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Wed, 25 December 2019
Won't backtrack on implementing NRC: BJP leader

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20:25   Pakistan to import polio markers from India
Pakistan has decided to import polio markers from India, months after it suspended trade ties with New Delhi following abrogation of the article 370, according to a media report on Wednesday.
 
"The federal Cabinet on Tuesday decided to give a one-time permission for import of polio markers from India," Dawn reported.
Pakistan is one of the three countries, along with Afghanistan and Nigeria, where polio is still endemic.
The markers used to mark the fingers of children after administering them polio vaccine are approved by the World Health Organisation.
The Cabinet's decision to import markers from India comes months after the Pakistan government had on August 9 decided to suspend all kinds of trade with India following New Delhi's decision to abrogate Article 370 on August 5 to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
"However, since a large number of medicines and raw material are imported from India, the country's pharmaceutical industry started demanding that the ban be lifted on them because otherwise Pakistan could face severe crisis of medicines, especially life-saving drugs, within a few weeks. Consequently, the government had in September lifted the ban on import of medicines and raw material from India," the paper said.
Pakistan's National coordinator of Emergency Operation Centre for Polio Dr Rana Safdar told the newspaper that non-toxic markers were required as children tend to swallow some of the ink.
"There are only two WHO pre-qualified manufacturers in the world, in India and China, which manufacture non-toxic markers as children can swallow the ink," Safdar was quoted as saying by the paper.
Though WHO procures markers for Pakistan and, in the past, it had purchased markers from China, there were issues with the quality of markers. -- PTI
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20:11   Won't backtrack on implementing NRC: BJP leader
Bharatiya Janata Party national secretary Suresh Pujari Wednesday said the party will not backtrack on implementing the national register of citizens as it is essential for the security and self respect of the country.
        
The NRC, he said, is in the interests of the country.
Pujari, who is the MP of neighbouring Bargarh, told a press conference in Odisha's Sambalpur that intruders are availing of all the government benefits and the political parties are using them as vote banks.
The NRC is an ideological issue and the party will not backtrack in implementing it. NRC is in the interest of the country, he said.
The number of the Bangaldeshi intruders are increasing remarkably in West Bengal and it will gradually face a Kashmir-like situation. It is essential to identify the intruders and deport them, he added.
Describing the Citizen Amendment Act as a "historical law", Pujari said it is a positive one and arguments against it is not acceptable under any circumstance.
Stating that some political parties are giving wrong information on the about the Act, he said Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis are minority communities in Islamic countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. 

Due to religious persecution in those countries, they are bound to come to India, he said and questioned whether it is not a good step to give them citizenship.
Pujari said the BJP will hold meetings at one lakh venues across the country to tell the people about CAA. This apart, doo-to-door campaigns will also be held over the issue.

On the economic slowdown in the country, the BJP leader said There is a slowdown in the global growth. 

However, it is a temporary problem and will be resolved gradually. Decisions to address the issue will be taken in the next budget session and the economy will be streamlined within three months after the next budget. -- PTI 
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19:17   Army officer killed as Pak violates ceasefire along LoC
A junior commissioned officer of the army was killed on Wednesday in an unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops along the LoC in Rampur sector of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said.
 
Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing in Hajipeer area of Uri around 11.30 am on Wednesday, the sources said.
They said some of the shells fired by Pakistan landed in civilian areas, resulting in injuries to two civilians.
The Indian army personnel responded to the ceasefire violation in adequate measure, the sources said.
Pakistan also violated the ceasefire in nearby Rampur sector, resulting in the death of a JCO, the sources said. -- PTI
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19:12   Soren meets Sonia, invites her for swearing-in
Jharkhand chief minister-designate Hemant Soren on Wednesday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and invited her for his swearing-in ceremony scheduled in Ranchi on December 29.
 
