LIVE! Firebrand Hindu cleric as CM shocking rebuke to minorities: NYT

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Thu, 23 March 2017

Firebrand Hindu cleric as CM shocking rebuke to minorities: NYT

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23:26 Firebrand Hindu cleric as CM shocking rebuke to minorities: NYT

The move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party to name "firebrand Hindu cleric" Yogi Adityanath as Uttar Pradesh's chief minister is a "shocking rebuke" to religious minorities, a leading US daily said today in its editorial.

The New York Times in the highly critical editorial titled 'Modi's Perilous Embrace of Hindu Extremists' said since he was elected in 2014, Modi has played a "cagey game, appeasing his party's hard-line Hindu base while promoting secular goals of development and economic growth".

There was no immediate comments on the editorial from the Prime Minister's office in New Delhi.

While there were "worrying signs" that he was willing to humour Hindu extremists, the editorial said Modi refrained from overtly approving violence against the nation's Muslim minority.

However, Modi "revealed his hand" when emboldened by a landslide victory in recent elections in Indias largest state of Uttar Pradesh, his party named a "firebrand Hindu cleric, Yogi Adityanath, as the state's leader", it said.

"The move is a shocking rebuke to religious minorities, and a sign that cold political calculations ahead of national elections in 2019 have led Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party to believe that nothing stands in the way of realising its long-held dream of transforming a secular republic into a Hindu state," the editorial said.

It noted that Adityanath has made a political career of demonising Muslims.

The editorial said Uttar Pradesh badly needs development and not ideological showmanship.

22:53 PM Modi greets Sharif on Pak National Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today greeted his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on Pakistan's National Day and said India wants to have good neighbourly relations with it in an "environment free from terror and violence", a development that comes amid continued strain in ties between the two countries.

According to sources, Prime Minister Modi wrote a letter to Sharif to wish him on the Pakistan National Day.

In the letter, Modi said India wants to have good relations with all its neighbours, including Pakistan, the sources said.

President Pranab Mukherjee also sent a message to his Pakistani counterpart Mamnoon Hussain yesterday, saying India is committed to building ties with Pakistan in an environment free from terror and violence.

The Indian leaders' greetings come amid unease in Indo-Pak ties following a series of terrorist attacks on army camps and tension along the border due to frequent ceasefire violations.

Pakistan's National Day marks the adoption of the historic Lahore Resolution in 1940 that spurred efforts to create a separate homeland for Muslims of South Asia.

Punjab advocate general Atul Nanda has not found any conflict of interest between Navjot Singh Sidhu's office as state cabinet minister and his working for television shows.

Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh has confirmed that he has received the report of the advocate general on the issue, according to Raveen Thukral, the media adviser to the chief minister.

In the circumstances, the chief minister said, there was no hindrance in Sidhus continuing with the TV shows. Sidhu is a permanent celebrity guest at the comedy series 'The Kapil Sharma Show'.

In the opinion of the advocate general, there was no violation of the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act, 1951, or the Code of Conduct in this case. As per the advocate generals opinion, Sidhu faces no legal bar in continuing with his work on the show.

British police have identified the person responsible for the terror attack near Parliament as 52-year-old Khalid Masood.

Masood, who died in the attack, was not the subject of any current police investigations, but he had a range of previous convictions for assaults.

In a statement the police said that Masood was born in southeastern England and was most recently living in the West Midlands, in central England.

Police also said that "there was no prior intelligence about his intent to mount a terrorist attack."

His first conviction was in November 1983 for criminal damage and his last conviction was in December 2003 for possession of a knife.

He had not been convicted of any terrorism offences.

Toll for motorists on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway will increase by 18 per cent to Rs 230 from April 1.

The increase in toll is as per the government notification issued in 2004 which states that the fee will increase by 18 per cent every three years, starting 2005.

"The period of earlier toll comes to an end on March 31. The increase to Rs 230 will come into effect from April 1. This increase is based on the notification of 2004," Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Joint Managing Director K V Kurundkar said.

IRB Developers had bagged the contract to collect toll on the stretch. Currently, the toll for cars is Rs 195 which will go up to Rs 230 from April 1.

Similarly, the toll for mini bus/ Light Commercial Vehicle will increase to Rs 335 from Rs 300, for trucks it will go up to Rs 493 from Rs 418.

As per the new rates, toll for buses will increase to Rs 675 from the current Rs 572, while it will go up to Rs 1,168 for 3-axle and Rs 1,555 for multi-axle vehicles from Rs 990 and Rs 1317, respectively.

Mumbai's top-order batsman Shreyas Iyer has been added to the India squad for the fourth Test against Australia at Dharamsala, starting on Saturday, March 25.

Iyer has been called up as a cover for Virat Kohli, who injured his shoulder during the third Test in Ranchi.

Kohli on Thursday skipped batting at India's net session as he is nursing an injury on his right shoulder sustained while trying to save a boundary in Australia's first innings at Ranchi.

