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Fri, 05 October 2018
Cong colluded with Naxals to stay in power in Chhattisgarh: Shah
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23:44 Cong colluded with Naxals to stay in power in Chhattisgarh: Shah
Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah on Friday accused the Congress of forging 'ties with Naxals' to remain in power in Chhattisgarh before 2003.
The BJP government in the state had succeeded in containing the Maoist menace, Shah said, addressing a tribal convention at Narharpur in the insurgency-hit Kanker district.
Targeting the Congress ahead of the state Assembly polls over various issues, he challenged the opposition party to an open debate on its development track record.
The convention marked the conclusion of the Atal Vikas Yatra campaign launched by Chief Minister Raman Singh to highlight the achievements of his 15-year rule.
"Chhattisgarh once reverberated with the sound of bullets.... I have no hesitation in saying that the earlier Congress government (before the BJP came to power in the state in 2003) had forged ties with Naxals to stay in power. We broke that nexus and cracked down on Naxals.
"Entire Chhattisgarh is gradually getting rid of Naxalism and heading on the path of development," Shah said.
When Chhattisgarh came into existence, it was dubbed as one of the 'Bimaru' (backward/sick) states and despite being in power for the initial three years, the Congress did nothing to boost its economic growth, he alleged.
The Congress did nothing to maintain law and order, curb Naxalism, eradicate hunger and uplift the forest-dwellers, despite being in power for 55 years at the Centre, the BJP chief said.
"Atalji (then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee) founded the state and Raman Singh developed it," he said.
Shah mentioned the 24-hour power supply, road connectivity in the interior villages, purchase of forest produce at a minimum support price and other development works as some of Singh's achievements in the last 15 years.
He slammed the Congress over a scandal triggered by the circulation of a 'sex CD', purportedly featuring state Public Works Department Minister Rajesh Munat.
Munat has filed a case against state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel for allegedly trying to malign his image by circulating the CD.
"The BJP will be contesting the polls under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Singh, but I want to ask Congress president Rahul Baba (Rahul Gandhi), who will lead the Congress? Will it be those who shamefully manufacture fake CDs for character assassination?" Shah asked.
"Are you (Gandhi) going ahead with a leader, who allegedly indulged in character assassination through fake CDs for seeking the mandate in Chhattisgarh?"
"Our mothers and sisters here are waiting to settle the score over the CD issue and rout the Congress," he said.
The BJP never indulged in the politics of 'chaturai' (cunningness), Shah said.
He challenged the Congress to a debate on the work done during Modi's four-year rule and Raman Singh's 15-year tenure as against the opposition party's '55-year rule'.
"People have two options in the coming polls. The first is the Congress which only talked about 'garibi hatao' (remove poverty) but removed the poor instead, while the other is the BJP, which, without raising slogans, ensured power supply to every house, provided houses for all, built toilets and gave bonus to the Tendu leave collectors," Shah said. -- PTI
23:02 Navy on full alert following IMD's rain warning for Kerala
The Indian Navy has put its air and surface assets at Kochi on high alert in view of adverse weather warning issued by India Meteorological Department, a Defence spokesman said on Friday.
He said a weather alert on the likely formation of low pressure area over South East Arabian sea and area adjoining Lakshadweep islands by Friday, has been issued by the IMD.
The Indian Navy has taken a number of steps for disseminating the information in various languages-- Hindi, English, Malayalam and Tamil-- to the local populace and fishermen.
Based on a request by the Fisheries department, the Southern Naval Command has deployed its naval ships and Dornier aircraft deployed off Kerala coast and L&M Islands, to broadcast the weather warning to fishing boats at sea and advise them to return to harbour, he said in a release in Kochi.
All out efforts are being made for the safety of local fishermen, he said.
"All naval assets at Kochi, both air as well as surface, are being maintained at high alert to render any assistance to the state administration and local population in case of any contingency caused due to adverse weather," he said.
A strict round the clock watch about the development of weather conditions at sea and a close liaison with state disaster management authority for any development at land is being maintained, he added. -- PTI
21:59 'Modi has assured Hasina India won't deport NRC-excluded people'
Terming the National Register of Citizens exercise in Assam as India's internal affair, a top Bangladeshi official on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has personally assured premier Sheikh Hasina that people excluded from the NRC list would not be deported to the country.
The Supreme-court monitored update of the NRC is an exercise to identify genuine Indian nationals residing in Assam.
A political controversy was triggered after the final draft list published on July 30 excluded more than 40 lakh people from the list.
"Indian Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi personally assured our premier that those who were excluded from the list under the NRC exercise will not be sent to Bangladesh," H T Imam, Political Adviser to Hasina, told PTI when asked to comment on the issue in the wake of media reports.
Though Imam did not elaborate on the two premier's communication, he emphasised, "We have been repeatedly assured by India that no such thing (deportation) will happen to create any sort of political instability in Bangladesh, particularly when we (Bangladesh) are approaching our national elections by the end of the year."
In September, Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Ram Madhav had said people excluded from the final list of Assam-specific National Register of Citizens would be de-franchised and deported to their country.
Addressing a seminar on 'NRC: Defending the Borders, Securing the Culture', Madhav had said the NRC is being updated as part of the 'Assam Accord' signed in 1985 under which the government had made a commitment to 'detect, delete and deport' all illegal immigrants from the state.
"The NRC will ensure the detection of all illegal immigrants. The next step will be delete - means deletion of names of illegal immigrants from voters list and deprive them from all government benefits. The next stage will be deportation," he had said.
Imam also said Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, Harsh Vardhan Sringla, also 'repeatedly told us not to worry about the exercise and indeed, it should not be our concern either'.
It is India's internal affair, he added. Imam, however, said the 1947 partition of the Indian subcontinent had resulted in huge exodus of people on both sides.
"But once the exchange of population took place during the partition, people who settled on either of the sides became citizens of the country where they migrated," he said.
"You can see Bengalis who migrated to India from here are in leading positions in many fronts of India's economic, cultural, professional and political arenas...but should they be treated as intruders and sent back to Bangladesh?" he asked. -- PTI
20:46 Kerala state machinery on alert after heavy rain warning
The Kerala government has put its state machinery on alert Friday in view of the possibility of heavy to heavy rain in the state for the next four days under the influence of a low pressure area over the southeast Arabian sea.
According to an India Meteorological Department bulletin, the low pressure is very likely to become more marked during the next 12 hours and concentrate into a depression.
It is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm and move towards Oman Coast thereafter.
The IMD has also issued a red alert for Idukki and Malappuram districts on October 7.
Some parts of the state including Kochi, Thrissur and Malappuram received rains Friday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said five teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have arrived in the state and they would be deployed in Wayanad, Palakkad, Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Kozhikode.
The shutters of the Neyyar and Aruvikara dams here and Malampuzha dam in Palakkad were lifted on Friday to release water in view of the forecast of heavy rains in the coming days.
Officials also said shutters of the Idukki-Cheruthoni dam, Pamba, Moozhiar and Kakki dams in Pathanamthitta, Banasurasagar dam in Wayanad, Sholayar, Peechi and Chimini dams in Thrissur district would be opened, if necessary, after monitoring the water inflow.
The government has also issued a warning to people living on the banks of rivers including the Pamba and Periyar. Fishermen have been asked not to venture into the sea for the next few days.
Tourists have been advised not to travel to hill stations, especially Munnar in Idukki and Nelliyampathy in Palakkad districts respectively.
Meanwhile, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said government took the right decision in opening shutters of some dams in view of the low pressure hovering over the southeast Arabian sea.
Chennithala said if the government had taken such a step in August when the state witnessed a deluge, destruction and loss of life could have been avoided.
The state had witnessed the fury of the southwest monsoon in August, the worst in the last 100 years, which claimed 493 lives and left a trail of destruction in several districts. -- PTI
19:49 Pak cancels Indian envoy's lecture in Lahore
Amidst the chill in bilateral ties, Pakistan cancelled at the last minute Indian envoy Ajay Bisaria's scheduled lecture at a training institute IN Lahore for not taking prior permission from the Foreign Office, according to sources.
