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Thu, 26 November 2015
Would have acted differently if it had known jet was Russian, says Turkey
Timeline Refresh
23:53 Students 'made' to paint classrooms in Haryana school
Parents of students at the government senior secondary school at Hat village in this district today alleged that the children were made to whitewash and paint the classroom walls.
However school principal Lajpatray said the students had given their written consent to do it. The villagers alleged the whitewash and painting work was going on in the school for the past few days and so far four classrooms have been painted by the students.
They complained that the students were shut inside classrooms and made to paint it. Some school student alleged the principal pressurised them to give consent in writing.
The teachers too advised them against saying anything about this to their parents. Refuting the allegation, Lajpatray said, the school is being beautified following consent of every teacher and student.
23:32 Hafiz Saeed preaching terror in connivance with Pak forces: BSF
Jamaat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed is touring terrorist camps along the border and "repeatedly provoking" militants to carry out attacks in India, BSF today said and alleged connivance of the Pakistani security forces in the campaign of the 26/11 mastermind.
Pakistan's security forces are allowing Saeed to "openly operate" in the border areas to indoctrinate terrorist groups, Inspector General (IG) of BSF, Jammu Frontier, Rakesh Sharma told reporters here today.
"You saw Hafiz Saeed has been repeatedly provoking terrorists. Recently inputs have come that motivational speeches are being delivered in the terrorist camps and launching pads that we have to engineer terror acts (across the border in this side)," Sharma said.
The BSF IG was replying to a question whether the terror infrastructure across the border has increased.
23:15 Would have acted differently if it had known jet was Russian, says Turkey
President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that his country would have acted differently if it had known that the warplane which was downed on the Syrian border this week was Russian, says AFP
22:38 India NSG membership to impact regional peace, stability: Pak
Pakistan today said that creating exception to grant India membership of Nuclear Suppliers Group would adversely impact the non-proliferation regime and regional peace and stability, as it demanded an equitable, non-discriminatory approach for admitting new members.
Addressing the weekly press briefing here, Foreign Office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said that grant of exclusive NSG membership to India as an exception, on account of political and commercial considerations, would adversely affect the credibility of non-proliferation regime. "It would also bear negative implications for regional peace and security," he said.
If successful, India would be the only member of the suppliers' group that has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty, a 189-nation treaty set up four decades ago to prevent nation states from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Pakistan had demanded that NSG should follow an objective, equitable and non-discriminatory approach for admitting new members.
22:28 'CBI framing Sanatan men in Dabholkar case at NCP's behest'
Right-wing outfit Sanatan Sanstha today accused the CBI of trying to frame its members in the rationalist Narendra Dabholkar murder case at the behest of Nationalist Congress Party.
The Sanstha also demanded removal of a CBI officer from investigation and his suspension for "falsely implicating seekers of Sanatan".
Addressing a press conference, spokesperson of the outfit, Abhay Vartak said, "The officer was falsely implicating innocent members of Sanatan Sanstha as he is working under the top brass of NCP leaders as they want the Sanstha to be eliminated".
He said followers of the Sanstha were "interrogated" by the CBI on the basis of a faulty inference.
21:57 Guj polls: Deleted voters should be allowed to vote, PIL says
The controversy surrounding the deletion of several voters from electoral rolls in local body polls reached the Gujarat high court today with a public interest litigation demanding that such voters be allowed to exercise their franchise.
Advocate K R Koshti has filed the petition.
The division bench of acting Chief Justice Jayant Pateland Justice V M Pancholi issued notices to the State Election Commission and Ahmedabad Collector Rajkumar Beniwal, posting the hearing for tomorrow.
According to Koshti, more than one lakh voters in the city alone could not vote during the November 22 election to the municipal corporation as their names were `deleted' from the electoral rolls at the last moment.
Voting for Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Bhavnagarand Vadodara corporations was held on that day.
Citing media reports, the PIL alleges that the SEC and the city Collector (who was the election officer) acted in an unjust, unfair and illegal manner by not allowing voters to use their franchise.
21:45 BJP MLA O P Sharma suspended for Winter session
Amid relentless protests over Delhi BJP MLA Om Prakash Sharma's derogatory remarks against AAP legislator Alka Lamba, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel today suspended him for the rest of the ongoing Winter session of the assembly and referred his matter to House Ethics Committee.
However, all six women MLAs and other ruling party legislators were adamant for permanent suspension of Sharma from the House, but the Speaker decided to suspend the BJP legislator till December 4 after the House passed a proposal to take strict action against him by voice vote.
As uproar continued in the Assembly, the Speaker had to adjourn the House twice. Najafgarh MLA Kailash Gahlot moved a privilege motion against Sharma for his remarks against the Speaker, who later suspended the BJP legislator after the House passed a proposal against him by voice vote.
21:39 Mistaken as militants, 2 civilians killed by army in Meghalaya
Two persons including a schoolteacher, riding a motorcycle, were shot dead by the army in Meghalaya's North Garo Hills district, an incident which the army said took place because it mistook them as armed militants.
Local schoolteacher Sweetbirth D Marak and Alphuis Momin, both residents of Rajasimla village, were returning home on a motorcycle last night when they were shot dead by army personnel at Kharkutta area, officials said today. "We are awaiting details of the case from the police. Accordingly, a magisterial inquiry will be constituted," district deputy commissioner S C Sadhu told PTI. Kharkutta MLA Cherak W Momin, who reached the spot today morning, condemned the killing of the two "innocent people".
"The matter needs to be probed immediately and the guilty should be punished," he said, adding that this is the second instance of "indiscriminate firing" by the Army resulting in the death of two persons in the area.
The army, confirming the killing of the two civilians, said they were killed as they didn't stop after being asked to during counter-terrorist operations.
21:39 Mistaken as militants, 2 civilians killed by army in Meghalaya
Two persons including a schoolteacher, riding a motorcycle, were shot dead by the army in Meghalaya's North Garo Hills district, an incident which the army said took place because it mistook them as armed militants.
Local schoolteacher Sweetbirth D Marak and Alphuis Momin, both residents of Rajasimla village, were returning home on a motorcycle last night when they were shot dead by army personnel at Kharkutta area, officials said today. "We are awaiting details of the case from the police. Accordingly, a magisterial inquiry will be constituted," district deputy commissioner S C Sadhu told PTI. Kharkutta MLA Cherak W Momin, who reached the spot today morning, condemned the killing of the two "innocent people".
"The matter needs to be probed immediately and the guilty should be punished," he said, adding that this is the second instance of "indiscriminate firing" by the Army resulting in the death of two persons in the area.
The army, confirming the killing of the two civilians, said they were killed as they didn't stop after being asked to during counter-terrorist operations.
21:19
In what could be the biggest cash heist in the national capital, the driver of a cash transit van allegedly fled with around Rs 22.5 crore from southeast Delhi's Govindpuri area today.
The incident was reported in the evening when the armed guard accompanying the van asked the driver to stop the vehicle near Govindpuri Metro station so that he could relieve himself by the roadside, said police. The driver, identified as Pradeep Shukla, told the guard that he would wait for him in a lane nearby and was last seen taking a sharp turn. When the guard returned, the vehicle and the driver were nowhere to be seen, said police.