While there were speculations that he would be forced to take a break, Kohli defied odds as he came out to bat even though he didn't score too many runs in the third Test.

Kohli was present at the ground with his team-mates. With a bandaged right shoulder, Kohli took part in the customary warm-up.

A man was arrested in Belgium's Antwerp today after trying to drive a car at high speed into a packed shopping street, police said.

The man was stopped by police and members of the armed forces at the scene in Antwerp.

Belgian security forces found a rifle as well as bladed weapons in a car driven by a Frenchman.

"Different arms were found in the boot -- bladed weapons, a riot gun (rifle) and a container of liquid that is still unidentified," the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement.

"The suspect is Mohamed R., born on May 8, 1977, of French nationality and a resident of France," the statement said.

The incident came a day after an attack on the British parliament killed three people plus the attacker, as well as after the first anniversary of the Brussels attacks in which 32 people died.

Representative image

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday said that his cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu should be allowed to do the television show, if that is his main source of income.

He personally felt Sidhu should be allowed to make his living by continuing to earn through the TV show, if that was his main source of income, an official release quoting the chief minister said.

"How does one live without adequate income?" he asked, adding "do they (those opposing Sidhu's appearance on the TV show) want to make ministers corrupt (by stopping them from earning their livelihood)?"

As he did not know the legal issues in the matter, Amarinder said that he would wait for the Punjab advocate general's opinion, the release said.

The chief minister said that he did not personally think there was any conflict of interest, as stated by the Attorney General of India, it said.

Amarinder had earlier said that he had no objection on Sidhu continuing to appear on television, but would change his portfolio of culture minister if it was in conflict with his show.

The official release quoted Amarinder as saying in an interview to a private channel.

Also Read: Sidhu with Kapil is just not cricket

Shiv Sena today sought an explanation from its Lok Sabha MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who allegedly hit an AirIndia staffer at IGI airport in Delhi with a slipper, and remained defiant over the incident.

"The party has sought an explanation from Gaikwad over the incident. The Sena does not condone violence of any kind," Harshal Pradhan, media adviser to Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, told PTI.

"We have also sought a version of the incident from the Air India staffer. The Sena has a workers' union in Air India," he said.

Earlier, Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said, "Shiv Sena does not subscribe to such reaction by any of our party members. Gaikwad is known as Ravi Sir and is very popular in his constituency. He has worked a lot towards solving the water problems of his region."

"We really should know what made him lose his temper. He is not a person who would suddenly jump into such a thing," she added.

10 years ago on this day, India crashed out of 2007 World Cup after a loss to Sri Lanka in Trinidad, an exit that triggered off a great era for Indian cricket.

Sachin Tendulkar remembers every bit of it in this interview.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday instructed Bharatiya Janata Party MPs from Uttar Pradesh to refrain from seeking favours from Chief Minister Adityanath Yogi in transfers and postings of officials, saying his administration should be allowed to focus solely on delivering good governance.

Meeting the MPs over breakfast, Modi thanked them for working hard in ensuring BJP's resounding victory in the UP assembly polls and asked them to work with party MLAs as a team to transform the state.

"Modiji said that the party's MPs and MLAs from the state need to work as a team. The Prime Minister also made it clear that we have been given mandate to work hard but not to enjoy," an MP present in the meeting said.

The prime minister also categorically conveyed to party MPs that they should refrain from approaching Adityanath or

anybody else for transfers and postings of officials, another

MP said.

The PM said the party has got a huge mandate to serve the people and wants to give them corruption-free government, the MP said.

Modi on Thursday called a meeting of the MPs over breakfast at his residence which was also attended by BJP President Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar and senior party leader Murli Manohar Joshi.

Congratulating the party MPs for BJP's massive victory in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Modi asked the MPs not to become complacent and continue to work to strengthen the party, adding that there should be all around development which is visible to the people, the BJP said in a statement later.

The Islamic States has claimed responsibility for the London terror attacks that killed four people and injured dozens.

The terror group via its news agency Amaq, said that the Westminster attacker was a "soldier of the Islamic State."

The man who carried out the attack was born in Britain, had a history of extremism, and was known to police and intelligence officials.

The lone assailant rammed into people with a car on Westminster bridge before crashing into gates surrounding parliament and attacking and stabbing a police officer to death.

The Supreme Court will go "paperless" within six to seven months, Chief Justice J S Khehar today said.

The observation on the issue of digitisation of the top court was made when senior advocate Indira Jaising, who has filed a PIL seeking uniform guidelines on designating lawyers as senior, sought expeditious disposal of her plea by a larger bench.

"Within six to seven months you will not file any paper. We will electronically pick it up trial court and high court records and there will be no need of case records being filed afresh in SC," the bench comprising the CJI and Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul said.

