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Mon, 21 May 2018
Yeddyurappa vows to stage a comeback
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23:44 Chhattisgarh to get specialised combat unit 'Black Panther': Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said Chhattisgarh would get a specialised anti-Naxal combat force called 'Black Panther' on the lines of the Greyhound unit.
Singh was addressing mediapersons today after chairing a meeting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE).
Chief Minister Raman Singh was present during the meeting at Mantralaya, Naya Raipur.
"Chhattisgarh will have a new force on the lines of the Greyhounds. It will be called Black Panther. Training (for the personnel who will be part of it) is being imparted and it would be launched soon," Singh said, without divulging details about the new unit.
The Greyhounds are a special force in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh that specialise in anti-insurgency operations against Naxalites and Maoists.
The Union home minister said the government was keeping an eye on money stashed by Maoists.
"We have information that they have made assets to the tune of crores. It also cannot be ruled out that their money is stashed abroad."
He claimed the children of Maoist leaders were studying in 'big schools and universities' and the government was keeping a tab on this too.
He said the government would make all efforts to choke the resource flow to the Maoists, including by seizing illegally amassed properties after they are identified.
On yesterday's Maoist attack in Dantewada, in which seven police personnel were killed, Singh said the ultras were on the back foot and they cannot face security forces in a straight fight so they were employing IEDs to target them, he said.
This is also a reason why number of encounters had come down lately, he said. -- PTI
Singh was addressing mediapersons today after chairing a meeting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE).
Chief Minister Raman Singh was present during the meeting at Mantralaya, Naya Raipur.
"Chhattisgarh will have a new force on the lines of the Greyhounds. It will be called Black Panther. Training (for the personnel who will be part of it) is being imparted and it would be launched soon," Singh said, without divulging details about the new unit.
The Greyhounds are a special force in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh that specialise in anti-insurgency operations against Naxalites and Maoists.
The Union home minister said the government was keeping an eye on money stashed by Maoists.
"We have information that they have made assets to the tune of crores. It also cannot be ruled out that their money is stashed abroad."
He claimed the children of Maoist leaders were studying in 'big schools and universities' and the government was keeping a tab on this too.
He said the government would make all efforts to choke the resource flow to the Maoists, including by seizing illegally amassed properties after they are identified.
On yesterday's Maoist attack in Dantewada, in which seven police personnel were killed, Singh said the ultras were on the back foot and they cannot face security forces in a straight fight so they were employing IEDs to target them, he said.
This is also a reason why number of encounters had come down lately, he said. -- PTI
22:24 Yeddyurappa vows to stage a comeback
Coming to grips with the loss inthe numbers game in government formation, Bharatiya Janata Party Karnataka chief B S Yeddyurappa today vowed to stage a comeback.
He told party workers in an emotional message that their efforts would not go in vain.
Yeddyurappa, who bowed out of as chief minister in less than three days after being sworn in on May 17, lamented that 'democracy has been axed'.
The BJP as the single largest party, which got the people's mandate, was thrown out of power, he said in a Facebook post.
The Congress was reduced to 78 seats from 122 in the previous assembly and Janata Dal-Secular with 37 seats too lost three seats as compared to the last assembly, he said.
'Having won the maximum seats, it was a responsibility bestowed upon us by our voters to form the government. However it is now known to the world why we failed. The two parties,which were rejected by the people, conspired against us,' said Yeddyurappa in his post.
The BJP state chief said he has not lost his morale.
He recalled how he stood up for the cause of farmers who were committing suicide in huge numbers due to inability to repay farm loans.
Yeddyurappa said, 'We don't have power, yet we have the determination to fight for the cause of farmers. The objective of my government was to enable them to proudly say 'I am a farmer'.'
he said the party's resolve remained the same and it could continue to fight for the farmers' cause by sitting in the Opposition.
Recalling his past hardships, he said he rose from a clerk to a leader due to the love of his supporters.
'You have toiled hard for the party, left your family for months on my call for 'ParivartanaYatre'. I will not let your efforts go down the drain. Don't lose heart. Your strength is my strength,' he said.
He asked his workers to stay calm for a while, for he would soon return with more strength, more courage and more abilities. -- PTI
He told party workers in an emotional message that their efforts would not go in vain.
Yeddyurappa, who bowed out of as chief minister in less than three days after being sworn in on May 17, lamented that 'democracy has been axed'.
The BJP as the single largest party, which got the people's mandate, was thrown out of power, he said in a Facebook post.
The Congress was reduced to 78 seats from 122 in the previous assembly and Janata Dal-Secular with 37 seats too lost three seats as compared to the last assembly, he said.
'Having won the maximum seats, it was a responsibility bestowed upon us by our voters to form the government. However it is now known to the world why we failed. The two parties,which were rejected by the people, conspired against us,' said Yeddyurappa in his post.
The BJP state chief said he has not lost his morale.
He recalled how he stood up for the cause of farmers who were committing suicide in huge numbers due to inability to repay farm loans.
Yeddyurappa said, 'We don't have power, yet we have the determination to fight for the cause of farmers. The objective of my government was to enable them to proudly say 'I am a farmer'.'
he said the party's resolve remained the same and it could continue to fight for the farmers' cause by sitting in the Opposition.
Recalling his past hardships, he said he rose from a clerk to a leader due to the love of his supporters.
'You have toiled hard for the party, left your family for months on my call for 'ParivartanaYatre'. I will not let your efforts go down the drain. Don't lose heart. Your strength is my strength,' he said.
He asked his workers to stay calm for a while, for he would soon return with more strength, more courage and more abilities. -- PTI
21:47 India, China discuss security cooperation
India and China today discussed security and law enforcement cooperation between them, weeks after an informal summit between Prime Minister Narandra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan.
Deputy National Security Advisor Rajinder Khanna, who took part in the National Security Council Secretaries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, held talks with Chinese Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi.
The two sides discussed security and law enforcement cooperation between the two countries after the Wuhan Summit, an Indian Embassy tweet in Beijing said.
The two met on the sidelines of the SCO security officials meeting.
The informal summit between Modi and Xi was held at the central Chinese city of Wuhan last month during which the two leaders had overarching discussion on bilateral issues.
National Security Council Secretaries of the SCO met here ahead of the SCO summit to be held Chinese city of Qingdao next month.
The SCO in which China plays an influential role is comprised of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan.
The Qingdao summit in which Modi will take part is the first summit of the grouping after India and Pakistan joined it last year.
The SCO security officials meeting will focus on working out security cooperation among the member countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told media in Beijing today.
Over the years, the SCO has developed strong anti-terrorism cooperation structure, Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS). -- PTI
Deputy National Security Advisor Rajinder Khanna, who took part in the National Security Council Secretaries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, held talks with Chinese Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi.
The two sides discussed security and law enforcement cooperation between the two countries after the Wuhan Summit, an Indian Embassy tweet in Beijing said.
The two met on the sidelines of the SCO security officials meeting.
The informal summit between Modi and Xi was held at the central Chinese city of Wuhan last month during which the two leaders had overarching discussion on bilateral issues.
National Security Council Secretaries of the SCO met here ahead of the SCO summit to be held Chinese city of Qingdao next month.
The SCO in which China plays an influential role is comprised of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan.
The Qingdao summit in which Modi will take part is the first summit of the grouping after India and Pakistan joined it last year.
The SCO security officials meeting will focus on working out security cooperation among the member countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told media in Beijing today.
Over the years, the SCO has developed strong anti-terrorism cooperation structure, Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS). -- PTI
21:16 VVPAT 8 empty boxes used for carrying VVPAT machines found in shed
Eight boxes used for carrying Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail machines have been found at a temporary shed in a village in Karnataka's Vijayapura district, triggering a strong reaction from the Bharatiya Janata Party which said it indicated 'grave irregularities' in conduct of the polls.
Reacting to the incident, BJP, which emerged as the single largest party but fell short of simple majority, said it 'exposed the enormity of the irregularities in the elections'.
The state chief electoral officer Sanjiv Kumar said today the boxes used for carrying Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail machines, found in Managuli village yesterday, do not belong to the district or to Election Commission.
"The boxes are without machine and paper and without unique electronic tracking number...the Election Commission will initiate strict action against those who are trying to create confusion," Kumar said, adding, no VVPAT machines were found.
The Deputy Commissioner of the district and the Superintendent of Police conducted on the spot inspection today following reports that empty boxes of VVPAT machines were spotted in the shed.
"These boxes do not belong to Vijayapura district and 2744 VVPATs allotted to the district are safely kept in the strong room," Kumar said.
An FIR has been registered at Managuli police station and investigation into the matter is on, the CEO said. In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat, state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa said the Election Commission should take serious note of what he claimed were VVPAT machines and said it indicated 'grave irregularities' in the conduct of assembly polls in the state.
"This incident has exposed the hollowness of the claim of the election commission that assembly elections in Karnataka were held in a free and free manner," Yeddyurappa said.
He said during the election, prior to polling day, party leaders and workers had brought many such irregularities to the notice of the concerned officials but in vain.
Yeddyurappa alleged that in many assembly segments of Bidar and Kalaburagi districts, police officials themselves helped rival candidates to distribute money and liquor among the voters.
All the complaints of BJP and its leaders failed to make any impact on the officials, he said.
The election held on May 12 threw up a fractured mandate leading to a bitter political slugfest over government formation in the state. BJP emerged as the single largest party, but eight short of majority.
