Timeline Refresh
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi tonight held separate meetings with leaders of All Bodo Students Union and Bodo National Conference and discussed their issues and demands.
To their request for arranging a meeting with the Centre, Gogoi assured them that he would make all efforts towards to that end, said official sources. Gogoi told ABSU and BNC that he would be meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi on August 11 and would request him to meet them.
ABSU was represented by its vice-president Jibon Basumatary and general secretary Romeo P Narzary while BNC delegation included its chief convener Kampha Borgiary, convenors Anjali Daimary and Biseswar Basumatary.
M I Khan reports from Patna: The bodies of the four soldiers of Bihar regiment, who were killed after "heavily armed terrorists' ambushed an Indian army patrol along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, arrived in Patna on Wednesday night. Their funeral will take place at their respective villages on Thursday, a police official said.
A large number of security forces and jawans of Bihar regiment along with hundreds of people gathered at the Patna airport and paid salute to the martyrs.
Five soldiers were killed when the attackers, including men in Pakistani military uniform, barged into Indian territory and ambushed an army patrol at Chakan-da-Bagh sector of the Line of Control on Tuesday. The condition of another soldier, who was injured in the ambush, is slated to be critical.
The martyrs from Bihar have been identified as Sambhusaran Rai, who belonged to Ara in Bhojpur district, Vijay Kumar Rai from Bihta in Patna district, and Prem Nath and Raghunandan Prasad from Saran district.Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced a state funeral for all the slain four soldiers of the 21 Bihar Regiment, along with a compensation of Rs10 lakhs for their families.
Kumar, whose party walked out of the NDA in June breaking a 17-year-old alliance with BJP, also said the UPA stands to benefit if the Centre grants special state status to Bihar. He, however, evaded a direct question on whether his party will support a Congress-led government from outside in2014 saying it was "hypothetical".
"We never discuss persons. But the one whom you are referring to will not be an issue in Bihar. In Bihar, the issues during the elections will be development... You will be relieved when the results are out," he said in reply to a question on Modi factor in the next Lok Sabha polls.
According to the police, a case under Section 66 A of the IT Act and others has been registered against Khan at the Seema Puri Police Station of North-East Delhi on Monday.
The CM reached Raain village in the Bachrawan development block and inspected ongoing development works in the area. And, what with the recent midday meal tragedy in Bihar's Chhapra district, Akhilesh also went down to a local school where he tasted the food being served to students as part ofthe scheme.
The CM reached the village, which lies about 50km from the state capital, unannounced, taking local officials by surprise.
The EC also sought a monthly report about cases of conviction of sitting members of Parliament or state legislature, preferably by the 15th of every month.
In a communication to chief secretaries of all states/UTs, the poll body has cited the Supreme Court judgment whereby the protection against immediate disqualification from membership enjoyed by sitting members on conviction and sentence to imprisonment/fine will no longer be available.
About 170 members of the Youth Congress were detained on Wednesday while marching towards the Pakistan High Commission to protest the killings of five Indian soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir, police said.
Around 200 members of the Youth Congress gathered near the Pakistan High Commission in Chanakyapuri in central Delhi around 1 pm. They climbed police barricades and raised anti-Pakistan slogans.
"There is no difference between Adolf Hitler and the BJP. Yes, there is one big difference that Adolf Hitler first came to power and then closed Parliament while the BJP is closing Parliament in the hope that they will come to power.
"Their intent is clear, which is that they do not believe in democracy or its institutions. They want to carry on as they like. I hope, though it is getting harder to believe, that some discipline is instilled in Parliament,' Aiyar said.
Incidentally, the Telugu Desam Party was the first to raise the demand three years ago that Hyderabad be made the second capital of India, if at all the state was to be bifurcated.
However, the government has to hold Pakistan responsible for the repeated incursions.
Sihna today moved a breach of privilege notice against Defence Minister AK Antony, accusing him of misleading Parliament on the killing of five Indian jawans along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
"This is the blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement. It has happened at a time when India and Pakistan governments were preparing to take steps for resumption of comprehensive dialogue between them," the CPI National Executive said in a statement.