An official privy to the development told PTI on Friday that Indian High Commissioner Bisaria was invited by the National School of Public Policy (NSPP) to deliver a lecture on Thursday.
The institution that imparts training to civil servants invites academicians, professionals and dignitaries for guest lectures on a regular basis.
"The NSPP Lahore had invited Mr Bisaria for the guest lecture for October 4 but the Indian High Commission was informed that his lecture has been cancelled. The commission will be informed on re-scheduling of his lecture," he said.
Sources further informed that the NSPP management had to cancel Bisaria's lecture after receiving orders from the top.
"The management was told that in case of inviting any ambassador for a guest lecture, at least permission is required from the Foreign Office," he said.
Earlier, Bisaria was also stopped from visiting Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Hasan Abdal.
The Pakistani government had claimed that Bisaria was stopped from visiting the gurdwara because of security reasons as Sikh yatris from India did not want to meet him.
The ties between the two countries had strained after the terror attacks by Pakistan-based groups in 2016 and India's surgical strikes inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Last month, India called off a meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries in New York, citing the brutal killings of three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad releasing postage stamps 'glorifying' Kashmiri terrorist Burhan Wani.
Pakistan yesterday said that the opening of the Kartarpur border crossing for Sikh pilgrims was linked with the start of dialogue between India and Pakistan. -- PTI
19:47 Forex reserves down by $1.26 bn to $400.52 bn
The country's foreign exchange reserves declined by $1.265 billion to $400.52 billion in the week to September 28 due to a fall in foreign currency assets, according to Reserve Bank of India data.
In the previous week, the reserves had risen by $1.3 billion to $401.790 billion. In the reporting week, foreign currency assets, a major component of the overall reserves, declined by $1.169 billion to $376.243 billion, as per the data.
Expressed in US dollar terms, foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of the non-US currencies such as the euro, pound and yen held in the reserves.
Forex reserves had touched a record high of $426.028 billion in the week to April 13, 2018, but have been declining since then.
Gold reserves dipped by $70.7 million to $20.343 billion in the reporting week. The special drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) declined by $10.4 million to $1.470 billion.
The country's reserve position with the IMF also dipped by $14.6 million to $2.468 billion, the apex bank said. -- PTI
18:50 US says sanctions not intended to hurt military capabilities of allies
In a guarded reaction, the United States on Friday said its intent to slap sanctions against Russia was not aimed at imposing damage to the military capabilities of its 'allies or partners', shortly after India concluded a deal for purchase of S-400 missile defence system from Russia.
Stating that the intent to slap sanctions on Russia was to impose costs for its 'malign behaviour', the US also made it clear that any waiver will be considered on a transaction-by-transaction basis, adding it cannot prejudge any sanctions decisions.
Responding to a query on impact of anti-Russia sanctions on India after the conclusion of the S-400 contract, the US embassy spokesperson said, "Waivers of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) section 231 will be considered on a transaction-by-transaction basis. We cannot prejudge any sanctions decisions."
"The intent of our implementation of CAATSA is to impose costs on Russia for its malign behavior, including by stopping the flow of money to Russia's defense sector. CAATSA is not intended to impose damage to the military capabilities of our allies or partners," the spokesperson added.
However, the spokesperson said, 'the waiver authority is not for a blanket waiver. It is transaction-specific. There are strict criteria for considering a waiver'.
The US reaction came after India and Russia concluded the $5 billion S-400 air defence system deal, notwithstanding the US warning that the deal would be a 'focus area' for it to implement punitive sanctions against a nation undertaking 'significant' business deals with the Russians.
The deal was concluded during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin for the annual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. -- PTI
18:23 Putin leaves for Russia
President Vladimir Putin departs for Russia after concluding his visit.
He met President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan shortly before leaving.
Photograph: ANI
18:18 3 killed as hoarding falls on vehicles in Pune
Three people were killed and at least six others injured after a huge hoarding along with its iron frame collapsed on some vehicles in Pune, Maharashtra on Friday, police said.
The incident took place when the 40-feet-high hoarding, mounted on an iron frame, was being dismantled, a senior police officer said.
The hoarding was installed in the premises of Central Railways along the road at Shahir Amar Shaikh Chowk in Mangalwar Peth area in the heart of the city.
"The hoarding was being dismantled at around 2 pm by a contractor of the Railways. However, while dismantling it, the metal structure fell on the road side.
"There were some auto-rickshaws, two-wheelers and four wheelers at (a nearby traffic) signal when the huge structure collapsed on them," said B Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone I).
He said three people were killed and six others sustained serious injuries.
The deceased were identified as Shamrao Kasar, 70, Shamrao Dhotre, 48, and Shivaji Pardeshi, 40.
He said the police were investigating what exactly happened as there seems to have some 'negligence' while dismantling the structure.
"An FIR will be registered under relevant sections of the IPC," said Singh.
Another police officer said it seems adequate safety measures were not taken while dismantling the structure.
According to fire brigade officials, five auto- rickshaws, one moped and one four-wheeler were damaged.
All the injured were rushed to the nearby government- run Sassoon General Hospital, they said.
"Since it was afternoon, there was not much traffic on the road. Had there been a huge traffic flow, there would have been more casualties," said a local resident.
After the incident, the road traffic near the mishap site was disrupted. Meanwhile, despite repeated attempts, Railways officials were not available for comment on the mishap. -- PTI
17:59 Court grants bail to Dera chief in castration case
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, serving a jail term in two rape cases, was on Friday granted bail in a case related to the alleged castration of 400 of his followers.
However, Ram Rahim Singh would remain in jail as he is serving sentence for raping two of his women followers, for which he was convicted by a Panchkula court in August last year.
In August this year, his bail application in the castration case was rejected by a court in Panchkula after which he had challenged the order and moved an application before a special CBI judge, who accepted his bail plea on Friday.
Earlier, the Panchkula Central Bureau of Investigation court had framed charges including those pertaining to voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means, cheating and criminal intimidation against Ram Rahim Singh.
Besides, charges pertaining to criminal conspiracy were also framed against the 51-year-old Dera chief and two others.
Earlier this year, the CBI had filed a chargesheet against Ram Rahim Singh and two doctors for alleged forcible castration of 400 followers of the sect.
Ram Rahim Singh, who is serving a 20-year jail term after being convicted in two rape cases over a year ago, had been charged along with doctors Pankaj Garg and M P Singh.
It had been alleged that they castrated the men at the Sirsa-based Dera telling the victims that it would lead to realisation of god through the Dera chief.
The chargesheet had been filed in a special court in Panchkula.
The agency had registered the case of alleged criminal conspiracy for voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means among other charges under the Indian Penal Code against Ram Rahim Singh and others in 2015.
The probe was handed over to the agency by the Punjab and Haryana high court on the plea of a dera follower. -- PTI
17:49 Virus which wiped out 30% lion population in Africa responsible for Gir big cat deaths
The Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Virology on Friday said they have found that the virus which wiped out 30 per cent of total lion population in East Africa, was responsible for the death of five out of the 23 Asiatic lions in Gujarat's Gir forest since September 12.
The ICMR, the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research, has found that Canine Distemper Virus was responsible for the death of five Asiatic lions in Gir forest and asked the Centre to take immediate steps to save the big cats, including shifting them to different sanctuaries.
It has also suggested that 300 shots of CDV vaccine are imported from the United States. Around 23 Asiatic lions have died in Gujarat's Gir forest since September 12, prompting the government to launch a massive operations to ensure that the infection does not spread to other big cats in their only abode in Asia. -- PTI
The ICMR, the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research, has found that Canine Distemper Virus was responsible for the death of five Asiatic lions in Gir forest and asked the Centre to take immediate steps to save the big cats, including shifting them to different sanctuaries.
