LIVE! India disappointed over Pak seeking more evidence on Pulwama

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Thu, 28 March 2019

India disappointed over Pak seeking more evidence on Pulwama

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23:51 Gogoi, Ajmal fight during day, do 'ILU-ILU' at night: Shah

Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah on Thursday accused former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi of being hand-in-glove with the All India United Democratic Front chief Badruddin Ajmal.

'Tarun Gogoi and Badruddin Ajmal fight against each other in the day and get cosy with each other by night but do ILU-ILU at night," he said addressing a public meeting in Jorhat, Assam.

ILU seems to be an apparent reference to the abbreviation 'I Love You' taken from a song from 90s Bollywood flick.

Shah alleged that the former chief minister has sought refuge from Badruddin for the sake of his son.

"Gogoi has gone to the refuge of Ajmal ji because he (Tarun Gogoi) wants his son (Gaurav Gogoi) to win. Tarun Gogoi kept saying who is Badrudding for so many years but today he does not feel ashamed of hugging him (Badruddin)," he said.

The BJP president further alleged that the two leaders were coming together to fill Assam with immigrants.

"They want to fill Assam with immigrants? Do you want that to happen?" the BJP president questioned.

Shah lauded the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Central government for being able to stop infiltration.

"Four generation of Congress ruled but immigration did not stop. Modi brought NRC and stopped immigration," Shah claimed while asserting that Congress cannot protect Assamese culture.

Shah also lashed out at former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for 'doing nothing' for the development of Assam.

"Manmohan Singh was an MP from Assam for 20 years and Prime Minister for 10 years. I want to ask what United Progressive Alliance did for Assam in 10 years?" questioned Shah.

He also claimed that the areas plagued by terrorism in Indias North-East were prospering due to the efforts of Modi government urging the people to stand with the Prime Minister like a rock.

"Rahul Baba and company, those who are aligning with Badruddin (Ajmal) cannot ensure the security of our country. Only BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi can do that," he said.

Shah further claimed that only Prime Minister Narendra Modi can give a befitting reply to Pakistan and terrorists.

He also praised the prime minister for thinking about the poor people.

"Wherever I go, I listen to only one slogan, phir ek bar Modi Sarkar (Modi government once again)," he claimed. -- ANI

India on Thursday expressed disappointment over Pakistan's response to its dossier on Jaish-e-Mohammed's involvement in the dastardly Pulwama attack, saying Islamabad continues to be in 'denial' on the issue of cross border terrorism.

India's response came a day after Pakistan sought more information and evidence from New Delhi on the involvement of the JeM in the February 14 terror attack and the presence of camps of the terror outfit in Pakistan.

"India is disappointed at Pakistan's response to our detailed dossier on the Jaish-e-Mohammed's complicity in the cross-border terror attack in Pulwama, the presence of its terror camps and leadership in Pakistan," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

"Regrettably, Pakistan continues to be in denial and even refuses to acknowledge Pulwama as a terror attack," he said.

The MEA spokesperson said India was hardly surprised as 'this identical script' was followed by Pakistan in the past -- be it the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 or in Pathankot in 2016.

Pakistan Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said the 'preliminary findings' on the 'Pulwama incident' were shared with Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria in Islamabad after examining the Indian dossier.

Kumar said India was examining the paper handed over by Pakistan to India on Pulwama strike, adding Islamabad has not shared details of credible action, if any, taken by it against terrorists or terrorist groups operating from its soil.

India handed over the dossier to the Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan in New Delhi on February 27 with specific details of JeM's complicity in the Pulwama attack and presence of JeM terror camps and its leadership in Pakistan.

"It is a well-known fact that the UN-designated terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed and its leader Masood Azhar are based in Pakistan. This was again acknowledged recently to international media by Pakistan's Foreign Minister," Kumar said.

"There's no dearth of sufficient actionable information and evidence in Pakistan itself to take action against them, if there is sincerity and intent to do so," he said.

The MEA spokesperson said Pakistan should take 'immediate, credible, irreversible and verifiable' actions against terrorists and terror organizations operating from territories under its control.

"Pakistan should abide by the commitment it gave in 2004, and which its current leadership has recently repeated, vowing not to allow any territory under its control to be used for terrorism against India in any manner," said Kumar. -- PTI

The Election Commission on Thursday said that retired Border Security Force director general K K Sharma had been replaced by 1981 batch Indian Police Services officer Vivek Dubey as central police observer for West Bengal.

Additional CEO Sanjay Basu told reporters in Kolkata 'K K Sharma has been replaced by Vivek Dubey as central police observer for West Bengal'.

Sharma's appointment as central police observer for West Bengal had been objected to by Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and Communist Party of India-Marxist on grounds of neutrality.

