LIVE! Govt did tardy job in Assam NRC: Rahul

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Mon, 30 July 2018

Govt did tardy job in Assam NRC: Rahul

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23:49 Govt did tardy job in Assam NRC: Rahul

Congress President Rahul Gandhi today said the BJP government's execution of the highly-sensitive National Register of Citizens has been tardy, leading to massive insecurity in Assam.

The government should move swiftly to resolve the crisis in Assam after reports that the names of many Indian citizens are missing in the draft National Register of Citizens, Gandhi said.

The Congress chief also asked Congress members to help maintain peace and help those, irrespective of their caste, religion or group, against whom "injustice" was done in the draft NRC.

In a Facebook post, Gandhi said the NRC was initiated by the UPA under Manmohan Singh to fulfil the commitment made in the Assam Accord of 1985.

"However, the manner in which this exercise has been undertaken by the BJP Governments at the centre and in the State of Assam leaves much to be desired," he said.

"There are reports pouring in from all corners of Assam of Indian citizens finding their names missing in the draft NRC, creating massive insecurity in the state. Clearly, after spending close to Rs 1,200 crore, the execution of this critical and highly sensitive exercise has been tardy. The Government must move swiftly to resolve this crisis," he added.

Over 40 lakh people in Assam have been left out from the the NRC, which is being prepared to identify illegal migrants in the state.

The Congress has demanded that government convene an immediate all-party meeting to address the issue. -- PTI

Firebrand Hindutva leader Sadhvi Prachi today offered prayers at the Gorakhnath temple in Gorakhpur on the first Monday of the holy month of Shravan, and said she prayed for a life partner for Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the temple, Prachi said, "I have been regularly coming here to seek the blessings of Baba Gorakhnath, but this time I came with a special wish."

"I prayed that if they (the Congress) do not get a majority to form the government, may Rahul get a life partner. (Agar unhe sarkar ke liye bahumat na mile, to Rahul Gandhi ko bahu mil jaaye," said Prachi.

Hitting out at the Sadhvi, UP Congress spokesperson Ashok Singh said, "It has become a trend for these people to ridicule the top leadership of the Congress. In fact, their survival heavily depends on such trivial statements. And when a Sadhvi is making such statements, it is simply in very bad taste." -- PTI

Amar Singh today hit out at the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh by dubbing them as "castiest" and said he would prefer to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi and state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The expelled Samajwadi Party leader's remarks came a day after Modi said Singh knew the people who interact with industrialists behind the curtains.

The prime minister, while launching projects in Lucknow yesterday, had attacked the opposition for claiming that he prefers to get clicked with industrialists.

Singh was present at the UP government event.

"I believe in politics of sanity and sensitivity...There is no Congress in UP. It is a fringe player. The SP and BSP are the two sides of the same coin," he said.

He said the two parties symbolise "castiest politics" and believe that secularism is appeasement of only one community.

"It is for you to decide to prefer Modi and Yogi or 'babua-bua'," he said.

He calls SP chief Akhilesh Yadav as 'babua' (little boy). Akhilesh often calls BSP supremo Mayawati as 'bua' (his father's sister).

Singh, who was a Rajya Sabha MP from the SP, was expelled from the Akhilesh Yadav-led party last year. -- PTI

"Mission Impossible: Fall Out" makers were asked to remove the references to Kashmir by India's Central Board of Film Certification.

The Christopher McQuarrie movie, starring Tom Cruise as intelligence agent Ethan Hunt, released in India on July 27 and had four cuts/modifications made by the CBFC.

According to the CBFC certificate, the board had asked the makers to cut the title before the climax that identified the place "India-occupied Kashmir" and a map of the Indian subcontinent that misrepresented the boundaries of the state of Jammu and Kashmir was also removed.

The makers were also asked to add a disclaimer of fiction that "the film neither intends to hurt the feelings/sentiments nor means to defame persons of any region, community, nationality, religion or organisation".

However, mentions of Nubra valley and the Siachen glacier in Ladakh by Rebecca Fergusson's Ilsa Faust have not been deleted.

The final sequence, set in Kashmir, was shot in picturesque locations of New Zealand.

"I had wanted to shoot in India. I went and scouted there extensively... It was a pretty crazy sequence. So while we were shooting in New Zealand, we still had this (feel)... We liked the flavour of India, so (somehow) we managed to put it in (the film)," McQuarrie had told PTI during a promotional event in Paris.

"Mission: Impossible Fallout" is the sixth installment in the action franchise. Till now, the film has minted Rs 56.1 crore in India, making it biggest opening day and opening weekend for a Cruise film in the country. -- PTI

READ: Mission Impossible Fallout review

Amid repeated cases of alleged lynching by cow vigilantes in Rajasthan's Alwar, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Gyan Dev Ahuja today said cow slaughtering is a bigger crime than terrorism as cows are treated as mothers in India and any 'misbehaviour' with them cannot be tolerated.

Ahuja, who had earlier accused the local police for the recent case of alleged lynching in which one Rakbar alias Akbar Khan died after being thrashed by a cow vigilante group, said terrorists kill 2-5 people, but cow slaughtering hurts sentiments of several thousands and even lakhs of people.

Speaking to reporters at the BJP headquarters in Jaipur, the legislator said cow slaughtering will incite people and hurt their sentiments, which will lead to some incidents.

"Court should accept this. How should such incidents be stopped?" he said.

The comments from Ahuja, BJP MLA from Ramgarh constituency in Alwar, follows arrest of three women today in Alwar's Govindgarh with nearly 40kg suspected beef after it was alleged that a family belonging to minority community allegedly slaughtered a cow at their residence to sell the beef.