The guard, Vinay Patel, informed the matter to the branch concerned of the private bank whose cash they were carrying and bank authorities immediately called up police.
They told police that they had sent four cash transit vans -- with total cash of around Rs 38 crore -- from their Vikaspuri branch in the day, and the van (DL 1LK 9189) which headed towards southeast Delhi was carrying around Rs 22.5 crore.
21:12 PM willing to speak to everyone on GST Bill: Jaitley
Offering an olive branch to the Opposition to get the GST bill passed, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is willing to speak to everyone to get the landmark indirect tax law through.
Jaitley, who needs Parliament approval for the Goods and Services Tax Bill in the winter session to roll out the new indirect tax regime from planned April 1, said he has spoken to "almost all Congress leaders" on the issue.
"We have absolutely no hesitation even at the level of prime minister, we have never had in it in the past, we don't have it (now). He is willing to speak to everyone," he said.
He was asked about Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's charge that Prime Minister does not pick up phone to speak to Sonia Gandhi like the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who used to engage with him as leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha and Sushma Swaraj of Lok Sabha.
20:54 Hardik's mother, sister detained during Gujarat CM's rally
The police in Viramgam in the district today briefly detained the Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel's mother Ushaben and his sister Monica along with six other women as they gathered to stage a protest at Chief Minister Anandiben Patel's election rally.
The women were held before they could reach the venue and kept in preventive detention till the CM's speech got over. "We released them after a few hours," said Viramgam town police station's inspector M M Ganguli. Hardik, who hails from this town, is in Surat jail in connection with a sedition case.
Chief Minister Patel was in Viramgam, around 20 km from here, for the campaigning for local body polls in the state. Polling for 31 district panchayats, 230 taluka panchayats and 56 municipalities would take place on November 29.
20:10 NHRC issues notice to TN on use of colours to identify caste
The National Human Rights Commission has issued notice to Tamil Nadu government over reported use of different colours by school students to identify or indicate caste.
The Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that in schools of Tirunelveli district, caste comes in shades of red, yellow, green and saffron, said NHRC in a statement. This is what the students wear on their wrists, foreheads, around their necks, under their shirts, indicating their caste.
In this belt in southern Tamil Nadu, known for violent caste conflicts between OBCs and Dalits, these bands are markers that tell children who is a friend, who is not. While these dominant communities use markers such as wrist bands to single out and subjugate Dalits, for the Dalits, these were ways of asserting themselves."
The content of the press report, if true, raises a serious issue of human rights," observed the Commission while issuing notices to the Principal Secretary in Social Welfare Department and district collector, Tirunelveli, calling for a factual report within two weeks.
19:54 Seriously ill dad weds in ICU, witnesses daughter's marriage
A 49-year-old father, terminally ill from an incurable lung disease, has taken part in two marriages - his own and that of his daughter - from an intensive care hospital bed in the US state of North Carolina.
Jubal Kirby, suffering from Pulmonary Fibrosis, an incurable lung disease, was admitted to the Carolinas Medical Center three weeks ago. His condition has not improved since.
On Monday, Jubal had married Colleen Kirby. It came up so quickly that even their daughters were not present. The Anson County couple had been together for 26 years, but never bothered to marry.
When the seriousness of his illness became clear, they decided the time was right, the Charlotte Observer reported. For Jubal, this was his second wedding this week as his 20-year-old daughter, Kaila Kirby decided to advance her marriage by seven months so her terminally ill father could be there for the heartwarming moment, the report said.
Kaila and her fiance Daniel Haley had earlier decided to marry on July 16, 2016.
19:40
JUST IN: Punjab PCC chief Pratap Singh Bajwa and CLP leader Sunil Jakhar have resigned; and Congress president Sonia Gandhi has accepted the same, according to senior party leader Shakeel Ahmed.
19:33 Return of awards triggered a debate on intolerance: Pranab
President Pranab Mukherjee has said that the return of awards by writers and intellectuals was "evidently spontaneous" and a way of protest that has triggered a nation-wide debate on the issue of intolerance, a release issued today by a group of intellectuals has claimed.
A three-member delegation comprising Ashok Vajpeyi(poet), Vivan Sundaram (painter) and Om Thanvi (journalist)had called on the President yesterday and submitted a memorandum on behalf of writers, artists, scientists andacademics.
They sought his intervention to persuade the Central and state governments to ensure tolerance, freedom of expression and mutual cooperation, the release said.
The President expressed the view that 'award-vapasi' is a way of protest and it has been evidently spontaneous. He feels that the reason India has survived, though many more ancient civilisations have disappeared, is due to its pluralism over millenia.
18:56 Vaiko celebrates 61st birthday of Prabhakaran
The 61st birth anniversary of slain LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was celebrated by MDMK chief Vaiko and pro-Tamil outfits in some parts of Tamil Nadu today.
Pro-Tamil outfits like Periyar Dravida Iyakkam and 'May 17 movement' celebrated the birth anniversary in various parts of the city by cutting cakes and distributing sweets.
Vaiko cut a cake coinciding with the birth anniversary celebrations at the party headquarters here, sources said.
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol Thirumavalavan along with party cadres also celebrated the birth anniversary of the slain leader.
18:41 Pak envoy refuses to join 'intolerance' debate
Pakistan today refused to join in the ongoing debate on alleged intolerance in the country saying it was an internal matter of India.
"I would not like to comment on your internal matters," Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.
He said this when asked to comment about alleged rising intolerance in India.
A number of artists, literary persons and film stars have expressed their concern over the alleged growing intolerance in the country in recent months.
The latest to join the debate was Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, who recently had said that his wife Kiran had expressed fear for their child in the current atmosphere, inviting strong reaction from BJP and others.
Yesterday, Khan had said that he stood by his comments on "intolerance" and asserted that neither he nor his wife have any intention to leave the country.
18:31 PM trolled for 'sleeping' in Parliament
Twitter trolling PM Modi for allegedly nodding off in Parliament while Rajnath Singh was sleeping.
@TiwariAyodhya PM Modi was seen sleeping in the parliament Seems the PM got Jet Lag after continuous foreign tours and rockshows on foreign soil.
@sonikagsaxena Hope bhakts remember raga sleeping troll...Mr.PM is no different
@Josa_in PM caught sleeping at Parliament.. Wake up Modi saab, Wake up..
@ska4rg Its good for country if this pm sleeps as he can instigate intolerance if he is awake... Problem is he is sleeping inside prlmnt
@ska4rg Having known that he has no chances of electoral victory anytime near,PM might b spending most of the time sleeping to dream
@maulinshah9 Sometime i hv felt Atalji's touch in Rajnath's parliamentary speeches. But why is PM sleeping during it?
@arunmsk History is created 1.Constitution day 2. Day of paying tribute to 26/11 martyrs 3. PM is sleeping in Parliament What a shame
@SonalMehra_ Those who are showing PM sleeping in Parliament are damaging Image of India to world!Such people can not be patriots!
@TiwariAyodhya PM Modi was seen sleeping in the parliament Seems the PM got Jet Lag after continuous foreign tours and rockshows on foreign soil.
