LIVE! Karnataka: 7 ministers to be inducted in next cabinet expansion

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Fri, 31 August 2018

Karnataka: 7 ministers to be inducted in next cabinet expansion

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23:41 Karnataka: 7 ministers to be inducted in next cabinet expansion

The three-month-old Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government would be expanded in the third week of September with the induction of seven ministers, former chief minister Siddaramaiah said today.

The Congress heavyweight, who heads the coordination committee of the two parties, stated this to reporters after after the committee meeting.

"We have taken a decision to expand the cabinet in the third week of September. Six people from our (Congress) side and one from JD-S will be included in the cabinet,"he said.

Simultaneously, chairpersons to various boards and corporations would be appointed in the third week of September, Siddaramaiah said.

"The first preference will be given to the MLAs and then the party workers will be given a chance. We cannot fulfill the aspirations of many MLAs who want to become ministers. Hence we are making them chairpersons of boards and corporations," the Congress leader said.

He said decisions have to be taken on 30 posts, of which 20 would be given to Congress leaders and the rest to JD-S.

The coordination committee has not yet taken a decision on the appointment of three nominated MLCs and filling the vacacncies due to resignation of three others -- V Somanna, Dr G Parameshwara and K S Eshwarappa, he said.

While Somanna had four years left, Parameshwara and Eshwarappa had two more years. Apart from them, three people have to be nominated to the legislative council by the governor on the advice of the government.

To a question on the JD-S demand to include their state president Adagur H Vishwanath in the committee, Siddaramaiah said the matter was not discussed.

Asked about reservations in promotions for the SC/ST, the former chief minister said the government would wait for the Supreme Court verdict on September 5.

On relief works in flood hit areas in Karnataka, he said the government has decided to take them up on a war footing. He termed as 'baseless, unfounded and speculative stories' reports that there is growing discord between the Congress and JD-S.

He reiterated that he had wished to become chief minister only after the next election with peoples blessings.

"This government will survive for five years. This government is totally stable and we will deliver as per the common minimum programme agreed upon by both parties,"he said.

Asked whether he would contest the next election, he said "I have made it very clear that I am not going to context the next assembly election." -- PTI

Congress President Rahul Gandhi today persisted with his attack on the Modi government over the Rafale deal, calling it 'globalised corruption'.

The political dogfight over the controversial Rafale fighter jet contract had intensified yesterday with Gandhi asking what is the 'deal' between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and industrialist Anil Ambani, and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley accusing the Congress chief of resorting to falsehood.

'Globalised corruption. This #Rafale aircraft really does fly far and fast! It's also going to drop some big bunker buster bombs in the next couple of weeks,' Gandhi tweeted today before leaving for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

He also tagged a media report which claimed that Rafale talks were on when Reliance Entertainment helped produce a film for then French president Francois Hollande's partner.

'Modi Ji please tell Anil, there is a big problem in France,' Gandhi said.

The Congress president had intensified his attack on the Modi government yesterday and accused the prime minister of 'lying' on the Rafale agreement.

He had reiterated his demand for a JPC probe at a press conference, saying India wants to know about the 'deal between him and industrialist Anil Ambani'.

Ambani has denied the Congress charge and has accused the opposition party of making 'false statements'.

He has written to Gandhi, explaining the deal and slapped defamation notices on a number of Congress leaders asking them to not make 'false' statements. -- PTI

The Madras high court today exempted three family members of former Union minister P Chidambaram from appearance before a special court here till September 14 in a case filed against them by the Income Tax department under the Black Money Act for alleged non-disclosure of foreign assets.

A division bench of justices S Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad gave the interim relief on an appeal by Chidambaram's wife Nalini, son Karti and daughter-in law Srinidhi challenging the prosecution initiated by the I-T department.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate S Malarvizhi had on August 20 directed the three to appear before the court on September 3 in connection with the case.

She had given the direction when Nalini and Srinidhi appeared before her. Karti did not appear in the court then and it was submitted that he had gone to London after obtaining due permission from the Supreme Court.

According to the I-T, the three had failed to disclose a property they jointly own in Cambridge, in the UK, worth Rs 5.37 crore, which amounted to an offence under the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act.

The department has also alleged that Karti had failed to disclose an overseas bank account he holds with Metro Bank in the UK and investments he had made in Nano Holdings LLC, USA.

He had also 'failed' to disclose investments made by Chess Global Advisory, a company co-owned by him, which amounts to an offence under the blackmoneyact, the department has said in its complaint filed in the special court in May this year.

Assailing the prosecution, the three approached the high court. As a single judge bench refused any relief, they moved an appeal.

On June 27, the first bench headed by the then Chief Justice Indira Banerjee reserved its order on the appeal.

However, as Justice Banerjee was later elevated to the Supreme Court, orders could not be pronounced.

The appeal was then referred to the bench headed by Justice Manikumar for fresh hearing.

During the hearing by Justice Banerjee, counsel for the appellants had contended that prima facie no offence can be made out against them under the Black Money Act.

The act deals with undisclosed income raised from foreign assets. But in the present case, all the relevant information had been disclosed by the petitioners in their returns filed under the Income Tax Act, the counsel had said. -- PTI

The Maharashtra ATS today told a sessions court here that suspected right-wing activist Avinash Pawar had carried out reconnaissance of several persons who were on the target list of a radical Hindu group for speaking against the religion.

Pawar, linked to the extremist group, was arrested by the state's Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) on August 24 in a case pertaining to seizure of explosives and arms from several parts of Maharashtra early this month.

He was the fifth person to be arrested in the case.

He was produced before the sessions court today where ATS sought additional 14 days custody stating that the agency had to interrogate him to ascertain the role of each accused and to find out if more persons were involved.

Additional sessions judge Vinod Padalkar remanded Pawar to ATS custody till September 4.

The ATS told the court that Pawar had carried out reconnaissance of several people including Mukta Dabholkar, daughter of slain rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, social activist Shyam Manav, NCP MLA Jitendra Avhad and a few others who were on his target list for speaking against Hindu religion.

The court, however, pointed out that there were several loose ends in the ATS case and said that the agency had not submitted all details pertaining to the investigation in the remand application or the case diary.

"Do not come to the court half heartedly. The court cannot compromise with the accused person's rights," Judge Padalkar said.

The ATS had arrested four persons - Vaibhav Raut, Sudhanwa Gondhalekar, Sharad Kalaskar on August 10 and Shrikant Pangarkar on August 19 - and booked them under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Indian Penal Code, Explosive Substances Act and Explosives Act.

