LIVE! Apple smartens up Siri and unveils the future of iOS with 'digital health'

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Mon, 04 June 2018

Apple smartens up Siri and unveils the future of iOS with 'digital health'

Timeline Refresh

23:52 Kerala to reimburse medical expense of Nipah Virus affected people

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday announced that the state government will reimburse the medical expense of Nipah virus affected people.

He also added that the government will allot the amount according to the report by District Collector.

On a related note, Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja Teacher assured people of the state that the Nipah Virus is now under control but people have to take precautionary measures.

The minister said, "There won't be a second phase of the outbreak, it is almost under control. But we have to take precautionary measures, we can't predict before incubation period. Yesterday and today all results from laboratory tested negative. Hope there are no more positive results."

So far, Nipah Virus has claimed 16 lives in Kerala since traces of the virus were first reported from Kozhikode towards the end of May.

-- ANI

Apple is unveiling radical software aimed at limiting the amount of time people spend on their devices.

Apple boss Tim Cook unveiled the new iOS 12 software at the firm's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, USA.

It will include a much improved Siri AI, and better performance - even on older devices.

The event kicked off with a David Attenborough 'Life on Earth' sketch voiced by Stephen Fry.

Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, unveiled iOS12, a free software update available later this year.

He began by taking aim at Google's Android, pointing out just 6% of users are on the latest version - compared to 81% for Apple's iOS.

'We are doubling down on performance with iOS 11,' he said.

'We are making your device faster and more responsive.

'iOS 12 will be available on all the same devices as iOS11.'

On older devices such as the iPhone 6S, performance will be up to 70 per cent faster, he said.

Apple has also boosted its augmented reality software, amid rumours it is developing AR spectacles.

The new ARKit includes shared experiences, and the ability to read faces.

The firm has been working with Lego to develop software that can recognise Lego creations and bring them to life on screen.

Siri has also got a major upgrade, and app developers will be able to use Siri for the first time.

Users will also be able to create their own shortcuts for Siri, teaching it the phrases they want to use.

They can use a new 'shortcuts' app to create the shortcuts they use.

The firm also overhauled its iBooks app, now called Apple Books, Stock and memo recording apps.

The firm is also supporting third party navigation apps such as Waze and Google Maps for the first time.

A Border Security Force and Pak Rangers Sector Commander level meeting was held at 5:30 pm on Monday to discuss peace and tranquility at the border area.

The meeting was conducted in a conducive atmosphere and is expected to bring a firing-free environment for villagers on both sides of the border.

It was further decided that the next Sector Commander level meeting will be held on 21 June 2018. Commanders on both sides agreed to maintain talks at every level to develop confidence between two border guarding forces.

Earlier, The Director General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan spoke to each other on the issue of ceasefire violations and terrorist activities and agreed to fully implement the ceasefire understanding of 2003, to ensure that ceasefire will not be violated by both sides.

Both the DGMOs reviewed the prevailing situation along the Line of Control and International Boundary in Jammu and Kashmir, according to an official statement.

However, two BSF jawans were killed and 13 civillians were injured after heavy shelling by Pakistan in the wee hours of Sunday morning.

-- ANI

India and its two startegic partners -- the US and Japan -- will hold the Malabar naval exercise from next week off the coast of Guam in the Philippine Sea with an aim to deepen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region where China has been expanding its military footprint.

Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar said the upcoming edition of the annual exercise will be very significant in terms of the "scope and complexity" it was aiming at with a view to deal with threats and challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri, Shakti and Kamorta of the eastern fleet would be participating in the 22nd edition of the Malabar exercise from June 7 to June 16.

-- PTI

One more prosecution witness in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Tulsiram Prajapati alleged fake encounter cases turned hostile before a special CBI court here today, taking the total number of such witnesses to 60.

The court has so far examined 86 prosecution witnesses.

The witness, Bhawar Singh, the then station house officer of Hathipol police station in Rajasthan, was the investigating officer of the Hamid Lala murder case in which both Sohrabuddin and Tulsiram Prajapati were accused.

Singh deposed today before special judge S J Sharma.

In a statement given before CBI officer NS Raju in December 2010, Singh had said that he and his team had arrested Prajapati from the house of one Chandan Jha in Bhilwara on November 29, 2005.

He made a similar statement before the judicial magistrate under section 164 of the CrPC.

However, in another statement before CBI officer Vishwas Meena in 2011, Singh had said that the arrest was made on November 26, 2005.

Today, he told the court he had to change the date as the CBI had threatened that he would be arrested and made an accused in the encounter case.

Sohrabuddin, a suspected gangster with terror links, and his wife were killed in an alleged fake encounter by the Gujarat Police in November 2005.

Tulsiram Prajapati was killed in another alleged fake encounter by the Gujarat and Rajasthan police in December 2006.

Of the 38 people charged by the CBI, 15, including senior IPS officers D G Vanzara, Rajkumar Pandian, Dinesh MN, and BJP chief Amit Shah (then the Minister of State for Home in Gujarat) were discharged by the court.

-- PTI

It's not going to be a quiet summer off for the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. With the school year ending, many of the Parkland school shooting survivors are taking their political activism on the road.

Read full story HERE

Former finance minister P Chidambaram is expected to depose before the Enforcement Directorate tomorrow in connection with the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case.

Official sources said the agency has issued fresh summons to the senior Congress leader to appear before the investigating officer of the case.

Once he appears, the agency is expected to record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Chidambaram's role has come under the scanner in the Rs 3,500 crore Aircel-Maxis deal in which the ED has already questioned his son, Karti.

The former finance minister, also the ex-home minister, had last week approached the court of Special Judge O P Saini seeking relief from arrest by the ED in this case.

The court had directed the ED not to take any coercive action or arrest him till June 5 in connection with the case.

The ED had first asked him to appear before it on May 30, and on the the same day, Chidambaram had approached the court.

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

The Supreme Court had on March 12 directed investigating agencies -- the CBI and the ED -- to complete their probe into the 2G spectrum allocation cases, including the Aircel Maxis alleged money laundering case, in six months.

The ED had said that the FIPB approval in the Aircel-Maxis FDI case was granted in March 2006 by Chidambaram even though he was competent to accord approval on project proposals only up to Rs 600 crore and beyond that it required the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.