@sonikagsaxena Hope bhakts remember raga sleeping troll...Mr.PM is no different
@Josa_in PM caught sleeping at Parliament.. Wake up Modi saab, Wake up..
@ska4rg Its good for country if this pm sleeps as he can instigate intolerance if he is awake... Problem is he is sleeping inside prlmnt
@ska4rg Having known that he has no chances of electoral victory anytime near,PM might b spending most of the time sleeping to dream
@maulinshah9 Sometime i hv felt Atalji's touch in Rajnath's parliamentary speeches. But why is PM sleeping during it?
@arunmsk History is created 1.Constitution day 2. Day of paying tribute to 26/11 martyrs 3. PM is sleeping in Parliament What a shame
@SonalMehra_ Those who are showing PM sleeping in Parliament are damaging Image of India to world!Such people can not be patriots!
18:21
Russia preparing retaliatory economic measures against Turkey over jet downing: PM
18:17
@KanchanGupta That cricket with Pakistan is announced on 26/11 shows how callous this Govt is about the memory of 166 slain this day in 2008 by Pakistanis.
@virsanghvi replies: We should refuse to play cricket with them.Use the old anti apartheid strategy.Treat them like sports pariahs.
What do you think? Should we play cricket with Pakistan? Take our poll alongside.
@virsanghvi replies: We should refuse to play cricket with them.Use the old anti apartheid strategy.Treat them like sports pariahs.
What do you think? Should we play cricket with Pakistan? Take our poll alongside.
18:09
Anil Wadhwa, MEA Secretary (East) appointed as the next Ambassador of lndia to the Republic of ltaly.
18:04
Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, speaking now, addresses the Treasury benches in Parliament saying, "Don't lecture us on the Constitution. Talk if you have played a role."
17:46 Peter, Indrani siphoned off Rs 900 crore to their company 9X Media: CBI
Peter and Indrani Mukherjea siphoned off funds to the tune of Rs 900 crore to their company 9X Media through a layer of nine companies, the CBI told the court on Thursday.
Seeking Mukherjea's further custody, the investigating agency in the Sheena Bora murder case said that Indrani could have opened an account in the name of Sheena in HSBC, Singapore, through her friend Gayatri Ahuja, who worked in DBD bank, reports the Hindu.
The court extended Mukherjea's CBI custody till November 30.
Seeking Mukherjea's further custody, the investigating agency in the Sheena Bora murder case said that Indrani could have opened an account in the name of Sheena in HSBC, Singapore, through her friend Gayatri Ahuja, who worked in DBD bank, reports the Hindu.
The court extended Mukherjea's CBI custody till November 30.
17:29 Eagles of Death Metal have pledged to finish their Bataclan gig
Eagles of Death Metal have pledged to finish the band's Paris gig at the Bataclan theatre, which was interrupted by the terrorist attacks in the city centre on 13 November. The attack was one of six around the city, claimed by Isis, which killed 130 people including 89 inside the Bataclan. The band's merchandise manager Nick Alexander, 36 from Colchester, and three record company employees were killed during the attack, while touring drummer Julian Dorio and his bandmates escaped by a backstage exit. Here's what he wrote. Read
17:05
Russian President Putin says still no 'apologies' from Turkey over downed warplane: AFP
16:58 Peter Mukerjea sent to CBI custody till 30th November
Peter Mukerjea, who was produced in a Mumbai court today, has been sent to CBI custody till November 30. His custody ended today.
Meanwhile, the CBI said in court earlier that Indrani and Peter formed various companies between 2006-07 and invested Rs 900 crore. The CBI has written to Interpol seeking access to accounts of Mukerjeas including one in Sheena's name at HSBC Bank, Singapore, the court has been told.
Meanwhile, the CBI said in court earlier that Indrani and Peter formed various companies between 2006-07 and invested Rs 900 crore. The CBI has written to Interpol seeking access to accounts of Mukerjeas including one in Sheena's name at HSBC Bank, Singapore, the court has been told.
16:56
Sheena Bora murder case: Peter Mukerjea sent to CBI custody till November 30.
16:52 Rights court upholds French headscarf ban in hospital job
Europe's top human rights court is upholding France's headscarf ban in the case of a Muslim social worker who lost her hospital job because she would not remove her scarf.
The case decided today dates to 2000, when Christiane Ebrahimian was working in the psychiatric department at a public hospital in Nanterre.
She learned that her contract would not be renewed because patients had complained about her refusal to remove her headscarf.
16:34 Shehnai music greets you in Parliament today
Many firsts inside Parliament today.
-- The stunning building will lit with fairy lights.
-- As you enter the Central Hall, you are greeted with a shehnai recital, recorded of course.
-- An exhibition on the works of Dr B R Ambedkar has been opened in the Parliament Annexe.
-- The government has also circulated a booklet in English and Hindi on the salient portions of the speeches of Dr Ambedkar with bullet points for the future references to the Constitution.
-- The stunning building will lit with fairy lights.
-- As you enter the Central Hall, you are greeted with a shehnai recital, recorded of course.
-- An exhibition on the works of Dr B R Ambedkar has been opened in the Parliament Annexe.
-- The government has also circulated a booklet in English and Hindi on the salient portions of the speeches of Dr Ambedkar with bullet points for the future references to the Constitution.
16:18
Still camera photographers were seen in the Lok Sabha for the first time in the visitors gallery while the session was on.
This is the first time that rules are amended to bring a still photographer inside to take pictures of the Speaker and the treasury benches.
Lok Sabha TV CEO Seema Gupta was also shooting a video film focussing on the Speaker and the Prime Minister.
Opposition benches were shocked to see this happening, their contention being that if you permit one still photographer open the Parliament to newspapers as well.
The News photographers Assocaition is having an emergency meeting on Tuesday to take up the matter with the Lok Sabha Speaker.
This is the first time that rules are amended to bring a still photographer inside to take pictures of the Speaker and the treasury benches.
Lok Sabha TV CEO Seema Gupta was also shooting a video film focussing on the Speaker and the Prime Minister.
Opposition benches were shocked to see this happening, their contention being that if you permit one still photographer open the Parliament to newspapers as well.
The News photographers Assocaition is having an emergency meeting on Tuesday to take up the matter with the Lok Sabha Speaker.
16:09 Sonia, Rahul avoid small talk with PM
Early bird catches the PM's eye and veterans that they are in Parliament, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi decided to walk in a little after 11 am. This meant they could avoid being greeted by the PM, who always makes it a point to greet MPs before taking his seat. The prime minister walks across to the opposition benches a few minutes before the Lok Sabha is called to order and before the arrival of the Speaker. He chats with MPs in the Opposition benches for a couple of minutes and then takes his seat.
So, Sonia Gandhi arrived in Lok Sabha and went to the back benches, while Rahul Gandhi entered the house at 11:15 am, walked past Sonia without noticing that she was seated in the back benches.
So, Sonia Gandhi arrived in Lok Sabha and went to the back benches, while Rahul Gandhi entered the house at 11:15 am, walked past Sonia without noticing that she was seated in the back benches.
15:54 MPs snicker at Rahul's Bengluru speech
Been there, seen this.