The four accused are in ATS custody till September 4.

ATS had earlier claimed that the accused were suspected right-wing activists and had planned to target a western music concert in Pune last year.

According to ATS, the accused were also involved in hurling a petrol bomb outside a movie theatre in Kalyan, in adjoining Thane district, where controversial Hindi film Padmaavat was being screened in January this year.

The ATS had seized a CPU from Pawar's house and a mobile phone used by him, the official said.

The arrested persons had a plan to trigger blasts at various places in the state, according to the investigators. -- PTI

Under attack from the Congress, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh said today its does not consider anyone as its opponent and is guided by national interest.

The statement by a senior functionary of the RSS came while briefing reporters on Sangh's three-day all India coordination meeting which began today at Raghavendra Math in Mantralyam, Andhra Pradesh, with Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat and Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah in attendance.

All India executive members of the RSS and national office bearers of its affiliated organisations are attending the meet where contemporary issues are being discussed, the Sangh said in a statement.

Around 200 workers participating in the meeting would share their experiences, views and achievements.

"Sangh does not treat anyone as its opponent. It works for organising the whole society in national interest," RSS' akhil bharatiya prachar pramukh Arun Kumar told reporters.

He was asked about the frequent criticism by the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi of the Sangh.

The RSS has given indications that it may invite leaders from across the political spectrum including Rahul Gandhi and Sitaram Yechury to attend ae three-day lecture series of Bhagwat.

Asked about the agenda of the meeting, Kumar said it is aimed at better coordination and takes place twice a year- in September and January.

No specific decisions are taken, he added.

The meeting, being organised at Raghavendra Mutth on the coast of river Tungbhadra, was also addressed by its head Swami Subudendra Teertha.

"With the efforts of all of us, an awareness would be created in the Hindu society and Hindu religion would retain its deserved place," the seer said. -- PTI

The Congress today said if its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the Rafale aircraft deal is not met, the party will set up an inquiry commission if it comes to power.

"The Rafale deal is the biggest scam of the century," senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said here. He said there was a 'hike' in the price of the fighter aircraft which India is buying from France, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to answer the 'many doubts' that have been raised.

"Why is the BJP government so afraid of setting up a JPC on the issue?" the deputy leader of Congress in Rajya Sabha said.

"If this is not done, we will constitute a National Commission of Inquiry on coming to power," Sharma added.

The apparent reference was to a probe under the Commissions of Inquiry Act.

He claimed the 'scam' had global ramifications as there were 'five other bidders' for the deal.

Sharma, who is a former commerce minister said the Rafale deal and demonetisation are the two biggest scams of the Modi government and will also be the main issues in the coming polls.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi recently demanded the setting up of a JPC into the Rafale deal under which India will buy 36 planes.

The party claims the aircraft will cost significantly more that what the previous Congress-led government was negotiating.

Sharma asked why public sector Hindustan Aeronautics had not got the related offset contract under the deal.

The Anil Ambai-led Reliance Group, which bagged the offset contract in a deal with Rafale manufacturers Dassault, has served a 'cease and desist' notice on Congress leaders, asking them not to make defamatory allegations. -- PTI

Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation has pinned the blame on the pilots for the near-crash of Congress president Rahul Gandhi's chartered plane at Hubli in North Karnataka in April this year.

On April 26, the 10-seater plane carrying Gandhi suddenly tilted heavily on the left side and the altitude dipped steeply with violent shuddering of the aircraft body before landing at the Hubli airport in north Karnataka.

Besides Gandhi, there were four other passengers, two pilots, one cabin crew and one engineer when the incident took place, according to the DGCA. Alleging 'intentional tampering' with aircraft, the Congress party had demanded a probe into the 'suspicious and faulty performance' of the aircraft.

In its 30-page report made public today, the two-member committee set up by the DGCA to probe the incident, ruled out any prior snag in the Ligare Aviation-operated private Falcon 2000 jet, registered as VT-AVH.

"Crew initiated action only when the master cautions warning i.e after 15 seconds of autopilot disengage," the DGCA said in its report on the four-month-old incident.

Such a warning appears in the form of a red light and audio warning in the cockpit for the pilot to take action and avoid in the split second and avoid any mishap.

"Due to lack of institutional awareness, the crew actions to control of the aircraft manually were slightly delayed," the DGCA report said.

After the incident, Gandhi's close aide Kaushal Vidyarthi, who was also travelling with him, had filed a complaint with local police besides writing to the Karnataka Director General of Police expressing concern over the series of events.

Following this, civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu had ordered a detailed probe into the incident.

Subsequently, the DGCA had set up the panel, with one member each from the safety and airworthiness wings, to investigate the incident. -- PTI

China today dismissed the United Nations human rights panel's allegations of confinement of large number of Uyghur Muslims in indoctrination camps in the volatile Xinjiang province, saying they are based on unverified information.

The UN's Geneva-based Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination said yesterday it was alarmed by 'numerous reports of ethnic Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities' being detained in Xinjiang region and called for their immediate release.

Estimates about them 'range from tens of thousands to upwards of a million', it had said.

Asked for her reaction, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said China has informed the committee of China's practices and policies to eliminate discrimination and racial discrimination.

The review by this committee acknowledged and recognised China's progress and also spoke positively of China's relevant policies, she said.

"You mentioned that during the review there were some negative comments on the situation in Xinjiang. These comments are based on information that is yet be verified. I don't know if you have been to Xinjiang. Xinjiang enjoys stability. People of all ethnic groups live in harmony," she said, adding that China's policies are aimed at promoting economic development in Xinjiang.

"Meanwhile, we will crack down on terrorism and separatist forces to ensure safety of people's lives and property," she said.

The situation in Xinjiang has been restive as the native Muslim Uyghurs have been resisting increasing settlements of Han Chinese from other provinces.

China has blamed the separatist East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate, for violence in the province. -- PTI

Patidar leader Hardik Patel's indefinite fast demanding reservation for the community in jobs and education entered its seventh day today as the young leader announced that he had now stopped taking water.

In a statement, Hardik said that though he has stopped taking food and water, he will continue his fight till he attains victory by walking on the path of Mahatma Gandhi.

Several Gujarat Congress leaders, including Kanu Kalsaria, former state Congress president Arjun Modhwadia and MLA Vikram Madam, today met Hardik and extended their support.

