training centre after the BSF authorities informed them about the incident.
The police sent the body for post mortem and started an investigation.
The police team did not find any suicide note from the spot, police said.
The jawan's body was handed over to the BSF after post-mortem. -- PTI
Mithilesh Kumar, a resident of Bhojpur district in Bihar was undergoing training at the BSF training centre at Meru, approximately 10 km from Hazaribag.
He hanged himself today morning, the police said.
Kumar hanged himself from a tree near the PT ground of the centre, Superintendent of Police Anup Birtheray said.
A police team from Muffasil police station went to the training centre after the BSF authorities informed them about the incident.
The police sent the body for post mortem and started an investigation.
The police team did not find any suicide note from the spot, police said.
The jawan's body was handed over to the BSF after post-mortem. -- PTI
21:10 Fresh violence Darjeeling as Army withdrawn
Amid the withdrawal of Army from the hills on the state government request, the pro- Gorkhaland agitators continued to run amok today, burning down two government offices at Lamahatta in Darjeeling.
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters threw petrol bombs at a revenue department office and a panchayat office, reducing them to ashes, the police said.
The Supporters of the GJM and other hill parties also held a demonstration today outside the district magistrate's office demanding restoration of Internet services which remained suspended for the last 32 days.
The Army, meanwhile, was withdrawn from the restive hills after the state government sought its pull-out on July 18, a defence official said today.
"The Army was deployed in the hills on July 8 on request from the state government. The Army was withdrawn on July 18 as the state government sought its withdrawal," a defence official today said.
Meanwhile, a delegation of various hill parties met West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi today and submitted a memorandum regarding the situation in the hills.
While talking to reporters later on the sidelines of a programme, Tripathi said, "They came to meet me. I have told them to create an atmosphere so that normalcy could be restored in that area."
Some political party activists, dressed in traditional Nepali attire, took out rallies in the morning.
The police and security forces patrolled the streets and kept a tight vigil at every entry and exit points.
All shops, restaurants, hotels, schools and colleges remained closed except pharmacies. -- PTI
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters threw petrol bombs at a revenue department office and a panchayat office, reducing them to ashes, the police said.
The Supporters of the GJM and other hill parties also held a demonstration today outside the district magistrate's office demanding restoration of Internet services which remained suspended for the last 32 days.
The Army, meanwhile, was withdrawn from the restive hills after the state government sought its pull-out on July 18, a defence official said today.
"The Army was deployed in the hills on July 8 on request from the state government. The Army was withdrawn on July 18 as the state government sought its withdrawal," a defence official today said.
Meanwhile, a delegation of various hill parties met West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi today and submitted a memorandum regarding the situation in the hills.
While talking to reporters later on the sidelines of a programme, Tripathi said, "They came to meet me. I have told them to create an atmosphere so that normalcy could be restored in that area."
Some political party activists, dressed in traditional Nepali attire, took out rallies in the morning.
The police and security forces patrolled the streets and kept a tight vigil at every entry and exit points.
All shops, restaurants, hotels, schools and colleges remained closed except pharmacies. -- PTI
21:01 MP: Dalit woman lynched for objecting to bullying
A 65-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly beaten to death by four persons after she confronted one of them for abusing her 26-year-old son in Hussainpur village in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh last night, the police said today.
The incident occurred when Dhankunwar Bai scolded Vinod Chauhan, 34, who had abused her son Rambeer Jatav after the latter refused to give him a matchbox for lighting a cigarette.
According to police, Chauhan, his mother Hussainpurwaili, 60, her two daughters Lohari, 28, and Rani, 30, attacked the elderly woman with wooden rods in their house.
"Dhankunwar Bai was rushed to a hospital by her son late in the night, where doctors pronounced her brought dead," said Chinnoni police station inspector SK Upadhyaya.
Police has filed a case of murder. All the accused are absconding, the officer said. -- PTI
The incident occurred when Dhankunwar Bai scolded Vinod Chauhan, 34, who had abused her son Rambeer Jatav after the latter refused to give him a matchbox for lighting a cigarette.
According to police, Chauhan, his mother Hussainpurwaili, 60, her two daughters Lohari, 28, and Rani, 30, attacked the elderly woman with wooden rods in their house.
"Dhankunwar Bai was rushed to a hospital by her son late in the night, where doctors pronounced her brought dead," said Chinnoni police station inspector SK Upadhyaya.
Police has filed a case of murder. All the accused are absconding, the officer said. -- PTI
20:28 Prez poll: 77 invalid votes, 21 cast by MPs
A total of 77 votes were declared invalid today during counting for the presidential election and the list of rejected ballots was topped by parliamentarians.
According to data provided by the returning officer, a total of 77 votes were found to be invalid. 21 votes cast by members of parliament were among the votes found invalid.
Ten votes from West Bengal assembly, six from Delhi, four each from Manipur and Jharkhand and two from Uttar Pradesh were also found to be invalid.
The total value of invalid votes comes at 20,942.
If a voter fails to mark the first reference, or marks the preference in a fashion other than the one prescribed by the Election Commission, the vote is considered as invalid.
In this election, the EC had made it mandatory to use a special marker pen to mark vote. The votes marked withordinary pens were liable to be rejected during counting. -- PTI
According to data provided by the returning officer, a total of 77 votes were found to be invalid. 21 votes cast by members of parliament were among the votes found invalid.
Ten votes from West Bengal assembly, six from Delhi, four each from Manipur and Jharkhand and two from Uttar Pradesh were also found to be invalid.
The total value of invalid votes comes at 20,942.
If a voter fails to mark the first reference, or marks the preference in a fashion other than the one prescribed by the Election Commission, the vote is considered as invalid.
In this election, the EC had made it mandatory to use a special marker pen to mark vote. The votes marked withordinary pens were liable to be rejected during counting. -- PTI
19:59 Privileged to have a Dalit as first BJP-nominated President: Shah
Ram Nath Kovind will be the first Bharatiya Janata Party leader to occupy the hallowed precincts of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, underscoring the saffron party's preeminent political position under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and its chief Amit Shah.
Shah acknowledged as much in a tweet saying, 'It is our great privilege that 1st time BJP had an opportunity to nominate a President on its own, a member of Dalit community was chosen.'
The only other BJP-led National Democratic Alliance presidential nominee to get elected to the top constitutional position was Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, who won in 2002, but he had no political background.
Such was the appeal of his apolitical personality that even the opposition parties like the Congress supported his bid.
As the saffron party did not enjoy in 2002 the kind of numbers it has now, it was virtually forced to go for a face like Kalam who could draw bi-partisan support.
In the 2007 election, the BJP backed its stalwart Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who was then the vice president, against the United Progressive Alliance nominee Pratibha Patil, but he lost in an one-sided contest.
In 2012, the BJP supported the candidature of P A Sangma, a former Lok Sabha speaker, against Pranab Mukherjee of the Congress and other UPA partners.
Sangma, who headed a regional outfit, lost badly with Mukherjee getting more than twice the number of votes he got.
With the BJP never having the assurance of majority in earlier contests, except 2002 when it was in power at the Centre, some of its allies chose to back the winning candidate, notably the Shiv Sena in 2007 and the Janata Dal-United and the Shiv Sena in 2012.
