The government Wednesday said it is not seeking decryption of messages on WhatsApp but rather the location and identity of those spreading misinformation that provokes violence and heinous offences.


After meeting with WhatsApp Vice President Chris Daniels, IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said: "On the issue of traceability, I emphasised that when we talk of traceability, we don't talk of decrypting messages".


"We insist rather on location and identification of the sender of WhatsApp messages when such messages lead to provocation of violence, heinous offences and other serious crimes," he said.


Prasad added that he has been assured by the WhatsApp team that they will look into the matter and respond.


The Facebook-owned company has been under pressure for months now to put in place a mechanism to clamp down on fake messages on its platform. "I met Chris Daniels, along with his team, and discussed various issues of the past. They have assured us that they have appointed a grievance officer for India. I have suggested that we will appreciate if grievance officer is also located in India," Prasad said.


The minister said during the meeting, he also emphasised that WhatsApp is an important instrument of message circulation, especially during elections.


"...it is appropriate and desirable that the institutional integrity of this platform is maintained, so that abusers cannot abuse it. They (WhatsApp) have also assured that they will work with my department in preventing circulation of spam farms," he said. -- PTI

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor Wednesday today wanted to know why the BJP had not built a bigger statue for Mahatma Gandhi while they erected a 182-metre statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, his disciple.


Addressing a function at the district congress committee office in Thiruvananthapuram, the Congress leader said there was no such gigantic statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the country.


"The biggest one is in Parliament. But this is a 182 metre statue for his disciple. Why is there such a big statue for a disciple of Gandhiji in the country where there is no statue of that size for the Mahatma?" he asked.


"Patel, a very simple person, was known as the disciple of Gandhiji," Tharoor said. "I am asking a question...Is it right to erect such an imposing statue of Patel, a man of simplicity and a true Gandhian, who moved along with poor peasants," he said.


Tharoor said BJP had no answer to the query why they did not erect a bigger statue of the Mahatma. The reason is that they do not believe in Mahatma Gandhi's principles of non-violence, he alleged. He also alleged that BJP was trying to "hijack" the legacy of freedom fighters and national heroes like Patel as they have no leaders of their own in history to celebrate. He said Patel was a Congress leader and BJP should not be allowed to adopt him. "Patel had worked along with Gandhiji and strengthened the Congress party. We should remember him always," Tharoor said. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Statue of Unity dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the tallest statue in the world, on October 31, the 143rd birth anniversary of Free India's first home minister.


Hindol Sengupta, whose book on Sardar Patel, The Man Who Saved India, was released recently, believes that "Patel needed a significant public tribute and this particular government has chosen to give it in the form of this statue."


"One party left the legacy of Patel in the dust, giving another party the chance to pick it up," Sengupta tells Rediff.com's Utkarsh Mishra.


Read the interview here.

The Modi government's "boat of corruption" will no longer sail, the Congress said Wednesday after the Supreme Court asked the Centre for the pricing details of the 36 Rafale jets India is buying from France.


A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked for the pricing details in a sealed cover within 10 days, but agreed that "strategic and confidential" information need not be disclosed.


"The Modi government's boat of corruption will no longer sail because the Supreme Courts wants to know the truth of Rafale. The corruption-loaded BJP government can no longer remain investigation free, the accused can no longer run away from a JPC (joint parliamentary committee)," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters.


"Dear PM, Please explain to the 'court of people', why are you now shying away from JPC investigation? Rafale Scam is now fully ripe for an investigation-no more excuses!" Surjewala added in a tweet.


The Congress has been alleging massive irregularities in the Rafale deal, saying the government was procuring each aircraft at a cost of over Rs 1,670 crore as against Rs 526 crore finalised by the UPA government when it was negotiating a deal for procurement of 126 Rafale fighter jets.


The Congress has also been targeting the government over selection of Reliance Defence as an offset partner for Dassault. The government has vehemently rejected the allegations and asserted that it did not have any role in the selection of Reliance Defence. -- PTI

The Pakistan Supreme Court Wednesday overturned the conviction of Aasia Bibi, a Christian mother facing execution for blasphemy, in a landmark case which has incited deadly violence and reached as far as the Vatican.


Bibi appeared to be in state of disbelief after hearing the decision from her lawyer. "I can't believe what I am hearing, will i go out now? Will they let me out, really?' Bibi said.