Basu said 24 police observers had been appointed for West Bengal and 47 general observers for all the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.

The EC had also appointed 44 expenditure observers for the state, besides an awareness observer, he said. Regarding complaints received through National Grievance Services, he said a total 798 had been received in the state out of which 281 were resolved.

On complaints received through the cVIGIL app, Basu said the EC had received 1814 so far in West Bengal, out of which action had been taken against 1151 of them.

He said total liquor seized so far was 5.05 lakh litres, while cash seizures was to the tune of Rs 10.42 crore in the state ahead of the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls. -- PTI

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wriggled herself out of her party workers demand to get herself weighed in 'laddoos', making the local leader who had planned the event to sit on the scales instead.

After day-long meetings with partymen in her brother Rahul Gandhi's Parliamentary constituency Wednesday, Priyanka Gandhi arrived at the residence of local leader Fateh Bahadur around midnight, where the host had the weighing scales ready.

She, however, turned down the request by her party workers to sit on them against 'laddoos' and instead got the host to sit on them, much to the amusement of onlookers.

She also got a promise from the partymen to work harder not just for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections but also for the 2022 assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress general secretary is on a three-day visit to the state and will visit to Ayodhya on Friday.

District Magistrate Ram Manohar Misra, meanwhile, said a complaint has been received against Fateh Bahadur and others for violation of the model code of conduct by breaching the time limit for electioneering.

Orders have been issued to lodge a case in the matter, he added.

Another case was filed against 15 Congress workers, including former minister Nadeem Ashraf Jaisi who were waiting late at night to welcome Priyanka Gandhi near Hunuman temple at Dargah turn in Amethi, when the Congress general secretary was on her way to Rae Bareli from Amethi, said police.

The second case too was lodged on charges of violating the poll code for breaching the campaign time limit, they added. -- PTI

The Calcutta high court on Thursday stayed criminal proceedings against BJP president Amit Shah in connection with a first information report that accused him of provoking violence in his speech in January.

Questioning how Shah's claim that the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal would fall on the day of counting of votes of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections could possibly incite violence, Justice Jay Sengupta stayed proceedings against him for four weeks.

Shah moved the high court praying for quashing of the FIR against him, claiming that the charges against him were frivolous and concocted.

During the hearing, the court observed that the real perpetrators of the violence in Contai in East Midnapore district were not booked, but the person giving the speech was booked.

Appearing for the state, public prosecutor Saswata Mukherjee said two other cases were also lodged at Contai police station naming some accused persons for allegedly injuring a few people and indulging in violence and arson.

He admitted that the name of Shah does not appear in those complaints.

Staying the criminal proceedings against Shah at the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court in Contai on the basis of the FIR, Justice Sengupta directed that the matter would appear for hearing again after two weeks.

Justice Sengupta had on Wednesday directed the West Bengal Police to produce the case diary in connection with the FIR lodged against the BJP president for allegedly making defamatory and provocative statements.

The FIR was lodged by Atanu Giri claiming that Shah had made the defamatory and provocative statements at a public meeting on January 29.

The complainant said Shah's speech provoked BJP workers who vandalised a Trinamool Congress party office besides setting afire several motorcycles at Contai town, around 170 kilometres from Kolkata.

According to Giri's complaint, Shah in his speech said, "The government of West Bengal will fall when counting process of the parliamentary election will be on."

It was also alleged that Shah's speech 'provoked religious sentiments of the people of the state'.

Seeking quashing of the FIR, Shah's lawyers Y J Dastur and Firoze Edulji on Wednesday submitted that no case was made out in the FIR and the charges are frivolous and concocted. -- PTI

19:19 In J&K, Modi talks of fight against terror

The Congress is blinded by its 'anti-Modi approach' and has stopped thinking in the nation's interest, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Akhnoor on Thursday, raising issues of national security and terrorism and questioning the party's statements following the Balakot strike.

Addressing a rally in Akhnoor on the outskirts of Jammu, his first in the state after elections were announced, Modi claimed the speeches of Congress leaders receive applause in Pakistan.

He said he was surprised at the Congress' reaction to his government's endeavour to teach a lesson to the enemies of the country.

"What has happened to the Congress party.... the anti-Modi approached adopted by them has blinded them to the extent that they have stopped thinking in the interest of the nation," Modi told the gathering.

The prime minister, who is campaigning for Jugal Kishore, the Bharatiya Janata Party's candidate from Jammu-Poonch, also questioned the Congress' silence on National Conference's Baramulla candidate Akbar Lone's reported remarks purportedly in favour of Pakistan.

"I am surprised that they are aligning with such people who are against the interests of the nation," Modi said.

The Jammu-Poonch parliamentary seat goes to the polls on April 11.

