LIVE! Shujaat Bukhari approached J&K govt for more security: Ex-spy chief

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Mon, 18 June 2018

Shujaat Bukhari approached J&K govt for more security: Ex-spy chief

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23:38 Prasad urges Sonia, Mayawati, Mamata to support triple talaq bill

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today urged senior women leaders from opposition parties to "go beyond" the political divide for the passage of the bill on banning instant triple talaq stuck in Rajya Sabha.

But he skirted the question on whether the government will bring an ordinance to make the practice of instant triple talaq a criminal offence if a political consensus eludes the issue.

Responding to a question on the fate of the bill pending in the upper house since January, he said the government remains committed to enact the law.

"...I appeal to Sonia Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee and Mayawati, they are influential women, on the issue of triple talaq. We need to go beyond political divide," he told reporters at a press conference.

He said the bill is an issue of gender equality and gender justice for the government.

To a poser on why some women are opposing the bill, Prasad wondered whether the protests were genuine or "sponsored". He said several women he had met have supported the bill.

The bill, which makes instant triple talaq illegal with up to three years in jail for husband, was passed by Lok Sabha in December.

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill gives power to the victim to approach a magistrate seeking "subsistence allowance" for herself and minor children in the case of instant triple talaq or talaq-e-biddat.

A victim can also seek the custody of her minor children from the magistrate.

Under the proposed law, instant triple talaq in any form - spoken, in writing or by electronic means such as email, SMS and WhatsApp - would be illegal and void.

The bill could get stalled in Rajya Sabha where the government lacks a majority and it may be referred to a parliamentary committee for review. -- PTI

Senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari, who was shot dead in Srinagar last week, had approached Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti only a few days ago for increased security, former special director of the Intelligence Bureau A S Dulat said today.

Bukhari, the editor-in-chief of the daily 'Rising Kashmir', was shot dead outside his office in Srinagar on June 14. Two police officers provided to him as personal bodyguards were also killed in the attack. The government has blamed militants based in Kashmir for the killings.

"He (Bukhari) had warned repeatedly of alienation, increased militancy and all pervasive fear in which no one was safe," Dulat, who arrived here last week, said in a statement.

Bukhari had "approached the Chief Minister only a few days ago for increased security. Yet who could have imagined that this gentle soul would become a target. Why? Dulat asked.

"We had met at Istanbul about 6 weeks ago from where he travelled to Pakistan. Despite travelling for more than a fortnight he came from Srinagar to Delhi for the launch of my book 'The Spy Chronicles' on May 23. As usual he spoke fearlessly about his beloved Valley which he saw sinking in the last couple of years," the former intelligence chief said.

Bukhari was the most committed votary of dialogue as the only way out, he said. "He was a gem of a human being and a friend; possibly the brightest journalist in the Valley with a great future," he added. -- PTI

President Donald Trump said today that the US media, which he often describes as "fake news", would have named his predecessor Barack Obama as a "national hero" for a similar kind of peace talks with North Korea.

"If President Obama (who got nowhere with North Korea and would have had to go to war with many millions of people being killed) had gotten along with North Korea and made the initial steps toward a deal that I have, the Fake News would have named him a national hero!" Trump tweeted.

Early this month, Trump held a historic summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore, where the latter pledged to work toward the "complete denuclearisation" in return for security guarantees from the US.

While Trump's supporters describe the summit as historic, and a development that has made the US and the world safe, his opponents are skeptical arguing that Pyongyang cannot be relied upon. -- PTI

Former media baron Peter Mukerjea has agreed to grant divorce to his wife Indrani, the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, her lawyer today said.

The divorce procedure may take some time as both are in jail, a lawyer representing Indrani in the murder case told reporters outside a Mumbai court.

"We have received a reply through registered post from Peter's lawyer and they have agreed to divorce by mutual consent," she said.

Peter Mukerjea's lawyers could not be reached for comments.

Stating that the marriage had "irretrievably broken down", Indrani had sent a divorce notice to Peter Mukerjea in April this year.

Both Indrani and Peter are facing trial in the murder case of Sheena Bora. Sheena (24), Indrani's daughter from an earlier relationship, was allegedly killed in April 2012.

The killing came to light in August 2015 when Mukerjeas' former driver Shyamvar Rai spilled the beans when he arrested in another case.

According to the Central Bureau of Investigation, the killing was the fall-out of a financial dispute.

Meanwhile, the defence lawyers today completed the cross-examination of Pradeep Waghmare, a former domestic help of the Mukerjeas.

They submitted that there were some contradictions in his statement to the police.

He had told the police, which probed the case before the CBI took over, that he had sought Rs 20,000 from Indrani for his children's education, and when she refused, he got angry and quit the job.

However, in the court, Waghmare said this was not his reason for quitting, and the police had put words in his mouth.

The next hearing is scheduled for June 25. -- PTI

Absconding diamantaire Nirav Modi managed to travel across several countries even after information about his passport being revoked by the Indian government was flashed in the Interpol central database on February 24, the CBI said on Monday.

The agency said it had shared the information about revocation of his passport in the 'diffusion' notice issued through the Interpol on February 15.

"After the passport was revoked/cancelled by External Affairs Ministry, we had updated this information in the diffusion notice. The information that passport of Nirav Modi has been revoked was provided in the Interpol central database, available to all the member countries, on February 24," CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said.