It has also suggested that 300 shots of CDV vaccine are imported from the United States. Around 23 Asiatic lions have died in Gujarat's Gir forest since September 12, prompting the government to launch a massive operations to ensure that the infection does not spread to other big cats in their only abode in Asia. -- PTI
17:37 Court summons Cong IT cell member in sexual harassment case
A Delhi court has summoned a member of the Congress IT cell in a sexual harassment case lodged by his former colleague. Metropolitan Magistrate Vijeta Singh Rawat took cognisance of the charge sheet, filed by Delhi police, and directed the accused -- Chirag Patnaik -- to appear before her on February 2, 2019.
Patnaik was arrested in July on the complaint and released on bail. In its charge sheet, the police has booked the accused under sections of 354-A (sexual harassment) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
"Patnaik on many occasions had made me (the complainant) uncomfortable at the office with his frequent violation of my personal space and immoral behaviour.
"Between April 4, 2018 and May 23, 2018, on many occasions, under the pretext of checking tweets, Patnaik violated my personal space by coming too close to me, while I was busy busy concentrating on my computer screen, Patnaik encircled me from behind in a manner most immoral, pretending to check the tweets," said the charge sheet quoting the victim. The complaint added that the accused also "exhaled in my (victim) breathing space whenever he encircled me." PTI
Patnaik was arrested in July on the complaint and released on bail. In its charge sheet, the police has booked the accused under sections of 354-A (sexual harassment) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
"Patnaik on many occasions had made me (the complainant) uncomfortable at the office with his frequent violation of my personal space and immoral behaviour.
"Between April 4, 2018 and May 23, 2018, on many occasions, under the pretext of checking tweets, Patnaik violated my personal space by coming too close to me, while I was busy busy concentrating on my computer screen, Patnaik encircled me from behind in a manner most immoral, pretending to check the tweets," said the charge sheet quoting the victim. The complaint added that the accused also "exhaled in my (victim) breathing space whenever he encircled me." PTI
17:22 Shehbaz Sharif arrested
Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau has arrested Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and National Assembly Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif in connection with the Ashiana Company case: Pakistan Media. He is former Pak PM Nawaz Sharif's brother.
17:17 Bring petrol, diesel under GST: Rahul to PM
Congress president Rahul Gandhi appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday to bring petrol and diesel under the purview of the GST, saying the people were distressed over their skyrocketing prices.
The Congress earlier said that the rise in petrol and diesel prices were due to "excessive taxes" imposed by the central and state governments. Gandhi's fresh push for bringing petrol and diesel under the purview of GST came a day after the Centre effected a Rs 2.50 per litre cut in their prices.
The Centre cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 1.50 per litre and asked oil firms to absorb Re 1 a litre of prices. "Respected Modi ji, the common man is very distressed over skyrocketing prices of petrol and diesel. Kindly bring petrol and diesel under the purview of GST," he tweeted in Hindi. -- PTI
The Congress earlier said that the rise in petrol and diesel prices were due to "excessive taxes" imposed by the central and state governments. Gandhi's fresh push for bringing petrol and diesel under the purview of GST came a day after the Centre effected a Rs 2.50 per litre cut in their prices.
The Centre cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 1.50 per litre and asked oil firms to absorb Re 1 a litre of prices. "Respected Modi ji, the common man is very distressed over skyrocketing prices of petrol and diesel. Kindly bring petrol and diesel under the purview of GST," he tweeted in Hindi. -- PTI
16:56 Delhi govt appoints 2 special public prosecutors for Ankit Saxena case
The Delhi government has appointed two special public prosecutors to conduct the trial in the murder case of photographer Ankit Saxena in West Delhi's Khyala area in February.
"The government has appointed senior lawyers Rebecca Mammen John and Vishal Gosain as special public prosecutors in the Ankit Saxena murder case," an official said. In February, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had assured Saxena's family of all possible help from the AAP government.
The 23-year-old photographer was allegedly killed by family members of a woman with whom he was in a relationship. The woman's family had opposed her relationship with Saxena as the two belonged to different communities. The woman's father, mother and uncle were arrested in connection with the killing, while her minor brother was apprehended.
Image: Victim Ankit Saxena
"The government has appointed senior lawyers Rebecca Mammen John and Vishal Gosain as special public prosecutors in the Ankit Saxena murder case," an official said. In February, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had assured Saxena's family of all possible help from the AAP government.
The 23-year-old photographer was allegedly killed by family members of a woman with whom he was in a relationship. The woman's family had opposed her relationship with Saxena as the two belonged to different communities. The woman's father, mother and uncle were arrested in connection with the killing, while her minor brother was apprehended.
Image: Victim Ankit Saxena
16:51 Women cops to be posted at Sabarimala: DGP
Women police personnel will be posted at Sabarimala this month to facilitate pilgrimage of women devotees in view of the Supreme Court order permitting women of all age groups to enter the Lord Ayyappa shrine, Kerala police chief Loknath Behera said Friday.
The DGP said everyone in the force should have to perform their duties irrespective of their religion and politics.
"They (women) will be posted there (at Sabarimala). We are a law enforcement agency. No gender, no religion. .. nothing. All will have to perform their duties," Behera told reporters.
His statement comes against the backdrop of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's recent statement that the government would implement the verdict in the coming pilgrimage season itself.
A high-level meeting of the Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the shrine, has also decided to make necessary arrangements for women pilgrims visiting the temple when it opens for the annual pilgrimage season on October 16. -- PTI
The DGP said everyone in the force should have to perform their duties irrespective of their religion and politics.
"They (women) will be posted there (at Sabarimala). We are a law enforcement agency. No gender, no religion. .. nothing. All will have to perform their duties," Behera told reporters.
His statement comes against the backdrop of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's recent statement that the government would implement the verdict in the coming pilgrimage season itself.
A high-level meeting of the Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the shrine, has also decided to make necessary arrangements for women pilgrims visiting the temple when it opens for the annual pilgrimage season on October 16. -- PTI
16:39 Rupee at 74 to a dollar is still better than its peers: Patel
On the day the rupee breached the 74-mark against the US dollar for the first time, RBI governor Urjit Patel Friday reiterated that the domestic currency is still better than its emerging market peers and that the apex bank does not have a target for it.
After the RBI in its fourth bi-monthly policy this fiscal left the policy rates unchanged and ruled out a rate cut in the rest of the fiscal, the rupee plummeted to 74.13 against the dollar, after opening higher then its previous close at 73.52.
Admitting that the country has not been immune to global spillovers from external factors, Patel said, "The rupee fall, in some respect, is moderate in comparison to several other emerging market market peers." -- PTI
After the RBI in its fourth bi-monthly policy this fiscal left the policy rates unchanged and ruled out a rate cut in the rest of the fiscal, the rupee plummeted to 74.13 against the dollar, after opening higher then its previous close at 73.52.
Admitting that the country has not been immune to global spillovers from external factors, Patel said, "The rupee fall, in some respect, is moderate in comparison to several other emerging market market peers." -- PTI
16:21 Former CM Manjhi demands President's rule in Bihar
Former Chief Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi Friday demanded President's rule in Bihar over poor law and order situation and "open flouting" of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act under his rule.
Manjhi was interacting with the media here a day after meeting Governor Lalji Tandon to whom he urged to recommend imposition of President's rule claiming rising crime graph and open flouting of SC & ST Act in Bihar. -- PTI
Manjhi was interacting with the media here a day after meeting Governor Lalji Tandon to whom he urged to recommend imposition of President's rule claiming rising crime graph and open flouting of SC & ST Act in Bihar. -- PTI
15:52 Shah challenges Cong to open debate on development
BJP president Amit Shah Friday challenged the Congress to an "open debate" on the development works done by the party during its rule, as compared to the work done by Chief Minister Raman Singh in Chhattisgarh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre. He also asserted that the BJP had always practised the politics of development.
"We are ready for an open debate with the Congress on the development works done by its governments in 55 years as against the 15 years of Raman Singh's government in Chhattisgarh and five years of the Narendra Modi government," Shah told a rally during the conclusion of the "Atal Vikas Yatra" at Narharpur in Kanker district of poll-bound Chhattisgarh.