Here's the buzz from Parliament today that nobody will tell you about.
First up, there was no Bihar effect in the Central Hall of Parliament today.
Though the JD-U's Sharad Yadav and KC Tyagi were going from row to row greeting MPs across parties, there was very little post-victory euphoria in the house. Nobody expected that the elation of the Mahagathbandhan's decisive win against the BJP would evaporate so quickly.
It was the Congress party's turn to bask in the warmth of victory after Kanti Lal Bhuria's stunning win from Ratlam. MPs Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Smitri Irani, Ram Gopal Yadav, Praful Patel, Jairam Ramesh were seen talking to each other.
Meanwhile, we hear that Congress leaders feel that the media attention on Rahul Gandhi's speech at Mount Carmel college has focussed unfairly on the Swachh Bharat and Make in India questions.
The fact that Rahul was stumped and came away a bit of a laughing stock was the main topic discussed among MPs in Central Hall.
Here's the buzz from Parliament today that nobody will tell you about.
First up, there was no Bihar effect in the Central Hall of Parliament today.
Though the JD-U's Sharad Yadav and KC Tyagi were going from row to row greeting MPs across parties, there was very little post-victory euphoria in the house. Nobody expected that the elation of the Mahagathbandhan's decisive win against the BJP would evaporate so quickly.
It was the Congress party's turn to bask in the warmth of victory after Kanti Lal Bhuria's stunning win from Ratlam. MPs Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Smitri Irani, Ram Gopal Yadav, Praful Patel, Jairam Ramesh were seen talking to each other.
Meanwhile, we hear that Congress leaders feel that the media attention on Rahul Gandhi's speech at Mount Carmel college has focussed unfairly on the Swachh Bharat and Make in India questions.
The fact that Rahul was stumped and came away a bit of a laughing stock was the main topic discussed among MPs in Central Hall.
15:32
First signature page of the Constitution signed by Rajendra Prasad and Jawaharlal Nehru, among others.
15:31 BJP MLA suspended for winter session of parliament
Delhi's BJP MLA OP Sharma suspended for the entire session for using unparliamentary language against the speaker.
This comes after Sharma had called AAP MLA Alka Lamba a 'baazaaru aurat' and somebody who roams around all night. Angry AAP workers went over to Sharma's house in Delhi chanting slogans.
This comes after Sharma had called AAP MLA Alka Lamba a 'baazaaru aurat' and somebody who roams around all night. Angry AAP workers went over to Sharma's house in Delhi chanting slogans.
15:21 Mamata lashes out at BJP: Who are you to tell Aamir to leave India?
Better late than never? West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee wades into the Aamir Khan controversy a day after it slipped off the headlines.
Addressing a meet in Kolkata on inclusiveness and tolerance, Banerjee said, "Aamir Khan has said what he felt as an Indian. Who are you to tell him to leave the country. The country belongs to everyone.
"Who are you to tell us to go to Pakistan? Or what to wear or what to eat? This is our country, belongs to everyone. This is our janmabhoomi, karmabhoomi.
"Just because I am speaking against them, they might unleash the CBI against me. I am not afraid.
"I do not fear death. Death will come to all one day. I believe keeping my head held high and practising fearless politics.
"I will keep protecting the Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians alike. No one will be neglected.
"Terrorists have no religion, caste or creed. Criminals are criminals, terrorists are terrorists. If you say anything against them they will unleash CBI against you. But you cannot shut my mouth."
Addressing a meet in Kolkata on inclusiveness and tolerance, Banerjee said, "Aamir Khan has said what he felt as an Indian. Who are you to tell him to leave the country. The country belongs to everyone.
"Who are you to tell us to go to Pakistan? Or what to wear or what to eat? This is our country, belongs to everyone. This is our janmabhoomi, karmabhoomi.
"Just because I am speaking against them, they might unleash the CBI against me. I am not afraid.
"I do not fear death. Death will come to all one day. I believe keeping my head held high and practising fearless politics.
"I will keep protecting the Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians alike. No one will be neglected.
"Terrorists have no religion, caste or creed. Criminals are criminals, terrorists are terrorists. If you say anything against them they will unleash CBI against you. But you cannot shut my mouth."
14:51 The Nehru that the BJP chooses to ignore
As the Parliament debates/discusses the history of the Constitution, here's a look at one of India's finest leaders -- Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru -- who was part of the committee chosen to form the Constitution.
The picture show the then Prime Minister with Albert Einstein while visiting his home in Princeton, New Jersey, 1949. Einstein had previously written this in a 1947 letter to Nehru: "May I tell you of the deep emotion with which I read recently that the Indian Constituent Assembly has abolished untouchability? I know how large a part you have played in the various phases of India's struggle for emancipation, and how grateful lovers of freedom must be to you, as well as to your great teacher Mahatma Gandhi."
The picture show the then Prime Minister with Albert Einstein while visiting his home in Princeton, New Jersey, 1949. Einstein had previously written this in a 1947 letter to Nehru: "May I tell you of the deep emotion with which I read recently that the Indian Constituent Assembly has abolished untouchability? I know how large a part you have played in the various phases of India's struggle for emancipation, and how grateful lovers of freedom must be to you, as well as to your great teacher Mahatma Gandhi."
14:44
Journalist Mihir Sharma tweets on the likelihood of Bihar becoming a dry state. Just when we were all warming up to Nitish, he starts acting like @Dev_Fadnavis - what will he ban next?
14:30
AAP MLA Akhilesh Tripathi arrested in 2013 rioting case,sent to judicial custody
14:28
Anne Frank and her family were also denied entry as refugees to the US. Read
14:26
Here's why Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj will not be speaking in Parliament today or tomorrow: She's on her way to the CHOGM Summit in Malta.
14:21
Tony Joseph @tjoseph0010 tweets: Good to remember that the first guy to ban alcohol was the darling of our free marketers, C. Rajagopalachari
14:12
India-Pakistan series will happen tentatively from Dec 15 in Sri Lanka, says Rajiv Shukla, BCCI.
14:10 Sena has nothing to do with 'slap Aamir-get Rs 1 lakh' call: Thackeray
The Shiv Sena has distanced itself from the call by its party's Ludhiana chief to 'slap Aamir Khan and get Rs 1 lakh' offer.
Aditya Thackeray, who is the son of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and the president of the Yuva Sena, tweeted: The Shiv Sena Party has clearly stated today that it has absolutely nothing to do with the statement of offer of the slapping and so on."
Punjab Shiv Sena chief Rajeev Tandon said on Wednesday, "Any person who slaps Aamir Khan will be rewarded Rs 1 lakh by the Shiv Sena. This is important because no one living in our country should dare to say anything against India Anyone from the hotel staff or the film crew can slap him and take the reward.
On Thursday, the Shiv Sena said Tandons statement was not the official view of the party. The party said it had nothing to do with the remark made in Ludhiana.
Aditya Thackeray, who is the son of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and the president of the Yuva Sena, tweeted: The Shiv Sena Party has clearly stated today that it has absolutely nothing to do with the statement of offer of the slapping and so on."
