A special court in Mumbai today ordered arrest of fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya for his alleged involvement in a case of money laundering and cheating a consortium of banks of over Rs 6,000 crore.

A policeman was killed and two others were injured as terrorists fired upon a police vehicle near Gallandar on Srinagar-Jammu national highway today, police said.

British Prime Minister Theresa May today survived a brewing rebellion within her own Conservative party ranks to win a crucial Brexit vote in Parliament.

In the first high-level security review meeting after the Governor's rule was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, Governor N N Vohra asked the security forces to 'end terror' without worrying about any political hindrance in the state.

The sulphuric acid leak that was detected on Sunday at a godown of Sterlite copper plant in Tuticorin -- closed by government last month following violent protests in which 13 people were killed in police firing -- is 'severe', Vedanta said on Wednesday.

JUST IN: Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra appoints B V R Subrahmanyam (IAS of 1987 batch) as the new chief secretary of the state; Vijay Kumar (retd IPS officer) and B B Vyas appointed as advisors to the Governor.

Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah will arrive in Jammu on June 23 to review the party's preparations for the Lok Sabha election due next year, a senior party leader said today.

The Jammu and Kashmir assembly was today put under suspended animation, according to a proclamation issued by Governor N N Vohra.

A 33-year-old woman from Delhi died after falling into a 500-ft deep valley while taking a selfie at Matheran, a popular hill station in Raigad district near Mumbai, police said today.

President Donald Trump has claimed that America has 'rebuilt' China, saying the Communist trading giant has been 'taking out' $500 billion a year from the United States.

Key Congress meet on Jammu and Kashmir at former PM Dr Manmohan Singh's home. The party's Kashmir Committee is meeting with Dr Singh now. The Congress on Tuesday ruled out any tie-up with the PDP after the BJP pulled out of the ruling alliance in Jammu and Kashmir.


Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said yesterday that the BJP had committed a "Himalayan blunder" by forming a government with the PDP.


Kapil Sibal had added on Twitter that BJP's move to form the alliance with PDP and break the coalition government three years later were both "acts of political immorality'.

Apparent cross-voting by Congress councillors today helped the BJP wrest five district panchayats from the opposition party in Gujarat in elections held for the posts of presidents and vice presidents.


Elections to the posts of presidents and vice presidents of over 200 taluka panchayats and 31 district panchayats were held today across Gujarat. Local bodies in Gujarat elect new heads midway through their five-year term. Before today's elections, the Congress was holding 23 of 31 district panchayats. -- PTI

Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan met Congress President Rahul Gandhi, this afternoon. Haasan said it was a formal courtesy meeting and the two leaders spoke about Tamil Nadu politics.

Haasan also met Election Commission officials in New Delhi to formally register his party. After the meeting, the actor-turned politician told reporters he expected his party, which was launched in February, would get registered soon.

@RahulGandhi tweeted, "Enjoyed meeting @ikamalhaasan in Delhi today. We discussed a wide range of issues concerning our two parties, including the political situation in Tamil Nadu."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the fourth International Yoga Day Celebrations in Dehradun tomorrow.


Modi will join thousands of volunteers, performing Yogasanas in the lawns of the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, located in the lap of the Himalayas.


Preparations are underway at the Forest Research Institute for tomorrow's celebration.


A series of Yoga related events are being organised across the world to mark the occasion.


The Prime Minister had earlier participated in Yoga celebrations at Rajpath in New Delhi in 2015, the Capitol Complex in Chandigarh in 2016, and the Ramabai Ambedkar Sabha Sthal in Lucknow in 2017.


Greeting Yoga enthusiasts across the world on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that Yoga is one of the most precious gifts given by the ancient Indian sages to humankind.


"Yoga is not just a set of exercises that keeps the body fit. It is a passport to health assurance, a key to fitness and wellness. Nor is Yoga only what you practice in the morning. Doing your day-to-day activities with diligence and complete awareness is a form of Yoga as well," the Prime Minister said.


File pic.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to leave for Bengaluru tomorrow for treatment after his sugar level increased during sit-in protest at LG office. 

Yoga should not be used as a political tool or linked to a particular community, top Muslim bodies said today on the eve of International Day for yoga.