During the two-phase yatra, Singh covered all the 90 Assembly constituencies in 27 districts of the state to highlight his government's achievements. -- PTI
"We are ready for an open debate with the Congress on the development works done by its governments in 55 years as against the 15 years of Raman Singh's government in Chhattisgarh and five years of the Narendra Modi government," Shah told a rally during the conclusion of the "Atal Vikas Yatra" at Narharpur in Kanker district of poll-bound Chhattisgarh.
During the two-phase yatra, Singh covered all the 90 Assembly constituencies in 27 districts of the state to highlight his government's achievements. -- PTI
15:29 Sensex plunges 800 points, Rupee collapses to 74.20
The BSE Sensex fell over 800 points Friday, extending its losing run for the third day, even as the RBI's bi-monthly policy kept repo rates unchanged amid weak global cues. The 30-share index after cracking the 35,000-mark touch ed a low of 34,267.
It lost 1,356.98 points in the previous two sessions on rupee woes and boiling crude oil prices. Sectoral indices led by oil and gas, PSU, infrastructure, auto and banking stocks cracked up to 10.27 per cent. Stocks of state-run oil companies were under selling pressure as the government Thursday announced a Rs 2.50 per litre cut in petrol and diesel prices after it reduced excise duty by Rs 1.50 a litre and asked oil companies to absorb another Re 1.
Shares of BPCL, HPCL and IOC were trading sharply lower by up to 20.50 per cent on nervous selling by investors.
The NSE Nifty also dropped to 10,284. Brokers said investors offloaded their positions, tracking a selloff in global markets as US Treasury surged to multi-year highs on robust economic data and comments from the Federal Reserve, sparking fears of accelerating inflation.
The rupee collapsed to a lifetime low of Rs 74.20.
It lost 1,356.98 points in the previous two sessions on rupee woes and boiling crude oil prices. Sectoral indices led by oil and gas, PSU, infrastructure, auto and banking stocks cracked up to 10.27 per cent. Stocks of state-run oil companies were under selling pressure as the government Thursday announced a Rs 2.50 per litre cut in petrol and diesel prices after it reduced excise duty by Rs 1.50 a litre and asked oil companies to absorb another Re 1.
Shares of BPCL, HPCL and IOC were trading sharply lower by up to 20.50 per cent on nervous selling by investors.
The NSE Nifty also dropped to 10,284. Brokers said investors offloaded their positions, tracking a selloff in global markets as US Treasury surged to multi-year highs on robust economic data and comments from the Federal Reserve, sparking fears of accelerating inflation.
The rupee collapsed to a lifetime low of Rs 74.20.
15:05 RBI keeps policy rates unchanged
The Reserve Bank opted for a surprising status quo at the bi-monthly review Friday on expectations of softening price rise, but changed the policy stance to "calibrated tightening" from "neutral".
A majority of the analysts and bankers were expecting the six-member Monetary Policy Committee to go at least for a 0.25 per cent hike in key rates at the review.
The repo rate, at which the RBI lends to the system, will continue to be at 6.5 per cent and the reverse repo at which it absorbs excess funds will be 6.25 per cent.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 5:1 in favour of a status quo, with only Chetan Ghate voting for a 0.25 per cent hike. The MPC headed by RBI Governor Urjit Patel said that the recent excise duty cut by the government on petrol and diesel will help contain inflation.
Meanwhile, the rupee crossed 74 against the US Dollar; now at 74.10.
A majority of the analysts and bankers were expecting the six-member Monetary Policy Committee to go at least for a 0.25 per cent hike in key rates at the review.
The repo rate, at which the RBI lends to the system, will continue to be at 6.5 per cent and the reverse repo at which it absorbs excess funds will be 6.25 per cent.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 5:1 in favour of a status quo, with only Chetan Ghate voting for a 0.25 per cent hike. The MPC headed by RBI Governor Urjit Patel said that the recent excise duty cut by the government on petrol and diesel will help contain inflation.
Meanwhile, the rupee crossed 74 against the US Dollar; now at 74.10.
14:49 Denis Mukwege, Nadia Murad win Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize for 2018 has been awarded to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict. Both laureates have made a crucial contribution to focusing attention on, and combating, war crimes.
Denis Mukwege is a doctor who has devoted his life to defending these victims. Nadia Murad is the witness who tells of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others. Each of them in their own way has helped to give greater visibility to war-time sexual violence, so that the perpetrators can be held accountable for their actions.
The Nobel committee has not been able to contact either Mukwege or Murad on the telephone to inform them that they have won.
The committee says the Congolese doctor, Denis Mukwege has been the foremost, most unifying symbol both nationally and internationally of the struggle to end sexual violence in war and armed conflict.
Nadia Murad, a member of the Yazidi minority in Iraq, was captured by Isis and repeatedly raped and subjected to other abuses. The committee says she showed uncommon courage in recounted her own suffering.
Denis Mukwege is a doctor who has devoted his life to defending these victims. Nadia Murad is the witness who tells of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others. Each of them in their own way has helped to give greater visibility to war-time sexual violence, so that the perpetrators can be held accountable for their actions.
The Nobel committee has not been able to contact either Mukwege or Murad on the telephone to inform them that they have won.
The committee says the Congolese doctor, Denis Mukwege has been the foremost, most unifying symbol both nationally and internationally of the struggle to end sexual violence in war and armed conflict.
Nadia Murad, a member of the Yazidi minority in Iraq, was captured by Isis and repeatedly raped and subjected to other abuses. The committee says she showed uncommon courage in recounted her own suffering.
14:42 Jairam Ramesh in, Divya Spandana out
Divya Spandana aka Ramya may have breathed life into the Congress's social media campaign but right now the former actress turned Congress politician, who has inexplicably been told to hand over charge of the party's SM campaign to Nikhil Alva, has her back to the wall.
She believes that a powerful lobby within the Congress has managed to create problems for her by carrying tales to party president Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka. Trouble began for her with the installation of Jairam Ramesh as the Congress's coordination person for the party's election campaign.
It is no secret that the Congress's social media outreach under Divya ran on its own without any supervision or sign-off from anyone else in the party, a situation that many resent and which was highlighted by Ramesh soon after taking over.
It was Jairam Ramesh who proposed that Nikhil Alva take over the Twitter campaign of Rahul Gandhi, thereby relieving Divya of her coveted job. Interestingly, all three -- Ramesh, Divya and Alva -- are Kannadigas. Nikhil Alva is the son of senior Congress leader Margaret Alva.
That no one knows which way the wind is blowing within the national party can be seen from the fact that despite a rash of stories appearing in the media speaking for both sides, no AICC leader has reacted to them.
14:39
Policy Repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility unchanged at 6.5 per cent.
14:30 Time's tribute to Christine Ford
Next week's cover of Time magazine is made entirely of words by Christine Blasey Ford in her testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee where she accused Judge Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her 36 years ago.
14:15 Takes a lot of courage to speak: Anushka on Tanushree's claims
Anushka Sharma weighs in for Tanushree Dutta: You should not feel threatened while performing your duties, whatever profession you are in. It takes a lot of courage to come out and say these things knowing the tide that you're going to be against. That's the reason why a lot of people don't speak.
14:10 Is Tamil Nadu CM about to call early polls?
Tamil Nadu politics, in a state of flux since J Jayalalithaa's death in December 2016, seems set to become further roiled in the next few weeks, with Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami expected to take a final call on holding the state assembly elections along with Lok Sabha polls in April 2019.
The tenure of the assembly ends only in May 2021.
In this context, Palaniswami's scheduled meeting with Governor Banwarilal Purohit in Chennai at 7 pm today is being keenly watched.
Interestingly, Palaniswami is expected to arrive in New Delhi on Monday to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, having received an informal nod for the same. The state's representative in the capital, Thalavai Sundaram, has also been meeting BJP leaders, setting off speculation.
Next week promises to be an action-packed one, with the verdict due to be delivered in the case over the disqualification of 18 MLAs.