He also asked people of the state to remain vigilant against the policies of the National Conference and the People's Democratic Party, a former ally of the BJP, for their alleged pro-separatist agenda.

"When we imposed ban of groups involved in secession of the state from India, these political parties have been opposing it," the prime minister said.

Referring to the strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Balakot, the prime minister said the nation has shown its resolve to fight terrorism.

"Now, people across the border think twice before carrying out any terror activity in our country." -- PTI

18:59 US aircraft monitors India's ASAT missile test

A United States Air Force's reconnaissance aircraft went on a mission from Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to monitor India's first test-fire of an anti-satellite missile, according to Aircraft Spots, which tracks movements of military aircraft.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced that India successfully test-fired an anti-satellite missile by shooting down a live satellite, describing it as a rare achievement that puts the country in an exclusive club of space super powers.

The test made India the fourth country in the world after the US, Russia and China to acquire the strategic capability to shoot down enemy satellites.

'USAF RC-135S 62-4128 CHAOS45 departed Diego Garcia at 2330Z for a mission in the Bay of Bengal to monitor #India's ASAT anti-satellite missile test,' Aircraft Spots, a plane spotter based in California, said in a tweet.

It also said that a United Nations aircraft was also involved in refuelling the spy plane.

'USAF KC-135Rs FRESH53 & 54 provided tanker support and returned to Diego Garcia,' it added.

RC-135 is a reconnaissance aircraft with the US Air Force to gather near real-time on-scene intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination.

The US has a strategic military facility in Diego Garca, an atoll in the central Indian Ocean.

The 12-square-mile Diego Garcia lies nearly equidistant from Australia, India, the Saudi peninsula and Africa's east coast. -- PTI

At least 83 per cent of 521 sitting MPs are 'crorepatis' and 33 per cent of them have criminal cases against them, according to a report by election watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

The ADR, an NGO working in electoral reforms, has compiled the report after analysing self-sworn affidavits of the 521 MPs out of 543 members elected to the Lok Sabha in the 2014 elections.

"Out of the 521 Sitting MPs analysed, 430 (83 per cent) are crorepatis. While 227 of them are from Bharatiya Janata Party, 37 are from Congress, 29 from All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, among others," the report said.

The average assets per sitting MP for Lok Sabha 2014 elections are Rs 14.72 crore.

While 32 sitting MPs have declared more than Rs 50 crore worth of assets, only two sitting MPs have declared assets less than worth Rs 5 lakh.

At least 33 per cent sitting MPs have declared criminal cases against them in the affidavits.

"While 106 of them have declared serious criminal cases including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, communal disharmony, kidnapping and crimes against women, 10 sitting MPs have declared cases related to murder.

"Out of these, 4 sitting MPs are from BJP, 1 MP from Indian National Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Lok Janshakti Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Swabhimani Paksha each and one MP is an Independent," the report said.

"14 sitting MPs have declared cases of attempt to murder. Out of these, eight sitting MPs are from BJP and one MP each from INC, All India Trinamool Congress, NCP, RJD, Shiv Sena and Swabhimani Paksha.

"14 sitting MPs declared cases related to causing communal disharmony. Out of them, 10 sitting MPs are from BJP and 1 MP from Telangana Rashtra Sasmiti, Pattali Makkal Katchi, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen and All India United Democratic Front each," it added. -- PTI

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said new ventures will not require any regulatory permissions for three years and will get easy access to bank credit if his party is voted to power.

In an exclusive interview to PTI, he also promised to remove the existing 'angel tax' imposed on start-ups. Angel tax is levied on investment in start-ups. Currently, angel tax is charged at a maximum rate of 30 per cent. Gandhi said promoting domestic industry will be a key priority for the Congress and it will ensure that all new businesses are freed from the clutches of red tape to give a boost to the economy.

"For the first three years of setting up a new business, we are going to free you up from red tape. You will not need to ask for permission for anything," Gandhi said. These proposals, Gandhi said, will be included in the Congress' manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections which will be released early next month.

"Don't bother about anything, there is no permission you need. Start your business, get to work," he said in a bid to woo the youth who intend to start their own businesses.

"We've said that we will remove the draconian and ill-conceived angel tax. I've made that commitment and it's going to be done," Gandhi said.

Gandhi said this "powerful idea" came after he held discussions with several entrepreneurs, during which they stressed that their biggest problem was getting all kinds of permissions from different agencies before starting their enterprises. The entrepreneurs said different agencies ask lots of questions and bribes, and hence "we said, we believe in you; we trust you, and so for the first three years of setting up a new business, we are going to free you up from the red tape".

