LIVE! Rahul never disrespected Gowda; it was Modi who 'disrespected' his predecessors: Cong

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Wed, 02 May 2018

Rahul never disrespected Gowda; it was Modi who 'disrespected' his predecessors: Cong

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A squall and dust storm followed by heavy rain lashed the national capital this evening offering respite to the Delhiites from the sweltering heat but caused traffic snarls in parts of the city.

A squall with a wind speed of 59 km per hour hit the city at 16.45 pm and continued till 16.47 pm, MeT Department said.

Heavy storm led to fall of a tree on the road near Siri Fort Auditorium, resulting in traffic jam in the area.

Some parts of the city such as Sansad Marg, Lajpat Nagar and Dwarka were lashed by the rainfall which started at 7.40 pm.

The Safdarjung observatory, whose recording is considered the official figure for Delhi, recorded 13.4 mm rainfall.

The maximum temperature was recorded at 38.3 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year, whereas the minimum temperature settled at 27 degrees Celsius, two notches above the season's average.

The humidity oscillated between 66 and 38 per cent.

The MeT office has forecast overcast skies along with possibility of a drizzle for tomorrow.

"The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover at 36 and 26 degrees Celsius respectively," the weatherman said. -- PTI

The Congress today said its president Rahul Gandhi has not shown any disrespect towards Janata Dal-Secular supremo H D Deve Gowda as stated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Hitting back, the party said it was Modi who 'disrespected' his two predecessors (Manmohan Singh and Gowda) and sought an apology from him for it.

"There is no disrespect expressed ever towards Deve Gowda by Rahul Gandhi...it is not the Congress culture to insult," deputy leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma told reporters.

Accusing the prime minister of assaulting the dignity of his office with his expressions and language, he said during campaign speeches he had said things that were not true.

"This government's very foundations are on false promises, lies, deceit, propaganda and boastful claims," he alleged adding Modi and his government were in the "departure lounge".

He said Congress knew Gowda was a very senior and respected leader.

"When Deve Gowda ji was prime Minister his government had the full support of the Congress party. Rahul Gandhi has not said anything derogatory about Shri Deve Gowda," he said.

Sharma alleged there was "an opportunistic understanding and unholy nexus" with the JDS that the prime minister and BJP chief Amit Shah had sought and created. That was the reason a question had been asked and criticism levelled, he said. -- PTI

23:05 Mike Pompeo takes oath as Secretary of State

Former CIA director Mike Pompeo was today sworn-in as the United States Secretary of State.

Pompeo, 54, was administered the oath of office by Vice President Mike Pence.

He replaces Rex Tillerson, who was fired by President Donald Trump in March.

Trump drove down to the State Department for the formal swearing in ceremony of Pompeo.

This was his first trip to the State Department.

Pompeo is the 70th Secretary of State. -- PTI

Rapper Kanye West, who has been dominating headlines with his controversial tweets in support of President Donald Trump, has landed in fresh controversy by suggesting that 400 years of slavery was "a choice".

West was invited by TMZ to talk about his recent tweets, free thought and Trump when he made the controversial comments, which have received massive backlash.

"When you hear about slavery for 400 years. For 400 years? That sounds like a choice. You was there for 400 years and it's all of y'all. It's like we're mentally in prison. I like the word prison because slavery goes too direct to the idea of blacks.

"Slavery is to blacks as the Holocaust is to Jews. Prison is something that unites as one race, blacks and whites, that we're the human race," said West.

In the footage released by TMZ, West is then shown addressing the newsroom: "Do you feel that I'm being free and I'm thinking free?"

TMZ reporter Van Lathan, visibly angry, confronted the rapper, saying, "I actually don't think you're thinking anything. I think what you're doing right now is actually the absence of thought."

Lathan told West that he was "unbelievably" hurt by his comments even though the rapper was entitled to his opinion.

"You're entitled to believe whatever you want. But there is fact, and real-world, real-life consequence behind everything that you just said. And while you are making music and being an artist and living the life that you've earned by being a genius, the rest of us in society have to deal with these threats to our lives.

"We have to deal with the marginalisation that has come from the 400 years of slavery that you said, for our people, was a choice. Frankly, I'm disappointed, I'm appalled and, brother, I am unbelievably hurt by the fact that you have morphed into something, to me, that's not real," Lathan said.

West's comments were met by anger and incredulity by the artistes and civil rights activists.

Rapper Will.i.am told Good Morning Britain that West's comments were "ignorant" and "broke my heart ... when you're a slaved, you're owned... that's not choice, that's by force."

Civil rights activist Deray McKesson said West "continues to fuel the racist right-wing folks who believe that black people are responsible for their oppression."

Filmmaker Ava DuVernay tweeted: "I've had it with @KanyeWest + @RKelly using the imagery of lynching as rebuttals re: their dastardly behaviour. Evoking racial terrorism and murder for personal gain/blame is stratospheric in is audacity and ignorance. This is what lynching looked like. How dare they?"

After the controversy, West, 40, took to Twitter to clarify his comments, stating that he was "being attacked for presenting new ideas". -- PTI

One person was killed and four others were injured during clashes with security forces who were engaged in an encounter with terrorists in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, a police official said today.

The security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Turkwangam village of Shopian following information about presence of terrorists there, the official said.

He said a gunfight broke out between the ultras and the security forces, which was going on when the reports last came in.

Meanwhile, a group of youngsters assembled near the encounter site and started pelting stones at the security forces, the official said.

He said five people were injured when the security forces opened fire to chase away the stone pelters.

One of the injured, 17-year-old Umar Kumhar, later succumbed to injuries, he added.

Locals, however, claimed that more than a dozen youngsters were injured in the security forces action. -- PTI

The Congress today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of getting B S Yeddyurappa's name "cleared" in corruption cases through the CBI and said the 'Yeddy-Reddy' combine was seeking to return to power to "loot" and "plunder" the state.