The ED is investigating "the circumstances of the FIPB approval granted (in 2006) by the then finance minister."

"In the instant case, the approval for FDI of 800 million USD (over Rs 3,500 crore) was sought. Hence, the CCEA was competent to grant the approval," the ED had said.

"However, the approval was not obtained from the CCEA," it had alleged.

The senior Congress leader had earlier described the ED action in this case as a "crazy mixture of falsehoods and conjectures" and said that the chargesheet filed by probe agencies had been rejected by the court.

-- PTI

21:10 First Saudi women get driving licences

Saudi Arabia today began issuing its first driving licences to women in decades, state media reported.

"The first group of women today received their Saudi driving licences," the official Saudi Press Agency said.

"The general directorate of traffic started replacing international driving licences recognised in the kingdom with Saudi licences," it added.

The move comes as Saudi Arabia, the only country in the world where women are not allowed drive, prepares to lift its decades-long ban on female drivers on June 24.

20:54

Water-logged streets in Malabar Hill area following heavy showers.

Photograph: ANI/Twitter

20:39 Adityanath meets Shah, first meeting post UP bypoll losses

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today met BJP president Amit Shah, their first meeting after defeats suffered by the party in the recent bypolls in the state.

There was no official comment on what transpired in the meeting, but they are believed to have discussed the evolving political situation in the state where opposition parties have joined hands to challenge the BJP.

The party has also witnessed dissenting voices from within, including some MPs and MLAs, over the functioning of the state government.

Politically, Uttar Pradesh is considered by far the most important state, especially for the BJP as the party had swept it in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The state sends the biggest contingent of 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha, out of which the saffron party had won 71 in the last elections while its ally won another two. However, the BJP's tally from the state has come down following the bypoll losses.

Shah had recently said that his party is working to grab 50 per cent vote share in the state to weaken any united opposition challenge.

The BJP had last month lost Kairana Lok Sabha and Noorpur assembly bypolls. Earlier, it had lost bypolls in prestigious Gorakhpur, a seat vacated by Adityanath, and Phulpur parliamentary seats.

The chief minister also met Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya to enquire about his health following his operation in AIIMS in the national capital.

20:15 Have absolute right to pardon myself: Trump

US President Donald Trump said today that he has "absolute right to pardon" himself as he slammed the opposition Democratic party for witch-hunt against him alleging that the appointment of a special counsel is unconstitutional.

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller is the Special Counsel appointed by the Department of Justice to investigate into the allegation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections in Trump's favour.

"The appointment of the Special Counsel is totally UNCONSTITUTIONAL! Despite that, we play the game because I, unlike the Democrats, have done nothing wrong!" Trump tweeted.

"As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong?" he tweeted.

"In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!" he said, unleashing a series of tweets on completing 500 days in office.

Trump claimed that he has accomplished more than any other presidents in the first 500 days in office.

"This is my 500th. Day in Office and we have accomplished a lot - many believe more than any President in his first 500 days," he said.

"Massive Tax & Regulation Cuts, Military & Vets, Lower Crime & Illegal Immigration, Stronger Borders, Judgeships, Best Economy & Jobs EVER, and much more...," he said.

"We had Repeal & Replace done (and the saving to our country of one trillion dollars) except for one person, but it is getting done anyway. Individual Mandate is gone and great, less expensive plans will be announced this month. Drug prices coming down & Right to Try! tweeted the US president.

-- PTI

Arun Jaitley on Monday held a meeting with the senior officials of the finance ministry, after he returned home post a successful renal transplant surgery.

In the meeting, which lasted for around half an hour, Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia, Department of Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg and Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian briefed Jaitley on various issues related to the ministry of finance.

A senior official said, "The meeting was held today in the evening through Video Conferencing. It was a stock-taking exercise by Arun Jaitley as he was admitted in AIIMS for past three weeks. Currently, he is under the supervision of doctors and is in a controlled environment."

Earlier in the day, Jaitley returned home after a successful renal transplant surgery.

In a tweet, Jaitley expressed gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and paramedics who took care of him during his stay at the AIIMS for almost three weeks.

Jaitley, 65, was admitted to the hospital on May 12, and the surgery was performed on May 14. Post that, he stayed in isolation ward to avoid infection.

-- ANI

19:22 Pak Army says no space for war with India

Pakistan Army today said that there was no space for any war with India as both are nuclear powers, but warned that its desire for peace should not be mistaken for weakness.

Addressing a press conference, Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations - the media wing of the army, accused India of carrying out 1,077 ceasefire violations since the start of 2018 to date.

"Our defence, our desire for peace, should not be mistaken for weakness," Ghafoor said.

"War happens when diplomacy fails," he said, adding the two sides remained in touch with each other over bilateral issues but India backed out of having a dialogue.

"The Indians have to realise and understand where they want to go (in the future)," he said. "We are two nuclear powers, and there is no space for war," he added.

Ghafoor said Pakistan had not responded to Indian firing, which followed an agreement by the two countries' militaries last week to adhere to the 2003 ceasefire agreement, but was "compelled" to respond only when civilians were targeted.

"If India fires the first bullet and no harm is occurred, we will not respond. If India fires the second bullet, then we will give a befitting response," he said.

Local administration officials said an elderly woman and a minor girl were killed and 24 others, including four children and eight women, injured in mortar shelling by the Indian forces on villages along the Working Boundary yesterday.

Ghafoor said Pakistan wants to respect the truce agreement.

-- PTI

19:01

JUST IN: Serena Williams has pulled out of her fourth-round match in the French Open with Maria Sharapova due to an arm injury.

18:56 Anti-nuclear group offers to pay for Trump-Kim summit

Nobel Prize recipient anti-nuclear campaign group ICAN has offered to pay for the cost of the historic summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and United States President Donald Trump, including the hotel bill for the impoverished state's leader.

The offer comes after a media report that the cash-strapped North may have trouble bearing the cost of its leader's stay in Singapore and the large delegation of security and support staff for the meeting scheduled for June 12.

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, which was awarded last year's Nobel Peace Prize, said it was willing to use its prize money to pay for any accommodation or meeting space needed to make the summit a success.

"The Nobel Peace Prize included a cash prize and we are offering funds from the prize to cover the costs for the summit, in order to support peace in the Korean Peninsula and a nuclear-weapon-free world," ICAN official Akira Kawasaki said.

