LIVE! Delhi's air quality deteriorates

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Tue, 19 November 2019

Delhi's air quality deteriorates

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23:11 Delhi's air quality deteriorates, may slide further

After a brief respite, air quality in the national capital deteriorated again on Tuesday due to calm winds and increased impact of farm fires, official said.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the city's overall air quality index read 242 at 4 pm on Tuesday, up from 214 at the corresponding time the previous day.

With a AQI of 330, Ghaziabad's air quality dropped to "very poor" category and was the most-polluted city in the country on Tuesday, the CPCB data revealed. Greater Noida (272) and Noida (256) recorded their AQI in the "poor" category.

An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered "poor", 301-400 "very poor" and 401-500 "severe".

Kuldeep Srivastava, a senior scientist at the India Meteorological Department, said the maximum wind speed dropped from 18 kilometers per hour on Monday to 10 kmph on Tuesday.

Low wind speed is leading to accumulation of pollutants.

The speed will reduce further to 6-8 kmph on Wednesday.

The temperature is also expected to dip by a few notches starting Wednesday which will affect air quality.

There will be shallow to moderate fog in the morning.

The ministry of earth sciences' air quality monitor SAFAR said as stubble transport-level winds are favourable, stubble burning is expected to account for 14 per cent of Delhi's pollution on Wednesday. It was 13 per cent on Tuesday. -- PTI

A 62-year-old tribal farmer allegedly committed suicide by hanging from a tree in Maharashtra's Akola district, police said, adding that the decomposed body remained hanging for the last six days before it was spotted on Tuesday.

While family members of the deceased Tulsiram Shinde blamed destruction of his soybean crop in the recent unseasonal rain as the trigger, police said the case is under investigation.

Shinde's decomposed body was spotted hanging from a tree in Navegaon forest area, 70 kms from Akola city, by some forest guards on Tuesday afternoon, said Channi police station inspector Ganesh Vanare.

He said Shinde had gone missing from his residence in Pimpaloli village, located nearby the forest area, on November 13.

"He appears to have hanged himself using a rope on November 13. However, the incident remained unknown until Tuesday because the tree, from which the body was found hanging, is located deep inside the forest," the police inspector said.

Family members of the deceased, however, claimed that the soybean crop sown by him on four acres got destroyed in unseasonal rains in the region.

They claimed that the family fell on hard times due to the crop loss.

When questionned about the claims made by Shinde's kin about the trigger behind his suicide, the police inspector said the investigation is underway.

"We are awaiting postmortem report to ascertain the exact cause behind Shinde's death," he said, adding that a case of accidental death was registered.

Unseasonal rains and delayed retreat of monsoon had damaged Kharip crops of farmers in many districts of the state, with Marathwada and North Maharashtra regions bearing the brunt. -- PTI

The Congress' mega 'Bharat Bachao rally' in the national capital against the Centre's "anti-people policies", which was scheduled on November 30, will now be held on December 14, the party announced on Tuesday.

The Congress had said on Saturday that its district-level and state-level agitations against the Centre's policies would culminate in a "massive rally" at Ramlila Maidan here on November 30.

"It has been decided to reschedule the date of "Bharat Bachao Rally" on Saturday, the 14th December, 2019 at 11.00 a.m. at Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi(sic)," Congress' general secretary, organization, K C Venugopal said in a tweet.

The party had plans to hold agitations in various parts of the country till November 25, during which it would take out protests to highlight the "failures" of the BJP-led government.

The opposition party is looking to corner the government on issues such as "economic slowdown and unemployment".

The Congress had held a meeting of its general secretaries, chiefs of its frontal organisations', department heads, state unit chiefs and Congress Legislative Party leaders on Saturday to decide on its plans for protests against the government.

The party's state unit presidents and CLP leaders had said that in majority of the places -- more than 60 per cent of the country -- they had successfully held agitations at district and state levels. -- PTI

A Delhi-based man has been apprehended by Central Industrial Security Force personnel at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi for allegedly "impersonating" as a pilot of Lufthansa airlines to escape long queues and security checking, officials said on Tuesday.

Rajan Mahbubani (48) was wearing the uniform of the airline pilot when he was nabbed from the departure gate of the airport on Monday. He was just about to board an Air Asia flight to Kolkata, they said.

He was handed over to the Delhi Police for further probe.

The CISF action came on the basis of information provided by the the Chief Security Officer of the German airlines which said that there is a "suspected passenger in the getup of a captain of Lufthansa airlines."

"The man, who lives in Vasant Kunj area of the national capital, was in possession of a fake ID card of Lufthansa Airlines captain, and he used it to get privilege at airports," a senior Central Industrial Security Force officer said.

"The passenger disclosed that he used to shoot YouTube videos on aviation and had obtained the Lufthansa fake ID card in Bangkok," the officer said.

During police interrogation, it was revealed that Mahbubani was fond of wearing uniforms of different professions and getting himself snapped in different poses.

In his phone, there are pictures of him posing as an Army colonel.

He had shot videos of himself wearing different uniforms on TiKTok, the social media app for recording and sharing short clips, police said.

"During interrogation, Mahbubani said that he is a frequent traveller and used to impersonate as a pilot of international airlines to gain easy access during security clearance and have preferential treatment from security agencies and airlines," deputy commissioner of police (IGI Airport) Sanjay Bhatia said.

He used to get into the passage which is normally used by airline crew members for getting into the aircraft. He was also carrying a forged identity card of the said airlines. He also used pose as a pilot to seek preferential treatment from the airlines concerned, the DCP said.

Sometimes he managed to get his seat upgraded and had travelled on different occasions using the same modus operandi, the police officer said, adding a case has been registered and the man has been put under arrest. -- PTI

22:01 Maha impasse: Sonia meets party leaders

Congress president Sonia Gandhi met senior leaders Ahmed Patel, Mallikarjun Kharge, A K Antony and K C Venugopal on Tuesday to discuss the political situation in Maharashtra and the way forward for the party on government formation, sources said.

