LIVE! After dharna, AAP to lead protest march to PMO on Sunday

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Sat, 16 June 2018

After dharna, AAP to lead protest march to PMO on Sunday

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21:08 After dharna, AAP to lead protest march to PMO on Sunday

Accusing the Centre of misusing its powers to stop Delhi government from working, the Aam Aadmi party said it would lead a massive protest march to the Prime Minister's Office on Sunday evening.

The Delhiites will assemble at Mandi House at 4 pm and march to the PMO under the party banner to support Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers' sit-in at the lieutenant governor's office for the last six days in their fight against the "dictatorship" of Modi government, the AAP leaders said.

"Modi government is shamelessly misusing its powers and institutions to stop Delhi government from working for the people," said AAP national secretary Pankaj Gupta.

People are going to protest in favour of the Delhi government which has provided them with free water, low cost electricity and good education system, Gupta claimed.

Kejriwal and his Cabinet colleagues are sitting at the office of Lt Governor Anil Baijal demanding his direction to the IAS officers to end their "strike" and approve doorstep ration delivery scheme, since last Monday.

"LG has not been able to take out a single minute from his schedule to meet the CM who has been struggling to fight for the rights of the people living in Delhi," Gupta said.

The political parties from every part of the country have assured their support to the AAP ministers' strike but the Congress is opposing it, he said.

"Surprisingly, the Congress has come in support of the BJP and its Central government by keeping its mouth shut on it" he charged.

Gupta claimed the AAP's movement has become a national issue and party will emerge victorious in it with the help of the people. -- PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy and Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu will meet their Delhi counterpart, Arvind Kejriwal, who is on a sit-in protest at Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's office for the sixth day today.

According to some media reports, earlier, Banerjee was denied permission to meet Kejriwal.

This is getting more and more bizarre, tweeted Kejriwal who has been on dharna at the Raj Niwas since Monday evening, along with three ministers --- Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai, demanding that the "strike" by IAS officers in Delhi be called off.

Mamata had pledged her support to Mr Kejriwal earlier this week, appealing to the centre to resolve the problem "immediately".

"Elected Chief Minister must get due respect. May I appeal to the government of India and the LG to resolve the problem immediately so that people do not suffer", she had tweeted on Wednesday.

The four CMs are in Delhi to attend a Niti Aayog meeting on Sunday.

Days after the special investigation team arrested the alleged killer of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, shot dead here nine months ago, her family today expressed satisfaction over the probe, saying it was moving in the right direction and they will get justice.

Lankesh's sister Kavitha and her mother called on former chief minister Siddaramaiah to express their gratitude over the progress in the probe, with the SIT arresting the alleged shooter Parashuram Waghmare from

Sindagi earlier this week.

The Siddaramaiah government had constituted the SIT led by inspector general of police B K Singh and investigating officer M N Anucheth. It has so far arrested six people, including Waghmare.

"A person by name Parashuram has been arrested but lot more investigation has to be done. But I came here just to askwhether the investigation will reach its logical end," Kavithatold reporters here after meeting Siddaramaiah.

She said the person arrested has been dubbed as 'alleged killer' but they have come to know that he has confessed to his crime.

She reposed faith in the investigation beingcarried out by IGP Singh.

Kavitha said, "Let they (SIT) investigate it because we are not the (investigating) officer. We have faith that it is going in the right direction under the leadership of inspector general of police B K Singh. The 100-member in the SIT has been working very hard."

The SIT was going about its job in "an unbiased manner" and investigated all angles, she said.

"They inquired with us. When there were suspicions about the possible Naxal involvement, they investigated that also. Finally after filtering all the possibilities, they finally reached this stage. So we are happy that we will get

justice," said Kavitha.

Gauri Lankesh, a Left leaning journalist and a strong Hindutva critic, was shot-dead from a close range by motorbike-borne assailants in front of her house on September 5 last year.

Her murder had triggered a nationwide outrage. -- PTI

The operational preparedness of the Indian Air Force to take on any contingency was displayed in the recent 'Gaganshakti' exercise, Chief of Air Staff B S Dhanoa said on Saturday.

"The operational preparedness of the IAF to take on any kind of contingency was amply displayed in the recently concluded exercise Gaganshakti. The gamut and expanse of this exercise was pan-India which saw engagement of almost all the assets of the Air Force," he said.