Governor Vajubhai Vala invited the BJP to form the government and Yeddyurappa was sworn in as chief minister on May 17.
He resigned two days later without facing the floor test in an anti-climax to the political drama following the hung verdict. -- PTI
Reacting to the incident, BJP, which emerged as the single largest party but fell short of simple majority, said it 'exposed the enormity of the irregularities in the elections'.
The state chief electoral officer Sanjiv Kumar said today the boxes used for carrying Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail machines, found in Managuli village yesterday, do not belong to the district or to Election Commission.
"The boxes are without machine and paper and without unique electronic tracking number...the Election Commission will initiate strict action against those who are trying to create confusion," Kumar said, adding, no VVPAT machines were found.
The Deputy Commissioner of the district and the Superintendent of Police conducted on the spot inspection today following reports that empty boxes of VVPAT machines were spotted in the shed.
"These boxes do not belong to Vijayapura district and 2744 VVPATs allotted to the district are safely kept in the strong room," Kumar said.
An FIR has been registered at Managuli police station and investigation into the matter is on, the CEO said. In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat, state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa said the Election Commission should take serious note of what he claimed were VVPAT machines and said it indicated 'grave irregularities' in the conduct of assembly polls in the state.
"This incident has exposed the hollowness of the claim of the election commission that assembly elections in Karnataka were held in a free and free manner," Yeddyurappa said.
He said during the election, prior to polling day, party leaders and workers had brought many such irregularities to the notice of the concerned officials but in vain.
Yeddyurappa alleged that in many assembly segments of Bidar and Kalaburagi districts, police officials themselves helped rival candidates to distribute money and liquor among the voters.
All the complaints of BJP and its leaders failed to make any impact on the officials, he said.
The election held on May 12 threw up a fractured mandate leading to a bitter political slugfest over government formation in the state. BJP emerged as the single largest party, but eight short of majority.
Governor Vajubhai Vala invited the BJP to form the government and Yeddyurappa was sworn in as chief minister on May 17.
He resigned two days later without facing the floor test in an anti-climax to the political drama following the hung verdict. -- PTI
19:50 Rahul to sit with local leaders tomorrow to finalise things: Kumaraswamy
Janata Dal-Secular leader H D Kumaraswamy speaks to reporters after meeting Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi:
"Rahul ji cleared the modalities to be done, he has given permission to Karnataka general secretary K C Venugopal to discuss all those matters and finalise everything.
"Local leaders and he'll sit together tomorrow to finalise things," Kumaraswamy said on the question of who will be the deputy CM.
"I wanted to show my respect and regards to the Gandhi family. That's why I came here. I requested them further presence in oath taking ceremony. Both of them agreed to be present at the oath taking ceremony," Kumaraswamy, said after meeting Sonia and Rahul. -- ANI
"Rahul ji cleared the modalities to be done, he has given permission to Karnataka general secretary K C Venugopal to discuss all those matters and finalise everything.
"Local leaders and he'll sit together tomorrow to finalise things," Kumaraswamy said on the question of who will be the deputy CM.
"I wanted to show my respect and regards to the Gandhi family. That's why I came here. I requested them further presence in oath taking ceremony. Both of them agreed to be present at the oath taking ceremony," Kumaraswamy, said after meeting Sonia and Rahul. -- ANI
19:35 US will put 'unprecedented financial pressure' on Iran: Pompeo
The United States will increase the financial pressure on Iran with the 'strongest sanctions in history', after Washington pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said today.
"We will apply unprecedented financial pressure on the Iranian regime. The leaders in Tehran will have no doubt about our seriousness," Pompeo said in his first major foreign policy address since moving to the State Department from the Central Intelligence Agency.
"Iran will never again have carte blanche to dominate the Middle East," he said in outlining the new US strategy on handling the Islamic regime, including 12 tough conditions from Washington for any 'new deal' with Tehran. -- Agencies
"We will apply unprecedented financial pressure on the Iranian regime. The leaders in Tehran will have no doubt about our seriousness," Pompeo said in his first major foreign policy address since moving to the State Department from the Central Intelligence Agency.
"Iran will never again have carte blanche to dominate the Middle East," he said in outlining the new US strategy on handling the Islamic regime, including 12 tough conditions from Washington for any 'new deal' with Tehran. -- Agencies
19:11 Kumaraswamy meets Sonia, Rahul in Delhi
Janata Dal-Secular leader H D Kumaraswamy met Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi today. They will discuss power-sharing arrangement in Karnataka.
Kumaraswamy also met Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati before holding parleys with the Congress leaders.
The JD-S fought the May 12 assembly election in alliance with the BSP, and joined hands with the Congress after the verdict throws up a hung assembly on May 15.
Kumaraswamy also met Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury and invited him to attend his swearing-in ceremony.
During his meeting with Congress leaders, Kumaraswamay is likely to finalise the number of ministerial berths a party would get and who would become the deputy chief minister.
The JD-S leader has already indicated that there won't be a rotational arrangement with Congress for the post of the chief minister.
According to sources, there is a proposal to have two deputy chief ministers to strike a balance between the two parties.
Congress's G Parameshwara is frontrunner for the deputy chief minister's post.
Kumaraswamy is scheduled to take oath as chief minister on May 23 and the floor test is expected to happen within 24 hours. -- PTI, ANI
Photograph: ANI
Kumaraswamy also met Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati before holding parleys with the Congress leaders.
The JD-S fought the May 12 assembly election in alliance with the BSP, and joined hands with the Congress after the verdict throws up a hung assembly on May 15.
Kumaraswamy also met Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury and invited him to attend his swearing-in ceremony.
During his meeting with Congress leaders, Kumaraswamay is likely to finalise the number of ministerial berths a party would get and who would become the deputy chief minister.
The JD-S leader has already indicated that there won't be a rotational arrangement with Congress for the post of the chief minister.
According to sources, there is a proposal to have two deputy chief ministers to strike a balance between the two parties.
Congress's G Parameshwara is frontrunner for the deputy chief minister's post.
Kumaraswamy is scheduled to take oath as chief minister on May 23 and the floor test is expected to happen within 24 hours. -- PTI, ANI
Photograph: ANI
18:59 Now, Guv's invitation to Kumaraswamy challenged in SC
Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha today moved the Supreme Court challenging Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala's decision to invite H D Kumaraswamy, leader of Congress-Janata Dal-Secular combine, to form government in the state.
The organisation moved the top court this evening also sought an urgent hearing to get a stay order on the Governor's decision to invite the combine to form the government on various grounds, including that the formation of a post-poll alliance was 'unconstitutional'.
Kumaraswamy is scheduled to take oath as the chief minister on May 23, The ABHM, in its plea filed through lawyer Barun Kumar Sinha, has sought quashing of the Governor's communication inviting Kumaraswamy to form government.
On May 19, the Supreme Court had ordered live telecast of the crucial floor test in the Karnataka assembly to ensure 'transparency' in the trust vote.
Soon thereafter, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had resigned without facing the trust vote on the floor of the House. -- PTI
The organisation moved the top court this evening also sought an urgent hearing to get a stay order on the Governor's decision to invite the combine to form the government on various grounds, including that the formation of a post-poll alliance was 'unconstitutional'.
Kumaraswamy is scheduled to take oath as the chief minister on May 23, The ABHM, in its plea filed through lawyer Barun Kumar Sinha, has sought quashing of the Governor's communication inviting Kumaraswamy to form government.
On May 19, the Supreme Court had ordered live telecast of the crucial floor test in the Karnataka assembly to ensure 'transparency' in the trust vote.
Soon thereafter, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had resigned without facing the trust vote on the floor of the House. -- PTI
18:42 7-yr-old kiiling: Accused to be treated as adult, says court
A sessions court today dismissed the plea of a 16-year-old student, challenging the Juvenile Justice Board's decision declaring him as an adult, in the murder case of a seven-year-old boy at a Gurugram school.
Additional Sessions Judge Jasbir Singh Kundu junked the appeal of the student along with other two pleas in the case.
The court had earlier granted time till July 4 to the Central Bureau of Investigation to file a supplementary chargesheet in the murder case.
Advocate Sushil Tekriwal, lawyer for the victim seven-year-old boy, had argued that the JJB's order declaring the 16-year-old accused as an adult was 'well-reasoned' and there was no fault and 'nothing illegal' in it
The counsel for the a 16-year-old accused had challenged the JJB order, saying it was 'bad in law' and passed without giving him proper opportunity to present his case.
Earlier, the court had barred the media from using the name of the 16-year-old juvenile accused in the case and asked it to use fictitious names instead.
While the seven-year-old victim was named 'Prince' by the court, the juvenile accused was named 'Bholu' and the school was referred to as 'Vidyalaya'.
The JJB had on December 20 last year held that the teenager would be tried as an adult and directed his production before the Gurgaon Sessions court.
The CBI, in a chargesheet, had alleged that the teenager had murdered the student on September 8 last year in a bid to get the examinations postponed and a scheduled parent-teacher meeting cancelled.
The victim's body, with the throat slit, was found in the washroom of the school.
The probe agency gave a clean chit to school bus conductor Ashok Kumar, who was earlier arrested by the Gurugram Police, saying there was no evidence to prove his involvement in the crime.