In 2011, Pakistan's Punjab governor Salman Taseer, who spoke out in support of Bibi, was gunned down in broad daylight in Islamabad. His assassin Mumtaz Qadri was executed earlier in 2016 after the court found him guilty of murder.  Read more

The Enforcement Directorate Wednesday opposed in a Delhi court the anticipatory bail plea of former Union minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case and sought his custodial interrogation.


The ED, which filed its response to the anticipatory bail plea of Chidambaram, said that he has remained evasive and was not cooperating in the probe.


The hearing on Chidambaram's plea will take place before Special Judge O P Saini on Thursday. The court had on October 8 extended till November 1 the interim protection from arrest granted to Chidambaram and his son Karti in the Aircel-Maxis case filed by the CBI and the ED.


Chidambaram ahd filed the plea for protection from arrest in the ED case on May 30 this year after which he got relief from the court on various occasions.


The agency on October 25 had filed charge sheet against Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case, accusing him of conspiring with foreign investors to clear their venture. -- PTI

The Supreme Court Wednesday reiterated that only green crackers will be sold in New Delhi and the national capital region in the run up to Diwali, the festival of lights.


A division bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri, also said that pollution-causing firecrackers, which have already been manufactured, will not be allowed to be sold in Delhi and NCR.


In view of the rising air pollution, which is aggravated by bursting of crackers, the Supreme Court, last week, said that burning of bangers will be allowed only between 8 pm and 10 pm on Diwali.


A division bench of the apex court had further said that only the improvised fireworks with reduced emission as well as green crackers would be permitted to be manufactured and sold.


In its judgement last week, the court had imposed a ban on the making and burning of joined firecrackers (series crackers or laris), saying they cause air, noise and solid waste problems.Some shopkeepers and customers in the national capital had expressed inability to understand what the apex court meant by "green fireworks".


Irked by the top court's verdict, the cracker sellers questioned that why such a decision was taken just a few days before the Diwali festival, adding that the ruling has directly hit their business and livelihood. -- PTI

Korea president Moon Jae-in expressed his thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday for sending him "Modi jackets".

Moon uploaded photos of him wearing the jackets in a Twitter post, saying they "fit great."

"This is a Modi jacket modified from a traditional Indian outfit so that it can be worn with ease in South Korea too," Moon said in the message. "During my visit to India, I told Prime Minister Modi that what he was wearing looked great, and he sent me some exactly my size. I thank him for his great kindness."

The jackets sent to Moon were labelled 'Modi Jackets' presumably because they have almost become synonymous with the PM.  

In fact, these jackets are popularly called the Nehru jacket named after India's first prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who popularised the outfit and was known as much for his intellect as for his keen sartorial sense.

Former J-K CM Omar Abdullah aptly tweeted, "It's really nice of our PM to send these but could he not have sent them without changing the name? All my life I've known these jackets as Nehru jackets & now I find these ones have been labelled "Modi Jacket". Clearly nothing existed in India before 2014."

A Delhi court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on the bail plea of CBI DSP Devender Kumar arrested in connection with bribery allegations involving the agency's Special Director Rakesh Asthana.


Special CBI Judge Santosh Snehi Mann said he would pass order later during the day after both sides complete their arguments. During the hearing, the lawyer appearing for Kumar told the court that every rule has been violated by CBI in this case against him and the "irony" is that the person who followed the rule is in jail.


The CBI did not oppose his bail petition. In his bail application, Kumar had termed his custody "illegal" and urged the court to set him free.


The application also said Kumar was ready to abide by the conditions imposed by the court while granting him bail. It claimed that the Central Bureau of Investigation sleuths did not have valid search warrants when they raided Kumar's office and residence.


His eight mobile phones, an iPad and his son's laptop were seized, the plea said, seeking a direction to the agency to release these articles. Kumar and Asthana have already challenged the legality of the FIR filed against them. Besides them, two alleged middlemen -- Manoj Prasad and Somesh Prasad -- have also been named as accused in the case.


The agency had earlier told the court that Kumar had tried to fabricate evidence during the investigation in another case. Kumar had claimed that he was falsely implicated in the case and that he was a victim of rivalry among the senior officers of the central probe agency. -- PTI

The sleeveless jackets favoured by PM Modi which were gifted to Korean President Moon Jae-in.