This time, its candidate Kovind did not get only the votes of all its allies but also many rivals parties like the Biju Janata Dal and the Janata Dal-United. -- PTI
Shah acknowledged as much in a tweet saying, 'It is our great privilege that 1st time BJP had an opportunity to nominate a President on its own, a member of Dalit community was chosen.'
The only other BJP-led National Democratic Alliance presidential nominee to get elected to the top constitutional position was Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, who won in 2002, but he had no political background.
Such was the appeal of his apolitical personality that even the opposition parties like the Congress supported his bid.
As the saffron party did not enjoy in 2002 the kind of numbers it has now, it was virtually forced to go for a face like Kalam who could draw bi-partisan support.
In the 2007 election, the BJP backed its stalwart Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who was then the vice president, against the United Progressive Alliance nominee Pratibha Patil, but he lost in an one-sided contest.
In 2012, the BJP supported the candidature of P A Sangma, a former Lok Sabha speaker, against Pranab Mukherjee of the Congress and other UPA partners.
Sangma, who headed a regional outfit, lost badly with Mukherjee getting more than twice the number of votes he got.
With the BJP never having the assurance of majority in earlier contests, except 2002 when it was in power at the Centre, some of its allies chose to back the winning candidate, notably the Shiv Sena in 2007 and the Janata Dal-United and the Shiv Sena in 2012.
This time, its candidate Kovind did not get only the votes of all its allies but also many rivals parties like the Biju Janata Dal and the Janata Dal-United. -- PTI
19:36 ED summons Shah Rukh Khan in IPL-related FEMA violation case
The Enforcement Directorate has issued a notice to actor Shah Rukh Khan and others for an Indian Premiere League Foreign Exchange Management Act violation adjudication case.
The ED has started adjudication proceeding against Shah Rukh Khan in the case.
An Economic Times report said, 'The summon is in connection with the case pertaining to the sale of some shares of Knight Riders Sports Private Limited (KRSPL) to a Mauritius-based firm at a cost lower than their actual value. The sale has resulted in a loss of Rs 73.6 crore.'
More details awaited. -- PTI, Agencies
The ED has started adjudication proceeding against Shah Rukh Khan in the case.
An Economic Times report said, 'The summon is in connection with the case pertaining to the sale of some shares of Knight Riders Sports Private Limited (KRSPL) to a Mauritius-based firm at a cost lower than their actual value. The sale has resulted in a loss of Rs 73.6 crore.'
More details awaited. -- PTI, Agencies
18:39 Action taken against accused in every instance of mob justice, says Jaitley
The Rajya Sabha continued discussion into the fourth day of the monsoon session of Parliament on Thursday and the debate in the Upper House largely focussed on the issue of H1-B visa, India-China row and mob lynchings.
The Opposition led by Congress targeted the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, with former law minister Kapil Sibal denouncing the lynchings over cow slaughter as grotesque violence.
Finance and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley speaks, says the issue of lynchings is crucial and to give it political colours wont be fair. I dont want to explain or rationalise it. The home minister and the PM have in the past spoken against gau rakshaks.
Our sensitivity to the cow cannot justify any violence. Violence cannot be a partisan issue... We should remember that we are one of the worlds largest democracies. Our culture is to respect each other and tolerate each other -- called mutual respect of tolerance. We cannot insult any religion.
In respect to each incident of violence, the home minister spoke to every CM of the state and kept a track of cases against them. All the perpetrators are in jails, they will be prosecuted and serve their punishments," said Jaitley.
He added, "To kill a human in the name of cow is unequivocally condemned, but to provoke anyone -- at least in a place where cow slaughter is prohibited -- is equally condemnable. No body has the right to take law in their own hand. It doesnt mean that in prohibited areas, cow slaughter should be encouraged or eulogised.
18:21 Zeliang ready to prove majority in Nagaland trust vote
T R Zeliang, who was reappointed Chief Minister of Nagaland amid high drama yesterday, is ready to face the floor test tomorrow to prove his majority in the state assembly.
Zeliang will move the Vote of Confidence in the assembly as an MLA of the Naga People's Front, though he has been expelled from the party for six years, a spokesperson of Zeliang's group Tokheho Yeptho said.
"As per the Tenth Schedule amendment of 2006, an elected member of any party can be declared unattached in the assembly even though he is expelled by the party," Yeptho, an MLA, said.
He also expressed confidence that with the support of 36 NPF MLAs, seven Independents, and four BJP MLAs, which takes the number to 47 in the House of 60, Zeliang is sure of commanding a majority.
18:08 Meira Kumar represented Cong's dynastic culture: BJP
The BJP today took a swipe at the opposition's presidential candidate Meira Kumar's claim of fighting an ideological contest, saying she represented the dynasty culture of the Congress while its candidate Ram Nath Kovind showed its commitment to the marginalised groups.
BJP spokesperson GVL Narsimha Rao said there were many to say that it was indeed an ideological contest with the NDA's "merit-based' selection pitted against the dynasty promoted by the Congress-led alliance.
The Congress stood for 'fake' slogans of Dalit empowerment as it did not field a Dalit when its candidate won the presidential elections in 2007 and 2012, he said.
"Our commitment to elect a president from marginalised groups is genuine,' he said in a statement. The opposition stood for "vote bank politics' while the BJP for 'sabka saath, sabka vikas', the opposition stood for corruption while the BJP for honest governance and the opposition stood for "insult of the Army', the BJP for "respect for security forces', he said.
BJP spokesperson GVL Narsimha Rao said there were many to say that it was indeed an ideological contest with the NDA's "merit-based' selection pitted against the dynasty promoted by the Congress-led alliance.
The Congress stood for 'fake' slogans of Dalit empowerment as it did not field a Dalit when its candidate won the presidential elections in 2007 and 2012, he said.
"Our commitment to elect a president from marginalised groups is genuine,' he said in a statement. The opposition stood for "vote bank politics' while the BJP for 'sabka saath, sabka vikas', the opposition stood for corruption while the BJP for honest governance and the opposition stood for "insult of the Army', the BJP for "respect for security forces', he said.
18:01
PM Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah congratulated President-elect Ram Nath Kovind.
17:58 Choosing me is a symbol of greatness of Indian democracy: Kovind
BJP president Amit Shah meets President-elect Ram Nath Kovind; PM Modi expected to arrive soon. Kovind was elected India's next President today. The NDA-backed
candidate, a Dalit leader, won nearly 66 per cent of the votes cast by
an electoral college of MPs and MLAs. He will be
sworn in on July 25.
Immediately after the results were announced, the 71-year-old addressed the media in an emotional, but short speech among the noise of celebratory firecrackers and sweets, at his home.
"This is an emotional moment for me today. Rashtrapati pad par mera chayan Bhartiya loktantra ki mahaanta ka prateek hai. Choosing me for the President is a symbol of the greatness of Indian democracy," Kovind said.
Immediately after the results were announced, the 71-year-old addressed the media in an emotional, but short speech among the noise of celebratory firecrackers and sweets, at his home.
"This is an emotional moment for me today. Rashtrapati pad par mera chayan Bhartiya loktantra ki mahaanta ka prateek hai. Choosing me for the President is a symbol of the greatness of Indian democracy," Kovind said.