He said after the 'diffusion' notice was issued by the Interpol on the request of the CBI, the agency followed it up with six countries where Modi was suspected to have fled.

The agency requested these countries to share information about his whereabouts and movements.

The agency sent these reminders to the Interpol coordination agency of the United Kingdom on April 25, May 22, May 24 and May 28, agency sources said.

Similar reminders were also sent to the agencies of the USA, Singapore, Belgium, UAE and France, they said.

The case pertains to cheating the state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) through fraudulent issuance of Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) and Foreign Letters of Credit (FLCs) worth over $2 billion (about Rs 13,000 crore) by Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, both absconding since the first week of January.

The agency recently charge-sheeted both Modi and Choksi separately in the scam.

21:51 5 more arrested in Assam lynching

Five more persons were arrested today in connection with the lynching of the two men at Dokmoka in Assam's Karbi Anglong district, taking the total arrest so far in the brutal killing to 36.

Altogether 71 persons have been arrested from different parts of Assam, with 36 for killing the men and 35 for spreading rumours and hate messages in social media, an Assam police spokesman said.

The five arrested today were--Raikom Timung, Mensing Kro, Roben Mech, Bikram Hanse and Protap Kro.

The two friends, Nilotpal Das and Abhijeet Nath, had gone to the picnic spot Kangthilangso under Dokmoka police station in Karbi Anglong on June 8 last and while returning, their vehicle was stopped at Panjuri by a group of irate villagers who pulled them out, started beating them on the suspicion of being childifters and lynched them to death.

A video circulated on social media had shown Das pleading that he was an Assamese but it had no impact on the killers.

The killings evoked widespread protests and demand for exemplary punishment for the guilty.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had announced that the cases will be tried in fast track courts. -- PTI

The embattled Australian cricket team has slipped to a 34-year low in the ICC ODI rankings, dropping to sixth place following back-to-back defeats against England in the ongoing five-match series.

With losses to the world no.1 ODI team in London and Cardiff, Australia have fallen to 102 rankings points to sit a fraction of a point below 2017 Champions Trophy winners Pakistan.

It has been a swift fall for the defending world champions.

Less than two years ago they were ranked no.1 heading into an away series against South Africa.

But when an under-strength squad with a group of rookie fast bowlers was whitewashed 5-0 by the Proteas (the first time Australia had lost a bilateral series 5-0), cracks were revealed in a 50-over game plan that suddenly looked dated, 'cricket.com.au' wrote.

That was particularly the case in comparison to a revamped England, who were smashing record totals and rising in the rankings as Australia's lofty status slipped.

Despite home successes against New Zealand (3-0) and Pakistan (4-1) that followed the disaster in South Africa, Australia have won just nine times (eight at home) out of 23 completed ODIs since to ultimately find themselves in their current predicament.

More recently, a stretch of 13 defeats in 15 completed ODIs is unprecedented in the history of the five-time World Cup winners.

"I think we can (win), I really do," skipper Tim Paine said.

"I think our best cricket is good enough to beat these guys, we just haven't put the complete package together.

"In the first game we didn't bat well, and (in Cardiff) we didn't bowl as well as we would have liked." -- PTI

Chinese President Xi Jinping is the biggest promoter of Bollywood films and has watched Aamir Khan-starrer Dangal on multiple occasions, Chinese envoy to India Luo Zhaohui said today.

The envoy said nowadays, practising yoga, watching Bollywood films and tasting Darjeeling tea have become fashionable among the Chinese youth.

"Who is the biggest promoter for Bollywood movies in China? In my opinion, President Xi Jingping is the most prominent promoter of Bollywood movies (in China)," Luo said.

He was delivering a keynote address on 'Beyond Wuhan: How Far and Fast can China-India Relations Go' at an event organised by the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi.

The envoy said the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chinese president at Qingdao in China this month lasted for an additional 15 minutes.

"What impressed me most was that President Xi showed strong interest in Bollywood movies. He (Xi) once again mentioned Dangal and two other movies Baahubali 2 and Hindi Medium, which are being screened in China," Luo said.

Aamir Khan-starrer 3 Idiots and Dangal have become a big hit in China and so has Baahubali 2. -- PTI

Ahead of the fourth Yoga Day celebrations on June 21, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said it makes people better individuals in thought, action, knowledge and devotion.

He also said that yoga is not just a set of exercises that keeps the body fit, it is a "passport" to health assurance and a key to fitness and wellness.

In a video message posted on his Twitter handle, the prime minister said yoga is one of the most precious gifts given by the ancient Indian sages to humankind.

"Yoga is not only what you practise in the morning. Doing your day-to-day activities with diligence and complete awareness is a form of yoga as well," he said.

Free from illness, a path to wellness -- that is the path of yoga, he said.

"...it teaches us to see others the same as ourselves, yoga makes us better individuals in thought, action, knowledge and devotion," he said.

He said the set of exercises bring about oneness among the mind, body and intellect. "We begin to understand ourselves much better, which also makes us understand others better."

Referring to the "problems of modern lifestyle", he said that people suffer from stress-related ailments and also lifestyle- related diseases such as diabetes and hyper-tension.

"Stress and depression have become silent killers," he said.

He said, in a world of excess, yoga promises restraint and balance.

"In a world suffering from mental stress, yoga promises calm; in a distracted world, yoga helps focus; in a world of fear, yoga promises hope, strength and courage," he said in his message.