The Congress president said another idea that came up during discussions with entrepreneurs was the opening of the banking system to young business-persons and providing them access. -- PTI

17:52 Lalu's son Tej Pratap quits party post

Trouble brews in Lalu Prasad Yadav's family. Tej Pratap Yadav quits as RJD Youth Wing chief. Lalu's eldest son tweeted, saying he had quit from the post and wrote, "Those who think I am naive are naive, I know the worth of everyone."

Tej Pratap had dismissed recurrent rumours of a power tussle with his siblings, especially his brother and leader of the opposition Tejashwi Yadav

and has maintained that he was working towards making him the next chief minister of Bihar.

17:11 Order on Vadra's anticipatory bail on April 1

A Delhi court on Thursday reserved order on Robert Vadra's anticipatory bail plea for April 1 and extended his interim protection from arrest till then in a money laundering case.

The Enforcement Directorate had sought the custodial interrogation of Vadra, brother-in-law of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, before Special judge Arvind Kumar.

Vadra, facing allegations of money laundering in purchase of a London-based property at 12, Bryanston Square worth 1.9 million pounds, was granted interim protection from arrest by the court till March 27.

Senior advocate K T S Tulsi, appearing for Vadra, had denied all allegations against him and said that he has not misused the liberty granted to him by the court. -- PTI

The Delhi high court on Thursday declined to interfere with the release of the film Ram Ki Janmabhoomi, which is to hit theatres on Friday.

Justice Vibhu Bakhru directed the movie's producer to hold a private screening of the film for the petitioner Prince Yakub Habeebuddin Tucy, who claims to be a descendant of the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar.

With these directions the court disposed of the petition.

The high court, however, gave the petitioner liberty to approach it again if he found any objectionable dialogue or scene in the movie.

Earlier on Thursday, the Supreme Court too had refused to stall the release of the film. -- PTI

It was state-owned Doordarshan News that shot Prime Minister Narendra Modis Mission Shakti address Wednesday, but the logo of the channel was deliberately not displayed in the final feed to keep it out of the Election Commissions watch, ThePrint reports.

ThePrint report says highly-placed sources in Prasar Bharati, the parent body of state broadcasters DD and All India Radio, confirmed that the video was indeed shot by DD News, while other channels of DD and AIR sourced the speech from there.

The logo, however, was not displayed on the feed to avoid violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), according to which, both DD and AIR are supposed to take permission from the EC before broadcasting such a speech.

The Election Commission of India has said it is examining Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation on Mission Shakti over allegations of him violating the model code of conduct.

In a statement the Election Commission said: "The matter related to the address of the prime minister to the nation on electronic media today afternoon (March 27) has been brought to the notice of the Election Commission of India. The Commission has directed a committee of officers to examine the matter immediately in the light of model code of conduct."

The action came in response to a written complaint submitted by the CPI(M) over PM Narendra Modi's address to the nation today on "Mission Shakti".

One of the MCCs clauses says that misuse of official mass media during the election period for partisan coverage of political news & publicity regarding achievements with a view to furthering the prospects of the party in power shall be scrupulously avoided.

No permission was taken for Modis Wednesday speech by DD or AIR.

A day with Dreze: An ascetic, teacher and humanist. Ramchandra Guha's 2018 column on Jean Dreze, who today, was arrested briefly and released in Jharkhand for holding a protest allegedly without permission. Read the column here.

Their offer of space for namaz in gurdwaras is an example in creative mediation for those mediating the Ayodhya matter. Read the column here

15:51 Jean Dreze released

Economist and social activist Jean Dreze who was detained and interrogated earlier today on charges of holding an event without permission in Garwa, has been released.

"The Prime Minister is so high on arrogance, he does not need alcohol," the Congress said on Thursday while slamming Prime Minister Modi for his 'Sarab' jibe.

"Modiji you have crossed all limits of indecency by calling political parties in a democratic system as SARAB (alcohol). You are so high on arrogance, you don't need alcohol. No statesman has ever fallen so low," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said while addressing a press conference here.

Prime Minister Modi, while addressing a public rally in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut, had coined a new acronym for the alliance of opposition parties in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

"Take 'SA' from Samajwadi Party, 'RA' from Rashtriya Lok Dal and 'B' from Bahujan Samaj Party, it would make Sarab," he had said.

Accusing the Prime Minister of mocking the poor of the country, Surjewala said: "It is unfortunate that when we speak of 'NYAY', Mr. Modi mocks the poor of the country. Previously he had mocked the poor of the country during demonetisation, this shows his true character. It is unacceptable that PM Modi opposed 'NYAY' scheme that empowers the poor of the country by giving Rs. 72,000 annually."

The proposed minimum income guarantee scheme by the Congress party assures Rs. 72,000 to 20 per cent of India's poorest families.He added that the Prime Minister has not fulfilled the promise he made to the sugarcane farmers in 2017.