Justice Khehar said that the court will soon dispense with the need of filing voluminous documents and paperbooks as it is in the process of digitising the entire court records across the country.

He said that the apex court will collect all the records electronically from the lower courts and the high courts so that there is no need to file hard copies.

The court has set up a three-judge bench to hear petitions seeking framing of uniform guidelines for designating lawyers as senior by the apex court and the high courts across the country.

17:38 2007 Mecca Masjid blast: Aseemanand gets bail

A court has granted bail to Swami Aseemanand in the Hyderabad Mecca Masjid blast case.

Following the bail hearing, the controversial former member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh will be released sometime on Thursday.

On May 18, 2007, an improvised explosive device was detonated inside Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad, killing nine people. Initially, the role of terror outfits such as LeT was suspected.

In May 2011, National Investigation Agency officials had chargesheeted Swami Aseemanand, who after confessing to having the role of right-wing activists, retracted his statement.

Aseemanand is also a co-accused in the Malegaon and Samjhauta Express blast cases.

Earlier this month, the NIA special court had acquitted Aseemanand and six others, while convicting three persons in the Ajmer Dargah blast case.

17:22

Just in: Air India lodges complaint with police against Shiv Sena
MP Ravindra Gaikwad for assaulting airline staffer at Delhi airport.

17:00 May pays tribute to slain cop

The British PM paid tribute to police constable Keith Palmer, who died outside parliament, saying he "was every inch a hero and his actions will never be forgotten".

These are the nationalities of those who were injured in the attacks: 12 Britons, three French children, two Romanians, four South Koreans, two Greeks, and one person each from Germany, Poland, Ireland, China, Italy and the United States. Three police officers were also hurt, two of them seriously.

British PM Theresa May speaks in Parliament a day after the terror attacks in London:

"Yesterday an act of terrorism tried to silence our democracy but today we meet as normal," Prime Minister Theresa May tells MPs.

"We are not afraid and our resolve will never waver in the face of terrorism. We meet here in the oldest of all parliaments because we know democracy and the values it entails will also prevail.

"A terrorist came to the place where people of nationalities and cultures celebrate what it means to be free. This was an attack on free people everywhere," she said, adding that the attack "sickened us all".

Also read: UK police arrest 7 over parliament terror attack

16:32

Acknowledgment makes all the difference.

The Met Police Fed (Metropolitan Police Federation, the London police) tweets @MPFed If you see our members across London today, please say hello and spare them a smile. #PoliceFamily #JobLikeNoOther.

16:25 Scottish parliament to vote on independence Tuesday

A vote in Scotland's parliament on supporting First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's call for a new independence referendum will be delayed until Tuesday in a gesture of respect following the attack on the British parliament.

The debate "will recommence on Tuesday at 2:20 pm," a parliament spokeswoman said today, a day after the suspension of a high-profile debate in which Scottish lawmakers are expected to back Sturgeon.

Aysha Frade, 43, is the first member of the public to be identified as a victim in last evening's terror attacks in London, reports the BBC. The mother-of-two was reportedly crossing Westminster Bridge to collect her children from school when she was killed.

Seven people were on Thursday arrested in raids by anti-terror officers across London and Birmingham after an "Islamist-related terrorism' attack on the British Parliament killed five people, including the attacker.

Scotland Yard Acting Deputy Commissioner and Head of Counter Terrorism Mark Rowley said the investigation was at a critical stage and the identity of the attacker was not being released as the ongoing investigation tries to piece together the suspect's "motivations, his preparation and associates'.

The attacker drove a car at top speed before stabbing a police officer at the gates of Parliament and being shot dead by Scotland Yard officers.

It has also emerged that the 4x4 car which the terrorist suspect used to ploughed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge was reportedly hired from Solihull area of Birmingham.

The flag at New Scotland Yard premises in London is flying at half-mast following the attack, which claimed the life of one of their officers -- PC Keith Palmer -- who was on guard at Parliament.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has condemned the sick and depraved terrorist attack on the streets of our capital.

She said: We will all move forward together, never giving in to terror and never allowing the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart.

A Congress member in Rajya Sabha today alleged that the family members of Rohith Vemula, who had committed suicide in the Hyderabad University, were being ill-treated.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, P L Punia said the Justice Roopanwal Commission set up to look into the suicide has not said anything on the terms of reference given to it. Instead, the panel has said Vemula was not a dalit, but OBC, and he had committed suicide due to personal despair, the Congress member said.

He further said Vemula's family was being ill-treated and has been given notice to cancel the caste certificate. Punia demanded that the mental harassment of the family should be stopped.

The suicide of Vemula had triggered a political furore across the country, particularly in several universities. Vemula, a student at the University of Hyderabad, had committed suicide on January 17, 2016, accusing the administration of caste-based discrimination.

Days before that, Vemula had been suspended from the university along with five other students for allegedly assaulting a leader of the RSS-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. In his Zero Hour mention, D P Tripathi (NCP) expressed concern over India's low ranking at the United Nation's World Happiness Report.