Senior leaders of the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party are expected to meet on Wednesday to firm up a stand and hammer out the issues on forming government in the western state with the Shiv Sena.

Keeping his cards close to his chest, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said on Monday that he had only discussed the political situation in Maharashtra with Gandhi and the two parties will hold talks with their other allies before taking a decision on government formation in the state.

Pawar, whose meeting with Sonia Gandhi was being billed as a major step towards a tie-up with the Shiv Sena for government formation in the state, had said that if the NCP-Congress had to take a view on government formation, they had to first discuss it between themselves.

Addressing a press conference after his meeting with Gandhi in New Delhi on Monday that lasted for about 50 minutes, the Maratha strongman also said there was no discussion on a common minimum programme during the talks.

However, sources have said that the Congress and the NCP have been having detailed discussions on the CMP and the way forward for a possible tie-up with the Sena. -- PTI

The government on Tuesday avoided a direct reply on whether it has taken steps to confer Bharat Ratna on Sangh Parivar idealogue Veer Savarkar but said recommendations for the country's highest civilian award are received regularly from various quarters.

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai told Lok Sabha that no formal recommendation for giving Bharat Ratna is necessary.

"Recommendations for award of Bharat Ratna is received regularly from various quarters. However, no formal recommendation for conferment of Bharat Ratna is necessary. The decisions regarding Bharat Ratna are taken from time to time," he said in a written reply.

He was replying to a question of Bharatiya Janata Party member from Maharashtra Gopal Shetty on whether the government has taken steps to confer Bharat Ratna on the "great revolutionary, historian, social reformer, thinker and litterateur of India Veer Savarkar, who was one of the leading personalities of Indian freedom struggle nd a prominent nationalist leader".

The BJP in its manifesto for the recently concluded assembly elections in Maharashtra had promised to confer Bharat Ratna on Savarkar. -- PTI

21:52 Pak keeps on doing 'na-Pak' acts: Rajnath

Hitting out at Pakistan, defence minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that the neighbouring country does not live up to the meaning of its name and keeps on doing nefarious acts.

Addressing the Indian diaspora in Singapore, Singh also defended the revocation of Article 370 and said that it was unfortunate that one full fledged state (Jammu and Kashmir) was not integrated with the rest of the country.

Singh, who arrived in Singapore on Monday night on a two-day visit, said that the government will never compromise national interest.

"We have a neighbour whose name is Pakistan (land of the pure) but it keeps on doing 'na-Pak' (nefarious) acts," he said, taking a swipe at Pakistan, which has downgraded diplomatic ties with India after it revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status.

On Article 370, the minister said, there must had been certain circumstances because of which Article 370 was put in place.

"Since our party was formed, we always promised and also mentioned in our election manifesto that whenever we will come to power, we will revoke Article 370 and make Jammu and Kashmir an integral part of India," the senior BJP leader said.

He told the Indian community that when the BJP got full fledged majority, the government revoked Article 370.

On August 5, India revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370. The decision evoked strong reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties.

Singh said that earlier, Jammu and Kashmir had different Vidhan Sabha, different flag but after the special status was scrapped all of that has ended and India is one now. -- PTI

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad on Tuesday withdrew support to the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union's strike against the hostel manual and also demanded that the three-member high power committee set up by HRD Ministry to look into the JNU issue be scrapped.

The condemned the manner in which Delhi Police "placed barricades and manhandled peacefully protesting JNU students".

It also said the Left Unity's current compromise of accepting the HRD Ministry's committee has led the ABVP to withdraw its support.

"And, this becomes the foremost reason for ABVP's decision of initiating a parallel movement against the Ministry and the administration," it added.

It accused the Left Unity of "continuously bashing and unleashing a series of propaganda against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the ABVP despite their constant support for the movement and demands of a joint-struggle".

The ABVP had protested outside the University Grants Commission headquarters on November 13 to demand funds for the varsity.

"The Left Unity never recognised ABVP's struggle and efforts in which the UGC promised an amount of Rs 6.7 crore," the ABVP alleged.

It also accused the Left Unity of avoiding "categorical condemnation of the Vivekananda statue vandalization".

The ABVP also attacked the students' union for "holding hostage and manhandling a woman faculty for more than 28 hours".

Professor Vandana Mishra, an associate dean of the university, had alleged that the students had confined her for close to 29 hours and demanded that she reject the hostel manual.

It also targeted the students' union over "vandalisation of university property and complete suspension of classes which has affected students' personal progress".

"By suspending all kinds of academic activities the left-led JNUSU has compromised the idea of 'study and struggle'," the ABVP said.

The right-wing outfit demanded the immediate scrapping of the HRD ministry-constituted committee. -- PTI

20:46 Rajini says ready to join hands with Kamal

Superstar Rajinikanth on Tuesday said he would join hands with actor-turned politician Kamal Haasan for the welfare of people of Tamil Nadu if such a situation arose.

Rajinikanth, who has announced he would launch his political party to contest the state assembly elections due in 2021, was responding to questions from reporters on Haasan's remarks earlier on Tuesday that he (the latter) would join hands with him for Tamil Nadu's welfare.

"If a situation arises wherein me and Kamal have to join hands for the welfare of people of Tamil Nadu, we will surely come together," Rajinikanth said in a brief interaction with media at the airport in Chennai.

While backing Rajinikanth's comments on chief minister K Palaniswami which have drawn the ire of ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Haasan said he would "travel together" with his contemporary for Tamil Nadu's welfare.

However, Haasan gave no indications of the two aligning politically. -- PTI

Attacking Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi over her sytle of functioning, chief minister V Narayanasamy on Tuesday said she "appears to be the sister of German dictator Adolf Hitler" and his blood pressure "shoots

up" whenever she returns files on cabinet decisions without approval.