"On February 4, 2017, when the Prime Minister visited Meerut, we had witnessed him promising to pay the sugarcane farmers within 14 days," Surjewala said. He added that sugarcane farmers still under debt of around Rs. 20,000 crores of which more than Rs 10,000 crore belongs to the farmers of Uttar Pradesh including Meerut.

Shakti Singh Gohil, Congress in-charge of Bihar confirms that Shatrughan Sinha will be joining the Congress. "Shatrughan Sinhaji has decided that he will join the Congress party and will work as our star leader and star campaigner," Gohil said today.

Gohil also tweeted, "BJP MP Shatrugna Sinhaji met our Congress President Shri @RahulGandhi today and in national interest has decided to join the Congress. He will formally join Congress on April 6."

The Bollywood actor-turned-politician has been associated with the BJP for about three decades, and was expected to join the Congress at New Delhi yesterday and will be the party's candidate from Patna Sahib.

Sinha is a two-term BJP Lok Sabha member from Patna Sahib Singh but has been dropped by the saffron party which has chosen to field union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from the seat. Sinha has been openly critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. Speculation had been rife for some time that he would join the Congress, which is an ally of the 'Mahagathbandhan' which also consists of the RJD and other local parties.

Sources in the 'Mahagathbandhan' had recently claimed that there was a tug of war between the Congress and RJD over Sinhas candidature as Lalu Prasad's party, with which the 'Bihari Babu' shares cordial relations, was said to be keen on fielding him on its own symbol.

Posters slamming UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were spotted outside the party office in Rae Bareli on Thursday.

Slogans printed on the poster, which features a picture of Sonia and Priyanka, stated that the mother-daughter duo was never seen whenever people of Raebareli were hassled.

Referring to Priyanka as the granddaughter of Firoz (Gandhi) and mother of Rehan, the posters said, "She (Priyanka) is seen in temples during the course of election. Votes were given so that they could serve (us) but Sonia-Priyanka disappointed us," the slogan on the posters said.

Sonia Gandhi represents the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat in parliament. The seat is considered a Congress stronghold. Priyanka, on the other hand, said she will contest polls only if the party requires her to do so. Uttar Pradesh will go to polls in seven phases, from April 11 to May 19. Counting of votes will take place on May 23. -- ANI

13:54 Pappu ki Pappi... BJP stoops to a new low

With electioneering for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls gaining steam in Uttar Pradesh, political leaders are increasingly resorting to personal attacks on their adversaries.

If the BJP MLA from Bairia, Surendra Singh hit the headlines for his remarks against BSP supremo Mayawati, Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Shrikant Sharma hit a new low by making indecent comments on Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. The Bairia MLA had said Mayawati gets facials done and her hair coloured even though she is 60-years-old.

He also reportedly made offensive remarks against UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Haryanvi singer-dancer Sapna Chaudhary, evoking widespread criticism from political parties and social media users.

A media agency quoted him as saying that both Sonia Gandhi and Sapna Chaudhary used to work as dancers. "Rahul's mother (Sonia Gandhi) was also in the same profession in Italy and his father made her his own. He (Rahul Gandhi) should also take the family tradition forward and make Sapna his own," the MLA said.

The BJP legislator, who is known for his controversial statements, had earlier termed Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra "Ravana and Shurpanakha", and accused Mayawati of "murdering" a woman's dignity by joining hands with one-time arch rival Samajwadi Party.

UP Power Minister Shrikant Sharma stirred up a hornet's nest with his tweet terming the Congress president a "coward and impotent". The comments triggered a war of words between the two parties as well as on social media platform.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also finds mention in the list of leaders accused of making personal remarks against political rivals.

He recently termed Congress candidate from Saharanpur, Imran Masood, the son-in-law of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Azhar Masood. Addressing a rally in Saharanpur on Sunday, Adityanath said, "The son-in-law of Azhar Masood has entered the constituency and he speaks the language of the terror mastermind. "You people have to ensure that the person who speaks the language of Azhar Masood is defeated in the Lok Sabha elections," he said while seeking votes for BJP candidate from Saharanpur, Raghav Lakhanpal.

Union minister and BJP MP Mahesh Sharma referred to Rahul Gandhi as 'Pappu' and his sister Priyanka Gandhi as 'Pappu ki Pappi' during a poll campaign in Gautam Buddh Nagar. Rahul Gandhi has often been mocked by the BJP and his opposition as 'Pappu', a colloquial sneer. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched the BJP's campaign in western Uttar Pradesh, saying his government had shown the courage to conduct a surgical strike in all spheres -- land, sky and space.

The contest is between a "a decisive government and an indecisive past", Modi said in his address to a rally in the western Uttar Pradesh town of Meerut a day after announcing that India had demonstrated anti-satellite missile capability by shooting down a live satellite.