The gigantic exercise involved operations on northern, western and eastern fronts of the country, Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa said in his address at the Combined Graduation Parade held at Air Force Academy, Dundigul, on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

"This exercise successfully validated the IAF's operational preparedness to cater to any eventuality," he said.

The IAF has undergone rapid modernisation in recent times to cater to various requirements of the country, he said.

"Our country presently may not be fighting a war in the traditional sense, yet we have to remain in a heightened state of preparedness, be it terrorist attacks, the cyber security threats, insurgency, natural disasters or any other duty that the Union of India might find it fit to assign to us," he said.

To cater to these requirements and to keep up with the times, Indian Air Force has undergone rapid modernisation in recent times, he added.

The IAF has continued to evolve over the years, playing significant roles not only in strengthening the defence of our nation, but also carving a niche for itself among the best air forces in the world, he said. -- PTI

With President Ram Nath Kovind reportedly rejecting Tamil Nadu government's plea to release seven Rajiv Gandhi assassination convicts, the mother of one of them has demanded "mercy killing" of her son.

Arputhammal, the mother of A G Perarivalan, recalled the recent assertion by the Tamil Nadu government that it was for the release of the convicts including her son.

The seven convicts -- Murugan, Perarivalan, Santhan, Jayakumar, Robert Payas, Ravichandran and Nalini have been in jail for over 20 years now.

Speaking to reporters in Vellore district, Arputhammal said "we are now frustrated" following the prolonged legal battles and the latest development.

"We don't want this life anymore. I am planning to petition the Central and the state governments to kill us. I am going to do that... please do mercy killing of my son," she said.

Arputhammal recalled an earlier statement of an ex-CBI official, who recorded Perarivalan's statement, to a court that part of the convict's confession was "omitted."

"My son was taken by police on the pretext of an inquiry (in connection with the case) when he was 19-year-old and now he is 47. His youth and prime (of his life) have been lost," she said.

Arputhammal said even Congress President Rahul Gandhi has forgiven the convicts.

As per the prosecution's case, Perarivalan had procured two batteries that were used in the belt bomb used to kill the former prime minister at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu in May 1991 during an election rally.

The Tamil Nadu government had on June 5 said that it was for the release of Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts but the matter was pending before the Supreme Court.

"There is no second opinion" that the convicts in the case should be freed, Law Minister C Ve Shanmugam had told the state assembly during a debate. -- PTI

Mohd Hanif, the father of Rifleman Aurangzeb, who was abducted and later killed by terrorists in Pulwama's Gusoo, made an emotional appeal to the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government to eliminate insurgency from the state, as he laid his son to rest.

Speaking to ANI, Mohd Hanif said his son sacrificed himself for the nation and added that not only Jammu and Kashmir, but the whole nation is feeling the pain of his loss.

"My son has abided by his pledge, he kept his promise. He sacrificed himself for the nation and came back to me. I request central and state governments to eliminate militancy," he said.

Scores of people bid a tearful farewell to Aurangzeb at his native village in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Saturday.

While the jawan was laid to rest with full state honours, locals raised slogans of 'Shaheed Aurangzeb amar rahe' (May Aurangzeb remain immortal) at the last rites ceremony.

Furthermore, locals raised anti-Pakistan slogans to express their outrage over Aurangzeb's killing.

The rifleman's bullet-ridden body was recovered from Pulwama district on June 14, hours after he was abducted by terrorists.

The deceased army man was proceeding towards his home on account of the festival of Eid when he was abducted in broad daylight from a vehicle. -- ANI

The special investigation team probing the killing of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh has summoned Rakesh Math, the Vijayapura district president of fringe right-wing outfit Sri Ram Sene, for questioning, a senior police official said today.

The SIT decided to question Math since the suspected shooter of Lankesh, Parashuram Waghmare, was an active member of the Hindutva organisation linked to moral policing in parts of Karnataka, the official told PTI.

The official, from the SIT, said they wanted to find out whether Math was involved in Lankesh's assassination and whether he "brainwashed" Waghmare to participate in the plot.