The CBI had taken up the case from the Gurgaon police on September 22, following a nationwide uproar over the gruesome killing. -- PTI
Additional Sessions Judge Jasbir Singh Kundu junked the appeal of the student along with other two pleas in the case.
The court had earlier granted time till July 4 to the Central Bureau of Investigation to file a supplementary chargesheet in the murder case.
Advocate Sushil Tekriwal, lawyer for the victim seven-year-old boy, had argued that the JJB's order declaring the 16-year-old accused as an adult was 'well-reasoned' and there was no fault and 'nothing illegal' in it
The counsel for the a 16-year-old accused had challenged the JJB order, saying it was 'bad in law' and passed without giving him proper opportunity to present his case.
Earlier, the court had barred the media from using the name of the 16-year-old juvenile accused in the case and asked it to use fictitious names instead.
While the seven-year-old victim was named 'Prince' by the court, the juvenile accused was named 'Bholu' and the school was referred to as 'Vidyalaya'.
The JJB had on December 20 last year held that the teenager would be tried as an adult and directed his production before the Gurgaon Sessions court.
The CBI, in a chargesheet, had alleged that the teenager had murdered the student on September 8 last year in a bid to get the examinations postponed and a scheduled parent-teacher meeting cancelled.
The victim's body, with the throat slit, was found in the washroom of the school.
The probe agency gave a clean chit to school bus conductor Ashok Kumar, who was earlier arrested by the Gurugram Police, saying there was no evidence to prove his involvement in the crime.
The CBI had taken up the case from the Gurgaon police on September 22, following a nationwide uproar over the gruesome killing. -- PTI
18:16 Difficult times ahead, says Karnataka Congress chief
As the stage is set for Janata Dal-Secular leader H D Kumaraswamy to become the next chief minister of Karnataka, state Congress president G Parameshwara today said difficult times were ahead, but there was a need to stop the Bharatiya Janata Party from coming to power in the southern state.
He said he understood the sentiments of many who were averse to a tie-up between the Congress and JD-S.
However, the need to keep communal forces away from power made the Congress lend support to JD-S, Parameshwara said.
"I do understand the sentiments of many people that weshould not have gone with the JD-S. But there was a need to stop the BJP from coming to power again in Karnataka. Keeping this in mind, our seniors took a decision to support the JD-S. We all must accept their decision," he said.
"We may see difficult times ahead. We are visualising thechallenges ahead, but we need to bear all the hardship to builda strong party," the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief said.
He was speaking at a meeting at the state Congress office to pay tribute to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his27th death anniversary.
Parameshwara said his party failed to get a clear majority in the Karnataka Assembly elections for various reasons, and that it has accepted the people's verdict.
However, sensing the 'dangerous fallout' of the BJP coming to power, he said the party high command has decided to form a coalition government with the JD-S.
"There are no selfish motives (behind forming the coalition government). No personal gains. There are no motivesto see the Congress coming to power somehow. Our only objective is to keep at bay those instigating communal passions and disturbing social harmony," he said.
"We have already seen them from 2008 to 2013...how theyran the administration in the state," he said with an apparent reference to the BJP rule in the state during that time.
The Congress state president said party workers should get ready to face the hardship in the coming days as parliamentary elections are just a year away.
"We should not be disheartened and sit at home after theassembly election results. We have to gear up afresh to face'those forces' and continue our struggle against them," Parameshwara added. -- PTI
He said he understood the sentiments of many who were averse to a tie-up between the Congress and JD-S.
However, the need to keep communal forces away from power made the Congress lend support to JD-S, Parameshwara said.
"I do understand the sentiments of many people that weshould not have gone with the JD-S. But there was a need to stop the BJP from coming to power again in Karnataka. Keeping this in mind, our seniors took a decision to support the JD-S. We all must accept their decision," he said.
"We may see difficult times ahead. We are visualising thechallenges ahead, but we need to bear all the hardship to builda strong party," the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief said.
He was speaking at a meeting at the state Congress office to pay tribute to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his27th death anniversary.
Parameshwara said his party failed to get a clear majority in the Karnataka Assembly elections for various reasons, and that it has accepted the people's verdict.
However, sensing the 'dangerous fallout' of the BJP coming to power, he said the party high command has decided to form a coalition government with the JD-S.
"There are no selfish motives (behind forming the coalition government). No personal gains. There are no motivesto see the Congress coming to power somehow. Our only objective is to keep at bay those instigating communal passions and disturbing social harmony," he said.
"We have already seen them from 2008 to 2013...how theyran the administration in the state," he said with an apparent reference to the BJP rule in the state during that time.
The Congress state president said party workers should get ready to face the hardship in the coming days as parliamentary elections are just a year away.
"We should not be disheartened and sit at home after theassembly election results. We have to gear up afresh to face'those forces' and continue our struggle against them," Parameshwara added. -- PTI
17:36 Will Stalin return with Cauvery water after Karnataka visit?
MK Stalin, the working president of the DMK, the principal opposition party in Tamil Nadu, will be one of the many political bigwigs attending HD Kumaraswamy's swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday. But the question everyone in Tamil Nadu is asking is whether he will bring the Cauvery waters with him after meeting Kumaraswamy.
Will Congress president Rahul Gandhi tell Kumaraswamy to release Cauvery waters for Tamil Nadu? The buzz is that Stalin will have to impress upon the new Karnataka government that the Supreme Court's directive has to be followed. The SC has ordered Karnataka to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu .
Will Congress president Rahul Gandhi tell Kumaraswamy to release Cauvery waters for Tamil Nadu? The buzz is that Stalin will have to impress upon the new Karnataka government that the Supreme Court's directive has to be followed. The SC has ordered Karnataka to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu .
17:28
Karnataka CM designate HD Kumaraswamy met BSP Chief Mayawati in Delhi.
17:26 Will Karnataka have 2 deputy CMs?
Karnataka government formation: There is a proposal to have two deputy chief
ministers to strike a balance between the two parties, the JD-S is unwilling. Congress's G
Parameshwara is frontrunner for the deputy chief minister's post.
Both Congress and JD(S) MLAs will remain confined to their hotels till the floor test.
A small group of MLAs will be sworn in as ministers along with Kumaraswamy on Wednesday, the sources said. Many regional party leaders including Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal are likely to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
Kumaraswamy was invited to form the government after B S Yeddyurappa of the BJP on May 19 stepped down as the chief minister without facing the floor test in the state assembly as the BJP fell short of numbers.
Both Congress and JD(S) MLAs will remain confined to their hotels till the floor test.
A small group of MLAs will be sworn in as ministers along with Kumaraswamy on Wednesday, the sources said. Many regional party leaders including Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal are likely to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
Kumaraswamy was invited to form the government after B S Yeddyurappa of the BJP on May 19 stepped down as the chief minister without facing the floor test in the state assembly as the BJP fell short of numbers.
17:21 Kumaraswamy to meet Sonia, Rahul at 7 pm today
Just in: Karnataka chief minister-designate will be meeting Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and Ghulam Nabi Azad at 7 pm today. Kumaraswamy has already met BSP chief Mayawati in Delhi.
The Congress is likely to get 20 berths in the 33-member state cabinet. Kumaraswamy will take oath as chief minister on Wednesday and he will take the floor test on Thursday. The Lingayats have demanded they be given a deputy CMs post. There are 16 Lingayat MLAs in Congress, the highest from any community from among its 78 MLAs.
The Congress is likely to get 20 berths in the 33-member state cabinet. Kumaraswamy will take oath as chief minister on Wednesday and he will take the floor test on Thursday. The Lingayats have demanded they be given a deputy CMs post. There are 16 Lingayat MLAs in Congress, the highest from any community from among its 78 MLAs.
17:11 Locals forced to leave homes as Pak firing continues
Residents of the Arnia sector in Jammu have migrated to safer places after Pakistan continued to violate ceasefire along the Line of Control on Monday.
The locals are arranging food for those affected by firing from other side of the border.
Meanwhile, students said their studies are affected as schools are closed since the past few days. Last night, Pakistan opened small-arms firing in Ramgarh sector of Samba district in Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier on May 18, Pakistan violated ceasefire along the LoC in RS Pura and Arnia sectors, killing a total of five people including one BSF jawan and four civilians.
The Central government has suspended security operations against terrorists in the state during the holy month of Ramzan. The Home Ministry said the decision has been taken to help the "peace-loving Muslims observe Ramzan in a peaceful environment".
However, it clarified that the security forces "reserve the right to retaliate if attacked or if essential to protect the lives of innocent people". -- ANI
The locals are arranging food for those affected by firing from other side of the border.
Meanwhile, students said their studies are affected as schools are closed since the past few days. Last night, Pakistan opened small-arms firing in Ramgarh sector of Samba district in Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier on May 18, Pakistan violated ceasefire along the LoC in RS Pura and Arnia sectors, killing a total of five people including one BSF jawan and four civilians.
The Central government has suspended security operations against terrorists in the state during the holy month of Ramzan. The Home Ministry said the decision has been taken to help the "peace-loving Muslims observe Ramzan in a peaceful environment".
However, it clarified that the security forces "reserve the right to retaliate if attacked or if essential to protect the lives of innocent people". -- ANI
17:02 Kumaraswamy reaches Delhi
HD Kumaraswamy has reached New Delhi. He is in Delhi to invite leaders of his pre-poll and post-poll alliance for his swearing in ceremony. He will also meet Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mayawati and invite them personally, says JD-S general secretary
Danish Ali.