Ahuja said India is a country which respects mother and "Geeta, Dharti (land), cow, Ganga, Tulsi and a birth giver" are treated as mother in the country.

He said any 'misbehaviour' or 'goodanism' with the mother is not tolerated in this country and therefore it is a bigger crime than terrorism.

While it was alleged by his rivals that the the people involved in the Rakbar case were his men, Ahuja had blamed the local police for the incident and had demanded a judicial inquiry or a CBI probe into the case to ensure "unbiased investigation".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chaiperson Imran Khan over the phone and congratulated him for his party emerging as the largest political party in the National Assembly of Pakistan in the recently conducted general elections.

Modi expressed hope that democracy will take deeper roots in Pakistan, the ministry of external affairs said in a statement.

"The prime minister also reiterated his vision of peace and development in the entire neighborhood," it added.

The PTI, led by 65-year-old Khan, has emerged as the single largest party in the National Assembly after the July 25 elections, but it is still short of numbers to form the government on its own. Khan's party yesterday announced that it is trying to reach out to smaller parties and independents to form the next government.

Khan said he will take oath as prime minister on August 11.

The final list of the National Register of Citizens, which is being updated in Assam, will be published by December this year, the home ministry announced today.

The declaration came on a day the draft NRC, a list of Assam's citizens, was published with exclusion of 40.7 lakh out of a total 3.29 crore applicants.

The Registrar General of Citizen Registration has notified that the enumeration in connection with updating of the NRC, 1951, in Assam shall be completed within December 31, 2018, the notification said.

The notification was signed by Sailesh, Registrar General of Citizen Registration.

Sailesh today released the draft NRC in Guwahati at a press conference. -- PTI

Image: People wait to check their names on the final draft of the state's National Register of Citizens after it was released, at an NRC Seva Kendra in Tezpur on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo

As many as 209 dams in the country are more than 100 years old, while the Thonnur Tank in Karnataka is more than 1,000-year-old, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal told Parliament today.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Meghwal said the Thonnur Tank in Karnataka was constructed in the year 1000, while Cumbhum dam in Andhra Pradesh was built in 1500.

The Tonnur tank is known for its clean, pristine water, which is located approximately 135 km from Bengaluru. It is spread over nearly 2,200 acres. The Cumbhum dam is built on Gundlakamma and Jampaleru rivers in Andhra Pradesh.

Some of the oldest dams in the country are Dhamapur (1600) in Maharashtra and Barwa Sagar, Magar Pur and Pachwara Lake in Uttar Pradesh, all three constructed in 1694.

Meghwal said as per the records of the Central Water Commission, there have been 36 reported dam failures in the country.

The Machhu II dam in Gujarat, constructed in 1972 and reported failure in 1979, caused a loss of 1,800 lives, the minister added.

In response to another question, Meghwal said safety of dams, including its operation, rehabilitation and maintenance rests primarily with dam owners, which are generally the state governments, central and state power public sector undertakings, municipalities and private companies. -- PTI

The ceasefire violations along the Line of Control has increased six-fold from 2015 to 2018, the government informed the Rajya Sabha today.

Replying to a question in the Upper House, Minister of State in the Defence Ministry Subhash Bhamre said there were 152 cases of CFVs in 2015.

It increased to 228 in 2016, 860 in 2017 and 2018 (until July 23) in 942, Bhamre said in a written response.

Cross-border firing along the India-Pakistan international border increased by nearly two times from 2015 to 2018, he said.

In 2015, there were 253 instances of cross-border firing, 221 in 2016, 111 in 2017 and 490 cases in 2018.

From 2015 to 2018, the army has lost 44 personnel due to ceasefire violations while 25 Border Security Force (BSF) personnel died in cross-border firing, he added.

As many as 69 civilians have been killed in these firings, Bhamre said. -- PTI

A crucial bill seeking to provide death penalty to those convicted of raping girls below the age of 12 years was passed by the Lok Sabha today.

The bill seeks to replace the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance promulgated on April 21, following an outcry over the rape and murder of a minor girl in Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir and the rape of another woman at Unnao in Uttar Pradesh.

Although the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2018 was supported by most members across the political spectrum and passed by a voice vote, some in the Opposition objected to the government adopting the ordinance route to enact the law.

Several amendments moved by the opposition members were also negated by voice vote.

Replying to an over two hour discussion on the measure, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said the stringent law was aimed at providing safety to minor girls.

He said the existing Indian Penal Code provided for punishment to those convicted of raping a woman, but there was no provision for rape or gangrape of minor girls below 16 or 12 years of age. These are "very important provisions" which the government has proposed, Rijiju said.

He said the recent incidents of rape and gangrape of women below the age of 12 years has shaken the conscience of the entire nation.

Therefore, the offences of rape and gangrape of women under the age of 12-16 years require effective deterrence through legal provisions of more stringent punishment, he said.

During the debate, Deputy Speaker M Thambi Durai, who was in the Chair, suggested that the provisions of the legislation be given maximum publicity, which would act as a deterrence.

The minister agreed to it.

The bill stipulates stringent punishment for perpetrators of rape, particularly of girls below 12 years.

Death sentence has been provided for rapists of girls under 12 years.

Four people were arrested for allegedly setting vehicles ablaze and stealing ornaments from a house in Gujarat while demonstrating against the elopement of an interfaith couple, police said today.

According to police, a Hindu man and a Muslim woman eloped on June 29. Following which, the woman's relatives and members from her community stormed the man's house in Sanjeli village in Dahod district on last Saturday.

The man's father, Prakash Bhoi, filed a complaint against the mob comprising at least 200 people, Sanjeli police Sub-Inspector S N Bariya said.

The complainant alleged that the mob, armed with sticks and sharp weapons, set ablaze his multi-utility vehicle and his neighbour's moped bike, Bariya said.