Math and Waghmare were allegedly involved in hoisting a Pakistani flag outside the tahsildar office in their hometown Sindagi of Vijayapura district in Karnataka in January 2012.

The SIT believes Math has a strong support base in coastal regions, including Mangaluru, and parts of north Karnataka.

"We have summoned Rakesh Math. He has not come yet," the official said.

Sri Ram Sene founder and chief Pramod Muthalik has distanced himself and his organisation from Waghmare and the killing of Lankesh and other rationalists.

Lankesh was shot dead at the entrance of her Bengaluru residence on September 5 last year.

"There is no connection between Sri Ram Sene and Waghmare. He is neither our member nor our worker. This I say very clearly," said Muthalik.

The Sene chief said when the Pakistani flag hoisting issue had come to light, it was said that Waghmare was a member of Sri Ram Sene. However, he said he has proved that Waghmare was not a member of Sri Ram Sene but of RSS.

"I had shared his pictures sporting RSS uniform. I had said at that time that he is an RSS worker and not of Sri Ram Sene," Muthalik said.

Conceding that Math is the district head of Sene, Muthalik said he has been summoned for inquiry because all of them are from Sindagi town and were involved in the Pakistani flag hoisting incident.-- PTI

17:05 Eid Mubarak, Bhai

Bollywood actor Salman Khan greets his fans who gathered outside his residence in Mumbai on the occasion of Eid.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said those who accuse her of appeasing Muslims are friends of neither the Hindus nor the Muslims.

"Some accuse me of (doing) Muslim appeasement. My question to them is whether loving Hindus means you have to hate Muslims. I respect and love all communities and religion. This country belongs to everybody," she said.

"Those who say I appease Muslims are friends of neither the Hindus nor the Muslims," Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, said while addressing a special prayer gathering on Red Road in Kolkata to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr.

The BJP and some other organisations have been charging Banerjee with appeasement of Muslims for political reasons.

The chief minister said it was due to her protest that the Niti Aayog meeting which was earlier scheduled for today was changed to tomorrow.

"My question to the Central government officials is whether they are not aware that Eid is scheduled to be celebrated on June 16. Why the Niti Aayog meeting was kept on that day? I had written to the Central government urging it to change the date so that it doesn't clash with Eid," she said.

Banerjee had yesterday confirmed her participation in the Niti Aayog's rescheduled governing council meeting in New Delhi on June 17.

The meeting, which will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was earlier scheduled on June 16, the day when Eid-ul-Fitr is to be celebrated.

Banerjee and a few other chief ministers had expressed unwillingness to attend the meeting in view of the Eid festival, following which it was postponed by a day to June 17. -- PTI

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today alleged that there is de facto President's rule in Delhi because of what the Aam Aadmi Party government describes as an ongoing IAS officers' strike.

Kejriwal made the allegation as his sit-in along with three cabinet colleagues at the waiting room of Lt Governor Anil Baijal's office entered its sixth day.

Kejriwal accompanied by his deputy Manish Sisodia and ministers Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai have stayed put at the office demanding that Baijal direct IAS officers to end their "strike" and approve doorstep ration delivery scheme.

In response to a tweet about IAS officers withdrawing from work being de facto President's rule, Kejriwal tweeted, "I agree. It is de facto President's rule in Delhi thro IAS strike (sic)."

Jain and Sisodia have been sitting on hunger strike at the waiting room of the L-G Secretariat since Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

The chief minister has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to work with his officers not attending his meetings.

In his letter to Modi yesterday, Kejriwal urged him to end IAS officers' strike so that he can attend a meeting of NITI Aayog on Sunday.

However, the IAS officers' association has maintained that no officer is on "strike".

Also, Sisodia yesterday released a video warning that if they are forcibly removed from the L-G Secretariat, they will stop drinking water too.

Sources said the L-G, who has been working from his residence after the sit-in by AAP ministers, has constituted three teams of doctors to examine the health of ministers. -- PTI

Terrorists attacked security forces at Lasjan area in the outskirts of Srinagar today, injuring a Central Reserve Police Force jawan.

Dinesh Paswan, a constable in 29 Battalion of the CRPF, sustained bullet injury in his abdomen, an official said, adding that he was admitted to a hospital.