16:53 Nipah virus death toll rises to 6
Just in: Kozhikode district collector confirms that three more people have died due to the Nipah virus. Toll is now 6.
16:44 Congress bought the stable in Karnataka: Amit Shah
Amit Shah's press conference:
"Now they (Congress) like EVMs and the Election Commission. It's a good sign that opposition now likes both of them even after what they have in hand is an incomplete victory. All I can say is hopefully they will like EVMs & the EC even when they lose and abide by the SC's order.
"Humpe horse trading ka aarop lagaya hai, lekin Congress ne poora ka poora astabal (stable) bech khaya hai. They have alleged that we indulged in horse trading, but Congress has bought the stable.
"We had the right, so we claimed it (to form the govt). Congress has falsely claimed that Yeddyurappa-ji asked for 7 days, from the Governor, to prove majority. If it was the case, they should have asked for the letter for him.
The Congress lawyer lied in the Court."
"Now they (Congress) like EVMs and the Election Commission. It's a good sign that opposition now likes both of them even after what they have in hand is an incomplete victory. All I can say is hopefully they will like EVMs & the EC even when they lose and abide by the SC's order.
"Humpe horse trading ka aarop lagaya hai, lekin Congress ne poora ka poora astabal (stable) bech khaya hai. They have alleged that we indulged in horse trading, but Congress has bought the stable.
"We had the right, so we claimed it (to form the govt). Congress has falsely claimed that Yeddyurappa-ji asked for 7 days, from the Governor, to prove majority. If it was the case, they should have asked for the letter for him.
The Congress lawyer lied in the Court."
16:19 Karnataka mandate was against Congress: Amit Shah
BJP president Amit Shah holding a press conference on the Karnataka elections.
After thanking the BJP workers for their hard work in the Karnataka polls, Shah, lists the failings of the Congress government in the state.
He says the people's mandate was for the BJP and not the Congress or the JD-S. "We got the most seats, we had gone from 40 to 104. It was an anti-Congress mandate. If we had not tried to form government, it would have gone against the mandate of the people of Karnataka," Shah said.
"What is the Congress celebrating? More than half of their ministers lost, CM lost from one seat. Similarly, why is JDS celebrating? For getting 37 seats?" Shah says and added that the Congress and JDS have formed an unholy alliance.
With him at the presser is Power Minister Piyush Goyal.
After thanking the BJP workers for their hard work in the Karnataka polls, Shah, lists the failings of the Congress government in the state.
He says the people's mandate was for the BJP and not the Congress or the JD-S. "We got the most seats, we had gone from 40 to 104. It was an anti-Congress mandate. If we had not tried to form government, it would have gone against the mandate of the people of Karnataka," Shah said.
"What is the Congress celebrating? More than half of their ministers lost, CM lost from one seat. Similarly, why is JDS celebrating? For getting 37 seats?" Shah says and added that the Congress and JDS have formed an unholy alliance.
With him at the presser is Power Minister Piyush Goyal.
16:04 PM-Putin meet in Sochi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi. The two leaders also held a meeting.
15:31 Catch them alive: How Kashmir hopes to end terrorism
"Catch them alive" is the new mantra in Jammu and Kashmir as security forces, which have killed over 70 terrorists in the last seven months, shift gear to focus on finding new recruits and motivating them to return to their families, senior officials said.
The strategy of police and security agencies is to cut the "umbilical cord" by smashing the overground worker network, which is instrumental in radicalising youth and pushing them to jihad, the officials said.
"Our effort is to catch them alive and understand their grievances. After all, a 15 or 16 year old boy can't be brainwashed to the extent that he would like to be killed in a gunfight. There has to be a counter-narrative," said a senior official engaged in counter-insurgency operations.
In the run-up to the Centre asking security forces not to launch operations during Ramzan, there was need to eliminate hardcore terrorists like Saddam Paddar, Esa Fazl and Sameer Tiger as they were the brains behind the fresh influx of cadres for Pakistan-based militant groups Lashker-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen, officials said. After the elimination of several top leaders, efforts are now on to change the script.
Operations based on specific intelligence inputs will continue but there will be also be increasing emphasis on catching newly-recruited militants alive, they said.
"We have got indication from our field intelligence that many desire to return. Some parents have also approached us and we have no hesitation in helping them resume their normal life and education at the earliest," a senior police official said.
Many officials, including those from intelligence agencies, believe the present cessation of hostilities may provide the much needed window to convince parents to woo their wards back to textbooks. "In the last seven months, four new recruits have been arrested while one returned," said Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Swayam Prakash Pani, who has been closely watching the situation in the Valley and is using his experience as deputy inspector general in south Kashmir to tackle militancy.
The aim, he said, is to create a conducive atmosphere so that people can get over the cycle of violence. "My director general of police (S P Vaid) has also appealed to misguided youths and so I am asking them to return to their families," Pani told PTI.
Several people from various parts of the Valley have been booked in the last seven months. They were entrusted with the indoctrination of young minds and motivating them to pick up arms, officials said.
The identification of these overground workers is necessary before a crackdown on the militant top brass, they explained. -- PTI
Image: Sociology professor Mohammed Rafi Bhat, who joined terrorism was killed in an encounter in Shopian, Kashmir, early this month.
The strategy of police and security agencies is to cut the "umbilical cord" by smashing the overground worker network, which is instrumental in radicalising youth and pushing them to jihad, the officials said.
"Our effort is to catch them alive and understand their grievances. After all, a 15 or 16 year old boy can't be brainwashed to the extent that he would like to be killed in a gunfight. There has to be a counter-narrative," said a senior official engaged in counter-insurgency operations.
In the run-up to the Centre asking security forces not to launch operations during Ramzan, there was need to eliminate hardcore terrorists like Saddam Paddar, Esa Fazl and Sameer Tiger as they were the brains behind the fresh influx of cadres for Pakistan-based militant groups Lashker-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen, officials said. After the elimination of several top leaders, efforts are now on to change the script.
Operations based on specific intelligence inputs will continue but there will be also be increasing emphasis on catching newly-recruited militants alive, they said.
"We have got indication from our field intelligence that many desire to return. Some parents have also approached us and we have no hesitation in helping them resume their normal life and education at the earliest," a senior police official said.
Many officials, including those from intelligence agencies, believe the present cessation of hostilities may provide the much needed window to convince parents to woo their wards back to textbooks. "In the last seven months, four new recruits have been arrested while one returned," said Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Swayam Prakash Pani, who has been closely watching the situation in the Valley and is using his experience as deputy inspector general in south Kashmir to tackle militancy.
The aim, he said, is to create a conducive atmosphere so that people can get over the cycle of violence. "My director general of police (S P Vaid) has also appealed to misguided youths and so I am asking them to return to their families," Pani told PTI.
Several people from various parts of the Valley have been booked in the last seven months. They were entrusted with the indoctrination of young minds and motivating them to pick up arms, officials said.
The identification of these overground workers is necessary before a crackdown on the militant top brass, they explained. -- PTI
Image: Sociology professor Mohammed Rafi Bhat, who joined terrorism was killed in an encounter in Shopian, Kashmir, early this month.
15:10 Impossible for planes to drop poop mid-air, says DGCA
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has moved the National Green Tribunal seeking a stay and review of its order directing the aviation regulator to issue a circular to all airlines operating at IGI Airport in New Delhi to ensure that they do not empty toilet tanks mid-air.
The DGCA has now moved a plea seeking review and stay of the December 20, 2016 and the January 10 order of the tribunal claiming that it was impossible to dump human waste mid-air from aircraft toilet.
A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra Singh Rathore issued notices to the original petitioner Lt Gen (Retd) Satwant Singh Dahiya and others while seeking their replies by May 23. Dahiya had moved the NGT alleging that faeces were splattered from aircraft on his South Delhi house before Diwali in 2016 after which the tribunal on December 20, 2016 had directed the DGCA to issue a circular to all airlines to pay Rs 50,000 as environmental compensation if their planes are found dumping waste mid air.
The petition has referred to the findings of the expert committee, constituted by NGT, and said there is no switch or system available in the aircraft to dispose waste in flight.
"The aircraft system has three levels of in-built external protection for disposing the waste and under no circumstance release of waste during flight is possible and there has been no such resort ever by the operators.
"The modern day airline toilets are sealed and cannot be emptied in flight and toilet waste can only be disposed of by manual operation on ground during its servicing," the plea said.
The tribunal had earlier constituted committee comprising representatives from the DGCA, Central Avian Research Institute and CPCB to collect samples from the house of Dahiya.
The committee members were directed to send the samples for tests to ascertain whether it was human or bird excreta. The NGT had earlier directed the CPCB to take a clear stand whether it can differentiate between human excreta and bird poop.
Aviation regulator DGCA had maintained that it was impossible to dump human waste mid-air from aircraft toilet, and bird droppings had landed on the complainant's house, after which the green panel had ordered testing of the excreta samples. The CPCB had said that there were traces of faecal coliform in the samples, indicating presence of human waste.
The tribunal had in 2016 held that if "any aircraft, airlines and the handling services of registered aircraft" were found to be dumping human waste from air or toilet tanks were found to have been emptied before landing, they shall be subjected to environmental compensation of Rs 50,000 per case of default.