After his meeting with Hardik, Modhwadia took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP, saying that if the government could hold talks with separatists, then why not with Hardik.

"I request the Gujarat and central governments to hold talks with Hardik and find a solution. If our PM can go to Pakistan to meet (former PM) Nawaz Sharif, if talks can happen with separatists, then why not with Hardik?" Modhwadia questioned.

Kalsaria, meanwhile, alleged that police was stopping people from coming to Hardik's residence.

The 25-year-old quota spearhead had launched his hunger strike on August 25 on the third anniversary of his mega pro-quota rally in Ahmedabad that had turned violent.

He is demanding a loan waiver for Gujarat farmers and inclusion of his community in the OBC category to facilitate reservation for its members in government jobs and educational institutions.

Hardik launched his fast from his residence after authorities in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar refused to allot a venue. -- PTI

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, on a pligrimage to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet, arrived in Kathmandu in Nepal's capital today.

The Congress chief landed in Kathmandu at around 2 pm and checked into a hotel, Nepalese media reported. He will stay over at Kathmandu today before heading to Nepalgunj tomorrow.

It has been learnt that he will leave for Mansarovar via Nepal for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, the Himalayan Times reported.

Gandhi, 48, arrived here on the same day as Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned home after attending the fourth BIMSTEC summit.

He is undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in accordance with a wish he expressed in April when his plane plunged hundreds of feet during the campaign for the Karnataka polls.

On April 26, the plane carrying Gandhi and some others from Delhi to Hubballi airport in Karnataka developed a technical problem and tilted heavily on the left side.

The plane dipped steeply with violent shuddering, but soon recovered and landed safely. Three days later, on April 29, Gandhi announced during a rally that he wanted to undertake the pilgrimage.

The arduous pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, which is considered the abode of Lord Shiva in Hindu mythology and is in the Tibetan Himalayas, is organised every year between June and September. -- PTI

18:21 Economy grows at 15-quarter high of 8.2%

The Indian economy grew at 15-quarter high of 8.2 per cent in the April-June quarter of current fiscal on good show by manufacturing and farm sectors, according to the government data released today.

The growth cemented India's position as the fastest growing major economy, clocking higher expansion rate than China's 6.7 in the same quarter.

The gross domestic product (GDP) at constant (2011-12) prices in the first quarter of 2018-19 is estimated at Rs 33.74 lakh crore, as against Rs 31.18 lakh crore in Q1 of 2017-18, showing a growth rate of 8.2 per cent, a Central Statistics Office statement said.

According to statement, the quarterly GVA (Gross Value Added) at basic price at constant (2011-2012) prices for Q1 of 2018-19 is estimated at Rs 31.63 lakh crore, as against Rs 29.29 lakh crore in Q1 of 2017-18, showing a growth rate of 8 per cent over the year-ago period.

The previous high quarterly GDP growth was recorded in July-September period in 2014-15 at 8.4 per cent.

As per the data, the quarterly GVA at basic prices for Q1 2018-19 from 'manufacturing' sector grew by 13.5 per cent as compared to contraction of 1.8 per cent in Q1 2017-18.

The Quarterly GVA at basic prices for Q1 2018-19 from 'agriculture, forestry and fishing' sector grew by 5.3 percent as compared to growth of 3 percent in Q1 2017-18. -- PTI

After floating Samajwadi Secular Morcha, its founder Shivpal Yadav today announced that the front will contest all 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh in 2019.

"We will be tying up with smaller parties and unite those neglected and humiliated and contest the polls with full strength. Without our support no government will be formed at the Centre," he told reporters in Baghpat.

Yadav, the estranged uncle of Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav, said the morcha will also do well in the next assembly election.

"We will emerge as a strong party in the 2022 assembly polls," he said.

Shivpal Yadav had launched the new outfit on August 29, complaining that he had been sidelined in the Samajwadi Party. He still remains an SP legislator.

"Our journey has started and it will not stop," he said, adding that he was 'humiliated in the SP on many occasions'.

Shivpal Yadav was unceremoniously removed from the post of SP state unit president after his nephew Akhilesh Yadav assumed charge as the party's national president last year, edging out Mulayam Singh Yadav. -- PTI

From tomorrow, it would become mandatory for new cars and two-wheelers to have third-party insurance cover of three and five years respectively, with the Supreme Court today refusing to extend the September 1 deadline.

A bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and S Abdul Nazeer dismissed an application filed by General Insurance Council, constituted under provision of the Insurance Act 1938 by Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority, seeking extension of the deadline fixed by the top court.

The apex court had on July 20 this year said that third-party insurance cover for new cars should mandatorily be for a period of three years and for two wheelers, it should be for five years. Currently, the insurance cover period is one year.

The court had then directed that the decision be implemented from September 1.

17:47 GDP grew by 8.2% in Apr-June quarter

Just In: Indian economy grows at 8.2 per cent in the April-June quarter of current fiscal.

In a breather to banks, the Unique Identification Authority of India today extended till November 1 the deadline for banks to do minimum Aadhaar enrolments and updations in identified branches, according to a communication sent to banks.

The UIDAI has asked banks to ensure that at least eight enrolments or updations are carried out daily in each stipulated branch from November 1, 2018, to avoid financial disincentives to be applicable from July 2018.

On June 1, the UIDAI had said that stipulated bank branches with Aadhaar facility will have to ensure at least eight enrolments or updations in each branch daily from July 1, 2018, 12 per day per branch from October 1, and to 16 from January 1, 2019 onwards.

The authority had outlined that non-compliance would attract financial disincentives.

Under the new deadline, the banks will have to ensure that minimum enrolment or updation be raised to 12 from January 1, 2019 and 16 from April 1, 2019, according to the UIDAI directive seen by PTI.

The Aadhaar-issuing body has promised that the banks meeting the fresh targets by the revised deadline of November, will not face 'financial disincentives' between July and October.

'Banks who achieve the target of minimum 8 Aadhaar enrolment/updations per day per branch in the month of November 2018 will be exempted from financial disincentives up to October 2018,' the UIDAI said.

In case bank 'fails to meet the above target of carrying out minimum enrolment/updation per day per branch, financial disincentive in respect of uncovered branches as on last day of the month will be levied from the month of July 2018 onwards,' it said.

Sources said that deadline and targets had been relaxed after certain banks flagged difficulties faced by them in achieving the targets in view of natural calamities in Kerala and some other states, as well as technical problems in rolling out the enrolment facility.

The banks have been mandated to set up Aadhaar enrolment and updation facilities within their premises in one out of every 10 branches.