Soren arrived in New Delhi in the afternoon and is also expected to meet Rahul Gandhi and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and invite them for the function.
He was accompanied by Congress leaders K C Venugopal and R P N Singh, who is the party's in-charge for Jharkhand. 
Before the meeting with Sonia Gandhi at her 10 Janpath residence, Soren had said it is a courtesy meeting.
Soren also wanted to thank the Congress and its leadership for their support in helping form a coalition government in the state, sources close to him said.
The JMM-led three-party alliance stormed to power in Jharkhand on Monday, ousting the BJP in yet another state in the Hindi heartland after the saffron party's stupendous performance in the Lok Sabha elections. 
The JMM on Wednesday said Governor Droupadi Murmu has invited its working president and chief minister-designate Hemant Soren to form government.
The governor's invitation comes a day after Soren called on the govenor at Raj Bhavan to stake claim to form government, submitting a letter of support of 50 MLAs to her.
The pre-poll opposition combine bagged 47 seats (JMM 30, Congress 16 and RJD one) in the 81-member assembly, while the three-member JVM (P) has extended "unconditional support" to Soren to form government.
Contesting the Jharkhand elections alone for the first time sans long-standing ally the AJSU Party, the ruling BJP bagged 25 seats. -- PTI
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18:58   CAA: Ritwik Ghatak kin decry BJP propaganda
Family members of auteur Ritwik Ghatak have issued a statement alleging that Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party, have "misappropriated" content from his films for its promotional video in support of the contentious citizenship law and "discriminatory" National Register of Citizen.
The saffron party, however, argued that Ghatak's films cannot be the "property" of a single family and just one dialogue had been used in the campaign video to serve a "greater cause".
The statement, undersigned by 24 family members of the mercurial filmmaker who died in 1976, said, "We, the family members of Ritwik Ghatak, strongly condemn the attempt by BJP's youth wing to use contents of his films for supporting a discriminatory act like Citizenship (Amendment) Act."
"Ghatak, a believer in humanism and secular ideals, had always highlighted the plight of refugees and marginalised people who had been displaced due to social and political turbulence," the statement said.
Among the signatories are actor Parambrata Chatterjee and economist Maitreesh Ghatak.
"This act of using any content from his films -- which does not fit into the context -- to support a law which seeks re-establishment of identity, talks about the possibility of taking away citizenship of a particular minority community is deemed unacceptable. It violates the values and principles espoused by Ghatak," the statement added.
Refuting the allegations, BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya said just one dialogue was used from Ghatak's classic Meghe Dhaka Tara in the promotional video.
"One family cannot be the custodian of a filmmaker like Ghatak, whose work appeals to a vast section of people. We have every right to use a dialogue from his film," Bhattacharya said.
Insisting that the video, where the dialogue has been apparently used, was yet to be released in public domain, Bhattacharya said, "The protest, engineered by a section of intellectuals, has political undercurrent."
Unlike claims made by some, Ghatak was not a Leftist throughout his life, he asserted. -- PTI
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18:49   SIT to probe anti-CAA clashes in Kanpur
A special investigation team was constituted on Wednesday to probe cases of rioting registered in Kanpur  during recent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
 