Congress leader Rajiv Shukla hit out at the BJP-led central government for "closing down" cases against Yeddyurappa, alleging that through its "puppet" CBI, the government was facilitating a clean chit for the BJP's chief ministerial candidate.

Shukla asked whether the prime minister and BJP President Amit Shah would explain "this sinister conspiracy to put a lid on 'loot of public money' and 'plundering of natural resources', as also the reason for giving 8 BJP tickets to 'Reddy Brothers and associates'?".

"The BJP has no moral right to talk about corruption as its chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa is facing all kinds of charges and whom the party had ousted a few years ago on corruption charges," he told reporters.

"The Yeddy-Reddy gang is back in Karnataka politics -- thanks to top leadership of the BJP. They want to rule Karnataka again and they want to plunder the most valuable assets of the state of Karnataka.

"So, I want to appeal to the people of Karnataka that they should be wary of the Yeddy-Reddy gang. They are back at the helm of the affairs. They want to loot Karnataka again and they should not go by what the PM and BJP leaders are saying in their Karnataka campaign," Shukla said.

He pointed out that Yeddyurappa had been sent to jail, formed his own political party, and later when the BJP did not find anyone to project as its chief ministerial candidate, it brought him back.

"So, how can they talk about corruption? Look at the cheek of the BJP leadership," he said.

Shukla alleged that the BJP was trying to close cases against Yeddyuruppa and invoked the report, submitted by Justice Santosh Hegde, who was the Lokayukta earlier.

He submitted a special report against Yedddyurappa and that report is being ignored by the central government, the former Union minister claimed.

"One after another clean chits are being given which is completely condemnable and we do not approve that. That is why Karnataka Government has decided to institute a further probe against him and SIT has been constituted," Shukla said.

The Congress leader also alleged that the "Modi-Amit Shah game of shielding Yeddy-Reddy" stands exposed.-- PTI

Disgruntled Bharatiya Janata Party MP Shatrughan Sinha today alleged that "inhuman treatment" was meted out to Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad during and after his hospitalisation at the AIIMS in New Delhi.

Sending an ailing Prasad from Delhi in a train that took 14 hours to reach Ranchi earlier this week was in bad taste and smacked of vindictive politics, Sinha said in a series of tweets.

"The inhuman treatment given to popular mass leader & Ex CM Lalu Yadav during & after his hospitalization in Delhi was saddening, in bad taste & not appreciated by one and all. After all he has been our old friend & colleague & has been in state & national politics for very long (sic)," the actor-turned-politician said.

Prasad, who is serving sentence in a number of fodder scam cases, was discharged from the AIIMS on Monday after a medical board of the hospital said he could safely undergo treatment at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi.

The RJD chief was admitted at the AIIMS for over a month.

Using the word "sir" to address Prime Minister Narendra Modi, without naming him, Sinha asked, "Sir, could Mr. Lalu Yadav not have been at least sent back on a flight instead of being forced to make a 14 hr train journey, with his ailing health condition, against his will & wish...on purely humanitarian grounds (sic)?"

"This is an era of vindictive politics....but Lalu Yadav deserved better treatment at AIIMS or wherever he wishes to be treated instead of being pushed out against his wish...since he does suffer from many diseases whose treatment facility is not available everywhere (sic)," Sinha, who had met Prasad at the RIMS before he was shifted to the AIIMS, tweeted.

The Patna Sahib MP has been critical of his own party and the Modi government for quite some time.

Prasad was brought to the RIMS by the Rajdhani Express.

His condition had worsened on board, following which he was treated by doctors at the Kanpur railway station.

The RJD chief had protested his discharge from the AIIMS and shot off a letter to its director, saying, "If my life is threatened by this decision, you will be held responsible." -- PTI

A minister in the Uttar Pradesh government has triggered a controversy after he reportedly brought with him his own food and water at a dinner hosted at a Dalit household in Aligarh.

Suresh Rana, the minister in the Yogi Adityanath cabinet, however, rejected the allegation saying, "The food was prepared in the village, by the villagers themselves."

The BJP leader's clarification came against the backdrop of reports that he and his aides had gone to the house of the Dalit family to dine with them on Monday night, but ordered food, mineral water and cutlery from outside as the family was not aware of the minister's visit.

Pictures of the well laid out dining table with an assortment of dishes and cutlery went viral on the social media.

Asked to comment on the house owner's claim that he was unaware of the dinner he was supposed to host and that he was woken up from his sleep at around 11 PM to entertain the guests, Rana said, "This is a piece of information you are giving me. The entire family was sitting with me during the dinner. I saw a news clip that claimed that food was brought from outside or some hotel. The food was prepared in that village itself by the villagers."

When reporters confronted him by claiming that the food was served by a caterer and it did not look like it was cooked at a poor Dalit house, the minister said, "I am reiterating that the food was prepared at the house of a Dalit. The village head is a Dalit, the local MLA is a Dalit, the programme was organised by them and there was a community feast. An issue is being made out of this as some people have problems with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath."

Claiming that those who did politics from their "plush drawing rooms, five-star hotels and AC rooms" had problems with the BJP reaching the "gaaon, gareeb and Dalits (the villages, the poor and the Dalits)", Rana said, "I will invite them to spend a night in Lohagarh village and only then will they realise."

Last year, soon after the BJP took charge in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Adityanath's visit to a soldier's house had triggered a controversy after it was reported that an air-conditioner was installed and a carpet, a saffron sofa and saffron towels were sent to the house before his arrival.

Later, members of the Musahar community, who are among the poorest in the state, had alleged that they were given soaps and shampoo by the local administration, ahead of a visit by the chief minister. -- PTI

The process of honouring people with Padma awards next year for their works of distinction and exceptional achievement in different fields has begun with the Union home ministry inviting nominations.

The last date for receipt of the nominations for the top civilian honours is September 15, 2018, according to a notification issued by the ministry yesterday.