Even Pakistan has been ranked higher than India in the Happiness index. "It is a matter of shame for the government of the day," he said.

The US has given a list of 271 people claiming they were illegal migrants from India, but the government has not accepted it and would allow their deportation only after proper verification, union minister Sushma Swaraj said today.

"We have not accepted this list and have sought more details. We have said that it is only after we verify the details, can we issue an emergency certificate for their deportation," the External Affairs Minister said.

Addressing concerns by members during the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha, she said it would not be correct to say that there has been a change in the US policies after the Trump administration has come to power.

Several members expressed concern over the effects of the steps being taken by the Donald Trump administration on Indian citizens including skilled professionals living there.

Referring to skilled workers, Swaraj said regarding H1B and L1 visas for professionals, four bills have come to the US Congress but they have not been passed. She said the government was engaging with the US at the highest level to ensure that the interests of Indian people or the IT industry are not affected.

"Yes, I had hit the staffer 25 times with a slipper. Do you expect me to hear their abuses quietly?"
-- Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad

The resaon? Gaikwad says he was denied a business class seat and was abused and had to retaliate by hitting the Air India employee with a slipper.

The incident occurred this morning immediately after the Pune-New Delhi flight landed.

Gaikwad said, "I had paid for a business class ticket. This is not the first time it has happened.

I have complained several times but no action has been taken. So this time I lost my cool, he said.

The MP said he had paid for a business class ticket but had been allotted a economy class seat. When he approached the AI staffer, the person said that the business class was full. The two argued some more after which Gaikwad slapped him with a slipper.

Air India has ordered an enquiry, while Gaikwad says he will complain to the Lok Sabha speaker.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today paid a surprise visit to the Hazratganj Police Station here to check general preparedness and said the rule of law will be established in the state.

Yogi, who has kept the Home portfolio with himself, took a round of the premises this morning, catching policemen and officials by surprise. "I have come here to inspect as to how the rule of law is enforced in the state and gauge the morale of the police, and see what effective action can be taken in this regard," the chief minister told news persons.

"The rule of law will be established in the state and government will not hesitate in taking whatever steps are required for peoples' welfare," he said.

Yogi also enquired about the working of the police force from the officials present there and inspected the crime branch and cyber cell of the state police.

Cautioning that this was not his last inspection but only a beginning, he exuded confidence that an improvement will be seen at all levels. Without mincing words, the chief minister had yesterday directed officials to maintain punctuality and hygiene.

During his visit to the annexe building, where the chief minister's office is located, he was annoyed to see stains of paan and paan masala all over and directed the staff not to chew tobacco or consume masala while on duty.

14:17

The room in Delhi University in the Viceregal Lodge where Bhagat Singh was imprisoned during his trial.

14:15 India will never forget the courage and sacrifice of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to freedom fighters Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on the anniversary of their martyrdom today.

PM Modi tweeted that India will not forget their courage and sacrifice. "Remembering Bhagat Singh, Rajguru & Sukhdev on the day of their martyrdom. India will never forget their courage & sacrifice,' he said.

On March 23, 1931, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged by the British Raj for their involvement in the killing of John Saunders, who they mistook for British police superintendent, James Scott.

Scott was their target because they believed he was instrumental in the death of nationalist leader Lala Lajpat Rai. They escaped but Bhagat Singh and his associate Batukeshwar Dutt got themselves arrested after exploding bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi.

While in prison, Bhagat Singh participated in hunger strikes, demanding better rights for Indians in prisoners. Singh was hanged on March 23, along with the two others. March 23 is observed as Martyrs Day in Punjab, Singhs home state.

Image: Shadman Chowk In Lahore, this is the spot where Bhagat Singh, Rajguru And Sukhdev were hanged in 1931.

The BJP does not discriminate on the basis of caste, creed or religion, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today, strongly refuting allegations that certain communities were facing discrimination in Uttar Pradesh.

The statement came after Congress member Ranjeet Ranjan expressed concern in Lok Sabha over incidents involving 'anti-Romeo' squads and alleged discrimination against people of certain communities in the state.

The UP government has set up such squads in the police to keep a tab on eve-teasing incidents in the state.

Touching upon the issue during Zero Hour, Ranjan wondered whether it was wrong to fall in love. She also asked whether it was wrong to have a boy friend or a girl friend. Taking a swipe at the 'anti-Romeo' squads, she wanted to know whether the government would be telling boys and girls on how to sit in parks.

In response, Singh, who has also served as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, said "the BJP does not discriminate on the basis of caste, creed or religion."

Stating that it is only a few days since BJP government has come to power in Uttar Pradesh, he said if there is any specific incident, the government would look into it. After registering a landslide victory in the polls, BJP government headed by Yogi Adityanath took charge on March 19. Singh also said the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister has said the focus would be on "sab ka saath, sab ka vikas".