"This is a historic meeting, and once in a generation opportunity" to help establish a world free of the threat of nuclear weapons, Kawasaki was quoted by saying.

The intention to spend the prize money is in line with the work the group has done to lobby for the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which was adopted by 122 nations but not any of the nuclear weapons states or North Korea.

Three CRPF personnel were injured when local protesters pelted stones at their camp in Mawlai, an official of the central paramilitary force said today.

The incident took place last night and 15 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed at various locations in Shillong, CRPF IG Prakash D said.

After curfew was relaxed for eight hours yesterday, fresh bouts of violence broke out last night, prompting police to use tear gas shells to quell a mob, a police officer said.

Normal life continued to remain affected for the fourth day in a row today with curfew imposed in parts of the city under the Lumdiengjri police station and Cantonment Beat House areas since 4 am, he said.

Violence broke out last Thursday after two groups of people in the city's Punjabi Line area clashed after a bus handyman was allegedly beaten up by a group of residents.

More than 10 people, including policemen, were injured in the violence. One person has been arrested so far in connection with the assault.

The army conducted a flag march in Shillong for the second day today.

-- PTI

The fifth Invictus Games will be held in the Netherlands in 2020, UK's Prince Harry has announced.

The Hague will host the event in which wounded military veterans compete in a Paralympic-style event.

Harry, who founded the games, said: "The city will soon become the motivation for hundreds of servicemen and women."

In October, Harry and wife Meghan will travel to Sydney, Australia for the fourth Invictus Games.

"The Netherlands has supported the Games from the very beginning, and I know that everyone there will fully get behind and support then soldiers and veterans who have served their countries so bravely," Prince Harry said.

The event has previously been held in London (2014), Orlando (2016) and Toronto (2017).

The 2020 games were awarded to the Hague following a competitive tender process.

The Indian Army will place an order for only 250,000 modern assault rifles -- just a third of its total requirement -- driven by budgetary constraints and the need to speed up deliveries, a person with knowledge of the matter said.

The 1.3 million-strong military pruned its original requirement for 800,000 rifles, which would have cost $2.5 billion, to prioritise spending and advance the purchase of more up-to-date equipment, the person said, asking not to be identified as the information is not yet public.

The defence force has 450,000 infantry troopers, of whom only half go into ground battle and use the rifle as their primary weapon. The rest are support soldiers, the person said.

The moves are part of Prime Minister Narendra Modis $250 billion push to modernise Indias armed forces, as infantry continue to face the brunt of deadly attacks in disputed border areas such as Kashmir and the Northeast.

Plans to buy new equipment from overseas, however, have been held back by bureaucratic delays and the militarys desire to balance the needs of its troops against efforts to build equipment domestically under Modis Make in India program, a key plank in his drive to boost local manufacturing.

Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi on Monday directed the head of the Internal Complaints Committee of Air India to complete inquiry into the sexual harassment complaint against the senior executive, within June.

Gandhi's direction comes after the air hostess, who accused the senior executive of sexual harassment, met the minister today.

The WCD minister also took the matter up with Minister of Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu.

The victim had last week accused a senior executive officer of the national carrier of sexual harassment over past few years.

She also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prabhu regarding the same, demanding justice.

In the letter, the victim said that despite complaining to the management of Air India, they refused to take any action against it. She said the accused 'sexually harassed and tortured her over the last six years'.

She further said that the accused denied her position and privileges, after she rejected his advances.

-- ANI

Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi today accused him of giving scripted interviews and said it would be an "embarrassment to us all" if he did take "real" questions.

Gandhi was referring to an interview Modi gave at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore during his recent visit to the city-state.

After Modi answered a question in Hindi, the interpreter started reading from a piece of paper, prompting speculation that the script may be "pre-planned".

"The first Indian PM who takes 'spontaneous' questions that the translator has pre-scripted answers to!

"Good that he doesn't take real questions. Would have been a real embarrassment to us all if he did," Gandhi said on Twitter.

He also tagged a video of Modi's question and the answer along with that given by the English translator.

Gandhi is currently abroad along with his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi who had gone for a medical check-up to the United States.

Yesterday, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor had tweeted while tagging a news report on the NTU interview, "Oh dear. When the translator says what the PM was supposed to say, but didn't".

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara today indicated that Congress leaders from the state were likely to visit New Delhi to discuss the list of ministers and portfolio allocation with the party high-command, ahead of the June 6 cabinet expansion in the southern state.

"Whether we are going (to Delhi) today or tomorrow, I am not sure. The information is that (Congress president) Rahul Gandhi will arrive today (from abroad). Once he is back, he will call us, we will go then," Parameshwara, who is also the state Congress chief, told reporters.

Both the parties in the ruling coalition in Karnataka -- the Congress and the JD-S -- have announced a power-sharing agreement, under which the portfolios to be held by each partner have also been mentioned.

Under the agreement, the Congress would get the Home, Irrigation, Bangalore City Development and Law and Parliamentary Affairs portfolios among others.

The portfolios of the JD-S include Finance, Excise, Information, Intelligence, Public Works Department, Power, Cooperation, Tourism, Education and Transport.

According to Congress sources, several senior party leaders with ministerial aspirations are camping in Delhi amidst reports that those who served as ministers for long may be deputed for party work and new faces would be accommodated in the cabinet.

Responding to a question in this regard, Parameshwara said, "There is no such discussion...."

He added that there were opinions that those who had been ministers for long should not be given ministerial berths and new faces should be given a chance as despite winning elections on multiple occasions, they had not got the opportunity.

The high-command would look into such suggestions while deciding on portfolio allocation, Parameshwara said.

-- PTI

BJP president Amit Shah today met Yoga guru Ramdev, who is associated with the Patanjali group of companies, as part of his party's "contact for support" campaign and shared the Modi government's achievements with him.

"I met yoga guru Swami Ramdev as part of 'Sampark for Samarthan' programme and informed him about the Narendra Modi-led government's achievements and public welfare policies in its four years of rule," Shah tweeted.

Following its government's fourth anniversary on May 26, the BJP launched a mega public drive -- 'sampark for samarthan', announcing that its 4,000 functionaries will contact one lakh people, who are well-known names in their fields, to spread the word about its works in its tenure.

Shah will himself contact 50 persons, the party had said.