The awards seek to recognise commendable works and exceptional achievements in fields and disciplines such as art, literature and education, sports, medicine, social work, science and engineering, public affairs, civil service, trade and industry.

The nominations or recommendations for the awards will be received online only on the Padma portal www.padmaawards.gov.in.

All citizens can make nominations or recommendation, including self-nomination. The nominations or recommendations should contain all relevant details specified in the format available on the website, including a citation in a narrative form not exceeding 800 words clearly bringing out the distinguished and exceptional achievements, the notification said.

For the last two years, the Modi government has been giving emphasis on honouring unsung heroes who deserve these prestigious awards.

Nominations have been invited from central ministries, departments, states/Union Territory governments, Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan awardees, institutes of excellence and others to enable broad-based consideration.

The home ministry has requested them to make concerted efforts in identifying talented persons whose excellence and achievements really deserve to be recognised, and make suitable nominations in their favour.

While the Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; the Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order and the Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field.

The ministry has requested all ministries, departments and state governments that efforts may be made to identify talented persons from among women, weaker sections of the society, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and disabled persons, who deserve to be considered for the award.

Government servants including those working with public sector undertakings, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for the Padma awards.

Instituted in 1954, these awards are announced on the eve of the Republic Day every year. -- PTI

20:29 'Any ID proof sufficient for new SIM card'

Telecom operators can issue new SIM cards on the basis of any identity document like election voter ID or driving licence but the requirement to link mobile number with Aadhaar at a later date has not been done away with, sources said today.

When contacted, Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said there is no change in the prevalent rules that mobile phone companies cannot deny anyone a new SIM card for want of Aadhaar, and can use alternative identification documents for the purpose.

She, however, said the government will await a verdict of the Supreme Court on the requirement to verify the SIM by linking it with biometric 12-digit Aadhaar number.

Separately, sources with direct knowledge of the matter said the SIM-Aadhaar linking policy still stands as on date and so new SIMs issued without Aadhaar would need to be re-verified through Aadhaar-based eKYC at a later date.

Similarly, subscribers who give Aadhaar right at the time of new SIM issuance, would not need to undergo for Aadhaar-based re-verification again.

"As per rule, fresh connections can be given using any authentic ID and address proof. There is no change in that rule. Telecom operators cannot deny fresh SIM to people having valid ID and address proof document. For re-verification, we have to wait for Supreme Court order as the matter is sub-judice," Sundararajan said here.

The Telecom Department had earlier extended the timeline for re-verifying mobile numbers through Aadhaar, till the time the apex court takes a view on the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Aadhaar and its enabling law.

Sources pointed out that even the Telecom Department's circular of March 23, 2017 had mentioned: "The subscriber acquired through proof of Identity/Proof of Address documents based process, during the period of this re-verification activity shall also be re-verified through eKYC process. For this, the licencee at the time of issuing connection to such subscribers, shall intimate the subscribers about this re-verification activity". -- PTI

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi lavished praise on him at an election rally in Karnataka, Janata Dal-Secular supremo H D Deve Gowda today sought to play it down, saying it did not mean both parties were cosying up to each other.

Gowda also slammed chief minister Siddaramaiah for suggesting that his party would back the Bharatiya Janata Party. He claimed that it was Siddaramaiah who wanted to become chief minister in 2004 with the saffron party support when he was in the JDS.

Virtually endorsing Modi's criticism of Rahul Gandhi for having 'insulted' him, the JDS supremo also said a Kannadiga had become prime minister and Siddaramaiah tried to "demolish" Kannadigas' pride.

"This is how Congress gives respect to Kannada pride," Gowda, who was the prime minister heading the United Front government at the centre during 1996-97, told a press conference in Bengaluru.

He asserted that the JD-S would come back to power in the May 12 polls, and discounted possibility of a hung assembly.

"Maybe, by praising me, he (the prime minister) wants to gain sympathy. That is all. That does not mean there is an" understanding (between BJP and JDS)," Gowda said.

"In fact, the JD-S is confident of forming the government on its own with the cooperation of Telugu Desam Party leader Chandrababu Naidu, Chandrasekhar Rao (of Telangana Rashtra Samithi) and other friends in political arena... I do not expect a hung assembly," he said.

"I have been saying this and I will say this"again -- we are confident of forming government on our own," the JDS chief"said.

In remarks that raised eyebrows in political circles, Modi, while launching the second leg of his campaign blitz for the assembly elections, had lashed out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi for "insulting" Gowda, saying it showed his "arrogance".

Showering praise on Gowda at a rally in Udupi, the prime minister had said Gowda was one of the most respected and tallest leaders for whom he had great respect.

Modi's remarks relating to Gowda were seen as extending an olive branch to the JDS veteran to keep the options open for the BJP in the event of a hung verdict. -- PTI

India is the second largest source country of foreign students in the United States, with over 2 lakh Indians currently studying in various American universities, a latest official report has said.

China tops the list with 377,070 students, the Student and Exchange Visitor Programme of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations said.

The report said 49 per cent of the F and M student population in the United States hailed from either China or India (211,703 students), and interest continues to grow.

There are two different types of non-immigrant student visas in the US: the F-1 and M-1 visas.

The F-1 visa is for non-immigrants wanting to go for academic studies and/or language training programme, and the M-1 visa is for non-immigrants wanting to go for non-academic or vocational studies.

Over the reporting period, both China and India saw proportional growth between 1 and 2 per cent, with China sending 6,305 more students and India sending 2,356 more students.

It is this level of participation from China and India that makes Asia far and away the most popular continent of origin. In fact, 77 per cent of all international students in the US call Asia home, the report said.

According to the report, despite steady growth from the two mot populous nations, there was a slight decrease in the number of Asian students coming to study in the United States over the reporting period.