He accused Bedi of "standing in the way" of each and every decision of the Congress ministry headed by him.

"She is functioning like a dictator and appears to be sister of German dictator Adolf Hitler," he told workers of the ruling Congress at the birth anniversary celebration of late prime minister Indira Gandhi in the party office.

"Whenever I get the files back from Bedi without her nod to our decisions my blood pressure level shoots up and I get irritated," the chief minister said. -- PTI

20:08 Gotabaya Rajapaksa to visit India on Nov 29

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today met newly-elected Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Colombo.

"A warm meeting with Sri Lanka President @GotabayaR. Conveyed PM @narendramodis message of a partnership for shared peace, progress, prosperity & security. Confident that under his leadership, #IndiaSriLanka relations would reach greater heights," Jaishankar tweeted with picture of him meeting with Rajapaksa.

The EAM also said that Rajapaksa has accepted PM Modi's invitation to visit India on November 29.

Jaishankar arrived in Sri Lanka on an unannounced visit on Tuesday evening, Colombo Gazette newspaper reported.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday expressed concern over the deteriorating air quality in the national capital and cited the introduction of CNG-powered public transport by the Congress government to tackle the issue.

Speaking at the presentation of the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development, which was given to the Centre for Science and Environment, the Congress president also recalled the steps taken by the former prime minister to safeguard the environment.

"We, who live in this capital, notorious now as the world's most polluted city, can recall the difference in air quality when compressed natural gas was introduced in public vehicles," Gandhi said.

"This transformation was made possible by the persuasive expertise of the CSE and the Congress government of the day," she said.

Sunita Narain, the director general of the CSE, accepted the award for the organization. -- PTI

19:26 Tremors felt in parts of Delhi: Reports

Strong earthquake tremors were felt in Delhi, Lucknow and other parts of northern India on Tuesday, reports said.

The earthquake had its epicenter in Nepal and was measured 5.1 on Richter scale.

"An earthquake was recorded in Delhi on Tuesday sometime back. Tremors were felt in Delhi-National Capital Region," private weather agency Skymet tweeted.

Veteran singer Lata Mangeshkar, admitted to hospital with breathing problems last week, is stable and showing "signs of improvement" but continues to be in the ICU, hospital sources said on Tuesday.

Mangeshkar, 90, has been admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital.

"She is stable. She is still in the ICU. She is showing signs of improvement. We request you to maintain the family's privacy," a hospital insider told PTI.

The hospital source could not confirm if the music icon was off the ventilator.

She was on ventilator till Sunday night.

Mangeshkar's niece Rachana Shah said the singer's condition is improving.

"Didi is steadily progressing. God has been kind. Prayers and well wishers have been like angels. I can't thank people enough," Shah told PTI.

In her over seven-decade career, Mangeshkar has sung more than 30,000 songs across several Indian languages.

Over 270 lakh people in the age group of 18-30 years have been employed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme in the last four years, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

In 2015-16, 72.74 lakh individuals in the age group of 18-30 years worked under the scheme and this was 10.07 per cent of the total individuals that worked in the age group, according to data given by Union Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar in response to a question.

The data said in 2016-17, 69.78 lakh individuals worked under the MGNREG scheme in the age group of 18-30 years and this was 9.10 per cent of the individuals who worked under the age group, it said.

In 2017-18, 58.70 lakh individuals worked under the scheme.

This was 7.73 per cent of the individuals who worked under the age group of 18-30 years, the data said.

It said in 2018-19, 70.74 lakh individuals worked under the MGNREGA in the age group 18-30 years, which was 9.10 per cent of the individuals who worked under this group.

The total number of individuals who worked under the MNREGA in 2015-16 was 722.59 lakh, 766.91 lakh in 2016-17, 759.15 lakh in 2017-18 and 777.41 lakh in 2018-19.

On whether the government recognises that the average entry year in the share of workforce in the age group of 18-30 years for MGNREG started increasing after the 2017-18, Tomar said, "No".

"Mahatma Gandhi NREGS is a demand driven wage employment programme.

It provides livelihood security i.e., fall back option for livelihood for the rural households when no better employment opportunity is available. -- PTI

18:44 950 ceasefire violations by Pak post Art 370

As many as 950 incidents of ceasefire violation by Pakistan have been reported along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

Union minister of state for home G Kishan Reddy also said in the Lok Sabha that terrorism emanating from territories under Pakistan's control remains a core concern in bilateral relations.

"950 incidents of ceasefire violation along the LoC from across the border in Jammu and Kashmir were reported during August 2019 to October 2019," he said, replying a written question.

On August 5, the central government had announced the abrogation of the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution and the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories.

Reddy said immediate and effective retaliation is undertaken by the security forces in cases of ceasefire violations and all such incidents are taken up with Pakistan at appropriate levels through established mechanisms and flag meetings.

"India has consistently stressed the need for Pakistan to take credible, irreversible and verifiable action to end cross border terrorism against India...," he said. PTI

The Central Bureau of Investigation, the Enforcement Direcotorate and the Intelligence Bureau are among 10 central agencies upon which the power of telephone interception is vested and they have to take the Union home secretary's approval before putting anyone on surveillance, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said that Section 69 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, empowers the central government or a state government to intercept, monitor or decrypt or cause to be intercepted or monitored or decrypted, any information generated, transmitted, received or stored in any computer resource in the interest of the sovereignty or integrity of the country.

"This power of interception is to be executed as per the provisions of law, rules and SoPs. Such case is approved by the Union home secretary in case of central government and by the home secretary of the state concerned in case of the state government," he said in a written reply to a question.

The competent authority in the central government has authorised 10 agencies for the purpose: Intelligence Bureau, Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, Narcotics Control Bureau, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, National Investigation Agency, R&AW, Directorate of Signal Intelligence and Delhi Police Commissioner.