Launching the exercise, he had met former army chief Dalbir Singh Suhag and Subhash Kashyap on May 29. He also met cricket legend Kapil Dev later.

Shah had earlier said that the campaign was aimed at informing people about various government initiatives, which have resulted in lifting people's living standards as a lot of work had been done to remove the problems people faced in villages and to help the poor live a better life.

-- PTI

16:16

JUST IN: Reigning Australian Open champ and World Number 2 Caroline Wozniacki defeated in straight sets by Russia's Daria Kasatkina, ranked number 14 at the French Open in the fourth round. Wozniacki lost 6-7, 3-6.

16:05 Mattis praises Modi for speaking about dangers of loans that are 'too good to be true'

United States Defence Secretary James Mattis has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for speaking about massive debts, saying he made a really good point about the dangers of accepting loans that are "too good to be true".

Mattis met the prime minister on the sidelines of the International Institute for Strategic Studies' 17th Asia Security Summit -- also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue -- in Singapore on Saturday.

Prime Minister Modi delivered the key-note address at the annual conference.

"He (Modi) made a really good point there about the dangers of accepting loans that are too good to be true, and being forced into another agenda," Mattis told reporters on his way back home from Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore yesterday.

"I remember India (Modi), that speech. It was like listening to one of those old-timey people. I thought he was really great, and you know just hammering home. I really liked his point about massive debt," Mattis said.

"Massive debt -- and I was thinking that night after I went back to my room, you could lose your sovereignty and your freedom from debt more than a soldier with a bayoneted rifle, you know? You can lose it economically instead," the US Defence Secretary said.

Modi had criticised governments that put other nations under "impossible burdens of debt". Both were likely references to China for its behaviour in the disputed South China Sea and its Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure projects which involves giving loans to other countries.

China has given massive loans to countries like Sri Lanka and Pakistan which, according to reports, have become a burden on them.

"They must empower nations, not place them under impossible debt burden. They must promote trade, not strategic competition. On these principles, we are prepared to work with everyone," Modi said amidst the growing global concern over the so-called Chinese model of "debt diplomacy."

Responding to a question, if Mattis would be invited to China after his strong remarks against them at Singapore, he said, he is still going there.

"I'm still certainly going to China. They're entitled to their view. I saw them at lunch yesterday, which would have been after I spoke, and we enjoyed our Coca-Cola together, and we talked. Nothing adversarial at all," he said.

Meanwhile in Washington, Pentagon spokesperson Captain Jeff Davis said yesterday that India and the US have pledged to continue their strong bilateral strategic partnership and affirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the region. -- PTI

16:03 Sensex down over 200 pts

Benchmark Sensex tanked over 215 points to close at 35,011.89 today as cautious investors trimmed their portfolios amid the RBI's monetary policy meeting getting underway.

The RBI's Monetary Policy Committee began its three-day meeting today amid speculation that it may hike the key interest rate on June 6 for the first time in about four-and-half years on account of firming inflation.

The 30-share Sensex opened on a strong footing on across-the-board gains amid positive global leads and hit a high of 35,555.59.

However, it soon slipped into the negative zone on massive selling in several heavyweights. It finally ended at 35,011.89, down 215.37 points or 0.61 per cent.

The broader NSE Nifty too ended lower by 67.70 points, or 0.63 per cent, at 10,628.50, after hovering between 10,770.30 and 10,618.35.

Meanwhile, foreign portfolio investors offloaded shares worth a net Rs 202.80 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought equities to the tune of Rs 337.97 crore on Friday, as per provisional data. -- PTI

Kicking up a row, an IUML MLA today attended the Kerala assembly wearing mask and gloves to highlight the impact of Nipah virus in Kozhikode district, triggering a war of words between the ruling LDF and opposition UDF members.

The Kuttiady MLA, Parakkal Abdulla, walked into the assembly wearing mask and gloves, and was seen greeting the opposition members.

While Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, said the member's behaviour amounted to 'trivialising' a serious issue, Health Minister K K Shylaja described it as a 'ridiculous act.'

The state was maintaining extreme vigil following the outbreak of the deadly virus. Since the Nipah virus was confirmed, government has taken all necessary steps to contain it. The health department has intervened efficiently.

Still, the MLA has come to the house wearing a mask which amounted to self ridicule, Vijayan said attacking the member.

The health minister said there are certain criteria for wearing a mask.

If the member was infected by the virus, he should not have come to the house, she said.

Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said he was told by the MLA that in Kozhikode everyone was wearing mask and walking around and so he had come to the house as a symbolic gesture.

Abdulla said his act was only to bring the government's attention to the situation in Kuttiyadi-Perambra region, the epicentre of the Nipah virus. Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan also enquired from the member why he wore the mask.

Sixteen persons have lost their lives so far to Nipah virus (NiV) in two districts of the state, Kozhikode and Malappuram, since the breakout of the deadly virus on May 17.

In a message to the Bharatiya Janata Party, Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal-United has said that Kumar should be the "face" of NDA in Bihar during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The message comes with a sting just days after the BJP -- and its allies -- lost big in bypolls across 10 states, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

"Nitish Kumar is the face of the NDA in Bihar, that is why he is the chief minister. JD-U is the largest constituent of the coalition," JD-U national general secretary Pavan Varma said after a meeting of top leaders at the chief minister's home in Patna.

Since the by-poll setback, more than one ally has made it clear that the BJP is not in a position to play big brother anymore.

As parties prep for next year's national election, the JDU is also angling for a bigger share of parliamentary seats to contest..

"Jab dil mil gaye (When hearts have connected), seats are no big deal. Who will contest how many seats in elections, all this will be decide after we sit together for our meeting," senior Bihar BJP leader and deputy chief minister Sushil Modi said.

The government today appointed IDBI Bank managing director M K Jain as deputy governor of Reserve Bank of India in place of S S Mundra, who had completed his three-year term in July last year.

"Government appoints experienced banker Mahesh Kumar Jain, MD & CEO of IDBI Bank as Deputy Governor of RBI for a term of three years," said Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Kumar in a tweet.

A search panel headed by the Cabinet Secretary interviewed candidates, including three senior bureaucrats, on May 10.

The search panel also includes RBI Governor, Financial Services Secretary and some independent members.

Jain, with 30 years of banking experience, has been MD of IDBI Bank since March 2017. Prior to this, he was MD of Chennai based Indian Bank. He was appointed MD of Indian Bank in November 2015.