17:37
@abdullah_omar Omar Abdullah Since it isn't difficult to write the number 1 in the middle of a square there must be some black in the lentils. Next time EVMs perhaps??
@sardesairajdeep Shocking! 21 MPs votes disqualified. Couldn't follow the basic procedure required for voting!! #RamNathKovind
@sardesairajdeep Shocking! 21 MPs votes disqualified. Couldn't follow the basic procedure required for voting!! #RamNathKovind
17:10 It has fallen up Kovindji to uphold Constitution: Meira Kumar
Meira Kumar: I congratulate Shri Ram Nath Kovindji for becoming the President of India. My best wishes with Kovindji as it has fallen upon him to uphold Constitution in letter and spirit in these challenging times. My fight for secularism, the oppressed & the marginalised continues. I thank all my well wishers for their support and good wishes.
16:57
That's the second picture taken recently with Ram Nath Kovind that the PM tweeted.
16:56 20 years and now, always a privilege knowing you President Elect: PM
Ram Nath Kovind has been elected the next President of India. The NDA-backed candidate won two-third of the votes cast by an
electoral college of MPs and MLAs. Celebrations had begun long before the results were announced. Extra security
has also arrived at the former Bihar governor's home in Delhi with sweets being passed around at his hometown
in Uttar Pradesh. Kovind, 71, will be sworn in on July 25.
PM Narendra Modi tweeted his congratulations saying, "Congratulations to Ram Nath KovindJi on being elected the President of India! Best wishes for a fruitful & inspiring tenure. Gladdened by extensive support for Ram Nath KovindJi among MPs & across various states. I thank members of electoral college. I also congratulate Meira KumarJi for her campaign, which was in spirit of democratic ethos & values we all are proud of."
The PM then tweeted two pictures, saying, "20 years ago and the presentalways been a privilege to know you, President Elect."
The first picture, presumably taken in 1997, is at a wedding, while the second picture taken recently, is with Ram Nath Kovind and his family .
PM Narendra Modi tweeted his congratulations saying, "Congratulations to Ram Nath KovindJi on being elected the President of India! Best wishes for a fruitful & inspiring tenure. Gladdened by extensive support for Ram Nath KovindJi among MPs & across various states. I thank members of electoral college. I also congratulate Meira KumarJi for her campaign, which was in spirit of democratic ethos & values we all are proud of."
The PM then tweeted two pictures, saying, "20 years ago and the presentalways been a privilege to know you, President Elect."
The first picture, presumably taken in 1997, is at a wedding, while the second picture taken recently, is with Ram Nath Kovind and his family .
16:43 Ram Nath Kovind wins Presidential poll with 7 lakh votes
Just in: Ram Nath Kovind wins the presidential poll with 2/3rd of the votes. Kovind, who is now President elect received 65.6 per cent of the votes and is set to become India's 14th President.
Kovind's votes totalled 7,02,044 votes, while Meira Kumar, received 3,67,314.
522 MPs voted for Kovind, while 225 MPs voted for Meira Kumar. 77 votes are invalid, says the EC.
Reports say there has been cross-voting in Gujarat, Goa, Assam and Uttar Pradesh.
The voting took place on Monday.
Kovind's votes totalled 7,02,044 votes, while Meira Kumar, received 3,67,314.
522 MPs voted for Kovind, while 225 MPs voted for Meira Kumar. 77 votes are invalid, says the EC.
Reports say there has been cross-voting in Gujarat, Goa, Assam and Uttar Pradesh.
The voting took place on Monday.
16:33
Aadhaar privacy: Supreme Court to hear from the Central Govt on Tuesday; all the petitioners have completed their argument today in the apex court.
16:22 NSA Doval to travel to China for BRICS
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will be travelling to the BRICS Summit in China, says the MEA. Briefing the media on the standoff with China, MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said diplomatic channels and diplomatic communication between the two countries have never stopped and neither have they been broken.
When asked who had initiated Doval's China visit, Baglay said, "In such sensitive matters who has made an offer and who reacted or not, it's best left to diplomats to conduct what they are good at."
Baglay said differences between India and China should not become disputes. "Our approach is to find peaceful solutions to border issues," Baglay said.
China said today that diplomatic channels with India remained "unimpeded" to discuss the military standoff in Sikkim sector but reiterated that the
withdrawal of the Indian troops from Doklam area is a "precondition" for any meaningful dialogue. "Our diplomatic channel is unimpeded," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters, confirming talks between
Indian and Chinese missions to resolve the standoff.
In New Delhi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the matter can be resolved through talks. "We are willing to talk, but both sides have to first
take back their armies," she told the Rajya Sabha. The minister said the boundaries between India and China are yet to be finalised and the two countries will do that bilaterally through discussions, while the same between China and Bhutan too will be done through bilateral talks. She accused China of building roads using bulldozers and excavators, which has been protested by Bhutan in writing to China.
Chinese and Indian soldiers have been locked in a face-off for over a month after Indian troops stopped the Chinese army from constructing a road near the Doklam plateau, fearing it may allow China to cut India's access to its northeastern states.
India has conveyed to China that the construction of the road would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for New Delhi.
File pic: National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval with China's State Councillor, Yang Jiechi at the 19th India-China Boundary talks in Beijing in 2016.
When asked who had initiated Doval's China visit, Baglay said, "In such sensitive matters who has made an offer and who reacted or not, it's best left to diplomats to conduct what they are good at."
Baglay said differences between India and China should not become disputes. "Our approach is to find peaceful solutions to border issues," Baglay said.
China said today that diplomatic channels with India remained "unimpeded" to discuss the military standoff in Sikkim sector but reiterated that the
withdrawal of the Indian troops from Doklam area is a "precondition" for any meaningful dialogue. "Our diplomatic channel is unimpeded," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters, confirming talks between
Indian and Chinese missions to resolve the standoff.
In New Delhi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the matter can be resolved through talks. "We are willing to talk, but both sides have to first
take back their armies," she told the Rajya Sabha. The minister said the boundaries between India and China are yet to be finalised and the two countries will do that bilaterally through discussions, while the same between China and Bhutan too will be done through bilateral talks. She accused China of building roads using bulldozers and excavators, which has been protested by Bhutan in writing to China.
Chinese and Indian soldiers have been locked in a face-off for over a month after Indian troops stopped the Chinese army from constructing a road near the Doklam plateau, fearing it may allow China to cut India's access to its northeastern states.
India has conveyed to China that the construction of the road would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for New Delhi.
File pic: National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval with China's State Councillor, Yang Jiechi at the 19th India-China Boundary talks in Beijing in 2016.
16:16 Ram Nath Kovind wins Presidential poll
Just in: Ram Nath Kovind wins presidential polls with 2/3rd of the votes.
16:11 Kovind set to become India's 14th President, crosses halfway mark
NDA Presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind crosses halfway mark and is set to become India's 14th President. The last phase of counting is underway.
Kovind was always expected to win the top race given that the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies have a majority in electoral college comprising Members of Parliament and members of legislative assemblies and councils of all states.
A formal announcement of the winner is expected by 5 pm. The voting took place on Monday.
15:26 Three Indian journalists in Global Shining Light Award finalist list.