"On the one side there is a strong 'chowkidar', on the other, a line of tainted people," the prime minister said. "India has made up its mind who to vote for," he told the rally. "I will give an account of my work, but at the same time seek an account from my opponents... a 'chowkidar' does no injustice," he said.

Modi began his speech by paying tribute to Choudhary Charan Singh, former prime minister and father of RLD leader Ajit Singh who has aligned with the BSP and the SP in this election. -- PTI

Renowned economist and social activist Jean Dreze along with two others have been arrested by Jharkhand police in Garhwa district area. Dreze, Vivek and the third activist has been taken to the Bishunpur police station. As per the sources, the three were organising a meeting on right to food when the Jharkhand Police picked the activists and took them to police station. Read the report here.

Nearly three weeks after the Model Code of Conduct came into force, the Election Commission has seized Rs 613.176 crore worth of cash and other material from 29 states and seven Union Territories.

According to the EC's seizure report dated March 27:

Liquor worth Rs 104.49 crore has been seized across the country.

Drugs and narcotics worth Rs 145.384 crore

Precious metals worth Rs 170.708 crore have been seized.

The EC seized freebies and other items worth Rs 11.67 crore across the country, as per data provided by the poll body.

Cash: EC seized the highest amount of cash in Andhra Pradesh (Rs 62.29 crore), followed by Tamil Nadu (Rs 49.48 crore).Uttar Pradesh recorded the maximum seizure of liquor (Rs 24.50 crore), followed by Karnataka (Rs 20.45 crore) and Andhra Pradesh (Rs 17.13 crore).

Punjab recorded the maximum seizure of drugs and narcotics (Rs 92.45 crore), followed by Manipur (Rs 23.58 crore) and Uttar Pradesh (Rs 17.04 crore).Seven phase elections will be held between April 11 and May 19. Results will be declared on May 23. -- PTI

Representational image.

Shireen Mazari @ShireenMazari1 Retweeted John R. Bass: "Clearly you little pygmy your knowledge of ball tampering is as void as your understanding of Afghanistan and the region! Clearly in your case ignorance is certainly not bliss! Another sign of Trumpian mischief a la Khalilzad style!"

Mazari is the Human Rights minister in Pak PM Imran Khan's cabinet.

The rant was in response to this tweet by the US envoy to Afghanistan:

John R. Bass @USAmbKabul "Some aspects of #cricket apply well in diplomacy, some do not. @ImranKhanPTI, important to resist temptation to ball-tamper with the #Afghanistan peace process and its internal affairs. #AfgPeace."

The Supreme Court Thursday refused to stall the release of film 'Ram Ki Janmabhoomi' which is scheduled to hit the screens across the country on March 29.

A plea seeking to stall the release of the film was mentioned before a bench headed by Justice SA Bobde and the petitioner claimed that the release of the movie will vitiate the ongoing mediation proceeding in the Ayodhya land dispute case.

"There is no connection between the mediation proceeding and the release of the movie," the bench said and listed the plea for hearing after two weeks. The film 'Ram Ki Janmabhoomi', directed by Sanoj Mishra, revolves around the controversial issue of Ram Mandir.

Hearing a similar petition filed before it, the Delhi High Court said Wednesday that people will have to be tolerant if the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under the Constitution has to survive.

The court's observation came while hearing a plea filed by Prince Yakub Habeebuddin Tucy, who claimed to be a descendant of Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, seeking to stop the release of the same film, 'Ram Ki Janmabhoomi'. -- PTI

11:11 Come check, no terror camps here: Pak to India

Pakistan on Thursday said it has examined 22 "pin locations" shared by India but found no terror camps and claimed that there are no links to nail 54 people detained in connection with the Pulwama terror attack as it shared the "preliminary findings" with New Delhi. Pakistan is willing to allow visits, on request, to these locations, the Foreign Office said.

"While 54 detained individuals are being investigated, no details linking them to Pulwama have been found so far," it said. "Similarly, the 22 pin locations shared by India have been examined. No such camps exist. Pakistan is willing to allow visits, on request, to these locations," the FO said.

It said that in consistent with its commitment to cooperate, Pakistan on Wednesday shared preliminary findings of its investigations with India along with a set of questions.

India handed over a dossier to the Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan in New Delhi on February 27 with specific details of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed complicity in the Pulwama attack that killed 41 CRPF personnel on February 14 and the presence of JeM terror camps and its leadership in Pakistan. -- PTI

Image: Death and terror in the immediate aftermath of the suicide attack on the CRPF convoy in Pulwama on February 14.

Professor Rajaram Nagappa, former associate director Indian Space Research Organisation, specialised in aerospace propulsion and has worked extensively in the design and development of solid propellant rockets. His interests are in missile technology and space weaponisation.