The organisations also said that yoga should be seen as form of exercise and not through the prism of religion. "Islam lays special emphasis on physical fitness and considers things related to fitness as good. Yoga as an exercise is good, but it should not be made compulsory which may not be acceptable to people of other religions.


"The most important thing is that Yoga should not be used as a political tool. But, sadly this practice is going on," All India Muslim Personal Law Board spokesman Sajjad Nomani said.


He also said that people of every religion and section of society should be encouraged to celebrate Yoga Day tomorrow.


"It is unfair to force upon someone any particular exercise. There should be no dispute vis-a-vis Yoga. People of every religion and section of the society should be encouraged to celebrate International Yoga Day.


"It is important that Yoga should be perceived as a rahmat (mercy) and not a 'zahmat' (worry)," the spokesman said. The All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB) was of the view that Yoga should not be linked to a community. -- PTI

A Supreme Court judge today recused herself from hearing a plea of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy seeking to implead himself as a party in a case related to probe into alleged disproportionate assets of an ED officer investigating the Aircel-Maxis deal case.

CEA Arvind Subramanian's press conference on his decision to quit ahead of his term ending May 2019.  Excerpts...


"It has been the best job I ever had or will ever have. It was enriching and exciting. I will go back with the happiest best memories of this tenure. I will always be committed to serving the country in future," he said.

"We have not fixed the last date," Subramanian, said on being asked about his last day in office.

"I was very much in Delhi on the day of demonetization," he said on being asked if he was present in the capital on the day of demonetization announcement. He also said that, 'Soon the process will be started for choosing my successor, let us see how it turns out."

He said the only factor that should be looked at while choosing his successor should be 'competence' and quickly added self-deprecatingly that it does not mean that he was competent.

Subramanian will go back to the US after nearly four years as India's Chief Economic Adviser, Minister Arun Jaitley announced today in a Facebook post. Mr Subramanian, in a tweet, referred to "personal reasons, researching and writing" for quitting before his term ends in October.

He would like to go back to the United States on account of pressing family commitments. ..He left me with no option but to agree with him," Arun Jaitley wrote.

The Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday came out in the open stating that the party is ready to sacrifice the government a thousand times if it can safeguard the interests of the people of Kashmir and save them from tyrannical times.


In a statement issued from the party head office, PDP's Srinagar District President and MLC Mohammad Khurshid Alam said the reasons that the BJP gave for pulling out of the support from the PDP are worth hailing and that the party feels proud of the reasons. 


"The reasons are demands made by Mehbooba Mufti for talks with Pakistan and separatists, withdrawal of the cases against the stone pelters, implementation of the ceasefire on ground and measures to be taken for successful dialogue and reconciliation," Alam said.


The PDP leader maintained that the narrative being adopted by the Government of India over pulling out the support is in itself an endorsement of the fact that the PDP government strove for the safety of the people of the state and kept pleading for the extension of the ceasefire so that the people bearing the brunt of hostilities, bloodshed and mayhem could heave a sigh of relief.  


"The reasons that were behind the fall of this government are our remarkable achievements and we feel proud about them and want to reiterate that we will keep our  fight for the people of Kashmir going with all zeal and all zest.  


"Come what may, we will not barter our principles and the people of the state are witness to the fact that the chief minister didn't compromise on her stand and always stood for peace, reconciliation and amnesty,' Alam said.


The PDP leader added that history is repeating itself in the state and the last time a similar incident was witnessed on August 9, 1953 when the people's government was toppled by New Delhi.


"Let those who are holding confabulations against the special status of the state become aware that the PDP isn't going to succumb to any pressure and it will keep fighting for people, their dignity and honour with strong will and courage," Alam said.


Image: Blast from the past: BJP President Amit Shah with Mehbooba Mufti in 2015.

China today distanced itself from its envoy's comments on the idea of trilateral cooperation between India, China and Pakistan under the aegis of the SCO, but underlined the importance of strengthening of dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad to improve mutual trust.


Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui on Monday endorsed the idea of trilateral cooperation between India, China and Pakistan under the aegis of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, saying it could "in the future" help resolve bilateral issues between New Delhi and Islamabad and help maintain peace.


Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, when asked about Luo's comments, said both India and Pakistan are China's friends and neighbours.


"We are willing to conduct relations with all our neighbours including Pakistan and India to strengthen our cooperation for better development and stability in this region. "We also hope India, Pakistan can strengthen their dialogue to improve mutual trust in their bilateral relations. This is in the interest of the regional countries," he said.