"The injured jawan has been shifted to 92 Base Hosptial at Badami Bagh where he is currently under treatment," the official said. -- PTI

The Shiv Sena on Saturday raised serious concern on the recent incidents of killing in Jammu and Kashmir and accused the ruling National Democratic Party of the bloodbath in the valley.

The Shiv Sena, through their editorial mouthpiece Saamana, attacked the Centre for their decision to halt operations against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan and accused Pakistan of taking unfair advantage of India's decision.

"The government has to be blamed for the bloodbath initiated by the terrorists in the holy month of Ramazan in Kashmir. Our government respected the holy month and refrained from any attack during this time, but Pakistan never did it," the editorial read.

Taking a jibe on the report of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assassination plot, the Shiv Sena said just on a basis of a report the security of the PM was beefed up, but in the valley where people are losing their lives every day, no strict measures were taken.

Further terming the United Nations report on the Kashmir Valley as "rubbish", the editorial asserted it has stained the image of Prime Minister Modi internationally.

"Even after visiting so many places, no country is willing to stand by us on the reports of the United Nations. What is the use of Prime Minister Modi's visit to so many countries," he said.

The Shiv Sena said the situation of the valley is worst than the time of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the Congress party. -- ANI

There is a great deal of work ahead to implement the denuclearisation deal with North Korea but peace is always worth that effort, US President Donald Trump has said, observing that the world has seen more than enough conflict.

Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un issued a joint statement after their meeting in Singapore on June 12 that reaffirmed Pyongyang's commitment to "work towards complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula".

"Our world has seen more than enough conflict. If there's a chance at peace, if there's a chance to end the horrible threat of nuclear conflict, then we must pursue it at all costs. The people of America, the people of the Koreas, the people of world deserve a future of security and of peace," Trump said in a video message yesterday.

In the coming days, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be working directly with North Korea to implement the denuclearisation deal, he said, adding that in the meantime, sanctions will remain in place.

"We know that there's a great deal of work ahead, but peace is always worth that effort. We have been working very hard. I made the trip. It was worth every second. It was an incredible event. The people of Asia feel safe and right now, the people from all over the world feel much safer than the days before I was president," Trump said.

In his nearly three minute video message, Trump talked about his recent summit meeting with Kim.

"This summit marked a new beginning for relations between the United States and North Korea, and it opened the path to a future for all Koreans-- North and south," Trump said.

The summit also made a clean break from the failed approaches of past US administrations, he said.

"Our conversation was open, honest, direct, and very, very productive. We produce something that is beautiful," he said.

This is the beginning of the process toward the denuclearisation of North Korea. "I sometimes say the Denuking of North Korea, and those are beautiful words," Trump said.

"During our conversation, I emphasized the tremendous new prosperity, security, and opportunity that awaits North Korea when they denuclearise. As I said in Singapore, Chairman Kim has the chance to seize an incredible future for his people," he said.

"Anyone can make war, but only the most courageous can make peace," the US president said. -- PTI

A truck laden with soil rammed a makeshift house near Kanpur's Maharajpur on National Highway-2 this morning, killing six persons and injuring four others, the police said.

The deceased have been identified as Kallu Qureshi (55), his son Waseem Qureshi (25), daughter-in-law, Yasmeen (23), daughter Shamimun (18) and grand daughters, Zarina (16) and Sohana (14).

The accident took place when the truck driver lost control of the vehicle and hit the thatched house, Superintendent of Police (Rural) Pradyuman Singh said.

According to eyewitness, the truck first hit the makeshift house and then crashed into a neighbouring house where the occupants were fast asleep.

The injured have been admitted to the Kanshiram Trauma centre and Lala Lajpat Rai hospital, where the condition of two persons is said to be critical, the police said.

A case has been registered against the unidentified driver, they added. -- PTI

The mortal remains of rifleman Aurangzeb, who was abducted and later killed by terrorists in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, today brought to his native village in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch.

People gathered in large numbers to attend the last rites of Aurangzeb.

Aurangzeb, who was 'buddy' of a company commander, was abducted by terrorists at Kalampora in Pulwama on Thursday when he was on his way home for Eid celebrations.

His body was found by a team of police and army at Gussu village, about 10 km away from Kalampora, in Pulwama district.

He was shot in his head and neck, police said.