He also served in several banking sector panels including secretary and coordinator to Basant Seth Committee on Review and Revamp of Internal and Concurrent Audit System in Public sector banks.

He was a member of the government constituted committee on PIL on NPAs for submission to Supreme Court and redesigning Annual Performance Appraisal Report of PSB officers.

As per the RBI Act, the central bank should have four deputy governors - two from within the ranks and one commercial banker and another an economist to head the monetary policy department.

Other serving deputy governors are Viral V Acharya, N S Vishwanathan and B P Kanungo.

Although interviews were conducted on July 29 last year, the government decided to start the process all over again in January this year.

The deputy governor will draw a fixed salary of Rs 2.25 lakh per month plus allowances, it had said. -- PTI

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav today asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan an attempt towards "international appeasement" of the minority community.

During an interview with PTI, he claimed that the people of not only Uttar Pradesh, but of the entire country was upset with the BJP as other than making promises it "did nothing else".

Citing a proverb, Yadav said, "With empty stomach, people have now understood that the BJP does not mean business."

Asking the BJP to restrain its leaders from making "absurd" comments, he said, "The BJP should learn to face defeats or else they will be not be able to digest the outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in which the opposition will stage a comeback."

Slamming the BJP for accusing his party of practising minority appeasement, the Samajwadi Party chief said, "Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says he does not celebrate Eid as he is a Hindu. The BJP charges us with practising Muslim appeasement. Modi has just visited Indonesia and Malaysia during the month of Ramzan. Is it an attempt towards 'international appeasement' of the Muslims?"

Adityanath had reportedly said that he is a Hindu and does not celebrate Eid, drawing sharp criticisim from opposition.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was for the first time on an official visit to Indonesia -- the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation -- last month. He has visited Singapore twice and Malaysia once in 2015.

Modi had also visited Indonesia's grand Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in southeast Asia, with President Joko Widodo.

Indonesia is not only the world's most populous Muslim country, followed by India, but the third largest democracy.

Hindus comprise two per cent of Indonesia's population and form close to a 90 per cent majority on the island of Bali.

14:44 Arun Jaitley discharged from hospital

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has been discharged from hospital today, after his kidney transplant surgery earlier this month.

"Delighted to be back at Home. My gratitude to the Doctors, Nursing officers and the paramedics who looked after me for over the past three weeks. I wish to thank all well-wishers, colleagues and friends who were very concerned and continued to wish me for my recovery," Jaitley tweeted.

Jaitley, 65, underwent a successful kidney transplant surgery at AIIMS on May 14. He had been keeping unwell since early April due to kidney related problems and a chest infection.

He had been admitted to AIIMS last month, but was released without getting any surgery done. He had been undergoing regular dialysis before his surgery.

Jaitley is currently listed on the prime minister of India's Web site as 'Minister Without Portfolio'.

He is expected to start working from home and receive files and official briefings within two or three weeks.

A national film body has urged the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce to expedite the release of superstar Rajinikanth's upcoming movie Kaala in Karnataka, following a ban imposed on its screening in the state, over the actor's alleged comments on the Cauvery row.

The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce is upset with Rajinikanth's reported statement that whichever government comes to power in Karnataka should implement the Supreme Court order on Cauvery water sharing in toto.

The chamber recently decided not to allow screening of his movie Kaala, slated for release on June 7, in the state.

The 67-year-old actor has often faced the wrath of pro-Kannada organisations for his comments on the Cauvery issue.

Film Federation of India president Sakshi Mehra told PTI that it has requested SIFCC to hold talks with KFCC to get the movie released, in the interest of the film industry.

SIFCC secretary L Suresh said they had sent a letter to KFCC to solve the problem by convening a meeting with the Kannada outfits.

"I have spoken to KFCC president Sa Ra Govindu and also written a letter to him. The KFCC would probably call for a meeting with the outfits tomorrow or the day after," he said.

Suresh said it is unfortunate that cinema is being mixed with politics, which would only result in a loss to the film industry.

"The ban on Kaala will not only affect the Tamil film industry, but also the Kannada film fraternity and the Indian film industry as a whole," he said.

Karnataka Rajinikanth Fans Association too has written to KFCC, seeking chief minister H D Kumaraswamy's intervention to solve the issue.

"Politics should not be mixed with cinema. Rajinikanth had made remarks on the formation of Cauvery water board, which could be beneficial to both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu," president of Karnataka Rajinikanth Fans Association, Rajani Santosh said.

On June 2, minister of state for finance and shipping Pon Radhakrishnan had asked DMK working president M K Stalin to request its ally Congress in Karnataka to take steps to release the film.

'Kaala' is scheduled for a worldwide release on June 7. -- PTI

The working committee of the Naga National Political Groups has decided to suspend its ongoing talks with the Centre on the Naga political issue following a raid by security personnel at its co-convener's residence on June 2, according to an NNPG statement.

The decision was taken by the group's working committee in an emergency meeting Dimapur yesterday.

The raid shows it will serve no purpose to continue the dialogue as all the progress made during the talks between the two entities appear to be a trivial matter for the Union government, NNPG leaders alleged in the statement.

The working committee has hence decided to suspend all negotiations with the Union government unless it comes clean on the actions of its agencies, it said.

The residence of the committee's co-convener Vizosieihou Nagi at Kohima district's Jotsoma village was raided by security forces on June 2, the statement said. However, he was not in the house at the time of the raid, it said, adding that Nagi is also the general secretary of the NNC-NA (non-accordist).

The next round of talks is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on June 7.

The Centre and the NNPG's working committee officially began a political dialogue in 2017 to resolve the protracted Naga political issue.

The GPRN/NSCN, Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN), NNC (Parent Body), National People's Government of Nagaland (NPGN) of the NNC (NA), NSCN (Reformation) and Naga National Council/ Government Democratic Republic of Nagaland (NNC/GDRN) (NA) are part of the NNPG.

Intermittent firing and shelling by Pakistani troops was reported in Akhnoor sector of Jammu and Kashmir in the early hours today, a senior Border Security Force officer said.

"The limited firing targeting at least four border outposts was reported in Akhnoor sector which was responded accordingly," the officer said.

However, there was no report of any ceasefire violation after 0215 hours. He said calm is prevailing but the situation continues to remain tense.