Journalists Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava and Athar Rather's reportage on The Jungle Gangs of Jharkhand, Hindustan Times and Rana Ayyub's reportage in her book, Gujarat Files: Anatomy of a Coverup, are among 12 finalists in the seventh Global Shining Light Award.
The Award lauds the 'extraordinary investigative projects from around the world' and 'honors investigative journalism in developing or transitioning countries, done under threat, duress or under dire conditions'.
The winners will be announced at the 2017 Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Johannesburg, which runs from November 16-19, and will be presented with an honorary plaque and $2,000.
The Award lauds the 'extraordinary investigative projects from around the world' and 'honors investigative journalism in developing or transitioning countries, done under threat, duress or under dire conditions'.
The winners will be announced at the 2017 Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Johannesburg, which runs from November 16-19, and will be presented with an honorary plaque and $2,000.
15:14 Kovind and India's nuke button
-- He will meet outgoing president Pranab Mukherjee.
-- Mukherjee and Kovind will have an intimate meeting where the outgoing president will brief the incumbent on policies related to defence, external affairs and finance.
-- Both leave for Central Hall of Parliament.
-- They will be led by a procession to the Central Hall of Parliament. The Chief Justice of India, Prime Minister, Vice President, Speaker of Lok Sabha will accompany them to the Central Hall.
-- Ram Nath Kovind will be sworn in as the 14th President of India in a 14-minute ceremony.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat will be briefing President elect Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday on the internal security of the country and the armys preparedness in the eventuality of an external attack.
This is a routine exercise and will be the first time the President elect will know the actual location of Indias nuclear button.
After the results are announced this evening, Kovind, who leads over Meira Kumar by over 2 lakh votes in the first round of counting, is scheduled to meet top most bureaucrats such as Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha and Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi about the swearing-in ceremony and will also be briefed about the functions of the Union Cabinet. Major General Anil Khosla, who is Military Secretary to the President , will also be at the briefing.
Heres what will happen at the swearing-in ceremony on July
25.
-- He will meet outgoing president Pranab Mukherjee.
-- Mukherjee and Kovind will have an intimate meeting where the outgoing president will brief the incumbent on policies related to defence, external affairs and finance.
-- Both leave for Central Hall of Parliament.
-- They will be led by a procession to the Central Hall of Parliament. The Chief Justice of India, Prime Minister, Vice President, Speaker of Lok Sabha will accompany them to the Central Hall.
-- Ram Nath Kovind will be sworn in as the 14th President of India in a 14-minute ceremony.
14:51 Meira reacts: Why should I be upset?
First reactions from Meira Kumar on her imminent defeat in the presidential poll: I am not upset, why should I be upset? I am a fighter, I fought for the belief and faith of majority of my countrymen and women.
14:47 Prez poll: Meira Kumar stares at defeat, not a single vote in Andhra
The first phase of the counting of votes for the presidential election ended with the resuls in favour of the ruling NDA's nominee Ram Nath Kovind over opposition's candidate Meira Kumar.
Shockingly, of the figures available in the first round, Meira Kumar has got zero votes in Andhra Pradesh. Here are the results so far:
Andhra Pradesh: Kovind 27,189; Kumar 0
Arunachal Pradesh: Kovind 448; Kumar 24
Assam: Kovind 10,556; Kumar 4,060
Bihar: Kovind 60,683; Kumar 22,951
Chhattisgarh: Kovind 6,708; Kumar 4,515
Goa: Kovind 500; Kumar 220
Gujarat: Kovind 19,404; Kumar 7,203
Haryana: Kovind 8,176; Kumar 1,792
Himachal Pradesh: Kovind 1,530; Kumar 1,887
Jammu and Kashmir: Kovind 4,032; Kumar 2,160
Jharkhand: Kovind 8,976; Kumar 4,576
Ram Nath Kovind has 4,79,585 votes while Meira Kumar has 2,04,594.
Kovind is leading by over 2 lakh votes in the first round, up from the 1 lakh votes counted earlier.
Close to 99 per cent voting was recorded for electing
India's next president. Thirty two polling stations, including the one in Parliament house, have been set up in various states. A total of 4,896 voters -- 4,120 MLAs and 776 elected MPs -- were eligible to cast their ballot. MLCs of states with legislative council are not part of the electoral college.
Shockingly, of the figures available in the first round, Meira Kumar has got zero votes in Andhra Pradesh. Here are the results so far:
Andhra Pradesh: Kovind 27,189; Kumar 0
Arunachal Pradesh: Kovind 448; Kumar 24
Assam: Kovind 10,556; Kumar 4,060
Bihar: Kovind 60,683; Kumar 22,951
Chhattisgarh: Kovind 6,708; Kumar 4,515
Goa: Kovind 500; Kumar 220
Gujarat: Kovind 19,404; Kumar 7,203
Haryana: Kovind 8,176; Kumar 1,792
Himachal Pradesh: Kovind 1,530; Kumar 1,887
Jammu and Kashmir: Kovind 4,032; Kumar 2,160
Jharkhand: Kovind 8,976; Kumar 4,576
Ram Nath Kovind has 4,79,585 votes while Meira Kumar has 2,04,594.
Kovind is leading by over 2 lakh votes in the first round, up from the 1 lakh votes counted earlier.
Close to 99 per cent voting was recorded for electing
India's next president. Thirty two polling stations, including the one in Parliament house, have been set up in various states. A total of 4,896 voters -- 4,120 MLAs and 776 elected MPs -- were eligible to cast their ballot. MLCs of states with legislative council are not part of the electoral college.
14:00 Mayawati's resignation accepted
Mayawati has resubmitted her resignation in the prescribed format and spoke to Chairman, RS. Her resignation has been accepted, the Officer on Special Duty to VP Hamid Ansari told ANI.
13:52
Update: Kovind wins in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.
13:41 Prez poll: Ram Nath Kovind leads by 1 lakh votes
Just in: NDA presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind leads against Meira Kumar by 1 lakh votes. The first round of counting of votes has just ended.
The candidate who secures at least one vote more than 50 per cent of the total votes will enter the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Election was held on the 17th of this month and around 99 per cent voting was recorded.
President Pranab Mukherjee will demit office on July 25.
Congress-led opposition nominated Meira Kumar to face Kovind for the presidential race.
Ram Nath Kovind, former Governor of Bihar, was announced as the BJP-led NDA's candidate for the post of President of India by BJP president Amit Shah on June 19 2017.
Kovind, a leader and a politician from the BJP, filed his nomination for the election on June 23, 2017.
The candidate who secures at least one vote more than 50 per cent of the total votes will enter the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Election was held on the 17th of this month and around 99 per cent voting was recorded.
President Pranab Mukherjee will demit office on July 25.
Congress-led opposition nominated Meira Kumar to face Kovind for the presidential race.
Ram Nath Kovind, former Governor of Bihar, was announced as the BJP-led NDA's candidate for the post of President of India by BJP president Amit Shah on June 19 2017.
Kovind, a leader and a politician from the BJP, filed his nomination for the election on June 23, 2017.
13:28 Airlines can't impose flying ban on anyone: RS Dy Chairman
Airlines have no authority to impose flying ban on anybody, including parliamentarians, and the law of the land should take its course, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said today.
The remarks came after SP member Naresh Agrawal raised the issue of recent flying ban imposed by major domestic airlines, including state-owned Air India.