The sharp decline in the number of students from Saudi Arabia (-9,971), South Korea (-5,488), and Yemen (-396) outweighed the rapid growth in the number of students coming from Pakistan (+448), Myanmar (+206) and Cambodia (+109). -- PTI

Stephen Hawking's final research paper suggests that the universe may be one of many similar to our own, resolving a cosmic paradox of the late British physicist's own making.

The paper submitted to the Journal of High-Energy Physics, 10 days before Hawking died on March 14, also points a way forward for astronomers to find evidence of the existence of parallel universes.

In the 1980s, Hawking, along with US physicist James Hartle developed a new idea about the beginning of the universe, BBC News reported.

This resolved a difficulty with Einstein's theory that suggested that the universe began nearly 14 billion years ago but said nothing about how it began.

The Hartle-Hawking idea used a theory called quantum mechanics to explain how the universe arose from nothingness.

As scientists analysed the idea, it carried with it the implication that the Big Bang would create not just one universe -- but an endless supply.

Some, according to the theory, would be very like our own universe, while others would be subtly different.

Hawking collaborated with Thomas Hertog, a professor at KU Leuven in Belgium, to try to resolve this paradox.

"Neither Stephen nor I were happy with that scenario," Hertog said.

Hawking's final paper has solved the puzzle by drawing on new mathematical techniques developed to study another branch of physics called string theory.

The new assessment of the Hartle-Hawking theory in the latest paper has restored order to a hitherto chaotic multiverse.

The analysis suggests that there can only be universes that have the same laws of physics as our own, according to the paper.

According to Hertog, these ideas may be of real help to physicists as they develop a more complete theory of how the universe came into being. -- PTI

Former United States Navy SEAL Rob O'Neill, credited with firing the shots that killed Osama bin Laden, has said that the commandos who entered the al-Qaeda chief's compound, had all accepted that they would be killed, even saying goodbye to their families before they departed for the mission.

Osama, the world's most wanted terrorist, was killed in a covert raid by a US Navy SEAL team on his Abbottabad compound in Pakistan on May 2, 2011.

O'Neill, who served with Navy SEAL Team Six, said it was an honour to be part of that incredible team which participated in the mission.

Talking to Fox News on the 7th anniversary of the covert operation, he said the commandos who entered Osama's Abbottabad compound had all accepted that they would be killed, even saying goodbye to their families before they departed for the mission.

"We accepted it, we said goodbye to our kids. Then it was pride, I'm so proud of my guys," O'Neill said, crediting the "point man" on the raid for displaying even more bravery.

He said as he and his teammates flew away on a helicopter after completing the mission in Pakistan, he began to realise that they might actually survive.

"The pilot came over the radio and said, 'Alright, guys, for the first time in your lives, you're going to be happy to hear this: Welcome to Afghanistan.' And that's when you realise, we pulled it off," O'Neil said.

He also recalled that he carried with him a pair of sunglasses, purchased with a credit card shortly before the mission.

O'Neill said he had the sunglasses in his pocket during the raid, thinking he would need them to disguise himself if he and his fellow soldiers had to flee in the event the mission went wrong. -- PTI

The Bharatiya Janata Party today accused the Congress of playing "communal card" in the poll-bound Karnataka to woo Muslim voters and claimed the state's chief electoral officer was not acting on its complaints, with a delegation of Union ministers moving the Election Commission demanding action against opposition leaders.

Union minister and former BJP president Nitin Gadkari led the delegation to the commission and told reporters later that they had provided "evidence" to back their charges against Congress leaders and state government officials to the election watchdog.

Gadkari alleged Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge in their campaign in a Muslim locality in the state sought the community's votes for their party in the name of Islam.

Another Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Congress leaders told Muslims that their votes for the party will be in the service of Islam, which is in "danger", as he asserted that such rank communalism is a crime under the The Representation of People Act.

The state goes to polls on May 12.

Prasad said the Congress is desperate as it is set to lose the polls and that is why its government in the state and its leaders are resorting to various tactics to weaken the BJP's campaign.

Besides action against the Congress leaders, the BJP has demanded that a few deputy commissioners and some other state officials be removed, he said.

The BJP delegation, which also included Union ministers Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Dharmendra Pradhan besides senior party leader Arun Singh, also alleged that the Congress is full of moneybags in the state and they were distributing money.

Pressure cookers with names of Congress leaders embossed on them have been found but no action was taken by the state election commission officials, they said.

While the Congress campaign vehicles are allowed to move around freely, those of the BJP were seized, they alleged. -- PTI

The government today rejected suggestions that it turned down the elevation of Uttarakhand high court Chief Justice K M Joseph to the Supreme Court as he had once overturned the imposition of President's Rule in the state.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also said that it has the right to seek reconsideration of proposals sent by the Supreme Court collegium as the power flows from three apex court judgements.

The government had on April 26 asked the Supreme Court collegium to reconsider its recommendation to elevate Justice Joseph to the apex court, saying the elevation may not be "appropriate".

In a letter to Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, Prasad had said the government's rejection of Justice Joseph's name has approval of the President and the Prime Minister and also flagged that the SCs/STs have no representation in the Supreme Court since long.

"The proposed appointment of .... Joseph as a judge of the Supreme Court at this stage does not appear to be appropriate," Prasad had said in the letter. "It would also not be fair and justified to other more senior, suitable and deserving chief justices" and senior judges of various high courts.

Responding to questions on the decision to stall Justice Joseph's appointment to the top court, Prasad said that "sponsored allegations" are being levelled against the government by "the Congress party in particular and others in general" that Joseph's appointment was stalled due to his Uttarakhand President's Rule verdict.

"I wish to deny with all authority at my command. It has nothing to do with that at all," he told reporters.

He said there are two "obvious reasons" to support his stand.

"A proper government with 3/4th majority has been elected in Uttarakhand. Second that order (of Justice Joseph) was confirmed by Justice J S Khehar of the Supreme Court, who had also set aside the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, yet he became the CJI in the NDA government ... I deny these insinuations," the minister said. -- PTI

An encounter broke out today between militants and security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, a police official said. The security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Turkwangam village of Shopian following information about presence of militants there, he said.