Punjab's Culture Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu cannot continue with TV show as it would be 'unconstitutional', says government lawyer.

Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh had sought legal opinion on whether Sidhu has to quit the Kapil Sharma show where he is a judge, as he is a culture minister and there could be a conflict of interest. The CM had said Sidhu would have to quit the culture ministry portfolio.

Sidhu, the cricket commentator-turned-politician, has defended his right to appear on the TV show, saying, ""My voters have no problem with my TV shows... what I do from 7 pm to 6 am should not be somebody's business. I have already left 75 per cent of my work related to TV shows, stopped IPL, what else do they want? Should I stop earning?" he asked.

Hitting out at the Badals, he had said, "I cannot be a transporter like the former deputy CM of Punjab Sukhbir Badal. I cannot be corrupt to mint money...I do TV shows to earn money to run my home and meet my family's expenditure."

13:20

Ramesh Srivats on the new election symbols of the OPS faction (electricity pole) and Sasikala faction (hat). @rameshsrivats Or to put it differently - Sasikala faction has no head but gets a cap. OPS faction has no power but gets electricity pole.

13:18

DMK-sponsored motion seeking removal of TN Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal defeated. Motion defeated by 97-122. says Deputy Speaker Jayaraman.

12:42 London terror: Pic of woman in headscarf 'casually' walking by dead man goes viral

A photograph of a woman wearing a headscarf, checking her phone as she walks past a victim lying prone after the London terror attacks last evening, has gone viral provoking both outrage and sympathy.

Twitter user Texas Lone Star posted the picture saying, Muslim woman pays no mind to the terror attack, casually walks by a dying man while checking phone with hashtags #PrayforLondon and #BanIslam.

He then followed it up with another tweet of the same picture captioned it THEM alongside a picture showing people (all white) helping a victim and captioned it US, and wrote, "The main difference between Muslims and Christians," with the hashtags #PrayForLondon #Parliament #Westminster.

The tweets were shared hundreds of times, with many lending voice to Lone Star Texas' anti Muslim comments. But as many others quickly put him in his place. Someone even posted a picture of a white man walking past a similar scene while doing nothing, which hasnt attracted the same amount of attention.

Another user, Dr Vicky Forster @vickyyyf spelt out her distaste for racial profiling saying, "@SouthLoneStar you are a complete embarrassing mess of a person. Kindly crawl back to the pond you came out of,
Stupidity embodied."

RogueBennyBen said appropriately, "Who knows what they were doing. Plenty of people involved. May even have been told to walk on. Judgment not needed.

MARD (The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors) files an affidavit in court saying they're ready for duty but want surety of safety from government and administration.

The Bombay HC also orders the government to provide security at govt hospitals for doctors, so they can work without fear. The court will hear the matter after 15 days. The court has ordered the doctors on strike to resume duties and give some time to the government for providing them proper security.

MARD's decision to withdraw the strike will come as a huge relief to patients.

Just last night, a resident doctor at Mumbai's Sion Hospital was beaten up by the family of a baby admitted to the neo-natal unit of the hospital. A police complaint has been filed against three women, news agency ANI reported.

FLASH: Sasikala faction has been allotted the 'hat' symbol with the name AIADMK Amma by the Election Commission. Earlier reports said her faction also called the EPS (Edappadi Palaniswami) faction was given the autorickshaw symbol.

The Election Commission gave the 'electricity pole' symbol to the O Panneerselvam camp. The OPS camp will be called AIADMK Puratchi Thalavi Amma, while the Sasikala faction will be called AIADMK (Amma).

The Election Commission gives the 'Auto Rickshaw' symbol to VK Sasikala's faction and 'electricity pole' symbol to the O Panneerselvam camp. The OPS camp will be called AIADMK Puratchi Thalavi Amma, while the . Sasikala faction will be called AIADMK (Amma).

The Election Commission on Wednesday decided to freeze the AIADMK's "two leaves" election symbol, after representatives from both VK Sasikala and O Panneerselvam camps made their claim for it.

The two factions of Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK have been asked to submit new symbols and names after the Election Commission said neither can use the party's name or "two leaves" symbol in a key by-election for J Jayalalithaa's constituency.

The EC had given both factions time till 10am on Thursday to choose new symbols to contest the crucial R K Nagar bypoll.

It further remarked that it needs more time to read the voluminous documents submitted by both factions.

Last week, the Panneerselvam camp had submitted a petition to the EC requesting allotment of the "two leaves' party symbol to it. A delegation from the Sasikala camp led by party leader and Lok Sabha deputy speaker M Thambidurai had also submitted a memorandum to the poll panel requesting "not to entertain" any claim to the AIADMK symbol from the OPS faction.

The factions, led by VK Sasikala and rebel O Panneerselvam, are both fighting for the RK Nagar seat that fell vacant after the death of Jayalalithaa in December. The by-polls will be held on April 12.