Agrawal wanted to know if the airlines could impose such restrictions.
According to him, such an action was a breach of privilege of the Members of Parliament. To this, Kurien said agreed that Agrawal has raised a "valid point" that if any MP has committed a crime or something against the law, the law of the land should take its course.
"Airlines are not given the authority to punish anybody. I think the government should take note of it. "MPs are also citizens ... if they commit a crime or mistake, the law of the land should take recourse to it," the Deputy Chairman said.
He further said "it is a punishment imposed on an MP for some crime...This cannot be done. This is not a thing to be punished by airlines".
Congress MP Anand Sharma suggested to the Deputy Chairman that the word 'crime' should be replaced with 'violation'.
However, Kurien said if a person beats up someone, it is a crime.
Different airlines yesterday lifted the flying ban on TDP MP J C Diwakar Reddy after "urgent" notices from the court to the government and the aviation regulator DGCA on the lawmaker's plea against the action of domestic carriers.
Image: Several airlines had imposed a fly ban on Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad after he assaulted an Air India employee in March this year. The ban was later lifted.
The remarks came after SP member Naresh Agrawal raised the issue of recent flying ban imposed by major domestic airlines, including state-owned Air India.
Agrawal wanted to know if the airlines could impose such restrictions.
According to him, such an action was a breach of privilege of the Members of Parliament. To this, Kurien said agreed that Agrawal has raised a "valid point" that if any MP has committed a crime or something against the law, the law of the land should take its course.
"Airlines are not given the authority to punish anybody. I think the government should take note of it. "MPs are also citizens ... if they commit a crime or mistake, the law of the land should take recourse to it," the Deputy Chairman said.
He further said "it is a punishment imposed on an MP for some crime...This cannot be done. This is not a thing to be punished by airlines".
Congress MP Anand Sharma suggested to the Deputy Chairman that the word 'crime' should be replaced with 'violation'.
However, Kurien said if a person beats up someone, it is a crime.
Different airlines yesterday lifted the flying ban on TDP MP J C Diwakar Reddy after "urgent" notices from the court to the government and the aviation regulator DGCA on the lawmaker's plea against the action of domestic carriers.
Image: Several airlines had imposed a fly ban on Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad after he assaulted an Air India employee in March this year. The ban was later lifted.
13:01 All countries are with India, Sushma tells Parliament on Indo-China standoff
On day 4 of the monsoon session of Parliament, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj addressed the Rajya Sabha on the continuing standoff with China on the trijunction of Sikkim, Bhutan, Tibet at Doklam.
Swaraj said all nations agree that India's stance is right. "All countries are with India. India is equipped to defend itself. It is wrong to say India is (feels) threatened. The threat is only if China changes the tri-junction status quo. We are willing to talk but both sides should take back their armies to their original position," Swaraj said.
The continued military standoff at the tri-junction has led to speculation about the possibilities for confidence building measures, diplomatic intervention, or even conventional or sub-conventional skirmishes between India and China.
On China's One Belt One Road, Swaraj said, "Aise hi pata chala ki OBOR mein CPEC ko dal rahe hain, ussi samay virodh darj kiya gaya tha. We registered our protest the moment we heard of OBOR at the CEPC. We are not being unreasonable with China."
India has expressed concern over the road construction near the Doklam plateau, fearing it may allow Chinese troops to cut Indias access to its northeastern states.
It has conveyed to China that the road construction would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for India.
The Chinese action has led to a month-long military standoff.
Of the 3,488-km-long border India shares with China from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, a 220-km section falls in Sikkim.
Swaraj said all nations agree that India's stance is right. "All countries are with India. India is equipped to defend itself. It is wrong to say India is (feels) threatened. The threat is only if China changes the tri-junction status quo. We are willing to talk but both sides should take back their armies to their original position," Swaraj said.
The continued military standoff at the tri-junction has led to speculation about the possibilities for confidence building measures, diplomatic intervention, or even conventional or sub-conventional skirmishes between India and China.
On China's One Belt One Road, Swaraj said, "Aise hi pata chala ki OBOR mein CPEC ko dal rahe hain, ussi samay virodh darj kiya gaya tha. We registered our protest the moment we heard of OBOR at the CEPC. We are not being unreasonable with China."
India has expressed concern over the road construction near the Doklam plateau, fearing it may allow Chinese troops to cut Indias access to its northeastern states.
It has conveyed to China that the road construction would represent a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for India.
The Chinese action has led to a month-long military standoff.
Of the 3,488-km-long border India shares with China from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, a 220-km section falls in Sikkim.
12:29 White House reporter breaks rules, live-streams briefing
United States reporter Ksenija Pavlovic, who reports from the White House, went against the set rules live-streamed the sound recording of the briefing being held there on July 20. She used the Periscope app to stream the briefing and later uploaded it on her Twitter account.
Pavlovic streamed deputy White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders introducing Director of Legislative Affairs Marc Short.
Pavlovic's stream was cut off after roughly 17 minutes of recording, but she tweeted a new live stream that broadcast for another 31 minutes.
The White House had previously banned live audio and video coverage of press conferences on June 29.
Pavlovic streamed deputy White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders introducing Director of Legislative Affairs Marc Short.
Pavlovic's stream was cut off after roughly 17 minutes of recording, but she tweeted a new live stream that broadcast for another 31 minutes.
The White House had previously banned live audio and video coverage of press conferences on June 29.
12:17 Auto-rickshaw driver's daughter slays IIT
Kiran, the daughter of an auto rickshaw driver in Chhattisgarh's Balrampur area, has emerged as an inspiration for many by beating all the odds to achieve a rank of 169 to secure admission to the prestigious and coveted IIT Delhi.
Her proud mother Seema expressed elation on receiving the good news and lauded the efforts of her daughter. Seema said that Kiran had done her best in spite of the limited resources of her family.
"We are very poor, but our daughter is working very hard with all she has. Now, she is thinking of ways to arrange money for her admission," Seema told ANI.
Kiran's father Bhagwan said that he always wanted to make his daughter independent.
Asserting that he had to quit school due to shortage of funds Bhagwan said he wanted to give his daughter the best possible education.
"When I was in 11th Class, I had no money and so couldn't pay fees. So, I always wanted my daughter to excel in career," Bhagwan told ANI.
Kiran thanked her parents for their support and trust. "Got category rank 169 in Advance. Teachers, parents everyone very happy about girls doing really well," said Kiran.
Looking at Kiran's stupendous performance, the district authorities have decided to fund her education."We will help her, ready to extend assistance of any kind, be it financial or in any other way we can," said Collector Avaneesh Sharan.
Her proud mother Seema expressed elation on receiving the good news and lauded the efforts of her daughter. Seema said that Kiran had done her best in spite of the limited resources of her family.
"We are very poor, but our daughter is working very hard with all she has. Now, she is thinking of ways to arrange money for her admission," Seema told ANI.
Kiran's father Bhagwan said that he always wanted to make his daughter independent.
Asserting that he had to quit school due to shortage of funds Bhagwan said he wanted to give his daughter the best possible education.
"When I was in 11th Class, I had no money and so couldn't pay fees. So, I always wanted my daughter to excel in career," Bhagwan told ANI.