The NGT had also asked the DGCA to carry out surprise inspection of aircraft landing at the airport to check that their toilet tanks are not empty while landing and prevent waste from being splashed over residential areas and any other place before landing. -- PTI
Representational image
The DGCA has now moved a plea seeking review and stay of the December 20, 2016 and the January 10 order of the tribunal claiming that it was impossible to dump human waste mid-air from aircraft toilet.
A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra Singh Rathore issued notices to the original petitioner Lt Gen (Retd) Satwant Singh Dahiya and others while seeking their replies by May 23. Dahiya had moved the NGT alleging that faeces were splattered from aircraft on his South Delhi house before Diwali in 2016 after which the tribunal on December 20, 2016 had directed the DGCA to issue a circular to all airlines to pay Rs 50,000 as environmental compensation if their planes are found dumping waste mid air.
The petition has referred to the findings of the expert committee, constituted by NGT, and said there is no switch or system available in the aircraft to dispose waste in flight.
"The aircraft system has three levels of in-built external protection for disposing the waste and under no circumstance release of waste during flight is possible and there has been no such resort ever by the operators.
"The modern day airline toilets are sealed and cannot be emptied in flight and toilet waste can only be disposed of by manual operation on ground during its servicing," the plea said.
The tribunal had earlier constituted committee comprising representatives from the DGCA, Central Avian Research Institute and CPCB to collect samples from the house of Dahiya.
The committee members were directed to send the samples for tests to ascertain whether it was human or bird excreta. The NGT had earlier directed the CPCB to take a clear stand whether it can differentiate between human excreta and bird poop.
Aviation regulator DGCA had maintained that it was impossible to dump human waste mid-air from aircraft toilet, and bird droppings had landed on the complainant's house, after which the green panel had ordered testing of the excreta samples. The CPCB had said that there were traces of faecal coliform in the samples, indicating presence of human waste.
The tribunal had in 2016 held that if "any aircraft, airlines and the handling services of registered aircraft" were found to be dumping human waste from air or toilet tanks were found to have been emptied before landing, they shall be subjected to environmental compensation of Rs 50,000 per case of default.
The NGT had also asked the DGCA to carry out surprise inspection of aircraft landing at the airport to check that their toilet tanks are not empty while landing and prevent waste from being splashed over residential areas and any other place before landing. -- PTI
Representational image
14:45 Terrorists attack police post in Kashmir
Terrorists attack police picket in Pulwama's Sadipora. Security forces retaliate. No causalities reported. More details awaited.
14:36 India will take seriously Pak's call for peace: Defence minister
Any comment from Islamabad calling for peace between the two countries will be taken seriously by India, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said today in the backdrop of the Pakistan Army chief favouring talks to resolve lingering disputes.
The minister also said the armed forces will "fully honour" the government's decision not to launch any operations in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan.
"Any comment on wanting peace will definitely be taken seriously," Sitharaman told reporters on the sidelines of an event when asked about Pakistan Army's recent indication of supporting peaceful resolution of disputes between the two countries through talks.
Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa had said last month that a peaceful resolution of disputes, including Kashmir, would be possible through talks between the two countries.
His comments came amid the impression, persisting for decades, that the Pakistan Army was not supportive of talks with India.
Asked about the recent incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistan and whether India would stick to its decision to not launch any operation in Jammu and Kashmir during Ramzan, Sitharaman said the armed forces will abide by what was announced by the Centre.
The Pakistan Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling along the International Border (IB) in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir last night. In a major decision, the Home Ministry announced last week Wednesday that security forces will not launch any operations in Jammu and Kashmir during Ramzan but reserve the right to retaliate if attacked.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and opposition National Conference leader Omar Abdullah welcomed the Centre's decision. -- PTI
File pic.
The minister also said the armed forces will "fully honour" the government's decision not to launch any operations in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan.
"Any comment on wanting peace will definitely be taken seriously," Sitharaman told reporters on the sidelines of an event when asked about Pakistan Army's recent indication of supporting peaceful resolution of disputes between the two countries through talks.
Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa had said last month that a peaceful resolution of disputes, including Kashmir, would be possible through talks between the two countries.
His comments came amid the impression, persisting for decades, that the Pakistan Army was not supportive of talks with India.
Asked about the recent incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistan and whether India would stick to its decision to not launch any operation in Jammu and Kashmir during Ramzan, Sitharaman said the armed forces will abide by what was announced by the Centre.
The Pakistan Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling along the International Border (IB) in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir last night. In a major decision, the Home Ministry announced last week Wednesday that security forces will not launch any operations in Jammu and Kashmir during Ramzan but reserve the right to retaliate if attacked.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and opposition National Conference leader Omar Abdullah welcomed the Centre's decision. -- PTI
File pic.
14:10 Kill pill
That's what Rs 30 crore looks like!
The Special Cell of the Delhi Police busted an international drug syndicate and recovered 6.5 lakh narcotic tablets worth Rs 30 crore. Four smugglers have been arrested.
The Special Cell of the Delhi Police busted an international drug syndicate and recovered 6.5 lakh narcotic tablets worth Rs 30 crore. Four smugglers have been arrested.
13:57 How Chinese mining in Himalayas may create a new military flashpoint with India
China has begun large-scale mining operations on its side of the disputed border with India in the Himalayas, where a huge trove of gold, silver and other precious minerals -- valued at nearly US$60 billion by Chinese state geologists -- has been found. Read the report here.
13:50 India successfully test-fires BrahMos supersonic cruise
India today successfully test-fired the Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from a test range along the Odisha coast to validate some new features. The missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher stationed at Launch pad 3 of the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur near Balasore in Odisha at 10.40 am, Defence Research and Development Organisation officials said. The trial was conducted to validate its "life extension" technologies developed for the first time in India by DRDO and team BraHmos, said an official of the ITR. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman congratualated DRDO scientists and team BrahMos for the successful launch of BraHmos missile with new technology today.
13:47 Moody's downgrades PNB on the impact of Nirav Modi fraud
International rating agency Moody's today said it has downgraded state-run Punjab National Bank's rating to Ba1/NP from Baa3/P-3, due to impact on the lender's profitability following Nirav Modi-fraud case. It kept the ratings outlook as stable but also downgraded the bank's baseline credit assessment (BCA) and Adjusted BCA to b1 from ba3.
13:40 Swallowed bitterness to form govt with JD-S in K'taka: Cong's Shivakumar
Senior Congress leader from Karnataka, DK Shivakumar on Monday said that the Congress party and the Janata Dal (Secular) -- had to sort out their differences for the sake of forming a secular government in Karnataka.
Admitting that the Congress and the JD-S were at loggerheads before the Karnataka state assembly polls, Shivakumar told ANI, "In politics, I have been fighting against the Gowdas since 1985. In the last parliamentary election and assembly election against them, I won against his son, I won against his daughter-in-law. A lot of politics have been played. Lots of cases were also registered. But in the interests of the nation and party, we need a secular government in Karnataka."
"Rahul Gandhi has taken a decision that there should be a secular government here. That is what the entire country needs and that is why we have taken this stand (alliance with JD-S). I had to swallow all this bitterness since this is my duty," he added.
The Congress, which emerged as the second largest party after recently-held Karnataka state assembly elections, is stitching up an alliance with the JD-S to form a government in the state.
Asked whether he was happy on securing an alliance with the JD-S, Shivakumar said, "Sometimes, individuality doesn't count here. Individuality is not important. Whatever collective or major decisions are taken, one man may like or the other man may not like. I also gave consent for the formation of this government."
On Saturday, Chief Minister-elect H.D. Kumaraswamy was invited by Karnataka Governor Vajubhai R. Vala to form the government in Karnataka, after Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) B.S. Yeddyurappa stepped down ahead of the floor test in the state assembly.
Admitting that the Congress and the JD-S were at loggerheads before the Karnataka state assembly polls, Shivakumar told ANI, "In politics, I have been fighting against the Gowdas since 1985. In the last parliamentary election and assembly election against them, I won against his son, I won against his daughter-in-law. A lot of politics have been played. Lots of cases were also registered. But in the interests of the nation and party, we need a secular government in Karnataka."
"Rahul Gandhi has taken a decision that there should be a secular government here. That is what the entire country needs and that is why we have taken this stand (alliance with JD-S). I had to swallow all this bitterness since this is my duty," he added.
The Congress, which emerged as the second largest party after recently-held Karnataka state assembly elections, is stitching up an alliance with the JD-S to form a government in the state.
Asked whether he was happy on securing an alliance with the JD-S, Shivakumar said, "Sometimes, individuality doesn't count here. Individuality is not important. Whatever collective or major decisions are taken, one man may like or the other man may not like. I also gave consent for the formation of this government."
On Saturday, Chief Minister-elect H.D. Kumaraswamy was invited by Karnataka Governor Vajubhai R. Vala to form the government in Karnataka, after Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) B.S. Yeddyurappa stepped down ahead of the floor test in the state assembly.
13:34
BrahMos missile successfully test fired under life extension program along the Odisha coast.
13:33 Naxal blast: Bodies arrive home
Home they brought the warrior dead: Mortal remains of Jawan Rajesh Kumar arrives at Patna airport. He was killed in an IED blast by Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada yesterday.
13:12 2 coaches of Delhi-Vizag AC train catch fire
Two coaches of a Visakhapatnam-bound train from New Delhi caught fire today near Birlanagar station in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior city. Coaches B6, B7 of the Andhra Pradesh AC Express caught fire. Fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the flames are now under control. Reports say all passengers have been evacuated safely.