He said yoga offers a solution to ailments and practising it helps combat stress and find peace.

On June 21, he will lead a massive mass yoga event in Dehradun. -- PTI

ICICI Bank today announced the appointment of Sandeep Bakhshi as chief operating officer and said CEO Chanda Kochhar would be on leave till completion of the internal enquiry against her in the Videocon loan matter.

Bakhshi, who is currently MD and CEO of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, would take over as the bank's COO on June 19, subject to various approvals.

In line with the highest levels of governance and corporate standards, Kochhar has decided to go on leave till the completion of the enquiry as announced on May 30, 2018, the bank said.

Kochhar and her family members are facing allegations of quid pro quo and conflict of interest with respect to a loan extended to the Videocon group.

Last month, the bank had announced an independent enquiry into the allegations against Kochhar following a complaint from a whistle-blower.

The bank's board also recommended the appointment of N S Kannan as MD and CEO of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company. -- PTI

Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today came out in strong defence of Aadhaar, saying the world's largest biometric identification programme has already established its usefulness and benefit for over 121-crore unique ID number holders.

Refusing to be drawn into a "hypothetical" question on government's action plan in case Supreme Court decision did not go in favour of Aadhaar, Prasad -- also the minister for law and justice -- said the team of Aadhaar lawyers has made arguments with proof and that benefits of the programme were for everyone to see.

"The question is hypothetical...the judgement (on the case) is reserved but I believe our Aadhaar team lawyers have argued it with proof, and Aadhaar has already established its benefits for the public," Prasad said at a conference to highlight the four years' achievement of his ministry.

The comments come at a time when the Supreme Court has reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas challenging the Aadhaar Act and the use of biometric identifier in various government and non-government services.

Seeking to draw a distinction between Aadhaar initiative of the Modi government and the previous Manmohan Singh-led UPA government, Prasad said Aadhaar today has a robust law backing it.

"Let us see the difference between Narendra Modi Government's Aadhaar and that of Manmohan Singh...The old Aadhaar was Niradhar (without basis)...there was no legislative support to that platform. Today, Aadhaar has a robust parliamentary law," Prasad said.

While only 61 crore Aadhaar had been generated up to 2014, the number jumped to over 121 crore as on June 16, 2018.

As many as 59.15 crore Indians have linked 87.79 crore bank accounts with the Aadhaar, the IT minister said.

Nearly Rs 4 lakh crore has been disbursed as direct benefit transfer to poor people which has led to savings of Rs 90,000 crore by removing fictitious beneficiaries in the last four years, he asserted.

"We will make Aadhaar robust," the minister pointed out. -- PTI

Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat today visited forward areas in Jammu and Kashmir today and reviewed the security situation along the borderline as well as in the hinterland.

Rawat reviewed the security situation of J&K during his visit to forward areas today, a defence spokesman said.

He was briefed by Lt Gen Saranjeet Singh, GOC, White Knight Corps, on the prevailing security situation. Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, Army Commander, Northern Command accompanied the chief of Army staff during his visit, the official said.

The army chief, during his visit to forward areas, also interacted with soldiers and complemented them for their professionalism, selfless commitment and loyalty. He exhorted the troops to continue to work with zeal and dedication to overcome the challenges posted by weather, enemy and terrorism.

The army Chief commended the synergy between all security agencies and civil administration in Jammu and Kashmir, the official said.

Rawat also visited northern command, he added. -- PTI

The Enforcement Directorate today filed a fresh chargesheet against embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya, two companies linked to him and others on charges of money laundering for allegedly cheating a consortium of nationalised banks to the tune of over Rs 6,000 crore, officials said today.

The agency has filed the charge sheet, also known as prosecution complaint, before a special court here under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

It has named Mallya, Kingfisher Airlines, United Breweries Holdings Limited and others in the voluminous charge sheet, they said.

The ED had last year filed its first charge sheet against Mallya, now in London, in the alleged Rs 900-crore IDBI Bank-Kingfisher Airlines (KFA) loan fraud case.

It has attached assets worth Rs 9,890 crore in this case till now.

The fresh charge sheet revolves around the complaint received from State Bank of India (SBI) on behalf of the consortium of banks for causing loss of Rs 6,027 crore to them by not keeping repayment commitments of the loans taken during 2005-10, they said.

The ED has based its investigation in this instance after taking cognisance of a CBI FIR. -- PTI

The government's intention on the appointment of the next Chief Justice of India should not be questioned, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said today, noting that when the incumbent names the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court as his successor as per convention, the executive will take a call.

He was responding to a question on whether the government will follow the laid-down conventions and procedures to appoint Justice Ranjan Gogoi as the next Chief Justice when incumbent Dipak Misra demits office on October 2.

"The question is imaginary...as far as the appointment of the Chief Justice of India is concerned, the convention is clear...the sitting chief justice names the senior-most judge (of the top court) as his successor. When the name comes to us, we will discuss it," he told a press conference held to highlight the achievements of the law ministry in the past four years.

He also said that no one had the "right to question our intention".

Speculations surrounding Justice Gogoi's appointment as the next CJI emerged following the unprecedented press conference of four most-senior judges in January this year when they had criticised Justice Misra over various issues, especially the manner of allocation of cases to certain benches.

Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph addressed the unprecedented press conference, perhaps a first in the history of Indian judiciary.