Kiran thanked her parents for their support and trust. "Got category rank 169 in Advance. Teachers, parents everyone very happy about girls doing really well," said Kiran.
Looking at Kiran's stupendous performance, the district authorities have decided to fund her education."We will help her, ready to extend assistance of any kind, be it financial or in any other way we can," said Collector Avaneesh Sharan.
12:05 Prez poll: Kovind supporters celebrate, Meira Kumar says it's wait & watch
Celebrations begin at NDA nominee Ram Nath Kovind's village, even as counting for the presidential polls began at 11 am.
The numbers are stacked in favour of Kovind over opposition's candidate Meira Kumar. Putting up a brave front, Kumar told ANI, "I have great belief in the ideology I fought for. I also believe in the inner voice of conscience. Let's see how much it prevails."
The name of the next occupant of the Rashtrapati Bhawan would be known by 5 pm. The voting took place on Monday.
Here's what's happening:
First, the ballot box of Parliament House would be opened.
Then, the ballot boxes received from states would be counted on alphabetical basis.
The votes would be counted on four separate tables and there would be eight rounds of counting.
Results are declared around 5 pm.
And the numbers...
Close to 99 per cent voting was recorded for electing India's next president. Thirty-two polling stations, including the one in Parliament house, have been set up in various states. A total of 4,896 voters -- 4,120 MLAs and 776 elected MPs -- were eligible to cast their ballot.
MLCs of states with legislative council are not part of the electoral college.
While the value of an MLA's vote depends on the population of the state he or she belongs to, the value of an MP's vote remains the same at 708.
The numbers are stacked in favour of Kovind over opposition's candidate Meira Kumar. Putting up a brave front, Kumar told ANI, "I have great belief in the ideology I fought for. I also believe in the inner voice of conscience. Let's see how much it prevails."
The name of the next occupant of the Rashtrapati Bhawan would be known by 5 pm. The voting took place on Monday.
Here's what's happening:
First, the ballot box of Parliament House would be opened.
Then, the ballot boxes received from states would be counted on alphabetical basis.
The votes would be counted on four separate tables and there would be eight rounds of counting.
Results are declared around 5 pm.
And the numbers...
Close to 99 per cent voting was recorded for electing India's next president. Thirty-two polling stations, including the one in Parliament house, have been set up in various states. A total of 4,896 voters -- 4,120 MLAs and 776 elected MPs -- were eligible to cast their ballot.
MLCs of states with legislative council are not part of the electoral college.
While the value of an MLA's vote depends on the population of the state he or she belongs to, the value of an MP's vote remains the same at 708.
11:29 HC asks police to file status report in Sunanda Pushkar case
The Delhi High Court today asked the city police to file a status report with regard to the ongoing probe into the death of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's wife Sunanada Pushkar.
A bench of Justices G S Sistani and Chander Shekhar directed police to place within three days their report during hearing of Subramanian Swamy's plea for a court-monitored probe by the CBI-led SIT into the matter.
The direction was issued by the bench after Delhi Police standing counsel Rahul Mehra informed the court that the status report of the investigating agency has been given to him in the court room so he wants to go through it before placing it on record. Mehra further informed the court that SIT has been constituted in the matter.
A bench of Justices G S Sistani and Chander Shekhar directed police to place within three days their report during hearing of Subramanian Swamy's plea for a court-monitored probe by the CBI-led SIT into the matter.
The direction was issued by the bench after Delhi Police standing counsel Rahul Mehra informed the court that the status report of the investigating agency has been given to him in the court room so he wants to go through it before placing it on record. Mehra further informed the court that SIT has been constituted in the matter.
11:23 Revealed! BJP plans to conquer Bengal with fish, music, sports
Aiming to throw a serious challenge to the Trinamool Congress in next year's panchayat poll ahead of the bigger battle in 2019, the BJP is looking at novel ways to court the masses.
And what better way to reach a common Bengali's heart than through fish, music and sports? So, the saffron brigade has lined up a fish festival, a music fest and two-month-long sports meets across the state to shore up its popularity among the masses.
In fact, the BJP has already started the ball rolling, organising football matches and cricket and kabaddi tournaments. Some of the associates of the BJP, who closely work with the party and Sangh Parivar, have planned to organise a fish festival.
"The people of Bengal love sports and music. From football to cricket, from kabaddi to carrom, people of this state love sports. So we decided to organise a two-month-long sports tournaments across the state. We have asked our youth wing to organise these festivals," West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh told PTI.
According to the state BJP leadership, the tournaments and contests will be used to spread the message of development and progress being pursued by the Narendra Modi government.
A senior BJP leader said, "The cadre at the grassroot level have to be politically sound and physically fit in order to counter the hooligans of TMC."
Apart from being an exercise to move closer to masses, the sports meets will also serve as a means to keep the cadre physically fit and proper to rise to the challenge posed by TMC cadre.
"Classes are being regularly taken to make them politically sound as well," another senior leader said. In order to attract women to the saffron fold, the women's wing of BJP has been asked to organise festival of patriotic songs from August 1. Perhaps the easiest way to gain attention of a Bengali is to treat him with Hilsa fish, the universal favourite. So a Hilsa festival is looming in the horizon too.
"This year the production of Hilsa is not that good. So we will wait out this month," another senior BJP leader said. "We are accused of being ignorant about Bengal's culture and heritage and that we are party of traders. So, we think such events will help us dispel the misconception," a state BJP leader said.
And what better way to reach a common Bengali's heart than through fish, music and sports? So, the saffron brigade has lined up a fish festival, a music fest and two-month-long sports meets across the state to shore up its popularity among the masses.
In fact, the BJP has already started the ball rolling, organising football matches and cricket and kabaddi tournaments. Some of the associates of the BJP, who closely work with the party and Sangh Parivar, have planned to organise a fish festival.
"The people of Bengal love sports and music. From football to cricket, from kabaddi to carrom, people of this state love sports. So we decided to organise a two-month-long sports tournaments across the state. We have asked our youth wing to organise these festivals," West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh told PTI.
According to the state BJP leadership, the tournaments and contests will be used to spread the message of development and progress being pursued by the Narendra Modi government.
A senior BJP leader said, "The cadre at the grassroot level have to be politically sound and physically fit in order to counter the hooligans of TMC."
Apart from being an exercise to move closer to masses, the sports meets will also serve as a means to keep the cadre physically fit and proper to rise to the challenge posed by TMC cadre.
"Classes are being regularly taken to make them politically sound as well," another senior leader said. In order to attract women to the saffron fold, the women's wing of BJP has been asked to organise festival of patriotic songs from August 1. Perhaps the easiest way to gain attention of a Bengali is to treat him with Hilsa fish, the universal favourite. So a Hilsa festival is looming in the horizon too.
"This year the production of Hilsa is not that good. So we will wait out this month," another senior BJP leader said. "We are accused of being ignorant about Bengal's culture and heritage and that we are party of traders. So, we think such events will help us dispel the misconception," a state BJP leader said.
10:58 Being a farmer is worse than being a beggar in India: TN farmers
Tamil Nadu farmers, who had grabbed eyeballs with their unique protests, today found another way to show their disapproval for government's farmer policies.