Asked whether China is distancing from Luo's remarks, Geng said "what I said represents the official position of the Chinese side". He also declined to answer a question on the Chinese Embassy erasing envoy's comments from the transcript posted on the website. The Chinese envoy to India had also said that bilateral ties between India and China can't take the strain of another Dokalam episode and emphasised the need to find a "mutually acceptable solution" on the boundary issue through a meeting of Special Representatives.


Luo said "some Indian friends" had suggested trilateral cooperation comprising India, China and Pakistan under the aegis of the SCO, which was a "very constructive idea".


This is the second time China shied away from backing Luo. In May 2017, Lou offered to rename the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to accommodate India's concerns at a meeting a New Delhi.

To bring you up to speed, here's what Arun Jaitley wrote:

In a Facebook post Arun Jaitley writes of Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian's decision to go back to the United States on account of family commitments. He adds that he had no option but to agree with Subramanian.


This is what Jaitley, who is recuperating after his kidney transplant, wrote today on Facebook.


"Few days ago Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian  met me over video conferencing. He informed me that he would like to go back to the United States on account of pressing family commitments. His reasons were personal but extremely important for him. He left me with no option but to agree with him.


"Arvind had joined us as the Chief Economic Advisor on 16th October, 2014 for a period of three years. On the expiry of the three years I had requested him to continue for some more time. Even at that stage he told me that he was torn between family commitment and his current job which he considered the best and most fulfilling he has ever done.


"Arvind's interaction with the Government in the Ministry of Finance, Prime Minister's Office and with other Departments was both formal and informal. His instantaneous communications with his interlocutors had increased his effectiveness. The Chief Economic Advisor's job had multi-facets to it. He is not a spokesman of the Government. He is an Advisor who has to analyse and thinks several steps ahead. It is a unique responsibility with freedom to the work that he enjoys.
Arvind functioned within these parameters and concentrated on the challenges to the economy. His early diagnosis of the twin balance-sheet had led us to adopt the macro-economic strategy of higher public investment in the Budget of 2015-16. He conceptualised JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhar, Mobile) as a data base for availing public benefits. He contributed to the debate of federalism by conceptualising that the Indian federalism has not merely to be cooperative but also competitive. He came out with newer ideas, policy reforms in the sectors of clothing, fertilizers, kerosene, power and pulses. His report on the Revenue Neutral Rate was of great use in forging a consensus which led to the constitution amendment enabling the GST. He participated in every meeting of GST, gave his independent views and was heard in rapt attention by almost every Finance Minister.


"He elevated the quality of the analysis and the presentation of ideas for public deliberation in his four "Economic Surveys". His documents for four years was treated by several independent critics as one of the best ever produced. The latest survey had about 15 million visitors from 117 countries. The Economic Survey today is a basic teaching material all over India. He thought ahead and, therefore, came out with futuristic ideas on rationalisation of removal of "subsidies for the rich", universal basic income, climate change, from "socialism without entry and capitalism without exit" and the four C's that he had historically paralysed decision making. He conducted the first online course on Indian economy for the benefits of students and teachers across the country. He launched the Government's online education platform "Swayam", which became one of the most followed courses in India. He travelled across the country and spoke on public platforms on economic issues to elevate the quality of public discourse. He built up a strong team of both "insiders" and "outsiders" in the Economic Division of the Ministry.


"Personally I will miss his dynamism, energy, intellectual ability and ideas. He would walk into my room at times several times a day, addressing me as "Minister" to give either the good news or otherwise. Needless to say his departure will be missed by me.  But I know that his heart is very much here. I am sure he will keep sending advice and analysis wherever he is.

I wish Arvind Subramanian and his family all the very best.

Thank you Arvind."


It may be recalled that RBI governor, who was also a colleague of Arvind Subramanian at the World Bank, quit his job in June 2016 and returned to academia in the US. 

Arvind Subramanian reacts to Arun Jaitley's Facebook post announcing his decision to quit as CEA and return to academia in the US.

arvind subramanian @arvindsubraman
"Profoundly grateful & humbled by these extraordinarily generous words by Minister @arunjaitley announcing my decision to return-for personal reasons-to researching & writing. CEA job most rewarding, fulfilling, exciting I have ever had. Many many to thanks."