The government's reply came in response to questions related to tapping of WhatsApp calls and messages. -- PTI

In a veiled reference to the recent Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena fallout over differences on government formation in Maharashtra, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat said that both sides will face loss if they "are going to fight over a matter".

"Everybody knows that both of them will face loss if they are going to fight over a matter," he said.

"Everyone knows that selfishness is a bad thing but very few people give up their selfishness. Take the example of the country or of individuals," he added.

These sharp comments from the RSS chief came while addressing an event in Nagpur on Tuesday.

The Shiv Sena and the BJP, which contested the assembly polls together, parted ways after the conflict over power-sharing in the state.

The Shiv Sena is currently in parley with the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress to form a government.

The ruling Congress won over 961 wards, leaving the Bharatiya Janata Party trailing with 737 places in the elections to the urban local bodies held last week.

The results declared Tuesday showed that the party dominated most of the 49 civic bodies which went to the polls on Saturday.

The Congress won nearly half of the 2,105 wards in the contest in the first local elections held in the state after the party came to power in Rajasthan last December.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the results were as expected.

"It is a matter of happiness that people have given a mandate considering the performance of the government," he told reporters even before all the results were out.

According to the state election department, the Bahujan Samaj Party won 16 wards, the Communist Party of India-Marxist got three and the Nationalist Congress Party two.

Gehlot said the state government will not spare any effort while working for the people.

Forty-nine urban local bodies in 24 out of Rajasthan's 33 districts went to the polls on Saturday. These included three municipal corporations, 18 nagar parishads and 28 nagar palikas. -- PTI

17:13 Cops groped women students: JNUSU president

JNU Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh on Tuesday alleged that women students were not only "manhandled" by male police personnel in Monday's protest but were even "groped".

"We take out a peaceful march. Vice-Chancellor is continuously spreading a false narrative that JNU students do not want to study... Near Ber Sarai, CRPF started beating us. Female students were treated badly by police," Ghosh told reporters.

"I was manhandled by male police officials. They dragged me and put me on the bus. Several female students were also manhandled by police in the same way. They (female protesters) were not only physically restrained but were literally groped," she added.

Ghosh also alleged that cops resorted to lathi-charge and manhandled students during the march to Parliament House on Monday.However, Delhi Police had earlier denied allegations of lathi-charge levelled by some students during the protest.

"The Delhi Police staff acted with restraint all along and, despite continued defiance by some groups of students, methods of persuasion were resorted to, and there was no use of water cannons, tear gas shells or lathi-charge at any stage of the protest," a police statement said.

The JNUSU president said that the students protest will continue until their demands including the complete rollback of hostel fee hike are not fulfilled.

"We will call off our strike when a direction will be given from MHRD to Vice-Chancellor and immediately rollback. If Vice-Chancellor is not ready then the Ministry of Human Resource Development and the Committee should immediately come out with a statement that till any further notice this draft is taken back," Ghosh said.

"It should be done either by JNU administration or MHRD. MHRD can't give excuses that Vice-Chancellor is not listening to them. Then Vice-Chancellor must resign. The protest will continue until a full rollback," she added.

The students are on protest after a closed-door Inter-Hall Administration (IHA) meeting in which the JNU administration gave its nod to the new hostel manual, including fee hike.

Ghosh also said that the students have also submitted a memorandum of their demands to the Joint Secretary, Department of Higher Education Basu.Speaking on students demands, she said: "Today is the 23rd day of our protest.

The meeting of IHA on October 28 was called illegally and JNUSU was not invited. We are demanding complete rollback of draft hostel manual. A fresh meeting should be called and JNUSU should be part of that meeting to discuss the new manual."

"Our previous manual had reservations for SC, ST and PWD students which the new draft doesn't have. We will not agree to a 10 per cent increment of hostel fees every year. The payment of contractual workers being added in JNU mess bill. We will not accept this," she added.

Ghosh also alleged that students are being targeted for taking part in the protest."Students are being targeted. The administration is sending them notices. MHRD must immediately take back notices," she said. -- ANI

Without naming All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has warned against the rise of extremism among minorities who has a base in Hyderabad.

Addressing her party workers on Monday at Cooch Behar, Banerjee said, "Extremism is coming out among the minorities, just as there are extremists among the Hindus. There is a political party and they are taking money from the BJP, they are from Hyderabad, not from West Bengal.

"Reacting on Mamata Banerjee's allegations, Owaisi on Tuesday said, "By making such allegations against me you are giving the message to Muslims of Bengal that Owaisi's party has become a formidable force in the state. Mamata Banerjee is showcasing her fear and frustration by making such comments." -- ANI

15:24 Cong-NCP Common Minimum Programme in 2 days

Congress-NCP leaders to meet in Delhi in a day or two to give final shape to the Common Minimum Program of both the parties. Final draft will be vetted by top leadership of both parties before taking it for further discussion with Shiv Sena.

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Monday denied having finalised any Common Minimum Programme with Congress and Shiv Sena for the government formation in Maharashtra and said that they will monitor the situation in the state which is currently under President's rule.

"Colleagues in Vidha Sabha meet and talk. There is nothing more than this. We have never talked about the Common Minimum Programme. For what reason shall we do this until we decide our future action," Pawar told reporters when asked about coordination committee meetings for Common Minimum Programme in which Shiv Sena leaders Eknath Shinde and Subhash Desai were present along with Congress and NCP leaders.

Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde had earlier said that the final decision on the draft CMP will be taken by the leadership of three parties. "The draft will be sent to high commands of three parties for discussion. The final decision will be taken by them," he had said.

The NCP chief met Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi today but said that they have not discussed the government formation in Maharashtra.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday dedicated a poem to her late grandmother and former prime minister Indira Gandhi on her 102nd birth anniversary.

"IN memory of the bravest woman I have known

#IndiraGandhi

"In the fell clutch of circumstance,

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance,

my head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears,

looms but the horror of the shade,

and yet the menace of the years,

finds and shall find me unafraid."