The official said a gunfight broke out between the ultras and the security forces, which was going on when the reports last came in. Meanwhile, a group of youngsters assembled near the encounter site and started pelting stones at the security forces, he said. He said two persons were injured in the incident. PTI

The Supreme Court Collegium today deferred its decision on the issue of reconsidering the name of Uttarakhand Chief justice KM Joseph for elevation as an apex court judge.

All the five judges of the Collegium -- Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- took part in the meeting. The Collegium resolution said that it met "to consider the following agenda: 'To reconsider the case of Mr Justice KM Joseph, Chief Justice, Uttarakhand High Court, pursuant to letters dated 26th & 30th April, 2018 received from Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India and also to consider the names of Judges from Calcutta, Rajasthan, and Telangana & Andhra Pradesh High Courts for elevation as Judges of the Supreme Court, in view of the concept of fair representation. Deferred." -- PTI

17:43 Yechury feels Mamata may join NDA

We hear that CPI-M chief Sitaram Yechury spoke to Rahul Gandhi yesterday suggesting that he should meet Tamil Nadu Panthers Party chief Thirumavalavan to discuss the political developments in the state. Yechury does not want DMK's MK Stalin to join the third front proposed by Mamata Banerjee as the CPM feels it the front is in fact pro BJP and after the 2019 general elections polls, the TMC will join the NDA.

17:35 Petrol bomb hurled at PDP MLA's house

Unknown miscreants on Wednesday hurled petrol bomb at the residence of Shopian MLA Mohammad Yousuf Bhat. The Peoples Democratic Party MLA's house came under attack at around 2:30 pm due to which a portion of the house caught fire but it was immediately doused.Troops of 75 Bn Central Reserve Police Force doused the fire. No loss of life or injury is reported.

A crucial meeting of the Supreme Court Collegium is currently underway to reconsider the name of the Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice KM Joseph for elevation as a judge of the apex court which was sent back by the government last week, sources said today.

All the five judges including Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph would take part in the meeting.

Justice Chelameswar had not come to court today but would be attending the collegium meeting.

The collegium is likely to discuss threadbare the note sent to the CJI by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad while returning the file relating to the recommendation to elevate Justice Joseph as an apex court judge.

Justice Joseph's name was recommended along with the senior advocate Indu Malhotra on January 10 for their elevation as apex court judges.

The government had on April 26 declined to accept the recommendation of the Collegium and asked it to reconsider his name. Malhotra was sworn in as the judge of the apex court on April 27. Justice K M Joseph, who had headed the bench that had quashed the Narendra Modi government's decision to impose President's rule in the Congress-ruled hill state in 2016, was not considered to be elevated as a Supreme Court judge by the Centre which said the proposal was not in accordance with the top court's parameters and there was adequate representation of Kerala in the higher judiciary from where he hails.

His seniority was also questioned by the Centre which said "he stands at Sl. No.45 in the combined seniority of High Court Judges on all-India basis."

Justice Joseph, who turns 60 this June, has been the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court since July 2014. He was appointed a permanent judge of the Kerala High Court on October 14, 2004 and assumed charge of the Uttarakhand High Court on July 31, 2014. Notwithstanding the letters written by the collegium members to the CJI, which had come into the public domain, the centre disregarded the recommendation about Justice Joseph. -- PTI

A special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court in Mumbai has sentenced gangster Chhota Rajan and eight others to life imprisonment in senior journalist Jyotirmoy Dey murder case.

Besides Rajan, the others convicted in the case are Satish Kaliya, Anil Waghmode, Abhijit Shinde, Nilesh Shendge, Arun Dake, Mangesh Agawane, Sachin Gaikwad and Deepak Sisodia.

Apart form Sisodia, the other eight have been fined Rs 26 lakhs.

Actor Harshvardhan Kapoor says he is happy for sister Sonam Kapoor, who is set to tie the knot with beau Anand Ahuja.

Sonam, 32, has been in a relationship with Anand for a few years and their families released an official statement announcing the wedding date as May 8.

The preparations are on in full swing at the Kapoor bungalow in suburban Juhu.

"I am really happy she is getting married. Anand is a great guy," Harshvardhan told reporters in Mumbai at a promotional event of his upcoming film Bhavesh Joshi.

The actor said he would be taking a break from the film promotions to take part in his sister's wedding.

"The wedding is on 7th and 8th. After that, I will get into film promotions... So there is enough time for both," he said.

Bhavesh Joshi is slated to be released on May 25.

Asked what he would gift Sonam, Harshvardhan quipped, "A hug. I am broke... The movies I do they don't pay well. I will give her lots of love." PTI

Also Read | Sonam's home gets a wedding makeover

15:55 Madrassa rape: Accused to be tried as an adult

The Juvenile Justice Board today said that an accused held in connection with the rape of a 10-year-old girl inside a madrassa in Ghaziabad will be tried as an adult after the bone ossification test report indicated he was not a juvenile.

The report was submitted to the Juvenile Justice Board yesterday and the matter was listed for hearing today. After taking note of the bone ossification test report submitted by the Delhi Police, the JJB said that the accused, who was initially suspected to be a 17-year-old, will be tried as an adult, said an officer.

The bone ossification test was carried on the accused since his family had failed to submit documents that could help the police to ascertain if he was below 18 years of age. The test report indicated that he is a major.

Last week, the police had also arrested the madrassa cleric Ghulam Shahid for allegedly being aware of the presence of the girl on the premises. The police were informed on April 21 by the girl's father that she had gone missing from Ghazipur in east Delhi after she went to the market.