The farmers beat themselves with chappals in protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
Tamil Nadu farmers are asking the Modi government to fulfill its electoral promise of 50 percent profit above the production cost and implementation of recommendations by the MS Swaminathan Committee.
The farmers are also unhappy with the Tamil Nadu government's decision to double the salary of MLAs.
"Being a farmer is worse than being a beggar in India," Ayakannu, one of the protesting farmers said during their agitation.
10:32 Hyderabad drug racket: Telugu filmmaker quizzed for 10 hrs
Telugu filmmaker Puri Jagannadh was on Wednesday questioned for around 10 hours by the Telangana excise department's Special Investigation Team in connection with a probe into the illicit drug trade busted in the city, during which he provided "certain clues", officials said.
Jagannadh appeared before the Special Investigation Team office in Nampally on Wednesday morning and left at around 9 pm. He cooperated with the investigators and also gave his blood sample, the officials said.
The department had last week issued notices under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, to 12 Tollywood personalities, including actors, directors and producers, asking them to
appear before its SIT.
The excise department wants to quiz them on their alleged links, if any, with those arrested in the drug peddling racket.
The questioning of Pokiri director Jagannadh, who is also a screen writer and producer, began at 10.15 am and investigation is going on, Excise Enforcement Director Akun Sabharwal told reporters.
"Shyam Kumar Naidu (cinematographer) will appear before SIT on Thursday as part of the investigation into the drug cases," Sabharwal said.
Another senior excise official said Jagannadh cooperated with the investigators during the questioning and gave "certain clues" in connection with the racket.
Asked whether Jagannadh admitted to being a drug user himself, the official said doctors collected his blood sample and further details would be known only after the report comes out.
The names of some Tollywood personalities came out during the interrogation of persons arrested in connection with the drug racket. Eleven out of the 12 personalities have acknowledged to notices while one actress is yet to respond. She will be served the notice again, the official had said.
10:06 Prez poll: Counting starts at 11 am, result out at 5 pm
The counting for the presidential election held on Monday would be done today and the name of the next occupant of the Rashtrapati Bhawan would be known by 5 pm.
The numbers are stacked in favour of the ruling coalition's nominee Ram Nath Kovind over the opposition's candidate Meira Kumar.
According to Lok Sabha secretary general Anoop Mishra, who is also the returning officer of the election, the counting would begin at 11 am. First, the ballot box of Parliament House would be opened, and then, the ballot boxes received from states would be counted on alphabetical basis.
The votes would be counted on four separate tables and there would be eight rounds of counting.
An Election Commission official who has witnessed previous two presidential polls said, usually results are declared around 5 pm.
The candidate who secures at least one vote more than 50 per cent of the total votes will enter into the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Close to 99 per cent voting was recorded for electing India's next president.
09:31 Global terror attacks down in 2016: US report
Terrorist attacks and fatalities from terrorism declined globally in 2016 from levels seen in 2015, the US State Department said in a report.
The report also said that the Islamic State remained "the most capable" terror group, directing and inspiring terror cells, networks, and individuals around the world even as it faced increased military pressure in Iraq and
Syria and suffered considerable territorial losses throughout the year.
"Terrorist attacks and fatalities from terrorism declined globally in 2016 from levels seen in 2015," Justin Siberell, Acting State Department Coordinator for Counter terrorism told reporters after the release of annual 'Country Report on Terrorism'.
Islamic State, he said, lost considerable territory it controlled in Iraq and Syria through 2016.
Iraqi Security Forces supported by the coalition delivered a series of defeats on IS through 2016, beginning with the liberation of Ramadi in February, the recapture of Fallujah in June, and the seizure of the Qayyarah Air Base in northern Iraq in July, and finally the launch of the broad offensive in Nineveh in October that led to Iraqi Security Force penetration deep into eastern Mosul by the end of the year, he said.
Siberell said although terrorist attacks took place in 104 countries in 2016, they were heavily concentrated geographically, as they have been for the past several years.
"Fifty-five per cent of all attacks took place in Iraq, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and the Philippines, and 75 per cent of all deaths due to terrorist attacks took place in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Nigeria, and Pakistan," he said.
The total number of terrorist attacks in 2016 decreased by nine per cent, and total deaths due to terrorist attacks decreased by 13 per cent compared to 2015.
"This was largely due to fewer attacks and deaths from terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, Syria, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Yemen. At the same time, there was an increase in terrorist attacks and total deaths in several countries,
including Iraq, Somalia, and Turkey," the State Department official said.
The IS was responsible for more attacks and deaths than any other perpetrator group in 2016. In 2015, it was the Taliban that was responsible for more attacks and deaths, he added.
09:07 Top US Senator John McCain diagnosed with brain cancer
Top Republican Senator John McCain, who is the chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, has been diagnosed with brain cancer, Mayo Clinic hospital has said.
The tumour was diagnosed after McCain, who was the Republican presidential candidate in 2008 elections, underwent a procedure to remove a blood clot from his left eye.
According to the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, McCain underwent a procedure to remove a blood clot from above his left eye at the hospital on July 14.
Subsequent tissue pathology revealed that a primary brain tumour known as a glioblastoma was associated with the blood clot, the hospital said in a statement yesterday.
Scanning done since the procedure (a minimally invasive craniotomy with an eyebrow incision) shows that the tissue of concern was completely resected by imaging criteria, it said.
"The Senator and his family are reviewing further treatment options with his Mayo Clinic care team. Treatment options may include a combination of chemotherapy and radiation. The Senator's doctors say he is recovering from his surgery 'amazingly well' and his underlying health is excellent.", the hospital said in a statement.
In a statement issued by his office, McCain appreciated the outpouring of support he has received over the last few days.
"He is in good spirits as he continues to recover at home with his family in Arizona. He is grateful to the doctors and staff at Mayo Clinic for their outstanding care, and is confident that any future treatment will be effective. Further consultations with Senator McCain's Mayo Clinic care team will indicate when he will return to the United States Senate," the office said.
McCain, who was re-elected to his sixth term in the Senate in 2016, served as an aviator in the US navy before entering politics. He was held as prisoner of war for five and a half years during the Vietnam war.
08:58 Hindu nationalism risks pushing India into war: Chinese media
Continuing its relentless tirade against India, Chinese media now has blamed rising Hindu nationalism for standoff in Doklam.
"India should be careful and not let religious nationalism push the two countries into war," wrote Yu Ning in the state-run Global Times.
Yu's commentary in the English-language edition, was headlined "Hindu nationalism risks pushing India into war with China".
It said that "the election of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fuelled the country's nationalist sentiments", and argued that the Modi government "can do nothing if religious nationalism becomes extreme, as shown in its failure to curb violent incidents against Muslims since he came to power in 2014."
"Modi took advantage of rising Hindu nationalism to come to power," it added.
"Nationalist fervour that demands revenge against China has taken root in India since the border war. This, on one hand, has enhanced his prestige and ability to control the country, but on the other, has made India more subject to the influence of conservatives, thus hampering reform. In diplomacy, New Delhi is demanded to act tougher in foreign relations, especially toward countries like Pakistan and China. The border row this time is an action targeted at China that caters to the demand of India's religious nationalists."
The commentary said that "regardless of China's call urging India to withdraw its troops that have crossed the border, New Delhi has continued its provocation".