Scroll down for what Jaitley wrote on FB.

The government is committed to the strategic disinvestment of Air India, Union Minister Jayant Sinha said today. A plan is also being worked out by the Air India board and the situation was reviewed after the proposed strategic stake sale of the national carrier failed to attract any bidders last month.


Sinha, the minister of state for civil aviation, said the government is committed to the strategic disinvestment of Air India.


However, the process for selling 76 per cent stake in the airline is over now, he added. Under the proposed plan, the government was to sell 76 per cent stake in Air India along with complete divestment of low-cost arm Air India Express and a 50 per cent stake in Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt Ltd -- an equal joint venture with Singapore's SATS.


On Tuesday, a top official had said the government has for now dropped plans to sell majority stake in Air India as it may not be the right time to privatise the loss-making flag carrier in an election year. -- PTI

"It is this new brand of nationalism, where the saffron has elbowed out the other shades in our Tiranga, that will go before the electorate later this year. And it is this new nationalism that will power Modi back into office with 300-plus seats when elections are held," says Saisuresh Sivaswamy. 
Read the column here.

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday said that the imposition of Governor's Rule in Jammu and Kashmir will not interrupt the operations against terrorists.


General Rawat's response came after President Ram Nath Kovind approved the imposition of Governor's Rule in the state with immediate effect earlier in the day.


He told ANI, "We only stopped our operations during Ramzan. But, we saw what happened. The imposing of Governor's Rule will not affect our operations. Our operations will go on like they used to. We don't face any political interference."


After receiving President Kovind's approval, state governor NN Vohra on Wednesday issued the Proclamation to impose Governor's Rule under section 92 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.


The Governor's Rule was necessitated after Mehbooba Mufti resigned as Jammu and Kashmir's Chief Minister, following the Bharatiya Janata Party's exit from its alliance with the People's Democratic Party in the state on Tuesday. -- ANI

Maruti Suzuki India maintained its leadership position in the domestic passenger vehicle market in May as seven of its models featured in the top 10 selling brands.


According to the latest data from Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, in the top 10 best selling PVs, Maruti's Alto retained the top position in May with the sales of 21,890 units as against 23,618 units a year ago.


The company's compact sedan Dzire was the second best selling model with 19,735 units as compared to 9,073 units in July last year. Its premium hatchback Baleno stood at third position with sale of 19,398 units.


MSI's compact hatchback Swift was fourth with sale of 19,208 units last month. The model was at the second position in May last year with sale of 16,532 units.


Wagon R was the fifth MSI model, selling 15,974 units. Another model from company's stables -- compact SUV Vitara Brezza stood at sixth position with 15,629 units in May. It was at the same position in May last year with sales of 12,375 units.


Hyundai's SUV Creta stood at seventh position last month with 11,004 units. The model with 8,377 units in May last year had occupied the ninth position. The company's hatchback Grand i10 stood at the eighth position last month with 10,939 units. It had sold 12,984 units of the vehicle in the same period last year. -- PTI

The Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan today met Election Commission officials in New Delhi to formally register his party. After the meeting, the actor-turned politician told reporters he expected his party, which was launched in February, would get registered soon.


"I came here for a formal meeting. They (EC) asked certain questions. They are not having any major objections,' he said. To a query, 63-year-old Haasan said the poll panel officials told him that his party's registration would be done soon. He, however, said the EC officials did not specify any time frame for it. Asked about the party's symbol, he said there has been no decision on it yet and the issue will be first discussed within the party before approaching the EC. PTI

Radhika Vemula, Rohith Vemula's mother, today clarified that while it was true that the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) had promised to provide her with money, they haven't used her for political gains. "It was my wish to speak against PM Modi and if needed I will speak again in any of their meeting. IUML sent us two cheques of Rs 2.5 lakh out of which one has bounced. We informed them and they said they will directly provide us the money so that we can buy a house," Radhika Vemula said.


The statement comes after the BJP on Wednesday accused Opposition parties of playing "low-level politics' over Rohit Vemula's death after a report claimed that the Dalit scholar's mother slammed the Indian Union Muslim League for making "false promises'.