According to the memorandum of procedure, a document which guides the appointment and transfer of judges of the apex court and the 24 high courts, "Appointment to the office of the Chief Justice of India should be of the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court considered fit to hold the office."

Days before the CJI's retirement, the law minister seeks his recommendation for the appointment of his successor.

"Whenever there is any doubt about the fitness of the senior-most Judge to hold the office of the Chief Justice of India, consultation with other Judges...would be made for appointment of the next Chief Justice of India," the document states.

Responding to another question on the delay in finalising the memorandum of procedure for appointment of judges, Prasad said discussions were on and the Supreme Court and the government would have to finalise the document together. -- PTI

The Centre's special representative for Jammu and Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma today visited the residence of slain journalist Shujaat Bukhari today.

Sharma visited Bukhari's ancestral home at Kreeri in Baramulla district, 40 km from Srinagar, to offer condolences to the bereaved family on the fourth day of the slain journalist's "faateha" ceremony.

Bukhari, the editor of Rising Kashmir newspaper, was shot dead, along with his two personal security guards, outside his office on June 14 by three motorcycle-borne assailants.

The police have constituted a special investigation team under the supervision of the deputy inspector general, central Kashmir to probe the killing. -- PTI

Congress president Rahul Gandhi today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of turning a blind eye to the "anarchy" in Delhi and aiding "chaos and disorder" in the national capital, where Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as well as the BJP are staging competing sit-ins. The people of Delhi are the victims, Gandhi alleged.

"Delhi CM, sitting in dharna at LG office. BJP sitting in dharna at CM residence. Delhi bureaucrats addressing press conferences. "PM turns a blind eye to the anarchy; rather nudges chaos and disorder. People of Delhi are the victims, as this drama plays out," Gandhi said on Twitter.

Governance in Delhi has been severely hit with Kejriwal and some of his cabinet colleagues sitting on 'dharna' at Lt Governor Anil Baijal's office since June 11 and bureaucrats on a "strike" to demand security for themselves.

The Delhi IAS association has asked the Delhi government not to use its officers for "political gains" and rebutted its claim that they were on strike. -- PTI

18:15

BJP to observe 'Black Day' on 25 June, the date when emergency was imposed in 1975.

18:12 Bullet train extremely essential for country: Rly Board chief

Calling the bullet train "extremely essential" for India, Railway Board chairman Ashwani Lohani today said that the public transporter looked at it as a project that would unleash technology-driven transportation in the country.

The National High Speed Rail Corporation, a special purpose vehicle of the Railways and the state governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat, is implementing the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor with technical and financial assistance from Japan. The project has had its share of controversies with a section of people questioning the need for it and others agitating against its land acquisition process.

"The advent of bullet train is extremely essential for out country as it will unleash technology-driven transportation," Lohani said in Mumbai today.

"By running a bullet train, we wanted to commission a medium of rapid transport which can run at par with air travel as far as speed is concerned," the CRB said. He added that the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed corridor has a deadline of December 2022 and said the Railways was hopeful of completing it by then. -- PTI

The 15-year-old girl and her mother, who were raped by a group of youths in Gaya last week, recorded their statements in a court in Gaya. The two recorded their statements under section 164 of CrPC with regard to the case before the Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Swati Singh.

Women's police station SHO-cum-Investigating Officer of the case Sima Kumari produced them in the court under police protection.

The family was waylaid while they were crossing the area on a motorcycle near Sondiha village of the district, police said. A group of armed youths tied the man to a tree and raped his wife and daughter in Gaya district on June 13. Three persons - two from Sondiha and another from a neighbouring village - have been arrested in the case. Additional Director General of Police, CID, Binay Kumar yesterday said DNA tests would be conducted to identify the culprits in the gangrape case. -- PTI

17:42

Enforcement Directorate files charge sheet against Vijay Mallya for money laundering.

17:35 Diana's tiara makes public appearance after 21 years

The daughter of Princess Diana's oldest sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Celia McCorquodale, wore the Spencer Tiara at the time of her wedding on Saturday.

Back in 1981, Diana wore the same Tiara during her wedding ceremony.

Celia McCorquodale on Saturday wore the tiara when she took her vows with George Woodhouse.

According to People magazine, the Tiara belongs to the Spencer family (one of Britain's noble families) who trace their lineage back to the Tudor dynasty.

Moreover, it was the first time in 21 years since Diana's death (1997) the tiara had not been worn in public.

The Spencer Tiara adorned Diana's head when she married Prince Charles, but according to People magazine her future mother-in-law Queen Elizabeth II had loaned her the Queen Mary Lover's Knot Tiara for the wedding, which she eventually refused.

The Queen Mary Lover's Knot Tiara did, however, become one of Diana's favourites to wear to various royal engagements.

Diana went on to borrow tiaras from the royal family but more often she wore the Spencer's Tiara as it was claimed to be lighter and easier to wear than the others. -- ANI

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat today met the family of Rifleman Aurangzeb, who was abducted and later killed by terrorists in Pulwama's Gusoo last Wednesday.

Rifleman Aurangzeb of 44, Rashtriya Rifles, was abducted and killed by terrorists in Pulwama district when he was on his way home to celebrate Eid on June 14.

He was part of Major Rohit Shukla's team, which eliminated Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Sameer Tiger.