The Bank Aadhaar Kendras are aimed at making the Aadhaar verification process of bank accounts convenient for the people, and also to have more Aadhaar centres across the country.

'To further incentivise banks for setting up Aadhaar enrolment centres in their identified branches and provide convenience to their customers, it has been decided that the banks which meet the minimum Aadhaar enrolment/update targets shall continue to avail UIDAI's authentication and eKYC service free of cost,' UIDAI said.

Banks not complying with minimum targets will be required to pay for UIDAI's authentication and eKYC services, it has now warned.

The UIDAI has asked banks to take a series of steps to publicise the Aadhaar enrolment facility being provided at their branches.

These include issuing advertisements, customer outreach through text messages, and email as well as website listing of all such centres along with total enrolment and updation done monthly in those branches. -- PTI

The BJP has claimed that Congress president Rahul Gandhi wanted the Chinese ambassador to give him a ceremonial see-off as he left for the Kailash-Mansarovar yatra today, accusing him of holding brief for China everywhere like a "Chinese spokesperson".

Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Sambit Patra sought to know from the Congress as to which politicians and officials Gandhi will meet during his visit to China, "his favourite country".

Patra did not comment on Gandhi's pilgrimage, saying it is a personal visit. Kailash Mansarovar region falls in China.

The BJP leader claimed that the Chinese ambassador had sought required permission from the Indian government to give Gandhi a ceremonial seeoff but it did not respond to his letter.

"You are Rahul Gandhi, not Chinese Gandhi. Why should the Chinese ambassador want to see off a non-Chinese person? There is no such protocol," Patra told a press conference, asking what is the Congress president's China connection.

"Yeh rishta kya kahlata hai? (What is this relationship called)," he asked. He claimed that Rahul was flying to Nepal from where he would go to China.

In the press conference, the BJP also played a video clip of several comments made by Gandhi in which he highlights achievements of the neighbouring country, and alleged that the Congress president acts like a "Chinese spokesperson".

"Addiction, obsession or something else" was the video's title.

During the Doklam standoff between India and China, Gandhi had met the Chinese ambassador to understand the Chinese perspective without taking the Indian government into confidence or seeking to know Indian perspective, he said.

He also mentioned Gandhi's claim that China gives 50,000 jobs to its people every 24 hours while India could employ only 450 persons everyday and termed them as "comic figures".

"Why he is holding brief for China everywhere as if he is a hired man to advertise China," Patra said.

The Gandhi family was a guest of the Chinese government during the 2008 Olympics in the country and the Chinese ambassador had gone to airport to see its members off, Patra said, questioning the kind of relations it has with the country.

Shareholders of ICICI Securities have voted in favour of reappointing Chanda Kochhar as the company's Chairperson, as per a regulatory filing.

ICICI Securities' promoter (ICICI Bank) and promoter group have voted 100 per cent in favour of Kochhar's reappointment.

The ICICI Bank MD and CEO is on an absence of leave from office, pending the probe against her on the allegations of favouring family members in lieu of providing loans to a corporate house.

The shareholders of ICICI Securities at its 23rd annual general meeting held yesterday passed the resolution to re-appoint Kochhar as the chairperson of the ICICI Bank subsidiary.

She received nearly 97.7 per cent of the votes in favour of her reappointment, while nearly 2.32 per cent votes were cast against her, ICICI Securities said in a late night filing on Thursday.

"In the absence of Chanda Kochhar, Chairperson, Vinod Kumar Dhall was designated by the board of directors of the company as the chairman of the meeting," it said in the filing.

She expressed her inability to attend the meeting, ICICI Securities said.

Earlier this month, Kochhar had offered herself to be reappointed on the board of ICICI Securities. She is the chairperson of the bank's broking arm.

She is facing allegations of impropriety in ICICI Bank by extending loans to some companies and enjoying reciprocal benefits.

It has been alleged that her family members, including her husband Deepak Kochhar, got financial favours from the borrowers against the loans sanctioned by the bank.

Sebi has already served a notice on Kochhar on dealings of the bank with Videocon Group and Nupower-a firm controlled by her husband. An independent probe has also been launched by ICICI Bank board to look into the matter.

There are eight members on the board of ICICI Securities of which four are independent directors, two are non-executive non-independent directors who are nominated from ICICI Bank and two are whole-time directors.

Two members --managing director & CEO Shilpa Kumar and executive director Ajay Saraf are the whole-time directors on the board of ICICI Securities.

ICICI Securities, headquartered in Mumbai, offers financial services including brokerage, financial product distribution and investment banking, catering to both retail and institutional clients.

During 2017-18, the company was listed on the stock exchanges through the initial public offer (IPO). The IPO was completed through an offer-for-sale by holding company ICICI Bank.

Stock of ICICI Securities was trading 1.31 per cent up at Rs 331.50 on BSE in the afternoon. -- PTI

In the wake of Reserve Bank of India's report that said 99.3 per cent of the junked notes returned to the banking system, the Shiv Sena today sought to know what penance Prime Minister Narendra Modi would undertake for plunging the country into "financial anarchy" through demonetisation.

The Sena said the note ban caused immense losses to the economy, affected the industry, caused the rupee to fall to its lowest level since Independence and made over a hundred people lose their lives, yet the country's rulers were boasting about development.

"Since demonetisation plunged the country into a financial anarchy, what penance will Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertake to keep his promise to the country? The note-ban exercise was carried out to gain popularity," the Sena asked in an editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana today.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party was referring to Modi's speech in Goa in November 2016, wherein he appealed to people to cooperate with him for 50 days (till December 30) and punish him if his intentions were wrong.

"I have only asked for 50 days. Give me time till December 30. After that, if any fault is found in my intentions or my actions, I am willing to suffer any punishment given by the country," he had said.

Stating that demonetisation spelt troubles for the country, the Sena said, "Decisions relating to the country's economy should not be taken in a hurry. The note ban butchered the country's economy. The Reserve Bank has also put a stamp of approval on this."

"Modi had said that demonetisation is meant to permanently bring to an end corruption, black money and fake notes. However, all these things increased in the last two years. The claims that the note ban will bring down the terror activities in Kashmir and peace will prevail in the Valley also proved to be hollow," it said.

It added that black money and fake currency could not be retrieved as 99.3 per cent currency returned to the banking system.

The BJP's bickering ally said small-scale industries, housing and service sectors were devastated, farmers had to suffer immensely and people had to stand in queues outside banks for two months following the note ban, it said.

Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today hit out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi for making allegations against the government, saying those with a "legacy of scams" see scams everywhere, not development.

Naqvi's remarks come a day after Gandhi launched a two-pronged offensive against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on demonetisation and Rafale deal, terming them huge scams which were committed to help his "crony capitalist friends".

"Only a person whose journey from Pappu to Gappu (a person who makes tall claims) started with lies can make such illogical statements," Naqvi said.

"Unfortunately, those who have a legacy of scams, they only see scams everywhere. They cannot see development and good governance," the Minority Affairs Minister said.

The Congress has lost all ground and therefore its leaders should keep a calm mind, and move forward after self introspection, he added.

These people are helping in destroying the Congress by making all sorts of wrong claims in India and abroad, Naqvi said, in an apparent reference to Gandhi's remarks recently in India and during his visit to the UK and Germany.

In a no-holds-barred attack on Modi, the Congress chief had yesterday alleged the note ban "scam" was deliberately inflicted on common people by the prime minister who owes an answer to the country on why he did so. Gandhi also demanded a JPC probe into the Rafale issue. -- PTI

Maharashtra police today said there was "conclusive proof" to link the arrested activists to Maoists, adding a letter exchanged by an arrested activist spoke of planning a "Rajiv Gandhi-like" incident.

An email letter, between Rona Wilson and a Commuist Party of India-Maoist leader speaks of ending "Modi raj" with a 'Rajiv Gandhi-type incident', Maharashtra police additional director general (law and order) Parambir Singh told reporters in Mumbai.

The letter also sought money for procuring grenade launchers, he said.

Singh displayed also letters allegedly exchanged by some of the arrested activists.

Police has seized "thousands of letters" exchanged between the overground and the underground of Maoists, the police officer said.

Some of the letters exchanged between the arrested activists spoke of planning "some big action" which would attract attention, Singh said.

15:50 AP, K'taka CMs meet, say aim is to defeat NDA

Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka chief ministers N Chandrababu Naidu and H D Kumaraswamy on Friday discussed a host of political issues, essentially the need for bringing regional parties together and defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance at the Centre.

Kumaraswamy arrived in Vijayawada to worship Goddess Kanaka Durga, the presiding deity of the historic city, atop Indrakeeladri.

Naidu, while leaving for Tirupati, stopped at a city hotel where Kumaraswamy was staying and held a meeting with him for about 40 minutes.

A communique from the state information and public relations department said the two chief ministers discussed the need for regional parties coming together, more so in south India.

Naidu and Kumaraswamy expressed the opinion that all regional parties in the south should come on to a single platform. They also discussed the need for an alternative force at the Centre, the communique said.

"These issues were discussed only for a brief time. There is need for an elaborate deliberation on this," the communique quoted Naidu as saying at the end of the meeting.

The Karnataka chief minister later told reporters that both the Telugu Desam Party and the Janata Dal-Secular shared a brotherhood and their common objective was to defeat the NDA at the Centre.

"Defeating the NDA and saving the nation is our main aim. It's not important who will be the (next) PM candidate," Kumaraswamy said, in reply to a question.

He said they would try to rope in as many regional parties as possible.

"We have discussed this issue many times so far. Our meeting today was a continuation of that," he added. -- PTI

Dismissing rumours, the government today said bank branches would remain open next week and there was no need for panic.

It has come to our notice that a rumour is circulating in several sections of social media that banks will be closed for 6 days in the first week of September 2018, causing undue panic among the general public, the finance ministry said in a statement.

"It is hereby clarified that banks will remain open and banking activity will continue unimpeded in the first week of September. Banks will only observe holidays on Sunday, September 2, and second Saturday, September 8," it said.

Monday, September 3, is not a pan-India holiday and banks only in some states where a holiday is declared under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, will remain closed, it said.

Even on those days, it said, ATMs in all states will be fully functional and there will be no impact on online banking transactions.

Banks have been advised to ensure that sufficient cash is available for dispensation from ATMs. Banks will remain open on all other days, it added.

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday questioned former finance minister P Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case for the fourth time, officials said.

Chidambaram arrived at the agency's office here early in the day, they said, adding that his statement will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

This is the fourth time the senior Congress leader is being questioned in the probe. He was last grilled for about six hours on August 24.

Some specific queries on the circumstances and procedures adopted by the now-defunct Foreign Investment Promotion Board are being put to the former Union minister during these sessions, it is learnt.

Chidambaram's son Karti has been questioned twice by the ED in this case.

While the CBI has filed a chargesheet in this case involving the politician in July, the ED is expected to file its own prosecution complaint within the next fortnight.

After similar questioning by the ED in this case in June, Chidambaram had said what he told the agency was already recorded in government documents. He also said a probe was initiated even though there is no FIR.

"More than half the time taken up by typing the answers without errors, reading the statement and signing it!," he had said in his tweet.

The Aircel-Maxis cases pertains to grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance to the firm M/S Global Communication Holding Services Ltd in 2006 for investment in Aircel. -- PTI

On the day its term comes to an end, the Law Commission issued a consultation paper today on personal laws, which discusses introduction of new grounds for 'no fault' divorce, changes to provisions on alimony and maintenance, and uncertainty and inequality in age of consent for marriage.

Instead of a full-fledged report on a uniform civil code, the law panel preferred a consultation paper as it had little time at hand to bring out a comprehensive report.

Panel chairman Justice B S Chauhan (retd) had earlier said instead of recommending a uniform code, the commission might suggest "piecemeal" changes in personal laws.

Now, it will be up to the 22nd Law Commission to bring out a final report on the controversial issue which has generated a heated debate in the recent past.

The law ministry had on June 17, 2016 asked the panel to "examine matters in relation to uniform civil code".

"The issue of uniform civil code is vast, and its potential repercussions, untested in India. Therefore, after detailed research and a number of consultations held over the course of two years, the commission is presenting its consultation paper on reform of family laws in India," the consultation paper said.

Under the Hindu law, the paper discusses problems with provisions such as restitution of conjugal rights, and suggests the inclusion of concepts such as 'community of property' of a married couple, abolition of coparcenary and rights of illegitimate children.

Under the Muslim law, it discusses the reform in inheritance law through codification of Muslim law on inheritance, but ensuring that the codified law is gender just.

The paper also discusses the rights of a widow, and the changes to general laws such as introduction of community of (self acquired) property after marriage, inclusion of irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce.