The SIT will be headed by Additional SP (Crime) Rajesh Yadav, IG (Kanpur range) Mohit Agarwal said.
Other members of the team will include Circle Officer (Anwarganj), Station House Officer (Kakadev), SHO (Barra), a police Sub-Inspector and a prosecution officer, he said.
The SIT was constituted following the directives of the Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police for conducting a fair probe into the cases of violence.
As many as four cases - three with Beckonganj police station and another with Babupurwa police station - have been transferred to the SIT.
The SIT would be better equipped to deal with the electronic gadgets to track down the culprits, especially because social media and WhatsApp were used to bring the alleged rioters together, said an official.
The team would be given access to all data from areas under the jurisdiction of police stations where the clashes occurred, Senior SP Anant Deo Tewari said.
The station heads of Beckonganj and Babupurwa have been asked to extend all support to SIT in its probe, the SSP said.
 Instructions have been issued to gather evidences against the accused persons who were named in the FIRs and whose names have come up during investigation, he added.
Anti-CAA protestors on Saturday set Yatimkhana police post on fire and indulged in intense brick-batting.
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17:53   CAA is 'ray of hope': Sindhi migrant
A member of the Sindhi community who migrated from Pakistan in the 1990s and settled down in Aurangabad in Maharashtra is hopeful that he and others like him would get Indian citizenship soon with the passage of the new amendment.
The controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act provides for grant of citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians who migrated from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh before 2015 due to persecution.
"We are expecting grant of citizenship with less paperwork now," said Vikram Talreja, who is living here for nearly three decades.
He was speaking after taking part in a procession in support of the CAA.
"We arrived here from Pakistan in 1991, but we are still waiting for citizenship. The amended Act has given us a ray of hope," he said.
"We suffered a lot in Pakistan. There were frequent riots. We applied to the Indian government for shelter and were given long-term visa," he said.
Kishanchand Tanwani, member of the Sindhi community and local BJP leader, said there were around 90 Sindhi migrants from Pakistan living in the city.
Earlier, the city had witnessed a huge protest march against the CAA, which, its critics allege, discriminates against Muslims and violates the principle of secularism. -- PTI
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17:33   Human dancing skills may have evolved from chimpanzees: Study
Scientists have observed two chimpanzees in a US zoo performing a duo dance-like behaviour similar to a human conga-line, a hitherto never-before-seen behaviour that has sparked the question about how human dance evolved.
   
The researchers led by the University of Warwick in the UK also found that the levels of co-ordination, synchrony and rhythm between the two female chimpanzees matched those shown by orchestra players performing the same musical piece.
 
Other species have been shown to be able to entertain by moving to the pace of a rhythmic tempo by an external stimulus and solo individuals.
 
However this is the first time it has not been triggered by nonhuman partners or signals, according to the research published in the journal Scientific Reports.
 
Although the newly described behaviour probably represents a new form in captivity in this great ape species, it forces scientists interested in the evolution of human dance to consider new conditions that may have catalysed the emergence of one of human's most exuberant and richest forms of expression.
 
"Dance is an icon of human expression. Despite astounding diversity around the world's cultures and dazzling abundance of reminiscent animal systems, the evolution of dance in the human clade remains obscure," said Adriano Lameira, from the University of Warwick.
 
"Dance requires individuals to interactively synchronise their whole-body tempo to their partner's, with near-perfect precision, this explains why no dance forms were present amongst nonhuman primates.
 
"Critically, this is evidence for conjoined full-body rhythmic entrainment in great apes that could help reconstruct possible proto-stages of human dance is still lacking," Lameira said. -- PTI 
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17:32   Pondy CM petitions Prez to recall Bedi
Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy on Wednesday sought the intervention of President Ram Nath Kovind to immediately recall Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, saying she has been "impeding" implementation of various welfare measures and decisions of his cabinet.
     
Talking to reporters, the chief minister said he had presented a detailed memorandum to the President during the latter's visit to the Union Territory on December 23 to participate in a convocation.
     
"I have requested the President to intervene and recall Kiran Bedi as Lt Governor," he said.
     
He said he had pointed out in the memorandum that Bedi had not contributed anything to the development of Puducherry ever since she became the Lt Governor.
     
Narayanasamy had also stated that the Lt Governor was functioning "arbitrarily" and was seeking to run a parallel government and the schemes that would see the light of the day were facing hiccups because of hurdles she was placing. 
     
He said he had therefore urged the President to intervene and recall Kiran Bedi as Lt Governor of Puducherry immediately.
     
The Congress government had earlier also demanded that the Centre recall Bedi.
     
The chief minister said he had also highlighted in the memorandum, various administrative and fiscal issues the government headed by him has been facing for last three years.      

He pleaded for grant of Statehood to Puducherry and apprised the President of number of resolutions adopted on the floor of the Assembly since 1987 pushing for it.
     
The President assured to go into the demands, he added.
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16:58   Introspect: PM to anti-CAA protesters in UP
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condemned the violence in Uttar Pradesh during the protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Act, saying there was a need to "introspect".