Aurangzeb had boarded a private vehicle for Shopian, from where he was supposed to go to Rajouri district. The terrorists intercepted the vehicle as it approached Kalampora and abducted the jawan. His bullet-riddled body was found by at Gussu village, about 10 km from Kalampora, in Pulwama district.

17:26

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

16:58 Germany arrests Audi CEO

Rupert Stadler, chief executive of Volkswagen's Audi division, has been detained by German authorities as part of their probe into manipulation of emission controls.

Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar has directed the CBSE to continue conducting the Central Teacher Eligibility Test in the 20 Indian languages as earlier.

The directive by Javadekar came following criticism of CBSE's decision to remove 17 languages including Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati and Bengali from the list of options for CTET.

"CTET examination will be conducted in all Indian languages as was being conducted earlier. I have already directed @cbseindia29 to conduct examination in all the 20 languages as was being done earlier," Javadekar tweeted.

"CTET examination will be held in English, Hindi, Assamese, Bangla, Garo, Gujarati, Kanada, Khasi, Malyalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Mizo, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu,Tibetan & Urdu @cbseindia29," he added.

DMK leader Kanimozhi today took to Twitter to express her anger at the CBSE's earlier decision to drop languages which she said will come as a blow to speakers of several regional languages.

"The decision to drop Tamil and 16 other regional languages from Central Teacher Eligibility Test is highly condemnable and strikes at the root of federalism. Students of CBSE whose mother tongue is Tamil will be put to a great disadvantage without teachers.

"Students are forced to study Hindi and Sanskrit instead of their mother tongue. This will lead to another language struggle through out the country. This is another of BJPs efforts to make a Hindi-Hindu-Hindustan," said Kanimozhi.

China's Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui on Monday said that neither India nor China can afford to have another Doklam incident.

He also urged India to make a joint effort with China to maintain peace along the border.

Addressing the boundary issue, he said the matter will be taken up during the Special Representatives' Meeting in Beijing this year.

"The Chinese Defence Minister, Minister for Public Security will visit India. Special Representatives' Meeting on Boundary Question will be held in Beijing this year. The two foreign ministers will co-chair the 1st meeting of high-level people-to-people & cultural exchange mechanism," Luo tweeted.

In 2017, Indian and Chinese troops had a long-standing face off on the Doklam Plateau. It started when Chinese troops tried to build a road to the area in violation of understandings arrived at by both countries.

It's a territory which is claimed by both China as well as India's ally BhutanThe stand-off that started on 16 June 2017, ended on August 28. Both India and China announced a withdrawal of troops from the contested side in Doklam. -- ANI

16:01

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in Delhi.

15:54 Zero in work, hero in protesting: Naqvi takes jibe at AAP

Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday stated that the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party had no intention of working and that they only wanted to stage protests.

Naqvi also went on to say that the party was destroying the trust of the people of Delhi. "Karne mein zero, dharne mein hero, Karna kuch nahi dharna sab kuch (Zero in work, hero in protesting, don't want to do anything and protest everything). This is their mindset, it is destroying the trust people of Delhi," Naqvi told ANI.

Kejriwal and some of his cabinet ministers are on sit-in strike at Raj Niwas, the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal, since June 11. Kejriwal had claimed that the IAS officers working for Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi were "only working on important files" and "not responding to Ministers' calls and messages, and not attending meetings".

15:44

Baramulla: Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad met the family of Rising Kashmir Editor Shujaat Bukhari who was shot dead by terrorists in Srinagar on June 14.

15:37 Delhi Dy CM Manish Sisodia hospitalised

Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, on hunger strike at LG's office since June 13, taken to hospital, tweets CM Arvind Kejriwal.

Sisodia is being taken to the LNGP hospital after his ketone level reached 7.4. He has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past seven days at the LG's residence against the alleged strike by the IAS officers of Delhi government.

A day earlier, Health Minister Satyendar Jain was admitted after his sugar levels dipped. Both the ministers along side Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have been holding a sit-in at the LG office demanding that Baijal direct IAS officers to end their "strike". They also demand that the Lt Governor approve the proposal for doorstep delivery of ration.

14:54

Varun Gandh hits back at Congress senior leader Jairam Ramesh's remarks in his book, 'Intertwined Lives: P.N. Haksar and Indira Gandhi' on his father Sanjay Gandhi's fractious relationship with Haskar.

Varun Gandhi tweets, @varungandhi80 "An accidental politician writing about a failed bureaucrat. Both whining about a man who created the single largest post-independence industrial success, Maruti, and gifted it to the nation."

14:40 Jaitley hints at no cut in excise on oil, asks citizens to pay taxes honestly

Union Minister Arun Jaitley today urged citizens to pay their share of taxes "honestly" to reduce dependence on oil as a revenue source, and virtually ruled out any cut in excise duty on petrol and diesel saying it could prove to be counter-productive.

While salaried class pay their due share of taxes, Jaitley said "most other sections" have to improve their tax payment record, which is keeping India "far from being a tax-compliant society".

"My earnest appeal, therefore, to political leaders and opinion makers ...would be that evasion in the non-oil tax category must be stopped and, if people pay their taxes honestly, the high dependence on oil products for taxation eventually comes down.

In the medium and long run, upsetting the fiscal maths can prove counter-productive," Jaitley said. In a facebook post titled 'The Economy and the Markets Reward Structural Reforms and Fiscal Prudence', Jaitley said in last four years, central government's tax-GDP ratio has improved from 10 per cent to 11.5 per cent.