Image: Burning train: Reports say the fire has been doused and all passengers evacuated safely. Pic: ANI
Image: Burning train: Reports say the fire has been doused and all passengers evacuated safely. Pic: ANI
13:01 Karnataka: A sobering lesson for Messrs Shah and Modi
Anyone who likes a drink, or has been in the company of tipplers, knows only too well the different stages of inebriation that follow from every peg or pint imbibed. It begins with a sense of well-being that slowly turns into elation, and then comes the stage of over-confidence and feelings of invincibility. Finally, if one has had far too much or has become addicted to the stimulating brew, there is a loss of reason, an inability to think clearly.
Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party - and certainly Messrs Narendra Modi and Amit Shah - are diehard teetotallers who would shudder at the very thought of loosening up with a drink after a hard day's work the way we lesser mortals do. Read the full column here.
Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party - and certainly Messrs Narendra Modi and Amit Shah - are diehard teetotallers who would shudder at the very thought of loosening up with a drink after a hard day's work the way we lesser mortals do. Read the full column here.
12:48 Jet Li battles illness and injuries
The 55-year-old action star, who starred in Lethal Weapon V and Expendables 2, is suffering from hyperthyroidism and spinal problems, drawing concern from netizens. Read the report here.
12:43 What can chimp calls tell us about the origins of human language?
Scientists follow and record chimps in the wild to find out if they talk to each other -- and to fill in details about how and why language evolved in humans. Read the fascinating story here.
12:34 PM reaches Russia for informal summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Russia's Sochi for an informal summit with President Vladimir Putin.
The informal summit between the two leaders, which, has a broad-based agenda on global and regional issues, is expected to see the discussions on global terrorism, situation in Afghanistan-Pakistan, Syria, Islamic State.
Indian envoy to Russia Pankaj Saran on Sunday exclusively told ANI that the two leaders will discuss mutual cooperation to improve each other's economy and influence in the international sphere.
Apart from holding bilateral talks on the entire gamut of bilateral relations, Saran said Prime Minister Modi and President Putin may also discuss the repercussions of Iran nuclear deal post the withdrawal of the United States from the same.
Since India and Russia are both victims of terrorism, the two sides will also discuss ISIS threat and the situation in Afghanistan and Syria.
He is now scheduled to visit the residence resort of President Putin.
According to the sources, a large part of the informal meeting is one to one and a restricted delegation-level meeting is likely.
During the summit, the Indo-Russian cooperation in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and association of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are likely to come as well.The two leaders may also discuss the India-Russia civil nuclear cooperation in third countries. -- ANI
The informal summit between the two leaders, which, has a broad-based agenda on global and regional issues, is expected to see the discussions on global terrorism, situation in Afghanistan-Pakistan, Syria, Islamic State.
Indian envoy to Russia Pankaj Saran on Sunday exclusively told ANI that the two leaders will discuss mutual cooperation to improve each other's economy and influence in the international sphere.
Apart from holding bilateral talks on the entire gamut of bilateral relations, Saran said Prime Minister Modi and President Putin may also discuss the repercussions of Iran nuclear deal post the withdrawal of the United States from the same.
Since India and Russia are both victims of terrorism, the two sides will also discuss ISIS threat and the situation in Afghanistan and Syria.
He is now scheduled to visit the residence resort of President Putin.
According to the sources, a large part of the informal meeting is one to one and a restricted delegation-level meeting is likely.
During the summit, the Indo-Russian cooperation in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and association of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are likely to come as well.The two leaders may also discuss the India-Russia civil nuclear cooperation in third countries. -- ANI
12:30 Jharkhand Disom Party's bandh disrupts train services
Train services in various parts of West Bengal and Jharkhand were disrupted today as a result of a bandh called by the Jharkhand Disom Party, demanding recognition of tribals' 'Sarna Dharma' as a religion, a South Eastern Railway official said.
Sarna Dharma is centred around the worship of nature.
The Jharkhand Disom Party has called the dawn-to-dusk bandh in Jharkhand, Bengal, Assam and Odisha in association with some other outfits to demand 'Sarna Dharma' as a religion.
At least eight passenger trains were cancelled and three express trains, including New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express and Puri-New Delhi Purshottam Express were diverted through different routes, the South Eastern Railway spokesman said.
The SER spokesman also said the railway has short-terminated five other passenger trains at different stations in its Adra division owing to blockades at several stations by bandh supporters. Bandh supporters blocked train movement at Kantadih, Indrabil and Madhukunda stations in Purulia district of West Bengal, the spokesman said. -- PTI
Sarna Dharma is centred around the worship of nature.
The Jharkhand Disom Party has called the dawn-to-dusk bandh in Jharkhand, Bengal, Assam and Odisha in association with some other outfits to demand 'Sarna Dharma' as a religion.
At least eight passenger trains were cancelled and three express trains, including New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express and Puri-New Delhi Purshottam Express were diverted through different routes, the South Eastern Railway spokesman said.
The SER spokesman also said the railway has short-terminated five other passenger trains at different stations in its Adra division owing to blockades at several stations by bandh supporters. Bandh supporters blocked train movement at Kantadih, Indrabil and Madhukunda stations in Purulia district of West Bengal, the spokesman said. -- PTI
12:01
When you have a fractured mandate and a government that has been cobbled together...
All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha writes to HD Kumaraswamy, demanding Shamanuru Shivashankarappa (Congress), a Veerashaiva leader be made the Home Minister in the new govt and five other leaders from the community be made ministers in the cabinet Karnataka.
All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha writes to HD Kumaraswamy, demanding Shamanuru Shivashankarappa (Congress), a Veerashaiva leader be made the Home Minister in the new govt and five other leaders from the community be made ministers in the cabinet Karnataka.
11:57 'Congress-JD-S will last for a few months'
Karnataka's fractured mandate has resulted in high political drama in the state. Though the election result had been a setback for the Congress, it has succeeded in keeping itself in power, even if in the backseat, by supporting the third-placed Janata Dal-Secular to front the government.
Krishna Prasad, the well-known journalist and former editor-in-chief of Outlook magazine, who in a pre-poll interview to Rediff.com clearly expected the Congress to perform better, argues that the Congress has not been entirely rejected by Karnataka's voters. "There's no question that Modi's rallies changed the mood in the last 15 days," Krishna Prasad tells Rediff.com's Utkarsh Mishra. Read the full interview here.
Krishna Prasad, the well-known journalist and former editor-in-chief of Outlook magazine, who in a pre-poll interview to Rediff.com clearly expected the Congress to perform better, argues that the Congress has not been entirely rejected by Karnataka's voters. "There's no question that Modi's rallies changed the mood in the last 15 days," Krishna Prasad tells Rediff.com's Utkarsh Mishra. Read the full interview here.
11:48 Naxal massacre: Jawan's body comes home
Mortal remains of jawan Ramkumar Yadav, who lost his life in an IED blast in Dantewada yesterday, arrives at his residence in Kanker, Chhattisgarh.
Six security personnel were killed and another was critically wounded on Sunday when Maoists detonated an improvised explosive device in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district.
The deafening blast, on the Bacheli-Cholnar road, targeted a jeep in which seven security personnel were patrolling in a remote area, killing five of them instantly, Inspector General of Police (Bastar) Vivekanand Sinha told the media. A sixth person succumbed to his injuries later.
The explosion was so powerful that the jeep was shattered into many parts. The team was surveying a road being built between Kirandul and Cholnar when it was attacked.
Six security personnel were killed and another was critically wounded on Sunday when Maoists detonated an improvised explosive device in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district.
The deafening blast, on the Bacheli-Cholnar road, targeted a jeep in which seven security personnel were patrolling in a remote area, killing five of them instantly, Inspector General of Police (Bastar) Vivekanand Sinha told the media. A sixth person succumbed to his injuries later.
The explosion was so powerful that the jeep was shattered into many parts. The team was surveying a road being built between Kirandul and Cholnar when it was attacked.
11:40 Communalism has no place in West Bengal: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said communalism has no place in the state which believes in unity in diversity. The chief minister said this on the occasion of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
"Today is World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. Our State Government has always believed in unity in diversity. Communalism has no place in the minds and hearts of the people of Bengal," she tweeted this morning.
The Day, observed annually, is a United Nations sanctioned international holiday for the promotion of diversity issues. West Bengal had witnessed a few incidents of "communal clashes" in places such as Dhulagarh in Howrah district in 2016, and in Asansol and Raniganj, in March this year.
The chief minister then had dubbed the incidents as a local matter and not a communal problem. Banerjee has accused the BJP of stoking communal tension in the state to fan Hindutva ideology.
Incidentally, an analysis of the data on the number of incidents of communal violence in different states in the country, tabled in Parliament by Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir on February 6, showed that such incidents had sharply increased in West Bengal over the past three years. -- PTI
"Today is World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. Our State Government has always believed in unity in diversity. Communalism has no place in the minds and hearts of the people of Bengal," she tweeted this morning.
The Day, observed annually, is a United Nations sanctioned international holiday for the promotion of diversity issues. West Bengal had witnessed a few incidents of "communal clashes" in places such as Dhulagarh in Howrah district in 2016, and in Asansol and Raniganj, in March this year.
The chief minister then had dubbed the incidents as a local matter and not a communal problem. Banerjee has accused the BJP of stoking communal tension in the state to fan Hindutva ideology.