"People who damaged public property and were involved in violence in the name of protest in UP, should introspect if what they did was right," PM Modi said in his address at the foundation laying ceremony of Atal Bihari Medical University in Lucknow.

"Issues of Article 370 and Ram Temple have been resolved peacefully. The way to give citizenship to refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan has been cleared. 130 crore Indians have found solution to such challenges with confidence," he added.

Protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act had broken out in several districts of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, leaving at least 17 people dead and moveable and immoveable assets damaged, mostly in arson.
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16:27   NPR will serve as database for NRC, oppose it: Arundhati Roy
Writer and activist Arundhati Roy on Wednesday claimed that the National Population Register will serve as a database for NRC and asked people to oppose it. 
 
Addressing a protest gathering at Delhi University, she also claimed that the National Register of Citizens was targeted against the Muslims of the country
She hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of "lying" on the NRC issue during a rally at Ramlila ground on Sunday. -- PTI 
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16:25   Modi unveils statue of former PM Vajpayee in Lucknow
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday unveiled a statue of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the Lok Bhavan in Lucknow. 
 
He also laid the foundation stone for the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University in the Uttar Pradesh capital. 
The state government has given 50 acres of land for the varsity.
The event coincided with the birth anniversary of Vajpayee, who represented Lucknow in the Lok Sabha five times. -- PTI
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16:20   Pay dues immediately, allows us to quit without notice period: AI pilots
Flagging concerns over unpaid dues, an Air India pilots' union has urged the government to allow their members to quit the debt-laden carrier without serving notice period.
 
As the government works out the modalities for the sale of the national carrier, the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association has also warned that they are in no position to work amid uncertainty over the airline's future.
The grouping represent nearly 800 Air India pilots who fly narrow body planes.
They have written a strongly-worded letter to Minister of State for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri regarding their dues.
"...your statement that if Air India is not privatised by 31st March 2020 then Air India will be shut down, is a matter of concern," the letter said.
Citing the uncertainty over the airline's future, the grouping asked the minister to ensure that they "are not treated like bonded labour and allow us to quit Air India without serving the notice period and clear all our dues immediately".
The notice period is six months.
Air India has a debt burden of more than Rs 58,000 crore.
The ICPA has also asked for clearing their legitimate dues without any further delay.
In a warning, the grouping said, "our patience is running thin and we are in no position to continue working with uncertainty looming large at Air India".
"We do not want to face the same fate as other employees of 21 private carriers that have shut down and further add to the rising unemployment in India," the letter, dated December 23, said.
As per the letter, they are yet to receive the flying allowance for October. -- PTI
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15:56   Anti-CAA stir: K'taka govt withdraws ex gratia
The exgratia amount of Rs 10 lakh each announced by the Karnataka government to the family of two people killed in the police firing during anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in Mangaluru has been withdrawn, chief minister B S Yediyurappa said on Wednesday.
     
Soon after the incident which occurred on December 19, the state government had announced an exgratia of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of those killed in the firing. 
     
"We have not decided yet to give the exgratia to the family members of those killed in the police firing because giving criminals ex gratia is an unpardonable crime in itself. Earlier, the government had decided to give them compensation, but now we have withdrawn it," Yediyurappa told reporters after a marathon meeting with the senior officials of the Dakshina Kannada district.
     
The chief minister returned from Kerala on Tuesday night and held a series of meetings with the officials in the night as well as in the morning.
     
He said he has directed the police to identify the hooligans who rioted on December 19, book cases against them and initiate stringent action.
     
"It is now clear that it (Mangaluru riot) was a conspiracy. People tried to barge into the armoury of the police station. We are not going to spare anybody," Yediyurappa said.
     
Noting that the violence was a meticulous conspiracy, the chief minister said stones hurled at police were brought in an autorickshaw-trolley and dumped.
     