For Parsi law, there are suggestions relating to protecting married women's right to inherit property even if they marry outside their community. -- PTI

13:54 Gary Kirsten appointed RCB's head coach

Former Indian coach Gary Kirsten has been appointed as the head coach and mentor of Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Kirsten, who was already serving the team as the team's batting coach, has replaced Daniel Vettori for the position.

RCB chairman Sanjeev Churiwala said that the former South African player has proved his abilities during the last IPL season and further believed that he would bring a fresh perspective to the team.

"During the last IPL season, Gary has proved to be a brilliant mentor to both seasoned and young RCB players and we are confident that he will bring a fresh perspective to the team," ESPNcricinfo.com quoted Churiwala, as saying.

Kirsten, who guided the Indian team to World Cup glory in 2011, has also coached another IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils in the year 2014 and 2015.

RCB have never won the IPL title despite having some of the best players of T20 cricket including Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers. During the last season, the team failed to make it to the playoff round as they finished sixth on the points table.

13:34 Petrol, diesel prices hiked yet again

Fuel prices once again witnessed a hike on Friday morning with petrol being sold at Rs. 78.52 per litre and diesel at Rs. 70.21 per litre Delhi.

Petrol price has been increased by Rs 0.22 per litre since Thursday and diesel price by Rs 0.28 per litre in the national capital.

In Mumbai, petrol prices have shot up from Rs 85.72 per litre on Thursday, to Rs 85.93 per litre (increased by Rs 0.21 per litre), and diesel prices have increased by Rs 0.30 per litre from Rs 74.24 per litre to Rs 74.54 per litre.

On August 30, petrol price was Rs 78.30 per litre in Delhi while diesel price was increased to Rs 69.93. In Mumbai, petrol was sold at Rs 85.72 per litre and diesel at Rs 74.24 per litre.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi has once again attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Refale deal.

In a fresh tweet, Gandhi called Rafale deal a globalised corruption.

"Globalised corruption. This Rafale aircraft really does fly far and fast! It's also going to drop some big bunker buster bombs in the next couple of weeks. Modi Ji please tell Anil, there is a big problem in France," Rahul said.

The Congress has repeatedly alleged a "scam" in the purchase of Rafale fighter jets claiming the cost per aircraft in 2012 was agreed at Rs 526.10 crore while the one signed by the Modi government costs 7.5 billion (Rs 1,670.70 crore per aircraft).

The Congress had also claimed that Modi allegedly awarded a contract to Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence even though it lacks experience in defence manufacturing.

However, Ambani had refuted all the allegations leveled by the Congress.

The Supreme Court today stayed the declaration of results for the 2017 examination held for selection of staff for government departments and ministries, saying it appeared from the first look that the entire test was tainted.

The top court observed that it cannot permit people to benefit from the "tainted" 2017 SSC (Staff Selection Commission) Combined Graduate Level and senior secondary level examination and get into service.

A bench of Justices S A Bobde and L Nageswara Rao stayed the declaration of the results after perusing a status report of the CBI in which aspersions have been cast on several SSC officials and the custodian of the examination paper.

"It prima facie appears that the entire SSC system is tainted and entire examinations (2017) are tainted. It can't be believed that the custodian of the examination paper is himself leaking the paper," the bench said.

The top court also pulled up Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee, appearing for CBI, for taking a stand to defend the officials of SSC, a government body which conducts examinations to recruit staff at multiple levels in various ministries and departments.

"Mr Solicitor, it is surprising that you are taking this stand. You are appearing for CBI and you should have said that the examination must be cancelled. Your status report implicates several people and you are taking a different stand," the bench said.

Advocates Prashant Bhushan and Govind Jee, appearing for petitioner Shantanu Kumar, alleged that the CBI in its first status report had itself admitted that the custodian of examination paper has leaked the paper.

Bhushan sought a stay on the declaration of results, pointing out that it will be released in a day or two.

Several lakh students had appear in the SSC examination and those who qualify, enter government services in C and D Category of jobs.

Earlier, the top court had asked the petitioners to approach the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) secretary and give an appropriate representation.

The petitioner had said that the SSC Combined Graduate Level Examination was being outsourced to a private vendor, which has allegedly been accused in connection with the Satyam scam.

He said there was a high probability of cheating and malpractices as the private vendor entrusted to conduct the exam by the SSC has further outsourced it in some centres. -- PTI

13:16 Vodafone completes merger with Idea

The merger of Idea Cellular and Vodafone India has been completed, creating India's biggest telecom service provider with over 408 million subscribers, the two companies said today.

A new board has been constituted for the merged entity "Vodafone Idea Ltd' with 12 directors (including six independent directors) and Kumar Mangalam Birla as its Chairman.

The board has appointed Balesh Sharma as the CEO, the companies said in a joint statement.

The combination will have all India revenue market share of 32.2 per cent and take the numero uno slot in nine telecom circles, it said adding that both Vodafone and Idea brands will continue.

The telecom giant will topple Bharti Airtel from its current pole position, and will have the firepower to take on competition in the Indian telecom market, which has intensified with the aggressive entry of Reliance Jio.

It will have a broadband network of 3.4 lakh sites and distribution network with 17 lakh retail outlets.

"The merger is expected to generate Rs 14,000 crore annual synergy, including opex synergies of Rs 8,400 crore, equivalent to a net present value of approximately Rs 70,000 crore," the statement said.

The net debt of the company stood at Rs 1,09,200 crore on June 30, 2018.

"The equity infusion of Rs 6,750 crore at Idea and Rs 8,600 crore at Vodafone, coupled with monetisation of standalone towers of both companies for an enterprise value of Rs 7,850 crore, provides the company a strong cash balance of over Rs 19,300 crore post payout of Rs 3,900 crore to the department of telecom," the statement said.

Moreover, it added, the company has an option to monetise over 11 per cent stake in Indus (the tower company), amounting to a cash consideration of Rs 5,100 crore.

The combination will have a wide spectrum portfolio of about 1,850 MHz, over 2 lakh mobile sites and about 2.35 lakh kms of fibre. This will allow it to offer "superior voice and broadband connectivity across the country, covering 92 per cent of the population and reaching nearly 5,00,000 towns and villages," it said. -- PTI

The Supreme Court today sought responses from the Centre, six state governments and the Bharatiya Janata Party on a plea which has alleged that they have violated the apex court's directions on issuance of public advertisements.