Punjab Shiv Sena chief Rajeev Tandon said on Wednesday, "Any person who slaps Aamir Khan will be rewarded Rs 1 lakh by the Shiv Sena. This is important because no one living in our country should dare to say anything against India Anyone from the hotel staff or the film crew can slap him and take the reward.
On Thursday, the Shiv Sena said Tandons statement was not the official view of the party. The party said it had nothing to do with the remark made in Ludhiana.
13:54 Dance bars:SC asks Maharashtra to decide in 2 weeks on licence
The Supreme Court today asked the Maharashtra government to implement its earlier order on dance bars and decide within two weeks the hoteliers' application seeking grant of licence for running them in the state.
A bench of justices Dipak Misra and P C Pant expressed unhappiness that the state was yet to implement its earlier order.
Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Maharashtra, however, said that any direction of the court will be respected and adhered to.
The bench, meanwhile, allowed Vinod Patil, President of R R Patil Foundation, to intervene in the matter. Patil in his plea had claimed that reopening of dance bars would increase crime.
The Maharashtra government had amended the 2005 Bombay Police Act, which was challenged in high court by Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association. The Bombay High Court on April 12, 2006 had quashed the government's decision and declared the provision unconstitutional, saying it was against Article 19(1)(g) (to practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business) of the Constitution.
A bench of justices Dipak Misra and P C Pant expressed unhappiness that the state was yet to implement its earlier order.
Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Maharashtra, however, said that any direction of the court will be respected and adhered to.
The bench, meanwhile, allowed Vinod Patil, President of R R Patil Foundation, to intervene in the matter. Patil in his plea had claimed that reopening of dance bars would increase crime.
The Maharashtra government had amended the 2005 Bombay Police Act, which was challenged in high court by Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association. The Bombay High Court on April 12, 2006 had quashed the government's decision and declared the provision unconstitutional, saying it was against Article 19(1)(g) (to practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business) of the Constitution.
13:44 Nawaz Sharif gives PCB go ahead for India-Pak series in Sri Lanka
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has permitted the country's cricket team to play a series with India at a neutral venue, media reported on Thursday, possibly clearing the decks for a bilateral tournament in Sri Lanka later this year.
Pakistan's Geo TV quoted sources saying the Pakistan Cricket Board received a letter from Sharif permitting the cricket team to play either a T20, ODI or Test series with India at venues in the island nation that would serve as Pakistan's 'home venue'.
The PCB signed an agreement with the BCCI to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023. It claimed the Indian board agreed to play the first one in the UAE, which has served as Pakistans home venue after the 2009 Lahore terror attacks stopped international teams from travelling to the country over security concerns.
After a lot of uncertainty, the BCCI insisted it would play only in India but the Pakistani government denied permission to its board earlier this month.
Pakistan's Geo TV quoted sources saying the Pakistan Cricket Board received a letter from Sharif permitting the cricket team to play either a T20, ODI or Test series with India at venues in the island nation that would serve as Pakistan's 'home venue'.
The PCB signed an agreement with the BCCI to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023. It claimed the Indian board agreed to play the first one in the UAE, which has served as Pakistans home venue after the 2009 Lahore terror attacks stopped international teams from travelling to the country over security concerns.
After a lot of uncertainty, the BCCI insisted it would play only in India but the Pakistani government denied permission to its board earlier this month.
13:38
Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif grants permission for India-Pakistan cricket series.
13:37 Confident Peter is innocent: Mukerjea family issues statement
In light of the recent allegations made against Peter Mukerjea in relation to the Sheena Bora murder case and the extensive media coverage of it, the family has issued a statement that voices their unified views.
The family statement says, "We would like to state from the outset that we recognise the importance of a free and responsible media. Further, we would also like to state that we trust the investigating agencies will continue to do their hard work with honesty and sincerity to seek justice in this case."
Terming the arrest of Peter Mukerjea as a shock, the family has stated that it's a trying time for them, adding that the media honcho has an impeccable reputation.
"Peter Mukerjea's arrest has shocked our family and friends around the world. This has been a trying time for the family as it would be for anyone in similar circumstances. Peter is a much loved member of the family, known for his generous and compassionate nature and an honourable and impeccable reputation," says the statement.
The statement has further said that the family is confident of Peter Mukerjea's innocence in the Sheena Bora murder case.
"The whole family is confident of Peter's innocence and we are in no doubt that due process will ultimately reveal this. It would be best at this time that the agencies are allowed to conduct their work in an unhampered manner - without irresponsible conclusions being arrived at in the interim period by any party. We trust that the media recognises that this matter concerns the privacy, reputation and image of a self-made and respected individual and his family that has already suffered trauma in this case."
"We request that the media respect this, while they continue to report on the case. We also feel that unbridled speculation in the media about Peter's culpability apart from being hurtful is counterproductive to a smooth and fair investigation and trial," it further says.
The family statement says, "We would like to state from the outset that we recognise the importance of a free and responsible media. Further, we would also like to state that we trust the investigating agencies will continue to do their hard work with honesty and sincerity to seek justice in this case."
Terming the arrest of Peter Mukerjea as a shock, the family has stated that it's a trying time for them, adding that the media honcho has an impeccable reputation.
"Peter Mukerjea's arrest has shocked our family and friends around the world. This has been a trying time for the family as it would be for anyone in similar circumstances. Peter is a much loved member of the family, known for his generous and compassionate nature and an honourable and impeccable reputation," says the statement.
The statement has further said that the family is confident of Peter Mukerjea's innocence in the Sheena Bora murder case.
"The whole family is confident of Peter's innocence and we are in no doubt that due process will ultimately reveal this. It would be best at this time that the agencies are allowed to conduct their work in an unhampered manner - without irresponsible conclusions being arrived at in the interim period by any party. We trust that the media recognises that this matter concerns the privacy, reputation and image of a self-made and respected individual and his family that has already suffered trauma in this case."
"We request that the media respect this, while they continue to report on the case. We also feel that unbridled speculation in the media about Peter's culpability apart from being hurtful is counterproductive to a smooth and fair investigation and trial," it further says.
13:23 Rahul refuses court advice to 'regret' comments against RSS
Rahul Gandhi today refused to settle a defamation suit against him and told the Supreme Court that he would prefer to argue his case. The court had, earlier this year, kept defamation proceedings against the Congress leader on hold. Today, the stay was extended.
Gandhi has been sued by an activist of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS - the ruling BJP's ideological mentor - for allegedly blaming the organization for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi while campaigning for the national election last year.
Today, the court suggested that Rahul can express regret at his comments and the case could be disposed of. Arguing on his behalf, senior Congress leader and lawyer Kapil Sibal refused the offer and said he would rather fight the case. The case will be heard next in February.
Gandhi has been sued by an activist of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS - the ruling BJP's ideological mentor - for allegedly blaming the organization for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi while campaigning for the national election last year.
Today, the court suggested that Rahul can express regret at his comments and the case could be disposed of. Arguing on his behalf, senior Congress leader and lawyer Kapil Sibal refused the offer and said he would rather fight the case. The case will be heard next in February.
13:19 Bihar may become dry state from April 2016
Parliament adjourns for lunch.