The government would ascertain the background of those involved in arson and violence and arrest all those involved in the crime, he added. -- PTI
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15:35   CAA: Muted Christmas celebrations in Assam
Christmas celebrations were a low-key affair in Assam amid ongoing protests against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act.
Despite the somber mood, midnight prayers for peace and happiness were organised across the state on Tuesday night.
Priests in various churches said that the situation and mood in the state did not enliven the spirit to celebrate the occasion with mirth and gaiety.
"The holy birth of our Lord Jesus Christ has to be celebrated. But this time we are celebrating the occasion with the mere decoration of a Christmas tree and the nativity scene only," Father Thomas of a local church in Guwahati said, adding that no lights have been put up for decorating the church.
Residents of various places across the state, during midnight mass on Tuesday, prayed for peace and calm, said another priest in Dibrugarh.
People have been acting with restraint regarding decoration of churches, private homes, hotels and other public places and shops selling Christmas decoration and party items hardly did any business this year.
An owner of one such major shop, Manohar Lal, said, "The footfall of customers is minimal this time. Most of the goods I had ordered before CAA are lying with hardly anyone buying them".
Hemanta Gogoi who also sells such decorations in Jorhat said, "I don't mind that my goods are not selling as the general mood in the state is sad because of the CAA and five persons losing their lives when violence broke out during anti-CAA protests in Guwahati."
The hotels in the state which organise various programmes every year have no such plans this time.
The manager of a major hotel in Guwahati said the present situation in the state did not warrant organising functions in hotels.
"We oppose CAA and for the cause of our Assamese community, language and culture we are prepared to forego our earning. We oppose the Act as it will destroy us," said Inamul Ali, who along with his friend, sets up a temporary roadside shop in Barpeta for selling Christmas decorations. 
The mood among the people is sombre and they would rather go for anti-CAA protests and rallies across the state, a businessman said. -- PTI
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14:54   Disgusting to see what UP Police is doing: Vishal Bhardwaj
Filmmaker-music composer Vishal Bhardwaj said he was "disgusted" with reports of vandalism by the Uttar Pradesh Police during violent protests against the amended Citizenship Act last week.
 
The director also asked whether a "judicial inquiry" will be ordered after reports of police allegedly indulging in vandalism emerged.
"Disgusting to see on NDTV what UP police is doing. Breaking CC TVs and Ransacking. Damaging public property. Now what? Will there be a judicial inquiry?" Bhardwaj wrote on Twitter Tuesday night.
Muzaffarnagar witnessed violence last Friday during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed countrywide National Register of Citizens, along with 12 other districts in the state. The police also allegedly vandalised public property and damaged CCTVs, according to a report. -- PTI 
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14:40   Will fight China's gun power: Dalai Lama
Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, on Wednesday vowed to continue his fight against the Communist regime in China which, according to him, thrived on the "power of the gun" against which Tibetan Buddhists were up in arms with "the power of truth".
The Dalai Lama made the statement at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, the place where Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment more than two millennia ago.
He arrived at Bodh Gaya on Tuesday night on his annual fortnight-long visit of the pilgrim town during which he offers discourses besides organizing the Kala Chakra initiation ceremony.
"A survey conducted three years ago has shown a massive rise in the number of Tibetan Buddhists in China. We have the power of truth while the Communist regime in China has the power of the gun," said the Tibetan spiritual leader, who had sought asylum in India in 1959 after he fled his homeland in the wake of repression by the Peoples Liberation Army. -- PTI  
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13:47   PM launches Atal Bhujal scheme for better management of groundwater
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched the Atal Bhujal Scheme for better management of groundwater, stressing on the need to use technology which helps prevent wastage of water in various spheres, including agriculture.
 
He also named Rohtang passageway in Himachal Pradesh as Atal Tunnel to mark the 95th birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
 
Urging farmers to switch over to crops that use less water, he exhorted people not to waste the precious natural resource in daily household needs.
 