"Where the China-India competition goes hinges on each side's strength and wisdom," it said. "India is weaker than China in terms of national strength, but its strategists and politicians have shown no wisdom in preventing India's China policy from being kidnapped by rising nationalism. This will put India's own interests in jeopardy," the commentary said.
00:48 Man who 'saved' Mahatma Gandhi from Godse in 1944 passes away
Bhiku Daji Bhilare, who was claimed to have saved Mahatma Gandhi from being killed by Nathuram Godse in 1944, passed away on Wednesday after a brief illness.
The 98-year-old Gandhian, popularly known as 'Bhilare Guruji', was cremated at his village, Bhilar, in Mahabaleshwar Teshil in western Maharashtra's Satara district, family sources said.
Bhilare, born on November 28, 1919, is survived by three sons.
While there is no documented history about Bhilare having foiled Godse's earlier attack, the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, Tushar Gandhi, in his new book has dwelt on how fundamentalists had planned and made many attempts on the life of the Father of the Nation before he was finally assassinated.
According to him, there were four attempts on the Mahatma's life, before Godse killed him in 1948.
The attack at Panchgani in 1944, where Bhilare Guruji overpowered Nathuram, was the second of these attempts, he has claimed in the book.
'(In) July 1944, after his release from the Aga Khan Palace Prison Camp in May 1944, Gandhi contracted malaria and was advised rest by his physician. He retired to Panchgani, a mountain resort near Poona (now Pune), where he stayed at Dilkhush Bungalow.
'A group of 18 or 20 men reached Panchgani by a charteredbus from Poona and held a day-long protest against Gandhi.When Gandhi was told about this, he contacted the leader of the group, Nathuram Vinayak Godse, for a discussion. Nathuram rejected the invitation and continued with his demonstration,' the book says.
'During a prayer meeting that evening, Nathuram Godse, dressed in a Nehru shirt, pajama and jacket, rushed towards Gandhi. He was brandishing a dagger in his hand and shouting anti-Gandhi slogans. Godse was overpowered by Manishankar Purohit, the proprietor of the Surti lodge of Poona, and D Bhilare Guruji of Satara, who later became a Congress legislator from Mahabaleshwar. The other youth accompanying Godse ran away,' it said.
In 2008, at an event in Mumbai, Bhilare was lauded for having had the presence of mind and the daring to twist the knife out of Nathuram Godse's hand as he rushed to kill Gandhiji in a frenzy.
In 1944, Bhilare was the taluka pramukh of the Rashtra Seva Dal.
"It was a wet July evening in Panchgani in 1944," Bhilare Guruji had recalled at the event.
"All of us had assembled in the Batha High School hallfor the evening prayers when suddenly a door opposite meopened and in rushed Nathuram Godse. He was wielding a knifeand muttering incoherently."
Bhilare blocked his path and twisted the knife out of his hand.
"My colleagues in the Seva Dal were also quick toreact, and threw him out of the premises," he had recalled.
Bhilare had also claimed that Gopal Godse and Narayan Apte, who were implicated in the Mahatma's assassination, were present at the spot.
The Panchgani incident has been documented in the memoirs of Gandhiji's close associate, said Pyarelal, a functionary of Mani Bhawan in Mumbai from where Mahatma Gandhi initiated satyagraha and propagated the cause of swadeshi. -- PTI
The 98-year-old Gandhian, popularly known as 'Bhilare Guruji', was cremated at his village, Bhilar, in Mahabaleshwar Teshil in western Maharashtra's Satara district, family sources said.
Bhilare, born on November 28, 1919, is survived by three sons.
While there is no documented history about Bhilare having foiled Godse's earlier attack, the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, Tushar Gandhi, in his new book has dwelt on how fundamentalists had planned and made many attempts on the life of the Father of the Nation before he was finally assassinated.
According to him, there were four attempts on the Mahatma's life, before Godse killed him in 1948.
The attack at Panchgani in 1944, where Bhilare Guruji overpowered Nathuram, was the second of these attempts, he has claimed in the book.
'(In) July 1944, after his release from the Aga Khan Palace Prison Camp in May 1944, Gandhi contracted malaria and was advised rest by his physician. He retired to Panchgani, a mountain resort near Poona (now Pune), where he stayed at Dilkhush Bungalow.
'A group of 18 or 20 men reached Panchgani by a charteredbus from Poona and held a day-long protest against Gandhi.When Gandhi was told about this, he contacted the leader of the group, Nathuram Vinayak Godse, for a discussion. Nathuram rejected the invitation and continued with his demonstration,' the book says.
'During a prayer meeting that evening, Nathuram Godse, dressed in a Nehru shirt, pajama and jacket, rushed towards Gandhi. He was brandishing a dagger in his hand and shouting anti-Gandhi slogans. Godse was overpowered by Manishankar Purohit, the proprietor of the Surti lodge of Poona, and D Bhilare Guruji of Satara, who later became a Congress legislator from Mahabaleshwar. The other youth accompanying Godse ran away,' it said.
In 2008, at an event in Mumbai, Bhilare was lauded for having had the presence of mind and the daring to twist the knife out of Nathuram Godse's hand as he rushed to kill Gandhiji in a frenzy.
In 1944, Bhilare was the taluka pramukh of the Rashtra Seva Dal.
"It was a wet July evening in Panchgani in 1944," Bhilare Guruji had recalled at the event.
"All of us had assembled in the Batha High School hallfor the evening prayers when suddenly a door opposite meopened and in rushed Nathuram Godse. He was wielding a knifeand muttering incoherently."
Bhilare blocked his path and twisted the knife out of his hand.
"My colleagues in the Seva Dal were also quick toreact, and threw him out of the premises," he had recalled.
Bhilare had also claimed that Gopal Godse and Narayan Apte, who were implicated in the Mahatma's assassination, were present at the spot.
The Panchgani incident has been documented in the memoirs of Gandhiji's close associate, said Pyarelal, a functionary of Mani Bhawan in Mumbai from where Mahatma Gandhi initiated satyagraha and propagated the cause of swadeshi. -- PTI
00:22 Women send rakhis for jawans at Doka La, Siachen
Uttarakhand women sent rakhis for jawans deployed in Siachin and Doka La on Wednesday.
The 'Veer Naaris' from Gorkha Sudhar Sabha, the oldest Gorkha organisation in the region, and several other women organisations handed over rakhis to the General Officer Commanding Maj Gen Balraj Mehta to be sent to jawans at Doka La and Siachin.
The event took place during the inauguration of works of a war memorial.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Tarun Vijay, who has started a campaign to send rakhis from all over India to jawans at Sikkim and Siachin, said students and women will be sending rakhi greeting cards and threads to our jawans to boost their morale and show our support for our soldiers.
The 'Veer Naaris' from Gorkha Sudhar Sabha, the oldest Gorkha organisation in the region, and several other women organisations handed over rakhis to the General Officer Commanding Maj Gen Balraj Mehta to be sent to jawans at Doka La and Siachin.
The event took place during the inauguration of works of a war memorial.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Tarun Vijay, who has started a campaign to send rakhis from all over India to jawans at Sikkim and Siachin, said students and women will be sending rakhi greeting cards and threads to our jawans to boost their morale and show our support for our soldiers.
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