Priyanka quoted the poem named Invictus by William Ernest Henley.

Alongside the poem, Priyanka posted a black and white of her younger self playing with Indira Gandhi.

Congress leader and Priyanka's brother Rahul Gandhi also paid tribute to his grandmother.

"Blessed with a strong and capable leadership and amazing management skills, iron lady and my dear grandmother Indira Gandhi, played a key role in establishing India as a strong country. I pay my tribute on her birth anniversary," he tweeted.

Earlier today, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh among others paid their respects to the late leader.

The portrait of the former prime minister in the Parliament was garlanded and leaders across party lines paid floral tributes to her.

Born on November 19, 1917, to India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamala Nehru, Indira Gandhi served as the first and only woman prime minister of the country from January 1966 to March 1977 and again from January 1980 until her assassination in October 1984.

14:24 JNU has become a detention camp: CPI

Communist Party of India Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswam on Tuesday expressed disappointment over the Rajya Sabha not taking up the Jawaharlal Nehru University issue for discussion in the Parliament saying, "It is quite an unfortunate battle that there is no space in the Rajya Sabha to discuss such a grave issue."

Further venting anger, Viswam said that JNU has become a "detention camp" and added, "the police and the paramilitary forces have destroyed everything in JNU.""We tried to bring to the House the attack on students that have taken place yesterday inside the campus, under rule 267. No debate and discussions were allowed to be held in the Parliament. JNU cannot go forward this way," he added.

Rajya Sabha proceedings today were adjourned till 2 pm following an uproar in the House by Congress and other Opposition parties over the ongoing Jawaharlal Nehru University issue.

The Upper House was adjourned after Chairman Venkaiah Naidu refused to allow suspension of business under rule 267 given by Viswam.The JNU matter blew out of proportion last week at the university campus after a clash broke out between the students and police during a protest. -- ANI

Only Rajasthan and Manipur have passed bills on action to be taken against those involved in lynching but the legislations are yet to get the President's consent, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

Union minister of state for home Nityananda Rai said the Centre, following a Supreme Court directive, has issued two advisories to state governments to check incidents of lynching.

"In pursuance to the Hon'ble Supreme Court's judgment on July 17, 2018, two advisories -- on July 23, 2018, and September 25, 2018, were issued to the state governments and union territories administrations for taking measures to curb incidents of mob lynching in the country," he said replying to a written question.

On whether a number of states have enacted laws, making lynching a non-bailable offence and recommending life imprisonment for those involved in such violence, the minister said as per information available, two bills on the subject passed by state legislatures of Manipur and Rajasthan are reserved by the governor for consideration of the President have been received.

"The bills so received are examined in consultation with the concerned central ministries," he said. Rai said the government through audio-visual media has also generated public awareness to curb the menace of lynching. The government has also sensitised service providers to take steps to check the propagation of false news and rumours having potential to incite mob violence and lynching.

In its order, the Supreme Court had said the state governments shall designate a senior police officer, not below the rank of Superintendent of Police, as nodal officer in each district. -- PTI

13:45 Sivan, Doval in Parliament today

Delhi: Indian Space Research Organisation Chief K Sivan and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval at Parliament, today.

An Indian national has been charged with sexually assaulting an American national while working as a US military contractor in Afghanistan. Lokesh Naik, 35, was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia on November 6 with two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact, Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski of the Justice Department's Criminal Division said.

US military authorities in Afghanistan arrested Naik on November 8 and his initial appearance was held before US Magistrate Judge Harvey via video teleconference, at which time he was ordered detained and removed to the United States, as per provisions of the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act.

Naik arrived at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurston near New Jersey by a military transport aircraft in the custody of Deputy US Marshals. According to the indictment, while working as an employee of a US military contractor on Operating Base Fenty in Afghanistan in August, Naik allegedly entered the room of a 24-year-old US national and sexually assaulted her. -- PTI

13:17 No comments on Guv-Mamata spat: BJP to workers

The West Bengal BJP unit has been asked by its central leadership to refrain from getting into the frequent verbal spats between the state government and Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, a senior party leader said. There is a general perception that the governor and the saffron party "complement" each other through their statements, he said.

A verbal directive in this regard has been communicated to the state leadership from the top echelons of the party, the senior BJP leader said. "We have been asked by our central leadership to refrain from commenting on the war of words between the state government and the governor. Henceforth, none of our state leaders will make any comment on the verbal spat," he said.

According to party sources, the move is aimed to allay charges that the BJP is using the governor to "pinprick" the state government. "Whenever there has been a verbal spat between the state government and Raj Bhawan, for obvious reasons, we have spoken in favour of the governor, be it the present governor Jagdeep Dhankhar or his predecessor K N Tripathi," he said.

The tussle between Dhankhar and the TMC government reached Parliament on Monday when its Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy raised the issue of the governor "exceeding his brief and trying to run a parallel administration" in the state. -- PTI

13:04 Terrorist hideout busted in J-K, 7 IEDs seized

Security forces on Tuesday seized improvised explosive devices and a wireless set from a terrorist hideout in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, officials said. The seizure was made during a search operation that was launched on Sunday following information from villagers about the movement of suspicious people in a forest in Surankote, they said. Seven IEDs, a gas cylinder and a wireless set were seized from the abandoned hideout in the Dhair forest, the officials said and added that no one has been arrested. Personnel of the army and police are part of the operation and they entered the Dhoke area on Monday morning, they said. No suspected terrorist has been intercepted till now. The operation is still going on, the officials said. -- PTI

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Amid sloganeering by Congress over various issues in Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday warned that he will be forced to take action against members protesting in the Well.

As soon as the House met for the day, Congress and other Opposition parties, including DMK and TMC, wanted to raise certain issues. With the Speaker taking up the Question Hour, more than 20 members from the Congress trooped into the Well and began shouting slogans against the central government. Birla repeatedly requested the protesting members to go back to their seats as the questions were about farmers' issues.