He urged start-ups to come up with technology to ensure minimal use of water for various needs. 
Modi said only three crore out of 18 crore rural households today have clean, piped water.
The plan, he said, is to provide the remaining 15 crore rural households with piped water in the next five years. -- PTI 
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13:44   Probe deaths during anti-CAA protests: BSP
Bahujan Samaja Party supremo Mayawati on Wednesday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to conduct a thorough probe into the deaths during anti-citizenship law protests and help the innocent victims.
 
"The maximum number of deaths during CAA/NRC protests were in UP. The state government should conduct a probe into these deaths accurately and come forward to help the (families of) innocent ones," Mayawati said in a tweet in Hindi.
Mayawati had on Tuesday said the Centre should allay concerns of Muslims over the Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed countrywide National Register of Citizens.
"...it will be better if the Centre allays all apprehensions of Muslims on CAA/NRC to their satisfaction," she had said.
Seventeen people are reported to have died in Uttar Pradesh during the protests against the new citizenship law. -- PTI 
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13:05   Sachin's security downgraded, Aaditya Thackeray's upgraded
Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar's security cover has been downgraded, while that of Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray upgraded to 'Z' category, an official said on Wednesday.
The changes in security cover were made after a review was undertaken by a Maharashtra government committee on threat perception to them, he said.
Besides Tendulkar and Aaditya Thackeray, security cover of more than 90 prominent citizens were reviewed by the committee at a recent meeting, the official said.
Tendulkar, a Bharat Ratna awardee, till now enjoyed X category security which has been withdrawn, he said.

Under X category, a policeman used to guard the 46-year-old cricketer round-the-clock, the official said.
However, the former Rajya Sabha member will be given a police escort whenever he steps out of his home, he said.
Aaditya Thackeray, the son of chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, has been given 'Z' security cover, meaning more personnel will be guarding him now, the official said.
Earlier, the 29-year-old MLA from Worli in central Mumbai had Y+ security cover.
Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar will continue to enjoy Z+ security, whereas his nephew and party leader Ajit Pawar retains Z category security cover, he said.
Social activist Anna Hazares security has been enhanced to Y+ from Z category, the official said.
Former Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik's Z+ security has been downgraded to X. 

Security cover of two former Bharatiya Janata Party ministers, Eknath Khadse and Ram Shinde, has also been downgraded, he said.
The security of well-known lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, who represented the prosecution in several high-profile cases like the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts, too, has been downgraded.
Nikam, who previously enjoyed Z+ security, has now been placed in Y category with an escort, the official said.
Several ministers in the erstwhile BJP-led government may also see security downgrades in the coming days, he added.
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12:48   ACB files new affidavit over Pawar clean chit
Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau Director General Parambir Singh has filed an additional affidavit in the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court tendering an apology for an error in his previous affidavit filed last week.

The affidavit was regarding the irrigation scam in which Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar was given a clean chit.

In the last affidavit filed by him on December 19, Parambir Singh stated that the earlier Director General Sanjay Bare "did not notice a specific report regarding the role of Ajit Pawar" when he filed an affidavit about the same issue last year.

Tendering apology, Singh said that the earlier DG "did notice that report and mentioned it in his last year's affidavit".

On December 19, the ACB in the affidavit gave a clean chit to Ajit Pawar in the alleged Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation scam.

"As regards the role of respondent number 7 (Ajit Pawar), no criminal liability is disclosed during the course of enquiry/investigation by the special investigation teams," the affidavit filed by the Parambir Singh stated.

It said that the open enquiry into 45 tenders has been closed as no criminal offences were disclosed in the matter. 

The agency also cleared Pawar's name in the irrigation scam in an affidavit dated November 27 submitted to the court.

Pawar, along with others, was in-charge of Maharashtra's irrigation department when the Congress-NCP coalition government was in power in the state from 1999 to 2014. -- ANI
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12:11   Detention centre in K'taka for illegal immigrants: Dy CM
Karnataka deputy chief minister G Karjol on Tuesday said that the Foreigners' Detention Centre set up by the state government is meant for illegal immigrants and that it was the responsibility of the home department to identify and send them there.