Besides the Centre and the BJP, the apex court issued notices to the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Chattishgarh and Telangana on a plea filed by an Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Delhi.

Except Telangana, the other five states are ruled by the BJP.

A bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked them to file their responses within four weeks on the plea by Sanjeev Jha, an MLA from Burari constituency.

The petitioner has alleged that the Centre, the BJP and these states have issued public advertisements in violation of the apex court's directions given earlier.

He has sought a direction from the top court that a committee constituted on this issue by the Centre should be asked to take cognizance of these alleged violations and initiate appropriate proceedings against them.

On May 13, 2015 the apex court had passed a slew of directions including the order asking Centre to constitute a three-member committee "consisting of persons with unimpeachable neutrality and impartiality" to regulate the issue of public advertisements.

However, on March 18, 2016, the apex court modified its order and said the pictures of Union ministers, chief ministers, governors and state ministers can appear in government advertisements.

That verdict came on pleas by Centre and states including the then poll-bound West Bengal and Tamil Nadu which had sought a review of the Supreme Court judgment barring publication of leaders' photos in advertisements except those of the President, Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India, saying it infringed on fundamental rights and federal structure.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing NGO Common Cause which had filed the original PIL on review petitions filed by the States, had told the bench that certain state governments were violating the apex court's orders. -- PTI

12:25 SC quashes FIR against Priya Varrier

The Supreme Court has quashed an FIR lodged against actor Priya Prakash Varrier for her 'wink' video.

The apex court has also quashed the FIR against the director and producer of movie Oru Adaar Love and said that no further FIR shall be filed in this regard.

In case you've forgotten who is Priya Prakash Varrier, here's a quick refresher on her.

The Supreme Court today adjourned the hearing on the constitutional validity of the Article 35A relating to the special rights and privileges enjoyed by Jammu and Kashmir, till January 2019.

The contentious issue has brought life in Kashmir to a standstill due to a complete shutdown in the state called by separatists.

The petition filed by an NGO claims that Article 35A is illegal as it was added to the Constitution without being presented before the Parliament.

Supreme Court lawyer Charu Wali Khanna, who has filed another petition challenging the said Article, claims it is also discriminatory against women.

Click HERE to know everything about the Article 35A.

Much street action in terms of political protests and events is in the offing in the months of September and October.

The Bharatiya Janata Party will organise poetry evenings at 4,000 places in memory of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on September 16, which will mark a month of his death.

On September 17, BJP workers will celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday. The celebrations will continue till the birth anniversary of Jana Sangh founder Deen Dayal Upadhyay on September 25.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist, particularly its affiliated trade unions and farmer union, plans to hold a massive rally in Delhi on September 5.

Several Congress state units will launch agitations focused on the Rafale fighter jet issue. Several other womens' and farmers' groups also plan to hold protests during the month of September.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi would be on a pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar in the first half of September, and his party plans to put out video footage and photographs certifying their party president's devotion for Lord Shiva.

-- Business Standard

11:24 Naxalism will end soon: Ram Madhav

Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Ram Madhav on Thursday said that activists, who support Naxals, are now scared of going to jail.

He added that Naxalism will soon end in India.

"Few activists are now scared to go to jail and they are requesting to keep them in house arrest. In the coming days, Naxalism will end. Already Naxalism has come down in districts by the efforts of police and government, but there are some activists who are staying in cities and supporting naxalism. It should also be ended," Madhav said at an event in Hyderabad.

"Naxalites are enemies and some of their supporters are professors and human rights members," he added.

Madhav's statement comes after the Supreme Court directed the Pune police on Wednesday to keep the five accused activists, arrested in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence, under house arrest till September 5.

Activists -- Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Gautam Navlakha, Vernon Gonsalves and Sudha Bhardwaj -- were under police scanner for having links with the Naxals and also being allegedly involved in triggering violence at Elgaar Parishad, an event to mark the 200th year of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon, in Pune that took place in January this year. -- ANI

11:11 Identify fake J&K natives and oust them: NC

The National Conference has raked up the demand to identify the "fake" natives of Jammu and Kashmir and oust them from the state.

NC's Jammu region president Devender Singh Rana raised the demand amid a plea pending at the Supreme Court questioning the legality of the Article 35A of the Constitution that accords various rights and privileges to the "permanent residents" of the state.

Rana raked up the issue, launching a blistering attack on the PDP-BJP government, accusing them of sitting over the issue and undermining the rights, dignity and identity of the state natives.

"The erstwhile coalition had a sinister design to trample the special status of the state, which is why the forces inimical to the legacy of the permanent resident laws have been let loose to challenge the Article 35A," said Rana.

Accusing the BJP of unleashing a "misinformation campaign" against Article 35 A, Rana said the Constitutional provision instead protects the interests of the state's "permanent residents".

Accusing the BJP of trying to create a "hysteria over the issue", Rana dared it to carry out a referendum across Jammu to find out the will of the people in this regard.

Rana said the BJP's "consistent tirade" against the Article 35A may be because of some "clandestine deal" reached with illegal non-state subjects, who want to strengthen their hegemony in Jammu.

Rana said "the overt and covert attempts to repeal Article 35A has put the state at cross roads of history."

He said tampering with it would be economically detrimental to the people of Jammu in particular as the youth would be deprived of jobs and the local business community would suffer due to influx of big business houses and traders from outside the state.

"Generating hysteria is a BJP's ploy to hide its three years of all-round failures and to push the state to political instability", he added.

Senior NC leader and former MP Sheikh Abdul Rehman questioned the alleged bids to have the Article 35A abrogated and said he wondered why the forces seeking its repeal were were silent over the unique status being enjoyed by Nagaland, Mizoram, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh and Goa as per various sub sections (A to G) of the Article 371. -- PTI

Delhi's Patiala House court has granted bail to all accused including former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav in Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) scam case.

This comes a day after RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav surrendered before a CBI court in Ranchi after completion of his provisional bail in Fodder Scam case.

The court had summoned 12 others in the case; including Lalu Yadav; who is currently in jail.

Lalu and his family have been accused of illegally giving away the railway hotels on lease when he was the railway minister.

10:20 Ratan Tata offers prayers at Tirupati

Tata Trusts Chairman Ratan Tata offers worship at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala Tirupati Temple.

10:02 Rupee hits new low

The rupee slumped to a fresh record low of 71 against the dollar for the first time ever by falling 26 paise on persistent demand for the US currency amid rising crude prices.

