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Sun, 26 November 2017
Government, judiciary, bureaucracy must work for new India: Modi

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20:06   Government, judiciary, bureaucracy must work for new India: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today stressed on the need for the three pillars of the Indian democracy -- government, judiciary and bureaucracy -- to strengthen each other and work together for a new India.

The three pillars of democracy are all members of one family and should work together to strengthen one another, Modi said.

There is a need for them to brainstorm on how to move forward in the present scenario, he said.

Addressing a gathering in New Delhi to mark the National Law Day, Modi said instead of pointing at each other's weakness, the three pillars of democracy should work together for a new India.

He also emphasised on the Indian Constitution's important role in the country's overall development after independence and said it has withstood the test of time.  -- PTI

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with CJI Justice Dipak Misra at valedictory session of the National Law Day, 2017 function in New Delhi on Sunday. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo
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18:57   Padmavati row: Film fraternity stops shooting for a while in protest
Members of film and television industry stopped shooting for a while Mumbai at Film City on Sunday to show solidarity with Sanjay Leela Bhansali and counter the protests against film Padmavati's release.

Along with 19 other bodies of the film and television industry, the Indian Films and TV Directors' Association stopped several ongoing shootings for 15 minutes.

The movie Padmavati directed by Bhansali has been facing the rage of various Rajput groups and political leaders, for allegedly 'distorting historical facts'.

However, Bhansali has denied the alleged tampering with historical facts in the movie repeatedly.

"This thing is not limited to one film only. It happens every time. Things are becoming worse day by day. Some sections of people are trying to dictate us what to wear, eat, talk," film and television actor Pavan Malhotra told the media.

"The administration has to come forward and take some necessary steps," the actor added.

The film features Deepika Padukone in the title role as Rani Padmavati, alongside Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji.The film was slated to release on December 1, 2017; however the release was put off as Bhansali's magnum opus is yet to get approval from the Central Board of Film Certification. -- ANI
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18:08   Centre has no intention of introducing Islamic banking: Naqvi
India has a wide network of different banks to meet the financial needs of people and hence the government has no intention to consider introducing Islamic banking, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said.

Islamic or Sharia banking is a system of finance in which interest is not charged.

"In India, the government will not allow Islamic banking, because India is a secular and democratic country," the minister for minority affairs said.

"There are different government and scheduled banks and the existing banking system is for all. Hence, the government is not thinking of introducing the concept of Islamic banking," he said.

"Some organisations and some people had made a suggestion on this issue (to introduce Islamic banking), but we do not have any such intention," he said.

On the winter session of Parliament, Naqvi said the government was willing to discuss all important issues and sought the Congress's support for smooth conduct of proceedings in both the Houses.

"We will discuss all issues. We are expecting that the Congress will allow smooth functioning of Parliament.

Because Parliament is for holding discussions and making decisions, and if you only want to create disruption in Parliament then it will affect its decorum," he said.  -- PTI
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16:52   'Make in India' project just died, says Rahul, citing media report
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today cited a media report on a drop in the production of 'Nano' cars at a Gujarat plant and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet 'Make in India' project 'just died' turning Gujarati tax payers' Rs 33,000 crore into 'ash'.

Gandhi also asked who should be held accountable for the money becoming 'ash'.

The Congress vice president has reportedly been saying that the Gujarat government had proffered 'benefits' worth Rs 33,000 crore to the car project in Sanand.

'PM's pet 'Make in India' project just died. 33,000 crores of Gujarati taxpayer money turned to ash. Who is accountable?' Gandhi said on Twitter.

The Congress vice president is currently campaigning in the poll-bound state, which has been under the Bharatiya Janata Party's rule for 22 years.

The media report claimed that the average daily production of Nano cars at the Tata Motor's Sanand plant was down to 'just two'.  -- PTI
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15:29   Arthur road jail to be Mallya's home: India to tell UK court
Arthur road jail in Mumbai will be the home of fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya if he is extradited to India to face the law in connection with the Rs 9,000 crore loan default cases.

This will be conveyed to a British court next week by India through the Crown Prosecution Service, which is arguing the extradition case against Mallya on behalf of the Indian government, a home ministry official said.

The Westminster Magistrates' Court in London will be told that it is the duty of the state to ensure security of prisoners and Mallya's apprehension about threat to his life is 'misleading'.

The court will be told that the prisons in India are as good as in any other country in the world and prisoners' rights are fully protected in Indian jails, the official, who is privy to the responses prepared by the government, told PTI.

The move came after Mallya's lawyers said that the fugitive businessman's life may be in danger if he is extradited to India and there were alleged incidents of human rights violations in Indian jails.