"In Karnataka, there were 30 illegal immigrants, social welfare department have made arrangements for their food and shelter. Our government has made a building for them, so they could have a good infrastructure. Its name is Foreigners' Detention Centre, it is for illegal immigrants, sending them to detention centre is the responsibility of the home department," Karjol told ANI when asked about reports of the state opening its first detention centre for illegal immigrants.

The centre has been set up by the social welfare department in Nelamangala's Sondekoppa where 30 foreigners can be accommodated. 

It has a dormitory, kitchen, drinking water facility, toilets and also two watchtowers.

Ten policemen have been deployed for security purpose and proper fencing has been done around the centre. -- ANI
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11:46   Ready to deal with N Korean 'Christmas gift': US
United States President Donald Trump has brushed off North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's warning of a "Christmas gift," saying that the United States would "deal with it very successfully" and that perhaps it would be a "nice present".

"We'll find out what the surprise is and we'll deal with it very successfully," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Tuesday.

"We'll see what happens," he said.

"Maybe it's a nice present. Maybe it's a present where he sends me a beautiful vase," he quipped.

North Korea has set a year-end deadline for the United States to change what it says is a policy of hostility amid a stalemate in efforts to make progress to end its nuclear programme and establish lasting peace. 

Pyongyang warned Washington last week over a "Christmas gift" as the deadline looms.

Kim and Trump have met three times since June 2018 but there has been no substantive progress in dialogue and Pyongyang has demanded that international sanctions be lifted first.

Last week, the North Korean state media said that the US would "pay dearly" for taking issue with Pyongyang's human rights record and that Washington's "malicious words" would only aggravate tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The US envoy for North Korea Stephen Biegun visited South Korea and China, last week, making a public and direct call to North Korea to return to the negotiating table.

North Korea has conducted a number of test-launches of short-range missiles in the months since. -- ANI
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11:05   CBI takes over probe into Yamuna Expressway scam
The Central Bureau of Investigation has taken over the investigation into the Yamuna Expressway scam and named former CEO P C Gupta and 20 others in its FIR, officials said on Wednesday.


The agency has acted on the recommendation of the Uttar Pradesh government to probe alleged irregularities worth Rs 126 crore in the purchase of large areas of land in Mathura for the Yamuna Expressway project, they said.

The state government alleged that the land for Yamuna Expressway was purchased in seven Mathura villages by the then Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority at Rs 85 crore which resulted in a loss of Rs 126 crore to the state government, they said.   -- PTI
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10:27   Hemant Soren to meet Sonia Gandhi today
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Hemant Soren to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi today to invite her for the swearing in ceremony.

Soren will take oath as Jharkhand chief minister on Sunday.

He met Governor Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday and staked claim to form government in the state.

Earlier in the day, he was formally elected as the JMM legislature party leader.  -- ANI/PTI
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10:00   Indian-Americans hold rallies backing CAA, NRC
A large number of Indian-Americans have come out in support of the amended citizenship law and the proposed National Register of Citizens, holding rallies in several United States cities to 'dispel misinformation and myths' surrounding the contentious law, the organisers of the demonstrations have said.

According to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 following religious persecution there will get Indian citizenship.

Protests are being held across India ever since the citizenship bill was introduced in Parliament earlier this month.

The bill was passed by Parliament and signed into law by the President. The government on Tuesday approved nearly Rs 12,700 crore for carrying out the Census 2021 and the National Population Register (NPR), and made it clear that NPR has no relation with the contentious National Register of Citizens amidst stiff opposition against the NRC.

These rallies are aimed at 'dispelling the misinformation and myths' surrounding the law as well as to counter the propaganda of hate, lies and downright absurdities, the organisers said. Indian-Americans held a pro-CAA rally in Seattle in December at Victor Steinbrueck Park, in Austin on December 22 near Capitol Building and in Houston on December 20 in front of the Indian Consulate, they said.