The JadeBlue logo that you seen on the hangars represents the menswear store owned by Ahmedabad-based brothers, Jitendra and Bipin, who are the personal tailors of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Anupam Kher's tweet on his resignation from the CBI: It has been an honour, a privilege & a great learning experience to be the Chairman of the prestigious @FTIIOfficial. But because of my international assignments I won't have much time to devote at the institute. Hence decided to send my resignation. Thank you. @Ra_THORe

Actor Anupam Kher resigns from the post of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Chairman citing a 'busy schedule'. Details awaited.


Kher had been appointed chairman of the premier institute in October last year, after the position fell vacant after the end of the tenure of Gajendra Chauhan.


Kher, 63, an award-winning actor, is a vocal supporter of the Narendra Modi government. His wife and actor, Kirron Kher, is a BJP MP from Chandigarh.

He has previously served as chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification and was the director of the National School of Drama from 2001 to 2004.

"The world's tallest statue would remind the entire world, the future generations about the courage, capabilities and resolution of the person who did this holy work of thwarting the conspiracy to disintegrate Mother India into pieces," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said addressing a gathering after inaugurating the monument.


"The statue will remind those who question India's existence, that this nation was, is and will remain eternal," Modi said. "This (statue) is a source of unity...with this sentiment we should march...and march with a dream to make the country 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' (One India, Superior India)," he added.


Modi said his government has taken up the cause of bringing to life the history and contributions of great personalities. "During the last four years, our government has set up many memorials of our national heroes, including this sky-high statue of Sardar Patel, his museum in Delhi, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar's Panch Tirth and a memorial dedicated to son of Gujarat's soil, Shyamji Krishna Varma," he said.


He then listed various other upcoming memorials and initiatives, such as Chhatrapati Shivaji's statue in Mumbai and a museum dedicated to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. "But, to my surprise, some people of this country are seeing our movement through the political glasses. We are criticized for praising the contributions of national heroes like Sardar Patel. We are made to feel as if we have committed a serious crime," he said.


He then posed a question to the audience, "You tell me, is it a crime to remember our national heroes?" To this, the audience replied in the negative.


"It was the sentiment of crores of Indians that the man who united the country should get honour he deserved," Modi said. He said it was the responsibility of the people to give a befitting reply to the efforts "aimed at dividing the country".


Modi said if Patel had not united the country, the countrymen would have needed visas to see lions in Junagadh or pay homage at Somnath in Gujarat or view the Charminar in Hyderabad.  -- PTI


Image: Striking a pose: PM Modi at the inauguration of the Statue of Unity today.

CBI Additional SP SS Gurm alleged in the Delhi High Court on Wednesday that Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who has filed a petition seeking the quashing of an FIR against him in a bribery case, was misleading the court by placing "selective" facts before it.


Gurm, who was transferred along with other CBI officials in the feud between CBI Director Alok Verma and Asthana, has sought to be made a party in the petition filed by Asthana.


The officer, who was transferred from Delhi to Jabalpur, has sought an opportunity to be heard in the case.


In an application before the high court, the additional SP claimed he has "reasonable" apprehension that CBI is seeking to protect and support Asthana and may not effectively contest the petition. He has also sought dismissal of Asthana's petition.


The separate petitions of Asthana, Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar and alleged middleman Manoj Prasad seeking to quash the FIR against them are scheduled to be heard by Justice Najmi Waziri on Thursday. -- PTI

Amid reports of its mounting tension with the RBI, the Finance Ministry Wednesday said the government has "nurtured and respected" autonomy of the central bank and has been holding extensive consultations with it on many issues.


"The autonomy for the central bank, within the framework of the RBI Act, is an essential and accepted governance requirement. Government of India has nurtured and respected this," it said in a statement. Both the government and RBI, in their functioning, have to be guided by public interest and the requirement of the Indian economy, it said.


"For the purpose, extensive consultations on several issues take place between the government and the RBI from time to time."


The statement however did not mention of the government citing the never-before-used power of issuing directions to RBI Governor to seek a resolution to differences with the central bank.


The government has sent at least three letters on different issues under Section 7 (1) of the Reserve Bank of India Act that gives it powers to issue any direction to the central bank governor on matters of public interest.


"The government of India has never made public the subject matter of those consultations. Only the final decisions taken are communicated," the statement said. "The government, through these consultations, places its assessment on issues and suggests possible solutions. The government will continue to do so," it added. -- PTI

Ex-Union minister MJ Akbar appears before Delhi's Patiala House court to record his statement in the criminal defamation case filed by him against journalist Priya Ramani.