The Westminster Magistrates' Court will start hearing theextradition proceedings from December 4.  -- PTI
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14:36   Sindhu loses in Hong Kong Open final
Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu lost 18-21, 18-21 in the final of Hong Kong Open Super Series against Tai Tzu Ying, on Sunday.

Sindhu had lost in last year's final too as she failed to emulate Saina Nehwal and Prakash Padukone, who had clinched this title in 2010 and 1982.
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13:56   Army called in after 6 killed in clashes between Pak police, protesters
Pakistan's government has called in the army to restore order after clashes between police and protesters belonging to hardline religious groups killed six people and injured more than 200 others in the capital.

The police aided by paramilitary Rangers and Frontier Constabulary yesterday lunched a massive operation against activists of Tehreek-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwwat, Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah and Sunni Tehreek Pakistan religious groups who had blocked a key highway to Islamabad for nearly three weeks.

Police and paramilitary forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the protesters to disperse them. However, the security forces pulled back after the crackdown turned deadly.

At least six people were killed in clashes yesterday, Dawn reported.

It also said that no security personnel waskilled but at least nine senior police officers were injured including Rawalpindi city police chief Israr Abbasi.

According to health officials, more than 200 people,including at least 95 security personnel, were injured in the clashes and shifted to various hospitals.

The Interior Ministry last night issued a statutory regulatory order to authorise the deployment of the army to control the law and order situation in the capital.

Official sources said Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasiand Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa are expected to hold a meeting to discuss the situation after the government sought deployment of the army in the capital.

However, the army said it needed clarification on some points before moving in to control the situation.

General Bajwa was on a visit to the United Arab Emirates and cut short his trip to reach the country last night.  -- PTI

IMAGE: Police fire tear gas during clashes with protesters at Faizabad junction in Islamabad. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters
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12:18   EPFO may lower interest rate for 2017-18
Retirement fund body Employees' Provident Fund Organisation may lower interest rate on provident fund deposits this fiscal compared to 8.65 per cent provided to its 4.5 crore members for 2016-17, a labour ministry official said.

The EPFO is likely to cut interest rate on the grounds that it is directly crediting exchange trade funds (ETF) units into provident fund accounts and lower yields on other investments, particularly bonds.

"Employees Provident Fund Organisation may cut rate of return on provident fund deposits for 2017-18 due to lower income on bonds and its plan to credit ETF investments directly into the account of subscribers," the senior official said.

However, the official said the EPFO is still to work out the income projection for the current fiscal, which would become the basis for crediting rate of interest in subscribers account for this fiscal.

Earlier on Thursday, the EPFO approved an accounting policy for valuation and accounting of equity investments which was prepared in consultancy with IIM Bangalore.

The policy will enable the body to credit ETFs units into the provident fund account of the subscribers by this fiscal end.

Thus every account holders will see their provident fund balance in the form of cash balance and ETF units.

Though the dividends on ETFs will be credited into the subscribers account but the members would be able to realise the entire rate of return on these equity linked investments at the time of withdrawals.

The subscribers will also have the option to withdraw money while taking advances from their accounts, either by liquidating ETF units or from cash component.

The finance ministry has been nudging the labour ministry to align the EPF rate with its small saving schemes like public provident fund.

In December last year, the EPFO trustees had decided to lower the rate of interest on EPF to 8.65 per cent for 2016-17 from 8.8 per cent provided for 2015-16.  -- PTI
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11:22   Mann Ki Baat: Remembering 26/11, PM says terrorism a 'threat to humanity'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation via his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat.

Speaking on Constitution Day, he paid tributes to the 'makers of our Constitution'. Excerpts from the ongoing radio address:

- The makers of our Constitution worked hard to give us a Constitution we would be proud of. Our Constitution safeguards the rights of the poor and weaker sections of society.

- We salute all those brave women and men who lost their lives in the gruesome 26/11 attacks in Mumbai.

- For over 4 decades, India has been raising the issue of terror. Initially the world did not take us seriously but now the world is realising the destructive aspects of terrorism. Terrorism is a threat to humanity.

- India is the land of Lord Buddha, Lord Mahavira, Guru Nanak, Mahatma Gandhi. We believe in non-violence.

- He also spoke about Navy Day and the significance of rivers in history.