Aurangzeb belonged to 4 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and was posted at the 44 Rashtriya Rifles camp at Shadimarg in Shopian.

Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed today led Eidul Fitr prayers at the Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore amid high security even though the Pakistan government has outlawed his organisation Jamaat-ud-Dawah.

Police personnel and Saeed's own security men were deployed in and outside the stadium to secure the area.

The Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief also delivered a sermon on the occasion and asked Pakistani citizens to extend their full support to the people of Kashmir.

Saeed has been allowed to hold public rallies and lead gatherings in Pakistan even though his organisation is banned in the country. His JuD was declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014.

He carries a USD 10-million American bounty on his head for his role in terror activities.

Pakistan last year promulgated an ordinance to amend the country's Anti-Terrorism Act to list JuD and the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation as terror organisations.

The JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the LeT which is responsible for carrying out the Mumbai attack that killed 166 people. -- PTI

Union minister of state for finance Shiv Pratap Shukla said that after demonetisation, black money was converted into public money.

He said, "The money that was lying in peoples' lockers which was not being used, was then deposited into banks. It then came in use for the nation, thus became 'jan dhan'. The 'kala dhan' which became 'jan dhan' is now being used for development of the country."

He also said that though people had to face difficulty in the initial days of demonetisation, now the benefits of the move was being reaped.

He said, "All of us faced difficulties in the initial days of demonetisation. However, today we are reaping the benefits. The 'kala dhan' (black money) has become 'jan dhan' (public money) now."

Earlier, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state, questioned the benefit of demonetisation. Even, BJP's Shatrughan Sinha backed the chief minister and said that the move of demonetisation did more harm than good. -- ANI

The government has proposed to impose penalty on insurance companies for delay in payment to hospitals for settlement of claims under its ambitious Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Scheme.

Under the scheme, if an insurance company delays the claim payment beyond 15 days, then it would have to pay a penalty of one per cent interest on the claimed amount per week till it finally settles the claim.

The insurance company will pay the penalty directly to the hospital concerned, according to the model tender document that was released on Thursday, a health ministry official said.

The model tender document also comprise a list of the procedures and their rates which would be covered under the scheme along with the ones which require pre-authorisation.

Twenty states and Union territories have so far signed MoUs with the Union Health Ministry for implementing the NHPS that aims to provide a cover of Rs 5 lakh per family annually to 10 crore vulnerable families.

Four states - Delhi, Odisha, Punjab and West Bengal - have not yet given any positive response towards adopting the scheme, the official said, adding that discussions with these states are on to bring them onboard.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to roll out the scheme on August 15.

The initiative would eventually become the world's largest healthcare programme as India has the second largest population globally and will change India's health landscape, J P Nadda had said.

The centrally-sponsored scheme will target poor, deprived rural families and identified occupational category of urban workers' families, 8.03 crore in rural and 2.33 crore in urban areas, as per the latest SECC data, and will cover around 50 crore people. -- PTI

11:15

JUST IN: Sepoy Bikas Gurung lost his life during ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Jammu-Kashmir's Nowshera

11:07 No exchange of sweets between BSF and Pak Rangers on Wagah Border

Following continuous ceasefire violations by Pakistan in Jammu-Kashmir, there will be no exchange of sweets between the Border Security Force troops and the Pakistani Rangers at Attari-Wagah border on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

On Tuesday, Pakistani Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing in Samba district's Chamliyal area, killing four Border Security Force personnel, including an assistant commandant.

The exchange of fire came as a setback to the temporary suspension of operations and political process of dialogue, and has been condemned by both the BJP and Congress as a "betrayal" by Pakistan despite commitment to maintain ceasefire.

Referring to Pakistan's long history of betrayals, Additional Director General of BSF Kamal Nayan Choubey said that on May 29, Pakistan held DGMO-level talks with India and assured to maintain peace along Jammu and Kashmir borders, but had resorted to mortar shelling, which left two BSF personnel, including an ASI, dead and 10 injured in Jammu district.

Criticising Pakistan for "back stabbing" India, BJP state president Ravinder Raina said the country will be answered appropriately. State Congress president, G A Mir, said Pakistan's cowardly act, despite commitment at DGMO level talks to maintain ceasefire, need to be condemned in strongest possible words.