Almost half of this, 0.72 per cent of GDP, accounts for an increase in non-oil tax-GDP ratio. The level of non-oil taxes to GDP at 9.8 per cent in 2017-18 is the highest since 2007-08 - a year in which our revenue position was boosted by buoyant international environment, he said. -- PTI

The government is committed to meeting the fiscal deficit target of 3.3 per cent for the current fiscal despite it being an election year, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said today.

He also said that there will not be a spending cut to meet the target as the government has enough alternative resources for planned expenditure. Fiscal deficit stood at 3.53 per cent of the GDP, broadly in line with the government's revised estimates for 2017-18.

"Fiscal digit this year will be down to 3.3 per cent and I can assure you that we are monitoring and working to ensure that fiscal deficit will be contained at 3.3 per cent despite this being an election year, despite this being a year traditionally, and I will urge you to look at history be it 2013-14, be it 2007-08 or 2008-09, where fiscal deficits, micro-economic stability, good governance -- all were thrown to the wind for political exigencies," Goyal said.

In the Union Budget 2018-19 presented in February, the government had revised the fiscal deficit target for 2017-18 to 3.5 per cent from the earlier estimate of 3.2 per cent. In absolute terms, the fiscal deficit was Rs 5.91 lakh crore, or 99.5 per cent, of the Budget estimates.

Addressing an event organised by industry body CII, Goyal said, the government will maintain stability in the economy and meet all economic parameters.

"You have a government today which is willing to say we will meet the aspirations of the people of India. We will meet our objectives of good governance. We will meet our objective for society to reach benefits of growth to poorest of the poor but we will also strengthen the Indian economy," he said. -- PTI

14:17 Varun Gandhi to join Congress in December?

Is Varun Gandhi set to join the Congress before the 2019 polls?

Our sources say that Varun, the son BJP MP Maneka Gandhi, has been completely sidelined by the BJP because he bears the Gandhi name.

Varun, the BJP MP from Sultanpur, could have been a major contender for the chief minister's post in Uttar Pradesh, and local Congress leaders feel he has not been given his due.

The young Gandhi is believed to be in constant touch with cousins Priyanka and Rahul -- several text messages have been exchanged -- and together, they want to usher in a change in Uttar Pradesh by overthrowing the Yogi Adityanath government.

Observers believe Varun Gandhi will shift his loyalties to the Congress in December 2018.

A Firstpost report says that on June 23, a tweet from the Congress Party's official handle @incindia paid tribute to Sanjay Gandhi on his death anniversary. Sonia Gandhi also made it a point to visit Sanjay's samadhi for the first time in years.

The BJP is aware of these developments and is keeping a close watch on two other MPs as well, who they believe will be offered tickets by the Congress to contest the 2019 polls.

One MP is Kirti Azad, who had alleged corruption charges against two Union Ministers and the other MP is of course, Shatrughan Sinha, who has two rounds of discussions with Rahul Gandhi.

After the three days of respite from the never ending conflict, Taliban leaders on Sunday rejected the Afghanistan government's proposal to extend the ceasefire.

The Taliban said it was ordering all insurgent fighters to resume operations against "the foreign invaders and their internal supporters," The Washington Post reported.

Thousands of Taliban fighters continued entering into cities and towns to celebrate the three-day Eid holiday. They received warm welcome from the civilians.

Some residents of Kabul feared renewed violence between the two sides, once the ceasefire ends, as per Tolo News.Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on June 16 announced an extension of the government's week-long ceasefire with the Taliban which was otherwise due to end on June 19, urging the Taliban to extend their three-day ceasefire.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the US embassay in Kabul had also praised the Afghan government for extending its ceasefire.

This came in the backdrop of an initial truce which was observed by both sides over the Eid festival period.The Taliban on June 9 announced a three-day ceasefire over the Eid holiday, two days after Ghani announced the ceasefire from the 27th of Ramzan (June 12) to the fifth day of Eid-ul-Fitr (June 19).It is the first time the Taliban has agreed to a ceasefire for Eid since the US invasion in 2001. - ANI

Image: Thousands of Taliban fighters entered cities and towns in Afghanistan to celebrate the three-day Eid holiday. They were warmly welcomed by the people. Pic: Reuters.

12:57 BJP begins its 2019 poll campaign

The Bharatiya Janata Party will focus on corruption and black money in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Party insiders have prepared a three-minute video which is being approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP Chief Amit Shah.

Of course, the PM will remain the face of the party's poll campaign, but he will now be buttressed with short 30-second videos of the party's achievements which will be posted on Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp.

The BJP Media Cell is working on elaborate themes for the videos. Reports say that the BJP is all set to go to the voters with a new slogan, which runs something like this:

"Kaam adhoori,
Ek mauka Modi sarkar,
Kaam poori hone ka."

Words that loosely mean that the government needs another opportunity to complete its incomplete work.

The Delhi High Court today asked the AAP government, who authorised the sit-in by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and some of his cabinet colleagues at the lieutenant governor's office, and observed that strikes are usually held outside an establishment or office and not inside.

The observation by a bench of Justices A K Chawla and Navin Chawla came during the hearing of two petitions, one against the sit-in by Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal and the other against the alleged strike by the IAS officers of Delhi government.