Subsequently, the girl was rescued from the madrassa on April 22 by a Delhi Police team and the "juvenile" apprehended, the police said. The victim had recorded her statement in front of a magistrate on April 23. She had said the accused had taken her to the madrassa to meet his friends. PTI

15:08 Why Rahul is upset with Stalin

Sources tell us that Congress president Rahul Gandhi is upset with DMK acting president MK Stalin for his purported kinship with Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee.

Indications from the AICC suggest that Rahul Gandhi is seeking details about the DMK leader's tweet welcoming Mamata Banerjee's initiative for a non-Congress, non-BJP alliance.

And then there was Telangana chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's meeting with Stalin, which has also made the Congress jittery.

Rao was on a mission to form a non-BJP non-Congress alternative and also met DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi in Chennai.

Doesn't augur well for the Congress.

J-K CM Mehbooba Mufti: "Shocked and angered to hear of the attack on a school bus in Shopian. The perpetrators of this senseless and cowardly act will be brought to justice."

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah: "How does pelting stones on school children or tourist buses help advance the agenda of these stone pelters? These attacks deserve our unequivocal condemnation & this tweet is mine."

Director General of Police S P Vaid: "Complete madness how stone pelters are targeting young school children. These criminals will face the law."

National Conference spokesman Junaid Mattu: "One would expect (Syed Ali Shah) Geelani and Mirwaiz (Umer Farooq) to take a conscientious call and condemn stone pelting while reserving the right to espouse their political ideologies through non-violence. You can't claim the moral high ground while refusing to condemn this unequivocally."

Image: The school bus which was pelted with stones. A class 2 student suffered a head injury when the bus was attacked by stone pelters in militant-infested Shopian district of South Kashmir this morning.

14:34 CBI submits status report in Unnao rape case

The CBI today submitted its progress report in the Unnao rape case before the Allahabad High Court and sought transfer of the case to Lucknow. The report was submitted in a sealed cover before a bench comprising Chief Justice D B Bhosale and Justice Suneet Kumar.

The agency also filed an application seeking transfer of the case to Lucknow from Unnao. Taking congnisance of a petition by senior advocate Gopal Swaroop Chaturvedi demanding court-monitored investigation into the case, the HC had on April 13 directed the investigative agency to file the status report in the case by May 2. The court has set May 21 as the next day of hearing.

Meanwhile, an application was today moved on behalf of the victim's mother demanding an enquiry to trace Pintoo Singh, who had lodged an FIR against the girl's father under the Arms Act.

In a case that gave way to massive public outrage, a 17-year-old girl was allegedly raped by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar. The victim's father died after being reportedly beaten up by the MLA's brother and others.

Youngsters offer 'free hugs' to people outside Dum Dum metro station in Kolkata', as a mark of protest against people who had reportedly beaten up a couple for hugging in the metro. Protesters say hugging is not something visually perverted, it's a sign of affection'.

A couple was allegedly thrashed by a group of people at the Dumdum metro station in Kolkata for hugging.

The incident, reported in a section of the media with purported pictures of the assault, sparked protests outside the metro station today.

According to the media reports, a man hugging his female friend raised eyebrows in a train compartment last night. A few people objected to it, following which an argument ensued between the two sides.

The mob then allegedly heckled the couple, pushed them out of the train and beat them up, the reports said.

Condemning the incident, citizens, carrying placards, gathered outside the Dumdum metro station this morning, demanding a suo motu case by the Railway Police Force against the assaulters.

Indrani Banerjee, the spokesperson of the Metro Rail, said appropriate action would be taken in the matter if the victims came forward with a complaint.

US President Donald Trump today said that details on the location and date for his meeting with the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would be announced in the next couple of days.

Trump has accepted an invitation to meet the North Korean leaders, which would be the first ever between heads of States of the two countries.

A day earlier Trump had floated the idea of having the meeting in the demilitarised zone or DMZ. Singapore is another option. Responding to shouted question, Trump told reporters that details on a location and date should be coming in the "couple of days."

In response to another question, Trump said his priority is to get peace in the Korean Peninsula, and not the Nobel Peace Prize. The South Korean President had recently suggested that he be given the Nobel Peace prize.

"I thought it was very generous of President Moon" to suggest he should be given the honour. "We want to get peace," he said. Trump also said that he "may" be visiting Jerusalem for the opening of the new American embassy there. PTI

Two students of a private school were injured today when their school bus was attacked by stone-pelters in the Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

A group of miscreants pelted stones on the bus of Rainbow High School at Zavoora in Shopian, resulting in the head injury to a class 2 student, a police official said. He said the injured student has been rushed to SKIMS Hospital in Srinagar.

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the attack on the school bus.

"How does pelting stones on school children or tourist buses help advance the agenda of these stone pelters? These attacks deserve our unequivocal condemnation & this tweet is mine," Omar tweeted. -- PTI

India moves into world's top five spenders while Japan boosts its military outlay for sixth straight year, as report cites strains with neighbours. Read the report here.

12:50 Chronology of events in the J Dey case

The chronology of events in the J Dey case in which a Mumbai court today convicted gangster Chhota Rajan and acquitted former journalist Jigna Vora and another accused.

June 11, 2011: Journalist Jyotirmoy Dey (56) shot dead near Hiranandani Gardens in suburban Powai. A case of murder filed at the Powai police station and the probe transferred to the Crime Branch.

June 27, 2011: Mumbai Crime Branch arrests seven people, including the shooter, Satish Kaliya, and others Abhijit Shinde, Arun Dake, Sachin Gaikwad, Anil Waghmode, Nilesh Shendge and Mangesh Agawane. Based on their questioning, the police arrests three more accused - Vinod Asrani, Deepak Sisodia and Paulson Joseph.

July 7, 2011: Provisions of the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) invoked against the accused.

November 25, 2011: Journalist Jigna Vora arrested on charges of instigating gangster Chhota Rajan to plan the killing.

December 3, 2011: The Crime Branch files charge sheet in the case. Two persons - Chhota Rajan and Nayansingh Bisht - shown as wanted accused.