- India's glorious naval tradition dates back to times of the Chola Empire and the empire of Shivaji Maharaj. The Indian Navy has served our nation with great diligence.  -- Courtesy @PMOIndia/Twitter
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11:07   Congress has outsourced its poll campaign to caste leaders: Guj CM

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has accused the Congress of seeking refuge in casteism and "outsourcing" its campaign to caste leaders while dismissing any threat to the BJP's poll prospects from the
Congress-Hardik Patel tie-up.
He alleged that the Congress was "deceiving" the people over the issue of reservation, while the agitators were lining up for poll tickets.
Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel's open support to the Congress in the December Assembly polls is not an electoral alliance but a "deal" between two sides, Rupani told PTI in an interview.
Dubbing Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who is extensively campaigning in Gujarat, as "gappidas" (teller of lies), the chief minister accused him of dishing out fabricated statistics about the BJP-ruled state.
"From what I understand, I can say it (Congress-Hardik alliance) won't have any effect (on the BJP) as they are exposed. They have kept aside the original demand of reservation and agitators have lined up to get Congress tickets," he said.
Rupani was replying to a question on the impact of Hardik Patel pledging support to the Congress in the Gujarat polls.
"While the Congress is not speaking a word on how it will give reservation to the Patidars (if it comes to power), he (Hardik Patel) is declaring support to the Congress. This shows there is 'saudebaazi' (deal) (between them)," he claimed.
"The Congress formula on giving reservation above the 50 per cent cap is an attempt to deceive the people and it won't work. This exposes the deal," he further said.
"As the opposition does not have any issues against us they are taking refuge in casteism. The Congress is outsourcing its campaign by bringing in symbols of casteism like Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor (OBC leader), Jignesh Mevani (Dalit activist) and tribal leader Chottu Vasava," Rupani said. -- PTI
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10:40   Swaraj assures medical visa to 4 Pakistani nationals
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday announced that visas will be given to four Pakistani nationals to undergo treatment in India, three days after Islamabad accused India of "politicising" humanitarian issues.

On Thursday, Pakistan had accused India of selectively issuing medical visa to its citizens and that it was not a gesture of compassion but "cold blooded politicking".
"India will not belie your hope. We will issue the visa immediately," Swaraj said, responding to a request on her official Twitter handle for a medical visa by Pakistani national Shahzaib Iqbal for his cousin's liver transplant in India.
Swaraj also responded positively to requests for issuance of medical visas to three other Pakistani women.
"This is urgent. Indian High Commission - pls issue the visa (sic)," she said in another tweet, replying to a request from Ghazanfar Ali for his mother's liver transplant in India.
To another request for a visa by Pakistani woman, Sajida Bakhsh, Swaraj said a visa will be issued to her. Bakhsh had tweeted that she had undergone a liver transplant in Haryana last year and wanted to visit India for follow-up treatment.
She also assured another Pakistani woman of granting visa on medical grounds.
Swaraj has been adopting a humanitarian approach in granting visa to Pakistani nationals on medical grounds, notwithstanding the strain in ties between the two sides over a host of sticky issues, including cross-border terrorism.
Addressing a regular briefing on Thursday, Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesperson Mohammad Faisal had said the Indian policy of selective issuance of medical visas to Pakistani citizens was "regrettable". -- PTI 
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10:36   AAP celebrates 5th Foundation Day today
The Aam Aadmi Party will celebrate its fifth Foundation Day today and hold a national convention at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi.
The venue is special for the party as it was from this place that it began its political journey.
Senior party leader and Delhi Labour Minister Gopal Rai said the convention will see discussions on various issues, like the work done by the Delhi government and the Jan Lokpal Bill passed by the assembly, which is awaiting clearance from the centre.
Apart from the "five years of revolution", farmers distress will also be discussed during the convention, he said, adding current social, economic and political developments will also be discussed.
Rai said the AAP is the only party in the Indian history to have established a national footprint within a short span of five years and is expanding rapidly across the country.
The journey of the party will be discussed at the event.
Around 10,000 AAP volunteers and representatives from 22 states are likely to attend the convention, party leaders said.
Besides the party's national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, several top AAP leaders are expected to address the convention.
Senior party leader Kumar Vishwas, who has had an uneasy relationship with the party leadership, tweeted that he would be addressing the volunteers during the convention and speak his "heart out". -- PTI
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10:13   There was no 'Quattrocchi' in Rafale deal: Jaitley
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has hit back at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for questioning the Rafale fighter aircraft deal, saying unlike during Congress regimes when middlemen ruled the roost,
there was no "Quattrocchi" in the contract for the fighter jet.
Jaitley, who is the BJP's election in-charge for Gujarat, was referring to Ottavio Quattrocchi, the Italian businessman believed to be involved in the Bofors scam which came to light when Rajiv Gandhi was prime minister.
"It (Rafale deal) was a government-to-government transaction, between two governments. It wasn't like what used to happen during Congress governments, when middlemen used to be there in every transaction. There wasn't any Quattrocchi in this transaction," Jaitley told reporters in Ahmedabad.
The Rafale deal was made to boost the combat ability of the Indian Air Force, he said.
"I wonder why the Congress leader is raising this issue now, as the transaction was done almost two-and-a-half years back. The very fact that it is being raised after two-and-a-half years indicates it is a motivated campaign linked to the election," Jaitley said.