"Who authorised the strike/dharna (sit-in by Kejriwal)? You are sitting inside the LG's office. If it's a strike, it has to be outside the office," the court told lawyers appearing for the Delhi government in the two matters. Apart from the two petitions, a separate plea was moved by Leader of Opposition in the Delhi assembly Vijender Gupta against the sit-in by Kejriwal at Lt Governor Anil Baijal's office.

The AAP says Delhi CM Kejriwal will continue his strike till IAS officers end their strike.

The matters are likely to be heard on June 22. The court said the association representing the IAS officers should also be made a party in the matter. -- PTI

Is Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to respond each time a "dog dies in Karnataka", Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik asked in a reference to the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, drawing a furious reaction from the Congress today.

Muthalik made the comment during an interaction with the public here yesterday.

"Everyone is saying that Hindu groups conspired to kill Gauri Lankesh, but two murders in Maharashtra and two in Karnataka took place during Congress' rule," he said, referring to the killings of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, Left leader Govind Pansare, Kannada writer M M Kalburagi and Lankesh.

"No one questioned the Congress government's failure... instead these Left-leaning intellectuals ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak on Gauri Lankesh's death," he said.

"Do you expect Modi to respond every time a dog dies in Karnataka?" he asked. The remark comparing the slain journalist to a dog was disgusting, said Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari and asked if Modi was going to condone these remarks.

"Disgusting, nauseating, revolting... vigilante group Sri Ram Sene's Head Pramod Muthalik compares assassinated journalist Gauri Lankesh to a dog."

"Mr Prime Minister @narendramodi you did not condemn Gauri Lankesh's murder are you now going to condone this too," Tiwari said on Twitter. Clarifying that he did not mean to compare Lankesh to a dog, Muthalik today said he only wanted to know if the prime minister should react to each and every death (in the state).

The Sri Ram Sene came under the police scanner after the Special Investigation Team probing the Gauri Lankesh murder case recently summoned Rakesh Math, the Vijayapura district president of the fringe right-wing outfit, for questioning.

Distancing himself and his organisation from Parashuram Waghmare, the prime accused in the Lankesh murder, Muthalik said, "There is no connection between Sri Ram Sene and Waghmare. He is not a member of the organisation." 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 nationwide outrage. -- PTI

J&K: Encounter in Bandipora between security forces and terrorists underway, two terrorists have been killed so far. Details awaited.

The Centre on Sunday announced the resumption of intelligence-based cordon-and-search-operations and search-and-destroy-operations in the state to prevent terrorists from indulging in attacks.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh Tweeted on Sunday morning to announce that the government of India had decided not to extend the suspension of operations in J&K. "The operations against the terrorists to resume. The government commends the security forces for having shown exemplary restraint during Ramzan despite grave provocations. Government (is) committed to working for creating an environment free of terror and violence in Jammu & Kashmir."

File pic: The Chief of the Indian Army General Bipin Rawat meets troops in Kashmir.

11:21

Aam Aadmi Party to hold a key meeting at CM Arvind Kejriwal's residence at noon.

11:19 Kumaraswamy meets Rahul

Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy met Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. Danish Ali from the JD-S and KC Venugopal from the Congress also present.

BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha once again embarrassed his party by openly supporting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the ongoing tussle between the between AAP and Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal.

Taking to Twitter, the actor-turned-polictican wrote, Our dear friend, dynamic & most talked about Chief Minister of Delhi @ArvindKejriwal has certainly shown statesmanship & has appealed the officers to get back to work. He has moved two steps. Hope the so-called strike of the bureaucrats ends now. Jai Hind!

After the appeal of @arvindkejriwal, I trust the PM will also intervene and get the strike over. It will be a good step by him for the people of Delhi and democracy at large. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step..Jai Hind!, he wrote in a second tweet.

Sinha is at odds with the party leadership ever since he was ignored during the 2015 Bihar Assembly election.

Over the last few months, Singh made a barrage of attacks on current BJP leadership, even firing salvos at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

10:53

JUST IN: Army Chief General Bipin Rawat to visit family of Sepoy Aurangzeb in Poonch. Aurangzeb was abducted from Pulwama by terrorists and later his bullet-ridden body was recovered on June 14.

10:44

In the wake of International Yoga Day, which will be celebrated on June 21, four school students in Moradabad have painted yoga asanas on their faces.

10:38 Mansarovar pilgrims airlifted

A 57-member second batch of Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrims was airlifted early today by IAF helicopters from Naini Saini airstrip in Pithoragarh to Gunji base camp to avoid weather-related risks along the treacherous trek route.

Four IAF choppers ferried the 57 pilgrims to Gunji at around 7 am this morning, Pithoragarh District Magistrate C Ravishankar said.

Though the trek route from Lakhanpur to Gunji is fine, pilgrims were airlifted to avoid weather related risks and also because it would save them some time which they could use to enjoy the homestay facilities at Nabhi and other high altitude villages, he said. It is a hard 18-km steep trek from Lakhanpur to Gunji.

The second batch of pilgrims had reached Pithoragarh Tourist Rest Centre of Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, the nodal agency for the Yatra via Almora last evening, the official said.

"The airlift is meant to facilitate home stay for pilgrims in high altitude villages on the route and avoid hard trek for the pilgrims" said KMVN GM T S Martolia. SDM Dharchula said the trek route to Gunji from Lakhanpur is in good shape and the villagers and defence personnel are using it to reach Gunji.