Incidentally, an analysis of the data on the number of incidents of communal violence in different states in the country, tabled in Parliament by Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir on February 6, showed that such incidents had sharply increased in West Bengal over the past three years. -- PTI
11:30 FIR against CPI-M MP's son
Criminal Investigation Department files FIR against Russell Aziz, son of CPI-M MP Mohammad Selim, for circulating fake news on social media about the death of a Presiding officer inside a polling station, to create panic on the day of the West Bengal panchayat polls on May 14.
11:04 Virus with no vaccine kills 3 in Kerala, Centre rushes help
Union Minister JP Nadda on Sunday directed the Director of National Centre for Disease Control or NCDC to visit Kerala's Kozhikode district to assist the state government in the wake of the death of three people due to the Nipah virus there.
A central team will be visiting the state to monitor the situation post the Union health minister's direction.
"Reviewed the situation of deaths related to Nipah virus in Kerala with Secretary Health. I have directed Director NCDC to visit the district and initiate required steps as warranted by the protocol for the disease in consultation with state government," Nadda said in a tweet.
Nipah virus (NiV) infection in humans has a range of clinical presentations, from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory syndrome and fatal encephalitis, according to the World Health Organisation.
The Kozhikode health department is maintaining vigilance in the wake of three deaths there reportedly due to the virus. Two more persons, who were allegedly in contact with the deceased, are believed to be in a serious condition.
Earlier on Sunday, Lok Sabha MP and former Union minister Mullappally Ramachandran sought the central government's intervention to contain the outbreak of what he termed was a "rare and deadly" virus in some parts of Kozhikode.
NiV is also capable of causing disease in pigs and other domestic animals. There is no vaccine for either humans or animals. The primary treatment for human cases is intensive supportive care, the WHO says on its website.
Representational image.
A central team will be visiting the state to monitor the situation post the Union health minister's direction.
"Reviewed the situation of deaths related to Nipah virus in Kerala with Secretary Health. I have directed Director NCDC to visit the district and initiate required steps as warranted by the protocol for the disease in consultation with state government," Nadda said in a tweet.
Nipah virus (NiV) infection in humans has a range of clinical presentations, from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory syndrome and fatal encephalitis, according to the World Health Organisation.
The Kozhikode health department is maintaining vigilance in the wake of three deaths there reportedly due to the virus. Two more persons, who were allegedly in contact with the deceased, are believed to be in a serious condition.
Earlier on Sunday, Lok Sabha MP and former Union minister Mullappally Ramachandran sought the central government's intervention to contain the outbreak of what he termed was a "rare and deadly" virus in some parts of Kozhikode.
NiV is also capable of causing disease in pigs and other domestic animals. There is no vaccine for either humans or animals. The primary treatment for human cases is intensive supportive care, the WHO says on its website.
Representational image.
10:52 Chinese varsity lifts ban on wearing miniskirts in library
A Chinese university has apologised and lifted a ban on girls wearing miniskirts and hotpants in the library, revoking a regulation imposed over a student's complaint that such clothes were "harmful to the study atmosphere and are a form of sexual harassment".
The cancelled regulation had banned girl students from wearing pants or skirts shorter than 50 centimetres. The regulation came into effect after a complaint was filed by a male student, alleging miniskirts were "harmful to the study atmosphere and are a form of sexual harassment".
Miniskirts and hotpants may be worn at the library, the university said in a statement after revoking the regulation that had banned them.
"We apologise for the confusion and inconvenience brought by our recent work," state-run Global Times quoted the Hunan Agricultural University statement as saying.
"We're determined to optimise management and improve service quality, creating a better reading environment. We welcome students to come to the library to study and be readers with good manners," it said.
It is now fine for students to wear fashionable clothes as long as they are not solely wearing briefs, an unnamed staff member at the library of Hunan Agricultural University said. "The regulation was already revoked," he was quoted as saying. -- PTI
Representational image
The cancelled regulation had banned girl students from wearing pants or skirts shorter than 50 centimetres. The regulation came into effect after a complaint was filed by a male student, alleging miniskirts were "harmful to the study atmosphere and are a form of sexual harassment".
Miniskirts and hotpants may be worn at the library, the university said in a statement after revoking the regulation that had banned them.
"We apologise for the confusion and inconvenience brought by our recent work," state-run Global Times quoted the Hunan Agricultural University statement as saying.
"We're determined to optimise management and improve service quality, creating a better reading environment. We welcome students to come to the library to study and be readers with good manners," it said.
It is now fine for students to wear fashionable clothes as long as they are not solely wearing briefs, an unnamed staff member at the library of Hunan Agricultural University said. "The regulation was already revoked," he was quoted as saying. -- PTI
Representational image
10:37 BJP promises justice for anti-Sikh riot victims
The BJP-led NDA government has taken steps and "will do its best" to render justice to each and every family that has suffered from the grave injustice perpetrated against them during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, senior BJP leader Ram Madhav said in Washington DC.
On Sunday morning the BJP general secretary, visited the Gurunanak Foundation of America Gurudwara, where he addressed and assured the Sikh community.
He said the NDA government has decided to go to any extent to punish the guilty in the crimes that were perpetrated against the Sikh community during 1984 riots.
The Justice Dhingra Commission is actively looking into 186 serious cases of crime against the Sikh community in 1984, he added.
A number of FIRs have been filed again."In fact, arrest warrants have been issued against the leaders who were in the forefront of this whole crime against the community," he said.
"I stand before you to assure the community that we will do our best to render justice to each and every family that has suffered during those unfortunate years," Madhav said amidst applause from the few hundred Sikh Americans who had gathered in a Maryland suburb of Washington DC on Saturday to celebrate Vaisakhi that was organized by the Sikhs of America Foundation. -- ANI
On Sunday morning the BJP general secretary, visited the Gurunanak Foundation of America Gurudwara, where he addressed and assured the Sikh community.
He said the NDA government has decided to go to any extent to punish the guilty in the crimes that were perpetrated against the Sikh community during 1984 riots.
The Justice Dhingra Commission is actively looking into 186 serious cases of crime against the Sikh community in 1984, he added.
A number of FIRs have been filed again."In fact, arrest warrants have been issued against the leaders who were in the forefront of this whole crime against the community," he said.
"I stand before you to assure the community that we will do our best to render justice to each and every family that has suffered during those unfortunate years," Madhav said amidst applause from the few hundred Sikh Americans who had gathered in a Maryland suburb of Washington DC on Saturday to celebrate Vaisakhi that was organized by the Sikhs of America Foundation. -- ANI
10:15
Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister-designate HD Kumaraswamy offers prayers at Lakshmi Narasimha Temple in Hassan.
10:15
And while on Priyanka Chopra, former Samata Party president, Jaya Jaitly, makes a case for swadesh, tweeting, "How sad an Indian actor attending the royal wedding in UK should dress like a British aristocrat at Ascot rather than represent a free and independent India in a beautiful Sari."
10:06 And then she danced the night away... Priyanka thanks Dior
Priyanka Chopra took to Twitter today to thank French fashion house Christian Dior for the dreamy gown she wore to the ball at Windsor Castle after the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Saturday.
The stunner wrote, "And then she danced the night away.... A very special thank you to @Dior for making me sparkle. Also thank you to my incredible team for your brilliance and dedicated hustle...no one just wakes up like this, and I feel so happy to work with you..."
The 'no one just wakes up like this' remark is in fact a hat tip to Sonam Kapoor, who in a blog in 2016 busted the myth that actresses look stunning 24X7. She had written, Please know that nobody wakes up like this. Not me. Not any other actress. (Not even Beyonc. I swear.).
Priyanka sported a lilac Vivienne Westwood dress suit at the wedding.
The actress met Meghan at an ELLE Women in Television dinner two years ago, following which Priyanka has said that they "bonded as actors. We just became friends, like two girls would."
She was among the high-profile guests which included Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, David and Victoria Beckham, Idris Elba, Elton John, Tom Hardy, James Corden, James Blunt, Carey Mulligan.
Tennis star Serena Williams and rugby star Jonny Wilkinson were also present.
The stunner wrote, "And then she danced the night away.... A very special thank you to @Dior for making me sparkle. Also thank you to my incredible team for your brilliance and dedicated hustle...no one just wakes up like this, and I feel so happy to work with you..."
The 'no one just wakes up like this' remark is in fact a hat tip to Sonam Kapoor, who in a blog in 2016 busted the myth that actresses look stunning 24X7. She had written, Please know that nobody wakes up like this. Not me. Not any other actress. (Not even Beyonc. I swear.).
Priyanka sported a lilac Vivienne Westwood dress suit at the wedding.
The actress met Meghan at an ELLE Women in Television dinner two years ago, following which Priyanka has said that they "bonded as actors. We just became friends, like two girls would."
She was among the high-profile guests which included Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, David and Victoria Beckham, Idris Elba, Elton John, Tom Hardy, James Corden, James Blunt, Carey Mulligan.
Tennis star Serena Williams and rugby star Jonny Wilkinson were also present.
09:52 'Whatever I have is because of India'
"15 years back we were not even in existence in the US. Today nearly 1/3 of prescriptions written comes from India. 'India is showing that in a very competitive environment -- like the US and Europe -- our industry is doing very well," Dr Habil F Khorakiwala, who founded the pharmaceutical company Wockhardt, tells Rediff.com's Vaihayasi Pande Daniel.