The rallies were also held in Dublin, Ohio, on December 22 at Ted Kaltenbach Park and in Raleigh North Carolina on December 22 at Nash Square Park.

Several other demonstrations are being planned in the coming weeks in Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco, New York City, Washington DC, Atlanta, San Jose and other locations, the organisers said.

"We held this rally to counter the fear-mongering of Islamic and leftist organisations about the CAA and the NRC and their bizarre statements that the NRC in combination with the CAA is designed to expel Muslims from India," said Vineet Goel, one of the organisers of Dublin Ohio rally.

Archana Sunil, one of the organisers of the Seattle rally, said the opponents of the CAA and the NRC were misinformed and did not want to talk about facts or listen to the facts.

Houstonians came out in big numbers in support of the CAA aimed at providing relief to oppressed minorities (Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Buddhists) in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, said Achalesh Amar, spokesperson for the Houston rally.

"Instead of having civil debate based on facts, some organisations are bent on subverting any discourse or the truth, by spreading completely absurd lies and what is lost in their discourse is the plight of those who suffered untold sufferings since the partition of India," he alleged.

More than 70 eminent doctors and community leaders joined the rally in Raleigh in North Carolina.  -- PTI
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09:26   Prez, PM, others pay homage to Vajpayee on birth anniversary
President Ramnath Kovind,Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at 'Sadaiv Atal' memorial to pay tribute to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birth anniversary
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09:02   PM greets people on Christmas
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday greeted people on the occasion of Christmas, saying the teachings of Jesus Christ inspire millions across the world.

'We remember, with immense joy, the noble thoughts of Jesus Christ. He epitomised spirit of service and compassion, devoting his life towards alleviating human suffering,' the prime minister wrote on Twitter.

He said the teachings of Christ inspire millions across the world. -- PTI
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08:44   Rahul, Priyanka 'live petrol bombs', says Haryana minister
Haryana minister Anil Vij on Tuesday called Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi as 'live petrol bombs' alleging that they ignite fire wherever they go.

'Beware of Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi as they are live petrol bombs, wherever they go they ignite fire and cause loss to public property,' Vij tweeted.

The minister's remark came after both Congress leaders were stopped by the Uttar Pradesh Police outside the limits of Meerut when they were on their way to meet the families of the victims of the anti-CAA protests.

In the violent protests which erupted in Meerut last week against the newly-enacted citizenship law, two persons were killed and a police post was set on fire.  -- ANI
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08:26   Name of 1st CDS to be announced in a day or two
The government is expected to take a day or two more for announcing the name of the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), sources said.

According to sources, the Appointments Committee of Cabinet will consider the names of panel of military officers for the post of CDS.

Army chief General Bipin Rawat's name is also on the list.

Earlier on Tuesday, the government announced the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff which will fall under the ambit of the Department of Military Affairs.

The CDS appointed by the Narendra Modi government, will facilitate the restructuring of military commands of the armed forces and create the required jointness among them to establish the theatre commands in future.

"The Department of Military Affairs under the CDS will facilitate the restructuring of military commands for optimal utilisation of resources by bringing about jointness in operations, including through the establishment of joint/theatre commands," top government officials told ANI.

"CDS will not exercise any military command, including over the three Service Chiefs. CDS post would be held by a four-star General and he would not be eligible to hold any Government office after demitting the office of CDS.

"He will also not hold any private employment without prior approval for a period of five years after demitting the office of CDS," the sources said.

Sources said the CDS will also have a second role, he will be the permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. In this role, he will be supported by the Integrated Defence Staff. -- ANI

IMAGE: Army chief General Bipin Rawat's name is also on the list.
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00:06   CAA protesters can be wiped out in 1 hr: BJP MLA
In provocative remarks seemingly directed at Muslims, a Haryana Bharatiya Janata Party MLA has said those opposing Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizen can be "wiped out" in an hour.
   
Kaithal MLA Leela Ram Gurjar was speaking at an event in support of the amended citizenship law.
 
He said today's India is not of Jawahar Lal Nehru and Gandhi, but of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. -- PTI

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