As the protests continued, a visibly peeved Birla warned that action would be taken against members. "There might have been precedents of protesting in the Well. From today onwards, no (member) will protest in the Well. If not, I will be forced to take action," he said. Amid the din, various questions and supplementaries related to farmers' issues were taken up. At one point of time, the Speaker also said that he would give a chance for protesting members to ask supplementaries if they go back to their respective seats. -- PTI

12:43 Indira Gandhi prize for Attenborough

Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for the year 2019 awarded to renowned broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough.

12:21 LIVE! 'Saamana' equates BJP to Mohammed Ghori

The Shiv Sena on Tuesday likened its one-time ally BJP to 13th century invader Mohammed Ghori who killed Prithviraj Chauhan despite the legendary king sparing his life several times.

In a hard-hitting editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana, the Sena said it would "uproot" the BJP as the latter had dared to "challenge us", claiming the ruling party's "leaders were kids" when the Sena's support helped form the NDA.

The two parties, which fought assembly polls together in Maharashtra and came up with 161 seats jointly in the 288-member House, fell out over the sharing of the chief minister's post and have since been attacking each other.

The Sena is in talks with the Congress and the NCP currently to form a non-BJP government in the Maharashtra.

In the editorial, Saamana said, "Mohammed of Ghor, said to have laid the foundation of Islamic rule in India, fought several battles with Hindu king Prithviraj Chauhan and the latter always spared him (after defeat). But when the invader won a battle, he killed Prithviraj Chauhan."

"Even in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena has spared such ungrateful people several times and now they are trying to back-stab us," the editorial said, without mentioning the BJP by name.

Image: Saamana editor Sanjay Raut

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday rejected Shiv Sena's criticism that he had shifted their MPs to the opposition benches in the Parliament.

Speaking to ANI, Joshi said, "We did not make them sit in the opposition, they did it themselves."

Joshi was responding to an editorial in Shiv Sena's mouthpiece Sammna today where the party criticised him for making their MPs sit on the opposition side in both houses of the Parliament.

In the editorial, Shiv Sena also hit out at former ally BJP for removing them from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).On Monday, after Shiv Sena MPs were allotted seats on the opposition side in the Parliament, senior Sena leader Sanjay Raut hit out at the BJP stating that NDA was not the property of one party, but some were 'considering themselves God'. -- ANI

11:42 NCP-Cong meet on Maha postponed to tomorrow

The Congress-NCP meeting scheduled for today has been postponed to tomorrow. The NCP's Nawab Malik said that today's meeting between Congress and NCP leaders was postponed as Congress leaders are busy in different programmes due to Indira Gandhi's birth anniversary.

Yesterday, NCP leader Sharad Pawar, after a 45-minute meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her home in Delhi had said they discussed the Maharashtra political situation but not government formation with the Shiv Sena. "We have to sort out some more issues, we have not discussed forming an alliance with any party yet," Sharad Pawar told reporters, giving the impression that a Sena-NCP-Congress alliance may not be a done deal yet.

The NCP chief also rubbished speculation that he had left the door open for a tie-up with the BJP; the BJP won 105 seats in last month's Maharashtra polls and scored a comfortable majority with the Shiv Sena (56), which walked out of their alliance after a bitter power tussle. The NCP is only two seats behind the Sena.

The Congress has given a notice to move an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha against the withdrawal of Special Protection Group cover of the Gandhi family. Describing the move as "arbitrary", the Congress in the notice said the security cover was withdrawn ignoring the existing and probable threats to the Gandhi family.

An adjournment motion is moved to stop the proceedings of the House to take up the issue raised in the motion. On Monday, the first day of the Winter Session, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had raised the issue of SPG security, saying the move to withdraw the cover of party chief Sonia Gandhi and former president Rahul Gandhi was "arbitrary".

The government earlier this replaced the SPG security cover given to the family of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated by LTTE terrorists on May 21, 1991, by the 'Z-plus' security of the CRPF. -- PTI

11:25 Raut still atal on Shiv Sena-led govt in Maha

A day after meeting Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday asserted that a strong and stable government led by his party will be formed in Maharashtra soon.

"A Shiv Sena-led government will be formed in Maharashtra soon. It will be a stable, strong and effective government. We want Uddhav Thackerey to lead the government," Raut said during a press conference.

He said that the Shiv Sena led government will have the support of 170 MLAs in the assembly.

"Shiv Sena is the largest party in the country. We have 18 MP and we are going to form a government in Maharashtra. We don't need anyone's interference. We will have the support of 170 MLAs on the floor," Raut said.

Slamming Union minister and RPI leader Ram Das Athawale for trying to negotiate a three-year and two-year term as Chief Minister in the state between BJP and Shiv Sena, Raut said: "He is a Minister of State in the central government. He should focus on himself and not worry about Shiv Sena."He said that there is a consensus across party lines that the President's rule should end in the state.

"I talked about the formation of government in the meeting with NCP leader Sharad Pawar yesterday. There is a consensus across party lines be it Shiv Sena, NCP, Congress or BJP that a government should be formed in the state," he added.

This comes a day after Raut met Pawar at his residence, merely hours after the NCP chief met Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi.

Raut had said that he met Pawar and asked him to apprise Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the farmers' distress in the state due to untimely rains.

10:57 AQI improves slightly, temporary, says SAFAR

After days of 'severe' and 'very poor' air quality, Delhi and its nearby areas witnessed a change with AQI improving to the 'poor' category in the morning on Tuesday.

According to SAFAR, this relief from toxic air is temporary as the wind speed is going to slow down from November 20. Due to this, the air quality is likely to plunge to the 'severe' category on Thursday (November 21).

"Pollutant accumulation leading to quick deterioration is predicted by November 20th and the probability of AQI touching the lower end of SEVERE category on 21st November is high," stated the organisation in its advisory.