Meanwhile, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar says the government is formulating policies and laws to ban liquor in the state from April 1, 2016
Meanwhile, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar says the government is formulating policies and laws to ban liquor in the state from April 1, 2016
13:17
Sonia Gandhi's parting shot at the government: Jin logon ki samvidhaan ke nirmaan mein koi bhumika nahi hai vo aaj samvidhaan ki baat kar rahe hain. Those who had no hand in framing the Constitution are now talking about the Constitution.
12:57 Even PM smiles as Sonia links history of Constitution to Congress
Congress president Sonia Gandhi says it took three years to write the Constitution. There were serious debates on it and the Constitution Committee was guided by four eminent personalities at all levels -- Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Rajendra Prasad and Maulana Azad. When Dr Ambedkar was chosen to head the committee he asked, 'why me, when there are people better qualified to lead?' But he was still chosen to head the committed. That's where the Congress Party's discipline comes in."
Cheers in the opposition benches, and Sonia Gandhi smiles acknowledging the barb at the BJP. Rajnath Singh smiles.
"Constitution is result of decades of struggle. Mahatma Gandhi made a huge contribution in this struggle After serious debates the Constitution was written and I can say that the history of the Constitution is closely linked to the Congress," Sonia adds amid renewed cheers from her party MPs. Even PM Modi breaks into a smile.
Cheers in the opposition benches, and Sonia Gandhi smiles acknowledging the barb at the BJP. Rajnath Singh smiles.
"Constitution is result of decades of struggle. Mahatma Gandhi made a huge contribution in this struggle After serious debates the Constitution was written and I can say that the history of the Constitution is closely linked to the Congress," Sonia adds amid renewed cheers from her party MPs. Even PM Modi breaks into a smile.
12:35
"Our Govt completely committed to Constitution. I feel all MPs must abide by the Constitutional morality. Whoever is born in India is an Indian," Rajnath Singh ends his speech.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi's turn now.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi's turn now.
12:31
@PRSLegislative tweets this picture: Some designs from Chapter III and Chapter IV by Nandalal Bose from the Constitution.
12:15 Secularism is the most misused word in Indian politics: Rajnath
Rajnath Singh on secularism: "If there's is any word which is being misused in Indian politics, that is 'Secular'. Baba Saheb Ambedkar did not use the word 'secular' in the preamble. Thats because India was panth-nirpeksh traditionally. Secularism was intrinsic to the country's character.
12:08 Kharge: Ambedkar never wanted to leave India
Rajnath Singh: If Sardar Patel is the uniting force, BR Ambedkar is the binding force. Dr. Ambedkar introduced the concept of reservation for equality, he said it's a socio-political necessity."
One of the few nods to Pandit Nehru's mammoth contribution to the making of India, when Rajnath says, "Nehru-ji played an essential role in establishing democracy in the country."
Rajnath says our founding fathers believed that the Preamble is the soul of the Constitution and no changes should be made to that. 'Socialist' aur 'Secular' in do shabdon ko insert kia gaya, mai nahi kehta hoon mai use nahi maanta, jo ho gaya so ho gaya.
Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the opposition in the lower house objects to Rajnath's statement saying Dr Ambedkar wanted insert the words socialist and secular in the preamble but was not allowed to. He also said Rajanth's contention that Dr Ambedkar wanted to leave the country was wrong. "Dr Ambedkar never wanted to leave the country. He was part of the country. You Aryans have come from outside."
The Speaker asks that Kharge's comments be struck out.
One of the few nods to Pandit Nehru's mammoth contribution to the making of India, when Rajnath says, "Nehru-ji played an essential role in establishing democracy in the country."
Rajnath says our founding fathers believed that the Preamble is the soul of the Constitution and no changes should be made to that. 'Socialist' aur 'Secular' in do shabdon ko insert kia gaya, mai nahi kehta hoon mai use nahi maanta, jo ho gaya so ho gaya.
Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the opposition in the lower house objects to Rajnath's statement saying Dr Ambedkar wanted insert the words socialist and secular in the preamble but was not allowed to. He also said Rajanth's contention that Dr Ambedkar wanted to leave the country was wrong. "Dr Ambedkar never wanted to leave the country. He was part of the country. You Aryans have come from outside."
The Speaker asks that Kharge's comments be struck out.
11:56 Dr Ambedkar was insulted but never thought of leaving India: Rajnath
Rajnath Singh says, "We will express our commitment towards the Indian Constitution today."
Talking about the architect of the Indian Constitution, Rajnath says, "Ambedkarji had to face a lot of criticism, but he kept on presenting an objecting point of view for a unified India. Ambedkarji ne kabhi nahi socha ki mujhe apmaan jhelne ko mila hai toh main desh chhod ke kahin aur chala jaoonga. Despite facing insults, he never talked of leaving India."
Protests erupt from the Congress who raise objections to this part of the speech. The Speaker dismisses the objections, saying there is nothing wrong in what is being said.
The Congress Party's objections were in response what they believe to be a reference to Aamir Khan's recent remarks that his wife Kiran Rao was considering leaving the country over continued incidents of intolerance.
Rajnath then talks about Sardar Patel saying he united the whole country, and gave us the vision for single Bharat. The Congress party has always accused Narendra Modi and the BJP of trying to "hijack" Sardar Patel's legacy.
Talking about the architect of the Indian Constitution, Rajnath says, "Ambedkarji had to face a lot of criticism, but he kept on presenting an objecting point of view for a unified India. Ambedkarji ne kabhi nahi socha ki mujhe apmaan jhelne ko mila hai toh main desh chhod ke kahin aur chala jaoonga. Despite facing insults, he never talked of leaving India."
Protests erupt from the Congress who raise objections to this part of the speech. The Speaker dismisses the objections, saying there is nothing wrong in what is being said.
The Congress Party's objections were in response what they believe to be a reference to Aamir Khan's recent remarks that his wife Kiran Rao was considering leaving the country over continued incidents of intolerance.
Rajnath then talks about Sardar Patel saying he united the whole country, and gave us the vision for single Bharat. The Congress party has always accused Narendra Modi and the BJP of trying to "hijack" Sardar Patel's legacy.
11:41 Rajnath Singh takes over from Speaker
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, also the Deputy Leader of Lok Sabha, also talking about the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's contribution to the making of the Constitution.
11:39
@PRSLegislative tweets this picture: The original constitution of India was handwritten by Prem Behari Narain Raizada.
11:37 Special session celebrating Indian Constitution marks Day 1 of Parliament
On the first day of the Winter Session of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day due to the demise of sitting member Khekiho Zhimomi of the Nagaland People's Front.
While the Lok Sabha is still in session, a united opposition has made it clear that its primary agenda in the winter session is to corner the government on what it calls "growing intolerance." It wants a discussion on the issue to end with Parliament adopting a resolution.
For today, the Parliament is marking Constitution Day, which will be celebrated tomorrow as well. The two-day event will be a part of year-long nationwide celebrations to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar.
A Lok Sabha bulletin said there will be no zero hour on the two days.
Venkaiah Naidu said Vice President Hamid Ansari, the Rajya Sabha chairman, and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan will make opening remarks in the two houses, following which Home Minister Rajnath Singh, also the Deputy Leader of Lok Sabha, will initiate a discussion in the lower house.