Yesterday, two BSF personnel including an officer were killed and 14 persons, mostly civilians, were injured in heavy firing and shelling by Pakistan in Akhnoor, Kanachak and Khour sectors.

The violation came nearly a week after the director generals of military operations of both countries agreed to implement the ceasefire pact of 2003 in "letter and spirit". -- PTI

Piyush Goyal is one of the most sought after Union ministers, the reason being that he holds four key portfolios -- railways, coal, finance and corporate affairs.

Which also means that the volume of Union cabinet agenda papers he has to peruse has become too unwieldy.

Recently, after a cabinet meeting, Ram Vilas Paswan commented, "Piyushbhai, you are now dadaji, having top portfolios. Do you get time to sleep or not?"

Soon after the finance ministry was handed over to Piyush Goyal till Arun Jaitley recovers from his surgery, top officials from North Block who went to his chambers were surprised to see the minister seated on a sofa during the meeting and not his official chair.

At least 16 people, including four policemen, were injured in a grenade attack in a busy market area in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, police said.

Terrorists hurled a grenade on security forces in Shopian town, resulting in injuries to at least nine civilians and three cops, a police official said.

He said the area has been cordoned off and searches started to nab the attackers.

Terrorists have carried out a series of grenade attacks on security forces and politicians since last week. -- PTI

Two Mumbai-based activists have sought cancellation of an Iftar party to be hosted by the Rashtriya Muslim Manch, the Muslim wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, at Mumbai's Sahyadri government guest house on Monday.

Advocate Adil Khatri and Shakeel Ahmed Shaikh wrote a letter to Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, stating that the government guest house is only meant for office use, and not for public or religious functions.

The activists further alleged that the Iftar party is being organised solely to garner votes.

"A July 2015 order issued by the state general administration department to all government departments, including the protocol department, which is responsible for the (Sahyadri) guesthouse says departments are requested not to hold (public) hearings at the Sahyadri guesthouse and follow the rules for holding meetings and workshops. The GAD has been informed that the conference halls are requisitioned by ministers for holding hearings with applicants with various issues," the letter read.

"The order also says only the CM, DCM, ministers and minister of state, chief secretary, additional chief secretary, principal secretary, secretary and officials of equivalent rank would be authorised to hold meetings, workshops and press conferences," the activists highlighted in the letter.

The complainants, therefore, urged that an inquiry be conducted into the role of sanctioning officials from the protocol department for permitting the RMM to hold the Iftar party.

13:37 CBSE declares NEET results

The Central Board of Secondary Education today declared the results for NEET-- the entrance examination for admission to medical and dental colleges across the country.

The results can be accessed on official websites -- cbseneet.nic.in and cbseresults.nic.in.

A total of 13,26,725 candidates had appeared for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test on May 6.

NEET is conducted by the CBSE for admission to MBBS and BDS courses in colleges run with the approval of the Medical Council of India and the Dental Council of India.

The exam is not for admissions to institutions established through an Act of Parliament such as AIIMS and the JIPMER in Puducherry. -- PTI

A case has been filed against Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh for calling farmers' strike a publicity stunt.

Social activist Tamanna Hashmi has filed the case at Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Bihar's Muzaffarpur.

Singh on Saturday said that the protest by farmers in various parts of the country were attempts to get media attention, triggering demands by opposition parties for his removal.

Singh said the farmers opted for 'unusual deeds' to draw media attention as they belong to organisations with only a few thousand members.

The farmers have launched a 10-day agitation to press their demands, including loan waiver and right price for crops.

"It requires some unusual deeds to appear in the media. The country has about 12-14 crore farmers. There will always be organisations with a following of a few thousand," Singh told reporters at a press conference when asked about the agitation.

Image: Farmers from Ahmednagar spill milk down a road during a state-wide protest, in Pune. Photograph: PTI Photo

Just In: Militants hurl grenade at security forces in Shopian in J&K; at least two persons injured, says police.

The Tamil Nadu government today announced the premature release of 67 life convicts who have completed 10 years of imprisonment, in commemoration of the birth centenary of former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran.

In the first phase, 67 convicts who have served 10 years, in prisons across the state, as on February 25 would be released, an official release said.

The decision had been announced by Chief Minister K Palaniswami during an MGR birth centenary event at Dindigul in December last.

Two government orders envisaging guidelines for the release of prisoners have been issued, it added.

A day after Bharatiya Janata Party national spokesperson Sambit Patra equated the opposition to Pakistan-base terrorists Hafiz Saeed, Union Minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh today compared the anti-BJP parties to global terrorist Osama Bin Laden who was killed a few years ago by United States forces.

Taking to Twitter, Giriraj Singh said Opposition parties that supported Maoists, caste politics and feudalism have ganged up against the NDA. He also accused the opposition of backing Osama Bin Laden.

"Maowaadi, jaatiwadi, samantwaadi aur Osamawadi, sabhi rashtrawadi gathbandhan NDA ke khilaf ekjut ho gaye hain," Giriraj tweeted.

He added the unity of the Opposition would not have an impact on the Narendra Modi government which was riding on the development plank and would cross the 2019 Lok Sabha hurdle with sufficient ease.

Earlier, BJP Spokesperson Sambit Patra compared the Opposition to Hafiz Saeed, saying that like the Pakistan-based terrorist, the 'Mahagathbandhan' too is trying to stop Narendra Modi from becoming PM in 2019.

"Its not just the not yet formed "Mahagathbandhan" that desperately wants to stop India from having Modi as its PM in 2019there are others as welldesperately trying for d same! Hafiz Saeed openly saying that he will shed blood of Narendra Modi," he said in his tweet as he posted a video of Saeed.

The BJP spokesperson later tweeted and said that he is not trying to compare the two, the anti-BJP alliance and Hafiz Saeed.

"Of course this is not a comparison! Modi Jis attack on Black Money and corruption is getting the opposition in India on one page while His attack on terrorism & Surgical Strike is pushing Hafeez Sayed to desperation! This proves that the Modi government is moving the right way! (sic)"

Terming disenchantment of OBCs as the reason for the BJP's defeat in by-elections, Uttar Pradesh minister Om Prakash Rajbhar said the backward classes were unhappy with the party as BJP leader Keshav Prasad Maurya was not made the chief minister.