Today, the overall air quality of Delhi was recorded at 218, with PM 10 at 155 and PM 2.5 at 67. People of the city expressed happiness over the improved air quality.

"The pollution levels have definitely come down. The air is much cleaner today," said a resident of the city.

The Center-run SAFAR has advised people to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.

"Take more breaks and do less intense activities. Asthmatics, keep medicine ready if symptoms of coughing or shortness of breath occur. Heart patients, see a doctor if you get palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue," it said in an advisory. -- ANI

The Shiv Sena on Tuesday hit out at former ally BJP for removing them from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and making their MPs sit in the opposition side in both houses of the Parliament.

On Sunday, Union parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi had said that Shiv Sena MPs are being allotted seats on the opposition side in both houses of Parliament after its lone minister Arvind Sawant in the Union council of ministers resigned and the party is "working out" alliance with the Congress and NCP to form a government in Maharashtra.

In its mouthpiece Saamna, Shiv Sena said, "BJP leader Pralhad Joshi has announced Shiv Sena's removal from the NDA after it allied with Congress and the NCP in Maharashtra to form the government in the state. The Shiv Sena MPs were allotted seats on the opposition side in both houses of parliament. Those in the BJP who took this decision do not know about work done by Shiv Sena."

"When the BJP came into existence no party used to support it. When NDA was formed many leaders who are now holding posts in the present government were not holding any posts then and some of them were not even born," the editorial said.

Shiv Sena said, "When NDA was formed then important decisions were taken only after meeting the alliance partners under the leadership of George Fernandes and Lal Krishna Advani. We ask who is the leader of the NDA now?"

The editorial further questioned whether or not the decision to remove the party from the NDA was taken in a meeting with the alliance partners?

"Whatever has happened it has exposed those who were against the Shiv Sena. These people took the occasion of the occasion of the death anniversary of Balasaheb Thackeray to made the announcement of the removal of Shiv Sena from the NDA," the opinion piece said.

10:28 Day 2: JNU, pollution, to be discussed in Parl

On Day 2 of the Winter Session of Parliament here's what's expected:

BJP Rajya Sabha MPs, RK Sinha, Vijay Goel, KTS Tulsi, GVL Narasimha Rao and Narendra Jadhav have given zero-hour notice on the issue of air pollution in the country.

CPI Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswan gives suspension of business notice in the upper house under rule 267, over Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) issue.

Several MPs on Monday made a statement against pollution in the national capital by riding bicycles, sporting masks and even choosing electric vehicles over fuel guzzlers as they arrived for the Winter Session of Parliament.

The air quality in Delhi improved marginally on Monday but remained in the "poor" category for the second consecutive day.

Image: Congress MP from Assam Gaurav Gogoi holds placards during his protest in front of the Parliament House against government inaction on pollution at the winter session of Parliament.

US President Donald Trump had no chest pain nor was he evaluated or treated for any urgent or acute issues, a presidential physician has said, two days after he went for an unscheduled physical check up at a military hospital that has given rise to speculation about his health.

Trump, 73, went for an unscheduled physical checkup at a Walter Reed National Military Medical Cente that has given rise to speculation about his health. "Despite some of the speculation the President has not had any chest pain, nor was he evaluated or treated for any urgent or acute issues.

Specifically, he did not undergo any specialised cardiac or neurologic evaluations," President's Physician Dr Sean P Conley said in a memorandum issued by the White House on Monday. Conley said that a full summary of Trump's labs and exam will be incorporated into the next year's report.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will travel to London from the International Airport in Lahore at around 10 am (local time) on Tuesday via a Qatar air ambulance.Sharif will be accompanied by his brother and PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif and his personal physician Adnan Khan.

The Qatar air ambulance will reach Allama Iqbal International Airport at around 9 am and depart for London an hour later.

The ailing PML-N leader has been allowed by the Lahore High Court to travel abroad for four weeks for medical care.

Sources had earlier told ANI that Sharif will be admitted to London's Charlestown Clinic. All the arrangements for his medical treatment at the clinic have been completed.

Sharif has secured an eight-week bail on medical grounds from the Islamabad High Court in the Al-Azizia Mills corruption case. He was serving seven years imprisonment in connection with the case. He also got bail from the LHC in the money laundering case.

The former Pakistan Prime Minister was rushed to the hospital from Kot Lakhpat jail last month after his personal physician Adnan raised an alarm over his deteriorating health. Doctors are struggling to bring his platelet count -- that had dropped to dangerous levels -- back to normal.

He was expected to leave Pakistan on Sunday. However, his ticket was cancelled as the authorities did not remove his name from the Exit Control List. -- ANI

Equity benchmark BSE Sensex opened over 170 points higher on Tuesday tracking gains in index-heavyweights RIL, Bharti Airtel, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank and Infosys.

After hitting a high of 40,455.36 in early session, the 30-share index pared some gains to trade 58.59 points, or 0.15 per cent, higher at 40,342.78, while the broader NSE Nifty advanced 14 points, or 0.12 per cent, to 11,898.50.

Top gainers in the Sensex pack included Bharti Airtel, Tech Mahindra, RIL, Axis Bank, PowerGrid, Infosys, Yes Bank and HDFC Bank, rising up to 5 per cent. On the other hand, Vednata, HUL, Hero MotoCorp, M&M, TCS, ONGC and Tata Steel fell up to 2 per cent. -- PTI

Equity benchmark BSE Sensex opened over 170 points higher on Tuesday tracking gains in index-heavyweights RIL, Bharti Airtel, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank and Infosys.

Isolated places in Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal and Rayalseema are likely to receive heavy rainfall today, predicted India Meteorological Department on Tuesday.

According to the weather forecast agency, heavy downpour is expected to batter a few places in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal tomorrow as well.

Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning is very likely at isolated places in Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal and Rayalseema, the IMD stated in its All India Weather Warning Bulletin.Some pockets in South Assam and Meghalaya are likely to be covered by dense fog today.