"The complaint stated that the mob ransacked the house and looted ornaments worth Rs 45,000," the official said, adding that since the couple eloped, the woman's kin had asked the Bhoi family to send their daughter back to them.

The woman's family had also staged a hunger strike outside the Sanjeli police station on July 22 and had called it off only after officials assured them that their demands would be looked into, Bariya said.

Dahod Superintendent of Police Hitesh Joysar said the entire area was under vigilance and efforts were on to trace the couple.

"We have taken prompt action to maintain peace in the area. Our operation is on to nab the remaining accused. We have also formed various teams to find the couple," Joysar said.

Bariya Sub-Inspector said relevant sections pertaining to dacoity, rioting, arson and trespassing haven been invoked against members of the mob.

He identified the four arrested as Razak Baandi, Irshad Baandi, Saleha Baandi and Rashida Baandi. -- PTI

Stepping up efforts to forge a non-Bharatiya Janata Party front, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is likely to meet Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to invite her for a planned 'federal-front' rally in Kolkata on Januray 19.

She is likely to meet Gandhi, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav and other opposition leaders during her three-day visit to the national capital, according to TMC sources.

Banerjee, who was earlier seen as wary of involving the Congress in any federal coalition to take on the BJP, has in recent weeks appeared to be more open to joining hands with the national party to consolidate the opposition forces.

Though the meeting with Gandhi has not been scheduled, but Banerjee would try to meet her and all other prominent leaders from opposition parties during her visit.

"There could be certain circumstantial meetings with leaders of opposition parties when Mamata Banerjee would visit Parliament on August 1. She may meet Sonia Gandhi, and also RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as he will be in Delhi during Banerjee's visit," said a senior TMC leader.

The West Bengal chief minister, who would be visiting the Central Hall of Parliament, is expected to personally invite opposition party leaders for her rally of 'federal forces' in Kolkata on Janury 19.

The rally will help catapult Banerjee to the centrestage of national politics and also show her capacity to unite all opposition parties to take on the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha elections, according to another TMC leader.

TMC leader Derek O'Brien said that apart from opposition leaders, Banerjee will also meet Ram Jethmalani, former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha and disgruntled BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha during her visit.

Arun Shourie, a bitter critic of the Modi government, would meet Banerjee later in Kolkata as he would not be present in Delhi during TMC chief's visit, O'Brien said.

Banerjee had recently met National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on the issue of cobbling an alliance of opposition parties to take on the BJP.

Abdullah has maintained that the Congress has to be the 'backbone' of the opposition unity with its chief Rahul Gandhi at the forefront of the campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Banerjee, who will be delivering a lecture at the conclave organised by Catholic Bishops Conference of India on July 31, is expected to attack the BJP on incidents of violence against members of minority communities.

The West Bengal chief minister, who has strongly criticised National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft for Assam, has also sought an appointment with the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss the issue. -- PTI

The process of claims and objections to the draft National Register of Citizens in Assam will start from August 30 and continue for a month, a senior home ministry official said.

The process if required can be also extended by another month, he said.

The NRC, a list of Assam citizens, published today with the names of about 40 lakh residents of the state not being included in it.

The process of claims and objections to the NRC will start on August 30 and the date was fixed taking into consideration that those whose names are not part of the draft NRC can gather documents in the next one month and prepare to approach NRC authorities, the official said.

The window of claims and objections will be from August 30 to September 30 and if required NRC authorities may extend the period by another month -- till October 30, he said. During the period, no coercive action will be taken against anyone, the official said.

At a press conference in Guwahati, Registrar General of India Sailesh announced that 2,89,83,677 people were found to be eligible for inclusion in the draft of the NRC out of a total 3,29,91,384 applicants.

The updating of the NRC is a Supreme Court-monitored process being carried out in Assam. -- PTI

IMAGE: People wait to check their names on the NRC final draft in Nagaon on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo

Father James Erthayil of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate Congregation has been asked to step down after an audio clip of his conversation with a nun went viral.

Father James was heard offering land, building, and safety to the Kerala-based nun, in exchange for withdrawing the rape complaint against Father Franco Mullackal, the Bishop of Jalandhar diocese.

"If needed we can buy some land and build a convent and shift all of you to a safe location," Father James was heard saying in the viral audio clip.

"If you can think in that positive aspect, I will do whatever I can. I am not saying that I can do everything, but will do whatever possible. So the idea is to buy some land and build a convenient building and shift you to that safety," he added.

Father Mullackal, the Bishop of Jalandhar diocese, has been accused of raping and having unnatural sex multiple times with a nun in a small region in Kottayam between 2014 and 2016.

While narrating her ordeal to the district police chief, the nun said that she was raped around 13 times over a span of two years.

She had first filed a complaint with Syro-Malabar Church head Cardinal George Alancherry but claimed that he refused to take any stringent action on the matter.

Further investigation is underway. -- ANI

Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi today apologised for using the term 'the other ones' for transgenders in Lok Sabha, saying she did not 'snigger but was embarrassed by her own lack of knowledge'.

Talking about the inclusion of information on prevention of human trafficking in school textbooks, Maneka Gandhi, on Thursday, called transgenders 'the other ones' in Lok Sabha.

The minister drew flak from the transgender community for using the word, with Meera Sanghamitra, a member of the National Alliance for People's Movements and a trans-woman, saying that Maneka Gandhi and all the MPs who 'thumped and laughed must apologise'.

The minister today apologised for using the term during the debate, saying she did not 'snigger'.

'I sincerely apologise for using the term 'other ones' during the debate on the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018, in Lok Sabha. I did not 'snigger', I was embarrassed at my own lack of knowledge,' Gandhi said in a tweet.