Akbar begins his testimony by telling the court about his credentials and professional background and goes on to talk about his political career. He said he entered public life in 2014 and became National Spokesman for the BJP in 2015. He said he was currently a Member of Parliament from Madhya Pradesh.

Talking about his his career as a journalist, Akbar said, "I acquired a good reputation as both a writer and an editor."


Akbar submitted before the court that Ramani's tweets on October 10 and 13 have caused defamation. These tweets were picked up by various publications and did the rounds on social media.


Akbar told the court, "I've filed criminal defamation complaint against Priya Ramani for a series of tweets that she published. First one came to my notice on my return from my official tour. The tweet had a link to an article in a magazine called Vogue."

Update on the Rafale deal petition in the Supreme Court:


The Supreme Court Wednesday asked the Centre for pricing details of the 36 Rafale fighter jets India is buying from France in a sealed cover within 10 days but agreed that "strategic and confidential" information need not be disclosed.


In its order, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, gave some more leeway to the government which has been arguing that pricing details are so sensitive that they have not even been shared with Parliament.


The Centre must bring details of the decision making process of the deal into the public domain, except those that are confidential and have strategic importance, the court said.


The bench said the information must be shared by the government within 10 days and the petitioners could respond to it in the next seven days. It posted the matter for the next hearing on November 14.


"If pricing is something exclusive and you are not sharing it with us, please file an affidavit and say so," the bench told Attorney General K K Venugopal in its oral observations. It was hearing four petitions, including one by advocate Prashant Bhushan and former ministers Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha who are seeking a court monitored CBI investigation in the procurement of the fighter jets. "That you will have to wait," the CJI said, adding, "Let CBI put its house in order first."


The attorney general had expressed reservations about disclosing the details of pricing of the jets and said its cost was not even disclosed in Parliament. He also said the documents placed by the Centre before the court are covered by the Official Secrets Act.


The bench, also comprising Justices U U Lalit and K M Joseph, said the "core of information" that can be brought in the public domain should be shared with the "petitioner and petitioners in person". In its order, the bench observed that none of the petitioners have questioned the suitability of the Rafale jets, their equipment and their utility to the Indian Air Force.


"What has been questioned is the bonafide of the decision making process and the price/cost at which the same is to be procured," the bench said. The bench also noted that following its October 10 order the government has placed before it a note giving details of the steps taken in the decision making process leading to the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets.


At this stage, the bench said, the court did not want to record any finding or view on the documents placed before it. It also observed that information regarding induction of the Indian offset partner be given to the court and the petitioners.

When a counsel appearing for AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh told the bench he has also filed a petition in this matter, the court asked, "What is his interest? We don't have to entertain so many petitions." Shourie was present in the court during the hearing. -- PTI

Update on the Hashimpura case: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sentenced 16 policemen to life imprisonment for killing 42 people of a minority community in the 1987 Hashimpura massacre case in Uttar Pradesh.


A bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel reversed the trial court's verdict which had acquitted the accused.


The high court convicted 16 former Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel for murder and of kidnapping, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence under the Indian Penal Code.


It termed the massacre "targeted killing" of unarmed and defenceless people by the police. The high court's verdict came on pleas challenging a trial court's decision to acquit 16 policemen of charges of murder and other crimes in the case. -- PTI

In a landmark verdict, the Pakistan's Supreme Court Wednesday overturned the conviction of a Christian woman facing execution for blasphemy. Asiya Bibi was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours. She always maintained her innocence, but has spent most of the past eight years in solitary confinement.


Her case has been deeply divisive in Pakistan where there is strong support for the blasphemy laws.


The apex court, in a three-member bench led by chief justice Saqib Nisar, issued the verdict on Wednesday morning, three weeks after they had reached a decision. The delay followed threats by blasphemy campaigners to hold protests.


Bibi was accused of committing blasphemy in 2009. She was convicted in 2010 by the trial court and her death sentence was maintained by the Lahore High Court in 2014. She appealed against the conviction to the Supreme Court, which for the first time heard the case in July 2015.


Bibi's case gained prominence when when former governor of Pakistan's Punjab province Salman Taseer was killed in 2011 for supporting her and criticising the blasphemy laws. The blasphemy laws were promulgated by former military dictator Ziaul Haq in 1980s.