The incident, it said, was "a repetition" of the beheading of an Indian soldier in January when "jingoists on both sides of the border sabotaged the attempts for resumption of dialogue".
"Yes, Defence Research laboratory in Tezpur has developed a chilli-spray called Capsispray. It is a non-lethal spray for personal protection and self-defence," Defence Minister A K Antony said in reply to a written query.
"It contains Oleoresin Capsicum extracted from world's hottest chilli Bhut Jolokia, largely cultivated in Assam and other parts of northeast," he said.
The Minister was asked if the spray was developed in view of growing instances of attacks on women.
And the changed press release that says the killings were by persons dressed in Pakistani army uniforms. Read
The Lok Sabha has been adjourned for the day. Day 3 washed out as well.
The ruling Congress has issued a whip for all its MPs to be present when the Bill is introduced. The Bill, seen as the UPA's gamechanger ahead of next year's general elections, will be discussed next week.The Food Security Bill gives 67% Indians, or about 800 million people, the legal right to cheap food. More
Parliament adjourned till 3 pm. Lok Sabha over Telangana and Rajya Sabha over AK Antony's LoC statement.
That's four adjournments in each house today.
Dr Singh's meeting with Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will take place as scheduled on the sidelines of a United Nations meet in New York in September.
Antony said that he went by the statement prepared by the Joint Secretary of the Defence Ministry, which was corrected by the Defence Secretary. Antony did not verify the statement from the Army, hence there was a discrepancy in his statement to Parliament.
Most of the top bureaucrats have washed their hands off the statement, but a scapegoat has been found. A Joint Secretary who drafted the statement from the Military Intelligence report has been identified. In all probability, the Joint Secretary will be transferred once the Monsoon session of Parliament is adjourned sine die.
It is still unclear whether the government will go back on its "terrorists in Pak army uniform" statement or stick to it.
The Ministry of External Affairs has issued a statement: Weekly media briefing rescheduled to a later date. Inconvenience caused is regretted.
Probably does not want to make another faux pas over the LoC killings.
"The nation is one, Parliament is one. There will be no comporomise," said Antony.
BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu asks how can the government make two statements on one day, referring to yesterday's statements by the army and MoD.
Ravi Shankar Prasad chimes in, "Does this mean that what the defence minister said yesterday was incorrect? Why does he wait for more information from the Army chief?"
Pakistan denied any part in the incident, but India lodged an official protest with Islamabad for what was the deadliest loss of life for the Indian army since a 2003 truce agreement.
Read
In the Upper House, BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said, "The Defence Minister has let down the country. He must apologise to the country and Parliament. He has taken the line of Pakistan."
Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) tried to raise the issue of law and order in West Bengal but was stoutly opposed by Derek O'Brien (TMC).
All the while, two TDP members stood in the Well raising banners demanding justice for Seemandhra area. The Chairman asked the members to resume their places so that Question Hour could be taken up. But with members unrelenting, he adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
Read Nitin Gokhale's column on the beheading of a jawan at the LoC in January.
Black smoke that shot skyward was visible across much of Nairobi as emergency teams battled the blaze. Stranded passengers stood on sidewalks outside the airport with their luggage in hand.
The army chief was supposed to visit the spot where the incursion happened in Poonch, but bad weather has stymied plans.
In the Lok Sabha, leader of the opposition in the house, wants the prime minister to comment on Antony's statement yesterday.
Consequently, both houses of Parliament have been adjourned.
He said that the state government has always questioned his credibility and integrity. Justice Mehta has written a letter to the state governor and the government stating that he cannot take up the position considering the mindset and attitude displayed by the state government is counter-significant.
"Persistently and tenaciously approaching the Supreme Court with special leave petition, review petition, and curative petition at huge public expense. It may be compared to the budget for the Lokayukta office or even the high court (which deals with lacs of cases every year). It would be an eye-opener," Justice Mehta stated in the letter.
"We have sent notice on breach of privilege to the Speaker," said the BJP's Yashwant Sinha, who described the Defence Minister's statement as "most laughable."