"The BJP contested assembly polls with Keshav Prasad Maurya (a OBC) as its face but later Yogi Adityanath was made chief minister. Backwards supported the BJP in the hope that Maurya will become CM. The result of this anger reflected in the defeat of the BJP in bypolls", Rajbhar, who is cabinet minister and head of Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party, told PTI over phone.

Asked whether Yogi Adityanath is responsible for the defeat in bypolls, he said, "Government is responsible. The BJP should introspect about reasons of its defeat. It's up to the BJP whom to make CM. It's up to the party to make Yogi or Keshav as CM."

The BJP lost both the Kairana and Noorpur assembly seats in the recent polls.

Tabassum Hasan of the Rashtriya Lok Dal won the Kairana seat by a margin of 44,618 votes, while Naeemul Hasan of the SP bagged the Noorpur Assembly seat by 5,662 votes.

The winning RLD candidate in Kairana was backed by the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party. In Noorpur, the main opposition parties supported the SP nominee.

Against this united opposition, the BJP's all-out effort to stop a chain of losses in bypolls in the state since 2014 proved futile even though Chief Minister Adityanath led from the front. -- PTI

BJP chief Amit Shah has informally conveyed to the party's national executive members that the ban on senior leaders contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha election has been lifted.

Shah's decision comes in the wake of the Opposition's successful jamboree at Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's swearing-in.

Among the top BJP leaders who have crossed the age of 75 are LK Advani, Dr MM Joshi, Shatrughan Sinha, Karia Munda and Sumitra Mahajan.

In all probability, most of them will be fielded in next year's Lok Sabha polls, according to an insider.

Singapore's Communications and Information Minister S Iswaran and priests flown in from India led some 10,000 devotees at a ceremony to re-sanctify a 148-year old Hindu temple.

The ceremony that began at 9:15 am yesterday, marked the start of a 48-day consecration process of the temple that underwent renovation for over four years at a cost of nearly SGD 4 million, the Straits Times reported today.

Maha Samprokshanam, as the ceremony is called, is organised every 12 to 15 years in Singapore's Hindu temples, many of which were built by Indian migrants over 100 years ago.

In the four-year process, the temple committee collaborated with artists and technical advisers to review and endorse ideas for the renovation.

The dome and the statues around it were clad in gold-plated copper, while decorative works on the pillars required two sculptors crafting them on site for over three years.

In the main hall, eight cement shrines were replaced with onyx sanctums. The stone, chosen for its durability, were sourced from India and tested at the National University of Singapore for authenticity and hardiness.

The Sri Krishnan temple was established in 1870 in Waterloo Street, which was then known as Church Street.

The temple remains at its original site and was gazetted for conservation in June 2014.

Speaking to reporters after the event, Iswaran said the temple showed how Singaporeans shared one another's beliefs and culture, leading to a sense of community and mutual respect.

"One very interesting feature of this temple is the fact that it has appealed to Singaporeans of diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds," he said.

11:01 5 killed as pre-monsoon showers lash Nashik

Five people were killed in two separate rain-related incidents as pre-monsoon showers accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning hit the Nashik division over the weekend, the police said today.

The Nashik division in Maharashtra comprises five districts -- Dhule, Jalgaon, Nandurbar, Ahmednagar and Nashik.

A 32-year-old woman and her three minor daughters were killed when a tree fell on them at Varkhedi village in the neighbouring Dhule district yesterday, a police official said.

The deceased were identified as Anita Daduram Pavra and her daughters Vashila (3), Pinky (2) and Roshani (1), he said.

In another incident, a 27-year-old man died when lightning struck him at Ambewadi in Igatpuri taluka of Nashik district last evening.

The deceased, Dashrath Dhondu Dhavale, a native of Nashik district, worked with the Mumbai fire brigade department, an official at the Igatpuri police station said. Heavy pre-monsoon rains lashed the Sinnar, Wavi, Yeola and Satana tehsils of Nashik district on Saturday and Sunday, causing damage to several houses and damaging crops and onion storage sheds, the police said.

In the last 24 hours, Nashik's Igatpuri taluka received 76 mm rain, Baglan-25 mm, Chandwad-24 mm, Trimbakeshwar-15 mm, Nandgaon-10 mm, and Malegaon, Sinnar and Nashik got five mm each, according to figures provided by the district collector's office.

Constable Vijay Kumar Pandey, who martyred in Pakistan firing yesterday, was supposed to get married on June 20.

Vijay was supposed to reach village by June 5, family members said.

Pandey's father, a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Fatehpur, said that on Saturday evening he spoke to his son over the phone.

He said Vijay told him to prepare for the wedding and his leave has been sanctioned.

Vijay studied at the Adarsh Inter college, in the nearby Salehpur village.

His teachers from the school said that he was a good student, and always used to dream of serving the nation.

Vijay was recruited in the BSF in the year 2012.

09:47 NCERT syllabus to be reduced by half

The Union human resource development ministry has decided to reduce the NCERT syllabus by half as it is 'cramped', said HRD minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday.

He said, "The government has decided to reduce the NCERT syllabus by half as it is "cramped."

Talking to media, Javadekar said alongside studies, a child needs physical education, life skills and value-based education.

Reportedly, the minister said that the draft of a new National Education Policy will be tabled before the Union Cabinet by the end of this month. -- ANI

India and the United States have pledged to continue their strong bilateral strategic partnership, the Pentagon said after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis.

Mattis met the prime minister on the sidelines of the International Institute for Strategic Studies' 17th Asia Security Summit -- also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue -- in Singapore on Saturday.

"The two discussed the importance of the US-India relationship, and the role of both nations in cooperating to uphold international laws and principles, and to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific," defence spokesperson Captain Jeff Davis said here yesterday.

The two leaders "pledged to continue the strong US-India strategic partnership and affirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the region," Davis said in a readout of the meeting. -- PTI

Tamil TV actress Sangeetha Balan has been arrested for allegedly running a prostitution racket at a resort in Chennai.

According to reports, along with Sangeetha, a person named Satish has also been arrested.

The two used to lure young girls by promising them well-paid jobs and a chance to feature in films and TV shows.

They have been sent to jail after being reportedly produced in the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Egmore.