The space scientist -- who is currently a a professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru -- patiently explains Wednesday's space achievement in lay language to Rediff.com's Archana Masih.

Read the interview here.

10:54 Mission Shakti or Mission Desperation?

Phew! Phew! Phew! Ha-ha-ha.

Rarely has a rocket packing so much lethal power pushed the nation to the brink of a high noon and then prompted it to heave a collective sigh of relief followed by rip-roarious mirth.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a little after noon on Wednesday that India had joined an elite club of space powers through "Mission Shakti'.

What it means is that India has used a home-grown missile to destroy a satellite 300 km above the Earth, demonstrating a technology intended to bolster defence through deterrence and hitherto available only with China, Russia and the US.

Read the column here.

10:43 Naxals bomb BJP leader's home in Gaya

In Gaya, the residence of former MLC and BJP leader Anuj Kumar Singh in Dumariya destroyed with dynamite by Naxals last night. No casualties reported. The Naxals also left a poster demanding boycott of elections. Police investigation underway.

10:37 Crow but give credit to predecessors too

Soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the success of 'Mission Shakti', through which India used a home-grown missile to destroy a satellite 300 km above the Earth, some social media users started swapping archival news reports that suggested little new had taken place.

Who is correct? Both sides, it turns out.

The core technologies for India's anti-satellite missile test had been established close to 13 years ago when two missiles -- both with a 'made in India' tag -- collided about 50km over the Bay of Bengal, scientists said.

The anti-satellite missile test 300 km above the Earth on March 27, 2019, and the missile-missile collision over the Bay of Bengal on November 27, 2006, both involved a hit-to-kill interceptor designed to home in on and destroy targets -- both small flying objects.

Read the column here.

While on Maharashtra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address eight election rallies in the state where voting in total 48 Lok Sabha seats will be held in four phases starting April 11, a senior BJP leader said on Thursday.

Modi's first rally is scheduled to be held on April 1 in Wardha constituency, where polling will be held in the first phase, he said.

"He is likely to hold eight rallies in the state. The number may go up as more constituencies will go to polls in the third and fourth phases as compared to the first two phases," the leader said.

As of now, two rallies each have been planned for the four-phase Lok Sabha polls, to be held on April 11, 18, 23 and 29 in the state, he said. Asked about Modi's public address schedule in Mumbai, which has six Lok Sabha seats, he said, "Only one rally has so far been planned in the city where Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will share the stage with the prime minister."

The BJP-Sena alliance won all the seats in Mumbai in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. This time, state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Thackeray have agreed to hold separate rallies of their respective parties.

"We want to create more impact, so instead of holding joint rallies, it is better to address separate public meetings so that we can cover more areas," the leader said. -- PTI

10:09 All-women booths for 48 Maha LS seats

An all-women polling booth will be set up in every Lok Sabha constituency of Maharashtra during the next month's polls in a bid to encourage more female voters to exercise their franchise. As per the Election Commission's directions to set up polling stations entirely managed by women, such booths will be set up in all 40 Lok Sabha seats of the state, a release issued by the election office here said.

"All those deployed at such polling stations - police, election officers and other employees - will be women. These booths, an initiative towards gender equality and involving women's participation in the electoral process, will be called as 'Sakhi Matdan Kendras'," it said.

As per the EC's guidelines, there would be no specific colour code for such polling stations, the release said, adding that their security will be a top priority. Sensitive polling stations will be kept out of this experiment while those near tehsil office or police stations will be considered to be managed by women, it said.

Rangoli and other art forms would be used to make these booths more attractive and to lay emphasis on cleanliness, it added. The number of women voters this time hasincreased to 911 per 1,000 men, as against 889 per 1,000 men in 2014, as per official figures. Out of the total 8,73,29,910 voters in the state, 4,57,01,877 are men, 4,16,25,950 women and 2,083 third gender voters. Lok Sabha elections will be held in Maharashtra in four phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29 and results will be declared on May 23. -- PTI

09:37 US steps up efforts to blacklist Masood Azhar

China may have put a technical hold and prevented the listing of Masood Azhar as 'global terrorist' at an earlier United Nations Security Council meet this month. However, diplomatic efforts are still on to get the Jaish-e-Mohammad chief proscribed.

The United States circulated a resolution -- drafted with British and French support -- to the 15-member council that would designate the JeM chief, subjecting him to an arms embargo, travel ban, and asset freeze, diplomats said.

14 out of 15 UNSC members in the sanction committee supported a ban on Masood.

The latest move by US, France, and UK to bring in the resolution can help in banning Masood as it does not need consensus. It just needs votes of 9 members out 15.