Meanwhile, superstar Rajinikanth has said he supports none of the candidates in the upcoming bypolls even as he met Tamil composer and BJP candidate Gangai Amaran yesterday and wished him success in the by-election.

Slamming Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for not being able to take concrete action against his cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu who has refused to quit his television career, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday said that the cricketer-turned politician holds a post which requires 24-hour presence.

SAD leader Prem Singh Chandumajra said that Sidhu by continuing his television career is doing injustice with his post.

"Captain Amarinder Singh should behave strictly and stop Navjot Singh Sidhu from working in the television show. Amarinder-ji seems to be confused in this matter," Chandumajra told ANI.

"It is a duty of a Cabinet Minister to work for its people 24 hours. If he remains absent then I believe he is not being faithful to his post," he added.

In the wake of the ongoing controversy over Navjot Singh Sidhu expressing his desire to continue to appear in 'The Kapil Sharma Show', Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said that his government is taking legal advice in this regard, adding they may have to change the cricketer-turned-politician's portfolio if it is not permissible.

However Sidhu yesterday said he did TV shows to earn money and run his family as he could not become corrupt to mint money.

The cricketer-turned politician added that his presence in the TV shows will not affect his Cabinet responsibilities

The Babri demolition case adjourned by 2 weeks to April 6; the SC asks CBI, Advani and others to ask written submission in the meantime.

Thousands of people are being evacuated from Balakleya in the Kharkov region of Ukraine, as a massive fire has broken out at a munitions depot, which is said to be the largest in the country, reports RT.com.

There are reports of explosions and shattered windows. Chaotic scenes with hundreds of vehicles stuck in traffic jams were reported on social media after the Balakleya city administration ordered an emergency evacuation of most of the city.

Most residents have already been taken out of the city by bus, Sputnik reports, citing a local civil defense source.

The authorities so far have no information on casualties.

The VK Sasikala faction, represented by her nephew TTV Dinakaran will have to choose a poll symbol and party name.

The options are a cricket bat, an auto-rickshaw or scissors. Dinakaran also wants his faction to be called as AIADMK (Amma)

The Election Commission on Wednesday decided to freeze the AIADMK's "two leaves" election symbol, after representatives from both VK Sasikala and O Panneerselvam camps made their claim for it.

The two factions of Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK have been asked to submit new symbols and names after the Election Commission said neither can use the party's name or "two leaves" symbol in a key by-election for J Jayalalithaa's constituency.

The EC has given both factions time till 10am on Thursday to choose new symbols to contest the crucial R K Nagar bypoll.

It further remarked that it needs more time to read the voluminous documents submitted by both factions.

Last week, the Panneerselvam camp had submitted a petition to the EC requesting allotment of the "two leaves' party symbol to it. A delegation from the Sasikala camp led by party leader and Lok Sabha deputy speaker M Thambidurai had also submitted a memorandum to the poll panel requesting "not to entertain" any claim to the AIADMK symbol from the OPS faction.

The factions, led by VK Sasikala and rebel O Panneerselvam, are both fighting for the RK Nagar seat that fell vacant after the death of Jayalalithaa in December. The by-polls will be held on April 12.

Meanwhile, superstar Rajinikanth has said he supports none of the candidates in the upcoming bypolls even as he met Tamil composer and BJP candidate Gangai Amaran yesterday and wished him success in the by-election.

Image: Venkat Prabhu, Amarans son and also a filmmaker, tweeted this picture of Rajinikanth with his father, a BJP candidate.

This is why External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj remains the most popular minister in the NDA government.

A tweet from a gentleman, Rajeev Sharma @rajivsharma103 on March 21 asks the minister to help his brother who has been duped and probably interred in a refugee camp in Serbia by his agent. He writes that somebody has kidnapped his brother and will be killed unless a ransom is paid. He also posted a horrifying video, purportedly sent by the kidnappers, of his brother trussed up in a chair and being brutally beaten.

"My bro Vinay Mahajan mb no. In Serbia +381643856567 and passport no. L5604040 age entered in refugee camp 22 years guide by agent."

"@SushmaSwaraj please help my brother. His life is in big trouble. somebody kidnap in Serbia country and ask him send the money unless we kill him."

The minister replied, "Vinay Mahajan has been found and is in safe custody of Serbian authorities. @rajivsharma103. "Rajeev - Indian Ambassador to Belgrade Sanjay Verma has just informed me that."

All's well that ends well.

The minister also reached out on Twitter during the London terror attacks assuring people that she was in constant touch with the Indian High Commission in London. She tweeted, "There is no Indian casualty reported so far. #LondonAttack @HCI_London."
(sic)," she wrote on Twitter.

Image: Video grab of Vinay Mahajan being beaten by his kidnappers. The video was posted by his brother on Twitter.