Palaniswami's impatience stems from the fact that he is a Gounder in a party predominantly of Thevars. Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, from the latter community, is in favour of a long-term tie-up with the party rebel, TTV Dhinakaran, something that EDP does not want.
Naturally, the chief minister is feeling constrained by all this, and believes an early election will clear up the confusion.
Just to recall, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had met Prime Minister Modi thrice before deciding to dissolve the state assembly. Is Palaniswami also following the same pattern?
13:55 You were absolutely right about Loveyatri
The whole point of this idiotic movie hinges on whether Aayush Sharma who wants to act can act. Unless a singular dazed expression qualifies as talent, not by a long shot,' says Sukanya Verma. Read the review here.
13:40
Delhi Govt appoints Special Public Prosecutors Rebecca John and Vishal Gosain to conduct the trial in photographer Ankit Saxena murder case.
Twenty-three year old Ankit Saxena was stabbed to death by the family members of his girlfriend, who were against their relationship.
Twenty-three year old Ankit Saxena was stabbed to death by the family members of his girlfriend, who were against their relationship.
13:14 India's first man in space won't be lonely anymore
Thirty-four years after he traveled to space, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih (after shared experiences with broken ankles) that he looks forward to Gaganyan, India's first manned space mission in 2022. Read the feature here.
Image: Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma (retd) at the Wellington Gymkhana Club in the Nilgiris.
Image: Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma (retd) at the Wellington Gymkhana Club in the Nilgiris.
13:06 India, Russia sign missile deal
India and Russia have signed a deal for five Russian S-400 Triumf missile shield systems as well as a deal for space cooperation. An Indian monitoring station will be built near the Russian city of Novosibirsk in Siberia, reports ANI.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is in India to attend the 19th India-Russia bilateral annual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The deals were signed at the Hyderabad House in Delhi today.
The two leaders are also slated to discuss a number of key global and regional issues, including the United States sanctions on Iranian oil.
A number of crucial energy deals are also slated to be signed by the two countries during the bilateral summit. India's state-owned ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) may also sign a pact with Gazprom, industry sources told Sputnik. OVL already has stakes in three operational projects in Russia.
After the meeting, Putin is scheduled to arrive at the ITC Maurya Hotel at 3:30 pm, where the Indo-Russian Business Summit is scheduled to take place. He will also interact with a group of children later in the day.
He will then head towards the Rashtrapati Bhawan to meet his Indian counterpart President Ram Nath Kovind.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is in India to attend the 19th India-Russia bilateral annual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The deals were signed at the Hyderabad House in Delhi today.
The two leaders are also slated to discuss a number of key global and regional issues, including the United States sanctions on Iranian oil.
A number of crucial energy deals are also slated to be signed by the two countries during the bilateral summit. India's state-owned ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) may also sign a pact with Gazprom, industry sources told Sputnik. OVL already has stakes in three operational projects in Russia.
After the meeting, Putin is scheduled to arrive at the ITC Maurya Hotel at 3:30 pm, where the Indo-Russian Business Summit is scheduled to take place. He will also interact with a group of children later in the day.
He will then head towards the Rashtrapati Bhawan to meet his Indian counterpart President Ram Nath Kovind.
12:56 AMU orders probe into Jinnah photos at varsity exhibition
The Aligarh Muslim University has ordered a probe into how pictures of Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah with Mahatma Gandhi were put on display at a photo exhibition in the varsity.
In May, a portrait of Jinnah at the university's students' union office had caused a major row. University authorities have removed the photos and a show cause notice was served to the librarian, who is the curator of the exhibition, an official said Friday.
The week-long exhibition, themed around the life and times of the Mahatma, is being held as part of the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations at the AMU.
The probe was ordered after BJP MP Satish Gautam Thursday demanded the removal of some group photos in which the Mahatma is seen along with the Pakistan founder. -- PTI
In May, a portrait of Jinnah at the university's students' union office had caused a major row. University authorities have removed the photos and a show cause notice was served to the librarian, who is the curator of the exhibition, an official said Friday.
The week-long exhibition, themed around the life and times of the Mahatma, is being held as part of the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations at the AMU.
The probe was ordered after BJP MP Satish Gautam Thursday demanded the removal of some group photos in which the Mahatma is seen along with the Pakistan founder. -- PTI
12:45 IAF's microlight aircraft crashes, pilots safe
A microlight aircraft of the Indian Air Force Friday crashed in Ranchad village here, with both pilots ejecting safely, police said. The crash took place at 9.45 am when the ML-130 aircraft took off from the Hindon air base, Superintendent of Police Shailesh Kumar Pandey said. District Magistrate R Kumar said the plane nosedived. -- PTI
12:42 Triple talaq over phone persists even after ordinance
The Uttar Pradesh police on Thursday registered a case against a man for allegedly giving triple talaq to his wife over phone over the dowry issue.
This comes weeks after, the Central government passed an ordinance criminalizing triple talaq.
According to the victim's mother, Reshma, her daughter was being harassed by her in-laws. She alleged that her son-in-law, who lives in Saudi Arabia divorced her daughter after she couldn't arrange the dowry.
"My daughter was being mistreated by her in-laws. I brought her to my home and they started demanding her to bring money by threatening of Talaq. Later my son-in-law gave Talaq to my daughter over the phone from Saudi. We are demanding action against this injustice," Reshma said.
The Triple Talaq victim, Noori said, "I have been married for eight months. My mother-in-law beats me and demands to bring a motorcycle and Rs 50,000." The police have registered a case under relevant sections. -- ANI
This comes weeks after, the Central government passed an ordinance criminalizing triple talaq.
According to the victim's mother, Reshma, her daughter was being harassed by her in-laws. She alleged that her son-in-law, who lives in Saudi Arabia divorced her daughter after she couldn't arrange the dowry.
"My daughter was being mistreated by her in-laws. I brought her to my home and they started demanding her to bring money by threatening of Talaq. Later my son-in-law gave Talaq to my daughter over the phone from Saudi. We are demanding action against this injustice," Reshma said.
The Triple Talaq victim, Noori said, "I have been married for eight months. My mother-in-law beats me and demands to bring a motorcycle and Rs 50,000." The police have registered a case under relevant sections. -- ANI
12:12 Maya's decision to go alone in MP won't impact Cong: Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi Friday said BSP chief Mayawati's decision not to have an alliance with his party in Madhya Pradesh will not impact its poll prospects in the state even as he suggested that the BSP may come on board for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati announced early this week that her party will not forge an alliance with the Congress "at any cost" for the upcoming assembly polls in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, dealing a blow to opposition's efforts to stitch a united front against the ruling BJP ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
"I don't see the BSP alliance impacting us much in Madhya Pradesh," Gandhi said while speaking at the HT Leadership Summit in New Delhi. However, he said it would have been better to have an alliance and expressed confidence that the party will win upcoming assembly elections in all states --- Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana. To a question on alliance talks, Gandhi said,
"The alliance in state and the alliance in the Centre are very different... Mayawatiji has indicated that. We were pretty flexible in the state, in fact I was more flexible than some of our state leaders. We were in the midst of the conversation but I guess they decided to go their own way".
However, Gandhi suggested that the BSP will form an alliance with the Congress in the 2019 general elections. "I think in national elections parties will come together particularly in Uttar Pradesh," he said, adding the BSP has indicated that it may come on board for the 2019 elections.
Mayawati had said that even though the Congress chief and his mother Sonia Gandhi appeared to be in favour of an alliance, there were other "senior leaders" who worked to foil any possibility of an understanding. Mayawati alleged the Congress had not mended itself and like the BJP "betrayed" her party. -- PTI
Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati announced early this week that her party will not forge an alliance with the Congress "at any cost" for the upcoming assembly polls in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, dealing a blow to opposition's efforts to stitch a united front against the ruling BJP ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
"I don't see the BSP alliance impacting us much in Madhya Pradesh," Gandhi said while speaking at the HT Leadership Summit in New Delhi. However, he said it would have been better to have an alliance and expressed confidence that the party will win upcoming assembly elections in all states --- Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana. To a question on alliance talks, Gandhi said,
"The alliance in state and the alliance in the Centre are very different... Mayawatiji has indicated that. We were pretty flexible in the state, in fact I was more flexible than some of our state leaders. We were in the midst of the conversation but I guess they decided to go their own way".