According to laws, a resolution does not need consensus but just support of 9 members, which is already there.

If this resolution gets through, it can spell trouble for Masood and can be seen as a big diplomatic victory for India.

China has also indicated that it understands India's concern on Masood and the issue will be resolved soon.

Jaish-e-Mohammed has claimed responsibility for the February 14 Pulwama terror attack. Although India has handed over proof of its involvement to Pakistan, Islamabad has asked for more evidence.

-- ANI

09:23 'Just a kid': Mamata's reply to Rahul's attack

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said she would not like to comment on criticism from a "small kid" while referring to allegations levelled by Congress president Rahul Gandhi against her government.

When asked by a reporter on Gandhi's accusations against the TMC government, Banerjee interrupted her saying: "A small kid had said something. He said whatever he wished to tell. I will not make any comment on it."

On March 23, while launching his party's poll campaign in West Bengal, Gandhi had accused Mamata of making "fake promises" and "lying" like Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Did the youth get employment, did the farmers receive any help? Like Modi, Mamata Banerjee makes only fake promises and lies to the people," he had said at a rally in Malda.

Continuing his tirade against the TMC, the Gandhi scion had said: "On the one hand, Narendra Modi ji lies and on the other hand, your Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) keeps on making promises but nothing happens. Mamata has done nothing for the state. She just gives long speeches. Everyone knows about Bengal. The state is running for just one person."

-- ANI

Three terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Thursday, an army official said.

The security forces launched an anti-militancy operation in Yarwan forest area of the district following information about presence of the ultras there, he said.

The official said three terrorists were killed in the operation, which was underway till last reports came in.

-- PTI

Union minister and BJP candidate from the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat Nitin Gadkari claimed that he is getting phone calls from Congress workers pledging support to him.

The BJP stalwart kick-started his campaigning and said he will seek votes on the basis of development work done by him in the constituency, which will vote on April 11.

Gadkari said he is getting best wishes from non-BJP parties, including the opposition Congress.

"I have worked for all irrespective of their caste, religion, language and party affiliation. A huge number of Congress workers and office-bearers phone me and tell me not to worry," claimed Gadkari.

"They say though we are physically there (in the Congress), our hearts are with you (Gadkari) and hence I have support from all," he added.

He asked the BJP workers to reach out to the people with confidence and advised them to be humble in their conduct.

He also told them to understand the difference between confidence and arrogance.

"One should have confidence but not arrogance. Hence, reach out to the public with humility and tell them about the work done by the party," he said.

Seeking re-election from Nagpur, Gadkari said he will win the upcoming poll with a bigger margin than in 2014 and announced that he had initiated developmental projects worth Rs 70,000 crore in the constituency.

-- PTI

The US has said it has taken note of India's anti-satellite missile test, but expressed concern over the issue of space debris.

India shot down one of its satellites in space on Wednesday with an anti-satellite missile to demonstrate this complex capability, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced, making it only the fourth country to have used such a weapon after the US, Russia and China.

The state department saw PM Modi's statement that announced India's anti-satellite test, said a US State Department spokesperson.

To a question, the spokesperson also said that as part of "our strong strategic partnership with India, we will continue to pursue shared interests in space and scientific and technical cooperation, including collaboration on safety and security in space.

However, the spokesperson, expressed concern over the issue of space debris.

The issue of space debris is an important concern for the U.S. government. We took note of Indian government statements that the test was designed to address space debris issues, the spokesperson said.

The ministry of external affairs said the test was done in the lower atmosphere to ensure there is no space debris. "Whatever debris that is generated will decay and fall back onto the earth within weeks," it said.

The MEA has also come out with a 10-point explainer to say the anti-satellite missile test was carried out to verify India's capability to safeguard space assets and that it was not directed against any country.

-- PTI

00:06 Trump tells Russia to 'get out' of Venezuela

United States President Donald Trump demanded on Wednesday that Russia drop support for Venezuela's leader Nicolas Maduro after Moscow deployed troops and equipment to bolster the hard-left government.

"Russia has to get out," Trump said at the White House alongside Fabiana Rosales, wife of opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has been recognised by the United States and more than 50 other countries as Venezuela's interim president in place of Maduro.

Rosales was given a high-profile reception in the Trump administration's latest bid to boost Guaido, who is under severe pressure from Moscow-backed Maduro.

On Thursday, she will meet with US First Lady Melania Trump in Florida. Trump said 'all options are on the table' when asked by journalists if the United States was considering military action to back up a major campaign of economic sanctions aimed at crippling the Maduro government's finances.

"They've got a lot of pressure right now. They have no money, they have no oil, they have no nothing. They've got plenty of pressure right now. They have no electricity," he said.

"Other than military you can't get any more pressure than they have ... All options are open." -- Agencies

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