"However, in high altitudes the risk of landslides at this time of the year is always there especially along a 670 metre sensitive stretch between Lakhanpur and Nazang," SDM Dharchula R K Pandey said. PTI

Today, a group of around 150 Kashmiri Pandits who have been living as refugees in various parts of India from 1989-1990, when the onset of militancy drove them out of their homes, will start a journey that will end on June 20 with a prayer meeting at the Mata Kheer Bhawani temple in Tulla Mulla village, Ganderbal, about 23 kilometres from Srinagar.

The Times of India reports that the Jammu and Kashmir government has for the first time made special arrangements for the Hindu pilgrims to visit the temple.

On Saturday, June 16, Governor N N Vohra visited the temple to review the stay, sanitation and other arrangements for the pilgrims. The state government has also provided for AC Volvo buses from new Delhi to ferry pilgrims to the temple and back.

"Remember, this yatra is only the beginning, the first step in our new journey," Satish Mahaldar, co-ordinator of the yatra, tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier.

Read the interview here.

10:04 Kumaraswamy to meet Rahul shortly

Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy arrives to meet Congress President Rahul Gandhi. The two leaders are meeting to discuss the issue of tabling a new full-fledged budget for 2018-19. The decision comes in the wake of a difference in opinions of the Congress and JD-S in the matter.

While the Congress said there was no need for a fresh budget and insisted that a supplementary budget would do, the JD-S asserted that a fresh one was needed to demonstrate the direction of the new government.

Former chief minister and chairman of the Congress-JD-S coordination committee Siddaramaiah expressed his strong reservations over presenting a new full-fledged budget, saying there was no need for such an exercise.

Siddaramaiah, who is also the Congress Legislature Party leader, said he had already tabled the budget as chief minister a few months ago.

File pic.

09:57

In Uttarakhand, a wreath-laying ceremony of army personnel Vikas Gurung, who lost his life in a ceasefire violation in Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir. CM Trivendra Singh Rawat also paid tribute to the jawan.

09:27 6.1 magnitude earthquake hits Japan, 2 dead

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake rattled the city of Osaka, western Japan on Monday morning, leading to partial building collapses.

Two people, including a nine-year-old girl, died. At least 37 people are reportedly injured, as per NHK World.

Areas like Hyogo, Kyoto, Shiga, Nara are also affected.

Shinkansen bullet train services have been partly halted.

Some areas in Osaka are reportedly experiencing power shortage.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said no tsunami warning has been issued yet.

-- ANI

Two Assam Rifles personnel were killed and four others suffered injuries in an ambush by suspected Naga insurgents in Mon district of Nagaland, an Assam Rifles official said.

The incident occurred around 3 pm on Sunday near Aboi when armed cadres ambushed a team comprising six Assam Rifles personnel, said the PRO to the Inspector General of Assam Rifles.

Havildar Fateh Singh Negi and Sepoy Hungnga Konyak died on the spot while four others suffered critical bullet injuries, he said, adding that the injured were hospitalised.

The security men retaliated the attack, but casualty on the other side was yet to be ascertained.

The PRO said the involvement of suspected Naga underground groups in the ambush was not yet confirmed while there have been no claims made by any group.

-- PTI

In what is bound to become another major controversy in the Gauri Lankesh murder case, Pramod Muthalik, Sri Ram Sene chief indirectly compared the slain journalist to a dog

"Sri Ram Sene doesn't have any role in the murder of Gauri Lankesh. Everyone is saying that Hindu groups conspired to kill Gauri Lankesh. But two murders in Maharashtra and two in Karnataka took place during Congress's regime. But no one is saying anything about the Congress government's failure. Instead they ask why PM Modi has kept mum about her murder. Why should PM Modi react? Do you expect Modi to respond everytime a dog dies in Karnataka?" Muthalik said.

According to reports, he later clarified his comment stating that he did not make any direct comaprison.

Muthalik blamed the Congress party saying they were in power in the state but even then intellectuals point their fingers at PM Modi.

He also added that though his organisation had ideological differences with Gauri Lankesh, "We have not nor will we stoop down to murdering that person."

It was only recently that a Special Investigation Team questioned Vijayapura district president of Sri Ram Sene Rakesh Math since the suspected shooter, Parashuram Waghmare, was a member of the organisation.

Gauri Lankesh, known for her extreme views was shot dead by two bike-borne assailants outside her residence on September 5, 2017.

Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain was on Sunday night rushed to a city hospital as his health deteriorated nearly a week after he had gone on an indefinite hunger strike at the Lieutenant Governor office, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said.

The health minister was taken to the LNJP Hospital, officials said.

Kejriwal confirmed that his colleague has been hospitalised even as the tug-of-war between the AAP government and the LG refused to die down on the seventh day today.

"Satyender Jain shifted to hospital due to his deteriorating health (sic)," he tweeted.

His health summary on Sunday morning showed that his sugar level was 64 units (mg/dL) and ketone level in urine was "large". The blood pressure level was 96/68 and he weighed 78.5 kg, sources said.

Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia, Jain and Gopal Rai, have stayed put at the L-G office demanding that Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal direct IAS officers to end what the AAP described as their "strike" and approve doorstep ration delivery scheme.

Jain had gone on strike on Tuesday, and his sugar level had further dipped on Saturday, even as he asserted that the AAP government will continue to fight for people of the city.

In a tweet, the minister had shared a copy of his health summary, which said, the ketone level in urine had increased to a "large amount".

-- PTI

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