However, Gandhi suggested that the BSP will form an alliance with the Congress in the 2019 general elections. "I think in national elections parties will come together particularly in Uttar Pradesh," he said, adding the BSP has indicated that it may come on board for the 2019 elections.
Mayawati had said that even though the Congress chief and his mother Sonia Gandhi appeared to be in favour of an alliance, there were other "senior leaders" who worked to foil any possibility of an understanding. Mayawati alleged the Congress had not mended itself and like the BJP "betrayed" her party. -- PTI
11:56 The women who opened the doors of Sabarimala
The Sabarimala verdict by the Supreme Court of India has prompted discourse among Indians, on more than one aspect. There has been a lot written and said about who the petitioners in the Sabarimala case were.
The lead petitioner in the case, Indian Young Lawyers Association, has a Muslim person as its President. This resulted in political colour being given to the case, particularly in the State of Kerala.
There were allegations that the petition was motivated and was filed by members of the Muslim community with a view to deriding Hindu customs.
Bar & Bench decided to probe the issue further. Who filed this petition? What prompted them to file it? What is their take on the judgment?
Read more
The lead petitioner in the case, Indian Young Lawyers Association, has a Muslim person as its President. This resulted in political colour being given to the case, particularly in the State of Kerala.
There were allegations that the petition was motivated and was filed by members of the Muslim community with a view to deriding Hindu customs.
Bar & Bench decided to probe the issue further. Who filed this petition? What prompted them to file it? What is their take on the judgment?
Read more
11:48 Trump's counter terrorism strategy identifies LeT, TTP as potential threat to US
Pakistan-based terrorist outfit s -- the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan -- are among radical Islamist groups identified as a potential threat to the US in the Trump administration's new counter-terrorism strategy.
In addition to the ISIS and al-Qaeda, dozens of other radical Islamist terrorist groups are working to advance more locally focused insurgent or terrorist campaigns, while still posing a threat to United States persons and interests overseas, said the National Strategy for Counter-terrorism released by the White House on Thursday.
"These groups, including Boko Haram, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and the Lashkar-e Taiba, employ a range of political and terrorist tactics to undermine local governments and conduct attacks," it said.
The LeT is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people. It has been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014. According to the strategy, these organisations will probably prioritise regional goals over attacks against the homeland or United States interests because of resource constraints or political considerations. -- PTI
In addition to the ISIS and al-Qaeda, dozens of other radical Islamist terrorist groups are working to advance more locally focused insurgent or terrorist campaigns, while still posing a threat to United States persons and interests overseas, said the National Strategy for Counter-terrorism released by the White House on Thursday.
"These groups, including Boko Haram, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and the Lashkar-e Taiba, employ a range of political and terrorist tactics to undermine local governments and conduct attacks," it said.
The LeT is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people. It has been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014. According to the strategy, these organisations will probably prioritise regional goals over attacks against the homeland or United States interests because of resource constraints or political considerations. -- PTI
11:34 After dinner date, PM-Putin get to work this morning
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets PM Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House this morning ahead of the summit talks.
The Russian President arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for the annual summit with Prime Minister Modi after which Russia and India are expected to sign the S-400 air defence system deal and a number of other pacts in key sectors such as space and energy.
Putin, who was received by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on his arrival, went straight to Modi's official Lok Kalyan Marg residence where the two leaders had a one-on-one meeting. Later, Modi hosted a private dinner for the visiting dignitary.
The Russian President arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for the annual summit with Prime Minister Modi after which Russia and India are expected to sign the S-400 air defence system deal and a number of other pacts in key sectors such as space and energy.
Putin, who was received by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on his arrival, went straight to Modi's official Lok Kalyan Marg residence where the two leaders had a one-on-one meeting. Later, Modi hosted a private dinner for the visiting dignitary.
11:27 Deepika Padukone to star in, produce film on acid attack survivor
Deepika Padukone will be playing the role of an acid attack survivor in Meghna Gulzar's next directorial venture which the actor will also be producing.
The 32-year-old will play the role of Laxmi Agarwal in the yet to be titled film. "When I heard this story, I was deeply moved as it's not just one of violence but of strength and courage, hope and victory. It made such an impact on me, that personally and creatively, I needed to go beyond and so the decision to turn producer," Deepika said in a statement.
According to the release, in 2005, while Laxmi was waiting at a bus stop in Delhi, she was attacked by an assailant, a man twice her age, known to her family and an unlikely suitor whose advances she had declined. The film showcases Laxmi's journey in the time after her attack spanning 10 years, a significant part of the story is the game-changing PIL in the Supreme Court which inspired the amendment on acid laws in 2013.
Meghna said in spite of regulation on the sale of acid and changes in legislation regarding acid attacks, the ground reality is still very grim. "Acid violence is a very prevalent danger even today. Medical treatment, compensation, rehabilitation and inclusion of acid attack survivors are still very real challenges.
"Using Laxmi's story as a lens, we are attempting to explore these aspects and consequences of acid violence in our society. This is what makes this story, relevant and one that must be told. Because if anything, awareness is the first step towards change," she said.
The "Raazi" director added that the role is emotionally and physically challenging and she is confident that Deepika would do justice to the character and the story.
"Her physicality matched with what I'd imagined for Laxmi's character. I'm grateful and encouraged that she was so spontaneous in her decision to do the film. When you take a face as beautiful as hers and portray her as an acid attack survivor, the magnitude of the violence and damage is that much more resounding," Meghna said.
Deepika's last film was Sanjay Leela Bhansali's blockbuster "Padmaavat". Earlier, the actor was suppose to work with director Vishal Bharadwaj and Irrfan Khan on a film, in which she was to essay the role of a gangster. But the film has been postponed due to Irrfan's ill health. -- PTI
The 32-year-old will play the role of Laxmi Agarwal in the yet to be titled film. "When I heard this story, I was deeply moved as it's not just one of violence but of strength and courage, hope and victory. It made such an impact on me, that personally and creatively, I needed to go beyond and so the decision to turn producer," Deepika said in a statement.
According to the release, in 2005, while Laxmi was waiting at a bus stop in Delhi, she was attacked by an assailant, a man twice her age, known to her family and an unlikely suitor whose advances she had declined. The film showcases Laxmi's journey in the time after her attack spanning 10 years, a significant part of the story is the game-changing PIL in the Supreme Court which inspired the amendment on acid laws in 2013.
Meghna said in spite of regulation on the sale of acid and changes in legislation regarding acid attacks, the ground reality is still very grim. "Acid violence is a very prevalent danger even today. Medical treatment, compensation, rehabilitation and inclusion of acid attack survivors are still very real challenges.
"Using Laxmi's story as a lens, we are attempting to explore these aspects and consequences of acid violence in our society. This is what makes this story, relevant and one that must be told. Because if anything, awareness is the first step towards change," she said.
The "Raazi" director added that the role is emotionally and physically challenging and she is confident that Deepika would do justice to the character and the story.
"Her physicality matched with what I'd imagined for Laxmi's character. I'm grateful and encouraged that she was so spontaneous in her decision to do the film. When you take a face as beautiful as hers and portray her as an acid attack survivor, the magnitude of the violence and damage is that much more resounding," Meghna said.
Deepika's last film was Sanjay Leela Bhansali's blockbuster "Padmaavat". Earlier, the actor was suppose to work with director Vishal Bharadwaj and Irrfan Khan on a film, in which she was to essay the role of a gangster. But the film has been postponed due to Irrfan's ill health. -- PTI
11:13 Kavanaugh defends emotional testimony
Brett Kavanaugh, US President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, has defended his "emotional" testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee last week, saying it showed his frustration at being wrongly accused of horrible conduct completely contrary to his record and character.