'I was not aware of the official terminology for the transgender community,' she added.

She also announced that in future all official communication will use the term TGs for transgenders.

'I would like to assure that the Anti-Trafficking Bill 2018 is gender neutral and provides protection to the aggrieved,' she added. -- PTI

As many as 41 security personnel, including 20 policemen, were killed and 907 others injured in militancy-related and stone-pelting incidents in Kashmir valley this year, officials said today.

Giving details, the officials said 39 security personnel, including 17 Army personnel, 20 policemen and two Central Reserve Police Force personnel, were killed and 96 others injured in militancy-related incidents in first six months of this year.

Of these, 28 Army personnel, 31 CRPF personnel and 37 policemen were injured in militancy-related incidents, they said.

In stone-pelting incidents, two CRPF personnel were killed and 811 others injured during the same period, the officials said.

Of these, 592 policemen and 219 CRPF personnel were injured in 734 incidents of stone-pelting in the valley, they said.

According to the officials, 32 civilians were killed and 117 others injured in militancy-related and stone-pelting incidents.

25 civilians were killed and 54 others injured in militancy-related incidents while seven civilians were killed and 63 others injured in law and order incidents, they added. -- PTI

17:45 Congress demands all-party meet on NRC issue

The Congress today asked the government to immediately convene an all-party meeting on the National Register of Citizens issue and inform the opposition on the proposed steps to ensure that no Indian citizen is left out.

Senior party spokesperson Anand Sharma said there should be no politics over the issue.

"The government must immediately call a meeting of leaders of all parties and should inform about the steps it proposes to take," he said, adding that it would be proper if the meeting is called tomorrow.

He said till all matters related to the NRC are disposed, people and families should not be separated and the matters be kept in abeyance.

The NRC issue is of international importance as it affects relation with neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh. It also has inter and intra state repercussions, Sharma said.

"Questions have been asked over the methodology being followed in finalising the NRC. It raises question marks on the credibility of the process," he said.

He also urged the government to remove shortcomings in the entire process and that all issues be settled as per the 1985 Assam Accord signed in the presence former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The problems should sorted out in the ambit of the Assam Accord of 1985, the Congress leader said.

The draft NRC was published today with the names of about 40 lakh residents of Assam not being included. -- PTI

The government today said it does not maintain any data with regard to jobs created under its Make in India initiative.

"No such data is maintained centrally," Minister of State for Commerce and Industry C R Chaudhary said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

He was replying to a question on details of the new jobs created and people employed since the start of Make in India initiative in September 2014.

The initiative was launched to make India a global manufacturing hub.

He said that the government has taken several steps to enhance manufacturing competitiveness in the country since 2014 which includes providing quality infrastructure, reducing logistics cost, skill development and adoption of technology.

He said that the initiative is now focused on 27 sectors as against 25 earlier.

"Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion coordinates action plans for 15 manufacturing sectors, while Department of Commerce coordinates 12 service sectors," he added.

The new revised list of 27 sectors includes aerospace and defence, automotive and auto components, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, biotechnology, and legal services. -- PTI

Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh on Monday denied opposition charges that the Centre had a role to play in drafting the National Register of Citizens list.

Speaking to ANI, Singh said: "I consider after the statement of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh that there is nothing left to say or even add more into that (on the issue)."

He not only rejected the opposition's allegations, he also cleared confusion in certain quarters whether it is a final report.

Singh said: "There is no role of the central government in this report. The opposition parties are unnecessarily politicising the issue, and are spreading rumours. The report has not even been finalised yet."Earlier today, West Bengal Chief Minister attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the NRC list, saying, it has been done to evict the Bengalis and Biharis from Assam. -- ANI

17:04

Section 144 (prohibits assembly of more than 4 people in an area) imposed in Chakan, Pune, following violent protests in the area over the Maratha Reservation issue.

16:54 The house where Karunanidhi lived

In Coimbatore, supporters of DMK chief M Karunanidhi pray at the house where he used to live in 1945. He is currently admitted in Chennai's Kauvery hospital.

16:52

Kerala: Father James Erthayil of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate Congregation has been asked to step down from his responsibilities after an alleged video clip of him threatening a nun went viral. An inquiry into the incident is underway

16:48 Sharif's hospital ward in PIMS declared sub-jail

Ailing Nawaz Sharif's hospital ward has been declared as a sub-jail, a day after Pakistan's former prime minister was admitted to the premier Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences following health complications, a media report said today.

Sharif, 68, was yesterday shifted to the Cardiac Centre of the country's top hospital in Islamabad after his health deteriorated due to heart trouble in the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. He is said to be in a stable condition, a hospital official said last night.

The three-time Pakistan premier is serving a 10-year jail term in a corruption case over his family's purchase of luxury apartments in London. He has been lodged in the Adiala Jail since July 13. -- PTI

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi again upped the ante, by tweeting his support to the media who was taking on the government over the Rafale deal.

Gandhi had alleged in Parliament, without naming the industrialist, that the Modi government had favoured Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence with $4 billion in contracts.

Today, the Congress president went a step ahead tweeting, "Supreme leader's minions are now sending threatening messages to journalists reporting on the #RafaleScam asking them to "back off or else...

"I'm really proud of the few brave press people who still have the guts to defend the truth and stand up to Mr 56".

Last week, Rahul had fired his first salvo in the Rafale deal with a tweet that read, "Mr 56 does *love* someone after all. 1. Must wear a suit 2. Must have 45,000CR debt 3. Must have a TEN day old company. 4. Must never have made an aircraft in his life. Rewards of up to $4 billion in "off set" contracts if you fulfil said criteria."