A well-known face in the Tamil TV industry, Sangeetha has appeared in shows like 'Vani Rani', 'Chellamay Aval', and 'Valli'. -- ANI

In one of the sharpest attacks after the recently held Lok Sabha bypoll in Palghar, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday described the Bharatiya Janata Party as its biggest "political enemy".

The country "does not" want the duo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, but could "accept" the Congress or Janata Dal-Secualr leader H D Deve Gowda, he said.

"The Shiv Sena is the biggest political enemy (rajkiya shatroo) of the BJP. The Sena's radical Hinduism would prove problematic for the BJP," he said in an opinion piece written under his `rokh-thokh' (straight forward) column published in party mouthpiece `Saamana'.

Raut is the editor of the Marathi daily.

Taking potshots at the saffron party, Raut said the BJP paid tribute to its late MP Chintaman Wanaga by defeating his son, the Sena candidate, in Palghar.

The bypoll was necessitated by the death of Chintaman Wanaga.

Since the Sena is the main political opponent of the BJP, the latter's plan is to weaken the Uddhav Thackeray-led party while staying in power with it, he alleged.

"Hence, the BJP's plan is to stay with the Sena in power and try to weaken it by using power and money. The BJP used its resources to ensure Shiv Sena's defeat in the Palghar Lok Sabha bypoll (held last month)," Raut said.

The Sena leader claimed "trickery" of EVMs led to the BJP's victory in Palghar and said it was nothing short of a "scandal".

"On the day of voting (May 28), complaints of EVMs malfunctioning were reported from at least 100 locations. The Election Commission rejected the Shiv Sena's request for extending voting hours, but a similar demand of BJP candidate Rajendra Gavit (who won the seat) was accepted," he alleged.

He claimed that every polling station, where extension for voting was given, reported an "average 100 extra votes to the BJP nominee and cumulatively BJP's votes increased by some thousands. But some 60,000 voters could not vote".

"After the voting, the district collector declared 46 per cent turnout, but the figure went up to 56 per cent the next day (when final figure was announced). It means 82,000 votes increased overnight", he said.

Raut charged that the BJP has appointed people with RSS links to key constitutional posts and controlled the election procedure.

He also referred to the setback suffered by the BJP in the just held Lok Sabha and assembly bypolls in some states.

"The BJP managed to win the Palghar Lok Sabha bypoll but it lost many other Lok Sabha and assembly bypolls. This shows winds of change are blowing in several parts of the country," he said.

"The bypoll results indicate beginning of the BJP's downfall," said the Rajya Sabha MP.

He charged that "the country is in such a state of mind that it can accept the Congress or Deve Gowda, but does not want the Modi- Shah duo".-- PTI

Indian economy has become like a car whose three tyres are punctured, former finance minister P Chidambaram said as he attacked the Narendra Modi government on rising petroleum prices and other issues.

"Private investment, private consumption, exports and government expenditures are four growth engines of an economy. It's like four tyres of a car. If one or two tyres are punctured, it will slow down but in our case, three tyres are punctured," the senior Congress leader said at an event organised by the Maharashtra Congress unit.

Government expenditure is on only in healthcare and in some other amenities, he said.

"To keep this expenditure going on, the government has continued taxing petrol, diesel and even LPG. It is squeezing money from people in such taxes and spending some from it on public amenities," Chidambaram said.

Did you see any investment in the power sector recently, he questioned.

"For example, out of the 10 major companies that went into insolvency, five were steel companies. How can you expect any investment in such sectors," he wondered.

Chidambaram also criticised the government for introducing a "five-slab" Goods and Services Tax regime.

"Post-demonetisation this government has introduced GST with five tax slabs with a cess over it. In other countries, GST is just one tax system but we can have two types of taxation in India. Still, having five slabs is not what we had imagined about GST," he said.

He said that the government is incompetent in addressing the economic issues, which has "worsened" under the current dispensation.

"Industrial utilisation is mere 60 per cent in the country. The export of merchandise, during the UPA was USD 315 billion, which was USD 303 billion last year. Before that, it was not even USD 300 billion. This shows we are not earning from exports too," the former finance minister said.

He mocked the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana of the Modi government under which loans of up to Rs 10 lakh are provided to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises.

"The average amount of disbursed Mudra loan is Rs 43,000 per person. No major investment can be done with such low amount, except one wants to run a Pakoda stall," Chidambaram said in an apparent reference to Modi's remarks that selling 'pakodas' is also a form of employment.

He said "compared to social blunders of the NDA government, economic mistakes are curable and correctable".

"The BJP-led government has suddenly given a message to certain communities that they are second-rank citizens of this country. There is a lot of unrest over food habits, social behaviour, active anti-Romeo squads in the country," he said. -- PTI

BJP veteran L K Advani on Sunday said "rebel leaders" such as George Fernandes are needed all the time because no country can progress without them.

He made the remarks at the launch of a website on George Fernandes on his 88th birthday.

Advani, who paid a visit to the ailing leader at his Delhi residence, said he was a remarkable person.

"I have had the occasion of being with him in Parliament for so many years. He is a remarkable person... Rebel leaders are needed all the time. Nothing moves without them.

"If there were no rebels, the country wouldn't have gained Independence. Rebel leaders like George should keep coming up so that the country can progress and develop," Advani said after inaugurating the website -- georgefernandes.org.

This website is an attempt to highlight his glorious contribution to Indian politics, especially the first part of his career and put the second part in right perspective. It's also an effort at celebrating what George stood for, said his wife Leila Kabir Fernandes.

Socialist leader Sharad Yadav, who was also present at the occasion, remembered Fernandes as a person whose life was full of struggle.

The website sheds light on various facets of George Fernandes, his life and all his associates across India and the world. -- PTI

Image: L K Advani, right, with George Fernandes

Senior Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde has said that former President Pranab Mukherjee accepting an invite to attend a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh event was "not wrong" as the latter was a secular person and a very good thinker.

"Pranab Mukherjee is a secular person. He will always put forth a secular view which he will do there (at the RSS event) as well. He is a very good thinker, and his going there and speaking on that platform is very important," Shinde said.

He said that Mukherjee accepting the invite was not wrong and "we would be more than pleased" if his thoughts bring some improvement in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Mukherjee has been invited to be the chief guest at the valedictory function of the Sangh Shiksha Varg -- a training camp for RSS volunteers -- at its headquarters in Nagpur.

The event will be held on June 7. -- PTI

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