Kavanaugh, 53, became emotional when refuting allegations of sexual misconduct three women publicly levelled against him. The nominee's conduct during the hearing caught the attention of many, who cited his temperament as another reason to vote "no" on his confirmation.
Writing in the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, Kavanaugh argued that his testimony "reflected my overwhelming frustration at being wrongly accused".
"After all those meetings and after my initial hearing concluded, I was subjected to wrongful and sometimes vicious allegations. My time in high school and college, more than 30 years ago, has been ridiculously distorted. My wife and daughters have faced vile and violent threats," Kavanaugh wrote.
"My hearing testimony was forceful and passionate. That is because I forcefully and passionately denied the allegation against me," he said. "At times, my testimony -- both in my opening statement and in response to questions -- reflected my overwhelming frustration at being wrongly accused, without corroboration, of horrible conduct completely contrary to my record and character. My statement and answers also reflected my deep distress at the unfairness of how this allegation has been handled,' Kavanaugh argued.
Kavanaugh faces a critical procedural vote Friday. The ruling Republicans exuded confidence that he would sail through the Congress. -- PTI
Kavanaugh, 53, became emotional when refuting allegations of sexual misconduct three women publicly levelled against him. The nominee's conduct during the hearing caught the attention of many, who cited his temperament as another reason to vote "no" on his confirmation.
Writing in the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, Kavanaugh argued that his testimony "reflected my overwhelming frustration at being wrongly accused".
"After all those meetings and after my initial hearing concluded, I was subjected to wrongful and sometimes vicious allegations. My time in high school and college, more than 30 years ago, has been ridiculously distorted. My wife and daughters have faced vile and violent threats," Kavanaugh wrote.
"My hearing testimony was forceful and passionate. That is because I forcefully and passionately denied the allegation against me," he said. "At times, my testimony -- both in my opening statement and in response to questions -- reflected my overwhelming frustration at being wrongly accused, without corroboration, of horrible conduct completely contrary to my record and character. My statement and answers also reflected my deep distress at the unfairness of how this allegation has been handled,' Kavanaugh argued.
Kavanaugh faces a critical procedural vote Friday. The ruling Republicans exuded confidence that he would sail through the Congress. -- PTI
10:51 TV anchor Suhaib Ilyasi acquitted of wife's murder
Delhi High Court allows appeal of former TV anchor and producer Suhaib Ilyasi and acquits him in murder case of his wife, Anju. An earlier trial court had sentenced him to life term for the murder.
IN 2017, the trial court had ruled out the demand for death sentence saying the case did not fall in the rarest of the rare category. The court also directed that Rs 10 lakh would be paid as compensation to parents of Anju which would be borne by Ilyasi.
Ilyasi, who was brought from Tihar jail, shouted that he was innocent and the award of life sentence is an "injustice".
During the arguments on sentence, the prosecution sought capital punishment for the former TV producer contending that he gave "a painful death to his wife".
Further, the prosecutor said that Ilyasi who was supposed to be a protector became a killer and the case fell within the realms of rarest of rare.
Anju was rushed to a hospital on January 11, 2000 with stab wounds she received at her East Delhi residence.
Suhaib, who had shot into limelight after hosting TV crime show -- India's Most Wanted -- was arrested on March 28, 2000 and later charges were framed against him in the case after his sister-in-law and mother-in-law alleged that he used to torture his wife for dowry.
IN 2017, the trial court had ruled out the demand for death sentence saying the case did not fall in the rarest of the rare category. The court also directed that Rs 10 lakh would be paid as compensation to parents of Anju which would be borne by Ilyasi.
Ilyasi, who was brought from Tihar jail, shouted that he was innocent and the award of life sentence is an "injustice".
During the arguments on sentence, the prosecution sought capital punishment for the former TV producer contending that he gave "a painful death to his wife".
Further, the prosecutor said that Ilyasi who was supposed to be a protector became a killer and the case fell within the realms of rarest of rare.
Anju was rushed to a hospital on January 11, 2000 with stab wounds she received at her East Delhi residence.
Suhaib, who had shot into limelight after hosting TV crime show -- India's Most Wanted -- was arrested on March 28, 2000 and later charges were framed against him in the case after his sister-in-law and mother-in-law alleged that he used to torture his wife for dowry.
10:40 Bhutan self-reliance call worries India
Confronted with a choice between big brothers on either side for years, Thimphu has consistently been with Delhi and not maintained formal diplomatic relations with China. Read more
10:29 IAF plane crashes in UP
An IAF plane has been crashes in Baghpat, UP. The pilot is safe. Details awaited.
10:23 Police complaint against Tanushree Dutta for 'defaming' Raj Thackeray
A non-cognisable offence complaint has been filed against Tanushree Dutta by one Sumant Dhas for allegedly defaming MNS chief Raj Thackeray and the party. The complaint was filed at Kaij police station in Beed district of Maharashtra.
Tanushree had alleged that the MNS was involved in vandalising her vehicle on the sets of the 2009 film, Horn Ok Pleasss.
The MNS youth wing on Wednesday had handed over a letter to the makers of Salman Khan's reality show Bigg Boss after the reports of Tanushree participating in the ongoing season came out. The party workers threatened violence on the set in Lonavala if the former actress was let in.
Many Bollywood celebrities have, on the other hand, have expressed their opinion over the matter and celebs like Sonam Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Raveena Tandon, Richa Chadha, Swara Bhasker, Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor and Twinkle Khanna have even supported Tanushree.
The former Miss India has accused Nana Patekar of harassing her 10 years ago during the shoot of the film Horn Ok Pleasss. The claims were later denied by Nana Patekar and he has even sent her a legal notice.
Tanushree had alleged that the MNS was involved in vandalising her vehicle on the sets of the 2009 film, Horn Ok Pleasss.
The MNS youth wing on Wednesday had handed over a letter to the makers of Salman Khan's reality show Bigg Boss after the reports of Tanushree participating in the ongoing season came out. The party workers threatened violence on the set in Lonavala if the former actress was let in.
Many Bollywood celebrities have, on the other hand, have expressed their opinion over the matter and celebs like Sonam Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Raveena Tandon, Richa Chadha, Swara Bhasker, Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor and Twinkle Khanna have even supported Tanushree.
The former Miss India has accused Nana Patekar of harassing her 10 years ago during the shoot of the film Horn Ok Pleasss. The claims were later denied by Nana Patekar and he has even sent her a legal notice.
10:12 WB cabinet rejig: Mitra to head IT also
In a minor cabinet reshuffle, West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra was given the additional charge of the information technology and electronics department, a government notification has said.
Bratya Basu, who held the IT portfolio before Mitra took over, will now look after the biotechnology department, the notification released Thursday night stated.
The state finance minister had been looking after three departments -- commerce and industries, finance, and micro small and medium enterprises and textiles. With the latest reshuffle, the IT department has also been added to his folio. -- PTI
Bratya Basu, who held the IT portfolio before Mitra took over, will now look after the biotechnology department, the notification released Thursday night stated.
The state finance minister had been looking after three departments -- commerce and industries, finance, and micro small and medium enterprises and textiles. With the latest reshuffle, the IT department has also been added to his folio. -- PTI
10:02 Govt's Naga talks interlocutor RN Ravi appointed Dy NSA
R N Ravi, the government interlocutor for talks with Naga insurgents, was Thursday appointed Deputy National Security Advisor, according to an order issued by the Personnel Ministry.
Ravi is the Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved redesignating Ravi as the Deputy National Security Advisor (Internal Affairs) and as interlocutor of the government in Nagaland instead of chairman, JIC, the order said.
Ravi, a 1976-batch Indian Police Service officer (retired) of the Kerala cadre, was in August this year given an extension as the government's representative for the ongoing talks with Naga insurgent group National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM).
Ravi retired as the Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau in 2012. He was in charge of the Northeast desk at the IB.He was appointed as the chairman of the JIC, which works under the National Security Council Secretariat in September 2014, months after the NDA came to power. -- PTI
Image: Thuingaleng Muivah, left, and R N Ravi, the Government of India's Special Interlocutor for the Naga talks, exchange copies of the agreement the NSCN-IM reached with the government, August 3, 2015.