The Congress president has also reached out to the media inviting 100 female journalists for an interaction with him last week, which received a positive response from the media.

Image: Rahul Gandhi at an interaction with female journalists on July 25.

The Bombay High Court has admitted the discharged application of Sadhvi Pragya Singh and Sameer Kulkarni, two of the accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.

The move comes a week after the court admitted the discharge application of main accused Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit."

Colonel Purohit's discharge plea has already been accepted by the Bombay High Court. Today, the plea of Sadhvi Pragya Singh, which was turned down by a trial court, has been admitted by the High Court," Prashant Maggu, the lawyer of the accused, told ANI.

The joint hearing in the case is slated to be held on August 13.

Six people were killed and 101 people injured on September 29, 2009, after a bomb tied to a motorcycle exploded in Nashik's Malegaon town. In November 2008, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested 11 people in this connection. However, in April 2011, the investigation was transferred to the NIA.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has said his MLAs will meet Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis at 4 pm today asking him to convene a special assembly session on the Maratha reservation issue.

The Congress and Nationalist Congress Party have called separate meetings and their leaders will meet together on Monday.

On Saturday, the state government decided to call a special session of the state legislature over the Maratha quota stir.

The NCP which has already held a meeting on the issue said that the state government should see to it that reservation will stand in court.

In the all-party meeting on Saturday it was decided that govt will take immediate action to give reservation to Maratha community and in this process the Opposition will also help them.

The government has also requested all Maratha agitators not to take any extreme steps like violence or committing suicide to demand reservation.

There was a growing demand from Maratha groups and united Opposition to take back the cases filed against agitators who were just protesting and never resorted to vandalism. Govt has agreed to this demand and has instructed the same to Maharashtra Police DG.

Following the political parties including Congress and Trinamool Congress criticised the final draft of Assam's National Register of Citizens Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that such sensitive issues should not be politicised.

The draft list, which was released today, has left out nearly 40 lakh people in Assam incorporating names of 2.89 crore people out of 3.29 crore applicants.

The list has been updated for the first time since 1951, to account for illegal migration from nearby Bangladesh.

Speaking on the same in Lok Sabha, Singh said, "I want to ask the Opposition, what is the Centre's role in this? It is happening under the supervision of the Supreme Court. Such sensitive issues should not be politicised."

Earlier in the day, the Congress and TMC cornered the Central Government saying that there are a lot of irregularities in the final draft list.

Congress Member of Parliament from Assam, Ripun Bora said that the exclusion of names of 40.07 lakh people from the list is surprising and added, "There are a lot of irregularities in the report. We will raise this issue with the Government and in the Parliament. A political motive of Bharatiya Janata Party is also behind this."

TMC leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy also raised aquestion over the list and said that excluding 2.89 crore people from the list will have serious ramifications on the demography of different states adjoining Assam.

He further asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give his clarification on this in the Parliament.Meanwhile, the Opposition leaders created a ruckus in the Parliament over the draft list, leading to adjournment of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha till 2.00 and 2.15 noon respectively. -- ANI

The National Defence Academy has included Kashmiri, Pashto and Dari languages in its curriculum from this academic year, a move that will help young officers during their posting in Jammu and Kashmir. The course started this month and these languages will be compulsorily taught to cadets in their last year (of the three-year course) at the academy, a National Defence Academy (NDA) official told PTI.

"Young leaders are invariably required to serve on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, where Pashto and Dari languages are frequently used by the adversary. "Kashmiri is our language and we have a large number of men from the state," the official said. Dari and Pashto are languages spoken in Afghanistan. Asked if there was a specific requirement from the service headquarters for initiating a study of these languages, the official said there was no specific demand.

"It has been felt that the same (introduction of these languages) is the need of the hour in view of the normal service requirements of young officers," the official said. The study of modern languages has been a mandate at the NDA since its inception. Hindi is already in the curriculum and is taught to cadets.-- PTI

File pic

The Supreme Court today dismissed former Union telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran's plea and asked him to face trial in the case connected to the alleged setting up of "illegal" telephone exchanges to benefit his brother Kalanithi Maran's Sun TV Network.

Maran had challenged the Madras High Court's July 25 decision setting aside a CBI court order discharging him in the case. A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and R Banumathi and Navin Sinha said it was not inclined to interfere in the matter and all the allegations could be dealt with during the trial.

The case relates to when Dayanidhi, a grandnephew of DMK chief M Karunanidhi, was minister for communications and information technology in the UPA 1 government. The CBI has alleged he misused his official position and got private telephone exchanges installed at his residences in Chennai. These were used for Sun Network's business transactions. -- PTI

Imran Khan today said that he will take oath as Pakistan's Prime Minister on August 11, according to a media report. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), led by 65-year-old Khan, has emerged as the single largest party in the National Assembly (NA) after the July 25 elections, but it is still short of numbers to form the government on its own.

His party yesterday announced that it is trying to reach out to smaller parties and independents to form the next government. Will take oath as Prime Minister on 11th of next month (August), Khan was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan.

"I have also decided about the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which I will announce in the next 48 hours. Whatever I have decided in this regard is in the best interest of people," he said while addressing PTI members of provincial assembly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

He said alleviation of poverty from interior Sindh will be among top priorities of his government. Earlier, PTI spokesman Naeemul Haque on Saturday told reporters that party chief Khan will take oath as the Prime Minister before August 14.

He said that he hoped the president would call an assembly session and Khan would take oath as premier before Independence day. Although the PTI has emerged as the single largest party in the National Assembly after the polls, the final results issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan show that the party is still short of numbers to form its government independently. -- PTI

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on the National Register of Citizens draft list in Assam. Excerpts from the press conference.