At the Interbank Foreign Exchange market, the local currency opened lower at 70.95 a dollar and slipped further to hit its lifetime low of 71 from its previous close of 70.74.

Forex dealers said besides robust month-end demand for the American currency from oil importers, dollar's strength against its rival currencies on expectations of rising interest rates amid lingering Sino-US trade tensions, weighed on the domestic currency.

Yesterday, the rupee slid further by 15 paise to close at a fresh lifetime low of 70.74 to the dollar due to strong demand for the greenback from oil importers and surging crude oil prices stoking inflation fears.

Growing fears about rising inflation in amid high global crude oil prices and consistent outflow of foreign funds from the domestic equity market also weighed on the domestic currency.

Benchmark Brent crude oil was at USD 78 a barrel in early Asian trade.

Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex fell 78.64 points, or 0.20 per cent, to 38,611.46 points in opening trade. -- PTI

United States President Donald Trump has said the Russia collusion in US polls investigation headed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller is "illegal" as the probe continues to hone in on his inner circle.

In an interview to Bloomberg News, Trump told that Mueller's appointment to investigate his 2016 election campaign for possible collusion with Russia was wrong.

"I view it differently. I view it as an illegal investigation," he told Bloomberg.

He cited unnamed "great scholars" who say that "there never should have been a special counsel," according to the news agency.

Some legal experts have questioned the Justice Department's naming of Mueller, a former FBI director, to handle the probe in the absence of a specific law governing special prosecutors.

But Trump's own Justice Department says it is legal.

The Trump administration has termed the upcoming 2+2 dialogue in New Delhi next week "a major opportunity" to enhance the US' engagement with India on critical diplomatic and security priorities.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary James Mattis are travelling to New Delhi for the first ever India-US two-plus-two dialogue being hosted by their Indian counterparts External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

"The 2+2 is a major opportunity to enhance our engagement with India on critical diplomatic and security priorities," a senior administration official told reporters during a conference call yesterday.

Pompeo's travel in tandem with Mattis is a strong indication of the deepening strategic partnership between the United States and India, and that of India's emergence as an important security provider in the region, the official said.

"India's central role in our National Security Strategy is enshrined in the President's National Security Strategy as well as the administration's South Asia and Indo-Pacific strategies. So that's my first message, that the relationship with India is a key US priority and integral to our national security," the official said.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official added that the two countries have a very ambitious agenda for the 2+2, including advancing their shared vision for the Indo-Pacific.

As democracies bookending the Indo-Pacific region, the United States and India share an interest in promoting security and prosperity in this region, the official said.

"Together and with other like-minded partners, we want to ensure the freedom of the seas and the skies, promote market economics, support good governance, and insulate sovereign nations from external coercion," the official added.

Noting that the United States declared India a major defence partner in 2016, a status unique to New Delhi, the official said operationalising that status would also be an important part of the discussion at the 2+2.

"We expect progress and further deepening the ties between our two militaries, and creating of a framework for greater information sharing and inter-operability," the official said.

The two countries, the official noted, were also eager to expand defence trade, which is estimated to reach USD 18 billion by 2019 from essentially zero in 2008.

To support this goal, the US government recently granted India the Strategy Trade Authority Tier 1 designation, which enables US-based companies export dual-use items to India under a more streamlined, licenced process, the official added. -- PTI

Two men were killed and six others injured after two masked men went on a rampage, attacking and stabbing people randomly in outer Delhi's Mangolpuri, the police said on Thursday.

The incident happened on Wednesday.

It is suspected that the killings were the fallout of a rivalry between two groups trying to assert their dominance in the area, police said.

Karan Veer (47) and Dinesh (32) were taking a walk outside their house when they were stabbed to death by the two men. The accused then went on to stab Vinay, Irshad and two other men while fleeing from the area, police said.

They also stabbed Suresh, a Delhi Jal Board worker, who was sitting outside his house after dinner, the police said.

The victims do not have criminal records, the police said.

Police also said that around 10 days back, there was a fight between two groups over dominance in the locality. A man who was injured during the scuffle died yesterday, they said.

It is suspected that his accomplices had come to find the men responsible for the attack on their friend but when they could not trace the suspected attacker, they went on a stabbing spree, police said.

The police also said they have detained some suspects in the case. -- PTI

Terrorists on Thursday night struck at various places in south Kashmir and abducted kin of policemen.

The terrorists's action came on a day when the National Investigation Agency arrested the second son of globally wanted terrorist Syed Salahuddin.

Police did not immediately gave any official statement and said they were trying to ascertain reports of abductions.

However, officials privy to the development, said that at least five people, whose family members were working in the Jammu and Kashmir Police, have been picked up by terrorists from Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag and Awantipora.

Among those abducted included brother of a deputy superintendent of police.

Security forces have went on rampage yesterday after killing of four policemen in Shopian in south Kashmir and damaged some houses belonging to terrorists.

In a related development, kin of a policeman, who was abducted from Ganderbal district in central Kashmir, was released after being mercilessly beaten up by terrorists. -- PTI

08:23 No change to the processing of H-1B visas: US

There has been no change in the processing of H-1B visas, the Trump administration has said ahead of next week's two-plus-two dialogue between India and the US, during which External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is expected to raise the issue.

"We are already raising the issue formally at various fora. We are speaking on it with the White House, with state administration as well as with Congressmen... We will raise it humbly at the 2+2 dialogue on September 6 in New Delhi," Sushma Swaraj told the Rajya Sabha last month.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior official of the administration acknowledged that it was prepared for India raising the H-1B issue at the 2+2, but added that it would not have much to say as the policy remained the same and was undergoing review.

"The Trump administration's executive order has called for a broad review of the US worker visa programme known as H-1B in the interest of ensuring that they are administered in a way that doesn't disadvantage US workers or wages," the official said.

"But there has been no change to the processing of H-1B visas. So it's really impossible for me to speculate on the outcome and any possible changes to the system. It is obviously an issue that is important to India," the official added. -- PTI

US President Donald Trump said that civilian employees of the federal government will not receive raises in 2019.

In doing away with the 2.1 per cent across-the-board pay increase that was scheduled to take effect in January, Trump said he was working "put our nation on a fiscally sustainable course."

Scrapping the raises will save more than $25 billion, Trump said.

"I have determined that for 2019, both across the board pay increases and locality pay increases will be set at zero," the US president said in a letter addressed to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, and released by the White House. "These alternative pay plan decisions will not materially affect our ability to attract and retain a well qualified Federal workforce."

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