"Indian Union Muslim League made fake promises to provide them (Rohith Vemula's family) Rs 20 lakh and asked them to address their rallies and misrepresent the unfortunate incident',' Union Minister Piyush Goyal said at a press conference.


Days after Rohith committed suicide in his hostel room, the IUML had promised his mother Radhika Rs 20 lakh for building a house for the family.


"I was anxious after reading Rohith Vemula's mother's statement. For how long will some opposition parties continue to play politics over it? The family is not financially stable. Fake assurance of money was provided to a distressed mother for political purposes," Goyal said.


He also demanded Congress president Rahul Gandhi apologise for indulging in such "petty politics'.


"I received information that even Congress President took them (Vemula's family) to rallies and asked them to make statements. Rahul Gandhi should apologise for doing petty politics on pillar of lies," Goyal said.


The Indian Union Muslim League, however, called the cheque bounce a clerical mistake.

After receiving a nod from President Ram Nath Kovind on imposing Governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir, NN Vohra is now holding an important security meeting in Srinagar.


Officials belonging to the three areas -- Security, Administration and Governance -- are at the meeting headed by Governor Vohra which is being held at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar.


The list of senior officials from the secretariat, the army and the police are expected to be present at the meeting.


Governor's Rule in the state came into effect after Mehbooba Mufti resigned as Jammu and Kashmir's Chief Minister following the Bharatiya Janata Party's exit from its alliance with the People's Democratic Party.


Yesterday, Governor Vohra forwarded his report to the President of India for the imposition of Governor's Rule under Section 92 of the Constitution. -- ANI

Following his elevation to the rank of a cabinet minister in the Madhya Pradesh government, Swami Akhileshwaranand on Wednesday appealed to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to form a cow ministry in the state.


He was of the opinion that if there could be a cow secretariat in Rajasthan, a ministry for happiness in MP, then a cow ministry should be constituted in the state for the welfare of the state.


He said that the formation of the ministry will attract even more budget into the state and that he wanted the cow to be removed from the category of animal.  -- ANI.

"From what I know of her," says Mohammad Sayeed Malik -- the distinguished doyen of Kashmir commentators -- "Mehbooba will not take too long to recover. How much room she can then find to maneuver in the valley's extremely harsh political climate only time can tell."

Read the column here.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the setting up of a Rs 1500-crore All India Medical Institute branch at Madurai in Tamil Nadu. The PM is expected to lay the foundation for the AIIMS on September 15, on the birthday of CN Annadurai.

The hospital will have 900 beds and will be one of the premier architecturally innovative buildings in the city, a senior official of the Prime Minister's Office, said. 

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman after meeting family of Sepoy Aurangzeb in J&K's Poonch: I came to meet the martyr's family. I have spent some time here. One message I can take back from here is that here's a family, here's a martyr, who stands out as an inspiration for the entire nation.


General Bipin Rawat, Army chief: We only stopped our operations during Ramzan. But, we saw what happened. The imposing of Governor's rule will not affect our operations. Our operations will go on like they used to. We don't face any political interference.

The UPPCS on Tuesday cancelled the PCS (Mains) 2017 exam for the day, scheduled to be held in two shifts after invigilators distributed the wrong set of question papers at one of the centres.  Read the full report here.


Activist Shabnam Hashmi tweets: Strongly condemn the arrest of #RichaSingh and other students who were protesting in Allahabad against the leaking of #PCS paper. Demand immediate release. @Shehla_Rashid @kanhaiyakumar @sardesairajdeep @svaradarajan @yadavakhilesh @SudhinBhadoria @yadavtejashwi @SalmanNizami_

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's wife Begum Kulsoom's vital organs have now been functioning normally. After being put on life support, Kulsoom even opened her eyes once.


On Tuesday, the doctors treating her at Harley Street Clinic in London, told Sharif that her wife was highly critical.


Sharif family and the five-member board of doctors discussed Kulsoom's condition and decided that she would not be taken off the ventilator for now. The doctors asked Nawaz to wait for another review of her condition, the timeline of which has not been given at the moment, as per Geo News.


The doctors informed Nawaz, Maryam and Shehbaz Sharif that Kulsoom's condition has neither deteriorated nor improved since June 14, when she was shifted to intensive care, after suffering a cardiac arrest. She was then sedated, put on life support and is undergoing treatment. -- ANI

Hindu pilgrims attended the annual festival of Mata Kheer Bhawani in Ganderbal, Jammu & Kashmir, today. Thousands of Kashmiri Pandit devotees, who were displaced and were forced to leave the Valley due to militancy, have started arriving at the Kheer Bhawani temple.