The news of Shujaat Bukharis untimely demise was received with moist eyes, much regret and worry about the future of Kashmir. In my family, everyone knew that he was my friend and that I cared much for his opinion and advice. They also knew that we had huge differences in outlook on the handling of the complexities of Kashmir, but these actually helped in understanding the situation better.

Read Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain's (retired) full piece HERE

09:57 Delhi's air pollution worst in four years

Delhi has been reeling under a heavy blanket of dust, which has settled over the area. The dust cover, caused by dust storms in Rajasthan, triggered the government to stop all construction activities in the capital till Sunday.

According to India Meteorological Department, the National Capital Region's dusty situation is likely to improve today onwards. But, the pollution levels continue to linger in the emergency zone for the fourth consecutive day, even though scientists said that the worst was over.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the air quality index remained over 500 at several places in Delhi. The level of PM10, which had gone up eight times above the standard limits on Wednesday, dropped to 519ug/m3 at 9 am on Saturday. The level of PM2.5 came out of the 'severe' zone on Friday. PM2.5 level was 123ug/m3 at 9 am today.

As Delhi continues to breathe in heavily polluted air, authorities, however, are hopeful that the situation will improve with strong winds expected to clear the stagnant air.

The three municipal corporations mounted a massive street watering drive including at dusty open grounds like Ramlila Maidan to ensure fugitive dust does not add to the dirty air.

US President Donald Trump said he had given Kim Jong-un a direct phone number and suggested he might call the North Korean leader on Sunday, following their summit in Singapore this week.

"I'm going to be actually calling North Korea," Trump told Fox News in an interview when asked what he planned to do on Father's Day, without saying who he would be speaking to.

Trump, who has hailed his meeting with Kim on Tuesday as a success that removed the North Korean nuclear threat, told reporters later that he had given Kim a phone number to allow him to reach him directly.

"I can now call him. I can now say, 'Well, we have a problem.' I gave him a very direct number. He can now call me if he has any difficulties, I can call him," Trump said during an impromptu news conference on the White House lawn.

Asked about who he would speak to on Sunday, Trump said: "Well, I'm going to speak to people in North Korea, and I'm going to speak to my people who are over in North Korea." He did not elaborate.

09:22

JUST IN: Pakistan breaches truce amid Eid. Pak violates ceasefire in J&K's Arnia sector

09:09 President Kovind, PM Modi extend greetings to nation on Eid-ul-Fitr

President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday greeted the nation on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Taking to his Twitter handle, President Kovind wished for joy and mutual goodwill among the people of the nation.

"Id Mubarak and good wishes to all fellow citizens, especially to our Muslim brothers and sisters in India and abroad. May this happy occasion bring joy to your families and foster fraternity, understanding and mutual goodwill in our shared society," President Kovind tweeted.

The PM also sent his warm greetings to the people through his social media handle on the day and wished for strong bond of unity and harmony in the society.

"Eid Mubarak! May this day deepen the bonds of unity and harmony in our society," he tweeted.

Meanwhile, people offered namaz at the various places across the country on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

From the academic session starting July, children in government-run schools will read chapters on some great personalities, including Nath sect deity Baba Gorakhnath, Nath sect saint Baba Gambhirnath, freedom fighters Bandhu Singh and Rani Avanti Bai, and the 12th century warrior brothers Alha-Udal among others who, till now, were missing from the syllabus .

The move comes after Yogi Adityanath,who served five times as the Gorakhpur MP before becoming the UP chief minister, gave directions to the Basic Shiksha Department to includes chapters on great personalities who had been neglected under the previous regimes in the state.

Yogi is the chief priest of the Gorakhnath temple, a prominent centre of faith and devotion in eastern UP, where Baba Gorakhnath is worshipped by lakhs of devotees.

Basic Shiksha Adhikari Bhupendra Narayan Singh said, This time, some changes have been introduced in textbooks, which will soon be distributed among school children studying in Classes 1 to 8.

Jeevani (life story) of Guru Gorakhnath has been added as chapter 6 in the Class 6 book titled Mahan Vyaktitva ( great personalities ).