In the lower house, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan is reading out the history of the making of the Constitution.
Pic: PM Modi spoke briefly to reporters outside Parliament this morning saying debate was the soul of Parliament.
While the Lok Sabha is still in session, a united opposition has made it clear that its primary agenda in the winter session is to corner the government on what it calls "growing intolerance." It wants a discussion on the issue to end with Parliament adopting a resolution.
For today, the Parliament is marking Constitution Day, which will be celebrated tomorrow as well. The two-day event will be a part of year-long nationwide celebrations to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar.
A Lok Sabha bulletin said there will be no zero hour on the two days.
Venkaiah Naidu said Vice President Hamid Ansari, the Rajya Sabha chairman, and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan will make opening remarks in the two houses, following which Home Minister Rajnath Singh, also the Deputy Leader of Lok Sabha, will initiate a discussion in the lower house.
In the lower house, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan is reading out the history of the making of the Constitution.
Pic: PM Modi spoke briefly to reporters outside Parliament this morning saying debate was the soul of Parliament.
11:10 Japan assures China it will stay out of Arunachal projects
While China and Japan have recently been grappling with tense relations over disputed East China Sea islands, relations have begun to thaw after Chinese President Xi Jinping met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Beijing last week, on the sidelines of the APEC Summit. Read more
11:07 Dec 16 gang rape:Juvenile homecoming: Mother waits, village wary
IN JUST over a month, the juvenile convicted in the December 16 gang rape and murder of a paramedical student in Delhi will complete his three-year sentence. And back at his village in UP's Badaun district, plans are already underway in anticipation of a homecoming that will be fraught with emotion -- in more ways than one.
There's a mother who says her son deserved the punishment but longs to see him. And then there are the angry villagers, headed by a nervous pradhan, who are preparing to form a team to monitor his activities.
The juvenile's role in the gangrape that led to the death of the girl from severe internal injuries had brought the Juvenile Justice Act 2000 under intense scrutiny. It led the Union Cabinet to approve amendments to the Act so juveniles aged between 16 and 18 years can be tried as adults for "heinous crimes' such as murder and rape.
On Tuesday, the National Human Rights Commission issued notices to the Centre and the Delhi government seeking information about the juvenile's release. It was acting on a complaint from the parents of the 23-year-old girl, seeking "a plan to protect the citizens from such delinquent juveniles post their release''.
On Wednesday, the village pradhan said the line was clear. "If he has reformed, we will help him find a vocation. But if he shows signs of notoriety, we will excommunicate not only him but also his entire family,' he said.
Other villagers say they are concerned about the juvenile's return and add that he deserved harsher punishment.
"He was sent to three years in a juvenile correctional home, but he deserves more for committing the brutal gang rape with his associates. It was a very shameful incident and he brought down the name of our village. Now people across the country know our village as the home of one of the rapists of December 16,' said a resident.
Such intense feelings, however, have not stopped the villagers from joining hands to help the juvenile's family. "After seeing the condition of his family and their house, we had recently constructed a terrace and a side wall," said the pradhan.
The juvenile's house is not very different from when he left seven years ago to earn money in the city, say villagers. A tattered piece of tarpaulin serves as a window, a half-broken roof and crumbling walls are the only cover for his family of six '" a mentally ill father, a mother who suffers from depression and four siblings.
His 17-year-old sister, who earns Rs 200 a month as a daily-wage labourer, is the sole breadwinner.
There's a mother who says her son deserved the punishment but longs to see him. And then there are the angry villagers, headed by a nervous pradhan, who are preparing to form a team to monitor his activities.
The juvenile's role in the gangrape that led to the death of the girl from severe internal injuries had brought the Juvenile Justice Act 2000 under intense scrutiny. It led the Union Cabinet to approve amendments to the Act so juveniles aged between 16 and 18 years can be tried as adults for "heinous crimes' such as murder and rape.
On Tuesday, the National Human Rights Commission issued notices to the Centre and the Delhi government seeking information about the juvenile's release. It was acting on a complaint from the parents of the 23-year-old girl, seeking "a plan to protect the citizens from such delinquent juveniles post their release''.
On Wednesday, the village pradhan said the line was clear. "If he has reformed, we will help him find a vocation. But if he shows signs of notoriety, we will excommunicate not only him but also his entire family,' he said.
Other villagers say they are concerned about the juvenile's return and add that he deserved harsher punishment.
"He was sent to three years in a juvenile correctional home, but he deserves more for committing the brutal gang rape with his associates. It was a very shameful incident and he brought down the name of our village. Now people across the country know our village as the home of one of the rapists of December 16,' said a resident.
Such intense feelings, however, have not stopped the villagers from joining hands to help the juvenile's family. "After seeing the condition of his family and their house, we had recently constructed a terrace and a side wall," said the pradhan.
The juvenile's house is not very different from when he left seven years ago to earn money in the city, say villagers. A tattered piece of tarpaulin serves as a window, a half-broken roof and crumbling walls are the only cover for his family of six '" a mentally ill father, a mother who suffers from depression and four siblings.
His 17-year-old sister, who earns Rs 200 a month as a daily-wage labourer, is the sole breadwinner.
10:34
JUST IN: Rajya Sabha to be adjourned for the day due to demise of sitting member Khekiho Zhimomi, Nagaland People's Front.
09:52 Debate, dialogue soul of Parliament: Modi ahead of start of winter session
On the occasion of the first Constitution Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Debate and discussion is the soul of Parliament. Our Constitution is a ray of hope --H for harmony, O for opportunity, P for people's participation, E for equality." The PM added that he was confident that all MPs would leave no stone unturned to match upto expectations of people of nation.
09:41 Kerala journalist threatened for Facebook post on madarassas
On November 21, a senior journalist working with a prominent Malayalam newspaper wrote a poignant post on her Facebook account about sexual abuses her classmates had to face in a Madarassa years ago. For more than 24 hours now, journalist VP Rajeena's Facebook account has been blocked, and she continues to receive threats. In the Facebook post that became controversial Rajeena reminisced about an 'Ustad' or teacher at a Sunni Madarassa in Kozhikode city, who would feel up her male classmates' private parts. She described how young boys in the class would be summoned by the 'Ustad' and asked to unzip their shorts.
Ever since Rajeena put up the Facebook post, she was at the receiving end of a barrage of abuses and threats, forcing her to write another post in which she declared that despite everything, she would remain fearless.
09:15 That's a deal! Mumbai duplex sold for record breaking Rs 160 crore
In what has been touted as the biggest apartment deal in India, a duplex in an under-construction luxury tower at Altamount Road in Mumbai has sold for Rs 160 crore. The 10,000 sq ft apartment in Lodha Altamount is believed to have been bought by the Jindal family that runs a pharma firm Jindal Drugs.
In September, industrialist Cyrus Poonawalla paid Rs 750 crore for the former palace property at Breach Candy, which once housed the US Consulate. It was the costliest deal in the country for a private residence.