The Jammu and Kashmir government had announced free transport for the devotees from Delhi and Jammu to the temple and back to attract more Kashmiri Pandits to the mela to be celebrated from today.

The then Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had also joined the celebrations at the shrine on June 3, offering kheer to the shrine of the goddess. She said she prayed that the day comes soon when Kashmiri Pandits can return to their homes with dignity, with children.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police had put up signboards en route to the temple to welcome the Kashmiri Pandits. The name 'Kheer Bhawani' is derived from the fact that thousands of devotees offer kheer (rice pudding) to the sacred spring. The kheer is believed to turn black to warn of impending disaster.


The number of Pandits at the festival this year is much lower than the last few years in the wake of the increased militancy in the Valley.

The festival is seen as a hallmark of Hindu-Muslim amity with many Muslims setting up stalls at the shrine to sell flowers and other offerings for the pooja.

Every year on June 20, Kheer Bhawani melas are organised at five shrines across Kashmir. These are Ragnya Bagwati shrine at Tulmul in Ganderbal, Ragyna Bagwati shrine at Manzgam in Kulgam, Tripursundri shrine at Devsar in Kulgam, Ragnya Bagwati shrine at Logripora in Anantnag and Ragnya Bagwati temple complex at Tikkar in Kupawara.

"Our withdrawal from the council will not end America's own steadfast commitment to human rights. The U.S. delegation remains proud of American leadership in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Our country has always championed freedom, individual dignity, human rights and the rule of law, and that will never change. The U.S. will continue to lead on human rights outside the council, even as we push for institutional reform with like-minded partners."


US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley explains why the United States is withdrawing from the UNHRC.

Read the column here.

Former J-K CM Omar Abdullah @OmarAbdullah says that the J&K state assembly should be dissolved immediately & fresh elections should take place as soon as appropriate. The former DCM has admitted that BJP can't be trusted not to horse trade for govt formation.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman meets the family of Rifleman Aurangzeb in J&K's Poonch. Aurangzeb was abducted from Pulwama by terrorists and later his bullet-ridden body was recovered on June 14.


Aurangzeb was a rifleman with the 44 Rashtriya Rifles. He was in a private vehicle when he was abducted near Kalampora. Originally a resident of Poonch, Aurangzeb was on leave and going home when he was abducted by terrorists. His body was found with two gunshot wounds - one in the head and one in the neck.


The defence minister is also likely to review the security situation in the state with two major security concerns -- the Kheer Bhavani festival that begins tomorrow and the 60-day Amarnath Yatra on June 28.


Yesterday, the BJP dumped the PDP, its alliance partner in Jammu and Kashmir. One of the reasons cited by BJP general secretary Ram Madhav at the press conference announcing the decision to withdraw support was that the Mehbooba Mufti government had failed to contain militancy and radicalisation of youth in the Kashmir Valley.

United States President Donald Trump defended his policy of separating children from their families who have been illegally crossing the southern US-Mexico border, saying, to prosecute parents for illicit entry, "you have to take the children away."


"I don't want children taken away from parents. When you prosecute the parents for coming in illegally -- which should happen -- you have to take the children away," CNN quoted Trump, as saying.


He delivered his remarks at the National Federation of Independent Businesses 75th Anniversary Celebration."They are fake. They are helping these smugglers and these traffickers like nobody would believe," he added.


The Trump administration's immigration policy is facing a backlash from both Democrats and Republicans, who call it inhuman to separate the minors from their families during immigration.


Nearly 2,000 children were taken away from their parents in a six-week period in April and May under the new Trump administration policy, according to several media reports.


Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a new "zero-tolerance" policy on the border in April to prosecute immigrants for entering the country illegally.


By virtue of this policy, families who crossed together illegally would in some cases be separated, prompting a sweeping outcry from Democrats and immigration advocates.


Parents have since been arrested and placed in quick federal court proceedings near the border, while children are placed in shelters. Mexico's foreign minister has called the US policy "cruel and inhuman". -- ANI

Three top Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists, including its operational commander, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Tral in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, police said.