However, in Delhi the sky will mainly be clear with the minimum and maximum temperatures hovering around 13 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius respectively. The relative humidity would be around 89 per cent. -- ANI

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09:51 BJP Parliamentary party meeting today

BJP Working President JP Nadda and party leader Arjun Ram Meghwal arrive at the Parliament Library Building for the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting.

09:35 Discussion in Parliament on pollution today

A discussion on air pollution and climate change is expected to take place in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday afternoon on the second day of the Parliament's winter session.

Congress MP Manish Tewari and Biju Janata Dal lawmaker Pinaki Misra are expected to initiate the discussion in the Lower House of the Parliament at around 2 pm.

The discussion assumes significance as Delhi and its adjoining regions have been battling severe pollution levels in the last few days mainly due to stubble burning by farmers in Haryana and Punjab.

Air quality in the national capital deteriorates every winter owing to the incidents of farm fires in the two states.

On Wednesday, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Parvesh Singh Verma is slated to raise the issue of air pollution in Delhi in the Lok Sabha, according to the list of business in the Lower House of the Parliament.

On Monday, Congress member Gaurav Gogoi protested in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue in the Parliament's premises against rising air pollution levels.

He said that he wants Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come up with a new law to deal with the issue.

Environment Secretary C K Mishra also chaired a crucial high-level meeting on air pollution.

Meanwhile, the Air Quality Index (AQI) read 212 ('poor' category), near Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi today morning, as per the data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The air quality has improved in the national capital in the last couple of days due to high-speed surface winds that have helped to clear the pollutants.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 is marked as 'severe'.

An AQI above 500 falls in the 'severe plus' category. -- ANI

IMAGE: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi displays a placard to protest against government inaction on pollution, on the first day of the Winter Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, on Monday. Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI Photo

Interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday paid tribute to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary at Shakti Sthal in New Delhi.

Former President Pranab Mukherjee and several other party leaders also paid homage to the late Prime Minister.

'On her birth anniversary, we pay homage to India's first female Prime Minister, the Late Smt Indira Gandhi. Her will and determination led our country to great heights. Her contributions to India's national security, economy & foreign policy will always be cherished,' Congress tweeted.

Born on November 19, 1917, to Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamala Nehru, she served as the first and only woman prime minister from January 1966 to March 1977 and again from January 1980 until her assassination in October 1984.

She was the second longest-serving prime minister after Nehru and was well-known for path-breaking economic and social reforms, including the nationalisation of banks.

She also abolished privy purses of the erstwhile princely states.Indira Gandhi, who was hailed as one of the tallest world leaders, was assassinated by her own Sikh bodyguards at her residence on Akbar Road on October 31, 1984.

This came after Operation Bluestar was executed at Amritsar's Golden Temple, wherein Gandhi ordered the Indian Army to confront Sikh separatists who had taken shelter at the holy shrine. -- ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tributes to Indira Gandhi on her 102nd birth anniversary.

Gandhi was the prime minister between 1966 and 1977 and later between 1980 and 1984.

She was born on this day in 1917 in Allahabad.

'Tributes to our former PM Indira Gandhi Ji on her birth anniversary,' Modi wrote on Twitter. -- PTI

08:30 JNUSU writes to Centre to reconsider fee hike

The Jawaharlal Nehru Union Students' Union (JNUSU) has appealed to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to prepare a new IHA manual in consultation with all students of the JNU and to reconsider the proposed hike in hostel and other fees as it would prove detrimental to the careers of many students.

'We appeal to you on behalf of the JNU community to endorse our just and rightful demands and prevail upon the MHRD to act and resolve the crisis. The students of JNU cannot survive with the present structure of fees that are sought to be pushed down their throat. We urge you to consider our plight and endorse our demands,' read a letter by the JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh to Girish Hosur, joint secretary in the MHRD.

In the letter, the JNUSU alleged that 'there has been no fee hike rollback as claimed by the administration and rather than any relief to BPL Students, their misery has been compounded.'

'The reality of that rollback is that virtually no fee has come down. The monthly hostel and mess expenses of students are set to rise from Rs 2,700 per month on an average to Rs 5,500 a month. For the BPL students, the rise is from Rs 2,700 to somewhere around Rs 4,100. The definition of the BPL with an annual income of Rs 27,000 means that they absolutely cannot afford the fee hike,' the letter claimed.

Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party MP Danish Ali on Monday came out in support of the students and termed the lathi-charge on JNU students who were marching towards the Parliament as a hostile act.

"The centre is dealing very strictly with the students, even when two central ministers are alumni of the university. The university administration through the fee hike is trying to deprive the SC, ST and OBC students of their rights. This is another attempt to privatise the education by the centre," Ali told reports in New Delhi.

"BSP is with the protesting students and the government will have to accept their demands," he added. -- ANI

00:14 Surrender only option for protesters: HK cops

Hong Kong police have fought running battles with protesters trying to break a security cordon around a university in the city, firing teargas both at activists trying to escape the besieged campus and at crowds trying to reach it from outside.

Police have said the demonstrators inside Polytechnic University had no option but to come out and surrender.

The sprawling campus has been occupied by demonstrators since last week, and has become the focus of the most prolonged and tense confrontation between police and protesters in more than five months of unrest in the semi-autonomous city.

Hundreds of protesters, including secondary school students, have been trapped inside for more than 24 hours, after clashes on Sunday during which protesters launched petrol bombs and shot arrows at police, who threatened to use live rounds.

Police said they had allowed Red Cross volunteers into the university to ferry out injured protesters but said the rest had no option but to give themselves up. Other than coming out to surrender, I dont see, at the moment, there is a viable option for them, Cheuk Hau-yip, regional commander of Kowloon West district, told a press conference, adding that police had the ability and resolve to end the standoff peacefully so protesters should not try their luck.

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