Likewise, chapters on Gambhirnath, Bandhu Singh, Avanti Bai, Veer Alha, have been added in other books to be taught in Classes 1 to 8.

The chapter on Bandhu Singh includes how the guerrilla fighter, a staunch devotee of Ma Tarkulha, fought against the British and was publicly hanged at Gorakhpurs Alinagar crossing on August 12, 1857.

Similarly, the story of Bundelkhands warrior brothers Alha-Udal has also been introduced to inspire children.

Rani Avanti Bai, queen ofMadhya Pradesh who resisted the British after her husband King Vikramadityas death, will also feature in the curriculum.

The new textbooks have attractive colours and a QR code, which can be scanned to view digital formats of chapters on mobile phones.

Spiritual guru Bhaiyyu Maharaj used a foreign-made revolver to kill himself and the weapon's licence was first issued to him in 2002 in Washim district of Maharashtra, a senior police officer said today.

Ten years later, he got an all-India licence for the revolver, made by Webley & Scott, from another district in Maharashtra, he said.

"The first licence of the revolver (made by Webley & Scott) was issued in 2002 from Maharashtra's Washim district in the name of the spiritual guru.

"In 2012, he applied for an all-India licence from Buldhana district, also in Maharashtra, and got the same in his name.

"Probably he used the same (weapon) for committing suicide," Deputy Inspector General Harinarayan Chari Mishra told PTI.

Bhaiyyu Maharaj, who was also into social work, used to often visit the two districts in Maharashtra as he had a number of relatives there, police said.

The 50-year-old popular spiritual leader allegedly shot himself at his residence on June 12 and a purported suicide note mentioned stress as the reason.

His original name was Udaysingh Deshmukh, and he hailed from a family of landlords in Madhya Pradesh's Shujalpur.

The police had seized the revolver and the bullet recovered from the spot and sent them for forensic examination.

Meanwhile, police have recorded the statements of Kuhu (Bhaiyyu Maharaj's daughter from his first marriage), his second wife Ayushi, close aide Vinayak Dudhade, his driver and other persons considered close to him as part of investigation into the incident, an official said.

The statements of some of them confirmed that the godman, whose followers included top politicians, was tense and under stress, he said.

Initial investigations revealed there was a discord in the family of Bhaiyyu Maharaj after his second marriage last year, the official said.

Reportedly, the suicide note also mentioned the godman's financial powers, property and bank accounts, among other things, would be entrusted with his close aide Vinayak Dudhade, who was with him for the last 15 years.

The police are also collecting information related to Bhaiyyu Maharaj's properties in other states, he said.

United States President Donald Trump on Friday said he will lift current sanctions on North Korea only after making sure Pyongyang no longer has nuclear weapons.

Trump said that they are very close to it when he was asked at what point would the sanctions come off of North Korea, in an interview.

"When we can be sure there will be no more nuclear," he responded.

"Very close. We're very close to getting it started. He (Kim) wants to do it, he wants to do something great with his country, he wants to make his country great," Trump said when asked how close they are.

Early this week, Trump had a historic meeting with Kim Jong Un in Singapore, wherein the North Korean leader agreed to denuclearise and give up nuclear weapons.

Trump said he could also invite Kim to the White House.

"I think it's something that could happen. Yes. Hey, he's the head of a country. And I mean he is the strong head. Don't let anyone think anything different. He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same," Trump said.

Trump had said that he has shared his number with Kim.

"I can now call him. I can now say, 'Well, we have a problem'. I told him, I gave him a very direct number. He can now call me if he has any difficulty. I can call him. We have communication. It's a very good thing,' Trump said.

"People are shocked that this is the kind of -- you know, they thought Trump was going to get in. He was going to start throwing bombs all over the place. It's actually the opposite," he said.

The US he said, is going to have a very strong verification process for North Korean denuclearisation.

"Now, if you read the agreement, which most of you didn't, point after point after point he gave, including getting back the remains of our great heroes, which made some people cry in the streets, they're so happy. Nobody thought we were going to get that. Point after point," he said.

"All they said about me is, 'You met. He met. It's terrible'. Of course, I met. Meeting is a good thing, not a bad thing. By the way, it was good for the United States. It was good for them," he said.

Trump also said the Chinese are very happy with the North Korea summit. -- PTI

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