February 21, 2012: A supplementary charge sheet filed against Vora.

July 27, 2012: Vora gets bail.

April 10, 2015: Asrani dies in jail after prolonged illness. June 8, 2015: The court frames charges against 11 accused under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections of 120(b) (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder) and 34 (common intention), along with relevant provisions of the MCOCA and the Arms Act.

October 25, 2015: Rajan arrested at Bali in Indonesia and deported to India. Later, lodged at Tihar Jail in Delhi.

January 5, 2016: The case transferred to the CBI.

November 7, 2016: Dey's wife Shubha Sharma deposes before the court, tells he was tensed since a week before the killing.

August 31, 2017: The special MCOCA court frames charges against Rajan.

February 22, 2018: The prosecution completes its final arguments.

April 2, 2018: The court records Rajan's final statement under section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). Rajan produced before the court from Tihar jail via video conference link.

April 3, 2018: The defence completes its arguments. The special MCOCA court reserves its judgement in case till May 2

12:46

Anushka Sharma responds to Amitabh Bachchan's birthday wishes.

@AnushkaSharma Thank you so much Sir, for remembering my birthday and sending your kind wishes! (Responding to your sms as I tweet this)

This is what Bachchan tweeted, "@SrBachchan
@AnushkaSharma .. Anushka .. this is Amitabh Bachchan @Srbachchan .. wished you on May 1st via sms .. no response .. checked they said you changed number .. sent greetings again .. love and wishes .. you looked radiant at the IPL game last night."

And here's a must-see for Anushka Sharma fans. A day in her life

12:03 Court convicts Chhota Rajan, acquits Jigna Vora in J Dey murder case

A special court in Mumbai has convicted gangster Chhota Rajan for the murder of veteran journalist Jyotirmoy Dey. The court also acquitted former journalist Jigna Vora and Joseph Paulsen in the case.

The verdict comes almost seven years after Dey was shot dead in the city.

Rajendra S Nikhalje alias Chhota Rajan, is currently lodged in Tihar Central Jail in New Delhi, and was the prime accused in the case.

The final arguments in the Special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) Court had started in February and concluded early in April. -- Agencies

The Supreme Court has taken suo moto cognizance of the murder of an assistant town planner who was shot dead for carrying out a Supreme Court mandated drive to demolish illegal structures in 13 hotels in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh.

A Public Works Department employee was also injured after a hotel owner allegedly opened fire at them yesterday.

The SC rapped the state govt for not providing adequate security to the woman official. The court also observed that it is very serious issue as the accused had allegedly killed the woman official in broad daylight and the police could not arrest him. The court said the the accused committeed contempt of court and the matter was serious. "People violated court orders. What was the police doing?" the court asked. The matter will be heard tomorrow.

Shailbala was killed on the spot and Gulab Singh severely injured when the owner of Narayani guest house, Vijay Kumar, opened fire on the demolition team, police said.

The Supreme Court had on April 17 directed the state government to demolish unauthorised structures in 13 hotels in Kasauli and Dharampur areas of Solan, and four teams were constituted for this purpose.

The deceased was heading one team and hotel owners allegedly attempted to intimidate it to stop the demolition drive, officials said.

An altercation ensued and Kumar fired three rounds at the officials, killing Shailbala on the spot and injuring Singh, who is undergoing treatment at PGI, Chandigarh, where his condition was stated to be critical, they said.

The accused fled from the scene soon after and a manhunt was launched to nab him, officials said.

Image: Shailbala (in blue dupatta), who was carrying out the SC mandated demolition drive was killed in broad daylight. The accused is absconding.

The only time Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb is in the news for the right reasons.

Deb visited storm-affected areas of Chanmari in the outskirts of capital Agartala yesterday, where hundreds of houses have been badly damaged.

On Monday, the storm had lashed several parts of the state. The CM took note of the damage and interacted with the victims on their problems. Deb promised all support to the affected families including financial aid, food, water and medical facilities.

All affected people were given cash aid of Rs 5000 and people whose houses were completely damaged due to the storm will be given Rs 95,000 each. -- ANI

Image: Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb (extreme right in white) meeting storm-affected people in the state.

Actor Akshay Kumar says he and wife Twinkle Khanna are unfazed by the backlash they are receiving over the auction of the costume he wore as an Indian naval officer in "Rustom".

Akshay last week announced that the costume of his 2016 film would be auctioned for charity and the proceeds would fund animal rescue and welfare.

Taking offence to his description of the costume as the "original naval uniform", Twitteratti pointed out to that his outfit was just a film costume and not the real naval uniform, that the couple claimed in their auction post. Twinkle, particularly, faced severe criticism after a senior Army officer wrote to her on Facebook saying she would get a "bloody nose", if she auctions the costume in the name of a uniform.

The actor-turned-author wrote she would initiate a legal action against the man. At an event last evening, when Akshay was asked about the trolling that his wife was being subjected to, the actor said they were auctioning the costume for a "good cause". And if anyone has a problem, they cannot do anything about it, he said.

"I, of course, support my wife in this (matter). We both have done this with a lot of genuineness. We are doing it for a good cause. The costume that I wore in the film is going (to be sold) for a good cause. So, I don't think we did anything bad. I can't help if someone feels bad about it," Akshay said.

The actor was speaking at the launch of New India Conclave 2018, where he along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis honoured rural social activists. -- PTI

Image: Akshay Kumar as naval officer Rustom Pavri in the film 2016 film, Rustom.

10:12 Intense heat wave sweeps India

Intense heat wave conditions prevailed in various parts of Rajasthan including Ajmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur and Kota divisions.

MeT officials said, Jaisalmer was the hottest place in the state with 46.5 degrees Celsius, followed by Churu with 46.4 and Bikaner with 46.2 degrees Celsius.

Thunderstorms with very light rain also occurred at isolated places in Jaipur, Bikaner, Kota and Ajmer divisions in the last 24 hours.