Also read Saisuresh Sivaswamy's exclusive interview in 2015 with RN Ravi: How the Naga Accord was reached
Ravi is the Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved redesignating Ravi as the Deputy National Security Advisor (Internal Affairs) and as interlocutor of the government in Nagaland instead of chairman, JIC, the order said.
Ravi, a 1976-batch Indian Police Service officer (retired) of the Kerala cadre, was in August this year given an extension as the government's representative for the ongoing talks with Naga insurgent group National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM).
Ravi retired as the Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau in 2012. He was in charge of the Northeast desk at the IB.He was appointed as the chairman of the JIC, which works under the National Security Council Secretariat in September 2014, months after the NDA came to power. -- PTI
Image: Thuingaleng Muivah, left, and R N Ravi, the Government of India's Special Interlocutor for the Naga talks, exchange copies of the agreement the NSCN-IM reached with the government, August 3, 2015.
Also read Saisuresh Sivaswamy's exclusive interview in 2015 with RN Ravi: How the Naga Accord was reached
09:43 Rupee recovers 6 paise against US dollar ahead of RBI policy outcome
The rupee recovered 7 paise to 73.52 against the US dollar at the forex market Friday ahead of the RBI's monetary policy outcome amid fresh selling by exporters as the government stepped in to reduce oil prices.
Dealers said besides fresh selling of the US dollar by exporters, the greenback's weakness against some currencies overseas supported the rupee.
The domestic currency closed at a record low of 73.58, down by 24 paise or 0.33 per cent on Thursday, marking its third straight session of losses. Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex dropped by 231.16 points, or 0.66 per cent, to 34,938 in opening trade. -- PTI
Dealers said besides fresh selling of the US dollar by exporters, the greenback's weakness against some currencies overseas supported the rupee.
The domestic currency closed at a record low of 73.58, down by 24 paise or 0.33 per cent on Thursday, marking its third straight session of losses. Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex dropped by 231.16 points, or 0.66 per cent, to 34,938 in opening trade. -- PTI
09:10 US accuses China of meddling in its elections
China has mounted an unprecedented effort to not only meddle American elections, but also shape the public opinion of the country, which makes pale the efforts of other countries through lobbying, the White House alleged as it fielded the vice president to issue a strong warning to China and make Americans aware of the real Chinese intentions.
Hours after United States Vice President Mike Pence delivered a major foreign policy speech on China, National Security Advisor John Bolton said on Thursday much of the information about Chinese malign activities remain in the classified domain.
Bolton said that the Chinese actions are certainly aimed at affecting elections.
"I think the vice president talked about that. What we know of the Chinese intentions, with respect to the president. But it's also a far broader effort to influence political opinion through academic institutions, through think tanks, through intimidating individual scholars," Bolton said.
"It's not that other countries don't hire lobbyists and that sort of thing. But I've never seen anything like the scope of the Chinese activities.
"As the vice president indicated, a senior career intelligence professional said that what we were seeing from China really put all the other efforts, it made them pale by comparison, Bolton said.
Describing the Chinese efforts as a very serious problem, Bolton said the American people are a very independent lot and as such they want other people interfering US's our decision-making process.
"It's something that, really, is suitable for the public to debate. When we see other countries taking advantage of our openness and our freedom of speech to try and push us in a particular direction, obviously favorable to policies China wants to see. It something we should be concerned about," Bolton said.
Bolton said that the Chinese efforts is not to just influence US elections, but also influence American political opinion more broadly.
Pence, he said was using previously classified, as well as unclassified, information. And we expect there will be more on this subject in the days and weeks ahead.
"But the vice president's speech was a very important document, where we tried to lay out what we could, really, in public at this point, about this unprecedented Chinese effort," Pence said.
Senator Marco Rubio in a statement welcomed the new US policy towards China.
"Welcome the Administration's heightened commitment to confront China's aggression. The American people deserve to know more about the scope and scale of China's political influence operations in the US," he said. -- PTI
08:19 'US will defeat its enemies': Trump unveils new counter-terrorism strategy
A top American general has asked Islamabad to use its influence over Taliban to bring them to the negotiations table and stop cross border movement of their leaders, a day-after Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi left the United States after holding meetings with top Trump Administration officials.
"As we often talk with the military leadership in Pakistan, we need them to continue to stay engaged in this. We need them to help lower the violence in Afghanistan," US Central Command Commander General Joseph Votel told reporters during a Pentagon news conference.
Pakistan, he said, need to do that by making absolutely sure there are instructions, direction, other things coming from Taliban leadership, which remains in Pakistan, to their fighters on the ground.
"They need to ensure that they continue to ensure there can be no movement back and forth and that fighters can't come back into Pakistan to get aid or medical care or other things with that. They have to help us lower the violence in Afghanistan," Votel said.
"And they need to use their influence with the Taliban to force the Taliban leadership to come to the table. And they can do this, they can put pressure on them to do this," Votel said when asked about Qureshi's remarks a day earlier in which he claimed that Pakistan has taken appropriate measures against terrorist groups.
"Those are the two things that we have continued to emphasize with Pakistan that they need to do. So I do acknowledge that they have done a lot in their own country, but there is more to do and it is those specific areas right there where we are seeking their closest assistance," Votel said.
On Tuesday, Qureshi met the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the National Security Advisor John Bolton.
Wrapping up his 10-day US trip, Qureshi in his remarks at the US Institute of Peace had challenged that US military and members of Congress to come into Pakistan, and travel anywhere inside the country and see for themselves that there are no safe havens any longer.
There is no doubt, Votel Acknowledged that Pakistan has conducted operations in their country to root out terrorist organisations "in certain areas," particularly areas up along the border with Afghanistan.
"But we do assess there still is presence in Pakistan and we need them to continue to do that, the general said. -- PTI
00:17 US charges 7 Russian intel officials with international hacking
The United States Thursday indicted seven Russian intelligence officials on charges of computer hacking, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering.
According to the indictment, all officers in the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), a Russian military intelligence agency, between December 2014 and May 2018, conducted persistent and sophisticated computer intrusions affecting US persons, corporate entities, international organizations, and their respective employees located around the world, based on their strategic interest to the Russian government.
Among the goals of the conspiracy was to publicise stolen information as part of an influence and disinformation campaign designed to undermine, retaliate against, and otherwise delegitimise the efforts of international anti-doping organisations and officials who had publicly exposed a Russian state-sponsored athlete doping program and to damage the reputations of athletes around the world by falsely claiming that such athletes were using banned or performance-enhancing drugs, Department of Justice alleged.
"State-sponsored hacking and disinformation campaigns pose serious threats to our security and to our open society, but the Department of Justice is defending against them," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said.
"Today we are indicting seven GRU officers for multiple felonies each, including the use of hacking to spread the personal information of hundreds of anti-doping officials and athletes as part of an effort to distract from Russia's state-sponsored doping program," Sessions said.
The Russians, he said, in this case allegedly targeted multiple Americans and American entities for hacking, from national anti-doping agency to the Westinghouse Electric Company near Pittsburgh.
"The actions of these seven hackers, all working as officials for the Russian government, were criminal, retaliatory, and damaging to innocent victims and the United States' economy, as well as to world organizations," FBI Director Christopher Wray alleged.
The seven Russian named in the chargesheet are Aleksei Sergeyevich Morenets, 41, Evgenii Mikhaylovich, Serebriakov, 37, Ivan Sergeyevich Yermakov, 32, Artem Andreyevich Malyshev, 30, and Dmitriy Sergeyevich Badin, 27, who were each assigned to Military Unit 26165, and Oleg Mikhaylovich Sotnikov, 46, and Alexey Valerevich Minin, 46, who were also GRU officers.
The indictment alleges that defendants Yermakov, Malyshev, Badin, and unidentified conspirators, often using fictitious personas and proxy servers, researched victims, sent spearphishing emails, and compiled, used, and monitored malware command and control servers. -- PTI
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