Do read
Do read
09:42 Oh my God, she looks stunning: Prince Harry to Markle's designer
And some sunshine on Monday as the week looms ahead.
A tidbit on the Harry-Meghan wedding...
Prince Harry, who seemed "absolutely in awe" of actress and now Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, went to the latter's dress designer Clare Waight Keller of French Fashion House Givenchy, to thank her.
"He came straight up to me and said, oh my God, thank you. She looks absolutely stunning," People quoted Keller, as telling reporters on Sunday at Kensington Palace in London.
"I think everybody saw on television he was just absolutely in awe. I think she looked incredible," she added.
The Givenchy designer highlighted that she had the opportunity to talk to the newlyweds at the lunchtime reception.
Markle wore a boat-necked, sculpted white dress for her Royal wedding to Prince Harry on Saturday, designed by Keller for French fashion house Givenchy.
Markle looked beautiful in the pure white silk Givenchy gown, which was 15 feet veil embroidered with flowers and held in place by a diamond tiara lent by the Queen for her wedding.
Markle met Keller earlier this year and the pair worked closely together on a design that Kensington Palace described 'epitomises a timeless minimal elegance', according to the official site of the British Royal Family. -- ANI
A tidbit on the Harry-Meghan wedding...
Prince Harry, who seemed "absolutely in awe" of actress and now Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, went to the latter's dress designer Clare Waight Keller of French Fashion House Givenchy, to thank her.
"He came straight up to me and said, oh my God, thank you. She looks absolutely stunning," People quoted Keller, as telling reporters on Sunday at Kensington Palace in London.
"I think everybody saw on television he was just absolutely in awe. I think she looked incredible," she added.
The Givenchy designer highlighted that she had the opportunity to talk to the newlyweds at the lunchtime reception.
Markle wore a boat-necked, sculpted white dress for her Royal wedding to Prince Harry on Saturday, designed by Keller for French fashion house Givenchy.
Markle looked beautiful in the pure white silk Givenchy gown, which was 15 feet veil embroidered with flowers and held in place by a diamond tiara lent by the Queen for her wedding.
Markle met Keller earlier this year and the pair worked closely together on a design that Kensington Palace described 'epitomises a timeless minimal elegance', according to the official site of the British Royal Family. -- ANI
09:35 LIVE! My father gave me two valuable gifts, Rahul on Rajiv Gandhi's death anniv today
Congress president Rahul Gandhi today remembered his father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 27th death anniversary.
Taking to Twitter, Rahul thanked his father for teaching him how to love and respect every one.
"My father taught me that hate is a prison for those who carry it. Today, on his death anniversary, I thank him for teaching me to love and respect all beings, the most valuable gifts a father can give a son. Those of us that love you hold you forever in our hearts," he said.
Earlier today, Rahul along with sister Priyanka Gandhi paid homage to Rajiv Gandhi at Vir Bhumi in Delhi.Rajiv Gandhi's wife and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and senior Congress leaders Sushil Kumar Shinde and Mallikarjun Kharge also paid tribute to him.
A recipient of Bharat Ratna, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in a suicide bombing at Chennai's Sriperumbudur on May 21, 1991. -- ANI
Taking to Twitter, Rahul thanked his father for teaching him how to love and respect every one.
"My father taught me that hate is a prison for those who carry it. Today, on his death anniversary, I thank him for teaching me to love and respect all beings, the most valuable gifts a father can give a son. Those of us that love you hold you forever in our hearts," he said.
Earlier today, Rahul along with sister Priyanka Gandhi paid homage to Rajiv Gandhi at Vir Bhumi in Delhi.Rajiv Gandhi's wife and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and senior Congress leaders Sushil Kumar Shinde and Mallikarjun Kharge also paid tribute to him.
A recipient of Bharat Ratna, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in a suicide bombing at Chennai's Sriperumbudur on May 21, 1991. -- ANI
09:13 Trump seeks an end to Muller investigation
President Donald Trump has termed special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 US elections as "the world's most expensive witch hunt" as he trashed a media report that said an emissary representing the governments of Saudi Arabia and the UAE offered help to his campaign.
Trump said Mueller was turning to other leads around the world after finding no collusion or obstruction of justice in its ongoing probe.
The president was reacting to a story in The New York Times that George Nader, purportedly representing the two Persian Gulf states, met with Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son, at Trump Tower in August 2016.
The paper reported that Nader told Trump Jr that Saudi and UAE princes were interested in helping his father win the election and that an Israeli social media expert who also attended the meeting suggested ways to help manipulate public opinion. According to the newspaper, Trump Jr reacted approvingly to the offer, though it is unclear whether any plan was put into action by the campaign.
"Things are really getting ridiculous. The Failing and Crooked (but not as Crooked as Hillary Clinton) @nytimes has done a long & boring story indicating that the world's most expensive witch hunt has found nothing on Russia & me so now they are looking at the rest of the World!" Trump said in a series of tweets.
"At what point does this soon to be USD20,000,000 Witch Hunt, composed of 13 Angry and Heavily Conflicted Democrats and two people who have worked for Obama for 8 years, STOP!. They have found no collusion with Russia, no obstruction," he said.
He then went on to target Mueller's team, calling for an investigation into former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton instead of him.
"But they aren't looking at the corruption... .in the Hillary Clinton Campaign where she deleted 33,000 Emails, got US45,000,000 while Secretary of State, paid McCabes wife USD700,000 (and got off the FBI hook along with Terry M) and so much more. Republicans and real Americans should start getting tough on this Scam," Trump alleged.
"Now that the Witch Hunt has given up on Russia and is looking at the rest of the World, they should easily be able to take it into the Mid-Term Elections where they can put some hurt on the Republican Party," Trump said.
This week marked the one-year anniversary of Mueller's appointment as special counsel. Trump has repeatedly attacked the investigation as a "witch hunt" and claimed that the probe is biased against him. -- PTI
09:00 Day after 'pleading' to stop firing, Pak violates ceasefire again
In yet another ceasefire violation, Pakistani Rangers today fired mortar shells on border outposts at several places in Jammu and Kashmir's Arnia sector, prompting retaliation by the Border Security Force personnel guarding the International Border.
The mortar firing from across the border started around 0700 hours in Arnia sector of Jammu and was still continuing when last reports were received, a senior Border Security Force official told PTI.
"Three border outposts are under fire from the Pakistani Rangers and the personnel deployed there are also retaliating to silence the Pakistani guns," the official said.
"However, there was no immediate report of any casualty in the shelling," he said.
Last night, Pakistani troops fired small arms and mortars, targeting Narayanpur area of Ramgarh sector in Samba district, hours after "pleading" with the BSF to stop firing, after being pounded with heavy artillery that left a trooper dead across the border.
The BSF also released a 19-second thermal-imagery footage, showing the destruction of a Pakistani picket across the border, in retaliation to the unprovoked firing and shelling along the IB.
The BSF has lost two of its jawans in the latest round of unprovoked firing along the IB in Jammu region since May 15.
Four civilians were killed and 11 others injured on Friday in the Jammu area due to the firing, which increased in the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's day-long visit to Jammu and Kashmir on May 19. -- PTI
08:51 Solution to combat surging fuel prices soon: Petroleum minister
Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said that the increase in fuel prices was due to reduced production of oil in Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and hike in crude oil price in the international market.
Petrol prices on Saturday touched a record high of Rs 76.24 per litre and diesel climbed to its highest-ever level of Rs 67.57 as the oil PSUs passed on four weeks of relentless rise in international oil prices to consumers.
Noting that people, especially the middle-class, have to suffer due to price hike of oil, the minister said the government would try to work out a solution soon to deal with the situation.
"It's not in our hand. There is less production of oil in OPEC countries. The government will soon come out with a solution," he told reporters in Bhubaneswar.
Pradhan, however, did not spell out the details.
Stressing the need for stable and moderate oil prices, he said the surging fuel prices have negative impact on consumers and the Indian economy.
With global crude prices soaring, the minister has already pressed OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia to keep prices stable and moderate, saying that spike in rates would have a negative impact on Indian consumers as well as on the economy.
Pradhan had conveyed India's concerns when Saudi Arabian Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Khalid Al-Falih called him recently. -- PTI
08:43 Rahul, Priyanka pay homage to their father
Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra pay their respects to their father, ex-prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary.
08:36
Former Congress president and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi pays homage to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 27th death anniversary at Vir Bhumi in New Delhi.
08:25 PM leaves for Russia for informal summit with Putin
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left for Russia for an informal summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi.
During their informal summit, the two leaders will primarily focus on pressing global and regional issues, including impact of the United States withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.
Official sources have said the two leaders will meet for four to six hours for the "agendaless" talks where deliberations on bilateral issues are likely to be very limited.
They said the issues on the table may include economic impact on India and Russia in the wake of the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, situation in Afghanistan and Syria, threat of terrorism, and matters relating to the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRICS summits.
The sources said the possible impact of the US sanctions against Russia under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act on Indo-Russia defence cooperation might also figure during the talks between Modi and Putin.
India is not going to allow its defence engagement with Russia to be dictated by any other country, the sources have said, adding New Delhi has been lobbying with the Trump administration on the issue.
The aim of the informal summit is to use the friendship and trust between the two countries to create convergence on key global and regional issues, the sources said.
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