In defiance of the 'sick and depraved' terror attack in London, people have turned to social media to share messages of solidarity much like what happened after the Paris and Brussels attacks.

#WeAreNotAfraid was trending in London as users reacted to the deaths of five people, including the attacker, on Wednesday and expressed gratitude and support for the work of emergency services.

The message of solidarity extended across the world, with the Westminster attack occurring one year on from the terror attack in Brussels.

The Eiffel Tower's lights were turned off at midnight in tribute to the victims of the attack.

Five people were killed and 40 others injured when a terrorist suspect mowed down pedestrians on a bridge and stabbed a police officer outside parliament complex before being shot dead by Scotland Yard officers in an incident inspired by "international terrorism'.

The knife-man behind the attack in the heart of London was shot dead by armed Scotland Yard officers.

The Metropolitan Police named the police officer killed as 48-year-old Keith Palmer and also confirmed that the attacker was "known' to the police.

"I can also now confirm three members of the public also lost their lives in this attack. And I confirmed earlier, the suspected attacker was shot dead by an armed officer - therefore meaning we now have five people in total who have died, said Mark Rowley, national lead for Counter Terrorism Policing and the Acting Deputy Commissioner.

"I will not comment at this stage on the identity of the attacker, but our working assumption that he was inspired by international terrorism,' Rowley said.

"Also, at this stage, but it may change -- we believe approximately 40 people were injured, some with serious injuries, including three police officers, two of whom are in a serious condition,' he said.

Image: Julia Larsen @jubileejulia tweeted this image sayhing, "Love. Always. #London #LondonAttack #WeAreNotAfraid #Westminster."

In a development that's likely to make the ongoing doctors' agitation in Maharashtra worse, a resident doctor at Mumbai's Sion Hospital was attacked last night.

A pediatrician working in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the civic-run Sion Hospital was beaten up the family of a child. The child is said to be recuperating.

A police complaint has been filed against three women, news agency ANI reported.

Resident doctors at the civic-run Sion Hospital stopped reporting to duty from March 19 evening to protest recent incidents of assault on doctors. A doctor was allegedly beaten up by the relatives following a patients death at the Sion Hospital.

A similar incident took place at government hospital in Dhule some days ago.

In a letter to the Dean of Sion Hospital, the resident doctors said they were unable to report to the duty as they couldnt concentrate on the work. They stopped working from 7 pm. The current spate of attacks on resident doctors is worrisome. We are not able to concentrate, hence we have decided not to report to the duty (at Sion Hospital).There is urgent need to beef up security at government hospitals, an office-bearer of Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors said.

In Delhi, around 1,200 junior doctors at the countrys premier medical institute, the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, turned up for work on Wednesday wearing driving helmets, to express solidarity with doctors protesting in Maharashtra.

This protest is part of the nation-wide SavetheSaviours campaign demanding a safe working environment for all government doctors.

Resident doctors in Delhi will go on mass leave on March 23 (Thursday) between 9 a.m. and 4 pm. Only emergency duty schedule of resident doctors will be followed during this time, This step is being taken in view of the increasing instances of assaults on doctors and to show solidarity towards our colleagues from Maharashtra. And we condemn the action taken by the Govt of Maharashtra against doctors, said a release issued by the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) in Delhi.

Image: Protesting doctors at Sion hospital on Tuesday.

09:22

If UP's problems don't affect you, this should...

@postfaisal tweets: Lucknow does not have any legal slaughter house. After 110 years Tunday Kababi shop in old Lucknow was closed yesterday due to meat shortage.

09:15 Ouch! SM Krishna joining BJP not a loss for party: Congress

Close on the heels of Congress leader SM Krishna joining the Bharatiya Janata Party, the grand old party said his ouster from the party was not a loss for them.

"He is a good administrator and he did good work in his regime, but him joining the BJP is not loss for the Congress. We lost a good leader, but we are not losing anything," Congress leader N.A. Harris told ANI.

Criticising Krishna's decision, another Congress leader Meem Afzal said a person of his age should not expect all his wishes be fulfilled.

"This is not surprising for us as he had decided this long before. He has spent so many years with the Congress and if he wants that the Congress guarantees him chief minister post at this age, then I think it is not necessary that all the wishes of a person get fulfilled in politics. Let's see what post the BJP gives him," Afzal told ANI.

Krishna yesterday joined the BJP and stated that he would like to rededicate himself to the cause of the nation under the saffron party's banner.

Condolences pour in from world leaders over the London terror attack that left five dead and 40 injured.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull strongly condemned the UK Parliament terror attack describing it as "an attack on parliaments, freedom and democracy everywhere".

"Australia's heartfelt sympathy and resolute solidarity is with the people of the UK with whom we stand today as we always have in freedoms cause. Staunch allies in the war against terrorism," Turnbull said in a statement.

"The attack on the British Parliament is an attack on parliaments, freedom and democracy everywhere," he said adding that Westminster is rightly known as the mother of parliaments.