"This movement will turn into 'Bangali khadao' 'Evict the Bengali'. West Bengal will be suffer the most. People with Aadhaar card, Pan Card, are not part of the NRC list even though they have been staying there for 50 years. Names of people were removed on the basis of surnames also. Is the Govt trying to do forceful eviction?:

"This is absolutely vote politics. People who will vote for the BJP are included.

"If 40 lakh people are excluded from the NRC list, how many people will be reconsidered? Where will be they go?

"Communication lines to Assam are down. If necessary I will go to Assam. My message to Assamese are we will be with you.

"This is a humanitarian problem. People are being isolated through a game plan. We are worried because people are being made refugees in their own country. It's a plan to throw out Bengali speaking people and Biharis. Consequences will be felt in West Bengal also. The BJP's divide and rule policy will simply finish the country.

"Does Centre have any rehabilitation program for them? Ultimately it is Bengal which will suffer.Its just vote politics by BJP. Request Home Minister to bring an amendment."

Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said the draft National Register of Citizens for Assam is completely "impartial" and those whose names are not included shouldn't panic as they will get an opportunity to prove their Indian citizenship. The home minister's reaction came after the draft NRC was published today with the names of about 40 lakh residents of the state not being included. "No coercive action will be taken against anyone. Hence, there is no need for anyone to panic," he told reporters.

The NRC will include the names of all Indian citizens who have been residing in Assam before March 25, 1971. The application process for the NRC started in May 2015 and a total of 6.5 crore documents were received from 68.27 lakh families across Assam.

Ten persons were killed and seven others injured in rain related incidents in different parts of Uttar Pradesh during past 24 hours, a senior official said here today. The maximum 11 deaths were reported from Saharanpur district.

"Ten persons were killed and seven injured in different parts of UP since yesterday. The toll since last week in such incidents has reached 80 while total injuries are 84 till 11.30 am today," Relief Commissioner Sanjay Prasad said. 44 cattle were killed and 451 houses were also damaged in these incidents, he said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed senior officials of all the districts to undertake extensive tours in the affected areas and identify dilapidated buildings and get them vacated, a government spokesperson said here. Adityanath has directed officials to give financial and medical assistance to the people severely affected by the rains. -- PTI

12:36

10 persons were killed and seven injured in past 24 hours in rain related incidents in Uttar Pradesh, say officials.

12:26 India had asked Antigua to detain Choksi after info of his presence on island

India requested authorities in Antigua and Barbuda to detain PNB scam fugitive Mehul Choksi after it received information about his presence in the Caribbean island, government sources said today.

They said India was in touch with the island nation following reports of Choksi's presence there and requested the authorities there to restrict his movements by land, sea and air.

"As soon as MEA (ministry of external affairs) received information of the likely presence of Mehul Choksi in Antigua, our high commission in Georgetown had alerted the A&B (Antigua and Barbuda) government, in writing and verbally, to confirm his presence in their territory and detain him and prevent his movement by land, air or sea," a government source said.

Last week, Choksi reportedly claimed he had taken Antigua citizenship last year to expand his business as the passport of the Caribbean nation provides visa-free travel to 132 countries.

"Our high commissioner is meeting the relevant authorities in A&B government today. We continue to liaise with relevant GOI agencies and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to follow up on this matter," the source said.

Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation after it was detected that they allegedly cheated the Punjab National Bank of more than Rs 13,400 crore with the purported involvement of a few of the lender's employees.

Choksi's valid passport was revoked in February 2018.

-- PTI

Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said the draft National Register of Citizens for Assam is completely "impartial" and those whose names are not included shouldn't panic as they will get an opportunity to prove their Indian citizenship.

The home minister's reaction came after the draft NRC was published today with the names of about 40 lakh residents of the state not being included.

"No coercive action will be taken against anyone. Hence, there is no need for anyone to panic," he told reporters here.

Even someone whose name is not in the final list can approach the foreigners tribunal, Singh said. "Some people are unnecessarily trying to create an atmosphere of fear. This is a completely impartial report. No misinformation should be spread. This is a draft and not the final list," he said.

The NRC is a list of Assam's citizens and it is being updated following a direction of the Supreme Court.

-- PTI

Opposition parties led by the TMC and the Samajwadi Party today created an uproar in the Rajya Sabha over the publication of Assam's National Register of Citizens, forcing adjournment of proceedings till noon.

No sooner had the House mourned the death of a former member and listed papers presented, TMC members led by their leader Derek O'Brien were up on their feet raising the issue.

SP members and some from the Congress too started raising the issue leading to a din. Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu first said he had not received any notice and later said that some members had met him expressing desire to raise the NRC issue. -- PTI

Congratulating the people of the state for the successful publication of the National Register of Citizens, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today said "the historic day will remain etched in their memories forever".

The process of publishing the final draft today was carried out in cooperation with the Registrar General of India, along with the central and the state government officials, under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court, the chief minister said.

The much-anticipated second and final draft of the NRC with 2.9 crore names out of the total 3.29 crore applicants was published around 10am today. The first draft, with 1.9 crore names, was released on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1, this year. Assam is the first Indian state where the NRC is being updated after 1951, with March 24, 1971 as the cut-off date, to include names of "genuine Indian citizens". The CM thanked the officials, who were involved in updating the NRC.

"For this remarkable feat, I extend my heartiest congratulations to the 55,000 officials engaged in NRC updation process and the people living across the Barak and Brahmaputra valleys, plains and hills of the state," he said. -- PTI

The Assam government is set to roll out a law from October 2 making it mandatory for state government employees to look after their aged and dependent parents and differently-abled siblings who do not have a source of income.

Last year, the state assembly had passed Assam Employees Parents Responsibility and Norms for Accountability and Monitoring (PRANAM) Bill, 2017 - which makes all these compulsory.

Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that if a particular government employee does not look after his or her parents then 10 per cent of their salary would be deducted and transferred to their parents' accounts.

"If a particular government employee does not take good care of his or her parents then we will deduct 10 percent from their salary and transfer it to their parents' account," Biswa told reporters.

He further said that if there is any sibling that the parents need to take care of then the salary cut may go up to 15 percent. "If there is any sibling that the parents need to take care of then the salary cut may go up to 15%," Biswa said.

Reportedly, Assam will be the first state in the country to enforce such a law. -- ANI

India is a key partner in America's efforts to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo Pacific region, the Trump administration has said.

The remarks by a senior US diplomat came ahead of the announcement by the US of initiatives for development and economic assistance in the entire region. Brian Hook, senior policy Advisor to the US Secretary of State, said the US and India are not only working bilaterally, but also cooperating with other like-minded partners, especially Japan, Australia and South Korea to advance their shared vision of the Indo Pacific.-- PTI

10:59 Karunanidhi recovering well: EPS

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam have just met the ailing DMK chief M Karunanidhi in hospital in Chennai.

Palaniswami said, "I have just met him in Kauvery hospital, he is better and is recovering well." The CM had also offered medical assistance for the ailing DMK chief.

The two AIADMK leaders also praised Karunanidhi as a leader of Tamils. "His condition is stable now. I met his family members as well," Palaniswami told reporters outside the Kauvery hospital.

The doctors attending to the 95-year-old political giant have maintained that his vital signs are "normalising". In a late night statement, the hospital said his health was improving and called it a "transient setback".

Karunanidhi, 94, is a five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu and now battling a prolonged spell of ill-health; a urinary tract infection and fever landed the DMK president in hospital late last week.

Image: TN CM E Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam outside Kauvery hospital this morning. Pic: ANI.

A Delhi court today summoned RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi and son Tejashwi Yadav and others as accused in the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation scam. Special Judge Arvind Kumar directed them to appear before the court on August 31 in a case related to alleged irregularities in granting operational contract of two IRCTC hotels to a private firm.

The CBI, which had on April 16 filed the charge sheet in the case, had said that there were enough evidence against the accused. Besides Yadav and his family members, former union minister Prem Chand Gupta and his wife Sarla Gupta, B K Agarwal, then managing director of IRCTC, and then IRCTC director Rakesh Saxena were also named in the charge sheet.

The other names in the charge sheet include then group general managers of IRCTC V K Asthana and R K Goyal, Vijay Kochhar, Vinay Kochhar, both directors of Sujata Hotels and owners of Chanakya Hotel. PTI

The National Register of Citizens updated draft for Assam has been released.

2.89 crore people have been found eligible to be included in the NRC, the State NRC Coordinator said today at a press conference. This is out of a total of 3.29 crore people. Around 40 lakh people have been left out of the list.

This is just a draft, and not the final list. The people who are not included can make claims and objections. No deportations will be based on this list.

Satyendra Garg Joint Secretary (North East) said at the press conference that based on this draft there is no question of any reference to Foreigners Tribunal or any person being taken to the detention centre.

The NRC, for which a total of 3.29 crore people had filed an application, is aimed at identifying illegal immigrants in the state. The unpublished names are still under stages of verification. The process of filing the applications had ended in May, 2018 and a total of 6.5 crore documents were received from 68.27 lakh families across Assam.

The NRC updation basically means the process of enlisting the names of those persons (or their descendants) whose names appear in any of the Electoral Rolls up to 1971, 1951 NRC or any of the admissible documents stipulated.

The demands to update the NRC of 1951 were first raised by the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and Assam Gana Parishad more than three decades ago. The organisations had submitted a memorandum to the Centre on January 18, 1980, two months after launching the anti-illegal foreigners Assam Movement.

Despite being lathi-charged by the police, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M Karunanidhi's supporters remained outside the Kauvery Hospital here and urged the hospital staff to update them about the leader's health condition.

"For the past three days, we have been waiting here without food and water. We don't want anything, give us our thalaiva back. Why has nothing been said on him yet? We want him back," a supporter of Karunanidhi told ANI.

Meanwhile, Manikandan, personal secretary of A. Raja, has urged the cadres to cooperate with security forces and not get provoked by any rumours.

"We appeal to the cadre, who have gathered in large numbers, to not believe in rumours," Manikandan said.

The crowd, who was trying to barge inside the hospital was lathi-charged by the police deployed to avoid or control any unwelcome situation.The crowd has also gathered outside DMK chief 's Gopalapuram resident.

Meanwhile, heavy security has been beefed up both at hospital and Karunanidhi's residence. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam working president MK Stalin on Friday asserted that party president and his father M Karunanidhi's condition is stable and he is responding to treatment.

"There was unexpected setback in his (Karunanidhi) health but after intense medical care, he's normalising," Stalin said in a statement.Stalin further said that his father's health is being continuously monitored by a team of doctors.Karunanidhi was admitted to hospital on Saturday following a drop in his blood pressure. -- ANI

Due to less availability of shelter homes, families residing near old Yamuna Bridge in the national capital have been allegedly forced to stay on roads as they were evacuated from their homes after the water level of the river crossed the danger mark.

"Everything is visible. We have not been provided any kind of support from the government since we left our houses due to overflow of water in Yamuna river. We are now forced to live on the streets. I was staying near the bridge," one of the members of the families told ANI.

Another person alleged that most of the rain baseras (shelter homes) are full due to which they are forced to sleep on footpaths.