A person convicted under these laws is given death sentence. Critics say strict blasphemy laws have often been used to get revenge after personal disputes, and that convictions are based on thin evidence. Dozens of people have been charged under the laws. Though, Bibi is being released but there are fears that she might be at risk of being attacked by militants. --  PTI

Rahul Gandhi on Sardar Patel: Sardar Patel was a patriot, who fought for a independent, united and secular India. A man with a steely will, tempered by compassion, he was a Congressman to the core, who had no tolerance for bigotry or communalism. On his birth anniversary, I salute this great son of India.

Just in: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to file an affidavit within 10 days in a sealed envelope on the pricing details and advantages of the Rafale deal.


A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said, "Such details that may be considered strategic may not be furnished to the petitioners."


The court asked for documents in the public domain to be made available to the petitioners.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices U U Lalit and K M Joseph also asked the Centre to share information which can be brought in the public domain with the petitioners.

The top court, which has now fixed the matter for hearing on November 14, said  documents  considered strategic and confidential may not be shared.

CJI Ranjan Gogoi told petitioners that the CBI probe in the Rafale deal will have to wait. 


Attorney General KK Venugopal objected to disclosing details of pricing. Court says "submit the objections on affidavit, we will consider".


The Supreme Court is hearing a batch of petitions including the joint plea filed by former Union Ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie along with Prashant Bhushan, into the Rafale fighter jet deal between India and France today.

1987 Hashimpura mass murders case: The Delhi High Court sets aside the trial court judgement that had acquitted 16 Provincial Armed Constabulary officials. The court convicts all the accused, sentences them to life imprisonment. The court during pronouncement of the judgement observed, "This was a targetted killing by the armed forces. Members of the minority community were killed, families had to wait 31 years for justice."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveils the Statue Of Unity -- the tallest statue in the world dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. As the PM pushed a lever, an AV of the the genesis of the Patel statue began and ended with a flypast of the IAF's Surya Kiran aircraft showering flower petals on the statue.

Earlier today, President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and a host of dignitaries offered floral tributes to Sardar Patel on his birthday anniversary today.


Sardar Patel's 143rd birthday anniversary today is being observed as 'Rashtriya Ekta Divas'.


BJP President Amit Shah, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy CM Nitin Patel, and Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel are at the inauguration of the Patel statue.


Built at a cost of Rs 2,989 crore it is located on the Sadhu Bet island, near Rajpipla on the Narmada river, 3.2 km downstream of the Narmada dam. Anticipating protests by locals who demand compensation for the land used for the enormous figure, thousands of police personnel ahead of the grand inaugural event.

PM Modi speaking after the unveiling of the statue of Sardar Patel.

Read all about the Statue of Unity here.

On former PM Indira Gandh's death anniversary, Rahul Gandhi tweets: "Remembering Dadi today with a deep sense of happiness. She taught me so much and gave me unending love. She gave so much of herself to her people. I am very proud of her."


Image: Indira Gandhi with Rahul and Priyanka

Former union minister MJ Akbar, who filed a defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani, will record his statement in a Delhi court today. Akbar had skipped appearing in court on October 18. If the court is satisfied with his statement, it may issue a notice to Ramani for appearing before it, reports NDTV.


Ramani, the first woman to name him in the #MeToo movement is one of the 20 women journalists, who have accused him of sexual harassment during his stint as an editor at The Telegraph and The Asian Age.


Akbar has accused Ramani of "intentionally putting forward malicious, fabricated and salacious" allegations to harm his reputation.


The editor-turned-politician resigned as junior foreign minister on October 17.  After resigning, in a statement, Akbar said, "Since I have decided to seek justice in a court of law in my personal capacity, I deem it appropriate to step down from office and challenge false accusations levied against me."


Ramani said she was ready to fight the defamation complaint and "truth and the absolute truth is my only defence". Women who have spoken against Akbar "have done so at great risk to personal and professional lives" Ramani had said.


The other women who posted their #MeToo stories against Akbar include, Prerna Singh Bindra, Ghazala Wahab, Shutapa Paul, Anju Bharti, Suparna Sharma, Shuma Raha, Malini Bhupta, Kanika Gahlout, Kadambari M Wade, Majlie de Puy Kamp and Ruth David. -- PTI

People participate in the Run For Unity from near India Gate. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Statue Of Unity, the tallest statue in the world, will be inaugurated in Gujarat's Sadhu Bet on his 143rd birth anniversary today.