The Jindals plan to shift once the building is complete in the next 18 months. Incidentally, about three years ago, the Jindals had paid the highest price when they bought the flat in 2012 at Rs 1.20 lakh a sq ft.
08:55 7 years after 26/11, face of coastal security: 8 bamboo poles, 2 cops, 1 aluminium roof
The only blemish on the horizon if you drive southward on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and look to the left at the open sea is a shack on an outcrop of rock before land gives way to water.
Nothing sets it apart from the average Mumbai tenement but for the khaki police shirts suspended on hangars from the low roof. This is a coastal police outpost, one of the many that watch over Mumbai's shores. The eight bamboo poles that hold the station upright and the aluminium sheets covering it were sourced with help from local fishermen, and the leftovers from the sea link's construction provided stones to reinforce the structure.
Read more HERE
08:47 Google doodles the 'Milkman of India'
The doodle on the Google India home page on Verghese Kurien's 94th birth anniversary shows the 'Milkman of India' with a milk can in his hand as a buffalo looks on and a looped rope lying on the ground spells 'Google'.Kurien brought milk revolution in the country and made the ordinary, neighbourhood 'doodhwala' (milkman) a key player in the country's struggle for economic development and progress at the grassroot level.
08:20 PM Modi greets people on Constitution Day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today appealed to the countrymen to uphold ideals and values of the Constitution and create an India that will make its founding fathers proud. "Greetings to people of India on the historic occasion of 1st Constitution Day. May this day inspire you to know more about our Constitution (sic)," he tweeted. He said this day is a tribute to all those great women and men who worked tirelessly to give India a Constitution, which "we are very proud of".
"Let us always uphold the ideals andvalues of our Constitution andcreate an India that would make our founding fathers very proud," he said in another tweet. "No mention of our Constitution is complete without remembering the stellar contribution of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. I salute him," Modi added.
08:18 Maharashtra CM pays homage to martyrs of Mumbai's 26/11 attacks
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and other members of the state government pay homage to the martyrs of the Mumbai 26/11 attacks on its seventh anniversary at the memorial at the Police Gymkhana in Marine Drive.
The then Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare, army Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Mumbai's Additional Police Commissioner Ashok Kamte and Senior Police Inspector Vijay Salaskar were among those killed in the attack on the financial hub of the country.
On November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists had arrived by sea route and opened fire indiscriminately at people killing 166, including 18 security personnel, and injuring several others, besides damaging property worth crores of rupees.
08:00 Mumbai under heavy security cover on 7th anniversary of 26/11 attacks
In view of the seventh anniversary of the Mumbai 26/11 attacks, the city has been put under a heavy security blanket with all vital locations including domestic and international airports on high alert.
Security has also been strengthened across important suburban railway stations, offices, landmarks like the Taj Hotel, which was one of the locations attacked by terrorists in November 2008.
According to a senior official, the city police are taking no chances and are beefing up security cover in Mumbai after the hoax calls and terror threats having been made in the past couple of days. "Airports, railway junctions and several vital buildings in Mumbai have been extended massive security and a bomb squad has been deployed at all locations. Some locations are already high-security zones with special forces guarding them," the officer said.
02:05 Tunisia declares state of emergency, shuts Libya border
Tunisia said Wednesday it is closing its border with Libya, a hotbed of extremist unrest, a day after a deadly suicide bombing claimed by the ISIL group.
No reason was given, but the interior ministry said earlier the explosive used in the attack that killed 12 presidential guards was the same used to make explosive belts illegally brought from Libya and seized last year.
The National Security Council, headed by President Beji Caid Essebsi, decided to close the frontier from midnight with "reinforced surveillance of maritime borders and in airports", a statement said.It also decided to "step up operations to block (internet) sites linked to terrorism".
Read this story HERE
01:49 2015 likely to be warmest on record, says UN weather body
Global average temperatures in 2015 are likely to be the warmest on record, according to the World Meteorological Organisation.
Data until the end of October showed this year's temperatures running "well above" any previous 12 month period.The researchers say the five year period from 2011 to 2015 was also the warmest on record.The rise, they state, was due to a combination of a strong El Nino and human-induced global warming.
Read this story HERE
00:59 Advani, Joshi attend BJP parl party executive meeting
BJP veterans Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, who had recently attacked the party leadership, today attended the parliamentary party executive meeting at the prime minister's residence where top leaders discussed the strategy for winter session of parliament starting tomorrow.
Advani and Joshi are among the members of the group which meets to formulate the party's strategy during a parliamentary session. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah were also present in the meeting. Advani and Joshi were among the four senior leaders, including Yashwant Sinha and Shanta Kumar, who had wrriten a scathing letter on the Diwali eve, targetting the top brass following the Bihar assembly election drubbing for BJP.
They had said that the party had been "emasculated" in one year. However, showing signs of thaw, Advani had recently said Modi was on track to bring 'achhe din' (good days) while Kumar had expressed his happiness over the party reaching out to them.
00:54 Muslim school in UK found practising gender segregation
A Muslim school in the UK was found practising gender segregation after it forced a woman governor to sit in a separate room and talk through an open doorway during official meetings.
The segregation was discovered by Britain's schools inspectorate during a visit to Darul Uloom Islamic high school in Birmingham. "During the inspection of Darul Uloom Islamic high school [in Birmingham], the actions of governors did not model the promotion of mutual respect for men and women," Michael Wilshaw, chief inspector of Ofsted -- which is reviewing the standards at Britain's Christian and Muslim faith schools - wrote to UK education minister Nicky Morgan this week.
"At a meeting with inspectors, the only female governor sat out of sight of the male governors in an adjacent room [and] could only contribute through a doorway," Michael wrote. Ofsted found another school's library contained literature with extremist and sexist views.
00:46 Indian-origin air rage passenger jailed in UK
A 46-year-old Indian-origin air rage passenger in the UK has been jailed for 11 months by a court here for drunken abuse of cabin crew on a flight from Dubai to Birmingham last year.
Jasbir Singh Bharaj, who was labelled by one flight attendant as the "worst passenger he had ever encountered", also bit a police officer when they tried to arrest him. Jasbir was jailed for 11 months at Birmingham Crown Court this week for his actions aboard the Emirates plane on September 16 last year, 'Birmingham Mail' reported.
"On the Emirates flight you drank vodka mixed with wine and then proceeded to abuse cabin staff. You demanded more alcohol and swore repeatedly even though there were four young children behind you who had to listen to your tirade," Judge Burbridge said during sentencing.
00:32
JUST IN: German Chancellor Merkel has said that Germany will respond to France's request to do more to show solidarity after the Paris attacks.
00:07 Seventh anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks today
The seventh anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, which had claimed lives of 166 people and left hundreds injured, would be observed tomorrow.
The Maharashtra government and Mumbai Police will pay homage to the martyrs of the terror attack.
The then Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare, army Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Mumbai's Additional Police Commissioner Ashok Kamte and Senior Police Inspector Vijay Salaskar were among those killed in the attack on the financial hub of the country.
"A programme will start at 8 am, in which Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, other ministers as well as the city police chief Ahmed Javed will pay homage at the 26/11 memorial at Police Gymkhana in Marine Drive," said DCP (Detection) Dhananjay Kulkarni.
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