"Rain baseras are full. We were staying in temporary houses near the bridge. However, the government asked us to leave and now we are left with no other means," the person said. -- ANI

With Assam gearing up for the release of the National Register of Citizens draft, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal tweeted, "I reiterate that no genuine Indian citizen will be devoid of their citizenship rights. So no one should panic after publication of the final draft of NRC. I also urge people not to make any communal statements and remain watchful against falling prey to rumours."

The CM also said that no one would be sent to detention camps nor be treated as a foreigner if his or her name does not appear in the draft.

Earlier in the week, Sonowal, who has held series of meetings with government officials and police top brass to ensure that law and order is maintained in Assam after the publication of the NRC draft, had said that the Assam government would provide security to all Indian citizens and no one should worry about the "after affects".

So far, 1.9 crore out of the 3.29 crore applicants have been cleared in the first list, which was released on 1 January, 2018. Early in July, NRC authorities said that names of 1.5 lakh people will be dropped from the first list, since some irregularity was found in the submitted documents.

A differently-abled girl from Gurgaon is in the seventh heaven after Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned her achievement in his monthly radio programme, "Mann Ki Baat".

Anushka Panda, 15, a student of Sun City school in Gurgaon, is suffering from spinal muscular atrophy. She had recently topped the CBSE Class 10 board examination in the disabled category with 97.8 per cent marks.

Her parents said she was suffering from the genetic disease since childhood and that she had to move on a wheelchair.

When Modi said Anushka should be a role model for other students, the 15-year-old girl could not believe it. She said the encouraging words of the prime minister motivated her to achieve future goals.

"I came across the news of Gurgaon's specially-abled daughter Anushka Panda, who is suffering from a physical condition called spinal muscular atrophy. Anushka did not let her disability deter her from becoming an all-India topper," Modi said on radio.

Anushka's mother Archana Panda said the disease her daughter was suffering from robbed people of physical strength by affecting the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord, thereby weakening the ability to walk.

"The prime minister himself will congratulate me on my board results. I am thankful to him for his kind encouragement and motivation," Anushka said.

Anushka, who has opted for the science stream, aims to get into the IIT and become a software engineer.

-- PTI

Please read: CBSE special topper: Find love in what you do

United States President Donald Trump on Sunday said he was willing to shut down the government if the promises made by the Congress to fund his border wall were not fulfilled by September.

"I would be willing to 'shut down' government if the Democrats do not give us the votes for Border Security, which includes the Wall! Must get rid of Lottery, Catch & Release etc. and finally go to system of Immigration based on MERIT! We need great people coming into our Country!" Trump tweeted.

This comes in the light of similar threats that Trump has issued in the past, with him saying in March that he would be open to "closing up the country for a while" if he was not to get his wall, the CNN reported.

"They don't want the wall. But we're going to get the wall, even if we have to think about closing up the country for a while," Trump said.

Also, in February, Trump said that he'd "love to see a shutdown" if the government did not focus on immigration.

If a shutdown were to happen, it would be the third such instance in 2018, after a shutdown in January when the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans wrestled with Democrats over protection for 'Dreamers', a group of young immigrants.

-- ANI

DMK chief M Karunanidhis health is improving after a temporary setback, said his family and Chennais Kauvery Hospital, where the veteran leader is being treated.

There has been an unexpected setback in the health of Karunanidhi. But after critical medical care, he is normalising. A team of doctors is continuously monitoring and treating him. I appeal to the cadres to not indulge in any violence, not obstruct police and not disturb public, said MK Stalin, Karunanidhis son and political heir.

Karunanidhis vital signs are normalising after a transient setback in his condition, and he is being closely monitored, the hospital said in a statement a little before 10 pm on Sunday.

Heavy security has been deployed at the hospital and police had to cane the crowd briefly in an attempt to disperse supporters and DMK workers, who shouted slogans in Karunanidhis praise.

The DMK president, who is being treated for fever due to urinary tract infection, was admitted to the hospitals Intensive Care Unit on Saturday following a dip in his blood pressure.

Image: DMK supporters with portraits of party president M Karunanidhi, wait outside the hospital where DMK chief was admitted due to a sudden drop in blood pressure, in Chennai. Photograph: PTI Photo

Dadarao Bilhore, a Mumbai resident, who lost his 16-year-old son to a pothole on a road three years ago, filled up 556th pothole in the city on Sunday.

Bilhore' son Prakash died on July 28, 2015, after his bike fell into a deep pothole on a rainwater clogged Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road in Mumbai.

Following his death, Bilhore started filling up potholes in the city to avert such accidents.

Bilhore said, "I don't want people to face the same fate as my son, Prakash. I will keep working till India becomes pothole-free. Our nation has a huge population. If even one lakh people start filling potholes, India will become pothole-free."

Talking about the conflict between Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority over taking the responsibility of resolving the crisis, Bilhore said, "If people start filling the potholes, they will be inspired to take up the work and solve the problem."

Around six persons have lost their lives in and around Mumbai due to potholes this monsoon season. Earlier this month, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers protested against the chronic issue of potholes-related deaths in the state.

-- ANI

Authorities in India are set to announce the final draft list of citizens in Assam, amid fear tens of thousands of Bengali-origin Muslims might be excluded from the document.

The National Register of Citizens is being updated after nearly seven decades as part of a campaign to identify undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh, but critics say those not finding their names in the list might be effectively rendered stateless.

The NRC coordinator Prateek Hajela said that the list will be published at around 10 am on Monday.

The final list will decide the fate of the 13.9 million people not included in the first draft that was published on December 31 last year -- that first list designated some 19 million people, out of Assam's 32.9 million population, as legal citizens.

The country's Supreme Court - which is supervising the entire process - had initially set June 30 as the deadline to publish the final list. But this was postponed to July 30, as the massive exercise could not be completed.

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