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said, "There is no question of Defence Minister misleading the House. Those were facts that were available at the time he made that statement."
During a political uproar over the ambush of the Indian soldiers 200 kms south of Srinagar, the Defence Minister said in Parliament that "the ambush was carried out by approximately 20 heavily-armed terrorists along with persons dressed in Pakistan Army Uniforms." The statement absolved the Pakistani army from the attack. More
Rahul's observation that "Poverty is just a state of mind. It does not mean scarcity of food, money or material things. If one possesses self-confidence, then one can overcome poverty" was enough to bring down the wrath of the cyber world on him. More
The revelation that al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has been communicating directly with the group's Yemeni franchise about future operations is causing plenty of consternation among western counter-terrorism officials.
It suggests a heightened level of co-ordination between al Qaeda 'central' and its branches, and an initiative by Zawahiri to leverage instability in places far away from his hideout '" thought to be somewhere along the Pakistan-Afghan border.
There are still few confirmed specifics about the nature of the plot that Zawahiri was supposedly discussing with Nasir al-Wuhayshi, the leader of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
But he has clearly identified that group as an effective affiliate, possibly the one best placed to attack U.S. interests directly. U.S. officials were concerned that a plot was timed to go into operation to coincide with the end of Ramadan, which has often been a period of increased terrorist activity. The Muslim holy month ends on Wednesday.
Federal authorities investigating the deadly attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi have filed charges against Ahmed Abu Khattalah, leader of a Libyan militia that officials believe was involved in the assault, people briefed on the investigation said.
The charges under seal are the first criminal counts to emerge from the probe. The investigation of the attack last September 11 that killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three others continues, these people said, as investigators try to build their case against Khattalah and others who authorities believe were involved. Attorney General Eric Holder had earlier this year promised congressional lawmakers the Justice Department would soon make public what actions it would take.
Former US president George W Bush underwent successful surgery at a Dallas hospital on Tuesday to place a stent in a blocked heart artery, a spokesman said. Bush, 67, was "in high spirits, eager to return home tomorrow and resume his normal schedule on Thursday", spokesman Freddy Ford said in a statement.
Doctors discovered the blockage on Monday during Bush's annual physical exam at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, the statement said. Doctors recommended a stent to open the blockage and he underwent surgery on Tuesday morning at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, the statement said.
Al Jazeera: Multiple car bombs targeting markets and shopping streets in Baghdad have killed at least 27 people, an interior ministry source said. Another 78 people were wounded in the six bombings on Tuesday.
Four separate car bombs went off in eastern and southern districts of the capital in quick succession. Two more car bombs exploded in markets of Husseiniya and Shaab neighourhoods in the north of the city. Most of the attacks were in Shia neighbourhoods.
Two US senators have met Egypt's army chief and urged the country's divided political factions to renounce violence and agree to a national dialogue. Lindsey Graham and John McCain, both Republican senators, travelled to Cairo at the request of US President Barack Obama.
At a press conference on Tuesday night, the two asked Egypt's interim government to set forth a "clear timetable" for holding new elections and finalising a new constitution.
Four bomb blasts rocked Karachi on Tuesday night but no loss of life was reported due to the low intensity of the explosions.
The remote-controlled blasts took place in desolate areas and outside closed shops in the Defence Rahat, Seaview and Kamal areas and near Moti Mahal in Gulshan-e-Iqbal area outside wine shops all closed due to Ramzan.
Karachi police chief Ghulam Qadir said that the purpose of the blasts appeared to be either to cause panic and fear in the city because of the heavy rush of shoppers in the markets ahead of Eid festival or the work of extortionists. Besides terrorism and sectarian violence, Karachi has also been badly hit by criminals who target businessmen and traders for extortion money.
Nearly a year later, Benghazi remains a flashpoint in Washington for two very different reasons: indefensible pre-attack policy decisions and irresistible post-attack politics.
The Obama White House, from the president on down, complains of "phony" Republican-led congressional investigations. Yet the administration's own reluctant, and at times inaccurate, responses to congressional inquiries have contributed to the GOP charge that the administration, at a minimum, has been less than transparent.