Responding to Gandhi's allegation that a certain industrialist was favoured and due procedures were not followed, Jaitley implied that Gandhi may not understand such issues because he has no experience.
"Since it was a government-to-government transaction, the procedure was different. Another procedure is of tendering. He (Rahul Gandhi) is not having any experience of running a government. And, it is up to the company (Rafale) to choose its partner (in India). Government of India does not decide that," Jaitley said.
Rahul has alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not want the "truth" behind the multi-crore Rafale deal to come out before the Assembly election, therefore delayed the winter session of Parliament.
"I would ask Modiji three questions. First, is there a difference in the cost of planes in the first and the second contracts (signed with the French firm) and did India pay more or less money as per the second contract?
"And, has the industrialist (whose company has formed a joint venture with the French firm), who was given the contract, ever manufactured planes?" Gandhi asked while addressing a rally in Gandhinagar district.
"And a more important question, did you follow the due government procedure? Why the (then) defence minister was seen catching fish in Goa? And, was an approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security taken (for the mega deal)?," he asked. -- PTI
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09:31   In Mumbai, police to make announcement before towing away vehicle
Before towing away a vehicle from no-parking area, police should make an announcement on megaphone and ask if its owner is around, as per the new set of rules issued by the Mumbai traffic police.
Further, a vehicle should not be towed away even from no-parking area if someone is sitting inside, the new rules say categorically.
Presently, a vehicle parked in no-parking area is towed away without inquiring if the owner is nearby, and the owner has to visit the concerned police station to get it released by paying fine plus towing charges.
With the new rule, the vehicle owner, if he or she is nearby, can rush to the vehicle, pay the fine on the spot and drive away. He or she won't have to pay towing charges.
Joint commissioner of police (traffic) Amitesh Kumar has issued these new guidelines to traffic cops.
What prompted the authorities to issue new rules was a controversial incident in suburban Malad where a car was towed away when a woman and her baby were sitting inside.
Every towing vehicle will now have an officer above the rank of assistant sub-inspector.
Every official on the towing vehicle will have e-challan equipment and walky-talky. -- PTI
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08:57   Don't screen 'S Durga' at IFFI: Hindu outfits to organisers
Days after the Kerala high court ordered that Malayalam film S Durga be screened at the ongoing International Film Festival of India in Goa, half a dozen Hindu organisations have submitted a petition to the organisers requesting them not to show the film.
The petition, handed over to IFFI Director Sunit Tandon, said the screening of the controversial movie should be stalled to maintain law and order.
The IFFI 2017, which kicked off on November 20, will conclude on November 28.
"It is clear that the film has targeted the Hindu Goddess Durga and denigrated her and in the process hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus. The film is also likely to create law and order situation," the petition signed by various organisations, including members of Sanatan Sanstha and Gomantak Mandir Mahasangh, reads.
The Kerala high court recently gave a go-ahead for the screening of the film during the ongoing IFFI, while the festival organisers have asked the filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan to submit the censored version of the film.
"The court may have given the direction to show this film. We respect the court but you can't ignore the sentiments of crores of Hindus who worship Goddess Durga," the petition reads.
Referring to the controversy surrounding Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming film Padmavati, the petition said, "Currently issues are going on regarding Padmavati film. So showing this film at IFFI will add to the controversies. Though there is freedom of art, it can't be at the cost of hurting of feelings of the majority community."
S Durga, which was earlier titled Sexy Durga, narrates the horrifying experience of a hitchhiking couple. The film, a road movie that follows the horrifying experience of two hitchhikers, a man and a woman, at the hands of two men in the dead of the night, won the Hivos Tiger Award in the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2017. -- PTI
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08:43   BJP netas to tune in to 'Mann Ki Baat' over chai in Gujarat today
The top Bharatiya Janata Party leaders including party chief Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will today tune in to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme 'Mann ki Baat' over cups of kadak chai in poll-bound Gujarat.

The event, to be held at all 50,128 polling booths in 182 assembly seats, is aimed to exploit a crude meme tweeted by the Congress mocking the prime minister's 'chaiwala past.

While Shah will attend the program, named 'Mann ki Baat - Chai Ke Saath', in the Dariyapur constituency in Ahmedabad, the Union finance minister will have tea with people at a booth in Adajan area of the Surat-West seat, said a party release.

Other party leaders who would join the program at various places are Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan, Uma Bharti, Smriti Irani, Jual Oram, Parshottam Rupala, state BJP president Jitu Vaghani, chief minister Vijay Rupani and several Gujarat ministers, MLAs and MPs.

The event is being organised ahead of Modis tour of Gujarat on November 27 and 29, during which he will address eight rallies in Saurashtra and south Gujarat which would be going to polls on December 9.

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