Donald Trump Jr faced backlash for criticising London mayor Sadiq Khan with a scornful tweet sent hours after an attack at the Houses of Parliament left five dead, including a police officer and the attacker.

The US presidents eldest son tweeted a link to a September 2016 story in the Independent, which quoted Khan saying terror attacks were part and parcel of living in a big city I want to be reassured that every single agency and individual involved in protecting our city has the resources and expertise they need to respond in the event that London is attacked.

You have to be kidding me?! Trump Jr tweeted, quoting only the headline: Terror attacks are part of living in big city, says London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Its unclear if the US presidents son read the article or understood that the quote was from six months ago and not a response to the Wednesday attack, which police are treating as a terrorist incident.

And moving to the US, it is reported that a cop and 3 others were killed in a shooting in Wisconsin.

A police officer and three other people were killed in a series of shootings in northern Wisconsin that apparently began as a domestic dispute in a bank, officials said.

Everest Metro Police Chief Wally Sparks said at a news conference the slain officer was from his department and that a suspect was in custody. Sparks did not release the officer's name or the names of the other three dead.

The people of London will never be cowed by terrorism, mayor Sadiq Khan said, following an attack near the British parliament on Wednesday.

Insisting that London remained one of the safest cities in the world, Khan said: "I want to reassure all Londoners and all our visitors not to be alarmedLondon is the greatest city in the world and we stand together in the face of those who seek to harm us and destroy our way of life. We always have, and we always will".

"Londoners will never be cowed by terrorism," he added.

Scotland Yard said it knew the identity of the attacker and were keen to ensure that Britain's Muslim communities were safe from extreme right wing groups.

"I will not comment at this stage on the identity of the attacker, but our working assumption is that he was inspired by international terrorism", he said, and asked people to remain vigilant to attempts to create discord among communities.

"Terrorists have a clear aim and that is to create discord, distrust and to create fear. The police stand with all communities in the UK and will take action against anyone who seeks to undermine society, especially where their crimes are motivated by hate".

08:10 PM Modi tweets in support of London

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the victims of the London terror attacks. Taking to Twitter, the PM wrote, "Deeply saddened by the terror attack in London. Our thoughts & prayers are with the victims and their families. At this difficult moment, India stands with UK in the fight against terrorism."

After the deadly attack near Parliament in Westminster, London, Assistant deputy commissioner Mark Rowley has named the police officer who died as Keith Palmer, a 48-year-old husband and father.

Palmer had worked for the Metropolitan Police for 15 years, having previously served in the armed forces.

"He was someone who left for work today expecting to return home at the end of his shift - and he had every right to expect that would happen," Scotland Yard's most senior anti-terror officer Mark Rowley said.

Chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation Ken Marsh expressed "deepest sympathy" to the officer's family.

He added: "This incident sadly shows the dangers our colleagues face on a daily basis. They show incredible bravery protecting the public."

The last death of a Met Police officer on duty was in September 2013 when 47-year-old Pc Andrew Duncan was killed as he attempted to stop a speeding vehicle in Sutton, south London.

United States President Donald Trump spoke with British Prime Minister Theresa May after a terror attack outside UK Parliament complex and pledged his administration's full support in bringing those responsible to

justice.

"President Trump pledged the full cooperation and support of the United States Government in responding to the attack and bringing those responsible to justice," the White House said in a readout of the call.

During the call, Trump praised the effective response of British security forces.

"We obviously condemn today's attack in Westminster, which the United Kingdom is treating as an act of terrorism and we applaud the quick response that the British police and their first responders made to the situation," White House press secretary Sean Spicer said at his daily press briefing.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson condemned the terror attack at the British Parliament in London describing it as horrific act of violence.

"On behalf of the US, I express my condolences to the victims and their families. The American people send their thoughts and prayers to the people of the United Kingdom," he said.

"We condemn these horrific acts of violence, and whether they were carried out by troubled individuals or by terrorists, the victims know no difference, Tillerson said in a statement.

At least three people were killed and 20 injured as terror struck the British capital when a man mowed down pedestrians on a bridge and stabbed a police officer outside parliament complex before being shot dead by Scotland Yard officers.

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj says that no Indian casualties in London terror attack, adds that she is in constant touch with Indian high commission

"I am in constant touch with Indian High Commission in London. There is no Indian casualty reported so far. #LondonAttack @HCI_London (sic)," she said on Twitter.

"Indian High Commission is there to help all Indian nationals in London. Please note the Telephone nos: 020 8629 5950 & 020 7632 3035 (sic)," Swaraj wrote.

The minister advised people to avoid going to Parliament Square.

"All are advised strongly to avoid Parliament Square and check Met Police website for further details on the attack. Stay safe! (sic)," she tweeted.

Wednesday was the anniversary of suicide bombings in the Brussels airport and subway that killed 32 people.

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