According to the MeT department, heat wave conditions are likely to prevail over parts of West Rajasthan and Vidarbha during the next five days and at one or two pockets over northern parts of middle-interior Maharashtra and Marathwada.

People were seen taking ice creams and cold-drinks in Gujarat's Ahmedabad to beat the heat as temperature rose across the nation.

In Punjab's Ludhiana, people covered their heads and faces to shield themselves from heat as mercury rises across nation.

"Temperatures to rise above 40 degrees Celsius in coming days. It's likely to go down on May 2 and 3, some places will receive light showers," India Meteorological Department said. PTI

File pic.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his second day in Karnataka by interacting via video conference with BJPs Kisan Morcha workers. Highlighting his governments efforts towards farmers welfare, PM Modi said 1 crore farmers have been provided Soil Health Card in Karnataka. He claimed that due to the apathy of the Siddaramaiah government, farmers in Karnataka could not benefit from the Centres 'Fasal Bima Yojna' scheme. On Monday, Modi had officially kickstarted the BJPs election campaign in Karnataka addressing three rallies in which he targeted Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in equal measure. Highlights from the video conference:

- Due to the apathy of the Karnataka government, farmers in the state have not got the benefit of the 'Fasal Bima Yojna'.

- A sensitive government, which works for the development of farmers, is needed in Karnataka.

- Farmer's leader in Yeddyurappaji will work with renewed vigour in our efforts to double farmer's income.

- Four lakh hectare of land in Karnataka has already been brought under micro-irrigation.

- We have increased Minimum Support Price (MSP) for notified crops to at least 1.5 times that of the production cost.

- One crore farmers have been provided Soil Health Card in Karnataka.

- Around 3.5 crore farmers have been covered under PM Fasal Bima Yojana, out of which 14 lakh farmers belong to Karnataka.

A couple was allegedly thrashed by a group of people at the Dumdum metro station in Kolkata for public display of affection.

The incident, reported in a section of the media with purported pictures of the assault, sparked protests outside the metro station on Tuesday.

According to the media reports, a man hugging his female friend raised eyebrows in a train compartment on Monday night.

A few people objected to it, following which an argument ensued between the two sides.

The mob then allegedly heckled the couple, pushed them out of the train and beat them up, the reports said.

Condemning the incident, citizens, carrying placards, gathered outside the Dumdum metro station this morning, demanding a suo motu case by the Railway Police Force (RPF) against the assaulters.

Indrani Banerjee, the spokesperson of the Metro Rail, said appropriate action would be taken in the matter if the victims came forward with a complaint.

The Metro Rail did not support moral policing of any kind, she added.

"We have asked the station master, the RPF personnel on duty (about the incident), but none of them could confirm what happened. There is also no official complaint by any passenger. We are eager to conduct an inquiry if we get a lead," Banerjee said.

Photographs of the alleged assault have gone viral on the social media, sparking an outrage by authors, artists and the common people.

'Is my city dying...I am tormented beyond words by yesterday's incident in the metro rail...I apologise on behalf of the children of my city,' music composer Debojyoti Mishra wrote on Facebook.

The post was accompanied by a sketch of a couple in an embrace.

Author Taslima Nasreen also expressed her indignation over the incident.

'A young couple embraced in Kolkata metro. It made a bunch of frustrated old losers angry. They beat them up. Scenes of hatred are allowed. Scenes of love are considered obscene,' she wrote on Twitter. -- PTI

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav will meet Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in Hyderabad today as part of the latter's plans to forge a non-Congress, non-Bharatiya Janata Party alternative at the national level.

Rao had recently met his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam patriarch M Karunanidhi and the party working president M K Stalin.

On April 29 Rao had held discussions with Stalin at Chennai on a wide range of issues, including more autonomy to states.

He had said his ongoing effort was not aimed at some kind of a 'third front'. It was not a mere alignment of political parties but 'that of the people' of the country, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti supremo had said at a joint press conference with Stalin.

Rao parried a question on whether he was projecting Mamata Banerjee, whom he had recently met, as the prime ministerial candidate in the 2019 elections.

The efforts were aimed at the country's betterment,better economy and better opportunities for the youth, he had said.

Rao had recently met Banerjee and Deve Gowda as part of his move to form an alternative.

A resolution at the TRS Plenary on April 27 had authorised Rao to take appropriate decisions on forming the alternative to BJP and Congress. -- PTI

Four minors were apprehended in Jehanabad on Tuesday in connection with the alleged molestation of a girl, after a video of the incident went viral on the social media last week, police said.

With this, the total number of persons held in the case went up to eight, they added.

The four minors were apprehended a day after four other residents of Bharthua village, including a minor, were held in connection with the case, Jehanabad Superintendent of Police (SP) Manish Kumar said, adding that the village was located within the Kako police station limits.

The incident came to light last Saturday when the video clip, shot by one of the alleged perpetrators, went viral on the social media, he added.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up by the Inspector General of Police of Patna Zone, Naiyar Hasnain Khan, nabbed four persons, including a minor, from Bharthua on Monday with the help of clues obtained from the video clip, in which the accused are seen trying to outrage the modesty of the girl.

A case was registered under various sections of the IPC and POCSO Act in this regard.

The victim was produced before a court this afternoon, where her statement was recorded by a magistrate under section 164 of the CrPC, the SP said. -- PTI

08:20 Verdict in J Dey murder case likely today

A special court in Mumbai will pronounce its verdict in the murder case of veteran journalist Jyotirmoy Dey, almost seven years after he was shot dead in the city.

Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Adkar had on April 3 fixed May 2 for the verdict.

Mafia don Rajendra S Nikhalje alias Chhota Rajan, currently lodged in Tihar Central Jail in New Delhi, is one of the accused in the case.

The final arguments in the Special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) Court had started in February and concluded early in April. -- Agencies

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